FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 308 as introduced: 1) creates a lifetime concealed carry permit; 2) directs the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to develop, maintain, and administer a statewide firearm prohibited person database; 3) establishes a fee of $200, and $150 for applicants over 65 years of age, for the lifetime concealed carry permit with the funds distributed 40% to ALEA and 60% to the sheriff of the county of the applicant; 4) provides for the sheriff to retain all fees for the one-year and five-year concealed carry permit; 5) provides for a fee of $25 for a one-year permit and $125 for a five-year permit if there is no local law setting the fee, with the funds to be distributed to the sheriff; 6) provides for a fee not to exceed $25 to replace a lost or stolen concealed carry permit; 7) provides exemptions for obtaining a pistol for service members, honorably discharged veterans, and law enforcement officers; 8) provides a process for ALEA, county sheriffs, the applicants, and the courts to follow regarding the denial or revocation of the concealed carry permit application; 9) requires each sheriff to prepare a report that includes the number of permits issued and renewed, and a detailed accounting of the fees collected and distributed; and 10) requires courts to report to ALEA the certain information that would result in an individual being denied a permit including an order for certain involuntary commitments, and allows an additional court fee of $50 to be collected and distributed 90% to the sheriff of the county in which the court is located and 10% to the reporting court.

According to the estimate and data provided by ALEA, the provisions of this bill could increase ALEA's obligations by an estimated minimum of $750,000 dollars for development costs and $1.35 million dollars annually to maintain and administer a firearm prohibited person database. The increased obligations would be offset, wholly or in part, by the 40% portion of the lifetime concealed carry permit fees collected.

This bill could also decrease revenues 1) to the county general funds or other funds where pistol permit fees are remitted dependent upon the number of individuals who apply for the lifetime concealed carry permit that would no longer apply for or renew an annual concealed carry permit; and 2) the number of honorably discharged veterans and service members that would no longer have to pay the fee for a pistol or lifetime concealed carry permit. This decrease could be offset by the 60% portion of the lifetime concealed carry permit fee distributed to the sheriff. Further, this bill could increase revenues to the county general funds by an estimated $45 per court case disposition, when the additional court fee is assessed, where the result is an individual being denied a concealed carry permit.

In addition, this bill could increase receipts to the State General Fund and municipal general funds from fines; increase receipts to the State General Fund, county general funds, municipal general funds, and other funds to which court costs are deposited; and could increase the obligations of the State General Fund, district attorneys, and local jails by an undetermined amount dependent upon the number of persons charged with and convicted of the offenses provided by this bill and the penalties imposed.