FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 169 requires the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to establish and maintain an Alabama Elder and Adult in Need of Protective Services Abuse Registry, which would increase the obligations of DHR $477,000 for the first year of operation, beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, and $327,000 each year thereafter, as estimated by the department. This bill would also increase the obligations of the Department of Mental Health by a maximum of $500,000, as estimated by ADMH, for the cost of contracting with additional hearing officers and attorneys to comply with the reporting requirements as a service provider.

Further this bill could increase the administrative obligations of 1) the courts of the state to provide notice to DHR regarding convictions or protection orders for certain individuals; and 2) the county department of human resources, chief of police, sheriff, or State Board of Health to notify DHR of certain abuse investigations determined to be true.

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 district attorneys and local jails by an amount dependent upon the number of persons charged with and convicted of the offenses provided by this bill and penalties imposed.

As amended and reported by the Committee on Judiciary, the Administrative Office of Courts, rather than a court of the state, is to provide notice to DHR regarding convictions or protection orders for certain individuals.