MONTGOMERY, Ala – The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill on Wednesday to create an online registry of repeat domestic violence offenders, similar to the sex offender registry.
House Bill 309 would require repeat offenders to register with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to appear on the domestic violence registry as well as to pay a $150 fine – $50 toward administration and $100 for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund.
The registry would include a person’s full name, date of birth and a photo. Offenders on the registry would be removed after a period determined by how many prior offenses they have committed, given they are not convicted of domestic violence again.
Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said she sponsored the bill because she has brought others related to domestic violence but still wants to do more to prevent repeat offenders.
“Sometimes protective orders are not enough,” Givan said. “There are instances when someone knows that their name is going to be put up in a public registry and that it will be broadcast and made part of a public record, that it tends to give them pause to think just a little bit, take a few steps back.”
Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, expressed concern about the high estimated cost of the bill. It’s fiscal note says developing the database would cost $1 million and would require $500,000 annually for maintenance and personnel costs. Pettus said ALEA told him it does not have money to do anything extra unless lawmakers allocate additional funds.
Givan told ADN she was confused about this number and said she would contact ALEA to understand why the estimated financial burden is so high.
Chair Jim Hill, R-Odenville, said he would refer the bill to the House General Fund Committee to consider.
Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, also questioned the administrative burden getting people entered into the system would place on court clerks.