MONTGOMERY-The Alabama House of Representatives Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee voted today, April 22, to support and protect the citizens of Alabama by preventing the passage Senate Bill 44 (SB44).
“I want to personally thank members of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and the House leadership for standing up for our State Troopers and Investigators by defeating SB44,” Secretary of Law Enforcement
Spencer Collier
said. “Diverting funds budgeted to hire State Troopers in order to pay for the cost of producing and issuing a driver license was an unacceptable business practice. At an average cost of $9 per year — and still less than a fishing or hunting license — the state simply breaks even when an Alabama driver license is issued.”
About Senate Bill 44: The cost of producing and issuing an Alabama Driver License is $42.74 meaning each time a Driver License was issued at $23.50, the agency lost $19.24. Therefore, the agency had to divert funds that could be used to hire State Troopers, Special Agents or other vital law enforcement support services to pay the remaining $19.24 each time a Driver License or Identification Card is issued.
Section 32-6-6 of the Code of Alabama permits the agency to recover the cost of producing and issuing the Driver License or Identification Card. Because the agency is reducing production costs by implementing new technology-based initiatives, the cost was not raised the entire amount allowed of $19.24 but $12.75. The current cost of $36.25 does not give extra money to the agency, it allows the agency to simply break even when a Driver License or Identification Card is issued.
The passage of SB44 would have had a devastating effect on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and force the agency to divert funds intended to hire State Troopers and Special Agents.
MEDIA RELEASE/STATE OF ALABAMA LAW ENFORCMENT
