Bill > HB481

This bill amends existing Alabama law to establish that any court order for restitution, which is the payment of financial damages to a victim for losses incurred due to a crime, must be satisfied before any other fines, court costs, or fees associated with that criminal conviction. The bill clarifies that "pecuniary damages" include not only the direct value of property lost or damaged but also expenses like travel, medical, dental, burial, and lost wages. It also expands the definition of "victim" to include immediate surviving family members, entities like corporations or estates that are direct victims, individuals living in the victim's household or related to the victim, and government agencies that incur costs for repairing graffiti. The legislation emphasizes the legislative intent to ensure victims are fully compensated and that restitution orders are enforceable like civil judgments.

Justice

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search