HB71

ENGROSSED

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

To amend Section 13A-7-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2016-402, 2016 Regular Session, and Section 15-10-3, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to warrantless arrests, to authorize a law enforcement officer to arrest a person without a warrant under certain conditions for trespassing on the property of an educational institution and to further provide for the definition of "building".

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 13A-7-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2016-402, 2016 Regular Session, and Section 15-10-3, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§13A-7-1.

"The following definitions are applicable to this article:

"(1) BUILDING. Any structure which may be entered and utilized by persons for business, public use, lodging or the storage of goods, and such term includes any vehicle, aircraft or watercraft used for the lodging of persons or carrying on business therein, and such term includes any railroad box car or other rail equipment or trailer or tractor trailer or combination thereof. The term also includes any structure used for any purpose by an educational institution, as defined in Section 15-10-3. Where a building consists of two or more units separately occupied or secure, each shall be deemed both a separate building and a part of the main building.

"(2) DWELLING. A building which is used or normally used by a person for sleeping, living or lodging therein.

"(3) ENTER OR REMAIN UNLAWFULLY. A person "enters or remains unlawfully" in or upon premises when he is not licensed, invited or privileged to do so. A person who, regardless of his intent, enters or remains in or upon premises which are at the time open to the public does so with license and privilege unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or other authorized person. A license or privilege to enter or remain in a building which is partly open to the public is not a license or privilege to enter or remain in that part of the building which is not open to the public. A person who enters or remains upon unimproved and apparently unused land, which is neither fenced nor otherwise enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders, does so with license and privileges unless notice against trespass is personally communicated to him by the owner of such land or other authorized person, or unless such notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner.

"(4) POSTING IN A CONSPICUOUS MANNER. A sign or signs posted on the property, reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, indicating that entry is forbidden or the placement of identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts on the property, provided that the marks satisfy all of the following:

"a. Are vertical lines of not less than eight inches in length and not less than one inch in width.

"b. Are placed so that the bottom of the mark is not less than three feet from the ground or more than five feet from the ground.

"c. Are placed at locations that are readily visible to any person approaching the property and are no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land.

"(5) PREMISES. Such term includes any "building," as herein defined, and any real property.

§15-10-3.

"(a) An officer may arrest a person without a warrant, on any day and at any time in any of the following instances:

"(1) If a public offense has been committed or a breach of the peace threatened in the presence of the officer.

"(2) When a felony has been committed, though not in the presence of the officer, by the person arrested.

"(3) When a felony has been committed and the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person arrested committed the felony.

"(4) When the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person arrested has committed a felony, although it may afterwards appear that a felony had not in fact been committed.

"(5) When a charge has been made, upon reasonable cause, that the person arrested has committed a felony.

"(6) When the officer has actual knowledge that a warrant for the person's arrest for the commission of a felony or misdemeanor has been issued, provided the warrant was issued in accordance with this chapter. However, upon request the officer shall show the warrant to the arrested person as soon as possible. If the officer does not have the warrant in his or her possession at the time of arrest the officer shall inform the defendant of the offense charged and of the fact that a warrant has been issued.

"(7) When the officer has reasonable cause to believe that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed by the person arrested in violation of a protection order, including a domestic violence protection order, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

"(8) When an offense involves domestic violence as defined in Section 13A-6-139.1, and the arrest is based on probable cause, regardless of whether the offense is a felony or misdemeanor.

"(9) a. When the officer has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed a trespass on the premises, as defined in Section 13A-7-1, of an educational institution.

"b. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "educational institution" means a public or private college, university, graduate school, professional school, junior community college, trade school, elementary school, secondary school, and every institution for education and training of the deaf, blind, or individuals with developmental disabilities.

"(b) When a law enforcement officer investigates an allegation of domestic violence, whether or not an arrest is made, the officer shall make a written report of the alleged incident, including a statement of the complaint, and the disposition of the case.

"(c) If the defendant is arrested under this section for committing an act of domestic violence in violation of a protection order, the defendant shall be held in custody until brought before the court as expeditiously as possible for the purpose of enforcing the protection order and for consideration of bail in accordance with Section 15-13-190 and the applicable rules of criminal procedure, pending a hearing."

Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Education

Crimes and Offenses

Criminal Law and Procedure

Arrests

Law Enforcement

Schools

Code Amended