§45-24-80. Dallas County Law Library Fund; board.

(a)(l) There is created a fund to be designated the Dallas County Law Library Fund, which fund shall be expended as hereinafter provided for the sole purpose of establishing, maintaining, equipping, administering, and operating the law library at the courthouse of Dallas County.

(2) In each criminal or quasicriminal or civil case or any other proceeding filed in, arising in, or brought by appeal, on certiorari or otherwise in the Circuit Court, District Court, or Small Claims Court of Dallas County, there shall be taxed as part of the costs the sum of six dollars ($6) to be designated as a law library fee.

(3) Such fees when collected by the clerks or other collecting officers of such courts shall be paid to the treasurer or depository of Dallas County for the deposit in the county treasury in a separate account to be designated the Dallas County Law Library Fund.

(b)(l) There is created a board to administer the Dallas County Law Library Fund which shall be known as the Dallas County Law Library Board. This board shall consist of three members of the Dallas County Bar whose terms as members of the board shall be for three years, and who shall serve without compensation. Provided, however, the first three members of the board shall be appointed as follows for the specified terms: the Judge of Probate of Dallas County shall appoint one member of the board who shall serve a term of one year; the President of the Dallas County Bar Association shall appoint one member of the board who shall serve a term of two years; and the Presiding Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit shall appoint one member of the board who shall serve a term of three years. Thereafter, when a member of the board's term expires or there is a vacancy created on the board, the appointing authority, whose prior appointment has expired or become vacant, shall make an appointment to fill such a vacancy. Members of the board shall be members in good standing of the Alabama Bar Association. A member of the board may serve more than one term. Each year the members of the board shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary, all of whom shall serve for one year as such officers but who may be elected to serve more than one term.

(2) Any two members of the Dallas County Law Library Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the board, which shall be held upon call of the chair or any two members. The board may adopt by laws, and all action of the board shall require the approval of at least two members of the board. The board may act informally, without a meeting, with the approval of all members.

(3) Any two members of the Dallas County Law Library Board may draw warrants on the Dallas County Law Library Fund in making expenditures for purposes contemplated in this section and shall indicate on the warrants the funds against which the warrants are drawn.

(c)(l) Sole and complete management of the Dallas County Law Library is vested in the Dallas County Law Library Board or its designee. All books or other property purchased with the funds shall be the property of Dallas County, but shall be managed and controlled by the Dallas County Law Library Board.

(2) The Dallas County Law Library Fund shall be administered and disbursed by the Dallas County Law Library Board only for the purpose of establishing, equipping, maintaining, and operating the Dallas County Law Library, and none of the funds shall be used or expended for any other purpose whatsoever.

(d) The funds heretofore deposited in the Dallas County treasury to the credit of the Contingent Fund for the Circuit Court of Dallas County shall be paid into the Dallas County Law Library Fund established by this section.

(Acts 1978, No. 415, p. 412, §§1-4; Act 87-489, p. 743, §1.)