§45-27-231. Service of process; disposition of funds.

(a) This section shall only apply to Escambia County.

(b) Any and all monies collected under this section shall be deposited by the Sheriff of Escambia County, or his or her appointed agent, in any bank in Escambia County selected by the sheriff into a fund known as the Escambia County Sheriff Process Fund and hereinafter referred to in this section as the fund.

(c) The Sheriff of Escambia County may contract with or enter into a contract or agreement with a private, public, or governmental entity for the purpose of service of process, except for warrants for arrest.

(d)(1) In addition to all existing charges, fees, judgments, and costs of court, the clerk, sheriff, or other appropriate court official in the criminal division of the district and circuit courts of Escambia County shall increase the fees by fifteen dollars ($15) per document requiring personal service.

(2) In addition to all existing charges, fees, judgments, and costs of court, the clerk, sheriff, or other appropriate court official in the civil division of the district and circuit courts of Escambia County shall increase the fees by fifteen dollars ($15) per document requiring personal service.

(3) The court official designated in Escambia County by law for the respective courts shall collect the additional service of process fee designated in subdivisions (1) and (2) and remit the fees collected to the sheriff for deposit in the fund.

(e) The sheriff may use the monies generated by this section for law enforcement purposes in Escambia County, including contracting with or entering into a contract or agreement with a private, public, or governmental entity for service of process of documents from the civil or criminal division of the district or circuit court. The funds shall not revert to the general fund of the county at the end of the fiscal year.

(Act 2004-269, p. 375, §§1-5.)