Alabama § 15-20A-42 - Collection and Dissemination of Information by Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.
Full text of Alabama Code of Alabama § 15-20A-42 — Collection and Dissemination of Information by Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 15-20A-42. Collection and Dissemination of Information by Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.
(a) Any jurisdiction or agency responsible for registering a sex offender shall immediately forward all required registration information and any changes to the required registration information received to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency in a manner determined by the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and promulgated in rule by the secretary upon recommendation of an advisory board consisting of representatives of the office of the Attorney General, District Attorneys Association, Chiefs of Police Association, Sheriffs Association, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency. The advisory board members shall not receive any compensation or reimbursement for serving on the advisory board.
(b) Upon notification or discovery of the death of a sex offender, the registering agency shall immediately notify the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.
(c) The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall immediately enter all registration information received into its sex offender database.
(d) All information received by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall be immediately forwarded to the following by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency:
(1) The National Criminal Information Center or any other law enforcement agency for any lawful criminal justice purpose.
(2) The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Exchange Portal.
(3) The National Sex Offender Registry.
(4) Each county and municipality where the sex offender resides, is an employee, or is a student.
(5) Each county and municipality from or to which a change of residence, employment, or student status occurs.
(6) The campus police in each county or jurisdiction where the sex offender is a student.
(7) The United States Marshals Service, if the sex offender is terminating residence in a jurisdiction to relocate to a foreign country.
(8) The Attorney General’s Office of Victim Assistance.
(e) Upon request, all registration information shall be available in electric form to all federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, probation officers, and any agency responsible for conducting employment-related background checks under the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. §5119a).
(f) No existing state laws, including, but not limited to, statutes that would otherwise make juvenile and youthful offender records confidential, shall preclude the disclosure of any information requested by a responsible agency, a law enforcement officer, a criminal justice agency, the Office of the Attorney General, or a prosecuting attorney for purposes of administering, implementing, or enforcing this chapter. No state law shall preclude the disclosure of any information concerning a juvenile sex offender or youthful offender sex offender to the Department of Human Resources for the purpose of conducting an assessment with regard to a person as provided by law.
(g) The sheriff of each county shall maintain a register or roster of the names of all persons registered by him or her pursuant to this chapter. The information contained in the register or roster shall be made available, upon request, to all federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, or probation officers for the administration, implementation, or enforcement of this chapter.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a sex offender’s Internet identifiers as described in subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of Section 15-20A-7, and a sex offender’s Internet service providers as described in subdivision (18) of subsection (a) of Section 15-20A-7, may only be disclosed pursuant to federal law or to law enforcement for the purpose of administering, implementing, or enforcing this chapter or to prevent or investigate a crime by the sex offender based on an articulable basis for suspicion. In no event shall such information be disclosed other than for one of the purposes identified in the preceding sentence. A violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor.
Source: official Alabama text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama § 15-20A-42
What does Code of Alabama § 15-20A-42 cover?
Section 15-20A-42 ("Collection and Dissemination of Information by Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.") is part of the Code of Alabama, the codified statutory law of Alabama. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Alabama § 15-20A-42?
A common citation format is "Code of Alabama § 15-20A-42" (Alabama). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Alabama law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Alabama official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Alabama attorney.
How does Alabama § 15-20A-42 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Alabama can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Alabama.