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Committee advances bill to add transfer fees, create sheriff immigration-enforcement fund
Summary
Senate Bill 77 would charge a flat $7.50 fee plus 1.5% on transfers over $500 and direct proceeds to a new sheriff immigration-enforcement and detainer fund; sponsors said the charge targets untaxed cash wire transfers out of state, but members raised concerns about fairness, fiscal estimates and impacts on remittances from workers.
A Senate committee voted to advance legislation that would require money-transmission businesses to collect a fee on certain wire transfers and place the proceeds in a new fund intended to help sheriffs pay costs associated with immigration enforcement.
Senate Bill 77, introduced by Senator April Weaver, would impose a $7.50 fee on qualifying wire transfers and add 1.5% on amounts over $500. The bill would create the “Sheriff’s Immigration Enforcement and Detainer Fund,” allocate proceeds to counties on a population pro-rata basis, and allow filers of Alabama income tax to take a credit for fees paid.
Weaver said the bill arose from a trip to the border and seeks to address large volumes of untaxed cash being wired abroad. “People are working for cash that they don’t pay taxes on and then they’re wiring it to other countries,” Weaver said. She described the measure as one way to help sheriffs cover expenses related to enforcing immigration laws and housing immigration violators.
Committee members raised fiscal and fairness questions. Senator Albritton asked which sheriffs would receive funds; Weaver said the money would be divided among counties by population. Multiple senators asked for a fiscal note; Weaver said none was available in committee and that she would provide one. Members also debated whether the fee should apply only to international transfers or be applied uniformly to domestic transfers as well to avoid perceived targeting of remittances.
Senator Hatcher and others objected to applying a new fee to individuals who are legitimately earning and sending money home, arguing the policy could disproportionately affect immigrant workers. Weaver said taxpayers who pay state income tax could claim a credit for fees paid.
A motion to report the bill favorably passed in committee; the sponsor acknowledged outstanding fiscal questions to be addressed in subsequent drafting and debate.
