Section 31-1-1

Recordation of honorable discharges of servicemen.

(a) Record book. The county commission of each county in the State of Alabama shall cause to be prepared and furnished to each probate judge within the State of Alabama a well-bound book of record, the back or side of which shall bear the following words, "Record of Honorable Discharges from the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps," the pages of which shall correspond with the printed matter appearing on an honorable discharge from the military service of the United States of America, with sufficient blank spaces reserved thereon for the copying therein of the data and information appearing on such an honorable discharge, which may be presented to the probate judge for record, as provided in this section.

(b) Recordation. Any person who holds an honorable discharge from the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps may present the same to the probate judge of the county wherein he or she may reside, and the probate judge shall cause the same to be recorded in the book described in subsection (a) of this section. There shall be no fee charged for this service.

(c) Confidentiality.

(1) When a release from active duty is recorded as provided in this section, the record of certified copies of a DD Form 214 appearing in the book of record shall be confidential. It shall be unlawful for any person to permit inspection of any such record, to disclose information contained in any such record, or to issue a copy of all or any part of such record except as authorized herein or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Upon presentation of proper identification, any of the following persons may examine such record or obtain free of charge a copy or certified copy of all or part of the record:

a. The person who is the subject of the record.

b. The spouse or next of kin of the person who is the subject of the record.

c. A person named in an appropriate power of attorney executed by the person who is the subject of the record.

d, The administrator, executor, guardian, or legal representative of the person who is the subject of the record.

e. An attorney for any person specified in paragraphs a. to d.

(2) Records kept pursuant to this subsection shall not be reproduced or used in whole or in part for any commercial or speculative purpose. Any individual, agency, or court which obtains information shall not disseminate or disclose such information or any part thereof except as authorized herein or otherwise by law. A violation of this subsection shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000); provided, however, the clerk of the court shall not be liable and shall be held harmless for any act of any person who copies, reproduces, or uses records in violation of this subsection.

(Acts 1931, No. 742, p. 859; Code 1940, T. 60, §§50, 51, 52; Act 2003-302, p. 720, §1.)