A local bill that will authorize the Chilton County Commission to set business license fees for county businesses has been prepared by Rep. Jimmy Martin.

The county commission passed a resolution last week asking Martin to prepare a bill and assist in its passage through the legislature.

The bill states “Relating to Chilton County; to authorize the county commission to set business licenses in the same manner as business licenses are set in any municipality in the county.

“Be it enacted by the legislature of Alabama: Section 1. The Chilton County Commission may set the fees for the issuance of business licenses in the same manner as business licenses are set in any municipality in the county. The cost of any business license set pursuant to this section may not exceed the cost of any business license set by any municipality in the county. These licenses shall be purchased at the office of the judge of probate and all fees collected pursuant to this act shall be deposited in the county general fund.

“Section 2. All laws or parts of laws which conflict with this act are repealed.

“Section 3. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the governor, or it’s otherwise becoming law.”

The resolution passed by the commission calls for the county not to exceed 75 percent of the rate schedule set by the Alabama League of Municipalities for municipal business licenses. The proposed local bill does not address a maximum percentage.

Commission chairman Tim Mims said yesterday the local bill would allow the commission to collect a license fee but does not set a schedule for the fees. “The commission’s work on the license schedule is on going,” Mims said, adding he believed a cap will be set on how much a business will be asked to pay for a license.

Some counties bordering on Chilton County charge a county business license others don’t. A spokesman in the Coosa County Courthouse said Coosa County does sell county business licenses. Bibb and Autauga counties sell county business licenses “as part of the state business licenses.” Shelby and Elmore counting do not sell county business licenses.

As a local bill, the measure can become law if a majority of both houses of the Alabama Legislature approve its passage.