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In Legal Terms
- Volume 53, Number 4 - 2009
The Association’s Legislative Committee serves as the backbone of ACCA’s legislative initiative.
This time of year is always hectic at the Association office. Not because we are all getting ready for the holidays, but because we are getting ready for the upcoming legislative session. It is a little more hectic every fourth year when the legislature begins in January rather than February so that the session will end a little earlier and the legislators can concentrate on campaigning for their re-election.
Of course, this is that fourth year so we are scrambling to get prepared before January 12, 2010, gets here.
There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into development of the ACCA Legislative Program, and most of that work involves participation from the ACCA membership. Shortly after taking office in August, the incoming ACCA President appoints county officials and key staff to serve on five subject-matter steering committees charged with reviewing the current legislative program for possible changes, identifying new legislative issues affecting county government, and suggesting new legislative priorities for the upcoming session. These committees will be meeting during the month of November to review last year’s program for any needed changes and to consider what new issues should be included for 2010. These committees play a vital role in the legislative development process – it is here that ACCA staff learns about new items to include in the program and where new approaches to old problems are considered and developed.
There is another group which always serves a critical role in the development of the ACCA legislative program – the ACCA Legislative Committee elected by the membership at the ACCA Annual Convention each year in August. This committee has a representative from each of the twelve ACCA districts. Additionally, all past presidents serve on this committee as long as they remain in office. The immediate past president serves as its chair. The list of this year’s Legislative Committee is set out on page 9. While the persons serving on the steering committees are asked to participate by the new ACCA president, members of the Legislative Committee have volunteered themselves by seeking election to the office – and have shown their commitment to county government by asking for the ACCA membership to select them to serve in this role.
The Legislative Committee has always been important to the development of the legislative program. However, that role has been somewhat limited in past years. Traditionally, the Committee has met after all of the steering committees have completed their work to review the proposed program and make final recommendations to the ACCA Board of Directors and membership on the final program to be voted on at the Legislative Conference. While this is clearly important work, there has been a sense that this group has been underutilized in years past. Therefore, in developing plans for development of this year’s legislative program, the ACCA staff made a few changes to ensure this committee plays an active and ongoing role.
First of all, five members of the Legislative Committee agreed to serve as chairs of the five steering committees. This will allow input from the Legislative Committee throughout the development process and provide more structure to the subject matter committees. Legislative Committee members serving as chairs are: Hon. Louis Maxwell, Environmental and Land Use; Hon. Jay Thompson, County Administration; Hon. Perry Gwin, Public Works and Rural Transportation; Hon. Albert Green, Finance and Taxation; and Hon. Merceria Ludgood, Justice and Public Safety.
Next, while in the past, the Committee has only met after the steering committees have completed their work, this year’s committee met before the steering committees to make some preliminary recommendations of issues to be considered for the upcoming year and to consider what role they should play during the legislative session. At the meeting held in September, committee members were asked for their thoughts and ideas for increasing their involvement throughout the year. This highly-energetic group responded by recommending that they be called upon more often during the legislative session and be responsible for communicating with other officials and employees in their district about important issues during the legislative session. This request was granted and the schedule of County Legislative Action Days now includes two appointed days during the session for members of the Legislative Committee to come to the Alabama State House to visit with legislators on issues important to county government. And a list of county contacts is being developed for Legislative Committee members so they will be prepared to communicate with fellow county officials in their district when the need arises.
These changes are exciting and so far, have proved to be incredibly successful. The first Legislative Committee meeting was very well attended and the substantive discussion related to legislative issues and strategy will be extremely helpful both in finalizing this year’s
program and in preparing for county participation during the legislative session. The energy and enthusiasm of the Legislative Committee, which includes several newly-elected officials this year, is also very exciting. It is always
gratifying when people show their dedication not only their county but
to county government throughout the state by volunteering their time to various committees and projects, but it is certainly impressive when a group of people already asked to devote their time to a cause asks to be called on more frequently. Time will tell whether the increased involvement of ACCA’s Legislative Committee will have a positive impact on county successes during the 2010 legislative session, but I have every confidence it will.
The development of the ACCA legislative program is now well underway and county officials will be asked to adopt an ambitious program at this year’s Legislative Conference. The success of that program will, as always, depend on the work done by counties both at home and in Montgomery. I hope all county officials and employees will follow the example set by the Legislative Committee and stand ready to actively participate when
the call for help goes out. I feel sure that – as in years past – you will.
Meet the 2009-2010 ACCA Legislative Committee...
CHAIRMAN: Hon. Joe Faulk, Elmore County Commissioner
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES: Hon. Greg Norton, District 1, Lamar County; Hon. Bob Harrison, District 2, Madison County; Hon. Perry Gwin, District 3, Etowah County; Hon. Ken Livingston, District 4, Morgan County; Hon. Jim Carns, District 5, Jefferson County; Hon. Al Green, District 6, Bibb County; Hon. Dwight Williamson, District 7, Cleburne County; Hon. Louis Maxwell, District 8, Macon County; Hon. Jay Thompson, District 9, Autauga County; Hon. Allen Bailey, District 10, Washington County; Hon. Dean Smith, District 11, Coffee County; and Hon. Merceria Ludgood, District 12, Mobile County
PAST PRESIDENTS: Hon. Jerold Dean, Conecuh County; Hon. Rhondel Rhone, Clarke County; Hon. Stan Batemon, St. Clair County; Hon. Bruce Hamrick, Walker County; Hon. Mark Culver, Houston County; Hon. Roger Hayes, Winston County; Hon. Hardy McCollum, Tuscaloosa County; and Hon. James “Pappy” Dunn, Calhoun County
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