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2008 Regular Legislative Session OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST TO COUNTIES
In addition to ACCA and Danger Bills, ACCA staff is presently tracking more than 300 other bills that may have some impact on counties if passed. Many of these are being watched to ensure that they are not amended during the process in a manner that would negatively impact county government. This report includes Bills of Interest to Counties that have been approved by a legislative committee or have passed in either the House or Senate. ACCA staff will continue to carefully monitor these and other legislation introduced in the coming days, and will report bills to counties as they begin to move through the process.
To track other local bills, click Status of Local Bills.
HB7 by Rep. Hurst
This bill, which has been introduced in several prior sessions, authorizes the appointment of alternate poll workers in the event that workers originally selected do not appear. The bill makes clear that alternate workers will only be entitled to compensation in the event that they are actually called to work.
STATUS: This bill, and HB13 reported below, are out of committee and were the subject of debate on the House floor, but carried over by the sponsor due to questions raised about how the alternate poll workers would be selected.
HB13 by Rep. Hurst
SB38 by Sen. Denton
These bills are similar to HB7; however, these bills allow for the Legislature
to pass local laws providing for the appointment of alternate workers.
HB9 by Rep. Newton (C)
SB9 by Sen. Coleman
SB66 by Sen. Mitchell
These bills would require a write-in candidate to register with the Secretary of State (or probate judge for local races) and comply with all provisions of the Fair Campaign Practices Act and State Ethics Law.
STATUS: HB9 is out of committee. The Senate versions are awaiting committee action.
HB16 by Rep. McClendon
SB121 by Sen. Butler
These bills would authorize the Department of Transportation and county commissions to designate as safety zones sections of highways where large numbers of accidents have occurred or where other factors raise safety concerns and would impose an additional $100 penalty for moving violations in such zones.
STATUS: SB121 is out of committee in its original form. However, the Association will attempt to amend the House version in committee to remove county roads from the provisions of this bill.
HB18 by Rep. McClendon
This bill provides that the court may order a municipal defendant housed in the county jail to reimburse the municipality for all costs it must pay to the county for housing the defendant.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting floor action in the House.
HB19 by Rep. Hill
SB64 by Sen. Mitchell
These bills make technical changes to the procedures for redemption of property following a tax sale. Among other things, the bill would provide for the rights of a tax sale purchaser where the proceedings were defective, provide who may redeem the property and when the land may be redeemed, and would provide that the property be treated as residential property for tax purposes as long as the original owner remains in possession of the property.
STATUS: HB19 has passed the House and is pending committee in the Senate. SB64 is out of committee.
HB20 by Rep. Ball
SB210 by Sen. Orr
These bills would require a public official or his or her spouse to disclose any public employment or public contracts to the State Ethics Commission.
STATUS: The bill is out of committee and awaiting floor action in the House.
HB22 by Rep. Ward
This bill would authorize municipal law enforcement officers from municipalities with a population of 7,000 or more to enforce speed limits on interstate highways in the municipality. Currently, only officers in municipalities of 19,000 or more are permitted to enforce such limits.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting floor action in the House.
HB28 by Rep. Irons
SB34 by Sen. Penn
This bill proposes a comprehensive revision of Alabama’s juvenile justice law, including cases involving dependency, children in need of services, and delinquency. The bill retains current law regarding the financial responsibilities of the county related to the detention and provision for juveniles, but as written does not increase the county’s duties. However, the bill does propose changes in current law that could reduce the number of juveniles held in detention pending hearings (at the county’s expense) and those juveniles ordered into the custody of a state agency for treatment or detention.
STATUS: SB34 is out of committee. A vote on HB28 is expected soon in the House Judiciary Committee.
HB54 by Rep. Hilliard
This bill would require all local school boards to adopt and implement school safety plans and protocols, and to share the plans with appropriate emergency personnel and agencies.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting floor action in the House.
HB58 by Rep. Galliher
SB381 by Sen. Mitchell
This bill proposes several changes in the State competitive bid law, including an increase in the minimum bid limit to $15,000, provisions for interstate joint purchasing agreements and alliances, provisions for electronic signatures for purchases under the bid law, and provisions allowing agencies to consider “life cycle” costs in determining the lowest responsible bidder. These proposed changes would not apply to or affect the competitive bid law applicable to local governmental entities.
STATUS: HB58 has passed the House and is pending committee action in the Senate. SB381 is still in committee.
HB69 by Rep. DeMarco
SB129 by Sen. Waggoner
SB234 by Sen. Smitherman
This bill provides increased penalties for violations of state and federal regulations regarding the transporting of metal coils on commercial vehicles. The bill has the potential to increase county jail time for repeat offenders.
STATUS: HB69 has passed the House and is now pending in the Senate. The Senate bills are out of committee and awaiting floor action.
HB70 by Rep. Spicer
This bill, which is part of a package of bills recommended by a statewide committee on infrastructure, would allow the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority to privatize future roads and allow the authority or its designee to collect tolls on the road, and to enter into joint ventures with private parties to build toll roads. The bill would also remove the existing prohibitions regarding bonded indebtedness and collection of tolls on certain tunnels and bridges that become part of the federal system.
STATUS: This bill has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate.
HB75 by Rep. Hinshaw
SB402 by Sen. Smitherman
These bills would require disclosure of information relating to the source of
funding for any electioneering communications and paid political advertising. These requirements would apply to state and local elections.
STATUS: HB75 has passed in the House and is now pending in the Senate Constitution and Elections Committee. SB402 is also pending in this committee.
HB77 by Rep. Dunn
This bill would require the installation of interlock ignition devices on vehicles owned or operated by certain persons convicted of driving under the influence. The convicted person would be responsible for the cost of the device, and would be subject to penalties for failure to comply with the requirements of the law.
STATUS: The bill has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate.
HB80 by Rep. Salaam
This bill, which has been introduced each year for several years, would prohibit the transfer of funds from one political action committee to another. Several versions of this bill have been introduced in the House and Senate.
STATUS: HB80 has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.
HB84 by Rep. McMillan
This bill would provide for the judge of probate to record applications and orders related to municipal incorporations and would require that an
administrative record of such proceedings be kept in the probate office.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting action on the House Floor.
HB114 by Rep. Hill
This bill proposes comprehensive changes to the law providing for the creation and administration of improvement districts. The bill is intended to make this process more “user-friendly.” ACCA staff is continuing to review the bill to determine its impact on county government and the current improvement district process.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting action on the House Floor.
HB121 by Rep. Hill
This bill establishes a Building Code Council to adopt a state residential and commercial code and creates advisory committees to oversee and advise the Council regarding building code matters.
STATUS: This bill has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate Economic Expansion and Trade Committee.
HB123 by Rep. Ward
This bill would establish a Transportation Commission, with members appointed by the Governor, and would, among other things, provide for the Commission to appoint the director of the Department of Transportation and be responsible for the long-range planning of the Department.
STATUS: This bill has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
HB126 by Rep. Morrow
SB59 by Sen. Bedford
These bills establish separate titling provisions and procedures for manufactured homes.
STATUS: HB126 has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee. SB59 is out of committee and awaiting floor action.
HB234 by Rep. Thigpen
SB305 by Sen. Ross
These bills provide extensive abatements and tax credits for new business ventures offering research and/or utilization of various alternative fuels. The sponsors and promoters of this legislation worked with ACCA staff to amend the bill to ensure that no county taxes are abated without the consent of the county commission.
STATUS: Both bills are out of committee and are expected to receive priority treatment for passage in their respective houses.
HB238 by Rep. Jackson
SB352 by Sen. Griffith
These bills allow commercial vehicles with functioning auxiliary power or idle reduction technology an additional 440 pounds of weight in excess of the statutory weight limits set for such vehicles.
STATUS: HB238 has passed the House and is pending action by the Senate Commerce, Transportation, and Utilities Committee. SB352 is still pending committee action.
HB242 by Rep. Wren
SB309 by Sen. Mitchem
These bills would require the Alabama Building Commission to adopt 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and any subsequent updates to this Code.
STATUS: HB242 has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. SB309 is still pending committee action.
HB265 by Rep. Allen
This bill would authorize a county public park authority to establish motor parks, speedways and track facilities.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting action on the House floor.
HB295 by Rep. Gaston
SB7 by Sen. Benefield
These bills would prohibit the publication of Social Security numbers on documents recorded in probate offices and would authorize the judge of probate to redact the numbers where necessary. The bills include a provision granting immunity for public officials and employees for good-faith errors.
STATUS: Both bills are out of committee and awaiting floor action.
HB310 by Rep. Canfield
This bill would authorize the county commission to establish reduced-speed limits for school zones in the unincorporated areas of county, and would double fines for violation of the reduced limit. The county commission would be required to post signs regarding the reduced speed limit adopted.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting for action in the House.
HB434 by Rep. Scott
This bill would authorize a municipal planning commission to reduce the territorial jurisdiction upon adoption of a resolution by the commission. The bill requires that the planning commission provide the county commission with a copy of the resolution within five days of adoption.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting floor action in the House.
HB459 by Rep. Morrow
SB338 by Sen. Little (T)
These bills would provide for the authorization, regulation and procedure for the siting and installation of wireless communications facilities in accordance with local planning and zoning regulations. The bill would allow counties some participation in this process, but would not allow for the prohibition of such facilities.
STATUS: SB338 is out of committee and awaiting Senate Floor action. HB459 is pending action in the House Commerce Committee.
SB4 by Sen. Bedford
This bill increases the limits of liability insurance required under the Safety Responsibility Act.
STATUS: This bill, which was vetoed by the Governor last year, has passed the Senate and is out of committee in the House.
SB78 by Sen. Means
This bill would expand the duties of the Joint Transportation Committee to authorize the Committee to require the Department of Transportation to adopt long-range transportation plans and to more directly oversee the operations of that agency.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting Senate floor action.
SB130 by Sen. Ross
This bill creates a fund for railroad rehabilitation and improvement projects to be administered by the Department of Transportation. The bill allows for grant programs and no-cost loans for approved projects.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting Senate floor action.
SB139 by Sen. Smitherman
This bill would prohibit an employer from firing an employee solely or substantially for making a workers’ compensation claim.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting Senate floor action.
SB141 by Sen. Smitherman
This bill proposes to require local approval for an on-premises license to sell beer and wine. Current law only requires licensing for such on-premise sales from the ABC Board.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting Senate floor action.
SB366 by Sen. Griffith
This bill would specifically authorize state and local entities and employees and nonprofit organizations, associations and institutions to purchase prisoner-made products directly from the Department of Corrections and would authorize the sale of such products. The bill would also specifically authorize the Department of Corrections to contract with private industry to establish work-oriented rehabilitation programs on property owned or operated by the Department or any prison facility housing inmates sentenced to the department.
STATUS: This bill is out of committee and awaiting action on the Senate floor.
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