HB283 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Joe FaustBarry MaskPhil WilliamsRobert BentleyWarren Beck

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Library boards, county and municipal boards, additional members, terms, Sec. 11-90-2 am'd.

Summary

HB283 lets counties and municipalities add members to public library boards beyond the existing five and sets four-year term limits with diversity reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the appointment of additional members to library boards by the county commission or governing body of a county or city. The initial terms for new members may be up to four years, and after the first term all library board terms may not exceed four years. The board must be inclusive and reflect the state's diversity, and it must annually report on diversity compliance to the Alabama Public Library Service and then to the Legislature. It also preserves existing rules about filling vacancies (by the appointing authority) and that members serve without compensation; a separate provision does not apply in counties with a local library entity that only distributes sales tax funds.

Who It Affects

• County commissions and municipal governing bodies: they can appoint additional library board members, set initial terms for new members, and must fill vacancies; they operate under the same four-year term limit thereafter.
• Public library boards, existing and new members, and county residents: boards may grow beyond five members, must ensure diversity, must report diversity compliance annually, and board members serve without pay.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes adding members to public library boards beyond the current five-member structure; appointments are made by the county commission or municipal governing body.
• Initial terms for new members appointed under the new authority may be up to four years; thereafter, all terms for all members may not exceed four years.
• Existing five-member board terms are staggered initially, but after the first term, all appointments are for four years.
• Vacancies on the library board are filled by the appointing authority; board members serve without compensation.
• Subsection (b) permitting additional members does not apply in counties with a local library entity that only distributes funds from a local sales tax and does not govern public libraries.
• Library boards must be inclusive and reflect diversity of race, gender, geography, urban/rural status, and economy; boards must annually report diversity compliance to the Alabama Public Library Service and then to the Legislature.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Library Boards