HB439 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Marcel Black

Democrat

Co-Sponsor

John W. Rogers

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

University of Alabama, board of trustees, age requirement altered, Section 264 (Section 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Summary

The bill would amend Alabama's constitution to raise the University of Alabama Board of Trustees age limit from 70 to 75 and require the board to be diverse in its composition.

What This Bill Does

If passed, trustees would have to retire at age 75 instead of 70. The board's size and structure would change to include two members from each congressional district, plus an additional trustee from the district that includes the first UA campus, along with the superintendent of education and the governor as ex officio president. It would set terms for new and continuing trustees (up to six years for initial and subsequent terms, with a limit of three consecutive six-year terms) and require Senate confirmation for trustees, plus annual reporting to the Legislature on board diversity.

Who It Affects

• Members of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees—subject to new retirement age, expanded membership, term limits, and appointment/confirmation rules.
• Alabama residents and taxpayers—impact on university governance and mandatory diversity reporting to the Legislature; governor and superintendent of education would hold ex officio roles on the board.

Key Provisions

• Increase the age limit for service on the UA Board of Trustees from 70 to 75.
• Expand board membership to include two trustees from each congressional district, plus an additional trustee from the district containing the first UA campus site, the superintendent of education, and the governor as ex officio president.
• Provide that trustees retire at the annual meeting following their 75th birthday; establish terms of up to six years for new and continuing trustees with staggered expirations and a limit of three consecutive six-year terms.
• Require the board to be inclusive and reflect the state's racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity; annual reporting to the Legislature on diversity compliance.
• Set appointment and vacancy procedures: existing board elects new trustees; Senate confirms; vacancies filled by the remaining board; names certified to the Senate by the superintendent of education each legislative session.
• Limit compensation to actual expenses; allow an honorary 'trustee emeritus' title upon retirement, with no duties or rights.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

University of Alabama