SB131 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Hartselle, board of education, election of members, qualifications, terms, compensation, chair, referendum

Summary

SB131 lets Hartselle vote to switch its City Board of Education from appointed to elected, and if approved, creates a five-member at-large board with defined terms, qualifications, and governance rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes a refer­endum in Hartselle to change the City Board of Education from appointed to elected; if a majority votes yes, an elected board is established and local law may further define its operation. The new board consists of five at-large members who must reside in Hartselle, meet age and qualification requirements, and receive an initial monthly compensation of 500, with later pay set by the board. Vacancies are filled by the board, then by the City Council, and finally by the State Superintendent if needed, with appointees required to reside in Hartselle; terms are aligned with the city council and may be staggered. The act also requires annual independent audits of the school system, preserves existing employee and contract rights, transfers property and records to the new board, and ensures compliance with federal voting rights laws.

Who It Affects

• Residents and voters of the City of Hartselle, who would decide in a referendum whether to elect the city’s Board of Education and, if approved, would elect five at-large board members who govern the city school system.
• The current appointed Hartselle City Board of Education and the City Council, who would transition to a new elected board structure, participate in vacancy processes, and have roles defined for governance and oversight under the new system.

Key Provisions

• Authorization of a municipal referendum to change the Hartselle City Board of Education from appointed to elected; if approved, the elected board is established and local laws may govern its operation.
• Board composition: five at-large members elected by city voters residing in Hartselle; terms tied to city council terms with potential staggered terms set by local law; initial election aligned with the next general municipal election after DOJ approval.
• Candidate qualifications: at least 19 years old, resident and qualified voter of Hartselle for at least 90 consecutive days, no conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude; qualification fee equal to that for city council seats and credited to the city general fund.
• Vacancies: filled first by the remaining board, then by the City Council, and if necessary by the State Superintendent; appointees must reside in Hartselle and serve the unexpired term.
• Governance and duties: chair and vice chair elected from the board; detailed duties for the chair include presiding over meetings, setting agendas, public notices, maintaining order, and promoting the school system; board powers and responsibilities align with applicable law and transition from the prior board.
• Finances and accountability: an independent auditing firm will annually audit the city school system and the board; audit results are public and shared with the Examiners of Public Accounts; compensation for initial members is $500 per month, with future pay set by the board.
• Federal compliance and safeguards: the city must ensure the act complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act; transition includes transfer of property, records, and employee rights; existing contracts and civil actions are preserved.

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

Subjects

Morgan County