SB395 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Harri Anne Smith
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Municipalities, elected officials, mayor and council members, attendance at meetings, removal from office for missed meeting under certain conditions, exception for military service, reinstatement
Summary: SB395 creates automatic removal from office for certain Alabama municipal officials who miss all council or commission meetings for 90 consecutive days, with attendance records, a path to reinstatement for extenuating circumstances, and an exception for military service.
What This Bill Does
If a municipal official misses all regular and special called meetings for 90 consecutive days, starting from the date of the absence, they would be removed from office by operation of law. The clerk must keep a record of attendance at every council or commission meeting, even when there is no quorum. At the next meeting after removal, the council or commission may reinstate the official for mitigating or extenuating circumstances, by a majority vote of the remaining voting members, including the mayor if the mayor is a voting member. If the council or commission does not reinstate the official, the vacancy would be filled as provided by law; the act also provides an exception for military service.

Who It Affects
Elected municipal officials (mayors, council members, and commission members) who miss meetings and could be removed after 90 consecutive days of absence.
Municipal governing bodies (council or commission) and their staff (clerks) who must record attendance and decide on reinstatement or vacancy filling.

Key Provisions
Defines 'elected municipal official' as a mayor, council member, or commission member whose attendance counts toward establishing a quorum.
Any elected municipal official who misses all regular and special meetings for 90 consecutive days is removed from office by operation of law.
The clerk must record attendance at each regular or special meeting, regardless of whether a quorum is present.
The council or commission may reinstate the removed official at the next meeting for mitigating or extenuating circumstances by a majority vote of the remaining voting members (including the mayor if the mayor is a voting member).
If not reinstated, the vacancy is filled as provided by law.
The provision does not apply to absence due to military service.
The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage.

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