SB62 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Lowell Barron
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Alabama Surface Mining Commission, meeting days altered, fees, licenses and renewals, contracts with attorneys as hearing officers authorized, requirement for citations compelling attendance at hearings deleted if cessation order issued, Secs. 9-16-73, 9-16-74, 9-16-77, 9-16-78, 9-16-81, 9-16-93 am'd.
Summary: SB62 updates how the Alabama Surface Mining Commission runs, how licensing and fees work, and how hearings are handled.
What This Bill Does
The bill requires the Commission to meet at least once a month and lets it charge fees for training, examinations, and certification. It authorizes hiring or contracting with attorneys to serve as hearing officers, and it removes the rule that these officers must have offices in separate facilities. It creates a licensing framework with a $1,000 initial fee and annual renewal updates, requires reapplication for existing licensees within 90 days of the act, and requires payment of any overdue fines before new licenses are granted.

Who It Affects
Surface coal mining operators and licensees, who face new licensing requirements, renewal fees, and potential conditions on their permits.
The Alabama Surface Mining Commission and its members/staff, who gain new authority to hire hearing officers, set fees, and adjust meeting practices, compensation, and ethics rules.
Attorneys and hearing officers, who may be hired or contracted to handle hearings and appeals.
The general public, which will have access to meeting records and participate in public hearings when required.

Key Provisions
The Commission must meet at least once per month instead of every 30 days.
The Commission may establish and charge reasonable fees for training programs, examinations, and certification of personnel involved in surface coal mining.
The Commission may hire or contract with attorneys to serve as hearing officers, and hearing officers may be located separately from the Commission’s main offices; the requirement for separate facilities is removed.
The Commission may establish fees for initial surface mining licenses ($1,000) and annual license updates; licensees must renew annually and comply with related regulations; existing licensees must reapply within 90 days of the act’s effective date with a $200 application fee, and all prior debts must be paid before issuing a new license.
Existing rules that required inspectors to issue citations compelling attendance at expeditious hearings before a hearing officer upon a cessation order are removed.
A Division of Hearings and Appeals is created within the Commission to handle appeals, with designated hearing officers and a chief hearing officer to manage case assignment and administration.
Commission members are prohibited from having direct or indirect financial interests in coal mining operations, with penalties for violations, reinforcing ethical standards.

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