SB90 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Roger Bedford, Jr.
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Water and sewer services, municipal corporation boards of directors, and municipal and county boards of directors of water, sewer, and fire protection authorities, compensation increased, Prichard excepted, Secs. 11-50-15, 11-50-313, 11-88-6 am'd.
Summary: SB90 would raise and standardize compensation for directors and chairs of water, sewer, and fire protection authorities and their municipal and county boards, while also changing board size and governance rules.
What This Bill Does
It increases compensation for board members and chairs of municipal water/sewer/fire protection authorities and for county/municipal boards of those authorities, with detailed per-meeting and yearly caps that vary by system type and location. It allows public corporations to pay director fees in lieu of statutory fees, subject to limits and exceptions (no fee for sanitary sewer, plus system-based add-ons). It updates board size and terms, allowing expansion from 3 to up to 7 members in many cases, with staggered terms and elections by the municipality's governing body, and it sets residency/ownership requirements and expense reimbursement rules. It provides special fee structures for Jefferson and Franklin County and includes exceptions noting that certain cities (e.g., Montgomery, Birmingham) are not affected in the same way.

Who It Affects
Directors and chairs of municipal water, sewer, and fire protection authorities, and the county/municipal boards of those authorities, who would receive higher, structured compensation and expense reimbursement.
Municipalities and counties that govern or operate these authorities, which would adjust board size (up to 7 members in many cases) and governance rules, including how directors are elected and how terms are set.

Key Provisions
Fee authorization and amounts: allows public corporations to pay directors' fees in lieu of statutory fees, with per-meeting limits (e.g., chairs up to a cap depending on the system, plus annual caps) and additional system allowances; no fee for sanitary sewer system;
Location-based and system-based pay scales: compensation schedules vary by system ownership (water, gas, electric) and by municipality population bands, with specific per-meeting and per-year caps and added system allowances (e.g., for multiple systems); Birmingham's current fees are explicitly not affected by these amendments;
Board size and terms: authorizes increasing the board from 3 to 5 or 7 members in many municipalities/counties, with staggered initial terms (e.g., 4-year and 6-year terms) and subsequent 6-year terms; directors are elected by the municipal governing body; limits on the number of municipal officers serving as directors;
Special county rules: Jefferson County and Franklin County have unique monthly fee structures for chairs and members (different caps per system and per month, with possible higher chair fees in Franklin County); all directors are reimbursed for actual expenses;
Eligibility and governance: requires residency and real property ownership in the service area for directors, prohibits officers from serving while holding municipal/state office, and provides for expenses reimbursement; includes provisions to handle expansion when service areas annex or transfer responsibilities; contains exceptions for Montgomery and Birmingham and notes these changes do not affect certain existing arrangements.

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