HB159 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul DeMarco

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Jefferson Co., county manager, county commission required to hire, employment in non-merit (at-will) position, qualifications, term, benefits, duties, filling vacancies, Act 2009-662, 2009 Reg. Sess.; Act 2009-812, 2009 1st Sp. Sess. am'd.

Summary

HB159 creates and amends Jefferson County's county-manager system to appoint a full-time county manager with a five-year term, staff authority, and strong county-wide powers, all under commission oversight.

What This Bill Does

The bill reworks the Jefferson County county-manager system by establishing a full-time county manager who serves a five-year term and can be removed by the county commission for cause. It sets a four-fifths voting threshold to hire the manager, requires a national search for vacancies, and allows abolition of the position only by a unanimous vote. It sets specific qualifications, requires a bond, and requires the salary to be at least the median for similar southeastern counties, with travel, relocation, and benefits allowed; the manager is exempt from the merit system. It grants broad authority to hire and supervise staff and manage budgets and operations, while giving the county commission certain oversight on department-head appointments and requiring compliance with anti-discrimination rules; it also includes rules for acting managers and potential severance if the manager is terminated without cause.

Who It Affects

• Jefferson County residents and taxpayers — governance changes, including how the county manager is hired, paid, and removed, and how budgets and staff decisions are made, which could affect county services and finances.
• Jefferson County employees and department heads — changes in hiring, supervision, and dismissal authority, eligibility for benefits, and the process for staffing decisions under a new county-manager structure.

Key Provisions

• The county commission may hire an at-will county manager (serving as chief executive) with a five-year term and subject to removal provisions; abolition of the position requires a unanimous vote.
• A vacancy requires a national search firm and a four-fifths commission vote to hire; applicants are reviewed, finalists named, and hired only after a four-fifths vote.
• Qualifications require a Master's in Public Administration, MBA, or JD, or at least 10 years of executive-level experience; the manager is a full-time county employee and must post a nonrecourse bond of at least $50,000.
• The manager's salary must be at least the median for similar counties in the southeastern U.S.; the manager may participate in county benefit plans and travel/relocation expenses may be paid.
• Removal for cause requires a four-fifths vote; if removed without cause, a severance of up to three months' salary may be provided; due-process procedures apply for removal.
• The manager acts as the chief administrative officer, oversees all departments (except elected officials and certain non-merit positions), and appoints department heads and most county staff in consultation with the commission; the commission can veto certain appointments and may terminate department heads by specified voting rules.
• The manager has duties to manage budgets, conduct program reviews, and propose organizational changes; may hire a non-merit secretary, up to two deputy managers, and a chief financial officer, all with the commission's approval, and staff may participate in county benefits.
• Acting county managers may be appointed for vacancies, temporary absences, or disabilities for up to 12 months, with provisions to appoint another acting manager if needed; election-related restrictions and other details are specified for continuity.
• Section 9 repeals Section 7 of Act 2009-812; the act becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Jefferson County