HB200 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Schools, special school tax elections, procedures, certain elections to be held in conjunction with general or primary elections, payment of costs, Secs. 16-13-160 to 16-13-162, inclusive, 16-13-164, 16-13-180, 16-13-183 to 16-13-185, inclusive, am'd.; Secs. 16-13-181, 16-13-186 repealed

Summary

HB200 changes who pays for special school tax elections and adds procedures and timing for when those elections can be held to decide on a 1-mill school tax.

What This Bill Does

It requires citizens or the county or municipal boards of education requesting a special school tax election to follow specific procedures, including time frames for holding the election with a primary or general election or as a stand-alone election. It shifts the cost of a special election to the school board, requiring them to pay all election costs and reimburse the county for expenditures within set timelines, with some costs reimbursed if the election is held alongside a regular election. It sets scheduling rules (minimum lead times, restrictions around primaries/general elections, and possible alternative dates) and requires the county to set election dates within a limited period. It also requires notice and ballot wording to reflect the proposed tax and purpose, repeals two existing sections, and becomes effective immediately upon enactment.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: County and municipal boards of education and the county commission, who must follow the new procedures and bear or reimburse election costs for special school tax elections.
• Group 2: Citizens/electors who petition for a special school tax election, whose signatures trigger the process and whose petition timing affects whether the election is held with a primary/general election or as a stand-alone event.

Key Provisions

• Allows a 1-mill special school tax election to be triggered by a petition signed by 200 or more qualified electors and sets that the election can be held in conjunction with a primary/general election if the petition is filed at least 45 days before the election.
• Requires the county or municipal boards of education to agree to pay all costs of the election, with specific timing: stand-alone elections require costs to be paid within 30 days of invoice; joint elections may involve state and board reimbursements for certain expenses.
• Specifies date-setting rules: special elections must be not less than 90 days from the board of education's resolution; cannot be held during 45 days before a primary and 45 days after a general election; if burdens are shown, an alternative date near the requested one may be set.
• Outlines election administration and notice requirements, including publication, ballot format showing 'For proposed taxation' and 'Against proposed taxation,' and procedures for canvassing and reporting results.
• Repeals Sections 16-13-181 and 16-13-186 and makes the act effective immediately upon passage.

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

Subjects

Education