HB54 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Elections, expenses reimbursable by state, Election Expense Reimbursement Committee, established, Sec. 17-16-2.1 added; Secs. 17-16-2, 17-16-4 am'd.

Summary

HB54 would expand which election expenses counties can be reimbursed for and create a committee to identify additional eligible costs.

What This Bill Does

It expands the state's reimbursement of county election expenses to include more costs for elections with federal or state offices on the ballot. It adds publication, absentee-related costs, postage, ballots and supplies, lists of qualified electors, and per diem/mileage for election workers to the reimbursable expenses, subject to approval by a new Election Expense Reimbursement Committee. It creates the committee to identify other eligible expenses and set rules for adding them to the reimbursable list, and sets a timeline for approving and distributing the list to counties. The list applies to all elections until amended, and the bill clarifies that a federal/state candidate includes district representation on the ballot. The act would take effect immediately upon passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Counties and their election officials who would be able to be reimbursed for a broader set of election costs and would need to use the new list of reimbursable expenses.
• State and county-level election administrators (including the Comptroller, Secretary of State, county commissions, and probate judges) who would implement, distribute, and administer the approved expense list and reimbursements.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 17-16-2 and 17-16-4 and adds Section 17-16-2.1 to expand and define reimbursable election expenses.
• Adds six enumerated expense categories (and any other items approved by the Election Expense Reimbursement Committee) to be reimbursable, including publication-related costs and absentee-related costs.
• Creates the Election Expense Reimbursement Committee with specified members (including the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, Director of Finance, and chairs of relevant Senate and House committees).
• Requires the committee to meet at least 90 days before the state primary to develop and approve the reimbursable expense list, which the Comptroller then distributes to county officials at least 60 days before the primary; the list remains in effect until amended, with changes requiring notice and approval aperiodic prior to the next primary.
• Defines that a candidate for federal or state office includes district-level candidates appearing on the ballot anywhere in a county.
• Effective date: the act takes effect immediately upon passage and 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

Elections