HB542 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Yvonne Kennedy

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

James E. BuskeyRandy DavisVictor GastonJamie IsonJim BartonNapoleon Bracy

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

University of South Alabama, president authorized to employ police officers, duties

Summary

HB542 would let the University of South Alabama's president hire campus police and define their duties to protect people and property on campus.

What This Bill Does

The president may appoint campus police officers to maintain peace and protect university property. The officers would have police powers on campus, including ejecting trespassers, arresting without a warrant for disorderly conduct or trespass on university property, and arresting with a warrant for offenses on or near campus. They may summon a posse comitatus and must coordinate with Mobile and Fairhope police, with their jurisdiction aligned to those cities' police areas.

Who It Affects

• University of South Alabama students, faculty, staff, and visitors on campus, who could be subject to campus police enforcement and arrests.
• Municipal police in Mobile and Fairhope and their residents, since the university officers’ jurisdiction would align with those cities and require cooperation.

Key Provisions

• The President of the University of South Alabama may appoint and employ suitable persons to serve as police officers to maintain peace, order, and protect university property.
• Officers may eject trespassers, arrest without a warrant for disorderly conduct or trespass on university property, and arrest with a warrant for public offenses on or near university premises, bringing suspects before the proper court.
• Officers may summon a posse comitatus.
• Officers must cooperate with the municipal authorities of Mobile and Fairhope, and their jurisdiction will be coextensive with those municipalities’ police jurisdictions; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month 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

University of South Alabama