HB545 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe Faust

Republican

Co-Sponsors

K.L. BrownTerri CollinsDan WilliamsEd HenryMark Tuggle

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Mayor, power to make appointments, specified, Sec. 11-43-81 am'd.

Summary

HB545 clarifies that the mayor appoints city officers unless state law says otherwise and adds a public input process if a city's population crosses 12,000 to change the form of government.

What This Bill Does

It states the mayor has the power to appoint all officers not provided for by state law and may remove them for good cause, with temporary or permanent vacancy filling depending on who appointed or elected the officer and a required reporting to the council after a removal. It adds a public hearing within 180 days after census figures indicate a population change to 12,000 or more and lets residents petition for a municipal election within 60 days of the hearing to decide whether to change the form of government, with the election held within 90 days. If the majority votes for change, the change proceeds; if the majority votes against, it does not; if no petition is filed, the change takes effect as provided by law. It also exempts certain classes of municipalities and sets an effective date.

Who It Affects

• Mayors and city officers, who gain a clarified authority to appoint officers not set by state law and defined rules for removal and vacancy filling.
• Residents and voters in municipalities that may reach or have reached 12,000 in population, who gain rights to a public hearing and potential referendum on changing the form of government, including petition and election timelines.

Key Provisions

• Clarifies mayoral appointment power: the mayor may appoint all officers whose appointment is not provided for by state law.
• Removal and vacancy rules for officers: the mayor may remove officers for good cause; vacancies may be filled permanently if the mayor appointed the officer, or temporarily if the officer was elected by the council or appointed with its consent, with report to the council and due process hearing if requested.
• Public hearing and referendum on population-change: within 180 days after preliminary census figures show population will reach 12,000 or more, a public hearing is required, and a petition by 10% of electors within 60 days can trigger a municipal election within 90 days to decide whether to change the form of government.
• Exemptions and effective date: Class 1, 3, 4, and 5 municipalities are excluded from the act, and the bill becomes effective on the first day of the third month after 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

Mayors