SB168 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: J.T. WaggonerSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Jefferson Co., county employees, certain positions to be employees at-will, transfer from classified to unclassified, return of unclassified employee to classified service, compensation, benefits
Summary: The bill would make certain Jefferson County government positions at-will and unclassified, remove merit-system protections, and set rules for pay, transitions between unclassified and classified status, and benefits.
What This Bill Does
After the act takes effect, specific county positions (attorney, chief financial officer, department heads and their chief deputies, and other unclassified executive service roles) would be hired as at-will, unclassified employees not subject to the county merit system. The county would set their pay, with approval from the county commission, and these employees would have no right to appeal to the Personnel Board and no property interest in their job. The act limits how an unclassified employee can return to classified service and makes conversion from classified to unclassified a condition of appointment for new unclassified posts; noncounty appointees to unclassified posts would also become unclassified nonmerit employees. Unclassified employees would be eligible for county benefits, including retirement, unless they choose to forfeit participation.

Who It Affects
Jefferson County employees holding the listed positions (attorney in the county office, chief financial officer, department heads and their chief deputies, and other unclassified executive service) who would become at-will, unclassified employees not subject to the merit system.
Other people affected include current classified employees who move to unclassified positions (with restrictions on returning to classified), noncounty individuals appointed to unclassified positions (becoming unclassified nonmerit employees), and all unclassified employees who would be eligible for county benefits (including retirement) unless they opt out.

Key Provisions
Section 2(a): The specified positions shall be employed at-will as unclassified employees not subject to the county merit system.
Section 2(c): The appointing authority sets the compensation for unclassified employees, with approval by a majority of the county commission; they have no rights of appeal to the Personnel Board and no property interest in the unclassified position.
Section 2(d)-(e): An employee moving from classified to an unclassified position may return to classified service after termination without cause if a vacancy exists; 'cause' includes qualification issues, malfeasance, felony or moral turpitude, failure to perform duties, or unfitness.
Section 2(f): Conversion from classified to unclassified is required for certain appointments to unclassified posts; current heads in classified service may convert only with voluntary approval; noncounty appointees to unclassified posts become unclassified nonmerit employees.
Section 2(g): Unclassified employees may receive the same county benefits, including retirement, unless they elect to forfeit participation.
Section 3: Repeals laws conflicting with this act.
Section 4: The act becomes effective immediately after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Jefferson County