SB499 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Scott BeasonBill Holtzclaw

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Discrimination or preferential treatment based on sex or race by state, public colleges and universities, counties and municipalities, prohibited

Summary

SB499 would bar the state, its agencies, public colleges and universities, and local government from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to people based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment in public employment, public education, and public contracting by state entities and their subdivisions. It allows minor exceptions for bona fide sex-based qualifications that are necessary to operate. It also permits actions required to maintain eligibility for federal programs if not taking them would cost the state federal funds. Violations would be null and void from the start, and the law includes a severability clause and a defined effective date.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: The State of Alabama and any agency, department, commission, political subdivision, public higher education institution, and government instrumentality would be prohibited from discriminating or giving preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting.
• Group 2: Individuals participating in public employment, public education, or public contracting (such as job applicants, students, employees, and contractors) would be protected from discrimination and preferential treatment based on those characteristics.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits discrimination or preferential treatment in public employment, public education, and public contracting by state entities and subdivisions on the bases of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
• Allows bona fide sex-based qualifications necessary for the normal operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
• Allows actions required to establish or maintain eligibility for federal programs if not doing so would result in loss of federal funds.
• Violations are void ab initio; the act is severable; the effective date is the first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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

Discrimination