SB505 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Bussman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Cullman Co., legislative authority to transfer sixteenth section lands and income to county board of education, const. amend.
Summary: This bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to give Cullman County sixteenth section and school lands and their income to the Cullman County Board of Education, allowing them to manage and profit from the land and its resources.
What This Bill Does
It would vest all sixteenth section and school lands located in Cullman County in the Cullman County Board of Education, allowing the board to manage, sell, lease, and control those lands and any timber, minerals, or other natural resources. Proceeds from land and resource sales would be split: 90% to a county trust account and 10% to the board’s General Fund; timber, mineral, or other resource sale or lease proceeds would go directly to the board’s General Fund. Interest earned on these funds would be distributed annually to the Cullman County and Cullman City school systems based on student enrollment, with the formula recalculated every five years using enrollment data; the first five-year calculation uses 2010-2011 data. Proceeds realized from pre-ratification sales or leases would continue to be held in trust for the CCCBOE.

Who It Affects
Cullman County Board of Education – gains authority to manage, sell, lease, and control the sixteenth section and school lands (and resources) in Cullman County; receives 10% of land sale proceeds and timber/mineral lease proceeds into its General Fund.
Cullman County school system and Cullman City school system – receive annual interest distributions from the proceeds based on student enrollment, with the distribution formula updated every five years.

Key Provisions
Vest all sixteenth section and school lands in Cullman County in the Cullman County Board of Education; board may manage, sell, lease, and control the land and its timber, minerals, and other resources.
Proceeds from land or resource sales are split: 90% deposited into a county trust account and 10% deposited into the CCCBOE General Fund.
Interest earned on these funds is distributed annually to the Cullman County and Cullman City school systems based on student enrollment, with a five-year renewal of the distribution formula using enrollment data (first five years use 2010-11 data).
Proceeds from the sale or lease of timber, minerals, or other resources go directly to the CCCBOE General Fund.
The amendment would supersede conflicting constitutional provisions related to sixteenth section or school lands in Cullman County.
Proceeds and related revenue from pre-ratification lands or transactions held in trust would continue to be paid to the CCCBOE custodian.
An election to ratify the amendment will be held according to state law.

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