HB1 Alabama 2012 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Elaine Beech

Democrat

Session

First Special Session 2012

Title

Washington Co., judge of probate, fee for performing marriage, deposited in special account in county treasury, entire fee may be used by judge of probate for the general modernization of the probate office

Summary

This bill would cap the payroll used to determine workers’ compensation rates for Alabama volunteer fire departments and rescue squads, setting a fixed maximum of $300 per member per year and giving the Insurance Commissioner authority to regulate those rates.

What This Bill Does

It amends Alabama law to let the Commissioner of Insurance regulate the payroll figure used to set workers’ compensation rates for volunteer departments and rescue squads. It establishes a maximum annual payroll of $300 per firefighter or rescue squad member for rate calculations. It creates voluntary workers’ compensation coverage options for certified volunteer departments and legally organized rescue squads, with eligibility and premium choices, while outlining exemptions and election procedures for corporate officers and certain small employers.

Who It Affects

• Volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and combination departments in Alabama, whose workers’ compensation rates would be determined using the capped payroll amount.
• Corporate officers of corporations that oversee volunteer departments, who may elect to be exempt from coverage (with the option to revoke the exemption later) while other employees may remain covered.
• Employers that fall into exemption categories (e.g., small employers with few employees, domestic or farm-labor employers, municipalities under 2,000 population) who may elect into or out of coverage with certain notice requirements.
• School boards, which may provide volunteers’ coverage if funds are appropriated from the Education Trust Fund, or may voluntarily provide coverage with available funds.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 25-5-50 to authorize regulation by the Commissioner of Insurance of the maximum annual payroll used to set workers’ compensation rates for volunteer departments and squads.
• Sets the maximum annual payroll per fire fighter or rescue squad member at $300 for rate calculations.
• Creates voluntary workers’ compensation coverage options for state-certified volunteer departments and legally organized rescue squads, including medical or disability insurance; employment liability for regular employers remains limited.
• Allows corporate officers to elect to be exempt from coverage annually by filing certification; exemptions become effective the first day of the calendar month following filing and can be revoked later; exemption does not remove coverage obligations for other employees.
• Provides notice and posting requirements for employers electing into or out of coverage, and outlines exemptions for certain small employers and municipalities.
• Specifies wage calculations for injuries under the workers’ compensation law for volunteers, using 66 2/3 percent of earnings or the minimum wage, whichever is greater.
• Affirms the right of qualified volunteer departments to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, but does not require them to do so, and states that regular employers are not liable for compensable injuries under this section.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Washington County