HB279 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve ClouseRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Penny Trust Fund (PTF), Comptroller authorized to transmit funds from PTF to State Board of Education, Secs. 41-15A-2, 41-15A-6 am'd

Summary

HB279 would allow the Comptroller to move Penny Trust Fund money to health and education programs on request, clarify how the funds are used, and update how the Penny Trust Fund is run.

What This Bill Does

The bill lets the Comptroller transfer Penny Trust Fund proceeds to the Department of Public Health upon the State Health Officer's application and to the State Board of Education upon the State Superintendent's application. It designates how the money is used: 50% of the health funds go to programs to reduce infant mortality and improve child health, and 50% to indigent health care; funds for public schools go to applying school systems to support disease prevention grants. It defines earnings as 90% of the prior year's earnings and authorizes funding of approved proposals under Amendment 512 of the Alabama Constitution, while updating the duties and composition of the Penny Trust Fund Board, with an effective date of January 1, 2013.

Who It Affects

• Department of Public Health receives Penny Trust Fund money to support infant mortality reduction, child health programs, and indigent health care programs.
• Public school systems (via the State Board of Education) may receive grants for disease prevention programs in public schools, contingent on grant applications and board approval.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Comptroller to transmit Penny Trust Fund proceeds to the Department of Public Health on the State Health Officer's application and to the State Board of Education on the State Superintendent's application.
• Specifies use of funds: 50% to public health programs for infant mortality reduction and child health; 50% to indigent health care programs; public school funds disbursed only to school systems that apply for grants and are approved, to support disease prevention programs (not replacing existing funds).
• Clarifies that earnings may be appropriated for purposes authorized by Amendment 512 of the Alabama Constitution and defines earnings as 90% of the prior fiscal year's earnings.
• Defines the Board of Control of the Penny Trust Fund membership (Governor, State Treasurer, State Health Officer, State Superintendent of Education, State Auditor) and expands its duties (grant administration, investment policy, notification of funds eligible for payment, oversight of expenditures for health and education uses).
• Effective date: January 1, 2013.

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

Subjects

Education, State Board