HB392 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Charles O. Newton

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Legislative Compensation Commission, established, members, quadrennial recommendations for the total compensation to be paid to members of Legislature, Amendments 39 and 57, Constitution of Alabama of 1901, am'd.; Section 49, Constitution of Alabama of 1901, repealed; Sec. 29-1-8 repealed; Act 1196, 1971 Reg. Sess., Act 87-209, 1987 Reg. Sess.; Act 90-490, 1990 Reg. Sess.; Act 91-95, 1991 Reg. Sess.; Act 91-108, 1991 Reg. Sess.; Act 2007-75, 2007 Reg. Sess. repealed, const. amend.

Summary

HB392 would create a Legislative Compensation Commission to set total pay and benefits for Alabama legislators on a quadrennial basis and repeal conflicting laws.

What This Bill Does

It creates a five-member Legislative Compensation Commission to make quadrennial recommendations on the total pay and benefits for Alabama legislators. The commission's five members are appointed by the Governor, Chief Justice, Lieutenant Governor, and the House Speaker, serve four-year terms, and must reflect diversity. Commission members do not receive salaries but will be reimbursed for expenses; staff support comes from the Alabama Personnel Department. Its recommendations are binding, the Legislature cannot modify compensation, and conflicting laws would be repealed when the initial resolution is adopted.

Who It Affects

• Members of the Alabama Legislature: their total compensation and benefits would be set by the new Commission and would not be directly controlled by the Legislature.
• Legislative Compensation Commission members and state staff: commission members would not receive a salary but would be reimbursed for expenses, and staff support would be provided by the Alabama Personnel Department; appointing authorities determine the composition.

Key Provisions

• Creates a Legislative Compensation Commission consisting of five members appointed by the Governor (two), Chief Justice (one), Lieutenant Governor (one), and the House Speaker (one).
• Appointments must strive for geographic, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity; members serve four-year terms with vacancy rules to fill unexpired terms.
• Governor designates the chair and vice chair of the Commission.
• Commission members may not be state officials or earn more than 10 percent of their gross income from state funds; they may not be paid a salary but are reimbursed at the same per diem rate as state employees.
• A quorum is a majority of the Commission and decisions require a majority of its members.
• The Commission must set the salary, expense allowance, benefits, and other compensation for legislators by a resolution due by the fifteenth legislative day of the fourth regular session of each quadrennium; it becomes effective the January after the next general election unless rejected by a joint resolution.
• The Commission has exclusive authority to modify legislative compensation; the Legislature cannot modify it.
• The Alabama Personnel Department will provide staff support to the Commission from existing resources.
• Upon adoption of the initial resolution, conflicting laws (and parts of Amendments 39 and 57) are repealed; other specified acts and sections listed in the bill are also repealed.
• An election would be held to approve the constitutional amendment, with ballot language describing the proposed changes.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments