HB718 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Patricia Todd
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Commission to Reduce Poverty, membership further provided for, Sec. 29-2-250 am'd
Summary: HB718 would add five members to the Alabama Commission to Reduce Poverty, increasing its membership from 22 to 27.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Section 29-2-250 to change how the commission is formed and who sits on it. It expands representation to include legislative leaders’ appointees, three House members and three Senate members, and a diverse group of appointees from poverty-focused organizations and the community, including two individuals living in poverty. It requires the commission to study poverty-related state programs and policies, produce an annual report to the Legislature, and limits its annual expenditures to $5,000. It also allows meetings during the Legislature and in recess or interim, and requires at least quarterly meetings.

Who It Affects
Legislative leadership (Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor) and committee chairs who appoint members to the commission.
Diverse groups and organizations involved in poverty relief and housing (e.g., Alabama Poverty Project, Alabama Arise, Alabama Community Action Agencies, faith communities, Low Income Housing Coalition, VOICES, Alabama Alliance to End Homelessness, Business Council of Alabama, AARP, Habitat for Humanity, AIDT, NFIB), plus two individuals living in poverty appointed by the Governor.
The commission’s operations and expenditures (now capped at $5,000 per year).

Key Provisions
Adds five members to the Alabama Commission to Reduce Poverty, increasing total membership to 27.
Specifies membership composition and appointing authorities, including legislative leaders and a range of poverty-focused organizations.
Requires the commission to study and evaluate state poverty programs, their economic impact, current policies and services, and to make recommendations and proposed legislation.
Requires an annual report to the Legislature no later than the seventh legislative day of each regular session detailing recommendations.
Cap on the commission’s annual expenditures: $5,000.

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