SB4 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phillip W. Williams

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Legislative Compensation Commission, established, members, quadrennial recommendations for the compensation and expenses to be paid to members of Legislature, Sec. 29-1-8 repealed; Act 1196, 1971 Reg.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 repealed, const.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

SB4 would create a Legislative Compensation Commission to set Alabama legislators' pay and expenses for each quadrennium, replacing current pay rules and repealing conflicting laws.

What This Bill Does

It creates a six-member Legislative Compensation Commission, consisting of four non-legislators (appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House) and two legislators (one from the House and one from the Senate). The members may not be paid, but may be reimbursed for expenses at the same per diem rate as state employees, and they elect a chair and vice chair. The commission would determine the legislators' compensation and expenses for each quadrennium, submit those figures to the Legislature, and have them take effect at the start of the next quadrennium; it would revise them every quadrennium with public data posted online, and set rules for mileage and other reimbursable expenses.

Who It Affects

• Members of the Alabama Legislature (Senate and House) — their pay and expense reimbursements would be set by the new Commission and adjusted only on quadrennium schedules.
• Public and taxpayers — increased transparency from online posting of compensation data and the public-specific process, including a constitutional amendment vote to approve the changes.

Key Provisions

• Creates a six-member Legislative Compensation Commission with four non-legislator members (appointed by Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House) and two Legislators (one House member appointed by the Speaker and one Senator appointed by the President Pro Tempore).
• Commission members serve for the term of their appointing authority and may be replaced to fill unexpired terms; they may not receive compensation but are reimbursed for expenses at the state employee per diem rate; they elect a chair and vice chair; a majority constitutes a quorum.
• The commission establishes the Legislature's compensation and expenses for each quadrennium, submitting them to the Legislature; they take effect at the start of the next quadrennium and are revised every quadrennium thereafter; compensation is based on specified work factors (session work, district work, office work, drafting legislation, travel).
• Mileage is reimbursed at the same rate as state employees; the commission may set other reimbursable expenses and how they are validated and paid.
• Compensation cannot automatically adjust for cost-of-living increases; if General Fund proration occurs, compensation is reduced by the same percentage for the duration of the proration; data used to determine compensation must be posted online.
• The Personnel Department provides necessary staff and services to the commission; conflicting laws and certain constitutional amendments would be repealed to implement the new framework.
• An election would be held to approve the constitutional amendment (as described in the bill) with specified ballot language.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments