SB145 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Cam WardJerry L. Fielding

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Judges of Probate, judicial retirement, contributions by counties for the employer's share, Secs. 12-18-1, 12-18-3, 12-18-82 am'd.

Summary

SB145 would shift probate judges' employer retirement contributions from the state to county governments, subject to Alabama's local-funding protections.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Judicial Retirement Fund funded by contributions from various state judges and probate judges, plus an annual General Fund transfer. It requires counties to pay monthly employer contributions for probate judges—normal contributions, accrued liability contributions, and administrative expenses—starting October 1, 2013, with amounts set by the fund's actuary. Probate judges would continue to contribute a percentage of their salary (8.25% after October 1, 2011 and 8.5% after October 1, 2012, with the base sum tied to circuit judge pay). Because local funding changes fall under Amendment 621, the bill would only take effect for local entities if the Legislature appropriates funds or provides a local revenue source, otherwise it would require a two-thirds vote to become effective.

Who It Affects

• Probate judges: their retirement funding would be paid into the Judicial Retirement Fund partly by their own contributions and now partly by county employer contributions.
• Counties: they would be responsible for monthly employer contributions for probate judges, including normal, accrued liability, and administrative expense portions.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Judicial Retirement Fund and funds it from contributions by judges (including probate judges) and a yearly General Fund transfer.
• Amends sections 12-18-1, 12-18-3, and 12-18-82 to require counties to pay the probate judges' employer contributions (normal, accrued liability, and administrative expenses) monthly, with rates set by the fund's actuary.
• Maintains probate judges' personal contributions at 8.25% of salary for pay dates after 10/01/2011 and 8.5% after 10/01/2012, with the base sum equal to 90% of the annual state compensation for circuit judges and adjustable with changes in circuit judge pay.
• Requires contributions to be reported to the Judicial Retirement Fund in a prescribed format and to be paid into the Fund in the State Treasury.
• Notes that the bill's effect on local funding is subject to Amendment 621 (Section 111.05); if not enacted by a two-thirds vote, the local-expenditure provision would not take effect unless the Legislature appropriates funds or provides a local revenue source.

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

Subjects

Judge, Probate