SB222 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Trip Pittman
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Gerald H. Allen Paul Bussman Jerry L. Fielding J.T. Waggoner William “Bill” M. Beasley Bryan Taylor Jimmy Holley Dick Brewbaker Arthur Orr
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Industrial Development and Training Institute, transfer from Postsecondary Education Department to Commerce Department, funding from Education Trust Fund, confidentiality of project information, Secs. 41-9-1080 to 41-9-1086, inclusive, added
Summary: SB222 transfers the Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute from the Department of Postsecondary Education to the Department of Commerce, keeps ETF funding, and adds confidentiality protections for project information.
What This Bill Does
It places AIDT under the supervision of the Secretary of Commerce and moves its powers, contracts, and funding to the Department of Commerce. AIDT will continue to operate as its own entity with the director appointed by the Secretary; its employees remain AIDT staff and are exempt from the state Merit System, with pay determined by the director and Secretary of Commerce. Funding stays with the Education Trust Fund, and AIDT may also receive other state or federal funds, with disbursements handled from AIDT accounts outside the State Treasury. The act also creates confidentiality protections for information about proposed projects, allowing confidentiality agreements to protect trade secrets while preserving open-records disclosures for certain public details, and it requires a reconciled financial statement before the third legislative day of each regular session.

Who It Affects
AIDT employees and leadership: remain employees of AIDT; compensation determined by the director with approval from the Secretary of Commerce; continue to be exempt from the state Merit System and subject to AIDT policies.
Businesses and the public: confidentiality protections for project information may limit disclosure; confidentiality agreements may be used to protect trade secrets, while open records rules still apply to certain public project information.

Key Provisions
Transfers AIDT from supervision by the State Board of Education to supervision by the Secretary of Commerce and the Department of Commerce, with powers, contracts, and funds moved accordingly.
AIDT remains funded from the Education Trust Fund and may receive additional funds; disbursements are made from AIDT accounts outside the State Treasury; prior project commitments remain governed by existing agreements.
The director, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, leads AIDT and follows duties and qualifications in the AIDT Policy Manual.
AIDT employees remain with AIDT; compensation and employment terms are set by the director with Secretary of Commerce approval; employees remain outside the state Merit System and subject to AIDT policies.
Information about proposed projects can be kept confidential through confidentiality agreements to protect trade secrets; public records can still disclose certain general information about activities and services.
A reconciled financial statement of project commitments and actual expenditures must be provided to specified House and Senate Chairs before the third legislative day of each regular session.
The act becomes effective immediately upon governor's signature.

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