SB413 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, composition of nominating committee and process for nominating, appointing and confirming members revised, certain duties of president transferred to board, Secs. 16-49-20, 16-49-23 am'd.; Sec. 16-49-29 repealed

Summary

SB413 would change how Alabama A&M University’s Board of Trustees is chosen, move many duties from the university president to the board, and eliminate a trustee removal rule for conflicts of interest.

What This Bill Does

The bill overhauls the nominating committee and the process used to nominate, appoint, and confirm board members, including new membership and timeframes. It shifts responsibilities for instructors, university organization, courses of instruction, and conferring degrees from the university president to the board, and it authorizes the board to appoint the president and set the president's salary. It repeals a provision that allowed removing a trustee for a conflict of interest and requires annual trustee training. The board would continue to be composed of 12 trustees plus the governor as ex officio president, with ex officio nonvoting student government and faculty senate presidents, while ensuring diverse representation in the nominating process.

Who It Affects

• Potential and current Board of Trustees members and nominees: The nominating process changes, with a new nominating committee structure, different eligibility and confirmation timelines, and a diversity focus.
• Alabama A&M University community (faculty, students, alumni, and local partners): The board gains control over hiring and paying instructors, organizing the university, setting curricula and courses, and conferring degrees, while the president’s role becomes more board-centered; governance involves new ex officio participants and requires annual trustee training.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 16-49-20 and 16-49-23 to revise the nominating committee and the process for nominating, appointing, and confirming board members.
• Transfers responsibilities of the president related to instructors, the organization of the university, courses of instruction, and the conferring of academic and honorary degrees from the president to the board; the board would appoint the president and fix the salary.
• Repeals Section 16-49-29, eliminating the provision for removal of a trustee for a conflict of interest.
• Keeps a 12-member board with district-based seats, three at-large seats, the Governor as ex officio president, and ex officio nonvoting presidents of the student government association and faculty senate.
• Creates a nominative committee with specified members (board member, faculty/staff reps, student government president, chamber of commerce president/designee, Madison County legislative delegation member, alumni association president/designee, and a community representative) and designates the chair as the president pro tempore of the board.
• Outlines nomination and appointment procedures including three nominees from the committee, Governor selection, Senate confirmation, and procedures for vacancies, holdover terms, and retroactivity.
• Requires the board to provide annual training sessions for trustees on fiduciary responsibilities.

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

Subjects

Alabama A & M University