SB99 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Transportation Department, director authorized to appoint assistant counsel subject to State Merit System, Sec. 23-1-26 am'd.

Summary

SB99 would let the Director of Transportation appoint up to five assistant counsels to handle the department’s legal work, under Merit System rules and with Attorney General approval.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Director of Transportation to appoint up to five assistant counsel as needed to transact the department’s legal business, with approval from the Attorney General and in accordance with the state's Merit System laws. The appointed chief counsel and assistant counsel would be commissioned as assistant attorneys general and would form the department’s legal division, along with their stenographic and clerical staff. The director must consider diversity in race, gender, geography, urban/rural status, and economic background when making appointments. The act would take effect immediately after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• State Department of Transportation and its leadership (Director of Transportation, chief counsel, and assistant counsel) who gain authority to appoint up to five assistant counsels to handle legal matters, with AG approval and Merit System compliance.
• Potential assistant counsels and their support staff who would be appointed and sworn in as assistant attorneys general to form the department's legal division, with eligibility governed by Merit System rules and a requirement to reflect state diversity.

Key Provisions

• authorizes the Director of Transportation to appoint not more than five assistant counsel to transact the department's legal business, with AG approval and Merit System compliance.
• chief counsel and assistant counsel to be commissioned as assistant attorneys general and take the oath required of other assistants of the Attorney General.
• the legal staff and their stenographic/clerical assistants constitute the department's legal division.
• the director must consider racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity when appointing assistant counsel.
• the act becomes effective immediately following passage and governor's approval.

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

Subjects

Transportation Department