HB496 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim Patterson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Judges of Probate, judicial retirement, contributions by counties for the employer's share, Secs. 12-18-1, 12-18-3, 12-18-82, 12-18-133 am'd.

Summary

HB496 would shift probate judges’ retirement contributions to counties, allow judges to buy extra retirement credits, and establish funding rules for the Judicial Retirement Fund in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill makes counties pay the employer portion of probate judges’ retirement contributions. It also allows judges with enough service to purchase additional years of retirement credit in the Judicial Retirement Fund. The bill lays out how the Judicial Retirement Fund is funded—participants’ contributions, state funding, and county employer contributions—and notes local-funding considerations under Alabama constitutional rules, with an effective date set after the governor signs the bill.

Who It Affects

• Probate judges would have their retirement contributions funded by counties and would be eligible to purchase additional retirement credits if they have sufficient service time.
• Counties would become responsible for the monthly employer contributions toward probate judges’ retirement, including normal contributions, accrued liability, and administrative expenses.
• The Judicial Retirement Fund and the state would receive and manage contributions from judges, counties, and the General Fund, affecting how retirement funding is allocated and maintained.
• Local government entities and overall local-funding rules (Amendment 621) could be affected, since the bill discusses local expenditure requirements and vote/appropriation triggers for funding changes.

Key Provisions

• Creates and funds the Judicial Retirement Fund with contributions from justices, judges, probate judges, and a General Fund contribution; establishes how the fund is financed and administered.
• Requires counties (employers) to pay monthly contributions for probate judges based on normal contributions, accrued liability, and administrative expenses, with percentages set by the fund’s actuary and credited to each judge’s account.
• Continues and adjusts the contribution rates for probate judges (on fees or salary) to reflect ongoing funding, including 8.25% (as of 2011-2012 adjustments) and ongoing alignment with state compensation changes; these contributions go into the Judicial Retirement Fund.
• Authorizes probate judges to purchase up to 12 additional months of credit in the Judicial Retirement Fund, with payment calculated as the sum of the judge’s and the state’s annual monthly contributions for the purchased time; election and payment are made through the Secretary-Treasurer.
• Specifies that the act’s effective date is the first day of the third month after the governor signs, and includes provisions about local-funding requirements and possible voting or appropriation triggers tied to Amendment 621.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Judge, Probate