HB51 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Richard Baughn
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Mac Buttram Mike Jones Kurt Wallace Richard J. Laird William Roberts Lynn Greer Howard Sanderford Wes Long
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Transportation Department, director authorized to appoint assistant counsel subject to State Merit System, Sec. 23-1-26 am'd.
Summary: HB51 would let the Transportation Department Director appoint up to five assistant counsel, who would be part of the department's legal division and commissioned as assistant attorneys general, under Merit System rules and with Attorney General approval.
What This Bill Does
It sets a limit of up to five assistant counsel for the Transportation Department to handle its legal work, with appointments subject to Merit System rules and the Attorney General's approval. The chief counsel and assistant counsel, along with their stenographic and clerical staff, would form the department's legal division and be commissioned as assistant attorneys general. The Director must consider the state's diversity in race, gender, geography, urban/rural status, and economic background when making appointments, and the act would take effect immediately after the Governor's approval.

Who It Affects
Director of Transportation: gains authority to appoint up to five assistant counsel to handle the department's legal matters.
Assistant counsel and Chief Counsel (and their stenographic/clerical staff): become part of the department's legal division and are commissioned as assistant attorneys general.
Attorney General: must approve the appointments, and the new assistants will take the oath required of other assistants to the Attorney General.
State Merit System: continues to govern appointment procedures for these positions.

Key Provisions
Allows the Director of Transportation to appoint not more than five assistant counsel to transact the legal business of the department, subject to Merit System rules and Attorney General approval.
Requires the chief counsel and the assistant counsel, along with their stenographic and clerical assistants, to constitute the department's legal division and be commissioned as assistant attorneys general; directs consideration of diversity in appointments; and makes the act effective immediately after governor approval.

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