SB260 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jerry L. Fielding

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Local governmental entities, counties, municipalities and political subdivisions, employees included in definition of government entity, Sec. 11-93-1 am'd.

Summary

SB260 would include employees acting within their official duties in the definition of 'governmental entity' for tort claims against local Alabama governments.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 11-93-1 to explicitly include employees in the definition of 'governmental entity' for purposes of tort claims and judgments. It clarifies that a claim arising from an employee acting within the line and scope of employment is a claim against the employing governmental entity, not the employee personally. The act is stated to be declaratory of existing law and takes effect immediately after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Local governmental entities (counties, municipalities, boards, hospitals, and related instrumentalities) are affected because employees become part of the entity for tort liability purposes.
• Claimants and individuals seeking damages are affected because their tort claims would be brought against the governmental entity rather than against individual employees acting within scope of their employment.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 11-93-1 to include employees in the definition of 'governmental entity.'
• Expands the definition of 'governmental entity' to cover municipalities, counties, their departments/agencies/boards/commissions, school boards, and hospital boards when they operate as instrumentalities of the government, and to include employees within the line and scope of employment.
• Defines 'Employee' to include those acting on behalf of the entity in an official capacity within the line and scope of employment, with a note that independent contractors are not considered employees for this purpose.
• States that a claim against an employee acting within the line and scope of employment is a claim against the employing governmental entity, not the individual personally.
• Section 2 declares the act as declaratory of existing law, and Section 3 provides immediate effectiveness upon passage and 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

Civil Procedure