SB34 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Transportation Department, highway projects, construction contract plan changes, approval by the Director of Transportation up to certain amounts without approval of Governor under certain conditions, Sec. 23-1-60 am'd.

Summary

SB34 would let the Alabama DOT Director approve certain highway project changes and extra work up to $200,000 per contract without Governor approval, with specific per-change and total cap rules and requiring new procedures from DOT.

What This Bill Does

The bill expands the Director of Transportation's authority to alter plans, determine the need for new or extra work, and approve such work or changes up to a $200,000 per-contract limit without needing the Governor's approval. Changes must stay within the original project’s endpoints unless necessary to complete the project, and DOT must develop procedures to implement these changes. Supplemental agreements may be used, or work may be done on a force account basis if prices cannot be agreed upon, with no competitive bid required for these additional tasks; decreasing or underrunning the contract can also be approved without Governor involvement.

Who It Affects

• Department of Transportation and state government: gains expanded authority to approve certain changes and extra work up to the specified thresholds without Governor approval and must develop implementation procedures.
• Contractors and prime contractors: may enter into supplemental contracts or perform extra work under force account without competitive bids under the new thresholds, subject to per-change and aggregate dollar limits.

Key Provisions

• Alteration of plans or character of work: Director may make changes during construction, including grade or alignment adjustments, as needed to complete the project, not exceeding original project termini except as necessary for complete and economical completion.
• Extra work: Director may determine the need for new or additional work not in the original contract, not extending beyond project termini except as needed to complete the project.
• Supplemental agreements or force account: Director can enter into supplemental contracts with estimated quantities and unit prices or lump sums not subject to competitive bidding; if price cannot be agreed, extra work may be done on a force account basis.
• Governor approval threshold: Additional, new, or extra work arising from the original contract may be authorized without Governor approval if the increase does not exceed $100,000 or 10% of the initial contract amount (whichever is greater), and total increased amounts do not exceed $200,000; decreases or underruns may be authorized without Governor approval; DOT must develop procedures to implement.

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

Subjects

Highways, Roads, and Bridges