HB1 Alabama 2015 2nd Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve ClouseRepresentative

Republican

Session

Second Special Session 2015

Title

General fund budget, appropriations for ordinary expenses of executive, legislative, and judicial departments

Summary

HB1 is Alabama's 2015 general fund budget act that authorizes the FY 2016 appropriations for ordinary expenses, debt service, and capital outlay across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and other state functions.

What This Bill Does

It places the FY 2016 general fund and earmarked fund allocations to hundreds of state agencies and programs, replacing prior appropriations and outlining fund sources. It reappropriates any unspent 2015 funds, adds conditional tobacco settlement funding for 2016, and establishes priority-based appropriations for certain agencies. It also sets rules on capital outlays and vehicle purchases, reporting requirements, interagency transfers, pension-related transfers, insurance costs, and general oversight of spending.

Who It Affects

• State agencies, boards, departments, and offices (executive, legislative, and judicial branches) that receive funding for operations, debt service, and capital outlay for FY 2016.
• Residents of Alabama who rely on funded programs and services (health, social services, education, public safety, infrastructure, and various public programs) because the appropriations determine the level of funding for those services.

Key Provisions

• Section 1-2: Appropriates the ordinary expenses, debt service, and capital outlay for the 2015-2016 fiscal year (ending September 30, 2016) from the General Fund and earmarked funds to designated state agencies and programs.
• Section 3: Reappropriates unexpended FY 2015 appropriations to the same offices for FY 2016.
• Section 4: Additional appropriation to Retirement Systems of Alabama from the Senior Services Trust Fund to comply with statutory requirements.
• Section 5: Conditional appropriation of tobacco settlement or litigation funds for FY 2016, contingent on tobacco revenue and the Governor’s approval, allocated per specified sections.
• Section 6: Establishes that appropriations are the maximum amounts and may be adjusted only under specified statutes and budgeting acts; includes a prohibition on unapproved overspending.
• Section 7: Allows the Governor to transfer surplus General Fund money to cover salaries when an office’s appropriation is insufficient.
• Section 8: Allows gifts, grants, insurance proceeds, or other entitlements to be appropriated/reappropriated to their designated uses; permits intergovernmental transfers and auditing costs; authorizes mutual cost-sharing for audits.
• Section 9: Examiners of Public Accounts may audit appropriations for compliance with Alabama law; cooperation with auditors is required.
• Section 10: Court-ordered payments (claims, attorney fees, costs) resulting from federal court orders can be funded from appropriate funds when necessary and available.
• Section 11: Interest earned from certain funds is allocated to the Governor’s Contingency Fund or the State General Fund as specified.
• Section 12: Encumbered balances from previous years lapse by September 30 of the following fiscal year, unless otherwise provided.
• Section 13: Agencies are directed to transfer specified amounts to the State Personnel Department and to pay for services received from other agencies in a timely manner.
• Section 15: Establishes multi-tier conditionals (First, Second, Third Priority) for large appropriations to various agencies, with detailed distribution outlined in that section.
• Section 16-17: Capital outlay and vehicle purchasing restrictions; capital outlays require approval and are restricted except in emergencies or pre-existing contracts; and limits on nonessential automotive equipment purchases. Vehicles may be purchased/leased only for emergencies with explicit approval.
• Section 20: States SEIB (State Employees’ Insurance Board) funding level set at $850 per month per full-time employee for FY 2016, with adjustments made as needed.
• Section 21-22: Requires advance notice to legislative chairs about interagency transfers; ensures constitutional sequencing and priorities are respected; provides for severability and repeals conflicting laws where applicable.
• Section 25: Effective date is October 1, 2015, making the act operative for FY 2016.
• Section 24 and related provisions require non-discrimination in employment and contracting related to the appropriations.

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

Subjects

Appropriations