HB6 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

HB6 sets the FY2016 General Fund and earmarked funding for Alabama’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches plus debt service, capital outlay, and various programs.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes annual appropriations from the State General Fund and earmarked funds for ordinary expenses, debt service, and capital outlay for FY2016 (ending Sept 30, 2016) across numerous state agencies and programs. It defines fund sources, program areas, and appropriations for each agency; includes targeted appropriations and transfers between funds; and provides for reappropriation of unspent FY2015 funds and additional funds from other sources such as tobacco settlement proceeds. It also establishes reporting requirements to lawmakers, sets conditions on certain appropriations, and includes contingencies for debt service and revenue shortfalls.

Who It Affects

• State agencies and constitutional offices (executive, legislative, and judicial branches and related commissions) that receive funding for ordinary expenses, debt service, and capital outlay, enabling payroll, operations, and program activities.
• State employees, program recipients, and the general public (including Medicaid recipients, veterans, elderly, crime victims, and other program participants) who rely on funded services and programs and whose funding levels and access to services may be affected by the appropriation decisions.

Key Provisions

• Section 2 lists detailed General Fund and earmarked fund appropriations to a wide range of state agencies and programs for ordinary expenses, debt service, and capital outlay for FY2016, specifying program areas and totals.
• Section 3 adds conditional, additional General Fund appropriations to Examiners of Public Accounts, Law Institute of Alabama, Legislative Council, Legislative Fiscal Office, Legislative Branch agencies, and other legislative offices, with amounts shown and subject to fund availability and Governor approval; includes mandated reporting on these allocations.
• Section 4 authorizes additional allocations from negotiated settlements to repay various state funds (Rainy Day Account, Alabama Trust Fund, Education Trust Fund Budget Stabilization Fund) and supports Medicaid reform, prison reform, capital outlay, and domestic violence reform, contingent on funds received and approvals.
• Section 5 provides reappropriation of unexpended FY2015 appropriations to the same agencies for FY2016, ensuring continuation of funding.
• Section 6 adds funding from the Senior Services Trust Fund to the Retirement Systems of Alabama to comply with 41-15C-1, extending the retirement funding.
• Section 7 enables conditional appropriations from tobacco settlement or litigation proceeds for specified programs, allocations follow statutory sections, and funding is contingent on receipts and approvals.
• Section 8 establishes maximum expenditure limits and compliance with the Budget Management Act, with certain exceptions, and allows transfer and reallocation only under stated rules; includes provisions for state agency interfund transfers and audits.
• Section 9 allows reallocation of surplus General Fund money to cover salaries if needed, on Governor’s order.
• Section 10 authorizes new or additional gifts/grants/entitlements to be used for their intended purposes, with periodic auditing support and potential reappropriation for ongoing programs.
• Section 11 authorizes Examiners of Public Accounts to examine appropriations for compliance and requires cooperation from agencies to support recovery audits per state law.
• Section 12 allows funding to satisfy federal court-ordered payments when funds are available and after determination by the Director of Finance, adding to or supplementing existing appropriations.
• Section 13 directs interest earned from specific funds to the Governor’s Contingency Fund, with other interest directed to the State General Fund, and Section 14 requires encumbered balances to lapse within the following fiscal year unless otherwise provided.
• Section 16 directs appropriation of funds from various sources for the Auburn University Center for Governmental Services to administer an examiner certification program and other related tasks.
• Section 19 sets the State Employees' Insurance Board rate at $850 per month for full-time employees for FY2016 and directs adjustments to maintain that fixed rate.
• Effective date: October 1, 2015.

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