HB193 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy Davis

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

County commissions, limited home rule provisions, limited powers over certain county affairs and county programs provided for, subject to local laws, const. amend.

Summary

It would amend the Alabama Constitution to let county commissions create certain county administration programs within limits, subject to statewide voter approval (excluding Jefferson County).

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the amendment would let each county commission establish programs to administer county affairs in five areas: personnel systems; community programs (litter control and animal safety, with restrictions); local transportation and road safety; county office operations; and emergency assistance. These programs could not raise taxes, could not infringe private property rights, and could not change the duties or pay of other elected officials, except as allowed for office operations with consent. Adoption would require a regular county meeting with public notice and opportunity for public comment, and the amendment itself would be approved by statewide election.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: County commissions and county government employees would gain authority to create and operate new programs (such as personnel systems, benefits, and various county office operations).
• Group 2: County residents, property owners, and businesses would be affected by the new programs in areas like litter control, animal safety, transportation, and emergency services, with protections for private property and limits on tax increases.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Authorization for county commissions to exercise powers to establish programs for administering county affairs and specified county programs.
• Provision 2: Five program areas enabled: (1) county personnel systems and employee programs; (2) community programs for litter control and animal safety with stated restrictions; (3) local transportation and road safety/public transit programs; (4) county office programs (e.g., one-stop tag, inmate commissaries, disposal of unclaimed property, highway department management, automation, and road maintenance units) with required consent for certain offices; (5) emergency assistance programs including ambulance services and emergency management.
• Provision 3: Limitations and protections: no new taxes or fee increases; private property rights protected; cannot curtail duties, powers, or compensation of other elected officials (except where allowed for office operations with consent); adoption procedures in regular meetings with public notice; cannot supersede local law.
• Provision 4: Exemption and applicability: does not apply to Jefferson County.
• Provision 5: Election requirement: the amendment would be presented to voters in a statewide election with a specific ballot description.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments