HB211 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Legislative Council, reconstituted, Senate Legislative Council, House Legislative Council estab. and duties assigned, Joint Fiscal Committee and Legislative Building Authority abolished, Law Institute made part of Legislative Department, Secs. 29-1-10, 29-2-52, 29-2-200, 29-2-201, 29-4-20, 29-4-22, 29-4-25, 29-4-30, 29-4-32, 29-4-35, 29-4-40, 29-4-42, 29-5-2, 29-5-3, 29-5-4, 29-5-13, 29-6-1, 29-6-2, 29-6-3, 29-6-4, 29-6-7, 29-7-4, 29-8-1, 29-8-2, 29-8-3, 29-8-4, 29-8-5, 41-9-370, 41-9-374, 41-19-3, 41-19-3.1 am;d, Secs. 29-122, 29-4-41, 29-7-5 repealed

Summary

HB211 reorganizes Alabama's Legislative Department by replacing old bodies with a Legislative Council and two companion councils, transferring duties, bringing the Alabama Law Institute into the Legislative Department, and reshaping budgeting, staffing, and property management.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Legislative Council along with Senate and House Legislative Councils; abolishes the Legislative Building Authority and Joint Fiscal Committee and transfers their functions to the new councils. Assigns administrative and budgetary responsibilities to the councils, revises appointment and tenure rules for key offices (Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House), and integrates the Alabama Law Institute into the Legislative Department with a revised governing structure. Reorganizes the Commission on Uniform State Laws, ensures continuation of the Senate President Pro Tempore’s office, and updates numerous code sections while repealing a few specific provisions. Sets timelines for transferring State House property title to the Legislative Council and outlines broader staff, budgeting, and openness requirements for the new system.

Who It Affects

• Legislative branch members and staff (Senate and House) - governance, staffing, budgeting, and oversight responsibilities shift to the new Legislative Council and its Senate/House Councils; tenure, staffing rules, and compensation processes are updated.
• Alabama Law Institute and related legal entities - becomes part of the Legislative Department with a revised governing council, new authority, and integrated oversight and funding mechanisms.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Legislative Council and two sub-councils (Senate Legislative Council and House Legislative Council) and abolition of the Legislative Building Authority and Joint Fiscal Committee.
• Transfer of functions previously held by the House Legislative Council, Senate-elected Legislative Council members, the Joint Fiscal Committee, and the Legislative Building Authority to the new councils.
• Transfer and ultimate vesting of State House property title and control: conveyance to the Legislative Building Authority, then transfer to the Legislative Council by operation of law on October 1, 2015.
• Alabama Law Institute becomes part of the Legislative Department with a redefined governing council, amended membership, and expanded authority for the council and the Institute’s president and director.
• Restructuring of the Commission on Uniform State Laws with new governance and budgetary provisions.
• Creation and powers of the Joint Fiscal Committee under the Legislative Council to oversee the Legislative Fiscal Office, including staffing and budgeting procedures.
• Detailed staff and personnel provisions for the Senate and House, including hiring, compensation, HR oversight, and collaboration with the Director of Human Resources.
• Open meetings, public posting of decisions, and budget/expense transparency requirements for the councils and their committees.
• Effective dates: immediate operative provisions for certain sections and October 1, 2015 for the remainder; repeal of specific code sections (29-1-22, 29-4-41, 29-7-5).

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

Subjects

Legislature