HB318 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

K.L. Brown

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Jacksonville State University, board of trustees membership revised, term decreased, Sec. 16-52-3 am'd.

Summary

HB318 would revise Jacksonville State University's board of trustees, shorten trustee terms from 12 to six years, and allow a trustee who turns 70 to finish the term.

What This Bill Does

HB318 would revise Jacksonville State University's Board of Trustees by changing its membership and the appointment process, with the Governor serving as ex officio president. It would reduce the standard trustee term from 12 years to six years and set the initial terms for the first appointees as four, eight, and twelve years, with an at-large member serving a 12-year term. Additionally, it imposes a maximum of three full terms for any trustee, allows a trustee who turns 70 during a term to complete that term, and creates an emeritus designation for certain older departing trustees; it also prohibits Jacksonville State University employees from serving on the board.

Who It Affects

• Jacksonville State University trustees and the university’s community would experience shorter six-year terms, a 70-and-older term rule, emeritus option, and the ineligibility of university employees for board service.
• State and local governance actors involved in appointing trustees (the Governor, Senate, and other state leaders) would be affected by the defined appointment process, ex officio president role, and the specific terms and limits for first-time appointees.

Key Provisions

• Creates/continues a Board of Trustees for Jacksonville State University with a defined membership: two from the local district, one from each other district, one at-large member, the State Superintendent of Education, one at-large member from outside the state, and the Governor as ex officio president.
• Trustees are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; initial terms are divided so one-third serve four years, one-third eight years, and one-third twelve years, with the at-large member serving twelve-year terms.
• After the initial appointments, trustees shall serve six-year terms instead of twelve years.
• No trustee may serve more than three full terms.
• A trustee who turns 70 during a term may continue to serve until the term ends.
• A departing trustee 70 or older may be designated Trustee Emeritus and receive honorary privileges.
• No employee of Jacksonville State University may serve on the board.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage.

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

Subjects

Colleges and Universities