HB39 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

State agencies, local boards of ed., colleges, employee benefits, employees to receive annual summary

Summary

HB39 creates an annual, itemized benefits statement for public employees and retirees and requires state agencies, local boards of education, and public colleges to provide this information.

What This Bill Does

Each eligible employer must, by January 31, 2016 and every year after, provide to every employee and retiree an itemized statement of all benefits and pension benefits the individual accrued or received, plus the total employer contributions to retirement systems and health insurance plans. The statements must also show the approximate share of those contributions funded by General Fund or Education Trust Fund and the funded ratio of the applicable retirement system (assets vs. liabilities). Administration is assigned to the State Comptroller's Office, State Department of Education, State Department of Postsecondary Education, Administrative Office of Courts, and four-year universities for employees; the Retirement Systems of Alabama handles retirees; and agencies must coordinate to supply necessary information. The act is designed to have a small local fiscal impact and becomes effective immediately upon governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Public employees and retirees in Alabama who will receive annual, itemized statements detailing their benefits, pension, and related funding information.
• State and local public employers (state agencies, local boards of education, and public colleges/universities) that must prepare, coordinate, and deliver these annual benefit statements and provide necessary data.

Key Provisions

• Defines terms: employee benefit, health insurance plan, retiree, and retirement system (SERS, Teachers' Retirement System, Judicial Retirement Fund).
• Annual reporting requirement: by January 31, 2016 and each year thereafter, provide for each employee/retiree an itemized statement of benefits, pension benefits, total employer contributions to retirement and health plans, approximate funding shares from General/Education funds, and the funded ratio with assets and liabilities.
• Administrative responsibilities: employees' statements managed by the State Comptroller's Office, DOE, DPE, Administrative Office of Courts, and four-year universities; retirees' statements managed by the Retirement Systems of Alabama; coordination required among benefit providers.
• Local impact exemption: bill is exempt from additional local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 due to an aggregate fiscal impact of less than $50,000 annually.
• Effective date: becomes law immediately after governor's approval.

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

Subjects

State Employees