HB520 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Lesley Vance
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Class 5 municipalities, organized under Act 71, 1977 Reg. Sess. (Phenix City), operation of council manager form of government, further provided, Act 71, 1977 Reg. Sess., am'd.
Summary: HB520 would reform the council-manager system in Class 5 Alabama municipalities by adding term limits, new staff roles, stricter employment rules, and penalties for misconduct and executive session disclosures.
What This Bill Does
It would establish a five-member council with two at-large seats and three district seats, set three-year terms, and limit council members to no more than two consecutive terms starting with the next term. It would require council members to obtain Basic Certified Municipal Officials Certification within 30 months of taking office. It would create an assistant city manager and a city planner, and allow employment contracts only with the city manager, with department heads receiving a six-month severance if removed without cause. It would impose criminal penalties on council members who interfere with city manager appointments/removals and on those who disclose information from executive sessions (first offense a Class A misdemeanor, second offense a Class C felony, and disclosure a Class B misdemeanor).

Who It Affects
City council members in Class 5 municipalities organized under Act 71: subject to term limits, certification requirement, and new penalties for misconduct and executive-session disclosures.
City government staff and operations in these municipalities: creation of an assistant city manager and city planner; employment contract rules restricting contracts to the city manager; severance provisions for department heads; and penalties related to staff-related misconduct and executive-session disclosures.

Key Provisions
Provision 1: Term limits and council structure—five-member council (two at-large, three district), three-year terms, residency requirements, and a two-consecutive-term limit for any one office, with the certification requirement for council members within 30 months of taking office.
Provision 2: Administrative changes and penalties—creation of an assistant city manager and a city planner; council may contract only with the city manager; department heads receive a six-month severance if removed without cause; penalties for council interference with appointments/removals and for disclosing executive session information (first offense Class A misdemeanor, second offense Class C felony, disclosure offense Class B misdemeanor).

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