HB575 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phil Williams

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Department of Education, provide matching dollars for certain authors of educational material

Summary

The bill would require the Department of Education to dollar-for-dollar match a teacher’s net income from selling an eligible book they authored, up to $500,000.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the Department would provide a matching grant equal to the educator’s net income from selling an eligible book, up to $500,000. To qualify, the book must be written by the educator (or primarily by them in a co-authored work), include mostly new material, have a high text-to-illustration ratio, be at least 20 pages, and be available in physical format or as a digital version if published after 2016. The Department may set rules to implement and manage the program.

Who It Affects

• Active or retired educators employed by a local Alabama school system who author eligible published books and would receive a dollar-for-dollar matching payment on their net book sales (up to $500,000).
• The Alabama Department of Education would administer the program, determine eligibility, and issue the matching funds (with potential involvement from publishers and local schools in the sale and compliance process).

Key Provisions

• The Department of Education must match dollar-for-dollar on the net income earned from the sale of an eligible published book authored by the educator, not to exceed $500,000.
• Eligibility criteria for the book: (a) the educator is the author or at least 90% of the material is written by the educator if there are multiple authors; (b) 90% or more of the book is new material; (c) text to pictures ratio is at least 65% (except for kindergarten through grade 6 books); (d) at least 20 pages in length and bound in paperback or hardback, or published after Jan 1, 2016 as a digital/electronic version.
• The Department may adopt rules to implement and administer the program.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and signed into law by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Education