HB675 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve McMillan
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Baldwin Co., personnel system, appeals, planning and zoning director to be appointed contract, employee, Sec. 45-2-120.08 am'd.
Summary: HB675 creates the Baldwin County Personnel Appeals Board and deletes the requirement that appeals from the Personnel Appeals Board to the circuit court be conducted de novo.
What This Bill Does
The bill establishes a five-member Baldwin County Personnel Appeals Board to hear appeals from final actions affecting county employees. It sets how board members are selected, including representation by both the county and classified employees, and outlines nomination, voting, and term processes. It also authorizes the board to hear disciplinary appeals and gives it power to subpoena witnesses and to affirm, revise, or amend personnel decisions; all testimony is under oath. Additionally, the bill changes how appeals to the circuit court are handled by removing the de novo requirement for appeals from the Personnel Appeals Board, while still providing a mechanism for appeal of adverse county commission decisions to the circuit court as described in the text.

Who It Affects
Baldwin County classified employees, who participate in nominating and voting for board members and may be affected by board decisions on personnel appeals.
Baldwin County government employees and department heads, whose disciplinary or final action appeals may be heard by the new Personnel Appeals Board and who may be subject to board rulings.
Baldwin County government (board and personnel department) and the County Commission, which appoints two board members and sets compensation and procedures.

Key Provisions
Establishes the Baldwin County Personnel Appeals Board of five county residents.
Board composition: two members appointed by the county commission, two by classified employees, and a fifth member selected by the other four; if they cannot agree, selection is by lot from two nominees (one from each side).
Nomination and election process for classified-employee board members, including a 10-workday nomination window, ballots, sealed voting, and 12-month public record retention of ballots and certifications.
Initial and subsequent terms: three-year terms for most members, with initial terms determined by lot (two three-year, two two-year, one one-year).
Administrative support and procedures: county-adopted procedures govern the appeals process; personnel department provides clerical support; board meets as needed; annual chair and secretary chosen from members; compensation set by the county commission.
Board powers: sworn testimony, authority to subpoena witnesses and request documents, and power to affirm, revise, or amend prior personnel decisions after a hearing.
Appeals: the board hears appeals from final department-head actions related to disciplinary matters; there is a separate provision for appeals to the circuit court regarding adverse county commission decisions, including a nonjury trial de novo, while the specific de novo requirement for board-to-circuit-court appeals is deleted.

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