HB77 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: James E. Buskey
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Class 2 municipalities (Mobile), pilotage commission, bar pilots, cost-of-living adjustments provided for
Summary: HB77 would require Class 2 municipalities' pilotage commissions to annually adjust bar pilots' tariff rates for cost-of-living, based on the Consumer Price Index.
What This Bill Does
It requires pilotage commissions in Class 2 municipalities to implement an annual cost-of-living adjustment to tariff rates for bar pilots whose principal place of business is in the Class 2 municipality. Starting January 1, 2017, the adjustment must be made at the first quarterly meeting after CPI changes are released, using the previous year's CPI as the basis; increases can be higher if requested by pilots or for other reasons. The act repeals conflicting laws and becomes effective immediately after passage, with the COLA implementation date specified for 2017.

Who It Affects
Bar pilots whose principal place of business is within a Class 2 municipality will see annual cost-of-living adjustments to their tariff rates.
Pilotage commissions in Class 2 municipalities are required to adjust tariff rates annually based on CPI and may raise rates beyond CPI if appropriate.

Key Provisions
Applies only to pilotage commissions in Class 2 municipalities.
Beginning January 1, 2017, requires annual CPI-based cost-of-living adjustments to applicable tariff rates for bar pilots with a principal place of business in the Class 2 municipality, to be done at the first quarterly meeting after CPI changes are released.
Uses CPI changes published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the previous calendar year as the basis for increases; commissions may adjust tariffs higher than CPI if requested by pilots or for other reasons.
Tariff rates are defined as fees based on draft and tonnage and other fees described in Section 33-4-48(a)-(c) of the Alabama Code.
Repeals conflicting laws and becomes effective immediately after passage, with the COLA provisions taking effect as specified.

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