SB282 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Hightower

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Gulf Coast Sand Restoration Trust Fund, created, administration by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, distribution of interest earned

Summary

Creates the Alabama Gulf Coast Sand Restoration Trust Fund to collect offshore sand sale proceeds and use the interest to maintain and preserve Mobile County waterways and beaches.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a trust fund in the State Treasury, to be administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It requires that proceeds from the sale of sand taken from two offshore deposits (2.5 miles offshore near Dauphin Island) be deposited into the fund. The State Treasurer would invest the funds, and all interest earned would be credited to the trust and distributed to Mobile County for maintenance and preservation of its waterways and beaches. Any money in the fund at the end of the year would stay in the trust and not revert to the General Fund or any other fund, and the act would take effect immediately after passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• Mobile County residents and their waterways and beaches, who would receive ongoing funding for maintenance and preservation from the trust's interest distributions.
• The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (as fund administrator) and the State Treasurer (as investor/distributor), who would manage and distribute the fund under the new system.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Gulf Coast Sand Restoration Trust Fund in the State Treasury and designates the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as its administrator.
• Directs that proceeds from the sale of sand from two offshore deposits (2.5 miles off Dauphin Island) be deposited into the trust fund.
• States that the State Treasurer shall invest the funds and that all interest earned will be credited to the trust and distributed to Mobile County for maintenance and preservation of waterways and beaches.
• Provides that funds remaining in the trust at year-end do not revert to the General Fund or any other fund, but stay in the trust, and establishes the act to take effect immediately upon passage and 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

Water and Waterways