SB361 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

School hiring, nepotism prohibited, Sec. 41-1-5 am'd.

Summary

SB361 would ban relatives of school officials from being involved in hiring, supervision, or evaluation of school employees and establish penalties and remedies for violations.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends a state employment law to prohibit relatives within the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity of certain school leaders from being appointed to or working with school employees in ways that affect hiring, supervision, or evaluation. It requires recusal and impartial handling of vacancies when a relative applies, and it allows the board to void a hire and re-advertise if a relative is improperly chosen. It also sets penalties for violations and allows affected applicants to seek legal remedies; it does not apply to city or county boards of education in some sections.

Who It Affects

• Relatives of school district executives, board members, principals, or other supervisors are barred from being involved in hiring, supervision, or evaluation of school employees and may need to recuse themselves or be barred from the process.
• Job applicants and current school employees who are affected by nepotism rules can seek remedies if the law is violated, including potential lawsuits to void improper hires and require re-advertisement, with violators facing penalties and possible termination.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'relative' as spouse, dependent, adult child or spouse, parent, spouse's parent, or sibling or their spouse, and applies these relationships to hiring and supervision rules.
• Prohibits state officers or employees from appointing or contracting with a relative for any state job, and bars relatives from being in the immediate supervisory chain over a public employee.
• Requires impartial handling of vacancies when a relative applies; the executive officer must recuse and direct the board to appoint impartial interviewers and prepare a written report, which the board must consider without input from the executive officer.
• Allows a board to void a hire if a relative was improperly chosen and requires re-advertisement of the position, with standing for other applicants to challenge the decision in court.
• Imposes penalties for violations: misdemeanor, up to a $500 fine or up to one year in jail, and possible disciplinary action including termination for willful violations.
• Excludes city or county boards of education from certain provisions; establishes the act's effective date as the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Employment