SB448 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Judges of Probate, judicial retirement, contributions by counties for the employer's share, Secs. 12-18-1, 12-18-3, 12-18-82 am'd.

Summary

SB448 would shift the employer contributions for probate judges’ judicial retirement from the state to county governments and trigger local-funding requirements under Alabama’s constitutional rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill changes who pays the employer portion of probate judges’ retirement contributions by making counties responsible for monthly payments into the Judicial Retirement Fund. The payments would cover normal contributions, accrued liability contributions, and administrative expenses, with rates set annually by the fund’s actuary. Probate judges would continue to contribute their own share under existing rules, so this bill primarily affects the source of the employer funds. If not approved by a two-thirds vote, the measure would not take effect for local entities unless the Legislature provides funds or a local revenue source.

Who It Affects

• Probate judges — their employer-funded contributions to the Judicial Retirement Fund would come from counties rather than the state, while their personal contribution requirements remain as currently defined.
• County governments — they would be responsible for monthly employer contributions to the Judicial Retirement Fund for each probate judge, including normal, accrued liability, and administrative expense components.
• Judicial Retirement Fund and state administration — continue to manage and receive contributions, but funding responsibility shifts to counties for probate judges.

Key Provisions

• Amends Code sections 12-18-1, 12-18-3, and 12-18-82 to require employer contributions for probate judges to be paid by the counties.
• Starting October 1, 2015, counties must pay monthly to the Judicial Retirement Fund an amount equal to the normal contribution, the accrued liability contribution, and a share for administrative expenses, with rates determined annually by the fund’s actuary; these amounts are credited to each probate judge’s account.
• Contributions are paid into the Judicial Retirement Fund and reported in a prescribed format.
• Probate judges continue to contribute their own share to the fund under existing schedules (e.g., 8.25% of salary after Oct 1, 2011; 8.5% after Oct 1, 2012, with base sums adjusted as state circuit judges’ pay changes).
• This act creates a local expenditure under Amendment 621, requiring a two-thirds legislative/voter threshold to take effect; if not enacted by two-thirds, it must be funded by appropriation or local revenue to become effective.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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

Judge, Probate