SB454 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Quinton Ross

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Colleges, Alabama State University, membership of board of trustees increased, terms decreased from 12 to 6 year terms, nominating committee established, electronic meeting participation provided, compensation, Secs. 16-50-20, 16-50-26, 16-50-28 am'd.

Summary

SB454 updates Alabama State University's Board of Trustees by adding two at-large seats, shortening terms to six years with a 12-year cap, creating a nominating committee, and expanding meeting flexibility with electronic participation, emergency procedures, and updated expense rules.

What This Bill Does

It increases the board size by adding two more at-large trustees (for a total of four state-at-large seats, with two may be from outside the state) and reduces term lengths to six years, limiting each trustee to two six-year terms (12 years total). It creates a nominating committee that selects three candidates for each vacancy for the Governor to appoint with Senate confirmation, and establishes procedures for vacancies, holdovers, and retroactive terms. It allows trustees to participate in meetings electronically (with public access requirements) and sets emergency meeting procedures, while mandating annual trustee fiduciary training and reimbursing actual expenses incurred rather than providing a salary.

Who It Affects

• Current and future trustees of Alabama State University: more at-large seats are added, terms are shortened to six years with an overall 12-year limit, and they will undergo annual fiduciary training; compensation is limited to reimbursement of actual expenses.
• The Governor and the Alabama Senate: changes the appointment process to involve a nominating committee, requires Senate confirmation, and defines timelines and holdover rules for vacancies.
• University community and stakeholders (faculty, staff, students, alumni, business community, Montgomery County Delegation): representation on the nominating committee and a structured process for selecting trustees that includes input from diverse groups.
• The public and government transparency expectations: meetings must comply with the Open Meetings Act, may include electronic participation, and emergency meetings have defined notice and participation rules.

Key Provisions

• Adds two additional at-large trustee seats (bringing total at-large seats to four; two may be outside the state; two must be non-minority) and keeps district-based seats; terms are six years with a maximum of two terms (12 years total). Initial outside-state terms are five and six years, with six-year terms thereafter.
• Creates a nominating committee consisting of: a board member, a faculty senate member, the student government association president, a business community member, a Montgomery County Delegation member, the national alumni association president or designee, and a community representative; the committee submits three nominees for each vacancy for the Governor to appoint with Senate approval.
• Outlines vacancy and appointment procedures, including holdover rules if a vacancy occurs before the maximum term and the process if nominees are not submitted within 30 days (Governor may appoint). Retroactivity provisions apply to term start dates when vacancies are filled.
• Authorizes emergency and special meetings with defined notice periods; permits electronic participation in meetings while requiring physical presence for a majority of the quorum to conduct business; ensures compliance with the Open Meetings Act and public access.
• Mandates annual trustee fiduciary training and specifies that trustees are reimbursed for actual expenses only (no salary).
• Sets first meeting after full appointment and regular meeting times (May and November), plus rules for travel expense reimbursement and related governance matters.
• Effective date: immediately upon the 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

Alabama State University