SB477 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg J. Reed

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Class I municipalities, municipalities with population of 250,000 or more, city councils, expense allowance amounts removed, city council authorized to set amount of expense allowances, Secs. 11-43-7.1, 11-43-7.2 am'd.

Summary

The bill would remove fixed expense-allowance amounts for Class 1 municipalities and large cities and let the city council set the monthly allowances for council members.

What This Bill Does

It would amend Sections 11-43-7.1 and 11-43-7.2 to eliminate statutory maximums and empower the city council to determine the monthly expense allowances for council members. The council could set amounts for regular members and any special allowances for officers such as the president. It would still allow reimbursement for actual travel expenses beyond the city’s limits and provide for an additional council-set monthly allowance. Members could choose to have these allowances withheld for retirement contributions, affecting retirement benefit calculations. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• Members of city councils in Class 1 municipalities and in cities with 250,000+ population, whose monthly expense allowances would be determined by their city council rather than fixed by law.
• City governments (Class 1 municipalities and large cities) and their budgeting/finance systems, which would need to establish policy and funding for council-set allowances and related retirement contribution options.

Key Provisions

• Removes statutory maximums for monthly expense allowances and authorizes the council to set the allowance amounts for council members in Class 1 municipalities and cities with 250,000+ population.
• Allows the council to determine amounts for regular members and any separate allowance for the presiding member (e.g., president/chair).
• Permits an additional monthly expense allowance to be set by the council under Section 11-43-7.2.
• Keeps the option for reimbursement of actual travel expenses beyond the corporate limits, not counting against the set monthly allowances, and allows for retirement-contribution withholdings at member election.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on 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

Municipalities