SB89 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

J.T. WaggonerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Water works boards, serving counties other than co., where organized, additional board members, term, compensation, coverage by Ethics Law, notice and hearing regarding rate increases

Summary

SB89 reorganizes certain municipal water works boards that operate across multiple counties, establishing new board composition, term rules, compensation limits, ethics requirements, and rate-change procedures with open meetings.

What This Bill Does

It applies to municipal water works boards that serve customers or own assets in four or more counties outside the principal county, with immediate effect except for the new board structure which becomes effective January 1, 2017. It reorganizes the board to include six local appointees, one additional member appointed by the association of mayors (or county mayors) who must reside outside the authorizing municipality but in the principal county and may serve only one full term, and one additional member appointed by the county commissions in each other affected county meeting certain criteria; all added members must be water customers. It sets four-year terms, restricts to two full terms, and provides rules for vacancies and transitional serving for members already on the board. It caps compensation at $1,000 per month, requires approved expenses with itemized public records, subjects board members to the State Ethics Law and bans elected officials from serving, and requires 30-day notice and a public hearing before any rate increase, with notices posted on the board’s website and oversight by the Open Meetings Act.

Who It Affects

• Municipal water works boards that serve water customers or have assets in four or more counties outside the principal county, who will be reorganized under the act and subject to new appointment, term, compensation, ethics, and rate-change rules.
• Water customers and residents in the affected counties (and the authorizing municipality) who will experience new governance structure, rate-change notice requirements, and greater transparency through public hearings and website postings.

Key Provisions

• Board composition: six local appointees; one additional member appointed by the association of mayors (or county mayors) who must reside outside the authorizing municipality but in the principal county and serve only one full term; one additional member appointed by each county commission in affected counties (outside the principal county) that serves more than 5,000 water customers or owns a major reservoir, with each such member residing in that county.
• Terms and vacancies: four-year terms; vacancies filled for the remainder of the term; board members may not serve more than two full terms (with transitional rules for members serving when the act becomes applicable); existing members have term considerations under these rules.
• Compensation and expenses: maximum of $1,000 per month in pay; reimbursement for personal expenses and travel allowed only with majority board approval; expenses must be itemized and public; no reimbursement for alcohol or entertainment.
• Ethics and eligibility: all board members and employees subject to the State Ethics Law; no elected official may serve on the board; no consultant or party contracting with the board may spend funds on entertainment of a board member.
• Rate increases: board may not adopt a rate increase without at least 30 days’ notice and a public hearing; notice must be posted on the board’s website 30 days before the meeting.
• Open meetings and applicability: board is subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act and related ethics law; the act applies to boards meeting the county-coverage criteria; separate provisions clarify exemptions and effective dates.

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 Sewer Systems