SB96 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Clyde ChamblissSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Counties, co. commission, operation, contracts with municipalities, contracts or employment with family members of commissioners clarified, self-funded property insurance, maintenance of annexed roads including evacuation route, bonding of employees of emergency communication districts, Secs. 11-1-10, 11-3-5, 11-30-1, 11-49-80, 11-98-4 am'd.
Summary: SB96 updates counties’ powers and ethics rules, allows self-funding of insurance, clarifies road annexation duties, and strengthens emergency communication districts.
What This Bill Does
SB96 lets counties contract with municipalities and other government entities to obtain funds, services, and facilities for public development. It tightens conflict‑of‑interest rules for county commissioners, including bans on awarding contracts to relatives or related firms and related penalties. It creates a framework for counties to self‑insure liability (with a liability self‑insurance fund) and clarifies road maintenance after annexation, including evacuation routes. It also expands the powers and bonding requirements of emergency communication districts and allows them to contract, borrow, and possibly form nonprofit corporations.

Who It Affects
Counties and county commissioners: new contracting options with municipalities and stricter ethics rules and penalties for violations.
Emergency communication districts and their employees/directors: bonding requirements and expanded governance powers, including contracting and funding options.

Key Provisions
11-1-10: Counties may contract with the United States, State, other counties, and municipalities to obtain funds, services, materials, buildings, waterways, and related facilities for public development, with permissible covenants and maintenance provisions.
11-3-5: Tightens conflict-of-interest rules for county commissioners, prohibiting contracts with relatives or related businesses; restricts participation in bids; requires contract filings; violators face misdemeanor penalties.
11-30-1: Establishes a LIABILITY SELF-INSURANCE FUND to pool resources among counties for self-insurance against claims, defining terms such as member counties and claims.
11-49-80: Clarifies which entity controls county-maintained streets after annexation by a municipality, outlines when annexation transfers responsibility, and allows mutual arrangements and evacuation-route considerations.
11-98-4: Expands emergency communication district governance and powers (sue, acquire property, construct/operate systems, borrow money, provide insurance, contract for dispatch services, grant funds) and requires bonding of district employees; allows formation of a nonprofit public corporation.

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