HB47 Alabama 2016 1st Special Session Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2016

Title

Teacher tenure, attained unless notice of termination issued on or before June 15 of teachers third year, contingent on approval by voters of const. amend. proposing biennial budgeting sessions for the Legislature, Secs. 16-24C-4, 16-24C-5 am'd.

Summary

HB47 would change when districts must give notice about non-renewal and tenure for teachers and classified staff, tied to voters approving a constitutional change for biennial budgeting.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it changes the deadlines for notice of non-renewal and termination to advance tenure decisions. Traditional public school teachers would attain tenure after three complete consecutive school years unless the district issues written termination notice on or before June 15 of the third year. Teachers at two-year colleges would attain tenure after six consecutive semesters (excluding summers) unless termination notice is issued within 15 days before the end of the sixth semester. In the first year of each legislative quadrennium, written notice deadlines would be on or before June 30. The overall changes are contingent on approval of the biennial budgeting constitutional amendment in a statewide referendum.

Who It Affects

• Public school teachers: tenure eligibility and termination notice deadlines would be updated (June 15 cutoff for third-year termination notice; potential redefinition of when tenure is earned).
• Probationary teachers: subject to revised timelines for termination notices, including the June 30 deadline in the first year of a quadrennium.
• Teachers at two-year colleges: tenure timeline changes to six semesters with a termination notice by 15 days before the end of the sixth semester.
• Classified employees (non-teachers) in public schools and two-year colleges: affected by nonprobationary status timelines and termination notice rules, as outlined in the amended sections.

Key Provisions

• Amends sections 16-24C-4 and 16-24C-5 to modify notice deadlines for non-renewal and non-tenure of teachers.
• Traditional public school teachers attain tenure after three complete consecutive school years unless written termination notice is issued on or before June 15 of the third year.
• Two-year college teachers attain tenure after six consecutive semesters (excluding summer terms) unless termination notice is issued within 15 days before the end of the sixth semester; no tenure during or at the end of summer terms.
• In the first year of each legislative quadrennium, written termination notices must be provided on or before June 30.
• Certain high-level positions and temporary or limited-term employment are not eligible to attain tenure or nonprobationary status.
• Service credit for tenure purposes is limited to complete school years and cannot be transferred between teacher and classified employee tracks.
• Effective date is contingent on the constitutional amendment approving biennial budgeting; the act repeals conflicting laws as needed.

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

Subjects

Education