HB117 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Education budget, appropriations for the support, maintenance, and development of public education

Summary

HB117 is Alabama's 2017 education budget law that allocates Education Trust Fund dollars to public education, debt service, and capital outlays for the 2017 fiscal year, with detailed line-item funding and local budgeting flexibility.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes a broad set of Education Trust Fund appropriations for FY 2017 to support K-12, higher education, and related programs, including debt service and capital outlays. It designates major K-12 funding, such as the Foundation Program and specific add-ons for transportation, textbooks, student materials, and professional development, plus substantial campus operations and maintenance funds for universities and community colleges. It also creates or funds numerous earmarked programs across agencies (health, technology, workforce development, libraries, and public colleges) and requires reporting on how workforce development funds and related initiatives are spent. Many appropriations are conditioned on fund availability and Governor approval, and local school boards have limited flexibilities to reallocate funds within FY2017 without reducing teacher units or support staff.

Who It Affects

• K-12 students and teachers in Alabama, who are affected by the Foundation Program funding, transportation support, textbook and student materials allocations, and professional development funds that aim to improve classroom resources and instruction.
• Higher education institutions and local boards of education (universities, community colleges, and school systems), which receive funding for operations and maintenance, program-specific appropriations, and numerous earmarked initiatives (research, health, technology, and workforce development) that influence campus operations and district budgeting.

Key Provisions

• Major K-12 and higher education funding lines are specified, including K-12 Foundation Program components (Transportation, Textbooks, Student Materials, Professional Development, Other Current Expenses) and substantial Operations and Maintenance funds for universities and the Community College System, with additional targeted programs for health, innovation, and student services.
• Local boards of education are allowed to exercise flexibility in reallocating funds among line items for FY2017 without reducing earned teacher units or support personnel, subject to regulatory guidelines and accountability requirements.
• The bill requires quarterly or semi-annual reporting on workforce development expenditures and related programs, including vendor reporting and outcomes for funded initiatives, to oversight committees and the Legislative Fiscal Officer.
• A broad set of earmarked funds is provided to multiple higher education institutions and state agencies (including health, science, technology, and humanities programs), plus a dedicated Alabama Innovation Fund and numerous specialized programs (EPSCoR, STEM initiatives, and Auto/Tech centers), with strict reporting and fund-disbursement controls.

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 Trust Fund