HB371 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Mobile Co., Civil Service System, county-wide, unclassified service, lay-offs, appointing authorities authorized to do own hiring, payment for excess annual leave, Act 470, 1939 Reg. Sess., am'd.

Summary

HB371 would let Mobile County expand hiring options in its countywide civil service system, adjust lay-off rules, and offer payout options for excess annual leave.

What This Bill Does

It would allow appointing authorities to run their own recruitment, testing, interviewing, and hiring programs with their own HR policies. It would permit paying employees during a working-test period up to the mid-range of the pay grade and allow potential step adjustments within a class. It would change lay-off rules to let appointing authorities lay off staff as needed, using seniority and service ratings to determine order, with written notice to the Director and placement on re-employment lists. It would authorize annual elections to compensate excess annual leave at year end, with choices on payout methods and subject to budget, and may require annual audits for compliance.

Who It Affects

• Appointing authorities within Mobile County's countywide civil service system, who gain the option to run their own hiring programs and must maintain HR policies and be subject to potential annual audits.
• Classified employees hired under the new option, who would be governed by the Mobile County Personnel Board rules and protections and could be affected by new pay during working tests and possible pay adjustments.
• Regular employees in the unclassified service who may be laid off under revised rules, with lay-off order based on seniority and service ratings and placement on re-employment lists.
• Employees who have excess annual leave, who would have the yearly option to be paid for excess leave (cash, leave units, or other methods) or defer compensation, subject to annual decisions and budget constraints.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections II and XXI of Act No. 470 (1939) to expand who is in the unclassified service and how layoffs are handled in Mobile County.
• Allows an appointing authority to establish its own recruitment, testing, interviewing, and hiring program with an accompanying HR policies manual and annual audits by the Personnel Board.
• Permits paying employees during a working-test period up to the mid-range of the pay plan, and allows special step adjustments within a class upon approval.
• Changes lay-off procedures so that the appointing authority can lay off employees due to shortages or changes, with lay-off order based on seniority and service ratings and written notice to the Director; laid-off employees go on re-employment lists.
• Authorizes annual elections to compensate excess annual leave at year-end, with notice by October 1, optional participation each year, and payout determined by budget and could be cash, leave units, or deferred compensation.

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

Subjects

Mobile County