HB515 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Oliver Robinson

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Jefferson Co., Birmingham, mayor-council form of government, mayor, council, powers and duties, further provided for, council members prohibited from serving on other city boards, Secs. 45-37A-52.55, 45-37A-52.56, 45-37A-52.59, 45-37A-52.95, 45-37A-52.128, 45-37A-52.134, 45-37A-52.198, 45-37A-52.200, 45-37A-52.221, 45-37A-52.270 am'd.

Summary

HB515 updates Birmingham-area mayor-council government rules by redefining powers between the mayor and council, requiring mayoral approval for organizational and budget changes, and restricting council members from serving on other city boards (except ex officio).

What This Bill Does

It sets when the council elects its president and president pro tem, with both elected from among council members. It requires written mayoral approval to create, change, abolish, or assign duties to offices, departments, or agencies, and gives the mayor authority to appoint or remove board members. It designates the mayor to act in ex officio capacity when needed and allows the mayor to retain outside counsel for city needs. It requires the mayor's written approval for new or changed budget items and the mayor's written recommendation for certain appropriations, and sets procedures for budget amendments including public hearings and limits on debt-service reductions. It prohibits council members from serving on other city boards while serving on the council (except as ex officio) and revises appointment rules for a list of boards and authorities, dividing appointment authority between council and mayor based on whether the entity has an odd or even number of members. It preserves existing authorities for fairgrounds and related entities and states that ordinances and resolutions remain in effect unless inconsistent with these changes.

Who It Affects

• City council members and council operations — they will be restricted from serving on other city boards while serving on the council (except as ex officio) and will see changes in leadership selection and board appointment authority.
• Mayor, department heads, city staff, and city boards/authorities — they gain or lose powers related to appointment/removal of board members, budget control and approval processes, the ability to hire outside counsel, and the division of board-appointment duties between the council and the mayor for certain entities.

Key Provisions

• §45-37A-52.55: The council shall elect a president and a president pro tem from among its members at specified biennial intervals, with provisions for vacancies.
• §45-37A-52.56: The council has broad powers (establish departments, adopt the budget, issue bonds, investigate, appoint board members) and the appointment authority supersedes prior laws; the mayor acts ex officio where applicable.
• §45-37A-52.59: With the mayor's written approval, the council may create/change/abolish offices, departments, or agencies and assign additional functions, but cannot discontinue or reassign functions assigned by law to specific offices.
• §45-37A-52.95: The mayor heads the administrative branch, appoints/removes certain officers and employees, may appoint staff, may retain outside counsel, and attends council meetings (without voting); certain appointive restrictions apply to libraries, parks, utilities, and nonelected school boards.
• §45-37A-52.128: After a public hearing, the council may adjust general fund expenditures with the mayor's written approval; debt-service and legally required items cannot be reduced, and total expenditures must not exceed receipts unless funded by additional revenue.
• §45-37A-52.134: Additional appropriations require five affirmative votes and written mayoral recommendation with finance director certification; similar rules apply to utility funds for their operations.
• §45-37A-52.198, §45-37A-52.200, §45-37A-52.221, §45-37A-52.270: Maintains existing authorities for fairgrounds and related facilities, outlines continuance of ordinances/resolutions consistent with the act, and allows the mayor and department heads to attend council meetings (without voting); prohibits council members from serving on other boards (except ex officio).
• Section 2: Appointment authority for listed boards and authorities (parking, planning, industrial development, water, economic development, public building, urban forestry, joint transit, airport, construction industry, commercial development, and parks) shall be divided between the city council and the mayor, with a simple majority by the council for odd-numbered boards and an equal split for even-numbered boards.

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

Subjects

Birmingham