SB273 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Rodger SmithermanSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Transportation Dept., deputy directors and chief engineer, appointments of deputy director and chief engineer, appointment in unclassified service, Secs. 23-1-21.4, 23-1-22 am'd.
Summary: The bill moves future deputy directors and the chief engineer in Alabama's Department of Transportation into the unclassified merit system and lets the State Personnel Board set their salary ranges.
What This Bill Does
Keeps the Director's authority to appoint up to three deputy directors (one may be the chief engineer) with Governor approval and to assign duties. For deputy directors appointed after the act, they would be in the unclassified service under the Merit System, with salary ranges set by the State Personnel Board. The chief engineer would also move to the unclassified service after the act, with salary ranges set by the State Personnel Board. Current deputies and the chief engineer appointed before the act would continue under their existing terms (deputies at the Director’s pleasure and not subject to Merit System; chief engineer exempt) until new appointments occur.

Who It Affects
Deputy directors and the chief engineer appointed after the act: become part of the unclassified service; their salary ranges would be set by the State Personnel Board.
Current deputy directors and chief engineer appointed before the act: continue under their existing terms (deputies at the Director's pleasure and not subject to Merit System; chief engineer exempt) until new appointments are made.

Key Provisions
Deputy directors (up to three, with one possibly the chief engineer) may be appointed by the Director of Transportation with the Governor's approval; salaries for deputies are determined by the Director with Governor approval under existing language, and new appointees after the act would be in the unclassified service with salary ranges set by the State Personnel Board.
Chief engineer is appointed by the Director with Governor approval; after the act, the chief engineer would be in the unclassified service with salary ranges set by the State Personnel Board; incumbents appointed before the act remain under current terms (exempt/at pleasure).

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