SB4 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Bussman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Human Resources, county departments, directors, appointment by State Commissioner, Sec. 38-2-7 am'd; Sec. 38-2-7.1 added

Summary

SB4 would shift the appointment of county department of human resources directors from county boards to the State Department of Human Resources under the Merit System and remove expense reimbursements for board members.

What This Bill Does

The Commissioner of the State Department of Human Resources would appoint each county department director under the State Merit System, using county or statewide eligible lists to fill vacancies. The county board would remain as an advisory body with duties to meet the director and discuss county welfare needs, economic conditions, and public information, but the director would be appointed by the state rather than the board. The bill also removes provisions that paid or reimbursed county board members for expenses, and it sets the director's tenure as being at the pleasure of the appointing authority; the effective date is October 1, 2016.

Who It Affects

• County boards of human resources in each county, whose role in appointing the county director would be reduced or superseded by state appointment and who would lose expense reimbursements; they would continue to have advisory duties to the director and welfare programs.
• County department of human resources directors and counties, whose directors would be appointed by the State Commissioner under the Merit System, with eligibility lists used to fill vacancies and tenure at the pleasure of the state appointing authority.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 38-2-7.1 to provide that the Commissioner of the State Department of Human Resources shall appoint each county department director under the State Merit System law, using county or statewide eligibility registers to fill vacancies.
• Amends Section 38-2-7 to reflect changes in the appointment framework and to outline the county board’s continued advisory role and duties, subject to merit system provisions.
• Deletes or eliminates provisions that reimburse county board members for their expenses, reducing financial compensation for board participation.
• Preserves the county board's advisory functions, including meeting with the county director, identifying unmet needs, advising on welfare and economic conditions, informing the public welfare program, and collaborating with other agencies.
• Effective date of October 1, 2016.

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

Subjects

Human Resources Department