HB163 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Community College System, established as body corporate, eligibility of employees of system and colleges to participate in TRS and PEEHIP clarified, board authorized to acquire and dispose of property, Secs. 16-60-110.1, 16-60-111.4, 16-60-111.10 am'd.

Summary

HB163 creates the Alabama Community College System as a body corporate, shifts governance from the State Board of Education to the ACCS Board, clarifies employee participation in retirement and health plans, and updates property ownership rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the Alabama Community College System as a department body corporate and replaces the old system’s duties with those of the ACCS. It transfers governance authority from the State Board of Education to the ACCS Board, giving the board power to set rules, determine courses, hire presidents, manage funding, establish faculty qualifications and salaries, accept gifts, and implement performance-based funding. It requires employees of the ACCS and its colleges to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System, the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan, the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan or other ACA-qualified health plans. It also sets rules for acquiring, holding, leasing, and disposing of property, including property ownership transitions and the need for Governor approval and a supermajority for certain real estate actions, with property ownership rules applying to pre- and post-May 12, 2015 acquisitions.

Who It Affects

• Employees of the Alabama Community College System and of community and technical colleges, who are specified to participate in TRS, PEEHIP, SEHIP, or ACA-qualified health plans.
• The Alabama Community College System and its Board of Trustees (and the colleges they govern), which gains governance authority, budgeting control, and property management powers, including changes to how property is owned and transferred.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Community College System as a department of state government body corporate to replace the former system and transfers duties accordingly; references to older agencies are updated to refer to ACCS.
• Gives the ACCS Board of Trustees authority to govern, including setting rules, curricula, appointing presidents, directing funding, establishing faculty qualifications and salary schedules, accepting gifts, and establishing a performance-based allocation process.
• Requires employees of the ACCS and colleges to participate in TRS, PEEHIP, SEHIP, or ACA-qualified health plans.
• Authorizes the ACCS Board to acquire, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of property; requires Governor approval and a 3/5 board majority for real estate conveyances; clarifies ownership of pre-2015 and post-2015 property.
• Provides for immediate effectiveness after passage with operative dates to be determined by the Chancellor and Board, potentially before October 1, 2017.

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

Subjects

Community College System