HB273 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dickie Drake

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Military, military support, Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission created

Summary

The bill creates the Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission to study and manage the state's military resources and restationing options inside or outside Alabama.

What This Bill Does

HB273 would establish the Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission to study and evaluate all designated military forces, programs, infrastructure, civilian contractors, and the restationing or reorganization of these resources within or outside the state. It sets up a commission with a chair (the Lieutenant Governor) and two vice chairs (the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House or their designees) and includes members from both chambers and key state agencies, plus four retired military members and four civic leaders from affected communities. The commission will assess personnel, assets, economic impact, policies, and funding to support a stable DoD presence, and it must report annually to the Legislature; it will also follow governance rules and allow remote meeting participation, with oversight and support from the Military Stability Foundation.

Who It Affects

• Alabama military facilities and DoD assets and personnel (including Redstone Arsenal, Anniston Army Depot, Maxwell Air Force Base/Gunter Annex, Fort Rucker) as they are subject to study, evaluation, and potential restationing decisions.
• State and local communities and economies (businesses, workers, local governments) that could be affected by DoD resource levels, stability, job creation, and any changes in military presence.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission with a chair (the Lieutenant Governor) and two vice chairs (the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House or their designees).
• Membership includes: two House members, two Senate members, the Adjutant General, the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, the Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, four retired senior military members assigned to the four major facilities, and four civic leaders from impacted communities (appointed with specific consultation requirements).
• Terms are four years; initial members continue until the quadrennium beginning 2019; after that, new members serve four-year terms.
• Organizational meeting within 30 days after the act becomes law; the commission must meet at least annually and may meet by telephone or video conference; open meeting notice requirements apply.
• The commission may adopt governance rules (vacancies, officers, committees, executive committee) and may use remote participation; presence and quorum can be established through remote formats; public observers must be allowed.
• Assistance from legislative offices and staff; members receive standard compensation and per diem for meetings, with travel expenses; no additional compensation when the Legislature is in session.
• The commission will proactively study DoD resources in Alabama, including personnel, assets, economic impact, policies, services, and funding needs to promote stability and potential restationing.
• The commission may not alter or replace existing organizations or commissions focused on military growth, such as the Base Closure and Realignment Commission.
• Membership must reflect the state's diversity in race, gender, geography, and economy.
• The commission must file an annual report to the Legislature by the seventh legislative day of each regular session beginning in 2018.
• The commission may accept gifts and donations, and its work may be supported by the Military Stability Foundation, which is not a government body and whose documents may not be public.

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

Subjects

Military