HB371 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randall Shedd

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

State Superintendent of Education, election of, required, term of office, Amendment 284 (Section 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Summary

HB371 would switch the State Superintendent of Education from appointment by the State Board of Education to election by voters, starting in 2020.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the State Superintendent of Education would be elected by qualified electors of the state at the same time as other state officers, beginning in 2020 and every four years thereafter. The State Board of Education would continue to oversee the office and its duties would be set by regulations from the Legislature. The salary would be set by the Legislature and must be at least the 2017 level, paid from the state treasury. The Legislature would enact laws to implement the amendment, and any conflicting provisions in Articles V and XIV would be repealed, but elections or terms of anyone elected before the amendment becomes part of the Constitution would not be affected.

Who It Affects

• Qualified electors of Alabama (state voters) who would vote to elect the State Superintendent of Education starting in 2020 and every four years after.
• State Board of Education, which would shift from appointing the Superintendent to overseeing and determining the officer's duties under new regulations,

Key Provisions

• The State Superintendent of Education shall be elected by qualified electors of the state at the same time as other elected state officers, beginning in 2020 and every four years thereafter.
• The Superintendent's salary shall be fixed by the Legislature and must not be less than the 2017 amount, paid from the state treasury.
• The State Board of Education shall determine the authority and duties of the Superintendent per regulations prescribed by the Legislature.
• The amendment repeals conflicting provisions of Articles V and XIV, enacting implementation provisions by the Legislature, and it does not affect elections or terms for anyone elected before the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments