SB158 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy, membership and duties revised, fund created for deposit of funds, creation fo office deleted, Secs. 29-2-270 to 29-2-275, inclusive, am'd.

Summary

SB158 reshapes Alabama's Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy by changing its membership, limiting reporting, removing a mandated energy plan, and enabling advisory subcommittees.

What This Bill Does

It changes who sits on the committee and how its leaders are chosen. It removes the requirement to develop a state Alabama Energy Plan and tightens how the committee reports its work. It deletes the authorization to create and staff a Legislative Energy Policy Office. It allows the formation of advisory subcommittees on eight energy topics to study and advise on energy policy.

Who It Affects

• Members of the Alabama Legislature (House and Senate) who sit on the committee, since the bill revises membership and leadership structures and the appointment process.
• Government agencies and private sector stakeholders who participate in advisory subcommittees and attend meetings (including public access to meetings and overall energy policy engagement).

Key Provisions

• Membership revised: defines a new mix of legislative chairs and appointees on the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy and requires leadership to be elected (chair and vice chair) on a regular basis.
• Energy Plan: deletes or suspends the requirement that the committee must develop an Alabama Energy Plan (reducing the formal planning mandate).
• Reporting: limits the reporting obligations of the committee to the Governor and Legislature.
• Legislative Energy Policy Office: deletes the authorization to create and staff a Legislative Energy Policy Office (no office, director, or staff).
• Advisory subcommittees: authorizes the committee to form advisory subcommittees on eight topics—Biofuels and Alternative Fuels; Efficiency and Conservation; Environmental Issues; Infrastructure and Expansion; Renewable Power and Electric Generation; Research and Development; Technology and Communications; and the Incentives Subcommittee—with provisions for cross-participation by state agencies and private sector members.
• Subcommittee composition and diversity: requires inclusion of representatives from government agencies and diverse private-sector members; the Department of Agriculture and Industries must be a member of each advisory subcommittee; cochairs include a legislative member and a private sector or governmental member reflecting state diversity.
• Staff and facilities: the committee may employ staff and maintain an office facility in Montgomery for the advisory work and administration, including furnishing and equipment.
• Meetings and attendance: allows participation by teleconference or video conference; requires a quorum and physical presence of a majority of the committee or subcommittee members to conduct business, and compliance with the Open Meetings Act.
• Compensation: specifies compensation and per diem provisions for legislative and non-legislative members and staff related to committee and subcommittee meetings.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after the Governor signs it or it becomes law otherwise.

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

Subjects

Legislature