SB205 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Transportation Commission, established, members, duties, compensation, appointment of Transportation Department director, department not subject to Budget Management Act, Secs. 23-1-21, 23-1-21.2 am'd.

Summary

SB205 would create a nine-member State Transportation Commission to oversee the Alabama Department of Transportation, appoint a DOT director, and exempt the department from the Budget Management Act while adding ethics and governance rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes a State Transportation Commission of nine members appointed by the Governor, one from each DOT division, to coordinate and develop DOT activities and to appoint the Director. It shifts authority to the commission to oversee the DOT, with the department not subject to the Budget Management Act. It imposes ethics and conflict-of-interest restrictions on commissioners, sets term lengths and diversity goals, and outlines the Director’s duties and appointment process. It also creates rules about reporting, budgeting, and the relationship between the Governor, Finance Director, and the commission regarding plans and funds.

Who It Affects

• Commission members and their potential conflicts: they will be appointed from DOT divisions, serve part-time with specific term lengths, receive compensation, must meet diversity goals, and are prohibited from employment or contracting with DOT-related firms during and for two years after service.
• Department of Transportation and local transportation entities and contractors: the DOT would be overseen by the new commission, the Director would be appointed with commission involvement, the department would be exempt from the Budget Management Act, and contracts with DOT would be subject to new governance and conflict-of-interest rules affecting how funds and planning are handled.

Key Provisions

• Establish a State Transportation Commission of nine members, one from each DOT division, appointed by the Governor.
• The Commission coordinates and develops DOT activities and appoints the Director of Transportation; the Director administers the department under the Commission's authority.
• The Department of Transportation is not subject to the Budget Management Act, with additional protections that funds cannot be withheld contrary to the Commission's plans.
• Initial terms are 2, 4, or 6 years by division, with subsequent terms at six years; no consecutive terms;Commissioners must reflect state diversity and report on diversity to the Legislature.
• Commissioners receive compensation at 30% of the Governor's cabinet compensation; they must bond and have office space; meetings require a quorum of five; commissioners serve part-time and cannot hold other paid offices or work in roadbuilding/related industries or as lobbyists.
• A two-year post-service restriction prohibits commissioners from employment with or contracting with DOT-related firms; if a former commissioner joins such a firm, that firm cannot contract with DOT for two years after the term.
• The Director of Transportation is appointed by the Governor in conjunction with the Commission, must meet specified qualifications, and serves at the Governor's pleasure; the Director salso has bonding requirements and duties to administer DOT policies, supervise staff, report to the Legislature, and sign contracts.

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

Subjects

Transportation Department