SB4 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald O. Dial
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Fire Departments, non-volunteer, diesel exhaust system installed in the fire station building, required within certain time frame and under certain conditions
Summary: SB4 creates the Legislative Services Agency to centralize legislative staff services by merging the old Legislative Reference Service, Legislative Fiscal Office, and Alabama Law Institute into three divisions and transferring their work and assets to the new agency.
What This Bill Does
It establishes the Legislative Services Agency and three divisions (Legal, Fiscal, Law Revision) to handle staff support, coding and codification, budgeting and fiscal analysis, and legal research and reform. It transfers all materials, funds, personnel, and property from the previous agencies to the new agency on October 1, 2017. It sets up governance, staffing rules, and duties for the divisions, including codification work, drafting assistance, budget notes, and law improvement efforts, and creates confidentiality protections for communications between legislators and their staff. It also repeals the old organizational chapters and outlines funding mechanisms and effective dates for the transition.

Who It Affects
Legislative staff and lawmakers: will receive centralized, structured support through the new Legislative Services Agency, with clarified hiring authority, salary practices, and confidential staff-client communications protections.
State government and departments: must cooperate with the Legal Division (for reports and information), provide data for fiscal notes and budget analysis, and participate in the agency’s coordination of legislative operations and information sharing.

Key Provisions
Provision 1: Creates the Legislative Services Agency and consolidates the Legislative Reference Service, Legislative Fiscal Office, and the Alabama Law Institute into three divisions (Legal, Fiscal, Law Revision), with all related assets transferred to the agency on October 1, 2017.
Provision 2: Establishes governance and operations including appointment of the Director by the Legislative Council, authority to hire staff outside the State Merit System, duties for each division (Legal for drafting and codification, Fiscal for budgeting and revenue work, Law Revision for law study and reform), confidentiality protections for communications between legislators and staff, and creation of funding structures to support the agency and the Law Institute.

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