HB481 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Beneficiaries, permit Supernumerary Circuit Clerk or Register to change beneficiary, seek refund under certain circumstances, Secs. 12-17-142, 12-17-143 am'd.

Summary

This bill expands who can receive benefits from the Clerks' and Registers' Supernumerary Fund, lets circuit clerks change named beneficiaries, and adds a refund option for eligible supernumeraries with new fund administration rules.

What This Bill Does

It amends Sections 12-17-142 and 12-17-143 to allow circuit clerks to designate or change the beneficiary of the Fund to either the spouse or another named beneficiary. It provides that if the designated beneficiary is not the surviving spouse, the beneficiary would receive 100 percent of contributions plus 75 percent of accrued interest. It gives a circuit clerk eligible for supernumerary status the option to receive a refund of contributions plus 75 percent of accrued interest. It creates a plan for distributing any remaining Fund assets after all liabilities are met and places Fund administration with the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama, with procedures to implement the changes; any leftover funds would revert to the Administrative Office of Courts for the benefit of Court Specialists.

Who It Affects

• Circuit clerks and circuit registers, who would be able to designate or change beneficiaries and may elect a contribution refund when eligible for supernumerary status.
• Surviving spouses and other named beneficiaries of supernumerary officials, who may receive benefits under new rules and could be affected by how beneficiaries are designated and how funds are distributed or refunded.

Key Provisions

• Amends 12-17-142 to allow change of the spouse or other named beneficiary of the Clerks' and Registers' Supernumerary Fund.
• Adds an option for a circuit clerk becoming eligible for supernumerary status to receive a refund of contributions plus 75% of accrued interest.
• Defines that if the designated beneficiary is not the surviving spouse, the beneficiary receives 100% of contributions plus 75% of accrued interest.
• Amends 12-17-143 to set contribution rules and fund purpose, and places the Fund under management of the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama.
• Requires procedures to implement the changes and specifies that any remaining funds after liabilities revert to the Administrative Office of Courts for Court Specialists.
• Effective immediately upon passage and approval.

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

Subjects

Beneficiaries