SB194 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg J. Reed

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

University of Alabama, Board of Trustees, congressional districts for membership as constituted on 1/1/2018, State Superintendent of Education removed from membership, age restriction of 70 deleted, Section 264 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, am'd, const. amend.

Summary

SB 194 would amend the Alabama Constitution to change the University of Alabama Board of Trustees by fixing districts as of January 1, 2018, removing the State Superintendent of Education from the board, and eliminating the age 70 retirement rule.

What This Bill Does

It sets the board composition to two members from each congressional district as of January 1, 2018, plus one additional member from the district containing the university’s first campus, with the governor serving as ex officio president, and removes the State Superintendent of Education from membership. It ends the requirement that trustees retire or vacate office after turning 70. It preserves current trustees’ terms, and introduces a process where new and successor trustees are elected by the board and confirmed by the Senate, with initial terms not more than six years and staggered expirations, and six-year terms thereafter with a maximum of three consecutive terms; trustees may be paid only for actual expenses, and emeritus status may be granted without duties or privileges.

Who It Affects

• Current and future University of Alabama Board of Trustees members — their composition, terms, and eligibility rules would change (district-based slots, staggered six-year terms, and no forced retirement at age 70).
• State Superintendent of Education — removed from the Board of Trustees.

Key Provisions

• The board shall consist of two members from each congressional district as constituted on January 1, 2018, an additional member from the district containing the first campus, and the governor as ex officio president; the State Superintendent of Education is removed from membership.
• Existing trustees remain in office until their terms expire under current law; new and successor trustees are elected by the board and confirmed by the Senate, with initial terms up to six years and staggered so one term expires every three years per district; successors serve six-year terms, with a limit of three consecutive six-year terms.
• Trustees must retire and vacate office at the annual meeting following the trustee’s seventieth birthday (this requirement is deleted).
• If a trustee’s term ends or a vacancy occurs, the board may elect a replacement; the Senate confirms or rejects nominees; if rejected, the board elects replacements.
• Trustees may not be paid except for actual expenses; emeritus status may be given upon vacation of office, but it carries no duties or privileges.

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