SB 292

Under Section 71 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, the general appropriation bill is limited to appropriations for the ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state, for interest on the public debt, and for the public schools. The courts have interpreted this language to not allow appropriations for postsecondary education in the general appropriation bill

This bill would amend Section 71 to provide that the general appropriation bill includes appropriations for ordinary expenses of public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education in the general appropriation bill

The bill would also terminate any dedication of taxes and revenues for special purposes

Proposing an amendment to Section 71 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, relating to the general appropriation bill; to authorize the general appropriation bill to include appropriations for public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education; and to terminate any dedication of taxes and revenues for special purposes.

Section 1

The following amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, is proposed and shall become valid as a part thereof when approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon and in accordance with Sections 284, 285, and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended: PROPOSED AMENDMENT Section 71 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, is amended to read as follows:

Section 71. (a) The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state, for interest on the public debt, and for the public schools postsecondary education, and for public institutions of higher education.

(b) Any dedication of taxes and revenues for special purposes existing at the time of the ratification of this Amendment, constitutionally or otherwise, shall be terminated October 1, 2019 and thereafter. All funds no longer dedicated for special purposes shall be credited to the State General Fund.

(c) The salary of no officer or employe employee shall be increased in such bill, nor shall any appropriation be made therein for any officer or employe employee unless his or her employment and the amount of his or her salary have already been provided for by law. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.

Section 2

An election upon the proposed amendment shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Sections 284 and 285 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, and the election laws of this state.

Section 3

The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the election ballot and shall set forth the following description of the substance or subject matter of the proposed constitutional amendment:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to authorize the general appropriation bill to include appropriations for public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education; and to terminate any dedication of taxes and revenues for special purposes.

Proposed by Act ________." This description shall be followed by the following language:

Yes ( ) No ( )."