HB319 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Reed IngramRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Elmore Co., county engineer or chief engineer, duties, surpervison of employees, Sec. 45-36-130 am'd.
Summary: HB 319 sets up Elmore County's county engineer or chief engineer as a full‑time official with defined duties, staff supervision, budgeting power, and emergency provisions for road, bridge, and ferry work.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Elmore County law to require the county to hire a qualified professional engineer who will dedicate full time to roads, bridges, and ferries and may be assigned additional duties by the county commission. It allows the engineer to employ and supervise deputies and assistants, perform engineering and surveying, keep maps and records, and manage cost accounting for the road system. It also establishes budgeting and procurement rules, bond requirements, office and equipment provisions, an emergency road supervisor option, and commission oversight over road projects and maintenance.

Who It Affects
Elmore County engineer or chief engineer – gains authority to hire, supervise, and direct deputies and assistants; must devote full-time to county road duties and perform duties assigned by the county commission.
Elmore County residents and road users – benefit from a formal, county-wide program for maintaining and constructing roads, bridges, and ferries, with oversight and budgeting by the county commission.

Key Provisions
Appoints a county engineer or chief engineer in Elmore County who must be a qualified professional engineer and devote full time to roads, bridges, and ferries; may perform other duties assigned by the county commission.
Authorizes the engineer to employ, supervise, and direct deputies and assistants necessary to maintain and construct roads, bridges, and ferries; can discharge staff for cause or when not needed.
Requires the engineer to perform engineering and surveying, and to maintain maps, records, and cost accounting for the road system.
Allows building or changing roads only when ordered by proper county commission action; maintains roads on a county-wide basis.
Gives the county commission authority to set wage scales and salaries for labor, with the engineer’s pay drawn from road and bridge funds; establishes budgeting limits for engineering expenses.
Requires a surety bond for the engineer, with bond amount set by the county commission and bond premiums paid by the county.
Furnishes the engineer with an office, supplies, equipment, utilities, and transportation; makes the engineer the custodian of county road machinery and equipment with an inventory kept on file.
Keeps expenditures within funding appropriated for engineering functions; allows limited increases with authorization and in accordance with law.
Provides an emergency provision: if no engineer is available, the county may hire a competent road supervisor with all engineer duties until a qualified engineer is employed.
Requires each county commissioner to inspect roads and bridges and assist in right-of-way issues and public relations.

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