HB384 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim CarnsRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Jefferson Co., Retirement System, definitions, pension board, qualification, elections of members, duties, Secs. 45-37-123.01, 45-37-123.21, 45-37-123.22, 45-37-123.24, 45-37-123.53, 45-37-123.54, 45-37-123.82, 45-37-123.101, 45-37-123.103, 45-37-123.104, 45-37-123.151, 45-37-123.195 am'd.
Summary: HB 384 updates Jefferson County's General Retirement System by redefining terms, changing board qualifications and elections, and expanding benefits and administration.
What This Bill Does
The bill adds and revises definitions (including benefit_enhancement, executive_director, and spouse) and removes others. It changes who can serve on the pension board (notably adding a CPA requirement for one member and making one member intentionally a system member) and how elections for two board seats are conducted (allowing paper or electronic ballots and requiring county payroll notification). It also broadens administrative power (COLA increases, insurance and employee benefits, and handling of divorce orders) and creates rules for converting unpaid to paid membership time, funding requirements, and various survivor and refund provisions.

Who It Affects
Active and retired employees of the Jefferson County General Retirement System and their spouses/beneficiaries, who gain new or revised definitions, enhanced survivor options, and rules governing contributions, refunds, and benefit calculations.
Jefferson County government, including the pension board and payroll administration, which will implement new board qualifications, election procedures, actuarial requirements, funding rules for conversions, and expanded benefits and administrative powers.

Key Provisions
Add definitions for 'benefit enhancement,' 'executive director,' and 'spouse'; remove definitions for 'another pension system,' 'county treasurer,' and 'pension coordinator'; revise several existing definitions.
Board composition changes: member 1 and 2 require specific years of executive experience in insurance/investment or investing/banking; member 3 must have at least 10 years' experience as a CPA; member 5 must be a system member; member 4 is a retired member; elections for members 4 and 5 may be by paper or electronic ballot; county payroll notification is required for elections.
Election administration: the pension board may appoint an election board if the system members fail to do so; provides removal mechanisms for pension board members; executive director becomes secretary of the board; board may provide insurance and employee benefits to staff.

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