SB 229

Under existing law, the Chambers County Board of Registrars may meet a maximum of 120 working days each fiscal year

This bill would increase the maximum number of working days the board may meet each fiscal year to 180 working days

To amend Section 17-3-8, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to meeting days of boards of registrars; to increase the maximum number of working days the Chambers County Board of Registrars may meet each fiscal year to 180 working days.

Section 1

Section 17-3-8, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§17-3-8.

(a) Each member of the board of registrars in the Counties of Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Escambia, Geneva, Lowndes, Perry, Sumter, and Wilcox may meet a maximum of 120 working days each fiscal year; each member of the board of registrars in the Counties of Barbour, Blount, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lee, Marengo, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, and Winston may meet a maximum of 168 working days each fiscal year, except in the Counties of Lee and Pike each board of registrars may meet up to an additional 30 session days each fiscal year, at the discretion of the chair of the county commission, and such days shall be paid from the respective county funds; each member of the board of registrars in Tallapoosa County and each member of the board of registrars in Talladega County may meet a maximum of 220 working days each fiscal year, except that in Talladega County the board of registrars may meet up to an additional 30 session days each fiscal year, at the discretion of the chair of the county commission; each member of the board of registrars in the Counties of Dale, Franklin, Houston, Marion, Marshall, Bullock, Macon, and Tuscaloosa may meet a maximum of 216 working days each fiscal year; each member of the board of registrars in the Counties of Limestone and Shelby may meet a maximum of 167 working days each fiscal year; and each member of the board of registrars in Russell County may meet a maximum of 177 working days each fiscal year.

(b) In the Counties of Choctaw, Coffee, Colbert, Cullman, Lauderdale, and Monroe each member of the board of registrars may meet a maximum of 199 working days each fiscal year.

(c) Each member of the Board of Registrars of Autauga, Elmore, and Bibb Counties may meet a maximum of 187 working days each fiscal year. Each member of the Board of Registrars of Walker County may meet a maximum of 200 days each fiscal year and each member of the Board of Registrars of Lamar, Cherokee, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Hale, and Washington Counties may meet a maximum of 140 days each fiscal year. Each member of the board of registrars in the following counties may meet the following maximum number of working days each fiscal year: Henry - 140 working days; Covington - 188 working days; DeKalb - 207 working days; Jackson - 207 working days; Etowah - 207 working days; Chambers - 180 working days; and Lawrence - 140 working days.

(d) Each member of the board of registrars in the Counties of Baldwin, Calhoun, Chilton, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, St. Clair, and Morgan are authorized to meet not more than five days each week for the purpose of carrying out their official duties. Jefferson County, which is now operating under the provisions of local laws, shall be exempted from the provisions of this section. Provided, however, that where the words "each year" are used in the local laws the words mean "each fiscal year."

(e) The actual number of working days to be used as session days shall be determined by a quorum of the board of registrars according to the needs of the county.

(f) As many as 25 of the allotted working days may be used for special registration sessions (i.e., those sessions held away from the courthouse in the several precincts of the county or sessions held on Saturday or between the hours of 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.). Notice of any special session scheduled by the board shall be given at least 10 days prior to the special session by (1) bills posted at three or more public places in each election precinct affected, if the session involves precinct visits, and (2) advertisement once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county or by radio or television announcements on a local station, or both by newspaper or announcement."

Section 2

This act shall become effective on October 1, 2019, following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.