SB309 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: J.T. WaggonerSenator
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: SB 309 updates Jefferson County's General Retirement System by updating definitions, board qualifications, election rules, and the board's authority to grant benefits and manage administration.
What This Bill Does
It adds new definitions (benefit enhancement, executive director, spouse) and removes or revises several existing ones. It changes who must serve on the pension board and how they are chosen, including CPA requirements for one member and ensuring a system member sits on another. It expands the pension board's powers on benefits, insurance, meetings, and administrative procedures, and it allows the conversion of unpaid membership time to paid time with actuarial oversight. It also modifies death, beneficiary, and cost-of-living provisions, and sets rules for contributions, funding, and actions after reemployment or separation, with an effective date after gubernatorial approval.

Who It Affects
Active and retired members of the General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County and their beneficiaries, who would gain new benefit options, contribution rules, and survivor choices.
Jefferson County government entities and system administrators (including the County Commission, county manager, payroll, executive director/secretary, pension board, and related staff), who would face new governance, election, actuarial, and administrative requirements.

Key Provisions
Adds definitions for 'benefit enhancement,' 'executive director,' and 'spouse'; removes definitions for 'another pension system,' 'county treasurer,' and 'pension coordinator'; revises several other terms.
Requires member number three of the pension board to have at least 10 years of experience as a certified public accountant; requires member number five to be a system member; allows elections of members four and five by paper or electronic ballots; requires the county manager to inform payroll about elections for members four and five; authorizes the pension board to appoint the election board only if system members fail to appoint one or if an appointee cannot or will not serve; establishes a mechanism to remove a pension board member.
Makes the executive director the secretary of the system; authorizes the pension board to award cost-of-living increases in any form; authorizes action on divorce decrees or other orders; requires electronic notice of annual meetings; allows the board to purchase insurance and provide health, dental, vision, paid leave, and other benefits to employees; allows voluntary insurance for members with costs paid by the member; removes the system's legal advisor designation with the county attorney serving as legal advisor to the pension board.
Permits members to convert unpaid membership time to paid membership time; requires pension board approval for any such conversion, actuarial evaluation by the county before conversion, and clarifies funding responsibility (neither the county, the system, nor the pension board is required to fund the conversion); clarifies how rehiring affects participation and benefits.
Allows member contributions to be made on either pre- or after-tax basis at the board's discretion; prohibits withdrawal of contributions by joining another pension plan; allows cessation of contributions after 30 years of paid membership; adjusts rules for refunds and death benefits, including interpleading death benefits in court when needed.
Authorizes the pension board to increase or enhance member benefits by lump sum or other forms, subject to actuarial certification, commission approval, and board rules; requires indemnification agreements in certain payments to members, beneficiaries, or guardians.

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