SB 317

This bill amends sections 41-9-541, 41-9-542, 41-9-544, and 41-9-545, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Governor's Mansion Authority, the composition of its membership and designees, creates an executive committee appointed by the Governor, and provides further for expenditures from the Mansion Fund

To amend sections 41-9-541, 41-9-542, 41-9-544, and 41-9-545, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Governor's Mansion Authority.

Section 1

Sections 41-9-541, 41-9-542, 41-9-544, and 41-9-545, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§41-9-541. (a) There is created the Governor's Mansion Authority to preserve, operate, and maintain the Alabama Governor's Mansion, also known as the Ligon House, located on South Perry Street in Montgomery, Alabama, the adjacent historic property known as the John Blue-Hill House ("Hill House") on South Perry Street, and such adjacent properties as shall may be acquired from time to time, hereinafter designated the Governor's Mansion Complex. The Governor's Mansion Complex means the state-owned property within the area bounded on the north by Cromwell Street, bounded on the east by South Perry Street, bounded on the south by Finley Avenue, and bounded on the west by South Court Street. (b) The purposes of the authority shall be to preserve and maintain the Governor's Mansion and to protect the historical and architectural integrity of the mansion exterior, interior, contents, and grounds; to develop, maintain, and operate the Governor's Mansion Complex as an appropriate setting for carrying on the official and ceremonial functions of the state, including, but not limited to, the recruitment of industry; and to provide a suitable housing for the Governor and the family of the Governor in comfortable, private, and physically secure quarters within the Governor's Mansion Complex, including the Hill House.

§41-9-542. (a) The authority shall be composed of the following members or their designees: (1) The Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. (2) The Director of the Division of Construction Management of the Department of Finance Technical Staff of the Alabama Building Commission. (3) The Director of Finance of the State of Alabama. (4) The Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission. (5) The senior collections curator of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. (6) The chief architectural historian of the Alabama Historical Commission. (7) The President of the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. (8) The President of the Friends of the Alabama Governor's Mansion. (9) The President of the Business Council of Alabama. (10) The Chairman of the Black Heritage Council. (11) The Executive Director of the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery. (12) A history teacher to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, having demonstrated proficiency and interest in preservation of state history. (13) The Director of the State Black Archives Research Center and Museum. (14) The Director of the Historic Mobile Preservation Society. (15) The President of the Alabama Historical Association. (16) The Governor of Alabama or the Governor's spouse upon appointment by the Governor of the Governor of Alabama. (17) The Executive Director of the Eufaula Heritage Association. (18) Two members appointed by the Governor. (b) At its first meeting each year, the members of the authority shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary, each of whom shall serve two-year terms. The vice chair shall act in the place of the chair in the chair's absence or disability. The vice chair and secretary shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. The authority shall meet at such times as designated by the authority at a place as is deemed necessary or convenient, but the chair shall call a meeting once a year. The chair may also call a special meeting at any time the chair deems it advisable or necessary. A quorum shall be a simple majority of the authority membership or their designees. Members of the authority or any committee thereof may participate in meetings of the authority or such committees by telephone conference or similar communications equipment through which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time, and such participation by the members shall constitute presence at a meeting for all purposes. Members and their designees shall serve without compensation. (c) Except as specified by subsection (a), the authority shall strive, when applicable, to select designees that reflect the racial, geographic, and economic diversity of the state. (d) There is created an executive committee of the authority, which shall have authority to exercise any and all powers of the authority on the authority's behalf, except as expressly limited by an administrative rule promulgated by the authority. The executive committee shall be composed of three members of the authority, each appointed to the executive committee by the Governor, and who shall serve on the executive committee at the pleasure of the Governor. The executive committee shall submit an annual report of its activities to the authority no later than October 1 of each year.

§41-9-544. In addition to any other power established pursuant to this article, the authority may exercise the following powers: (1) To solicit and receive appropriations, gifts, contributions of money, and property consistent with the purpose for which the authority is created. Title to all gifts, articles, and money received by the authority shall be vested in the authority. The authority shall use gifts, articles, and money received for the purpose specified by the grantor, to the extent consistent with this article and the rules of the authority. (2) To solicit and accept loans of furniture and other objects as it deems suitable and appropriate. The authority shall use loaned furniture and objects for the purpose specified by the grantor to the extent consistent with this article and the rules of the authority. (3) To make, enter into, and execute such contracts, agreements, and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to accomplish any purpose for which it is created, including entering into agreements with any civic organization, nonprofit group or organization, or professional or government organization relative to the day-to-day operation of the Governor's Mansion Complex. (4) To accept gratuitous services from individuals and organizations and to appoint, employ, and contract with such employees, agents, advisors, and consultants, including, but not limited to, architectural historians, landscape architects with experience in landscape architectural preservation, conservators, historians, engineers, and craftsmen as may in its judgment be necessary or desirable, and to fix their compensation. (5) To expend any funds it may receive under this article as it deems appropriate and consistent with the purposes of this article or for any of the purposes set out in Section 36-13-6 for which expenditures from the Mansion Fund are authorized. (6) To participate with other public and private authorities in providing for the transportation of visitors between the complex and other historic and cultural sites. The authority may set and collect a fee for such transportation. (7) To construct and operate a visitor's center and parking lot for the benefit of visitors to the complex, and to set and collect a fee for parking. (8) To purchase, produce, sell, and distribute historical souvenir items. (9) To publish or contract for the publication of brochures, books, and periodicals intended for the general public that are promotional, informational, or educational about the buildings, contents, and grounds of the complex, and to sell same at prices set by the authority. (10) To apply for and accept from any federal, state, county, or municipal government or agency or any other public or private source, grants, or other assistance in furtherance of the authority's purposes under such conditions as may be provided by the source.

§41-9-545. (a) The authority shall keep an account of all receipts and expenditures. Books of the authority shall be open to regular inspection and audit by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. (b) The authority shall operate or provide for the operation of the Governor's Mansion Complex in such a manner as to effectuate the purposes enumerated in this article. (c) No furniture, equipment, art work, or other items related to the function and operation of the complex may be disposed of by sale or donation except where allowed by law relating to the disposal of broken or damaged state property. The authority shall maintain an inventory of every item associated with the complex, its functions and operations made available to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. (d) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the Governor's Mansion Preservation Fund into which shall be deposited all moneys received by the authority from fees, gifts, donations, grants, bequests, loans, governmental appropriations, or any other sources, either public or private. The funds shall be used for any purposes for which the authority is created, including the purposes set out in Section 36-13-6 for which expenditures from the Mansion Fund are authorized. Money deposited in this fund from any source other than state appropriations for operations shall not revert to the State General Fund, but shall remain in the preservation fund until expended by the authority.

Section 2

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.