SB366 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris ElliottSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Baldwin Co., to provide for the formation of a city school system

Summary

This act allows a city in Baldwin County to form its own city school system and sets rules for transferring facilities and debt from the county to the city after a city vote.

What This Bill Does

It enables the establishment of a city board of education in Baldwin County after a city governing body approves it. The county and city boards must sign an agreement by July 1 after the city forms the city board, transferring local school facilities to the city in their current condition and having the city assume related debt and contracts. The city must pay the county an amount equal to the facilities’ value (net of depreciation) as shown in the latest audited financial statements. The act acknowledges that forming a city system could change local funding and requires voters to approve any new city school taxes in advance.

Who It Affects

• Residents of the city that forms a city school system, who would be subject to any new city school taxes approved by voters and would gain local control over city schools and facilities.
• Baldwin County and the Baldwin County Board of Education, which could lose funding from county-wide taxes and have its local facilities, debts, and contracts transferred to the city.

Key Provisions

• Allows a Baldwin County city to form a city board of education after the city’s governing body approves it.
• Within July 1 after the city establishes the city board, the city and county boards must deliver an agreement (with the State Superintendent’s approval) transferring local facilities to the city and outlining transfer terms.
• Transfers the county’s local public school facilities to the city without recourse or warranty, in the facilities’ existing condition.
• Requires the city board of education to assume the county board’s outstanding indebtedness, obligations, and contractual agreements related to the local facilities.
• Requires the city to pay the county an amount equal to the facilities’ value (net of depreciation) as shown in the county’s latest audited financial statements.
• New city school taxes, if any, must be approved by city voters in advance.
• The act is severable and becomes effective immediately.

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

Subjects

Baldwin County