SB412 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Governor's Office of Minority Affairs, name changed to Alabama Office of Minority Affairs, authorized to draft policy recommendations, merit and non-merit staff provided for, technical corrections re name change made to Historic Tax Credit Evaluating Committee, Secs. 36-13-50, 36-13-51, 36-13-53, 40-9F-38 am'd.

Summary

The bill renames the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs to the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs, allows policy recommendations, and updates related committees to reflect the name change.

What This Bill Does

It changes the office’s name and authorizes it to draft policy recommendations. It lets the office director hire staff, transferring existing staff with no loss of pay or benefits, and allows up to two non-Merit System staff while keeping other hires under the Merit System; compensation for non-Merit System staff is limited to amounts comparable to Merit System levels. It requires diverse hiring to reflect the state's gender, race, and geographic makeup, and it creates an Advisory Board Committee on Minority Affairs to advise the director. It amends the Historic Tax Credit Evaluating Committee to include the renamed office and updates its membership and guidelines for evaluating and allocating tax credits.

Who It Affects

• Employees of the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs who will transfer to the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs; existing staff retain compensation/benefits during transfer, and future staff may be hired under Merit or non-Merit rules with specified compensation limits.
• Members and governance of the Historic Tax Credit Evaluating Committee (including state agencies and legislators) as their membership and the evaluation rules are updated to reflect the name change and new guidelines.

Key Provisions

• Renames the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs to the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs and authorizes it to draft policy recommendations.
• Authorizes the director to employ staff, transfer existing staff with no loss of compensation, and hire two non-Merit System staff while other staff follow the Merit System; compensation for non-Merit System staff is limited to levels comparable to Merit System classifications; ensures staffing reflects state demographics.
• Creates the Advisory Board Committee on Minority Affairs to advise the director.
• Amends the Historic Tax Credit Evaluating Committee to include the renamed office as a member, sets its composition (including various state officials and legislators), and requires rules and guidelines for evaluating and allocating tax credits.

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

Subjects

Alabama Office of Minority Affairs