HB351 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny GarrettRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Labor Dept., definitions and references to Secretary of Labor updated in AL Surface Mining Act of 1969, departmental employee in lieu of registered forester to perform inspections, amount of fed funds retained in Special Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund increased, unemployment compensation language conformed and exclusivity of certain procedures specified, Secs. 25-4-59, 25-4-153 added; Secs. 9-16-2, 9-16-8, 9-16-135, 25-4-72 am'd.

Summary

HB351 updates the Alabama Surface Mining Act and unemployment rules by changing inspections to department staff, increasing reclamation funding, updating definitions, and aligning unemployment benefits with federal timing.

What This Bill Does

HB351 updates definitions and fixes references to the Secretary of Labor in the Surface Mining Act. It requires inspections at surface mining sites to be performed by a departmental employee rather than a registered forester. It increases the Special Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund retention from 10% to 30% of annual federal funds for reclamation. It conforms unemployment compensation language for benefit years beginning on or after July 2, 2006 and adds that determinations and appeals procedures are exclusive. The act takes effect July 1, 2020.

Who It Affects

• Surface mining operators and the Department of Labor: inspections related to surface mining will be performed by department staff (not necessarily a registered forester), and definitions related to mining operations and the department will be updated.
• Unemployment compensation claimants and employers in Alabama: unemployment benefit formulations and the exclusive procedures for determinations and appeals will be updated to align with the revised rules and timelines.

Key Provisions

• Update definitions and references in the Surface Mining Act, clarifying who handles mining-related duties and the role of the Secretary of Labor.
• Specify that inspections related to surface mining are conducted by a departmental employee rather than a registered forester.
• Increase the Special Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund retention from 10% to 30% of annually appropriated funds from the U.S. Interior Department for reclamation.
• Conform unemployment compensation language for benefit years beginning on or after July 2, 2006 and establish exclusive procedures for determinations and appeals (Sections 25-4-59 and 25-4-153).
• Set an effective date of July 1, 2020.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Labor Department