HB179 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Adline ClarkeRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

State Port Authority, allow director to appoint up to eleven employees at executive level, terms of certain contracts exempt from state laws limiting confidentiality, technical revision to code, Secs. 33-1-3, 33-1-39 am'd.

Summary

HB179 would expand the Alabama State Port Authority's executive staff limit, create confidentiality exemptions for port contracts, shift some contract approvals from the governor to the board, and update the code language.

What This Bill Does

It increases the director's ability to appoint up to 11 executive-level, non-merit system employees (from the current limit of nine) with salaries set by the director and board consent. It adds confidentiality exemptions that shield the commercial terms of contracts and customer-specific information from public disclosure, while outlining specific exceptions and allowing redacted copies to be provided on request. It changes contract approval rules so that in cases where governor approval existed, board approval is now required, using the same process as described in the 2000 code reference. It also makes small, nonsubstantive technical revisions to bring the code language up to current style.

Who It Affects

• The Alabama State Port Authority and its Director and Board: can appoint up to 11 executive-level, non-merit employees with board consent; contract approval and governance rules shift toward board oversight.
• Non-merit system executive-level employees (port authority staff) and Merit System personnel: positions created or filled as non-merit; may replace retiring Merit System executives; receive applicable benefits as described, subject to board-approved arrangements.
• Port Authority customers and contractors: their contract terms and certain customer-specific data can be kept confidential under the new exemptions, with limited exceptions and the option to obtain redacted copies.
• Open records requestors and the general public: some contract details will be exempt or redacted to protect confidentiality, affecting what can be publicly disclosed.

Key Provisions

• Increase the executive-level appointment limit from nine to up to eleven individuals, to be filled by the director with advice and consent of the board, with non-merit system status and associated benefits.
• Create confidentiality exemptions for the commercial terms of contracts and for customer-specific information, with defined exceptions (existence of contract, financing terms, base rents/lease payments) and a mechanism to obtain redacted copies upon request.
• Replace governor approval with board approval for certain contracts, maintaining the required writing and execution standards and the process used since August 1, 2000.
• Include nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update code language to current style.

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

Subjects

Port Authorities