HB542 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Parker MooreRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Danny Crawford

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Zoological Park and Museum Commission, established in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile, duties and membership established

Summary

The bill creates four regional Zoological Park and Museum Commissions to support and promote educational and recreational facilities like zoos, museums, and botanical gardens in their districts.

What This Bill Does

It establishes four commissions and their corresponding districts, defines who can appoint members and how long they serve, and sets up governance and collaboration rules. It gives the commissions power to receive funds, own property, contract, and provide grants or loans for facilities, and it requires at least annual meetings and a reporting requirement starting in November 2022. It also requires diversity in appointments and sets the effective date for when the act becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Residents and communities within the four districts ( Jefferson/St. Clair/Shelby in the Birmingham District; Madison/Limestone/Morgan in the Huntsville District; Mobile/Baldwin in the Mobile District; Autauga/Elmore/Montgomery in the Montgomery District) who would benefit from enhanced educational and recreational facilities and representation on the commissions.
• Local governments and organizations within those districts (county commissions, city executives, state agencies, and public/private institutions) that would appoint members, provide funding or support, and collaborate on the operations and facilities.

Key Provisions

• Establish four commissions: Birmingham Zoological Park and Museum Commission, Huntsville Zoological Park and Museum Commission, Mobile Zoological Park and Museum Commission, and Montgomery Zoological Park and Museum Commission.
• Create a corresponding district for each commission with defined counties and/or cities and authorize joint participation of public and private institutions, state agencies, and local governments.
• Specify district-specific membership with appointed members, initial term lengths (ranging from 1 to 4 years) and staggered terms, and eligibility rules for residency and electorship.
• Require gender and race representation reflective of Alabama’s population in appointing authorities; members serve four-year terms after initial terms and may be reappointed once; vacancies filled by the appointing authority.
• Provide for no compensation to members, but allow reimbursement of actual expenses; empowers commissions to elect officers and set bylaws; ensures minutes and writings are official records.
• Grant commissions authority to receive funds, contract, sue or be sued, acquire and manage real and personal property, and promote educational and recreational facilities within their districts including zoos, museums, and botanical gardens.
• Mandate annual meetings starting November 2022 to report progress, share best practices, and discuss collaborations; allow one spokesperson per commission to speak publicly.
• Establish an effective date three months after passage and governor approval.

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

Subjects

Parks and Recreation