SB249 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clay Scofield

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Call centers, certain terms further defined, to require employers relocating call centers to notify Secretary of Commerce Dept. rather than the Dept. of Economic and Community Affairs director, Act 2019-374, 2019 Reg. Sess., am'd; Sec. 41-23-230, 41-23-231, 41-23-235 am'd.

Summary

SB249 requires relocation notices for Alabama call centers to be sent to the Secretary of Commerce, tightens penalties for non-notice, and makes these changes retroactive to 2019.

What This Bill Does

Defines what counts as a call center and relocation, and clarifies which workplaces are covered (50+ employees or 1,500 weekly hours, NAICS 561422; excludes AI-resolved calls and data centers). Requires an employer relocating a covered call center to notify the Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce at least 120 days before relocation, but only if the employer has a qualifying contract within the previous five years. If the notice is not given, the Attorney General can pursue civil penalties in circuit court, up to $10,000 per day, with penalties capped by the unamortized value of any relevant state incentives received since September 1, 2019, and a court may reduce the penalty for just cause. The act is retroactive to September 1, 2019 and becomes effective immediately; it also states that these changes do not alter employee payments or contract terms.

Who It Affects

• Call center employers in Alabama that have state grants, loans, or tax credits and meet the 50+ employee (or 1,500 hours weekly) threshold, who would must notify the Secretary of Commerce about relocations.
• The Alabama Department of Commerce (Secretary) as the notice recipient, and the Office of the Attorney General and circuit courts that enforce penalties for failing to provide notice.

Key Provisions

• Redefines terms: call center (NAICS 561422, 50+ employees, located in Alabama, excludes AI-resolved calls and data centers), relocation, contractor, grant/loan/tax credit, and part-time employee.
• Relocation trigger: moving a call center from Alabama to outside Alabama, excluding closures or reductions for reasons not tied to relocation.
• Notice requirement: 120 days’ notice to the Secretary of Commerce before relocation if a qualifying contract was made in the five years prior.
• Enforcement and penalties: failure to give notice can lead to civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, capped by the remaining value of applicable incentives since Sept. 1, 2019; penalties may be reduced for just cause.
• Retroactivity and effectiveness: provisions apply retroactively to September 1, 2019 and take effect immediately after passage; provisions do not change employee payments/benefits or contract terms.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Call Centers