SB79 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Garlan GudgerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Employees' Retirement System Board of Control, membership revised, diversity language included, terms of service further provided for, Sec. 36-27-23 am'd.

Summary

SB79 expands and diversifies the State Employees' Retirement System Board of Control (increasing from 13 to 15 members) and allows a retiring trustee to finish their term.

What This Bill Does

The bill changes the board to include 15 trustees with new representation: ex officio members, three governor-appointed Merit System representatives, two elected state employee representatives, two elected retiree representatives (state and city/county/public agency retirees), and four employer-based representatives. It adds a diversity requirement for appointments after February 1, 2020 to ensure racial, gender, and economic diversity. It also lets a trustee who retires from active service after being appointed or elected stay on the board until the end of their term. Elections for several seats are conducted by statewide ballot, with specified nomination and appointment rules, and vacancies are filled in defined ways (most seats by standard process; retiree seats by appointment from a retirees’ list). Trustees serve without pay but may be reimbursed for expenses, and the board must elect a Secretary-Treasurer and publish annual reports.

Who It Affects

• Active state employees and employees of participating municipalities, counties, and public agencies who will gain representation on the Board through new and existing elected seats and who participate in electing those representatives.
• Retired state employees and retirees from cities, counties, or public agencies who will be represented by retiree seats on the Board, and whose vacancies for those seats are filled by specified appointing processes.

Key Provisions

• The Board of Control increases from 13 to 15 trustees.
• Adds a diversity requirement: for appointments after February 1, 2020, the Governor must ensure the Board reflects the racial, gender, and economic diversity of the state.
• Three governor-appointed Merit System representatives are added to the board.
• Two members are elected by full-time state employees and two members are elected by retirees (one from state employees, one from city/county/public agency retirees).
• Four members are elected by employees of participating employers (municipalities/cities, counties, and other participating entities).
• A trustee who retires from active service after appointment or election may continue to serve until the end of the trustee’s term.
• Vacancies are filled in the same manner as the original appointment for most seats; retiree-seat vacancies are filled by the Board of Control appointing a retiree from a list provided by the Alabama Retired State Employees Association.
• Trustees serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses; they must take an oath of office and have one vote each, with a supermajority requirement for decisions.
• The Board must elect a Secretary-Treasurer to act as chief executive officer and publish an annual financial report and other records.

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

Subjects

Retirement