HB424 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Pickens County, to further provide for the salary and expense allowance of the judge of probate.

Summary

HB424 changes how Pickens County's judge of probate is paid, introducing a monthly expense allowance for eligible judges and, later, a salary based on a percentage of a circuit judge's starting pay.

What This Bill Does

If the judge is licensed to practice law and can exercise equity jurisdiction, the bill first provides a monthly expense allowance of 1,733 to the judge, paid from the county's general fund and in addition to other pay; this allowance ends when the next section becomes effective. Beginning with the next term after the effective date, the judge would receive an annual salary equal to 72% of the starting annual salary of a circuit judge, replacing all other compensation and paid from the county's general fund; the salary would not increase with circuit judge base salary, but cost-of-living increases granted to other county officers would apply. Once the 72% salary becomes effective, the monthly expense allowance is void. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• The Pickens County Judge of Probate (if licensed to practice law and authorized to exercise equity jurisdiction) by shifting from a temporary monthly expense allowance to a long-term salary based on 72% of a circuit judge's starting pay.
• Pickens County (general fund / county taxpayers) by funding the new compensation structure through the county's general fund and eliminating the prior expense allowance once the salary provision takes effect.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(a): A monthly expense allowance of $1,733 for the Judge of Probate of Pickens County, payable from the county's general fund in addition to any other pay, beginning October 1 after the effective date; the subsection becomes void when Section 1(b) becomes effective.
• Section 1(b): Beginning the next term after the effective date, the Judge of Probate shall receive annual compensation equal to 72% of the starting annual salary of a circuit judge (as defined by Section 12-10B-1(a)(4)); this replaces all other compensation and is paid from the county's general fund; base salary increases for circuit judges do not raise this amount, but cost-of-living increases for other county officers apply; Section 1(a) becomes void when this subsection takes effect.
• Section 2: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its 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

Pickens County, judge of probate, salary and expense allowance