HB511 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kenyatte HassellRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Montgomery County and to municipalities in the county having a population of 5,000 or more people, according to the most recent or any subsequent federal census; to amend Section 45-51A-32.113, as last amended by Act 2022-370 of the 2022 Regular Session, Code of Alabama 1975, establishing a countywide personnel system; to provide that certain city employees are members of the exempt service of the municipality.

Summary

HB511 expands Montgomery County's countywide personnel system to include certain city employees as exempt municipal staff and places many city leadership roles under mayoral appointment with pay set by the personnel board.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the countywide personnel system to apply to all officers and employees in the county and affected municipalities, with several exemptions. It adds a large group of city positions to the exempt service, to be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the mayor. It also directs that these exempt positions have compensation set by the personnel board after a pay and classification study, and provides specific removal and return-to-service rules; it clarifies that non-exempt offices remain in the competitive or classified service. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• County officers and employees and employees of affected Montgomery County municipalities who would be governed by the countywide personnel system, with certain categories exempted from that system.
• Municipal leaders and staff listed as exempt, including key city positions (e.g., police chief, fire chief, finance director, city attorney, and other department heads) who would be appointed and serve at the mayor's pleasure, with pay set by the personnel board and potential removal provisions.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 45-51A-32.113 to apply the countywide personnel system to all officers and employees in the county and affected municipalities, except for enumerated exemptions (elective officials, appointed boards/commissions, certain education workers, certain professionals, and others).
• Creates a large list of municipal positions (including senior staff and department heads) to be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the mayor, to be exempt from the competitive service, with compensation set by the personnel board after a pay and classification study.
• If an exempted individual is removed from a listed position for reasons other than willful neglect, corruption, incompetency, or malfeasance, and they were in the competitive or classified service at initial appointment, they may return to that service as if never appointed.
• Non-exempt offices, positions, and employments remain in the competitive or classified service; the bill aims to extend the competitive/classified service to all personnel not explicitly exempted, including personnel of public corporations, boards, committees, or commissions.
• Effective date: September 1, 2023.

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

Subjects

Montgomery County, countywide personnel systems, municipalities, exempt positions expanded, appointment by manager