SB163 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jack W. WilliamsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

To authorize any county, municipality, or governmental entity subject to a countywide civil service system established by a local law to elect by a majority vote of the governing body of the county, municipality, or governmental entity to be exempt from the countywide civil service system for the recruitment and hiring of all employees; to require the county, municipality, or governmental entity to adopt a human resources policy and procedures manual and to notify the director of the countywide civil service system of its decision to withdraw from the system for the recruitment and hiring of employees; and to provide that employees, after a probationary period, would be merit system employees subject to all rights and protections under the countywide civil service system.

Summary

The bill lets counties or municipalities under a countywide civil service system opt out of its recruitment and hiring rules, while keeping a path to merit system protections after a probationary period and requiring an updated HR policy manual.

What This Bill Does

It allows a majority vote by the governing body to exempt the entity from the countywide civil service system for recruitment, testing, interviewing, and hiring. It requires the entity to adopt a human resources policy and procedures manual and to provide written notice to the director of the countywide system. Employees hired after opting out would start with a 12-month probationary period as at-will employees, and after satisfactory completion of probation, would be subject to all rights and protections of the countywide civil service system. The opt-out policy must prohibit appointments or promotions that favor or discriminate against an employee based on political or religious opinions or affiliations, race, gender, or any other prohibited reason with respect to state or federal law.

Who It Affects

• Counties, municipalities, or governmental entities subject to a countywide civil service system that choose to opt out
• Employees hired by those entities after opting out, who would transition from at-will during probation to merit system protections after probation
• The director of the countywide civil service system, who would receive notice of the entity's withdrawal

Key Provisions

• Election to opt out by majority vote of the governing body for recruitment, testing, interviewing, and hiring of all employees
• Mandatory adoption of a written human resources policy and procedures manual before withdrawal
• Written notice to the director of the countywide civil service system of the decision to withdraw
• Immediate incorporation of new hires into the countywide system after hiring, with a 12-month probation period during which the employee is at-will
• Post-probation, employees become subject to all rights and protections of the countywide civil service system
• If opting out, the entity must enact a policy prohibiting discrimination or favoritism based on political/religious opinions or affiliations, race, gender, or other prohibited reasons

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