SB246 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to boards of registrars; to amend Sections 17-3-2, 17-3-3, 17-3-4, 17-3-5, Code of Alabama 1975, and 17-3-8, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2022-112 of the 2022 Regular Session, to further provide for the qualifications and membership of the board of registrars and establish hours of operation; and to provide for eligibility for reappointment to the board after removal and for temporary appointments to the board under certain circumstances.

Summary

SB246 updates who can serve on Alabama boards of registrars, how they are appointed and removed, and sets operating hours, pay, and meeting day limits for registrar offices.

What This Bill Does

It changes the appointment process so three members are chosen by the Governor, the Auditor, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (or a majority acting as a state board), with the board ensuring representation by gender, race, and geography. It adds specific qualifications for registrars, requires a detailed job description, and designates a chair with management authority. It creates removal-for-cause and reappointment rules, allows temporary appointments if vacancies linger, and lays out pay, travel, and Social Security/benefits considerations. It also imposes county-by-county maximums for registrar meetings and hours, requires hours to align with courthouse or regular schedules, and authorizes special sessions with notice, while providing exemptions for certain large counties and allowing local laws to remain in effect where applicable.

Who It Affects

• Registrars and county boards of registrars, who would face new qualification standards, meeting-hour rules, compensation rules, and rules around vacancies, removals, and potential reappointment.
• State and local government entities (Governor, Secretary of State, State Board of Appointment, State Comptroller, county commissions) responsible for appointing, paying, and regulating registrars, and for administering guidelines, hours tracking, and benefits.

Key Provisions

• Appointment framework: three registrar members appointed by the Governor, the Auditor, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (or a majority of them as a state board of appointment); members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and the state board must ensure gender, race, and geographic diversity.
• Registrar qualifications: registrars must be qualified electors, residents of the county, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and possess minimum computer and map-reading skills; the Secretary of State, with unanimous consent of the state board, will prescribe a detailed job description.
• Rules on service: registrars shall not hold an elective office during their term; one member is designated as chair and has management authority over the county board.
• Local and population-based exceptions: local laws may appoint additional members in counties with two courthouses; counties with population 600,000 or more remain governed by existing local laws and are largely exempt from certain provisions.
• Removal and vacancies: registrars may be removed for cause by the Secretary of State; removed registrars are ineligible for reappointment during the remainder of their term; vacancies are filled by the Governor, Auditor, and Commissioner (or a majority) and, if a vacancy lasts more than 30 days, the Secretary of State may appoint a temporary replacement.
• Compensation and benefits: registrars receive $80 per working day for board attendance; payments routed through state and county commissions with invoicing; mileage and holiday compensation; Social Security treatment; health insurance and eligibility considerations for long-serving chairs, with certain limitations for state-administered plans.
• Hours and tracking: hours of operation may equal courthouse hours or regular posted hours, with a registrar present; the Secretary of State will establish a procedure to track and report hours worked.
• Meeting day limits: Section 17-3-8 sets county-specific maximums for working days per fiscal year (ranging from about 120 to over 220 days, with various county-by-county exceptions and special-session allowances); some counties have weekly limits and others may hold special sessions with notice requirements.
• Special sessions: up to a defined portion of days (including sessions outside courthouse hours) may be used for special registration, with notice provided through postings and local media; up to 25 days may be allocated for such sessions.

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

Subjects

Board of Registrars, to further provide for the hours of operation and membership of boards of registrars.