SB279 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randy PriceSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: Relating to elected county superintendents of education; to remove the requirement that the salary of the superintendent be set before the beginning of the term of office; and to provide for a retroactive effective date.
Summary: SB279 allows counties with directly elected county superintendents to set the salary after the term starts, retroactively applying to July 1, 2021.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends the salary-setting rule for elected county superintendents. For counties with direct-vote elections, the salary for the office is no longer required to be fixed before the term begins, effective retroactively to July 1, 2021. In counties where the maximum salary isn’t fixed by law, the county board of education can determine the superintendent’s compensation (including travel expenses). The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects
Counties with county superintendents elected by direct vote: their boards can set or adjust the salary after the term has begun, with the change applying retroactively to July 1, 2021.
County boards of education in those counties: gain authority to direct compensation (salary and travel expenses) when the maximum salary isn’t fixed by law.
Elected county superintendents in those counties: their salary-setting timing is impacted, allowing for post-start adjustments rather than pre-term fixation.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 16-9-12 to allow direct-vote elected county superintendents' salaries to be set by the county board rather than fixed before the term begins, with retroactive effect.
Commencing July 1, 2021, for counties with direct-vote elected superintendents, the salary is not required to be fixed before the term starts.
Effective date: the act becomes effective immediately upon passage and governor's approval.

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