SB337 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kirk HatcherSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Montgomery County and the City of Montgomery; to establish a separate personnel merit system and a separate human resources department for the county and the city; to provide for separate personnel appeals boards for each separate personnel merit system; to provide for the transfer of existing employees to the appropriate system; to provide for the adoption of rules and procedures for each system; to provide for the transfer of property and records; and to provide for the repeal of Sections 45-51A-32.110 to 45-51A-32.127, Code of Alabama 1975, inclusive, effective January 1, 2024.

Summary

SB337 would split the Montgomery City/County personnel system into two separate merit-based systems—one for the City of Montgomery and one for Montgomery County—with their own HR departments, appeals boards, and rules, transferring employees and records by 2024.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill creates a separate merit-based personnel system for the City of Montgomery and for Montgomery County, each with its own human resources department and a three-member personnel appeals board. It requires rules and procedures for each system, transfers existing employees and records to the appropriate system, and repeals the current unified Montgomery City/County Personnel Department. It also sets guidelines for hiring from certified applicant registers, fair treatment, and hearings for disciplinary actions or grievances.

Who It Affects

• City of Montgomery classified and unclassified employees who would move under the city’s new merit-based personnel system and participate in city HR processes and the city appeals board.
• Montgomery County employees who would move under the county’s new merit-based personnel system and participate in county HR processes and the county appeals board.
• City Council and Montgomery County Commission, which would oversee and appoint members to the respective appeals boards and establish rules and procedures.
• City and County human resources departments, which would implement the new merit-based systems, manage records, and coordinate with the appeals boards.
• Current records and property of the existing Montgomery City/County Personnel Department, which would be transferred to the new city or county HR departments.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: The City of Montgomery must establish and administer its own merit-based personnel system with an HR department and a merit-based framework emphasizing equity, fairness, and compliance with laws.
• Section 2: Definitions establishing the City, City Council, the City HR Department, and classifications of employees, including unclassified and classified employees.
• Section 3: Principles guiding the city’s merit system, including open competition, fair pay for comparable positions, training, performance-based retention, and protection against discrimination.
• Section 7: Establishment of a three-member City Personnel Appeals Board elected by the City Council, with terms, meetings, and support mechanisms.
• Section 8: Employment rules requiring hiring from a certified register of qualified applicants and alignment of personnel activities with city rules.
• Section 9: Political activity guidelines allowing participation in politics but restricting use of official position or city resources to influence campaigns.
• Section 10: Transfer of all existing city employment records to the City HR Department.
• Sections 11-20: Parallel provisions for Montgomery County to establish its own merit-based personnel system, HR department, and appeals board with similar rules and procedures as the city.
• Section 21: Repeal of the existing Montgomery City/County Personnel Department sections and transfer of related property and records to the new city and county HR departments; county records retained by the County HR Department; city records retained by the City HR Department.
• Section 22: Effective date for the act, with implementation steps and transfers occurring around January 2024.

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