HJR225 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randall Shedd
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: CREATING THE JOINT INTERIM STUDY COMMISSION ON GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN.
Summary: A new Joint Interim Study Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is created to study challenges and make recommendations.
What This Bill Does
It establishes a diverse, multi-agency commission to examine issues faced by grandparents who raise grandchildren and gather input from relevant groups. The commission must include a grandparent currently raising a grandchild, plus representatives from government, courts, advocacy groups, and service agencies. It will report its findings to the Legislature by the third legislative day of the 2024 Regular Session and then dissolve; supporting staff and funding provisions are provided, with legislative members compensated and nonlegislative members able to be reimbursed for expenses.

Who It Affects
Grandparents raising grandchildren in Alabama, who will be the focus of the study and potential policy recommendations.
State agencies, courts, and advocacy groups involved in child welfare and elder services (e.g., Department of Senior Services, Department of Human Resources, Department of Mental Health, Alabama District Attorneys Association, AARP Alabama, Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Guidance Center), which participate in appointments and provide input and support.

Key Provisions
Creates the Joint Interim Study Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren with a detailed roster of appointing authorities and specific groups to be represented, including a grandparent currently raising a grandchild.
Requires coordinated appointments to ensure racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity; allows additional members to be added by majority vote of the commission.
First meeting called by the Lieutenant Governor; requires the election of a chair and vice chair from among members; may meet as needed.
Provides administrative support from Legislative Services Agency, Clerk of the House, and Secretary of the Senate; outlines compensation for legislative members and potential expense reimbursement for nonlegislative members.
Mandates a final report of findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Legislature no later than the third legislative day of the 2024 Regular Session, after which the commission is dissolved.
Requires notice of all meetings, names of members, and copies of the final report and related documents to be provided to the Secretary of State; copies of the resolution are shared with appointing authorities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Joint Interim Study Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, created