HB253 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

State Port Authority; provide that authority is a body corporate and may employ non-merit system employees

Summary

HB253 gives the Alabama State Port Authority corporate status to hire non-merit system staff, create its own pay and benefits programs funded by port revenues, and expand policing and retirement/insurance options for port employees, while keeping Merit System protections for other workers.

What This Bill Does

The bill designates the port authority as a body corporate and allows it to hire non-merit system employees, including up to 11 executive-level staff, with salaries set by the director and board. It authorizes the port authority to adopt its own compensation plans and to fund life, health, and retirement benefits from port revenues, including plans for employees not covered by the state retirement system, while ensuring Merit System laws are not repealed. It also creates authority for port police at the Port of Mobile and requires competitive bidding for insurance contracts, plus annual cost-benefit reports to the Legislature; the act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Alabama State Port Authority as an employer, enabling non-merit system staffing and its own benefit/compensation plans
• Director and up to 11 executive-level non-merit employees, including salary setting and eligibility for benefits
• Port Authority merit-system employees remain subject to state Merit System rules, with non-merit changes applying to the new staff and plans
• Spouses and dependents of the director and non-merit executive-level employees, who may be covered under new benefit plans
• Port Police officers at the Port of Mobile, who may be hired under Merit System or via the new 33-1-3 authority and will have peace officer powers

Key Provisions

• The port authority is established as a body corporate and may employ non-merit system employees to carry out its duties
• The director may appoint up to 11 executive-level non-merit employees, set their salaries, and provide them benefits (with possible alternate packages) funded by the port
• The port authority may create and fund a compensation plan that could pay above normal Merit System levels for non-merit and certain Merit System employees, aiming to complement existing pay structures without altering Merit System laws
• The port authority may establish and fund retirement plans for employees not covered by state retirement systems, funded from port revenues, with rules determined by the authority and applicable to eligible groups
• The port authority may establish life and health insurance plans for full-time salaried employees and their spouses/dependents, with competitive bidding required for contracts and costs paid from port revenues
• The port authority shall pay monthly employer contributions to the State Employees' Insurance Fund for all full-time employees
• The act takes effect on October 1, 2024

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

Subjects

Authorities, Boards, & Commissions