HB436 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben HarrisonRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Lauderdale County, Electric Utility Board, establishment, members, transfer of City of Florence Electric Department to board, board members appointed by City Council of Florence and Lauderdale County Commission, Constitutional Amendment.

Summary

The bill would create the Lauderdale County Electric Board to run Lauderdale County's electricity distribution and transfer control from the City of Florence Electricity Department to the new board.

What This Bill Does

If passed and ratified, a five-member Lauderdale County Electric Board would be formed, with two members appointed by Florence's City Council, two by the Lauderdale County Commission, and a fifth member appointed on a rotating basis by both bodies. The board would take over operation of the county's electric distribution system on July 1, 2025, including all duties, assets, employees, and debts of the City of Florence Electricity Department. It would possess powers previously held by the Florence department (including eminent domain if needed), while employees would keep their current salaries, benefits, and seniority; retirement and health benefits would continue under similar terms, and the board would appoint a CEO and other staff according to its policies.

Who It Affects

• Residents and electricity customers in Lauderdale County who would be served by the Lauderdale County Electric Board after the transfer.
• Employees of the City of Florence Electricity Department who would become employees of the Lauderdale County Electric Board with the same salary, benefits, and seniority.
• The City of Florence and its City Council, which would shift some appointment power to appoint board members and delegate control of the electric distribution system to the new board.
• Lauderdale County Government, which would appoint half of the board members and share oversight through the new structure.

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Lauderdale County Electric Board to begin operations on July 1, 2025 to operate Lauderdale County's electric distribution system.
• Board consists of five members: two appointed by the City of Florence, two appointed by Lauderdale County, and a fifth member appointed on a rotating basis by both bodies, with initial appointment by the Lauderdale County Commission for the first term.
• Terms are staggered: two members (one Florence-appointed, one County-appointed) initial two-year terms, then four-year terms thereafter; all terms commence March 1, 2025.
• Board eligibility requires members to be qualified Lauderdale County electors and prohibits serving if they are county commissioners, municipal officials, or employees or former employees of the City of Florence Electricity Department or the board.
• All duties, assets, books, records, funds, and equipment of the City of Florence Electricity Department transfer to the board on July 1, 2025, including the transfer of debt of the Florence department to the board.
• The board gains the authority previously held by the Florence department, including eminent domain, to operate the electric distribution system in Lauderdale County.
• Board employees adopt a retirement and health plan arrangement mirroring the City of Florence and county terms; the board covers employer contributions and employees contribute their share.
• The board appoints a chief executive officer to oversee operations and hires other staff according to board policies.
• This amendment is self-executing, with potential for additional local acts to modify provisions, and requires voter approval to become part of the Alabama Constitution.

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

Subjects

Lauderdale County