SB247 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve LivingstonSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Alabama Workforce Transformation Act FY24 Regular Session SENATE
Summary: The bill restructures Alabama’s workforce system by renaming and reorganizing agencies, creating a state and seven regional workforce boards, and transferring most workforce programs from Commerce to a new Department of Workforce, with a phased implementation through 2025.
What This Bill Does
It renames the Department of Labor to the Department of Workforce and changes the top official to Secretary of Workforce. It creates the Alabama Workforce Board as the State Workforce Development Board and seven regional workforce boards to guide workforce development under WIOA. It transfers most workforce programs and staff from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Workforce (while Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute stays with Commerce under a renamed division). It repeals the existing Alabama Workforce Council and Regional Workforce Development Councils and establishes a unified Strategic Workforce Plan and a WIOA State Plan, with full implementation required by October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
State employees: staff in the current Department of Labor will become employees of the new Department of Workforce; some staff transferred from Commerce will move into the new structure; exempt vs. Merit System status may apply to transferred employees; salary arrangements and oath/bond requirements apply to the Secretary and division heads.
Businesses and employers: will have greater input through the new Board structure, which prioritizes business representation and regional engagement in workforce planning and career pathways.
Department of Commerce and AIDT: AIDT remains within Commerce as the Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute (renamed within the Commerce division), while other workforce programs move to the Department of Workforce.
General public/jobseekers: should experience more coordinated and data-driven workforce services, planning, and regional programs designed to improve employment opportunities.
State agencies and local entities: required to cooperate with the new boards and planning processes and align funding and programs with the Strategic Workforce Plan and WIOA requirements.

Key Provisions
Renames the Department of Labor to the Department of Workforce and designates the head as the Secretary of Workforce; references to the old name/head are replaced where needed in law and contracts.
Creates the Alabama Workforce Board as the State Workforce Development Board and establishes seven regional workforce boards to oversee local workforce development under WIOA; sets composition and appointment rules and requires compliance with WIOA membership standards.
Repeals the existing Alabama Workforce Council and the Regional Workforce Development Councils; transfers most workforce development programs from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Workforce (with specific exceptions) and reorganizes related staff and assets accordingly.
Transfers all workforce development programs currently run by Commerce to the Department of Workforce (except the Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute, which remains with Commerce and is renamed within that division); creates new divisions within the Department of Workforce to handle development, unemployment, and pathways planning.
Establishes Chapter 15 of Title 25 to formalize the Alabama Workforce Board, its Executive Committee, and the seven regional boards; requires bylaws, open meetings, and term limits; sets compensation rules for board members (reimbursement only, no salary).
Directs development of a unified Strategic Workforce Plan and a WIOA State Plan, including budgets and performance metrics; requires annual addenda and coordination with federal funding streams; the Executive Committee manages plan development and budget alignment.
Creates a consolidated budget and planning framework that coordinates input from multiple state agencies and ensures funding for workforce development is aligned with the Strategic Plan and WIOA.
Implementing timeline: full implementation not later than October 1, 2025, with the act becoming effective October 1, 2024; outlines phased changes and codifies references and recodifications.

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