SB56 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Arthur OrrSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Teachers and school employees, state retirement benefits terminated upon conviction of certain sex crimes involving minor.
Summary: SB56 would automatically terminate state retirement benefits for teachers and school employees convicted of certain sex offenses involving a student or minor, with a defined forfeiture and refund process.
What This Bill Does
It would require forfeiture of retirement benefits for active or inactive members with accrued benefits who plead guilty, plead no contest, or are finally convicted of a felony offense related to their public service, with refunds of retirement contributions plus interest. Beginning July 1, 2024, it adds additional offenses from specific Alabama Code sections involving sex offenses with a student or minor to trigger the same forfeiture and refund rules. Retired members receiving benefits who are convicted or plead to qualifying offenses would have their retirement benefits suspended, and would receive a refund of any remaining contributions and interest if the benefits paid do not exceed those contributions plus interest. The act also requires prompt written notice of the conviction to the applicable retirement system boards and provides immunity to system officers and staff for actions taken under this section.

Who It Affects
Group 1: Active or inactive members of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS), Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), or Judicial Retirement Fund who have accrued benefits and are convicted of qualifying offenses; their retirement benefits would be forfeited and they would receive refunds of contributions and interest.
Group 2: Retired members currently receiving benefits from ERS, TRS, or the Judicial Retirement Fund who are convicted or plead to qualifying offenses; their retirement benefits would be suspended and they may receive refunds of remaining contributions and interest.

Key Provisions
For active/inactive members with accrued benefits, forfeiture of retirement benefits upon guilty plea, plea of no contest, or final conviction of a felony offense related to their service, with a refund of retirement contributions plus interest.
Starting July 1, 2024, the addition of offenses listed in specified Alabama Code sections (Article 4A of Chapter 6 or Division 4 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 13A) to trigger the same forfeiture and refund rules for those with accrued benefits.
For retired members receiving benefits, benefits are suspended upon such a plea or conviction, with a refund of remaining contributions and interest if benefits paid have not exceeded contributions and interest.
Notice requirement: the convicting court must promptly provide written notice of conviction to the appropriate retirement system boards.
Immunity: officers and employees of the retirement systems are immune from civil or criminal liability for actions taken under this section.
Effective date: the act takes effect on July 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: Crimes & Offenses