Current Legislation

This page last updated on April 26, 2010

This page will contain links to legislation that was considered that will impact our students' K-12 education in Alabama.  Some links will require further entries once you get to that link.

Bills of Interest This Session

Legislation ASCIN Is Watching

All Bills Listed Below and Their Current Status by Date 

March 13, 2010
February 11, 2010 
January 21, 2010
 

Bill Trackers from Other Organizations/Associations
2010 Legislative Session

Alabama Association of School Boards Bill Tracker
Alabama State Department of Education Bill Tracker
CLAS Bill Tracker
VOICES for Alabama's Children Bill Tracker

Alabama League of Municipalities Legislation Page

ALISON - Alabama Legislative Information System Online
ALISON allows you to view exhaustive information about legislative sessions, current and past.  The menu on the left of their page takes you to legislation being considered (bills) and any actions that have been taken on that legislation.

Remember that the "domino" effect often occurs with legislation being considered, especially where funding is an issue.

We encourage you to check the ALISON site often to look for new bills that may be headed for discussion.

How to Track Bills You're Interested In - posted 03/06/09

You can create a "Personal Instrument List" that tracks the bills you're interested in by going to ALISON, clicking on "Personal Instrument List" and "Create a New Account".  Create a name for your list.  Then add each Bill ("instrument") to your list by keying in the number, "HB1", and "add instrument".  You can then check on the status of the bills you're interested in quickly by logging in from time to time.  You can add bills as they are introduced by adding them to your list.

Bills Of Interest This Session - updated 01/21/10

House Bills
Senate Bills

NOTE:  Bills added since the last update are highlighted.

House Bills

HB23 -  EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO PRORATION. This bill would provide that the portion of the salaries received from extracurricular activity by K-12 employees would be subject to proration.  

HB35 - PROHIBIT TEXT MESSAGING WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. This bill would prohibit any person from operating a motor vehicle on a public street, road or highway while also text messaging on a handheld cell phone or other handheld wireless telecommunication device, including GPS. 

HB37 - REVOCATION OF TEACHING CERTIFICATE. This bill would require the State Superintendent of Education to revoke the teaching certificate or other educational certificate of any person convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child. 

HB38 - SEXUAL CONTACT WITH STUDENT. This bill would make it a crime for a school employee to engage in a sex act or have sexual contact with a student, male or female, regardless of the age of the student.  

HB43 - FOUNDATION PROGRAM - TEACHER UNITS. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to use an alternative calculation method provided by the SDE for determining teacher units in extreme circumstances. 

HB65 -  GRADUATED DRIVER'S LICENSE AND LEARNER'S PERMIT CHANGES. This bill amends various conditions relating to driver's licenses and learner permits.  

HB66 -  END TO DOUBLE DIPPING ACT. This bill would make it ineligible for public education employees and state employees to hold any statewide elective office or serve in the Legislature.

HB72 -  PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL [CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT]- This bill would propose an amendment to Alabama's Constitution to provide that Class II and Class III real property in Alabama would not be subject to reappraisal more often than once every four years, provided that the level of equalization for a particular county falls between 90% and 105% with a coefficient of dispersion of no greater than 20 as determined by an annual sales ratio study conducted by the Alabama Department of Revenue.  

HB76 -  BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. This bill prohibits public funds from being passed through from one entity to another at the direction of a member of the Legislature.  

HB79 -  POSTING OF JOB VACANCIES WITHIN EDUCATION AGENCIES. This bill would require the posting of notices of vacancies in the offices of State Superintendent of Education, appointed county superintendent of education, appointed city superintendent of education, Chancellor of Postsecondary Education, and chief executive officer of any two-year school or college under the auspices of the State Board of Education, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, the Department of Youth Services School District, and the Alabama High School of Mathematics and Science.  

HB99 -  Rolling Reserve Act - ETF BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. This bill establishes a budget stabilization fund, a capital fund, a pension liability fund, and a retiree health benefits liability fund for the Education Trust Fund. It also provides for a maximum amount that may be appropriated from the Education Trust Fund.  

HB100 - COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL REDUCED SPEED SCHOOL ZONE ACT. This bill would authorize a county commission to establish reduced speed school zones along roads or highways except interstate highways outside of the corporate limits of a municipality under certain conditions and would also provide for the maintenance of the signs.

HB105 -  P.E. Bill. This bill would be effective for the 2010-2011 school year, and would require all students in grades K-8 to take physical education without substitution.  

HB122 -  PACT PROGRAM - INTENT OF LEGISLATURE. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature regarding PACT contracts and provide that the benefits under each PACT contract in force as of the effective date of this act shall be honored regardless of the date the contract was issued. 

HB123 -  PACT PROGRAM - BOARD OF DIRECTORS. This bill states that the PACT Program would be governed by its own Board of Directors and would provide for the Board's composition and duties. 

HB124 -  PACT PROGRAM - TASK FORCE. This bill sets up a PACT Advisory Task Force and would provide for the memebership and purposes of the Task Force. 

HB133 -  EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE. This bill would require the State Department of Education and the State Department of Finance to implement a program to purchase or provide a policy of educator professional liability insurance to insure certificated personnel employed by a local board of education and student teachers.  

HB139 -  STUDENT MISCONDUCT AND DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION. This bill would require the Department of Public Safety, upon recommendation of a school principal, to suspend a student's driver's license for withdrawal from school for possession of a weapon or for serious misconduct or a pattern of misconduct or disruptive behavior in school. The principal would have to certify to the department compliance with all the due process requirements of the local school system's disciplinary policies and procedures. 

HB144 -  SEX OFFENDERS PROHIBITED FROM DRIVING SCHOOL BUS. This bill would prohibit sex offenders from obtaining a commercial driver's license, driving/operating a passenger vehicle or driving/operating a school bus (P and S endorsement). 

HB178 -  PUBLIC EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE POLITICAL FREEDOM ACT. This bill establishes the Public Employee Representative Political Freedom Act of 2010 and states that no public employee may be disciplined for communicating with an elected public official. 

HB189 -  CHARTER SCHOOL BILL. This bill establishes the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education. It provides for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education. 

HB228 -  PACT PROGRAM - ETF APPROPRIATION. This bill would provide for additional funds to be appropriated from the ETF to the Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program until there are sufficient funds to meet the future obligations for existing PACT contracts.  

HB236 -  ARREST WARRANTS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION EMPLOYEES. This bill provides procedures for issuing arrest warrants for certain misdemeanor offenses. 

HB274 – BUDGET -  EDUCATION TRUST FUND BUDGET (FY '11). This bill makes appropriations for the support, maintenance and development of public education in Alabama, for debt service, and for capital outlay for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011. 

HB278 – Ethics Reform - Ethics law, substantially altered, statement of economic interests, categories revised, Ethics Commission, appointment and confirmation of members, complaints further provided for, definition of lobbying, family members of public employees, personal gain, confidential information, filing of electronic reports, mandatory ethics training.

HB281 -  ETF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR WALKER COUNTY AND LEE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS. This bill would make a supplemental appropriation from the ETF for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, to the Walker County School System to provide for capital improvements at Oakman Elementary School, which suffered extensive tornado-related damage on December 10, 2008. This bill would also make a supplemental appropriation for capital improvements at Wacoochee Junior High School, a system-owned instructional center, and a system-owned central office building, each of which suffered extensive tornado damage on February 27, 2009. 

HB282 -  ALABAMA TEACHER RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (A-TRIP). This bill would direct the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to promulgate rules for the deferment from A-TRIP and to provide for a retroactive effect.

HB387 – SEX OFFENDERS IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY - Sex offenses, person in position of authority, defined, sexual conduct with child 16 to 18 years of age, prohibited, consent of child not a defense, penalties, Secs. 13A-6-60, 13A-6-61, 13A-6-64, 13A-6-66 am'd. 

HB388 – SEX OFFENDERS WHERE VICTIM IS 16 TO 18 YEARS OLD - Sex offenses, school officials or foster parents, sexual conduct with child 16 to 18 years of age, prohibited, consent of child not a defense, penalties, Secs. 13A-6-60, 13A-6-61, 13A-6-64, 13A-6-66 am'd. 

HB399 – ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX EVALUATION EXCLUSION - Class III residential property, ad valorem tax, annual increase prohibited if same owner for previous valuation under certain conditions, const. amend. 

HB459 – FEMA SAFE ROOM OR HALLWAY - Public schools, K-12, new construction to include Federal Emergency Management Agency approved safe room or hallway, local boards of education required to apply for FEMA grant prior to construction. 

HB466 -  SEX OFFENDER RESIDENCE DISTANCE -  Criminal sex offenders, residence prohibited within certain number of feet of park or playground, penalties, Sec. 15-20-26 am'd.; Act 2009-558, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd. 

HB499 – LIMIT ON SEX OFFENDERS - Jefferson Co., criminal sex offenders, only one adult or juvenile sex offender may reside in a residence, only one adult may reside in an apartment complex under certain conditions, civil penalties, exceptions 

HB508 – STUN GUNS PROHIBITED - Jefferson Co., stun guns or tasers prohibited on school property or any vehicles transporting students, fines, const. amend. 

HB510 – STUN GUNS PROHIBITED - Stun guns or tasers prohibited on school property or any vehicles transporting students, fines

HB538 - HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS / 6TH GRADE FEMALE STUDENTS. This bill would require the State Board of Health to provide each parent or guardian of a female student entering into the sixth grade certain information concerning infection and the immunization against the human papillomavirus.

HB545 - COMPETITITVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE AGENCIES. This bill would increase the minimum amount for which competitive bidding is required from $7,500 to $15,000.

HB582 - ALABAMA CHILD PROTECTION ACT REVISION. Under existing law, the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999 requires all prospective and current certified and noncertified education employees who have or will have unsupervised access to children in an educational setting to undergo a criminal history background information check. This bill would subject any person who may be permitted access to school property when students are present, pursuant to a contractual relationship with a local employing board or nonpublic school, to a criminal history background information check.

HB616 - LEA REPORTING REQUIRMENTS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. This bill would make optional the requirement that a local board of education publish financial statements, now available on the Internet, in the local newspaper. This bill would also delete the requirement that payrolls be signed by the chair of the local board of education.

HB627 - NOTIFICATION BY STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF CERTIFICATE INVESTIGATION BASED ON MISCONDUCT. This bill would require the State Superintendent of Education to promptly notify the holder of any certificate of the initiation of an investigation regarding alleged misconduct and would prohibit any action against a certificate holder until the exhaustion of all due process protections.

HB665 - ALABAMA COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAW. This bill would require the distribution and verification of receipt of the school attendance policy and applicable sections of the Alabama Compulsory School Attendance Law by each parent, guardian or other person having control of a child enrolled in each school system

HB677 - CHARTER SCHOOL BILL - REINTRODUCED. This bill establishes the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education. It provides for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education.

Senate Bills

SB26 -  FOUNDATION PROGRAM - TEACHER UNITS. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to use an alternative calculation method provided by the SDE for determining teacher units in extreme circumstances. 

SB32 -  GRADUATED DRIVER'S LICENSE AND LEARNER'S PERMIT CHANGES. This bill amends various conditions relating to driver's licenses and learner permits.  

SB46 -  GRADUATED DRIVER'S LICENSE AND LEARNER'S PERMIT CHANGES. This bill amends various conditions relating to driver's licenses and learner permits. This bill is a duplicate of SB32.

SB56 -  BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. This bill prohibits public funds from being passed through from one entity to another at the direction of a member of the Legislature. 

SB58 -  TIM TEBOW ACT. This bill would provide for the Tim Tebow Act for the purpose of allowing children instructed by a private tutor and students of private schools and church schools to participate in extracurricular activities. 

SB92 -  RE-EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED TEACHERS. This bill would provide that any teacher who has taught for a period of 30 years or more and who leaves employment as a teacher does not need to be recertified when the teacher is reemployed as a teacher. 

SB140 -  BOARDS OF EDUCATION - ALLOW SECURITY PERSONNEL TO CARRY FIREARMS. This bill would provide that a city or county board of education may allow persons employed as security personnel by the board to carry firearms while on duty and would require the employees to have certain qualifications. 

SB152 -  PROVIDE COPIES OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. This bill would require public officials to provide copies of public documents within five (5) working days. 

SB161 -  REVOCATION OF TEACHING CERTIFICATE. This bill would require the State Superintendent of Education to revoke the teaching certificate or other educational certificate of any person convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child. 

SB162 -  PACT PROGRAM - ETF APPROPRIATION. This bill would provide for additional funds to be appropriated from the ETF to the Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program in the fiscal year beginning September 30, 2014 and continue into the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021.  

SB176 -  SEXUAL CONTACT WITH STUDENT UNDER AGE OF 19. This bill would make it a crime for a school employee to engage in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse or have sexual contact with a student, male or female, under the age of 19 years. 

SB181 -  P.E. Bill. This bill would be effective for the 2010-2011 school year, and would require all students in grades K-8 to take physical education without substitution.  

SB196 -  PROHIBIT TEXT MESSAGING WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. This bill would prohibit any person from operating a motor vehicle on a public street, road or highway while also text messaging on a handheld cell phone or other handheld wireless telecommunication device.

SB202 -  CHARTER SCHOOL BILL. This bill establishes the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education. It provides for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education. 

SB213 -  CONFISCATION OF STUDENTS' ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN SCHOOLS. This bill would authorize each local board of education to develop a policy regarding the confiscation of pocket pagers, cellular telephones, or other electronic communication devices of students. 

SB243 – BUDGET -  EDUCATION TRUST FUND BUDGET (FY '11). This bill makes appropriations for the support, maintenance and development of public education in Alabama, for debt service, and for capital outlay for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011.  

SB277 – Rolling Reserve Act - Education Trust Fund, fiscal year appropriation cap, Budget Stabilization Fund, Capital Fund, Pension Liability Fund, and Retiree Health Benefits Liability Fund, established, Education Trust Fund Rolling Reserve Act.

SB316 – REVOCATION OF TEACHING CERTIFICATE - Teachers, principals, and education employees, State Superintendent of Education, revocation of education certificate or termination of employment required for conviction of felony or sex offense involving a child, regarding Teacher Tenure Law, Teacher Accountability Act, and Fair Dismissal Act, Secs. 16-24-8.1, 16-24B-3.1, 36-26-102.1 added; Sec. 16-23-5 am'd. 

SB346 – LIMIT ON NUMBER OF SEX OFFENDERS PER RESIDENCE - Criminal sex offenders, Legislature by local law authorized to prohibit residing in same residence and provide that no more than one adult criminal sex offender may reside in an apartment complex unless there is a distance of 100 yards or more between residences, civil penalties, Sec. 15-20-26 am'd.; Act 2009-558, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd. 

SB347 – AGE OF MANDATORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE INCREASED - Mandatory school attendance, increased from age 17 to 18, alternative education program further provided for, Sec. 16-28-3, 16-28-3.1 am'd.; Act 2009-564, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd 

SB369 – PUBLIC RECORDS - Public records, access to records containing personal information, restricted, Sec. 30-3-194 am'd. 

SB377 – LIMIT ON NUMBER OF SEX OFFENDERS PER RESIDENCE - Jefferson Co., criminal sex offenders, only one adult or juvenile sex offender may reside in a residence, only one adult may reside in an apartment complex under certain conditions, civil penalties, exceptions 

SB384 – CONSENT DEFENSE NOT VALID - Sex offenses, person in position of authority, defined, sexual conduct with child 16 to 18 years of age, prohibited, consent of child not a defense, penalties, Secs. 13A-6-60, 13A-6-61, 13A-6-64, 13A-6-66 am'd. 

SB400 – OPEN MEETINGS VIA TELECONFERENCE - State regulatory boards and agencies, open meetings, teleconference meetings authorized under certain circumstances, Sec. 36-25A-2.5 added; Secs. 36-25A-1, 36-25A-2 am'd.

SB424 - TAX CREDIT FOR HIRING SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN - Income tax, tax credit for hiring certain persons under age 19 during school breaks, after school, or on weekends

SB429 - FAIR DISMISSAL LAW REVISIONS. This bill amends and revises the current Fair Dismissal law found in Title 36 of the Code of Alabama. Public education, K-12, fair dismissal law, pretermination hearing and termination of employment of employee convicted of felony or sex offense with a child, Secs. 36-26-102, 36-26-103, 36-26-104, 36-26-114 am'd.

SB430 - TEACHER TENURE LAW REVISIONS. This bill amends and revises the current Teacher Tenure law found in Title 16 of the Code of Alabama.  Teacher Tenure Law, precancellation hearing and cancellation of contract of teacher convicted of felony or of criminal sex offense with a child, Secs. 16-24-8, 16-24-9, 16-24-10, 16-24-20 am'd.

SB433 - GANG ACTIVITY. Gangs, criminal street gang defined, membership prohibited, graffiti prohibited, murder as part of street gang activity made a capital offense, Street Gang Act, Sec. 13A-5-49 am'd.; Sec. 13A-6-26 repealed.

SB454 - ATHLETIC TRAINER LICENSURE. - Athletic Trainers Licensure Act, apprentice athletic trainer replaced with athletic training student, definitions expanded, obsolete dates deleted, therapeutic treatments, license required for athletic training services, license certificate, suspension or revocation, appeals, Secs. 34-40-2, 34-40-3, 34-40-4, 34-40-5, 34-40-6, 34-40-9, 34-40-10, 34-40-11, 34-40-13, 34-40-14, 34-40-15 am'd.; Secs. 34-40-7, 34-40-16 repealed.

SB466 - LEA REPORTING REQUIRMENTS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. This bill would make optional the requirement that a local board of education publish financial statements, now available on the Internet, in the local newspaper. This bill would also delete the requirement that payrolls be signed by the chair of the local board of education.

SB471 - SEX OFFENDERS - Sex offenders, adult and juvenile, community punishment and corrections program and community notification procedures, definitions, release, registration, residence, employment, education, probation, crimes of indecent exposure toward a child, aiding and abetting a convicted sex offender, and video voyeurism established, penalties.

SB472 - BIRMINGHAM CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION - ALLOW SECURITY PERSONNEL TO CARRY FIREARMS. This bill would provide that the Birmingham city board of education may allow persons employed as security personnel by the board to carry firearms while on duty and would require the employees to have certain qualifications.

SB482 - MOBILE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - ALLOW SECURITY PERSONNEL TO CARRY FIREARMS. This bill would provide that the Mobile County board of education may allow persons employed as security personnel by the board to carry firearms while on duty and would require the employees to have certain qualifications.

SB484 - CHARTER SCHOOL BILL. This bill establishes the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education. It provides for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education.

SB486 - NOTIFICATION BY STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF CERTIFICATE INVESTIGATION BASED ON MISCONDUCT. This bill would require the State Superintendent of Education to promptly notify the holder of any certificate of the initiation of an investigation regarding alleged misconduct and would prohibit any action against a certificate holder until the exhaustion of all due process protections.

SB492 - EDUCATORS REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE. Under existing law, certain persons and entities are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. This bill would deem a school teacher or official in compliance with reporting requirements upon submission of a written report to the principal of the school or superintendent of the employing local board of education, and would require the principal or superintendent to provide a copy of the report to the proper authorities.

SB503 - PROHIBIT STATE FROM DISCRIMINATING. This bill prohibits the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting and would provide that actions in violation of the prohibition would be void.

SB508 - CHARTER SCHOOL BILL - REINTRODUCED. This bill establishes the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education. It provides for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education.

Please let us know if we have omitted any bills of interest to our Alabama School Community at ASCIN@ASCIN.org.

This website is intended for informational purposes only.  The ASC is not affiliated with any organization and exists only to keep the public informed of issues as they relate to the K-12 educational system in Alabama.
Links are provided as a courtesy, not as an endorsement.
Questions?  Contact ASC@alabamaschoolconnection.org