| ENACTED LEGISLATION
The following bills were enacted in the 2008 regular legislative session and first special session and have become law. For a copy of any of the acts listed below, visit www.sos.state.al.us. For additional questions, call AASB at 334/277-9700.
ENACTED LEGISLATION
The following bills were enacted in the 2008 regular legislative session and first special session and have become law. For a copy of any of the acts listed below, visit www.sos.state.al.us. For additional questions, call AASB at 334/277-9700.
General Bills
Act Synopsis
08-277 Revises Chapter 15 of Title 12, of the Code of Alabama, relating to the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act. [H.28]
08-281 Changes the parameters for the provisional teaching certificate to allow it to be granted for grades 6-12 (currently grades 9-12); focuses eligibility on knowledge of the subject to be taught; and extends the window for individuals to acquire their mandated teaching experience. Increases fee from $20 to $40. Effective immediately. [H.398]
08-379 Updates the competitive bid law effective Aug. 1, 2008. Increases the bid threshold from $7,500 to $15,000; makes the bid bond requirement optional; exempts local school boards from bids when using certain joint purchase agreements; allows life cycle costing in determining lowest responsible bidder; and allows school boards to award contracts to the second lowest responsible bidder if the lowest bidder defaults. [H.442]
08-557 Appropriates $985,009 from the Education Trust Fund to Talladega College.
($14,991 decrease from last fiscal year) [Special Session: S.113]
08-556 Appropriates $292,760 from the ETF to Lyman Ward Military Academy. ($7,240 decrease from last fiscal year) [Special Session: S.110]
08-558 Appropriates $11.9 million from the ETF to Tuskegee University, of which at least $1.7 million is to be spent on the agricultural research and extension service. ($1.7 million decrease from last fiscal year) [Special Session: S.114]
08-544 Provides that 75 percent of any unanticipated and unappropriated ending balance in the Education Trust Fund be deposited in the Education Proration Prevention Account. [Special Session: H.63]
08-552 Appropriates $6.3 billion from the ETF for the FY 2009 education budget. ($355 million decrease from last fiscal year.) [Special Session: S.51]
08-549 Excludes federal rebates from state income tax and uncouples the state depreciation schedule from federal tax code for purposes of the 2008 federal economic stimulus package. [Special Session: H.56]
C/A Proposes a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would revoke and replace the current Education Rainy Day Account statute. It would provide access to a certain sum as a line-of-credit against Alabama’s oil and gas royalties to offset proration limited to 6 ½ percent of the prior year education budget less any prior year withdrawals that have not been repaid; capped to the average of the certified projections by the finance director and Legislative Fiscal Office; and limited to the amount of proration. Provides that the loans must be repaid within six years from the Education Trust Fund.
POCKET-
VETOED Would have provided uniform requirements for posting notices of vacancies for certain education-related positions, including state superintendent and county and city superintendents of education and outlining a timeline for which a vacancy must be filled. [H.222]
Local Bills
Act Synopsis
08-292 Proposes a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would require Conecuh County to levy a 9.5-mill ad valorem tax to be used for public school purposes for a period of 20 years. Repeals and replaces the current 9.5-mill ad valorem tax authorized under Amendment 778. [H.830]
08-447 Authorizes Hale County, upon the approval of qualified voters, to levy an additional 15-mill ad valorem tax to be used for issuing bonds for general education purposes. [H.879]
08-496 Authorizes the city of Enterprise, upon the approval of qualified voters, to increase its ad valorem tax from 7 mills to 10.5 mills. The levy is to be used for general city purposes, including the construction of school facilities, after the expiration of the current 3.5-mill ad valorem tax. [H.920]
08-498 Proposes a referendum that, if approved by voters, would provide for the election of a five-member Selma City Board of Education. Four members would be elected from single-member districts, and the chair of the board would be elected at large. Elections and terms would correspond with those of the Selma City Council. [H.927]
Resolutions of Interest
Synopsis
08-511 Establishes an Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council [Special Session: HJR.3]
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The 2009 Regular Legislative Session
will convene February 3, 2009.
Final 2008 LegAlert - June 12 |
