1 HB496 2 216044-1 3 By Representatives Greer, Sorrell, Kiel and Pettus (N & P) 4 RFD: Local Legislation 5 First Read: 15-MAR-22 Page 0 1 216044-1:n:01/11/2022:PMG/cr LSA2021-2655 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A BILL 10 TO BE ENTITLED 11 AN ACT 12 13 Relating to Lauderdale County; to amend Section 14 45-39-70, Code of Alabama 1975, to increase the salary of the 15 Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission and to provide 16 retroactive application. 17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: 18 Section 1. Section 45-39-70, Code of Alabama 1975, 19 is amended to read as follows: 20 "ยง45-39-70. 21 "(a) This section shall apply only in Lauderdale 22 County. 23 "(b)(1) Effective beginning the next general 24 election for the election of the Lauderdale County Commission, 25 the The Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission shall be 26 elected on a countywide basis. The chair shall take office at 27 the same time as members of the Lauderdale County Commission Page 1 1 take office and shall serve a four-year term, or until a 2 successor is elected and qualified. The chair shall preside 3 over meetings of the county commission and shall vote only in 4 the case of tie vote of the commissioners. After the election 5 of the first chair as provided in this section and thereafter, 6 the judge of probate shall no longer serve as chair of the 7 county commission. 8 "(2)a. The salary of the Chair of the Lauderdale 9 County Commission shall be forty thousand dollars ($40,000) 10 per year payable in equal semi-monthly installments from the 11 general fund of the county. 12 "b. Effective beginning the next term of office 13 after the effective date of this amendatory act, or effective 14 for any term thereafter, the Lauderdale County Commission may 15 increase the salary of the Chair of the Lauderdale County 16 Commission to an amount not to exceed fifty thousand dollars 17 ($50,000) per year. 18 "c. In addition to the salary provided in paragraph 19 a. or b., the Lauderdale County Commission may provide the 20 Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission an additional 21 expense allowance during his or her term, provided the total 22 compensation of the chair, including salary and expense 23 allowance, does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) 24 per year. Any expense allowance granted to the chair pursuant 25 to this paragraph shall automatically convert to salary 26 effective beginning the next term of office of the chair after 27 the effective date of this amendatory act, provided the total Page 2 1 compensation of the chair does not exceed fifty thousand 2 dollars ($50,000) per year. 3 "(3) In addition to the other duties and 4 responsibilities of the chair, the Chair of the Lauderdale 5 County Commission shall do all of the following: 6 "a. Promote economic development in the county. 7 "b. Establish and enhance intergovernmental 8 partnerships. 9 "c. Serve as the representative of Lauderdale County 10 and the Lauderdale County Commission on any boards, 11 committees, or other organizations that require representation 12 of the county. 13 "d. Perform any other duties as determined by a 14 majority vote of the county commission." 15 Section 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of 16 law, any salary paid to the Chair of the Lauderdale County 17 Commission in the form of annual increases, cost-of-living 18 increases, or otherwise prior to the effective date of this 19 amendatory act are ratified, validated, and confirmed 20 retroactively to November 18, 2016. 21 Section 3. This act shall become effective 22 immediately following its passage and approval by the 23 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law. Page 3