2020 Session

2020 Legislative Session Review

This session was cut short by the covid 19 pandemic. these bills died before being brought up to vote and were not discussed in the special session

Retiree Longevity Bonus: SB218 sponsored by Senators Jabo Waggoner (R – Vestavia Hills)/ Del Marsh (R – Anniston) and Greg Reed (R – Jasper)  This bill would have provided a one-time, lump-sum retiree bonus that utilizes a sliding scale formula - $3.00 multiplied by the number of months of active service during a retiree’s career

FY20 General Fund Budget: SB157/HB152 sponsored by Senator Greg Albritton (R – Atmore)/Rep. Steve Clouse (R – Ozark).  Included in this legislation was the appropriation for the State Employees Health Insurance Program.  In 2020, the SEIB requested $930 per employee.  The budgets were later passed in a quickly held special session and the insurance appropriation was included.

Adding Local Government Members to the ERS Board: SB154 sponsored by Senator Greg Reed (R – Jasper) and HB172 sponsored by Representative Reed Ingram (R – Montgomery).  These bills passed their house of origin but were left awaiting votes in committee, never making it to the floor for any more action.  This legislation was intended to revise the membership of the Board of Control of the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) of Alabama by adding designated ERS members from local units (such as cities, counties, and public boards).

Elder Abuse – Financial Institution Delay of Transactions: SB166 sponsored by Senator Shay Shelnutt (R – Trussville) and companion HB207 sponsored by Representative Chris Blackshear (R – Smith Station) both bills were left in their house of origin awaiting a vote on the floor.  This legislation would have allowed a financial institution to refuse or delay a financial transaction on an account of an elderly or vulnerable adult when a financial institution has reasonable cause to suspect that financial exploitation may have occurred or is being attempted.

 

Retiree Revolving Door Revision: SB 177 sponsored by Senator Garlan Gudger (R – Cullman) was left on the Senate floor awaiting a vote.  This bill would have provided that a former public employee may resume employment with a former governmental employer during the two-year cooling off period.  This bill also would have provided a former public employee may accept employment with another public employer and may represent the interests of that new public employer before his or her former public employer during the two-year cooling off period.

Tier Adjustment Bills – There were multiple bills that if passed, would have made an adjustment to the current Tier 2 retirement benefit for active employees.  These bills were: SB201/HB268  Tier 3 Retirement Benefit created for active state employees, HB280: State Police Tier II plan reopened to any employee of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency who is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission and performs law enforcement duties, 25 year retirement and hazardous duty time allowed, HB76/SB:  Tier 3 Retirement Benefit created for active teachers.

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