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Final Report on the 2006 Regular Session

The Alabama Legislature completed its 2006 Regular Session on Monday, April 17. This

year, 1439 bills were introduced and 367 received final passage. By comparison, in 2005, 1237

bills were introduced and only 139 received final passage. In 2004, a total of 1397 bills were

introduced and 317 bills received final passage. In 2003, a total of 1322 bills were introduced of

which 268 received final passage. Both the general fund budget and the education budget

received final passage before the last day of the session.

It was a very good session for municipalities. In addition to League bills receiving final

passage, a number of other beneficial bills were also enacted.

Final Status of the League Legislative Package

Seven proposals in the League’s 2006 Legislative Package were enacted during this

session. The League bills that passed this session are:

Employees of Separately Incorporated Municipal Boards (HB156, Act 2006-548): This League

bill relates to municipalities; to specifically provide that employees of any separately incorporated

public corporation authorized to be created by a municipality are employees of that entity and not

employees of the municipality authorizing its creation.

Municipal Elections – Provisional Voting (HB479, Act 2006-281): To amend Sections 11-46-24,

11-46-28, 11-46-38, 11-46-46, 11-46-52, 11-46-55, 11-46-95, 11-46-123, 17-7-5.1, 17-9-33, 17-10-

12, 17-10A-2, and 17-11A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to elections; to provide for provisional

voting; to provide further for information provided to voters; to provide further for the absentee

ballot process; to provide further for canvassing of votes; to provide that polling places located in

areas of the state operating on eastern time may open according to eastern time; and to repeal

Sections 11-46-41 and 17-10-22, Code of Alabama 1975.

Reverse Auction Bidding (SB89, Act 2006-107): To amend Sections 41-16-24, 41-16-27, and

41-16-54, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Competitive Bid Law, to provide that public

contracts for the purchase of goods or services may be entered into using a bidding process

known as reverse auction and to provide for certain exceptions and to provide for the length of

time certain contracts may be let.

Abandoned Motor Vehicles – Titles (SB373, Act 2006-414). To amend Sections 32-13-3, 32-13-

4, and 32-13-6, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to abandoned motor vehicles, to provide for

procedures related to the sale of abandoned motor vehicles; and to repeal Sections 12-19-76 and 32-

13-7, Code of Alabama 1975.

Absentee Balloting – Overseas & Military Personnel (SB529, Act 2006-354). Relating to

elections; to amend Sections 17-10-10, 17-10-23, 17-16-6, and 17-16-36, Code of Alabama 1975,

relating to absentee balloting; to provide procedures for overseas citizens and military personnel to

cast absentee ballots; and to amend Sections 11-43-44, 11-46-21, 11-46-55, and 17-10-12, Code of

Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2006-281 of the 2006 Regular Session, to provide for runoffs

in municipal elections to take place six weeks following the general municipal election and to

provide further that municipal officials elected at the regular municipal election pursuant to Section

11-46-21 shall assume the duties of their respective offices on the first Monday in November

following the election.

Appropriation for Wastewater Treatment SRF (SB75, Act 2006-335). Many years ago, the

Alabama Legislature established a State Revolving Loan Fund for Wastewater Treatment (SRF).

The purpose of the SRF was to take state funds and match them with federal dollars to create a

loan fund to offer low interest loans to governmental entities for wastewater treatment projects.

The General Fund Budget contained additional matching funds from the legislature to continue

Alabama’s nationally recognized Wastewater Treatment SRF program.

Appropriation for Drinking Water SRF (SB75, Act 2006-335). The Alabama Legislature

established Alabama Drinking Water Finance Authority for the purpose of taking state funds and

matching them with federal dollars to create a loan fund to offer low interest loans to

governmental entities for drinking water projects. This program is very similar to the

wastewater SRF discussed above. The League will seek funds from the legislature to match

federal dollars available for Alabama’s drinking water SRF program.

League bills that failed to pass this session included bills to clarify the voting powers of a

mayor in municipalities of less than 12,000 population, to authorize municipalities to pre-zone

territory proposed to be annexed, to authorize the mayor to appoint two alternates to the

municipal planning commission, to clarify the jurisdiction of a municipal planning commission,

to authorized additional expenditures from the corrections fund, to expand municipal authority to

apply building codes to state and local buildings, to allow collection of full local sales taxes on

sales made at state ABC stores, and to authorize municipal courts to assess the same maximum

fines as the state when such fines exceed the current limits. Many of the measures in the package

which failed to pass will likely be reintroduced in a future session.

The League wishes to thank the following persons for sponsoring League issues this

session: Representatives Steve McMillan, Bill Dukes, Ron Johnson, Warren Beck, Marcel

Black, Randy Wood, Jack Williams, Mike Ball, John Robinson, Richard Lindsey, Randy

Hinshaw, John Knight, and Senators Tommy Ed Roberts, Pat Lindsey, Zeb Little, Hari Ann

Smith, Jabo Waggoner, E.B. McClain, Larry Means, Bobby Denton, Bobby Singleton, Hinton

Mitchem, Wendell Mitchell, and Hap Myers.

Status of Dangerous Legislation

We are happy to report that no statewide legislation deemed dangerous to the interests of

our municipalities was enacted this session. A number of bills adverse to municipalities were

defeated this session including a proposed constitutional amendment to significantly erode

eminent domain powers. The legislature also failed to pass bills that would have:

• limited municipal licenses on real estate firms

• required municipalities to pay costs of housing juveniles in all instances where the

juvenile was convicted of violating a municipal ordinance

• raised the population requirement to establish a municipal school system from 5,000

inhabitants to 15,000 inhabitants

• stopped annual reappraisals of property for ad valorem tax purposes

• required many municipalities to adopt a model statewide building code

• proposed a constitutional amendment to provide for the process of initiative and

referendum at the state and local level

• to prohibit all municipal ordinances relating to fertilizer

• to exempt sales of food items from state sales and use tax

General Bills of Interest to Municipalities that Passed

Presidential Preferential Primary Date Altered (HB51, Act 2006-634 ): To amend Sections 17-

16-1, 17-16-6, 17-16A-1, and 17-16A-3, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the presidential

preference primary election; to change the date of the presidential preference primary election to the

first Tuesday in February beginning in the year 2008; to include the separate and special presidential

preference primary election in the definition of primary election; and to change the qualification date

to coincide with the change of primary date.

Alabama Law Institute Training for Public Officials (HB72, Act 2006-532): Relating to the

Alabama Law Institute; to amend Section 29-8-4 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to expressly provide

that its duties include conducting periodic training and continuing education programs for public

officials, including providing educational material.

Cost of Juveniles in County Facility for Municipal Ordinance Violation (HB73, Act 2006-533):

To amend Section 12-15-10, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to juveniles; to provide for a

municipality to be responsible for the expenses of maintenance and care of any juvenile placed in a

facility utilized by the county for housing juveniles for violations of a municipal ordinance that is

not based on a state criminal statute adopted by the municipality as a municipal ordinance.

LRS Notification of Municipal Annexations or Deannexations (HB74, Act 2006-249): To require

that municipalities notify the Legislative Reapportionment Office of any annexation or deannexation

of property to or from the corporate limits of the municipality.

Solid Waste Disposal Plans – Approval Process (HB75, Act 2006-534): To amend Section 22-27-

48, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to local governmental approval of solid waste disposal sites; to

provide for certain local application and renewal fees and to further provide for the exemption for

certain industrial landfills.

Voter Registration List (HB81, Act 2006-537): To amend Section 17-4-129, Code of Alabama

1975, relating to the publishing of voter registration lists, to provide further for the method of

publication.

State Election Laws Revision (HB100, Act 2006-570): This bill would make substantial revisions

to Title 17 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which contains the provisions of law generally relating to

the conduct of elections. The bill would repeal obsolete provisions; revise, reorder, and recast other

provisions to make nonsubstantive technical changes; add provisions currently contained in

administrative rules; and make other changes in other provisions to reflect judicial decisions and

interpretations.

Employment Security Enhancement Fund (HB105, Act 2006-519): To amend Sections 25-4-40.1

and 25-4-54, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended by Act No. 2004-110, HB166, 2004 Regular

Session, relating to the expiration date of the special assessment used to fund the Employment

Security Enhancement Fund, to extend the expiration date of the special assessment to March 31,

2008.

Emergency Management & Preparedness (HB107, Act 2006-522): To amend Sections 31-9-3,

31-9-4, 31-9-8, and 31-9-10, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to state emergencies and the

Emergency Management Agency; to provide for the Governor's authority to proclaim an emergency;

to expand the authority of state and local responders regarding emergency preparedness and

response; to establish degrees of emergency classifications; and to further provide for the powers of

political subdivisions with respect to emergency management.

Increase Maximum State Fines for Felonies, Misdemeanors & Violations (HB118, Act 2006-

197): To amend Sections 13A-5-11 and 13A-5-12 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to increase the

maximum amount of fines authorized to be assessed upon conviction for a felony, misdemeanor, or

violation.

Time-off to Vote (HB141, Act 2006-545): To provide that each employee in the state shall be

permitted to take any necessary time off to vote in any election.

Execution of Warrants in Another County (HB145, Act 2006-547): Relating to the execution

of warrants or writs of arrest; to amend Section 15-10-10, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that

an arrest warrant from another county may be executed by any law enforcement officer in this

state; and to repeal Section 15-10-13, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the endorsement of

warrants by judges or magistrates in another county.

Electronic Traffic Tickets (HB146, Act 2006-579): Relating to the issuance of a complaint and

summons or notice to appear for persons arrested for misdemeanor traffic violations; to amend

Sections 12-12-53, 12-12-54, 12-14-51, and 32-1-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the

establishment, definition of, and use of an electronic traffic ticket (e-ticket).

Trucks Registered Under IRP – Tag & Registration Fees (HB154, Act 2006-276): Relating

to motor vehicles; to amend Sections 32-6-62, 40-12-248, and 40-12-252 of the Code of

Alabama 1975; to authorize the issuance of multi-year truck and truck tractor license plates for

vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan; to authorize permanent trailer

license plates upon payment of a one-time fee per license plate issued; to increase the

registration fees for any truck or truck tractor with gross weights exceeding a certain weight; to

provide penalties for violations.

Extending Termination Date of Coal Tax (HB172, Act 2006-386): To amend Sections 40-13-

6 and 40-13-8, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide that the excise and privilege tax on coal shall

terminate on October 1, 2011, unless extended by the Legislature of the State of Alabama; and

provide further for the distribution of tax receipts.

Tax Returns – Confidentiality of Information (HB184, Act 2006-577): To amend Section 40-2A-

10, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the confidentiality, disclosure, and exchange of tax returns

and tax information, to clarify the law concerning the maintenance of taxpayer confidentiality and

compliance by counties and municipalities.

Tax Abatements – Private Use Industrial Property (HB185, Act 2006-578): To amend Section

40-9B-5, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to certain tax abatements, to provide that tax abatements

for private use industrial property shall not be valid for 13 days following mailing of appropriate

notification to the county commission of the county in which the property is located and to clarify

the effective date of the abatements.

Validation of School Elections (HB207, Act 2006-516): To amend Section 16-13-190, Code of

Alabama 1975, relating to the ratification of certain elections held for school purposes, to include

certain previously held municipal elections which were irregular.

Distinctive License Plates for Firefighters (HB209, Act 2006-422): To amend Section 32-6-

272 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to distinctive license plates for firefighters; to allow

firefighters to present proof of their membership to the judge of probate or the license issuing

official; to provide for penalties.

Licensing and Registration of Pick-up Trucks (HB222, Act 2006-356): Relating to motor

vehicles; to amend Section 40-12-248 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the licensing and

registration of trucks and truck tractors, to provide for the licensing and registration of pick-up

trucks which are used for personal or agricultural use without regard to the heaviest load to be

carried including the heaviest load carried in combination on any trailer.

Sales Tax Holiday (HB228, Act 2006-574): To exempt certain covered items from the state sales

and use tax during the first full weekend in August of each year, authorize any county or city to

exempt certain covered items from local sales and use taxes, and prohibit a county or municipality

from providing for a sales and use tax exemption during any period other than the first full weekend

in August.

TVA In-lieu-of-tax Payments (HB231, Act 2006-655): To amend Section 40-28-2, Code of

Alabama 1975, relating to the distribution of in-lieu-of-taxes payments made by the Tennessee

Valley Authority, to provide for the redistribution of the payments.

Obstruction of Volunteer Firefighters (HB247, Act 2006-423): To amend Section 13A-10-1,

Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the definitions for criminal offenses relating to the

obstruction of public administration; to include volunteer firefighters in the definition of

"firemen" and the fire control activities of volunteer fire departments in the definition of

"governmental function" in order to prohibit certain actions obstructing volunteer firefighters

and volunteer fire departments and provide penalties.

Electronic Funds Transfers – Threshold Lowered (HB249, Act 2006-552): To amend Section 41-

1-20, Code of Alabama 1975, to lower the electronic funds transfer threshold for use in making

payments of taxes, fees, and other obligations collected from certain business entities by the

Department of Revenue, to include local government taxes and fees collected or administered by the

department.

Animal Sterilization (HB252, Act 2006-627): Relating to animals; to provide for the sterilization of

certain dogs and cats and penalties for violations.

Issuance of Drivers Licenses, Learners Licenses and Nondriver ID Cards (HB260, Act 2006-

554): To amend Sections 32-6-3, 32-6-4, 32-6-4.1, 32-6-5, and 32-6-8 of the Code of Alabama 1975,

to provide for the issuance of initial driver's licenses, learner's licenses, and nondriver identification

cards by a driver's license office of the Department of Public Safety; and to provide for distribution

of the fees.

Education Budget (HB272, Act 2006-282): To make 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, 2007.

Home Builders Licensure Board (HB280, Act 2006-105): To amend Sections 34-14A-2, 34-

14A-4, 34-14A-5, 34-14A-6, 34-14A-7, 34-14A-8, 34-14A-12, 34-14A-14, and 34-14A-15,

Code of Alabama 1975, to repeal Section 34-14A-16, Code of Alabama 1975, and to add

Sections 34-14A-8.1 and 34-14A-18 to the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the home building

profession, to provide further for the duties and responsibilities of the Home Builders Licensure

Board, the fees for licensure, remove certain exemptions from the licensure requirements, and

establish the property acquisition fund.

Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (HB287, Act 2006-316): Adopting the

Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; regulating landlord-tenant relationships under

residential rental agreements; providing for general provisions and definitions; landlord

obligations; tenant obligations; remedies; and prohibitions against retaliatory conduct; amending

Section 6-6-350 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to appeals from district court to circuit

court and Section 35-9-60 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to liens for the rent of

buildings, to remove references to dwelling houses; repealing Section 35-9-4, Code of Alabama

1975, relating to the hiring of lodging for an indefinite term and Article 3, commencing with

Section 35-9-80, of Chapter 9 of Title 35, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to possession

wrongfully withheld and specifying a prospective effective date.

Workers Compensation – Structured Settlements (HB288, Act 2006-628): Relating to transfers

of structured settlement payment rights; to provide definitions of terms used in this act, including a

definition of the term "structured settlement" that excludes workers' compensation settlements; to

provide for required disclosures to the payee; to require a disclosure statement be provided to the

payee by the transferee not less than three days prior to the date on which a payee signs a transfer

agreement; to prescribe the style of and what shall be set forth in the disclosure statement from the

transferee to the payee; to provide that the payee has the right to cancel the transfer agreement

within three business days after the date the agreement was signed; to provide for the approval of

transfers of structured settlement payment rights; to require advance authorization by a court or

administrative authority based on express findings made after a factual hearing by the court or

administrative authority in order for a transfer of structured settlement payment rights to be

effective; to prescribe the express findings on which the court or administrative authority shall base

the advance authorization; to provide for the effects of transfer of structured settlement payment

rights; to provide that the structured settlement obligor and the annuity issuer have no liability for

the transferred payments as to all parties except the transferee; to provide the circumstances when

the transferee will be liable to the structured settlement obligor and the annuity issuer; to provide

that the structured settlement obligor and the annuity issuer may not be required to divide periodic

payments between the payee and transferee; to prescribe the procedure for approval of transfers of

structured settlement payment rights; to provide where an application for approval of a transfer of

structured settlement payment rights may be brought; to require the transferee to file with the court

or administrative authority and serve all interested parties with a notice of the proposed transfer and

application not less than 20 days prior to the hearing; to provide what shall be set forth and provided

with the notice; to provide that the provisions of this act may not be waived by a payee; to provide

that a transfer agreement entered into on or after the effective date of this act by a payee who resides

in this state shall provide that disputes under the transfer agreement shall be governed by the laws of

this state; to provide the procedures the transferee shall establish and maintain to allow payments of

structured settlement payment rights that are life-contingent; to protect a payee from liability to a

proposed transferee or assignee based on any failure of the transfer to satisfy the conditions of this

act; to prohibit transfers in contravention of any law; to not imply that any transfer under a transfer

agreement prior to the effective date of this act is valid or invalid; to provide that certain compliance

requirements and the fulfillment of certain conditions in this act are the responsibility of the

transferee and not the structured settlement obligor or the annuity issuer; to provide that nothing in

the act shall require or allow the disclosure of the terms of a confidential settlement; and to provide

for an effective date of this act.

Sales & Lease Taxes – Sales or Leases to State Agencies (HB321, Act 2006-557): To add a new

Section 41-4-116 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that vendors or contractors and each

affiliate selling or leasing tangible personal property to a state agency shall be subject to state and

local taxation on its sales or leases into the state.

Peace Officer/Firefighter Death Benefits – Exempt from State Income Tax (HB323, Act

2006-424): To exempt certain death benefit payments received by the designated beneficiary of

a peace officer or fireman killed in the line of duty from state income tax.

Airport Authorities (HB330, Act 2006-558): To amend Section 4-3-45, Code of Alabama 1975,

relating to the boards of directors of airport authorities, to provide that directors shall be

compensated in an amount authorized by the bylaws, that directors shall serve until their successors

are appointed and qualified, and that directors, officers, and employees of the authority are not

personally liable for debts, obligations, or liabilities of the authority.

Scrap Tires (HB346, Act 2006-559): To amend Sections 22-40A-3, 22-40A-6, 22-40A-7, 22-40A-

8, 22-40A-9, 22-40A-11, 22-40A-14, 22-40A-15, 22-40A-18, and 22-40A-21, Code of Alabama

1975, relating to the regulation of the receiving, transportation, and processing of scrap tires; to

provide further for exemptions for Class 2 receivers; to further regulate transporters and processors;

to require manifests to accompany scrap tire hauling; to allow ADEM to further grant variances or

provide additional requirements; to allow information sharing between the Department of Insurance;

to clarify a reference to the ADEM director; to further penalize violators of processors and violators

of ADEM compliance orders.

Reinstatement of a Motor Vehicle Registration (HB365, Act 2006-221): To amend Section

32-7A-9, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the fees for reinstatement of a motor vehicle

registration that has been suspended, to provide further for the payment of the fees to the

Department of Revenue or the county in which the license plate was issued.

UC Benefit (HB369, Act 2006-521): To amend Section 25-4-72, Code of Alabama 1975, as

amended by Act 2004-111, relating to unemployment compensation weekly benefits, to increase the

maximum unemployment benefits by $10 per week for benefit years which begin on or after July 2,

2006, and to increase the maximum unemployment benefits by an additional $5 per week for benefit

years which begin on or after July 1, 2007.

ADECA – Disposal of Surplus Property (HB374, Act 2006-562): To amend Sections 41-16-120

and 41-16-123, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the disposal of surplus property by the Alabama

Department of Economic and Community Affairs, providing for electronic or print publication,

providing for payment plans, clarifying the removal time for property, and allowing for an increase

in administrative fees.

Charitable Purposes Relief Act of 2006 (HB397, Act 2006-583): To create the Inventory

Reduction for Charitable Purposes Relief Act of 2006; to amend Section 40-23-1, Code of Alabama

1975, relating to the state sales tax, to provide that a gift by a retailer of a product or products where

the aggregate retail value of any single gift is equal to or less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000),

withdrawn from the retailer's inventory, to a qualified charitable entity is not a sale and is not subject

to the state sales tax.

Auto Insurance – Volunteer Firefighters, Rescue Squad Members or EMS Personnel

(HB408, Act 2006-425): To amend Section 27-1-23, Code of Alabama 1975, which prohibits an

automobile insurance carrier of a full-time law enforcement officer or firefighter from

considering motor vehicle accidents that occur while they are in the performance of their duties,

to further provide that the law would apply to members of a volunteer fire department or

volunteer rescue squad or volunteer emergency medical service.

Peace Officer & Firefighter Benefits (HB409, Act 2006-426): To amend Sections 36-30-1 and

36-30-2, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to death and disability benefits for certain peace

officers and firefighters; to provide further for benefits for certain illnesses resulting in death.

Arson – Death of Firefighter or Peace Officer (HB413, Act 2006-427): To amend Section

13A-6-2 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the crime of murder, to include the death of a

firefighter or other public safety officer who dies while performing his or her duty as a

consequence of the crime of arson.

Volunteer Firefighters – Termination from Regular Employment (HB437, Act 2006-428):

To prohibit an employer from terminating an employee who is a volunteer firefighter or

emergency medical services provider who responds to an emergency which results in loss of

work; to provide for reinstatement after termination; to provide for a statute of limitations for

commencing an action; and to provide for venue of the action.

Peace Officer & Firefighter Death Benefits (HB447, Act 2006-429): To amend Section 36-

30-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further for the amount of compensation for

compensable deaths of peace officers, firefighters, or certain volunteer firefighters.

Public Employees' Defined Contribution Savings Plan (HB449, Act 2006-625): To amend

Sections 36-27C-4 and 36-27C-7, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Public Employees' Defined

Contribution Savings Plan, to allow the board of control to establish an interest bearing account for

employer contributions and to revise the allocation formula for contribution of the employer match.

Alarm System Licensure – Locksmiths (HB537, Act 2006-541): To amend Sections 34-1A-1, 34-

1A-2, and 34-1A-3, as amended by Act 2004-103, 2004 Regular Session (Acts 2004, p. 137), and

Section 34-1A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to alarm system Licensure.

Tax Exemption – Private School Athletic Events (HB564, Act 2006-602): To amend Section 40-

23-2, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended by Act 2004-638, 2004 Regular Session (Acts 2004, p.

1461), relating to exemptions from the state sales tax, to provide that athletic events held by

nonpublic schools would be exempt from the state sales tax and to remove the tax exemption for the

Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Motor Bus License and Registration (HB566, Act 2006-632): Relating to motor bus passenger

carrier vehicles; to exempt any motor bus passenger carrier vehicle registered in this state from the

payment of state, county, municipal or other local ad valorem taxes; and to establish a special motor

bus passenger carrier business operating license.

Pardons (HB592, Act 2006-544): Relating to pardons; to provide that a person convicted of

violating a state law or municipal ordinance whose purpose was to maintain or enforce racial

segregation or discrimination would be granted a pardon of the conviction upon application; and to

provide for a hearing if the state objects to the granting of the pardon; to provide for expungement of

the record of conviction; to provide for transfer of the record of conviction to the Alabama

Department of Archives and History; and to provide for access to the record of convictions.

Eminent Domain (HB654, Act 2006-584): To amend Section 24-2-2, Code of Alabama 1975,

relating to redevelopment projects of municipalities; and to amend Section 24-3-2, Code of

Alabama 1975, relating to urban renewal projects; to further provide for the definition of

blighted property and blighted areas and to limit the exercise of the power of eminent domain to

blighted property for the purposes of these statutes.

Municipal Business License Reform (HB754, Act 2006-586): To amend Sections 6-2-35, 11-51-90

to 11-51-93, inclusive, and 11-51-95, 11-51-122, 11-51-150 to 11-51-155, inclusive, Code of

Alabama 1975, to add Sections 11-51-90A, 11-51-90B, 11-51-186, 11-51-187, 11-51-188, 11-51-

189, 11-51-190, 11-51-191, 11-51-192, 11-51-193, 11-51-194, 11-51-195 and 11-51-196; to provide

a statewide uniform system for the issuance and calculation of the cost of municipal business

licenses; to promulgate a common business license application form for use by all municipalities; to

provide a uniform definition of "gross receipts" and "delivery license"; to provide for a uniform

system for the municipal business license audit process and the taxpayer's appeal of municipal

business license assessments and for the filing of claims for and payment of refunds; to provide

uniform statutes of limitation for assessments and refunds that substantially conform with their

counterparts for municipal sales and use taxes; to allow municipalities to lawfully exchange tax

information related to business license taxpayers; and to provide delayed effective dates and

transition rules.

School Boards – Joint Purchasing (HB817, Act 2006-621): To amend Section 41-16-50, Code of

Alabama 1975, relating to competitive bids, to authorize two or more city or county boards of

education that are not adjoining to enter into joint purchasing agreements subject to the competitive

bid law.

Commercial Drivers License Holders – Charged with Traffic Violation (HB824, Act 2006-

622): To provide that a holder of a commercial driver's license, the operator of a commercial

motor vehicle, or a commercial driver learner permit holder who is charged with a violation of a

traffic law in this state would not be eligible for a deferred prosecution program, diversion

program, or any deferred imposition of judgment program.

Code Update (SB53, Act 2006-291): To adopt and incorporate into the Code of Alabama 1975,

those general and permanent laws of the state enacted during the 2003 Second Special Session

and the 2004 Regular Session as contained in the 2004 Cumulative Supplement to certain

volumes of the code and the 2004 First Special Session, the 2005 Regular Session, and the 2005

First Special Session as contained in the 2005 Cumulative Supplement and 2005 Replacement

Volume to certain volumes of the code; to specify that this adoption and incorporation constitute

a continuous systematic codification of the entire Code of Alabama 1975 and that this act is a

law that adopts a code; to declare that the Code Publisher has certified it has discharged its duties

regarding the replacement volume; to expressly provide that this act does not affect any 2006

session statutes; and to specify the duties of the Secretary of State regarding the custody of these

cumulative supplements and replacement volume.

County Subdivision Regulations (SB61, Act 2006-227): To amend Sections 11-24-2 and 11-24-3,

Code of Alabama 1975, relating to county subdivision regulations and the approval of plats by the

county commission; to further provide for the enforcement of violations; to further provide for

notices required under the law; to provide for a permit to develop subdivisions; and to provide a

cause of action by the county commission to compel repairs by the owner or developer of a

subdivision.

General Fund Budget (SB75, Act 2006-335): To make appropriations for the ordinary

expenses of the executive, legislative and judicial agencies of the State, for other functions of

government, for debt service, and for capital outlay for the fiscal year ending September 30,

2007.

Regional Jail Authority (SB83, Act 2006-185): To allow two or more municipalities to establish a

regional jail authority to maintain and operate a regional jail facility, which would serve as the

municipal jail for each municipality participating in the regional jail authority; and to provide for the

composition, terms, and powers of the board of directors of the regional jail authority, including the

issuance of bonds by the authority.

Energy Cost Savings Contracts (SB86, Act 2006-93): To amend Section 41-16-143 of the Code of

Alabama 1975, authorizing governmental units to enter into guaranteed energy cost savings

contracts, to further provide for the time over which the contracts may be required to guarantee that

the cost savings measures from the contracts will exceed the cost of the contracts and the time period

over which payments may be made under the contracts.

Water and Sewer Systems – Voluntary Checkoff for Volunteer Fire Departments (SB91,

Act 2006-203): Relating to county water systems incorporated pursuant to Chapter 88 or other

portions of Title 11, Code of Alabama 1975, and municipal water systems incorporated pursuant

to Chapter 50 or other portions of Title 11, Code of Alabama 1975; to authorize such systems to

solicit their customers, through their periodic billings, for voluntary contributions for local

volunteer fire departments; to require prior authorization of the board of directors to participate;

to provide for the distributions of such contributions; and to require volunteer fire departments to

provide monthly estimates of water used to the water system providing water.

Municipal and County Housing Authority Bonds (SB146, Act 2006-188): Relating to municipal

and county housing authorities; to amend Sections 24-1-32 and 24-1-71, Code of Alabama 1975, to

authorize municipal and county housing authorities to sell bonds at a private sale to a government