Constitutional Amendments on November Ballot Sonny Brasfield, Executive Director Association of County Commissions of Alabama www.alabamacounties.org

Alabama Constitutional Revision Commission Created by 2011 Legislature to review and recommend revisions to the Alabama Constitution Four initiatives on the November ballot based on the Commission’s proposed revisions Two of the ballot initiatives were recommended by the ACCA www.alabamacounties.org

County-Recommended Amendments Administrative Decision-Making Voting on Proposed Local Constitutional Amendments www.alabamacounties.org

Administrative Decision-Making Act No. 2015-220 Sponsored by Rep. Randy Davis and Sen. Del Marsh in the 2015 Regular Session Gives county governments additional limited ability to carry out management and administrative activities without the need for the passage of future local laws   www.alabamacounties.org

Administrative Decision-Making Provides county commissions the ability to carry out activities only in the following areas: County personnel programs, policies, and procedures Community programs for litter-free roadways, public facilities, and public property Operation of county offices Emergency assistance programs www.alabamacounties.org

Administrative Decision-Making This act would not supersede general or local laws. The county commission cannot use these powers to change the salary of other elected officials, or in any way alter or interfere with the duties of other elected officials. www.alabamacounties.org

Administrative Decision-Making Decision-making authority differs significantly from existing “self-governance” powers. These powers will not extend to any regulatory programs. www.alabamacounties.org

Local Constitutional Amendments Act No. 2015-44 Sponsored by Rep. Rod Scott and Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison in the 2015 Regular Session Creates a two-step process for passing local constitutional amendments, making it less likely that proposed local constitutional amendments would face a statewide referendum. www.alabamacounties.org

Local Constitutional Amendments Currently, proposed local amendments are subject to statewide referendum, unless: Passed with no dissenting vote in both the House and Senate Approved by the so-called Callahan Commission www.alabamacounties.org

Local Constitutional Amendments The two-step process proposed by this Act sets up a separate vote in both the House and Senate on the question of whether the proposed amendment will face “local only” or a statewide referendum. Amendment repeals the Callahan Commission, and establishes a new process designed to empower local voters. www.alabamacounties.org

Local Constitutional Amendments In addition, should the amendment be subject to a statewide referendum, the measure would automatically fail if local voters do not to provide approval. www.alabamacounties.org

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