County Commission | The Magazine March 2019 | Page 29

FROM THE COVER
generation technology projects a secure
statewide network to connect and
deliver 911 communications.
 To improve and expand spay-neuter
services throughout the state, provided
there is no requirement that counties
fund such services.
 To establish a statewide uniform pistol
permit fee provided that current local
laws on distribution are not repealed
and all fees are distributed to local
government.
 To amend current Alabama law to create
a more equitable financial allocation
between local and state governments
for the housing, medical care, and
transportation of juveniles participating
in the juvenile justice system.
 To clarify that juveniles held in
regional detention facilities awaiting
court ordered transfers to local or state
diversion or treatment programs are the
legal and financial responsibility of the
State.
 To amend Alabama law clarifying the
responsibilities and requirements of
sheriffs related to feeding funds and
record keeping for prisoners in the
county jail.
Environment, Land Use
and Public Works
 To properly fund the Alabama Disaster
Recovery Program to provide direct
financial assistance to counties and
municipalities following certain disasters
and assistance for certain pre-disaster
event protective measures.
Rural Transportation
 To provide adequate funding of road
and bridge projects, provided counties
receive an equitable portion of funding
utilizing the current gas tax formula.
 To establish new statewide revenue
stream for road and bridge projects and
ensure counties receive an equitable
portion of new revenues to meet the
evidence-based needs of the County
Road System.
 To amend current Alabama law
clarifying the waiver valuation process
for right-of-way acquisitions.
Alabama County Public Policy Positions
The Legislative Policy Positions of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, established by the membership,
direct the Association on advocacy efforts in supporting or opposing any policy decisions affecting Alabama’s county
governments. These Policy Positions, derived from the 11 Foundation Principles, address numerous issues from the
relationship between State and Local Governments to the day-to-day operations of the county commissions.
Alabama Governmental Structure
6 Opposition to removing or impeding
local control of the county department
of human resources.
4 Support for continued application of
current constitutional and statutory
provisions providing that elected
officials can only be removed from office
through the process of impeachment.
4 Support for Alabama’s current
structure for enacting or amending
state general or local laws and belief
that no provision allowing for citizen
referendum should be enacted.
4 Belief that individual property rights
must be balanced with adequate means
to protect the health, safety, and welfare
of all citizens.
4 Belief that any additional restrictions
on the use of constitutional and
statutory procedures for condemnation
of private property for necessary
governmental purposes will serve to
harm the collective well-being of
all citizens.
4 Belief that counties should receive
a portion of proceeds from the
enactment of legislation establishing a
state lottery, gaming or sports betting
systems and any subsequent expansion
of those systems.
6 Opposition to restricting or limiting
a county commission’s authority to
independently make decisions related
to county property.
6 Opposition to shifting the control of
county property to the oversight of
a legislatively-established committee
or state agency. Specifically, the
Association strongly opposes the
requirement that movement or
renaming of monuments, buildings
or streets be approved by such a
committee.
Mandated and Unfunded Legislation
6 Opposition to federal and state efforts
to require county government to
assume any financial or programmatic
responsibilities that are currently
financed and/or administered at the
federal or state level.
6 Opposition to any mandated and
unfunded requirement that counties
assume new programs established by
the federal or state government.
6 Opposition to any federal or
state legislative, administrative,
or regulatory directives requiring
county government to assume
inspection, public safety, permitting
responsibilities or other duties
currently performed by the state or
federal agency.
6 Opposition to any legislative or
regulatory directives requiring
counties to provide housing, supplies,
equipment or other expenses for a
county coroner or other county officers.
6 Opposition to state agencies
administratively eliminating state
services within a county for budgetary
or other reasons without legislative
approval.
Revenue Protection
6 Opposition to altering the current
interest rate on tax sale proceeds unless
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