HB159 Summary

• Requires Jefferson County Commission to employ an at-will county manager (not a specified term position) who serves at the pleasure of the commission and can be terminated by four-fifths vote.

• County manager must possess a Master's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or Juris Doctorate, or alternatively have minimum 10 years experience as chief operating or executive officer of a public or private organization.

• County manager serves as chief administrative executive officer with duties including overseeing department heads, managing budget process, supervising contracts and purchases, and attending all commission meetings without voting authority.

• County manager salary must equal at least the median salary for county managers in similar-sized southeastern United States counties and requires four-fifths commission vote to hire; position is full-time and exempt from county merit system.

• Repeals Section 7 of Act 2009-812 and establishes procedures for filling vacancies through national search firms, appointing acting managers for temporary absences (maximum 12 months), and removing managers only for specified cause with written notice and hearing opportunity.