SB378 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Space Authority as an office within the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to promote space exploration, spaceport development, and aerospace industry growth.

• Authority composition includes the Directors of Commerce, ADECA, and Transportation, the Lieutenant Governor, and six additional members appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House (2 members), and President Pro Tempore of the Senate (2 members), with legislative appointees split equally between Democrats and Republicans.

• Grants the authority power to develop spaceports as state, private, or public-private facilities; lease spaceport facilities; educate aerospace professionals; sponsor conferences and business roundtables; and propose tax credits and business incentives to stimulate aerospace economic development.

• Authorizes the authority to borrow money, issue bonds, acquire property, and lease facilities to accomplish its duties.

• Members serve without compensation but receive per diem and travel reimbursement; authority membership must reflect the state's racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity.