SB142 Summary

• Creates 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 membership includes directors of Commerce and ADECA, the Director of Transportation, the Lieutenant Governor, and six appointed members from aerospace and aviation industries, plus engineering deans from Alabama universities with aerospace programs.

• Authorizes the authority to develop spaceport facilities (state, private, or public-private), conduct aerospace education and training, sponsor conferences, and encourage venture capital partnerships for space enterprise.

• Grants the authority power to borrow money, issue bonds, acquire property, lease facilities, and exercise eminent domain rights equivalent to the state government.

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