SB7 Summary

• Proposes an amendment to Amendment 621 of the Alabama Constitution to remove the exception that previously excluded local boards of education from unfunded mandate protections.

• Requires state laws or executive orders that impose new or increased expenditures on city or county boards of education to be approved by local ordinance or resolution, funded by the Legislature, or provided with a local revenue source before becoming effective.

• Establishes exceptions where the unfunded mandate requirement does not apply, including acts defining crimes, federally-mandated acts, acts passed by two-thirds legislative vote, and acts with less than $50,000 annual fiscal impact.

• Specifies that "board of education" includes the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Alabama School of Fine Arts, and Alabama High School of Mathematics and Science.

• Directs an election on the proposed amendment to be held in accordance with state constitutional and election laws, with ballot language describing the prohibition on unfunded mandates affecting educational boards.