HB163 Summary

• Converts the Alabama Community College System from a department of state government to a body corporate, replacing the Department of Postsecondary Education and transferring all related authorities from the State Board of Education to the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Community College System effective May 12, 2015.

• Clarifies that employees of the Alabama Community College System and community and technical colleges are eligible to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama, the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan, the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan, and qualified health plans under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

• Authorizes the Board of Trustees to acquire, hold, lease, rent, convey, and dispose of real and personal property; requires approval from a three-fifths majority of board membership for major property transactions instead of Governor approval.

• Establishes that all property held before May 12, 2015, by or for community and technical colleges automatically becomes owned by the Alabama Community College System controlled by the board; all real property acquired after that date must be acquired in the system's name.

• The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval, with implementation details to be determined by the Chancellor and Board of Trustees before October 1, 2017.