AL SJR55

Creates a joint interim study commission to examine whether total compensation (salary, retirement, health insurance, bonuses, and other benefits) for state employees, education personnel, teachers, judges, and judicial staff is competitive with surrounding southeastern states and private industry.

Commission membership includes 13 members: representatives from Retirement Systems of Alabama, State Personnel Department, State Finance Director, State Superintendent of Education, Administrative Director of Courts, minority party legislators, finance committee chairs, Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, and a public policy specialist from business and industry.

Commission duties include comparing Alabama compensation to southeastern states, analyzing fiscal ramifications of revising compensation structures, examining state's ability to sustain proposed changes, and identifying current hiring and retention problems.

Legislative members receive standard legislative compensation, per diem, and travel expenses; other members may be reimbursed for necessary expenses by their respective appointing authorities.

Commission must report findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature by January 1, 2022, at which time it automatically dissolves.