County Commission | The Magazine January 2020 | Page 14

FROM THE COVER
Ethics Law Revolving Door
Provision
The Association proposes to
amend the revolving door provision of
the Ethics Law to repeal the two-year
prohibition on the rehiring of public
employees and officials by former
employers or other public employers
and to repeal the prohibition on
representing an employer before
any board, agency, commission,
department, or legislative body in
his or her official capacity by those
public employees. If enacted into law,
this vital piece of legislation would
allow counties to attract qualified and
experienced employees.
Election Expense Reimbursement
In 2017, legislation was enacted
to allow for the use of electronic
poll books in federal, state and local
elections. Further, an administrative
rule promulgated certain conditions
for which counties could seek
reimbursement for the purchasing
of electronic poll books. The
Association proposes to amend the
current election reimbursement
statute to codify that electronic
poll books and related software are
access to effective mental health
eligible items for election expense
services at the local level.
reimbursement by the State of
Alabama.
Public Shelters and Safer Places
Alabama has experienced a high
Mental Health Crisis
volume of natural disasters over the
Alabama is experiencing an
past decade. It is imperative that
escalating mental health crisis.
state and local leaders take an active
State and local governments lack
role to ensure the safety of the
the resources to adequately assist
citizens of Alabama. It is vital that
individuals suffering from mental
citizens have access to buildings
illnesses. These individuals are
and shelters in times of impending
admitted to emergency rooms,
disasters and that public and private
county jails and, in many cases,
entities willing to provide access
the Department of Corrections.
to these facilities be able to do so.
The Association proposes to take
The Association proposes to amend
an active role in addressing the
current law to provide specific
mental health crisis and to support
liability protection for those entities
statewide efforts and legislative
measures for funding and providing opening buildings or shelters to
14 | JANUARY 2020
the public in times of impending
disaster events.
County Boards of Equalization
For several years, local
entities have struggled to make
recommendations to the Alabama
Department of Revenue for the
appointment of individuals to
serve on the County Boards of
Equalization. The Association
supports legislation to update
the process for appointing and
compensating members of the
County Boards of Equalization to
ensure the efficient operation of
the tax appeal process by attracting
qualified persons to serve in this
important role. n