February 19, Group Watch: AL Senate Approves Bill Allowing Removals of Library Board Members
Last week, the Alabama Senate passed legislation allowing local city councils and county commissions to remove members of their local library boards. According to the bill’s sponsor, once board members are appointed, the current law does not expressly allow for their removal by the appointing authority. The full Senate tabled a committee amendment and replaced it instead with an amendment by Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville. His amendment requires a two-thirds majority necessary to remove someone from a library board. It also clarifies that joint libraries between counties and cities have the same language as libraries with just one government. Senator Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham added an amendment requiring the appointing authorities coordinate their appointments to ensure appointments reflect inclusion and the urban, rural and economic diversity of the state and each community. Senator Bobby Singleton of Greensboro added an amendment requiring each board report annually to the Governor, House Speaker and President Pro Tempore of the Senate any actions it has taken regarding the review or removal of items in their collection during the previous 12 months.
