Senate Bill 275 (SB275) seeks to amend Sections 11-20-70 and 11-20-73 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which govern the establishment and operation of agriculture authorities in counties. The bill introduces new language that clarifies and expands the powers of an agriculture authority, particularly in developing commercial facilities and using the revenue generated for the authority's mission. It specifies the process for incorporating an agriculture authority, including the application with the county commission and the filing of articles of incorporation. The bill also details the powers of an agriculture authority, such as planning and developing agriculture centers, acquiring property, accepting gifts, entering into contracts, and constructing various facilities. It emphasizes that the articles of incorporation remain valid even if they do not specify an operational area, as long as they comply with the article. No deletions from the current law are mentioned.

Additionally, SB275 allows the agriculture authority to engage in various design-build contracts and agreements for the development of commercial facilities, and to generate and use revenue from these operations to support its mission. The bill outlines the procedures for executing contracts, managing funds, and clarifies that obligations of the authority are enforceable only against the authority itself unless otherwise agreed upon by the county commission. It also grants the authority additional powers such as participating in business organizations, making loans, and creating subsidiaries. The bill introduces a new provision for evaluating and awarding proposals based on qualifications, best value, or both, and specifies that the evaluation criteria must be included in the RFP. The act is set to become effective on June 1, 2024, and does not include any deletions from the existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-20-73
Engrossed: 11-20-70, 11-20-73, 11-20-70
Enrolled: 11-20-70, 11-20-73, 11-20-70