The bill mandates that starting January 1, 2025, all newly elected mayors and members of municipal governing bodies in Alabama must complete an annual training course during their first term. This course must be at least 10 hours long and cover a range of topics including municipal powers, ethics, annexations, budgeting, and more. The bill specifies 21 subjects that the training must include, such as parliamentary procedure, conflicts of interest, public records, and zoning, among others. It also allows for additional subjects recommended by the Alabama League of Municipalities.
The bill further requires that individuals who have already completed the Certified Municipal Official Program administered by the Alabama League of Municipalities are exempt from this training. For those who have completed their first term, an annual five-hour continuing education course on the subjects listed is required. The training program will be developed in consultation with the Alabama Ethics Commission, the Attorney General's Office, and the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. All costs associated with the training, including lodging, travel, and meals, are to be paid from the municipality's general fund. The act applies to all municipalities incorporated under Title 11 of the Code of Alabama 1975 and will take effect on January 1, 2025.