This bill amends existing laws regarding overtime compensation for public safety employees in Tuscaloosa County. Specifically, it modifies provisions from Act 80-356 and Act 88-317 to clarify that law enforcement officers working more than eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week are entitled to time and one-half pay or compensatory leave, at their discretion. Additionally, it allows the City of Northport and the City of Tuscaloosa to adopt a four 10-hour shift schedule, under which officers working more than 10 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week will also receive the same overtime compensation options. Notably, the bill specifies that the Executive Director of Public Safety for the City of Tuscaloosa will not be eligible for overtime pay or compensatory leave.

Further amendments to Act 88-317 establish that full-time fire protection employees in Tuscaloosa County will receive overtime pay or compensatory leave for hours worked beyond 24 in a tour of duty or 53 in a week. The bill introduces provisions for averaging paid hours in accordance with federal labor standards and allows municipalities to implement shorter work weeks if desired. It also clarifies that all paid leave will count as hours worked and reiterates that the choice between overtime pay and compensatory leave rests solely with the employee. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.