1 SB78
2 202676-4
3 By Senator Waggoner
4 RFD: Governmental Affairs
5 First Read: 02-FEB-21
6 PFD: 01/26/2021
Page 0
 SB78
1 SB78
2
3
4 ENROLLED, An Act,
5 To establish the Alabama Council on Advanced
6 Technology and Artificial Intelligence to review and advise
7 the Governor, the Legislature, and other interested parties on
8 the use and development of advanced technology and artificial
9 intelligence in this state.
10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
11 Section 1. (a) There is established the Alabama
12 Council on Advanced Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
13 (b) The council shall review and advise the Governor
14 and the Legislature on all aspects of the use and development
15 of advanced technology and artificial intelligence in this
16 state.
17 (c) The council shall be composed of the following
18 members:
19 (1) Fourteen members appointed by the Governor.
20 (2) The Secretary of Commerce, or his or her
21 designee.
22 (3) The Secretary of Information Technology, or his
23 or her designee.
24 (4) Two members appointed by the Lieutenant
25 Governor, at least one of whom shall be an employee, board
Page 1
 SB78
1 member, or trustee of an Alabama public community college or a
2 four-year public institution of higher education.
3 (5) Two members of the Alabama House of
4 Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House.
5 (6) Two members of the Alabama Senate appointed by
6 the Senate President Pro Tempore.
7 (d) All persons appointed to the council other than
8 legislators shall have one or more of the following
9 qualifications: Expertise in matters relating to artificial
10 intelligence, workforce development, technology, ethics,
11 privacy, or computer science.
12 (e) Members of the council appointed by the Governor
13 and Lieutenant Governor shall serve at the pleasure of the
14 Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. Legislative
15 members shall serve a term concurrent with the legislative
16 term in which they were appointed.
17 (f) The first meeting of the council shall be called
18 by the Governor or his or her designee and the commission
19 members shall elect a chair and vice chair. The council shall
20 establish procedures and other policies necessary to carry on
21 the business of the council, including the establishment of a
22 quorum. The council shall meet at least twice a year, but may
23 meet more frequently upon the call of the chair. Members of
24 the council may participate in a meeting of the council by
25 means of conference telephone, video conference, or similar
Page 2
 SB78
1 communications equipment by means which allow all persons
2 participating in the meeting to hear each other and otherwise
3 participate in the meeting. Participation by any of these
4 means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting for all
5 purposes, including the establishment of a quorum.
6 (g) The appointing authorities shall coordinate
7 their appointments so that the appointments are reflective of
8 the diversity of gender, race, and geographical areas in this
9 state.
10 (h)(1) The members of the council, except for
11 legislative members, shall not receive a salary or per diem
12 allowance for serving as members of the council, but shall be
13 entitled to reimbursement by the council for expenses in the
14 performance of the duties of the office at the same rate
15 allowed state employees pursuant to general law.
16 (2) Each legislative member of the council shall be
17 entitled to his or her regular legislative compensation, per
18 diem, and travel expenses for each day he or she attends a
19 meeting of the council in accordance with Amendment 871 of the
20 Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section
21 49.01 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of
22 Alabama of 1901, as amended. These payments shall be paid out
23 of any funds appropriated to the use of the Legislature by
24 means or warrants drawn by the state Comptroller on the State
25 Treasury.
Page 3
 SB78
1 (i) The council shall submit to the Governor and
2 Legislature an annual report each year on any recommendations
3 the council may have for administrative or policy action
4 relating to advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
5 The report shall be available electronically and posted on the
6 website of the office of the Governor, the Legislature, and
7 the Department of Commerce.
8 Section 2. This act shall become effective one year
9 following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its
10 otherwise becoming law.
Page 4
 SB78
1
2
3
4 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
5
6 Speaker of the House of Representatives
7 SB78
8 Senate 04-FEB-21
9 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
10 the Senate, as amended.
11
12 Patrick Harris,
13 Secretary.
14
15
16
17 House of Representatives
18 Passed: 27-APR-21
19
20
21 By: Senator Waggoner
Page 5