1 HB542
2 210523-1
3 By Representatives Moore (P) and Crawford
4 RFD: Economic Development and Tourism
5 First Read: 16-MAR-21
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1 210523-1:n:02/22/2021:PMG*/bm LSA2021-446
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8 SYNOPSIS: This bill would establish the Birmingham
9 Zoological Park and Museum Commission, the
10 Huntsville Zoological Park and Museum Commission,
11 the Mobile Zoological Park and Museum Commission,
12 and the Montgomery Zoological Park and Museum
13 Commission. The purpose of the commissions would be
14 to support and promote educational and recreational
15 facilities within the surrounding counties,
16 including zoos, museums, and botanical gardens.
17 This bill would provide for memberships and
18 duties of the commissions.
19 This bill would establish a respective
20 Zoological Park and Museum District for each
21 commission.
22 This bill would also require the commissions
23 to meet at least annually to share ideas and
24 provide for collaborations.
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26 A BILL
27 TO BE ENTITLED
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1 AN ACT
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3 Relating to educational commissions; to establish
4 the Birmingham Zoological Park and Museum Commission, the
5 Huntsville Zoological Park and Museum Commission, the Mobile
6 Zoological Park and Museum Commission, and the Montgomery
7 Zoological Park and Museum Commission; and to provide for
8 their duties and membership.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
10 Section 1. (a) This act shall be known and may be
11 cited as the Regional Zoological Park and Museum Education
12 Act.
13 (b) The Birmingham Zoological Park and Museum
14 Commission, the Huntsville Zoological Park and Museum
15 Commission, the Mobile Zoological Park and Museum Commission,
16 and the Montgomery Zoological Park and Museum Commission are
17 established.
18 Section 2. (a) The Birmingham Zoological Park and
19 Museum District is established and shall consist of Jefferson,
20 St. Clair, and Shelby Counties.
21 (b) The purpose of the Birmingham Zoological Park
22 and Museum Commission is to support and promote educational
23 and recreational facilities within the Birmingham Zoological
24 Park and Museum District, including, but not limited to, zoos,
25 museums, and botanical gardens, through the joint
26 participation of public and private institutions, state
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1 agencies, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby Counties, and the
2 cities of Bessemer, Birmingham, Hoover, and Vestavia Hills.
3 (c) The commission shall consist of the following
4 members:
5 (1) One member appointed by the Chair of the
6 Jefferson County Commission, with an initial term of one year.
7 (2) One member appointed by the Chair of the St.
8 Clair County Commission, with an initial term of two years.
9 (3) One member appointed by the Chair of the Shelby
10 County Commission, with an initial term of three years.
11 (4) One member appointed by the chief executive of
12 the City of Birmingham, with an initial term of four years.
13 (5) One member appointed by the chief executive of
14 the City of Bessemer, with an initial term of two years.
15 (6) One member appointed by the chief executive of
16 the City of Hoover, with an initial term of three years.
17 (7) One member appointed by the chief executive of
18 the City of Vestavia Hills, with an initial term of four
19 years.
20 Section 3. (a) The Huntsville Zoological Park and
21 Museum District is established and shall consist of Madison,
22 Limestone, and Morgan Counties.
23 (b) The purpose of the Huntsville Zoological Park
24 and Museum Commission is to support and promote educational
25 and recreational facilities within the Huntsville Zoological
26 Park and Museum District, including, but not limited to, zoos,
27 museums, and botanical gardens, through the joint
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1 participation of public and private institutions, state
2 agencies, Madison, Limestone, and Morgan Counties, and the
3 cities of Decatur, Huntsville, Madison, and Athens.
4 (c) The commission shall consist of the following
5 members:
6 (1) One member appointed by the Chair of the
7 Limestone County Commission, with an initial term of one year.
8 (2) One member appointed by the Chair of the Madison
9 County Commission, with an initial term of two years.
10 (3) One member appointed by the Chair of the Morgan
11 County Commission, with an initial term of three years.
12 (4) One member appointed by the chief executive of
13 the City of Athens, with an initial term of four years.
14 (5) One member appointed by the chief executive of
15 the City of Decatur, with an initial term of two years.
16 (6) One member appointed by the chief executive of
17 the City of Huntsville, with an initial term of three years.
18 (7) One member appointed by the chief executive of
19 the City of Madison, with an initial term of four years.
20 Section 4. (a) The Mobile Zoological Park and Museum
21 District is established and shall consist of Mobile and
22 Baldwin Counties.
23 (b) The purpose of the Mobile Zoological Park and
24 Museum Commission is to support and promote educational and
25 recreational facilities within the Mobile Zoological Park and
26 Museum District, including, but not limited to, zoos, museums,
27 and botanical gardens, through the joint participation of
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1 public and private institutions, state agencies, Mobile and
2 Baldwin Counties, and the cities of Daphne, Mobile, and
3 Prichard.
4 (c) The commission shall consist of the following
5 members:
6 (1) One member appointed by the Chair of the Mobile
7 County Commission, with an initial term of four years.
8 (2) One member appointed by the Chair of the Baldwin
9 County Commission, with an initial term of two years.
10 (3) One member appointed by the chief executive of
11 the City of Daphne, with an initial term of three years.
12 (4) One member appointed by the chief executive of
13 the City of Mobile, with an initial term of four years.
14 (5) One member appointed by the chief executive of
15 the City of Prichard, with an initial term of one year.
16 Section 5. (a) The Montgomery Zoological Park and
17 Museum District is established and shall consist of Autauga,
18 Elmore, and Montgomery Counties.
19 (b) The purpose of the Montgomery Zoological Park
20 and Museum Commission is to support and promote educational
21 and recreational facilities within the Montgomery Zoological
22 Park and Museum District, including, but not limited to, zoos,
23 museums, and botanical gardens, through the joint
24 participation of public and private institutions, state
25 agencies, Autauga, Elmore, and Montgomery Counties, and the
26 cities of Millbrook, Montgomery, Prattville, and Wetumpka.
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1 (c) The commission shall consist of the following
2 members:
3 (1) One member appointed by the Chair of the Autauga
4 County Commission, with an initial term of one year.
5 (2) One member appointed by the Chair of the Elmore
6 County Commission, with an initial term of two years.
7 (3) One member appointed by the Chair of the
8 Montgomery County Commission, with an initial term of three
9 years.
10 (4) One member appointed by the chief executive of
11 the City of Millbrook, with an initial term of four years.
12 (5) One member appointed by the chief executive of
13 the City of Montgomery, with an initial term of two years.
14 (6) One member appointed by the chief executive of
15 the City of Prattville, with an initial term of three years.
16 (7) One member appointed by the chief executive of
17 the City of Wetumpka, with an initial term of four years.
18 Section 6. (a) This section shall apply to any
19 zoological park and museum commission established pursuant to
20 this act.
21 (b)(1) At the time members are appointed to a
22 commission, the appointing authorities shall coordinate their
23 appointments so that gender and race are reflective of the
24 makeup of this state. Members appointed by the respective
25 chairs of the county commissions shall be electors and
26 residents of the respective counties during their terms, and
27 members appointed by the respective chief executive of the
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1 cities shall be electors and residents of the respective
2 cities during their terms of office.
3 (2) After initial terms expire, each term shall be
4 four years, and members may be reappointed for one additional
5 term. Members shall continue to serve until a successor is
6 appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the respective
7 appointing authority to serve for the remainder of the term.
8 (3) A member may be removed by the respective
9 appointing authority for misconduct or neglect of duty, upon
10 petition by the governing body of the respective county or
11 city.
12 (5) Each member shall serve without compensation but
13 shall be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred by him or
14 her while performing his or her official duties.
15 (6) Each commission shall elect from the membership
16 a chair, a vice chair, and secretary-treasurer. The commission
17 shall meet as necessary, at the call of the chair or by a
18 majority of the members, to complete the business required. A
19 majority of members constitutes a quorum.
20 (7) All resolutions and other official actions
21 adopted by a commission shall be reduced to writing and signed
22 by the secretary. Copies of proceedings and official actions,
23 when certified by the secretary, shall be received in all
24 courts as prima facie evidence of the matters and things
25 therein certified.
26 (c) The commissions may do any of the following:
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1 (1) Make bylaws for the management and regulation of
2 its affairs.
3 (2) Receive funds by loan, grant, donation, and
4 appropriation.
5 (3) Contract, sue, and be sued in its own name.
6 (4) Acquire real and personal property by gift,
7 deed, easement, lease, or otherwise.
8 (5) Mortgage, pledge, license, or lease its real and
9 personal property.
10 (6) Plan and protect public recreation within the
11 district.
12 (7) Promote and support, including through financial
13 grants or loans, educational and recreational facilities
14 within the respective zoological park and museum district,
15 including, but not limited to, zoos, museums, and botanical
16 gardens.
17 Section 7. (a) Beginning November 2022, the
18 Birmingham Zoological Park and Museum Commission, the
19 Huntsville Zoological Park and Museum Commission, the Mobile
20 Zoological Park and Museum Commission, and the Montgomery
21 Zoological Park and Museum Commission shall meet at least once
22 annually to report on each commission's progress, share best
23 practices, and report on collaborations among the commissions.
24 The annual meeting shall occur during the first two weeks of
25 November.
26 (b) Each commission shall send at least one member
27 who is authorized to speak and make decisions on behalf of the
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1 commission to attend the entirety of the meeting. All other
2 commission members may participate electronically.
3 Section 8. This act shall become effective on the
4 first day of the third month following its passage and
5 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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