Alabama § 15-22-20 - Board of Pardons and Paroles - Creation; Composition; Compensation.

§ 15-22-20. Board of Pardons and Paroles - Creation; Composition; Compensation.

(a) There shall be a Board of Pardons and Paroles that consists of three members. The membership of the board shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state. At least one member shall be a current or former law enforcement officer with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in or with a law enforcement agency that has among its primary duties and responsibilities the investigation of violent crimes or the apprehension, arrest, or supervision of the perpetrators.

(b) Any vacancy occurring on the board, whether for an expired or unexpired term, shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, from a list of five qualified individuals submitted by a nominating committee consisting of the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The nominating committee, as soon as practicable after a vacancy occurs, whether for an expired or unexpired term, shall meet and select by majority vote the names of five individuals to be submitted to the Governor. The nominating committee shall immediately submit its nominations to the Governor, who shall make his or her appointment from the list within 10 days. Appointees shall begin serving immediately upon appointment, until confirmed or rejected by the Senate. Appointments made at times when the Senate is not in regular session shall be effective ad interim. Any appointment made by the Governor while the Senate is in regular session must be submitted to the Senate not later than the third legislative day following the date of the appointment. Any appointment made while the Senate is not in regular session shall be submitted not later than the third legislative day following the reconvening of the Legislature in regular session. If the Senate fails to vote on an appointee’s confirmation before adjourning sine die during the regular session in which the appointee is appointed, the appointee is deemed to be confirmed.

(c)(1) Beginning on October 1, 2026, new members of the board shall be appointed for terms of six years commencing on March 1. The terms of the members serving on the board on October 1, 2026, shall end on the last day of February following the sixth year of their term.

(2) Members of the board shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.

(3) Any individual appointed to fill the vacancy for an unexpired term shall vacate the office upon the expiration of that unexpired term.

(d) The Governor shall designate one of the members as chair, and the chair shall preside at sessions of the board.

(e) Each member shall take the constitutional oath of office and shall be subject to impeachment for any of the causes specified in Section 173 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022. The procedure in cases of impeachment shall be in the manner provided by Section 175 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022. If the Governor determines that any member of the board is incapacitated by reason of physical or mental disability or illness to the extent that the member cannot efficiently perform the duties of his or her office, he or she shall direct the Attorney General to proceed to the determination of that issue in an inquisition proceeding instituted by him or her in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama. In the event the issue is determined in the court against the board member, the court shall declare the office vacant, the office shall be vacated, and a successor appointed, as provided in this section.

(f) Two members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of the official business of the board.

(g) The members of the board shall hold no other office of profit during their incumbency.

(h) The annual compensation of the chair and each associate member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles shall be an amount as is provided by law. The salaries shall be paid in equal installments from the State Treasury in the same manner that salaries of other state officers are paid.