Alabama § 41-20-3.1 - Board Governance Course Required for Members of Entities Subject to Alabama Sunset Law.

§ 41-20-3.1. Board Governance Course Required for Members of Entities Subject to Alabama Sunset Law.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “board member” means any member of any department, council, board, commission, division, bureau, or other entity subject to the Alabama Sunset Law of 1981, Chapter 20 of Title 41, Code of Alabama 1975. The term does not include any cabinet member, statewide elected official, or any member of a county or municipal governing body.

(b) All board members serving on October 1, 2026, shall complete the board governance course provided for in subsection (c) on or before March 1, 2027. Any board member who begins a term of office after October 1, 2026, shall complete the board governance course within 150 days after beginning each term of office.

(c) The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts shall provide a board governance course of not less than five hours to all board members. The course’s curriculum shall be determined by the Chief Examiner of Public Accounts in consultation with the Attorney General and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following topics as they relate to board membership:

(1) The Alabama Open Meetings Act.

(2) The role of the Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee.

(3) Travel, compensation, and per diem.

(4) Reoccurring significant issues determined by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts during audits and reviews conducted pursuant to Section 41-20-9.

(5) General operating procedures and best practices to ensure the effective discharge of the duties of board members in keeping with the highest standards of stewardship and principles of public service.

(d) The board governance course shall be available online and may be conducted online or in person. Evidence of each board member’s completion of the course shall be recorded and maintained by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

(e) At the conclusion of the board governance course, each participating board member shall sign a form developed and provided by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts affirming all of the following principles:

(1) That each decision, action, and vote taken or made as a board member shall be based solely on the needs and interests served by the entity and the general welfare of the public.

(2) That no decision, action, or vote shall be taken or made to serve or promote the personal, political, or pecuniary interests of a board member.

(3) That the views of all board members of the entity shall be considered before making a decision or taking an action on any measure or proposal before the entity.

(4) That the board member shall not make, individually or jointly, any attempt to direct or corrupt the operations of the entity in a manner that is inconsistent with the discharge of the statutory functions and responsibilities of the entity.

(5) That the board member shall attend all meetings of the entity unless good cause is shown.