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Title 35. Houston County, Local Provisions, Alabama Constitution

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Alabama Constitution
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Preamble
Articles
IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIIIXIVXVXVIXVIIXVIII
Local Provisions


Chapter 1

Chapter 1. Miscellaneous Provisions

RESERVED[1]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2. Courts

Article 2. Court Costs

§35-2.00. General Authority. (Amendment 605)

The Legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of courts in Houston County. (Amendment 605)

Article 2. Judges

§35-2.20. Judge of Probate; Jurisdiction. (Amendment 898)

The Judge of Probate of Houston County may exercise equity jurisdiction concurrent with that of the circuit court in cases originally filed in the Probate Court of Houston County if the judge of probate is licensed to practice law in the State of Alabama. In any case subject to this amendment, the judge of probate shall possess the power and authority of a circuit court judge trying the case and the case shall be treated in all respects in the same manner as a case filed in circuit court. The Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply in the cases except as otherwise specifically provided by law. This amendment is self-executing, but the Legislature may enact additional laws to implement this amendment if needed. (Amendment 898)

§35-2.21. Judge of Probate; Qualifications. (Amendment 965)

The Judge of Probate of Houston County shall be an attorney licensed in this state effective upon the election or appointment of any judge of probate after the ratification of the amendment. (Amendment 965)[1]

Chapter 3

Chapter 3. County Government, Finance, and Operations

RESERVED[1]

Chapter 4

Chapter 4. Economic and Industrial Development

Article 1. Economic Development

§35-4.00. Promotion of Economic and Industrial Development in Certain Counties. (Amendment 429)

For the promotion of local economic and industrial development, the governing body of Bullock, Coffee, Coosa, Dallas, Etowah, Geneva, Houston, Jefferson, Lawrence, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Morgan, Talladega, Madison, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa counties and of each municipality situated in said counties, other provisions of law or this Constitution notwithstanding, shall each have, independently or in cooperation with one or more of such governmental entities in such counties, full and continuing power (a) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, land, or to utilize land heretofore purchased or otherwise acquired, and to improve and develop such land for use as industrial site, or industrial park, projects, including, but not limited to, grading and the construction of roads, drainage, sewers, sewage and waste disposal systems, parking areas and utilities to serve said projects, and (b) to lease, sell, grant, exchange, or otherwise convey, on terms approved by the governing body of the county, or of municipality exercising such power, all, or any part of, any such project to any person, firm or corporation, public or private, including to any industrial development board or authority heretofore or hereafter created by any such county or municipality therein, for the purpose of the constructing, or developing thereon, by such purchaser or lessees, and the equipping and operating of, industrial, transportation, distribution, warehouse or research facilities, and of office and other facilities auxiliary to the foregoing. Nothing herein shall authorize the counties named, or any municipality there, to construct residential or any other buildings for the purpose of lease or sale.

In carrying out the purposes of this amendment, neither the governing bodies of the counties named hereinabove, nor of any municipality situated in said counties to which this amendment is or becomes applicable, shall be subject to the provisions of sections 93 or 94 of the Constitution of Alabama, as amended. The provisions of this amendment shall be self-executing and the powers granted hereby may be exercised as alternative to, or cumulative with, and in no way restrictive of, powers otherwise granted by law to the governing body of such counties, or of any municipality therein, or to any agency, board, or authority created or approved thereby pursuant to this Constitution or the laws of this state.

The names and addresses of all parties involved in conveyances of land herein provided, and the amount of any monies paid or received, shall be published in the newspaper in the county with the largest circulation.

This amendment shall not be construed to grant any power of eminent domain in addition to that which may be provided otherwise by statute heretofore or hereafter enacted by the legislature of Alabama; nor shall this amendment be construed to affect the annexation statutes heretofore or hereafter enacted by said legislature. Furthermore, no county or municipality shall sell any real property acquired under the authority hereof for a price less than its actual purchase and development cost of such property, unless:

(a) The price be approved at a public meeting of the governing body of such county or municipality; and
(b) At least fourteen (14) days prior to such public meeting at which such price is approved by such governing body, it has published notice in the newspaper with the largest circulation in the county in which the property is located stating (1) the acreage proposed to be sold, (2) the section or sections or subdivisions of record in which the property is located, (3) the price per acre at which sale is proposed to be made, and (4) the place where a map of the property can be examined by the public; and
(c) The price thus approved is no less than the price advertised as aforesaid; provided, however, that should any real property be acquired for any purpose authorized by this amendment by eminent domain pursuant to other legislative authority as aforesaid, such property shall not be sold, in any event, for less than the price determined and paid pursuant to the orders of the court in such condemnation proceedings. Provided further, that no municipality shall acquire real property in unincorporated areas without a prior consent thereto as expressed in a resolution by the county governing body. Provided further, that no county or municipality shall acquire real property which is located in another county or municipality without such other county's or municipality's prior consent thereto as expressed in a resolution by its governing body. Nothing in the provisions of this constitutional amendment shall be construed to allow construction of dormitories or other type housing on or off university or college campuses. (Amendment 429)

[Note: Amendment 759 is identical to Amendment 429. except for the addition of Baldwin County. For the text of Amendment 759, see §2-4.01.][1]

Chapter 5

Chapter 5. Education

RESERVED[1]

Chapter 6

Chapter 6. Health and Environment

RESERVED[1]

Chapter 7

Chapter 7. Gaming

Article 1. Bingo

§35-7.00. Operation of Bingo by Nonprofits. (Amendment 569)

(a) The operation of bingo games for prizes or money by certain nonprofit organizations and certain private clubs for charitable, educational, or other lawful purposes shall be legal in Houston County, subject to any resolution or ordinance by the county commission as provided by law regulating the operation of bingo. The county commission may promulgate rules and regulations for issuing permits or licenses and for operating bingo games within the county jurisdiction. The county commission shall insure compliance pursuant to any ordinance and the following:

(1) No person under the age of 19 shall be permitted to play any game or games of bingo, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. No person under the age of 19 shall be permitted to conduct or assist in the conduct of any game of bingo.
(2) Except for special permit holders, no bingo permit or license shall be issued to any nonprofit organization or qualified private club, unless the organization or club shall have been in existence for at least five years and owned real property in the county for five years immediately prior to issuing the permit or license, except the following:
a. A fraternal, or benevolent, or charitable organization which qualifies as an exempt organization under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
b. A private club with annual membership dues of three hundred dollars ($300) or more.
(3) Bingo games shall be operated only on the premises owned or leased by the nonprofit organization or club operating the bingo game. If the premises are leased, the rate or rental shall not be based on a percentage of receipts or profits resulting from operating the bingo games.
(4) No nonprofit organization or club shall enter into any contract with any individual, firm, association, or corporation to have the individual or entity operate bingo games or concessions on behalf of the nonprofit organization of club. No nonprofit organization or club may pay consulting fees, any compensation or salary to any individual or entity for any services performed relating to operating or conducting any bingo game.
(5) A nonprofit organization or club shall not lend its name or allow any other person or entity to use its identity in operating or advertising a bingo game in which the nonprofit organization or club is not directly and solely operating the bingo game or concessions.
(6) Prizes given by any qualified nonprofit organization or qualified private club for playing bingo games shall not exceed the cash amount or gifts of equivalent value, set by the Legislature, during any bingo session. The Legislature shall set a maximum amount for any calendar week.
(7) One hundred percent of the net revenues derived from operating bingo games shall be designated and expended for charitable or educational purposes.
(8) No person, or organization, or club, by whatever name or composition, shall take any expenses for operating a bingo game except as permitted by law.

(b) The Legislature may, by local legislation, provide for the implementation of this amendment, including, but not limited to, the imposition of criminal penalties for violations of this amendment or the local legislation.

(c) This amendment shall not become effective unless approved at a referendum by a majority of the qualified electors of Houston County voting on the proposition. The referendum shall be held at the same time as the election for the ratification of this amendment, as provided for in Section 2 of this act, and no further election shall be required.

(d) Act No. 93-333, H. 717 of the 1993 Regular Session is repealed. (Amendment 569)[1]

Chapter 8

Chapter 8. Officials and Employees

Article 1. Compensation

§35-8.00. Certain Public Officials. (Amendment 48)

The legislature of Alabama may hereafter, from time to time, by general or local laws, fix, regulate and alter the fees, commissions, allowances and salaries, including the method or basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the tax assessors, tax collectors, probate judges, circuit clerks, sheriffs, and registers of the chancery courts, and including the right to place any one or all of said officers on a salary and provide for the fees charged and collected by said officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid, and provide the method and basis of their compensation, or consolidate any of said offices in the following named county: Houston. All acts of the regular session of the legislature 1943 heretofore passed and applicable, or purporting to fix the compensation of said named county officers, on a salary basis, are hereby validated and confirmed. (Amendment 48)

Article 2. Retirement

§35-8.20. Phase-out of Supernumerary Program; Participation in RSA. (Amendment 589)

No person elected or appointed sheriff, or any elected or appointed Houston County official, may assume a supernumerary office after the effective date of this amendment. Any person who, on the effective date of this amendment, is entitled to participate in a supernumerary program may continue to participate in that supernumerary program, which shall include the assumption of a supernumerary office according to the terms and conditions of the law which established that supernumerary program. Every sheriff and elected or appointed Houston County official may participate in the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama upon the same terms and conditions as may be specified by law for any other employee in the same retirement system. Houston County officials holding office at the time of the ratification of this amendment shall be eligible to purchase service credit in the Employees' Retirement System for the time the official has served in the current office; provided, however, the official shall forego the assumption of a supernumerary office. For the purposes of this amendment, the words "elected or appointed county official" shall include any person appointed to serve the remaining term of an elected or appointed county official, but shall not include a judge, district attorney, legislator, constable, school board member, or any official elected from a judicial circuit. (Amendment 589)[1]

Chapter 9

Chapter 9. Public Safety

RESERVED[1]

Chapter 10

Chapter 10. Taxation

Article 1. Miscellaneous Provisions

RESERVED[1]

Chapter 11

Chapter 11. Zoning, Planning, and Utilities

RESERVED[1]

See also

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External links

Additional reading

Footnotes

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.