Signed by Governor Bob Riley

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that submits a constitutional amendment to the voters that appropriates $1 billion over a 10 year period for the improvements of roads, bridges, and public transportation.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $100 million from the Alabama Trust Fund each fiscal year starting with the fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2011, and terminating after the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 (Sec. 1).

• Requires that of the $100 million appropriated, 75 percent be distributed as follows (Sec. 1):
• $1 million to the Alabama Shortline Railroad Infrastructure Rehabilitation Fund;
• $5 million to each congressional district within the state with the following caveats:
• Requires the 5th congressional district to spend its entire allowance in the Primary Study Area for fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 and 2012;
• Requires the 6th and 7th congressional districts to spend $1 million of their allowances on funding mass transit for fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 through the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020;
• Requires the 6th congressional district to spend $1 million of its allowances on a study of Interstate 459 and Highway 280 for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 and 2012;
• Requires the 1st congressional district to distribute $5 million of its allowances to the Alabama State Port Authority for improvements to the port for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011;
• Requires the 2nd congressional district to distribute $1 million of its allowances to the Houston County Commission for a connector to Interstate 10 in Dothan, Alabama, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011;
• Requires the 3rd congressional district to distribute $1 million of its allowances to the Russel County Commission for maintaining the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, for fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 and 2012;

• The remainder of the 75 percent shall be appropriated as follows:
• 45 percent divided evenly among the 67 counties;
• 55 percent appropriated proportionately to population to each of the 67 counties, based on the most recent federal census.

• Requires that of the $100 million appropriated, 25 percent be distributed as follows (Sec. 1):
• 45 percent divided evenly among the 67 counties;
• 55 percent appropriated proportionately to population to each of the 67 counties, based on the most recent federal census;
• 10 percent of the total appropriations to each county shall be distributed among the municipalities of the county, proportional to population based on the most recent federal census.

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to preferentially hire Alabama based contractors with money appropriated by this bill (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the appropriation of any funding under this bill that would lead to the total capital of the Alabama Trust Fund to fall below $2 billion (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that if the appropriation of the entire $100 million is not possible due to the total capital of the Alabama Trust Fund, the amount not allotted may be appropriated in any subsequent year of the program (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that submits a constitutional amendment to the voters that appropriates $1 billion over a 10 year period for the improvements of roads, bridges, and public transportation.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $100 million from the Alabama Trust Fund each fiscal year starting with the fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2011, and terminating after the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 (Sec. 1).

• Requires that of the $100 million appropriated, 75 percent be distributed as follows (Sec. 1):
• $1 million to the Alabama Shortline Railroad Infrastructure Rehabilitation Fund;
• $5 million to each congressional district within the state with the following caveats:
• Requires the 5th congressional district to spend its entire allowance in the Primary Study Area for fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 and 2012;
• Requires the 6th and 7th congressional districts to spend $1 million of their allowances on funding mass transit for fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 through the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020;
• Requires the 6th congressional district to spend $1 million of its allowances on a study of Interstate 459 and Highway 280 for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 and 2012;
• Requires the 1st congressional district to distribute $5 million of its allowances to the Alabama State Port Authority for improvements to the port for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011;
• Requires the 2nd congressional district to distribute $1 million of its allowances to the Houston County Commission for a connector to Interstate 10 in Dothan, Alabama, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011;
• Requires the 3rd congressional district to distribute $1 million of its allowances to the Russel County Commission for maintaining the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, for fiscal years ending September 30, 2011 and 2012;

• The remainder of the 75 percent shall be appropriated as follows:
• 45 percent divided evenly among the 67 counties;
• 55 percent appropriated proportionately to population to each of the 67 counties, based on the most recent federal census.

• Requires that of the $100 million appropriated, 25 percent be distributed as follows (Sec. 1):
• 45 percent divided evenly among the 67 counties;
• 55 percent appropriated proportionately to population to each of the 67 counties, based on the most recent federal census;
• 10 percent of the total appropriations to each county shall be distributed among the municipalities of the county, proportional to population based on the most recent federal census.

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to preferentially hire Alabama based contractors with money appropriated by this bill (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the appropriation of any funding under this bill that would lead to the total capital of the Alabama Trust Fund to fall below $2 billion (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that if the appropriation of the entire $100 million is not possible due to the total capital of the Alabama Trust Fund, the amount not allotted may be appropriated in any subsequent year of the program (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text