SB176 • 2026

Retirement benefits, circuit clerks authorized to participate in supernumerary program and Employees' Retirement System based on separate years of service

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Stewart
Last action: 2026-04-07
Official status: Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows 'Passed Legislature' but also 'Currently Indefinitely Postponed', which creates uncertainty about whether this law will actually take effect.

SB176: Allowing Circuit Clerks to Join Two Retirement Programs

This bill lets circuit clerks join both a supernumerary program and the Employees' Retirement System if they qualify for each based on separate years of work.

What This Bill Does

Adds Section 12-18-166 to the Code of Alabama 1975 regarding retirement benefits.
Allows circuit clerks who independently qualify for both programs based on separate years of service to participate in them.
Prohibits individuals from using the same work history to join both programs at once.

Who It Names or Affects

Circuit clerks who have worked enough time in different periods or roles to qualify for two separate retirement plans independently.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill does not allow anyone to use the same years of work to qualify for both programs.
The text does not explain how much money a person would receive from either program.
It is unclear if this change applies to circuit clerks who retired before July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-04-07 Senate
Currently Indefinitely Postponed
2026-03-19 Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-03-18 Senate
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-01-20 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-20 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund

Official Summary Text

Retirement benefits, circuit clerks authorized to participate in supernumerary program and Employees' Retirement System based on separate years of service

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB176 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB176
4UXVB33-1
By Senator Stewart
RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund
First Read: 20-Jan-26
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4UXVB33-1 01/15/2026 KMS (L)cr 2026-317
Page 1
First Read: 20-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, circuit clerks are not
authorized to participate in both a supernumerary
program and the Employees' Retirement System.
This bill would authorize circuit clerks who
independently qualify for a supernumerary program and
the Employees' Retirement System based on separate
years of service to participate in both programs.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to retirement benefits; to add Section
12–18–166 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize qualifying
circuit clerks to participate in both a supernumerary circuit
clerk program and the Employees' Retirement System.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 12-18-166 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§12-18-166
(a) No individual may participate in both a
supernumerary circuit clerk program and the Employees’
Retirement System based on the same service.
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SB176 INTRODUCED
Page 2
Retirement System based on the same service.
(b) An individual who independently qualifies for a
supernumerary circuit clerk program and the Employees'
Retirement System based on separate years of service may
participate in both programs.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on July 1,
2026.
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