Read the full stored bill text
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB229
84IU32F-1
By Senator Givhan
RFD: Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety
First Read: 29-Jan-26
1
2
3
4
5
84IU32F-1 01/02/2026 ZAK (L)ma 2025-3737
Page 1
First Read: 29-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Existing law provides the duties of various
positions within the Legal Services Office of the
Alabama National Guard.
This bill would revise and further provide for
the duties of certain positions, including the State
Staff Judge Advocates, General Counsel, Deputy General
Counsel, Military Justice Associate General Counsel,
Contract and Fiscal Law Associate General Counsel,
Administrative and Civil Law Associate General Counsel,
Operational Law Associate General Counsel, Legal
Assistance Associate General Counsel, and certain other
Judge Advocates.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama National Guard, to amend
Sections 31-2B-4, 31-2B-5, 31-2B-6, 31-2B-7, 31-2B-8, 31-2B-9,
31-2B-10, 31-2B-11, 31-2B-12, and 31-2B-13, as added by Act
2025-104, 2025 Regular Session, Code of Alabama 1975, to
revise and further provide for the duties of certain positions
within the Legal Services Office.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 2
within the Legal Services Office.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 31-2B-4, 31-2B-5, 31-2B-6, 31-2B-7,
31-2B-8, 31-2B-9, 31-2B-10, 31-2B-11, 31-2B-12, and 31-2B-13,
as added by Act 2025-104, 2025 Regular Session, Code of
Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
"§31-2B-4
(a) The Legal Services Office shall be a joint office
shared by the Alabama Army and Air National Guard. There shall
be a State Staff Judge Advocate for both the Army National
Guard and the Air National Guard.
(b) Each State Staff Judge Advocate shall do all of the
following:
(1) Perform the duties as prescribed by the Adjutant
General and state and federal law.
(2) Serve as the primary legal adviser to the Adjutant
General regarding the State Military Department and all
officers and agencies of the department his or her respective
military service component commander .
(3) Provide independent legal advice in coordination
with the Office of General Counsel and directly , when
requested, to the Director of the Joint Staff, his or her
respective chief of staff of each for his or her service ,
joint staff, and to members of the his or her respective
military service component within the Alabama National Guard ,
generally.
(4) Provide legal advice in the following areas:
a. Military justice.
b. Administration and operation of the State Military
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 3
b. Administration and operation of the State Military
Department his or her respective military service component's
Judge Advocate General's Corps within the Alabama Army or the
Air National Guard .
c. Business, property, and financial operations under
the jurisdiction and authority of the State Military
Department and the Armory Commission for his or her respective
military service component .
d. Administration, control, discipline, status, civil
relations, and activities of all State Military Department
personnel within his or her respective military service
component .
(5) Provide legal advice to the his or her respective
military component commander and, when requested, to the
Adjutant General, Director of the Joint Staff, chief of staff
of each service, and joint staff in all legal matters
concerning the State Military Department, including
environmental law, labor and civilian personnel law, contract
law, and fiscal and tax law his or her respective military
component .
(6) Develop legal office management policies and
procedures for his or her respective military service
component to accomplish all legal services within the Alabama
National Guard.
(7) Direct the his or her respective military service
component members of the Alabama National Guard Judge Advocate
General Corps in the performance of their duties, including
leading and managing all aspects of the Legal Service Office
service component's legal services .
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 4
service component's legal services .
(8) Exercise technical supervision over the delivery of
legal services in his or her respective military service
component of the Alabama Army and or Air National Guard and
all legal services personnel under the authority of the
Adjutant General his or her component commander .
(9) Certify that all judge advocates within his or her
respective military service component are professionally
qualified and maintain the highest levels of ethical and moral
behavior and professional proficiency to perform legal duties.
(10) Manage the professional legal training within the
Alabama National Guard his or her respective military service
component .
(11) Determine the requirements for the his or her
respective military service component, and the Alabama
National Guard's acquisition of legal research materials,
software, applications, and programs.
(12) Provide legal services to the Alabama National
Guard his or her respective military service component through
the Legal Services Office and the in coordination with the
Office of General Counsel.
(13) Direct the delivery of Alabama Army and Air
National Guard legal services across a broad spectrum of legal
disciplines, including military justice, international and
operational law, administrative and civil law, contract and
fiscal law, claims, and legal assistance.
"§31-2B-5
(a) Under the direction of the Adjutant General and in
coordination with the State Staff Judge Advocates, the General
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 5
coordination with the State Staff Judge Advocates, the General
Counsel shall do all of the following:
(1) Advise and support the State Staff Judge Advocates
on all judge advocate legal service matters.
(2) Advise the Adjutant General, State Military
Department, Governor, chief of staff of each service, and
Director of the Joint Staff, as necessary.
(3) Serve as Chief Information Officer for the Judge
Advocate Office of General Counsel.
(4) Inspect, supervise, and manage judge advocate
activities as directed by the State Staff Judge Advocates
consistently with the Adjutant General's policies and
directives .
(5) Supervise all Alabama National Guard and State
Military Department litigation and appeals .
(6) Supervise and provide advice on all contract and
fiscal issues.
(7) Supervise and provide technical guidance regarding
military justice and administrative law.
(8) Supervise the Office of General Counsel, including
employment, professional responsibility, and office management
matters.
(9) Establish policy and operational guidance for all
aspects of the Alabama National Guard and State Military
Department Legal Services Office.
(10) Supervise the Deputy General Counsel, associate
general counsels, deputy staff judge advocates, judge
advocates, all legal services personnel, and others who are
members of the Judge Advocate Legal Services Office to assist
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 6
members of the Judge Advocate Legal Services Office to assist
the Office of General Counsel in supporting the Adjutant
General, State Military Department, and State Staff Judge
Advocates , when not in conflict .
(b) The Office of General Counsel full-time staff shall
include a general counsel, deputy general counsel, chief
paralegal, and associate general counsels."
"§31-2B-6
The Deputy General Counsel shall do all of the
following:
(1) Serve as director for the Legal Services Office,
including military justice, legal assistance, administrative
law, contract and fiscal law, and any other services as
determined and delegated by a State Staff Judge Advocate or
the Office of General Counsel.
(2) Coordinate and provide support for all legal
services throughout the Alabama National Guard and the State
Military Department under the direction of the State Staff
Judge Advocates and the Office of General Counsel.
(3) Coordinate and support the Alabama National Guard
Army Soldier Readiness Program.
(4) Coordinate and provide support for all legal
services training in the Alabama National Guard.
(5) Coordinate and supervise all Alabama National Guard
preventative law publications.
(6) Provide advice and counsel to Alabama National
Guard SAPR/IPP Offices.
(7) Compile and publish the Alabama National Guard
Legal Services Manual upon approval by the State Staff Judge
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 7
Legal Services Manual upon approval by the State Staff Judge
Advocates and the Office of General Counsel .
"§31-2B-7
The Military Justice Associate General Counsel shall do
all of the following:
(1) Serve as coordinator of all military justice
matters under the direction of the State Staff Judge Advocates
and as delegated to the Office of General Counsel.
(2) Coordinate and provide support to the Chief of
Military Justice and all trial counsels and supporting staff.
(3) Provide and supervise all military justice training
throughout the Alabama National Guard.
(4) Compile and publish the Alabama Manual for
Courts-Martial and any supporting state regulations and
manuals with advice and consent of the State Staff Judge
Advocates , and the Chief of Military Justice , and the Office
of General Counsel .
"§31-2B-8
The Contract and Fiscal Law Associate General Counsel
shall do all of the following:
(1) Serve as coordinator of all contract and fiscal law
matters under the direction of the State Staff Judge Advocates
and as delegated to the Office of General Counsel.
(2) Coordinate and provide support to the military
judge advocates assigned to contract and fiscal law sections.
(3) Provide and supervise all contract and fiscal law
training throughout the Alabama National Guard and State
Military Department .
(4) Compile and publish the Alabama Manual for Contract
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 8
(4) Compile and publish the Alabama Manual for Contract
and Fiscal Law and any supporting rules and manuals with
advice and consent of the Adjutant General, State Staff Judge
Advocates , and the Office of General Counsel .
"§31-2B-9
The Administrative and Civil Law Associate General
Counsel shall do all of the following:
(1) Serve as coordinator for the Office of General
Counsel of all administrative and civil law matters under the
direction of the Adjutant General and State Military
Department and in coordination with the State Staff Judge
Advocates and as delegated to the Office of General Counsel as
necessary .
(2) Coordinate and provide support to the military
judge advocates assigned to administrative and civil law
sections.
(3) Provide and supervise all administrative and civil
law training throughout the Alabama National Guard.
(4) Compile and publish the Alabama Manual for
Administrative and Civil Law and any supporting rules and
manuals with advice and consent of the Adjutant General, State
Staff Judge Advocates , and the Office of General Counsel .
"§31-2B-10
The Operational Law Associate General Counsel shall do
all of the following:
(1) Serve as coordinator for the Office of General
Counsel of all operational law matters under the direction of
in coordination with the State Staff Judge Advocates and as
delegated to the Office of General Counsel as necessary .
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 9
delegated to the Office of General Counsel as necessary .
(2) Coordinate and provide support to military judge
advocates assigned to administrative and civil law sections.
(3) Provide and supervise all military justice training
throughout the Alabama National Guard.
(4) Compile and publish the Alabama Manual for
Operational Law and any supporting rules and manuals with
advice and consent of the Adjutant General, State Staff Judge
Advocates , and the Office of General Counsel ."
"§31-2B-11
The Legal Assistance Associate General Counsel shall do
all of the following:
(1) Serve as coordinator for the Office of General
Counsel of all legal assistance matters under the direction of
in coordination with the State Staff Judge Advocates and as
delegated to the Office of General Counsel necessary .
(2) Coordinate and provide support to military judge
advocates assigned to legal services sections.
(3) Provide and supervise all legal assistance training
throughout the Alabama National Guard.
(4) Compile and publish the Alabama Manual for Legal
Assistance and any supporting rules and manuals with the
advice and consent of the Adjutant General, State Staff Judge
Advocates , and the Office of General Counsel .
"§31-2B-12
(a) Command, Wing, and Brigade Judge Advocates shall
provide legal services to Major Military Commands, including
MACOM, MAJCOM, and Wing in this state through legal offices
and legal sections headed by judge advocates within each
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 10
and legal sections headed by judge advocates within each
MACOM, MAJCOM, and Wing. Judge advocates shall be members of
MACOM, MAJCOM, and Wing Commanders' Staff and are designated
as supervisory judge advocates.
(b) A Supervisory Judge Advocate shall be a judge
advocate within an office or organization with authority over,
or responsibility for, the direction, coordination,
evaluation, or assignment of responsibilities and work of
subordinate lawyers, paralegals, and other non-lawyer
assistants within MACOM, MAJCOM, or Wing.
(c) The supervisory judge advocates shall include the
Command Judge Advocate, Staff Judge Advocate, and the Brigade
Judge Advocate as determined by the placement.
(d) The Command Judge Advocate, Staff Judge Advocate,
and Brigade Judge Advocate shall do all of the following:
(1) Advise the commander regarding legal matters and
assist the commander in exercising his or her duties as a part
of the commander's personal staff, all under the management
and supervision of the respective State Staff Judge Advocate.
(2) Assist the commander in identifying legal problems
and render legal advice in support of the commander's
decision-making process.
(3) Furnish legal advice, assistance, and support
across the broad spectrum of military, state, and federal
practice, including administrative law, claims, contract, and
fiscal law, international and operational law, and military
justice; provided, all legal assistance is reserved to the
Legal Services Office unless otherwise determined by a State
Staff Judge Advocate.
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 11
Staff Judge Advocate.
(4) Be responsible for the efficient, effective, and
ethical delivery of legal services to his or her commanders
and commands.
(5) Create and maintain rating and supervisory chains
that comply with applicable Army standards and ensure
effective leadership of all legal personnel of the command
legal office.
(6) Ensure legal personnel are adequately trained to
accomplish the legal mission, including through local training
and through attendance at the Judge Advocate Center and School
courses, including that all judge advocate attorneys
accomplish continuing legal education required by the Alabama
State Bar.
(7) Appoint and assign duties of the chief paralegal,
trial counsel, and Deputy Command Judge Advocate, Deputy Staff
Judge Advocate, or Deputy Brigade Judge Advocate, as
appropriate, with consent of the State Staff Judge Advocate.
(8) Maintain written standard office procedures and
annex to MACOM Operation Order for Command.
(9) Maintain proper written reports regarding
investigations, separations, and military justice as directed
by the Office of General Counsel and State Staff Judge
Advocate.
(10) Publish an office SOP and OPORD Annex for their
respective commands.
"§31-2B-13
(a) In accordance with Army Regulation 27-1, all
paralegals and warrant officers are under the direction of a
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
SB229 INTRODUCED
Page 12
paralegals and warrant officers are under the direction of a
State Staff Judge Advocate with supervision delegated to each
Command Judge Advocate, Staff Judge Advocate, or Brigade Judge
Advocate, as appropriate , unless employed within the Office of
General Counsel. All paralegals and warrant officers employed
within the Office of General Counsel are under the direction
of the General Counsel .
(b) Unless directed otherwise by the State Staff Judge
Advocate, all paralegals and warrant officers shall perform
only legal professional duties as outlined in their respective
legal service regulations.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320