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Senate confirmations committee advances 37-member Alabama Workforce Board unanimously
Summary
The Alabama Senate confirmations committee voted 15-0 to advance 37 gubernatorial appointees to the newly created Alabama Workforce Board. Committee members said eight listed ex officio positions will not require Senate confirmation and will not be moved to the floor.
At a Senate confirmations committee meeting, members voted unanimously, 15-0, to advance 37 gubernatorial appointees to the Alabama Workforce Board out of the confirmations committee.
The board was created by recent workforce transformation legislation enacted as part of the “Working for Alabama” package. Secretary Reid, who leads the newly established Department of Workforce, told the committee the board will develop a strategic workforce plan and advise the department and governor on implementation. "This board is within the workforce transformation legislation, of which came before this August body, of course, during the Working for Alabama package," Reid said.
The committee’s chair opened the hearing and introduced Kelly Manning as the new clerk for confirmations. Reid said the workforce board includes representatives from across Alabama and various industries and that the board has already convened in person; he told senators he met with the group earlier at Hyundai. Reid also said the department will coordinate career centers — 57 statewide — organized into seven regions to support the board’s work.
Senators used the hearing to ask procedural and conflict-of-interest questions. Senator Singleton asked for clarification about who can serve and whether members of the governor’s staff are eligible, saying, "I'm just a little, confused as to who can serve on this board and I'm just trying to make sure there are no conflicts here." Reid and committee staff said the list includes several ex officio members who are not voting members; a staff member provided a list to the committee showing which positions are ex officio.
Committee members also discussed terms and logistics. A senator asked about term length; committee staff answered that members serve four-year terms. The committee chair noted that eight positions on the circulated list are ex officio and therefore do not require Senate confirmation; the committee agreed to pass the nominations en masse for committee approval but will not move the eight ex officio positions to the full Senate for confirmation.
On the motion to advance the slate, committee members answered "Aye" during a roll call that produced a unanimous 15-0 vote. The committee recorded the nominations as passed out of committee and ready for the next step in the confirmation process.
The committee adjourned after the vote.
