Legislative Wrap-Up, 0115 ALBJ, 76 The Alabama Lawyer 78 (2015)

• Author: Othni J. Lathram, Judge.

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

Vol. 76 No. 1 Pg. 78

Alabama Bar Lawyer

January 2015

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0 Othni J. Lathram, Judge.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Alabama Law Institute 2014: The Year in Review

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The members of the Alabama State Bar are a generous, engaged and highly-skilled group. They have a tremendous dedication and commitment to improving the state in which they live and practice. It is that spirit that makes it such a joy to report on the work of the Alabama Law Institute each year.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0In fiscal year 2014, more than 200 lawyers from every corner of Alabama donated 4,845 hours of time working on Law Institute drafting committees. This time does not include the time spent by the Law Institute Council and membership reviewing, commenting on and improving those drafts prior to submission to the Alabama Legislature for consideration.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The remarkable consistency of the dedication of the lawyers and legislators who help the Law Institute fulfill its mission is tremendous. The three pillars of the Law Institute-code revision, legislative service and education-continue to thrive thanks to the many lawyers, legislators and local officials who help make each year better than the last. It is with a spirit bolstered by the work of so many that humbles me as I have the great honor of reporting on the work of the Law Institute in 2014.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA02014 Legislation

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The Alabama Legislature passed four institute-prepared bills during the 2014 legislative session:

• Revised Limited Liability Act of 2015 (Act 2014-144) Sponsored by Representative Paul DeMarco and Senator Rodger Smitherman

• UCC Article 9 Amendments (Act 2014-374) Sponsored by Senator Cam Ward and Representative Mike Jones

• Title 10A Merger and Conversion Amendments (Act 2014-293) Sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr and Representative Bill Poole

• Uniform Partition of Heirs Property (Act 2014-299) Sponsored by Senator Jerry Fielding and Representative Marcel Black

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Code Revision Projects

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The institute continues its core mission to simplify and improve the laws of Alabama through a systematic process of considering, drafting and reviewing proposed legislation for presentment to the legislature. This work ensures that many critical areas of our law that would otherwise never be on anyone else's agenda get the attention and work that they need.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Amendments to the Condominium Act

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The chairs of the committee are John Plunk and Carol Stewart and Melinda Sellers serves as reporter.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Alabama's Condominium Act was passed in 1990; since that time, issues have been raised needing clarification. These...