Opinion ID: 1754101
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Comparable Appointment Provisions

Text: The following provisions relate specifically to the appointment of trustees of Alabama's state universities: Ala.Code 1975, § 16-47-30 (University of Alabama); Ala. Const.1901, amend. 161 (Auburn University); § 16-49-20 (Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University); § 16-50-20 (Alabama State University); § 16-51-3 (University of North Alabama); § 16-52-3 (Jacksonville State University); § 16-53-3 (Livingston University); § 16-54-2 (University of Montevallo); § 16-55-2 (University of South Alabama); and § 16-56-3 (Troy State University). Comparison of these provisions reveals that the operative language of the statute governing appointments to the board of trustees of Alabama State University (ASU) is unique. Of the provisions relating to these 10 state universities, the provisions relating to 8 of them, namely, Auburn University, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, the University of North Alabama, Jacksonville State University, Livingston University, the University of Montevallo, the University of South Alabama, and Troy State University, provide, in functionally identical terms, that appointments made during any legislative session shall be made by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The procedure employed under these constitutional and statutory provisions gives the Governor the power to make an appointment, or, in effect, a nomination, that must be confirmed or approved by the Senate before the nominee or appointee becomes appointed. As to the other two institutions, namely, the University of Alabama and ASU, the statute relating to the University of Alabama provides that the position of trustee is to be filled by a vote of the remaining trustees, with the trustee-elect holding office until his confirmation or rejection by the Senate. Section 16-47-30. Of the trustees of these institutions that are appointed during a legislative session, only those of ASU hold office until adversely acted upon by the Senate. Section 16-50-20(a) (emphasis added). Unquestionably, the statutory procedure under which ASU trustees hold office until [the appointment is] adversely acted upon by the Senate is a substantial departure from the statutory and constitutional processes governing the appointment of trustees at Alabama's other state universities. [W]here there is a `material alteration in the language used in the different [sections], it is to be inferred' that the alterations were not inadvertent. House v. Cullman County, 593 So.2d 69, 75 (Ala.1992) (emphasis added). This Court is not permitted to `legislate by construction.' Id. Therefore, I cannot conclude as the Court does, that this phrase, which is unique among the provisions governing appointments to the boards of Alabama's state universities, has no field of operation. In other words, the Legislature must have intended by this additional phrase to distinguish the procedure at ASU from the procedures applicable in regard to the other universities. This peculiar phrase was the subject of the Court's attention in Dunn v. Alabama State University Board of Trustees, 628 So.2d 519 (Ala.1993).