COLUMBIANA, Ala. — A judge ruled today that public school districts around the state must stop collecting membership dues for organizations who use the money for political purposes, which is strictly prohibited by state law.
After Republicans passed a law banning the practice in 2010, the Alabama Education Association (AEA) successfully sued to block its implementation. However, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately overturned the lower court’s ruling and put the law into effect in February of this year.
It took the Alabama Department of Education over two months after the 11th Circuit’s ruling to notify school districts around the state that they must comply with the law, but some districts have continued collected dues at the AEA’s behest.
Earlier this month, Shelby County resident Trudie Hudson filed a lawsuit against the Hoover city and Shelby County boards of education and the Alabama state school superintendent for not preventing politically active organizations from using taxpayer resources to collect membership dues by payroll deductions.
RELATED: Lawsuit seeks to stop AEA, other political groups from continuing to defy state law
Today, Shelby County Circuit Judge William H. Bostick ruled that the defendants must get into compliance with the law by the end of June or face further legal action. The ruling came after Ms. Hudson and State School Superintendent Tommy Bice reached an agreement on an acceptable timeline to begin fully implementing the law.
“Employers that are subject to the Act (must) terminate payroll deductions for payments to any political action committee… after June 30, 2014,” Judge Bostick wrote. “Reported instances of noncompliance will be subject to further investigation and appropriate corrective or remedial action under the State Superintendent’s statutory and regulatory authority.”
The AEA’s motion to block the law’s implementation was denied.
“Taxpayers have a right to expect that their tax dollars aren’t being used in any way to advance a political agenda, particularly one they may disagree with,” said State Sen. Bryan Taylor (R-Prattville), who served as Ms. Hudson’s attorney. “This law was designed to protect that right. Ms. Hudson showed true courage to stand up and demand compliance. We are pleased that the Superintendent was willing to work with us to ensure compliance as soon as practicable.”
Although the ruling is a victory for citizens who believe their taxpayer resources should not be used to collect money for political purposes, some political watchers have pointed out that the AEA successfully skirted the law long enough to fund its political operation through the 2014 primary elections.
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