A proposed bill Alabama lawmakers are considering would let cities and government entities opt out of hiring and firing employees through personnel boards and adopt their own human resources policies. Mobile Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Pierce said two years ago the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered MHA to not use the Mobile County Personnel Board. Pierce says there could be consequences for not following orders.

"We can lose some funding. The ultimate consequence would be receivership. They could come in and just take the agency over and the board will be dissolved. All employees would be relieved of their responsibilities," said Pierce.

But it's not so simple for the MHA to opt out. Pierce says a change in the law in the 1960s forces MHA to go through the Mobile County Personnel Board. Pierce says it's an ineffective way to hire people.

"The challenge for us right now is attracting people who will bring their families here and operate under that one year working test period," said Pierce. "We're one of very few housing authorities in the country that's in a merit system."

Pierce also says MHA has to pay for a service it doesn't want. Last year, MHA paid the personnel board $51,000 for operational costs.

"Essentially, we're being forced into a system that doesn't really recognize what we do," said Pierce.

Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island) introduced the bill that would allow entities to opt out. Brown says it's in response to complaints from mayors and other leaders from across the state.

"The personnel board has been slow. And then you get a list of the top 10 candidates. And by the time they get around to hiring those people or getting the list to the cities, then they're down to like the bottom of the list, because it's taken so long that many of the other people have already found employment," said Brown.

The Mobile County Personnel Board Chairwoman Talma Carstarphen said in a statement, "We think the Mobile County Personnel Board provides a tremendous service for the City, County and all of the surrounding agencies, as well as the thousands of merit system employees. We don't support the simple opt out approach in the legislation and remain willing to work with everyone to find solutions to address any concerns."