SB1 Alabama 2010 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Shadrack McGillDick BrewbakerPaul BussmanBill HoltzclawPhillip W. WilliamsClay ScofieldGerald O. DialTom WhatleyGreg J. ReedJimmy HolleyScott BeasonGerald H. AllenJ.T. WaggonerDel MarshBen H. BrooksTrip PittmanPaul SanfordRusty GloverArthur OrrMark Slade Blackwell

Session

First Special Session 2010

Title

Ethics Commission, members, appointment and confirmation, investigation of complaints, subpoena power, post-investigation referral and status reports, penalties, Secs. 36-25-3, 36-25-4, 36-25-27 am'd. (2010-21255)

Summary

The bill gives the Joint Transportation Committee new power to hold administrative hearings and issue advisory opinions in civil disputes between the Alabama Department of Transportation and private businesses, and expands its oversight of highway planning and DOT budgets.

What This Bill Does

It adds authority for the committee to call for and conduct administrative hearings and issue advisory opinions about conflicts or disputes between the DOT and private companies or individuals. In hearings, the committee can compel witnesses to appear and require documents or data. After hearings, the committee will issue an advisory opinion, and these are not the only or exclusive remedies available. It also requires DOT to obtain express approval from the committee before proceeding with any program or project, and expands the committee's duties to review long-range highway plans, annual plan updates, budgets, and to report findings to the Governor and Legislature; the committee may hire outside consultants and hold public hearings. The act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) and state government: subject to new oversight, must obtain express committee approval for DOT programs/projects, and must participate in hearings and provide information as required.
• Private businesses and individuals engaging with DOT: can use the committee's administrative hearing process and receive advisory opinions in civil disputes with DOT; may be required to provide testimony and documents during hearings.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Joint Transportation Committee to call for and conduct administrative hearings and to issue advisory opinions regarding conflicts or civil disputes between the Alabama Department of Transportation and private business individuals/entities.
• In an administrative hearing, the committee may compel attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and data necessary for the hearing.
• The committee shall strive to conduct hearings with fairness and may follow guidelines from the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, but is not required to follow them.
• After hearing all testimony, the committee shall issue an advisory opinion.
• The remedies in this act are not the exclusive options, and parties are not required to exhaust all administrative remedies before pursuing other avenues.
• The Department of Transportation may not proceed with any program or project without express approval from the Joint Transportation Committee.
• The committee's broader duties include reviewing and concurring in a five-year highway plan, reviewing the annual budget, reporting performance compared to the plan, recommending funding, and potentially using outside consultants; it may hold public hearings and file reports with both houses of the Legislature and the Governor.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and the Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Ethics Commission