HB717 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul DeMarco

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Mandatory ethics training for public officers and employees, and lobbyists

Summary

HB717 would require mandatory ethics training for public officials, public employees, and lobbyists in Alabama, with specific timing for different roles.

What This Bill Does

The State Ethics Commission would provide and administer mandatory ethics training for legislators, state constitutional officers, cabinet officers, executive staff, municipal mayors, council members and commissioners, county commissioners, and lobbyists. It would require legislators to attend at least once at the start of each quadrennium (with an extra training if ethics laws change and within three months for any legislator elected in a special election); constitutional officers, cabinet members, and executive staff would train within 30 days of the governor’s swearing-in (with extra training if laws change); lobbyists must attend four times a year and within 90 days of registering, while municipal and county officials must train within 120 days of the act’s effective date and then within 120 days of taking office. Attendance is mandatory, the curriculum would cover current law and advisory opinions, and penalties could apply for violations before attending.

Who It Affects

• Legislators (members of the Alabama Legislature) must attend ethics training at the start of each quadrennium
• State constitutional officers, cabinet officers, and executive staff must complete training within 30 days after the Governor is sworn in
• Municipal mayors, city council members, and county commissioners must obtain training within 120 days of taking office and for those already in office within 120 days of the act’s effective date
• Lobbyists must attend training four times per year and within 90 days of registering

Key Provisions

• The State Ethics Commission shall provide and administer mandatory ethics training programs for legislators, constitutional officers, cabinet officers, executive staff, municipal officials, county officials, and lobbyists, with schedules determined by the Commission and applicable agencies
• Legislators must attend at least once at the start of each quadrennium; an additional training is required if Chapter 25, Title 36—Code of Alabama 1975 changes; legislators elected in a special election must complete training within three months of taking office
• Training for state constitutional officers, cabinet members, and executive staff must occur within 30 days after the Governor is sworn in; an additional program is required if changes to ethics law occur
• Lobbyists must attend four training sessions annually and within 90 days of registering; after initial training, further sessions are only required if ethics law changes
• Municipal mayors, council members, and commissioners, and county commissioners in office at the act’s effective date must train within 120 days; thereafter, all such officials train within 120 days of taking office; scheduling is coordinated with the Alabama League of Municipalities and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama
• Curriculum and faculty are determined by the Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission and shall include current law, actual cases and advisory opinions, a Q&A period, and participation by ethics experts, affected persons, law school faculties, and the press

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Ethics Commission