SB206 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben H. Brooks

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Trip PittmanRusty GloverScott Beason

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Ethics Code, Chapter 25 of Title 36, substantially revised and reorganized, Secs. 36-25-5, 36-25-11, 36-25-12, 36-25-14, 36-25-15, 36-25-16, 36-25-20, 36-25-21, 36-25-22, 36-25-23, 36-25-24, 36-25-25, 36-25-26, 36-25-31, 36-25-32, 36-25-40, 36-25-42, 36-25-43, 36-25-83 added; Secs. 36-25-1, 36-25-2 am'd.; Secs. 36-25-3, 36-25-4, 36-25-5, 36-25-6, 36-25-7, 36-25-9, 36-25-10, 36-25-11, 36-25-13, 36-25-14, 36-25-15, 36-25-16, 36-25-17, 36-25-18, 36-25-19, 36-25-20, 36-25-21, 36-25-22, 36-25-23, 36-25-24, 36-25-26, 36-25-27, 36-25-29, 36-25-30 amended and renumbered; Secs. 36-25-8, 36-25-28 repealed

Summary

SB206 would overhaul Alabama's ethics laws by creating a State Ethics Commission, expanding disclosures, and tightening rules on gifts, lobbying, and conflicts of interest.

What This Bill Does

It reorganizes the ethics law into nine articles, creates a five-member State Ethics Commission, and requires electronic filing and public online access to ethics filings. It tightens rules on gifts, meals, travel, and conflicts of interest; requires lobbyists to register and report expenditures and financial interactions with public officials; mandates disclosures of contracts and business arrangements with entities that receive public funds; and strengthens enforcement with investigations, penalties, and court action. It also establishes advisory opinions, annual reporting, and a public database of disclosures.

Who It Affects

• Public officials and public employees (and their spouses and households) will face new disclosure requirements, stricter limits on gifts and travel, and new duties under a State Ethics Commission.
• Lobbyists, principals (their clients), and other entities that influence or do business with state government will must register, report, and disclose financial transactions and contracts, and could face penalties for violations.

Key Provisions

• Creates and reorganizes the ethics laws into nine articles: General Provisions; State Ethics Commission; Complaints and Investigations; Misuse of Official Position; Gifts, Meals, Travel, etc.; Conflicting Financial Interests; Financial Disclosures; Lobbyists, Principals, and Others Interested in Government Action; Violations—Reporting and Penalties.
• Establishes a five-member State Ethics Commission with appointment by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and presiding leaders of the Senate and House; defines eligibility, terms, quorum, compensation, and reporting to Legislature and Governor.
• Requires guaranteed minimum annual funding for the Commission and mandates electronic filing and Internet public access to all filings.
• Sets up new complaint and investigation procedures, including post-investigation referrals by the Attorney General or district attorney, and a panel of judges for hearings in certain cases.
• Mandates registration of lobbyists and principals, and requires quarterly reporting of all things of value and financial transactions with public officials and their households; includes reporting of contracts and other business relationships with public funds.
• Expands financial disclosures to include statements of economic interests for a wide range of officials and employees, with detailed categories of income, assets, and clients; imposes deadlines and penalties for noncompliance.
• Tightens rules on gifts and things of value, including thresholds, prohibited sources, and reporting requirements; restricts lobby-related gifts and travel.
• Requires public records access to disclosures via an online database and authorizes advisory opinions to guide compliance.
• Provides civil and criminal penalties for violations, administrative penalties, restitution, and enforcement by the Attorney General or district attorney; permits settlements and administrative resolution of minor violations.
• Effective date: July 1, 2010.

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