HB253 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hubbard

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Ethics, public officers and employees and family members, clarification that prohibited offer, gift, solicitation, or receipt of anything pursuant to Section 36-25-7, Code of Alabama 1975, must be for corruptly influencing official action, Sec. 36-25-7 am'd.; Act 2010-764, 2010 1st Sp. Sess. am'd.

Summary

HB253 clarifies that prohibitions on offers or gifts to public officials and their families only apply when the aim is to corruptly influence official action and defines what 'corruptly' means.

What This Bill Does

The bill revises the ethics law to require that any prohibited offer, gift, solicitation, or receipt must be for the purpose of corruptly influencing official action and it provides a definition of corruptly. It broadens who is protected (officials, public employees, and their household/family members) and specifies prohibitions against receiving or soliciting anything for corrupt influence, including gifts to family members. It also adds a prohibition on public officials or employees receiving money for advice or assistance on legislative or lobbying matters, while allowing them to perform their official duties. The prohibitions apply regardless of whether the item is valuable.

Who It Affects

• Public officials and public employees (and their household or family members) would be restricted from accepting, soliciting, or receiving anything intended to corruptly influence official action, even if the item has no monetary value.
• Private individuals, lobbyists, or other third parties who offer or give gifts or money to officials, employees, or their family members would be prohibited if done to corruptly influence official action.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 36-25-7 to require that prohibited offers, gifts, solicitations, or receipts must be for the purpose of corruptly influencing official action.
• Defines 'corruptly' as acting voluntarily, deliberately, and dishonestly to achieve an unlawful end or to use an unlawful method to achieve a lawful end.
• Prohibits offering or giving gifts to or soliciting/receiving gifts for family members of officials or employees for corruptly influencing official action, regardless of value.
• Prohibits public officials or employees from soliciting or receiving money for advice or assistance on matters involving the Legislature, lobbying, or public bodies, with an allowance for performing official duties.
• Effective date: immediate upon passage and 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