HB529 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joseph C. Mitchell

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Legislature, persons employed by any entity that contracts with any two-year or four-year institution of higher education may not serve in Legislature, Section 47 (Section 47, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Summary

This bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to bar certain managerial employees of entities that contract with public colleges and universities from serving in the Legislature to prevent conflicts of interest.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new restriction to Section 47 of the Alabama Constitution. The new subsection would say that a person employed in a managerial capacity by any entity that contracts with a public two-year or four-year higher education institution in this state may not serve in the Legislature if the person has direct substantive influence on the contract. The purpose of this restriction is to prevent undue influence, conflict of interest, or multiple payments by the state to the person. The amendment would be approved by voters in an election, with a ballot description outlining the change.

Who It Affects

• Individuals employed in a managerial capacity by entities that contract with public two-year or four-year higher education institutions in Alabama, who also have direct substantive influence on those contracts, would be barred from serving in the Legislature.
• Current or aspiring Senators or Representatives who meet the above criteria would be restricted from serving in the Legislature.

Key Provisions

• Adds a prohibition (Section 47(b)) that a person employed in a managerial capacity by an entity contracting with a public higher education institution may not serve in the Legislature if they have direct substantive influence on the contract, to prevent undue influence, conflicts of interest, or multiple payments by the state.
• Provides for a public vote to adopt the amendment, including ballot description and standard election procedures.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments