HB506 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Johnny Mack Morrow

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Public officials, rewards for exemplary public service from a third party not considered using his or her position for personal gain, Sec. 36-25-5 am'd.

Summary

The bill creates a safe harbor so third-party rewards for exemplary public service do not count as using official position for personal gain.

What This Bill Does

It amends the ethics law to allow a public employee who receives a third party reward for exemplary service to avoid a finding of personal gain, if certain conditions are met. The reward must be unsolicited, the rewarder must indicate the employee and describe the exemplary service, and the rewarder must notify the Ethics Commission with the recipient's name, the service, and the reward amount before payment. The act is titled the Rewarding Exemplary Service by Public Employee Act and takes effect immediately after the governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• Public officials and public employees who might receive third-party rewards for exemplary public service, who would be protected from being treated as using their position for personal gain if the conditions are followed.
• Third-party individuals or organizations that want to reward a public employee, who must report the reward details to the Ethics Commission before the reward is issued.

Key Provisions

• Creates a safe harbor in 36-25-5 for third-party rewards for exemplary public service not to be treated as personal gain, if specific conditions are met.
• Conditions for the safe harbor: the reward is unsolicited; the rewarder believes the employee performed exemplary service; the rewarder notifies the Ethics Commission with the employee's name, the exemplary service, and the reward amount prior to issuing the reward.
• The act is named the Rewarding Exemplary Service by Public Employee Act.
• Effective date: immediately following passage and governor 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