SB199 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Paul SanfordJerry L. FieldingClay ScofieldGreg J. ReedBryan TaylorDick BrewbakerArthur OrrPhillip W. Williams

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Article V Convention, appointment of delegates to represent Alabama by Legislature, qualifications, duties, criminal penalty for exceeding scope of appointment

Summary

This Alabama bill sets rules for how Alabama’s delegates to an Article V Convention would be appointed, instructed, and constrained, with penalties for exceeding those instructions and notes about local-funding implications.

What This Bill Does

If Congress calls an Article V Convention, the bill requires the Legislature to issue binding instructions to delegates via a joint resolution. Delegates and alternate delegates must act within those instructions; any vote outside the approved scope is void, and a delegate who knowingly or intentionally votes outside the scope commits a Class A misdemeanor. If a delegate forfeits their appointment, the paired alternate becomes the new delegate, and if all delegates vote outside the scope, the Alabama application to call a convention ends. The bill also addresses how it relates to Amendment 621 regarding local expenditures, and it becomes law three months after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Delegates and alternate delegates appointed to represent Alabama at an Article V Convention, who must follow the Legislature's instructions and risk void votes or loss of appointment for exceeding the scope.
• The Attorney General or the district attorney for Montgomery County, who would prosecute violations of the misdemeanor provision.
• Local governmental entities and local taxpayers, due to references to local expenditure rules in Amendment 621 and how the bill interacts with those rules.

Key Provisions

• Section 3: The Legislature must adopt, by joint resolution, instructions to delegates and alternate delegates about procedures and other matters related to the Article V Convention; these instructions can be amended later by joint resolution.
• Section 4: A vote by a delegate or alternate delegate outside the approved instructions or limits is void; the delegate forfeits the appointment for that vote, the paired alternate may become the new delegate, and if all delegates vote outside scope, the application ends; knowingly or intentionally voting outside scope is a Class A misdemeanor.
• Section 5: The Attorney General or Montgomery County district attorney may prosecute violations of the misdemeanor.
• Section 6: Although the bill could be seen as creating a local expenditure requirement, it is specifically exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because it defines a new crime or amends the crime definition.
• Section 7: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it passes and is approved by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Article V Convention