HB36 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jack Williams

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2015

Title

Colleges and Universities, ethics training for members of governing boards required, members required to file ethics compliance form

Summary

HB36 would require Alabama college and university governing boards to receive ethics training and to annually complete an ethics compliance form.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires current and future board members of higher education institutions that receive state funding to complete mandatory ethics training approved by the Alabama Ethics Commission (or an online course on the commission's site). Current members must finish within six months after the act becomes effective; new appointees have 120 days after appointment to complete the training. By June 1, 2016, boards must adopt a code of ethics resolution and develop an ethics compliance form to be completed annually by board members, including disclosures of certain relationships and interests and an attestation of compliance (signature may be electronic).

Who It Affects

• Current and future board members of Alabama colleges and universities that receive state appropriations or benefits from state-funded awards/grants, who must complete ethics training and annually sign the ethics compliance form.
• The colleges/universities' governing boards and the institutions themselves, which must adopt a code of ethics resolution and implement the annual ethics compliance form process.

Key Provisions

• Training requirement: all current and future board members must complete ethics training approved by the Alabama Ethics Commission or through an online Ethics Law review on the commission's website.
• Timing for training: current board members must complete within six months after the act's effective date; new appointees must complete within 120 days after appointment.
• Code of ethics and annual form: by June 1, 2016, each board must consider a code of ethics resolution and develop an ethics compliance form to be completed annually by current and future board members.
• Disclosures on the form: the form must include at least disclosure of business or professional relationships with other board members or entities affiliated with a board member, substantial contractual or financial interests, and a statement of intent to comply with board standards.
• Signature and enforceability: the ethics compliance form must be signed and attested as true to the best knowledge, with electronic signatures allowed; the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after 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

Colleges and Universities