HB18 Alabama 2015 2nd Special Session

Currently, public officials are prohibited, during the term or remaining term of office for which the official was elected, from lobbying before a legislative body or branch of state or local government, including executive and judicial branches, and boards or agencies

This bill would amend those provisions to provide that only former public officials at the state level of government who vacate their office prior to the completion of the term would be prohibited from lobbying state government for the remainder of the term to which they were elected

This bill would further provide that the definition of a widely attended event would be changed so that the number of individuals reasonably expected to attend be 8 or more

This bill would further provide for the establishment and regulation of legal defense funds for the purpose of defending a public employee or public official in a pending criminal, civil, or administrative action or investigation related to conduct reasonably related to the performance of that person’s governmental duties

To amend Sections 36-25-1, 36-25-13 and 36-25-23, and to add Section 36-25-6.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Code of Ethics; to amend the definition of widely attended event; to specify that former elected public officials at the state level of government are prohibited from lobbying state government during the term for which elected; and to provide for the establishment and reporting of legal defense funds for public employees and public officials.