HB604 Alabama 2015 Session

Under existing law, a gambling interest or a person or agent on behalf of a gambling interest may contribute money or a thing of value to a candidate for nomination or election to a public office in this state.

This bill would prohibit a gambling interest or a person or agent on behalf of a gambling interest to contribute money or a thing of value to a candidate for nomination or election to a state office, or to a political action committee that makes expenditures to or on behalf of candidates for state office.

This bill would provide exceptions.

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.

To add a new Section 17-5-15.2 to Chapter 5, Title f the Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit a gambling interest or a person or agent on behalf of a gambling interest to directly or indirectly contribute money or a thing of value to any candidate for nomination or election to a state office, or a political action committee that makes expenditures to or on behalf of candidates for state office, and to provide exceptions; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.