SB372 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

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

Summary

SB372 sets rules for Alabama's delegates to a potential Article V constitutional convention, including required instructions, penalties for exceeding those instructions, and related local-funding provisions.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the Legislature would issue joint-resolution instructions to delegates and alternates. Votes outside those instructions or the allowed scope would be void, and knowingly voting outside the scope would be a Class A misdemeanor. The paired alternate may become the delegate if the original delegate forfeits, and the convention process could end if all delegates vote outside scope. Prosecution for violations could be brought by the Attorney General or a district attorney; the bill also references local-funding rules related to Amendment 621, but it is exempt from those rules because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Delegates and alternate delegates appointed by Alabama to an Article V Convention, who must follow Legislature-issued instructions and could lose their position or face criminal penalties for exceeding the scope of those instructions.
• The Alabama legal system (Attorney General and district attorneys) responsible for prosecuting violations of the new misdemeanor and enforcing the order-of-delegation rules.

Key Provisions

• Requires the Legislature to adopt joint-resolution instructions for delegates and alternate delegates regarding the Article V Convention and allows amendments to those instructions.
• Declares votes by a delegate or alternate outside the Legislature's instructions or allowed limits void and forfeits the delegate's appointment; the paired alternate may become the delegate if needed.
• Creates a Class A misdemeanor for knowingly or intentionally voting outside the instructed scope and authorizes prosecution by the Attorney General or Montgomery County district attorney.
• Specifies that the bill would interact with Amendment 621's local-funding rules, but the bill is treated as creating a new crime and is exempt from those requirements.

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