HB170 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Public officials, criminal provision moved to Ethics code, using official authority to influence vote or political action a Class C felony, Sec. 17-17-4 am'd, renumbered as Sec. 36-25-27.1

Summary

HB 170 moves the rule against using official authority to influence votes from the elections code into the ethics code and renumbers the statute.

What This Bill Does

The bill transfers the provision that makes using official authority to influence the vote or political action a Class C felony from the elections law to the ethics code, and renumbers it as 36-25-27.1. It preserves the same punishment—Class C felony—for anyone who tries to influence votes or political actions through official authority. It becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it passes and is approved by the Governor, or when it otherwise becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Public officials and government employees would be prohibited from using their official authority to influence the vote or political action, with violations punished as Class C felonies.
• Private individuals or any person who attempts to use someone else’s official authority or position to influence the vote or political action would also be subject to the same Class C felony penalty.

Key Provisions

• Renumbers Section 17-17-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to 36-25-27.1, maintaining the part that makes using official authority to influence a vote or political action a Class C felony.
• The offense is defined as any person who attempts to use his or her official authority or position to influence the vote or political action of any person, with conviction resulting in a Class C felony.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month following passage and governor approval, or otherwise becoming law.

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

Subjects

Public Officers and Employees