SB221 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Public contracts, minimum proposed contract amount for which disclosure statement required increased, single annual statement allowed for multiple contracts with same state agency, exception from requirement of disclosure statement if disclosure would violate state or federal law, Sec. 41-16-89 added; Secs. 41-16-82, 41-16-83, 41-16-87 am'd.

Summary

SB221 would raise the disclosure requirement threshold for public contracts and add flexible forms and timing options, while clarifying exemptions when disclosure would violate laws.

What This Bill Does

It increases the minimum contract amount that requires a disclosure statement from $5,000 to $15,000. It allows alternative disclosure statement forms, enables a single annual disclosure for multiple proposals with the same state agency, and adds an alternative method to certify the authenticity of a disclosure statement. It also creates exemptions so that disclosures aren’t required if the information is prohibited by state or federal law, including a new provision (41-16-89) stating a contract can proceed without a disclosure if it would violate the law.

Who It Affects

• Vendors, bidders, and contractors bidding on or entering into state contracts: they would need disclosures only if the contract is at least $15,000, may use alternative disclosure forms, can submit a single annual disclosure for multiple filings with the same agency, and can certify authenticity in an alternative (unsworn) form.
• State agencies, departments, and contracting officials: they would adopt the new disclosure practices, enforce the 10-day submission timeline for competitively bid contracts, accept single annual disclosures for multiple contracts, apply exemptions when disclosure information is prohibited by law, and handle exceptions for certain utility contracts and the new 41-16-89 provision.

Key Provisions

• Increase the disclosure requirement threshold from $5,000 to $15,000 for public contracts.
• Allow the use of alternative disclosure statement forms and permit a single comprehensive annual disclosure for multiple proposals with the same state agency, department, or division.
• Permit an alternative method of certifying the authenticity of a disclosure statement, including unsworn certification with required elements (signer authority, perjury declaration, date and place).
• Create exemptions from submitting disclosure statements when information is prohibited by state or federal law; add 41-16-89 to address when the disclosure is not required due to legal constraints and to state that agencies are not in violation if they contract without a disclosure statement in such cases.
• Amend sections 41-16-82, 41-16-83, and 41-16-87 to implement these changes, including applicability to gas, water, and electric contracts with no competition or where rates are fixed by law, and the 10-day submission requirement for competitive awards.
• Establish the act’s effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and Governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Contracts