HB227 Engrossed is a comprehensive bill designed to amend and update the government ethics and bribery laws in the Code of Alabama 1975. It revises existing sections to clarify the definitions and penalties related to bribery, establishes the crime of using public office for pecuniary benefit, and sets forth penalties based on the benefit involved. The bill repeals certain sections related to conflicts of interest and misuse of public information, replacing them with a new chapter that includes provisions for the State Ethics Commission, its duties, and the scope of penalties for ethics code violations. It also addresses the continuation of proceedings for any violations or offenses under the repealed chapter, ensuring ongoing enforcement actions are not disrupted.

The bill introduces a new chapter, Chapter 25B, to Title 36, known as the Alabama Ethics Act, which provides detailed definitions of terms relevant to ethics rules. It outlines the structure and operational procedures of the State Ethics Commission, including the appointment of a full-time director and other staff, and details the commission's duties such as informing and training public servants, investigating complaints, and imposing penalties. The bill also covers lobbying activities, advisory opinions, conflicts of interest, gift bans, and post-service employment restrictions. It mandates the filing of statements of economic interests by public servants and candidates, and establishes procedures for handling complaints, investigations, and hearings related to violations. Lastly, the bill amends sections related to ethics and criminal referrals, penalties, reconsideration of contested case hearings, appeals, and contracts involving county commissioners, with an effective date of June 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-10-61, 13A-10-62, 13A-10-82, 36-15-1
Engrossed: 13A-10-61, 13A-10-62, 13A-10-82, 36-15-1