SB406 Summary

• Revises Alabama Ethics Law by expanding the definition of lobbying to include activities targeting the executive branch, and modifies definitions of family members, personal gain, sphere of influence, and confidential information.

• Changes Ethics Commission complaint procedures to allow four members (instead of unanimous vote) to institute complaints, with hearings conducted by three judges appointed by the Chief Justice rather than the Commission itself.

• Revises income reporting categories on statements of economic interests and allows electronic filing of these statements with the Commission establishing online access.

• Requires mandatory ethics training for legislators (at beginning of each quadrennium), state constitutional officers, cabinet members, municipal and county officials (within 120 days of taking office), and lobbyists (within 90 days of registration).

• Permits lobbyists and other covered persons to file registrations and reports electronically, and establishes that lobbyists who fail to complete required training cannot lobby any branch of government.