SB 551 Summary

• Political action committees receiving funds from other PACs for get-out-the-vote operations, voting rights advocacy, or voter education must establish separate accounts that cannot be commingled with funds expended to candidates, with separate reporting under Fair Campaign Practice Act.

• All political action committees and candidates must pay an annual registration fee starting January 1, 2013, to be determined by the Alabama Secretary of State in consultation with the Alabama Ethics Commission, with all collected funds transferred to the Ethics Commission for a new monitoring division.

• Filing violations result in penalties of $500 for first offense and $1,000 for second offense; any offense deemed intentional by the Ethics Commission is referred to the Attorney General, with third offenses automatically deemed intentional.

• Alabama Ethics Commission must establish a monitoring division beginning with the 2014 election cycle to monitor registered candidates and political action committees for Fair Campaign Practice Act compliance and alert the Attorney General if criminal action is necessary.

• Each candidate and campaign committee must designate a registered agent who is held legally responsible for ensuring accurate and compliant reports, with both the candidate and agent liable for any fines or criminal charges.