Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals the current ethics laws for public officials and employees and establishes new punishments for ethics violations and weakens the powers of the state Ethics Commission in Alabama.

Highlights:

• Establishes the crime of using public office for pecuniary benefit (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes the appointment of members of the State Ethics Commission and the director of the commission (Sec. 1). 

• Amends and modifies the duties of the commission (Sec. 1). 

• Amends the scope of penalties for violations of the ethics code to include private censures and public reprimands and to exclude criminal violations (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes an appeal process for decisions of the commission (Sec. 1). 

• Amends who must file and what must be disclosed in the Statement of Economic Interests (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits public servants from taking official action that would result in a conflict of interest (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits certain persons termed "prohibited sources" from giving gifts to certain public servants and prohibit public servants from receiving gifts from certain prohibited sources (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text