Alabama transparency legislation
Transparency legislation proposed in Alabama.
- You can see sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
2011
We do not currently have any legislation from Alabama in 2011. To add some, please see WikiProject Proposed state sunshine legislation.
Alabama colleges and universities are disclosing spending figures on the state's transparency page
2010
Here is a list of transparency legislation for Alabama in 2010:
 | House Bill 153 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) | 
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House Bill 153 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mac Gipson which would amend and reorganize the existing law located in Chapter 25 of Title 36, the Alabama Code of Ethics to be more comprehensive and clear.[1]
 | House Bill 159 | Current Status: (Was transferred to Governor for final signature on 04-22-10) | 
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House Bill 159 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mike Hubbard which would remove 911 recordings from the public record except under certain circumstances which would require a court order. [2]
| House Bill 189 | Current Status: (Referred to Education Appropriations Committee) |
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House Bill 189 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mary Sue McClurkin which defines rules and regulations for the creation of charter schools under certain conditions. The bill requires charter schools to follow state open meetings and state open records laws. [3]
| House Bill 204 | Current Status: (Referred to Government Affairs Committee) | 
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House Bill 204 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mike Ball which would require a probate judge or anyone recording court proceedings to redact sensitive information submitted to the court, such as social security numbers. [4]
| House Bill 216 | Current Status:(Referred to County and Municipal Government Committee) |
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House Bill 216 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Cam Ward which would require any municipality to give notification of changes to ordinance laws by posting information in the mayors' office, post office, in a local newspaper or online.[5]
| House Bill 235 | Current Status: (Referred to Tourism and Travel Committee) |
House Bill 235 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative John Rogers which would create the Alabama Gaming Control Board and require the body to hold at least one public meeting each quarter and keep records of the proceedings. [6]
| House Bill 252 | Current Status: (Bill died in the basket after passing the House and Senate) |
House Bill 252 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Ronald Grantland which would put forth a ballot for the ciy of Hartselle to have an elected Board of Education rather than the current appointed one. If the ballot passes the Board of Education would be audited annually by an independent firm and the results of the audit would be sent to the Examiner of Public Accounts to be public record. [7]
| House Bill 264 | Current Status: (Referred to Energy and Natural Resources Committee) |
House Bill 264 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Greg Wren which would create the Alabama Residential Energy Code Board and require the board to hold open meetings. [8]
| House Bill 324 | Current Status:(Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
House Bill 324 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Jim McClendon which would require the Alabama Private Investigations Board to hold open meetings pursuant to Alabama state law.[9]
| House Bill 36 | Current Status:(Referred to County and Municipal Government Committee) |
House Bill 36 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Thomas Jackson which would require any municipality to give public notice and hold an open meeting if it receives an application or proposal regarding changes in the areas' public waste management system. The bill also places a restriction on how long after the application is submitted before the government body must act on the proposal.
[10]
| House Bill 455 | Current Status: (Signed into law 04-22-10, effective same date) | 
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House Bill 455 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Butch Taylor which would require a probate judge or anyone recording court proceedings to redact sensitive information submitted to the court, such as social security numbers. [11]
 | House Bill 475 | Current Status: (Bill died in the basket after passing the House and Senate) |
House Bill 475 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Betty Carol Graham which would create the Creek War and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission which would not be subject to open meetings or public record requirements of a government body. [12]
| House Bill 507 | Current Status: (Referred to Tourism and Travel Committee) |
House Bill 507 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Marcel Black which would allow authorized federally recognized bingo and create a State Gaming Commission which would be subject to open meetings. [13]
| House Bill 514 | Current Status:(Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
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House Bill 514 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Patricia Todd which would require the Department of Revenue to submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing expenditures given to private firms via property tax abatement or other subsides. This report is able to be requested by any entity to provide more transparency in state expenses. [14]
| House Bill 517 | Current Status: (Referred to Government Appropriations Committee) |
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House Bill 517 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mike Ball which would create an Office of Administrative Hearings and a State Advisory Council on Administrative Hearings which would create rules, regulations and powers to govern Administrative Hearings. These hearings would be subject to Alabama's Open Meetings Law. [15]
| House Bill 588 | Current Status:(Was defeated by Pocket Veto) |
House Bill 588 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Ronald Johnson which would allow the commissioner of the Alabama Funeral and Cemetery Preneed Consumer Protection Fund to inspect the records of any person or business that sells preneed funeral contracts. Information obtained in these investigations would not become public record, presumably to protect trade secrets.[16]
| House Bill 593 | Current Status:(Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
House Bill 593 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Thad McClammy which would allow the board of trustees of any four year institution to hold meetings via teleconference or video conference as long as the public was informed of the meeting as pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. [17]
| House Bill 596 | Current Status:(Referred to Boards and Commissions Committee) |
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House Bill 596 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Arthur Payne which would modify certain records of the Board of Examiners in Counseling to be confidential and other records to be public. This bill would reverse previous inconsistency in regards to complaint and investigation files. [18]
| House Bill 645 | Current Status:(Referred to County and Municipal Government Committee) |
House Bill 645 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Jack Page which allows members of the armed forces who may be serving abroad to declare their permanent address in Alabama. The probate of the county then enters this information into his records and the information becomes public record.[19]
| House Bill 658 | Current Status:(Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
House Bill 658 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative John Knight which would create the Alabama Indigent Defense Commission which would be required to hold open meetings. [20]
| House Bill 672 | Current Status:(Referred to Boards and Commissions Committee) |
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House Bill 672 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Ken Guin which would require the Alabama Land Bank Authority to keep records that can be inspected as open records and hold open meetings. [21]
| House Bill 677 | Current Status: (Referred to Education Appropriations Committee) |
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House Bill 677 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mary Sue McClurkin which defines rules and regulations for the creation of charter schools under certain conditions. The bill requires charter schools to follow state open meetings and state open records laws. [22]
| House Bill 69 | Current Status:(Was transferred to Governor for final signature on 04-22-10) |
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House Bill 69 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mike Hubbard which would allow the board of trustees of any four year institution to hold meetings via teleconference or video conference as long as the public was informed of the meeting as pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. [23]
| House Bill 739 | Current Status:(Was transferred to Governor for final signature on 04-22-10) |
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House Bill 739 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Steve McMillan which would require the Baldwin County Commission to hold open meetings and keep meeting minutes which as public records would be filed in the office of the board.[24]
| House Bill 761 | Current Status:(Referred to Boards and Commissions Committee) |
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House Bill 761 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Ronald Johnson which would allow the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and the State Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors to maintain confidential records such as exams, exam scores, letters of reference and transcripts of applicants.[25]
| House Bill 77 | Current Status:(Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
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House Bill 77 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mike Ball which requires candidates, public officials, those with contracts from the state, county or municipality and their spouses to disclose basic personal information to the state which then becomes public record. [26]
| House Bill 806 | Current Status:(Referred to Boards and Commissions Committee) |
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House Bill 806 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Jim McClendon which would require the Alabama Board of Court Reporting to keep records that can be inspected as open records. [27]
| House Bill 826 | Current Status:(Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
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House Bill 826 is a bill introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by Representative Mike Ball which would require public officials or candidates and their spouses to file with the commission regarding the nature and terms of their contract. Information filed with the commission is regarded as public record.[28]
| House Joint Resolution 79 | Current Status:(Referred to Rules Committee) |
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Alabama House Joint Resolution 79 is a bill that was introduced to the Alabama House of Representatives by State Representative Cam Ward which called on Congress to broadcast healthcare reform negotiations on C-SPAN so that every state leader and every taxpayer can view how this will affect them and what it will cost them. The resolution is similar to others that are being introduced in state legislatures across the country.
[29]
| Senate Bill 110 | Current Status: (Referred to Finance and Taxation General Fund) | 
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Senate Bill 110 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Arthur Orr which requires candidates, public officials, those with contracts from the state, county or municipality and their spouses to disclose basic personal information to the state which then becomes public record. [30]
| Senate Bill 131 | Current Status: (Referred to Governor for final signature) | 
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Senate Bill 131 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Arthur Orr which would put forth a ballot for the ciy of Hartselle to have an elected Board of Education rather than the current appointed one. If the ballot passes the Board of Education would be audited annually by an independent firm and the results of the audit would be sent to the Examiner of Public Accounts to be public record.[31]
| Senate Bill 147 | Current Status: (Bill died in the basket after passing the House and Senate) | 
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Senate Bill 147 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Larry Dixon which would require the Alabama Board of Court Reporting to keep records that can be inspected as open records.[32]
| Senate Bill 186 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
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Senate Bill 186 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Hinton Mitchem which would remove 911 recordings from the public record except under certain circumstances which would require a court order.[33]
| Senate Bill 202 | Current Status: (Referred to Finance and Taxation Education Committee) |
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Senate Bill 202 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Steve French which defines rules and regulations for the creation of charter schools under certain conditions. The bill requires charter schools to follow state open meetings and state open records laws. [34]
| Senate Bill 206 | Current Status: (Referred to Economic Expansion and Trade Committee) |
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Senate Bill 206 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Ben Brooks which would amend and reorganize the existing law located in Chapter 25 of Title 36, the Alabama Code of Ethics to be more comprehensive and clear. [35]
| Senate Bill 27 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
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Senate Bill 27 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Henry Sanders which would create an Alabama Innocence Inquiry Commission o which would require the commission to maintain records. These records and the proceedings of the commission are confidential and exempt from public record. If there is evidence that a convicted felon whose file has been reviewed by the commission is innocent all records of the commission and supporting records are referred to a district court at which time they become public record. [36]
| Senate Bill 278 | Current Status: (Referred to Governmental Affairs Committee) |
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Senate Bill 278 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Steve French which would require any municipality to give notification of changes to ordinance laws by posting information in the mayors' office, post office, in a local newspaper or online.[37]
| Senate Bill 3 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
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Senate Bill 3 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Ben Brooks which would create the Insurance Fraud Unit within the office of the Department of Insurance. The Insurance Fraud Unit would be responsible for investigating insurance fraud, and could request records and information pursuant to investigations. These records would not become public record and could not be opened by civil or criminal subpoena. Records would be released to certain other public agencies after request. [38]
| Senate Bill 315 | Current Status: (Referred to Governor for final signature) |
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Senate Bill 315 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator George M. "Marc" Keahey which would create the Alabama Residential Energy Code Board and require the board to hold open meetings.[39]
| Senate Bill 326 | Current Status: (Referred to Governor for final signature) |
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Senate Bill 326 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Linda Coleman which would require the Alabama Land Bank Authority to keep records that can be inspected as open records and hold open meetings. [40]
| Senate Bill 337 | Current Status: (Referred to Government Appropriations Committee) |
Senate Bill 337 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator T.D. Little which would create the Creek War and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission which would not be subject to open meetings or public record requirements of a government body. [41]
| Senate Bill 341 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
|
Senate Bill 341 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Arthur Orr which would require a probate judge or anyone recording court proceedings to redact sensitive information submitted to the court, such as social security numbers. [42]
| Senate Bill 380 | Current Status: (Referred to Tourism and Travel Committee) |
Senate Bill 380 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Roger Bedford which would allow authorized federally recognized bingo and create a State Gaming Commission which would be subject to open meetings. [43]
| Senate Bill 381 | Current Status: (Referred to Tourism and Marketing Committee) |
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Senate Bill 381 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator George M. "Marc" Keahey which would allow authorized federally recognized bingo and create a State Gaming Commission which would be subject to open meetings. [44]
| Senate Bill 4 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
|
Senate Bill 4 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Ben Brooks which would create the Insurance Fraud Unit within the office of the Department of Insurance. The Insurance Fraud Unit would be responsible for investigating insurance fraud, and could request records and information pursuant to investigations. These records would not become public record and could not be opened by civil or criminal subpoena. Records would be released to certain other public agencies after request. [45]
| Senate Bill 400 | Current Status: (Referred to Governmental Affairs Committee) |
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Senate Bill 400 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Vivian Figures which would allow state regulatory boards to use electronic communications on a limited basis, but only after attempts to arrange a traditional meeting fail. An electronic meeting may not be held for executive session or budget meetings. Notice requirements and other sections of the Open Meetings Act remain the same. [46]
| Senate Bill 416 | Current Status: (Referred to Banking and Insurance Committee) |
Senate Bill 416 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator George M. "Marc" Keahey which would allow the commissioner of the Alabama Funeral and Cemetery Preneed Consumer Protection Fund to inspect the records of any person or business that sells preneed funeral contracts. Information obtained in these investigations would not become public record, presumably to protect trade secrets. [47]
| Senate Bill 444 | Current Status: (Referred to Education Committee) |
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Senate Bill 444 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Vivian Figures which would allow the board of trustees of any four year institution to hold meetings via teleconference or video conference as long as the public was informed of the meeting as pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. [48]
| Senate Bill 446 | Current Status: (Referred to Governor for final signature) |
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Senate Bill 446 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Larry Dixon which would modify certain records of the Board of Examiners in Counseling to be confidential and other records to be public. This bill would reverse previous inconsistency in regards to complaint and investigation files. [49]
| Senate Bill 45 | Current Status: (Referred to Government Operations Committee) |
Senate Bill 45 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator T.D. Little which would allow the board of trustees of any four year institution to hold meetings via teleconference or video conference as long as the public was informed of the meeting as pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. [50]
| Senate Bill 484 | Current Status: (Referred to Finance and Taxation Education Committee) |
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Senate Bill 484 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Steve French which defines rules and regulations for the creation of charter schools under certain conditions. The bill requires charter schools to follow state open meetings and state open records laws. [51]
| Senate Bill 497 | Current Status: (Referred to Finance and Taxation Education Committee) |
Senate Bill 497 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Roger Bedford which would create the Alabama Indigent Defense Commission which would be required to hold open meetings. [52]
| Senate Bill 500 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
Senate Bill 500 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Steve French which allows members of the armed forces who may be serving abroad to declare their permanent address in Alabama. The probate of the county then enters this information into his records and the information becomes public record. [53]
| Senate Bill 508 | Current Status: (Referred to Finance and Taxation Education Committee) |
Senate Bill 508 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Steve French which defines rules and regulations for the creation of charter schools under certain conditions. The bill requires charter schools to follow state open meetings and state open records laws. [54]
| Senate Bill 546 | Current Status: (Referred to Industrial Development and Recruitment Committee) |
Senate Bill 546 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Larry Means which would allow the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and the State Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors to maintain confidential records such as exams, exam scores, letters of reference and transcripts of applicants.[55]
| Senate Bill 564 | Current Status: (Referred to Governor for final signature) |
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Senate Bill 564 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Larry Dixon which would require the Alabama Board of Court Reporting to keep records that can be inspected as open records.[56]
| Senate Bill 577 | Current Status: (Referred to Judiciary Committee) |
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Senate Bill 577 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Rodger Smitherman which would create an Office of Administrative Hearings and a State Advisory Council on Administrative Hearings which would create rules, regulations and powers to govern Administrative Hearings. These hearings would be subject to Alabama's Open Meetings Law. [57]
| Senate Bill 83 | Current Status: (Referred to Agriculture and Forestry Committee) |
Senate Bill 83 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Kim Benefield which would prohibit a county or municipality from passing legislation pertaining to fertilizers, as that is within the state Department of Agriculture and Industries jurisdiction. Certain exemptions do exist and when those exemptions are claimed a county or municipality must document the rationale behind claiming the exemption and any information pertinent to the case, which would then become public record. [58]
| Senate Bill 96 | Current Status: (Referred to Governmental Affairs Committee) |
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Senate Bill 96 is a bill introduced to the Alabama Senate by Senator Wendell Mitchell which would require any municipality to give public notice and hold an open meeting if it receives an application or proposal regarding changes in the areas' public waste management system. The bill also places a restriction on how long after the application is submitted before the government body must act on the proposal. [59]
2009
House Bill 154 [60] would prohibit the transferring of funds from one political action committee to another.[60] It was passed in the House on February 12, 2009 and sent to the Senate as Senate Bill 207 where it has been assigned to the Constitutions and Election Committee.[61] The Alabama legislature has passed bills banning the transfer of these funds among political action committees each year beginning in 2000, but the bills have never become law.[61]
House Bill 295 [62] would require the public disclosure of the names of public officials, spouses of public officials or candidates who have a contract with or are employed by the state, county, or a municipality.[62] It was assigned to the Government Operations Committee on February 26, 2009.[62] Its companion bill in the Senate is Senate Bill 208.[63]
House Bill 876 [64] seeks to make poll lists signed by voters the property of political parties and thereby subject to the open records law.[64]
Senate Bill 207 [65] is the companion bill to House Bill 154.
Senate Bill 208 [63] is the companion bill to House Bill 295. It was assigned to the Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections Committees in the Senate.[63]
Senate Bill 353 [66] would make any meeting in which a state party participates in the meeting subject to the state's Open Meetings Act.[66] It is currently being held in the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Senate.[66]
Senate Bill 399 [67] seeks to make background checks performed on employees of secondary education institutions confidential and not subject to public records laws.[67] It has been assigned to the Education Committee in the Senate.[67]
References
- ↑ Text of HB 153
- ↑ Text of HB 159
- ↑ Text of HB 189
- ↑ Text of HB 204
- ↑ Text of HB 216
- ↑ Text of HB 235
- ↑ Text of HB 252
- ↑ Text of HB 264
- ↑ Text of HB 324
- ↑ Text of HB 36
- ↑ Text of HB 455
- ↑ Text of HB 475
- ↑ Text of HB 507
- ↑ Text of HB 514
- ↑ Text of HB 517
- ↑ Text of HB 588
- ↑ Text of HB 593
- ↑ Text of HB 596
- ↑ Text of HB 645
- ↑ Text of HB 658
- ↑ Text of HB 672
- ↑ Text of HB 677
- ↑ Text of HB 69
- ↑ Text of HB 739
- ↑ Text of HB 761
- ↑ Text of HB 77
- ↑ Text of HB 806
- ↑ Text of HB 826
- ↑ Text of HJR 79
- ↑ Text of SB 110
- ↑ Text of SB 131
- ↑ Text of SB 147
- ↑ Text of SB 186
- ↑ Text of SB 202
- ↑ Text of SB 206
- ↑ Text of SB 27
- ↑ Text of SB 278
- ↑ Text of SB 3
- ↑ Text of SB 315
- ↑ Text of SB 326
- ↑ Text of SB 337
- ↑ Text of SB 341
- ↑ Text of SB 380
- ↑ Text of SB 381
- ↑ Text of SB 3
- ↑ Text of SB 400
- ↑ Text of SB 416
- ↑ Text of SB 444
- ↑ Text of SB 446
- ↑ Text of SB 45
- ↑ Text of SB 484
- ↑ Text of SB 497
- ↑ Text of SB 500
- ↑ Text of SB 508
- ↑ Text of SB 546
- ↑ Text of SB 564
- ↑ Text of SB 577
- ↑ Text of SB 83
- ↑ Text of SB 96
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 Text & Status of HB154
- ↑ 61.0 61.1 The Anniston Star, Slow death of PAC-to-PAC transfers, April 20, 2009
- ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 Text & Status of HB295
- ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 Text & Status of SB208
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 Text & Status of HB876
- ↑ Text & Status of SB207
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 Text & Status of SB353
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 Text & Status of SB399
| |||||
 |
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