Alabama transparency legislation
From Sunshine Review
Transparency legislation proposed in Alabama.
[edit] 2009
- See also:Alabama Public Records Law
House Bill 154 [1] would prohibit the transferring of funds from one political action committee to another.[1] 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.[2] 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.[2] The state legislature has received criticism for failing to pass this legislation with a local newspaper asking, "Is transparency not that important to members of the Alabama Senate?" [3]
House Bill 295 [4] 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.[4] It was assigned to the Government Operations Committee on February 26, 2009.[4] Its companion bill in the Senate is Senate Bill 208.[5]
House Bill 876 [6] seeks to make poll lists signed by voters the property of political parties and thereby subject to the open records law.[6]
Senate Bill 207 [7] is the companion bill to House Bill 154.
Senate Bill 208 [5] is the companion bill to House Bill 295. It was assigned to the Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections Committees in the Senate.[5]
Senate Bill 353 [8] would make any meeting in which a state party participates in the meeting subject to the state's Open Meetings Act.[8] It is currently being held in the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Senate.[8]
Senate Bill 399 [9] seeks to make background checks performed on employees of secondary education institutions confidential and not subject to public records laws.[9] It has been assigned to the Education Committee in the Senate.[9]
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Text & Status of HB154
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Anniston Star, Slow death of PAC-to-PAC transfers, April 20, 2009
- ↑ Opelika-Auburb News, Senate needs to get on ball and ban PAC to PACs, April 21, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Text & Status of HB295
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Text & Status of SB208
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Text & Status of HB876
- ↑ Text & Status of SB207
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Text & Status of SB353
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Text & Status of SB399
