SB279 By Senator Dial RFD Governmental Affairs Rd 1 23-FEB-16

SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the State Ethics Commission may issue advisory opinions which provide immunity to the person requesting the opinion and any other person relying on the opinion in good faith. Existing rules of the commission authorize the director and general counsel of the commission to issue informal opinions on the application of the Code of Ethics to a particular individual, but an informal opinion does not provide immunity.

This bill would establish a procedure for the issuance by the director or an attorney of the commission of written informal opinions to public officers or employees that would provide immunity to the officer or employee making the request if all pertinent information was presented and the officer or employee acted in accordance with the relevant circumstances, factors, and requirements set forth in the opinion.

Under existing law, an elected public official may not lobby or represent a client, including his or her employer, before any legislative body or any branch of state or local government during the term for which he or she was elected and is prohibited from lobbying before the board, agency, commission, department, or legislative body of which he or she is a former member for two years after the end of the term for which he or she was elected. The bill would limit the provision prohibiting an elected public official from lobbying or representing a client before any legislative body or any branch of state or local government during the term for which the elected public official was elected to state office holders.

Under existing law, enforcement of the Code of Ethics is vested in the State Ethics Commission but the Attorney General and district attorneys also are authorized to enforce it.

This bill would condition enforcement of the Code of Ethics by the Attorney General or a district attorney on a determination by the commission that a violation of the Code of Ethics has occurred. The bill would also revise the definition of a thing of value for purposes of the Code of Ethics.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to the Code of Ethics; to amend Sections 36-25-1, 36-25-13, 36-25-23, and 36-25-27 of, and to add Section 36-25-4.4 to, the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for informal opinions by the State Ethics Commission; to revise the prohibition on lobbying by elected public officials; to require a determination by the commission that a violation of the Code of Ethics has occurred prior to an action by the Attorney General or a district attorney; and to revise the definition of a thing of value.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 36-25-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§36-25-1.

"Whenever used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

"(1) BUSINESS. Any corporation, partnership, proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization, self-employed individual, or any other legal entity.

"(2) BUSINESS WITH WHICH THE PERSON IS ASSOCIATED. Any business of which the person or a member of his or her family is an officer, owner, partner, board of director member, employee, or holder of more than five percent of the fair market value of the business.

"(3) CANDIDATE. This term as used in this chapter shall have the same meaning ascribed to it in Section 17-22A-2.

"(4) COMMISSION. The State Ethics Commission.

"(5) COMPLAINT. Written allegation or allegations that a violation of this chapter has occurred.

"(6) COMPLAINANT. A person who alleges a violation or violations of this chapter by filing a complaint against a respondent.

"(7) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. A complaint filed pursuant to this chapter, together with any statement, conversations, knowledge of evidence, or information received from the complainant, witness, or other person related to such complaint.

"(8) CONFLICT OF INTEREST. A conflict on the part of a public official or public employee between his or her private interests and the official responsibilities inherent in an office of public trust. A conflict of interest involves any action, inaction, or decision by a public official or public employee in the discharge of his or her official duties which would materially affect his or her financial interest or those of his or her family members or any business with which the person is associated in a manner different from the manner it affects the other members of the class to which he or she belongs. A conflict of interest shall not include any of the following:

"a. A loan or financial transaction made or conducted in the ordinary course of business.

"b. An occasional nonpecuniary award publicly presented by an organization for performance of public service.

"c. Payment of or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenditures for travel and subsistence for the personal attendance of a public official or public employee at a convention or other meeting at which he or she is scheduled to meaningfully participate in connection with his or her official duties and for which attendance no reimbursement is made by the state.

"d. Any campaign contribution, including the purchase of tickets to, or advertisements in journals, for political or testimonial dinners, if the contribution is actually used for political purposes and is not given under circumstances from which it could reasonably be inferred that the purpose of the contribution is to substantially influence a public official in the performance of his or her official duties.

"(9) DAY. Calendar day.

"(10) DEPENDENT. Any person, regardless of his or her legal residence or domicile, who receives 50 percent or more of his or her support from the public official or public employee or his or her spouse or who resided with the public official or public employee for more than 180 days during the reporting period.

"(11) DE MINIMIS. A value twenty-five dollars ($25) or less per occasion and an aggregate of fifty dollars ($50) or less in a calendar year from any single provider, or such other amounts as may be prescribed by the Ethics Commission from time to time by rule pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act or adjusted each four years from August 1, 2012, to reflect any increase in the cost of living as indicated by the United States Department of Labor Consumer Price Index or any succeeding equivalent index.

"(12) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION. Any function reasonably and directly related to the advancement of a specific, good-faith economic development or trade promotion project or objective.

"(13) EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION. A meeting, event, or activity held within the State of Alabama, or if the function is predominantly attended by participants from other states, held within the continental United States, which is organized around a formal program or agenda of educational or informational speeches, debates, panel discussions, or other presentations concerning matters within the scope of the participants' official duties or other matters of public policy, including social services and community development policies, economic development or trade, ethics, government services or programs, or government operations, and which, taking into account the totality of the program or agenda, could not reasonably be perceived as a subterfuge for a purely social, recreational, or entertainment function.

"(14) FAMILY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. The spouse or a dependent of the public employee.

"(15) FAMILY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL. The spouse, a dependent, an adult child and his or her spouse, a parent, a spouse's parents, a sibling and his or her spouse, of the public official.

"(16) GOVERNMENTAL CORPORATIONS AND AUTHORITIES. Public or private corporations and authorities, including but not limited to, hospitals or other health care corporations, established pursuant to state law by state, county or municipal governments for the purpose of carrying out a specific governmental function. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all employees, including contract employees, of hospitals or other health care corporations and authorities are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

"(17) HOUSEHOLD. The public official, public employee, and his or her spouse and dependents.

"(18) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. A full-time employee of a governmental unit responsible for the prevention or investigation of crime who is authorized by law to carry firearms, execute search warrants, and make arrests.

"(19) LEGISLATIVE BODY. The term "legislative body" includes the following:

"a. The Legislature of Alabama, which includes both the Senate of Alabama and the House of Representatives of Alabama, unless specified otherwise by the express language of any provision herein, and any committee or subcommittee thereof.

"b. A county commission, and any committee or subcommittee thereof.

"c. A city council, city commission, town council, or other municipal council or commission, and any committee or subcommittee thereof.

"(20) LOBBY or LOBBYING. The practice of promoting, opposing, or in any manner influencing or attempting to influence the introduction, defeat, or enactment of legislation before any legislative body; opposing or in any manner influencing the executive approval, veto, or amendment of legislation; or the practice of promoting, opposing, or in any manner influencing or attempting to influence the enactment, promulgation, modification, or deletion of regulations before any regulatory body. The term does not include providing public testimony before a legislative body or regulatory body or any committee thereof.

"(21) LOBBYIST.

"a. The term lobbyist includes any of the following:

"1. A person who receives compensation or reimbursement from another person, group, or entity to lobby.

"2. A person who lobbies as a regular and usual part of employment, whether or not any compensation in addition to regular salary and benefits is received.

"3. A consultant to the state, county, or municipal levels of government or their instrumentalities, in any manner employed to influence legislation or regulation, regardless whether the consultant is paid in whole or part from state, county, municipal, or private funds.

"4. An employee, a paid consultant, or a member of the staff of a lobbyist, whether or not he or she is paid, who regularly communicates with members of a legislative body regarding pending legislation and other matters while the legislative body is in session.

"b. The term lobbyist does not include any of the following:

"1. An elected official on a matter which involves that person's official duties.

"2. A person or attorney rendering professional services in drafting bills or in advising clients and in rendering opinions as to the construction and effect of proposed or pending legislation, executive action, or rules or regulations, where those professional services are not otherwise connected with legislative, executive, or regulatory action.

"3. Reporters and editors while pursuing normal reportorial and editorial duties.

"4. Any citizen not lobbying for compensation who contacts a member of a legislative body, or gives public testimony on a particular issue or on particular legislation, or for the purpose of influencing legislation and who is merely exercising his or her constitutional right to communicate with members of a legislative body.

"5. A person who appears before a legislative body, a regulatory body, or an executive agency to either sell or purchase goods or services.

"6. A person whose primary duties or responsibilities do not include lobbying, but who may, from time to time, organize social events for members of a legislative body to meet and confer with members of professional organizations and who may have only irregular contacts with members of a legislative body when the body is not in session or when the body is in recess.

"7. A person who is a member of a business, professional, or membership organization by virtue of the person's contribution to or payment of dues to the organization even though the organization engages in lobbying activities.

"8. A state governmental agency head or his or her designee who provides or communicates, or both, information relating to policy or positions, or both, affecting the governmental agencies which he or she represents.

"(22) MINOR VIOLATION. Any violation of this chapter in which the public official or public employee receives an economic gain in an amount less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or the governmental entity has an economic loss of less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

"(23) PERSON. A business, individual, corporation, partnership, union, association, firm, committee, club, or other organization or group of persons.

"(24) PRINCIPAL. A person or business which employs, hires, or otherwise retains a lobbyist. A principal is not a lobbyist but is not allowed to give a thing of value.

"(25) PROBABLE CAUSE. A finding that the allegations are more likely than not to have occurred.

"(26) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. Any person employed at the state, county, or municipal level of government or their instrumentalities, including governmental corporations and authorities, but excluding employees of hospitals or other health care corporations including contract employees of those hospitals or other health care corporations, who is paid in whole or in part from state, county, or municipal funds. For purposes of this chapter, a public employee does not include a person employed on a part-time basis whose employment is limited to providing professional services other than lobbying, the compensation for which constitutes less than 50 percent of the part-time employee's income.

"(27) PUBLIC OFFICIAL. Any person elected to public office, whether or not that person has taken office, by the vote of the people at state, county, or municipal level of government or their instrumentalities, including governmental corporations, and any person appointed to a position at the state, county, or municipal level of government or their instrumentalities, including governmental corporations. For purposes of this chapter, a public official includes the chairs and vice-chairs or the equivalent offices of each state political party as defined in Section 17-13-40.

"(28) REGULATORY BODY. A state agency which issues regulations in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act or a state, county, or municipal department, agency, board, or commission which controls, according to rule or regulation, the activities, business licensure, or functions of any group, person, or persons.

"(29) REPORTING PERIOD. The reporting official's or employee's fiscal tax year as it applies to his or her United States personal income tax return.

"(30) REPORTING YEAR. The reporting official's or employee's fiscal tax year as it applies to his or her United States personal income tax return.

"(31) RESPONDENT. A person alleged to have violated a provision of this chapter and against whom a complaint has been filed with the commission.

"(32) STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS. A financial disclosure form made available by the commission which shall be completed and filed with the commission prior to April 30 of each year covering the preceding calendar year by certain public officials and public employees.

"(33) SUPERVISOR. Any person having authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, or discipline other public employees, or any person responsible to direct them, or to adjust their grievances, or to recommend personnel action, if, in connection with the foregoing, the exercise of the authority is not of a merely routine or clerical nature but requires the use of independent judgment.

"(34) THING OF VALUE.

"a. Any gift, benefit, favor, service, gratuity, tickets or passes to an entertainment, social or sporting event, unsecured loan, other than those loans and forbearances made in the ordinary course of business, reward, promise of future employment, or honoraria or other item of monetary value.

"b. The term, thing of value, does not include any of the following, provided that no particular course of action, inaction, or decision by the public official or public employee in the discharge of his or her official duties is required as a condition to the receipt thereof:

"1. A contribution reported under Chapter 5 of Title 17 or a contribution to an inaugural or transition committee.

"2. Anything given by a family member of the recipient under circumstances which make it clear that it is motivated by a family relationship.

"3. Anything given by a friend of the recipient under circumstances which make it clear that it is motivated by a friendship and not given because of the recipient's official position in order to materially influence the public official in the performance of his or her official duties. Relevant factors include, but are not limited to, whether the friendship preexisted the recipient's status as a public employee, public official, or candidate and whether gifts have been previously exchanged between them.

"4. Greeting cards, and other items, services with little intrinsic value which are intended solely for presentation, such as plaques, certificates, and trophies, promotional items commonly distributed to the general public, and items or services of de minimis value.

"5. Loans from banks and other financial institutions on terms generally available to the public.

"6. Opportunities and benefits, including favorable rates and commercial discounts, available to the public or to a class consisting of all government employees.

"7. Rewards and prizes given to competitors in contests or events, including random drawings, which are open to the public.

"8. Anything that is paid for by a governmental entity or an entity created by a governmental entity to support the governmental entity or secured by a governmental entity under contract, except for tickets to a sporting event offered by an educational institution to anyone other than faculty, staff, or administration of the institution.

"9. Anything for which the recipient pays full value.

"10. Compensation and other benefits earned or received from a non-government employer, vendor, client, prospective employer, or other business relationship in the ordinary course of employment or non-governmental business activities under circumstances which make it clear that the thing is provided for reasons unrelated to the recipient's public service as a does not require or involve any action, inaction, or decision by the public official or public employee in the discharge of his or her official duties, and is not given under circumstances from which it could reasonably be inferred that the purpose of the contribution is to influence a public official in the performance of his or her official duties.

"11. Any assistance provided or rendered in connection with a safety or a health emergency.

"12. Payment of or reimbursement for actual and necessary transportation and lodging expenses, as well as waiver of registration fees and similar costs, to facilitate the attendance of a public official or public employee, and the spouse of the public official or public employee, at an educational function or widely attended event of which the person is a primary sponsor. This exclusion applies only if the public official or public employee meaningfully participates in the event as a speaker or a panel participant, by presenting information related to his or her agency or matters pending before his or her agency, or by performing a ceremonial function appropriate to his or her official position; or if the public official's or public employee's attendance at the event is appropriate to the performance of his or her official duties or representative function.

"13. Payment of or reimbursement for actual and necessary transportation and lodging expenses to facilitate a public official's or public employee's participation in an economic development function.

"14. Hospitality, meals, and other food and beverages provided to a public official or public employee, and the spouse of the public official or public employee, as an integral part of an educational function, economic development function, work session, or widely attended event, such as a luncheon, banquet, or reception hosted by a civic club, chamber of commerce, charitable or educational organization, or trade or professional association.

"15. Any function or activity pre-certified by the Director of the Ethics Commission as a function that meets any of the above criteria.

"16. Meals and other food and beverages provided to a public official or public employee in a setting other than any of the above functions not to exceed for a lobbyist twenty-five dollars ($25) per meal with a limit of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per year; and not to exceed for a principal fifty dollars ($50) per meal with a limit of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the lobbyist's limits herein shall not count against the principal's limits and likewise, the principal's limits shall not count against the lobbyist's limits.

"17. Anything either (i) provided by an association or organization to which the state or, in the case of a local government official or employee, the local government pays annual dues as a membership requirement or (ii) provided by an association or organization to a public official who is a member of the association or organization and, as a result of his or her service to the association or organization, is deemed to be a public official. Further included in this exception is payment of reasonable compensation by a professional or local government association or corporation to a public official who is also an elected officer or director of the professional or local government association or corporation for services actually provided to the association or corporation in his or her capacity as an officer or director.

"18. Any benefit received as a discount on accommodations, when the discount is given to the public official because the public official is a member of an organization or association whose entire membership receives the discount.

"19. A gift to a teacher by a student under circumstances which make it clear the gift does not require or involve any action, inaction, or decision by the teacher in the discharge of his or her official duties.

"c. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to limit, prohibit, or otherwise require the disclosure of gifts through inheritance received by a public employee or public official.

"(35) VALUE. The fair market price of a like item if purchased by a private citizen. In the case of tickets to social and sporting events and associated passes, the value is the face value printed on the ticket.

"(36) WIDELY ATTENDED EVENT. A gathering, dinner, reception, or other event of mutual interest to a number of parties at which it is reasonably expected that more than 12 the number of individuals in the smallest legislative caucus will attend and that individuals with a diversity of views or interest will be present.

Section 2. Section 36-25-4.4 is added to the Code of Alabama 1975, to read as follows:

§36-25-4.4.

(a) The executive director or a person performing staff duties for the commission as an attorney may issue an unpublished informal opinion to public officials and public employees who request an informal opinion on the requirements of this chapter, based on a real or hypothetical set of circumstances.

(b) An informal opinion may be requested verbally or in writing, including by means of electronic mail. The issuance of an informal opinion pursuant to this section shall be in writing, including by means of electronic mail, to the requester, with a copy sent to the members of the commission. An informal opinion issued pursuant to this section shall protect the person at whose request the opinion was issued from liability to the state, a county, a municipality, or any other subdivision of the state because of any action performed or action refrained from in good faith reliance upon the informal opinion if the person who requested the opinion provided all pertinent information in the request upon which the opinion was based, and if that person's behavior conformed to the relevant circumstances, factors, and requirements set forth in the opinion.

(c) Each informal opinion shall be issued to the requesting person, and any copies provided to any other persons as required herein, within 21 days of the request, and shall do all of the following:

(1) Set forth the relevant facts, circumstances, or factors, real or hypothetical, contained in the request and upon which the opinion is based.

(2) Cite the relevant operative statutory section or sections and the language in the section or sections upon which the opinion is based.

(3) Refer to any relevant advisory opinions issued by the commission that relate to the request and resulting opinion.Section 3. Sections 36-25-13, 36-25-23, and 36-25-27 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§36-25-13.

"(a) For a period of two years after he or she leaves office, no No public official shall serve for a fee as a lobbyist or otherwise represent clients, including his or her employer before the board, agency, commission, department, or legislative body, of which he or she is a former member. for a period of two years after he or she leaves such membership. For the purposes of this subsection, such prohibition shall not include a former member of the Alabama judiciary who as an attorney represents a client in a legal, non-lobbying capacity. In the case of a former public official who leaves office prior to the end of his or her term of office, this prohibition shall extend for a period of two years after the conclusion of the term of office to which he or she was elected or appointed.

"(b) Notwithstanding In addition to the provisions of subsection (a), no public official elected to a term of state office shall serve for a fee as a lobbyist or otherwise represent clients, including his or her employer, before the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government, or any state board, agency, commission, or department, or legislative body of which he or she is a. This prohibition shall also apply to a former member public official elected to a state office for a period of two years following the end of his or her term of office for which he or she was elected, irrespective of whether the member he or she left the office prior to the expiration of the term to which he or she was elected. For the purposes of this subsection, such prohibition shall not include a former member of the Alabama judiciary who as an attorney represents a client in a legal, non-lobbying capacity. A state office includes any constitutional office, membership on any elected state board or commission, and a member of the Alabama Legislature.

"(c) No public employee shall serve for a fee as a lobbyist or otherwise represent clients, including his or her employer before the board, agency, commission, or department, of which he or she is a former employee for a period of two years after he or she leaves such employment. For the purposes of this subsection, such prohibition shall not include a former employee of the Alabama judiciary who as an attorney represents a client in a legal, non-lobbying capacity.

"(d) No public official, director, assistant director, department or division chief, purchasing or procurement agent having the authority to make purchases, or any person who participates in the negotiation or approval of contracts, grants, or awards or any person who negotiates or approves contracts, grants, or awards shall enter into, solicit, or negotiate a contract, grant, or award with the governmental agency of which the person was a member or employee for a period of two years after he or she leaves the membership or employment of such governmental agency.

"(e) No public official or public employee who personally participates in the direct regulation, audit, or investigation of a private business, corporation, partnership, or individual shall within two years of his or her departure from such employment solicit or accept employment with such private business, corporation, partnership, or individual.

"(f) No former public official or public employee of the state may, within two years after termination of office or employment, act as attorney for any person other than himself or herself or the state, or aid, counsel, advise, consult or assist in representing any other person, in connection with any judicial proceeding or other matter in which the state is a party or has a direct and substantial interest and in which the former public official or public employee participated personally and substantially as a public official or employee or which was within or under the public official or public employee's official responsibility as an official or employee. This prohibition shall extend to all judicial proceedings or other matters in which the state is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, whether arising during or subsequent to the public official or public employee's term of office or employment.

"(g) Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to limit the right of a public official or public employee to publicly or privately express his or her support for or to encourage others to support and contribute to any candidate, political committee as defined in Section 17-22A-2, referendum, ballot question, issue, or constitutional amendment.

§36-25-23.

"(a) No public official elected to a term of state office shall serve for a fee as a lobbyist or otherwise represent a client, including his or her employer, before any legislative body or any branch of state or local government, including the executive and judicial branches of government, and including the Legislature of Alabama or any board, agency, commission, or department thereof, during the term or remainder of the term for which the official was elected. A state office includes any constitutional office, membership on any elected state board or commission, and a member of the Alabama Legislature. For purposes of this subsection, such prohibition shall not include a former member of the Alabama Judiciary who as an attorney represents a client in a legal, non-lobbying capacity.

"(b) No former member of the House of Representatives or the Senate of the State of Alabama shall be extended floor privileges of either body in a lobbying capacity.

"(c) No public official, public employee, or group of public officials or public employees shall solicit any lobbyist to give any thing whether or not the thing solicited is a thing of value to any person or entity for any purpose other than a campaign contribution.

"(d) No principal or lobbyist shall accept compensation for, or enter into a contract to provide lobbying services which is contingent upon the passage or defeat of any legislative action.

§36-25-27.

"(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided, any person subject to this chapter who intentionally violates any provision of this chapter other than those for which a separate penalty is provided for in this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class B felony.

"(2) Any person subject to this chapter who violates any provision of this chapter other than those for which a separate penalty is provided for in this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

"(3) Any person subject to this chapter who knowingly violates any disclosure requirement of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

"(4) Any person who knowingly makes or transmits a false report or complaint pursuant to this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be liable for the actual legal expenses incurred by the respondent against whom the false report or complaint was filed.

"(5) Any person who makes false statements to an employee of the commission or to the commission itself pursuant to this chapter without reason to believe the accuracy of the statements shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

"(6) Any person subject to this chapter who intentionally violates this chapter relating to secrecy shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class C felony.

"(7) Any person subject to this chapter who intentionally fails to disclose information required by this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

"(b) The commission, if petitioned or agreed to by a respondent and the Attorney General or district attorney having jurisdiction, by unanimous vote of the members present, may administratively resolve a complaint filed pursuant to this chapter for minor violations. The commission may levy an administrative penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for any minor violation of this chapter including, but not limited to, the failure to timely file a complete and correct statement of economic interests. The commission shall, in addition to any administrative penalty, order restitution in the amount of any economic loss to the state, county, and municipal governments and their instrumentalities and such restitution shall when collected be paid by the commission, to the entity having the economic loss. In any case in which an administrative penalty is imposed, the administrative penalty shall not be less than three times the amount of any economic loss to the state, county, and municipal governments or their instrumentalities or any economic gain or benefit to the public official or public employee, or whichever sum is greater. The commission, through its attorney, shall institute proceedings to recover any penalties or restitution or other such funds so ordered pursuant to this section which are not paid by, or on behalf of the public official or public employee or other person who has violated this chapter. Nothing in this section shall be deemed in any manner to prohibit the commission and the respondent from entering into a consent decree settling a complaint which has previously been designated by the commission for administrative resolution, so long as the consent decree is approved by the commission. If the commission, the respondent, and the Attorney General or district attorney having jurisdiction, all concur that a complaint is deemed to be handled administratively, the action shall preclude any criminal prosecution pursuant to this chapter at the state, county, or municipal level.

"(c) The enforcement of this chapter shall be vested in the commission; provided, however, nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to limit or otherwise prohibit the Attorney General or the district attorney for the appropriate jurisdiction from enforcing any provision of this chapter as they deem appropriate if the commission first determines that a violation of any provision of this chapter has occurred. In the event the commission, by majority vote, finds that any provision of this chapter has been violated, the alleged violation and any investigation conducted by the commission shall be referred to the district attorney of the appropriate jurisdiction or the Attorney General. The commission shall provide any and all appropriate assistance to such district attorney or Attorney General. Upon the request of such district attorney or the Attorney General, the commission may institute, prosecute, or take such other appropriate legal action regarding such violations, proceeding therein with all rights, privileges, and powers conferred by law upon assistant attorneys general.

"(d) Nothing in this chapter limits the power of the state to punish any person for any conduct which otherwise constitutes a crime by statute or at common law.

"(e) The penalties prescribed in this chapter do not in any manner limit the power of a legislative body to discipline its own members or to impeach public officials and do not limit the powers of agencies, departments, boards, or commissions to discipline their respective officials, members, or employees.

"(f) Each circuit court of this state shall have jurisdiction of all cases and actions relative to judicial review, violations, or the enforcement of this chapter, and the venue of any action pursuant to this chapter shall be in the county in which the alleged violation occurred, or in those cases where the violation or violations occurred outside the State of Alabama, in Montgomery County. In the case of judicial review of any administrative decision of the commission, the commission's order, rule, or decision shall be taken as prima facie just and reasonable and the court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the commission as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact except where otherwise authorized by law.

"(g) Any felony prosecution brought pursuant to this chapter shall be commenced within four years after the commission of the offense.

"(h) Any misdemeanor prosecution brought pursuant to this chapter shall be commenced within two years after the commission of the offense.

"(i) Nothing in this chapter is intended to nor is to be construed as repealing in any way the provisions of any of the criminal laws of this state."

Section 4. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Ethics

Ethics Commission

Legislature

Lobbyists

Public Officers and Employees

Code Added

Code Amended