Joint Rules Of The Alabama Legislature

Rules Relating to Lobbying

Rule 26. Prohibitions. No lobbyist shall be permitted upon the floor of either house while it is in session, except as otherwise provided. No lobbyist shall circulate a cloture petition.

Rule 27. Obligations of Lobbyist. A lobbyist shall supply facts, information, and opinions of principals to legislators from the point of view from which he or she openly declares. A lobbyist shall not offer or propose anything to improperly influence the official act, decision, or vote of a legislator, including the gathering, dissemination and/or distribution of false, misleading, and/or malicious information by their employees, employers, or agents.

A lobbyist, by personal example and admonition to colleagues, shall uphold the honor of the legislative process by the integrity of his or her relationship with legislators.

A lobbyist shall not knowingly and willfully falsify a material fact or make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation or make or use any writing or document knowing the same contains any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or entry.

Rule 28. Rules Committee Advisory Opinions. A lobbyist, when in doubt about the applicability and interpretation of the rules relating to lobbying in a particular context, may submit in writing a statement of the facts involved to the Joint Committee on Rules, which consists of the House Rules Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, and may appear in person before the committee.

Rule 29. Penalties for Violations. Separately from any prosecutions or penalties otherwise provided by law, any person determined to have violated the rules relating to lobbying shall be censured, reprimanded, placed on probation, or prohibited from lobbying for the duration of the session and from appearing before any committee of the Legislature. The determination shall be made by a majority of the respective house upon recommendation of the Joint Committee on Rules. The Joint Committee on Rules, before making the recommendation, shall conduct a hearing, after notifying the person alleged to have violated this rule and granting such person an opportunity to appear at the hearing.

Rule 30. Secretary or Clerk to Provide Forms. Upon the request of any member of the Legislature, the Secretary or Clerk shall obtain and provide to the requesting member a copy of any lobbyist registration form filed with the State Ethics Commission.

Rule 31. Committees to be Diligent. Committees shall be diligent to ascertain whether those who appear before them in other than an obviously individual capacity have conformed with the requirements of law relating to lobbying, and to report violations. No committee member knowingly shall permit a person required by law to be registered as a lobbyist who is not registered as a lobbyist to be heard.