Montgomery, AL – A House committee has approved two bills that would give the Alabama Ethics Commission the power to subpoena witnesses or records when investigating suspected ethics violations by public officials.
The almost identical bills by Republican Rep. Cam Ward of Alabaster and Democratic Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery would for the first time give the ethics commission subpoena power.
Ethics Commission executive director Jim Sumner said having the power to subpoena witnesses and records would make the work of the commission easier and more efficient.
Both bills were approved by unanimous voice votes by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and now go to the full House for debate.
Holmes and Ward said they would work together to make sure one of the two bills becomes law.
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