1. (1) The Office of the Secretary of State is established by the Constitution of the State of Alabama (Art. V, §112, Ala. Constitution of 1901) and performs a wide variety of constitutional and statutory duties (Code of Ala. 1975, §§36-14-1 et seq.)

2. (2) Requests for information may be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State via several methods:

   1. (a) By mail: Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, Alabama 36103.
   2. (b) By hand delivery: Office of the Secretary of State, 600 Dexter Avenue, Suite S-105, Montgomery, Alabama 36130.
   3. (c) By telephone: (334) 242-7200.
   4. (d) By internet: http://www.sos.alabama.gov.

3. (3) Organization. The Secretary of State has the authority and latitude to organize the office in a manner the Secretary deems appropriate for accomplishing these duties. The following depicts the organization serving under the Secretary of State’s direction:

   1. (a) The Secretary of State may appoint two assistants and exempt employees as follows:

      1. 1. A Confidential Assistant to the Secretary of State pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, §36-26-10 (c)(1).
      2. 2. An Executive Assistant to the Secretary of State pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, §36-14-16.
      3. 3. Two additional exempt employees pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, §36-26-10 (b)(10).

   2. (b) Divisions operating under the direction of the Secretary of State include the following:

      1. 1. Executive Division.
      2. 2. Business Service Division
      3. 3. Government Support Division.
      4. 4. Authentications/Lands and Trademarks Division.
      5. 5. Elections Division.
      6. 6. Finance Division.
      7. 7. Information Systems Division.

4. (4) Bad Checks.

   1. (a) If the Secretary of State’s Office receives a check or negotiable instrument that is dishonored by the institution upon which it is drawn (hereinafter “bad check”), the Secretary of State’s Office may charge a bad check fee as provided for in Code of Ala. 1975, §8-8-15. The fee to be charged shall be the maximum allowed by law.
   2. (b) If the Secretary of State’s Office receives a bad check, the Office shall provide notice to the person making, drawing, uttering, or delivering the instrument in accordance with Code of Ala. 1975, §13A-9-13.2.

Author: Charles E. Grainger, Jr.; William Sutton; Jean Brown

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§41-22-4, 36-26-10, 36-14-16, 8-8-15, 13A-9-13.1, 13A-9-13.2.

History: New Rule: Filed January 10, 2001; effective February 14, 2001. Amended: Filed October 20, 2015; effective November 24, 2015. Amended: Filed June 3, 2016; effective July 18, 2016.