March 21, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Governor Bentley believes over-crowding in Alabama’s correctional facilities will result in continued riots unless his plans to build more prisons are enacted (see article below), the General Fund budget is still facing issues and dominating discussions, but other business is still getting done:

On Tuesday, March 15 (15th day of the session):

• The House passed bills of local application only relating to Sunday alcoholic beverage sales in Coosa County and a gasoline tax for Tuscaloosa County to fund County Road Improvements. They also passed a Senate-passed General Fund budget with changes; an appropriation for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Children First Trust Fund appropriations.
• The Senate passed bills to provide for annual education training in K-12 aimed at preventing teen suicide. (Learn who endorsed this bill in the “Senate Minute” video, here.)
• The Senate also passed bills to further define the levels of social work practice in Alabama; to limit police jurisdiction from extending in additional territory without a vote of the city council; and to align the reporting dates for individual and corporate returns with federal timelines, aka “joint reporting.”

On Wednesday, March 16 (a committee day):

• The House Committee on Health approved bills to authorize fire and rescue personnel to administer opioids subject to the orders of local health authorities and to exempt veterinarians from reporting the dispensing of class II to class V controlled substances.
• The House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill to provide for additional gasoline tax with certain conditions.
• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved bills to provide tax credits for certain capital contributions to small businesses in the state and to establish the Alabama Dental Service Program for the Board of Dentistry.
• The House Committee on County and Municipal Government approved a bill making it illegal to discharge sewage on the ground.
• The House Judiciary Committee approved a Senate-passed bill allowing local boards of education to use automated enforcement of school bus violations.

On Thursday, March 17 (16th day of the session):

• The Senate passed bills to provide for virtual education to resident students and past residents who are military dependents and to further define the crime of Medicaid fraud and revise the statutes of limitations for certain fraudulent activity. (Hear a bit about this and other Senate activity in “Senate Minute” video, here.)
• The House passed bills affecting how business entities, partnerships and limited liability companies merge and dissolve; to further provide for the valuation and distribution of retirement benefits for purposes of divorce; to abolish the practice of common law marriage after January 1, 2017; and to require a parenting plan in all cases of divorce where there are minor children.

The House and Senate reconvene on Tuesday, March 22, at 1 pm and 2 pm respectively. Find a link to live audio of both chambers here.

3/21/2106 Group Watch: Principal Perspective

by Allen Sanderson
Jeff Newman is running to be re-elected for the District 7 seat on the State Board of Education this fall. He was elected in 2012 and since then, has brought his significant experience and expertise to bear on behalf of Alabama’s children. I’ve known Jeff and his family for many years. My father and his dad, Max Newman, coached football together at Millport High School in Millport, and I served in the legislature with Max. Like his father, Jeff is a dedicated public servant and an educator, working as a classroom teacher and assistant principal and then serving as School Superintendent in Lamar County before running for and being elected to the SBOE. I’m proud to support Jeff in his re-election campaign and hope that those of you in his district will consider doing the same.

3/21/16 Group Watch: Prison Population Problems

The state could face more prison riots unless problems of overcrowding are addressed, according Governor Robert Bentley. The governor made the remark after he visited a maximum security prison that has seen two riots over the last several days. Two weeks ago, an officer trying to break up a fight between two inmates was stabbed as was the warden who entered the area in an attempt to get control of the situation. Early last week, nearly 70 inmates in the same dorm seized control after officers tried to apprehend an inmate suspected of stabbing another inmate. In February, the governor announced a plan to build four new prisons to reduce overcrowding and improve safety. Funding bills for this expansion are currently pending in the legislature.

March 14, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

The Governor is not pleased with the Senate-passed and House committee-approved General Fund budget (see article below) and says he’ll veto it if changes aren’t made. Meanwhile, other bills are progressing:

On Tuesday, March 8 (13th day of the session):

• The House passed the education budget; separate education bills for Lyman Ward Military Academy, Tuskegee University and Talladega College; and a pay increase for public education employees.
• The House passed bills of local application only affecting service of process fees in Houston County; probate processing fees and authorization for electronic recording of documents in Coosa County; and to further distribute in lieu of taxes in Jackson County.
• The Senate passed one bill of local application only to further distribute in lieu of taxes in Jackson County.

On Wednesday, March 9 (a committee day):

• The House Judiciary Committee approved bills to allow district courts to make limited increases in filing and docket fees; expanded the definition of encoded data fraud to include possession of a debit or credit card for fraudulent purposes; and a bill relating to foster care, guardianship and kinship guardian agreements.
• The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to create education savings accounts; to require training of members of governing boards of Colleges and Universities; and to establish as a body corporate employees hired after January 1, 2017 in the Community College System not subject to the Students First Act of 2011.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved a bill further provide for the distribution of funds from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster.
• The House Health Committee approved a bill regulating the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses.
• The Tuscaloosa County Local Legislation Committee approved a local gasoline tax for county road improvements.
• The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved a Senate-passed General Fund budget for functions of government with changes.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to allow for a municipality to collect business license tax only where the branch or headquarters is located.
• The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved a bill to allow the expedited tax sale of properties under certain circumstances.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved a bill for the simplified seller use tax remittance.

On Thursday, March 10 (14th day of the session):

• The House passed bills of local application only to provide for two additional airport authority members and authorize the sheriff’s office to participate in the Employees Retirement System in Montgomery County and to require continuing education for the sheriff and staff in Elmore County.
• The Senate passed bills to create the Alabama Space Authority; to permit alcoholic beverage distilleries to sell retail products for off-site consumption; to provide vulnerable adults protection from financial exploitation and to regulate the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses.

Bills to Watch:

• Senator Arthur Orr (R, Decatur) is sponsoring a bill that would bring payday loan reforms. The Senate delayed a vote on the bill last week.
• Two lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries or a state university to research the viability of growing industrial hemp in the state.

The House and Senate reconvene on Tuesday, March 15, at 1 pm and 2 pm respectively. Find a link to live audio of both chambers here.

3/14/16 Group Watch: General Fund Budget Could Stall with Governor

The House Ways and Means Committee added $26 million to the $1.8 billion General Fund Budget already passed by the Senate; the additional dollars would be added to Corrections, Medicaid and state worker insurance, and with this extra money, the budget was approved by the committee. But the budget still doesn’t have enough in it for Medicaid to satisfy Governor Bentley. He says he’ll veto the bill as it is. He’s looking for $100 million to fund the state’s Medicaid agency, a good bit more than the current bill provides. If he vetoes, and the legislature overrides it, Bentley claims he’ll call a special session focused solely on Medicaid.

3/14/16 Group Watch: New Office of Minority Affairs

Governor Robert Bentley signed an executive order last week creating an office of minority affairs. According to Governor Bentley, office staff will offer guidance on issues impacting minorities and women with the goal of improving the quality of life for both groups. He went on to say education, health, political engagement, criminal justice and race relations are among the issues he expects the office to offer guidance on. Bentley appointed Mobile native and former attorney for Birmingham law firm Maynard, Cooper and Gale, Nichelle Nix to head up the office. Nix attended Spelman College, Emory University and the University of Alabama Law School.

March 7, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

We’re close to halfway through the regular session, and this past week saw education issues take center stage (see articles below). Here are some of the other bills currently up and their progress:

On Tuesday, March 1 (11th day of the session):

• The Senate approved bills of local application only affecting bingo games in Calhoun County, the Autauga County coroner’s office and the Autauga County sheriff’s office.
• The House passed bills to permit local boards of equalization to appeal to circuit courts cases relating to valuation of commercial property; to reduce the number of copies required by the Secretary of State to certain entities; and to further provide for the sale of alcoholic beverages by breweries and brewpubs. They gave final approval to Senate passed bills to continue the State board of public Accountancy; the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board; the State Board of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors; the Pilotage Commission; the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examiners Board; the Real Estate Appraisers Board; the Alcohol Beverage Control Board; the State Board of Auctioneers and the Private Investigation Board.
• The House also passed bills of local application only affecting the Dale County Sheriff’s office, the Pike County board of registrars and the Blount County sheriff’s office.

On Wednesday, March 2 (a committee day):

• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved an education budget of over six billion dollars, which included appropriations to Talladega College, Lyman Ward Military Academy, Tuskegee University, and a pay increase for public education employees.
• The House State Government Committee approved a bill to require concurrent filing dates for state individual and corporate income tax returns with the date for federal returns.
• The House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill requiring competitive bidding Department of Transportation road projects in excess of $250,000.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills to exempt title insurance agents who are attorneys from licensure by the state insurance department and to provide for the recording and transmission of marriage contracts.
• The Senate Education and Youth Affairs Committee approved the Child Care Provider Inclusion Act, which prohibits the state from discriminating against childcare service providers under certain conditions.

On Thursday, March 3 (12th day of the session):

• The House passed bills to provide a supplemental appropriation for the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund in the Department of Education; the Alabama Ahead Act relating to broadband infrastructure; and to authorize law enforcement officers to issue traffic citations at the scene of a crash under certain conditions.
• The Senate passed bills to provide for appeals to circuit court matters related to the valuation of commercial property; to create the Transportation Safety Fund; to authorize automated civil enforcement of school bus violations; and to unclassify the appointment of deputy directors and chief engineer in the Department of Transportation.

The House and Senate reconvene on Tuesday, March 8 at 1 pm and 2 pm respectively.  Find a link to live audio of both chambers here.

3/7/16 Group Watch: State Superintendent Retires

Last Tuesday, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice announced he will retire at the end of March. His announcement caps a career of more than 39 years in public education, including the last four years leading the public school system. Bice says the system is moving forward at an accelerated pace due to the dedicated teachers and leaders who have embraced the policy created by the state board.

3/7/16 Group Watch: Education Budget Includes Raises

The Education Budget is awaiting approval from the full House, and should come up for consideration in that chamber sometime this week. The $6.3 billion dollar budget includes raises for education employees, with teachers and support staff (and anyone making less than $75k) in line to receive a 4 percent hike in pay. Community college employees would also get a 4 percent raise, while other staff (those currently making above 75k) are looking at 2 percent salary bump. There’s also money to hire more teachers for grades 7-12 across the state.

February 29, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

This week brought a new lottery bill and saw the Senate pass a budget all while many local application bills and bills to continue various boards sailed through committees and each chamber.

On Tuesday, February 23 (8th day of the session):

• The House Health Committee held public hearings on four bills including one that would ban abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat and another that would ban physician assisted suicide in Alabama.
• The Senate passed bills to prohibit education entities from using public funds or property to advocate for or against ballot measures and to permit a retail licensee and state liquor store to conduct distilled liquor and wine tastings.
• The House passed bills to further define the terms for road hazard insurance; to provide for pay increases for county officials; and to prohibit the executive branch from hiring lobbyists.

On Wednesday, February 24 (committee day and 9th session day):

• Tthe House Ways and Means Education Committee approved bills to exempt Life South Community Blood Centers to be tax exempt; to approve the Alabama Renewal Act, which provides certain tax credits for the state’s port facilities; and to provide certain tax credits for rehabilitation of qualified structures.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved the Children’s First Trust Fund Appropriation, the General Fund Appropriations Budget and a bill providing for a simplified seller use tax remittance.
• The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to further define the practice of Social Work; to rename the Impaired Drivers Trust Fund to the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund; and to prohibit the Department of Public Health from renewing the licenses of abortion clinic located near schools.
• The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to remove the requirement for county superintendents of education to maintain an office at the county seat and to allow children to enroll in the first grade at the age of six.
• The House Boards Agencies and Commission Committee approved Senate-passed bills to continue the State Board of Public Accountancy; the Liquid Petroleum Gas Board; the Pilotage Commission Board; the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examiners Board; the Real Estate Appraisers Board; the Statewide 911 Board; the Private Investigation Board; the Alcohol Beverage Control Board the State Board of Auctioneers; the Board of Examiners in Psychology; the Public Services Commission; and the Board of Examiners of Mine Personnel.
• The House passed two bills of local application only affecting Greene and Choctaw Counties only, and Senate-passed bills to continue the Boilers and Pressure Board; the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering; the Board of Social Work Examiners; the Funeral Service Board; the Board of Court Reporting; the Department of Insurance; the Board of Examiners in Counseling; the Electrical Contractors Board; the Electronic Security Board of Licensure; the State Board of Respiratory Therapy; the Real Estate Commission; the Assisted Living Administrators Board of Examiners; and the Behavior Analyst Licensing Board.

On Thursday, February 25 (10th day of the session):

• The Senate approved the General Fund Budget; an appropriation for the Coalition for Domestic Violence; the Children First Appropriation and a bill to simplify the remittance of sales and use tax.
• The House passed the Alabama Renewal Act to provide certain tax credits for the state’s port facilities; to provide for simplified seller use tax remittance; to create the Alabama Longitudinal Data System; and to provide for a hospital assessment and Medicaid funding for fiscal years 2017, 2018 and 2019 using 2014 as a base year. They also approved a Senate-passed bill to continue the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.

The House and Senate reconvene on Tuesday, March 1 at 2 pm. And find a link to live audio of both chambers here.