March 11, 2014 Group Watch: News & Views from the Statehouse
Four abortion-related bills passed the House this week, and bills changing the way in which teachers are laid off were approved by committees in the House and the Senate.
- Tuesday (20th legislative day): The House passed a couple of bills of local application and several general. After considerable debate they passed four bills relating to abortion in Alabama. They passed bills that would change the abortion waiting period from 24 to 48 hours after the patient visits a physician; to ban abortion when the fetal heartbeat is detected; to require hospice information be given to women seeking an abortion based on lethal anomaly; to change the process for minors who seek abortions without parental consent; and require more documentation for minors who seek abortions with parental consent. They also passed legislation codifying Acts from the 2013 regular session. The Senate confirmed several persons to state boards including Hal W. Bloom to the Board at the University of West Alabama. Bloom, an alumnus of the University is widely known for his philanthropic efforts to and on behalf of the school. The Senate passed two measures that had already passed the House: one to establish a state income tax credit for contributions to support students in dual enrollment programs and a second authorizing Faulkner University in Montgomery to appoint police officers. They also passed bills requiring court-ordered attorney fees and related expenses to be deposited into the Attorney General’s Litigation Support Fund; extending the deadline for registration before an election to 14 days; and to provide a one-time non-recurring bonus to state retirees. The Senate confirmed several persons to state boards including Hal W. Bloom to the Board at the University of West Alabama. Bloom, an alumnus of the University is widely known for his philanthropic efforts to and on behalf of the school.
- Wednesday (a committee day & 21st legislative day): The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill to change the manner in which teachers can be laid off. The committee received public testimony on the education budget but took no action. The House Financial Services Committee approved a compromise payday loan regulation bill that would create a central database to track loans. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved a similar bill by Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur. The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved a bill to change the manner in which teachers can be laid off. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to allow the carrying of loaded pistols in vehicles without having to get a concealed carry permit from the county sheriff. The House passed several bills of local application only and a number of non-controversial measures that included bills that designate the queen honey bee as the official state insect of Alabama; to prohibit re-corked wine bottles or resealed alcohol bottles from being considered open in motor vehicles; and to allow HIV clinics to re-dispense drugs not used by patients. The Senate passed several bills of local application only and general bills to require funds set up to distribute proceeds from class action lawsuits to develop plans to send leftover funds to the Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention; to shorten the time for termination of lease for noncompliance with a rental agreement and extending the time a landlord has to refund deposits; and to exempt personal property worth less than $250 from ad valorem taxes.
- Thursday (22nd legislative day): The House passed a few bills of local application only and general bills to exempt from state and local taxes certain durable medical equipment such as prosthetics and orthotic devices; to make information about providers of materials used in capital punishment confidential; and to provide for limited use of golf carts on streets. The Senate passed a few bills of local application only and general bills to establish with the Department of Mental Health the Behavioral Analyst Licensing Board and to require public retirees to provide notice to the system when they work as independent contractors for a governmental entity. They also gave final approval to a House-passed bill removing the requirement for the provision of vacation leave for private businesses doing business with governmental entities in Alabama.
