April 19, 2021 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
Last week was the ninth of the 2021 regular session, and both chambers of the Alabama Legislature were busy.
The legal use of medical marijuana in Alabama keeps moving along, gaining approval from a second House committee last Wednesday.
The prospect of legal gambling in Alabama is making forward progress too. Senator McClendon’s bill, which started with a lottery only, was amended to include casinos before passing the Senate at the end of last week.
Find additional information on these topics and more below.
- Tuesday, April 13 (22nd legislative day): The House Commerce and Small Business Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to provide certain considerations for contracts for services by design professionals. The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to: revise the membership of the Employees’ Retirement System Board of Control and further provide for terms of service; authorize the Chief Executive Officer of the State Employees Insurance Board to approve group insurance offerings; expand the expungement of criminal records to include convictions of certain misdemeanor and felony offenses (Senate passed); and enhance criminal penalties under certain conditions for violations of the Alabama State of Emergency Protection Act. The Senate passed a few bills of local application only and general bills to postpone the third-grade retention requirement test until the 2024-2025 school year and to further provide for limitations of liability for Regional Mental Health Programs and Facilities. It also passed a series of four bills designed to allow the people of Alabama to vote on the establishment of a state lottery corporation and gaming commission and on how the proceeds will be disbursed.
- Wednesday, April 14 (a committee day): The House State Government Committee approved Senate-passed bills to further provide for the local land bank authorities to deal with tax delinquent properties and to authorize the Senate Pro Tempore to appoint a designee to serve on the Sunset Committee. The House Health Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to establish a program to allow use of medical cannabis under certain conditions. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to further provide for guardianships and conservatorships in probate court. The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved House-passed bills to increase the member contribution rate for tier II Teachers Retirement System 30-year service members and to authorize a tax credit for the cost of acquisition and construction of a qualified storm shelter. The Senate Education Policy Committee approved House-passed bills to permit the broadcast of public K-12 school sporting events and provide for the Alabama Credential Quality and Transparency Act and the Workforce Council Committee on Credential Quality and Transparency. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a House-passed bill to require healthcare facilities to allow one caregiver or visitor to patients or residents, subject to reasonable restrictions.
- Thursday, April 15 (23rd legislative day): The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to: establish within the Psychology Examiners board intervention services to impaired licensed professionals; provide comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for children of disabled veterans with intellectual disabilities; and authorize sales and use tax exemption to airport authorities (Senate passed). The Senate passed several bills of local application only and general bills to revise the authority of the Department of Public Health to administer a program of lead reduction; require a parenting plan in all child custody cases; and a House-passed bill allowing competition by one biological gender against another to be prohibited unless the event specifically includes both genders.
The House and Senate return on April 20 at 1 and 2 pm respectively.
Watch live video of both chambers here.
