4/11/2016 Group Watch: Senate Passes Prison Bond Bill

Last Tuesday, the Senate passed Governor Bentley’s plan to use a $800 million bond issue to update older prisons, close several prisons completely and build four new ones. The governor pointed to the passage as the clearing of “a critical hurdle” in solving Alabama’s prison problems. The governor, Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn and Senator Del Marsh all believe the state’s cost in the bond issue will be covered by cost savings gained by the closings and updates.

March 28, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

The General Fund Budget has been passed by the legislature but may not get very far (see article below) while plenty of other bills keep moving forward:

On Tuesday, March 22 (17th day of the session):

• The House passed bills of local application only, to redistribute lodging tax proceeds in Etowah County; to permit Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages in Jackson County; and to allocate the proceeds from solid waste fees to North Sumter Day Center in Sumter County.
• The House also passed general bills to prohibit the operation of dump trucks with the truck bed raised; to permit the State Fire Marshal to issue permits for the installation of fire protection sprinkler systems; and to require a notation by the prescribing physician when generic drugs are not allowed.
• The Senate passed a bill of local application only to allow the probate judge to seek reelection up to the age of 75 years old in Pickens County.
• The Senate also passed general bills to establish a Loan Repayment Program to pay for the education of Advanced Practice Nurses; to establish the Alabama Dental Service Program for the Board of Dental Scholarship Awards to encourage practitioners to serve medically underserved areas of the state; and to provide for an expedited procedure for tax sale properties acquired from the State Land Commissioner.
• Learn more about what the Senate got done on this day on the“Senate Minute” video, here.)

On Wednesday, March 23 (18th day and a committee day):

• The House Judiciary Committee approved bills to establish a procedure to apply for visitation by isolated family members and sentencing guidelines for juveniles convicted of capital and certain other offenses.
• The House Commerce and Small Business Committee approved a bill relating to the number of employees included in workers’ compensation plans to exclude those who own a certain percentage of the company.
• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to prohibit local school boards from using public funds to advocate for or against ballot measures.
• The House County and Municipal Government Committee approved a bill that provides a timeline for considering salary and expense increases by municipal governing bodies.
• The House State Government Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to align the filing of state tax returns with the time requirement for filing corresponding federal returns.
• The House Boards, Agencies and Commissions approved a Senate-passed bill relating to Social Work lincensure.
• The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to exempt from business license tax based on gross receipts.
• The House passed general bills to authorize warrantless arrest of persons trespassing on property of an educational institution; to provide immunity for certain volunteer caregivers from civil actions; to repeal statutes relating to the municipal commission form of government; and to reauthorize the Children’s Advocacy Centers participation in the Local Government Insurance Program.

Other Points of Interest From Last Week

• Speaking to a group at Monroe County Hospital, Governor Bentley brought up a state lottery, saying that it may be the only “realistic” way to get more funds for Medicaid.
• The House Health Committee considered a “Personhood Amendment” to the constitution that would define life and personhood as beginning at the “moment of fertilization or the functional equivalent thereof.”

The House and Senate are off this week for Spring Break and reconvene on Tuesday, April 5, at 1 pm and 2 pm respectively. Find a link to live audio of both chambers here.

3/28/2016 Group Watch: General Fund Budget One Step Closer

Last Wednesday, with a 20-13 vote, the Senate passed the $1.85 billion General Fund Budget, which included changes made by the House that upped the funding for Medicaid to $15 million more than last year. Last Thursday, Bentley announced that he’ll veto the budget and send it back to the legislature when they reconvene. His veto could be overridden by the legislature. If not, then a special session may be needed to finally come to an agreement and get a budget passed. Like Medicaid, several other agencies see increases in this budget, but most others will stay at the same levels as the current year. Here’s a breakdown of some of the increases:

• $97 million for the state court system, a 5% increase
• $412 million for Department of Corrections, a 35% increase
• $32 million for Department of Public Health, a 45% increase
• $61 million for Department of Human Resources, a 4% increase
• .$109 million for Department of Mental Health, a 2% increase
• $46 million for Board of Pardons and Paroles, a 20% increase

Read Governor Bentley’s official statement here.

3/28/2016 Group Watch: Governor Fires ALEA Secretary

Last Tuesday, Governor Robert Bentley announced the removal of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Spencer Collier, just hours after an internal audit suggested a “possible misuse of funds.” Collier is a former state trooper and was a Mobile County legislator from 2002 to 2011. In a brief statement, Governor Bentley commended Collier for overseeing the consolidation of ALEA operations over the past several years. Bentley announced that acting ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler has been promoted to the job on a permanent basis. Bentley said that Stabler is a veteran law enforcement officer who has more than 30 years in law enforcement. The events that unfolded in the days after Collier was terminated have been heavily covered by several media outlets, and you can find out more about it from several sources online.

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.