February 19, Group Watch: AL Senate Approves Bill Allowing Removals of Library Board Members

Last week, the Alabama Senate passed legislation allowing local city councils and county commissions to remove members of their local library boards. According to the bill’s sponsor, once board members are appointed, the current law does not expressly allow for their removal by the appointing authority. The full Senate tabled a committee amendment and replaced it instead with an amendment by Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville. His amendment requires a two-thirds majority necessary to remove someone from a library board. It also clarifies that joint libraries between counties and cities have the same language as libraries with just one government. Senator Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham added an amendment requiring the appointing authorities coordinate their appointments to ensure appointments reflect inclusion and the urban, rural and economic diversity of the state and each community. Senator Bobby Singleton of Greensboro added an amendment requiring each board report annually to the Governor, House Speaker and President Pro Tempore of the Senate any actions it has taken regarding the review or removal of items in their collection during the previous 12 months.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

The Alabama Legislature returned to Montgomery last Tuesday, and the 2024 regular session began. Both chambers convened in the historic old House chamber on Tuesday evening for Governor Kay Ivey’s State of the State address, where she declared the state “strong and prepared to move forward.”

Ivey outlined her agenda for this session and touted recent progress in the state including the $48 billion in investment and 86,000 new jobs that have been created during her tenure. She next announced that the new Commerce Secretary is launching a strategic plan to keep the progress going into the 2030’s.

We’ve got more information on all this, as well as other important #alpolitics topics below.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@GovernorKayIvey
Feb 9
One of our greatest needs is within our healthcare workforce, especially in Rural Alabama. Last year, I introduced The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. I thank Sen. Singleton and Rep. Almond for their support — read their OpEd below: #alpolitics

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

Tuesday, 1st day: Governor’s Session Agenda (delivered in her State of the State speech):

• She is supporting legislation to prohibit ballot harvesting and closing loopholes that allow political operatives to pressure voters through the absentee voting process. 
• She wants to let the issue of gaming in the state be decided by Alabamians at the ballot box. She called for a crackdown on illegal gambling and for responsible regulation of limited forms of legal gaming, including a statewide lottery.
• She asked the legislature to invest in school safety through a $100 million grant program. Lawmakers also being asked to approve a proposed Sound of Freedom Act that will mandate life in prison for those who traffic minors. 
• Last year, the governor introduced the idea of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. After a year of planning, she is proposing to locate the school in Demopolis.
• She is supporting legislation entitled the CHOOSE Act, which would provide for a $7,000 education savings account to be used by parents for their children to attend the school of their choice. 
• The governor reiterated her commitment to expanding quality mental health services, completing the construction of the two mega prisons, and continuing the success in foster care, adoptions and childcare.

Wednesday, 2nd day and a committee day:

• The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved bills to prevent ballot harvesting and to amend the dam safety and inspection process. 
• The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved bills relating to the appointment of county and municipal library boards; to authorize local law enforcement to contract with a nonpublic K-12 school to provide school resource officers; and bills relating to retirees under the Employees Retirement System and the Teachers Retirement System.

Thursday, 3rd day: 

• The Senate passed bills to provide for elective procedures for inspecting and maintaining state-owned dams; to require the State Textbook Review Committee to review periodicals; and to authorize the posting of school curricula on school websites and allow for parental review.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: Gambling Bills Introduced in the House

The issue of gambling is back in the Alabama Legislature, and last week, two bills were introduced in the House to legalize a lottery, sports betting, casinos and create an Alabama Gaming Commission to regulate it all. Governor Ivey believes Alabamians should have their say via a statewide vote, but the bills have a long road ahead of them to reach the ballot. It hasn’t happened since 1999. Read more here.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: AL School Of Healthcare Sciences Foundation Receives Funding 

The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Education and Whitfield Regional Hospital, has received a $26.4 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies to help fund the proposed Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. The funding is contingent on approval of the school by the Alabama Legislature. The development of this residential high school, which intends to prepare students from across the state for careers in the healthcare industry while addressing rural education and healthcare workforce development needs, has been supported by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a consortium of Alabama health systems, as well as state two- and four-year colleges and universities. The school is proposed to be open in 2026 in Demopolis and serve between 85-100 students in each graduating class.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: Firm Acquires North Alabama Industrial Facility

AE Industrial Partners (AEI), a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, national security and industrial services, announced that its affiliate Rocket Shoals LLC has acquired a sprawling industrial facility in Colbert County with plans to redevelop it as an “aerospace center of excellence.” The facility is on 638 acres and contains 2.27 million square feet of industrial zoned manufacturing capacity. AEI says the space is well suited for aerospace manufacturing and will become the new headquarters for a select portfolio of companies, as well as other aerospace suppliers, manufacturers and innovators. AEI is partnering with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to provide joint capabilities and bring innovative solutions to federal customers.

February 24, 2024 Group Watch: AL Workforce Competitiveness has “Transformative” New Plan

A commission tasked with crafting a path to modernize Alabama’s workforce competitiveness has released what it calls a “landmark plan.” The 21^st Century Work Force Commission, created by the Alabama legislature in 2019 and led by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, is pushing to grow the state’s economic recruitment abilities, labor force participation rate and developing effective training and employment of Alabamians. The multi-pronged plan includes merging unaligned and duplicative workforce development agencies; collaboration with Alabama employers; development of an Alabama workforce plan; accountability benchmarks for workforce outcomes; workforce pathways diplomas and investment in county career technical centers; recruitment into in-demand jobs; public-private solutions to barriers; creating easier access to scholarships for military transition; child care tax credits; mental health and addiction diversion programs; and housing tax credits.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: Manufacture Alabama Elects New Members to Board of Directors

Manufacture Alabama represents hundreds of companies, from the most recognized international corporations to small, family-owned operations, all integral to the economy in Alabama and across the globe. The group announced the election of two members to its board of directors, including Donna Jackson from International Paper and Craig Savage from Airbus. The Board of Directors also approved the nomination of Karen Johnston from Toyota North America to the position of Vice Chair. Jon Barganier, President and CEO of Manufacture Alabama, voiced his excitement for the changes and the contributions they will make going forward.

February 13, 2024 Group Watch: AL Senate Committee Oks Bill Allowing Local Removals of Library Board Members

Last Wednesday, an Alabama Senate Committee approved a bill that would allow local governments to remove library board members from their positions. The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved the measure, sponsored by Senator Chris Elliot, on a 7-3 party line vote after Democrats on the committee said they were concerned it was tied to recent efforts to limit the availability of certain books in libraries. The bill would allow any governing body that appoints library board members to remove that member of the board. The bill would also require library board members to serve four-year terms instead of staggered terms.