March 9, 2020 Group Watch: Gov Signs Occupational Tax Bill

Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill requiring cities to get legislative approval for new occupational taxes, effectively blocking a 1 percent tax passed by the Montgomery City Council in February. The Republican majority in the legislature passed the bill over opposition from Democrats, who said it undermined the authority of local officials to provide services for the constituents who elected them. City of Montgomery officials say they will explore all legal options necessary to protect the rights of citizens of Montgomery.

March 9, 2020 Group Watch: Alabama Earns Top 10 Rankings from Site Selection Mag

Alabama’s economic development successes in 2019 earned the state a pair of Top 10 rankings in Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cups analysis. Alabama ranked No. 6 among states in projects per capita, a measurement that places smaller states on a more level playing field in the publication’s analysis. The state’s per capita ranking in 2018 was 14. Alabama ranked No. 9 among all states for the number of 2019 economic development projects that met the criteria of the Site Selection analysis, with 150 qualified projects. In 2018, Alabama ranked No. 10.

March 9, 2020 Group Watch: Senate Bill Blocks Transgender Treatments for Minors

The Alabama Senate passed a bill that would make it a crime for doctors to prescribe opposite sex hormones or drugs that block puberty for people under the age of 19 who identify as transgender. The bill is sponsored by Senator Shay Shelnutt of Trussville who argued that most children with gender dysphoria eventually adjust and that giving them medications that could have permanent effects amounts to child abuse. He refers to the bill as the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act. The bill passed on a 22-3 vote.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

The fourth week of session has come and gone. Governor Ivey voiced her support for bipartisan bills that aim to solve the state’s prison problems. And the fate of new municipal occupational taxes is now on her desk, as the Senate passed the bill blocking cities from levying occupational taxes without going through the legislature last Thursday (see more info below). Here’s some of the other happenings from lat week.

• Tuesday, February 25 (7th day of session): The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved a number of bills including bills to change the terms of office for county boards of education members from six to four years and to regulate certain private water system utilities. The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to increase the minimum age from 16 to 17 years of age for contract marriage; to include persons with mental or physical disabilities in the law governing missing and endangered persons; to allow local boards of education to deem military dependents as Alabama for purposes of virtual education when an Armed Forces member relocates to the state; and to require permanency plans for children when courts consider termination of parental rights. The Senate passed 12 sunset bills to continue to the operations of various state boards and commissions, and general bills to require redaction of contract information from court documents released to the public regarding elder abuse victims and to create a Sexual Assault Task Force and Sexual Assault Bill of Rights.
• Wednesday, February 26  (committee day): One of the busiest committees was the House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee, which approved 16 Senate-passed bills relating to sunset consideration for various boards, agencies and commissions of government. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved a bill to further provide for penalties for driving without a license and to adopt federal procedures for the use restraints on pregnant prisoners. The House Education Policy Committee approved a bill to revise focus, course material and instruction sex education in public K-12 schools. The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill to create the Alabama STEM Council as an independent state entity within the Department of Commerce Workforce Division. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a House-passed bill to further provide for the definition of a landfill. The Senate Children, Youth and Human Services Committee approved a House-passed bill to add permanency plans in the consideration for termination of parental rights.
• Thursday, February 27 (8th day of session): The House passed bills to further provide for bond consideration in certain criminal cases and to provide an additional offense under which bond can be denied.

The House and Senate return on Tuesday, March 3, at 3 pm and 2:30 pm respectively.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@thebloomgroup
March 1
Happy 21st Birthday to my baby boy Harris. He was apparently celebrating with the Alabama Basketball team last night.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: Republic Services Named to Most Ethical Co List

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. “At Republic Services, it’s our responsibility to lead by example and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in all that we do,” said Don Slager, chief executive officer. “It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for the fourth year as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, and it’s a testament to our company culture, values and employees.” The 2020 list recognizes 132 companies in 21 countries and 51 industries. These corporations illustrate how companies can be the driving force for improving communities, building capable and empowered workforces, and fostering corporate cultures focused on ethics and a strong sense of purpose.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: Occupational Tax Bill Going to Governor

Last Thursday, the Alabama Senate voted 27-7 to pass a bill requiring municipalities to go through the legislature before instituting or raising an occupational tax. According to the measure, municipalities can keep their occupational tax if enacted prior to February 1, 2020. Supporters of the bill say it will give people who live outside of a municipality a voice in the matter, while opponents say it is a local matter and takes power away from municipalities. The governor can sign the bill, let it become law without her signature or add an executive amendment.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: Occupational Tax Legal Battle Likely

If Governor Ivey signs the recently passed occupational tax bill into law, Montgomery and its leadership might fight the measure in court. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed called the bill an example of “government overreach” that should concern the capital city’s citizens, but thus far, he has not outlined any specific next steps. Stay tuned.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: Gov Ivey Voices Support for Prison Reform Bills

Governor Kay Ivey announced her support for a major bipartisan package of bills that has been introduced in the Alabama legislature upon recommendation from the her Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy. Governor Ivey established the group in July 2019, which came after the Department of Justice said there was reasonable cause to believe conditions in Alabama’s prisons violate the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution regarding cruel and unusual punishment.

March 2, 2020 Group Watch: Bill to Allow College Athletes Compensation Introduced in the House

A bill that would allow college athletes to make money off the use of their name and likeness was introduced in the House last week. The “Fair Pay to Play” bill, sponsored by Rep. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) is a hot topic and should see some good debate in coming weeks. California has already passed a similar law, and the NCAA’s top governing board voted unanimously to allow this type of player compensation in late 2019, but details on specifics are still being finalized. The bill also calls for the creation of an injury and wage account, funded by revenues from athletic events. The wages in the account would be evenly distributed to all athletes at the end of each year. The injury funds would be given to athletes suffering a career-ending injury; they would receive the funds once they graduate.