>> TODD: FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TODAY WAS THE FOURTH LEGISLATIV DAY OF THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE CONTINUED A RELATIVELY FAST PAC HERE OUT THE GATE.

WE'LL START IN THE SENATE, WHER A BILL MEANT TO OVERHAUL AND ELEVATE THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WAS ON THE FLOOR.

THE BILL FROM STATE SENATOR ANDREW JONES WOULD REVAMP THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE ITS COMMISSIONER A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET.

IT WOULD ALSO MAKE THE STATE BOARD OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, WHIC NOW HAS DIRECT AUTHORITY OVER PERSONNEL AND POLICY, TO A MORE ADVISORY ROLE.

THE LEGISLATION STEMS FROM THE INTERAGENCY DUST UP OVER THE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF ARPA FUNDS THAT LED TO THE DISMISSAL OF TH COMMISSIONER LAST YEAR.

SEVERAL VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN CALLING ON SENATORS TO NOT GO THAT FAR AND RESTORE BOARD MEMBERSHIP UNDER THE BILL.

THAT CULMINATED LAST NIGHT IN LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH COMING OUT LAST NIGHT IN IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, WHICH JONES ADDRESSED TODAY.

>> WELL, HE'S A GOOD FRIEND AND HE CHAIRS THE MILITARY STABILITY COMMISSION.

YOU SAW A COMMITTEE TODAY THAT BUT A COUPLE OF SEATS ON THE BOARD APPOINTED BY THE LT.

GOVERNOR.

SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIM.

YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK HIM BUT I'M HOPEFUL GIVEN THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSES AND THE FEEDBACK, THE NECESSARY STAKEHOLDER INPUT THAT WE HAD TODAY, I HOPE EVERYONE WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IN A UNIFIED FRONT.

>> THIS ENTITY HAS REMAINED IN OBSCURITY.

AND THIS IS AN EFFORT TO BRING IT OUT OF OBSCURITY AND INTO THE OPERATIONS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> THIS GIVES THEM NOTICE.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT WE WILL ACCEPT THREE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FILL THAT POSITION AND THAT WE WILL GIVE THEM PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IN APPOINTING THAT NEW BOARD MEMBER.

>> THE CHALLENGES WITH THIS BILL THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME.

BUT ON THE POSITIVE -- I'M TRYING TO BE THAT PERSON -- ON THE POSITIVE, SOME OF THEM CAME DOWN TODAY.

THEY INFORMED ME THEY GOT SOME GREAT RECEPTION THAT PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATION AND I THINK THAT'S THE PLACE THAT WE SAID THAT WE FIND TO BE.

OUR FOLKS, OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN, AGAIN THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR BODIES IN HARM'S WAY.

>> YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH THERE'S A LITTLE SAUSAGE MAKING AND THINGS MAY NOT HAVE FIT, AND THINGS HAD TO BE REWORKED, WE FINAL GOT THERE.

GIVEN THE FACT IT'S ALL IN THERE TOGETHER, WE HAVE TAKEN SOME FEEDBACK, HAD DISCUSSIONS AND HEARD FROM THE VETERANS COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

>> AFTER ACCEPTING SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TODAY, SENATOR JONES REQUESTED THAT THE BILL BE CARRIED OVER TO ALLOW LAWMAKERS THE PUBLIC, AND VETERANS' GROUP MORE TIME TO REVIEW THE CHANGES HE PLANS TO BRING IT BACK FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK.

I'LL SPEAK IN MORE DETAIL WITH SENATOR JONES LATER IN THE SHOW WE REPORTED LAST WEEK ON THE "WHAT IS A WOMAN" ACT PASSING THE SENATE AFTER AN INTENSE DEBATE ABOUT GENDER ROLES AND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF STATE INVOLVEMENT.

TODAY IT WAS THE HOUSE'S TURN T DEBATE THE LEGISLATION STARTING IN COMMITTEE.

SENATE BILL 79 WOULD DEFINE IN STATE LAW SEX-BASED TERMS LIKE MALE, FEMALE, MAN, WOMAN, MOTHE AND FATHER BASED ON BIOLOGY.

IT IS BEING CARRIED IN THE HOUS BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN DUBOSE, WHO SAID THE BILL SIMPL ACKNOWLEDGES BIOLOGICAL REALITY WHILE OPPONENTS ARGUED IT WAS DISCRIMINATORY.

>> I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY, I WISH WE DIDN'T NEED TO DEFINE WHAT MAN IS OR A WOMAN SO.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO.

WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO COULD NOT DEFINE WHAT A WOMAN; DESPITE BEING ONE HERSELF, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE TO CODIFY THIS INTO ALABAMA LAW.

>> THIS DEFINES INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD HAVE OR WOULD HAVE EXCEPT FOR A GENETIC ANOMALY THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM THAT PRODUCES OVA AND THAT INCLUDES ME.

DO YOU WANT TO WALK INTO THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM AND SEE ME?

DO YOU WANT YOUR DAUGHTERS TO DO THAT?

>> THE BILL ADVANCED THROUGH COMMITTEE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

THE HOUSE ALSO DEBATED HOUSE BILL 49 FROM REPRESENTATIVE MAT SIMPSON, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE THOSE CONVICTED OF CHILD RAPE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

SIMPSON IS A FORMER PROSECUTOR WHO USED TO WORK CHILD RAPE CASES AND SAID LIFE IN PRISON DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH FOR THOS OFFENDERS.

>> THIS BILL WOULD CHANGE THE POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT FOR SURE.

IF SOMEONE COMMITS THE OFFENSE OF RAPE OR SODOMY ON A CHILD, THERE WILL BE AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS PASSED ON THE COMMITTEE TO UNDER THE AGE OF 12 THEN IT WOULD ALLOW THE PROSECUTION TO PURSUE THE DEATH PENALTY IN THOSE CASES.

>> WE'RE A PRO-LIFE STATE.

>> WE ARE.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EXECUTE FOR?

>> DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT?

>> SO YOU CAN'T BE PRO-LIFE AND DEATH.

YOU CAN'T BE PRO-LIFE AND KILLING PEOPLE.

>> YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.

>> THAT BILL PASSED 86-5 WITH NINE MEMBERS ABSTAINING.

IT NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

>> THERE WAS ALSO COMMITTEE ACTION IN THE SENATE TODAY.

THE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE MET THIS AFTERNOON TO TAKE UP LEGISLATION, INCLUDING A BILL INTENDED TO REDUCE THE RUNAROUN FOR BUSINESSES ATTEMPTING TO ATTAIN VARIOUS STATE AND LOCAL LICENSES.

SENATE BILL 12 IS SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT.

>> WHAT IT DOES IS IT SAYS HEY YOU CAN'T CONDITION THE ISSUANCE OF YOUR PERMIT ON ANOTHER AGENCY'S PERMIT.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU START STACKING THESE THINGS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, WHAT WAS A TWO, THREE, FIVE-WEEK OR MONTH PERIOD BECOMES A 10-WEEK MONTH, A 20-WEEK MONTH.

YOU HAVE KILLED THE BUSINESS BEFORE IT EVER STARTED BECAUSE YOU STACKED THESE THINGS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

NOW, I HAVE NOT REDUCED THE 40-SOME-ODD PERMITS AT ALL.

I HAVE NOT IN THIS BILL TAKEN AWAY ANY BRAT'S AUTHORITY TO DO OR SAY OR REGULATE.

I JUST SAID "YOU DO YOU, BOO."

YOU SAY IN YOUR AREA.

OKAY?

YOU STAY IN YOUR AREA.

YOU ENFORCE YOUR REGULATIONS.

OKAY?

YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE GOT THAT YOU REGULATE AND STAY IN YOUR LANE.

>> THAT BILL PASSED COMMITTEE AND WILL NOW GO TO THE FULL SENATE.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK I'LL BE JOINED BY STATE SENATOR ANDREW JONES TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT VETERANS AFFAIRS LEGISLATION.

AFTER THAT, STATE REPRESENTATIV LEIGH HULSEY JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT HER BILL BANNING SMART PHONES IN SCHOOLS AND A PUSH TO REQUIRE PROPER READING INSTRUCTION.

STAY WITH US.

>> AMELIA ROBINSON WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN ALABAMA TO RUNG FOR CONGRESS N1933, ROBINSON AND FREDERICK REESE FOUNDED THE DALLAS COUNTY VOTERS LEAGUE IN 1964.

THEY INVITED MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. TO SELMA TO HELP SECURE THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, ROBINSON HELD LEAD THE MARCH THAT BECAME KNOWN AT BLOODY SUNDAY.

MARCH 7, 1965.

SHE AND MARCHERS WERE MET BY STATE TROOPERS WITH GAS.

PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON INVITED ROBINSON TO ATTEND AS A GUEST OF HONOR.

IN 1970 SHE RECEIVED THE FREEDOM MEDAL FOR HER LIFE'S WORK IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR ANDRUW JONES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU HAVE HAD A LONG DAY ON THE FLOOR.

IT WAS YOUR BILL THAT WAS THE MARQUIS BILL ON THE FLOOR TODAY HAVING TO DO WITH OVERHAULING AND UPDATING AND ELEVATING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

MANY OF YEAR COLLEAGUES CAME WITH AMENDMENTS.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH?

MOST YOU SAW AS FRIENDLY.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT ALL HAPPENED ON THE FLOOR TODAY.

>> THIS WAS JUST PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

FOLKS HEARING FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND DIFFERENT VETERANS ASSOCIATES BRINGING FORTH THE AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES AND TWEAKS TO THE BILL.

THAT'S PART OF THE BUY AND PART OF THE BRINGING IT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

ALL OF IT WAS FRIENDLY.

I'M GLAD THEY STRENGTHENED AND IMPROVED THE BILL.

>> WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

SO YOU CARRIED IT OVER.

YOU TALKED ABOUT FOLKS CAN MARINATE ON IT.

DO YOU FORESEE IT COMING BACK NEXT WEEK?

>> I THINK SO.

THAT'S UP TO THE RULES CHAIRMAN AND THE PRO TEM.

I THINK WE WILL BE IN A PLACE WHERE FOLKS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATION.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CHANGES.

THE BOARD IS NOW AT 15 MEMBERS SO THE NINE THAT WERE ORIGINALLY IN THE BILL.

SEVEN AMENDMENTS CAME TODAY.

SO I THINK WE WANT TO GIVE FOLKS TIME TO COME WITH IT AND HEAR FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND GET FEEDBACK AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

FRANKLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT THAT, ABOUT WHAT THE BILL DOES AND DOESN'T TO.

SO I THINK THAT WILL ALLOW US SOME TIME TO KIND OF CLEAR THE AIR AND CLEAVER UP SOME OF THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND.

>> I AGREE.

I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THAT MYSELF.

LATE LAST NIGHT THE LT.

GOVERNOR SHOOK THINGS UP.

HE DOESN'T GET INVOLVED IN EVERY ISSUE BUT HE SENT A PRESS RELEASE OPPOSING THE BILL.

HE SAID IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THIS SAGA WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND ITS BOARD.

SO DID THAT INTERRUPT OF PROCESS AT ALL?

DID THAT GET SOME CONVERSATION STARTED IN TERMS OF WHAT CHANGES HE WANTED TO SEE IN THE BILL.

>> THE LT.

GOVERNOR IS A FRIEND THAT WE TALKED TO LAST NIGHT BEFORE HE CAME OUT AGAINST THE LEGISLATION.

I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO TALK WITH HIM AGAIN NOW THAT WE HAVE HAD AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO SEE WHERE HE S THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT GIVES THE LT.

GOVERNOR'S POSITION TWO APPOINTMENTS TO PUT ON THE BOARD.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE FOR HIM OR NOT BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT FEEDBACKS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUY N IT'S A DIFFERENT BILL THAN WE HAD BEFORE SO I THINK FOLKS ARE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM AS A FRIEND TO DO THAT.

>> A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO THE BOARD, RIGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ELEVATING THE COMMISSIONER TO A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION.

NOT A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF THE APPROPRIATE KIND OF WAY GOVERNMENT WORKS.

BUT YOU START MOVING AROUND THE BOARD AND MOVING AROUND FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN ON BOARD OR HAD A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SEATS, I'M NOT REALLY SURPRISED THAT FOLKS GET UPSET ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY SORT OF COME TO EXPECT A CERTAIN AUTHORITY AND SO ROLE ON THE BOARD.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WENT THROUGH TODAY: BUT I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE HAVE TO BE SOME STILL THAT RUN SATISFIED IN TERMS OF NOT -- NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH.

SO I WANTED TO KIND OF GO BACK TO THE WAY IT HAS BEEN IN TERMS OF THE BOARD BEING IN CHARGE, HAVING HIRED AND FIRING AND POLICY MAKING INSTEAD OF THE GOVERNOR.

SO DO YOU FORESEE AMENDMENTS COMING LIKE THAT?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, DO YOU FORESEE THAT YOU PLANNED TO MAKE IT AN ADVISORY BOARD RATHER THAN AN AUTHORITATIVE BOARD COMING THROUGH OR DO YOU SEE SOME AMENDMENTS SUCCEEDING THAT WOULD KIND OF KEEP IT AS IT IS?

>> WELL, I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ANY TALK FROM COLLEAGUES ABOUT MOVING BACK TO THE WAY THE BOARD IS NOW.

MEANING A FULL REGULATORY BOARD YOU KNOW WE HAVE THIS MODEL IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT BOARDS AND AGENCIES COMMISSIONS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH, CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THE BANKING COMMISSION THAT OPERATE ON THE SAME MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN THE BILL.

I HAVE HEARD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT PERHAPS MOVING FROM AN ADVISORY BOARD TO MAYBE A BOARD WITH SOME SLIGHT OVERSIGHT ON CERTAIN DIFFERENT ITEMS.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE SENATE AS A WHOLE WOULD HAVE THE MOVE TO GO BACK TO THE CURRENT STRUCTURE THAT EXISTS TODAY.

SO I THINK MOST MOBILERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH A BOARD THAT IS AN ADVISORY BOARD IN NATURE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF OVERSIGHT IN THERE, A CABINET-LEVEL COMMISSIONER^AND KIND OF OPERATING THE SAME WAY AS A DOZEN OR SO AGENCIES AND BOARDS DO ALREADY.

>> AND HOOK WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ANOTHER ARPA, THAT'S PROBABLY A GENERATIONAL THING THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT DO YOU THINK THIS BILL CAN GET THROUGH, ELEVATE THAT POSITION TO CABINET, DOES IT INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AGENCIES LIKE FINANCE, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, WE SAW SO MUCH MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THOSE THREE ORGANIZATIONS.

DOES IT HELP MAYBE INCREASE COMMUNICATION?

HAVE MORE STRUCTURE, AND LEAD TO A MORE EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WHOLE POINT IS TO MAKE IT WORK FOR VETERANS.

>> ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT ELEVATES THE BOARD, THE POSITION -- YOU KNOW THERE'S A REASON THAT ONLY SIX STATES OPERATE IN THE MANNER THAT ALABAMA OPERATES NOW.

EVERYONE ELSE HAS MOVED TO SOME MODEL WHERE THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THAT IS ULTIMATELY SOMEONE HAS TO BE IN CHARGE AND THE BUCK HAS TO STOP SOMEWHERE AND HAVING THE FULL RESOURCES TO BEAR OF STATE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HAVING THE EAR OF THE GOVERNOR IS ONLY A GREAT THING IN MY OPINION.

>> THE HOUSE IS GOING TO START ITS PROCESS TOMORROW IN THE COMMITTEE SO THIS IS THE ISSUE TO WATCH FOR NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I KNOW IT WAS A LONG DAY.

THAT YOU AGAIN FOR YOU TIME.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ANYTIME, AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITES, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION IS YOUR PLACE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

WITH ACCESS TO FREE CURRICULUM, VIDEOS, LESSON PLANS AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES WITH PBS LEARNING VIDEO.

AND ALL OF THE PBS KIDS PROGRAMS PARENTS KNOW AND TRUST.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY WITH ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION THIS VISIT US AT APT.ORG/EDUCATION TO LEARN MORE.

>> THE 16TH STREET BEFORE THEN WAS THE FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN BIRMINGHAM.

THROUGHOUT THE 1960S THE CHURCH WAS A CENTER OF BLACK ACTIVISM AND A STAGING GROUND FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IN 1963 IT WAS THE TARGET OF A RACIALLY MOTIVATED BOMBING THAT KILLED FOUR LITTLE GIRLS.

1DENISE MCMAYOR, ADDIE COLLINS, CAROL ROBERTSON AND CYNTHIA WESLEY.

THE BOMBING STRATEGY OUTRAGED THE NATION AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.

TODAY THE CHURCH IS A FIXTURE OF BIRMINGHAM AND SERVES AS MONUMENT TO THE COUNTRY.

IN 2013 THE MURDERED CHILDREN WERE AWARDED THE UNITED STATES HIGHEST HONOR, THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL AND IN 2019 PRESIDENT OWE BAMA DECLARED THE AREA THE BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS NATIONAL MONUMENT.

>> TODD: WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENT LEIGH HULSEY FROM SHELBY COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE A KEY BILL THAT WAS MENTIONED IN STATE OF THE STATE.

IT'S PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA.

INTERESTING BUT IT'S A NOVEL CONCEPT.

BANNING CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF ABOUT OUR READING SCORES IMPROVEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

8 GRADE WASN'T THERE.

MAYBE THAT'S RELATED TO CELL PHONES.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOUR BILL DOES IN TERMS OF BANNING CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS.

>> SO I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST THING REALLY -- I WOULD LOVE TO JUST START WITH IS THAT WE HAVE TWO RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATING CHILDREN OR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES.

THAT'S EDUCATING THEM AND KEEPING THEM SAFE WHILE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AND REALIZE IS KIDS ARE EXTREMELY DISTRACTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON THEIR CELL PHONES.

A AND THERE ARE TONS OF STUDIES AT THIS POINT THAT ARE STARTING TO REALLY SHOW THAT IT IS -- IT IS HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LEARNING POTENTIAL AND IT'S IMPACTING THOSE NUMBERS.

IT'S IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN AND REALLY BE CAREER READY OR COLLEGE READY.

SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY WANTING TO DO IS TRY TO REMOVE THE DISTRACTION.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT TAKING YOUR KIDS PHONES UP AT THE DOOR WHEN THEY COME IN SCHOOL.

THEIR PHONES ARE STILL GOING TO BE WITH THEM.

BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PUT GOOD GUARDRAILS IN PLACE THAT ALLOW US TO MAXIMIZE THEIR LEARNING POTENTIAL AND SET THEM UP FOR THE GREATEST LEVEL OF SUCCESS THAT WE CAN.

AND THEN ALSO KEEP THEM SAFE.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY MISUSES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH OUR CELL PHONES, PARTICULARLY -- YOU KNOW, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND KIDS BEING KIDS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ALSO PROTECT THEM, LOOK OUT FOUR THEIR MENTAL WELL BEING, AND JUST MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN A GREAT HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

>> WELL, IT CAN'T BE THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO DO.

I KNOW SOME SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH BANNING CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK DID YOU USE FROM WHAT THOSE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE GONE THROUGH TO INFORM YOUR BILL?

>> SO INTERESTINGLY MOST OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING THIS ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE LEGISLATION THAT I HAVE DRAFTED.

AND I THINK THEIR OUTCOMES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE BETTER IF I'M HONEST.

>> AND THEY CAN ALWAYS GO FURTHER AND YOU ABSOLUTELY K WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SETTING THE FLOOR AND SCHOOLS CAN ADD TO THAT IN ANY WAY THEY CHOOSE TO.

THEY JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN THAT.

IF THERE ARE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO TO GO BEYOND THAT THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO MAKE IT MORE RESTRICTIVE.

BUT ULTIMATELY -- I THINK THE LAST STATISTIC THAT I SAW -- AND I MAY NOT BE 100% RIGHT BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THERE -- IS ABOUT 20 OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING.

A LOT OF IT ALREADY LOOKS LIKE THIS OR IT'S A LOT MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

BUT THAT LEAVES A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING AT ALL.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS JUST KIND OF HAVE SOMETHING UNIFORM ACROSS THE STATE, SET THE FLOOR FOR THIS IS THE MINIMUM REQUIRED AND THEN ALLOW THOSE LOCAL BOARDS AND THOSE PARENTS AND EDUCATORS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT REALLY WORK BEST FOR THEM.

>> WELL, I DO THINK IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING.

I WAS JOKING WITH STATE SUPERINTENDENT MACKEY THAT I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN BEEPERS WERE OF THE PROBLEM.

>> I AM TOO SADLY.

>> BUT THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO ON A SMARTPHONE VERSUS THAT.

WHILE I HAVE YOU, YOU ALSO HAVE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH READING AND LITERACY, TRYING TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS AREN'T USING WHAT IS CALLED 3-Q LEARNING.

WHAT IS THE 3-Q LEARNING AND WHAT DOES YOUR BILL TO?

>> 3-QING IS AN OLD MODEL.

IT SCIENTIFICALLY HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE IN TEACHING KIDS TO READ.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT USING SYNTAX MEMORY AND VISUAL CLUES TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORDS ARE RATHER THAN LEARNING HOW TO DECODE AND USE PHONETICS, THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED IT BACK IN THE PAGER DAYS BUT NOW WE CALL IT THE SCIENCE OF READING.

BUT YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO ALL AROUND OUR STATE WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S VERY ENCOURAGING BUT THERE ARE SOME PACKETS THAT WE STILL HAVE SOME OF THIS GOING ON.

AND REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO MINOR THAT AGAIN WE'RE PREPARING KIDS TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS AND CAREER AND COLLEGE READY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

BUT IT USE'S LOT OF GUESSING AND MEMORY, AND -- >> MAYBE WE NEED TO USE PHONICS >> THAT'S NOT TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE A READER.

AND THE SCIENCE OF READING IS TEACHING YOU HOW TO LOOK AT A WORD AND FIGURE OUT WITHOUT ANYONE HELPING YOU HOW TO DECODE THAT WORD AND SOUND IT OUT AND KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT.

3-Q DOESN'T DO THAT.

IT WILL GIVE YOU -- FOR EXAMPLE, IT WILL GIVE YOU A PICTURE.

AND IT WILL HAVE A SENTENCE, MAYBE IT SAYS "THE BROWN HORSE IS IN THE FIELD," AND IT WILL UNDERLINE HORSE.

AND IT WILL HAVE A PICTURE.

AND YOU'RE TRYING TO USE THAT PICTURE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT "HORSE" IS BECAUSE CREW DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ THE WORD.

WHAT THEY WILL DO IS MAYBE THEY WILL SAY DONKEY AND THEY WILL ACCEPT THAT.

THAT'S A COMPLETE DISSERVICE TO THE CHILD BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WORD DONKEY.

IT'S THE WORD HORSE.

SO IT'S JUST GETTING KIDS BASICALLY TO GUESS TO LEARN HOW TO READ BY USING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CONTEXT CLUES.

>> SO LET'S SET THEM UP IN THE FUTURE BY USING THE SCIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT I'M EAGER TO SEE THE BILLS MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS, SOME IMPORTANT STUFF REGARDING SCHOOLS.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TODD.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU CAN SEE WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO.APT.ORG, "CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APT'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCAST.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> APT IS ALABAMA'S STORYTELLER STORIES OF ALABAMA'S HISTORY.

THE ARTS.

ALABAMA MUSIC.

LEARN MORE ONLINE AT APT.ORG.

>> LOCATED IN THE HEART OF ALABAMA'S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE IS DEDICATED TO THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM.

THE COLLECTION SPANS THE HISTORY OF SPACE FLIGHT FROM EARTH 20 INDUSTRY ROBERT GODDARD TO PRESENT DAY.

THE COLLECTION INCLUDES THE APOLLO XVI COMMAND MODULE AND ONE OF THE THREE REMAINING SATURN ROCKETS.

IT'S KNOWN FOR HISTORICAL COLLECTION BUT BETTER KNOWN AS THE HOME OF THE ORIGINAL SPACE CAMP.

THIS WORLD-CLASS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1982 IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

SPACE CAMP ALLOWS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IS IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE ABOUT ASTRONAUT.

AN HISTORICAL MONUMENT TO THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM, THE SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER CONTINUES TO NOT ONLY PRESERVE ARTIFACTS AND ARCHIVES BUT TO INSPIRE FUTURE EXPLORATION AND EXPLORERS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACIE.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!