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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TODAY WAS THE EIGHTH LEGISLATIV DAY AS BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENAT CONVENED THIS MORNING TO CONDUC BUSINESS.

WE'LL START OUR COVERAGE IN THE SENATE, WHERE LAWMAKERS TOOK UP A BILL SEEKING TO CHANGE THE COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE BOARD GOVERNING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY.

SENATE BILL 5, SPONSORED BY SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT, PROPOSES MODIFYING THE SIZE OF THE BOARD AND SHIFTING THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING ITS MEMBERS.

ELLIOTT INTRODUCED SIMILAR LEGISLATION LAST YEAR AFTER CONTROVERSY AROSE OVER A LUNCH PROGRAM HOSTED AT THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY BY THE INVISIBLE HISTORIES PROJECT, WHICH FOCUSE ON LGBTQ HISTORY IN THE STATE.

DURING TODAY'S SENATE SESSION, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN THREATENED TO FILIBUSTER THE BILL, ARGUING THAT MORE TIME WAS NEEDED TO REVIEW ITS POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS.

IN RESPONSE, ELLIOTT AGREED TO TEMPORARILY SET THE BILL ASIDE, CARRYING IT OVER FOR CONSIDERATION AT A LATER DATE.

>> THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE HISTORY OF ARCHIVES BOARD AND THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BACK AND FORTH AND WHILE IT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT I WANTED OR WHAT THEY WANTED, I THINK WE'RE BOTH COMFORTABLY NEUTRAL ON THE BILL AT THIS POINT, SO I THINK IT BRINGS IT MORE INTO CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING SOME WE VIDEOED ON HERE RECENTLY, AND THERE IS EVEN AN ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION AND SEPARATION FROM THOSE THAT WE JUST VOTED ON HERE RECENTLY.

>> OVER THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, UNLESS YOU SIT DOWN AND ANALYZE EACH ASPECT OF IT TO DO IT ON THE FLY.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, BEING A LAWYER, I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT WE CAN HAVE A 50-PAGE BILL, AND ALL THAT'S GOT TO BE CHANGED IN IT IS ONE WORD FROM "MAY" TO "SHALL."

ONE WORD AND IT CHANGES THE WHOLE BILL.

>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS DEALING WITH GUN STORAGE THIS SESSION, BUT THEY ARE TAKING DIFFERENCE PATHS.

ONE BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDIANS TO SECURELY STORE FIREARMS, AND ESTABLISH CRIMINAL PENALTIES FO PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN GAIN ACCESS TO A FIREARM FAILED TO PASS OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY WEDNESDAY.

HOUSE BILL 103 FROM MOBILE, IS THE SPONSOR FOR HOUSE BILL 103 WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PARENTS TO MAKE THEIR FIREARMS "REASONABLY SECURE," WHICH THE BILL DEFINES AS UTILIZING A TRIGGER LOCK, A GUN SAFE OR OTHER SECURITY MECHANISM.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO MAKE IT A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE WITH UP TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL, WERE THEIR CHILD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FIREARM AND BRING IT ONT PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY DUE TO THEIR FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECUR IT.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE PRAISE DRUMMOND FOR HER INTENT BEHIND THE BILL, BUT THE BILL ULTIMATELY FAILED TO PASS THROUGH THE COMMITTEE.

BUT ANOTHER GUN STORAGE BILL IS MOVING.

THE SENATE TODAY PASSED SENATE BILL 40, KNOWN AS THE HOUSTON HUNTER ACT.

IT WOULD ALLOW CITIZENS TO TURNOVER THEIR FIREARMS TO A REGISTERED GUN DEALER OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR A SE AMOUNT OF TIME WITHOUT FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS, SUCH AS LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO POSSESS A FIREARM OR BEING INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED.

THE BILL IS NAMED FOR MILITARY VETERANS HOUSTON TUMLIN AND HUNTER WHITLEY, BOTH OF WHOM DIED BY SUICIDE.

THEIR MOTHERS HAVE ADVOCATED TH BILL, SAYING HAD IT BEEN LAW PREVIOUSLY, IT MAY HAVE SAVED THEIR SONS.

THAT BILL NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE THE HOUSE HAD A RELATIVELY LIGH DAY, PASSING LEGISLATION UPDATING THE BOARD OF PHARMACY AND EXPANDED BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.

HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER SAID IT HAD BEEN A PRODUCTIVE WEEK, SPECIFICALLY MENTIONING THE PACKAGE OF CRIME BILLS MOVING AND THE PASSAGE OF THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER BILL.

>> I THINK WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE WEEK THIS WEEK WITH WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE CRIME BILLS AND GETTING THOSE OUT.

THOSE ARE PRETTY STRONG AND THE VETERANS BILL THAT WE GOT OUT TO HELP VETERANS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND TRANSITION.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE HE GOT STARTED BUT THAT HAS BECOME THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE PARTNERING WITH THE ALABAMA POWER ON THE CRISIS CENTER FOR VETERANS.

AND I WENT TO A RECEPTION LAST NIGHT WHERE THEY RAISED 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT PROGRAM.

SO IT WAS VERY GOOD.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING -- ALABAMA'S ONE OF THE TOP VETERAN STATES IN THE COUNTRY AS FAR AS WHAT WE DO FOR VETERANS.

WE HAVE OVER 4 HUNDRED THOUSAND VERBS IN OUR STATE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HELP THEM IN TRANSITION FROM THE MILITARY LIFE TO CIVILIAN LIFE.

SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT EASY.

SO I THINK THE RESOURCE CENTER -- VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER IS GOING TO DO THAT AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT.

>> TODAY WAS HIGHER ED DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE.

STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS FRO ALABAMA'S 14 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIE GATHERED IN THE CAPITAL CITY TO RALLY IN SUPPORT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TELL LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT IT HA ON THE STATE.

THE DAY INCLUDED A PARADE, A RALLY ON THE STATE HOUSE STEPS AND A BARBEQUE LUNCH FOR LAWMAKERS AND STAFF ON THE CAPITOL LAWN.

>> WE COULDN'T BE ANYMORE PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE STORY OF OUR UNIVERSITIES WITH THESE ELECTED OFFICIAL WHOSE EVERY DAY ARE MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND WE WANT TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY WE BELIEVE UNIVERSITIES ARE SO CRITICAL E EVERY ONE OF THESE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS CAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DREAM, AN INTERESTING IN PURSUING THAT DREAM AND THEY CHOSE ALABAMA UNIVERSITY AS THE PRAISE TO INVEST THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND THE PASSION THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE FOR THE FREEDOM AND THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ROLE OUR UNIVERSITIES PLAY IN MAKING THOSE DREAMS TURN INTO A REALITY.

>> AND TODAY WE ARE HERE ADVOCATING FOR NOT ONLY GRADUATE STUDENT RETENTION IN ALABAMA BUT ALSO FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR OUR UNIVERSITIES.

AS WE KNOW COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE MAIN BASES OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH RETENTION WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGES IN ALABAMA.

SO OUR BIG GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE COLLEGE GRADUATES TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESSES IN ALABAMA, TRAY TO STAY IN ALABAMA, FOLLOW THEIR CAREER PATH AND MAXIMIZE EVERYTHING THAT THE STATE HAS TO OFFER.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

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

♪ ♪ THE ARTS .

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ALABAMA MUSIC .

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LEARN MORE ONLINE AT WWW.APTV.ORG >> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER FIDDLER FROM FAIRHOPE AND BEN ROBBINS FROM SYLACAUGA.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION.

IT'S A BIG TOPIC THIS SESSION.

YOU BOTH HAVE IMMIGRATION BILLS THAT ARE MOVING IN THE PROCESS.

I WANT TO START FROM THE BEGINNING.

WHERE DID THIS REALLY GET STARTED?

I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A STUDY GROUP THAT GOT FORMED AND SO Y'ALL HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS LEADING UNTO SESSION.

>> I HAVE A LOT TO PULL IN.

I STARTED WATCHING AND SEEING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT NORTH ALABAMA WAS HAVING AND SOME OF THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS THAT FOLKS IN ALBERTVILLE WERE HAVING AND REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS IN SYLACAUGA.

AND THEN THIS STORY HIT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS HIT BALDWIN COUNTY.

SO I STARTED DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CUBAN HAITIAN VENEZUELA PROGRAM, THERE WASN'T A GOOD CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM AND THE SPONSOR, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY GIVING MONEY TO SPONSOR OR TO BE INVOLVED AND HELP SPONSOR THE PERSON, THAT IMMIGRANT.

AND IT WAS KIND OF A DISSERVICE TO THE IMMIGRANT AND THE COMMUNITY WHERE ALL OF THESE IMMIGRANTS WERE COMING.

AND I WAS WATCHING THE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING OVER THERE.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS KIND OF TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> REALLY WE A CONVERSATION WITH THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, AND OUR PLATFORM COMMITTEE MEETING, SOME OF US DISCUSSED IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND JUST KIND OF OFFLINE WE STARTED TALKING AND WE KEPT THE SPEAKER INFORMED.

AND JENNIFER GOT -- KIND OF ROLLED IN WHEN SHE REACHED OUT ABOUT HER INTEREST ANYTIME.

SO WE -- YES, THE CHNB PROGRAM IF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT OCCURRED OVER THE LAST SUMMER, SUMMER OF 24 IS WHAT SPURRED A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION OF IMMIGRATION.

BECAUSE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT HAD ANY PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THE PROGRAM, THERE WERE ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS OF HOW DID THEY GET HERE, WHAT ARE DOING, WHERE ARE THEY WORKING AND THAT'S WHY THE NAME OF MY BILL IS THE WORKFORCE TRANSPARENCY ACT.

THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WERE STRUGGLING TO GET ANSWERERS.

>> AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF YOUR BILLS BUT WHEN YOU SAY INFLUX, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE GROUND?

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF MY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

BUT SYLACAUGA?

>> I WOULD SAY THE WORD INFLUX IS A VERY BROAD TERM.

THE DEFINITION MEANS MORE THAN ONE.

SO REALLY ANYTHING, YOU KNOW -- SO INFLUX IS A VERY BROAD TERM AND EACH COMMUNITY HAD IMMIGRANTS, OR NOT EACH BUT EVERY COMMUNITY THAT WE DISCUSSED HAD IMMIGRANTS.

AND SO IF YOU'RE A TOWN OF 5 THOUSAND AND YOU HAVE 50 OR A HUNDRED, THAT'S A BIG STRAIN, OR IF YOU'RE A BIGGER COMMUNITY -- SO THE NUMBERS VARY CARGO TO EACH COMMUNITY.

>> PROPORTIONAL.

>> PROPORTIONAL.

BUT WHAT WE DID SEE WAS WHAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION AND SOME OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

FACTS -- PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW -- THERE WERE NO ABSOLUTE FACTS AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND PEACE BACK TOGETHER SOME OF THE THINGS FROM THE SUMMER AND MOVING FORWARD WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENCY ON WHO IS IN OUR STATE AND WHO IS PAYING TAXES AND WHAT BENEFITS THEY'RE RECEIVING.

>> LET'S START WITH YOUR BILL, IT HAS TO DO WITH WIRE TRANSFERS.

I'M SEEING A WESTERN UNION OFFICE WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING TO SEND MONEY BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

THIS IS PRETTY TYPICAL AND YOUR BILL WOULD PUT A FEE ON THAT.

>> IT'S A 4 PERCENT FEE.

IT'S SIMILAR TO SENATOR WEAVER'S BILL THAT SHE -- THE WIRE TRANSFER BILL THAT SHE HAD FILED IN THAT ONE AND A HALF PERCENT GOES TO THE SHERIFF HE DETAINER FUND TO HELP WITH THE DEPORTATION ISSUES THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS ARE ENCOUNTERING.

AND 2 AND A HALF PERCENT GOES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OR THE COUNTY WHERE THE WIRE TRANSFER ORIGINATED.

THE THOUGHT -- AND WE WERE VERY -- I THINK THE LOOSELY FORMED IMMIGRATION STUDY GROUP WAS VERY FIRM IN THAT THIS IS WHERE THE BURDENS ARE OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IF THIS WIRE TRANSFER OCCURRED IN ALBERTVILLE -- BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS THERE, MAYBE BOUGHT THAT MONEY BACK TO THAT COUNTY AND LET THE COUNTY DECIDE WHERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WERE BY ESL DEFINITION THAT WE HAVE AND PUT THAT 2 PERCENT -- PUT 2 PERCENT BACK TO THOSE -- THE EDUCATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

THERE'S SOME PARAMETERS AROUND THAT TO GIVE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SOME DIRECTION ABOUT HOW MUCH AND HOW THEY DISTRIBUTE THAT AND THEN ANOTHER HALF PERCENT, THE OTHER HALF PERCENT WOULD GO TO HOSPITALS.

SO THE HOSPITALS THAT -- DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE HOSPITALS IN THAT COUNTY, IF THERE'S NOT A HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTY, IT'S DISTRIBUTED ALONG IN THE HOSPITALS THEY WERE WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS.

IF THERE'S HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTY OR 50-MILE RADIUS IT GOES BACK TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE PARAMETERS AROUND THAT.

THERE IS A SUNSET ON THE BILL.

THE REASON BEING IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A FEE ON ANYTHING THAT -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THE MONEY IS SPENT FOR THIS IMMIGRATION ASSIMILATION PROGRAMS AND THAT'S THE NAME OF THAT FUND.

SO THE MONEY -- THE FEE WOULD COME THROUGH THE SECURITIES COMMISSION WHO REGULATES, THEY WOULD KIND OF WATCH THAT, MAKE SURE IT GOES TO THE TREASURE DEPARTMENT WITH THESE TWO FUNDS SET UP, ONE AND A HALF PERCENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S FUND AND THEN THE TWO AND A HALF PERCENT CALLED THE COMMUNITY ASSIMILATION RESOURCE FUND PROGRAM AND THAT'S HOW IT WOULD TRICKLE DOWN.

WITH THAT STUDY GROUP THAT CONTINUES TO WATCH THAT AND ASSURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES ARE RECEIVING THE MONEY AND IT'S RELIEVING THE BURDEN ON THOSE COMMUNITIES IN THOSE AREAS.

>> IS PART THE POINT, THOUGH, TO DETER THAT KIND OF TRANSACTION?

IS THAT ANYWHERE IN THE INTENT OF THE LAW?

>> NO, IT REALLY ISN'T.

IT'S JUST TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES ABSORB SOME OF THESE COSTS THAT ARE RECURRING.

FOR EXAMPLE.

I WENT TO ALL OF MY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE HAD SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS IN BALDWIN COUNTY AT 30 PERCENT NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING.

AND THAT PUTS A BURDEN ON -- WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE ONE TEACHER THAT IS TEACHING ENGLISH TO PER HUNDRED STUDENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH, IT'S JUST A BURDEN ON THAT SCHOOL, SO IT'S REALLY TO HELP THE RESOURCES FOR THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> LET'S MOVE TO YOUR LEGISLATION, IT HAS TO DEEP DO WITH E-VERIFY.

WE HEARD THE TERM E-VERIFY A LOT.

WHAT DOES YOUR BILL DO AND HOW DOES THE CHANGE THE LAW?

WE ALREADY HAVE THINGS ON THE BACK -- >> WE HAVE THINGS ABOUT E-VERIFY.

WHAT MY BILL WILL DO IS A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD THIS SUMMER, AND IT'S CLOSING LOOPHOLES THAT WE FOUND IN OUR SYSTEM IN ALABAMA.

ONE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO START REGULATING WHAT WE CALL LABOR BROKERS, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT BRING PEOPLE INTO THE STATE.

SO IF YOU RECRUIT AND BRING INDIVIDUALS INTO THE STATE YOU'RE NOW GOING TO BE CONSIDERED A LABOR BROKER.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE STATE SO WE KNOW WHO THESE SHADOWY FIGURES ARE THAT A DUMPING PEOPLE ARE, WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND HOW ARE YOU OBTAINING THIS LABOR?

AND WE'RE GOING TO, THE ONLY THOSE LABOR BROKERS, WE'RE GOING TO CUT OFF ANY KICK BACK THAT A STAFFING AGENCY COULD PAY TO A LABOR BROKE TORE FIND THEM CHEAP LABOR.

BUT WHAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO IS THAT LABOR BROKER WILL HAVE TO E-VERIFY.

THEY WILL HAVE TO E-VERIFY IF I'M BRINGING INDIVIDUALS FROM -- WHETHER IT BE THE BORDER OR WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH THE RATE TO WORK IN THE STATE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COYOTES OR -- WHEN I SAW THAT I THOUGHT IS THAT A TERM OF ART OR SOMETHING BUT YOU'RE BASICALLY CREATING THAT.

>> WE'RE CREATING THAT TERM OFF OF WHAT -- YEAH, A COYOTE OR THE TERMS THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE SO WE'RE CREATING A LEGAL TERM FOR IT AS THE LABOR BROKER AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO E-VERIFY.

WHAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO IS HAVING EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY USE THE SAVES PROGRAM.

THE SAVES PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO E-VERIFY BUT WHAT IT DOES, YOU HAVE TO ENTER AN IMMIGRANTS INFORMATION INTO A PUBLIC MEANS TESTED BENEFIT PROGRAM AND SEE IF THAT IMMIGRANT IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE SAID BENEFIT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY USING THAT SYSTEM AND WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE EVERY SEGMENT TO USE THAT SYSTEM.

ON TOP OF THAT WHAT WE THERE DO IS WE WILL START HAVING SPONSORS REGISTER.

SO THEY WILL HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE.

BECAUSE WHAT WE SAW IS THAT WHEN YOU -- LET'S USE CHNB PROGRAM FOR EXAMPLE.

A SPONSOR HAS TO SIGN FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

WITH THAT, THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION TO HEALTH CARE AND IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THOSE THINGS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER SO WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

WHEN AN IMMIGRANT APPLIES FOR A PUBLIC MEANS TESTED BENEFIT THAT IMMIGRANT WILL HAVE TO LIST THEIR SPONSOR'S NAME.

SO NOW WE WILL ALLOW THE ATTORNEY, TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND THEN COLLECT AGAINST THAT SPONSOR FOR ANY EXPENSES PAID BY THE STATE ON BEHALF OF THAT IMMIGRANT WHEN THE SPONSOR AGREED TO PROVIDE THAT.

THIS IS ALREADY FEDERAL CODE BUT THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MECHANISM TO TRY TO CAPTURE THESE COSTS SO WE'RE SAYING IF IT CAN BE DONE FEDLY IT CAN BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND WE CAN RECOUP STATE MONEY PAID OUT.

SO IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHO IS IN OUR STATE AND IT'S ABOUT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF AWARE TAX DOLLARS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO RECOUP MONIES THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID AND THERE WAS NO VERIFICATION OF -- IF YOU WERE -- IF YOU HAD A RIGHT TO THAT ENTITLEMENT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT KIND OF COMPLIMENT WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW DOING UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL OF THAT.

I'M REMINDED THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE IN MANY WAYS.

BACK IN 2011, HB-56, YOU KNOW, BROAD REACHING, STRICTEST IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE COUNTRY, SOME OF IT WAS CLAWED BACK BY THE COURTS AND SOME BY THE LEGISLATURE.

I'M CURIOUS IN YOUR MEETINGS AND STUDY AND DISCUSSIONS HOW MUCH THAT HAS PLAYED INTO LESSONS LEARNED, WHAT WE CAN DO LEGALLY AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT SITUATION.

>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH.

I KNOW YOU SAID BROAD REACHING.

WE'RE NOTHING LIKE THE BILLS -- THE BILL THAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER.

OURS ARE CUTTING-EDGE APPROACHES OWN WHAT STATES CAN DO.

AND WE ARE NOT HITTING EVERYONE WITH A BROAD HAMMER AND TRYING TO JUST MAKE HEADLINES.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON HOW IS IT -- WHAT CAN THE STATE DO, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING OUR STATE DOLLARS AND WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE ASSIMILATE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO THE STATE.

THIS IS NOT AN ANTI IMMIGRANT PROPOSAL.

IT'S NOT -- WE STILL ARE A VERY WELCOMING STATE.

WE'RE JUST SAYING HOW TO DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE COLLECTING ALL OF THE TAXES THAT WE SHOULD, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE UPDATING PORTIONS OF THE TAX CODE TO MAKE SURE -- BECAUSE SOME IMMIGRANTS DON'T GET SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERERS BUT HAVE A USCIS NUMBER TO NUMBER.

WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE EVERY EMPLOYER TO NOTIFY OF THOSE WHO HAVE THE CIS NUMBER.

ON THE FLIP SIDE WE MAKE SURE IMMIGRANTS AREN'T RECEIVING BENEFITS THEY SHOULDN'T BE RECEIVING LIKE WE DO WITH EVERY ALABAMIAN.

ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE TRANSPARENT AND TRYING TO RECOUP WITH JENNIFER'S BILL MONIES THAT ARE LOST OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE OTHER BILLS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE'RE NOT SINGLING OUT ANY CLASS OF PERSON.

WE'RE TREATING ALL PEOPLE THE SAME.

AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE WERE NOT OVERSTEPPING STATE AUTHORITY.

WE'RE WELL WITHIN OUR GROUNDS TO PROTECT OUR TAX DOLLARS AND REGULATE INDUSTRY WITHIN OUR STATE.

BUT WE'RE SO NARROWLY FOCUSED.

WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH ALL OF THE BUSINESS GROUPS, ALL OF THE FARM COMMUNITIES ON MAKING SURE LABOR IS AVAILABLE BUT IT IS LEGAL LABOR.

AND WE DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LABOR MARKET IN THIS STATE.

>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING YOUR BILLS CLOSELY.

I HOPE YOU WILL KEEP US UPDATED TO THEIR PROGRESS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES OF THE SESSION.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND BE SAFE DRIVING HOME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>> VIRGINIA FOSTER DURNAM WAS A PRESENCE IN ALABAMA POLITICS AND THE MOVEMENT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20 CENTURY.

IN THE EARLY 1950S, VIRGINIA TURNER LIVED IN MONTGOMERY AND BECAME INVOLVED IN THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, FOR MOST OF THE 1960S, THE HOUSEHOLD WAS A HUB OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITY AS THE COUPLE OPENED THEIR HOME TO JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS AND ATTORNEYS DURING THE FREEDOM RIGHTS AND THE SELMA-TO-MONTGOMERY MARCH.

THROUGHOUT THE '70 AND '80S, SHE CONTINUED TO WRITE ON BEHALF OF POLITICAL CAUSES.

SHE PUBLISHED HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY THAT WAS PRAISED.

SHE REMAINED ACTIVE WELL INTO HER EARLY '90S, PROTESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND WORK TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC EQUALITY.

>> YOUR WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION ♪ ♪ >> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DON'T MISS "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" "WEEK IN REVIEW" TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30 HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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