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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TODAY STARTED EARLY AND ENDED LATE AS THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE MET FOR THE 12TH DAY OF THE 202 REGULAR SESSION.

THERE WAS ALSO A FULL SLATE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS AS LAWMAKERS TRY TO GET THEIR BILLS IN POSITION FOR PASSAGE.

OUR COVERAGE STARTS IN THE SENATE, WHERE LAWMAKERS VOTED T MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO PROVIDE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND STATE WORKERS.

THE SENATE TOOK UP AND PASSED SENATE BILL 199 FROM SENATOR VIVIAN FIGURES.

IT WOULD GRANT UP TO EIGHT WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE FOR NEW MOTHERS AND TWO WEEKS FOR NEW FATHERS.

FIGURES BROUGHT UP SIMILAR LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, BUT THIS TIME, THE BILL IS GAINING MOMENTUM WITH BACKING FROM GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND SUPPORT FROM THE ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

AFTER A SUCCESSFUL 28-3 VOTE, FIGURES SAID THIS LEGISLATION I LONG OVERDUE AND THAT SHE WAS THANKFUL FOR THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IT RECEIVED.

>> IT WAS VERY, VERY EXCITING.

IT WAS HEARTENING, IT WAS HUMBLING.

I TRULY APPRECIATED ALL OF THE 23 CO-SPONSORS, FROM THE SENATORS.

IT FELT LIKE IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT.

IT WAS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT THAT WASN'T ALREADY IN PLACE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, AND I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO MY SON, CONGRESSMAN FIGURES BECAUSE HE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND I IMMEDIATELY SAID, YES, I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE THE GOVERNOR IN SUPPORT OF THE THE BILL.

IT'S IMPORTANT A WOMAN HAS THAT SUPPORT AND IT'S ALSO POSH THAT SHE HAS THE TIME TO SPEND WITH THE FATHER AND THEY CAN BOND AND THE FATHER CAN HELP OUT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

SO I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FATHERS IN AND ALSO FOR BILL WHO HAVE MISCARRIAGES, AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE SENATORS WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULDN'T BE GETTING LEAVE FOR AN ABORTION.

I SAID FINE, LET'S PUT THE LANGUAGE IN AND MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.

SO WOMEN WHO ARE 12 WEEKS OR MORE AND HAVE A MISCARRIAGE BECAUSE THEY THROUGH GO THROUGH A TIME OF HEALING, PARTICULARLY MENTALLY.

>> THE BILL NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION.

TWO OTHER BILLS ALSO PASSED THE SENATE TODAY.

SENATE BILL 137 FROM SENATOR JABO WAGGONER WOULD ALLOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS TO FALL UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

AND HOUSE BILL 230 FROM FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE RANDALL SHEDD.

IT WOULD ALLOW PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS TO HAVE CONVERSATION WITH REAL ESTATE AGENTS OR BROKERS WITHOUT BEING FORCED INTO A CONTRACT.

THAT'S FINAL PASSAGE AND THE BILL IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR' DESK.

>> IN THE HOUSE, LAWMAKERS TOOK UP A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE US OF CELL PHONES IN ALABAMA CLASSROOMS.

DUBBED THE FOCUS ACT, HOUSE BIL 166 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH HULSEY WOULD PROHIBIT THE USE OF CELL PHONES OF ANY KIND DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHOOL DAY.

SOMETIMES CALLED BELL TO BELL.

IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO ADOPT INTERNET SAFETY POLICIES TO ADDRESS STUDENTS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET ON SCHOOL COMPUTERS.

LAWMAKERS GOT A LATE START DEBATING THE BILL AND, BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THE HOUSE VOTED TO CARRY IT OVER TO BRING BACK ANOTHER DAY.

HULSEY SAID SHE REMAINS CONFIDENT THE BILL WILL ULTIMATELY PASS.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING FOR A LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR NOW, AND THE DATA THAT -- THERE'S A LOT OF DATA OUT THERE BUT THE DATA THAT WAS OUT THERE ABOUT HOW CELL PHONES ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOL WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR ACADEMY ICK PERFORMANCE AND THEIR OVERALL WELL BEING OR MENTAL HEALTH IS REALLY QUITE ALARMING, IF I'M HONEST WITH YOU.

SO AFTER SEEING THOSE THINGS, I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T IN GOOD CONSCIOUS DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

THERE'S A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

THEY SPOKE AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING AND WE FOLLOWED PACK UP WITH THEM THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE FELT WE DIDN'T NEED THEM TO COME BACK BECAUSE THE INFORMATION WAS SO GOOD LAST YEAR BUT WE DID WANT TO GET SOME UPDATED INFORMATION FROM THEM.

BUT ESSENTIALLY THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE HAS SKYROCKETED FOR THE KIDS.

EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE IS THEIR DISCIPLINE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN OVER 80 PERCENT.

WHEN I SAY THAT, REFERRALS TO THE OFFICE FOR DISCIPLINE SO HAVING TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM, NOT STAY IN THE CLASSROOM AND LEARN AND FIN TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU'RE THERE TO DO, OVER 08 PERCENT, THAT'S A FABULOUS STATISTIC.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AND EXACTLY WATT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> LOTS OF COMMITTEE ACTION TODAY, STARTING IN THE SENATE.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADVANCED A BILL ALLOWING PROSECUTORS TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE RAPE OR SODOMY OF CHILD UNDER 12.

UNDER CURRENT LAW, FIRST-DEGREE RAPE AND SODOMY ARE CLASS A FELONIES, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.

HOUSE BILL 49 IS SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON, WHO USED TO PROSECUTE SUCH CASES AND SAYS THE DEATH PENALTY OPTION IS NEEDED.

DURING TODAY'S COMMITTEE HEARING, DEMOCRATIC SENATORS OPPOSING THE BILL EMPHASIZED THAT THEIR OBJECTIONS STEM FROM OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY ITSELF RATHER THAN THE BILL'S INTENT.

>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY FILED UNDER AN AGE OF 6, THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN AMENDMENT THAT MOVED TO IT 12.

>> IF I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE VOTE COUNT IN THE HOUSE IT WAS 99 TO NOTHING OR SOMEWHERE -- >> I THINK IT WAS 93 TO SEVEN THAT WERE OPPOSED THAT CAME AND SPOKE AS BEING OPPOSED TO THE DEATH BILL IN GENERAL NOT OPPOSED TO BILL FOR WHAT IT DOES.

>> FROM A MOBILITY STANDPOINT AND FROM OUR FIELD, THE PUNISHMENT MEETS THE CRIME.

BUT FROM A PRACTICAL BURDEN OF PROOF, THE PUNISHMENT DON'T MATCH THE CRIME.

BECAUSE IT'S DEATH.

>> I WILL HAVE TO VOTE NOW BUT I DID WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD -- BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND PROTECTING THEM AND THE LAWS I HAVE SPONSORED AND HAD PASSED ON THEIR BEHALF.

SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE PAY THAT PENALTY FOR DOING SUCH A TERRIBLE CRIME AGAINST OUR CHILDREN BUT I CAN'T VOTE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE JURY COULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY IMPOSE DEATH OR NOT BUT THAT'S A FACTOR FOR -- IT STILL HAS ALL OF THE SAME DEFENSES, IF YOU DON'T TO THE MENTAL CAPACITY FOR THOSE THINGS.

THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL DEFENSES IN THERE AND IT DOESN'T TAKE THOSE DEFENSES AWAY.

>> HOUSE BILL PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE BY VOTE OF 7 TO 3 WIT ONE ABSTENTION AND NOW GOES TO THE FULL SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE MET TODAY AND CONSIDERED LEGISLATIO CONCERNING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

THAT INCLUDED SENATE BILL 55 FROM SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT.

IT WOULD MAKE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS DRIVER PRIVILEGE CARDS - DRIVER'S LICENSES ISSUED TO NON-CITIZENS IN A HANDFUL OF STATES NOT VALID IN THE STATE O ALABAMA.

>> BUILT THE BILL 55 DEALS WITH DRIVER'S LICENSES AND BASICALLY SAYS THAT THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE LICENSES THAT ARE ISSUED IF THE NONDRIVER'S LICENSE EXPLICITLY INDICATES IT WAS ISSUED TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DID NOT EXERCISE THE OPTION OF PROVIDING PROOF OF LAWFUL PRESENCE IN ITS BEFORE OBTAINING THE LICENSE.

WE HAVE 19 DIFFERENT STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT ISSUE LICENSES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T -- AREN'T HERE LEGALLY.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THOSE IN ALABAMA.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IF YOU LOOK ONLINE, PAGE 42, PAGE 2, THE PENALTY IS A CITATION AND THOSE OF YOU IN LAW FIRM, WE HAVE A BUNCH IN THE ROOM, IT'S A DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE CITATION.

THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ADDED TO THE SENATE THAT SAYS LOOK IF YOU'RE COMING TO ALABAMA TO WORK, YOU ARE HERE LEGALLY.

YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED ONE OF THESE LICENSES, BUT YOU HAVE PROOF THAT YOU ARE HERE LEGALLY AND ARE COMING TO ALABAMA TO WORK THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT PROOF OF BEING HERE LEGALLY WILL SURFACE AND YOU CAN KEEP ON COMING AND GET YOUR ALABAMA LICENSE.

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

THE SENATE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE MET TODAY AND CONSIDERED LEGISLATION CONCERNING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

SENATE BILL 166 STATE SENATOR KEITH KELLEY WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BE DISPLAYED IN COMMON AREAS OF AL PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

DURING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BILL, THERE WAS BOTH STRONG SUPPORT AND PASSIONATE OPPOSITION EXPRESSED BY CITIZENS.

SUPPORTERS ARGUE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS GO BEYOND RELIGION SERVING AS A FOUNDATION FOR LEGAL PRINCIPLES THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

BUT OPPONENTS SAY THE GOVERNMEN HAS NO PLACE IN PROMOTING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND THEY RAISE A NOVEL QUESTION WHICH VERSION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WOULD BE DISPLAYED?

>> BASICALLY IN THE COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED STATES THE PRINCIPALS OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE AFFECTED LAW, THEFT AND SO FORTH.

IN CULTURAL ASPECT, ART AND LITERATURE, SOCIALLY ASPECTS AND MOVEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, MARTIN LUTHER KING AND HIS WORK FOR CIVIL RIGHTS INVOKED THE THEMES FROM THE COMMANDMENTS SUCH AS JUSTICE, QUALITY, DRAWING PARALLELS BETWEEN COMMANDMENTS TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY.

>> THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOUND WITHIN THE SCRIPTURES, EXODUS 20 AND DEUTERONOMY 5, AND THAT IS 3 TO 4 HUNDRED WORDS THAT WHOEVER WROTE THIS BILL SUMMARIZED AND MADE A DECISION DISTINCT OF THAT.

WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S UP TO FAITH COMMUNITIES AND FAITH LEADERS TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE AND FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE AS PART OF THEIR PERSONAL FAITH JOURNEY BUT IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLACE OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHICH WORDS FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO PUT ON A POSTER.

>> NO VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE BIL TODAY FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT WILL LIKELY COME BACK UP WHEN THE COMMITTEE MEET AGAIN.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OTHER NOTABLE COMMITTEE ACTION TODAY.

SENATE BILL 116 FROM SENATOR WILL BARFOOT, KNOWN AS THE GLOC SWITCH BAN, ADVANCED THROUGH TH HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAN SECURITY COMMITTEE.

IT NOW GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE WHERE STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP ENSLER IS CARRYING IT.

HOUSE BILL 89 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARILYN LANDS ADVANCED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUN BUDGET COMMITTEE.

THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW PREGNANT WOMEN ACCESS TO MEDICAID COVERAGE UP TO 60 DAYS BEFORE THEIR APPLICATION IS APPROVED.

THE IDEA IS TO IMPROVE ACCESS T MATERNAL CARE.

IT NOW GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE.

HOUSE BILL 177 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE BEN ROBBINS WOUL REQUIRE PARENTS WHO ARE COVERED UNDER THEIR EMPLOYERS' HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN THOSE PLANS RATHER THAN INSURE THEM THROUGH MEDICAID.

IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE.

HOUSE BILL 363 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMES LOMAX WOUL BAN FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM CONTRIBUTING TO ALABAMA CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL COMMITTEES.

IT'S A BILL SUPPORTED BY SECRETARY OF STATE WES ALLEN.

IT ADVANCED THROUGH THE HOUSE ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMITTEE AND GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE.

AND HOUSE BILL 297 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER FIDDLER WOULD PUT A 4 PERCENT FEE ON FOREIGN WIRE TRANSFERS IN ORDER TO FUND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASSIMILATION EFFORTS IN AREAS OF HIGH IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS.

THAT BILL WAS CARRIED OVER AFTE LAWMAKERS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SUCH A FEE ON NON-IMMIGRANTS.

THERE IS A SIMILAR BILL IN THE SENATE.

THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM A BUSY DAY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL SIT DOW WITH CORRIN OBRIEN OF FIGHT FOR ALABAMA FAMILIES TO TALK ABOUT THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE IVF LAW AND HOW ADVOCATES ARE MARKING IT.

STAY WITH US.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IN CORRIN O'BRIEN, FOUNDER OF FIGHT FOR ALABAMA FAMILIES.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> TODD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN WE VISITED AND WE ARE ACTUALLY AT THE ONE-YEAR MARKS SINCE THIS LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW ADDRESSING THE IDEA ISSUE, IN VITRO FERTILIZATION, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT SHOCKED ALABAMA AND THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON THE IVF INDUSTRY, ON FAMILIES, REALLY BECAME THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF THE SESSION LAST YEAR AND WE WANT TO GET TO THAT.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ADVOCACY DAY COMING UP TOMORROW BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO TO THAT RULING, THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THAT YEAR.

TAKE ME BACK TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THAT BECAUSE IT KIND OF TOOK A FEW DAYS, MAYBE EVEN A WEEK FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT RULING WAS GOING TO IMPACT THE IVF INDUSTRY IN THE WAY THAT IT DID.

>> I REMEMBER THAT DAY WELL.

IT WAS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY16 WAS THE DAY.

ACTUALLY THAT MORNING I WAS SIX WEEKS PREGNANT AFTER A SUCCESSFUL EMBRYO TRANSFER IN MY FIRST ROUND OF IVF.

AND THAT MORNING, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LIT LITTLE OF MY PERSONAL STORY HOW I'M CONNECTED TO THIS.

I WENT TO AN ULTIMATE SO YOU SAID AND LEARNED THAT PREGNANCY LIKELY WOULDN'T BE VIABLE AND WOULDN'T ABOUT PREGNANCY THAT WOULD COME TO TERM.

LATER THAT DAY WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DECISION.

AND I REMEMBER READING THE NEWS AND REALIZING THIS IS PROBABLY NOT GOOD NEWS FOR US BUT WE WEREN'T SURE YET WHAT IT MEANT.

THAT WEEKEND WAS PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND.

I THINK THAT HOLIDAY THROUGH PEOPLE OFF.

SO MY CLINIC, ALABAMA FERTILITY SPECIALISTS DIDN'T STOP SERVICES UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY.

AND I REMEMBER BEING IN THE FRONT OF MY OFFICE AND READING THE NEWS AND BURSTING INTO TEARS REALIZING THAT FIRST I MIGHT LOSE THIS BABY AND, SECOND, WE WOULD LOSE ACCESS TO THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HELP TO US GIVE MY DAUGHTER A SIBLING.

AND THAT WEEK WAS JUST SO TOUGH ON SO MANY FAMILIES IN MY SIMILAR SITUATION THAT NEED IVF TO EXPAND THEIR FAMILY.

EITHER THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OR -- IT WAS A DEVASTATING WEEK.

AND THAT THURSDAY MORNING, AFTER KIND OF CLINICS HAD CLOSED, I THINK UAB HAD CLOSED THE DAY BEFORE, I WEEK UP AND REALIZED WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, I WORK ALONGSIDE A LOT OF LEGISLATORS AND OTHER ISSUES AND I KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET IVF FAMILIES TO THE STATEHOUSE TO TELL OUR STORIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO WE, THAT THURSDAY, PUT TOGETHER AN EMAIL AND JUST STARTED KIND OF THIS GRASSROOTS KIND OF ORGANIZING, LIKE LET'S TELL OUR LEGISLATORS WE NEED TO FIX THIS AND BY THE END OF THE DAY HUNDREDS OF LETTERS WERE GOING TO LEGISLATORS AND THAT'S HOW THE ORGAN WAS FORMED.

>> WOW, I REMEMBER YOU'RE RIGHT THAT IT WAS SO ORGANIC, AND NOT A LOT OF ADVOCACY AROUND HERE TRULY IS THAT ORGANIC.

>> IT'S USUALLY LED BY SOME LOBBYIST OR SPECIAL INTERESTS.

I'M JUST SAYING THIS WAS UNIQUE IN THAT YOU COULD TELL THESE WERE FAMILIES, PROSPECTIVE MOTHERS, PEOPLE THAT REALLY A -- REALLY NOT CONNECTED TO POLITICS, NOT REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

IT WASN'T A PATTERN THING SO THAT'S REALLY STUCK OUT, THE IMPACT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND I REMEMBER SOME OF THOSE DAYS TOO, BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTOOD FOR A MINUTE, LIKE, WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH HERE?

IS IT GOING TO HAVE TO BE BE -- I REMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS WHO I SAW AT A LUNCH ONE OF THOSE DAYS AND SHE WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE HAVE TO GO, WE CAN'T WAIT.

AND THEY DID.

SO THEY MOVED PRETTY QUICKLY.

THERE WERE DIFFERENT BILLS THROWN AROUND THAT LANDED ON LEGISLATION THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM MAYBE TEMPORARILY.

SOME PEOPLE CALLED IT A BAND-AID S THAT AN APPROPRIATE FEDERAL TO SAY WHAT THE LAW PASSED.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GET TO KIND OF THAT PIECE, I JUST WANT TO SAY, THERE WAS JUST ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE COMING BACK TOMORROW IS TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE LEGISLATURE, THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP, SPEAKER LEDBETTER IN EARLIER CHAMPIONING WE NEED TO FIX THIS AND REPRESENTATIVE TERRY WE AND COLLINS GETTING THE BILL TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT THE NECESSARY STEPS WORKING THIS THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE FACT THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SOMETHING IN FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

THAT'S THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN PASS A BILL IN OUR STATE AND IT JUST SHOWED THIS COMMITMENT TO FAMILIES SO WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT THAT BILL PASSED.

ON THE SAME NOTE WE DO KNOW IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX.

IT WAS SOMETHING WEANED TO DO QUICKLY TO GET THE CLINICS BACK OPEN AND THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND THAT'S SOME OF WHAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT TOMORROW.

WE STILL NEED PERMANENT HE PROTECTION.

THE HAND YOU THAT WE PASSED WAS CHALLENGED IN COURT AND COULD HAVE BEEN OVERTURNED.

THAT LAWSUIT HAS BEEN DISMISSED BUT WE ANTICIPATE OTHER LEGAL CHALLENGES.

AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE ONE LAWSUIT AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO AGAIN, WHERE WE HAD NO IVF SERVICES FOR 15 DAYS, FAMILIES IN ALABAMA, WE WANT MORE STABILITY THAN THAT.

WE WANT FULL AND PERMANENT PROTECTION.

SO WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE LIKELY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROTECTING ACCESS TO IVF AND THAT'S SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE TOMORROW.

WE'RE NOT DONE.

WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT A LAWSUIT, IT COULD GO BACK TO THE VERY SAME SUPREME COURT THAT WAS THE ROOT OF THIS ISSUE.

AND IF THEY WERE VOTING CONSISTENTLY IT MAY BE A BIG PROBLEM.

OKAY.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

WELL, LET'S TALKING ABOUT ADVOCACY DAY.

WHAT MIGHT WE EXPECT?

WE TOLD ME EARLIER IT MIGHT BE A LOT OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS, LIKE YOURSELF, BY THE WAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL FROM THE BLACK DRESS BUT YOU YOURSELF ARE EXPECTING.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THAT'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE A YEAR HAS PASSED AND IVF HAS CONTINUED.

>> SLIGHTLY.

SO YOU KNOW, PARTS THE REASON WE WANTED TO COME BACK AND SAY THANK YOU IS BECAUSE OF THIS QUICK ACTION, OVER 4 HUNDRED PREGNANCIES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH IVF.

4 HUNDRED ACROSS OF THE STATE, INCLUDING MY OWN.

AND WE HOPE TO WELCOME A DAUGHTER IN JUNE, AND WE'RE SO ECSTATIC NICK THAT.

IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE -- WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS HERE TOMORROW THAT ARE ALSO PREGNANT AND ALSO SOME OF HOUR BABIES BORN SINCE LAST YEAR SO AGAIN WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.

BUT THE NEXT CONVERSATION THAT IS WE'RE NOT DONE.

THE THIRD THING WE WANT TO BRING UP IS, YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF DISCUSSION AROUND IVF RECENTLY HAS BEEN AROUND IVF IS OKAY BUT WE NEED TO REGULATE IVF, THERE ARE GROUPS TALKING ABOUT REGULATIONS OF IVF AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS.

>> I THINK MANY OF THE GROUPS TALKING ABOUT THIS ARE COMING AT IT FROM A THEORETICAL OR ABSTRACT FRAMEWORK, AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE REAL ALABAMA FAMILIES.

IF WE GO THROUGH OF THEIR PROPOSED REGULATIONS WHAT TO INCREASE RISK FOR FAMILIES AND INCREASE COST FOR FAMILIES.

WE WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO MORE MEDICATION, MORE HORMONES, MORE INJECTION AND MORE PAINFUL PROCEDURES.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO DRIVE ALABAMA FAMILIES TO MOVE TOO OTHER STATES AND POTENTIALLY DRIVE DRESS AROUND.

ONLY 14 DOCTORS THAT SUPPORT IVF ARE IN OUR STATE.

SO ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW OUR LEGISLATURE WANTS TO BE PRO FAMILY SO WE WANT THEM TO STAND WITH US AND REJECT THOSE LEGISLATION REGULATIONS.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REGULATIONS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I HAVE HEARD OF LIMITING EMBRYOS AND EGGS AND AIL OF THAT.

IS THAT THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YES.

LIMITING POTENTIALLY HOW MANY EGGS COULD BE RETRIEVED AND LIMITING GENETIC TESTING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD AFFECT STANDARD OF CARE IVF.

I KNOW IT INCREASES COST AND HARM AND RISK.

>> SO I CAN IMAGINE SOME OF THOSE THINGS FROM THE PRO-LIFE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THEORETICAL AND IDEALOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL CONNOTATIONS.

WHAT I I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT THE SCIENCE OF IVF, THAT MIGHT LIMIT DOCTORS FROM PRACTICING HERE.

IT MIGHT LIMIT, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES FROM LIVING HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, IF ALABAMA IS A STATE THAT REGULATES IT DIFFERENTLY THAN ANOTHER STATE, I GUESS IT HAS LESS TRANSITION AND LESS COST WHEN IT COMES TO IVF.

>> THE OTHER THING HERE TO REMEMBER IS THAT THESE DECISIONS REMAIN BETWEEN PATIENTS AND INTERESTS.

A PATIENT CAN FEEL LIKE I DON'T WANT TO RETRIEVE THE EGGS, WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE AS MANY EMBRYOS AND THAT'S A DECISION THAT IS MADE AND ARE MADE IN OUR STATE BETWEEN THE PATIENTS AND THEIR DOCTORS.

WE JUST DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE THAT ON EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, AND MAKE SURE THAT -- THAT WOULD RAISE THE COST TO OTHER FAMILIES IF IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> WELL, WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO BABIES AND PREGNANT LADIES IN THE STATEHOUSE HALLS TOMORROW.

TELL ME ABOUT THE RALLY.

WHAT TIME?

>> AT 9:00 A.M. WE HAVE SPEAKER LEDBETTER WHO WILL JOIN US AND REPRESENTATIVE TERRY CONS AND WE WILL HAVE PATIENTS AND DOCTORS SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR STORIES AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE 6TH FLOOR WHERE WE WILL HAVE CHICK-FIL-A BISCUITS FOR LEGISLATORS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE WHO WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND SAY THANK YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE TALKED AT TODAY.

>> BETWEEN THE SUBJECT MATTER AND THE FOOD I THINK YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD ATTENDANCE.

CORRIN O'BRIEN, THANK YOU FOR COME ONGOING AND SHARING YOUR STORY.

IT IS A VERY PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL STORY BUT SO IMPORTANT TO PUT IN CONTEXT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN LEGISLATION SO IMPORTANT LIKE THIS.

THANKS AGAIN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TOMORROW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM I'M TODD STACEY.