>>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY.

I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" "WEEK IN REVIEW."

THIS WEEK SAW THE LEGISLATURE MEET FOR THE 19TH AND 20TH DAYS OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

MEANING WE'RE TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY FINISHED.

THEY WILL MEET FOR TEN MORE LEGISLATIVE DAYS OVER THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS AS THE SESSION HITS ITS HOME STRETCH.

THERE WAS LOTS OF MOVEMENT ON THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION THIS WEEK.

WE'LL START IN THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE WHERE LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATION.

KNOWN AS THE PRICE A ACT.

SENATE BILL 202 FROM SENATOR LARRY STUTTS WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO SECOND $6,900 FOR A SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO HOME SCHOOLS.

THE BILL'S MORE THAN $500 MILLION EXPECTED IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

WHY STUTTS AMENDED THE BILL TO CAP THE TOTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM TO $50 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS.

>> WE TRIED FOR YEARS TO REFORM EDUCATION FROM THE INSIDE SAYING LET'S ADD THIS PROGRAM.

ADD THE MENTORING PROGRAM.

THE NUMERACY ACT.

LITERACY ACT.

ALL THOSE THINGS AND NOTHING'S CHANGED.

WEE STILL IN LAST PLACE.

AND WE KEEP SPENDING MORE MONEY AND WE STAY IN LAST PLACE 1K3-6789 I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO REFORM IT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND I THINK PARENTS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

AND WHEN YOU PUT PARENTS IN CHARGE, THINGS CHANGE.

>> THERE IS NO REQUIREMENTS THAT THE STUDENTS GOING TO ANY OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE TO TAKE FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOLEM OF ANY OF THESE SUBJECTS.

SO THERE IS A LACK OF ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY.

THEN ADD ON THAT THAT THERE IS A LACK OF SAFETY RESTRAINTS.

WE DO A GOOD JOB TRYING TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.

WE HAVE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR TEACHERS.

WE MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THERE'S DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION, SEX EDUCATION, BASED ON ABSTINENCE, THINGS THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA HAVE SAID IMPORTANT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THOSE THINGS WILL BE TAUGHT IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

SO WE THINK THAT PARENTS DO HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK ALABAMA TAXPAYERS TO PAY MORE IT.

>> THAT BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE.

SEPARATELY A SIMILAR BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE.

HOUSE BILL 442 AND REPRESENTATIVES DANNY GARRETT AND TERRI COLLINS WOULD ALSO PROVIDE $6,900 FOR FAMILIES TO CHOOSE PRIVATE OPTIONS BUT IT INCLUDES ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS, REQUIRING STUDENTS TO SHOW THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

BACK IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

CHANGE TO THE ALABAMA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT WERE CONSIDERED.

THIS IS THE 2013 LAW THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES WANTING TO LEAVE THE STATE'S LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS TO GET TAX CREDITS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO PRIVATE SCHOOL.

SENATE BILL 263 PROPOSES SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IT.

CHANGES THE TERM "FAILING SCHOOL" TO "PRIORITY SCHOOL" WHICH WOULD BE DEFINED AS THOSE MAKING A D OR F ON THE STATE'S REPORT CARD THAT.

CHANGE WOULD ALSO MORE THAN DOUBLE HOW MANY SCHOOLS FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION, MEANING MORE STUDENTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

RIGHT NOW FAMILIES MUST MAKE AT OR BELOW 185% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE TO QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

THAT WOULD BE CHANGED TO 250% OF THE POVERTY LINE, WHICH WORKS OUT TO A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF ABOUT $75,000.

RIGHT NOW ELEMENTARY STUDENTS CAN GET UP TO $6,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, WHILE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS GET $8,000, AND HIGH SCHOOLERS CAN GET $10,000.

THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW ALL STUDENTS TO GET UP TO $10,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND THE TOTAL THE STATE CAN OFFER IN TAX CREDITS WOULD INCREASE FROM $30 MILLION TO $40 MILLION.

THE COMMITTEE ADVANCED THE BILL, AND IT NOW GOES TO THE FULL SENATE.

OVER IN THE HOUSE, LAWMAKERS TOOK UP A BILL UPDATING THE STATE'S CHARTER SCHOOL LAW.

HOUSE BILL 363 WOULD MODIFY THE ALABAMA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION BY CHANGING ITS APPOINTMENT PROCESS, PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL CONVERSIONS AND ENROLLMENT.

AND CLARIFYING LANGUAGE RELATED TO FUNDING FOR NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> THE CHARTER COMMISSIONERS WOULD BECOME APPOINTED.

NOT JUST NOMINATED BUT APPOINTED.

INCLUDED IN THAT APPOINTMENT PROCESS WOULD NOT JUST BE THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPEAKER AND PRO TEM.

BUT ALSO, THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE AND THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE.

THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ORIENTATION TRAINING AND ANNUAL TRAINING.

BECAUSE BEING AN AUTHORIZER HAS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE.

THEY WOULD HAVE A 4-YEAR TERM FROM 2-YEAR, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR JOB IS.

THEY COULD BE REAPPOINTED ONE TIME.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE COMMISSION WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING AT APPLICATIONS TO BE ABLE TO USE THEIR OWN RUBRIC TO JUSTIFY THE APPLICATION.

THAT WAY CHARTER APPLICATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AS THEY GO ALONG THE PROCESS.

AND LASTLY, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT THEIR FUNDING FOLLOWS JUST LIKE ALL OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THAT IS HOW WE WOULD WANT IT TO BE.

>> ANOTHER EDUCATION PROPOSAL GOT HELD UP IN COMMITTEE.

HOUSE BILL 430, FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO IS IT STATE'S LITERACY TASK FORCE, A GROUP OF EXPERT EDUCATORS THAT RECOMMEND CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENTS TO IMPROVE READING.

THE BILL WOULD ALTER THE TASK FORCE COMPOSITION AND THE PROCESSES USED TO VET AND APPROVE THOSE MATERIALS.

THE PROPOSAL GENERATED LOTS OF DEBATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

THEY WANTED TO HEAR FROM THOSE IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY.

SO GARRETT CARRIED THE BILL OVER TO ALLOW TIME FOR THAT.

>> THIS TASK FORCE, WHO IS NOT TERM-LIMITED, WHO IS APPOINTED AND MEETS MAYBE TWICE A YEAR CAN MAKE DECISIONS.

RECOMMENDATIONS -- THEY ARE DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

AND THERE IS NOBODY THAT'S CHECKING THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ISSUE.

IT IS NOT -- THERE IS NOTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT IT.

IT IS THE STRUCTURE.

>> LAWMAKERS ALSO TOOK ACTION ON ALABAMA'S OPEN RECORDS LAW.

SENATE BILL 196 FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR AIMS TO CREATE UNIFORMITY, TRANSPARENCY AND EASE IN THE PROCESS TO ACQUIRE PUBLIC RECORDS.

ALABAMA'S CURRENT LAW IS FREQUENTLY RANKED AMONG THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY.

AS IT IS EXCEEDINGLY HARD TO ACCESS PUBLIC RECORDS HERE.

ORR OFFERS A NEW VERSION OF HIS BILL THIS WEEK THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE REVEALING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT WAS ADDED WAS LINE 156 THAT SAID -- WHERE IT SAYS "THIS ARTICLE IS NOT INTENDED TO AND DOES NOT EFFECT ANY PROTECTIONS FOR SENSITIVE OR OTHER NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW."

SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT CONFIDENTIAL AND NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IS NOT DISCLOSED OUT THERE.

WE ALSO IN THE SUBSTITUTE, YOU WILL SEE WE ADDED THE FORMS.

YOU HAVE SOME LINES THERE IN THE FORMS, WHERE YOU KNOW, NAME, ADDRESS.

SO THERE CAN BE SOME CONSISTENCY WITH REQUESTS.

SO IT DOESN'T COME IN ON A BACK OF AN ENVELOPE KIND OF THING.

BUT THERE IS A PROCESS.

WE EXPANDED SOME OF THE TIME LIMITATIONS.

>> THAT BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT JUDGES IN THE STATE.

SENATE BILL 39 FROM STATE SENATOR SAM GIVHAN CREATES A TOTAL OF EIGHT MORE CIRCUIT JUDGESHIPS AND FIVE MORE DISTRICT JUDGESHIPS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.

HERE IS HOW IT WILL WORK.

IN THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION, THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIPS IN THE 11TH CIRCUIT WHICH IS LAUDERDALE COUNTY, THE 19TH CIRCUIT, AUTAUGA, CHILTON AND ELMORE.

AND THE 23RD CIRCUIT WHICH IS MADISON COUNTY.

AND 28TH CIRCUIT, BALDWIN COUNTY.

BALDWIN DEKALB AND MOBILE WILL ALWAYS GET ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES.

IN THE 2026 ELECTION THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIPS IN THE 6TH CIRCUIT.

TUSCALOOSA.

ANOTHER FOR THE 19TH CIRCUIT IN AUTAUGA, CHILTON AND ELMORE.

AND ANOTHER FOR 28TH CIRCULATE, BALDWIN COUNTY.

AND 37TH CIRCUIT IS LEE COUNTY.

MADISON AND SHELBY WILL GET ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES THAT YEAR AS WELL.

>> I THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE PRODUCT OF A LOT OF BIPARTISANSHIP COOPERATION.

AT THIS TIME, AND I SEE MY COSPONSOR OF THIS SUBSTITUTE H. THIS WILL BE A GIVHAN/SMITHERMAN SUBSTITUTE I'LL BE OFFERING.

>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR SITTING DOWN AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH IT.

THIS IS PROBABLY A CASE BOOKIE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WEBSTER SAYS IN THE DICTIONARY IS THE DEFINITION OF POLITICS.

AND THAT IS THE ART OF COMPROMISE.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

PROBABLY SENATOR GIVHAN AND I HAVE SPENT LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE TALKED TO EACH OTHER ON FRIDAY.

WE TALKED TO EACH OTHER SATURDAY.

AND I PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW.

WE PROBABLY TALKED TO EACH OTHER ON SUNDAY.

>> TO THE SENATOR FOR MADISON COUNTY.

AS WELL AS THE SENATOR FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY WHO HAD WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS BODY ON THE LEGISLATION RELATED TO JUDGES THAT WAS PASSED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THOSE GENTLEMEN FOR THEIR DILIGENCE IN THE PROCESS AND THE GOOD AND THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> A BILL THAT COULD LEAD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STATE HOUSE RECEIVED FINAL PASSAGE THIS WEEK AND IS NOW ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SENATE BILL 222 FROM STATE SENATOR SAM GIVHAN WOULD AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONTRACT WITH THE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS OF ALABAMA TO CONSTRUCT A NEW STATE HOUSE.

LAWMAKERS FOR YEARS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A NEW LEGISLATIVE HOME.

ESPECIALLY AS THIS CURRENT BUILDING HAS FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR AND PROVEN INADEQUATE AS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> FIRST 222 DOES MORE THAN THAT.

WHEN WE COME INTO SESSION, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE AGREED UPON THE MOST.

WE LOVE TO START THE FIRST YEAR OF THE QUADRENNIUM IN FEBRUARY EACH YEARBOOK INSTEAD OF IN MARCH.

THIS BUILDING HAS LOT OF ISSUES.

WE TALKED ABOUT BEING THE PEOPLES HOUSE AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER COVID SITUATION.

THE PEOPLE WERE LOCKED OUT OF IT FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES IN THAT SITUATION.

SO WE DO WANT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE A.

SO MANY OF THESE COMMITTEE ROOMS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN.

THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE ON SOME OF THESE HOT BUTTON ISSUES.

AND THE LOBBYISTS ARE THERE EARLY AND THEY TAKE UP ALL THE SEATS SO THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH ROOM.

YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED IT.

MAY NOT BE THAT MUCH ROOM FOR THE PRESS TOO.

>> A NUMBER OF BILLS DEALING WITH THE STATE'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE MOVED THIS WEEK.

SENATE BILL 155 IS AIMED AT FIXING THE STATE'S PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE SHORTAGE THROUGH VARIOUS MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE MORE DOCTORS.

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, AND NOW GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

THEN SENATE BILLS 58 AND 60 ARE AIMED AT THE NURSING SHORTAGE.

THEY ADVANCE THROUGH A HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND ARE READY FOR FINAL PASSAGE.

ALL ARE SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR APRIL WEAVER.

>> SENATE BILL 57 AND SENATE BILL 60 ARE TWO BILLS THAT CAME AS A RESULT OF WORK DONE BY THE ALABAMA HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TASK FORCE THAT I'M CURRENTLY CHAIRING.

WE ARE IN YEAR ONE OF THAT THREE-YEAR TASK FORCE.

AND THESE BILLS TODAY SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON AREAS OF INTEREST THAT WE IDENTIFIED OF HOW WE ADDRESSED THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IN ALABAMA.

THE FIRST BILL, SB57, FOCUSED ON LOANS FROM THE BOARD OF NURSING FOR CLINICAL EDUCATORS.

SB60 FOCUSED ON LOANS FOR THE BOARD OF NURSING FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES.

>> THERE WERE OTHER BILLS MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FROM THE CHAMBER FLOOR.

>> AMONG THE MANY PROPOSALS BEFORE LAWMAKERS IN THE LOWER CHAMBER IS HOUSE BILL 379, ADDRESSING REAL ESTATE PURCHASES AND STATE SAFETY.

>> WHAT PROMPTED THIS?

>> SO JUST IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE CHINA HAS PURCHASED OVER $6 BILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> OKAY.

>> WITH OUR MILITARY BASES THAT WE HAVE IN ALABAMA, THAT IS WHAT PROMPTED.

FOR PROTECTION.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER.

>> OKAY.

SO HOW MUCH OF THAT PROPERTY WAS IN ALABAMA?

>> HOW MUCH WHAT?

>> OF THAT PROPERTY?

YOU GAVE A STATISTIC OF HOW MUCH -- >> THAT IS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> BUT I'M SAYING.

>> PROTECTION BILL.

>> SO HOW MUCH OF THAT PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED IN ALABAMA?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT FACT.

>> OKAY.

SO WE DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM OR NOT.

BUT THIS IS TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL PROBLEM?

>> CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

SO WE DON'T KNOW -- SO YOU ARE ADMITTING THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> I KNOW OF SEVERAL REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE IN CONTRACTS WITH CHINA.

>> OKAY.

>> IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> HOUSE BILL 379 WAS CARRIED OVER FOR FURTHER WORK.

DURING WEDNESDAY'S HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND ONCE AGAIN PRESENTS HOUSE BILL 229.

IT ADDRESSES CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES FOR SENTENCING HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDERS.

>> THIS IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENCASTED WITH LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS CREATE A PROCESS FOR REVIEW FOR A SPECIFIC SUBSET OF INDIVIDUALS THAT IN THE COMMISSION OF THEIR CRIME NOBODY WAS HARMED, AND IN THE COMMISSION OF THEIR CRIME THERE WAS NO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

AND IT IS LISTED THERE IN THE BILL.

INITIALLY THERE WAS SECTION 1 THAT SOUGHT TO PUT, CHANGE THE HABITUAL OFFENDER LAW TO REMOVE NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES.

SO IN THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE, THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU HAVE, IT REMOVES SECTION 1.

SO WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH HABITUAL OFFENDER ANYMORE.

>> THE COMMITTEE APPROVED HOUSE BILL 229.

THURSDAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR MEMBERS DISCUSSED HOUSE BILL 342.

THIS ADDRESSES THE STATE'S TEACHER SHORTAGE ISSUE.

>> OUR 4-YEAR COLLEGES ARE PRODUCING 20% FEWER TEACHERS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS.

AND BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR STANDARDS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE NUMERACY ACT, WE NEED 700 EXPERIENCED MATH TEACHERS.

SO WE TOOK OUR EXPERIENCED MATH TEACHERS AND PUT THEM INTO THAT NUMERACY PROGRAM.

WE NEED EVEN MORE MATH TEACHERS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS.

LAST YEAR WE GRADUATED ONLY 38 MATH TEACHERS FROM OUR 4-YEAR COLLEGES.

SO THAT IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE SHORTAGE THAT WE'RE HAVING.

SO THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS PEOPLE THAT HAVE AN ACCREDITED DEGREE IN ANOTHER SUBJECT.

PERHAPS THEY ARE AN ENGINEER OR THEY ARE A NURSE OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

AND THEY WANT TO CHANGE CAREERS.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE PERSON THAT IS IN THIS PROGRAM IS 39-40 YEARS OLD.

SO THESE ARE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE THAT DECIDE THEY WANT TO CHANGE CAREERS.

>> HOUSE BILL 342 IS APPROVED.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>>> THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT STATE SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN HAS WORKED TO HOLD CHILD SEX PREDATORS ACCOUNTABLE THEIR ACTIONS.

SENATE BILL 127 SHIFTS THE COST OF CARING SURVIVORS FROM THE STATE TO THE PERPETRATORS.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLD SMITH HAS THAT STORY.

>> REPORTER: AS OF 2015 THE TOTAL LIFETIME ECONOMIC BURDEN OF THOSE CHILD SEX ASSAULT VICTIMS OR SURVIVORS IN THE U.S. WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AT LEAST $9.3 BILLION.

>> THE STATS SHOW THAT 1 IN 5 GIRLS AND 15 IN 13 BOYS WILL BE SEXUAL ASSAULTED BEFORE AGE 18.

>> AND REALLY THE AVERAGE AGE WHICH A CHILD SURVIVOR OF SEX ABUSE COMES FORWARD IS ACTUALLY 52.

>> SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN ASKED THAT 85% OF CHILD SEX ABUSE VICTIMS NEVER REPORT THE CASE.

>> AND FEWER THAN HALF GET A GUILTY VERDICT OR PLEA.

THAT MEANS ONLY ABOUT 1.5% OF SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEX ASSAULT EVER RECEIVE JUSTICE ARE.

>> WHY SHE ALSO WANTED SENATE BILL 127 TO EXPAND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON CIVIL ACTION INJURIES FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES FROM 6 YEARS TO 36 YEARS IF THE CRIME HAPPENED BEFORE THE CHILD TURNED 19.

THE BILL WAS BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHERE TWO CHILD SEX SURVIVORS SHARE THEIR STORIES.

>> THIS WAS MY THIRD SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE SECOND MAN TO MOLEST ME WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD FATHER WHO LURED ME INTO HIS LAP WITH SWEET TREATS.

HIS WIFE COULD COOK DINNER FOR US AS HE HAD ONE OF HIS HANDS IN HIS PANTS AND THE OTHER HAND IN MY PANTS.

IF I WAS A GOOD GIRL AND KEPT OUR SECRET, I WOULD GET CANDY.

>> IN 2018, I DECIDED I COULD NO LONGER LET THAT ABUSE HAVE CONTROL OVER ME.

WHEN I TOLD MY STORY, I FOUND SIX OTHER STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL WHO WERE ABUSED BY THE SAME TEACHER.

AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE MORE.

FOUR OF US FILED POLICE REPORTS AND WERE INITIALLY HOPEFUL SOME CRIMINAL ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST OUR ABUSER.

UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF THE ASSAULTS TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO 1985, LEAVING US NO RECOURSE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DID NOT VOTE ON THE BILL.

CHAIR WILL BARFOOT SAYS THAT WAS BECAUSE THE MEASURE WAS SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ONLY.

AND DUE TO OPPOSITION.

>> I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEBODY TO COME TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE WITH THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

BECAUSE THESE VICTIMS, THESE SURVIVORS, ACTUALLY NEED SOME LEVEL OF RECOURSE.

>> LET ME ADVOCATE FOR YOU ON THAT BEHALF.

THAT THEY NEED -- IF THERE'S OPPOSITION TO IT, THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR OPTION IS IN ORDER TO -- >> CORRECT.

>> -- IN ORDER TO COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT INITIALLY.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> ONE MORE BILL TO LOOK OUT FOR AS SESSION MOVES ALONG IS PROPOSED TAX CREDIT TO HELP WORKERS IN ALABAMA AFFORD CHILD CARE.

SENATE BILL 273 WILL ALLOW BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES A CHILD TAX CARE CREDIT.

TO MAKE IT MORE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO PROVIDE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT CARE.

BILL SPONSOR SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER SAYS IT WILL HELP IMPROVE THE STATE'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES WE'RE FACING THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND REALLY THROUGHOUT THE NATION IS FINDING WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP AND BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB THROUGH A FULL DAY AND STAY THERE CONSISTENTLY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST DETERRENTS OF THAT IS NOT HAVING CHILD CARE.

AND SO IF WE WERE ABLE TO, THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, TO GIVE A TAX CREDIT TO THE EMPLOYER AND TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE WORKERS COMING IN THAT WANT TO WORK BUT CURRENTLY THEY CAN'T.

YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, SINGLE MOTHERS.

THERE IS A LOT OF SINGLE MOTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS BUT THERE IS NOT A DAY CARE ANYWHERE CLOSE, AND SO HOW DO I DO THIS?

IF AN EMPLOYER PROVIDES THAT, THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE TAX CREDIT FOR THE CHILD CARE AND STILL ALLOW FOR THE MOTHER TO GO TO WORK AND PROVIDE WORKERS FOR THE INDUSTRIES AND THEN BE ABLE TO STILL BE CLOSE TO THEIR CHILD AND BE ABLE TO BE CLOSE TO THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY GO HOME AND GET A PAYCHECK.

>> THIS WEEK WE SAW CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES MADE IN THE SENATE TO THE 2 $.8 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

ONE PROVISION ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR WAS FUNDING FOR A SPECIAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE HEALTH INDUSTRY.

IN THE WEST ALABAMA TOWN OF DEMOPOLIS.

SIMILAR SCHOOLS FOR ARTS AND BIRMINGHAM.

MATH AND SCIENCE IN MOBILE.

AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN HUNTSVILLE.

THE SENATE-PASSED VERSION REMOVED THE FOUNDING.

STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON IS GOING TO KEEP WORKING TO PLACE THE PROGRAM BACK IN THE BILL AS IT CONTINUES TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> THE GOVERNOR FROM THE BLACK BELT HIMSELF.

WILCOX COUNTY.

I BELIEVE IN THIS GOVERNOR.

HAD BEEN GOOD TO RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ALL THINGS PROPOSING TO MAKE SURE RURAL COMMUNITIES WAS THERE.

I IMPLORE THE GOVERNOR TO STEP UP AND ASK THE CHAIRMANS TO PUT THIS BACK INTO HER BILL IT WAS PART OF THE PLAN.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT US BEING AGE TO GET IT BACK IN.

I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP.

REPRESENTATIVE MCCAMPBELL IN THE HOUSE HAS NOT GIVEN UP.

WE HAVE A DELEGATION HERE THIS WEEK FROM DEMOPOLIS.

THIS IS NOT A DEMOPOLIS SCHOOL.

THIS AS STATE OF ALABAMA SCHOOL.

FOR ALL CITIZENS IN THIS STATE.

BUT WE ARE FOCUSING ON IT IN THE BLACK BELT SO THAT WE AT LEAST CAN GROW THOSE PROFESSIONS IN THE BLACK BELT THAT WE NEED.

>> THERE WAS SOME DRAMA ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS WEEK AS HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER GAVELED AND CUT THE MIC FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLEON BRACY DURING DEBATE.

THE SPEAKER SAID BRACY WAS OUT OF ORDER WITH HIS COMMENTS BUT BRACY STRONGLY DISAGREED.

>> BUT WHEN WE HAVE BILLS THAT PASS THIS BODY AND WE MOVE SO FAST AND WE DON'T ALLOW CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

AND WE GET CULTURE ON BILLS LIKE THAT, IT ALWAYS LEAVE ROOM FOR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WHERE NOW WE'RE PENALIZING THE VERY PEOPLE THAT HEAR WE WANT TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES.

BUT WE PENALIZE THEM IN ANOTHER INSTANCE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY VOTE AND THE ONLY WAY THEY VOTED PROBABLY THE LAST 10 OR 20 YEARS BUT JUST FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER ASSISTING THEM OR SOMEONE SENDING THEM THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT.

THEY ARE COMMITTING A FELONY AND ALSO THEIR FAMILY MEMBER OR WHOEVER IT IS SENT TO IT 'EM IS COMMITTED (GAVELING).

YES WE ARE.

WE ARE TALKING -- MR. SPEAKER.

IF I CAN EXPLAIN.

WE'RE TALK ABOUT MILITARY -- (MIC SHUT OFF) -- TALKING ABOUT MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> ISH STAY GERMANE TO THE BILL.

IT WASN'T GERMANE TO THE BUILD.

IT'S IN QUORUM.

WE HAVE DECORUM AND MASON'S RULES AND OUR RULES, GOT TO STAY IN LINE.

IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

HE WAS OUT OF LINE.

WE PASSED THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL LAST WEEK.

RULE 4 IN MASON SAYS YOU TALK ABOUT THE BILL YOU ARE ON.

IF YOU GO OFF THE BILL YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GAVELED DOWN OR YOU CAN BE CORRECTED.

HE WAS OUT OF LINE.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> AND THAT IS YOUR "WEEK IN REVIEW."

UP NEXT I'LL SPEAK WITH SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED AND AFTER THAT RANDY SCOTT AND ALEXANDER WILLIS FROM THE ALABAMA "DAILY NEWS" ABOUT THEIR TAKES ON THIS WEEK.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR GREG REED, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE ALABAMA SENATE.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> ALWAYS TODD, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> END OF ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE WEEK.

REALLY GETTING DOWN TO THE STRETCH HERE, FINAL STRETCH.

Y'ALL HAD A PRETTY INTERESTING DAY TODAY WITH ALL THE BILLS YOU ADDRESSED.

THERE WERE SOME REALLY, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER, CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT ENDED UP PASSING THAT MAYBE IN YEARS PAST, I DON'T THINK WOULD HAVE HAD MUCH OF A CHANCE.

ONE HAVING DO WITH ROAD BUILDERS AND LIABILITY.

THIS HAD TO TAKE SOME GROUPS COMING TO THE TABLE.

>> NO DOUBT.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE.

AND THAT IS THE STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS SENATOR SCOFIELD WHO WAS THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION.

LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAD INTEREST IN THAT BILL.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

A CIRCUMSTANCE TO WHERE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU HAVE HAD A ROAD BUILDER THAT CREATED THAT ROAD IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, WHO DO THEY SUE?

DO THEY SUE THE CITY?

THE COUNTY?

YOU HAVE LIMITS ON CITY AND COUNTY LIABILITY.

SO THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE TO SUE THE ROAD BUILDER WHO HAD CREATED THE ROAD.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENGINEERING SPECKS AND THE LIKE FROM THE COUNTY, CITY OR THE STATE.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT REQUIRE A SUIT AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE MADE WHOLE OVER THINGS THAT WERE DONE WRONG, THEN CERTAINLY, THAT'S A PART OF THE SYSTEM AND THE PROCESS AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THOSE GROUPS WERE VERY ENGAGED.

SENATOR SCOFIELD, SENATOR CHAMBLIS WHO AN ENGINEER OUR BODY, A LOT OF THOSE.

BARFOOT.

SENATOR BARFOOT, CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WAS VERY INVOLVED.

SO THEY SPENT LOT OF TIME.

LOT OF EFFORT.

THIS HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT YOU SAW THE EVIDENCE TODAY.

ALL OF THAT HARD WORK PAID OFF.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

MANY TIMES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST A FIGHT ON THE SENATE FLOOR TO JUST FIGHT IT OUT MAYBE TO NO CONCLUSION.

BUT WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK AND LOT OF EFFORT AND LOT OF COLLABORATION, WE WOUND UP HAVING A BILL THAT PASSED TODAY WITH REALLY NOT A LOT OF FANFARE.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST ALL WORKED OUT.

PEOPLE WERE SATISFIED.

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHEN YOU WIND UP WITH MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS, NONE OF THEM LIKE IT BUT ARE ALL WILLING TO ACCEPT IT.

AND THEN YOU WIND UP IN A REASONABLE PLACE.

>> DEFINITION OF COMPROMISE I SUPPOSE, RIGHT.

>> YEP.

>> AND THIS OTHER BILL DEALING WITH JUDGE ALLOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE HAD SENATOR SMITHERMAN ON LAST WEEK.

HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF A STICKY ISSUE.

SOMETHING SENATORS HAVE NOT AGREED ON.

BUT HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS ONE.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK YOU HAD A SITUATION THERE TO WHERE THE ATTITUDE IS THAT WE HAVE MAYBE TOO MANY JUDGES BASED ON DOCKETS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES, NOT ENOUGH JUDGES IN OTHER COUNTIES.

AS ALABAMA'S POPULATION GROWS, AS WE KNOW FROM THE CENSUS, YOU WIND UP HAVING MORE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JUDICIARY TO EXPAND IN CERTAIN AREAS, LIKE HUNTSVILLE, TUSCALOOSA.

AUTAUGA COUNTY.

LEE COUNTY.

BALDWIN COUNTY.

MOBILE COUNTY.

AREAS WHERE THE STATE HAS GROWN RAPIDLY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT THE LEGISLATURE WORKED ON RELATED TO JUDGE ALLOCATIONS.

SO THIS BASICALLY SAID WE'VE GOT A PROCESS IN PLACE.

WHEN JUDGES DO NOT RUN FOR REELECTION, A JUDGE PASSES AWAY.

YOU HAVE A VACANCY FOR SOME REASON.

UNDER A CERTAIN ALLOCATION AND DEFINITION BY THE SUPREME COURT, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A JUDGESHIP MOVE FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

WELL, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

THE PROBLEM IS IT IS NOT HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH.

SO YOU WOUND UP WITH AN ISSUE WHERE MAYBE SOME AREAS DID NOT HAVE MUCH OF A PROBLEM.

OTHER AREAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

MADISON COUNTY, WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES.

SENATOR GIVHAN, SENATOR SMITHERMAN WERE DILIGENT IN WORKING TOGETHER.

THEY HAD DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND IDEAS AS FOR THE REASONING HOW THIS NEEDED TO OPERATE BUT CAME TOGETHER WITH OTHER SENATORS, OTHER LEGAL MINDS WITHIN THE SENATE.

AGAIN, SENATOR BARFOOT, WHO IS THE JUDICIARY CHAIR, HELPED BRING THEM TOGETHER AND GOOD COLLABORATION AND HERE WE ARE WITH A PIECE OF LEGISLATION EVERYBODY AGREED TO.

AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE NEW JUDGESHIPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS, ARE GOING TO GO INTO THOSE AREAS THAT VERY MUCH NEED THEM.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE TRIP YOU TOOK TO THE BORDER IN A SECOND.

BUT FIRST HERE WE ARE, TEN DAYS LEFT IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ARE WE WANT YOU TO BE TIMINGWISE?

DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF WORK YOU'VE GOT TO DO?

AND HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET SOME OF THAT DOPE?

>> I FEEL GREAT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS.

YOU ARE RIGHT, WE'RE TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY FINISHED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHAT WERE THE BIG PRIORITIES FOR ME?

NUMBER 1 WAS ARPA.

WE WORKED ON THOSE FEDERAL RESCUE FUNDS.

ALLOCATED THOSE BILLION-PLUS DOLLARS TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

AND DID THAT WITH A SPECIAL SESSION REGULAR BACK EARLY MARCH.

THE NEXT PRIORITY I HAD WAS THE INCENTIVE PACKAGES TO RECRUIT INDUSTRY TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

JULY OF THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

FULL BILL PACKAGE.

THAT WAS MY NUMBER 1 PRIORITY AND THE SAME FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

WE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON ACCOMPLISHING THAT.

THAT'S BEHIND US.

THEN IT WAS OFF TO THE BUDGETS.

WE ALREADY WORKED ON THE BUDGET.

AND THE HUGE SURPLUS OF RESOURCES AND MANAGED THAT BEST WE COULD.

THAT IS ALREADY GONE FROM THE SENATE.

WE'VE GOT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET LEFT THAT IS NOW IN THE SENATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SEE MAYBE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO WHERE THAT WOULD BE ON THE FLOOR AND IN COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW.

SO WE'VE DONE GREAT WITH A LOT OF THE TOPICS THAT WERE THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITIES.

I THINK WE ALSO FILLED IN A ROUND.

WE TALKED WITH TWO OF THEM TODAY THAT WE JUST MENTIONED.

VERY IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED ON DILIGENTLY FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS.

SOME OF THEM LONGER THAN THAT.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PASS THEM.

I THINK WE'RE CAUGHT UP TO DATE AN CONFIRMATIONS IN THE STATE SENATE WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IS CONFIRM THOSE THAT THE GOVERNOR SENDS OVER, SERVING ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.

WE'VE GOT MUCH MORE TO ACCOMPLISH.

LOT OF OTHER TOPICS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OURS TO DEAL WITH.

AND TOPICS THAT WILL BE COMING FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.

>> I WAS DOING THE MATH ON LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

AND KIND OF DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT Y'ALL CHOOSE TO DO THAT 10-DAY WINDOW, IT COULD GO TO 105 DAYS.

>> IT COULD.

>> THE FULL SLATE.

>> IT COULD.

>> ALL THAT TALK ABOUT GETTING -- YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT MY MEMORIAL DAY.

COME ON.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BORDER.

SO YOU WERE A PART OF THIS DELEGATION THAT WENT TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

IT WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, SENATOR BELL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SOME DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

THIS IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN TITLE 42 -- NOW.

IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

WHAT DID Y'ALL SEE.

AND WERE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL?

YOU HAD TO GO IN KNOWING WE HAVE A BORDER PROBLEM.

BUT WERE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL?

>> WELL WHEN THE IDEA CAME UP FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION FOR MYSELF AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OTHERS THAT YOU MENTIONED TO MAKE THIS TRIP YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, DO I HAVE TIME TO MAKE THIS TRIP?

BUT THEN ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS PARAMOUNT FOR THE LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS WE DID WAS PASS NEW LAWS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG FENTANYL WHICH HAS BECOME JUST AN EPIDEMIC WITHIN OUR STATE.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSH TO DO THAT EARLY ON.

AND WE KNEW IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT IT HAD BEEN DEEMED THAT ALABAMA HAD BECOME AN AREA WHERE THAT DRUG IN PARTICULAR WAS BEING TRAFFICKED THROUGH OUR STATE.

HEADED EVEN TO OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE NATION.

AND WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW OR UNDERSTAND WHY UNTIL WE BEGAN TO DIG INTO IT.

GOING TO THE BORDER GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY VET SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTAND WHY DID WE DO WHAT WE DID.

WHAT REALLY WAS GOING ON?

WHY WAS IT LIKE THAT?

AND THEN HELPING ME AND OTHERS UNDERSTAND, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN PARTICULAR, WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE DO TO HELP US TO TRY AND COMBAT NOT ONLY JUST THE DRUG PROBLEM BUT ALSO AN ORGANIZED CRIME ELEMENT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG CARTELS?

THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT ARE REALITY IN ALABAMA.

THAT STRETCHES INTO OUR STATE AND WE WANT TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHY AND HOW TO COMBAT IT AS BEST WE COULD.

THAT IS THE REASON I WENT ON THE TRIP AND OTHERS WENT ON THE TRIP.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

IT WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED.

WE HAD GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE CZAR OF THE BORDER, WHICH IS A POSITION APPOINTED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT.

THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.

WE HAD A BRIEFING WITH HIM.

WE VISITED WITH DEA OFFICIALS.

WE THEN WENT ON AND HAD A BRIEFING AND TOUR FROM THE U.S. BORDER PATROL WHICH CONTROLS ALL OF THE BORDER EXCEPT FOR POINTS OF ENTRY WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING ACROSS THE BORDER THAT.

MANAGED BY U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.

WE HAD A BRIEFING FROM THEM AND A TOUR AT THE MCALLEN PORT OF ENTRY.

AND PEOPLE ARE COMING GOING DAILY.

AND THEN WE HAD A BRIEFING FROM THE FOLKS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND THEY CARRIED US ON A BOAT TOUR ON THE RIO GRANDE RIVER AND WERE ABLE TO DESCRIBE TO US WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO PROTECT TEXAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

ALL OF THOSE GROUPS ARE WORKING TOGETHER, YET THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MISSIONS ON HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE BORDER.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT WAS DISTURBING IS THAT FROM THE BORDER PATROL, THEY BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE SEE TITLE 42 CHANGING.

WE EXPECT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE WANTING TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS AND CROSSING THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.

WE FEEL LIKE THAT BASICALLY IN THAT PROCESS WE'RE GOING TO BE OVERRUN.

AND THEN FIGHTING THE DRUG CARTELS, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE OUTMANNED, OUTGUNNED AND OUTTECHNOLOGIED.

AND IT IS HARD TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

AS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

>> YEAH.

IT'S THE UNITED STATES.

WE'RE NOT EVER OUTMANNED OR OUTGUNNED.

>> YEAH.

AND WHAT THE CAPTAIN SAID IS HE SAID, REALLY, WE HAVE A BUDGET.

WE'RE A STATE, WE'RE A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

A FEDERAL AGENCY.

WE HAVE A BUDGET.

WE HAVE SO MANY STAFF WE CAN HIRE.

WE HAVE SO MANY ELEMENTS OF TECHNOLOGY WE CAN EMPLOY TO DO OUR JOB.

WE'RE COMPETING WITH AN ENEMY ACROSS THE BORDER IN THE DRUG CARTELS THAT ARE UNLIMITED IN THEIR RESOURCES.

THEY ARE MAKING HUNDREDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A WEEK.

AND THE FACT THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GO AROUND US, MOVE THROUGH US, FIGURE OUT OTHER PATHS AND OPTIONS THAT ALLOW THEIR PRODUCT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE UNITED STATES IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO COMBAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SO INTERESTING IS THEY TALKED ACT THE USE OF DRONES.

THE CARTELS ARE USING DRONES CONTROLLED FROM THE MEXICAN SIDE AND BEING ABLE TO WATCH ALL THAT IS GOING ON VIA CAMERAS ON DRONES ALL ALONG THE RIVER.

SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING WITH BORDER PATROL.

>> KNOW WHERE THE LOOSE POINTS ARE OR SOMETHING.

>> IF YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CROSS.

AND THE BORDER PATROL OR THE STATE OF TEXAS, THEY HAVE TO GO TO A CERTAIN LOCATION TO BE ABLE TO INTERJECT THAT CROSSING, THEN THAT MEANS THERE ARE OTHER AREAS OF THE RIVER.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING FROM AN ELEVATED SPOT IN A DRONE, YOU KNOW THAT THIS AREA OF THE RIVER IS OPEN FOR THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF BECAUSE ALL OF THE U.S. OFFICIALS ARE HAVING TO BE AT THIS LOCATION TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

>> WOW.

>> SO OPEN SEASON.

RUN THINGS ACROSS DURING THAT WINDOW OF TIME.

SO HEARING A LOT OF THAT JUST ELEVATED THE FACT THAT WOW, THIS IS A CONTINUED SERIOUS SITUATION.

>> AND IT IS A FRUSTRATING PROBLEM.

BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED YEARS AGO.

DECADES AGO.

AND IT IS -- IT IS FRUSTRATING TO SEE, SORT OF, THE POLITICAL DIVIDES AND THE LACKING OF INCENTIVES POLITICALLY TO DEAL WITH THIS, WHEN IT IS JUST A SERIOUS NATIONAL NEED.

>> RIGHT.

BUT.

>> BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU.

BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT CONGRESS.

YOU DON'T HAVE A VOTE UP THERE.

>> SURE.

>> ARE THERE THINGS YOU THINK THE STATE CAN DO TO ADDRESS IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS?

I KNOW THE FENTANYL THING ALREADY PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW.

BUT I'M THINKING BACK TO WHAT I THINK WAS YOUR FIRST YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE, 2011, HP56, THE BIG CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THAT KIND OF BACK FIRED A LITTLE.

LOT GOT GUTTED BY THE COURTS.

LOT HAD TO BE REPEALED IN OTHER WAYS.

SO WITH THAT SORT OF HINDSIGHT, ANYTHING YOU EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE TO DO ON THAT SPECIFICALLY?

>> WELL FIRST OFF I'D LIKE TO SAY A WORD OF APPRECIATION AND COMPLIMENT TO ALABAMA'S FEDERAL DELEGATION.

OUR TWO U.S.

SENATORS AND OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION ARE ALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ROBUST IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE WAY THINGS HANDLED CURRENTLY AND THEY REPRESENT AS WELL ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THE FENTANYL TOPIC AND LOOKING AT OTHER DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES AND WAYS THINGS CAN CHANGE OR MODERATE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WITHIN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE CAN LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE MODERATING BASED ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME OF THESE DRUGS.

WE HAVE ISSUES THAT HAPPEN TO WHERE WE WILL OUTLAW SOMETHING THAT IS COMING FROM CHINA FOR INSTANCE.

THAT SOME LEVEL OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, FOR INSTANCE, THAT COMES ACROSS THE BORDER ALL THE TIME.

BUT THEN THEY CHANGE THE COMPOSITION T CHEMICAL MAKEUP AND THEN OUR LAWS THEN DON'T APPLY BECAUSE IT IS CHANGED TO WHERE IT IS A DIFFERENT SUBSTANCE.

AND THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH THAT THAT WE JUST HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF CONSTANTLY.

I THINK THAT WILL BE AN ONGOING REQUIREMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGISLATURE TO BE LISTENING.

HOW DO WE MODERATE OUR LAWS RELATED TO ILLEGAL DRUGS TO MAKE SURE WE POSITION OURSELVESES CORRECTLY SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARING CAUGHT AND THAT THEY ARE PENALIZED TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF THE LAW.

AND YOU WIND UP THAT BEING A DETERRENT TO OTHERS THAT WOULD BE COMING TO ALABAMA TO DO THE SAME.

I THINK ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS HOW ARE OUR LAWS ON BOOKS RELATED TO ORGANIZED CRIME?

THE SYNDICATES AND THE CARTELS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN AND THROUGH ALABAMA IN MOVING THEIR PRODUCTS TO OUR CITIZENRY -- THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE ON HOW CAN WE MODERATE THAT, HOW CAN WE CHANGE THAT?

AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY WELL THESE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT THING.

YOU KNOW IN A LOT OF WAYS IT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE MAYBE THESE ORGANIZED CRIME MEMBERS ARE WEARING TENNIS SHOES, NOT ITALIAN SUITS LIKE WE SEE ON TV.

BOTTOM LINE IS IT IS STILL AN ORGANIZED ENTERPRISE ANYWAY HAS A HORRIBLE PRODUCT THAT IS A CANCER ON OUR SOCIETY.

AND THEY ARE MOVING IT THROUGH HERE IN A SOPHISTICATED WAY.

AND WE MUST BE SOPHISTICATED TO COMBAT IT.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF ISSUES WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.

WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT?

HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT?

ONE OTHER ISSUE WE'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT IS PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE'VE HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS IN ALABAMA DOING THEIR JOBS COMING IN CONTACT WITH FENTANYL.

AS A RESULT OF IT BEING TRANSPORTED AND TRAFFICKED IN ALABAMA.

AND THOSE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE HAD TO BE ADMINISTERED NARCAN OR HAVE DIED.

>> A BILL IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK DEALING WITH THAT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT AND JUST MAKE IT BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT.

BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF UNDERSTANDING THESE ISSUES AND HOW WE COMBAT THEM.

KEEP OUR LAWS UP TO DATE.

BEING ABLE TO LOOK FOR WAYS AND OMISSION OPTIONS IN OTHER STATES.

BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS DOING VERY EFFECTIVE WILL WITH OTHER STATES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM OTHER STATES.

AS WE'VE SEEN SOME OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS EVEN ON THIS TRIP HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, FLORIDA, TEXAS, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, HEY, WHAT ARE THINGS YOU ALL HAVE DONE THAT WE NEED TO DO?

ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS TOGETHER?

SO I THINK IT IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE.

>> FASCINATING.

AND WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT I WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON FOR MORE OF THIS CONVERSATION.

AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE LAST THIRD OF THE SESSION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TODD.

APPRECIATE YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> AP TV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON MAIN PAGE.

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>>> JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT THE WEEK THAT WAS IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE ARE ALEXANDER WILLIS, REPORTER FROM THE ALABAMA "DAILY NEWS" AND OUR OWN "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT.

GENTLEMEN, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

ALBEIT IN A DIFFERENT SEAT BUT GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

>> AND ALEX, WELCOME.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST YEAR COVERING THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

FIRST SESSION.

I KNOW YOU HAVE COVERED OTHER STATES.

SO LET ME ASK YOU WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE WAY WE DO IT DOWN HERE?

>> SURE.

SO FIRST IMPRESSIONS, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE THE SAME.

OVERALL RIGHT OFF THE BAT, ALABAMA DOES HAVE THAT SEPARATE BUDGET FOR ITS EDUCATION THINGS AND ITS GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

THAT IS NOT NORMAL AT LEAST IN THE STATES THAT I'VE SEEN.

I WILL SAY, JUST FROM THE WAY THEY GO ABOUT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, I'VE SEEN A SURPRISINGLY AMOUNT OF UNANIMOUS PASSAGES OF BILLS.

A LOT OF BILLS, YOU KNOW, SPONSORED BY BOTH PARTIES HAVE RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, A DECENT AMOUNT OF UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

>> LITTLE MORE BIPARTISANSHIP THAN MAYBE YOU WOULD EXPECT GIVEN THE NATURE OUT THERE.

RANDY, QUITE A WEEK IN LEGISLATURE.

THINGS YOU KNOW, YOU COVER THE HOUSE FOR ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THINGS GOT A LITTLE CHIPPY DOWNSTAIRS.

YOU KNOW YOU WERE FOLLOWING FROM LAST WEEK, THE SITUATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE GIVHAN THAT KIND OF GOT SOME ATTENTION.

BUT THIS WEEK IT WAS REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVE BRACY WHO GOT GAVELED AND THE MIC CUTOFF.

YOU WERE ON THE FLOOR.

>> WE'VE REACHED THE PART OF THE SESSION NERVES START TO GET FRAYED.

PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET YEAH THERE WAS A SPECIAL SESSION THAT REALLY STARTED THINGS OFF AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH NEW THE REGULAR SESSION.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A BILL BEING TALKED ABOUT, DISCUSSED.

DEALING WITH VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES.

AND REPRESENTATIVE BRACY CAME TO THE MIC, HIS TURN.

AND HE WANTED TO TALK ADDRESSING IT BECAUSE THE IDEA IS TO MAKE SURE VETERANS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND AS HE SAID AND IT IS A IS SAYING GOES, ALABAMA HAS BEEN CALLED OF THE WASN'T MOST MILITARY FRIENDLIEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VETERANS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, MR. BRACY, ALONG WITH THIS BILL THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, WANTS TO ALSO BRING UP THE FACT THAT WHILE WE DO SOME THINGS ARE BENEFICIAL TO VETERANS, THERE WAS ONE THING THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED LAST WEEK THAT PROBABLY DOES NOT REALLY GO WELL FOR VETERANS.

AND THAT DEALT WITH ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTING.

THAT B AND V ALWAYS GETS ME.

WHILE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS BILL, HE WAS GAVELED BY THE SPEAKER.

AND IT CAME AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW WHAT IT WAS FOR AT FIRST.

BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN YOU HEAR A GAVEL LIKE THAT WHILE SOMEBODY IS TALKING IS TO SILENCE THE CROWD, IF YOU WILL.

>> RIGHT.

HEY, KEEP IT DOWN WE CAN'T HEAR.

>> ONLY THING IT WAS SO QUIET IN THE CHAMBER AT THAT TIME, IT WAS ACTUALLY PEACEFUL, WHICH WAS SCARY.

BECAUSE YOU EXPECT IT TO BE RAMBUNCTIOUS.

BUT IT WASN'T.

AND SO THE SPEAKER ADDRESSED MR. BRACY SAYING YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO STAY GERMANE TO THE SUBJECT.

MR. BRACY SAID WELL I AM BECAUSE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS RELATED TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES HERE IN THE STATE.

THEY WENT BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND THE SPEAKER SUGGESTED, WELL ORDERED ONE OF THE STAFF TO SILENCE MR. BRACY'S MICROPHONE WHICH WAS SILENCED FOR A FEW SECONDS.

IT CAME BACK ON.

AND HE WAS -- THIS ROUTE TO MAKING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED THE WEEK BEFORE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MEASURE.

SO IT WAS OUT OF THE BLUE.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SEEN IT, ESPECIALLYEM FROM THIS SESSION SO IT TOOK PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

>> WELL, MOVING FORWARD JUST TO GET INTO SOME.

WE SAW SOME MAJOR CHANGES LAST WEEK TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

THIS BILLION DOLLAR, KIND OF, EXTRA FUNDING THAT WE SAW.

THIS IS BASED ON SURPLUS REVENUE.

BUT THE BILL THAT CAME OUT OF THE SENATE WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED.

AND I'M HEARING THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE KIND OF UNHAPPY WITH THAT.

ALEX WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION.

>> MOST CERTAINLY.

IT IS A LOT OF MONEY UP FOR GRABS WITH THIS SUPPLEMENTAL.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU HAVE A $25 MILLION SCHOOL OF SCIENCES THAT WAS PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR TO GO OR BE CONSTRUCTED IN DEMOPOLIS.

THAT'S BEEN REMOVED BY THE SENATE IN THEIR VERSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

OBVIOUSLY THAT COMMUNITY WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT MORE OVERALL, I THINK YOU HAVE A COMBINED $56 MILLION THAT WAS REMOVED FROM MOBILE.

THE PORT OF MOBILE SPECIFICALLY.

SO GENERALLY SPEAKING THERE IS A LOT OF ADVOCATES FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA THAT JUST FEEL THEY GOT THE SHORT END OF THE STICK WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MOST RECENT FORM OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

SO IT IS NOT OVER YET.

IT IS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE PUSHING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEIR AREAS TO GET THEIR -- YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WOULD CALL THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THIS PIE WHICH IS PRETTY BIG.

>> YOU HEARD A LOT OF THEM SAYING, WELL COME ON.

SOUTH OF BERM BIRMINGHAM -- OR NORTH OF BIRMINGHAM GOT EVERYTHING AND A LOT HIGHER PERCENTAGE.

THAT'S ARGUABLE.

WELL RANDY, THAT BUDGET COMES TO THE HOUSE.

IS THERE ANY TALK YET ABOUT WHEN WE MIGHT SEE THAT?

SEE IT COME UP IN COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR.

>> THE SPEAKER MENTIONED THAT MORE THAN LIKELY, NOT THIS COMING WEEK, THE WEEK FOLLOWING IS WHEN WE'LL PROBABLY SEE IT.

ONE THING TO CAUTION AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO COME.

SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN.

AND DEALING WITH THE BUDGET, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SENATE IS INDICATIVE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS A BUDGET OR TWO.

AND COMES TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES.

NOW WHETHER OR NOT THE CHANGES ARE AGREED UPON BY EVERYBODY, THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, THE FOLKS NORTH OF BIRMINGHAM ARE SAYING, HEY, CONGRATULATIONS FOR US.

THE FOLKS SOUTH OF BIRMINGHAM ARE SAYING WHAT?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

SO THE ONE CONSISTENCY ABOUT THE PROCESS IS, THERE WILL BE SOME TWEAKS.

HOW BIG THE TWEAKS WILL BE, THAT IS THE QUESTION.

SO WHEN IT DOES COME DOWN TO THE HOUSE.

I'M QUITE SURE THEY ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE CONSTITUENTS WITHIN THE SENATE.

AND THE CONSTITUENTS OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

AND IT IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF TALKING GOING ON, IF I CAN GET THE WORDS OUT.

>> SURE.

YEAH.

AND LOOK, THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH, SORT OF, REGIONAL RIVALRIES.

I THINK THE BIG QUESTION GOING INTO THE HOUSE IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT JUST ALL THE STUFF GETTING REMOVED.

THEY PUT IT BOTH FROM, YOU KNOW, THE TAX REBATE, BRINGING THAT DOWN ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS, INTO A $500 MILLION EDUCATION SAVINGS FUND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS TO BE USED IN CASE WE HAVE BUDGET TROUBLE.

GET IT.

I LOVE IT.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA.

BUT YOU ARE HEARING SOME PEOPLE SAY DOES IT NEED TO BE $500 MILLION?

THIS IS ONE-TIME MONEY.

WE'RE PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN.

SHOULD WE USE IT FOR, YOU KNOW, THESE IMPORTANT PROJECTS?

ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE TAX REBATE.

I GOES FROM YOU KNOW ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS TO -- DOWN TO, WHAT, $275 MILLION.

WHICH MEANS ONLY $100 PER TAXPAYER.

ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS CHECK PER TAXPAYER.

>> FROM 400 TO 80.

>> I'M CURIOUS DO YOU THINK THE HOUSE MIGHT ZERO THAT OUT COMPLETELY TO BE ABLE TO FUND SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS?

>> WELL I THINK BY NOW CITIZENS AT HOME ARE SAYING, OKAY, WHAT HAPPENED TO WHAT Y'ALL WERE SAYING BEFORE?

AND I EVEN GO BACK A STEP FURTHER WHEN THE SESSION GOT START.

EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT GENERAL FUND SIDE AND EDUCATION FUND SIDE OH WE GOT A LOT OF MONEY.

WE HAVE LOT OF MONEY.

WE'RE DOING GOOD.

GOT ALL THIS MONEY.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO DO WITH IT?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT?

AND THEN SOME PEOPLE STARTED THINKING WELL, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT WANT TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT.

HOPEFULLY NOTHING DEVASTATING BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS CHANGED IN THE WEEKS THE SESSION HAS BEEN RUNNING.

SO NOW IT IS ABOUT, OKAY, WELL WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MONEY WE WERE GOING TO GIVE THIS REBATE, WE WERE GOING TO GIVE THAT REBATE.

OR GIVE THAT REBATE.

SO WHAT WILL THE HOUSE DO?

I THINK THEY ARE LISTENING TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, GETTING PREPARED.

BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LOT OF RECKONING WITH WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

WILL CITIZENS BE HAPPY?

WILL CITIZENS BE ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.

>> ALEX WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ACT THAT REBATE?

>> FROM $400 PER PERSON OR $800 FOR MARRIED COUPLES GOING DOWN 100.

AT LEAST WHAT I HEARD OR I FEEL LAWMAKERS IS FEELING, THAT POLITICAL CAPITAL IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE BEST SPENT ELSEWHERE.

YOU HAVE THE GROCERY TAX.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF OTHER COSTLY MEASURES THAT FOLKS, ALABAMANS ARE LARGELY IN FAVOR OF.

AND WHILE WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY STRENUOUS POLES ON 100-DOLLAR REBATES, AT LEAST FROM EYEBALLING IT I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE IS THAT MUCH APPETITE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT COMPARED TO A LONG-STANDING TAX SAVINGS LIKE A GROCERY TAX CUT WOULD GIVE ALABAMA ALLENS.

IT IS UP IN THE AIR.

>> WE'VE GOT TEN DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.

BESIDES THE BUDGET, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT -- WHAT ISSUE DO YOU EXPECT TO BE TOP OF THE MIND?

>> I'LL LET YOU GO FIRST.

>> SURE.

I JUST MENTIONED THE GROCERY TAX CUT.

AND THAT IS FASCINATING.

THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING EFFORT FOR WELL OVER A DECADE AT THIS POINT.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, STATE OF ALABAMA, WE TAX GROCERIES AT THE FULL STATE SALES TAX RATE.

WE'RE ONE OF I THINK THREE STATES THAT DOES THAT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN -- LAWMAKERS, THAT IS, HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CUT THIS EITHER PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY FOR OVER A DECADE.

FOR SOME REASON THERE IS MOMENTUM VAS NOT JUST FROM DEMOCRATS BUT FROM REPUBLICANS.

IT SEEMS TO BE A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

AND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT THIS THAT I CAN'T IMAGINE US GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND SHOWING UP EMPTY HANDED.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE A POLITICAL BLOW TO WASTE ALL THAT CAPITAL ON THAT AND THEN HAVE NOTHING COME OF IT.

SO I AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT IS GOING TAKE THE BULK OF THE REST OF THE SESSION.

>> RANDY WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I KNOW THERE ARE SOME CRIME PACKAGES, IF YOU WILL, COMING OUT TO DEAL WITH CRIME.

ALSO SOME ISSUES DEALING WITH GUNS WHICH IS A TOPIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE NATION.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE ENSLER HAS A PACKAGE COMING OUT.

REPRESENTATIVE ENGLAND HAS A BILL DEALING WITH CRIME AND PUNISHMENT AND PRISON SITUATION.

AND TRYING TO GET THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON A GOOD TRACK.

I THINK THOSE WILL ALSO BE LOOKED AT.

BUT I KNOW, AS WE SAID, THOSE BUDGETS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE LEON'S SHARE OAF WHAT THEY COME UP WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND.

>> INTERESTING TO SEE.

AS YOU MENTIONED IT IS THE TIME IN SESSION THINGS GET A LITTLE CHIPPY, GET A LITTLE PUNCHY.

YOU MENTIONED THE SPEAKER SITUATION.

I JUST COULD TOTALLY TELL HIS REACTION TO ALL OF THOSE FILIBUSTERING.

RIGHT?

THEY HAVE GROWN TIRED OF IT.

SO IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT WENT.

AND I KNOW -- ALSO KNOW THEY HAD A MEETING AFTERWARDS.

ALL THOSE INVOLVED.

AND SO I WONDER HOW THAT PLAYS OUT NEXT WEEK WITH THEM COMING BACK.

MAYBE COOLER HEADS PREVAILING.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU AGAIN GENTLEMEN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'LL BE BACK.

SAME BAT TIME, SAME BAT CHANNEL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK MONDAY NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.