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

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

AND WE HAD ABOUT A WEEK'S WORTH OF LEGISLATING LAST NIGHT AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR A MARATHON OF A SESSION DAY.

IT WAS TECHNICALLY TWO SESSION DAYS, AS AFTER MIDNIGHT, LAWMAKERS RECONVENED FOR THE 27TH LEGISLATIVE DAY, FINALLY FINISHING UP THEIR WORK AT LITTLE AFTER 2 IN THEN MORNING.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WERE DETERMINED TO FINALIZE THE BUDGETS ALONG WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILLS TO SEND THEM ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THAT MEANT FLOOR ACTION, CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES, AND FINAL FLOOR VOTES IN BOTH CHAMBERS, ALL OF WHICH CAME WITH CONSIDERABLE PAPER WORK TO FOLLOW THE CHANGES TO THE BILLS.

LET'S START WITH THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH THE SENATE TOOK UP THURSDAY MORNING.

AFTER FINAL PASSAGE, HERE'S HOW THAT LOOKS.

GENERAL FUND TOTAL SPENDING IN THIS GENERAL FUND TOTALS $3 BILLION DOLLARS, WHICH AMOUNTS TO RECORD SPENDING.

THIS FUNDS THE RANGE OF NON-EDUCATION STATE AGENCIES.

THERE WAS ALSO A $180 MILLION DOLLAR SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING PLAN THAT SAW $50 MILLION GO TO A GENERAL FUND SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND $40 MILLION TO PAYING OFF DEBT.

THERE WERE ALSO NOTABLE ADDITIONS TO THE FINAL BILL: $18 MILLION WAS RESTORED FOR THE TAYLOR HARDIN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER PROJECT IN TUSCALOOSA, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE SENATE VERSION.

AND THEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED BY THE GOVERNOR: $20 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PORT OF MOBILE, $5 MILLION FOR THE MOBILE AIRPORT PROJECT AND $5 MILLION FOR THE MONTGOMERY WHITE WATER PROJECT NEAR MAXWELL AIRFORCE BASE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE REX REYNOLDS, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE, EXPLAINED THE FINAL VERSION ON THE FLOOR.

>> ALL THREE LINE ITEMS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S FUNDS WERE FULLY RESTORED.

27,095,730 ON THE ADMIN FEE AND ADMIN SALARIES, 9,063,206 AND THE POWERS OF THE NUMERARY AT 865,000,510, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE ARE AT $2 MILLION.

CITY OF MADISON PARK REMAINED AT 500,000.

1.7 FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE HOSPITALIZED AND THE SENSORY TRAININGS WAS REESTABLISHED AT 900,000, SCENIC RIVER TRAIL 200,000 AND THEN OUR RESOURCE CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS RECEIVED A $650,000 INCREASE.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, WHICH INCLUDES THE RANGE OF SCHOOL SPENDING FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

IT IS ALSO A RE AT $8.8 BILLION DOLLARS TOTAL.

THAT INCLUDES $5.1 BILLION TO LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS, $1.5 BILLION TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, $551 MILLION TO THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AND $534 MILLION TO THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE, EXPLAINED THE FINAL CHANGES.

>> $8.8 BILLION UP 6.5 FROM LAST YEAR'S 6.3 BILLION AND INCLUDES 6.4 INCREASE FOR THE K-12, HIGHER ED INCREASE OF 2,793,000,000,000 WHICH IS 6.7 PERCENT.

2 PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR K-12 TEACHERS AND CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL WHICH IS $98 MILLION AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WILL RECEIVE $15 AN HOUR IN THEIR PAY WHICH WILL PRIVILEGED FOR $28 MILLION FOR FLEET RENEWAL FOR TRANSPORTATION.

94.

$2 MILLION FOR THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE, INCREASE OF $25 MILLION FOR ALABAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

BONUSES $4.6 MILLION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.

400,000 FOR STIPEND FOR SCHOOL SPEECH THERAPIST.

AND THE NUMERACY ACT HAS AN INCREASE OF $25 MILLION WHICH WILL PROVIDE 100 COACHES IN SUMMER CAMPS.

10 MILLION FOR UNDER PING SCHOOLS.

$50 MILLION FOR SCHOOL NURSES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A SCHOOL NURSE IN EVERY DISTRICT.

>> SUPPLEMENTAL GRAPHIC NOW TO THE $2.8 BILLION DOLLAR SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION SPENDING BILL, WHICH HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF SOM DRAMA THIS SESSION.

THE ONE TIME TAX REBATE HAS BEEN CHANGED FOR THE FOURTH TIME.

UNDER THE PLAN THAT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR, THE AMOUNT SPENT ON REBATES IS $393 MILLION.

THAT WOULD MEAN, IF IT BECOMES LAW, INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS WOULD GET A $150 DOLLAR REBATE CHECK AND COUPLES FILING JOINTLY WOULD GET $300 DOLLARS.

REMEMBER THAT AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR, THOSE REBATES WERE $400 FOR INDIVIDUALS AND $800 FOR COUPLES.

INSTEAD, THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED TO INVEST THOSE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS IN A SPECIAL EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT THE LEVEL OF $354 MILLION DOLLARS AND AN ACCOUNT FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CONTROLLED BY THE LT.

GOVERNOR AT $179 MILLION.

THE BILL ALSO NOTABLY INCLUDES $480 MILLION FOR ONE TIME EDUCATION EXPENSES AND $111 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH AIDT.

SENATOR ARTHUR ORR, WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE, TALKED ABOUT THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL ON THE FLOOR.

>> I WAS ASKED HOW MUCH THE REBATE OF COSTS AND IT'S ALMOST $400 MILLION THAT WOULD BE USED TO IF YOU EVER NEED THE REBATES THAT WE JUST VOTED ON.

SO SINCE THE REBATES CAME DOWN SOMEWHAT, WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING, WHERE ARE WE SPENDING THE $157 MILLION THAT CAME BACK FROM THE REBATES THAT WERE REDUCED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> SO THESE BUDGETS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE DESK OF GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

LET ME CLEAR UP SOMETHING FROM LAST NIGHT'S SHOW.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THE GOVERNOR NOW HAS SIX DAYS, NOT TEN, TO ACT ON THESE BILLS BY SIGNING THEM OR SENDING THEM BACK WITH AMENDMENTS.

THAT WINDOW DOES NOT INCLUDE SUNDAYS, SO SHE HAS UNTIL THURSDAY.

MOST EXPECT AT LEAST SOME CHANGES ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL BECAUSE IT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

ALL TOLD THE LEGISLATURE MADE MORE THAN $15 MILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING DECISIONS THURSDAY, AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT.

AND YET, ONE OF THEIR TOP PRIORITIES WAS CONSERVING FUNDS FOR THE FUTURE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THAT STORY.

>> THE MEMBER WHO CHAIR THE TRUST FUND BUDGET COMMITTEES HAD THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

>> I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING DONE OUT THERE.

I'VE TRIED TO MAKE IT -- AS THE OLD JOKE GOES I KNOW I CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.

I.

HOPE I DIDN'T MAKE EVERYBODY MAD.

>> EVEN WITH THOSE CONCERNS THE SENATE GENERAL FUND CHAIR IS HAPPY WITH THE THINGS THINK FUNDED.

FOR EXAMPLE -- >> 1 THING THAT WE DID THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY DONE IS THAT WE SENT SOMEBODY ZERO SELMA FOR THE TORNADO DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE.

WE SENT THEM ABOUT 700,000.

I KNOW THEY GET FEDERAL MONEY.

THAT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

AND THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH MATTER AND HE WAS THAT'S WAY BELOW WHAT THEIR REQUEST WAS BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN TO THOSE WHO NEED THE MONEY AND IT'S YOU DO AROUND.

>> HE SUMS IT UP AS THIS: >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT GRAPHS WE HAVE MADE HUGE INCREASES IN WITH GETTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BACKS TO WHERE PEOPLE NEED.

AND I THINK WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESSION ON THIS.

I'M PROUD OF WHERE ALABAMA S I'M PROUD OF THE SUPPORT I HAVE GOTTEN FROM OUR COMMITTEE.

I'M PROUD OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED AS A STATE FINANCIALLY AND I THINK WE'RE BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WHOLE NATION.

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

>>ALSO THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL CUTTING THE STATE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

HOUSE BILL 25 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT WOULD GRADUALLY REMOVE THE TAX BY ONE PERCENTAGE POINT A YEAR, PROVIDED THERE IS ENOUGH GROWTH IN THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND TO OFFSET THE REVENUE LOSS.

BY 2025 THE TAX WOULD BE CUT FROM 4% TO 2%.

WHILE THERE ARE ONLY THREE DAYS REMAINING IN THE SESSION, HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER SAID HE EXPECT THE BILL TO MAKE IT TI THE FINISH LINE.

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY WELL STABILITY.

I THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, MAKE TO WEEKS IT SOME.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IF YOU RECOGNIZE IT IN THE HOUSE, WE UPPED IT TO 4 PERCENT.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A FOOD MOVE BY THE BODY.

SO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WILL SEE SOME RESULTS PRETTY QUICK AND I'M KIND OF EXCITE THE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT AND THE TIMES WE HAVE HAD WITH WHAT IS GOING ON, I DIDN'T THINK THE TIMING IS GOOD AND CERTAINLY I AM GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT.

I THINK IN THE PAST THE CONSERVATIVE BUDGET IT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.

>> SO AGAIN THERE ARE THREE DAYS LIFT IN THE SESSION.

THE LEGISLATOR IS SCHEDULED TO RECONVENE ON WEDNESDAY AND COULD ADJOURN SINE DIE BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THAT EVER HAVING ME.

>> IT'S THE BETTER PERFECT WE BELIEVE OF WEEK TO HAVE YOU ON BECAUSE THE BUDGETS WERE MOVING THIS WEEK AND THERE'S A LOT ACTION ON THE FLOOR BETWEEN BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

YOU TOOK UP THE BUDGET ON YOUR COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR.

I HAVE NOTED TO(F) WORKS ON THE BUG THIS WEEK.

LET'S START WITH THE ETF-BASED BUDGET, AND WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES WERE THERE WORKING WITH THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

ARE YOU PLEASED?

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A RECORD BUDGET.

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH THE PROJECT THAT YOU ENDED UP WITH IN TERMS OF YOUR PRIORITIES?

>> YES.

SENATOR OR AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING OPEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL AND THE BUDGET AND MAKING SURE AND WE WANT TO DO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE AS FAR AS OUR STRATEGY AND THINKING AND REFLECTING AND TRYING TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD THAT IMPROVED THE MULTIPLE MEMBERSHIP OF OUR HOUSES.

THE GOVERNOR PRETTY MUCH SPENT ALL OF THE BUDGET MONEY THAT WAS ALLOWABLE TO SPEND, 6.5 PERCENT WOULD BE THE INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

WHEN SENATOR OR IN THE SENATE, THEY TOOK $25 MILLION LINE OUT OF THE BROADBAND PROGRAM BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING IT IN ELSEWHERE FROM OTHER SOURCES, AWAY AAND ELSEWHERE.

WE WERE ABLE TO DRIP DISTRIBUTE $25 MILLION TO OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET.

WHEN IT CAME TO THE HOUSE WE HAD A LITTLE MORE MONEY TO MOVE AROUND AND IT REFLECTED OUR PRIORITIES WHICH TOBACCO TO BE THE REINITIATIVES AND THE NUMERARY INITIATIVES, THE FOCUS OFTEN SCHOOLS UNDER PERFORMING, AUXILLARY TEACHERS AND GET STIPENDS FOR SPEECH THERAPISTS, BONUSES FOR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS, CHANGE THE SALARY MATRIX FOR NURSE INCREASING NURSING PAY NURSES, EVERY DISTRICT WITH A NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL.

WE ALSO ADDED PAY TO SUPPORT STAFF PERSONNEL TO GET PEOPLE TO AT LEAST $15 AN HOUR.

SO A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT FOCUS EGGS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD AND THE PRE-K PROGRAMS CREATING 37 NEW PRE-K CLASSROOMS AND THEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO I THINK THE BASE STRUCTURE WAS LITTLE CHANGES FROM WHAT THE SENATE SENT DOWN AND IT CONTINUES THE FOCUS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.

>> LET'S GET TO TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

THAT'S WHERE THE CHANGES ARE COMING.

WE WROTE SAYING THAT THE REBATE HAS NOW BEEN CHANGE CHANGED FOR THE 3RD TIME.

IT CAME OUT OF OVER FROM THE GOVERNOR AS A TAX REBATE FOR 800 FOR INDIVIDUALS AND 400 FOR INDIVIDUALS.

THE SENATE REDUCED THAT TO A $100 REBATE.

YOU BROUGHT ILK IT BACK TO $110 FOR INDIVIDUAL AND 220 FOR COUPLES.

WALK MEADS BACK FOR THE REASON FOR PLUGS THAT REBATE BACK UP?

>> WILL I WILL SAY ONE THING.

I SAID, YOU MAKE YOUR WORST DECISIONS WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

HOPEFULLY WE HAVE NOT MADE A LOT OF BAD DECISION.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE REASONS YOU MAKE BAD DECISIONS IS YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU -- I THINK THIS REBATE THING IS REALLY INVOLVED.

IF YOU GO BACK TO LAST SUMMER OF -- AND STILL THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE ECONOMY.

WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND PROJECTIONS DON'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

BACK THEN WE WERE TENDER ABOUT TAX CUTS GOING FORWARD.

>> BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING REVENUES IN THAT ARE INCREDIBLE.

>> RIGHT.

SO THE IDEA OF A ONE-TIME REBATE WAS ATTRACTIVE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OF THE AS WE MOVED ON AND WE HAVE HAD MAYBE A LITTLE MORE COMFORT LEVEL WITH THE PROJECTIONS AND WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROBATION COULD BE NEXT YEAR WITH THE EXCESS FUNDING IF WE CONTINUE -- YOU KNOW WE HAVE ACALLIER PICTURE ACT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE.

THE WINDOW IS A LITTLE SHORT.

SO THAT CLARITY HAS WARMED UP AND GIVEN US COMFORT SO THAT WE CAN DO TAX CUTS THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T THINK WE COULD DO LAST SUMMER OF.

SO HE SEE THAT THIS SESSION.

AND WE HAVE KIND OF PULLED BACK WITH THE EMBRYOSRY TAX THAT WE WILL DISCUSS BUT THE GROCERY TAX BECAME A HOT TOPIC.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN WHATEVER WE DO.

SO THE REBATE MIGRATED FROM -- WELL, LET THAT BE WHAT WE DO TO, OKAY, WE CAN DO A REBATE AND ALSO DO OTHER TAX MODIFICATIONS.

SO THE SENATE OF COURSE TO THE PARKING LOT DOLLARS REBATE THAT THE GOVERNOR DID AND CUT IT TO $275 MILLION TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, ACTUALLY IN THE HOUSE WE FELT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BE MEANINGFUL OR IMPACT.

TO ANYONE, A HUNDRED DOLLARS REBATE IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN NOTHING BUT IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTION THAT AMOUNT.

SO WE DOUBLED IT, WHICH GAVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO GIVE LESS NOUN PULL OUT OF SAVINGS.

WE HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHICH IS A NEWER ACCOUNT IN THE SENATE VERSION.

THAT IMPACTED THAT NUMBER.

AND THEN MOVED OTHER THINGS AROUND.

THE ISSUE IS THAT WE MOVED TO THE POINT THAT I THINK THE GROCERY TAX IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT PEOPLE REALLY WANTED.

I THINK WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THAT.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE LOOKED AT OUR MODEST TAX RELIEF CUTS.

THE HOUSE HAS MOVED SEVERAL TAX RELIEF CUTS WHICH WOULD BE SUSTAINABLE WITH THE THINGS ON THE TABLE NOW.

WE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE DANIELS OVERTIME EXCLUSION BILL WHICH IS IN THE SENATE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE TO A POINT WITH ALL OF THE NUMBERS IN THE HOUSE WITH LPFO WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING.

GOING BACK TO THE REBATE THAT GRADY JUST MORPHED OVER TIME TO AT ONE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AND NOW IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER THINGS WHAT SHOULD THAT REBATE AMOUNT BE.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, NOBODY KNEW THAT THE GROCERY TAX WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF.

AND FOLLOWING UP ON THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

IT'S A PLANNED NEW ACCOUNT.

WE HAVE OTHER ACCOUNTS, RAINY DAY, ROLLING RESERVE, ALABAMA TRUST FUND -- BUT MOST TAKE SOME MECHANISM TO ACCESS THE FUNDS.

ROLLING RESERVE HAS TO BE PRORATION.

OR ALABAMA TRUSTED FUND, I THINK IT TAKES A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

SO IS THE INTEND TO MAKE THIS MORE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF THE LEGISLATURE CAN ACCESS THIS RESERVE FUNDING WITHOUT THE MECHANISMS HAVING TO TO BE TRIGGERED.

>> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A SAVING ACCOUNT THAT WE CAN ACCESS.

IF WE GET IN A TIGHT WE HAVE TO RELY ON PRORATION OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.

SO THE IDEA THAT WE CAN NOW BUDGET AND SET ASIDE MONEY THAT THE LEGISLATURE COULD TAP INTO AS WE NEEDED TO DO IT BUT ALONG WITH THAT WE PUT IN A SECONDARY SPENDING.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CAP CALCULATION THAT LIMITS WHAT WE CAN SPEND.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT, IF YOU DON'T SPEND AT THE CAP, THE FORMULA GETS WONKY AND WHAT YOU DO WITH THE FUNDS AND WHATNOT.

AS AN EXAMPLE, SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE BUDGET WAS $7.6 MILLION AND THE FEDERAL MONEY CAME IN.

OF THE CAP CALCULATION WAS $9 BILLION SO WE COULD HAVE LITERALLY SPENT $9 BILLION UNDER THAT FOR THE MOST PART LA.

TO GO TO THAT IN ONE YEAR MAKES NO SENSE BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUALLY SITUATIONS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE FORMULA.

BECAUSE YOU DID AN AVERAGE CALCULATION THROUGHOUT THE LOW YEAR AND KEPT IN THE HIGH YEAR SO YOU HAD A WEIRD NUMBER.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ONE OF-TIME ADJUSTMENTS WHICH THE ACT ALLOWED US TO DO TO GET TO MORE REASONABLE NUMBER I BELIEVE THE 7.2 TO .783 AND THIS YEAR THE CAP CALCULATION IS OVER $10 BILLION AND YOU CAN'T DO A ONE TIME ADJUSTMENT FOR FOR THE SECOND 2506789.

SO WE SAID LET'S MODIFY THE FORMULA AND THROW OUT THE HIGH AND LOW YEAR TO GET A BETTER AVERAGE AND ALSO PUT IN ANOTHER SECONDARY CAP WHICH IS A GOOD FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO AND WE ARE LIMIT OUR SPENDING GROWTH EVERY YEAR.

THIS YEAR WOULD BE ..5 PERCENT, WHICHEVER IS LESS, THE CAP OFFER .6.5 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WE STEP THAT DOWN TO 105 PERCENT.

IN ANY YEAR THE MOST WE COULD GROW A BUDGET WOULD BE FIVE PERSIAN.

OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.

AND THAT WOULD ENABLE, IF YOU HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT OTHER IT WOULD GO INTO THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHICH WE COULD ACCESS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS BUT HAVE LEGISLATIVE CONTROL FOR NOT ALLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

SO PUTTINGS IN THE SECONDARY SPENDING CAP LIMITEDS OUR ABILITY TO SPEND MONEY?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BAD THINGS.

I THINK IT COURSE FORCES US TO BE DISCIPLINED.

BUT WE HAVE A SAVING ACCOUNT SHOULD THAT WE CAN ACCESS SHOULD WE NEED IT.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD CONSERVATIVE WAY TO GROW FORWARD.

>> YOU KNOW, WENT ROLLING RESERVE ACT WAS ENACTED -- I GUESS IT WAS 2011?

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS TO LEARN -- BECAUSE YOU HAD TO LEARN BY EXAMPLE BECAUSE OF IT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

AND I GET THAT.

LET'S GET TO THE GROCERY TAX.

THAT IS MOVING.

IT STARTED IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT'S A REVENUE BILL.

BUT I WANT VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS AND ISN'T.

THIS IDEA HAS BEEN AROUND 20 YEARS.

PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE CUTTING THE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

IT'S NOT CUT AND DRY LIKE THAT.

THERE'S A PROCESS.

CAN YOU WALK THROUGH YOUR FARM LO AND HOW THE TAX CUT WORKS?

>> WELL, CONSTITUTIONALLY, THE BILL STARTS IN THE HOUSE -- WELL, IT STARTED IN THE SENATE THIS ADVERTISEMENT.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT WAS A PRIORITY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE HOUSE WE HAD OVER 100 CO-RESPONSESSERS ON ON THE HOUSES VERSION OF THE BAIL.

ALABAMA HAS THE 2ND LOWEST SALES TAX RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT DON'T HAVE SALES TAX.

CONSOLIDATE COLONEL HAS A LOWER SALES TAX RATE BUT OURS IS 4 PERCENT, THE SECOND LOWEST IN THE STATES THAT HAVE THEM.

BUT WE DO HAVE A HIGH LOCAL SALES TAX RATE WHICH MEDICATIONS THE HIGHER FROM SALES TAX RATE HIGHER IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

AND JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT.

AND JUST THE PURE TAX POOLS STANDPOINT BUT IT'S A POLICY FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT TAXES GROCERIES SO THERE THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS THAT COME UP AND THE BILL IN A THE SENATE WAS THE SNAP BILL AND IT WAS TWO-POINT REDUCTION OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD IN INCREMENTS OF 4.25 PERCENT OVER FOUR YEARS AND THEY WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD PAUSE THAT REDUCTION IN ANY YEAR WHEN THE PRIOR YEAR -- WHEN THE BUDGET DIDN'T GROW HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR YEAR.

>> SO WHAT WE DID IN THE HOUSE IS TO BASICALLY SORT OF CHANGE THAT.

NUMBER 1 WE TOOK A 1 CENT REDUCTION IN 2023.

AND THEN WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER 1 CENT REDUCTION IN 2025.

SO WE WILL TAKE THE 2 CENTS AND TWO 1 CENT INCREMENTS THREE YEARS' PART AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT REVENUE ESTIMATES GOING FORWARD AND IF THERE'S NOT REVENUE GROWTH IN ESTIMATES WE WOULD PAUSE UNTIL THERE'S A 2 PERCENT GROWTH.

SO LOOKING BACK YOUR TAKE YOUR GROWTH TAX BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED THE PRIOR YEAR.

WE ARE DOING THIS LIKE THE ROLLING RESERVE.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOUR SPENDINGS WOULD BE BASED ON THE REVENUE GOING FORWARD.

YOU'RE GETTING THE SAME POINTED GOING QUICKER BUT WE'RE LOOKING BACKS AS FAR AS THE GUARDRAIL.

>> SO TWO PENNIES OFF OF THE FOUR.

SO IT'S NOT THE FULL 4 CENTS.

WAS THERE ANY COOPERATION WITH GOING FORWARD ON THE 4 PERCENT TAX?

>> THERE WAS A CONVERSATION.

WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE $300 MILLION TO THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THIS POINT.

AND THERE ARE OTHER BILLS THAT COULD AFFECT THE ETF AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

LOOKING AT THE SCHOOL CHOICE SCOTT TAX INCENTIVE LEGISLATION.

WE HAD THE GAME PLAN THAT INCREASED GAMES.

BUST YOU HAVE A LOT.

WHEN YOU LOOKS AT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE WE HAVE BEEN MEASURED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUSTAINABLE.

THE 2 PERCENT WAS A GOOD START.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR INDICATED IT WAS A DESIRE TO ELIMINATE THE ENTIRE GROCERY TAX AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

WE PUT A PROVISION IN TO THE ABILITY OF LOCAL, CITY OR COUNTY FROM PICKING UNIVERSITY WHATEVER WE CUT.

THAT'S BEEN A CONTROVERSY BECAUSE THE COUNTIES AND CITIES ARE RELYING ON THOSE SALES TAX DOLLARS.

SO FOR THE STATE TO SAY YOU BELONG NEVER RAISE YOUR FOOD TAX I CAN UNDERSTAND THE PAUSE.

BUT IF THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE FAX ON FOOD YOU CAN'T REDUCE IT IF WE DO IT AND LET SOMEBODY RAISE IT.

>> YOU HAD WOULD NEVER SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

GOT YOU.

THE LITERACY TASK FORCE BILL IN THE HOUSE AND UP THROUGH THE SENATE AND IT MAY BE THROUGH COMMITTEE.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE CHANGES TO THE LITERACY TASK FORCE ARE AND WHY YOU PURSUED THEM.

>> THIS WAS ALL THE ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY.

I HAD NO, SIR TO DO WITH THEIR MISSION AND THE WORK THEY'RE BEGINNING TO DO.

THEY'RE FAIRLY NEW IN IMPLEMENTATION AND WHAT THEIR EDOING BUT WE FOUND OUT THE LAW CREATED THIS TASK FORCE THAT DID NOT MAKE IT ACCOUNTABLE TO ANY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.

SO SO THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE BASICALLY MANDATES.

AND THEY'RE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE CASE THEY RECOMMENDED, YOU KNOW, TWO VEND EARTH THAT COULD BE USED FOR READING ASSESSMENTS WHICH IS KEY TO THE LITERACY ACT AND MEASURING HOW YOUR BUT NEITHER OF THESE VENDORS WITH USED IN THE STATE.

BECAUSE OF THAT DECISION AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHECKS, THEN SYSTEMS, IF THEIR AGOING TO RECEIVE STATE FUNDING HAVE TO SWITCH TO THE OTHER VENDORS IF UNEVEN, IF THEY'RE HAPPY WITH A VENDOR THAT IS PROVIDING A RELATION SHOWING IMPROVEMENT IN THE STATE THEY'RE FORCED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE IN THE STATE.

SOME SYSTEMS CAN AFFORD THAT.

SOME CANNOT.

WHAT CAME TO LIGHT IS THAT WE NEED A STRUCTURE IN PLACE SO THAT THE TASK FORCE OPERATES LIKE OTHER TASK FORCES.

THEY DO RESEARCH AND THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY IMPLEMENTED BUT THEY'RE REVIEWED OR IDENTIFIED OR IMPLEMENTED BUT REVIEWED.

INTEREST HAS TO SHOW ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

>> AND THE SUPERINTENDENT -- >> IN THIS CASE WE WOULD MAKE THE CHANGE WHERE OF THE ALABAMA DIRECTOR WOULD BE THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE.

JUST TO PUT THAT CLERK IN PLACE.

AND WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT NO ONE WAS REVIEWING THE CONTENT OF THE MATERIAL GOING INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

THE TASK FORCE WAS CHARGED WITH MAKING SURE THE CONTENT AND THE CAN CURRICULUM MET THE SIGNS AND READING STANDARDS BUT NOBODY WAS REVIEWING THE CONTENT, WHAT OF THE STORIES WERE ABOUT AND THE CHILDREN WERE READING.

SO THERE WERE CONCERNS RAISED ONCE SOME OF THOSE LESSONS GOT INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

SO YOU WOULD THINK WELL THAT WAS GOING THROUGH THE TEXTBOOK COMMITTEE OR A SCREENING PROCESS BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN, THEY DIDN'T.

SO THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE A CURRICULUM THAT WENT INTO THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT ANY REVIEW.

AGAIN I DON'T THINK SO ANYBODY HAD ANY NEVER ARAB I COULDN'T SAY REASON OR I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING UNDER HAS BEEN HANDED OR SUSPICIOUS BUT FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE ACCESSIBLE TO THE ETHICS AND ETHICS LAW AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND A LOT OF CHECKS YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE ABOVE BOARD.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT PUTTING A STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE VENUES AND MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE IS REVIEWING CURRICULUM BEFORE IT REBOUNDS ON OUR CHILDREN.

>> YOU GOT SOME PUSH BACK FROM A PLUS AND OTHER GROUPS.

>> HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THEIR CRITICISM THAT THIS IS MEDDLING?

>> I THINK THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT WE WERE TRYING TO WEAKEN WHAT WE'RE TRY TO DO ZERO WITH THE LUCY AGENT.

WE'RE NOT.

THE BILL SPONSOR FROM BACK IN THE DAY, THEY WANTED TO MAKE VERY, VERY CLEAR WHAT WE WERE THAT'S WHY WE'RE WILLING TO THE TABLE WERE NEW IDEAS THAT EXPERTS -- AND IT DIDN'T GET LOST FOR THE BUREAUCRACY.

I RESPECT THAT BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY GROUP WITHOUT OVERSIGHT AND HOW WE SPEND MONEY AND WHAT IS IN THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT SOMEBODY REVIEWING THAT THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS.

SO THERE'S MISINFORMATION CONCERNED THAT WE WERE TRYING TO MINIMIZE SOME OF THE STUDIES WITH DISLEXIA BUT THE WILL THAT PASSED CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT THE DYSLEXIA MAINTAINING IS A KEY COMPONENT OF WHAT WE WERE DOING MOVING FORWARD.

THERE'S A BELIEF THAT WE WERE WEAKENING THE RECOMMENDATIONS BUT NO.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S SUSTAINABLE AND CONTINUE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT TASK FORCE DID NOT HAVE ANY TERMS.

THERE'S NOTHING SAID IN LAW ABOUT WHAT TERMS THEY CHOSE.

SO WE NEED TO KNOW HOW LONG THEY'RE SERVING.

SO WE JUST TIGHTENED UNIVERSITY SOME OF THAT, NOT BECAUSE THEY DID ANYTHING WRONG.

WE JUST HAD A LAW THAT HAD GAPS AND WE TRIED TO FIX THAT.

>> ON THE TOPIC OF LITERACY AND WE'RE WAY OVERTIME BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT ASK, YOU SAW THE STORY ABOUT MISSISSIPPI ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE GAINS IN READING THEY HAVE HAD.

THEIR LITERACY ACT WENT INTO EFFECT YEARS BEFORE OURS.

WE SAWED GAINS LAST YEAR.

BUT SEEING THE INCREDIBLE GAINS THAT MISSISSIPPI HAS MADE, VIDEO SIMILAR LAW, DO YOU THINK THAT IT GIVES HOPE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES?

BECAUSE WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT SOME LAW IT TAKES YEARS IN EDUCATION FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY SEE RESULTS.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE ACROSS MISSISSIPPI AND THE NATION KIND OF TAKING NOTED OF THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE IN THE LAW YOU PASSED TO SAY HEY THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK.

>> IT DOES.

AND I THINK THE READING COACHES, THE CAMPS.

THE INTENSIVE TUTORINGS AND THE THINGS IN THE CLASSROOM ARE BEING ACCESSIBLE.

AND THE EFFORTS FROM THE LITERACY FORCE, THE GAINS THAT WE'RE SHOWING IN THESE NUMBERS ARE BASICALLY USING THE ASSESSMENT.S MOST SYMPTOMS ARE ALSO USING.

SO THE KEY IS NOT ASSESSMENT, THE VENDOR PROVIDING THAT ASSESSMENT.

IT'S REALLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOMS AND SO I THINK AGAIN THEY'RE HEYING OUT THAT ROAD MAP TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD OF THE THAT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE SHAFT THAT WE HAVE STRUCTURE THAT IS UNCHANGEABLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND FOR TUSCALOOSA.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WELL, IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD SEVERAL BILLS MOVING, ONE OF WHICH IS ALSO THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THROUGH A SENATE COMMITTEE.

IT IS THE HB-229 AND HAS TO DO WITH THE HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDER LAW AND HOW THAT APPLIES HE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT LAW.

>> IN ALABAMA WE HAVE LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, HABITUAL OFFENDER AND FOR A LARGE -- NOT LARGE BUT 260 TO 300 PEOPLE CURRENTLY SERVING LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, IN ALABAMA, YOU COULD BEING -- WHEN YOU'RE CONVICTED COULD HAVE JUST AS MUCH ON YOUR STENOSIS AS WHAT YOU DID.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS WE CHANGE HABIT ALTHOUGH FENDER AND TAKEN SOME FENCES AND CALLED SOME OUT AND TAKE TAKEN AWAY WHAT IS NOT VITAL.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE CERVIX LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE THAT WITHOUT OUR SENTENCING CHANGES WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTDOOR.

>> SO IF THEY WERE CONVICTED UNDER THE REFORMS YOU PUT IN -- >> -- THEN THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CONVICTED.

IT'S A SMALL GROUP.

ABOUT 260.

WE OPENED A PATHWAY FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW FOR THOSE SENTENCES.

NORMAL TO SHOW ELIGIBLE?

>> YOU COULDN'T HAVE MURDERED ANYONE.

THERE'S NO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

AND YOUR TRIGGERING FENCE COULDN'T HAVE INVOLVED YOU HAVE HAD PHYSICALLY HARMING SOMEONE AND YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE SERVED 23 YEARS AGO IN PRISON TO BOOKWORK ELIGIBLE.

SO IT'S A VERY SMALL GROUP.

>> WE TRIED TO NARROW IT DOWN SO IT'S NOT OVERBRA.

WORKING THROUGH THE SYSTEM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BUT A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS IN THERE.

AND WE MAKE SURE THAT WE NOTIFY THE VICTIM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE ALSO GIVE THE PROCESS CUTER AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

AND IT'S NOT A PAROLE PROCESS.

IT GOES BACK BEFORE THE LOCAL JUDGE FOR THE SENTENCING JURISDICTION AND IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE AT REVIEW.

AND IT TAKES A WITHHOLD BUNCH OF THINGS IN ACCOUNT.

IT IS A MORE RIGOROUS REVIEW THAN OUR PAROLE PROCESS.

HIKE YOU HAVE TO HAVE PECULIARLY RECORD IN PRISON AND OTHER EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES THAT WE WOULD BE DOESN'T HE FEEL BEING RELEASED.

SO TO MAKE SURE THAT RELEASING PEOPLE WHO AREN'T DEFINED BY THEIR WORST MOMENTS AND IT WILL GIVE THEM A 2ND CHANCE.

IT'S GOTTEN THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND IT HAS A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY IN THE LAST DAYS WE CAN GET PASSAGE.

>> GETTING DOWN TO THE EARNED YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR DEAL DEALING WITH THE DEATH PENALTY, AND SPECIFICALLY HOW JURIES RECIPROCAL THE DEATH PENALTY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT SURPRISED TO KNOW IT DOESN'T TAKE A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE JURIES.

YOU HAD A HEARING THIS WEEK TO MAKE THE UNANIMOUS.

>> THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 31 INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY ON DEATH ROW WHO WERE SENTENCED BY JUDICIAL OVERRIDE OR BY NONE UNANIMOUS JURY.

BY CONTEXT IN ALABAMA WE USED TO ALLOW JUDGES TO OVERRIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM JURIES.

AND JURIES WOULD POLICEMEN LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE OR THE DEATH PENALTY.

WELL, JUDICIAL OVERRIDE WOULD ALLOW A JUDGE TO UNILATERALLY IMPOSE THE SENTENCE THEY WANTED.

SO A FEW YEARS AGO, SENATOR BREWBAKER AND I SENTENCE SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO DO AWAY WITH JUDICIAL OVERRIDE.

WE HAD A RETROACTIVELY AS EXPECT OF THAT SO THE PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW THAT WOULD GET A REVIEW AND HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR DEATH SENTENCE TURNED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, THE PROCESS WILLED THAT AWAY.

COMPROMISE, POLITICS.

SOMETIMES IT MAKES YOU HAPPY.

SOMETIMES IT UP SETS YOU.

WELL, THAT WAS AMENDED OUT.

SO THE BILL THAT I SPONSORED WOULD REQUIRE A UNANIMOUS JURY AND ALSO MAKE IT RETROACTIVE SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE EXTENSIVED TO DEATH BY NONE UNANIMOUS JURY OR JURY OVERRIDE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RESENTENCED WITH LIVELIHOOD WITHOUT PAROLE.

TO ME IT'S IF YOU SAID MENTAL CONCEPT OF JUSTICE.

IF THE JURY IS REQUIRED TO BE UNANIMOUS TO CONVICT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME THAT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO SHOW ANONYMOUS TO SENTENCE SOMEONE TO DEATH.

>> THOSE ARE DIFFERENT VOTES; RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> THE GUILTY VERDICT IS -- IT HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS.

AND THEN IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VOTE.

SO YOU COULD HAVE SOMEBODY THAT CONVINCED OF THE EVIDENCE AND UNDERSTANDS THIS PERSON IS GUILTY AND WOULD HAVE TO BE A PRETTY HORRIBLE CRIME BUT MAYBE JUST DON'T BELIEF IN THE DEATH PENALTY?

>> OR IT DOESN'T RISE TO THE PERSON THAT WE PUT THIS PERSON TO DEATH.

FOR US, FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA, I MEAN IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOMEONE TO DEATH IT SHOULD BE THE HARDEST THING TO DO.

THAT'S WHY I SPONSORED LEGISLATION.

AND REQUIRING A UNANIMOUS JURY MAKES IT DIFFICULT.

IT PUTS IT IN IN THE APPROPRIATE CONNECTICUT TEXT.

AND REQUIRING THEN AS A JURY MAKES IT LESS LIKELY TO, CUTE AN INNOCENT PERSON AND MAKES IT CERTAIN THAT THE PERSON THAT DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE THERE ENDS UP ON DEATH ROW.

SO YOUR VALUED LIFE SHOULD NEVER BE IN VENT FOR YOU TO GO THE "IN DEPTH" OF N-DEGREE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PERSON IS NOT JUST GUILTY BUT HAS THE MERGE CAST TO FORMULATE THE REQUISITE INTEND.

SOMEBODY MAYBE DISABLED AND SHOULDN'T BE PUT TO DEATH SO IT INCREASES THE BURDEN TO THE SAME LEFT IT DOES TO CONVICT.

>> WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE DEATH PENALTY?

I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT IT.

BUT IF YOU JUST LOOK OUGHT THE PRACTICALLY, EVERY SINGLE EXECUTION GOES UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.

I NEED THEY SORT OF MODIFIED THOSE RULES A LITTLE BIT OF TO MAKE IT MORE PRACTICABLE BUT EVERYONE IS KIND OF FRAUGHT.

AND OURSELVES IT TAKES A VERY LONG ADVERTISEMENT TO CARRY OUT THE SENTENCES.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OTHERS WILL SAY THIS IS NECESSARY, THESE ARE HEINOUS CRIMES AND ALL OF THIS.

BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE ISSUE POLITICALLY NOT JUST IN ALABAMA BUT NATION BIDE, DO YOU SPEAK -- YOU KNOW IS THE SUPREME COURT GOING TO OVERTURN THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> HONESTLY EUTHANASIA WE'RE AT THE POINT THAT WE'RE MORE OR LESS STATE BY STATE SORT OF THING.

AND ALABAMA WAS ONE OF THE LAST STATES IN THE COUNTRY TO GET RID OF JUDICIAL OVERRIGHT.

CURRENTLY ALABAMA AND FLORIDA ARE THE ONLY TWO STATES THAT DON'T REQUIRE UNANIMOUS JURY AND THEY HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> I THINK FLORIDA WENT THE OTHER WAY.

>> FLORIDA WENT BACK IN TIME AND DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THE NUMBERS.

BUT IT'S A SOCIETY.

AND IT'S AN ESTATE.

YOU KNOW, THE LAST TWO OR LAST THREE ATTEMPTS TO PUT SOMEONE TO DEATH IN ALABAMA FAILED MISERABLY BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIND A VEIN OR FOR WHATEVER REASON.

ALSO IN COURT BECAUSE A JUDGE IS TALKING TO US ABOUT HOW WE EXECUTE PEOPLE.

BUT WE'RE AT THE POINT THAT WE'RE ASKING OURSELVES A REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTION: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KILL SEEN?

AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE BEING A STATE THAT VALUES LIFE ASKING OURSELVES IN THE SAME BREATH WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KILL SOMEBODY?

AND I THINK THAT THE COUNTRY OVERALL AS YOU SEE MANY STATES GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ARE KIND OF COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PRACTICAL ASPECT OF IT BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO FIND THE DRUGS TO DO -- TO PIT PEOPLE TO DEATH.

IT'S HARD TO FIND THE PEOPLE TO DO IT.

AND PRACTICAL APPLY IT COST MORE TO PUT SOMEONE ON DEATH ROSE MAN SERVING LIFE PAROLE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

EVEN HERE IN ALABAMA, AN EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE STATE.

I TOOK A MORATORIUM TO SELF ANALYZE OUR PROCESS.

NOW I DON'T KNOW THE MERITS OF THAT, OF THE REPORT HAS NOT BEEN CLOSED.

BUT AT THE VERY LEAST LOOKING BACK ON IT, EVEN WE TOOK A PAUSE.

SO ULTIMATE LID, I HOPE THAT WE CONNELL TO TERMS WITH HOW WE REGARDLESS LIFE, EVEN WHEN IT'S IN CONVENIENT BECAUSE WE LOOKS AT SOMEONE AND SAY WE DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU DID.

BUT, MERCY REQUIRES US TO FORGIVE AND NOT EXECUTE YOU.

AND I HOPE -- AND EVENTUALLY I THINK FOR ME WE HOPE WE CONTINUE MOVING IN THAT TRECKS.

AND EVEN WITH MY BILL, WITH A UNANIMOUS JURY IT PUSHES IT TOWARD THAT DIRECTION.

YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY BUT YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE APPROPRIATE PERSPECTIVE AND MAKE IT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO DO.

>> YOU HAVE A ROLE.

BECAUSE YOU ADVANCE THESE BILLS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND OTHERS; RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SEEKING PREMIER PERSPECTIVE JUSTICE AND LIKE YOU SAID MERCY AND MORE PRACTICAL SORT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATUTES.

BUT TO THERE ALSO MANY TIMES COME UP AGAINST A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY THAT IF INITIAL HAS GOTTEN SUFFER ON CRIME OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

PEOPLE SIT THERE AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PERCEPTION THAT CRIME HAS RISEN AND THERE'S MIRROR GUN VIOLENCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF BILLS MAKING INSTANCES AND YET YOU'RE TRYING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST SOME OF THAT.

>> AND IT'S FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK JUSTICE IS A DONOR SEPTEMBER.

NOT ONLY HAS ROOM FOR PUNISHMENT BUT ALSO REHABILITATION.

I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW ONLY PUNISH BUT TO REHABILITATE SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAINST.

I GUESS THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED CORRECTIONS.

ALSO AS A ISOLATED SHOWER IN GENERAL OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES TO GOVERN A SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO THE DEMAND.

IN THIS CASE PRISON SPACE IS THE RESOURCE.

AND I CAN'T GUARANTEE PUBLIC SAFETY IF I ALSO DIDN'T HAVE SPACE SO PUT PEOPLE.

I CAN'T GUARANTEE SPACES, AND I CANNOT GUARANTEE PUBLIC SPACE OR PROTECT YOU AS A PUBLIC IF YOU DON'T PUT THE RESOURCES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS AND ALSO WITH ATTORNEYS TO DEFEND THE ACCUSED UNLESS WE PUT THE RESOURCES THERE.

RIGHT?

SO GOVERNING A SYSTEM MEANS I'VE GOT TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES NECESSARY AND THE SYSTEM THAT WORKS SO ZERO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SPACE.

WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE A PARDONS AND PAROLES SYMPTOM THAT IS RESPONSIBLE, AND IT ASSESSES EACH INDIVIDUAL AS A SPECIFIC CASE TOO DETERMINE IF THAT INDIVIDUAL IS BETTER SERVED IN VERSUS OUTDOOR OR VERSES OUT OR VERSES 234 -- >> WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE AN ENTIRE WHOLE WITH YOU DEDICATED TO PARDONS AND PAROLES.

>> THAT'S THE GOAL.

SO LIKE I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE TALKING ABOUT CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

BUT IN ORDER TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, I CAN'T DEAL WITHOUT PAY FOR PROSECUTORS, I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I CAN'T DO IT WITH A FUNCTIONING PAROLE SYSTEM AND I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT PAYING FOR ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT THE ACCUSED.

I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT SPENDING MONEY OR REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS AND ALSO CANNOT BE JUST THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD MORE PRISONS.

>> WHILE I'VE FOR THE YOU I CAN'T HELP BUT ASK YOU ABOUT THE ALABAMA CRACK PARTY.

AND I KNOW YOU TEMPLE ENDED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO OF THE THAT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

YOU DID YOUR SERVICE.

BUT IT CONTINUES TO SHOW KIND OF A MESS.

THERE WAS A MEETING THE OTHER DAY WHERE LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO CONTROLS THE PARTY AND THAT TYPE OF THINGS, JUST AS YOUR PARTY AND ALABAMA ACCURATE, WHAT IS IT COULD YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OF THE PARTY, AND ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO END COME UP RETURNING AND SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THE STATEWIDE DRAGS.

>> YOU KNOW DEMOCRACY IS UGLY.

SOMETIMES YOU FIGHT WITH YOUR BROTHER.

YOU FIGHT WITH YOUR SISTER.

BUT IT GOAL SHOULD BE TO CREATE A WERE THE PLACE, A BETTER SPACE, A BETTER PARTY.

AND I JUDGE DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN SEE DO THAT WITHOUT RULES IN PLACE THAT RESPECT DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

I KNOW THOSE ARE BAD BOARDS HERE IN THE STATE BUT FOR A PARTY'S PLATFORM, WHO HAS GOT A BIG TENTED AND WE WANTED YOU TO COME, THAT ALSO HAS TO INCLUDE A CAUCUS CUSS FOR YOU TO HAVE A PLACE AT THE DECISION MAKING TABLE.

SO I THINK REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SEE, THE FUSSING AND THE FIGHTING AND SO FORTH, I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE BYLAWS THAT REFLECT HOW THE STATED OF ALABAMA IS EVOLVING IN TERMS OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE, THE RESPECTING DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WISH TO BE HERE.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO WIN ELECTIONS BUT WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE BYLAWS THAT REFLECT THE MR., BRINGING PEOPLE IN, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND ALSO ARE THING YOUR ROLE IN THE PROCESS.

SO I MEAN THE POST MODERN THING TO ME IS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE BYLAWS THAT ENCOURAGE YOUTH, THE LGBT CAUCUSES, THE NATIVE AMERICAN, ALL OF US AT THE TABLE FUSSING AND FIGHTING, IF NECESSARY, TO CREATE A BETTER PARTY.

>> THAT'S ABOUT INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE.

I HAD TO ASK YOU ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEYOND YOU.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

MR. ENGLAND THAT YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

B.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS DR. JOHN VALENTINE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KIND OF SEA LAB.

DR. VALENTINE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> QUITE WELCOME.

I'M GLAD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> WELL, YOU'RE HERE IN ALABAMA VISITING WITH LEGISLATORS.

SHARING THE STORY OF THE DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB AND I WAS HOPES THAT YOU WOULD SHARE WITH US, THE HISTORY OF THE SEA LAB AND THE HISTORY AND WHAT IS GOING ON NOW.

>> THE HISTORY IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ADVICE TO THE STATE LEGISLATOR ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE STEWARDSHIP OF ALABAMA'S REMARKABLE SNARL RESOURCES.

>> A LOT OF THAT REVOLVES AROUND MARINE -- I VERY VISITING THE SEA LAB -- I GUESS THAT WAS IN IN THE MIDST OF THE OIL SPILL AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN BACK THEN.

AND Y'ALL PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION AS IT PERTAINED TO OYSTERS AND SHRIMP AND ALL OF THAT THAT DURING THE OIL FIELD THAT A CONFUSING TIME.

>> IT WAS.

WE WERE ON A 24 HOUR NEWS SIX BY SCIENTISTS ARE AREN'T ALL THAT FIBROMYALGIA WITH.

I WAS TOLD BY A PUBLIC RELEASES PERSON THAT IF IT DOESN'T BLEED, IT DOESN'T LEAD.

SO WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO INTERPRET DATA THAT WE WERE SEEKING AND IF THERE WAS RISKS TO THE FIGHT IS' ECONOMY ON THE COAST WE HAD ALL THESE ARTICLES COMING OUT SAYING THAT THE GULF IS DYING.

SO IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE FOR US.

THEN GOVERNOR IVEY, I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $5 BILLION TO START CHECKING BASE LINE DATA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ECOSYSTEM MONITORING DONE DURING THAT TIME.

SO WE DID SHE TELL HAVE A CLEAR BASELINE INVENTORY FOR WHAT WAS AVAILABLE BEFORE THE OIL GOT THERE.

SO GOVERNOR IVEY PICKED A SEA LAB TO LEAD THE EFFORT TO TRY TO EVALUATE AND COLLECT THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO TO THE EXPECTATION THAT OIL WAS GOING TO REACH OUR COASTLINES.

SO WE IF YOU WOULD TOGETHER' STUDY TIME OF ABOUT 105 SCIENTISTS FROM 18 UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHOLE PARTICIPATED IN THIS STUDY.

WE LEAKED AT EVERYTHING FROM THE PLANKTON TO THE INITIAL TO THE SHRIMP.

JUVENILE SNAP EVER RECRUITMENT, YOU NAME IT, WE LOOKED TO SEE WHAT THE SITUATION WAS PRIOR TO THE OIL.

WHAT WE FOUND OUTDOOR WAS THAT THE RESOURCES WERE PRETTY RESILIENT AND REMARKABLE.

JUST IN MY CASE WE WERE TRAWLING REGULARLY UP UNTIL THE WEEKS THAT THE OIL WAS ARRIVINGING.

AND THE AMOUNT OF FISH WAS THREE TIMES GREATER THAN WE NORMALLY GOT.

THAT PUZZLED THE STEW OUT OF ME.

HOW COULD THAT BE?

LATER ON I CONCLUDED THAT I HAD TO DO WITH FISHERMEN FROM LOUISIANA LEAVING THE AREA AND MIGRATING EAST AND WED WEST.

>> INTERESTING.

WELL, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHANGES AFOOT AT THE SEA LAB.

THE AQUARIUM IS UNDERGOING REN RENOVATIONS BUT I SHOULD BE OPEN SOON.

>> IT SHOULD BE OPENED THE WEEK OF THE 4TH.

WE'RE BASICALLY TAKING I IT'S BACK TO THE ORIGINAL BONES AND REBUILDING IT, THE EMPHASIS WILL BE ON THE ALABAMA WATERSHED AND OUR COASTAL REIMBURSES.

IT'S A STORY ABOUT OUR HISTORICAL AND CULTURING HERITAGE.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THAT SHOWCASING THE WORK THAT OUR SCIENTISTS HAVE DONE AND UP TO DIE SIGNS INFORMATION PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE WAY.

>> BLUE WERE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND THE SPONSOR OF, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH AND USING RELATE DATA.

SOMETIMES IT IS TOUGH IN THIS IS MEDIA SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU WANT THINGS RIGHT AWAY OF.

BUT IN YOUR WORK WITH UNDER UNIVERSITY STUDIES AND YOUR WORK WITH STATED AGENCIES TALK ABOUT THE PORTION OF HAVING THAT ACCURATE DATA WHEN IT COMES TO TO PALACES OF POLICIES THAT PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, BODIES LIKE THE LEGISLATOR AND OTHERS MAKE REGARDING OUR ESTUARIES.

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING TO REALIZED IS THAT IT'S NOT TO REALIZE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

SO COLLECTING THE DATA SO YOU ASK TEASE APART FACT FROM FICTION IS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

AND WE PROVIDE THAT DATA IN OUR INTERPRETATION OF THAT DATE TO STATE POLICY MANAGERS.

AMY HUNDRED DOLLARSER DOWN IN EMOTIONAL, THE COASTAL ZONE PROGRAMMER AND CHRIS BLANK KEN SHIP.

WE HAVE UNDER OUR ADD MILL UMBRELLA THE ESTUARY PROGRAM THAT IS TRANSLATES DATA INTO POLICY, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANS.

ALL OF THIS IS INTENDED TO SIMPLY ENSURE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOSTER THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE HAVE GOT ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE ESTUARY IN MOBILE BAY.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE DELTAING OF AND THE FATHER OF ADVERSITY WAS ED WILSON WHO WENT TO THE UP TO DATE OF ALABAMAAL AND LATER WENT TO HARVARD.

AND BECAUSE OF HIM, WE FOCUSED ON THE MOBILE TENSAW DEALT A. BEN RAINS, FORMER TERROR AND "MOBILE PRESS REGISTER" WROTE A REMARKABLE BACK ABOUT ALABAMA.

'S AMAZON.

IT'S A REMARKS REMARKSABLE PLACE.

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THE SEA LAB IS A HUGE DESTINATION FOR STUDENTS.

BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IT'S DURING THE SUMMER A LOT OF VISITORS.

>> RIGHT!

TELL FOLKS WHO YOU FOUR THANK THEY CAN FIND YOU RESPONSIBLE FIND WAY TEASE COME VISIT AND THINGS THAT STUDENTS DID EXPERIENCE DOWN THE SEA LAB.

>> SURE.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF PARTS TO THIS IS.

ONE IS THE K-125 PROGRAM CALLED DISCOVERY HOLD.

OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TO FOUR YEARS WE SERVE THE STUDENTS OF ALL 67 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WITH K-12 PROGRAMS, HANDS ON EXPERIENCE AND THEY FACILITATE THEIR INTRODUCTION INTO THE RESOURCES OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM GOING ON ALL OUT.

WE HAVE EASILY WHEN OR MORE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN RESIDENCE TAKING UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES THAT FIT THEIR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEIR HOME CONSTITUTIONS.

TO TWO MEMBER SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CONSORTIUM WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM 17 OF THOSE COME DOWN, KIDS FROM ATHENS, HUNTSVILLE, NORTH ALABAMA, YOU NAME IT.

WE DRAW STUDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

PERSONAL WE ALSO RECOGNIZE IN THE K-12 ARENA THAT NOT EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO COME TO DAUPHIN ISLAND AND AT A TIME PART OF IN PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED BAY MOBILE.

IT WAS FOUNDED FROM DONATIONS OF EXXON MOBILE, PNC BANK, AND OUR SEA LAB FOUNDATION.

AND WE TAKE THE SHOW ON STUDENTS THAT COLD FRONT TO COME AND THEY GET MORE INTRODUCTION.

SO IT'S OUR ROUGH ESTIMATE, ABOUT 25 CHILDREN GET EXPOSED TO THE GULF OF MEXICO IN ONE AT A TIME WAY OR ANOTHER OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE AQUARIUM AS YOU MENTIONED.

IT'S REALLY INTENDED FOR THE PUSHING AS MUCH AS IT IS ANYTHING AND MAKINGS IT UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S WHY I WILL SAY WE SUPPORT EDUCATION FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THROUGH GRAY HAIR.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT.

IT'S GOD MEMORIES TO REMEMBER THE DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB.

AND I WANT TO COME BACK SO THE NEXT TIME WE INTERVIEW I HOPE IT'S DOWN THERE ON THE COAST ON DAUPHIN ISLAND IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

>> WE WILL GIVE YOU A TASTE OF GOOD ALABAMA.

SEAFOOD IF YOU COME DOWN.

>> MAYBE DURING SNAPPER SEASON.

>> ANYTHING GOOD WITH BUTTER, IT'S YEARS.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THAT'S HAVING ME.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK OF THE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TUESDAY NIGHT AT 10:30 FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FROM OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M TODD STACEY.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.