Volume 11- March 23, 2018

A Publication by the Franklin Resources Group

THE HOUSE

Down to Business HOUSE RECONVENES Tuesday, March 27, 11:00 a.m. THE SENATE

Wrapping Things Up SENATE RECONVENES Tuesday, March 27, 2:00 p.m.

IN COMMITTEE

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Ryan deGraffenried, III • Johnny Crawford • Susan Hansen • David Rogers 529 South Perry Street, Suite 10, Montgomery, 36104 • Email: [email protected]

Week 11 March 23, 2018

A THE HOUSE Down to Business

With the possibility that only two days remain in the 2018 legislative session, the House worked through filibusters and late nights in preparation for one day next week to be the last day. Leadership in the both the House and the Senate have indicated they will adjourn Sine Die several weeks early to allow for members to get home and campaign for the June 5th primaries.

After several hours of debate Tuesday, the House passed SB311 by Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) that provides for the levy of a 3-percent car rental and vehicle lease tax in Jefferson County with the proceeds to be used by the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority for the renovation of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Civic Center and construction of an outdoor stadium.

Tuesday, the House also passed SB149 by Sen. (R-Guntersville) dealing with rural broadband accessibility. The legislation creates a $10 million grant program to invest in infrastructure to bring high speed internet services to parts of the state that currently do not have access. The bill is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. The House also amended, passed and sent back to the Senate SB1 by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) that provides57 for ignition interlock devices to be installed on vehicles of individuals charged and convicted of DUI.

Passing late Wednesday night was SB351 by Sen. (R-Jasper). It would establish the Alabama Rural Hospital Resources Center, within the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), to increase the viability and capabilities of nonprofit or public rural hospitals.

Thursday, the House tackled an 18-bill special order calendar of Senate bills of varying controversy. Six hours into the legislative day, the House had passed only 3 bills, including SB181, a constitutional amendment, by Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) authorizing the display of the Ten Commandments on state or public school property. It will be on the November ballot. The House eventually worked through the entire calendar of bills before adjourning late Thursday night.

SB318 by Sen. (R-Decatur) was amended and passed by the House. It would establish the Alabama Data Breach Notification Act of 2018 to require government entities to take reasonable security measures to protect and secure sensitive personally identifying information and provide certain notice. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee because it was amended in the House.

SB84 by Sen. (D-Birmingham) creating criteria for developing and promulgating a uniform reporting system to identify racial profiling for traffic stops, failed to advance after a procedural vote failed 34-52.

HB435 by Rep. (R-Guntersville) that would have allowed qualified teachers to carry guns in school did not get a vote in the House this week and has presumably died for this legislative session.

Week 11 March 23, 2018

THE SENATE Wrapping Things Up

Wednesday, the Senate concurred with changes made by the House to the General Fund budget, sending it to Governor Ivey who signed it Thursday. The House non-concurred on the Education budget therefore; sending it to a conference committee. It is expected the conference committee will not report until the last day of the session to keep the Budget Isolation Resolution in play, a procedural motion that makes passing a bill more difficult than a simple majority vote.

Also Wednesday, the Senate quickly considered more than 40 general bills passing the majority of them before adjourning around the dinner time hour. Thursday, the Senate flew through a 25-bill calendar of House bills. Carried over at the call of the chair was HB35 by Rep. Lynn Greer (R-Rogersville) extending the ‘Stand your Ground’ law to churches and church functions, after Sen. Singleton (D- Greensboro) threatened a filibuster on the bill. Passing was HB429 by Rep. April Weaver (R-Alabaster) allowing a certified registered nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife to have signature authority for medical forms.

Throughout the day Thursday, the Senate dealt with 66 bills of mainly non-controversial legislation that included more than 2 dozen local bills lawmakers wanted to see passed.

IN COMMITTEE

HB317 by Rep. Ken Johnson (R-Moulton) received a favorable report from the Senate Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Development Committee by a vote of 10-2 and was in position to be debated on the Senate floor Thursday, but a vote was delayed for more discussion after several Senators threatened to filibuster. It is likely to return next week. The legislation would exempt economic development professionals from registering as lobbyists. The bill was previously amended to clarify that public officials, public employees, lobbyists and their employees would not be exempt. The Senate committee also added a sunset provision and clarified any acceptance of a tax incentive, including the incentives and benefits provided by this bill would be public record.

HB225 – The Juvenile Justice Bill by Rep. Jim Hill (R-Moody) was reported out favorably by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday and received its second reading, placing it in position to pass the Senate next week. The bill is designed to remove low level juvenile offenders from institutional placements and reinvest those dollars into programs that go in-home to intervene with them and their families in their communities. Research has shown that in-home therapeutic intervention is more effective at keeping low level offenders from reoffending and falling further into the court and prison systems.

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