April 25, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
The largest Education Budget since the recent recession passed both chambers easily last week, with two unanimous votes. Plus, the governor’s prison plan made it out of committee, a RCO bill made progress, and lots of local business got done.
On Tuesday, April 19 (23rd day of the session):
- The House County and Municipal Government Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to prohibit police jurisdiction from extending into additional territories after the effective date of the act without an affirmative vote of the city council.
- The House Commerce and Small Business Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to authorize universities that operate medical schools to incorporate authorities to own and operate healthcare facilities.
- The Senate Jefferson County Local Legislation Committee approved House-passed bills to revise the composition of the county Retirement System Pension Board; to allow municipalities to retain issuance fees relating to license plates; and to further provide for camera enforcement of traffic speed and red light violations in the City of Bessemer.
- The House passed bills to provide interpreters for non-English speaking and deaf persons and juvenile court intake; to require that salary and expense increases of municipal bodies be introduced at least 30 days prior to adoption; and to prohibit the use of sky lanterns and novelty lighters in certain settings.
- The Senate passed bills to prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement officers and to require the reporting of certain statistical information to the Attorney General.
- The Senate also passed bills to provide income tax credits for rural physicians and dentists; to revise and strengthen the penalties for violations of restrictions on new, young drivers, and to revise the notification requirements by local governments regarding tax levies; and to authorize certain collection services at no cost.
- Learn more about what the Senate got done on this day on the“Senate Minute” video, here.)
On Wednesday, April 20 (24th day of the session):
- The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to provide bonds for up to $800 million for construction of new prisons and the repair of existing prisons.
- The House State Government Committee approved a bill amending the statute prohibiting municipalities from using private auditing or collecting firms relating to sales and use tax.
- The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved House passe-bills to prohibit the use of sky lanterns and novelty lighters in certain circumstances; to exempt prescription drugs from business license tax based on gross receipts; and to extend the hospital assessment and Medicaid funding through 2019 using 2014 as a tax base.
- The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to extend the time period for achieving certification as a Regional Care Organization (RCO).
- The House passed bills to require that municipal tax abatements correspond to county abatements; to revise the membership of the Jefferson County Pension Board, and to prohibit city council members in Birmingham from serving on other city boards.
- The Senate passed bills to further provide for penalties for driving under the influence and to further provide for camera enforcement of traffic speed and red light violations in the city of Bessemer.
- Learn more about what the Senate got done on this day on the“Senate Minute” video, here.)
On Thursday, April 21 (25th day of the session):
- The House passed bills to extend the time period for certification of Regional Care Organizations (RCO) and to provide enhanced penalties violations against law enforcement officers, firefighters and other specified persons.
In other news…
While it has barely made any headlines in the last few months, the idea of a state lottery entered the discussion again last week. A bill calling for a statewide referendum on a lottery made it out of the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee. But with the session nearing its end, many think the chance of getting a lottery bill passed is small. Even proponents of a lottery cite issues with the current bill, mainly its lack of specifics about distribution, as reasons to put the issue on hold, while the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville), believes he has enough time to work on the bill and add the details many legislators are seeking.
On Thursday, the $6.3 billion Education Budget made it through the legislature and is expected to be singed into law by Governor Bentley. A bill authorizing pay raises for educators also passed and is also expected to get the governor’s signature. The budget is the biggest since 2008, and the pay raise is the first in three years.
The House and Senate reconvene on Tuesday, April 26, at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. Find a link to live audio of both chambers here.
