January 15, 2018 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
And so it begins.
The Alabama Legislature returned to the capital city last Tuesday for the start for the 2018 regular session. The highlight of the opening day was the State of the State address by Governor Ivey (see more below). On Wednesday, a committee day, lawmakers got to work.
- The House Education Policy Committeeapproved a bill to replace the State Superintendent of Education with an at-large member of the University of North Alabama Board of Trustees, to remove the requirement that public education employees charged with certain sex crimes against students be paid administrative leave, and to provide for the qualifications of Secretary for Early Childhood Education. A number of local bills were also reported out of committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee approved several bills, including ones to define the conditions under which defendants in municipal courts are to be released as an unsecured appearance bond or personal recognizance and to provide for the probate recording of marriage contracts.
- The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved Sunset Bills to continue the Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission; State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists; the Pilotage Commission; the Surface Mining Commission; the Oil and Gas Board; and the Elevator Safety Review Board.
