March 5, 2018 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
The Legislature’s work last week got a step closer to putting more money in many Alabamians’ pockets, as the Senate passed bills to provide raises and bonuses for state workers and retirees.
- On Tuesday (15th day of session): The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to increase the criminal penalties for encouraging litigation; to authorize federally qualified health centers to deliver medications to clinics; and passed Senate-passed bills to further provide centralized waste treatment facilities and substituted a Senate-passed bill relating to the practice of dentistry, which now must be reconciled. The Senate passed bills of local application only and general bills to authorize certain healthcare providers to sign forms that may be signed by a physician; to provide for a one-time lump sum bonus to retired teachers; and to provide for a cost-of-living increase for active state workers.
- On Wednesday (a committee day): The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to provide civil immunity to persons providing transportation to healthcare providers without compensation. The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill defining the filing requirement threshold to be the sum on the standard deduction and personal exemptions. The House County and Municipal Government Committee approved a bill to authorize tax liens to be sold at auction to the bidder with the lowest interest rate. The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to create a Task Force on school safety and security and to revise the requirement of juvenile probation officers to provide certain information to schools regarding the crime of possessing deadly weapons on school property. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to allow the direct shipment of alcoholic beverages to the consumer under certain conditions. The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved a bill to allow an income tax credit offset only for liability derived from non-Alabama sources.
- On Thursday (16th day of session): The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to define warranties and remedies for the New Assistive Devices Warranty Act; to provide an income tax credit only offset tax liability derived from non-Alabama sources; and to authorize certain healthcare providers to sign forms that may be signed by a physicians. The Senate passed the Alabama Data Breach Notification Act and a bill to authorize the use of electronic communication for notification of persons relating to court costs and fees.
