April 10, 2023 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

On Tuesday (5th day of regular session): 

• The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved bills to allow local governments participating in the Retirement Systems of Alabama additional time to elect to provide the retiree bonus as set forth in Act 2022-229, and to extend boundary lines of a municipality in south Alabama. 
• The Senate Health Committee approved two bills: to expand the scope of the practice of podiatry to include treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle and to further provide for the scope of practice for certain licensed social workers.  
• The House passed bills to temporarily revise the eligibility and compensation of public retirees; to further provide for the compensation of circuit clerks in the state Judicial System; and to allow education employees to use sick leave when caring for an ill child when a petition for adoption has been filed. They also approved several bills of local application only. 
• The Senate approved bills relating to the use of electronic vote counting systems and bills relating to the compensation of board of registrar, and to prohibit the sale, distribution, marketing or possession of psychoactive cannabinoids found in hemp for certain age groups. They also approved several bills of local application only.

On Wednesday (6th day of regular session):

• The House Boards and Commissions Committee approved 16 sunset bills to continue individual boards and/or commissions, including the boards that regulate architecture and professional engineers. 
• The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to require a child to successfully complete kindergarten before being admitted to the first grade and to require high school students to complete a personal financial literacy and money management course before graduation. 
• The House Health Committee approved a bill relating to changes to the Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1996. 
• The House Judiciary Committee approved bills to provide that a prisoner is not eligible for parole if they have committed a new offense and to provide for additional circuit judgeships for specific areas. 
• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill to phase-in a reduction in the top tax rate from five percent to four and ninety-five hundredths’ percent and to eliminate the two percent tax rate on the first $500 for individuals. 
• The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved bills to increase the mileage reimbursement paid to jurors and to reopen the State Police Tier II Plan in the Employees Retirement Systems of Alabama. 
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to change certain provisions of the Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1996; a bill to require prosecution of a child 16 or older as an adult who uses a dangerous weapon against an employee or agent of the Department of Youth Services; and a bill to further provide for the definition of contraband in juvenile facilities. 
• The Senate approved a bill to further provide for the salary of all circuit clerks; to expand the practice scope of podiatry; to adopt the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to allow licensed teachers to practice among compact states in a limited manner; and to further provide for the scope of practice for certain licensed social workers. 

On Thursday (7^th day of of regular session):

• The House passed 16 sunset bills continuing boards and commissions including the State Board for Registration of Architects and the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. It also passed bills to provide that healthcare facilities have policies and practices of visitation for patients; to phase-in a reduction in the top tax rate from five percent to four percent; and to eliminate the two percent tax rate on the first $500 of income for individuals. 
• The Senate passed bills to require mandatory minimum sentences for certain felony drug trafficking offenses; to reopen the State Police Tier II plan of the Employees Retirement System; and to provide that the term “healthcare provider,” as used in the Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1996, would include emergency medical services personnel and any emergency medical provider service.

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