The Alabama Department of Mental Health has proposed a plan that would close all but two mental health facilities in the state. The commissioner announced on Wednesday a plan to close all but the Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Center and Bryce Hospital, both in Tuscaloosa. If implemented, the plan eliminates
Lawmakers returned to work on Tuesday and received bad news: State agencies likely will face cuts in this year’s budget, and the cuts for next year will be much bigger, possibly forcing the release of prisoners and tearing holes in the state’s safety net of social services. The interim director of
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley in his state-of-the-state speech Tuesday night outlined his agenda for the 2012 regular session as follows: Invest more in workforce development and career tech programs to help Alabama recruit jobs. Free businesses from unnecessary and bureaucratic roadblocks. Borrow money through a bond issue to repair roads
On Wednesday, a committee day and the second legislative day, the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee approved a package of bills aimed at bringing more jobs to the state. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved a bill to ban the sending or receiving of text type communication
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced on Thursday that the state is formally joining a $25 billion national joint federal-state agreement with the nation’s largest mortgage servicers relating to foreclosure abuses and fraud, as well as unacceptable nationwide mortgage serving practices. The Office of the attorney General said the proposed
On Thursday, the legislature passed the first bills of the 2012 regular session. The House passed four bills of general application including a measure to change the name of the Alabama Development Office and Director of Development to the Commerce Department and Secretary of Commerce, respectively. This measure also provides for
Republican leaders in the Alabama Legislature say their priority at the beginning of the 2012 regular session in February will be to pass bills that will encourage businesses to create jobs. Senate President Pro-Tem Del Marsh said the first bills he expects to come up for consideration in the Senate
Alabama House Speaker wants changes to the state’s retirement system. Speaker Mike Hubbard says that taxpayers cannot continue to support an investment strategy that cost the state $1 billion in 2011 for public employees’ retirement benefits and matching contributions. Hubbard said lawmakers are not seeking to “raid the pension fund.”
An Alabama Senator plans to again push comprehensive legislation in the upcoming session to allow voters to decide if they want to ban smoking in most public places in the state. Democratic Senator Vivian Figures of Mobile say she plans to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban smoking
Governor Robert Bentley has said he plans to ask the Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment combining the state’s two budgets and allowing some money now allocated for education to be spent on state agencies. Bentley said Alabama should have a unified budget like 47 other states, but not all
