March 14, 2022 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

While it has faced vocal opposition, the bill to remove the requirement to have a permit for the concealed carry of a gun in Alabama is now law. After being passed by the House, modified in the Senate and then approved by the conference committee (made necessary by Senate changes), Governor Ivey signed the bill into law without delay. This makes Alabama the 22nd state to remove this type of permit requirement, a move hailed by gun rights advocates.

Other legislative action last week included the passage of the $8.1 billion education budget in the House, forward progress for this session’s gambling bill and the full passage of a bill to make detecting the dangerous substance fentanyl easier and more cost effective in an effort to reduce overdose deaths.

Keep scrolling to read details on all this and much more.

The House and Senate return on Tuesday, March 15 at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@thebloomgroup March 13 Virginia gains optometric laser procedures for glaucoma, post-cataract care | AOA

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Legislature Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

• The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills relating to education funding, including the $8.1 billion education budget for FY23 and several appropriations for non-state entities such as Lyman Ward Military Academy and Tuskegee University. It also approved a Senate-passed bill to provide a one-time lump sum bonus for retired educators and a bill to provide a four-percent pay raise for public education employees.
• The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved several bills, including bills to specify that a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist also practices in coordination with a licensed physician, podiatrist or dentist; to add two members to the Alabama Justice Information Commission; and to prohibit the state and any of its political subdivisions or agencies from teaching certain concepts relating to race, sex or religion in certain training.
• The Senate became embroiled in debate over a bill to prohibit state enforcement of certain federal firearm statues and adjourned without taking a vote.

• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill to require the State Board of Education to phase in the employment of auxiliary teachers to assist classroom teachers with instructional and noninstructional activities in all public schools in the state providing instruction in grades K-3.
• The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved several bills dealing with direct appropriations, supplemental appropriations to certain agencies and the general fund budget for FY23. It also approved a four-percent pay increase for state workers and a one- time lump sum bonus for retired state workers.
• The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to require every judicial circuit to establish a community punishment and corrections program and to exempt from state income tax a portion of income from deferred compensation plans.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved a bill to reduce the business privilege tax through a phase-out over several years.
• The Senate Tourism Committee approved two bills designed to establish a state lottery, approve and regulate casinos and establish a state gaming commission.
• The Senate approved House-passed bills to authorize the board of trustees at the University of West Alabama to conduct certain meetings by video or telephone conference and to require the establishment and maintenance of a registry for individuals convicted of certain crimes against elders. They also approved bills to establish the Alabama Airport Economic and Infrastructure Program and to create an exception for an individual to test for the presence of certain drugs.

• The House Education Policy Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to establish the Alabama Numeracy Act and to prohibit the use of Common Core State Standards in public K-12 schools.
• The House passed bills of local application only and general bills that include bills to phase out the business privilege tax to help small business persons, to provide for the issuance of garnishment writs by regular mail or certified mail, and to allow the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program board to meet electronically.
• The House joined the Senate in concurrence with a conference committee report on the permitless concealed pistol legislation.
• The Senate Education Policy Committee approved bills to further provide for the operational and categorical funding of public charter schools in the state and to require each local board of education and independent school system in the state, subject to appropriations by the legislature, to employ a mental health service coordinator.
• The Senate completed work on a 12 bill Special Order, which included the passage of bills to phase out the business privilege tax; to authorize local governments to expend certain monies for broadband infrastructure; to further provide for virtual hearings in criminal cases; and to authorize the State Health Officer to issue orders with the full force of law if approved by the governor and filed with the Secretary of State.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: AL Senate Committee Approves Lottery & Gambling Package

The Alabama Senate Tourism Committee approved legislation that would authorize a lottery and at least five casinos in the state; it would also create a state gaming commission that could crackdown on established gambling. The committee approved the bills without dissenting votes. The proposed legislation would grant “emergency powers to an authorized state gambling commission to demand information from existing gambling operators.” The commission will also charge “reasonable fees” for operation.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Lawmakers Pass Bill To Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips

The Alabama Legislature passed a bill to make it legal to use and distribute test strips that detect the presence of fentanyl in other drugs in an effort to prevent overdoses. Fentanyl is an addictive opioid far more potent than heroin that is often added to illegal street drugs. The Jefferson County Coroner’s office reported that 400 people died of overdoses in Jefferson County last year, shattering the previous record of 302 set in 2020. Fentanyl was a factor in 316 of the deaths last year. Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson urged lawmakers to approve the bill, a move that would follow changing federal guidelines and similar efforts in other states to increase the availability of test strips. It is estimated that the strips cost between $1 to $3.50 apiece, depending on the quantity bought. Federal agencies have approved the use of federal dollars to buy fentanyl tests for distribution.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Senate Passes Board of Optometry Bill

A bill expanding the services and procedures optometrists are allowed to provide in Alabama passed the Senate last week. If it becomes law, the Alabama Board of Optometry would be the sole authority regulating the expansion of certain practices and procedures for optometrists. It would also require optometrists providing these procedures to meet certain training benchmarks. Senator Del Marsh, R-Anniston, sponsored the bill, which also has the steadfast support of Senator Jim McClendon, R-Springville. It also faces Republican opposition. Proponents note than optometrists already train for the procedures in question, including certain eye injections and incisions, and perform them in multiple other states. They say allowing the same to happen in Alabama would expand access to this care. Currently, these procedures are often performed by ophthalmologists, and opponents say it should remain that way.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Governor Signs Bill to End Concealed Carry Permit Requirement

Alabama lawmakers gave final approval to a bill to repeal the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed handgun, an idea proposed for about the last 10 years. Gov. Ivey immediately signed the legislation into law, which takes effect in January 2023. The House and Senate voted mostly along party lines to approve the conference committee report. The bill has been one of the most controversial of the year, with opposition from the Alabama Sheriffs Association and others in law enforcement. They say the permit requirement is an important public safety tool. Supporters of the bill call it “constitutional carry” and say the requirement for a permit and a background check infringes on the Second Amendment.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Governor Awards $10M in Pandemic Relief Grants For Volunteer Fire Departments

Governor Kay Ivey has awarded $10 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to establish grants for volunteer fire departments. The grant program was established from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund with dollars received under the state’s portion of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. For providers that meet eligibility requirements, the state will offer grants up to the amount of $10,320. The application period for the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department COVID Recovery Grant program will be open from noon, March 7 through noon, March 25, 2022.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Alabama Innovation Corporation Board Holds First Meeting

The Alabama Innovation Corporation board of directors recently held its first meeting. Established through legislation signed by Governor Kay Ivey, the Alabama Innovation Corporation is charged with implementing policies designed to make Alabama a hub for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The board was officially seated in December and is chaired by state finance director Bill Poole, and will partner with the private sector, governmental entities and lawmakers to craft programs and policies to support the state’s innovation sector. In 2021, the legislature appropriated $10 million to the Innovation Corporation, with $5 million of the funds being used for the Innovate Alabama Matching Grant Program. The program will grant funds of up to $250,000 to awardees of the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Poole commended Governor Ivey and the legislature for their support of corporation’s mission to bolster Alabama’s innovation economy.

March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Alabama Rep. David Wheeler Dies

Rep. David Wheeler, R-Vestavia Hills, has died at age 72. Rep. Wheeler won election in Jefferson County in 2018 and was unopposed for re-nomination in the Republican primary in this historically Republican district. A long-time official in the Jefferson County Republican Party, he was an accountant by training who worked for decades for Alabama Power and served as president of a pest control company. Our heartfelt condolences are extended to his family.