February 28, 2022 Group Watch: Senate Approves Bill to Delay Literacy Act

The Alabama Senate passed a bill by Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham to delay the implementation of the Literacy Act by a 20-12 vote. The bill pushes a reading proficiency requirement for third graders to move to fourth grade from the current school year to the 2023-24 school year. A similar bill by Rep. Terri Collins proposes to delay the implementation of the requirement to the 2022-23 year. The Literacy Act law contained a provision to hold back third grade students who do not score above the lowest achievement level on a state test; get an unacceptable score on an alternate test; or fail to show mastery of minimum standards. That provision will kick in at the end of this year if it is not delayed. Educators have pushed for a delay in the retention provision due to the impacts COVID has had on education in the last two years.

February 28, 2022 Group Watch: Jefferson Co. Dept of Public Health Pushing for Legalization of Fentanyl Tests

With the highly dangerous drug fentanyl playing a role in four out of every five drug overdose deaths in Jefferson County last year, that area’s Public Health Department is encouraging the legislature to make tests that can detect fentanyl legal in the state. The Senate has already passed a bill to make the cheap and easy-to-use test strips legal, and the legislation is now on its way to the House. Read more here.

February 28, 2022 Group Watch: Senator Marsh Pushes for Action on Education This Session

Last week, Senator Del Marsh made the argument for more parental choice and more accountability in schools, encouraging his counterparts to pass legislation this session that makes it clear state leadership is unhappy with Alabama’s lower national education rankings. His school-choice bill was sent to a study commission, signaling its not likely to pass this session. During the floor discussion, Sen. Bobby Singleton said that he hopes the commission looks at some of the environmental factors in low-income school systems that lead to poor student performance. Singleton is a member of a bipartisan commission of Representatives and Senators that met for the first time on Wednesday outside the presence of non-commission members.

February 28, 2022 Group Watch: Childcare Workers Get Bonuses

More than 10,000 Alabama childcare workers are receiving bonuses totaling $12.6 million. These bonuses come after the first round of Child Care Workforce Stabilization grants from the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). The second round will run from February 28 through March 18. The DHR awarded grants to 1,278 child care providers who applied in December 2021 and January 2022. These grants are composed of bonuses that total $1,500 for full-time employees and $750 for part-time employees. According to DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner, “These bonuses will help recruit much-needed reinforcements and reward current employees for their dedicated service to the children and families of Alabama.” Eligible employees may receive up to eight quarterly bonuses before the two-year grant period ends in September 2023. Funding for the grants comes from the American Rescue Plan Act.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Some hot button issues are likely to be on the agenda in the legislature in the next few weeks. Gambling is coming back again, and the sponsor of the latest bill says he’s expecting opposition from multiple groups. A bill focused on transgender bathrooms in schools has made it through committee.

Other bills unlikely to generate controversy moved forward this week, including a bill authorizing the addition of a Space National Guard as part of the Alabama National Guard and a bill to further expand high-speed internet access in rural areas.

And more good news about the state’s booming economy was released last week as well. Keep reading for more details on all this and more.

The House and Senate return on Tuesday, February 22 at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@egmackey Feb 19 Excited about trying a recipe or two this weekend from @DannaStandridge’s cookbook 👨‍🍳⏲

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Legislature Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

• The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved several bills including House-passed bills to clarify that emergency management personnel provide public safety services and to revise the membership of the board of the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame and further provide for location of the Hall and for the board to meet by electronic means. It also approved a proposed constitutional amendment, which if ratified, would require the governor to notify the attorney general and a designated member of a victim’s family prior to granting a commutation to a person sentenced to death.
• The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to exempt federal COVID benefits from state income tax; to approve a grace period for paying fines after release from prison; and to allow local grants to expand high-speed internet.
• The Senate passed several general bills including bills to establish a program of advanced enrollment for children of military families in public K-12; to permit extension of the timeframe allowable for military spouses in their occupational practice; and to further provide for definitions of employment to exclude certain marketplace contractors.

• The House Ways and Means-Education Committee approved several bills including a Senate-passed bill to increase the optional standard deduction and expand adjusted gross income allowable.
• The House Ways and Means-General Fund Committee approved a few bills including bills to extend the supplemental privilege assessment for nursing homes and hospitals through August 2025.
• The House State Government Committee approved a bill to allow issuance of garnishment writs by regular or certified mail.
• The House approved a number of bills of local application only and a number of general bills including bills to require a mental health service coordinator for each school system subject to legislative appropriations; to authorize the establishment of entertainment districts within community development districts under certain conditions; to further provide for the equipment required while operating autocycles and other motor vehicles; and to provide that a judge may use discretion in the length of sentence a defendant must serve if his or her probation is revoked.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee approved several bills including bills to require each local school board of education subject to legislative appropriations to employ a mental health service coordinator; to provide an exemption of up to $40,000 in tangible business personal property from state ad valorem tax beginning October 1, 2023; and to provide that the deduction allowed to individual taxpayers for federal income tax paid or accrued within the tax year ending December 31, 2021.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved several bills including a bill to prohibit certain service providers from taking certain restrictive actions against users based on type and content of speech expressed on their platforms.
• The Senate Education Policy Committee approved a couple of bills including a bill to amend the Alabama Literacy Act to delay its implementation for two years.
• The Senate approved several general bills including bills to require the governor to provide prior notice when granting a reprieve or commutation to certain parties including relatives of victims; to require procedural due process protection for suspensions and expulsions for students in K-12; and to further provide for payment of principal and interest for loans from the Federal Aid Highway Finance Authority.

• The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved a bill to provide a one-time bonus to education retirees.
• The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to extend the privilege assessments for hospitals and nursing homes through August 2025.
• The Senate passed several general bills including a House-passed bill to further provide for the membership of the Women’s Hall of Fame Board and to authorize electronic meetings; to allow the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to be used for capital outlay; and to establish the Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act of 2022.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Alabama Exports Regain Momentum

In 2021, Alabama’s exports surged 21 percent in value compared to the previous year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and indicating the underlying resilience of the state’s economy. Alabama businesses exported to 189 countries last year, reflecting the vial connection that the state’s high-quality, in-demand products have to the global economy. The top five destinations were:
• Germany – $3.7 billion (up 65.7%)
• Canada – $3.4 billion (up 15.6%)
• China – $3.4 billion (up1.6%)
• Mexico – $2.5 billion (up 35%)
• South Korea – $921.7 million (up 47.3%)

The state’s No.1 export category – transportation equipment – jumped 25.8 percent to reach $10.35 billion, a figure that topped the total for 2019. Overseas shipments of Alabama-made motor vehicles rose 38.4 percent in value, while exports of ships and boats jumped 40 percent last year. Other top categories for 2021 exports were chemicals ($2.3 billion), forest products ($1.5 billion), primary metals manufacturing ($1.3 billion) and non-electrical machinery ($1.1 billion.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Alabama Community College System Opens Innovation Center

The Alabama Community College System Innovation Center launched the first of several industry-specific programs to help students find immediate employment.The Innovation Center is a $10 million investment made to rapidly train workers for the state’s highest-demand industries. The training includes short-term classes that students can start from anywhere in the state and finish with an in-person lab in a regional location. Once students complete the training, they are job-ready and are awarded a credential and an opportunity to earn more certifications at their local community college. The Innovation Center has already successfully collaborated with the Alabama Tourism Department to help workers train for and find jobs in the state’s $16 billion hospitality industry, thanks to a $1 million grant from Governor Ivey. All graduates of the pilot training project hosted by Coastal Community College were matched with jobs, and 100 percent of students were hired upon completion of their training.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: School Choice Bill Has an Uphill Battle Ahead

Senator Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) bill that would allow parents to put public money towards private education for their children has strong supporters and detractors, but it may not get very much farther, at least this session. Last week, it hit a hurdle, when it was sent to a study commission, often a final stopping point before a bill is declared dead. Read more here.