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This Week in the Alabama Legislature…March 21, 2008
Download a printer friendly version of the March 21 Weekly Report.
The Legislature has been in recess this week, which means this week’s report is abbreviated. However, several matters on the agenda for the coming week need attention before Tuesday.
In addition, we would anticipate additional committee meetings being scheduled on Monday or Tuesday. So, it is important that county officials watch their e-mail boxes AND the Association’s web site for additional information.
Vote Expected on Legislation to Override County Budget — The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a Tuesday vote on the legislation that would authorize all sheriffs to ignore the county commission-adopted budget and spend county funds as they see fit. SB242 by Sen. Steve French weakens the provision in Alabama law that ensures expenditures above and beyond the budgeted amounts do not constitute an “obligation” of the county, which would render the county budget almost meaningless.
It is very important that county officials make contacts with the members of the committee to confirm their opposition to this legislation. Sheriffs all over the state are expected to use the recess period as an opportunity to change the position of some Senators. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee: Chairman Sen. Wendell Mitchell; Sens. Zeb Little, Jabo Waggoner, Scott Beason, Kim Benefield, Linda Coleman, Bobby Denton, Larry Dixon, Vivian Figures, Pat Lindsey, Larry Means, Myron Penn, Jim Preuitt, Quinton Ross and Harri Anne Smith.
We also expect a large number of sheriffs to be in Montgomery on Tuesday. All county officials and administrators who can attend are asked to be in Montgomery. The committee meeting will begin at 1 p.m.
Two ACCA Bills Scheduled for Floor Vote on Thursday, March 27
Administrative Fee for Educational Taxes — The House version of the bill designed to correct a problem with the so-called 10-mil constitutional amendment for education (HB349 by Rep. Charles Newton) is expected on the House Special Order Calendar for Thursday. Without this legislation, many counties stand to pay a larger share of the costs of collecting the ad valorem taxes. County officials are encouraged to contact their House members to ask that they vote IN FAVOR of this proposed constitutional amendment.
Amendments to Sex Offender Notification Act — This legislation has been on three calendars, but a vote IS EXPECTED on Thursday, March 27. HB332 by Rep. Blaine Galliher amends the Sex Offender Notification Act aimed at reducing the number of “released” sex offenders who are immediately re-arrested and placed in county jails. County officials are encouraged to contact their House members to ask that they SUPPORT this important legislation.
OTHER LEGISLATION...
9-1-1 Communication — The Association is nearing an agreement on the bill that would allow local 9-1-1 districts to contract with the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center for network communication access — HB253 by Rep. Mike Curtis and SB220 by Sen. Ted Little. The staff is confident the remaining problems with this legislation can be resolved and the legislation can be considered by the House Government Appropriations Committee on April 2.
Illegal Aliens — Several bills establishing programs for the identification of illegal aliens will be considered by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The Association has expressed concern with several of the bills because of the additional costs to county AND the possible liability that would fall on the county commission AND its employees if illegal aliens were improperly identified.
The members of the House Judiciary Committee are: Chairman Rep. Marcel Black; Reps. Charles Newton, Steve McMillan, Mike Collier, Paul DeMarco, Priscilla Dunn, Chris England, Laura Hall, Tammy Irons, Jamie Ison, Marc Keahey, John Robinson, Yusuf Salaam, Howard Sanderford and Cam Ward.
Diversion of Highway Funds — HB685 by Rep. Joe Faust levies a $20 boat trailer tag fee and diverts the resulting revenue AWAY from road and bridge activities to a number of other ventures. This is a NEW tag, so it will not reduce our current revenue. However, it violates a very important policy position that highway user fees must be protected for highway expenses.
The bill will divide the money between the Alabama Rescue Squads Association, Department of Public Safety, Department of Conservation and the Peace Offices Annuity Fund. Certainly they are good entities, but they should find their own funding! The bill is pending in the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee. We anticipate a public hearing on the bill in the coming weeks. It is important that each member of the committee be contacted and asked to vote to “INDEFINITELY POSTPONE” the legislation.
The members of the committee are: Chairman Rep. Thomas Jackson; Reps. Steve Hurst, Mike Hubbard, Robert Bentley, Spencer Collier, Randy Davis, Chad Fincher, Alan Harper, Earl Hilliard, Ralph Howard, Jamie Ison, Marc Keahey, Ben Lewis, A.J. McCampbell and Henry White.
Local Legislation — Counties still preparing local legislation for introduction in this session are running out of time. Because of the requirement that local bills be advertised for four consecutive weeks, local bills that are not being advertised by no later than March 28 face a difficult challenge in becoming law this session. If you have questions, please contact the ACCA office.
County Presence in Montgomery — County Commission Days resume next week. County presence in Montgomery is always important, but this week’s activities are especially so. The following counties are scheduled to be at the ACCA office on Tuesday, March 25, at 11 a.m.: Autauga, Calhoun, Cleburne, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Shelby and Talladega Counties. On Thursday, March 27, officials and employees from Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa Counties are asked to be at the ACCA office at 9 a.m.
The real-time status of all ACCA, Danger and local bills can be found by going to acca-online.org and following the steps under Legislative News. Please make copies of this report for all county officials and employees. And remember, the ACCA staff will update the Association's web site with the latest information on the activities in Montgomery.
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