MONTGOMERY – House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), Representative Ed Henry (R-Hartselle) and representatives from the National Rifle Association, the Alabama Sheriff’s Association and the Alabama District Attorney’s Association announced their support on Thursday for a compromise version of Senate Bill 286, which protects the rights of gun owners across the state of Alabama.  Soon after the agreed upon substitute was announced, the House Commerce and Small Business Committee approved the measure with a ...]]> GOP measure defends Second Amendment rights while addressing public safety concerns

MONTGOMERY – House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), Representative Ed Henry (R-Hartselle) and representatives from the National Rifle Association, the Alabama Sheriff’s Association and the Alabama District Attorney’s Association announced their support on Thursday for a compromise version of Senate Bill 286, which protects the rights of gun owners across the state of Alabama.  Soon after the agreed upon substitute was announced, the House Commerce and Small Business Committee approved the measure with a 6 – 2 vote.

House Republicans made protecting gun rights a priority at the beginning of this legislative session with the announcement of the ‘We Dare Defend Our Rights’ Agenda, which included a specific commitment to protecting the right to bear arms.  This bill defends those inalienable rights while also addressing public safety concerns.

“With President Obama dead set on limiting our right to bear arms, it was imperative for us to push legislation that would defend this important constitutional right for Alabamians,” Hubbard said. “Balancing public safety needs, property rights and individual rights required a great deal of negotiation, and I applaud Rep. Henry’s hard work, long hours and deep commitment to ensuring this bill met all of those criteria.”

Henry said the version of the bill announced on Thursday addresses public safety concerns while allowing Alabama to maintain among the strongest Second Amendment rights in the nation.

“First and foremost we are committed to ensuring that the citizens of Alabama have the right to defend themselves,” Henry said.  “Achieving this compromise required a long journey with a lot of back and forth among law enforcement, business representatives and gun rights activists, but we finally found the right mix.  I’m proud of our efforts to get to this point, and I consider this bill a good example of how the legislative process should work.”

The National Rifle Association, whose representatives endorsed the bill at a news conference, also voiced its support for the substitute.

“The passage of SB 286 out of the Commerce and Small Business Committee is a step forward for the hard-working men and women of Alabama,” said Trevor Santos, state liaison to Alabama from the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “This legislation includes much-needed reform of the current Right to Carry statute and protects the fundamental right of self-defense for those carrying a firearm to and from work. There is still work to be done, and we will continue to work with members of the Alabama Legislature to protect our Second Amendment rights.”

The Alabama Sheriffs’ Association and the Alabama District Attorneys’ Association, who were initially opposed to SB 286, said they were able to have their concerns addressed in the substitute version of the bill.

“The Alabama Sheriffs’ Association understands that this would not have been possible without the support and occasionally the urging of Speaker Hubbard,” Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith said. “We feel this is a bill that benefits the public, it preserves their Second Amendment rights, and it also provides safeguards for public safety.”

“Alabama’s District Attorneys wish to thank Speaker Hubbard, Representative Henry, and Senator Beason for including law enforcement in this bill,” said Alabama District Attorneys Association Executive Director Randy Hillman.  “It is our sworn duty to ensure public safety for all Alabama citizens while ensuring that the rights of all are protected.  This substitute bill strengthens many public safety aspects of what had previously been proposed and provides new tools for law enforcement to do its job.”

Provisions of the substitute bill include:

·         Individuals without a concealed carry permit would be allowed to carry a pistol in their car if it is unloaded, locked away, and out of reach of the driver or passenger.

·         Changes Alabama from a ‘May Issue’ to a ‘Shall Issue’ state.  Sheriffs will be required to provide documented reasoning for denying permits, and individuals may appeal the issuing decision.

·         Requires employees to have either a valid concealed carry permit or a hunting license to carry a firearm onto a work site.  Additionally, the employee cannot have been convicted of a violent crime, have been involuntarily committed, or have past incidents of domestic violence.

·         Provides employers with immunity against lawsuits in the event an employee brings a weapon to work and an incident occurs.

·         Expands the definition of “crimes of violence” to include all Class A felonies and Class B felonies that involve serious physical injury, distribution and manufacture of a controlled substance and crimes of a sexual nature involving children under 12.  Individuals convicted of a “crime of violence” cannot own a firearm in Alabama.

The bill will now move to the House floor for a vote.

 “Every member of the military could potentially put the life on the line to protect our freedoms, so we should make sure they are treated as heroes and not viewed as potential pawns of predatory lending,” Bridges said.  “As long as soldiers and their dependents are based upon ...]]> Montgomery – By a vote of 93 – 0, the Alabama House on Thursday approved a measure by State Rep. DuWayne Bridges (R – Valley) that protects military personnel stationed and living in Alabama from predatory lending practices.

 “Every member of the military could potentially put the life on the line to protect our freedoms, so we should make sure they are treated as heroes and not viewed as potential pawns of predatory lending,” Bridges said.  “As long as soldiers and their dependents are based upon Alabama soil, we must ensure that they are protected from lenders and lending practices that do not have their best interests in mind.”

Under federal law located in Title 10, Section 987 of the U.S. Code, members of their military and their dependents are shielded from certain predatory lending practices by methods that include a prohibition from being charged annual interest rates higher than 36 percent, a requirement that annual percentage rates and terms of a loan be provided in writing, and others.

 House Bill 416 incorporates those same protections into state statute and mandates that any licensed Alabama lender found to be in violation is subject to having their license suspended or revoked.

 Bridges, who chairs the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, said the bill was part of a pro-military legislative package that was introduced at the suggestion of Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey.  He publicly thanked the lieutenant governor for allowing him to sponsor the predatory lending military protection measure.

 The bill now goes to the Senate where it will be referred to committee for consideration.

Republicans promised Alabama taxpayers that we would repay the Alabama Trust Fund, and the passage of this budget continues to deliver on that promise with the first installment of funds allotted to repayment.

The budget proposal largely provides level funding for state agencies and includes increases for the Department of Corrections, the state court system, the Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“It has ...]]> MONTGOMERY – On Tuesday, the Alabama House passed the state’s proposed $1.7 billion General Fund budget with a 75-27 vote.

Republicans promised Alabama taxpayers that we would repay the Alabama Trust Fund, and the passage of this budget continues to deliver on that promise with the first installment of funds allotted to repayment.

The budget proposal largely provides level funding for state agencies and includes increases for the Department of Corrections, the state court system, the Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“It has been over 3 years since President Obama and Congress passed any budget, let alone a common-sense, fiscally responsible budget like this one,” stated Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn). “While the federal government continues on their unchecked spending spree, we are making tough decisions in Alabama to ensure that we’re living within our means and using tax dollars in the most efficient manner possible.”

This year’s General Fund budget also includes measures to ensure that the state’s Medicaid system is run more efficiently and effectively.  Most notably, HB454 will change the delivery of Medicaid services to a regional care structure.

“Doing more with less requires more and more tough decisions to be made,” said House General Fund Co-Chairman Steve Clouse (R-Ozark). “It is imperative that we continue to ensure that Alabamians receive the vital services they need and this budget is a great compromise to ensure those services are prioritized and adequately funded.”

“With a ballooning Medicaid budget and decreasing revenues we’ve been dealt a difficult hand,” stated House General Fund Co-Chairman Jim Barton (R-Mobile). “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to maximize our state’s resources all while continuing to streamline and reduce the size of government.”

The proposal now goes back to the Senate for consideration.

 “As director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging, protecting and improving the quality of life for senior citizens is a passion that I have devoted my career ...]]> Montgomery – State Rep. Randall Shedd (R – Cullman), who is employed as the director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging, announced on Tuesday that he has been assigned a seat on the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee, a position that allows him to utilize his field of experience to help better the lives of others.

 “As director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging, protecting and improving the quality of life for senior citizens is a passion that I have devoted my career and life’s work to accomplishing,” Shedd said.  “Serving on the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee will allow me to use my years of expertise and first-hand knowledge to represent the cause, needs and concerns of Alabama’s senior citizen. 

 “It will also allow me to stand tall on behalf of our state’s children, a vulnerable group that also needs our attention and protection,” he said.

 Shedd was sworn in as a member of the Alabama House on April 11, 2013 after winning a special election to fill the seat left vacant by Jeremy Oden’s appointment to the Public Service Commission.  His committee assignment followed soon after.

 As the director of Cullman County Commission on Aging, he oversees the senior services agency and 15 senior centers in his area. Shedd is also publisher of the Cullman County Retiree & Senior News, a newspaper with 18,000 copies printed monthly, and the Cullman County Retiree & Senior Guide, a magazine printed annually.

 He is a former chairman of the Cullman County Commission and served as mayor of Fairview, his hometown, from 1996 until 2012.

 Shedd has also served on numerous boards and community committees, including the Wallace State College Advisory Board and the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

“While I wish schools were as safe as they were just a generation ago, times have changed, and acts of school violence are becoming more common,” Treadaway, who is employed as a lieutenant with the Birmingham Police Department said.  “As the ...]]> Montgomery – Following the Tuesday release of an omnibus legislative report on Alabama School Security and Teacher and Student Safety, State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R – Morris) announced he is sponsoring a $50 million school security bond issue that is among the document’s major recommendations.

“While I wish schools were as safe as they were just a generation ago, times have changed, and acts of school violence are becoming more common,” Treadaway, who is employed as a lieutenant with the Birmingham Police Department said.  “As the 2013 session draws to a close, the Legislature will focus its efforts on ensuring our public schools are safe, secure and equipped for any contingency.  Protecting the children and teachers of our state is among the biggest responsibilities that we share as legislators.”

Treadaway’s legislation, House Bill 612, authorizes the Alabama Public School and College Authority to issue up to $50 million in bonds in order to provide the equipment and renovations necessary to secure each entrance to every K – 12 public school in Alabama.  Schools that already have secure entrances may use their portion of the funding to purchase items such as surveillance cameras, metal detectors and other safety equipment.

The two-term lawmaker pointed to a recent survey by the School Superintendents’ Association of Alabama revealed that:

• 46% of Alabama schoolteachers cannot secure their classroom doors from the inside
• 71% of schools cannot monitor all exterior doors from a central location
• 96% of schools cannot lock all exterior doors from a central location.

House and Senate leaders said they plan to fast-track passage of Treadaway’s legislation before the session adjourns next month.

The report containing the school security recommendations resulted from a joint public hearing of the House and Senate Education Policy Committees convened by Speaker Mike Hubbard following the shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

To download the Report on Alabama School ...]]> MONTGOMERY – On Tuesday, April 16^th, House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), Senate and House Education Policy Committee Chairmen Senator Dick Brewbaker (R-Pike Road) and Representative Mary Sue McClurkin (R- Indian Springs) will host a press conference to release the Alabama School Security and Student and Teacher Safety Report.  Following a well-attended public hearing and several months of discussions with relevant stakeholder groups, this report provides legislative recommendations to help ensure Alabama schools are as safe and secure as possible.

To download the Report on Alabama School Safety, click here: Report: Alabama School Security (95)

The majority of education budget items received level funding when compared to 2013.  The budget also provides a 2% pay raise for all full-time teachers and support personnel as well as a provision to give teachers the same liability insurance that is already provided to state ...]]> MONTGOMERY – On Wednesday, the Alabama House passed the state’s proposed $5.74 billion Education Trust Fund Budget with a 84-16 vote.  Unlike the bloated federal budget President Obama released today, this proposal reflects fiscal responsibility and common sense budgeting practices.

The majority of education budget items received level funding when compared to 2013.  The budget also provides a 2% pay raise for all full-time teachers and support personnel as well as a provision to give teachers the same liability insurance that is already provided to state employees.

House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) applauded Ways and Means Education Chairman Jay Love (R-Montgomery) for upholding Republicans’ promise to operate government within its means and still find room to reward Alabama’s most valuable assets – its teachers.

“We have made historic gains this session on our path to improve education in Alabama and this budget is yet another step towards innovation and progress,” said Hubbard.  “At a time when we face great economic uncertainty, I’m proud that we were able to not only provide a raise to our teachers but also provide them with the same liability protections all other state employees receive.”

Chairman Love noted that the education budget increased by 3% this fiscal year despite having to pay down the $423M still owed to the Rainy Day Fund due to Democrats’ reckless spending.

“We are still recovering from the Democrats’ years upon years of unchecked spending but we are making progress thanks to our conservative budgeting practices,” stated Love.  “Because we’ve made smart, common-sense financial decisions we are able to provide our teachers with the first pay increase they’ve received in years, putting money back into the pockets of our state’s educators.  We have spent countless hours to ensure that the Education Trust Fund budget is as cost-effective as possible while ensuring that the most effective and needed programs are adequately funded.”

Other notable budget items:

·         $80 million increase to the K-12 Foundation Program which funds all public schools across the state

·         $35 million guaranteed payment to the Rainy Day Fund with the potential of paying up to $100 million next fiscal year.

·         $12.5 million in additional funding to Alabama’s distinguished pre-K program.

·         $3.9 million supplemental appropriation to help alleviate any funding issues for public service agencies such as the Alabama Department of Rehabilitative Services (ADRS), the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB) and the Alabama Department of Homeland Security’s (ALDHS) Virtual Alabama program

Throughout the budget process Rep. Love has worked closely with his education counterpart Senator Trip Pittman.  The budget now moves to the Senate for approval and is expected to be enacted long before the 30^th legislative day.

It also creates a new punishment for employers who discipline or penalize a worker for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.

“Few actions are as offensive as abusing a child, violating their trust or failing to provide the very basic needs that parents, ...]]> Montgomery  – Today, the Alabama House unanimously approved a measure sponsored by Rep. Dickie Drake (R – Leeds) designed to combat child abuse and neglect within the state by broadening the groups and professions that are statutorily required to report suspected cases to authorities.

It also creates a new punishment for employers who discipline or penalize a worker for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.

“Few actions are as offensive as abusing a child, violating their trust or failing to provide the very basic needs that parents, guardians and other adults are required to give,” Drake said.  “In order to protect the most precious and vulnerable lives among us, child abuse or neglect must be reported anytime it is even remotely suspected, and this bill requires just that.”

Under current law, those employed in certain professions – including doctors and physicians, law enforcement officers, pharmacists, social workers, school teachers, day care workers and others – are required to contact authorities whenever they believe a child has been the victim of abuse.

Drake’s legislation would expand mandatory reporting requirements to include physical therapists and employees of public or private postsecondary or higher education institutions.

It also clarifies that all employees, teachers and officials of both public and private K – 12 schools also maintain the same statutory responsibility to report suspected cases.

Another provision of the bill implements a new Class C misdemeanor punishment for “a public or private employer who discharges, suspends, disciplines, or penalizes and employee for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.”

A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine and/or a sentence of up to three months in a city or county jail.

The bill now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

 The measures are designed to better track prescriptions for opioids, painkillers and other commonly abused drugs, prevent instances of “doctor shopping” and provide the State Medicaid Agency with tools to combat drug abuse among the patients it serves.

 “There’s no doubt that Alabama is suffering ...]]> Montgomery – A package of bills passed by the House on Tuesday and sponsored by State Reps. Jim McClendon (R – Springville) and April Weaver (R – Brierfield) could soon help combat the illegal acquisition and abuse of prescription drugs in Alabama.

 The measures are designed to better track prescriptions for opioids, painkillers and other commonly abused drugs, prevent instances of “doctor shopping” and provide the State Medicaid Agency with tools to combat drug abuse among the patients it serves.

 “There’s no doubt that Alabama is suffering from a drug abuse epidemic as evidenced by statistics from just a few years ago showing just under 200,000 adults abused prescription drugs in our state,” McClendon, who chairs the House Health Committee, said.  “In addition to the human toll, the National Institute of Health estimates the societal cost of prescription drug abuse is as high as $50 billion a year in the United States, so dramatic steps are obviously needed.”

 House Bill 150, sponsored by McClendon, would allow physicians and up to two of their designated employees to access that Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health.  The State Medicaid Agency would be provided similar access, as well.  Since 2006, anyone prescribing controlled substances in Alabama has been required to report the dispensing of those drugs to the database, and access to the system would allow doctors to track past prescriptions given to their patients.

 The two other bills in the package are being sponsored by Weaver, who is currently employed in healthcare administration at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster and has a 20 year career in the industry. 

 “Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, and healthcare providers across the state can confirm that the cases are becoming more frequent,” Weaver said.  “With passage of these commonsense bills, we can help prevent prescription drug abuse by addressing it at the point of prescribing,  which will stop the problem before it occurs while also protecting patient confidentiality and preserving the rights of healthcare providers.”

 House Bill 152 allows law enforcement to effectively prosecute instances of “doctor shopping” in which patients visit a variety of physicians in order to obtain prescriptions for the same or similar controlled substances.  The bill protects the doctor-patient relationship by clarifying a patient would have to attempt to “deceptively” obtain multiple prescriptions over a “concurrent time period.”

 Initial violations of the statute within HB152 would result in a Class A misdemeanor with a fourth conviction in a five-year period rising to a Class C felony.

 House Bill 151 allows for the regulation of pain management services in Alabama and provides the Board of Medical Examiners the authority to promulgate rules.  In addition to requiring that pain management services could only be provided at locations owned by physicians or registered with the Secretary of State, the bill also provides for licenses suspension and disciplinary actions in the case of a public health danger.

 The bills now go to the Senate for consideration.

“You can’t change history, but you can take steps to right the wrongs of the past. The fact that this pardon for the Scottsboro Boys passed unanimously shows that today’s 21st century Alabama is far removed from the one ...]]> MONTGOMERY – Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (R – Auburn) issued the following statement today regarding final passage of the Scottsboro Boys Act, which will set up the process for posthumous pardons, allowing the state to pardon the nine wrongly accused and convicted Scottsboro Boys:

“You can’t change history, but you can take steps to right the wrongs of the past. The fact that this pardon for the Scottsboro Boys passed unanimously shows that today’s 21st century Alabama is far removed from the one that caused such pain for so many so long ago.”