>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS ANOTHER COMMITTEE DAY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WITH MORE THAN 20 MEETINGS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

COMMITTEES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THEY CONSIST OF MEMBERS MORE FINELY ATTUNED TO SPECIFIC ISSUE AREAS AND ALLOW FOR MORE THOROUGH DEBATE, PUBLIC HEARING AND AMENDING LEGISLATION.

SOME HIGH PROFILE BILLS WERE UP TODAY, AND WE'LL START IN THE HOUSE WHERE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH "“DIVISIVE CONCEPTS"” WAS BEFORE THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.

HOUSE BILL 7 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED OLIVER WOULD PROHIBIT CERTAIN PUBLIC ENTITIES, INCLUDING STATE AGENCIES, K-12 SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, FROM PROMOTING OR ENDORSING CERTAIN DIVISIVE CONCEPTS RELATING TO RACE, SEX, OR RELIGION.

THIS BILL WOULD ALSO PROHIBIT CERTAIN PUBLIC ENTITIES FROM CONDITIONING ENROLLMENT OR ATTENDANCE IN CERTAIN CLASSES ON THE BASIS OF RACE.

THE COMMITTEE ADVANCED THE BILL AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING THAT INCLUDED SOME PASSIONATE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

>> IT DOESN'T PREVENT TEACHING ANY HISTORY WHICH IS HOW IT'S FRAMED, WE CAN'T TEACH HISTORY BECAUSE OF THIS BILL.

WE ARE ALL PROPONENTS OF HISTORY, GOOD, BAD AND UGLY.

IT'S WHO WE ARE AND IT'S WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE.

AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE AT A POINT, THOUGH, IN THE WORLD WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND WAYS TO COALESCE AROUND WAYS TO MAKE US STRONG AND MOVE FORWARD.

AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE -- I DON'T WANT KIDS IN SCHOOL -- I THINK ABOUT WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO LEARN HOW TO READ AND WRITE AND DO MATH WHICH I STILL DON'T KNOW VERY WELL OBVIOUSLY, BUT -- WITHOUT HAVING THESE DIVERSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND YOU.

AND RACISM IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TEACH KIDS.

WE DON'T WANT TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BE RACIST.

I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

>> MY FOLKS WERE ENSLAVED.

THAT'S A FACT.

SLAVERY BY IT'S VERY NATURE WAS EVIL.

IT WAS SINISTER.

IT WAS DIVISIVE.

SO THAT WOULD BE A DIVISIVE CONCEPT.

BUT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS TODAY WHO HAS GONE ON TO SAY TAKE DOWN THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SINGLE PERSON WHO VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS TODAY WHO IS GOING TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE WERE SOME THINGS SOME OF MY ANCESTORS DID THAT WERE WRONG AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT WASN'T ME BUT I KNOW THAT IT WAS WRONG, AND I DO FEEL THAT IT IS PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW GOING FORWARD.

>> ON A RELATED SUBJECT, THE SENATE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE ADVANCED LEGISLATION ENSURING THAT HISTORY WOULD BE TAUGHT IN A FACTUAL AND INCLUSIVE MANNER.

SENATE BILL 180 IS SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN, WHO SAYS THAT SOMETIMES HISTORY INSTRUCTION LEAVES OUT THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

>> SO MANY TIMES THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS GET LOST IN OUR PRESENTATION OF WHO PROVIDED WHAT FOR OUR SAKE.

WE KNOW THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS PROVIDED THE DISCOVERY AND INVENTION OF THE STOPLIGHT.

MANY TIMES YOU LOOK AT IT WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING PART, THIS LIGHT WAS PROVIDED AND ET CETERA ET CETERA ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING.

IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT WHO DISCOVERED IT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN HISTORY BOOKS.

AIN'T NOTHING ABOUT WHO WAS THE PERSON THAT INVENTED IT OR DISCOVERED IT.

SO WE WANT TO GIVE PROPER CREDIT TO OUR CITIZENS IN THE STATE FOR THE HISTORY THEY PROVIDE FOR US AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY HELP US TO ENJOY AT THIS TIME.

>> SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TOOK UP AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED LEGISLATION AIMED TO LIMIT THE STATE FROM SUSPENDING THE DRIVERS LICENSE OF THOSE CHARGED WITH NON-MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, SUCH AS FAILURE TO APPEAR OR UNPAID PARKING TICKETS.

THE BILL'S SPONSOR, STATE SENATOR WILL BARFOOT, SAYS EXCESSIVE DRIVERS LICENSE SUSPENSIONS ARE KEEPING AVAILABLE WORKERS ON THE SIDELINE DURING A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

SENATE BILL 154 WOULD PROVIDE THAT A PERSON'S LICENSE COULD ONLY BE SUSPENDED AFTER A JUDGMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN AND IF THEY MISS 2 OR MORE HEARINGS OR 6 OR MORE PAYMENTS.

>> NOW, THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THIS IS AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE COURT COSTS OR FINES ARE NOT PAID.

NOT THE CASE.

ALL COST AND FINES ORDERED BY THE COURT WILL BE PAID, HAVE TO BE PAID AND THIS BILL DOES NOTHING WITH THAT.

THERE'S STILL THE ABILITY FOR THE COURTS SHOULD YOU MISS A COURT APPEARANCE DATE, AFTER AN ADJUDICATION TO ISSUE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST AND BRING YOU IN, STILL THERE, CURRENT LAW REMAINS LAW.

THERE'S STILL AN ABILITY FOR THE COURTS SHOULD YOU MISS MORE THAN A PAYMENT AT ANY POINT IN TIME.

IF YOU PAID RELIGIOUSLY LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN MISS A PAYMENT, GUESS WHAT, THE COURT STILL HAS THE ABILITY UNDER CURRENT LAW AND THIS BILL TO BULLY YOU IN FOR A CONTEMPT HEARING, ASK YOU WHY YOU HAVEN'T PAID AND HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT IF THEY FIND YOUR CULTURE IS IT CONTEMPT USE.

>>LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM MULTIPLE GROUPS TODAY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

DOCTORS FROM AROUND THE STATE GATHERED IN MONTGOMERY FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE RAISE AWARENESS OF A PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE IN ALABAMA.

THEY SAY THE STATE'S HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE IS UNDER STRAIN FROM RETIREMENTS, PHYSICIAN BURNOUT AND GROWING HEALTH CARE NEEDS.

THEY ARE SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 154 FROM SENATOR APRIL WEAVER AND HOUSE BILL 243 FROM REPRESENTATIVE PAUL LEE KNOWN AS THE "“PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE ACT.

"” THE BILL DEALS WITH THE LICENSURE PROCESS AT THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND IS MEANT TO HELP RECRUIT MORE DOCTORS AND BETTER UTILIZE ALABAMA'S EXISTING PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE.

>> THE PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE IS VANISHING.

THAT'S WHY I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY WITH SENATOR WEAVER, REPRESENTATIVE LEE, OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO BRING THAT STATEMENT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

THEY WORKED WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE TO BRING THIS BILL FORWARD.

BECAUSE IT PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

AND THE MECHANISM IT DOES THAT AND MAKES IT EASIER TO RECRUIT PHYSICIANS TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA IT TAKES A PHYSICIAN WORK POOL THAT WE HAVE ALREADY AND GETS THEM INVOLVED IN PATIENT HEALTH CARE AHEAD OF THEIR TRANQ SCHEDULES AND IT CREATES A NEW APPRENTICESHIP CATEGORY FOR PHYSICIANS SO THEY CAN WORKS WITH SUPERVISING PHYSICIANS AND BEGIN TO RENDER CARE.

>> MAYORS FROM ALABAMA'S LARGEST CITIES, KNOWN AS THE BIG TEN, HOSTED A BREAKFAST FOR LAWMAKERS THIS MORNING TO SHARE PARTS OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THE GROUP INCLUDES MAYORS FROM BIRMINGHAM, MONTGOMERY, HUNTSVILLE, MOBILE, TUSCALOOSA, AUBURN, DOTHAN, HOOVER, DECATUR AND MADISON.

TOPPING THEIR AGENDA IS LEGISLATION AMENDING THE STATE'S ONLINE SALES TAX TO MAKE IT FAIRER TOWARD SMALLER HOMEGROWN BUSINESSES.

>> ONE OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT THE BIG 10 MAYORS ARE KEENLY INTERESTED IN IS SIMPLIFIED USE TAX AND CREATING MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH IT.

SO YOUR' PROBABLY WONDERING WHY DOES THAT MATTER.

IT MATTERS BECAUSE OUR BUSINESS IN TUSCALOOSA IS BUILT ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE IF I WENT AROUND THIS ROOM EVERY ONE OF YOU WOULD SAY THE SAME.

THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

ALS MAYORS WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE MOM AND POP STORES, PEOPLE THAT ATOMICS GREAT RISK WENT TO THE BANKS AND WENT TO THE LOAN COMMITTEES AND BORROWED THAT MONEY AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE, THEY DESERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AND THE SAME FAIRNESS THAT COMPANIES FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAVE.

>> LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO FLOOR ACTION ON THURSDAY, THE 9 TH DAY OF THIS 2023 REGULAR SESSION.

BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE UP THE PACKAGE OF BILLS MODERNIZING ALABAMA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES KNOWN AS THE GAME PLAN.

COMING UP NEXT, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ON BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE'S REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.

AND AFTER THAT I'LL VISIT WITH GORDON STONE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP ABOUT TOMORROW'S HIGHER ED DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE GIVAN OF BIRMINGHAM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU REALLY BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE OF BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN.

WE ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

BUT THEY'RE FACING SOME SERIOUS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, POSSIBLE CLOSURE IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEY'VE COME TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE ASKING FOR HELP, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

WHAT IS YOUR -- YOU REPRESENT THE CAMPUS.

>> I DO.

THE REPRESENT HOUSE DISTRICT 60, THE CAMPUS SITS PROMINENTLY IN HOUSE DISTRICT 06 AND HAS BEEN SO FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I'M HONORED TO DO SO.

THE INSTITUTION IS FACING CLOSURE.

THEY REACHED OUT TO ME AND MY LEGISLATIVE CAPACITY AS WELL AS THE DELEGATION FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY A FEW WEEKS BACK TO SAY LOOK, WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE.

WE HAVE RUN LOW ON OUR ENDOWMENT AND WE NEED HELP.

BUT IT'S BEEN A TOUGH ROAD FOR SOME PHILOSOPHICAL PURPOSES AND REASONS AS WELL AS OTHERS.

AND SO I'M THANKFUL AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE A LITTLE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> WELL, I GUESS THE BIG ISSUE IS IT'S A PRIVATE INSTITUTION.

IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSITY, THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY.

BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE SOME PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE BAILOUT KIND OF SITUATION?

>> YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES, YOU KNOW.

THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE HEARD IS OF COURSE PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE IS NUMBER 1.

NOT JUST FROM REPUBLICANS BUT DEMOCRATS.

THERE ARE JUST SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PROBLEMS AND TAKE ISSUE WITH GIVING PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSE OR TO A PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF ANY SORT.

YOU HEAR ISSUES OF RACIAL UNDER TONES BECAUSE THIS IS CONSIDERED A WHITE INSTITUTION ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE BLACK AND MINORITY STUDENTS COME OF ON CAMPUS BUT IT'S CONSIDERED THE BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN; WHEREAS YOU HAVE MILES COLLEGE THAT SITS ONLY LESS THAN 6 MILES AWAY -- NOT QUITE SIX, SEVEN MILES AWAY, THAT SITS THERE IN BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND THEY'RE IN THE FAIRFIELD AREA.

THEN YOU HAVE OTHER STATE INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE FACED THE POSSIBILITY OF CLOSURE AND HAD FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES BUT THE STATE DID NOTHING TO HELP THEM, STILL IN COLLEGE, JUST A FEW YEARS AND THEY WERE ON THE BRINK OF CLOSING.

OF COURSE WE LOST JUDSON COLLEGE AS WELL AS SOME OTHER INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE STATE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

BUT THE STATE TURNED A DEAF EAR AND ULTIMATELY THOSE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND LEARNING CLOSED.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GET BEYOND THE PUBLIC PRIVATE ISSUE.

THAT ARGUMENT GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN THAT IS COMING BACK TO US BECAUSE THEY'RE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN THAT PACKAGE, LINE ITEMS THAT ARE FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES.

SO THAT WAS A SAVING GRACE FOR BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN.

>> BUT BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN WAS NOT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL THAT THE GOVERNOR SENT OVER.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S OVER BECAUSE IT'S THE LEGISLATURE.

>> BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE COME UP THE ONLY A PLAN BUT THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY NOW WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW FOR THIS, THEN THAT ARGUMENT NOW GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

AND IT I NEEDED UP BEING A LIFELINE TO BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN.

AND SO WHERE WE ARE NOW IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONSTRUCT OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL TREAT A LEARNING PROGRAM, RESEARCH INCENTIVE PROGRAM HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

SO BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN AS WELL AS OTHER INSTITUTIONS AT SOME PERIOD OF TIME WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST OR AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS THAT WILL BE THERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THEM THROUGH THIS CREASE PERIOD.

>> BECAUSE I HEARD THE SPEAKER SAY HE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE 1ST PLAN OF JUST THE LINE ITEM.

HE WAS MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF A LOAN.

SO THERE WAS SOME LIGHT BUT WOULD THE COLLEGE BE OKAY WITH THAT?

>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE OKAY.

THIS WAS THE SUGGESTION I GAVE TO THE PRESIDENT DAY ONE.

I SAID, LOOK, YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN OUTRIGHT GIFT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULTY TO OVERCOME.

I SHARED IN A TOWN HALL MEETING PACKED AUDITORIUM, I SAID TO HIM, TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE, TO THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY THAT WERE IN THE AUDIENCE YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER PLAN.

AND OUTRIGHT GIFT OF $37 MILLION FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT I WANT TO SAY ONE THINGS IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME.

ONE OF THE REASONS I'M PUSHING SO HARD FOR BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN -- A WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE ANOTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

BUT THE REALIZATION IS THIS.

BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN SITS PROPERLY -- PROPERLY IN THE HEART OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

NOW, UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER PLAN, AND I DON'T MEAN A PLAN THAT YOU COULD PROPOSE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, UNLESS THERE WAS A SOLID PLAN OF, FOR THAT CAMPUS TO BE TAKEN OVER DAY ONE UPON BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN'S CLOSING IF THAT HAPPENED, THAT INSTITUTION TAKES UP OVER HALF OF WHAT IS THE BUSH HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> SO IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

>> IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

SO FOR ME, I HAD TO LOOK BEYOND THE PUBLIC.

I HAD TO LOOK BEYOND THE PRIVATE.

I'M A MILES COLLEGE GRADUATE.

GO BEARS.

I LOVE ANY INSTITUTION.

FIT WERE NOT FOR MILES COLLEGE I WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE.

PLUS I SUPPORT HISTORIC BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

BUT IF THAT INSTITUTION, BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN WOULD HAVE CLOSED, WITHOUT A REAL PLAN IT WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN CARAWAY HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM.

YOU HAVE SEEN THAT AREA BEFORE.

IT WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN DANIEL PAYNE COLLEGE THAT CLOSED MANY YEARS AGO THAT SAT IN THE HEART OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN AND AROUND THE STATE THAT JUST HAVE SAT THERE AND HAVE BECOME A BLIGHT, OVERGROWN LOTS WITH THE MOBILITY OF AT SOME POINT SAYING THERE WAS A PLAN BUT THERE WAS NO PLAN.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW TO SHARE ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TOMORROW IS HIVER HIGHER ED DAY AND GORDON STONE IS JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO DISCUSS U IN ALABAMA.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS.

>> WE HAVE FUN DOING IT.

WE TRY TO.

HIGHER ED DAY HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

IT'S TOMORROW.

I'M GLAD WE HAVE YOU ON BEFORE SO YOU WORK KIND OF PREVIEW THE FESTIVITIES.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED?

WHAT'S THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, I THINK OVER ALL YOU COULD SAY MORE THAN AN EDUCATION.

WE KNOW OUR UNITED STATES ARE GREAT PROVIDERS OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE TOMORROW ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ALABAMIANS.

SO WE WILL HAVE THE TYPICAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT MESSAGE TO BE HEARD.

WE START WITH A PARADE AND THEN WE HAVE -- THE BAND WILL LEAD US THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CITY AND WE WILL HAVE SIGNS THAT WILL ILLUSTRATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, $20 BILLION OF TOTAL ECONOMIC RETURN IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND $12.60 BACK INTO THE ECONOMY FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED AND THERE ARE SIGNS OF THAT.

LOTS OF FUN AND FESTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

MASCOTS WILL BE LEADING IT.

SO IT'S A FUN DAY BUT IT'S A DAY WHERE THAT FUN IS INTENDED TO COMMUNICATE SOME IMPORTANT MESSAGES.

THEN WE GO TO THE FRONT OF THE STATE HOUSES WHERE OUR SGA PRESIDENTS AND OUR LEADERS FROM THE CAMPUSES WILL COLLECTIVELY SIGN A BOARD THAT SAYS WE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT OUR STATE AND WE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT OUR UNITED STATES AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE THAT THEY MAKE.

AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THAT, GO TO THE LUNCH -- WHERE WE WILL HAVE A THOUSAND OF OUR FOLKS FROM THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND ALUMNI AND MOSTLY STUDENTS WILL BE HERE TOMORROW.

AND THAT HE WILL HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR, LT.

GOVERNOR, THE PRO TEM OF THE SENATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

SO IT WILL BE FUN TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS HERE FROM THEN BUT IN THE MEANTIME THEY WILL HAVE ALREADY INVITED THEIR LEGISLATORS FROM THEIR LOCAL DISTRICT TO COME AND SIT WITH THEM AND ENJOY THEIR LUNCH SO THEY CAN FELLOWSHIP AND TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CRITICAL POINTS ABOUT UNIVERSITY'S -- WHEN WE SAY MORE THAN AN EDUCATION, HOW WE ARE CHANGING LIVES.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BARBECUE HOPEFULLY -- >> IT'S BARBECUE ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S A TRADITION.

>> WE DO MISS THE BARBECUE HOUSE, BY THE WAY.

>> YES, WE DO.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT STUDENT RETENTION AND THIS ISSUE OF -- IT'S BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY Y'ALL'S ORGANIZATION ACHE AND NOW THE INNOVATION CORPORATION.

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE OF STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE FROM OUR GREAT UNIVERSITIES TRYING TO KEEP THEM HERE IN THE STATE TO WORK.

OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME.

WE KNOW THAT.

I KNOW THEY HAVE ASKED SOME OF THE UNITED STATES WHAT CAN DO YOU?

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST IN THE TERMS OF THE STUDENT RETENTION PIECE?

>> SO WE HAVE THE STUDENT RETENTION COUNSEL WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, SPONSORED BY LEXI BOLTON ON OUR TEAM.

THE STUDENT RETENTION COUNSEL'S WHOLE IDEA WAS TO TRY TO GET STUDENT VOICES INTO THE MIX OF PUBLIC POLICY, INTO THE MIX OF STRATEGY WHEN IT COMES TO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ALL OF THE THINKERS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR JOBS WHAT KIND OF JOBS ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE TO THAT NEXT GENERATION OF COLLEGE GRADUATES.

BECAUSE REALLY IF YOU LOOK AT ALABAMA STATISTICALLY WE'RE ABOUT 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS BEHIND IN THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE GRADUATES THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, THE MULTIPLIER IMPACT WE'RE LEAVING A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT WOULD BE FED BACK INTO OUR ECONOMY.

BUT WE HAVE TO GO CREATE OR RECRUIT THOSE KINDS OF JOBS.

SO THE STUDENT RETENTION COUNCIL HAS HELPED DEFINE WHAT AT THAT TIME PATH FORWARD LOOKS LIKE IN THE MINDS OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT OUR STRATEGIC THINKERS CAN BUILD THAT PATHWAY IN A WAY THAT WILL EXTRACT THOSE STUDENTS TO STAY HERE.

WE'RE NOT TELLING ANY STUDENT YOU SHOULD STAY IN ALABAMA OR YOU HAVE TO STAY?

ALABAMA.

BUT WE'RE ASKING EVERY STUDENT TO DO IS TO CONSIDER ALABAMA.

>> IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.

>> YES.

IT'S NOT JUST STATE OF ALABAMA.

THEIR FEEDBACK COUNTS FOR WHAT ALABAMA.

NEEDS TO DO TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.

>> YOUR HONOR AS A SMALL TOWN MAYOR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ABOUT IS HOW CAN WE BE ATTRACTIVE TO THAT POPULATION THAT IS GOING TO BRING SO MUCH MORE BACK TO OUR TOWN.

OR AS A STATE.

SO THE STUDENT RETENTION COUNCIL HELPED DEFINE THAT AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH THEM.

SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND CAPITAL FOR NEW KINDS OF VENTURES SO ALL OF THAT TOGETHER WHEN WE SAY MORE THAN AN EDUCATION THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, IN OUR 12 COUNTIES WHERE OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE LOCATED THEY'RE 1.5 MILLION ALABAMIANS EMPLOYED.

YOU LOOK AT A STATE THAT HAS ABOUT 5 MILLION PEOPLE TOTAL AND THAT TELLS YOU THAT WE ARE IN THE HEARTBEAT OF WHERE OUR ECONOMY IS THRIVING IN THIS STATE.

SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BOLSTER THAT ECONOMY AND STRENGTHEN IT FOR CAREERS THAT WILL BE COMPETITIVE ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES?

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

SO IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO PARTNERSHIP.

CERTAINLY WATCH THIS LEGISLATION, AND WE KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE DAY-TO-DAY BASIS OF THE BUDGETS.

AND THANK YOU THE GOVERNOR AND LOOKING FORWARD TO NURTURING THAT THROUGH.

WE HAVE A NICE INCREASE THIS YEAR AND MOST OF OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE SUPPLEMENTALS SO WE APPRECIATE THE STARTING POINT FROM.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH VARIOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT TOMORROW.

BUT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS IN ON THE FACT THAT OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE VALUABLE ASSETS FOR THIS STATE, AND WE MIGHT SAY MORE THAN EDUCATION SPORTS.

BUT MORE THAN EDUCATION, QUALITY OF LIFE IN GENERAL.

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT ENRICH OUR STATED BECAUSE OF OUR INSTITUTIONS.

ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE DO AND HOW THAT APPLIES TO OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY, HOW IT APPLIES TO OUR FOOD SAFETY, OUR FOOD VARIABILITY.

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR LIVES WHAT THEY ARE.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT COME TO MONTGOMERY, YOU KNOW, NORTH, SOUTH -- EVERYWHERE, FROM THESE UNIVERSITIES THEIR PARTICIPATING IN YOUR STARS PROGRAM, PARTICIPATING -- TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENTS COMING TO MONTGOMERY AND ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT -- I WAS ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS MANY YEARS AGO.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THEM ENGAGING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

>> WE LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR STATE AND WE'RE HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUES AND HOW TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES OVER ADVERTISEMENT.

AND WHEN YOU WALK THE STATE HOUSE, LIKE I GET THE CHANCE DO, OR YOU WALK AROUND IN THE LEADERSHIP POCKETS OF OUR STATE LIKE WE HAVE A CHANCE HAD TO DO AT CHAMBER MEETINGS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS AROUND THE STATE, AND YOU MEET PEOPLE WHO JUST LIKE YOU, SAID, OH, I WENT TO THE STARTS CONFERENCE IN WHATEVER YEAR.

THIS IS OUR 25TH YEAR.

25THAL PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR.

AND YOU MULTIPLE 25 YEARS OF ENGAGING IN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST LEADERS OF OUR STATE AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO UNDERSTAND PRE-K THROUGH PH.D. EDUCATION AND HOW THAT ENRICHES ALL OF THE LIVES, WHEN WE SAY MORE THAN AN EDUCATION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING LEADERS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING THOSE LEADERS HERE BY SHOWING THEM A PATHWAY THEY CAN ENGAGE IN OUR STATE AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SPENT SOME TIME OUT OF STATE AND YOU CAME BACK.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THAT SAME MESSAGE OUT THERE FOR THOSE THAT ARE WITH US TODAY.

TOMORROW WILL BE A FUN DAY.

THERE WILL BE FLAGS AND BANNERS AND MUSIC AND FESTIVITY BUT THERE'S A VERY SERIOUS MESSENGER UNDER THAT AND THAT IS EMPOWER THE INSTITUTION SO THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB.

GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR STATE.

WE ARE A MARRIAGE PART OF THE WORKFORCE.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE FORGET THAT.

BUT OUR COMPONENT OF THE WORKFORCE IS THE PART OF THE WORKFORCE THAT SO.

OF US BENEFIT FROM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

LOOKING FORWARD TO MOMENT BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

YOU DO A GREAT JOB.

>> THANKS.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT WITH MORE COVERAGE FROM THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ATTEMPT, I'M TODD STACEY.

>> WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.