>> FROM THE APT STUDIOS INSIDE THE ALABAMA STATEHOUSE, WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M RANDY SCOTT, IN FOR TODD STACY WHO HAS THE DAY OFF.

ON THE PROGRAM, WE'LL TALK JUSTICE MATTERS WITH BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES DIRECTOR CAM WARD.

>> WE'LL ALSO TALK TO JOE BORG, DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA'S SECURITIES AND EXCHANGES COMMISSION ABOUT PROTECTING INVESTMENTS AND FINANCES.

AND DR. DON WILLIAMSON JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF ALABAMA HOSPITALS AND COVID-19 UPDATES.

BUT FIRST, A NEW FACILITY HAS OPENED NEAR UNIONTOWN, LOCATED IN WHAT WAS ONCE THE PERRY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

IT'S NOW THE BUREAU OF PROBATIONS AND PAROLES REENTRY EDCATION PROGRAM OR ‘PREP' CENTER.

IT'S DESIGNED TO HELP FORMER INMATES WHO ARE RETURNING TO SOCIETY ONCE THEY FINISH THEIR SENTENCES.

>> NOT ONLY ARE WE ENSURING ALABAMA REMAINS A SAFE PRAISE TO LIVE BUT WE ALSO ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS BY THESE MEN AND WOMEN TRANSITIONING THEM BACK TO NORMAL LIFE.

THESE FOLKS WILL RECEIVE ALL THE PROPER HEALTH TO TAKE THESE NEXT STEPS IN LIFE AND AVOID RETURNING TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

>> WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, WE CAN'T JUST BUILD LARGER PRISONS AND WAREHOUSE PEOPLE.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE NOT GET PEOPLE READY TO RE-ENTER SOCIETY SO THEY CAN BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND BECOME PART OF THE TAX-PAY PAYING BASE AND THEY CAN BUILD STRONG FAMILIES AND THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY PRAISED THE BUREAU AND LAWMAKERS FOR MAKING THIS CENTER A REALITY WHICH WILL BRING AID TO PORTIONS OF ALABAMA'S'S JUSTICE SYSTEM.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS PROCESS TAKES PLACE ONCE A MONTH AS THE ALABAMA REENTRY COMMISSION GATHERS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE LEAVING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS MORE IN THIS REPORT.?

Reporter: HAVING A STATE-ISSUED ID IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL SUCCESSION TOOLS FOR INMATES BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON.

>> AS I TELL MY STAFF, IT'S THE FACE OF ALABAMA.

YOU CAN'T RENT A CAR, CAN'T BUY A CAR, CAN'T RENT A HOUSE, YOU CAN'T OPEN A CHECKING ACCOUNT -- YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT AN ID CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

SO IT'S REALLY -- THAT IS HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT IS.

AND FOR THESE POPULATIONS LEAVING INCARCERATION OR REHABILITATION CENTERS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THEM BEFORE THEY ARE RELEASED -- >> IS A PROJECT OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, ALSO KNOWN AS ALEA.

>> DEPARTMENT THE CORRECTIONS LOCAL FACILITIES WILL MAKE CALLS TO OUR LOCAL DRIVER'S LICENSE OFFICE AND THEY MAY HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS MONEY, MAY BE GETTING OUT SOON, WOULD LIKE TO GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THEY WILL BRING THEM INTO OUR OFFICES AND WE WILL SERVICE THEM AS ANY OTHER CUSTOMER.

>> AT THIS MONTH'S ALABAMA RE-ENTRY COMMITTEE MEETING THEY HERD FROM THE ALEA DRIVER'S LICENSE COMMISSION CHIEF ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND PLAN TO DO.

>> SO PERSONS PRIOR TO OR MAYBE IN WORK RELEASE THAT ARE PREPARING TO RE-ENTER INTO SOCIETY, THEY CAN VISIT ONE OF OUR OFFICES AND GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THEY CAN TAKE THEIR ROAD TEST, WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY LEAVE INCARCERATION.

>> NOW THEY'RE WORKING TO DEPLOY THEIR MOBILE TESTING UNITS IN THE PRISONS.

>> IT ROLLS UP.

IT'S A MINIVAN AND WE PULL OUT THESE BIG CASES AND THEY SET UP TABLES AND COMPUTERS AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO THEM.

>> AND THE COST -- >> 3625 FOR A FOUR-YEAR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR EIGHT-YEAR ID CARD.

>> HE SHARES THAT GETTING THE PROPER DOCUMENTS, A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD TO GET THE I.D.

'S IS A CHALLENGE FOR SURE SOME PEOPLE BUT IT'S A BIGGER CHALLENGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN PRISON.

>> I KNOW THAT FOLKS INCARCERATED THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM THAT ARE VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN AWAY FROM SOCIETY.

PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF USING THEIR NAME AND THEIR INFORMATION AND THEY'RE COMING OUT WITH A DECK STACKED AGAINST THEM BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS USED THEIR IDENTITY, AND THAT'S -- ALEA DRIVER'S LICENSE WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF YOUR IDENTITY.

WE WANT TO PROTECT IT AND MAKE SURE THE PERSON IN FRONT OF US IS THE PERSON IN THE SYSTEM SO THAT'S WHY WE ASK FOR THESE DOCUMENTS.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

MORE SUPPORT IN THE STATE'S REENTRY PROGRAM COMES IN THE FORM OF HOUSEBILL 66 PASSED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES DIRECTOR CAM WARD SAYS IT GIVES.

THE REENTRY COMMISSION MORE HELP MOVING FORWARD.

>> AT THE END OF THIS YEAR ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TOO COLLABORATE ON IS TO COME UP WITH A SERIES OF CONCRETE PROMISE THAT WE COULD OFFER AS POLICY THAT WE ALL AGREE ON.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A BILL BUT JUST GENERAL AREAS WE LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURES FOCUS ON WITH REGARD TO RE-ENTRY AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, NOT NECESSARILY GET TO THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS.

WE WILL LEAVE THAT TO THE LEGISLATURE, BUT MAYBE THINGS WE CAN COLLABORATE ON AND SAYING SAY SOMEONE IS COMING BACK IN SOCIETY, WHAT CAN WANT TO DO TO MAKE THIS BETTER TO KNOCK THAT RECIDIVISM RATE DOWN.

>> IN OTHER NEWS, ALABAMA IS ONE OF MANY STATES ADJUSTING TO HELP COMING DOWN FROM WASHINGTON DC IN THE FORM OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ‘ARPA' FUNDS.

STATE LEADERS HAVE SAID ANOTHER AID PACKAGE WILL COME LATER THIS YEAR AND MANY ARE GLAD ALABAMA WILL ONCE AGAIN SEE SOME ECONOMIC RELIEF.

>> AND WE WANT THAT MONEY TO BE PUT TO USE TO PUT SHOTS IN ARMS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SKILLS TRAINING, REMEDIATION FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN NEED OF MORE EDUCATIONAL HELP GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS MADE THEM STUDY AT HOME WITH BROADBAND.

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ON ONE HAND AND THIS ANY OTHER WE PASSED IN CONGRESS THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WHICH WILL GIVE ANOTHER BILL BOOST TO ALABAMA, OVER $5 BILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, $100 MILLION FOR BROADBAND, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WOULD THE STATE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE RESOURCES.

>> STATE LAWMAKERS SAY A SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE CALLED SO THE LEGISLATURE CAN DETERMINE THE USE OF THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY.

COMING UP, WE RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH CAM WARD, DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES, TO TALK ABOUT REENTRY EFFORTS AND OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO THE STATE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT INTERVIEW, WHEN WE RETURN.

>> AND WELCOME BACK.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO JOINED BY THE ALABAMA DIRECTOR OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

CAM WARD.

MR. WARD.

>> RANDY, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK ON.

>> WELCOME BACK.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

YOUR DEPARTMENT IS BUSY.

YOU'RE ALSO A PART OF THE STATE JUSTICE SYSTEM IF YOU WILL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE YOU THOUGHT THE DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS.

YOU'RE THAT DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS.

IT'S PARTICIPATE AND GIVE ME A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT DEPARTMENT DOES PLEASE, SIR.

>> THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES HAMS PEOPLE AFTER THEY LEFT THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM W HAVE OVER 44,000 PEOPLE ON PROBATION OR PAROLE THAT WE OVERSEE THROUGHOUT STATE OF ALABAMA.

OUR JOB IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T GO BACK TO PRISON.

IN SIMPLE SHORTS TERMS THAT'S WHEAT DO.

BUT WE'RE SEPARATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

>> BOUGHT DID YOU DO WORK WITH THEM.

YOU'RE CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH WHAT YOU DO FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> YES.

THEY'RE A PARTNER OF OURS.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH COMMISSIONER HAM AND HIS STAFF AND THE OTHER CORRECTIONAL JUSTICES IN THE STATE IN ADDITION TO DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, VETERANS AFFAIRS, DHR AND OTHER AGENCIES.

WE KIND OF COLLABORATE TOGETHER ON THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THAT INCLUDES THE COURTS TOO.

>> SPEAKING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THERE'S AN EVENT HAPPENING THIS WEEK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF R IT'S THE REOPENING OF A FACILITY IN PERRY COUNTY.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, SIR.

>> WELL, TERRY COUNTY IS A FORMER PRISON IN UNIONTOWN ALABAMA.

IT'S A FACILITY THAT FOR YEARS THEY'VE TRIED TO SELL AND THE STATE TRIED TO BY.

IT NEVER WORKED OUT.

IT WAS BUILT IN 2006.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR YEARS LOOKED APT BIDING IT AND THEY COULD NEVER MAKE IT WORK.

PARDONS AND PAROLES, WE STEPPED UP AND SAID WHAT IF WE BOUGHT IT AND TURNED IT INTO A REENTRY CENTER.

THIS IS THE 1ST UP TIME WE DID THIS ALABAMA WE HAVE A RE-ENTRY CENTER.

RIGHT IN AND OUT WE HAVE REENTRY PROGRAMS IN ABOUT 14 COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE WHERE YOU COME IN AND GET DRUG REHABILITATION, MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, YOU COME AND GET JOB TRAINING NOW.

WE HAVE STARTED THAT.

THOSE 14 PROGRAMS SERVICE ABOUT 500 PEOPLE.

PERRY COUNTY WILL DOUBLE THAT NUMBER BY ITSELF BUT IT WILL ALSO BE RESIDENTIAL.

SO IT WILL BE PEOPLE ALREADY ON PAROLE THAT CAN GO IN GET SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AS WELL AS JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THAT COMBINED REDUCES RECIDIVISM.

THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE MISSION JOB IN PARDONS AND PAROLES AND HOW DO WE REDUCE THE 30 PERCENT RECIDIVISM, HOW DO WE CUT IT DOWN, GET SOMEONE A JOB, DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.

YOU SOLVE THE RECIDIVISM PROBLEM.

>> IS THIS THE 1ST TIME A PROJECT LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A ALABAMA.

THIS IS THE 1ST TIME YOU'VE HAD ONE THIS BIG IN ALABAMA.

IN FACT WE NEVER IN A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM LIKE THIS ALABAMA.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

WE THINK IT'S GOING TO DO A LOT OF GOOD AND ALSO WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BLUEPRINT GOING FORWARD SO WE CAN SPREAD THE SAME POLICEMAN AROUND THE STATE.

AGAIN, THE GOAL IS WHAT, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW DO WE COMPLIMENT ALEA, HOW DO WE COMP MEANTIME DOC AND THE COURTS AND REDUCING CRIME?

THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT ON THE RECIDIVISM SIDE, OUR JURISDICTION IS, PROVIDE THEM A JOB HELP THEM DEAL WITH THEIR UNDERLYING ISSUE.

IT REDUCES THE CHANCE OF THEM GOING BACK TO PRISON.

>> SPEAKING OF WHICH ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS LIKE THIS IN THE WORKS FOR SURE THE STATE OF ALABAMA?

>> WE'RE WORKING ON OTHER DAY REPORTING CENTERS, DRC'S WE CALL THEM IN THE 14 COUNTIES.

WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT.

WE PROVIDE THE CENTERS FOR PEOPLE ON PAROLE IN HIGH RISK AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF RECIDIVATING WE PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG TREATMENT, JOB TRAINING.

I WANT TO EXPAND THAT OVER THE ENTIRE STATE.

I'M TELLING YOU IT WORKS.

GET SOMEONE A GOOD PAYING JOB, HELP THEM DEAL WITH THEIR ADDICTION OR MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEY DON'T GO BACK TO PRISON.

IT WORKS.

WE'RE WORKING ON THIS ON SMALLER LEVELS BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AS BIG AS MERRY COUNTY PLANNED.

>> NOW, THE PRISON SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY FOR YEARS DEALING WITH ALABAMA'S PRISON SYSTEM, THE PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

PARDONS AND PAROLES THE BUREAU HAS BEEN WATCHED, IF YOU WILL SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT AND YOUR POSITION AS DIRECTOR, HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED?

ARE THINGS CHANGE YOU OR HAVE YOU COME IN TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE?

WHAT AS YOU SIT HERE TODAY STATUS OF HOW THINGS ARE LOOKING WITH YOUR BUREAU RIGHT SNOW SHOWER.

>> IT'S A PENDULUM AGENCY.

IT HAS SWUNG OVER THE YEARS.

I'M ACTUALLY THE 5TH DIRECTOR IN SIX YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD.

SO THAT I HAVE HAD SPOTTY LEADERSHIP AS FAR AS LONG-TERM STABILITY.

THEY'VE NEEDED MORE LONG-TERM STABILITY.

THAT'S BEEN ONE GOAL OF MINE IS PROVIDE STABILITY.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE THAT IS GOOD IS WE'RE FOFOCUS MORE AND MORE AND ON THE RADIO HE ENTRY ASPECT AND THAT'S THE JOB OF THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE YOUR REENTRY TO SOCIETY IS SUCCESSFUL?

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A VERY MODERN PART OF OUR JOB, THIS RE-ENTRY AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE DON'T GO BACK TO PRISON OR DON'T COMMIT A CRIME AGAIN IN MY OPINION IS THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR MISSION.

AND I THINK REFOCUSING OUR EFFORTS AND RESOURCES ON RE-ENTRY HAS MADE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT FOR OUR AGENCY.

NOW, THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN GREAT IN PROVIDING US THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO CARRY OUT THOSE PROGRAMS, ALLOW US TO DO PERRY COUNTY AND EXPAND OUR DRC'S, EXPAND MORE PROGRAMMING FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP GETTING BACK ON THEIR FIGHT.

I THINK THAT BY ITSELF SPEAKS A LOT FOR THE DIRECTION AGENCY WE'RE IN.

>> HAS IT BEEN TOUGH FORMULATING PLANS OF DIRECTION OF WHERE TO GO TO HELP INSTALL NEW IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN YOUR BUREAU?

>> IT IS TOUGH.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE AN AGENCY THAT HAS OVER 800 EMPLOYEES, IT'S -- IT'S LIKE TURNING AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN SLOWLY.

IT'S -- IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FAST.

IT HAPPENS SLOWLY.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.

IT'S TOUGH AT TIMES.

BUT THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF ANY AGENCY THAT SIZE.

HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THE STAFF AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK OUT THERE HAVE BEEN VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CARRYING OUT THAT MISSION AND THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE WHEN YOU SEE THAT ASPECT OF IT.

>> ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES TO MIND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUT IN TO PLAY FOR YOUR BUREAU TO SEE MORE IMPROVEMENTS DOWN THE LINE?

>> FOR YEARS WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE BE, I ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND I'M STILL A BELIEVER ANYTIME.

US A WILL BE.

I WAS THEN AND I AM NOW.

I WILL SAY ONE ASPECT THAT'S NEVER BEEN TOTALLY DISCUSSED AS MUCH AS THE ASPECT OF REDUCING RECIDIVISM.

AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SOMEONE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

95 PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN THE AMERICAN CONSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM TODAY EVENTUALLY GET OUT, WHETHER THEY EOS WHICH IS END OF SENTENCE OR THEY GET PAROLE.

WHAT DO WE WANT THEM TO LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY GET OUT?

I WANT THEM TO BE PROTECTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

I WANT THEM TO NOT BE A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT.

LEAST WE OVERLOOK THAT WHEN WE HAD TALK AVERAGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT MORE BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS EASY FOR REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS TO GET BEHIND.

IT'S A NO-BRAINER, HELPING PEOPLE GET ON THEIR FEET.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO LOOK AT GOING FORWARD.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE HARPING ON THAT AND I HOPE MORE LAWMAKERS GET ON BOARD WITH THAT IDEA.

>> MU MENTIONED HELPING PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE HELPING HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF FACILITIES WANTING TO HELP THEM AS WELL TOO.

ARE THERE ANY WAYS THAT CITIZENS CAN HELP OUT THE BUREAU IN TERMS OF HELPING THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO LEAVE FACILITIES TO RE-ENTER OF THE WORLD?

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK WE NEED -- THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE EXPANDING SERVICES.

AND A LOT OF TIMES WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS A LOT OF PHOEBUS WHO HAVE LOVED ONES WHO ARE COMING OUT DON'T REALIZE THE SERVICES AVAILABLE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, ANOTHER GREAT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, THEY PROVIDE OTHER AGENCIES, THEY HAVE A LOT OF SERVICES FOR FORMER VETERANS.

VETERANS WHO ARE IN PRISON WHO ARE COMING OUT, THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND EDUCATE PEOPLE AS TO THE SERVICES THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR THEM AND THE JOB TRAINING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES CAN FIND A PROPER PLACEMENT SO THEY ARE PROTECTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO TO HELP THE FAMILIES.

IF I HAD TO SAY WE HAD ONE SHORTFALL, THAT WOULD BE THE AREA.

WE'RE JUST NOT EDUCATING PEOPLE ENOUGH TO WHAT SERVICES ARE THERE AND AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> NOW, LOOP WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA RECENTLY THROUGH GOVERNMENT IF YOU WILL HAS BEEN DUE TO SOME FUNDING COMING TOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE ARPA FUNDS.

IS YOUR BUREAU UTILIZING -- HAVE THEY BEEN INTRODUCING ANY FUNDING FROM ARPA.

>> PEE RECEIVED SOME ARPA FUNDING BUTT NOT A LOT.

MAIN LIP BECAUSE -- WE HAD WHAT I CALL THE ONGOING PROGRAMS, NOT JUST ONE-TIME BUILDING OR ONE-TIME PROGRAMMING SUCH AS PERRY COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS USED FROM THE STATE BUDGET.

THOSE ARE STATE DOLLARS.

WE GET SOME ARPA FUNDING MAINLY IN THE AREA OF WHERE WE CAME UP SHORT IN CERTAIN HIGH GREEN AREAS, CLEANING AREAS, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT OUR ARPA FUNDING AMOUNT IS NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS OTHER AGENCIES MAINLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T USE IT AS MUCH.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE LEGISLATURE.

WE TOUCHED OPEN THEM A FEW TIMES ALREADY IN OUR DISCUSSION.

YOU HAPPEN TO BE A FORMER LEGISLATOR YOURSELF, BOTH HOUSES, HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

>> YES.

>> THAT EXPERIENCE WHICH WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, HOW DOES IT HELP YOU IN YOUR POSITION TODAY WITH THE BUREAU?

AND HOW DOES IT HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR FORMER -- SOME ARE STILL THERE WHEN YOU WERE THERE -- FORMER LAWMAKERS GOING THROUGH IN HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT GETS WHAT THEY NEED AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GETS WHAT IT NEEDS AND YOU CAN WORK TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD TO HELP THE STATE.

>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT HELP.

JUST HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

WE HAVE HAD THE CAUCUSES OUT AT OUR OFFICES MEET.

WE HAVE HAD JUST LITERALLY A MONTH AGO WHILE SESSION WAS STILL GOING ON WITH THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MEETING HERE IN OUR DAY REPORTING CENTER IN MONTGOMERY.

SO THOSE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN REALLY -- THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

BECAUSE MY FORMER COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN SUPER TO US.

THEY ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

LEAST FOR A ON THINGS THAT -- MAYBE IN AND OUT DEALING WITH PARDONS AND PAROLES BUT WE STILL HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I VALUE AND TREASURE GREATLY BUT I'VE ALSO NOTICED THEY REALLY WANT TO ENGAGE.

AND BECAUSE A LOT OF US SERVE TOGETHER THAT'S HELPED A LOT.

WE CAN TALK AND HAVE A FRANK CONVERSATION.

I SERVED IN THE HOUSE IN THE MINORITY AND I SERVED IN THE SENATE IN THE MAJORITY SO I HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AGAIN.

BUT ALSO I SEE A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE BUDGET PROCESS HAS PLAYED THAT OUT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL OF THAT AND I THINK THAT'S HELPED US A LOT ON THE BUDGET AND LEGISLATION SIDE.

>> AND CONVERSELY WITHIN YOUR BUREAU YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE EXPERIENCING WHEN THEY HAVE THESE TOPICS AND THESE PROPOSALS.

>> IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WORKED IN THE BUREAU OR IN THE OTHER EXECUTIVE AGENCY, IF YOU NEVER HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF A LEGISLATIVE SIDE, IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN.

YOU GO WELL THAT MAY HAPPEN, IT MAY NOT, THERE'S NOT A LOGIC BEHIND IT.

JUST DOES.

SO THAT'S BEEN AN EXPERIENCE.

BUT I THINK OUR BUREAU HAS DONE VERY WELL IN WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE HERE RECENTLY AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

>> NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES THAT WERE ALREADY IN EFFECT BEFORE YOU BECAME THE DIRECTOR AND MOVES FORWARD.

IT'S BEEN SEEMLESS FOR YOU IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES, SIR?

>> ONE THING IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES ACTUAL DECIDES WHO GETS IN AND OUT OF PRISON.

WE DON'T -- THERE'S STILL THE THREE-MEMBER BOARD THAT'S APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE THAT ACTUALLY DETERMINES YOU KNOW WHO GETS PAROLED AND WHO DOESN'T.

AND THERE'S A COMMITTEE THAT NOMINATION THOSE, THE GOVERNOR PICKS FROM.

IT'S A CONVOLUTED PROCESS.

BUT THE ONE CHALLENGE I HAVE HAD IS ACTUALLY IN A LAW, I VOTED IN FAVOR OF IN 2019 IS THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES DOES NOT WORK FOR THE BOARD AND THAT USED TO BE THE CASE WHERE THE DIRECTOR ALWAYS WORKED FOR THE BOARD, ANSWERED TO THE BOARD.

WE'RE FUEL SEPARATE NOW.

WE WORK TOGETHER THOUGH THE HAND IN HAND, SAME BILL, WE PROVIDE STAFF.

THAT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE NOT BECAUSE OF THE BOARD OR BECAUSE OF US BUT BECAUSE YOU TRIES TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WHERE ALL OF US GET ALONG TOGETHER.

IF YOU HAVE A DIRECTOR AND THE BOARD THAT DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER, DON'T PERSONALLY LIKE EACH OTHER YOU CAN HAVE A VERY ROUGH AND BUMPY SITUATION, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT.

AND I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNE THAT WE HAD THE RELATIONSHIPS WHERE WE ARE ALLOWING THE BOARD TO DO THEIR WORK.

WE SUPPORT THEM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE DO OUR WORK AND THEY SUPPORT US.

>> NOW YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER AS WELL, TOO, MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

WHICH IS A BIG TOPIC IN VARIOUS ENTITIES AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND I KNOW THE PERRY -- THE NEW FACILITY IN PERRY COUNTY IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT IS MULTI DIMENSIONAL.

HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING WITH MENTAL HEALTH NOT ONLY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE INSIDE FACILITIES THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE FACILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBABLY WILL GROW EXPONENTIALLY IN THE COMING YEARS?

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.

I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS AGAIN, LEGISLATOR LEDBETTER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MORE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

THE CRUX OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IS MENTAL HEALTH.

DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS ARE A LOT EASIER TO FIX.

SO WE HAVE HAD A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, COMMISSIONER BOSWELL AND OTHER STAFF, AND I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A THAT.

BUTT ONE I WILL THIS, THE MORE RESOURCES WE INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH, THE MORE MONEY WE PUT INTO THE PROGRAMMING THE BETTER OFF WE ARE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES THERE.

I THINK THE COMMISSIONER IS DOING A GREAT JOB ADVOCATING FOR MORE RESOURCES, ADVOCATING FOR MORE SERVICES BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE -- MENTAL HEALTH TRADITIONALLY HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUT OF SITE, OUT OF MIND.

I DON'T SEE IT, I DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.

WHEN IN REALITY, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IS ACTUAL THE BASIS FOR SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS IN OUR SOCIETY.

WE FIX THAT, YOU FIX A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES.

>> JUST A FEW MOMENTS LEFT AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT, LOOKING AHEAD FOR MORE THINKS AND OTHER THINKS TO DO.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO MENTION THAT THE BUREAU IS LOOKING INTO DOING AND MAYBE PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND MAYBE PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF AND JUST PAY ATTENTION TO.

>> WELL, WE HAVE A LOT TO WORK TO DO IN EDUCATING PEOPLE WITH THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

AND A THAT'S ON US.

AND WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB.

I WILL SAY THOUGH THERE'S ONE THING WE CAN DO MORE OF.

WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

WE NEED TO DO MORE OF COOPERATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE HAVE STARTED ENTER THE CONTRACTS OF A PRIVATE SECTOR TO PROVIDE JOB TRAINING.

IF WE CAN DO MORE OF THAT AND CONTINUE DOING A BETTER JOB OF BRINGING OUR PARTNERS LIKE THE LEGISLATOR TO DO THAT I GUARANTEE YOU WE CAN RESOLUTION THAT RECIDIVISM ARE A ANYTIME ALABAMA.

>> DIRECTOR CAM WARD OF THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> I ALMOST WANT TO CALL YOU REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR BECAUSE THOSE WERE PART OF YOUR -- >> I HAVE BEEN CALLED A LOT WORSE.

THAT'S NOT BAD.

>> WE WILL DO THAT THANK YOU, MR. WARD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

Reporter: WELCOME BACK.

THE ALABAMA STEWARTS EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS A JOB OF MAKING SURE DEVELOPMENTS AND FINANCIAL REWARDS ARE PROTECTED FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE ALABAMA SEC IS DIRECTOR JOE BORG.

DIRECTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> NOW, LET ME JUST CLEAR ONE THING RIGHT OFF THE TOP.

WHEN I SAID SEC, I'M QUITE SURE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE AT HOME THINKING WE'RE TALKING FOOTBALL, WE'RE TALKING SPRING TRAINING.

WE'RE TALKING TO ALABAMA AND AUBURN AND GEORGIA AND FLORIDA -- NO.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT SEC.

>> IT IS.

NOW I WILL TELL YOU ANY TIME I GO TO A PARTY AND SOMEBODY INTRODUCES ME AS DIRECTOR OF THE SEC THE 1ST THING I GET IS HOW DO I GET FOOTBALL TICKETS.

I GO I'M SORRY, I'M KNOT THAT SEC.

YOU CAN SEE THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

SO WE'RE THE OTHER SEC, SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR ALABAMA.

>> AN IMPORTANT ENTITY FOR THE STATE.

>> YES.

WE CERTAINLY POLICE THE ENTIRE INVESTMENT SPACE.

WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT EVERYBODY IN ALABAMA THAT DOES BUSINESS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.

IF YOU CONSIDER THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IN ALABAMA HAS EITHER A MUTUAL FUND FOR 401K OR IRA ACCOUNT OR ROTH IRA, THESE ARE ALL THINGS FAT FALL UNDER OUR JURISDICTION TO POLICE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING PROTECTED.

DISCLOSURES ARE BEING MADE.

NOBODY IS BEING RIPPED OFF.

AND IF THEY ARE, THEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO INTO COURT AND PROSECUTE.

>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE A SPREAD OFFENSE OR FIVE STAG DEFENSE BUT YOU'RE JUST -- JUST THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE'S PROPERTY, PEOPLE'S INVESTMENTS, PEOPLE'S MONEY.

>> WELL, WE DO HAVE DEFENSE AND OFFENSE BUT IT'S ON THE FINANCIAL SECTOR UNFORTUNATELY NOT ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

WE PRACTICE LEAVE THAT TO THE COACHES.

>> SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE SEC.

>> SINCE 1994.

SO I HAVE BEEN THERE A WHILE, GOING ON 28, 29 YEARS.

WE WERE A SMALL AGENCY BACK THEN, PROBABLY 12, 13 PEOPLE AND WE WERE ABOUT 60 NOW.

AND OUR RANGE HAS EXPANDED.

CERTAINLY WE HANDLE REGISTRATIONS AND LICENSING AND BROKER DEALERS AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH SOMEBODY IN ALABAMA WHERE THEY SAY GIVE ME SOME MONEY, I WILL INVEST IT FOR YOU AND MAKE YOU A PROFIT OR GIVE YOU INTEREST OR DIVIDEND THEY HAVE VIDEOGRAPHER A LICENSE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 180,000 OF THEM WE LICENSE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD PRACTICALLY AND THEN THERE'S 60 OR 70,000 MUTUAL FUNDS TO KEEP TRACK OF, THE INVESTMENT ADVISORS AND THEN THE FRAUD CENTERS, THE PONZI SCHEMES, THE PYRAMID SCHEMES, THE BERNIE MEDHOFS.

WE HAVE THEM HERE IN ALABAMA TOO UNFORTUNATELY.

>> WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, IN FACT YOU MEET WITH NATIONAL LEADERS EVERY DAY TO AUTOMATIC ABOUT THINKS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ALABAMA RESIDENTS MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH OUR OFFICE IS ONE OF THE LEADERS AS SECURITIES REGULATES IN THE COUNTRY.

ALABAMA HAS LED MANY MULTI JURISDICTIONAL CASES.

YOU KNOW, THE OLD MOVIE THE WOLF OF WALL STREET ACTUALLY ORIGINATED OUT OF ALABAMA AND THEY TURNED IT INTO A MOVIE.

BOILER ROOM WAS ANOTHER MOVIE.

AND THAT HAD BEN AFFLECK AND VIN DIESEL IN IT.

THAT WAS A CASE THAT ORIGINATED OUT OF ALABAMA.

RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON IS CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS THAT COME IN FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND THOSE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE THE TURMOIL BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON OVER IN EUROPE.

>> AND THE INTERNET HAS PLAYED OR IS PLAYING A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS AND PEOPLE DOING INVESTMENTS.

THINGS THAT HAPPEN AROUND THE WORLD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PLANET CAN AND DO AFFECT PEOPLE IF HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> RANDY, MOST OF THE FRAUDS THAT WE HAVE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES IN THE CRYPTO SPACE, YOU KNOW, LOOK EVERYBODY IS SEEING THESE CRYPTO MILLIONAIRES.

MADE A LOT OF MONEY.

SO YOU CAN GO ON THE WEB ANY TIME AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PITCH ABOUT INVESTMENT BE THIS OR BUY THIS NEW COIN OR WHATEVER IT IS.

THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH IS MOST FOLKS PUT THEIR MONEY UP, TURN IT INTO CRYPTO CURRENCY AND THEN IT'S GONE.

THE ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO REALIZE IN ANY OF THOSE IDEAS OF GIVE ME YOUR MONEY AND I WILL GET YOU TO MAKE MONEY, THERE HAS TO BE LICENSE AND REGISTER.

SO THE 1ST THING ANYBODY OUGHT TO DO IS CHECK WITH US.

JUST CALL US AT 1-800-222-1253 NUMBER AND SAY I SAW THIS ON THE NET OR I GOT THIS CALL OR THIS EMAIL OR WHATEVER AND IF THESE PEOPLE AREN'T LICENSED AND AREN'T REGISTERED -- HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLET.

THEY'RE ABOUT TO TAKE IT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THAT GOING ON OUT THERE SO WE SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME LOOKING AT THE INTERNET SCAMS AND FRAUDS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVE SUSCEPTIBLE TO.

>> CRYPTO OCCURRENCE, BY THE WAY, ISN'T SOMETHING TANGIBLE LIKE THIS PAPER YOU CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DEAL WITH ONLINE?

>> THINK ABOUT IT, THOUGH.

IF YOU CONSIDER ANY DOLLAR BILL -- JUST AN AMERICAN DOLLAR BILL, THERE'S A SERIES OF NUMBERS ON THERE.

NOW, THE PAPER ISN'T WORTH A WHOLE LOT, BUT WHAT IT REPRESENTS IS MONEY.

CRYPTO CURRENCY IS A DIGITAL TYPE OF CURRENCY.

AND I THINK IT'S HERE TO STAY.

WHETHER IT'S BITCOIN OR SOMETHING ELSE I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MY PAYCHECKS MAYBE EVEN YEARS GET DIRECT DEPOSIT.

I NEVER SEE IT.

THEN I MAY WITH IS A CREDIT CARD OR CHECK AND I NEVER SEE THE DOLLAR BILLS ANYMORE.

SO CRYPTO OCCURRENCE SO DIGITAL CURRENCY BUT THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

MY DOLLAR BILL AND YOUR DOLLAR BILL IS BACKED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

CRYPTO OCCURRENCE SEED IS BACKED BY -- OH, I DON'T KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS WILLING TO BUY IT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO VOLATILE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD DO -- YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

IT'S NOT AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT GENERALLY.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY IN THE CRYPTO OCCURRENCE MARKET MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

SO MANY FRAUDS OUT THERE, SO MANY CON MEN, SO MANY SCAMS OUT IN THE CRYPTO CURRENCY FIELD THESE DAYS.

>> AND AGAIN LIKE YOU JUST SAID, CONTACT YOUR AGENCY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

>> YOU KNOW YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT UP IN A LITTLE WHILE.

THERE IS INFORMATION ON THERE -- LOOK YOU MAY NOT EVEN NOPE THE DIFFERENCE IN A STOCK AND BOND BUT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.

AND YOU MAY BE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND WANT TO LOOK AT OPTIONS AND TRADING AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.

AND IF YOU JUST WANT GET A BASIC FEEL FOR A WHAT IS OUT FROM AND WHAT THE SCALPS LOOK LIKE, EVERY ONE OF OUR CASES IS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO IF YOU JUST WANT LIGHT READING ON HOW WE DID THIS CASE OR THAT CASE OR THE RECENT CASE THAT WE JUST HAD WHERE THIS GUY SET UP A HUNDRED DIFFERENT FAKE CRYPTO CURRENCY WEBSITES WHICH WE WENT AFTER AND SHUT IT DOWN BUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO IT SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY PUT THEIR MONEY INTO IT.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT MONEY GOES THROUGH DOLLAR BILLS TO CRYPTO CURRENCY, OFF SOMEWHERE IN THAT INTERNET SPACE AND IT'S PROBABLY SITTING IN SOME EAST RUSSIAN BANK SOMEWHERE, ALL BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY UP THE STREET.

>> THAT IS ALSO A BIG PROBLEM.

SCAMMERS COMING IN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO STEAL FROM PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN A ALABAMA.

>> YOU KNOW THE INTERNET IS LIKE HAD A BIG CITY.

IT'S GOT GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS AND BAD NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE TROUBLE IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU GET AN EMAIL -- LOOK ONE OF THE BIG SCAMS THAT IS GOING ON NOW IS YOU MAY GET AN EMAIL AND THINK IT'S FROM YOUR BANK.

BUT IF YOU LOOK REAL CAREFULLY THERE'S PROBABLY ONE LETTER OFF.

AND IF YOU START MAKING A DEPOSIT TO THAT, THAT MONEY NEVER WENT TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

IT JUST WENT OFF TO SOMEWHERE IN NIGERIA, SPAIN, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, CHINA.

COULD BE ANYWHERE.

AND THE CHANCES OF GETTING THAT BACK ARE PRETTY SLIM.

SOMETIMES NONE.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL AND HAVE TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET IS NOT REGULATED.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOT DOING IT YOURSELF.

YOU KNOW ONE OF THE DANGEROUS THINGS OF THESE HOT LINKS THEY WILL SAY WE'RE YOUR BANK, YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY, YOUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR -- WHATEVER IT MAY BE -- YOU KNOW CLICK HERE TO SEE YOUR SUCH AND SUCH.

WHEN YOU CLICK THAT, YOU MAY THINK YOU'RE GOING TO YOUR BROKER OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

BUT YOU MAY BE OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE IN SOMEBODY WHO HAS COMPUTERS AND A BOILER ROOM POLICE STATION AND THERE'S FOLKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN GET YOUR PASS BOARDS AND ID -- YOU KNOW WE'RE READY TO TAKE YOUR DEPOSIT BUT LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S YOU.

GIVE ME YOUR PASSWORD.

WHY WOULD MY BANK ASK ME FOR MY PASSWORD IF THEY'VE ALREADY GOT IT AND I JUST PUT IT IN?

BUT LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE.

BUT WE'RE IN A HURRY AND IT'S BUSY AND WE GET STARTED AND -- OH, MY GOODNESS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT IS BILL.

JUST MAKE SURE IT'S GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO STOP, CALL YOUR BANKER OR BROKER OR WHOEVER IT IS AND SAY DID YOU SEND ME AN EMAIL?

A LOT OF TIMES YOU MIGHT FIND OUT THEY DIDN'T.

ONE THING IS REAL IMPORTANT.

GOVERNMENT BANKS FINANCE COMPANIES THINGS LIKE THAT NEVER EVER JUST SEND YOU SOMETHING BLANK AND SAY MAKE THIS MONEY PAYMENT OR WE'RE COMING AFTER YOU OR WE'RE GOING TO ARREST YOU IF YOU DON'T DO THIS OR YOU DIDN'T PAY YOUR TAXES.

AND THEY NEVER ASK FOR MONEY.

AND CRYPTOCURRENCY, CASH CARDS, OR GO DOWN TO YOUR LOCAL WALMART AND MAIL US A MONEY ORDER -- THAT'S NOT THE WADE IT WORKS.

THOSE ARE ALL RED FLAGS OF POTENTIAL SCAMS.

>> AND I'M WILLING TO BET THAT A LOT OF SCAMMERS PREY ON PEOPLE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE INTIMATE LITTLE DETAILS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM TOO STEAL WHAT THEY HAVE EARNED.

>> SURE.

IT'S EITHER A SCARE TACTIC OR THEY GET YOU WHEN YOU'RE SO BUSY AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE IT LOOK LIKE IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAIL.

>> WHO IS IT?

WHAT IS IT?

IS IT REALLY MINE?

DO I REALLY OWE IT?

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT ABOUT YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR JURY DUTY, WE'RE GOING TO OAR YOU IF YOU DON'T PAY US $500 IN GIFT CARDS.

DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE?

IT DOESN'T.

SO SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

AND PEOPLE ARE BUSY THESE DAYS AND THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT IT REAL QUICKLY.

AND IT'S THE FEAR FACTOR.

IT'S EITHER A FEAR FACTOR OR GREED FACTOR THAT IS GOING TO GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

IF THESE GUYS ARE MAKING MULTI MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CRYPTO WHY CAN'T I?

BUT THERE'S A FEW OF THEM AND THERE'S A TON OF OTHER FOLKS WHO LOST MONEY.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

>> LET'S SWITCH TOPICS QUICKLY IF I CAN.

SOMETHING WE SPOKE ON EARLIER, THE META VERSE, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN FLOATING AROUND THE LAST FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS NOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ALSO PAYING ATTENTION TO.

WHAT IS THE META VERSE AND HOW CAN IT AFFECT THOSE WHO VEST.

>> THE META VERSE IS A VIRTUAL REALITY SPACE.

WE WATCH TVS WITH FOLKS WEARING HEAD SETS AND WHATNOT AND THE WHOLE NEW UNIVERSE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS META VERSE.

FACEBOOK RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR NAME TO META.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE IN THIS AREA BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TO GET AWAY FROM THINGS SO TO SPEAK.

WE JUST ISSUE ON ORDER WITH REGARD TO A VIRTUAL CASINO.

NOW, THE REASON WE HAD ISSUED THE ORDER IS BECAUSE YOU BUY INTO IT WITH CRYPTO OCCURRENCE, YOU GET WHAT IS CALLED NFT, NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS, AND YOU SEE THAT BEING DONE QUITE A BIT IN THE ART WORLD AND WHATNOT FOR THESE NFT'S BUT YOU HAVE PAY REAL MONEY FOR THEM AND THEY PROMISE YOU A RETURN BECAUSE WHEN THINK MAKE A PROFIT ON THE CASINO YOU'RE GOING TO GET MONEY BACK.

TROUBLE IS ITS OUT OF CYPRESS, THIS ONE AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THE OWNERS ARE.

THEY ALL HAVE AVATARS AND THAT'S THEIR PSEUDO-IDENTITY IN THE MULTIVERSE AND THE UNIVERSE OUT THERE.

AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT UNIVERSES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THEY ALL INTERPLAY WITH EACH OTHER.

BUT IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, WHY WOULD YOU PUT YOUR MONEY IN SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS, WHERE THEY ARE, HOW THEY'RE LOCATED.

ONLY ON THE PROGRAMS THAT IF YOU PUT THIS IN, TURN IT INTO CRYPTO AND SEND IT TO ME, WE WILL SEND YOU $80,000 AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S LIKE SOMEBODY WALKING UP TO ME AS I'M WALLING OUT OF THE STORE AND SAYING YOU DON'T KNOW ME BUT IF YOU GIVE ME $5,000LY MEET YOU BACK HERE IN A YEAR AND GIVE YOU $50,000.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?

I'M NOT I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE CASES WHERE YOU SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

>> DO YOUR DON DAILEY AND HOMEWORK AND KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

AM I SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T INVEST IN THINGS?

NO.

BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE INVESTING IN MAYBE IT'S NOT FOR YOU.

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE META VERSE.

>> THE METAVERSE IS A WHOLE NEW INTERNET UNIVERSE.

NOW, INSTEAD OF WORDS AND TYPING AND EMAIL, YOU WILL HAVE THAT PLUS THE VISUAL EFFECTS AS WELL.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG AREA OVER THE YEARS.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY DEVELOPING IT BUT ANY TIME YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW THAT'S WHERE THE FRAUD CENTERS GO.

THE FRAUDS ARE RIPPED RIGHT FROM THE HEADLINES AND METAVERSE TO EXPAND, CROOKS ARE GOING TO GO THERE SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY DILIGENT IN WHAT YOU DO.

CHECK IT OUT WITH US IF WE CAN HELP.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A TOPIC I HEARD ABOUT THROUGH YOUR AGENCY ABOUT THIS ISSUE CALLED PIG BUTCHERY.

NOW, I KNOW AGAIN WE'RE TALK WITH THE SEC -- NOT SEC FOOTBALL OR OTHER SPORTS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING FARM-RELATED INCIDENTS PER SE BUT THERE'S ANOTHER TOPIC CALLED PIG BUTCHERING.

FIRST OF ALL WHAT IS IT?

>> SO SUPPOSE ONE DAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE OR YOUR EMAIL AND YOU HEAR "HEY LINDA WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE DINNER" AND YOU GO I DON'T KNOW THIS PERSON.

AND THEN I'M SORRY I THINK YOU HAVE THE WRONG PERSON.

THEN OH, I'M REALLY SORRY.

OR HEY JACK THAT INVESTMENT THAT WE JUST PUT MONEY IN LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO PAY OFF.

AND OH, I HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S EMAIL OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S COMMUNICATION.

NO, NO.

THIS IS A PLANT.

THEY WANT TO START A COMMUNICATION.

THEY WANT TO START AN ABILITY OF GETTING YOU INVOLVED IN A CONVERSATION.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PIG BUTCHERINGS, WHAT WE CALL IT, IS THAT WE START THIS RELATIONSHIP AND WE START TALKING -- OH, SORRY, WRONG EMAIL.

BUT, BY THE WAY, I'M SO AND SO AND YOU'RE SO AND SO AND YOU START CHATTING OVER THE MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND YOU GET TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BIT, THEY GET TO KNOW YOU.

AND YOU DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE ACTUALLY SETTING YOU UP, FATTENING YOU UP FOR A SLAUGHTER DOWN THE ROAD.

WHAT HAPPENS SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE THE CONVERSATION TALK ABOUT WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU KNOW I'M IN CRYPTO, THE GUY ON THE OTHER END SAYS OR I'M IN SUCH AND SUCH.

AND THEY MAY EVEN SET UP A VIDEO CHAT AND THEY WILL HAVE ACTORS AND STOCK FOOTAGES DID AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

EVENTUALLY AS THAT RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPS AND THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES, MAYBE IT'S ROMANTIC, MAYBE NOT, DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT THEY WILL START TALKING TO YOU ABOUT OH, YEAH, I'VE BEEN INVESTING IN THIS CRYPTO HERE IN EUROPE OR WHEREVER THEY MAY BE AND, YEAH, WE'RE MAKING GOOD MONEY ON IT AND MAYBE YOU BOUGHT TO GET INTO IT.

AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU AN APPLICATION OR TELL YOU WHERE TO GO ON THE NET AND YOU LOOK IT UP AND SURE ENOUGH THESE FOLKS ARE STARTING TO MAKE MONEY AND YOU START PUTTING MONEY INTO IT.

THEY WILL GIVE YOU FAKE ACCOUNTS TO SHOW YOU'RE MAKING MONEY.

THEY'RE FATTENING YOU UP.

ALL OF YOUR MONEY IS GOING IN FROM.

AND SOME DAY DOWN THE ROAD YOU'RE GOING TO SAY LET ME GET ANY MONEY OUT.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN EMAIL THAT SAYS, YES, YOU HAVE THIS ACCOUNT WITH A MILLION DOLLARS IN IT.

BY THE WAY YOU HAVE TO PAY $10,000 IN TAXES.

NOW YOU HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER $10,000 IN CRYPTO.

AND ONCE YOU DO THAT YOU NEVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.

THAT APPLICATION, THOSE WEBSITES MAY ACTUALLY BE OWNED BY THE PERSON WHO YOU 1ST STARTED WHEN YOU GOT THAT EMAIL THAT SAID HEY LINDA I'M GOING TO BE LATE.

OR DON'T FORGET TO MEET ME AT THE BAR.

THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTS.

SO THE PIG BUTCHERING COMES FROM THE FACT THAT IT TAKES TIME, SOMETIMES MONTHS, TO FATTEN YOU UP, GET YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING IN THROUGH CRYPTO OR INVESTING IN CRYPTO THROUGH SOME SORT OF APPLICATION.

THEN WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GET IT ON OUT IT JUST AIN'T THERE AND EVERYTHING DISAPPEARS.

>> DIRECTOR JOE BORG OF THE ALABAMA SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I APPRECIATE IT.

WE WILL HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.

>> ANY TIME.

WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> AND WELCOME BACK.

JOINING ME NOW IS DR. DON WILLIAMSON, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO'S OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

DR. DON GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, RANDY.

>> OF COURSE, YOU DEAL WITH HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

YOUR HISTORY BE IT GOES BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS BEFORE YOU BECAME PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

KINDLY EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE NUMBER ONE WHAT IS THE AHA AND YOUR EXTENT OF HISTORY IN DEALING WITH MEDICARE.

>> WELL, THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS AN ORGANIZATION OF HOSPITALS IN ALABAMA, IN FACT ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR HOSPITALS TO TRY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR OUR CITIZENS TO MAKE SURE THAT HOSPITALS ARE FINANCIALLY ABLE TO SURVIVE AND TO TRY TO ADVANCE THE ABILITY OF HOSPITALS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITIES.

AND MEDICAID, AS YOU POINT OUT, IS A VERY CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR FINANCING STRUCTURE AND OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ALABAMA.

WELL, OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN ALABAMA ARE ON MEDICAID.

YEARS AGO IT'S BEEN NOW MORE THAN SIX, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS AGO I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FOR A FEW YEARS WHILE I WAS STATE HEALTH OFFICER TO HELP MEDICAID.

AND THAT HELPED ME AT LEAST UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT AND HOW COMPLICATED THAT SYSTEM IS AND WHAT A REAL OPPORTUNITY IT PROVIDES US TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO OUR CITIZENS.

THERE'S STILL 300 PLUS THOUSAND PEOPLE IN ALABAMA WHO ARE UNDERSTOOD AND A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF THOSE COULD BE COVERED IF ALABAMA IS ABLE AT SOME POINT TO EXPAND MEDICAID.

ALSO NOT ONLY DOES MEDICAID EXPANSION, FOR EXAMPLE, IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF HOSPITALS, MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IMPROVES THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF CITIZENS AND STATES HAVE EXPANDED MEDICAID.

THEY HAVE LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES AND DIAGNOSED CANCERS EARLIER AND PEOPLE SIMPLY DO BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

>> SPEAKING OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE STATE OF HOSPITALS IN ALABAMA?

I KNOW WE'RE COVERING A WIDE STATE.

HOSPITALS ARE EVERYWHERE.

BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE STATE OF HOSPITALS IN ALABAMA TODAY?

>> WE IN ALABAMA NOW FACE WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.

AND THAT CRISIS IS THE WORKFORCE ISSUES.

WE HAVE LOST IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT 20 TO 25 PERCENT OF THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DUE TO COVID.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT IT WILL BE 2025 BEFORE WE GET BACK TO OUR PRE-COVID LEVELS OF STAFFING IN ALABAMA IN HOSPITALS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IN ALABAMA SIX-HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS TO MEET WITH PRETTY MUCH HOSPITALS FROM AROUND THE STATE, AND WE LITERALLY HAVE THOUSANDS OF VACANCIES FOR NURSES IN ALABAMA HOSPITALS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST NURSES.

WE HAVE VACANCIES OF EVERYTHING FROM NURSES TO SOCIAL WORKERS TO THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE MEALS WHO WORK IN THE CAFETERIA, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, THERE'S ALMOST NOT A JOB IN A HOSPITAL FOR WHICH THERE IS NOT A SHORTFALL.

SO FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE CONTEMPLATING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR LIFE, HEALTH CARE IS GOING TO BE A LEGAL OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S A DESPERATE NEED.

AND OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS THAT SHORTAGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND YEARS IS GOING TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ALABAMA.

>> WE'VE DOCUMENTED OVER THE YEARS HERE AT APT ABOUT HOW SOME COLLEGES IN THE STATE HAVE GONE WITH INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD OR MEDICAL UNDER STUDIES TO ACTUAL STAY IN STATE, TO STAY AND HELP SHORE UP THOSE NUMBERS.

IS THAT STILL -- >> YEAH.

AS WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR SHORTAGES, WE HAVE HAD MADE IN THE ASSOCIATION HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE OUR PRIORITY FOR OF THE COMING YEAR AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE OUR PRIORITY FOR MANY YEARS GOING FORWARD.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE HOSPITALS THAT ARE ALREADY PARTNERING WITH TWO YEARS SCHOOLS TO INCREASE THE OUT PUT OF NURSES TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE HAD HOSPITALS COULD THOSE ON AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO TRY TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE SYSTEM.

WE'RE LOOKING NOW AT EVERY IMAGINABLE SYSTEM.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH EDUCATION ON WAYS TO INCREASE THE INPUT INTO THE SYSTEM.

AND YOU KNOW NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM.

THEN WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THEM IN ALABAMA AND HOW TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE THEM IN ALABAMA SO THEY WILL STAY HERE.

>> NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED DURING BOTH THE REGULAR SESSION THAT WE JUST FINISHED AND THE SPECIAL SESSION WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ARPA FUNDS, RESCUE PLANS COMING TO THE STATE INCLUDING BIRMINGHAM.

AND THERE WERE TOPICS ABOUT HOW GET THAT TO WORK FOR HOSPITALS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW IN MANY PLACES NOT JUST RURAL AREAS BUT URBAN AREAS YOU WERE SEEING HOSPITALS THAT IN SOME CASES WERE ALMOST SHUTTING THEIR DOORS.

>> YEAH, AND THIS IS A -- IT'S REALLY CHALLENGE.

FIRST I HAVE WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE ARPA FUNDS THAT CAME TO HOSPITALS OUT OF THE SPECIAL SESSION.

THERE WAS $40 MILLION NOR ALL HOSPITALS AND $30 MILLION FOR RURAL HOSPITALS.

AND CERTAINLY THAT 40 MILLION IS GOING TO GO TO HELP MEET SOME OF THE LOSSES, SOME OF THE FINANCIAL EXPENSES THAT HOSPITALS HAVE DEALT WITH DUE TO COVID.

THE REALITY HOWEVER IS THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH NOUN MAKE HOSPITALS WHOLE.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE ANYBODY WHOLE FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THE CHALLENGE THAT HOSPITALS HAVE FACED BOTH IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, IT GOES BACK TO STAFFING.

HOSPITALS IN MANY CASES WERE UNABLE TO -- THEY LOST STAFF.

WE WERE UNDERSTAFFED TO BEGIN WITH, WE HAD THIS MASS EXODUS OF PEOPLE.

A LOT OF THOSE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE NEARING RETIREMENT WHO, WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITIES SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK, MYSELF AT RISK.

I'M GOING TO RETIRE SO THEY FELL OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

SOME OF THEM WERE HEIFER NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO COULD MAKE MORE MONEY AS TRAVELERS GOING TO OTHER STATES TO WORK.

SO HOSPITALS SUDDENLY HAD FEWER PEOPLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE.

SO IN SOME CASES HOSPITALS SCALED BACK WHAT THEY COULD DO.

WE HAD HOSPITALS THAT DELAYED ELECTIVE PROCEDURES THAT PUT OFF NONEMERGENT HIPS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT REDUCED THE ABILITY TO HOSPITAL TO RESPOND.

THEN WE HAD HOSPITALS THAT, IN ORDER TO STAY OPEN TO MEET THE DEMAND THEY HAD NOR INTENSIVE CARE UNIT COVERING, TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE IN THE ED NOT JUST WITH TO HEART BUT STROKES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY WENT OUT AND THAT HE HIRED STAFF, SOME OF THESE TRAVELERS.

WE HAVE HOSPITALS THAT ARE PAYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE A MONTH IN COSTS THAN THEY EVER HAVE BEFORE, AND THEY'RE NOT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THAT BY 3RD-PARTY PAIRS.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A SERIOUS FINANCIAL IMPACT ON HOSPITALS GOING FORWARD.

AND SO THE BAY YOU HAVE TO FIX THAT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIX THE WORKFORCE ISSUE.

THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

ARPA FUNDS ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY WILL HELP, IF YOU WILL, HELP PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING STABILITY TO THE SYSTEM.

AND AGAIN WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH ARPA FUNDS TO MAKE EVERYBODY WHOLE BUT WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR HOSPITALS GET TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE STABLE AND WE CAN BEGIN THIS LONG RECOVERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS DONE IN SIX MONTHS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS DONE IN A YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOVERING FROM THE IMPACT OF COVID ZERO FOR MANY YEARS.

AND THAT'S ASSUMING WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER SURGE THAT DISRUPTS THE SYSTEM.

>> WE WILL TOUGH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BUT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT PART OF YOUR MISSION STATEMENT WITH THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS REPRESENTATION.

THAT ALSO GOES WITH SOMETHING YOU JUST MENTIONED DEALING WITH LAWMAKERS IN TERMS OF HELPING TO GET WHAT YOU NEED.

DO YOU FIND IT HELPFUL WHEN YOU TALK TO SOME LAWMAKERS AND THEY CAN RELATE TO SOME OF THE ISSUES DEALING WITH HOSPITALS AND SHORTAGES IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THEY CAN COME BACK AND TELL YOU WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO VERY HELPFUL IS WHEN OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO TALK WITH LOCAL HOSPITAL LEADERS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

AND IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY HELPFUL FOR LEGISLATOR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DYNAMICS ARE IN THEIR HOSPITAL, TO UNCLES WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE ACCESS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I MEAN THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS.

IT'S NOT JUST -- IT'S NOT JUST URBAN HOSPITALS.

IT'S NOT JUST RURAL HOSPITALS.

COVID TO ME DEMONSTRATED THE NEED FOR AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE IN A WAY THAT NOTHING ELSE EVER HAD.

YES, MOST OF THE COVID PATIENTS WERE TAKEN CARE OF IN LARGER URBAN CENTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE MOST ILL WHO NEEDED A VENTILATOR, WHO MAYBE NEEDED MORE INTENSIVE CARE.

BUT WITHOUT THOSE RURAL HOSPITALS, WITHOUT THE RURAL HOSPITALS WHO COULD TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS AND PROVIDE THE CARRY THEY NEEDED THOSE URBAN HOSPITALS WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED IN AND THE SYSTEM WOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED.

SO THE SURVIVAL OF BOTH THE URBAN HOSPITALS AND THE RURAL HOSPITALS ARE BOTH CRITICAL IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR OUR CITIZENS.

>> WELL, WE MENTIONED COVID.

IT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE IT LITERALLY SPREAD ACROSS THE WORLD AND WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH IT IN MANY INSTANCES, PERHAPS MAYBE NOT AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN BUT WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH IT.

A COUPLE OF NEWS ITEMS OF COVID CAME TO PASS THIS PAST WEEK.

THE 1ST BEING THAT THERE ARE SOME SPOTS IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE SEEN SOME NUMBERS RISE DUE TO A DIFFERENT VARIANT AND SOME COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE SEEN THEIR NUMBERS GO UP.

HOSPITALS WERE HAMMERED BY THIS AS WE NOTED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

ARE WE CONCERNED -- ARE THERE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?

>> LOOK THINGS ARE SO MUCH BETTER TODAY THAN THEY WERE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY -- SO MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, EITHER WITH DELTA OR OMICRON.

BUT IT WOULD BE NAIVE TO BELIEVE WE HAVE BEATEN THE VIRUS AND THE VIRUS IS GONE.

BA2 IS OUT THERE.

IT'S A SUB VARIANT OF OMICRON.

IT IS MORE INFECTIOUS.

SO WHAT WE DO AT THE ASSOCIATION, WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SO DOING IS WE'RE MONITORING OUR POSITIVE RATE.

NOW, CURRENTLY OUR POSITIVE RATE IS VERY LOW.

IT WAS 3.1 PERCENT THIS WAS MORNING.

NOW, YOU KNOW, BEING HAD A LITTLE CONCERNED IT GOT DOWN TO 2.4.

IT'S UP TO 3.1.

THAT'S STILL IN THE RANGE OF YOU GOT IT UNDER CONTROLLED.

WE'RE NOT SEEING AN INCREASE IN CASES AT THIS POINT REPORTED.

MORE IMPORTANTLY WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY MEANINGFUL INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATION.

WE'VE GOT EIGHT TO 10 PEOPLE IN THE ICU, EIGHT TO 10 PEOPLE ON VENT LATERS.

SO RIGHT NOW COVID IS NOT STRESSING OUR HOSPITALS.

THEY'RE STILL EXTREMELY BUSY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE BUT IT'S NOT COVID.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO MUTATE.

AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHETHER OR NOT THIS VIRUS CAUSES MORE DISEASE.

IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THAT DISEASE OVERWHELMS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW WE CAN HAVE AN INCREASE IN COVID CASES BUT AS LONG AS PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL, THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO BE HOSPITALIZED, THEY'RE NOT DYING FROM IT, THEN IT DOESN'T DISRUPT THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ANY MORE THAN SAY A FLU SEASON WOULD DISRUPT THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

YES, SOME PEOPLE WILL BE HOSPITALIZED BUT WE DON'T OVERWHELM THE SYSTEM.

WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE BEEN TRACKING IS HOW MUCH DISEASE ARE WE SEEING BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT IS WHAT IS THAT DOING FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WHAT IS THAT DOING FOR THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT USAGE AND WHAT'S IT DOING FOR VENTILATOR USAGE?

AS LONG AS IT'S NOT OVERWHELMING THOSE SYSTEMS AND AS LONG AS PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VACCINATED WE WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR THEIR MASKS WHENEVER THAT'S APPROPRIATE -- AND I KNOW THAT'S A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE -- THEN WE HAVE A CHANCE OF MAKING IT THROUGH THIS WITHOUT MAYBE ANOTHER SURGE.

>> WE HAVE A FEW MOMENTS LEFT.

YES, IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL AND TIMELY ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAME DOWN THROUGH THE NEWS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT A FEDERAL JUDGE OUT OF FLORIDA OVERTURNED MASK MANDATE BASICALLY MAKING MASKS AN OPTIONAL THING FOR TRAVEL RESOURCES WHETHER IT BE BY BUS, BY PLANE -- HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A DISTINCTION.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T MANDATE IN SOCIETY THAT ARE STILL GOOD IDEAS.

SO YOU KNOW, MY TAKE ON THIS IS, MAYBE THIS MANDATE HAS GONE AWAY.

MAYBE IT WILL BE CHALLENGED.

ONLINE.

WHETHER IT'S CHALLENGED OR NOT, MY THOUGHT IS IF IT MAKES STONES WEAR A MASK BECAUSE EITHER YOU'RE IMMUNE OAT SUE EXPRESSED OR NOT BEEN VACCINATED OR JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF GETTING THE DISEASE IT'S APPROPRIATE TO WEAR THE MASK.

IF YOU WANT TO WEAR THE MASK, WEAR THE MASK.

THERE'S NO PLACE IT'S WRONG TO WEAR THE MASK.

SO IF YOU'RE FLYING EVEN IF NOT REQUIRED YOU PROBABLY WANT TOO THINK ABOUT MAYBE WEARING A MASK.

IF YOU'RE IN A LARGE INDOOR SPACE WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY'S VACCINE STATUS IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO THINK ABOUT WEARING A MASK.

JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MANDATED DOESN'T MEAN YOU STILL CAN'T MAKE THE CHOICE TO WEAR A MASK.

>> ONE MORE THING REAL QUICKLY, STILL BE VIGILANT OF COVID AS WELL AS FLOW, COLD AND OVER OTHER.

>> YEAH, WE'RE LARGELY THROUGH OUR CLASSIC INFLUENZA SEASON BUT WE HAVE SEEN INFLUENZA LATER IN THE YEAR AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING UP ON FALL BEFORE WE KNOW IT AND THAT'S WHEN WE COULD SEE AN INCREASE IN COVID OR INFLUENZA.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID PLEASE THINK ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED AND WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST INFLUENZA.

>> DR.

DONE WILLIAMSON FROM THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

Reporter: THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY HERE ON APT FOR THE LATEST IN STATEWIDE NEWS AND UPDATES.

FOR ALL OF US HERE "AT CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANKS FOR JOINING US.

STAY SAFE!

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