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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

IT WAS A BUSY DAY HERE AS THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WAS BACK IN THE CAPITAL CITY MEETING FOR THE 14TH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 30 DAY SESSION.

WE'LL START IN THE HOUSE, WHERE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WAS ON THE FLOOR.

THE HOUSE TOOK UP AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE PLAN OF JUST OVER $3 BILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING FOR THE STATE'S NON-EDUCATION AGENCIES.

THE TOTAL IS 15 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT GOV.

KAY IVEY HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED.

THE HOUSE ALSO APPROVED A $201 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH IS $13 MILLION HIGHER THAN WAS IVEY HAD REQUESTED.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNTS FOR SURPLUS REVENUE CARRIED FORWARD FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.

HOUSE GENERAL FUND CHAIRMAN REX REYNOLDS CALLED THE SPENDING PLAN A "“STRONG BUDGET FOR ALABAMA."”.

IS.

>> THE GOVERNOR SENT A VERY STRONG BUDGET BILL OVER HERE.

WE DID AMEND THAT AND OFFER A SUBSTITUTE IN COMMITTEE.

THAT WAS BASED ON INCREASE IN REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVED OBVIOUSLY FROM THE TIME THE GOVERNOR TRANSMITTED THE BUDGET WE WERE ABLE TO SEE A COUPLE MONTHS MORE OF REVENUE IN RECEIPTS AND WE PLUSSED THAT UP ABOUT 28 MILLION ABOVE WHAT SHE HAD ALLOCATED AND REALLY ONLY ABOUT FOUR LINE ITEM CHANGES TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

SO IT WAS A GOOD BUDGET.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE MEMBERS SUPPORTING US ON THAT.

>> AS I MENTIONED, THIS HOUSE VERSION THAT WAS AMENDED IN COMMITTEE IS $15 MILLION MORE THAN IVEY'S ORIGINAL BUDGET AND THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

COMPARING THE TWO VERSIONS, THIS HOUSE-PASSED BUDGET HAS $1 MILLION LESS FOR THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRANT PROGRAM, BUT $2 MILLION MORE FOR THE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

BOTH THOSE ARE HOUSED IN ADEDA.

THERE IS $325 THOUSAND MORE FOR THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION, $1.76 MILLION MORE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, MOST OF WHICH IS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOOLS TO FILL IN DEMAND HEALTH JOBS.

THERE'S $1.3 MILLION MORE FOR TOURISM SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

$2.5 MILLION MORE FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PISTOL PERMIT REVENUE LOSS FUND - THIS IS THE FUND SET UP BY THE PERMILLES CARRY LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, AND THIS LATEST BUDGET FUNDS IT AT $7.5 MILLION.

FINALLY THE BIGGEST PLUS UP IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, WITH A $4.45 MILLION INCREASE.

THAT INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION FOR CRISIS CENTERS, $2 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ISSUE THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND $450 THOUSAND MORE FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING.

IN THE SENATE, LAWMAKERS PASSED LEGISLATION AIMED AT LIMITING THE STATE FROM HOW AGGRESSIVELY IT CAN SUSPEND DRIVERS LICENSES FOR NON- MOVING VIOLATIONS, LIKE UNPAID TRAFFIC TICKETS OR FAILURE TO APPEAR.

SENATE BILL 154 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE, WHERE LAST YEAR A SIMILAR BILL DIED.

STATE SEN. WILL BARFOOT IS CONFIDENT THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT.

>> THIS BILL WOULD SIMPLY SAY IF YOU MISSED LESS THAT HAPPEN SIX PAYMENTS THEN THE COURT COULD NOT SUSPEND YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

MORE THAN SIX THEY COULD STILL SUSPEND YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

>> IS IT RESTRICTED THOUGH?

THEY CAN JUST GO TO WORK OR -- >> NOPE.

>> THEY CAN GO TO ANYTHING?

>> SUSPENSION OR NOT.

ONCE THEY'RE SUSPENDED CURRENT LAW WOULD PROVIDE FOR WHERE OR WHEN OR HOW THEY COULDN'T USE IT THERE'S A HARDSHIP EFFORT IN PLACE AND THEY COULD BE ASKED TO HAVE THE HARDSHIP.

>> SO YOU CAN STILL DO WHATEVER.

>> YOU CAN DO WHATEVER BECAUSE YOU LICENSE HADN'T BEEN SUSPENDED UNDER THESE TWO CHANGES.

>> I JUST WONDER WHY THERE WARRANTY GOING TO BE ANY RESTRICTION BUT I TRUST YOU TO HAVE THE BEST BILL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO COUNT ON YOU.

>> THE SENATE ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO SMOKE OR VAPE IN A VEHICLE WHEN A CHILD UNDER 14 IS PRESENT.

THAT WAS FINAL PASSAGE FROM HOUSE BILL 3, MEANING IT NOW GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDA HOLLIS SAYS THE MEASURE IS MEANT TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD ASTHMA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES BY KEEPING THEM AWAY FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE.

>> THIS BILL STARTED SIX YEARS AGO WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WAS GOING OUT, AND I JUMPED UP IN HIS TRUCK.

AND HE'S A SMOKER AND I COULD NOT BREATHE.

AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK.

AND I WAS THINKING I COULD JUMP OUT.

I SAID I'M NOT RILING IN THE TRUCK.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR KIDS?

IF IT WAS A KID, THEY COULD NOT JUMP OUT OF THE TRUCK THE SAME WAY I DID.

JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING AND ANY OTHER BUILDING TO SMOKE, WE SHOULD SAY WHEN YOU GET READY TO SMOKE, STEP OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAR TO SMOKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GOT YOUR BABIES INSIDE THAT CAR.

>> LAWMAKERS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT RESPONDED TO THE RECENT RESIGNATION OF DR. BARBARA COOPER, SECRETARY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, OVER THE GOVERNOR'S OBJECTIONS TO LANGUAGE IN A TEACHER TRAINING MANUAL.

IS GOV.

KAY IVEY ANNOUNCED THE CABINET SHAKEUP FRIDAY, SAYING THIS MANUAL CONTAINED WOKE CONCEPTS THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYN GIVAN SAID IVEY WAS WRONG TO FORCE COOPER OUT WHILE STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED OLIVER DEFENDED THE GOVERNOR.

>> IT'S A REALTY BAD DISPLAY OF JUST HOW FAR WE HAVE NOT COME IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND ESPECIALLY UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

DID IT WARRANT -- WHATEVER WENT ON, DID IT WARRANT HER TERMINATION?

DID IT WARRANT HER BEING FORCED TO RESIGN FROM THAT TOP POSITION?

BUT I BET HER REPLACEMENT WILL BE A WHITE FEMALE.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT.

AND I GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL BE SOMEONE THAT THEY WILL SAY THAT WILL IMPOSE THE LEVEL OF -- I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD IT POSSESS BUT THAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THEY DO, THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING A PROCESS OR PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING THAT TRACK OF THE CRITICAL RAILS THEORY NOT HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, NOT IN OUR CLASSROOMS, NOT IN OUR LIBRARIES, NOT IN OUR PRE-K PROGRAM.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEGISLATURE, SINCE PUBLIC EDUCATION IS COMPULSORY AND WE MAKE YOUR SEND YOUR KIDS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL KIDS DEBT GET WHAT WE CONSIDER A GOOD EDUCATION AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE PROSELYTIZING FROM THE LEFT OR RIGHT IN THE BILL THAT I AM CARRYING WHICH IS AN ANTI CR T-BILL, DIVISIVE CONCEPTS.

IT'S DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS, MY KIDS AND EVERYBODY'S KIDS FROM PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO POLITICIZE THEM AND RACIAL EYES THEM AND TRY TO MAKE THEM THINK THINGS THAT ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE IN SCHOOL.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SCHOOLS THAT MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER AND NOT DIVIDE THEM.

>> THIS YEAR MARKS 50 YEARS IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE FOR STATE SENATOR JABO WAGGONER, GIVING HIM LEGENDARY STATUS AMONGST THE STATE HOUSE CROWD.

HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE HONORED HIM IN S SPECIAL PRESENTATION ON THE FLOOR EARLIER TODAY.

(APPLAUSE) >> THANK YOU, SENATOR.

I APPRECIATE YOU AND Y'ALL SO MUCH AND Y'ALL EXPECT ME TO SAY SOMETHING.

WOW.

THIS IS GETTING TOO MUCH, THIS RESOLUTION AND THEN THE PARTY TOMORROW NIGHT.

BUT THERE'S A REASON I STAYED HERE, OKAY?

WHEN YOU LOVE THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO ACCOMPLISH SOME THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

LAST YEAR WAS MY 49TH YEAR.

I'VE NEVER BEEN A QUITTER.

WHY QUIT AT 49 IF YOU DO IT -- JUST DO IT ONE MORE YEAR AND YOU ROUND THE MAGIC NUMBER OF 50.

>> AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS >> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRY COLLINS, CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE.

TERRY, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW >> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

GOOD TO BE HERE >> YOU'VE GOT THE A BIG COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW IN THE POLICY COMMITTEE.

YOU'VE GOT A BILL UP DEALING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL CALENDAR BILL GOING.

BUT I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL BILL BECAUSE IT SIMPLY AMENDS THE CHARTER SCHOOL BILL YOU ORIGINALLY PASSED IN 2015 >> YES >> BUT IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE.

Y'ALL HAVE FIGURED OUT SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOUR BILL DUDS >> AND LET ME SAY, THE CHANGES ARE GOVERNANCE CHANGES.

THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THEY WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.

THERE ARE LOCAL FUNDING ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS 11 DAY BUT THEY ARE NOT PART OF THIS LEGISLATION.

THIS IS GOVERNANCE CHANGES.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE CHANGES THAT WE BROUGHT FORTH AS EARLY AS 2017.

BECAUSE WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY SIMPLE CHANGES LIKE WE EXTEND THE COMMISSION TERM FROM TWO TO FOUR YEARS.

IT REALLY TAKES YOU THE FOUR YEARS TO LEARN HOW TO DO A GOOD AUTHORIZING COMMISSION >> WHICH HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE >> YES.

THE STATE BOARD HAS ASKED REPEATEDLY, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

THEY PROBABLY DON'T UNANIMOUSLY AGREE ON THAT, BUT THEY WAITED TO MAKE THEIR -- TO COMPLETE THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE CHARTER COMMISSION.

THEY JUST HAVE NOT REALLY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.

SO IT TAKES THEM OUT OF THE PROCESS, AND IT MAKES THOSE THAT, LIKE THE GOVERNOR, LT.

GOVERNOR, SPEAKER, PRO TEM, THE ONES THAT APPOINT FOR MOST OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THEY THEN BECOME THE APPOINTERS AND THEY APPOINT THE CHARTER COMMISSIONERS >> AND I KNOW IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUNDING FOLLOWING CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE'RE SEEING THIS IN MOMENT AND MAY SEE IT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE EXISTING SCHOOLS WITH AN EXISTING SYSTEMS BECOME THESE CONVERSION SCHOOLS, AND IT'S REALLY -- IT MAY BE THE MODEL THAT IS GOING TO CATCH ON.

BUT LOCAL DOLLARS ARE REALLY GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT?

>> LOCAL DOLLARS BUT IT'S ALSO STATE AND FEDERAL.

SO IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS -- THE SAME STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THE SAME BUILDINGS IN THE SAME SYSTEM ARE GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY WERE GETTING BEFORE AND IT'S JUST TO ENSURE THAT.

THAT'S ALL IT IS.

AND I REALLY DO HOPE THAT WE HAVE THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT, I THINK WHEN WE SPOKE EARLIER THIS YEAR BEFORE SESSION I HAD ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT FOUNDATIONS REPETITIVE OUT TO ME, EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, WANTING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CONVERSION CHARTERS.

I THINK SO THEY ARE A TOOL WE CAN USE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU TAKE THE THREE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WHICH ARE IN MONTGOMERY AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY'RE DOING ALONE AMAZING JOB.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS ARE GETTING THEIR PER SHARE OF FUNDING THAT THEY WERE GETTING BEFORE >> AND THERE HAS BEEN TALK HERE IN IN MONTGOMERY ABOUT ARE THEY GETTING ALL OF THOSE FUNDS?

ARE THEY ACTUALLY FOLLOWING?

SO THIS IS A LAW JUST TO SAY, LOOK, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, THIS IS A MANDATE.

YOU CAN'T SCRIMP FROM ANY OF THESE CONVERSION CHARTERS.

WHILE WE GO ON TO THE OTHER BILL.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATION OR THE CALENDAR, IT COMES FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT WHO IS YOUR KIND OF COHORT ON THE BUDGET SIDE.

WALK ME THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES >> OK I CAME BACK FROM SOME OF THE CONFERENCES.

WE WERE SEEING SYSTEMS THAT WERE MAKING GREAT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GAINS.

SOME OF THEM WERE MODIFYING SOME OF THEIR CALENDARS TO ADD SOME EXTRA DAYS OR TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL IN MOBILE COUNTY SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY THEY GO YEAR AROUND.

SO EVERY MONTH THEY GET ONE WEEK OUT OF SCHOOL.

EVERY SUMMER THEY STILL GET SIX WEEK OUT BUT YOU DON'T GET THE WHOLE TIME LIMIT OUT.

BUT THEIR ACHIEVEMENT HAS INCREASED, TEACHER RETENTION HAS IT PROVED.

IT'S REALLY WORKING FOR THEM.

SO THIS BILL DOESN'T MANDATE ANYTHING.

IT JUST SIMPLY SAYS TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS IF YOU'RE REALLY WANTING TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, GIVING THE STUDENTS MORE ACCESS TO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IS ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO IT.

IF YOU COME UP WITH A PLAN AND A BUDGET OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, HOW YOU WANT TO DO THAT, WHAT YOUR BUDGET LOOK LIKE, THEN WE WOULD HAVE SOME GRANT MONEY SET ASIDE TO HELP YOU FUND THAT.

AND YOU WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO ADD UP TO 30 MIRROR DATES TO THE SCHOOL YEAR >> OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS.

LOOKING AT OTHER COUNTRIES THAT GO TO SCHOOL LONGER PERIOD, OTHER SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT SUMMER BREAK, AND IS SO THAT LEARNING LOSS THAT WE ALL KNOW HAPPENS OVER SUMMER.

I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE HEARD FROM SYMPTOMS THAT MAY WANT TO EMULATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I CAN SEE IT ON THE LEARNING SIDE AND FROM A PARENT'S STANDPOINT, SOMETHING MORE CONSISTENT THAN A THREE-MONTH SUMMER BREAK >> I THINK SO I THINK IT WOULD HELP PARENTS IN THE SUMMER FIGHT.

BUT I THINK THE REASON THAT WE'RE READY AND COULD SEE SOME THINGS NOW IS THAT ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, TO COMPLY WITH LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACT, THEY ARE ENHANCING THEIR AFTER SCHOOL LEARNING PROGRAMS.

THEY HAVE A LOT MORE QUALITY IN THOSE PROGRAMS.

THEY'RE ENHANCING THEIR SUMMER PROGRAMS.

THEY'RE HAVING MORE STUDENTS THERE.

SO WE HAVE A WAY NOW, ALREADY IN PLACE OF QUALITY PROGRAMMING THAT SCHOOLS COULD POTENTIALLY USE SO THAT IF PARENTS ARE WORKING AND THEY CAN'T HAVE THEIR CHILD COME HOME EXTRA WEEK, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY COULD HAVE A SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THAT EXTENDED LEARNING THAT THEY COULD GO TO SCHOOL AND THEY COULD BE THERE.

IF THEY WERE OPENED THING OUTDOOR DIFFERENT DAYS F THEY'RE ADDING DAYS TO IT WOULD REALLY JUST HELP PARENTS NODE EXACTLY WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE >> WHILE I HAVE GOT YOU, THERE'S ALSO THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL UPSTAIRS IN THE SENATE, THE PRICE ACT.

THAT'S 245 THE SENATE POLICY COMMITTEE.

AL YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY MAYBE BEING ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS ON THAT.

EVEN FOLKS AT THAT TIME ARE FOR CHOICE STILL WANT TO SEE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT S THAT AN ACCURATE WAY TO PUT IT?

>> I THINK THAT'S VERY ACCURATE, TODD.

THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

I HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THE BILL AND THEY HAVE INCLUDED A LOT OF THE CHANGES I'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT, AND I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF THOSE.

BUT THEY'VE NOT WANTED TO ADD THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE OF IT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR GOAL IS JUST TO HAVE MORE PARENT CHOICE.

BUT TO ME, AS A BUDGET MEMBER ON EDUCATION, WAYS AND MEANS AND AS A POLICY CHAIRMAN FOR EDUCATION POLICY, MY GOAL WITH OUR STATE DOLLARS IS TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

I WOULD SAY ALMOST EVERYTHING I WORKED ON HAS HAD THAT GOAL.

LET'S IMPROVE OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT BILL THAT GIVES TRANSPARENT SEE OR ACCOUNTABILITY TO THOSE PARENTS FOR WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING AND HOW THEY'RE DOING IN COMPARE.

ARE THEY REALLY MAKING GAINS?

>> AND ACCURATE MEASURE SO HE IS THAT WE KNOW IN THE 1ST PLACE?

>> CORRECT AND THAT'S WHAT ID HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM ABOUT WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN THEM GOING AHEAD AND MOVING THE BILL AND SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE'S CONCERNS ARE ABOUT IT.

SO I KNOW THEY WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THIS WEEK.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THAT GOES AND WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT.

I THINK SOMETIMES UNTIL DAY CARE DAY CARE IN ORDER TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED AND YOU'RE ORDERED TO MAKER CHANGES -- MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD THING >> YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THESE BATTLES AND OTHERS ARE NEWER.

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND HAVE OTHER EDUCATION ISSUES WE NEED TO FOLLOW BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW >> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE ANY TIME.

WE'RE ABOUT TO MOVE INTO A LOT OF EDUCATION ISSUES >> WE WILL BE HERE >> GLAD TO COME BACK.

THANK YOU >> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME IS STATE SENATOR ROBERT STEWART FROM SELMA.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW >> GREAT TO BE BACK, TODD >> YOU ARE BACK BECAUSE WE HAD YOU ON REALLY RIGHT AFTER YOU HAD BEEN ELECTED, NOT VERY LONGS AT ALL, SERVING IN THE SENATE.

YOU'VE BEEN HERE A FEW MONTHS.

HOW IS IT GOING?

>> I WAKE UP STILL EVERY DAY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MY CONSTITUENTS IN DALLAS, WILCOX, MONROE, BLOUNT, BUTLER, AND CONECUH COUNTIES AND HONORED TO BE CHOSEN.

THE EXCITEMENT IS STILL THERE AND BEING ABLE TO DO THE PEOPLE ALES WORK >> I THINK IT'S THE LARGEST DISTRICT BY AREA IN THE SENATE, WHICH IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

LET'S TALK ABILITY ISSUES THERE'S A BILL GOING AROUND HAVING TO DO WITH GANG VIOLENCE.

THIS IS SENATOR BARFOOT'S BILL.

IT WAS IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY.

WE HE REPRESENTS MONTGOMERY.

THERE ARE CITIES AROUND WHERE IT'S CLEAR THERE ARE GANG PROBLEMS.

THE BILL DID NOT SAIL THROUGH.

THERE WERE PROBLEMS DEMOCRATS BROUGHT UP IN TERMS OF THE DETAILS AND THE DEFINITIONS IN THE BILLS.

WHAT THE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS BEEN LIKE IN THE SENATE AND YOUR CAUCUS ABOUT THIS GANG BILL GOING THROUGH?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S -- IT IS ALARMING.

IT IS AN ALARMING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO HAVE DEEP INTRO INTERSECTION AND TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DOES THIS AFFECT -- BECAUSE WITH EVERY BILL WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DOES THIS AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES?

WILL THERE BE POSITIVE AFFECTS OR ADVERSE EFFECTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO WITH THIS IS LEGISLATION I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM MORE OF OUR PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS AS WELL.

I'M ALARMED.

I AM YOUNG >> AND THERE HAS BEEN -- I AM PART OF A DEMOGRAPHIC, AS A I COULDN'T THINK BLACK MALE WHO HAS BEEN PROFILED >> THAT'S WHAT THERAPIST TALKING ABOUT, THE DEFINITIONS COULD LEAD TO PROFILING >> THAT IS ANY TIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE THE RISK FOR PROFILING THAT WE NEED TO EVALUATE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE REMEDIES THAT COULD HELP US ALL.

>> WE HAVE THE GAME PLAN BILLS GETTING SIGNED INTO LAW LAST WEEK.

YOU CO-SPONSORED SOME OF THESE.

PEOPLE ARE EXCITE EXCITED ABOUT ITS IMPACT IN RURAL ALABAMA, MAYBE GETTING SOME OF THESE SITES THAT COULD BE INDUSTRIAL SITES, MAYBE IMPROVED, IDENTIFIED, THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE LAW, ARE YOU HOPEFUL THERE CAN BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES?

YOU REPRESENT A LARGELY RURAL DISTRICT >> I AM GRATEFUL FOR SECRETARY CANFIELD WITH COMMERCE AND HE HAS BEEN TO SELMA, MY HOMETOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND JUST HIS ADVOCACY AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ADVOCACY FOR RURAL ALABAMA.

A LOT OF TIMES, WE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS STORIES IN ALABAMA WITH OUR LARGER CITIES.

BUT WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPREAD ACROSS STRAIGHT IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS STATE.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES RISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BLACK BELT, TOO, OUR WHOLE STATE CAN RISE BECAUSE ALL OF OUR FATES ARE TIED TOGETHER >> WELL, SPEAKING OF YOUR DISTRICT, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR AN UPDATE ON SELMA.

IT HAS BEEN -- I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG BUT IT KIND OF LEAVES OF THE FRONT PAGE AND LEAVES THE NEWS.

WHERE ARE WE WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS THERE IN SELMA?

>> WELL, WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE DISPLACED.

AND SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG YET PERSISTENT RECOVERY.

AND SELMA NEEDS HELP.

I AM -- I WILL BE, YOU KNOW, CALLING ON AND WORKING FOR MORE STATE RESOURCES AS WELL FOR STATE TO HELP WITH OUR RECOVERY PLAN, OUR EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.

WE HAVE HAD OVER $150 MILLION -- THERE'S A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT DONE FOR OVER $150 MILLION.

SO THIS IS MASSIVE AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE US A WHILE TO MAKE A RESURGENCE.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL.

WE STILL NEED OUR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS COMING TO SELMA AND VOLUNTEERING.

A HOT MEAL GOES A LONG WAY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, FUNDS FOR DISASTER VICTIMS THAT ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, SEEKING RECOVERY.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE HAVE TO MOVE THAT LEFT, LIKE, EVEN -- >> LIKE OUT OF TOWN >> OUT OF TOWN.

I SPOKE WITH A GENTLEMAN, AND HE'S -- HE WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF -- A LEADER IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND HE HAD TO MOVE TO A NEIGHBORING COUNTY BECAUSE HIS HOUSE, YOU KNOW, WAS JUST THE DECIMATED.

AND SO THOSE HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE REALLY ARE GOING TO NEED HELP TO GET BACK ON TRACK.

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET.

SOMETIMES IN THE MEET AFTERMATH OF THESE THINGS ALL OF THE FOCUS IS ON, YOU KNOW, FOR A WEEK, TWO WEEKS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN LATER IT LEADS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE APPRECIATE YOUR UPDATE AND WE WILL CONTINUE COVERING IT >> I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SOFTBALL GAME ON A LIGHTER NOTE.

THE SENATE WON.

THE HOUSES, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE A WORTHY COMPETITOR THOUGH HOWEVER.

BUT WE -- I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE BLACK BELT, THE PROCEEDS WILL BE GOING TO THE BLACK BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WHICH IS A VERY WORTHWHILE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A GREAT BRAND RECOGNITION FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CITIZENS IN OUR REGION.

SO IT'S A WORTHWHILE CAUSE >> CHARITY IS GOOD.

BUT CHARITY DOES NOT REPLACE A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS.

AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE WE RECEIVED SO FAR, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST WANT TO SEND A REMINDER THAT SELMA STILL WILL NEED HELP IN THE LONG HALL >> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT SENATOR AGAIN THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW >> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY >> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OR THANK YOU FOR LISTENING FOR THOSE WHO ARE KEEPING UP WITH THE PODCAST.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOUR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACEY