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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE LEGISLATURE WAS BACK IN ACTION TODAY AS THE SESSION ENTERED ITS FINAL STRETCH.

LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND MAYBE FRIDAY TO HAVE THE SESSION WRAPPED UP BY WEEK'S END.

LET'S START TONIGHT WITH A BILL THAT HAS BECOME LAW.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY SIGNED INTO LAW SENATE BILL 171 THE NUMERACY ACT INTO LAW.

THIS BILL AIMS TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S LAGGING MATH SCORES BY TARGETING MORE RESOURCES TO STRUGGLING SCHOOLS, DEPLOYING MATH COACHES TO HELP TEACHERS AND HOLDING SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CONTINUED FAILURE TO IMPROVE.

IN SIGNING IT, IVEY SAID QUOTE, THIS STRATEGIC, TARGETED AND WISE INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN WILL PROVIDE NECESSARY RESOURCES, WILL INCLUDE HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND WILL KEEP OUR SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE.

THE ALABAMA NUMERACY ACT DELIVERS ON MY COMMITMENT TO PLACE THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY ON MATH AS WE RIGHTFULLY HAVE ON READING.

STUDENTS WILL NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO FIND AN ANSWER, BUT WILL HAVE THE MATHEMATICAL REASONING NEEDED FOR THE IN-DEMAND STEM JOBS IN ALABAMA.

I'LL TALK WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS NEW LAW LATER IN THE SHOW.

ON THEIR WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK ARE TWO BILLS AMENDING THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

HOUSE BILL 200 MAKES TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE READING LAW, INCLUDING REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK TEACHERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

SENATE BILL 220 DELAYS THE LAW HOLDBACK PROVISION BY TWO YEARS.

AS ORIGINALLY ENACTED, THE LAW WOULD HAVE SEEN THIRD GRADE STUDENTS WHO CANNOT READ PROFICIENTLY HELD BACK FROM BEING PROMOTED TO FOURTH GRADE SO THEY COULD GET CAUGHT UP.

THIS LEGISLATION WOULD DELAY THAT RETENTION UNTIL SPRING OF 2024.

>> THIS IS THE VERY SAME BILL THAT WE PASSED IN THE LAST SESSION THAT WILL DELAY ONLY THE RETENTION PIECE OF THE LITERACY ACT.

THE LITERACY ACT IS IN FORCE.

AND WE SEE THAT IT'S WORKING BUT THIS IS THE ONLY PIECE THAT WILL BE DELAYED AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER NEW NORMALS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF COVID.

OUR CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS OR THEY HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY.

SO, THIS WILL ONLY DELAY THE RETENTION PIECE OF THE LITERACY ACT.

THE REST OF THE LITERACY ACT WILL GO FORWARD.

>> WHAT THIS ACT DOES, I'VE HEARD ONE BIG CRITICISM FROM MY TEACHERS AT HOME AND IT'S THE PAPERWORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE LITERACY ACT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT TENDS TO DO, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REPORTING AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK FROM THE CLASSROOM.

>> ALSO, ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, IS A BILL REGULATING TELEMEDICINE IN THE STATE.

ALABAMA IS ONE OF JUST A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT DON'T ALREADY HAVE TELEHEALTH REGULATIONS OR STANDARDS, WHICH SOME SAY COULD LEAD TO TELEMARKETING SCAMS.

SENATE BILL 272 FROM SENATOR DAN ROBERTS ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE SAME STANDARDS OF CARE FOR IN-PERSON VISITS INTO VIRTUAL VISITS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAUL LEE WAS THE HOUSE LEAD ON THE SAME BILL.

>> VERY RARELY DO YOU COME TO PASS A BILL THAT SO MANY PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON SOMETHING.

THIS IS WHERE THE PROVIDER, PAYER, AND THE REGULATOR HAVE COME TOGETHER TO WORK OUT THE TELEHEALTH BILL.

RIGHT NOW WE'VE ALL BENEFITTED FROM TELEHEALTH OVER THE PANDEMIC, WE KNOW OR HAVE EMPLOYEES OR HAVE HAD FAMILIES MEMBERS THAT HAVE.

AT THE MOMENT, THERE'S NO PLATFORM WHATSOEVER IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE, THE WILD, WILD WEST.

AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD CALLS FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE; AND THE LAST THING WE WANT TO HAPPEN, IS FOR PEOPLE TO CALL YOU, CAN WE BE YOUR DOCTOR.

>> ALSO RECEIVING FINAL PASSAGE TONIGHT WAS LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DONATE TO PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THE ALABAMA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.

SENATE BILL 261 BY SENATOR DAN ROBERTS DOES NOT CHANGE THE $30 MILLION CAP, BUT EXPANDS THE ALLOWABLE CREDIT FROM 50% OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S TAX BURDEN TO 100%, CAPPED AT $100,000.

>> THIS IS A BILL THAT ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL TAX CREDIT, RAISES THE THRESHOLD SO PEOPLE CAN USE MORE OF THEIR TAX CREDIT TO PROVIDE FOR THE GRANTING SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.

RIGHT NOW, THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THAT AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO USE MORE TAX DOLLARS TOWARD THIS AND NOT EFFECTING THE BUDGET AT ALL.

>> THERE WAS ALSO ACTION IN COMMITTEE TODAY AS LAWMAKERS TRIED TO LINE UP THEIR BILLS FOR LAST MINUTE CONSIDERATION IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION.

HOUSE BILL 312 KNOWN AS THE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS BILL WAS THE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TODAY.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT THE TEACHING OF CERTAIN CONCEPTS RELATED TO RACE, SEX OR RELIGION THAT COULD LEAD STUDENTS OR EMPLOYEES TO FEEL SHAMED OR MARGINALIZED DUE TO TRAITS THEY WERE BORN WITH.

THE BILL ADVANCED ALONG PARTY LINES.

>> I DON'T SEE OF THESE NINE ISSUES THAT ARE PROHIBITED BY THIS THAT STOPS ANYONE FROM TALKING ABOUT SLAVERY, AND THE SLAVE TRADE OR THAT STOPS ANYONE FROM TALKING ABOUT SEGREGATION AND JIM CROWE.

>> I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S A PERSON OUT THERE THAT DOESN'T WANT TO DO THESE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ENUMERATED THERE.

WE DON'T WANT THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT WHAT'S DRIVING THE CONVERSATION IS FEAR, AND FEAR ON BOTH SIDES.

SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CARRY IT OVER TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO WORK THIS THING OUT FROM A PLACE OF LOVE.

>> AND HOUSE BILL 322, THE TRANSGENDER BATHROOM BILL, WAS IN THE SAME COMMITTEE.

THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE K-12 STUDENTS TO USE ONLY BATHROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS CORRESPONDING TO THE SEX ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

SPEAKING TO THE COMMITTEE TODAY WAS VANESSA TATE FINNEY, WHO HAS A 13-YEAR OLD TRANS SON.

SHE'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS AND OTHER TRANS BILLS.

>> AND SO HE DOES ASK QUESTIONS WHEN I COME HOME AND WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

HE IS DISHEARTENED AND DISAPPOINTED AND FEELS VERY MUCH AS THOUGH THAT HE IS NOT BEING WELCOMED BY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT, TO QUOTE HIM, REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

SO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM.

>> AND LAWMAKERS ARE ALMOST FINISHED WITH THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

THE HOUSE TODAY VOTED TO GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET BILL TO IRON OUT A FEW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO VERSIONS.

A FINAL VERSION OF THE $8.2 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS EXPECTED TO BE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR TOMORROW.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, TODD.

>> Todd Stacy: YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE FLOOR, LONG DAY HERE IN THE HOUSE.

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE LITERACY ACT, THE LAW THAT YOU SPONSORED, CHANGES COMING.

AND TWO BILLS THAT PASSED, ONE YOURS WITH TECHNICAL CHANGES.

TELL ME WHAT THAT DOES.

>> THE PEOPLE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THE LITERACY ACT, FUNDING THE LITERACY TASK FORCE AND THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS OF CLARIFICATIONS, THINGS MAYBE MISUNDERSTOOD IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE YOU HEAR DIFFERENT THINGS.

SOME OF THE GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTIONS WERE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

AT ONE POINT, WE WERE HAVING TO COUNT WHICH ENGLISH LEARNERS AFTER TWO YEARS.

AND THE FEDERAL LAW GIVES A WAIVER OF THREE YEARS NOW BEFORE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF OUR ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO, WE CHANGED THAT AND HAVE INCLUDED THAT.

THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS NEVER MEANT TO HOLD A CHILD IN THIRD GRADE, BACK TWICE IN THE THIRD GRADE.

THAT WAS CHANGED AND WE ACTUALLY SAY THAT.

AND WE KNOW THAT DIFFERENT GROUPS, WHEN THE BILL WAS PASSED, WE WERE SETTING UP A GRADE-LEVEL READING COMMITTEE, SETTING UP THE TASK FORCE.

NOW, THEY ARE WORKING WELL, WORKING HARD AND WE'VE ADDED MEMBERS TO THE TASK FORCE BECAUSE THE JOB IS SO HARD TO BE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.

AND WE CHANGED WHO THE ACCOUNTABILITY WENT TO, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE TASK WAS.

SO, IT WAS A LOT OF CLARIFICATION.

BUT IT WAS SOME IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION.

>> Todd Stacy: I SEE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ADDED AND AMENDMENT TO BOTH BILLS ACTUALLY.

AIMED AT CUTTING DOWN ON THE PAPERWORK THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A COMMON COMPLAINT.

>> IT DOES SEEM LIKE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND HAVING THE TASK FORCE LOOK INTO, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THAT, A STANDARD THAT GOES OUT, HOW WE CAN SIMPLIFY IT.

AND SOME OF THE ONLINE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE NOW, TO MAKE SOME OF THAT REPORTING JUST AUTOMATIC.

SO, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CUT DOWN ON THE PAPERWORK SO THAT TEACHERS ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO TEACH MORE THAN THEY ARE TO JUST FOLLOW IT ON PAPERWORK.

>> Todd Stacy: AND THE SECOND CHANGE TO THE LITERACY ACT WAS NOT YOUR CHANGE BUT SENATOR SMITHERMAN, BY TWO YEARS.

AND I SAY YEARS, BECAUSE YOU AND THE GOVERNOR AGREED TO ONE YEAR.

AND LOOKS LIKE TWO YEARS IS GOING TO HER DESK.

DO YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO SIGN IT.

>> I BELIEVE SHE WILL.

WE TALKED TO HER EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND WE HAD THE CHANGES IN MY BILL.

AND IT HAD THE A ONE YEAR DELAY CHANGE.

AND SENATOR SMITHERMAN FELT VERY, VERY STRONGLY AT THAT POINT, I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

BUT TO COMPROMISE, THAT'S HOW YOU REALLY GET LEGISLATION PASSED ALL THE TIME.

AND IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I WANT.

I PREFERRED THE ONE YEAR.

BUT THE ART OF COMPROMISE IS HOW YOU GET THINGS DONE.

SO, WE'LL HAVE THE TWO YEAR.

AND I BELIEVE THAT SHE WILL SIGN IT.

>> Todd Stacy: WELL, I GUESS THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS MEANS THAT UNDER THE ORIGINAL PASS LAW, THE HOLD BACK LAW, IF YOU CAN'T READ PROFICIENTLY AS A THIRD GRADER, STARTING THIS SPRING YOU ARE NOT PROMOTED TO FOURTH GRADE AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS TO GET YOU CAUGHT UP.

BUT NOW IT'S GOING TO BE 2024.

>> 2024.

>> Todd Stacy: SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TWO YEARS OF KIDS IF I CAN'T READ PROFICIENTLY IN THIRD GRADE, I STILL GET PROMOTED.

I MEAN, IS THERE ANY HELP?

HOW DO WE GET THE KIDS CAUGHT UP?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PIECES THAT WOULD SAY, IF THEY ARE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL THAT SOME OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF HOW THEY WERE LEARNING BEFORE, WHETHER THEY WERE IN FIRST, SECOND, OR EVEN IN THIRD GRADE, THAT THAT WOULD FOLLOW THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THAT WE WERE, AND REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND WHO CARRIED SENATOR SMITHERMAN'S BILL, WE'RE NOT DELAYING ANY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL.

ONLY THE HOLDBACK PROVISION.

AND WHILE IN MY PERFECT WORLD, IT MAY BE IN ONE YEAR, THE GOOD NEWS IS, OUR STUDENTS ARE ALREADY READING AT HIGHER LEVELS THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE LITERACY ACT.

IT'S ALREADY HAVING SUCCESS.

AND THINK THAT THE SCHOOLS FOLLOWING THE STUDENTS AND KNOWING THAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING, STILL STRUGGLING, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOT A HOLDBACK PROVISION IN THE BILL YET, AND THERE WON'T BE NEXT YEAR, THEY KNOW THEY ARE STRUGGLING.

WHAT I HOPE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER SCHOOL.

THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THEM TO BE READING ON GRADE-LEVEL READING.

SO THERE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE NEED THE FAMILIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT ALREADY HAVE GOTTEN LETTERS SAYING, YOUR CHILD IS STRUGGLING, HERE'S SOME OF THE ISSUES, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP.

AND HAVING FAMILIES HELPING WITH THE READING AT HOME TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE AFTER SCHOOL, SUMMER SCHOOL, FOR THAT CHILD TO GET EVERY POSSIBLE ABILITY TO CLOSE THAT GAP SO THEY TRULY ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL.

>> Todd Stacy: SWITCHING YEARS TO THE -- GEARS TO THE NUMERACY ACT, THE GOVERNOR HAD A LENGTHY STATEMENT CLEARLY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

BUT HERE WE GO WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION.

YOU CAN PASS A LAW BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW IT GETS IMPLEMENTED.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR HOW THE DEPARTMENT CAN IMPLEMENT THE BILL.

>> I THINK IT'S A BROAD BILL.

AND WHEN WE PASSED THE LITERACY ACT AND THE NUMERACY ACT IS BASED ON, WE HAD THE READING INITIATIVE ACT, ARI, IN PLACE, AND TAKE THE PLACE OF THAT, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN PLACE OF MATH.

AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING THAT.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS EXCITED ABOUT, WE'VE BEEN IN A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SMALL GROUP INCLUDING SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS.

ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD, THE GROUP THAT'S BEEN STUDYING THE DEPARTMENT, PCG.

ANYWAY, THEY WERE VERY MUCH BRAGGING ON THE NUMERACY AND THIS BILL POTENTIALLY PUTS ALABAMA AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF THE STATES IN THE NATION HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT PREPARING STUDENTS WITH FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS FORMAT.

SO, WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT WE'LL BE SETTING UP A NEW DEPARTMENT, LIKE WE HAVE ARI, WOULD BE IN THE OFFICE OF MATH AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR A DIRECTOR.

AND I HOPE WE'RE IN THE LEADING EDGE.

MAYBE WE CAN RECRUIT A DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF MATHEMATICS, LIKE THE NICK SABAN OF MATH.

AND IT WOULD COME IN, HAVING A FREE RANGE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE WELL GROUNDED IN THEIR MATH SKILLS.

>> Todd Stacy: THE NICK SABAN OF MATH.

>> THE NICK SABAN ANN OF MATH.

>> WELL, ONE MORE QUESTION BEFORE I LET YOU GO.

WE'RE SEEING THE DELAY BILLS ON LITERACY.

AND I KNOW THAT NUMERACY IS NOT THE SAME AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR EVEN THE SCHOOL.

SO THE QUESTION IS, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, ARE WE GOING TO BE BACK IN THE LEGISLATURE SEEING THE LEGISLATURE SAYING WAIT WAIT WAIT, DON'T CHANGE THE SCHOOLS, DON'T TAKE AWAY THESE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.

WE NEED THIS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE WILL.

I THINK ONE OF THE YEARS WE'VE HAD THE COED AND THAT PUT UP BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE DATA THAT WE HAD, WE WERE OVERCOMING THOSE AND CLOSING THE GAPS.

READING WAS IMPROVING AND LITERACY WAS.

I THINK THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE GROWTH.

SO, I WANTED US TO WAIT ONE YEAR BECAUSE I WANTED US TO HAVE THREE CONSISTENT YEARS OF TESTING.

AND WE'VE NOT HAD THAT BECAUSE OF THE YEAR OF COVID.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO END UP HAVING FOUR.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE US MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE NUMERACY ACT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE SCHOOLS, THEY GET THREE YEARS OF INTERVENTION TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

BUT THEY GET AN ADDITIONAL FOUR YEARS.

SO, THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE, IN MY OPINION, IS EXTREMELY.

>> GENEROUS?

>> GENEROUS.

YES, VERY MUCH SO.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT GIVES US TIME, LIKE WE NEEDED WITH LITERACY TO BUILD THAT OFFICE OF MATHEMATICS, TO GET PEOPLE IN PLACES, COACHES IN PLACES THAT ARE HELPING ALL OF THE TEACHERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY TEACH THOSE FOUNDATIONAL MATH SKILLS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY SENATOR WILL BARFOOT.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU HAD A PRETTY BIG BILL IN COMMITTEE.

AND WE'RE COMING DOWN THE FINAL STRETCH, JUST A FEW MORE DAYS TO GO.

AND ONLY A FEW MORE DAYS LEFT TO PASS LEGISLATION.

AND YOUR BILL IN COMMITTEE HAD TO DO WITH DECISIVE CONCEPTS.

-- DIVISIVE CONCEPTS AND SOME CALL IT CRITICAL RACE THEORY, BUT STOPPING THE TEACHING OF CONCEPTS THAT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MARGINALIZED OR GUILTY OR SHAMED.

AND ALSO, IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT MANUALS.

WALK ME THROUGH WHY THIS BILL IS NECESSARY.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

FIRST LET ME SAY, SOME PEOPLE REFER TO IT AS CRT, CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT EVEN FOUND IN THE BILL.

IT HAS NINE DIVISIVE THINGS AND PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THOSE NINE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS AS YOU SAID MARGINALIZE FOLKS OR FEEL LESS THAN, SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE TEACHING OR PUSHING ON THE KIDS.

AND THE OTHER PART OF THE BILL, IF YOU ARE A STATE ENTITY, GOVERNMENT ENTITY, REGARDLESS OF THE STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL, THAT YOU COULD NOT ACCEPT ANY FEDERAL GRANTS OR GRANTS OF ANY KIND THAT HAVE THOSE STRINGS ATTACHED IN WHICH DIVISIVE CONCEPTS ARE PUSHED.

AND ANY MONEY FROM THIRD PARTIES THAT GIVE OR DONATE MONEY OR RESOURCES TO THE STATE IF THOSE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS STRINGS WERE ATTACHED.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PASSED A RESOLUTION WHICH DOES SIMILAR TO WHAT THIS BILL IS TRYING TO DO.

THE IMPORTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS THAT'S A RESOLUTION, NOT BINDING.

SIMPLY A RESOLUTION AND BY ENACTING THIS LAW, IF WE WERE TO PASS IT -- AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL AND HOPEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT -- AND I BELIEVE SHE WILL.

BUT PUT IN EFFECT IN LAW WHAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS TRIED TO DO AND PUT HER OWN TWIST ON IT.

>> AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE, AS YOU SAID, YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES, YOU DON'T WANT ANY STUDENT FEELING, WELL, GOODNESS, THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN IN THIS COURSE MAKES ME FEEL LESS THAN, BECAUSE OF RACE, SEX, SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T CONTROL THAT I FEEL BAD.

HOWEVER, FEDERAL LAW KIND OF ADDRESSES THIS TOO.

CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.

IF THERE IS A SOMETHING RACIST OR SEXIST, OR -- WELL, ESPECIALLY RACIST, TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS, WE HAVE REDRESS, THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 LIEU THE COURTS, I SUPPOSE?

-- THROUGH THE COURTS, I SUPPOSE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE DO.

BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF THE FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THEY SAY, WE DON'T HAVE THIS.

WE'RE NOT TEACHING THIS.

IT'S NOT PART OF THE CURRICULUM.

AND IT'S NOT.

BUT IT IS AVAILABLE, I MEAN, CURRENTLY TO TEACHERS MY MOTHER WAS A TEACHER, HISTORY TEACHER AS A MATTER OF FACT AND BY INNUENDO OR PUTTING IT IN THE CLASSROOM OR NOT.

BUT AS I SAID, MY MOTHER WAS A HISTORY TEACHER AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH HISTORY.

WE DON'T GLOSS OVER IT.

THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD TO TALK ABOUT IN ALABAMA.

LOTS OF GOOD THAT'S HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND ALSO SOME BAD AND SOME UGLY, TO KIND OF QUOTE THE CLINT EASTWOOD WESTERN.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND THERE'S A SECTION SPECIFIC TO THE BILL THAT ENUMERATES THAT NOTHING IN THE BILL IS MEANT TO INDICATE THAT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THOSE HISTORICAL EVENTS IN A FACTUAL SETTING.

AND.

>> NOW, THERE'S A BILL GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, DEALING WITH THE SUSPENSION OF DRIVER'S LICENSE.

ROLLING BACK A LITTLE BIT, HOW THE STATE GOES ABOUT SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR SOME OF THE FINES, FEES, AND COURT APPEARANCES THAT STACK UP.

GO THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE BILL, WHAT THEY ARE.

>> OKAY.

HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I SEE IT SOMETIMES IN A COURTROOM AND I WONDER, WHAT'S THE NEXUS BETWEEN FOR INSTANCE, SOMEBODY NOT PAYING CHILD SUPPORT AND HAVING THEIR LICENSE EXPENDED.

AND THERE SHOULD BE AN AVENUE TO WHERE WE SUSPEND LENSES FOR SOMEBODY WHO -- LICENSE FOR SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T CURRENTLY DRIVE SAFELY ON THE HIGHWAY.

AND THIS BILL ONLY DEALS WITH POST ADJUDICATION RELIEF.

SO, IF YOU GET A TICKET, DON'T GO TO COURT, YOUR LICENSE COULD BE SUSPENDED AND WARRANT ASSIGNED FOR YOUR ARREST FOR NOT SHOWING UP TO COURT.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, ADDRESSES VIOLATIONS FOR WHICH YOU WENT TO COURT, PLED GUILTY, MAYBE HAD A TRIAL AND FOUND GUILTY.

IF A JUDGE SETS UP A POST TRIAL HEARING -- IN OTHER WORDS SOMETHING AFTER THE TRIAL OR THE CONVICTION -- AND IF YOU FAILED TO SHOW UP, THE FIRST TIME, FOR THAT REVIEW.

STILL COULD BE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST BUT YOUR LICENSE IS NOT SUSPENDED OR CAPABLE OF BEING SUSPENDED UNLESS YOU MISS TWO OR MORE.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET FOLKS OUT OF FOR SHOWING UP FOR COURT.

WE WANT THEM TO SHOW UP FOR COURT.

SECOND THING IS, IF YOU ARE PUT ON A PAYMENT PLAN.

THE ONLY WAY THAT A LICENSE CAN BE SUSPENDED, AFTER A YEAR IF YOU MISS SIX OR MORE OF THE PAYMENTS, THEN YOUR LICENSE CAN BE SUSPENDED.

KEEP IN MIND, WE WANT THEM TO PAY THE COURT FINES OR COSTS, IF THEY WERE GIVEN, BUT WE DON'T THINK SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE A LICENSE SUSPENDED BECAUSE THEY PAID TWO YEARS AND MISSED A $25 A MONTH PAYMENT AND NOW THEIR LICENSE IS SUSPENDED.

SO, THERE'S TEETH IN IT STILL AND POSSIBILITY FOR ARREST WARRANT FOR NOT SHOWING UP.

AND BEING HELD IN CONTEMPT IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE PAYMENTS AND LICENSE STILL COULD BE SUSPENDED BUT YOU HAVE TO MISS MORE THAN ONE COURT DATE CONVERSELY, OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVING MISSED SIX OR MORE PAYMENTS.

>> AND BEEN THROUGH THE SENATE, AND THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT ON THE CALENDAR, YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT THREE DAYS?

>> WELL, I'M HOPEFUL.

WE GOT IT OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, THE SENATE, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET IT ON THE FLOOR.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE PUSH BACK ON THE BILL AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN OVERCOME THAT.

I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROADS OUT THERE.

AND AGAIN, THIS BILL DOESN'T DO THAT, WE WANT THEM TO SHOW UP FOR COURT AND PAY COURT COSTS AND FINES.

AND THIS GIVES GRACE.

AND TODAY'S IN THE ECONOMY TODAY, YOU GOT FOLKS CLAMORING TO COME TO WORK AND WITHOUT A LICENSE, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE BUSINESSES TOO HIRE PEOPLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW, SENATOR BARFOOT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THAT'S HOUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

EXCEPT FOR ONE FINAL THING, WE WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRODUCER JOHN HOLMAN, NOW IN THE CONTROL ROOM.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS, JOHN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S 10:30 PM RIGHT HERE ON APT.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.