>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, IT WAS A HECTIC DAY IN MONTGOMERY, AS LAWMAKERS TACKLED HEAVY WEIGHT ISSUES LIKE A LOTTERY AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

A BILL THAT WOULD SET UP A STATE LOTTERY WENT BEFORE THE SENATE TODAY, RESULTING IN HOURS OF DEBATE AND NUMEROUS AMENDMENTS.

THE UPPER CHAMBER ENDED UP APPROVING THE LOTTERY'S ENABLING LEGISLATION, BUT CARRIED OVER THE RELATED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON OF SPRINGVILLE IS THE MEASURE'S SPONSOR AND HE SAYS HE WANTS TO OFFER STATE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO HERE WHAT THEY CAN ALREADY DO ELSEWHERE.

>> IF THEY CAN GO TO GEORGIA, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS DRIVE TO THE REST STOP ON THE STATE LINE.

AND IF THEY GOT THAT IN GEORGIA AND OUR PEOPLE ARE BUYING TICKETS OUT OF A KIOSK, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT FOR ALABAMA.

THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BILL.

>> I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU Y'ALL, EVERY ONE OF YOU ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

WHY WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING, AND FINALLY, HOW WE SHOULD DO IT.

BUT THE CRUX OF MY COMMENTS RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE HOW, THIS ANSWER, THAT WE HAVE ON THIS SOC IS NOT THE PROPER YOU HOW TO DO IT.

>> DON: SENATOR ALBRITTON'S ‘SOC' REFERENCE MEANT SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR.

HE SAID THE STATE NEEDS A BILL THAT WOULD REGULATE GAMBLING OVERALL IN THE STATE, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC BINGO OPERATING UNDER LOCAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN SOME COUNTIES.

SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS OF PRATTVILLE, WHO RAISED CONCERNS OVER GAMBLING ADDICTION, HAD SAID THIS AFTERNOON THAT HE WOULD USE THE SENATE RULES TO DELAY A VOTE ON THE LOTTERY BILL FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE CLEARED ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE HURDLE TODAY.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON A VOICE VOTE, WITH OVER A DOZEN AMENDMENTS OFFERED AND A COUPLE OF THEM ADOPTED.

REPRESENTATIVE BEN ROBBINS OF SYLACAUGA OFFERED SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS AND HE DEBATED THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION AND ITS MANY RAMIFICATIONS WITH THE SPONSOR, SENATOR TIM MELSON OF FLORENCE.

>> EVERY STATE THAT HAS MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IN THE COUNTRY HAS THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OTHER THAN THE BILL IN WHICH WE HAVE.

SO, IF EVERY OTHER STATE SAW FIT TO HAVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVOLVED, I'M CURIOUS WHY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLAYS NO ROLE IN THIS BILL.

>> AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT SOMEBODY, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS YOUR AMENDMENT OR SOMEBODY ELSE, PLACED NON VOTING MEMBER ON IT.

I'M GOOD WITH IT.

BUT THERE'S DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING INPUT AND COMMISSION VERSUS RUNNING THE PROGRAM.

>> DON: IN CARRYING THE LEGISLATION, MELSON HAS PROMOTED THE MANY BENEFITS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA, FROM HELPING WITH EVERYTHING FROM CHRONIC PAIN TO SEIZURES TO CANCER AND OTHER AILMENTS.

OPPONENTS HAVE RAISED NUMEROUS CONCERNS, INCLUDING WHETHER THE BILL MIGHT BE A GATEWAY TO EXPANDED RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA.

THE MEASURE NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE, AN UNUSUAL SECOND GROUP THAT WILL VET IT IN THE LOWER CHAMBER.

THE SENATE APPROVED THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL IN FEBRUARY.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT HER STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE WILL, INDEED, EXPIRE AS PLANNED THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 9TH, AND THAT HER SO-CALLED SAFER AT HOME ORDER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE CALLED SAFER APART.

>> FOLKS, WE'RE STILL UNDER A PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER BUT IT IS GREATLY SLIMMED DOWN DUE TO EVERY ONE DOING THEIR PART TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING A MASK AND VOLUNTARILY GETTING A VACCINE.

WE KNOW THAT A MASK HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR GREATEST TOOLS IN COMBATING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, ALONG WITH PRACTICING GOOD HYGIENE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING HAS HELPED MORE PEOPLE FROM GETTING SICK AND EVEN WORSE, FROM DYING.

>> DON: IVEY'S NEW HEALTH ORDER STRONGLY ENCOURAGES STATE RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS, EVEN AFTER THE MANDATE ENDS ON FRIDAY.

IT ALSO REQUIRES QUARANTINE FOR ANYONE WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND MAINTAINS SOME RESTRICTIONS ON HOSPITAL VISITATIONS.

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL SAID IN A STATEMENT THIS AFTERNOON THAT HE WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICE THIS YEAR, INCLUDING THE U.S. SENATE.

THIS AFTER REPORTS THAT MERRILL ADMITTED TO AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR, SOMETHING FOR WHICH HE TOLD AL.COM THAT THERE WAS NO EXCUSE.

MERRILL ALSO TOLD THE NEWS OUTLET THAT HE WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HIMSELF AND THAT HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT HE ALLOWED HIS FAMILY TO BE EMBARRASSED BY THIS ACTION.

MERRILL HAS SAID THAT HE WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE NEXT YEAR AND WAS WIDELY EXPECTED TO MAKE A CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT WEEK.

MERRILL'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAID TODAY THAT HE WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING HIS SERVICE AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE CORLEY ELLIS OF COLUMBIANA IS BACK IN STUDIO WITH YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU, DON.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE LOTTERY ISSUE, HOT TOPIC IN THE STATE HALLS.

A LOTTERY BILL WAS ON THE SENATE'S AGENDA TODAY.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING LOTTERY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW AND WHERE DO YOU FALL ON THE ISSUE.

>> THE LOTTERY SEEMS TO BE THE BILL THAT NEVER GOES AWAY!

DON, I'M FOR THE LOTTERY.

THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT HAVE SPOKEN VERY LOUD THAT THEY WANT THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT.

SO, I'M FOR THAT, GIVING THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE BACK HOME.

THERE'S NO BETTER REPRESENTATION THAN LETTING THEM VOTE FOR IT DIRECTLY THEMSELVES.

I'M FOR IT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON REFRAIN AMONGST MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE LOTTERY ON PRINCIPLE, THEY ARE FOR ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO VOTE ON IT.

AND IT WAS POINTED OUT DURING THE DEBATE, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ON HOW THE PUBLIC WOULD VOTE ON THIS SHOULD THEY GET THIS RIGHT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT DOES GIVE YOU A FAIR AMOUNT OF COVER WHEN YOU SEND IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE TO VOTE, GIVING THEM THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THINK IT WOULD PASS THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY DEPENDING ON THE LOTTERY THAT COMES DOWN.

THERE'S SO MANY THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

IF IT'S A GOOD CLEAN LOTTERY, TRANSPARENT, PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, I THINK IT WILL PASS THE PUBLIC VOTE THIS TIME.

>> HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BROADER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE GAMING BILL THAT WAS ON THE TABLE THIS YEAR.

>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED HAD AND I THINK WHEN YOU GET THAT COMPLICATED, IT'S HARD TO PASS THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY BECAUSE IT GETS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED WHEN YOU PICK LOCATIONS FOR GAMING, TABLE GAMING, AND WHAT NOT.

IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN JUST A CLEAN LOTTERY.

IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.

I THINK IT WILL STILL PASS THE PUBLIC VOTE BUT IT DOES COMPLICATE THINGS.

>> ANOTHER HOT TOPIC IN THE STATE HALLS THIS YEAR IS THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUE.

PASSING THE SENATE, OF COURSE, AND WAS IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TODAY.

ITS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL FROM THE GET-GO.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLI- -- IT'S A HOT TOPIC.

YEAH, EXTREMELY.

I FEEL SYMPATHETIC TO PEOPLE WHO NEED MARIJUANA FOR CANCER VICTIMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST AS EASY SAYING A YAY OR A NAY ON IT.

I DO FEEL STRONGLY THAT IF WE'RE NOT EXTREMELY CAREFUL, EXTREMELY CAREFUL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN BECOME CAREFUL ENOUGH TO KEEP IT FROM BECOMING A DISPENSARY BILL WHERE YOU END UP WITH DISPENSARIES ON EVERY CORNER.

THAT'S MY BIG CONCERN.

IF WE FIND A WAY TO GET TO IT THE CANCER PATIENTS AND PEOPLE WHO NEED IT TO EASE THEIR PAIN, I'M ALL FOR THAT.

BUT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE, WE CAN EXTRACT THE GOOD STUFF AND LEAVE THE BAD STUFF ON THE TABLE AND PUT IT IN A PILL FORM OR SOMETHING.

THINK THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.

I'M JUST VERY SKEPTICAL, WORRIED THAT IT MAY BECOME A DENSE PENS EAR BILL -- DISPENSARY BILL AND SEEING IT ON EVERY CORNER.

>> THAT'S WHAT FOLKS WERE SAYING, BEING A GATEWAY TO EXPANDING TO RECREATIONAL USE OF THE DRUG.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S A BIG QUESTION BECAUSE I'M A HARD NO ON THAT ASPECT.

TO ME, THAT'S A STEPPING STONE TO WORSE DRUGS AND GIVING KIDS A REASON TO THINK THAT IT'S OKAY.

I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF VOTING RELATED BILLS THIS YEAR.

YOU HAVE ONE AND IT DEALS WITH THE TESTING OF VOTING MACHINES.

TELL US WHAT'S ON THE TABLE.

>> OKAY.

IN THIS DAY AND TIME, THERE'S THE PERCEPTION THAT THERE'S CHEATING GOING ON.

ALL KINDS OF SHENANIGANS GOING ON WITH VOTING, WHETHER IT IS OR NOT, THAT'S NOT THE TOPIC FOR IT TODAY.

THE PERCEPTION OF IT IS, THOUGH, YES.

SO, WE HAVE TO WIN BACK THE TRUST OF THE VOTERS AND THEY KNOW THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS AND MEANS SOMETHING.

SO, IN AN EFFORT TO DO THAT, I THINK IT'S A COMMON PRACTICE WITH PROBATE JUDGES ALL ACROSS THE STATE TO TEST THEIR VOTING MACHINES.

THEY ARE TESTED PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY AND THEN WE DO A PUBLIC TEST WHERE THE PUBLIC IS INVITED IN, COME IN, SEEING THE MACHINE BEING TESTED.

AND IT'S A RANDOM SAMPLE.

AND I KNOW IN SHELBY COUNTY THEY CAN COME IN SAY, I WANT THAT TO BE TESTED.

THEY PICK THE MACHINE AND WHAT IT DOES, GIVES THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY ARE WORKING AND NOT ONLY PUBLIC CONFIDENCE BUT TO ASSURE ON ELECTION DAY, MACHINES THAT AREN'T READING RIGHT.

THAT HAPPENS BUT IT JUST HELPS US AND HELP THE PUBLIC TRUST AND HELPING US TO KNOW THAT ON ELECTION DAY THE ELECTION IS GOING TO RUN SMOOTH.

THERE ARE SOME CONTROVERSIAL AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS ONE IS, WHO ISN'T FOR HAVING THE VOTING MACHINES COUNT RIGHT.

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DELVE INTO THE WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN THE PRESIDENTIAL BILLS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE SAY IT'S RELATED TO THAT CONTROVERSY BUT YOU SAY YOURS IS NOT, YOU ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT INTEGRITY AND PERCEPTION.

>> RIGHT.

IT IS.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS PRESIDENTIAL CHEATING GOING ON IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

IT'S ALREADY A COMMON PRACTICE WITH THE PROBATE JUDGES, AND PRIOR TO TO THE ACT IN 2006 IT WAS REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO IT.

THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE LAW.

AND WE THINK, INADVERTENTLY, THE PUBLIC TESTING OF THE MACHINES WAS LEFT OUT OF THAT BILL.

SO, THIS JUST CODIFIES WHAT MOST COUNTIES ARE ALREADY DOING.

AND I KNOW MY HOME COUNTY OF SHELBY COUNTY DOES IT.

>> AND FINAL ANALYSIS, WHAT'S THE HARM IN ALLOWING THE PUBLIC IN ALL COUNTIES TO COME AND WITNESS THIS.

JUST TO BUILD TRUST IF NOTHING ELSE.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING, DON.

LET THE PUBLIC COME IN.

THINK IT HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT IF WE DIDN'T ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COME IN AND WATCH THE MACHINES BEING TESTED.

I ACTUALLY, WE HAD A DISTRICT, FIRE DISTRICT TYPE VOTE BACK HOME AND I WAS ABLE TO GO AND PARTICIPATE.

I WAS THE PUBLIC.

I WENT IN AND I WATCHED THEM TEST IT AND HOW THEY DID IT.

AND FILLED OUT THE BALLOTS, MAKING SURE IT WAS COUNTED RIGHT.

I WAS A PARTICIPANT IN IT.

AND IT GAVE ME PARTICIPATION ON HOW IT WORKS.

IT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE THAT THE MACHINES WERE GOING TO TALLY THE VOTES.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, REPRESENTATIVES.

BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE, YOU LIVE IN SHELBY COUNTY AND REPRESENT PART OF SHELBY COUNTY.

COLUMBIANA HAD TORNADO DAMAGE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

>> WE DID, A COUPLE THURSDAYS AGO, EF3 TORNADO CAME THROUGH, CHOLERA AND HIT THE HOMETOWN OF COLUMBIANA AND HIT IT PRETTY HARD.

WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AND NO LOSS OF LIFE.

BUT SERIOUS INJURIES THAT WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND 81 HOMES IN THE COLUMBIANA AREA WERE HIT AND MY FAMILY ACTUALLY SAW THE COLUMBIANA GOING ACROSS OUR FAMILY FARM WITH THE DEBRIS, SAW TRASH CAN.

>> AND IT WAS NOT ON THE GROUND?

>> NO, THE DEBRIS WAS IN THE AIR AND THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND.

YEAH.

TREMENDOUS TREE DAMAGE TO OUR PROPERTY, BUT NO LOSS OF LIFE OR PROPERTY OR PEOPLE ON IT.

BUT AFTER IT HIT THE FARM, TREMENDOUS DAMAGE, NO LOSS OF LIFE.

AND THE COMMUNITY RALLIED TOGETHER AND WE SHALL BOUNCE BACK.

>> MUST HAVE BEEN A HEART-STOPPING MOMENT, SEEING A TORNADO ON YOUR PROPERTY.

>> CLOSEST THAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY.

>> AND SO MUCH LOSS IN THE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY, OFF YOUR DISTRICT IN, OFF 280 THAT SAW MAJOR DAMAGE.

>> I REPRESENTED MOONEY, HIS DISTRICT AND DICKY DRAKE WAS EAGLE POINT WAS HIT VERY, VERY HARD.

WE WERE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION ABOUT RESOURCES HOW WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER.

AND AS MUCH AS IT HURT, IT DID THE SOUL A LOT OF GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY HELPING EACH OTHER.

AND EVERY TREE LIMB THAT NEEDED TO BE DRUG TO THE STREET, TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO DRAG IT OUT.

AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING THING TO SEE THE TWO COMMUNITIES RALLYING TODAY.

IT CONTINUES TODAY.

AND I THINK WE'RE A CLOSER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CORLEY ELLIS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Don: AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, JOE LOVVORN, REPRESENTATIVE JOE LOVVORN ON THE BROADCAST.

NOW, WE JUST FINISHED TALKING TO CORLEY ELLIS, YOUR COLLEAGUE, AND TALKING ABOUT THE TWISTER THAT CAUSED SO MUCH HEARTACHE OVER THERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF BILLS ALONG THOSE VEINS THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

ONE OF THEM PROVIDES A TAX CREDIT FOR THE COST OR CONSTRUCTION OF A STORM SHELTER?

>> WELL, IT'S TERRIBLE FOR THE TORNADO DAMAGE WE HAD RECENTLY.

AND EACH PART OF THE STATED THEIR OWN LEVEL OF DEALING WITH IT, NATURAL DEVASTATION.

THE BILL THAT I HAVE IS ONE THAT I KEEP COMING BACK WITH, THAT I HOPE WE CAN GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE THIS YEAR.

WE'VE PASSED IT OUT OF THE HOUSE AND I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO INVEST IN THEMSELVES.

THIS IS ONE THAT THEY CAN INVEST IN THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILY.

AND WHETHER YOU INSTALL A STORM SHELTER DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF YOUR HOME OR BUY ONE PRE FAB AND INSTALL IT, YOU CAN GET UP TO $3,000, OR 50% OF THE COST, WHICHEVER IS LESS, OF TAX CREDIT TOWARD THE COST OF IT.

AND IT'S A TAX INCENTIVE INVESTING IN THE HOME OR FOR YOUR FAMILY.

AND IF IT KEEPS ONE CHILD FEEL SAFER AS A STORM COMES UP, KNOWING IT'S THERE, THEN IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT FOR THE FAMILY.

THAT BILL IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO GET A HEARING IN THE SENATE SOON.

AND HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD FOR THE PASSAGE.

>> WAS IT INSPIRED BY THE LEE COUNTY TORNADO OR DID YOU HAVE IT IN MIND?

>> WELL, IT WAS WHAT I WITNESSED AS A FIERCE RESPONDER DURING THE EARLIER EXPERIENCE.

I MADE A DETERMINATION OUT THERE THAT NIGHT THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.

THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN FIND FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO, TO HAVE SOMETHING, WHETHER IT WAS AT THEIR HOME OR KNOWING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THIS AGAIN.

AND WITHOUT AT LEAST TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOU ARE A FIRST RESPONDER AND I MENTION TO THE VIEWERS, YOU ARE A FIREMAN AND IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY LIKE THOSE THAT FOLLOW THE TORNADOES, YOU SEE THE NEED FIRSTHAND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHETHER YOU ARE INVESTING IT AT YOUR OWN HOME OR SAFER PLACES BUT I'M DEALING WITH THE EMA AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TOGETHER TO CREATE A DATABASE FOR SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO.

SO MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO, THEY HAVE HOMES FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SURVIVE, DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO EXCEPT FOR A RESTROOM IN THEIR HOME OR GETTING IN THE BATHTUB OR TRYING TO GET UNDER THE HOME WHEN THEY HAD A SAFE BUILDING OR COMPLEX JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR HOME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN OPENED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEEK A SAFE SHELTER.

THIS IS NOT A ONE FIX ALL FOR EVERY COMMUNITY.

BUT EVERY COMMUNITY CAN DO SOMETHING AND EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN DO SOMETHING TO TRY TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILY BY DEVELOPING A SAFETY PLAN AND TRYING TO EXECUTE THE PLAN BEFORE THE STORM HITS THE AREA.

>> I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DATABASE BILL THAT YOU DESCRIBED THERE.

YOU ARE URGING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND OTHER SUCH OFFICIALS TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND DESIGNATE SAFE SHELTERS.

SOME COMMUNITIES ALREADY HAVE DESIGNATED SHELTERS AND SOME DON'T.

I GUESS WE WANT TO MAKE THIS MORE UNIFORM.

PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE IN THEIR OWN HOME CAN GO TO A COMMUNITY SHELTER.

>> CERTAINLY.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DESIGNATED STORM SHELTER.

PEOPLE HAVE IN MIND THAT IT HAS TO BE AN UNDERGROUND PIT TO BE A SAFE PLACE.

BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF BUILDINGS BUILT WITH HEAVY CONCRETE AND STEEL THAT SUSTAIN HEAVY STORMS.

AND SOME BUILDINGS THAT YOU GO TO ROUTINELY THAT MAY HAVE A BASEMENT THAT YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF.

OCCUPANCY FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THINK WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE.

FIND WAYS AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE KILLED, INJURED, LOOSING THEIR HOMES IN THIS THAT DON'T NEED A TAX CREDIT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AT THE INCOME LEVEL.

SO, THAT'S NOT AT AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO TAKE HARD-EARNED MONEY AND INVESTING BACK INTO THAT SAFETY.

SO, HAVING A PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE PLAN.

IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

BUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, WE CAN DO IT BETTER.

>> I GREW UP IN LINDEN AND MARENGO COUNTY AND THE DESIGNATED SAFE PLACE IS THE BASEMENT OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

AND I KNOW RECENT TIMES, THE FOLKS WENT TO THE BASEMENT OF THE COURTHOUSE IN MARENGO COUNTY.

>> AND SO, WE STILL HAD FATALITIES AND PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW A SAFE PLACE TO BE.

SO, IF WE SAVE ONE LIFE THROUGH THIS OR KEEP SOMEONE SAFE OR AT LEAST HAVING A CHILD OR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS TERRIFIED OF THESE STORMS, TO FEEL SAFE JUST KNOWING THEY HAVE A PLACE, THEN IT'S ALL WORTH THE EFFORT IN MY OPINION.

>> ONE OF THE MORE HIGHLY DEBATED BILLS IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS TO DO WITH BARRING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

THE PHILOSOPHY IS THAT THE DECISIONS ABOUT THESE THERAPIST CAN WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE 19-YEAR-OLD.

YOU SERVE ON THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND YOU VOTED AGAINST THE BILL WHEN IT WAS IN COMMITTEE.

YOU OFFERED AN AMENDMENT.

AND AS A FIRST RESPONDER, FIREFIGHTER, YOU HAVE SEEN INSTANCES THAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION.

SO, TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND HOW IT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION ON THE BILL.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN THERE WHERE THERE'S SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES RELATED BACK TO A MINOR THAT IS DEALING WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA.

AND THAT BILL IS WELL ROOTED BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON.

THE SURGERIES THAT ARE ALREADY NOT HAPPENING, THE ADVANCED IRREVERSIBLE CHEMICAL TREATMENTS, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

BUT WE LOST IN THE CONVERSATION THAT THESE ARE REAL PARENTS WITH REAL CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR KEEPING THEIR CHILD ALIVE, KEEPING THEM PRODUCTIVE.

AND WHEN I SAY KEEP ALIVE, WHEN THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT STRESSORS OF MENTAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE ALIGNING TO CAUSE A TRESS FOR IT.

WOULDN'T BE, I GUESS, SAY, A NORMAL CHILDHOOD THAT YOU THINK OF.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

AND PARENTS, I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE PARENTS, THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

I CAN AGREE WITH MOST POINTS OF THE BILL.

THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS, WE'RE NOT OFFERING A TRUE, REAL SOLUTION.

WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN UP MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT MY PROBLEM IS, WE WERE TAKING AWAY EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR A PARENT THAT'S JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE DEALT WITH, NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE DEALT WITH AS A PARENT.

BUT I'VE SEEN IT.

REAL PARENTS WITH REAL CHILDREN TRYING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS TO KEEP THEIR KID GOING FORWARD THAT MAY JUST BE A TEMPORARY SPAN OF TIME THAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THAT.

OR MAYBE A LIFETIME MOVEMENT AS THEY ARE ADULTS, THAT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH.

AND IN THEORY, THE BILL SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY AND EVERY STEP OF IT, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING A LITTLE TOO FAR WITHOUT OFFERING THE OTHER SOLUTION.

I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT, I HAVE A LARGE PHARMACY SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT.

PART OF THE BILL WOULD CRIMINALIZE THE PHARMACIST FOR FILLING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION MAYBE THAT COMES FROM A DIFFERENT STATE, AND I GREW UP ON THE STATE LINE THERE.

I HAD DOCTORS IN ONE STATE AND PHARMACISTS ACROSS THE WAY.

A PHARMACIST COULD JUST BE DOING THEIR DUTY AND BY THAT BILL CONVICTED OF A FELONY FOR FILLING A PRESCRIPTION AND THEY DON'T EXACTLY WHY THAT PERSON HAS THAT CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION WRIT OUT TO THEM.

THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MATCHES WITH ANY ALLERGIES, GOING TO THE BEST PRACTICES OF MEDICINE.

THEY ARE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE ISSUING THE PRESCRIPTIONS, THEY ARE THE ONES FILLING THEM.

SO, I FELT IT WAS A LITTLE TOO FAR TO GO FOR PHARMACISTS THAT ARE ALREADY STRESSED WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE DEALING WITH AND JUST IN THE INDUSTRY THAT IT WAS A ANOTHER STEP OF WHY ARE WE CRIMINALIZING THE PHARMACIST.

BECAUSE THE PARENTS, THE CHILDREN, THE THERAPISTS, THE DOCTORS ARE ALL ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF CARING FOR THE CHILD.

AND THE PHARMACIST IS THERE PROVIDING THE THINGS THAT THE DOCTORS AND THE PARENTS HAVE AGREED ARE THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILD DURING THAT TIME.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JOE LOVVORN OF AUBURN, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> YOU BET.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> BIRMINGHAM'S REDWOOD FIELD IS THE OLDEST OPERATING FIELD, THE BIRMINGHAM ACES AND BLACK BARONS.

THEY INAUGURATED THE NEW FIELD AUGUST 18, 1910 BY DEFEATING THE MONTGOMERY CLIMBERS.

THEY EXISTED FROM 18975 TO 1985, AND PART OF THE KANSAS CITY AND MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, TY COBB, AND TODAY MANAGED BY FRIENDS OF RICKWOOD AND BIRMINGHAM BARONS STILL PLAY CEREMONIAL THROWBACK GAME, RICHWOOD CLASSIC CELEBRATING THE BARON'S TEAMS AND THIS HISTORIC FIELD.

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

AND OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE WOOD OF VALLEY, WHO WILL DISCUSS HER BILLS THAT WOULD REQUIRE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO ALLOW ONE CAREGIVER OR VISITOR TO PATIENTS OR RESIDENTS, SUBJECT TO REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.