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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

STATE LAWMAKERS RESUMED THEIR SESSION TODAY SETTING UP ANOTHER BUSY WEEK OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY.

IN THE SENATE, THE FOCUS WAS THE MILITARY, AND SPECIFICALLY, FINDING WAYS TO MAKE ALABAMA MORE HOSPITABLE TO MILITARY PROGRAMS, PERSONNEL AND FAMILIES.

STATE LEADERS ARE COGNIZANT THAT ANOTHER ROUND OF BASE CLOSURES, AND REALIGNMENT COULD BE ON THE HORIZON; AND THEY DON'T WANT ALABAMA'S MILITARY INSTALLATIONS TO BE IMPACTED.

THAT'S WHY THE MILITARY STABILIZATION COMMISSION, LED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH, HAS BEEN DEVELOPING PROPOSALS.

SENATE BILL 119 FROM SENATOR WILL BARFOOT OF MONTGOMERY WOULD ALLOW MILITARY DEPENDENTS TO USE THEIR MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS AT ANY TWO-OR-FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COLLEGE THAT IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN ALABAMA AND RECEIVES STATE FUNDS.

>> THIS BILL WOULD CLARIFY WHAT THE STATE SCHOOLS ARE, AND THOSE SCHOOLS INCLUDE SUCH SCHOOLS AS TUSKEEGEE, TALLADEGA AND OTHERS IN THE PAST NOT SEEN AS STATE SCHOOLS.

AND IT WOULD ALLOW THEIR BENEFICIARIES TO USE THE STATE SCHOLAR ZIPS AT THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> SENATE BILL 28 FROM SENATOR TOM BUTLER OF HUNTSVILLE WOULD CREATE THE SPACE NATIONAL GUARD WITHIN THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPORT THE U.S. SPACE FORCE.

THE BILL IS CONTINGENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO CREATING A SPACE GUARD.

>> ALMOST LIKE STAR WARS COMING TO REALITY.

I HATE TO SAY, BUT I THOUGHT THE OTHER DAY HOW AMAZING IT IS WITH ALL OF THIS COMING ABOUT AND WE USED TO SEE DICK TRACY TALKING ON HIS WRIST, AND SAM KECHUM, HIS BUDDY.

AND OBVIOUSLY NOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A SPACE FORCE COMING.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WHAT THIS BILL DOES, SAYS, WHEN THERE'S A NATIONAL SPACE FORCE AS SUCH, THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD WILL PARTICIPATE WITH A SPACE GUARD HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> THE HOUSE TOOK UP A BILL AIMED AT MAKING SURE WORKING FAMILIES DON'T HAVE TO PAY STATE TAXES ON THE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS THEY RECEIVED LAST YEAR.

HOUSE BILL 231 WOULD STOP THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FROM CONSIDERING WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDITS RECEIVED UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AS TAXABLE INCOME.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM CARNS CARRIED THE BILL IN THE HOUSE.

>> THIS IS CORRECTING SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND THAT IS, THAT THEY GAVE US A LOT OF MONEY IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

SUPPOSED TO BE TAX FREE.

AND EVERY STATE EXCEPT FOR LOUISIANA AND ALABAMA, IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY TAX FREE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY HAD SET UP THEIR REVENUE DEPARTMENT.

IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, UNLESS WE MAKE THIS CHANGE, THE MONEY RECEIVED BY THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT BILL WILL NOT BE TAX FREE FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THIS MONEY.

>> THAT BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE TROUBLE WITH THE TAX CREDIT BILL IS THAT MOST W-2 FORMS ALREADY WENT OUT.

IF YOUR FAMILY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTENDED CHILD TAX CREDIT OR OTHER SPECIAL TAX CREDITS LAST YEAR, LEADERS RECOMMEND WAITING TO FILE SO YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON YOUR STATE TAXES.

THE HOUSE ALSO PASSED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AIMED AT MAKING SURE COUNTIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN GRANT PROGRAMS FOR BROADBAND INTERNET EXPANSION.

LAST MONTH, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED ABOUT $240 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO BROADBAND EXPANSION.

HOWEVER, DUE TO A CONSTITUTIONAL GLITCH, COUNTIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LIMITED IN WHAT THEY COULD DO TO ENCOURAGE BROADBAND EXPANSION.

HOUSE BILL 255 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE RANDALL SHEDD WOULD FIX THAT.

>> THIS BILL WOULD PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION TO AUTHORIZE STATE OR COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES TO GRANT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ENTITIES FEDERAL AWARD FUNDS OR ANY OTHER SOURCE OF FUND DESIGNATED FOR BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE BY PROVIDING AND EXPANDING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND CURRENTLY, THEY RULED THAT COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL CANNOT USE THEIR FUNDS FOR GIVING GRANTS TO COMPANIES THAT ARE EXPANDING BROADBAND.

SO, THIS WOULD CHANGE THAT.

>> FINALLY, THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AVAILABLE WORKFORCE CREDENTIALS AND THE JOBS THOSE CREDENTIALS CAN HELP YOU LAND.

HOUSE BILL 241 IS SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS, WHO WORKED WITH THE ALABAMA WORKFORCE COUNCIL ON THE BILL.

>> IT SETS UP A CREDENTIAL REGISTRY SO THAT INDUSTRY WOULD DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE CREDENTIALS OF VALUE.

THIS BODY VOTED ON THAT BILL ALONE LAST YEAR VERY POSITIVELY.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

AND THE SECOND THING, IT SETS UP A CAREER PATHWAY ACT SO THAT THE INDUSTRY CAN SAY, HERE ARE THE HIGH DEMAND AND CAREER PATH PLACES THAT YOU AS A STUDENT AND FAMILIES CAN LOOK AT AND HERE'S THE CREDENTIALS AND DEGREES THAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT ON THAT PATHWAY.

>> TODAY WAS SCHOOL CHOICE DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

DOZENS OF STUDENTS, PARENTS AND ADVOCATES RALLIED ON THE STATE HOUSE STEPS BEFORE TAKING TO THE HALLS TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS.

THEY ARE SUPPORTING A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO USE A PORTION OF THEIR STATE TAXES TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO ALTERNATE SCHOOLS INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE BILL IS FACING OPPOSITION FROM SCHOOL GROUPS WHO SAY IT TAKES TOO MUCH MONEY FROM OVERALL PUBLIC EDUCATION.

ADVOCATES SAY PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY AS THEY SEE FIT.

>> RIGHT NOW, IT'S TIME FOR ALABAMA TO FUND STUDENTS, NOT SYSTEMS.

IT'S PAST TIME FOR US TO DO THAT.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN EFFECTIVE, CHALLENGING, MOTIVATING AND ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION.

A ZIP CODE SHOULD NOT DETERMINE A CHILD'S SUCCESS OR WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL IN ALABAMA.

[CHEERING] >> THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO TAKE A PORTION, NOT ALL BUT A PORTION OF THEIR STATE TAX DOLLARS TO THE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.

AND THAT COULD BE ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, IT COULD BE USED FOR HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> A BILL WE COULD SEE MOVING SOON IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REQUIRE ANYONE CONVICTED OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT IF THE WRECK LED TO THE DEATH OF A CHILD'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

HOUSE BILL 144 IS SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE PRONCEY ROBERTSON.

HE'S A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE GREATER PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS AND MORE HELP FOR VICTIMS.

>> FOR DECADES, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.

AND YET, STILL EVERY NIGHT ON OUR HIGHWAYS OUT HERE, WE SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRINKING AND DRIVING AND TAKING THAT RISK.

LITERALLY RISKING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE RISK, THEN THERE SHOULD BE SOME HUGE CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSIBILITIES LEFT TO YOU IF YOU VIOLATE THE PUBLIC TRUST WHICH IS GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL INTOXICATED.

>> I'LL TALK WITH MR. ROBERTSON IN MORE DETAIL WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: NEXT, I'M JOINED WITH PRONCEY ROBERTSON OF MOUNT HOPE.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> AND YOU HAVE A BILL THAT'S MAKING THE ROUNDS, DEALING WITH DUI WRECKS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT INVOLVE PARENTS.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> SURE, IT'S HOUSE BILL 114, HERE IN ALABAMA.

AND THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS SOMETHING BREWING IN OTHER STATES PRIMARILY STARTING OUT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, WHERE THERE WAS A LADY OUT THERE BY THE NAME OF CECELIA WILLIAMS, HER SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ALONG WITH THEIR INFANT CHILD 4 MONTHS OLD WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT, BY SOMEBODY WHO WAS DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.

ALL THREE FAMILY MEMBERS LOST THEIR LIVES.

WHO WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME WAS THE OTHER SON, A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF BENTLEY.

IMMEDIATELY, THE GRANDMOTHER, CECELIA WAS RESPONSIBLE TO RAISE THE CHILD.

AND YES, THERE'S THE POTENTIAL TO FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT AND THOSE TYPE THINGS BUT YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO, THINGS LIKE THAT TAKE YEARS, LOTS OF TIME AND MONEY ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO ARE PURSUING THE CIVIL LITIGATION AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT END UP WITH ANY VIABLE COMPENSATION OUT OF THAT.

SO, COME, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT A WAY WE CAN BETTER MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND FROM THESE INCIDENTS HAVE SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT.

AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS PRIMARILY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHILE THEY MAY HAVE ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER PICKING UP THE SLACK THERE TO BECOME THE NEXT OF KIN OF FAMILY, THAT GUARDIAN, THAT SUPPORT, THE PERSON HAS A HUGE BURDEN TO, HAS TAKEN ON A HUGE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THAT CHILD AND RAISE UP TO AGE.

AND SO, BASICALLY, THE BILL SAYS, IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A DUI AND YOU CAUSE A FATALITY AS A RESULT OF THAT, IN OTHER WORDS, SOMEBODY DIES IN THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE YOU ARE DUI.

THEN, THAT PERSON AS PART OF THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES, NORMAL FINES, JAIL TIMES AND POSSIBILITY OF RESTITUTION THAT A JUDGE CAN ORDER.

ON TOP OF THAT, HE CAN ORDER CHILD SUPPORT IF THE VICTIM OF THAT FATALITY ACCIDENT HAS A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 19-YEARS-OLD.

AND THEN, THAT PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE AS PART OF THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT TO THAT CHILD, TO THE NEXT KIN OR GUARDIAN THAT TAKES OVER CUSTODY OF THE CHILD.

AND IT COULD BE MORE THAN ONE CHILD OBVIOUSLY, NOW, AMOUNT THAT THEY PAY WOULD BE PACED OFF THE SAME GUIDELINES THAT A JUDGE USES NOW IN ALABAMA TO PROVIDE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR LIKE IN ANY NORMAL DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, THAT TYPE OF THICK.

THERE'S A SCALE BASED -- THAT TYPE OF THING.

THERE'S A SCALE BASED ON OFF OF THE INCOME THAT THE PERSON MAKES, WHAT THE CHILD NEEDS AND THINGS OF THAT TYPE.

>> AND YOU ARE A FORMER POLICE OFFICER?

>> YEAH.

>> AND I ASSUME YOU HAVE WORKED ON DUI CASES AND HAS THAT HELPED YOU INFORMING ON THIS LEGISLATION?

>> YEAH, MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT.

AND FOR A DECADE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.

AND STILL, EVERY NIGHT ON OUR HIGHWAYS, OUT HERE, WE SEE PEOPLE DRINKING AND DRIVING, AND TAKING THAT RISK.

LITERALLY RISKING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE RISK, THERE SHOULD BE HUGE CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSIBILITIES LEFT TO YOU IF YOU VIOLATE THAT PUBLIC TRUST WHICH IS GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL WHILE INTOXICATED.

AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS A WAY TO FOCUS ON THE VICTIMS.

LOTS OF TIMES, WE THINK ABOUT THAT SUSPECT, THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT COMMITTED THE CRIME.

WHO IS LEFT BEHIND?

AND WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES ACTUALLY?

MANY TIMES, IT'S THE CHILDREN.

SO, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP SUPPORT THAT.

>> Todd Stacy: SWITCHING GEARS, I KNOW YOU ARE SIGNED ON TO CONCEALED CARRY CHANGES TO THE BILL THAT'S UP.

ALSO, YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE DATABASE EFFORT, LAST YEAR, KIND OF THE IMPETUS ABOUT THE BILL HAVING SO MUCH MOMENTUM.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH HOW THEY ARE CONNECTED.

>> RIGHT, ALMOST FOR A DECADE, PERMITLESS CARRY, CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY HAS BEEN COMING UP IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW, FROM MY BACKGROUND AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I STARTED LOOKING AT THE ISSUE WHEN WE GOT HERE FOUR YEARS AGO.

HOW CAN WE, THE PUBLIC IS DEMANDING, LITERALLY CALLING US EVERY SESSION WE'RE DOWN HERE AND ALL SUMMER WHEN WE'RE OUT THAT WANTING A PERMITLESS CARRY, AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RELATED TO AND THE TOOLS THAT THEY HAVE THERE OF THE PISTOL PERMIT AND WHAT IT DOES.

SO, REALLY, BEGINNING TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT THIS AND SEE WHAT KIND OF TOOL IS THIS, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

SO, MYSELF AND SENATOR RANDY PRICE BEGAN TO WORK ON THE LEGISLATION, FOUR YEARS AGO.

LAST YEAR, WE GOT IT PASSED.

IT DOES THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, IT JUST CLEANED UP THE PERMIT PROCESS.

STANDARDIZED THE PROCESS THAT THE SHERIFFS WILL DOING -- ARE DOING FOR PISTOL PERMITS.

AND NUMBER TWO, IT CREATES THE PROHIBITIVE PERSONS DATABASE.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A DATABASE OF GUN OWNERS.

THIS IS A DATABASE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT FAIL THE BACKGROUND CHECK, THE FOLKS THAT ARE PROHIBITED IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA OR UNDER THE LAW FROM HAVING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.

AND THAT'S HO WHO WE WANTED TO KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

NOT WHO IS A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN WHO HAS PASSED A BACKGROUND CHECK.

I NEED TO KNOW WHO IS A CRIMINAL WHO CAN'T PASS THE BACKGROUND CHECK.

SO, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT BACKWARDS BY SELLING THESE PERMITS.

AND THE IDEA WAS, WITH THAT BILL, CLEAN UP THE PROCESS, CREATE A DATABASE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY WHO IS THE PROHIBITIVE INDIVIDUAL.

AND THIRD, IT ALLOWED US, IN DOING THAT, A MUCH BETTER SYSTEM THAT THOSE WHO WANT A PERMIT FOR RECIPROCITY, CROSSING INTO THE STATES AND OVER THE STATES CAN PURCHASE IT FOR A LIFETIME.

YOU BUY IT ONCE AND THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO CHECK ON YOU UNTIL YOU BECOME PROHIBITED.

THE SECOND IT DOES, THEN YOU LOSE YOUR PERMIT.

AND WE CAN DO THIS WITH A BETTER PROCESS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

WITH THAT BEING DONE, AND WE COMMONLY CALLED IT THE LIFETIME PERMIT BILL.

BUT THE MAIN EMPHASIS OF IT IS THE DATABASE THAT WE'RE WORK ON.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP AND FUNCTIONAL OF OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

AND FOLKS MORE INSTITUTED IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, PERMITLESS CARRY, WHY DO WE KNOW NEED A PERMIT IF WE KNOW WHO THE PROHIBITED ARE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT HAS MY SUPPORT AND PRIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT, WHO ARE HERE IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE.

AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THE DEMANDS OF THE PUBLIC OUT THERE JUST SAYING, HEY, 21 OTHER STATES HAVE DONE THIS, WITH NO INCREASE IN CRIME.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SHERIFFS SELLING PERMITS IN OTHER STATES SEE NO DROP.

BECAUSE THE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS BUYING THOSE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUY THOSE.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING AT THIS POINT, IT'S JUST A COMMON SENSE DECISION AND IT'S TIME THAT WE GET IT DONE FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE, TODD, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME ON.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: JOINING ME NEXT ON THE PROGRAM, KATHERINE MUNAL, FROM EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE EXCEL IN ED AND WHAT YOUR MISSION IS.

>> THIS IS A NATIONAL CENTERED STUDENT POLICY ORGANIZATION.

GOVERNOR BUSH STARTED THE ORGANIZATION IN 2008 AND INITIALLY, IT GIVES FLORIDA MATH AND LITERACY SCORES THAT HE FELT NEED TO BE IMPROVED.

AFTER SEEING THAT STATE, THEN THEY WENT NATIONAL SO THAT STATES DON'T HAVE TO RECREATE THE WHEEL.

AND WE HAVE ANSWERS TO ALL OF THE POLICIES IN THE GULF COAST REGION.

>> WELL, I KNOW TODAY THERE WAS A RALLY OUTSIDE, SCHOOL CHOICE DAY, LOTS OF ADVOCATES THERE, SPECIFICALLY PROMOTING THE BILL FROM SENATOR MARSH.

YOU ARE A PART OF THAT.

AND GIVE ME A PITCH WHY THIS IS NEEDED IN ALABAMA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, THE BILL THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, SENATE BILL 140.

SENATOR DELL MARSH AUTHORED THE PARENTS CHOICE ACT.

WHAT THE BILL DOES, SETS UP AN EFA FOR EVERY PARENT WHO HAS A STUDENT IN SCHOOL.

AND ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE THAT MONEY TO ANY SCHOOL THEY WANT TO A ATTEND.

IT EMPOWERS THE PARENTS TO PICK WHICH SCHOOLS THEIR PARENTS WOULD ATTEND.

>> SO, THAT COULD BE ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL -- >> IT COULD.

>> OR IF THEY WANTED, IT COULD BE A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND I WAS TOLD THAT HOMESCHOOLING IS GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE BILL?

>> THERE'S NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT.

WE ALWAYS URGE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF TAX DOLLARS IN THE BILL AND THERE'S A QUESTION OF HOW THAT WOULD BE UPHELD HOMESCHOOLING FUNDS.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAMMER IT OUT.

>> HOW DOES IT WORK IN OTHER STATES?

>> WELL, SURE.

WE HAD THE SCHOOL CHOICE LAST YEAR, AND 12 OTHER STATES PASSED LEGISLATION TO PASS SCHOOL CHOICE OR EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND VIRGINIA PASSED UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN THE STATE IS ALLOWED EFA AND THE PARENT PICKS WHICH SCHOOL THEY ATTEND AND THIS IS MODELED JUST AFTER THE WEST VIRGINIA BILL.

>> I TALKED TO A LOT OF LAWMAKERS, WHO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, MOST OF THEM DON'T REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TRULY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN TRULY FAILING SCHOOLS HAVING ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIPS OR VOUCHERS, IF YOU WILL, TO GET THEM OUT OF A BAD SITUATION.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THEM DON'T WANT NECESSARILY HIGH INCOME, WEALTHY FOLKS OR EVEN MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS TO TAKE THEIR TAX DOLLARS AND GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE.

SO, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

>> WELL, I WOULD RESPOND WITH, ALL STUDENTS DESERVE ACCESS, TO THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION THEY CAN GET.

I WANT ALL PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHICH SCHOOL A STUDENT CAN GO TO.

NOT BASED ON SOCIO ECONOMIC OR WHERE THE ZIP CODE IS.

ALL PARENTS NEED TO BE EMPOWERED WHICH SCHOOL THEIR CHILD ATTENDS, AND WHICH OPPORTUNITIES THEIR CHILD CAPITALIZES ON.

YOU ARE SEEING IT NATIONALLY.

THERE ARE 11 OTHER STATES WORKING ON EXPANDING IMPLEMENTATION OR CREATING A BRAND NEW SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM.

>> WELL, THE QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT THE TAX DOLLARS.

IF I CURRENTLY HAVE A CHILD IN PRIVATE SCHOOL, I MADE THE CHOICE AND I HAVE THE MONEY TO SUPPORT IT AND TAKING MY TAX DOLLARS AWAY FROM THE CURRENT EDUCATION BUDGET, I THINK THAT'S SORT OF WHAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE AWAY FROM THE BUDGET.

>> WELL, PARENTS PAY TAXES, WHOSE TAX DOLLARS AND THE PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DICTATE WHERE THE TAXES ARE SPENT, I BELIEVE.

AND IT SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THE SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS.

>> AND MOVING BEYOND THE SCHOOL CHOOSE ISSUE, PHYSICALLY BUT MORE GENERALLY IN EDUCATION, I SENSED A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS BECAUSE OUR EDUCATION SPENDING IN THE STATE WILL SET A RECORD THIS YEAR, SET RECORDS LAST YEAR.

NEVER BEEN HIGHER EDUCATION SPENDING THAN WE HAVE HERE IN ALABAMA.

I KNOW YOU COVERED A REGION, AND NOT JUST IN ALABAMA.

BUT WITH THE HIGHEST SPENDING AND YET, WE'RE WORST OR SECOND TO WORST IN READING AND MATH.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT TRAJECTORY.

>> SURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FLORIDA FOCUSED ON WAS EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AND SOMETHING THAT WE PUSHED IN MISSISSIPPI.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

CREATED AN EARLY CHILD COLLABORATIVE, PUTTING IN INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS NOT READING ON THE GRADE LEVEL.

BY THE TIME THEY HIT THIRD GRADE, THEY WANTED ALL STUDENTS TO BE PROFICIENT IN READING BEFORE THEY WERE PUSHED INTO FOURTH GRADE.

AND A LOT OF INTERVENTIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE STUDENT TO HAVE ALL OF THE READING COACHES THEY NEED TO PASS THE TEST TO PROVE THEY ARE READING AT A THIRD GRADE LEVEL.

I THINK THAT'S INTEGRAL THAT YOU PUT THAT PLAN IN PLACE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION.

>> AND I THINK GOING BACK TO 2011, AND THE SESSION YEAR WAS 2012, AND I REMEMBER ONE OF THE KEY REFORMS THAT PROPELLED FLORIDA'S SUCCESS, TO GOVERNOR BUSH, THE GRADING SYSTEM, A-F, EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH THAT GRADING.

AND THEY HAD COMPLICATED METRICS.

AND NOW IT'S A SIMPLE, EASY TO UNDERSTAND METRICS FOR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS TO MAKE IT EASY AND MAKES SENSE.

THAT'S THE FOUNDATION THAT FLORIDA BUILT A LOT OF THE EDUCATION SUCCESS HERE.

AND IT IS THE SAME THING, COLLINS CARRIED THE BILL AND YET WE'VE NOT SEEN THE SAME SUCCESS FLORIDA HAS.

GRANTED THE TIME IS NOT THERE.

BUT WHAT TOOLS ARE WE MISSING THAT FLORIDA ADDED ON TOP OF THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE EARLY LITERACY PIECE IS IMPORTANT, INTERVENTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE TEST STUDENT THEN KNOWS WHERE THE GAPS ARE, AND WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT BENEFITING STUDENTS.

THINK THAT ALABAMA NEEDS TO STEP UP THE EARLY LITERACY PLAN.

I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT.

BUT WE NEED MORE INTERVENTION AND READING COACHES IN THE STATE TO IDENTIFY WHEN STUDENTS CAN'T READ ON GRAY GRADE LEVEL AND THEY ARE BEING PASSED ON AND THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO THEM OF THE AND THEY NEED A READING COACH TO GET ON THE READING LEVEL.

AND THE EFA GIVES THE PARENT, MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIRING A TUTOR AND SUPPLEMENT THE EDUCATION ENCOURAGING THE STUDENT TO MOVE ON.

>> AND IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TO WALK US THROUGH THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY >> Todd Stacy: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANY TIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION WEB SITE, www.aptv.org.

>> OLYMPIAN JESSE OWENS DOMINATED THE OLYMPICS IN THE 100-METER DASH, 200-METER DASH, LONG JUMP AND 4 BY 100-METER RELAY.

DOMINATING THIS TRACK FROM A YOUNG AGE AND WHILE IN COLLEGE AT THE BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP, HE SET FOUR WORLD RECORDS.

AND OWENS IS WIDELY REMEMBERED AS THE NATION'S GREATEST 0 OLYMPIAN.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OR LISTENING VIA THE PODCAST.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

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