>> GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY, I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TODD STACY IS OFF TONIGHT.

IN STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS, THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE PRISON OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MET THIS WEEK.

ONE OF THE MULTIPLE ISSUES THEY DISCUSSED, WAS, ALABAMA GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING THE LOSS OF CORRECTIONAL INCENTIVE TIME OR GOOD TIME.

STATE REP. CHRIS ENGLAND BELIEVES THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION SPECIFYING THE AMOUNT OF TIME LOST FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS WAS EXECUTIVE OVERREACH.

>> JUST FROM THE EARLY SEPARATION OF POWERS COMPONENT I'M STRUGGLING TO FIND WHERE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER.

STATUTORILY, I BELIEVE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DETERMINE THE PENALTY STRUCTURE WOULD BE WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE.

BILLS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN PREFILED FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH STARTS ON TUESDAY MARCH 7.

ONE OF LAWMAKERS' PRIORITY TOPICS WILL BE FINDING WAYS TO KEEP IMPROVING THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT HAS THAT REPORT.

>> I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY THE JOB THAT SECRETARY CAMP FIELD'S OFFICE HAS DONE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF ALABAMA REMAINS COMPETITIVE.

>> THIS CONFERENCE AT THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA GIVES A LOOK AT WHAT SOME LAWMAKERS SAY ARE PRIORITIES IN THE UPCOMING LEG SESSION.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST -- SPECIFICALLY BEAK ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES TO THE STATE WHICH BRINGS MORE JOBS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO COMPETE WITH OTHER STATES WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST INCENTIVES SO WHEN THE LEGISLATURES US TO CHAIR THIS WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE BEST INCENTIVES IN THE SOUTHEAST.

>> 1 QUESTION IF I COULD ASK ANY OF YOU IN YOUR BUSINESS, IS IF YOU CAN MAKE AN INVESTMENT AND GET A RETURN OF 173 PERCENT, HOW MANY WOULD DO THAT?

AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM RAISED THEIR HAND.

>> AUDIENCE MEMBERS HEAR FROM LEADERS ABOUT ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO ALABAMA AND WHY THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> WE NOTICE THERE'S BEEN MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE AND THEY'RE DOUBLING DOWN IF THEIR RURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT THOSE PARTICULAR STATES.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT SECRETARY CANFIELD, HIS OFFICE HAS DONE, WE'RE SEEING TREMENDOUS GROWTH NOT JUST IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF THE STATE OR SOUTHERN REGION OF THE STATE BUT ALL THROUGHOUT ALABAMA.

>> THIS HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ALL 67 COUNTIES IN THE STATE AND CONTINUE THE GROWTH.

YOU LOOK AT ALABAMA, NO MATTER WHERE I GO IN THIS COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE IMPRESSED AND ASKING WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THIS IS A BIG PART OF OUR SUCCESS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S AUTHORIZED.

>> MY SMALL BUSINESS IF I COULD GET BACK 173 PERCENT OF OUR INVESTMENT I THINK WE WOULD DO THAT EVERY DAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT GOING FORWARD AND CONTINUING TO EMPHASIZE OUR STATE.

IT'S GROWING AT A PACE I HAVE NEVER SEEN.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> IN ADVANCE OF THE SESSION, LAWMAKERS WILL HOLD 3 DAYS OF BUDGET HEARINGS NEXT WEEK.

THEY WILL HEAR BUDGET REQUESTS FROM A FEW ENTITIES FUNDED IN THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND AND GENERAL FUND BUDGETS.

THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS SPENDING THE REMAINING HALF OF THE STATE'S TWO POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS GIVEN TO STATES TO ASSIST WITH COVID 19 RELIEF EFFORTS.

LAST MONTH, WE SPOKE TO SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED ABOUT THESE DOLLARS.

>> THE ARPA FUNDS ARE HERE.

WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURE.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE 1ST ROUND OF ARPA FUNDING WHICH CLUED SOME REVENUE REPLACEMENT FUNDS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT IN REGARDS TO THE ELEMENTS OF RESTRICTIVE FOCUS ON THE PART OF THE TREASURE.

SO I HAVE WORKED WITH THE GOVERNOR, WORK WITH DIRECTOR POOL AND ALSO THE BUDGET CHAIRS IN LOOKING AT ARPA FUNDS.

>> THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD HELD AN OFFICER PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR BRIG.

GEN. JEFFERY M. SMITH.

HE IS NOW THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD'S DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT STAFF.

IN THIS POSITION, BRIG.

GEN. SMITH WILL OVERSEE OPERATIONS OF THE STATE'S ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS AND DIRECTORATES.

>> I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE THAT WAS MY LEADER, PIER, OR SUBORDINATE.

I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM EACH OF YOU AND I'M VERY AWARE THAT ALL OF YOU ARE THE REASON THIS PROMOTION IS POSSIBLE.

SO I WANT TO TELL THE YOUNGER SERVICE MEMBERS: I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS IS ATTAINABLE IF IT'S YOUR GOAL.

NO MATTER YOUR BACKGROUND, SUCCESS IN THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD ONLY REQUIRES THREE THINGS: CHARACTER, COMPETENCY AND COMMITMENT.

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

>>> THE ORAL HEALTH OFFICE OF ALABAMA'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS THREE TEAM MEMBERS.

LAST MONTH I SPOKE WITH JENNIFER MORRIS ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE PROGRAM.

JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO TODAY ARE DR. TOMMY JOHNSON, THE OFFICE'S DIRECTOR AND MALLORY RIGSBY, THE COORDINATOR OF COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND A BIG WELCOME, YOUR 1ST TIME IN THE STUDIO.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS LET'S START WITH YOU, MALLORY.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT LED YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.

>> OKAY.

I STARTED MY CAREER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN 2010.

MY DEGREE IS IN HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

I SPENT EIGHT YEARS WITH TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL AND SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH ALABAMA CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING COMMISSION AND NOW WITH THE HEALTH OFFICE AS FLUORIDATION OFFICERS FOR A YEAR.

DR. JOHNSON?

HOW ABOUT YOU.

>> I'M ACTUALLY A GEORGIA TRANSPLANT.

I GREW UP THERE AND I WENT TO LAGRANGE COLLEGE.

I DECIDED ON A DENTAL CAREER.

I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND FOR 28 AND A HALF YEARS I WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, MAINLY IN MOBILE.

AND THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE OFFICE.

AND WE MADE THE DECISION THAT ONE OF US WOULD STAY.

IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP AND THE OTHER WOULD GO, AND I VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE ONE TO LEAVE.

I THOUGHT THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS OUT THERE I WOULD LIKE TO TRY.

SO IN OCTOBER OF 2017 I STARTED AS THE DENTAL DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OF THE FACT I DID COME FROM A PRIVATE SECTOR INTO PUBLIC HEALTH, AND I CAN -- I SEE THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, AND THAT'S ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT AND CORRECT THAT.

BRIDGE THAT GAP.

AND LET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PRIVATE PRACTICE ACTUALLY KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE VARIABLE TO HIM THEM THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> WELL, I HOPE WHAT WE DO HERE TODAY HELPS BRIDGE THAT GAP AND BRING ALL THE OF US BELATED CLOSER IN THE DENTAL CARE WORK.

I KNOW WHEN YOU AND I WERE TALKING IN PREPARATION FOSTER THIS INTERVIEW YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT STUCK WITH ME.

MY TAKE AWAY FROM THAT STATEMENT WAS THAT YOU WANT THE MOUTH TO NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY?

>> IT'S MY OPINION THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE THE MOUTH GOT REMOVED FROM THE BODY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF EVEN AN INSURANCE COMPANY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE WAY THEY DEAL WITH THINGS.

WE ARE COMPLETELY A DIFFERENT ENTITY.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS A SPECIALTY OF MEDICINE.

AND DENTISTRY IS NOT.

AND TO ME THAT MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ORAL HEALTH AND OVER ALL THE HEALTH IS UNDENIABLE.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR DO YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE GATEWAY TO THE BODY.

SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TALK IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MOUTH AND THE REST OF THE BODY.

IT'S FASCINATING AND INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU TALKS ABOUT OVERALL GOOD HEALTH.

BUT I WANT TO START WITH A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IN BRIDGING THE GAP AND MAKING DENTAL CARE MORE OF A PRIORITY.

YOU HAVE A COPY OF OUR STATE'S DENTAL PLAN.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT DOCUMENT AND HOW WHAT I THINK THAT'S A STARTING GROUND FOR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> RIGHT.

WHEN I 1ST CAME TO PUBLIC HEALTH, THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT WERE A PRIORITIES FOR ME, THAT WERE TOLD BY MY OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON 1ST.

1ST WAS CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH, SOMETHING REALLY BIG FOR IT.

AND AS YOU CAME AND WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH THAT YOU CAME AND INTERVIEWED OUR WINNERS LAST -- >> MY PLEASURE.

>> -- WAS IT LAST WEEK?

I LOSE TRACK OF ADVERTISEMENT AT THIS POINT, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT, SINCE IT IS CHILDRENS DENTAL HEALTH MONTH.

SO WE HAVE KAYLIN PATTERSON AND BRAELYN COVERSON ARE OUR WINNERS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DESIGNED WAS A STATEWIDE SMILE CONTEST TO BRING ATTENTION TO CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH FUND.

THE 2ND THINGS I HAD TO DO WAS CREATE A STATE ORAL HEALTH PLAN.

ALABAMA AT THAT TIME WAS ONE OF 14 STATES THAT DID NOT HAVE ONE.

SO THAT WAS WHERE MY PRIORITY WAS FOCUSED.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS OUR ORAL HEALTH COALITION OF ALABAMA, WHICH IS JUST A TON OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS, OFFICES, THAT GET TOGETHER, WE CAME UP WITH THIS STATE ORAL HEALTH PLAN.

SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUTHOR IT AND IT BEING THE VERY 1ST ONE THAT ALABAMA HAS HAD, BUT JUST AS WE TALKED ABOUT, AS FAR AS DESIGNING THE BOOK ITSELF, WHAT I WANTED IT TO CONVEY FROM THE 1ST TIME YOU SAW IT WAS THE CONNECTION OF THE MOUTH TO THE BODY AND THAT'S THE REASON THE COVER LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES.

>> I HAVE A COPY OF THE COVER HERE.

I WILL HOLD IT UP AS YOU CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT SO PEOPLE CAN TRULY SEE WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT AND THESE ARE AVAILABILITY ON YOUR WEBSITE WHICH WE WILL MENTION LATER BUT THIS IS WHAT DOCUMENT EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, A HUNDRED PAGE DOCUMENT THAT SETS GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH OUR STATE'S DENTAL HEALTH CARE.

>> 0 STATE ORAL HEALTH PLAN IS A ROAD MAP TO DIRECT US AS A STATE TO SPECIFIC CONCERNS.

THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM THAT WE HAVE LISTED IN OUR ORAL HEALTH PLAN, AND THE 1ST ONE IS INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH.

THE SECOND IS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND INTEGRATION.

THE 3RD IS HEALTH LITERACY.

4TH IS DATA IS SURVEILLANCE.

AND THE 5TH IS PREVENTION.

SO THAT IS WHAT THIS DOCUMENT FOCUSES ON.

>> IN A CATEGORY OF HEALTH LITERACY THAT CIRCLES US BACK TO THE WHAT HE WANT TO WERE DISCUSSING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THE MOUTH AND BODY CONNECTION.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT WITH DENTAL CARE.

START WITH DENTAL CARE AND CANCER.

HOW ARE THOSE TWO ISSUES CONNECTED?

>> VERY TIGHTLY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES OF CANCER IN THE MOUTH -- SEVERAL DISH AREAS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE IT BUT ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS THE FOCUS OF OURS IS HPV RELATED, OROPHARYNGEAL, AND THAT IS IN THE BACK OF THE MOUTH.

IF YOU HAVE HPV RELATED CANCER IT'S TYPICALLY DEFINED TO THAT AREA BACK THERE.

THERE ARE TWO STRAINS WHICH ARE PRIMARILY FOR THOSE CANCERS AND YOUR HAVE THOSE OROPHARYNGEAL CANCERS THAT ARE NOT RELATED BUT THAT IS OUR FOCUS.

SO WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO OF IS TO PROMOTE THE HPV VACCINE.

WHEN YOU LOOKS AT IT FROM A COLLABORATION TYPE OF SITUATION IT COULD NOT BE MORE OF A PERFECT EXAMPLE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THIS ONE VACCINE TAKES CARE OF CIRCUS TYPES OF CANCER.

IT PROTECTS -- WE HAVE DON'T USE THE WORD "PREVENT" BUT IT PROTECTS AGAINST THEM AND THE EARLIER YOU TAKE THE VACCINE THE BETTER.

BUT AS A DENTIST, IF I -- AND HERE IN ALABAMA WE'RE NOT AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE CANNOT ADMINISTER THE VACCINE.

WE REFER TOO A PHYSICIAN, TO GET THE VACCINE.

AND THERE'S SOME THOUGHTS ALONG THOSE LINES AS FAR AS OTHER STATES HAVE ACTUALLY BEGUN ALLOWING DENTISTS TO GIVE THE VACCINE BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT AS A DENTIST I CAN RECOMMEND A VACCINE FOR OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT PROTECTS AGAINST THE OTHER FIVE TOO, AND CERVICAL CANCER IS ONE OF THE BIG ONES.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE INCIDENTS OF OR OWE FRINGE ANNUAL CANCER SURPASSED THE CERVICAL CANCERS IN WOMEN AND THAT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE HEAR WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HPV.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> THEY TYPICALLY DON'T ASSOCIATE IT WITH A TYPE OF CANCER IN THE MOUTH BY MEN THAT IS THAT PREVALENT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND IT HAS A CONNECTION TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET INTO ALL OF THAT BUT ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IS PORN TO PUSHING HEALTH IS DENTAL CARE AND THE COUNT THE KICKS INITIATIVE.

BRIEFLY SHARE THAT INITIATE BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> 1 OF THE THINGS THAT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN DENTISTRY IS THE NEED FOSTER EXPECTANT MOTHERS TO HAVE GOOD ORAL HEALTH.

THE SAME BACTERIA -- SOME OF THE SAME BACTERIA THAT ARE PRESENT IN GINGIVITIS, PERRY DO NOTAL DISEASE, THOSE BACTERIA CAN CAUSE LOW BIRTH WEIGHT PLEA TERM BABIES AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE ACTUAL CONNECTED TO INFANT MORE TALENT.

WELL, IOWA, THE STATE OF IOWA, SOMETIME BACK, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD COME UP WITH AN INITIATIVE, A WAY OF BEING ABLE TO MONITOR A FETUS' MOVEMENTS.

SO THEY BEGAN IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER TO MONITOR THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT THAT THE CHILD HAD, AND IF THERE'S A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT, THAT IS A SIGN THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BABY SO THEY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND IT'S CALLED COUNT THE KICKS AND IT'S AN EVIDENCE-BASED CAMPAIGN AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, YOU MONITOR THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CHILD.

AND SO IN A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS THEY HAD A 32 PERCENT REDUCTION IN STILLBIRTHS AS A RESULT OF THE COUNT THE KICKS INITIATIVE, JUST KNOWING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CHILD.

SO VERY RECENTLY, IOWA DECIDED THAT A REALLY GOOD PLACE TO ACTUALLY PROMOTE THIS WOULD ALSO BE A DENTAL OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE SEE THEIR DENTIST MORE THAN THEY SEE THEIR PHYSICIAN.

AND YOUR HYGIENIST ESPECIALLY -- YOU DEVELOP A RAPPORT WITH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN A DENTAL CHAIR LEANS BACK YOU FIND OUT THINGS ABOUT PATIENTS THAT YOU NEVER WANTED TO.

>> AS A PATIENT, I WILL CONFESS I HAVE SHARED.

>> SO WHAT BETTER OPPORTUNITY CAN YOU POSSIBLY HAVE AS A HYGIENIST TO, IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IN AN IDEALLY SITUATION YOU HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MOM IS EXPECTING ANYWAY AND TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN APP THAT IS -- YOU KNOW THAT IS AVAILABLE ON YOUR PHONE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN PLACES LIKE ALABAMA, WE HAVE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE REALLY GOOD WI-FI SO THEY DEVELOPED A WAY TO HELP WITH THAT, TOO, AND IT'S A WRISTBAND THAT HAS A SLIDE ON IT TO HELP YOU KEEP UP WITH THOSE MOVEMENTS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS ONCE WE DECIDED -- IOWA IS WHO DEVELOPED THE "COUNT THE KICKS INITIATIVE" TO BEGIN WITH AND THEY'RE ALSO THE 1ST STATE TO PROMOTE IT IN A DENTAL ENVIRONMENT AND ALABAMA IS THE SECOND.

SO THAT MAKES ME EXTREMELY HAPPY.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAD A PROCLAMATION SIGNED FOR THIS PAST DECEMBER BEING DEET DECLARED COUNT THE KICKS MONTH IN ALABAMA.

AND THE PEOPLE AT COUNT THE KICKS, THE PARENT COMPANY, IS, THE ORGANIZATION IS HEALTHY BIRTHDAY INCORPORATED.

THEY WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION THAT THEY HAD ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES COME AND ACTUALLY TAKE PART IN OUR PROCLAMATION SIGNING AND SO SHE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM IOWA, AND WE WERE ALSO FORTUNE THAT WE HAD A LOCAL MOM AND BABY SAVED, AS THEY'RE REFERRED TO HERE IN MONTGOMERY, THAT ALSO TOOK PLACE IN THE BLOCK MEDICATION SIGNING, AND SO WE HAD SHAMAREY AND ASPEN COOKING AND THEY WERE PART OF THE PROCLAMATION SIGNING, SO IT'S THERE AND AGAIN IT'S ANOTHER WAY OF TRYING TO CONNECT THINGS IN THE BODY BACK TO THE MOUTH.

>> IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ALL, IN THE FEW SHORT YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN HERE HAVE DONE A LOT TO FURTHER THAT CONNECTION AND MAKE PEOPLE NOR AWARE AND THEY HAVE IT CELEBRATED WITH A PROCLAMATION SIGNING AND FOR ALABAMA TO BE ON THE FORE FRONT WHICH IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HERE.

MALLORY, LET'S BRING YOU INTO THE CONVERSATION.

I HEARD THAT WATER FLUORIDATION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN DENTISTRY.

I NEVER HEARD OF THIS UNTIL LAST MONTH.

SO WHY IS IT SUCH A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT AND WHAT IS FLUORIDATION?

>> FLUORIDE COMES FROM FLUORENE, ONE OF THE 15 MOST COMMON ELEMENTS IN THE EARTH AND FLUORIDATION IS JUST ADJUSTING IT TO THE OPTIMAL LEVEL THAT HELPS TOOTH DECAY.

>> SO WHEN WE ARE BRUSHING OUR TEETH ARE WE GETTING ENOUGH FLUORIDE IN THAT WATER TO PREVENT TOOTH DECAY OR IS FLUORIDATION A WAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR TEETH ARE LOCATED?

>> THE FLUORIDATION HELPS BUMP IT UP AND IT DEPENDS ON IF YOUR LOCAL WATER AUTHORITY DOES FLUORIDATE IN THEIR WATER, AND IF YOU'RE USING FLUORIDE IN YOUR TOOTHPASTE.

YOU HAVE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT TAKES PART IN THAT.

TALK ABOUT THAT PROGRAM THAT HELPS COMMUNITIES TO BETTER FLUORIDE ATE THEIR WATER.

>> WE OFFER FUNDS TO HELP COMMUNITIES THAT EITHER ARE ALL RIGHT FLUORIDATE AND HELP CONTINUE FLUORIDATING AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T TO INITIATE FLUORIDATION.

AND WE SEND IT OUT EVERY YEAR AND IT IS COMPETITIVE AND WE GRADE THEM AND AWARD IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT WATER PLANTS IN ALABAMA.

>> SO I SHOULD BE USING FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE.

DOES ALL TOOTHPASTE HAVE FLUORIDE IN IT?

>> NOT ALL BUT PRETTY MUCH.

>> WHAT ABOUT DRINKING FLUORIDE WATER, IS THAT HELPFUL OR IS THAT TOO MUCH?

>> IT'S NOT TOO MUCH.

SOME BOTTLED WATER COMPANIES DO ADD FLUORIDE BUT THAT'S VERY UNCOMMON.

SO WHEN TEETH AND BONES ARE STILL GROWING, WHEN YOU DRINK FLUORIDATED WATERRIST HELPS YOUR TEETH AND HELPS NEUTRALIZE YOUR DEATH AND MOUTH AND HELPS YOUR TEETH AS WELL.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT FLUORIDATION?

I WAS ON YOUR WEB SITE AND GOING THROUGH AND I SAW -- YOU HAVE LIKE A COUPLE OF PAGES OF PAMPHLETS AND INFORMATION ABOUT FLUORIDATION THAT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO TO THE WEB SITE AND SEE.

WHAT ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW?

>> WELL, A BIG ONE THAT STUCK OUT TO ME, BECAUSE I'M RATHER NEW IN THIS POSITION, IS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON FLUORIDATION IT SAVES $20 IN DENTAL CARE.

>> THAT IS FASCINATING.

SO THESE INVESTMENTS ARE MAKING GREAT LONG-TERM HEALTH INVESTMENTS FOR ALL OF US?

>> YES.

>> EXCELLENT.

DR. JOHNSON, I WANTED TO BRIEFLY MENTION YOU ALL DO HAVE COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE.

AND WITH JENNIFER ON THAT STORY LAST MONTH, A BIG PIECE IS CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH DENTAL INSURANCE AND GOING INTO SCHOOLS AND CHECKING FOR TOOTH DECAY.

TAKE ABOUT 30-SECONDS TO SHARE THAT WORK BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MENTION THAT WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

>> WE JUST FINISHED UP WHAT IS CALLED A BASIC SCREENINGS SURVEY.

IT'S LIKE A FIVE-YEAR NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

WHAT THAT IS THAT WE GO INTO -- WE HAVE 52 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THAT WE WENT TO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WE CHECK KINDERGARTEN AND 3RD GRADE CHILDREN TO SEE THE INCIDENCE OF DECAY, WHETHER IT'S TREATED OR UNTREATED OR THE PRESENCE OF PRESENCE OF SEALANTS.

SO BY DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT FALLS ON OUR SURVEILLANCE CATEGORY WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR GOALS IN THE STATE ORAL HEALTH PLAN.

BY LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS, WE ACTUALLY -- WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ONE PARTICULAR AREA IN ALABAMA THAT HAS A TREMENDOUS SURGE OF TOOTH DECAY IN THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT JENNIFER DOES.

SHE ACTUALLY HELPED US PLAN THIS ENTIRE EVENT.

GOING INTO SCHOOLS AND EDUCATING THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY NEED TO KNOW WHY IT IS THEY DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

NOT JUST BEING TOLD THEY NEED TO DO IT.

>> WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING WHEN I SO HE TO HER, SHE MENTIONED WE AREN'T SEEING DENTISTS APPLYING SEALANT AS WE SHOULD.

THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU TALKS ABOUT TOOTH DECAY AND LONG-TERM TOOTH HEALTH.

SEALANTS LAST WELL INTO ADULTHOOD AND IT'S TYPICALLY COVERED BY INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN.

IF AN ADULT WANTS A SEALANT IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DO THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION WE ARE EDUCATIONAL TV.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T LEAVE OUT HERE WITHOUT BUT GREAT BY EDUCATIONAL TIMMS.

SO BRUSH TWICE A DAY.

>> AT LEAST.

>> AT LEAST.

>> FLOSS ONCE A DAY.

>> AT LEAST.

>> I SHOULD GO GET MY TEETH CLEANED HOW OFTEN?

>> THE RECOMMENDATION IS EVERY SIX MONTHS.

>> SOFT BRISTLE OR HARD.

>> SOFT.

>> I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO COME IN HARD ON THAT ONE.

AND HOW MUCH TOOTHPASTE ON THAT TOOTH BAROMETRIC PRESSURE BRUSH.

I HEARD A SMALL AMOUNT IS ALL YOU NEED.

>> NOR AN ADULT PEA-SIZED AND FOR A CHILD LIKE A GRAIN OF RICE.

>> AND I WANT TO LET OUR VIEWER HE KNOW THERE'S A TREASURER TROPHY OF INFORMATION ON YOUR SITE.

WHY IS IT FASCINATING GOING THROUGH IT.

WE WILL PUT THE WEBSITE ON THE SCREEN AND WE WANT TO LET OUR PARENTS KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ACTIVITY SHEETS AND COLORING BOOKS AND PUZZLE PUZZLES.

THIS IS FOR K-FIVE AND THIS IS 5TH GRADE AND OLDER SO IF THEY TALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT DENTAL CARE THEY CAN MAKE IT FUN AND I PRINTED ALL OF THIS FROM YOUR WEBSITE.

IT'S COLORFUL AND ATTRACTIVE I HAVE AND IT'S EASY TO USE.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING THAT I DIDN'T THINK TO ASK BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS INTERVIEW TODAY?

>> JUST THE FACT THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.

AND BY ALL MEANS JUST PLEASE GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

AND THERE ARE WAIVES IN THERE TO CONTACT US TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE WE PHASES IS WHEN DIFFERENT YARIS OF THE STATE, THEY -- IF THEY DECIDE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FLUORIDE ATE ANYMORE AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY WON'T TELL THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IT UNTIL IT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY DONE.

SO WE WERE ABLE IN 2018 WE WERE ABLE TO PASS A FLUORIDATION LAW AND WHAT THE LAW STATES IS THAT IF A COMMUNITY BATTER FLUORIDATION OPERATION IS PLANNING TO DISCONTINUE FLUORIDATION THEN THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER 90S DAYS IN ADVANCE, AND THAT WAY WE WILL KNOW ABOUT IT SO WE CAN GO OUT AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND KIND OF RALLY THE TROOPS SO TO SPEAK.

BUT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT -- THE REASON I BRING THAT UP AT ALL, IN LOOKING AT OUR WEBSITE, MALI HAS -- THIS IS A FLUORIDATION TOOL THAT WE DEVELOP WHICH IS EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR COMMUNITIES FOR THAT PURPOSE.

WE ALSO HAVE SMALLER BROCHURES THAT ARE A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE THAT THAT WE HAVE AT HEALTH FAIRS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE IT TO MEME AT NO CHARGE.

AND THERE'S ALSO -- THERE'S A DOWNLOADABLE PDF VERSION OF THE STATE PLAN AS WELL.

>> I LOOKED AT IT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> YOU TALKS ABOUT CLOSING THE GAP, THE FINAL STATEMENT THAT YOU MENTIONED SPEAKS TO CLOSING THIS DENTAL HEALTH CARE GAP FOR DENTISTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND ALL OF US SO WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

DON'T BE A STRANGER.

COME BACK HERE AND JOIN US ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING US IS CHRISTINA CLARK OCAMSAS, DIRECTOR FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR ADOLESCENT SEXUAL HEALTH.

KRISTINA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A BIG APT WELCOME.

THIS IS YOUR 1ST TIME IN THE STUDIO.

WE LOVE HAVING 1ST TIMERS.

WE'RE TWO FOR TWO TONIGHT SO FAR.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> I STARTED THIS WORK IN 2011, FRESH OUT OF GRAD SCHOOL.

AND YOU KNEW OUR PREDECESSOR, JAMIE KEITH.

SO SHE HIRED ME STRAIGHT OUT OF GRAD SCHOOL, AND I JUST HAVE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

I THINK IN 2019 IS WHEN I BECAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

JAMIE RETIRED.

AND I JUST HAVE A REAL PASSION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVING THE INFORMATION THEY NEED ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND HOW THEY WORK AND HOW TO MAKE THEM HEALTHY.

AND I DIDN'T RECEIVE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

OR AT LEAST NOT ANYTHING TO BRAG ABOUT AND ANY TIME AT SCHOOL.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST A IMPORTANT THING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> I CAN SAY I HAVE THE SAME STORY.

I DON'T REMEMBER ANY REAL LESSONS IN SCHOOL.

MY MOTHER WAS VERY OPEN WITH ME TALKING ABOUT IT SO I GOT MY EDUCATION FROM HER AND I'M GLAD THAT I D AND I KNOW THAT'S A HUGE PART OF WHAT YOU ALL DO IS EDUCATING PARENTS, STUDENTS, KIDS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ALL OF THAT ABOVE.

SO WHEN I HERE ADOLESCENT SEXUAL HEALTH, THAT'S A PRETTY BROAD TERM.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> SO FOR US, SEX ED, WE ARE LOOKING TO ADVANCE COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED.

SO CERTIFICATION ED BY THAT WE MEAN EVERYTHING THAT REALLY WOULD ZERO TOUCH ON THINGS RELATED TO RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW, BODILY AUTONOMY, CONSENT, OF COURSE THE INS AND OUTSIDE OF HOW THINGS WORK, ANATOMY AND REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IS SO IMPORTANT, MENSTRUATION, PUBERTY -- IT REALLY RUNS THE GAMUT QUITE FRANKLY.

>> SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION -- THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

AND WE DO.

WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES.

SO YOU KNOW THIS.

THAT WE HAVE DONE LOTS OF TRAININGS OVER THE YEARS OF YOUTH SERVING PROFESSIONALS SO THOSE FOLKS THAT WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOME CAPACITY.

THEY'RE EDUCATORS, OR SCHOOL NURSES OR COACHES OR SCHOOL COUNTERS.

THEY'RE INTERACTING SOMEWHAT, SOMEWHERE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES.

>> EVEN COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS.

>> EXACT.

WE WORKS WITH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BEFORE.

WE ARE LOOKINGS TO REACH THOSE ADULTS WHO CAN REACH THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THIS INFORMATION.

AND PARENTS ARE SUCH A CRITICAL PART OF PASSING ON THIS INFORMATION.

WE WANT TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE HAVING THESE CONFESSIONS.

SO A LOT OF TIMES PARENTS DON'T FEEL THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, EVEN FOR ME WHO WORKS IN SEXUAL HEALTH BEING A MOM, IT'S KIND OF KIND OF DAUNTING TO THINK ABOUT HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

THERE ARE TOOLS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THERE ARE FOLKS THAT CAN GUIDE ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I WAS JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION THE OTHER NIGHT WITH SOME PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS, AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT OFTEN THE RIGHT TRACK IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT CONSENTS, YOU KNOW THE WHOLE -- SOMETIMES WE THINK OF IT AS THE GOOD TOUCH/BAD TOUCH CONVERSATION.

BUT EVEN CONSENT FOR HUGGING YOUR CHILD OR GIVING THEM A KILLS OR -- MY DAUGHTER NOW IS -- SHE TELLS ME WHEN SHE DOESN'T WANT HER PICTURE TAKEN.

THAT'S ALL PART OF CONSENT.

WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY BUT IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING AND EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAY, NO, THIS BODY IS MINE AND I'M ALLOWED TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS TO IT AND SO WE WANT TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT FEELING AND THEN ALSO TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO GIVE THEM THAT FEELING.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED PARENTS.

I WILL BE HONEST.

AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE STARTED THE INTERVIEW, I HAVE A STEPDAUGHTER WHO HAS BEEN MARRIED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD THEIR 1ST BABY A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I STILL FIND IT HARD TO HAVE THAT SEX CONVERSATION WITH HER OR EVEN FATHOM THAT IN MY MIND AND SHE'S VERY GROWN.

SO WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM PARENTS?

THEY HAVE TO HAVE TO FEEL EMPOWERED WITH THE INFORMATION I COULDN'T GIVE THEM.

>> WHAT I HEAR MOSTLY IS OH, MY GOSH, I'M SO GLAD THERE IS SOMEONE HERE TO TALKS TO US ABOUT THIS.

BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT?

SOMETIMES THAT'S THE CASE.

OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT'^ INFORMATION THEM SELVES.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T HAD GREAT SEX ED IN THIS STATE FOR A LONG TIME AND SOMETIMES THE PARENTS DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION THEMSELVES.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A DISCOMFORT.

A LOT OF TIMES I WILL TELL PARENTS IT'S NOT ONE CONVERSATION.

I THINK WHEN I GREW UP IN THE '80S AND 90S, IT WAS LIKE "THE TALKS" OR "THE BIG TALK" AND NOW WE TELL PARENT ELVES IT'S MANY CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING OVER THE LIFE-SPAN OF YOUR CHILD AND FINDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN EVERYDAY CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO IF YOU WATCH SOMETHING ON TV.

OH, DID YOU NOTICE THAT RELATIONSHIP?

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THEY HEAR IN MUSIC.

OH, TO THAT WAS AN INTERESTING LYRIC.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE CONSENT TO ME.

OR HOW DO YOU FEEL?

JUST LIKE PRODDING THROUGH EVERYDAY THINGS THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

AND IT -- >> IT MAKES IT MORE USER FRIEND.

OF THE BEING A PARENT IS POKING AND PICKING BUT WE'RE HAVING A VERY ORGANIC CONVERSATION.

>> YEAH, ORGANIC.

>> YOU MENTIONED SEX EDUCATION AND IT BEING LACKING.

WHAT IS THE STATED SEX EDUCATION CURRICULUM?

HOW DOES ALABAMA ADDRESS THAT IN OUR RULES.

>> UNFORTUNATELY ALABAMA DOES NOT HAVE A STATED SEX ED CURRICULUM.

WE VERY A SEX ED LAW THAT REQUIRES IF SCHOOLS TEACH -- SO THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO TEACH BUT IF THEY DO THEY SHOULD EMPHASIZE ABSTINENCE AND TALK ABOUT CONTRACEPTIVES IN A MEDICALLY ACCURATE WAY.

WE THINK THAT IS PRETTY GOOD TRYING TO ADVANCE COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED, WHICH IS THE WHOLE BAG.

THAT IS ABSTINENCE AND CERTAINLY FOR OUR YOUNGER FOLKS WE HOPE THAT IS WHAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE.

BUT WHEN THEY GET OLDER OR ENTER INTO A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP, SEX MAY BE ON THE TABLE.

THEN WE WANT THEM TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

EVEN WHEN THEY'RE OLDER, THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF ABSTINENCE THEN OF WHEN THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO NEGOTIATE THAT AND WHEN THOSE PERIODS ARE OVER THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO NEGOTIATE CONDOM USE OR GET ON THE RIGHT CONTRACEPTIVE TO PREPARE AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY ALSO TO PREVENT STI AND HPV AND ALSO JUST TO FEEL EMPOWERED LIKE THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

>> YOU ALL TRACKS, IN ADDITION TO TEEN PREGNANCY RATES YOU TRACK STI AND THOSE TYPES OF RATES AND THAT DATA AS WELL.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND.

>> WE FOUND THAT TEEN PREGNANCY RATES FOR THE LAST 10 PLUS YEARS HAVE STEADILY DECLINED, SAME WITH TEEN BIRTH RATES.

WE'RE STILL QUITE HIGH, COMPARED TO THE OTHER STATES IN OUR COUNTRY.

BUT WE'RE DECLINING.

UNFORTUNATELY STI AND HIV RIGHTS DO NOT SEE THE SAME DECLINE SO WHAT WE KIND OF GUESS IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE USING CONTRACEPTIVE MEASURES BUT NOT SO MUCH CONDOMS.

THERE'S STILL EDGE A 50 PERCENT RATE OF PEOPLE ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONSTITUENT USING CONDOMS WHEN THEY ENGAGE IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT WE'RE SEEING HIGHER STI AND HIV RATES.

THE LAST TIME WE CHECKED WE HAVE THREE OF THE TOP 20 CITIES IN THE COUNTRY SO UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE QUITE HIGH, MONTGOMERY BEING ONE OF THEM.

>> 1 THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING TO DO WRAP AND BRING THIS ALL TOGETHER, CONNECTING GOVERNMENT WITH THE EVERY DAY PEOPLE AND IS -- AND I'M GOING TO READ THIS.

TODAY RAPS THE END OF THE NATIONAL SEX EDUCATION WEEK OF ACTION.

>> YES.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT NATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

>> YES.

WE ARE PARTNERED WITH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, SECAS, AND THEY ARE ALL ABOUT ADVANCING SEX ED NATIONALLY.

SO THEY HAVE -- THIS IS THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL SEX ED WEEK OF ACTION.

AND SO THEY ARE WORKING WITH STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO IMPLEMENT ACTION PLANS SO WE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN ALL WEEK ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND WEBSITE.

WE HAD -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TALKS ABOUT IT IN A SECOND BUT WE HAD AN EVENT PRIOR TO THE BEAK AND OUR ADVOCACY DAY COMING UP THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT AND I'M GOING TO PLUG THOSE HERE.

BUT, YES, SO THE OF IDEA IS WHAT IS SEX ED IN YOUR STATE?

WHAT ARE AREAS ARE FOR GROWTH?

WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT SO GREAT AND WHAT CAN WE IMPROVE ON, SHARING SEX ED STORIES, I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF STORIES FROM YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT SEX ED BEING SO LACKING, OR UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT REALLY SHAMEFUL CERTIFICATION ED WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CHEW A PIECE OF GUM AND IF YOU HAVE SEX BEFORE YOU'RE MARRIED YOU'RE LIKE THAT PIECE OF GUM AND YOU'RE USED.

AND WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT -- LIKE ROSE METALS THE SAME THING.

THIS ANALOGY OF -- >> I HEARD THOSE THINGS LIKE NO MAN WANTS A FLOWER THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PLUCKED.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THOSE IDEAS STILL EXIST OUT THERE AND WE WANT TO BE THERE TO SAY, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION I GUESS ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVING SEX EXCEPT WE WANT THEM TO BE EMPOWERED AND SAFE AND WE WANT THEM TO DO THAT AT A TIME THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM.

WE WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL OF THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> AND YOU WANT TO REMOVE THE SHAME AND STIGMA BECAUSE THEY MAY WANT TO TAKE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND YOU WERE THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW THEY HAVE A SUPPORT SO MANY IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HELP THEM WHATEVER DIRECTION THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LET'S JUST JUMP WHAT YOU DID IN ALABAMA.

TALK ACBE WORK THAT CREW DID FOR THE SEX EDUCATION WEEK OF ACTION.

>> YEAH, SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FUN DELETING SOME POSTCARDS, SO THIS 1ST ONE SAYS THE SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE, MAKING HEALTHY AND INFORMED DECISIONS, CERTIFICATION ED FOR ALL.

AND THIS NEXT ONE IS HELP MEME PREVENT UNPLANNED PREGNANCY COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION FOR ALL.

WHAT WE DID WAS WE HAD TWO EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 3 AND 4 HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AND WE OPEN IT ON OUR SOCIALLIS AND TRIED TO GET FOLKS TO TEND.

I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 20 FOLKS BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS AND WE WROTE LIKE 120 POSTCARDS TO GOVERNOR IVEY TO THE LT.

GOVERNOR TO ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, WE WROTE TO A LOT OF OUR LOCAL STATED LEGISLATORS, JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SHARED THEIR STORIES ABOUT HOW THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE SEX EDUCATION.

A MINUTE AGO YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SHAME.

ANOTHER REASON THAT IS IMPORTANT TO DESHAME SEX ED IS THAT SOME YOUNG PEOPLE GO THROUGH SEXUAL ASSAULT SITUATION ELSEWHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE HAD A CHOICE.

SO THERE WERE STORIES LIKE THAT THAT WERE SHARED.

AND IT WAS JUST REALLY POWERFUL STORIES ABOUT HOW YOUNG PEOPLE NEED ACCESS TO INFORMATION BECAUSE US AS ADULTS DIDN'T GET IT OR IT WAS GIVEN TO US IN A HARMFUL WAY OR IN A WAY THAT FURTHER TRAUMATIZED US, MAYBE, AND CAN SO BEAT HOPE THAT THE GOVERNOR IN AND OUR STATED LEGISLATORS ARE WILLING TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO IMPROVE SEX ED IN ALABAMA.

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE WE LEAVE, AND OUR ADVERTISEMENT IS WINDING DOWN BUT I THINK IT'S TWO IMPORTANT PIECES OF OUR CONVERSATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE REVERSE THE OF ROE VS. WADE.

>> YES.

>> TALKS ABOUT WHY THAT IS A CONCERN TO THE WORK THAT YOU DO?

>> OUR PRIMARY CONCERN BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY WORK IN THE ABORTION SPACE BUT OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT, THE SAME SORT OF LOGIC AND ARGUMENTATIVE THAT WAS MADE TO REVERSE ROE VS. WADE WILL BE, WE WENT, USED REVERSE ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION FOR ALL YOUNG, FOR UNMARRIED YOUNG, COULD ALSO -- THESE LONG-STANDING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE 60S AND '70S AND '50S ALLOWING TO US HAVE ACCESS TO CONTRA CONTRACEPTION, THEY ALL STAND ON THIS RIGHT TO PRIVACY, SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL REVERSEAL OF LGBTQ FOLKS ABLE TO BE MARRIED BECAUSE THAT IS A POPULATION THAT WE VERY STRONGLY SUPPORT SO WE JUST WANT TO BE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT ROLLED BACK.

AND WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BODILY AUTONOMY -- A LOT OF THAT BODILY AUTONOMY AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE IN STRONG FAVOR OF IS FOCUS HAVING THE INFORMATION THAT THEY FOUND TO MAKE EMPOWERED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODY AND WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING AND PREPARING FOR THIS CONVERSATION TODAY THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT HOW THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WITH A POSSIBILITY ATTACK ON SEX ED CURRICULUM IN SCHOOL.

>> SURE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WOULD WORK OUT BUT I DO KNOW THERE'S BEEN A BIG PUSH FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS LATELY, AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND, YOU KNOW, THE ALABAMA CAMPAIGN CERTAINLY BELIEVES PARENTS HAVE A PLACE IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND SEX ED.

THEY ARE THE BEST EDUCATORS FOR THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEY SHOULD BE THE 1ST EDUCATORS FOR THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES JUST DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS AND THAT IT'S WHERE WE LIKE TO COME ALONGSIDE AND HELP THEM.

BUT WITH THE PARENTAL RIGHTS GROUPS IT'S PUSHING OUT THE RIGHT FOR ALL OF YOUNG PEOPLE TOE HAVE SEX ED BECAUSE THEY TYPICALLY WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO NOT RECEIVE ANY SEX ED AT SCHOOL BUT THAT TAKES AWAY THE RIGHTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THAT EDUCATION WHICH COULD BE LIFE SAVING EDUCATION FOR SOME YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO I WOULD JUST SAY TO THOSE GROUPS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TEMPERATURE YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE AT HOME, THAT'S GREAT AND WE SUPPORT THAT.

AND THAT SCHOOLS HAVE A PLACE.

WE VERY A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE WE COULD BE CHANGING THEIR LIVES AND GIVING THEM.

LIFE SAVING INFORMATION THAT THEY COULD USE MAYBE NOW OR MAYBE NOT UNTIL THEY'RE ADULTS AND REGARDLESS WHEN THEY USE IT THEY NEED THAT INFORMATION.

>> AND I WANTED TO DRIVE HOME THAT YOU ALL USE AN EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH IN THE TRAININGS THAT YOU DO.

>> YES.

SO ANY SORT OF CURRICULUM THAT WE DO OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ALL BASED ON EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA OR EVIDENCE-INFORMED CURRICULA.

WE ARE ALWAYS MEDICALLY ACCURATE, AGE APPROPRIATE.

AGE APPROPRIATE CAN MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

FOR INSTANCE I HAVE A PRESCHOOLER.

WHEN WE TALKS ZERO HER, WE USE MEDICALLY ACCURATE NAMES FOR ALL OF OUR BODY PARTS.

THAT IS ACTUALLY A GREAT TIP FOR PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IS TO EMPOWER YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT ALL OF THEIR BODY PARTS INCLUDING GENITALS ARE CALLED.

SO WE DO THAT.

WE ASK IF WE CAN HUG AND ASK IF WE CAN KISS.

WHEN I PULL OUT THE PHONE AND SHE SAYS NO PICTURES, WE DON'T TAKE A PICTURE.

WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH HER YOUR BODY IS YOUR OWN AND YOU CAN SAY NO, SAY NO TO ON ADULT?

THAT'S OK. THAT'S AGE APPROPRIATE FOR HER.

BUT AGE APPROPRIATE FOR A HIGH SCHOOLER IS INFORMATION ABOUT CONTRACEPTION AND THINGS THEY WILL NEED TO HAVE BEEN HEALTHY THEIR LIVES.

>> AT WHAT AGE RANGE IS ADOLESCENCE?

>> WE HAVE HOURS ON OUR WEBSITE FOR REALLY ALMOST ANY AGE.

BUT WE ARE REALLY TARGETING THAT -- WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY THINK OF AS ADOLESCENCE.

SOME PEOPLE ONLY THINK TO 18 BUT WE GO ALL THE WAY TO 24 BECAUSE OF THE SCIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THE BRAIN CONTINUES TO DEVELOP EVEN INTO THE 30S A SOMETIMES SO WE ARE LOOKING AT 13 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS.

>> AS WE CONCLUDE WE HAVE A GRAPHIC WITH YOUR WEBSITE ON THERE AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SCREEN AND THE FULL NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS INFORMATION OR TO CONTACT YOU BUT I AM WELL INTO MY '50S -- 52 AS A MATTER OF FACT IT SHOW AND I'M STILL LEARNING A LOT.

CHRIS TINA IT WAS MY PLEASURE ZERO HAVE YOU HERE.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WEE WOULD OF COULD TALK ABOUT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU COME BACK AND CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND IT WILL BE POST SESSION IF WE DO.

>> CAN I PLUG THE ADVOCACY DAY?

>> YES.

DEFINITELY MENTION YOUR ADVOCACY.

>> WE ARE PARTNERING WITH AIDS ALABAMA, AN AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATION OUT OF BIRMINGHAM.

AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AN OFFICE IN MOBILE, TOO.

BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING AN ADVOCACY DAY ON APRIL 6.

WE ARE JOINING WITH THEM AND OUR TALKING POINTS WILL BE AROUND COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED, ADVANCING COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED IN THE STATE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF YOUNG THEM PEOPLE THERE TO SHARE THEIR MESSAGE.

AND WITH WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON THE WEB SITE SOON.

>> IT WILL BE HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> YES.

I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE A RALLY AND SOME LUNGE AND SPEAKERS AND THEN WE WILL BE AT THE STATEHOUSE TO TALK TO OUR LEGISLATORS.

>> AND I KNOW THE ADDRESS, TOO WELL BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE STATEHOUSE AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> OUR LAST GUEST IS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

SENATOR BAR-FOOT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GLAD SO HAVE YOU HERE WITH ME E EXCITE ID ABOUT THE NEW POSITION.

CONGRATULATIONS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE IN THIS POSITION AND WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND PLANS FOR THE SENATE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE.

>> WELL, I WILL TELL YOU FOR THERE OF 1ST OF ALL, IT'S AN HONOR -- AND WHAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

THE COMMITTEE HANDLES A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPEALS.

BILLS THAT TOUCH ALL AREAS AND ASPECT,S OF THE DAY TO DAY LIVES OF CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND A PRETTY LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE BILLS THAT FLOW THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS FLOW THROUGH THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS.

I SERVED AS THE VICE CHAIR UNDER SENATOR WARD WHEN HE WAS HERE AND NOW DIRECTOR WARD WITH PARDONS AND PAROLES AND THEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OF WITH SENATOR WATLEY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

YOU HAVE YOUR OWN STYLE WHO YOU ARE AND I THINK THE CONGENIALITY EXPERIENCED AS A WHOLE WITH THE STATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE, WE HAVE EXCELLENT MEMBERS, MOST ARE RETURN RETURNING MEMBERS AND A UHM CONFIDENT NEW FACES SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> SPEAKING OF THE CONGENIALITY AND THE ISSUES THAT YOU COVERS ARE, I HAVE SAID FOR MANY, MANY YEARS I WON'T DATED MYSELF.

I HAVE BEEN HERE QUITE SOME TIME BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT COME THROUGH THE SUBCOMMITTEE I HAVE HEARD DISCUSSED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND THEY HAVE BECOMES DIVISIVE, LIKE RACIAL PROFILING.

YOU HAD THE WOMANS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RATES ISSUE LEGISLATION.

AND YOU COULD HAVE ALAN TREADAWAYS ANTI RIOT BILL.

I HAVE HEARD DISCUSSIONS ON THESE TYPES OF LEGISLATION.

AND, FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR I BELIEVE IT WAS, SENATOR ROGER SMITHER MAN HAD THE CROWN ACT WHICH IS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN NATURAL HAIR STYLES OR CULTURALLY REPRESENTED HAIR STYLES IN THE WORKPLACE.

I HAVE HEARD THIS DISCUSSED IN TEXAS AND LOUISIANA WHERE KIDS HAD NATURAL HAIR STYLES, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AND THEY WERE TOLD TO CUT THEIR HAIR OR TAKE BEADS OUT OF THEIR HAIR OF THE THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS TOLD HE COULDN'T GRADUATE BECAUSE HE HAD LOCKS.

HE FOLLOWED THE RULES.

THEY WEREN'T LONG.

HE KEPT THEM PINNED UP.

BUT BEFORE GRADUATION THEY TOLD HIM TO CUT HIM OR NOT WALK.

AND THAT WAS HURTING TO HIS CULTURE.

WHEN I HEARD THAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN SENATOR ARTHUR ORR AND SMITH SMITHERMAN IT WAS A HEALTHY CONVERSATION.

AND WHAT I NOTICED, SENATOR ORR -- THIS IS NOT IN HIS A WHOLE LOT HOUSE, BROUGHT OUR POINTS THAT SENATOR SMITHERMAN, THE SPONSOR ACCEPTED.

HOW FAST DO YOU SEE, PARTICULARLY WITH NEW MEMBERS IN THE COMMITTEE AND THE IS NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH HAVING THIS GREAT LEVEL OF HEALTHY PROTECTIVE CONVERSATION EVEN ON ISSUES YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR AGREE WITH BUT THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE.

>> I THINK THE SENATE BEING A DELIBERATIVE BODY AND EVEN IN THE COMMITTEE, WE TRY TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE.

IT'S NOT MADE UP ENTIRELY OF LAWYERS BUT THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER OF LAWYERS ON THAT COMMITTEE AND AS LAWYERS I THINK WE LIKE TO DEBATE, LISTEN, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU'RE DEBATING OR YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR A POSITION THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE OTHER PERSON'S POSITION AND WHAT THEY'RE ADVOCATING FOR, WITH AN OPEN MIND TO LISTEN AND TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

SO I THINK VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LAWYERS ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND CAN HAVING AT THAT TIME MIND-SET HAS SERVED US WELT SINCE AT LEAST SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE AND I THINK THAT OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO HATCH BOUGHT THERE'S NEED TO BE, WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE BODY NOT JUST THE SENATOR, IS NOT JUST THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THERE NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSIONS, WELL THOUGHT OUT DISCUSSIONS, ARGUMENTS, DEBATES, CIVIL ARGUMENTS, SO THAT WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER'S VIEWPOINT AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO VOTE EITHER FOR OR AGAINST A BILL BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.

>> AND I WILL SAY IN ALL FAIRNESS, SENATOR ORR, WHEN HE WAS RAISING THE QUESTIONS THEY WERE NOT TO KILL THE BILL TOUT TO EDUCATE HIMSELF ON AN ISSUE HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

>> AND I KNOW YOU WILL A BILL COMING UP REGARDING DRIVER'S LICENSES AND SUSPENSIONS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE HERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

>> IT WAS.

AND I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO I THOUGHT WHY ARE WE SUSPENDING LICENSES FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN SOMEONE BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL A MOTOR VEHICLE OR DRIVE IT ON THE STREETS OR HIGHWAYS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THERE ARE SOME REASONABLES THAT WE PROBABLY COULD NOT UNDO FINANCIALLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES SUSPENSIONS OF LICENSE, FOR INSTANCE IF CHILD SUPPORT IS NOT BEING PAID, REALLY MAKES NO SENSE TO ME BUT THAT'S A FEDERAL GUIDELINE THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

THAT PROCESS GOT ME TO THINKING WHY ARE WE SUSPENDINGS LICENSES FOR FOLKS WHO OILS MIGHT BE SAFE DRIVERS?

THERE'S A MOUNTAIN SYSTEM IN PLACE ALREADY, RIGHT, AND IF YOU ACCUMULATE A NUMBER OF POINTS THAT YOUR LICENSE COULD BE SUSPENDED WE'RE NOT TACKLING THAT, WE'RE NOT REMOVING THAT AND WE THINK CERTAIN YOUNG SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE.

BUT THIS IS -- THE BILL THAT I HAD LAST YEAR WHICH I WILL BRING BACK IN SOME NORM OR FASHION MAYBE WITH WEEKS THIS YEAR, IT BASICALLY ADDRESSED TWO THINGS: POST ADJUDICATION, IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU RECEIVED A TRAFFIC CITATION AND YOU WENT TO COURT AND PLED GUILTY OR WERE FOUND GUILTY AND SATISFIED FINES MAYBE THEY PUT YOU ON PAYMENT PLANS OR REVIEW TO SEE IF THEY'RE PAID, WELL, IN SOME JURISDICTIONS IF YOU MISSED ONE POST ADJUDICATION COURT APPEARANCE DATE WERE SENDING A NOTICE OF SUSPENSION TO ALEA.

WELL, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE GRACE.

>> ALEA, THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN OUR STATE, THE POLICE, SO TO SPEAK,.

>> TO ALEA ALES CREDIT THEY WERE THE RECIPIENT OF THIS FROM THE COURT SYSTEM.

I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD SHOW UP TO COURT AND PAY THEIR COST AND FINES BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME GRACE.

FOR INSTANCE IF YOU JUST HAPPENED TO MISS A COURT APPEARANCE DATE POST ADJUDICATION, ONE COURT DATE, THEN YOUR LICENSE WOULD NOT BE SUSPENDED AUTOMATICALLY.

IF YOU MISS MORE THAN THAT THEN THE COURTS WOULD STILL HAVE WITHIN THEIR TOOLBOX THE ABILITY TO SEND THAT TO ALEA TO SUSPEND YOUR LICENSE.

AND, BY THE WAY, STILL WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY, EVEN ON THE 1ST ONE TO SEND OUT A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST.

AND AS IT RELATES TO PAYMENTS, OBVIOUSLY INFLATION IS OUT THERE AND IT'S DIFFICULTY TO SOMETIMES MANAGE THE BILLS THAT WE HAVE.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU VIOLATE THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND THE COURT IMPOSES COST AND FINES IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY SO RESPONSIBILITY TO PATHOS.

WE'RE NOT SUGGEST THOSE SHOULD BE PAID.

WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING IS IF THE POST ADJUDICATION AND YOU'RE ORDERED TO PAY COURT COST AND FINES AND JUST BY SIMPLY MISSING A MONTH'S PAYMENT SHOULD NOT MEAN YOUR LICENSE IS THEREFORE SUSPENDED.

WE SHOULD SHOW SOME GRACE.

AND, BY THE WAY, I THINK ULTIMATELY IT IS A WORKFORCE ISSUE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SEE THAT.

>> 100%.

>> AND NOW -- DON'T HEAR ME WRONG.

I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE TO WORK WHO DON'T HAVE LICENSES THAT ARE SUSPENDED BUT I THINK THAT WOULD HELP IN THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR ADVERTISEMENT IS WIPING DOWN.

WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK.

BUT I WANT TO GET TO A COUPLE OF MORE ISSUES.

IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH SAID THAT WE WANT TO MAKE ALABAMA THE MOST MILITARY FRIENDLY STATED IN THE NATION.

THAT HAS BEEN A CORP OF HIS WORK.

YOU WERE PART OF THE WORK LAST YEAR.

YOU SIT ON THE MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

TALK ABILITY THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AND WHY THAT IS A IS SO CRITICAL TO OUR STATED.

>> I THINK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAW SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND AS IT SUSPECTS MOMENT, THE BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE COMMISSION, BRAC, AT ONE NO, I DID NOT TIME, THEY GO AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT BASES NEED TO BE CLOSED AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, RECIPROCITY FOR FAMILY THAT WE'RE MOVES HERE PURSUANT TO ORDERS FROM THE MILITARY, COULD THEIR SPOUSE OR THAT PERSON'S PRACTICE THAT PROFESSION THAT PERP IN ANOTHER AT A TIME AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CHANGED.

WE ADDED RECIPROCITY.

THERE WAS A CHARTER BILL THAT I RELATED TO MILITARY FAMILIES COMING INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE IN MONTGOMERY THAT ALLOWED FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO I THINK WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS AT THE LT.

GOVERNOR'S LEADERSHIP TO MAKES SURE THAT ALABAMA TRULY IS THE MOST MILITARY-FRIENDLY STATE IN THE NATION.

>> AND WE KNOW HERE MARKS WELL IS HOME TO AIR UNDER THE WHERE OUR MILITARY PILOTS COME TO TRAIN.

IT'S A VERY PRESS TANK HONOR THAT WE HAVE HERE AND I PARTIALLY WOULD SAY I WAS BORN ON MARKS WELL AIR FORCE BASE SO I HAVE A LITTLE KINSHIP THERE WITH MAXWELL.

SO HAVING THAT THERE.

AND OUR MILITARY FAMILIES BRING SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES AND WE GO LEARN FROM THEM.

I HAVE HAD GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AROUND THE STATE AND THEY'RE TRULY A BENEFIT AND YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT DIVERSITY HERE IN THE SATE.

SO THERE ARE THOSE OF US HERE IN ALABAMA THAT LOVE TO LEARN AND GLEAN FROM.

>> AND NOT ONLY THOSE SERVING ORDERS HERE BUT SO MANY MILITARY FAMILIES WHEN THEY SEE ALABAMA AND MONTGOMERY AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND AFTER RETIREMENT THEY MAY CONSIDER MOVING BACK HERE.

IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> AND THEY ARE A GREAT ECONOMICS DRIVER HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND AROUND THE STATE AS WELL.

I KNOW IN OUR YEARS AGO YOU WERE THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, THE FRESHMAN SO TO SPEAK.

AND NOW YOU ARE A SEASONED PLAYER, NO LOCKER A ROOKIE ON THIS TEAM.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR WORDS OF ADVICE AND WORDS OF WISDOM TO THE NEW MEMBERS COMING IN?

WE HAVE QUITE A PRETTY BIG NUMBER I COULD SAY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE SENATE AS YOU WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE NEW MEMBERS?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?

4 YEARS FROM NOW THEY COULD BE A SENATE CHAIRMAN?

>> WELL, I HOPE THEY ASPIRE TO BE BETTER THAN ME.

I WILL SAY THIS.

I THINK THAT THE MAIN THING WOULD BE WHO YOU ARE, BE YOURSELF.

DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN SOME OF THE POLITICS OR -- BE HUMBLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY BY THE FOLKS THAT VOTED FOR YOU, REPRESENTED THEM.

LEARN THE PEOPLE.

LEARN THE POLITICS.

AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE RIGHTS ON THE POLICY ZERO.

SOME OF THAT TAKES A WHILE WHEN YOU'RE THROWN IN THIS TO FIGURE IT OUT, SUCH AS WHERE THE RESTROOM IS ON WHAT FLOOR WHICH I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE 1ST WEEK OR SO.

ANYWAY, IT REALLY DOES.

IT TAKES A WHILE.

ENJOY IT.

BE HUMBLE ABOUT IT.

NEVER FORGET WHY YOU CAME HERE.

>> I HAVE BEEN AROUND THESE PARTS 20 PLUS YEARS AND I'M STILL LEARNING SOMETHING NEW EVERY SESSION.

THAT IS SO VERY TRUE.

SENATOR BAR-FOOT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ALWAYS LOVE HAVING YOU COME AND STOP BY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HAVE ENJOYED IT.

>> WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

JOIN TODD STACIE NEXT FRIDAY AT 730, SUNDAY AT NOON.

I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

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