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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

MORE DEVELOPMENTS TODAY ON AN ALABAMA ISSUE THAT HAS BECOME ARGUABLY THE TOP NEWS STORY IN THE COUNTRY.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE WANTING TO MOVE QUICKLY TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION CLINICS FROM LAWSUITS IN THE WAKE OF A CONSEQUENTIAL ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULING A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.

LET'S GET CAUGHT UP ON WHERE WE ARE.

ON FEBRUARY 16, THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULED THAT FROZEN EMBRYOS COULD BE CONSIDERED CHILDREN UNDER ALABAMA LAW.

THE RULING STEMMED FROM A LAWSUIT IN WHICH FROZEN EMBRYOS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AT A FERTILITY CLINIC THROUGH NEGLIGENCE.

UNDER STATE LAW FROM THE 1980S, FAMILIES HAVE STANDING TO SUE FOR WRONGFUL DEATH IF A CHILD I KILLED THROUGH NEGLIGENCE.

IN 2018 THE LEGISLATURE PASSED AND THE VOTERS RATIFIED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT MAKING IT THE POLICY OF THE STATE TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF THE UNBORN THAT, THE COURT RULE, REQUIRES FROZEN EMBRYOS TO BE CONSIDERED CHILDREN FOR THE PURPOSES OF THAT WRONGFUL DEATH LAW.

THAT LED TO FERTILITY CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, INCLUDING A UAB HEALTH SYSTEMS, PAUSING THE IVF SERVICES AS THEY WEIGH THE RISK OF BEING SUED AS A RESULT OF THE RULING.

STATE LAWMAKERS LAST WEEK BEGAN DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND PROTECT CLINICS UNDER STATE LAW, AND BY FRIDAY SEVERAL PROMINENT NATIONAL REPUBLICAN FIGURES, INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WERE URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT CLINICS AND FAMILIES.

TODAY, HOUSE DEMOCRATS HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE A BILL THEY SAY WILL FIX THE ISSUE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL WAS THERE.

>> COUPLED WITH EFFORTS TO ERODE ECONOMIC TREATMENT, OUR FAILURE TO EXPAND MEDICAID, ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS, NURSES AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND SUPPORT RURAL HOSPITALS HAS TAKEN A DEVASTATING TOLL.

THE REALTY IS PRO PRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND MATERNITY HEALTH ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED AND THAT THESE ISSUES REQUIRE OUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

>> THE POINT HERE IS THAT AN EMBRYO CONSENT DEVELOP INTO A CHILD UNTIL IT'S IMPLANTED INTO A WOMAN'S UTERUS.

ALSO AN EMBRYO CAN BE FROZEN AND STORED, UNLIKE A LIVING HUMAN.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MUCH ALARM OVER THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT'S RULING AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND IVF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

>> I'M GOING TO SPEAK WITH HOUS MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS IN MORE DETAIL LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS, FROM GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TO HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER HAV SAID ADDRESSING THE IVF ISSUE I A PRIORITY, SO WE EXPECT TO HEA MORE IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> A SCARY SITUATION OVER THE WEEKEND AROUND THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

A EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS FOUND OUTSIDE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BUILDING.

THAT'S THE WHITE GOVERNMENT BUILDING SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPITOL.

ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE DEVICE WAS FOUND ON SATURDAY AN DETONATED.

MARSHALL SAID QUOTE, “THANKFULL NO STAFF OR PERSONNEL WERE INJURED BY THE EXPLOSION.

THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WILL BE LEADING THE INVESTIGATION AND WE ARE URGING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY.” END QQUOTE.

TO REPORT ANY INFORMATION TO ALEA, YOU CAN CALL 334-676-7890 >> ONE BIG QUESTION GOING INTO THIS WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE IS WHETHER WE MIGHT SEE MOVEMENT O THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PACKAGE PASSED BY THE HOUSE TWO WEEKS AGO.

REPORTS FROM OVER THE WEEKEND SAY THAT SOME SENATORS ARE EAGE TO SEE THE BILLS IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, WHILE SOME HAVE MAJO PROBLEMS WITH THE PACKAGE.

AS A REMINDER, PACKAGE INCLUDES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD INSTITUTE A STATE LOTTERY EXPAND AND REGULATE CASINO GAMBLING AND LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING.

SENATE LEADERS SAY THERE ARE LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> MANY MEMBERS FEEL LIKE THE TIME HAS COME TO ADDRESS IT.

THE QUESTION IS HOW TO ADDRESS IT?

THE HOUSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO VOTE AND PUT OUT A PIECE OF LEGISLATION ON HOW THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS IT.

THE SENATE WILL DO WHAT WE DID TODAY WHICH IS BE DELIBERATIVE, WORK ON DETAILS, FIGURE OUT SOMEWHAT POSH TO OUR MEMBERS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND TIFFIN TO MOVE THE PROCESS FORWARD.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE LEGISLATION AND IT'S GOING TO BE MOVING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS RELATED TO GAMING.

I THINK IT WILL BE A TOPIC THAT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN SOME WAYS AS WOULD BE EXPECTED THAN WHAT IS PASSED BY THE HOUSE, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT THE FEEDBACK IS GOING TO BE WITH THAT.

I'M PROUD OF THE MEMBERS HAVING SPENT A GOOD BIT OF TIME WORK ON IT.

>> FEDERAL DOLLARS WILL BE GONE AFTER 26.

WE WILL BE FACED WITH THESE BUDGETS BY OUR SELF.

WE WILL NEED EXTRA MONEY HERE.

PRISONS ARE OVERCROWDED AND IT'S COSTING MONEY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE AND MEDICAID COSTING A LOT OF MONEY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED DOLLARS TO HELP US FUNCTION IN THIS STATE SO GAMING IS A WAY TO DO IT.

I THINK THEY WILL SEND US A BILL THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WE CAN HAVE A REAL DEBATE ABOUT IT.

>> TOMORROW IS THE 10TH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE THE 30-DAY SESSION.

THE HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO CONVENE AT 1:00 AND THE SENATE AT 2:00.

COMING UP NEXT, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS TO DISCUSS HIS LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THE IVF ISSUE.

AFTER THAT, I'LL BE JOINED BY STATE SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS WHO EXPLAINS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT ON MARCH THE 5TH.

THOSE INTERVIEWS WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS.

MR. LEADER, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> YOU HAD A BUSY DAY BECAUSE YOU HAD THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES PROMOTING -- YOU ALREADY FILED A BILL BUT EXPLAINING AND PROMOTING THIS BILL THAT ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE IVF THING, IN VITRO FERTILIZATION, SINCE THE COURT RULING A WEEK AGO IT'S BEEN TRICKLING DOWN EFFECT.

YOU HAD UAB SAID THEY'RE GOING TO PAUSE THEIR IVF FOR FEAR OF BEING SUED.

OTHER CLINICS IN THE STATE.

WE HEARD FROM SOME DOCTORS.

SO YOU FILED LEGISLATION.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT IT DOES?

>> FIRST OF ALL, TODD I WILL SAY I HEARD FROM MANY FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED.

A FAMILY THAT RECENTLY GOT MARRIED.

THEY'RE IN THEIR 40S AND FINALLY HAVE A VIABILITY EMBRYO, BUT -- AND THEY'RE SCHEDULED FOR THEIR MOMENT ON MARCH 11 AND THEY'VE BEEN CALLED BY THE CLINIC AND SAID THAT YOUR APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

AND SO WHAT MY BILL WOULD DO, IT WOULD HALT THE SUPREME COURT DECISION.

IT WILL PAUSE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN SAYING THAT A FERTILIZED EMBRYO IS NOT A CHILD.

SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES.

IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT WHEN LIFE BEGINS OR ENDS.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS OUTDOOR THERE THAT LIKE TO SEE A CA TO ADDRESS THIS IS ISSUE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CA TO AMENDMENT THE CONSTITUTION.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

IF THAT COULD HAPPEN, I'M ONBOARD WITH THAT.

BUT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE A CHILD, BEING ABLE TO GO AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRESSION, WE SHOULD NOT PLAY GAMES WITH THOSE FAMILIES THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION OF TRYING TO DO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EVEN PASS OR MAY NOT EVEN GET THE VOTES IT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

I DISAGREE WITH THOSE WHO THINK THIS ISSUE CAN'T BE RESOLVED WITHOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I.

DISAGREE WITH THEM.

I AGREE, THE BILL -- THE STATUTE THAT WE PULL WAS FROM THE ACTUAL RULING.

SO IT WAS THE EXACT LANGUAGE AND THE RULES WAS BASED UPON STATUTE!

AND JUST TO KIND OF BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE A 1980S LAW ABOUT IF YOU -- IF NEGLIGENCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAUSES THE DEATH OF A CHILD YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SUE.

THAT COMBINED WITH THE 2018 PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT, RIGHT, MEANT THAT THE SUPREME COURT INTERPRETED THAT TO MEAN, WELL, A FROZEN EMBRYO THAT IS DESTROYED THROUGH NEXT CAN BE CONSIDERED A CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF THAT LAWSUIT LAW.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE LOGIC GOES, IF YOU CAN TWEAK THAT LAW AND KIND OF THE DEFINITIONS, THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARGUE, WE HAVE TO GO FURTHER AND WE HAVE TO ENACT OR RATIFY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

BUT YOU'RE IN DISAGREEMENT.

YOU THINK A STATUTE CHANGE WILL FIX THE ISSUE, FIX THE LIABILITY ISSUE FOR THESE CLINICS.

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT REALLY DEFINING WHAT -- SAYING THAT A FERTILIZED EMBRYO IS NOT A CHILD.

I MEAN, YOU CAN -- IF YOU'RE FREE -- A HUMAN BEING FROZEN IS DIFFERENT FROM AN EMBRYO BEING FROZEN; RIGHT?

SO WHAT WE HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH IN CREATING THE VIEWS TO THIS VERY DRASTIC PROBLEM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE HEARING FROM FAMILIES YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES.

I HAD A TALK WITH A LADY EARLIER TODAY AT LUNCH AND SHE WANTS TO NO QUESTIONS YOU KNOW, I CAN TRANSFER MY EMBRYO?

YOU CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

BASED ON UPON THIS RULES.

BUT IF MY BILL PASSES YOU CAN.

YOU CAN ALSO RESUME TREATMENT.

>> WELL, SO I WAS TALKING TO SENATOR NELSON ABOUT HIS LEGISLATION THAT HE'S WORKING ON, TOO.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T DONE A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON.

BUT IS YOUR BILL MATERIALLY DIFFERENT THAN HIS OR ARE YOU ON THE SAME PAGE OR WHAT?

>> IT APPEARS FROM THE RUMORS I'M HEARING THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A SEPARATE CATEGORY OF POTENTIAL LIFE.

I DON'T THINK CREATING THAT CATEGORY -- I THINK IT WILL FURTHER COMPLICATE WHERE WE ARE.

SO THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THEY CAN WORK ON LONG TERM.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OTHER DETAILS BECAUSE I'VE NOT SEEN THEM INTRODUCE THE LEGISLATION YET.

>> I THINK THEY WERE GOING SO LATE IN THE SENATE AND THE FILIBUSTER THAT HE COULDN'T GET A FIRST READING.

>> THE LEGISLATION HAS NOT BEEN INTRODUCED YET WHICH IS WHY I HAD TO INTRODUCE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO TRY TO TERESA THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM FAMILIES, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS, OTHER FOLKS COMING FORWARD THAT THEIR FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THEY'RE PERFECTLY HEALTHY TODAY.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUPREME COURT CAME UP WITH THIS INTERPRETATION, BUT LET'S REMEDY IT RIGHT NOW AND WORK ON LARGER ISSUES WHICH I DO AGREE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS SOME ASPECTS OF THE LAW THAT -- I THINK IT WAS 2018.

BUT THIS IS NOT -- THIS IS NOT THAT TIME.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

BUT IF WE CAN GET SOME AGREEMENT TO GET SOMETHING PASSED SAYING YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

RIGHT NOW I'M NOT TRYING TO PLAY POLITICS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO PLAY POLITICS WHERE IF I INTRODUCE SOMETHING AND IT HAS NO CHANCE OF MOVING OR HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR THE DETAILS OF IT ARE NOT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED, WE GOT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE POLITICAL.

GOOD THAT YOU'RE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

BUT LOOK AT HOW THIS HAS BLOWN UP.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST STORY IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

>> IN THE WORLD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS.

SO YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF DESIRE, A LOT OF INTENT OUT THERE TO FIX THE ISSUE AND GET -- PROTECT THESE FAMILIES AND PROTECT THESE CLINICS.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATS.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY.

YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO PASSIONING THE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION BUT IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE TEST TO GET TURNED DOWN ENOUGH TO FOCUS AND PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER ON THIS IS WITHOUT IT BECOMING A POLITICAL FOOTBALL THAT PEOPLE ARE USING TO SCORE POINTS; RIGHT?

>> I THINK THE MERE FACT THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP MENTIONED IN THIS REMARKS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR IVF COULD SEND A SIGNAL TO REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT THEY MUST ADDRESS THIS ISSUE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NOW, THE DETAILS OF HOW TO TERESA THAT ISSUE IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM THEM.

SO FAR I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT MY BILL JUST TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL OUR CAUCUS OR COLLEAGUES ON THEIR SIDE OF THE AISLE COULD GET BEHIND OR NO?

SO SEARCH LOOKING AT THE BILL THAT I INTRODUCED TO SEE IS THERE ANY WAY TO ADD ON TO SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'RE THINKING OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL THAT GOES AS FAR AS IT NEEDS TO GO AND WHAT TYPE OF VOTES WILL YOU BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT.

>> AND IN A FLIP SIDE KIND OF WAY, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME POLITICAL COVER THEY COULD HAVE BYPASSING A DEMOCRAT BILL.

A LOT OF CRITICISM NEARBY IS COMING FROM DEMOCRATS SO WE'RE TRYING TO POUNCE ON ALABAMA.

IT'S A PRETTY EASY NARRATIVE; RIGHT.

THAT'S A DEMOCRATIC BILL.

SO THAT CAN BE AN INTERESTING THING.

INTERESTING THING ABOUT TRUMP.

I SAW HIS STATEMENT COME OUT.

WE'RE SO USED TO -- WHENEVER HE WOULD HAVE A TWEET, EVEN WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT AND HE WOULD HAVE A TWEET OR STATEMENT, IT WOULD GO OFF LIKE A BOMB AND IT CHANGES EVERYTHING, A LOT OF TIMES FOR THE WORSE.

EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SCRAMBLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

THIS TIME IT WAS HELPFUL.

IT GIVES REPUBLICAN COVER IF ANY OF THEM NEEDED THAT, GETTING INTO A COMPLICATED ISSUE, IF THE LEADER OF THEIR PARTY IS SAYING PLEASE DO THIS.

>> I THINK THE FORMER PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.

IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED IT WILL BE A BLOODBATH IN NOVEMBER.

>> YEAH.

IT JUST PLAYS RIGHT INTO THAT NARRATIVE.

>> LOOK WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING YOUR LEGISLATION GOING FORWARD.

BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

MR. LEADER, THANK YOU.

WE SEE YOU AS THE WEEK GOES ON.

>> THANK YOU, BROTHER.

ALWAYS GOOD BEING WITH YOU, BORROW.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR COLLIDE CHAMBLISS, PRATTVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> I HAVE NOTED TO HAVE YOU ON TO HELP EXPLAIN SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT HERE IS JUST OVER A WEEKS.

PRIMARY BALLOT IS GOING TO BE -- HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AMENDMENT ONE, HAVING TO DO WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THE VOTERS ARE BEING ASKED TO RATIFY A CHANGE IN PROCESS THAT YOU WILL USE HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO KIND OF COMPLICATED BUT COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT IT DOES.

>> WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT'S TRULY INSIDE BASEBALL.

BEFORE I WAS HERE I HAD NO CLUE ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MAYBE NEED TO HAVE ABOUT UNDERSTANDING OF BEFORE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

>> THE FIRST IS THE BUDGET ISOLATION RESOLUTION, BIR IS WHAT WE CALL IT.

THAT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WE ARE TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGETS BEFORE WE DEAL WITH LEGISLATION, ANY LEGISLATION IS.

SO THE CONSTITUTION ALSO PROVIDES AN EXCEPTION, A WORK AROUND, IF YOU WILL.

IF YOU HAVE 3/5 OF THOSE VOTING YOU CAN SET ASIDE THE BUDGETS AND DO WHATEVER LEGISLATION THAT YOU WANT.

WE DO THAT ROUTINELY ALL THE TIME.

>> BECAUSE IT'S TYPICALLY LATE IN THE SESSION WHEN THE BUDGETS ARE READY.

>> AND THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

EARLY IN THE SESSION VERSUS LATE IN THE SESSION, WE HAVE THREE MORE MONTHS OF DATA TO DO OUR PROJECTIONS.

SO THE LATER IN THE SESSION YOU DO YOUR BUDGET PROJECTIONS THE MORE ACCURATE THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

SO THERE'S A GOOD REASON TO DO THAT.

SO THE SECOND THING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO UNDERSTAND IS LOCAL LEGISLATION AND HOW THAT WORKS.

LOCAL LEGISLATION IS LEGISLATION THAT APPLIES TO A EXPECT COUNTY OR SPECIFIC CITY.

THE DELEGATION THAT REPRESENTS ANY PART OF THAT COUNTY OR CITY HAS A SAY IN THAT LEGISLATION.

IF ANY ONE OF THOSE LEGISLATIONS, HOUSE OR SENATE, OBJECTS TO THAT LEGISLATION, IT'S DEAD.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE 100 PERCENT UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AMONG THE DELEGATION.

>> SO THESE ARE NONCONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

>> NONCONTROVERSIAL.

IF IT'S CONTROVERSIAL YOU WILL HAVE A SPLIT AND IT MR. NEVER GET THIS FAR.

SO PUTTING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, WHAT HAPPENS WITH LOCAL LEGISLATION IS JUST A FORMALITY.

THE THIRD THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT I AS A LEGISLATOR IN CENTRAL ALABAMA, I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT NOR AM I GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO READ, STUDY AND RESEARCH LOKE LEGISLATION FROM, SAY, THE NORTHEAST OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE STATE.

SO I REALLY DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND I DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THEN YOU YET INTO THE QUESTION OF 3/5 OF WHAT?

3/5 OF THE BODY?

OF THE QUORUM?

3/5 OF THOSE VOTE AND IT'S BEEN INTERPRETED DIFFERENT WAYS BY A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS.

THIS AMENDMENT WOULD CLEAR ALL OF THAT OUT.

YOU HAVE 100% AGREEMENT BY YOUR LOCAL DELEGATION.

I DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BIR AND IT GOES THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS LIKE ANY OTHER BILL.

NOW, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO ELIMINATE THIS ON ALL LEGISLATION BECAUSE THAT'S DIFFERENT.

YOU DON'T HAVE LOCAL COURT SEE.

IT APPLIES TO THE STATE.

THAT'S TOTAL DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN LOCAL LEGISLATION.

>> IT WAS SET UP AS A BARRIER, THE BUDGET ISOLATION RESOLUTION WAS SET UP TO ENCOURAGE THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THE BUDGETS.

BUT AS YOU SAID THERE'S ALSO AN INCENTIVE TO WAIT IN ALL OF THIS.

IF IT PASSES WOULD YOU SAY THE STREAMLINES THOSE THINGS FOR THE LOCAL BILLS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE 3/5 VOTE.

BECAUSE SOME LONG VOTES YOU KNOW IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, IT WOULD JUST KIND OF STREAMLINE THE PATH FOR THOSE NONCONTROVERSIAL LOCAL BILLS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD PROBABLY NEVER KNOW ANY DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER.

WE JUST WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT VOTE.

AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT TAKING ROLL IN HOMEROOM WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL, IT TAKES 3, 4, 5, 6 MINUTES MAKE SURE 10 MINUTES IN THE HOUSE WITH 145.

IT JUST TAKES TIME.

WE KNOW THE RESULT AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO MY OPINION IS THAT WE JUST DO AWAY WITH THAT UNNECESSARY PROCESS.

>> SO IT WAS NOT A CONTROVERSIAL THING IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS, BUT SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, YOU PUT THINGS ON THE BATTLE AND BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF ALABAMA'S CONSTITUTION, HUNDREDS OF AMENDMENTS, THE LONGEST IN THE WORLD, SOMETIMES VOTERS VOTE KNOW AS A REFLEX.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

THAT'S A COMMON THOUGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO JUST VOTE KNOW.

I WOULD SAY, IF YOU LOOK BACK INTO, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE '40S THERE WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE CALLING OURSELVES INTO SESSION DUE TO PANDEMIC AND THERE'S AN UPRISING -- THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE VOTED IT DOWN.

>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RELEVANT.

>> WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> WE WILL SEE THAT.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON.

THOSE VIEWING THIS WILL REPLAY THIS.

I WANTED TO HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION POSSIBLE.

SO THERE ISN'T THAT REFLEX, YOU KNOW?

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY THE VOTERS WILL EDUCATED THEMSELVES BE INFORMED ABOUT IT.

AND SIMPLY JUST VOTING, NO, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT OR DON'T HAVE TYPICALLY TO EDUCATE YOURSELF JUST TO NOT VOTE ON IT.

>> SPEAKING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT IS CAUSING PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW FOR THE IVF INDUSTRY.

THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN AN ALL CONSUMING NEWS STORY THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS NOW THAT IVF CLINICS HAVE PAUSED THEIR OPERATIONS FOR FEAR OF BEING SUED, HAVING TO DO WITH THE PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT IN 2018.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE BUT I WONDER AS A CAUCUS ARE THESE CONVERSATIONS STARTING TO HAPPEN, AND YOU DO YOU EXPECT SOMETHING TO EMERGE AS A LEGISLATIVE FIX TO THIS?

>> WE'VE NOT HAD A CAUCUS MEETING SINCE THE RULING CAME OUT.

AND I HAD FAMILY ISSUES OVER THE WEEKEND SO I'M NOT FULLY VERSED ON IT YET.

I HAVE HEARD BUZZ AMONG THE SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS AND I DO EXPECT US TO HAVE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT IN CAUCUS THIS WEEK.

IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING -- I RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS FROM FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE IVF PROCESS AND OH, NO WHAT IS GOING ON, WE HAVE A INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT IN THIS PROCESS.

SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES.

AGAIN, I DON'T QUITE NOT GOING TO WHAT THEY ALL ARE YET BUT I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL WORK THROUGH AND RESOLVE THE ISSUES.

>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY AND WE HAVE TALKED WITH ANTHONY DANIELS WHO HAS LEGISLATION.

WE MAY SEE MULTIPLE BILLS BUT IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT IT'S REALLY PERSONAL FOR FOLKS AS YOU MENTIONED AND THEREFORE VERY PASSIONATE.

SENATOR WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK AS WE GO FORWARD IN IN THE SESSION BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER ISSUES TO GO.

THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW ALWAYS ENJOY IT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ANY ADVERTISEMENT, AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WEBSITE, WWW.APTV.ORG CLIQUE ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FOOTBALL PAGE.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACKS TOMORROW NIGHT, AT THE SAME TIME, WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M TODD STACEY.