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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS A BUSY DAY IN THE ALABAM LEGISLATURE AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 10TH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE NOW A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH THIS 30-DAY SESSION, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF MEETING DAYS.

WE'LL START IN THE HOUSE, WHERE LAWMAKERS DEBATED THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL THAT GOVERNOR KAY IVEY CALLED HER TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOING INTO THE SESSION HOUSE BILL 129 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT IS DUBBED THE CHOOSE ACT.

IT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS UP TO $7,000 A YEAR IN TAX CREDITS TO FUND THEIR CHILD'S TUITION AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR OTHER CHOICE OPTION.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW HOMESCHOOL PARENTS UP TO $2,000 TO COVER HOMESCHOOL EXPENSES.

THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO THE BILL IN COMMITTEE, INCLUDING CAPPING THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT COULD BE CREDITED AT $500 MILLION DOLLARS AND REQUIRING ANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING TO SHARE TESTING DATA WITH PARENTS AND THE STATE THAT MADE THE BILL MORE PALATABLE TO EDUCATION GROUPS, BUT HOUSE DEMOCRATS REMAIN OPPOSED AND ARGUED ON THE FLOOR THAT SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS ULTIMATELY UNDERMINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UNDER THE BILL, A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT IS PARTICIPATING OR ANY SCHOOL THAT IS PARTICIPATING HAS TO BE ONE OF THE CERTIFIED ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE A MEMBER OF ONE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT HAS BEEN FULLY ACCREDITED.

THERE'S EVIDENCE OF THAT ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> IF THE SCHOOLS ARE ACCREDITED ARE THE TEACHERS CERTIFIED.

>> WE HAVE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS AND ALL DIFFERENT CRITERIA WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

>> I JUST WARRANT ONE QUESTION ANSWERED.

ARE THE TEACHERS CERTIFIED.

THEY HAVE TO UNDER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> WE ARE UNDER THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GUIDELINES AND THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE REPOSE MONK THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THEY'RE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN.

THEY HAVE NORFLEXABILITY AND FREEDOM?

HOW THEY ESTABLISH THEIR CURRICULUM AND HOW THEY -- WHO CAN TEACH THAT CURRICULUM.

>> I KEPT LOOKING AT PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE.

AND I'M SORRY, I CAN'T -- YOU KNOW EVERYBODY IS GETTING UP HERE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

I DON'T THINK THE TWO ARE EQUAL IN THIS BILL.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CHILDREN NO MATTER WHAT.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL A BALLOT PUBLIC SCHOOL MUST COMPLY WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

RIGHT?

IN THIS BILL THEY OPERATED UNDER WHATEVER PARAMETER THEY'RE OPERATING UNDER.

THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW THE MONIES ARE EARMARKED FOR THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, LIKE WE HAVE UNFUNDED MANDATES ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIKE FOR THE LITERACY ACT, FOR THE NUMERACY ACT, WHICH ARE ALL GREAT -- >> THE CHOOSE ACT PASSED BY A VOTE OF 69-34.

AND NOW THAT GOES TO THE SENATE IT RESPECT INCLUDED ANOTHER AMENDMENT FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE GLOVER, IF ANY STUDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHOICE OPTIONS ALL ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION RULES STILL APPLY.

THAT MOSTLY HAS TO DO WITH RESIDENCY AS IT DOES WITH PLAYING SPORTS.

>> THE CHOOSE ACT PASSED BY A VOTE OF 69-34 AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

IT ALSO INCLUDED AN AMENDMENT FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE LOVVORN CLARIFYING THAT IF STUDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHOICE OPTIONS, ALL ALABAMA HIG SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION RULES STILL APPLY.

END GRAPHIC UPSTAIRS IN THE SENATE, MEMBERS DEBATED BILLS AIMED AT MAKING IT EASIER TO ENTER THE NURSING PROFESSION - AND TO STAY IN IT.

SENATE BILL 25 WOULD CLARIFY TH SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF CERTIFIED NURSING SUPPORT TECHNICIANS.

SENATE BILL 26 WOULD TWEAK THE ALABAMA NURSING LOAN RE-PAYMENT PROGRAM TO ALLOW MORE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT WE HOPE WE WILL INCREASE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA BY ALLOWING FOR LICENSURE THROUGH THE BOARD OF NURSING AND NUMBER TWO WE'RE CREATING A STACKABLE CREDENTIAL AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL ENCOURAGE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR EDUCATION AND TIP ON THE PATHWAY TO NURSING.

>> SENATORS ALSO CONSIDERED SENATE BILL 59 FROM SENATORS ARTHUR ORR AND TIM MELSON.

IT WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO OFFER INSTRUCTION IN CPR AND ELECTRONIC DEFIBRILLATORS.

THE BILL COMES AFTER ORR PERFORMED CPR ON MELSON DURING TRIP TO KOREA LAST YEAR AND LITERALLY SAVED HIS LIFE.

>> FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS, WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU UNDER WENT, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS, ALL OF THESE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF I COULDN'T THINK PEOPLE WILL BE TRAINED, IT MAY NOT HAVE ORDINARILY BEEN TRAINED IN CPR AND USING DEFIBRILLATORS, I GUARANTEE YOU IN THEIR LIFETIMES LIVES WILL BE SAVED BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.

SO GOD HAS A PLAN.

WE KNOW THAT.

THANKS FOR BEING THE GUINEA PIG >> WOULD YOU MIND TELLING THAT STORY AGAIN?

I DON'T REMEMBER ANY OF THAT.

THANK YOU FOR CARRYING THIS BILL.

>> I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD REMEMBER IT AND IT WOULDN'T IF I WERE YOU.

>> I'M THINKING IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU FOR CARRYING THIS.

6 >> I'LL SPEAK WITH SENATOR ORR MORE ABOUT THAT BILL AND OTHERS LATER IN THE SHOW.

BIG NEWS TODAY FROM GOVERNOR KA IVEY AND LEADERS INVOLVED WITH THE BROADBAND EFFORTS HERE IN ALABAMA.

IVEY ANNOUNCED AN INVESTMENT OF NEARLY $150 MILLION DOLLARS TO BRING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET TO AREAS IN ALABAMA THAT NEED IT MOST.

THE PLAN INCLUDES GIVING OUT 66 GRANTS WORTH $148.3 MILLION DOLLARS TO 16 INTERNET COMPANIES.

THESE COMPANIES WILL USE THE MONEY TO MAKE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET AVAILABLE IN 48 COUNTIES.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT “MIDDLE MILE” PROJECTS THAT SERVE AS KIND OF CONNECTORS OFF THE MAIN INTERNET THOROUGHFARES.

THESE FUNDS WOULD GO TOWARD THE LAST MILE, WITH MORE 5,000 MILE OF INTERNET CABLES, CONNECTING ALMOST 54,000 PLACES LIKE HOMES BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AND LIBRARIES.

>> WE HAVE RECEIVED NATIONALITY RECOGNITION FOR THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH.

IN 2021, ALABAMA RANKED NEAR THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY IN BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AND NUMBER 47.

BY LAST YEAR WE HAD RISEN 23 STEPS TO BE AMONG THE TOP 24 STATES IN BROADBAND READINESS.

>> WHEN WE TALKS ABOUT OUR STATE, THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY, WORK, AND HOW WE DO IS THAT IS PROMOTIONS THAT HELPS OUR PEOPLE AND HELPS OUR STATE SUCCEED.

THIS IS THE NEW ALABAMA.

AND I AM CERTAINLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF ALABAMA COLLABORATING AND WORK TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

YOU HAVE GOVERNMENT.

YOU HAVE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES: YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE NORTH, THE SOUTH -- EVERYBODY COLLABORATING ON WHAT IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR ALABAMA'S FUTURE.

AND WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE INTERNET IS AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT COVERAGE IS GOING TO BE ACROSS THE OUR STATE.

I SAID BEFORE ALABAMA CANNOT BE ALL WE WANT HER TO BE IF SHE'S ONLY GROWING ALONG THE INTERSTATE.

SHE MUST BE GROWING IN RURAL ALABAMA WITH OPPORTUNITIES THERE JUST AS IS THE CASE IN OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL URBAN AREAS.

>> THE ISSUE OF IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION WAS STILL VERY MUCH A BUZZ IN THE STATE HOUSE TODAY, AS ALABAMA CONTINUES TO GENERATE NATIONAL HEADLINES OVE IVF CLINICS PAUSING THEIR SERVICES DUE TO THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT'S RULING SAYING EMBRYOS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED CHILDREN UNDER AN ALABAMA TORT LAW.

SEN. TIM MELSON FOLLOWED THROUG ON HIS PROMISE TO FILE LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM BY CLARIFYING IN ALABAM LAW THAT IVF CLINICS CAN'T BE SUED AS A RESULT OF EMBRYOS BEING DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

HE WANTS THE BILL THROUGH THE SENATE AND TO THE HOUSE BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

THAT'S SENATE BILL 159 IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW IT.

MEANWHILE, HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PLANNING TO FILE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD CLARIFY PERSONHOOD LANGUAGE THERE AND PLACE THE QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

TO BE CLEAR, LEGISLATIVE LEADER HAVE SAID THEY ARE CONFIDENT A SIMPLE LAW CHANGE, AND NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WILL SUFFICE TO PROTECT IFV AND GET THE CLINICS BACK OPERATIONAL.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAID SHE'S MONITORING THE ISSUE AND WANTS BILL TO REACH HER DESK SOON.

>> HERE IN ALABAMA, AS I SAID LAST WEEK, WE WORK TO FOSTER CULTURE OF LIFE, AND THAT INCLUDES IVF.

THE LEGISLATURE IS DILIGENTLY WORKING ON ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AS WE SPEAK, AND I ANTICIPATE HAVING A BILL ON MY DESK VERY SHORTLY, VOLUNTEERING THE LEGISLATURE HAS TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT.

IVEY IVF GOVERNOR IVEY ALSO COMMENTED ON THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING.

AFTER REPORTS THAT SENATORS HAV THEIR OWN IDEAS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE HOUSE PASSED A FEW WEEKS AGO, SHE SAID SHE SUPPORT THE HOUSE PLAN AND WON'T JUST SIGN ANY BILL.

>> ILLEGAL GAMBLING IS RAMPANT -- JUST RAMPANT.

>> FIRST OF ALL IT'S LEGAL ILLEGALITY TO OCCUR.

AND SECOND THE STATE IS GETTING NOTHING BACK TO OCCUR FOR IT.

WE HAVE TO FIX THIS AND GET IT RIGHT SO WE'RE WORKING HARD.

THE HOUSE PASSED A GOOD BILL.

CAN I SUPPORT THE HOUSE-PASSED VERSION BUT I'M MEETING WITH THE LEADERSHIP TODAY TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE IS THINKING BECAUSE I WON'T SIGN JUST ANY BILL.

IVEY SAID SHE WAS PLANNING TO MEET WITH SENATORS ON THE ISSUE TODAY.

WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL SIT DOW WITH STATE SENATOR ARTHUR ORR, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE EDUCATIO BUDGET COMMITTEE, FOR UPDATES O A NUMBER OF EDUCATION TOPIC.

STAY TUNED.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR ARTHUR ORR FROM DECATUR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH YOU >> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE BUT THERE'S OTHER LEGISLATION I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT.

WE HAD A BILL ON THE FLOOR TODAY DEALING WITH CPR, TRAINING, AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND THIS IS NOT RANDOM.

CART PROVIDER: I HAD IS NOT MELSON ON THE SHOW THE OTHER NIGHT TELLING THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED IN WITH HIS CARDIAC ARREST.

YOU PERFORMED CPR.

HE CREDITS YOU WITH SAVING HIS LIFE.

TALK ABOUT HOW HIS BILL CAME ABOUT.

>> YELL I THINK YOU GAVE IT AWAY.

BECAUSE BUT FOR THAT HORRIFIC INCIDENT, I WOULDN'T BE SPONSORING THE BILL.

I DID GO TO SENATOR MELSON BEFOREHAND AND ASKED IF HE MINDED IF I SPURNED SUCH A BILL OR HE COULD.

HE SAID NO YOU HANDLE IT.

I ASKED HIM TO CO-SPONSOR.

IT BE THE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS BILL.

AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL LEAD TO SOMEONE'S LIFE BEING SAVED DOWN THE ROAD.

BECAUSE CPR IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE ADDED A DEFIBRILLATOR TYPE OF TRAINING AS WELL THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO RECEIVE BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO OPERATE ONE OF THOSE UNITS HERE IN THE 2 1ST CENTURY.

>> I REMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE GRAY TALK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND CARDIAC EVENTS.

LET ME ASK YOU.

HAD YOU HAD CARDIAC TRAINING?

IS THAT HOW YOU KNEW WHAT TO DO IN THAT EMERGENCY SITUATION?

>> I HAD.

SEVERAL TIMES EARLIER IN LIFE.

BUT BOY, IN THE CRISES OF THE MOMENT, YOU JUST SAY A PRAYER AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE AT THE TIME, AND WE KNEW WHAT IT WAS, IF IT DIDN'T TAKE STEPS TO INTERVENE AND TRY TO REVIVE SENATOR MELSON AT THAT TIME.

>> 40 MINUTES BETWEEN YOU AND OTHERS PERFORMING CPR SO WHAT A BLESSING THAT YOU WERE THERE AND PERFORMING THAT.

>> IT'S TIRING AT 90 DEGREES ON YOUR KNEES AND YOUR BACK AND IT TURNED INTO A PLATOON EFFORT WHERE BENDING OVER AND, YOU KNOW -- IT WAS -- AGAIN, IT'S TAXING ON SOMEBODY EVEN ALMOST 60.

BUT YOU HAVE TO IN GOOD SHAPE.

IT'S IMPORTANT?

AND WELL TRAINED.

ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU HAD ABOUT DEALING WITH THOSE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOUNG ADULTS -- NOT ADULTS BUT STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH MORE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE AFTER-SCHOOL JOBS.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS.

>> THIS IS A BILL I HAD IN THE '23 SESSION BUT I NEVER FILED IT.

YOU AS YOU KNOW I CARRY A LOT OF BILLS AND THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE AND I NOTICED REPRESENTATIVE DUE BOGUS OF SHELBY COUNTY ALSO A SIMILAR BILL BUT THIS IS A BILL TO REMOVE THE GOVERNMENT FROM FAMILY DECISIONS OF WHETHER A 14- OR 15--YEAR-OLD CAN HAVE A SCHOOL JOB.

ALL OF THE WORK REQUIREMENTS ARE IN EFFECT SUCH AS A CHILD CAN'T WORK MORE THAN THREE HOURS ON A SCHOOL DAY.

CUMULATIVELY THOSE HOURS ARE LIMITED ALONE WEEKLY BASIS, I BELIEVE UP TO 18 HOURS A WEEK.

SO NO DANGEROUS JOBS, NO BACKHOES OR SLAUGHTER HOUSES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALL OF THOSE LAWS STAY IN PLACE IT JUSTICE REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT GIVE PERMISSION TO A 14 OR 15-YEAR-OLD BEFORE THEY CAN GET EMPLOYMENT.

SO WHY SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A SAY IN THAT?

THAT SHOULD BE BETWEEN THE CHILD AND THE STUDENT AND THE PARENT TO MAKE THAT DECISION AS TO WHAT IS BEST AND WHETHER THE STUDENT CAN JUGGLE HAVING A JOB AND ALSO BEING A STUDENT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> OKAY.

WELL, WE ALL REMEMBER OUR AFTER-SCHOOL JOBS.

THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR ME TO MAKE GAS MONEY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> AND LEARN THE VALUE OF WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AT AN EARLY AGE AND SEE THE REWARD OF WORK.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SUCH A BAD THING HERE IN THE 2 1ST CENTURY.

>> NO KIDDING.

WELL, YOU HAD THE CHOOSE ACT.

THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT DOWNSTAIRS.

BECAUSE IT'S A REVENUE BILL IT WILL HAVE TO START DOWN THERE ANYWAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING BACK UP TO THE SENATE BUT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE WORK IN COMMITTEE ON THIS BILL ALREADY SO DO YOU EXPECT IT TO MOVE FAIRLY QUICKLY.

>> I WOULD THINK SO.

THERE MAY BE A TWEAK OR TWO IN THE SENATE BUT REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT HAS TON AN EXCELLENT JOB OF HEARING FROM CONCERNED PARTIES IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, MAKING THOSE CHANGES IN A SUBSTITUTE BILL THAT HE BROUGHT IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, AND THEN HAS GOTTEN A BILL FAVORABLY PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE.

SO NOW IT'S IN IN THE SENATE.

MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING OF HAS BEEN DONE.

THEN I WOULD ASSUME THE SENATE WOULD PASS HERE SHORTLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

GOING BACK TO EVEN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO LEADING UP TO THE SESSION YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES OF ALL BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU AND CHAIRMAN GARRETT HAVE HAD WITH COORDINATING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE VARIOUS GROUPS INVOLVED.

A LOT SMARTER THAN A SCHOOL CHOICE VOTE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> YOU ARE; RIGHT.

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

GOVERNOR RILEY'S TEAM INVITED MYSELF AND THE CHAIRMAN EARLY AND THEY HAD DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AT THE TIME.

BUT WORK WITH CHAIRMAN GARRETT AND THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF, THEY WERE VERY AMENABLE TO CHANGES AND SUGGESTIONS AND THOSE WERE MADE AND INCORPORATED AND, LIKE I SAID, HERE WITH THE EDUCATIONAL FAMILY AS WE CALL THEM, STILL MAKING REASONABLE CHANGES AND SUGGESTIONS.

IT'S BEEN A HEALTHY PROCESS AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A STRONG PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

THIS IS ALWAYS THE BIG HEAVY LIFT OF THE SESSION EACH YEAR.

I REALIZE -- I GUESS IT STARTS DOWNSTAIRS TECHNICALLY THIS YEAR BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER ON THE SUB.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE LOOKING FOR?

WE ARE WE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, PROJECTIONS, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, ARE WE UP?

DOWN?

WHAT SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT BUDGET TO EXPECT?

>> THE SUM MEMORY THAT CREATED A LOT OF ATTENTION LAST YEAR, WELL OVER 2 BILLION DOLLARS IS A FRACTION OF THAT, ABOUT A QUART OF THAT THIS YEAR, SO THE NUMBER COMES DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND THAT'S ONE-TIME FUNDING.

>> THAT'S EXTRA MONEY.

>> IT'S EXTRA MONEY THAT YOU SEE.

THE BUDGET IN GENERAL IS GROWING AT A HEALTHY PACE.

IT'S OVER 6 PERCENT.

SO THE GOVERNOR MADE HER RECOMMENDATIONS WITH IT, 2 PERCENT TEACHER PAY RAISE WILL FLOAT ALONG BRINGING OUR ENTRY LEFT TEACHERS UP TO AMONGST THE HIGHEST IN THE SOUTHEAST, AMONG OTHER PEER GROUP.

HIGHER ED WILL SEE INCREASES.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A HEALTHY EXERCISE FOR THE BUDGET AND A GOOD YEAR.

>> ONE BILL OR ONE AREA OF FUNDING THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS THE PRINCIPLE LEGISLATION.

YOU BROUGHT THIS LEGISLATION REAL OFFERING SOME POLICY REFORMS TO THE PRINCIPLE ROLE BUT IT'S ALL -- POLICY IS NOTHING WITHOUT FUNDING AND TARGETED FUNDING AND EVERYTHING SO WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT.

TALK ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE BILL, IT'S IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED THIS YEAR.

>> WE HAVE DONE THE NUMERACY AND LITERACY ACTS AND IT SEEMED IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL THE COACH OF THE BUILDING, THE PRINCIPLES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THE TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY NEED AND DEVELOP A PIPELINE EVEN WITH ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES AND THOSE THAT WANT TO BECOME PRINCIPLES AS OPPOSED TO AN AD HOC SYSTEM WHERE IF YOU HAVE A VACANCY IN THE PRINCIPLES SPOT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL APPOINTED THAT TEACHER TO BE THE PRINCIPLE AND WITH INCREASED COMPENSATION THEY TAKE IT BUT THEY'VE NOT BEEN TRAINED OR PREPARED FOR THE MANAGERIAL DECISIONS THAT I WILL HAVE TO MAKE AND MAKE ON THE SCENE CALLS REGARDING DECISIONS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THAT SCHOOL AND TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO THE BILL INCREASES THE PAY IF THEY GET A TRAINING.

THAT'S ABOUT A $340 MILLION EXPENDITURE BUST WE WANTED TO INVEST IN PRINCIPLES AND REPRESENTATIVE GIDDILY HAS A BILL TO REDUCE THE DEVISERS FOR PRINCIPLES WHERE WE CAN PUT MORE PRINCIPLES IN OUR SCHOOLS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND HELP SUPPORT OUR PRINCIPLES BY HAVING THE CHIEF LIEUTENANT OR SOMEONE THERE TO SUPPORT AND HELP THEM ACROSS SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED IT'S SUCH A KEY ROLE OR ROLES BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE YOU SAID, COACH, ASSISTANT COACH, TALKING HABIT DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS AND SUPPORTING FEATURES S. HAS THE FEEDBACK BEEN GOOD WITH THAT LAW IN PLACE?

>> THE NEW LAW, THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH A CLASS THAT WILL DEVELOP THE TRANQ MODULES FOR THE TEACHERS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS SO WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE THEM A GOOD RAISE BUT HOPEFULLY GIVE SOMETHING BACK THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE CHILDREN.

>> YOU MENTIONED LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTS AS THE MAJOR REFORMS PASSED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE LIT RELEASE ACT.

ACCOUNTABILITY EMPLOYEE PHYSICIAN TO SIGN FINALLY GO INTO EFFECT.

WHAT HAS OPINION YOUR CONVERSATION WITH DR. MACKEY AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THIS IN HOW PREPARED WE ARE TO DO THIS?

IT'S NOT JUST A CUT OFF.

WE HAVE ALL SUMMER.

AND THERE ARE SUPPORT ITEMS IN PLACE TO GET THE CHILDREN ACROSS TO FOURTH GRADE.

>> FORTUNATELY WE'RE WORK WITH A GOVERNOR THAT HAS SUPPORTED THE LITERACY NUMERACY ACTS AND IT'S QUITE EXPENSIVE.

THE READING APPROACHES AND THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, OF THE PULL OUT SUGGESTIONS WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF, THE SUMMER SCHOOLS FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE SLOW IN READING AND MATH, ALL OF THOSE INTERVENTIONS COST MONEY.

BUT WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTHS ARE AND WE EXPECT GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN HERE IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AGO BY GIVING SUPPORTS TO THE CHILDREN RATHER THAN SOCIALLY PROMOTING THEM ALONG.

THAT HAS NOT WORKED OUT SO WELL FOR SOME CHILDREN.

>> AS SHE SAID IN HER STATE OF THE STATE SHE WOULD VETO TO FURTHER DELAY ANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANY TALK FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES -- >> I HAVE NOT.

WE'RE REALLY READY TO ROLL AND PUSH FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.

>> WHAT IT HAVE YOU, ONE MORE THING.

WE TALKED AT THE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES BREAK FAST ABOUT THE COMBINED ISSUES OF EDUCATION IN THE WORKFORCE.

THEY DO COMMINGLE.

IT'S LIKE AN IDEA OF SHELTER.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A WORKFORCE PROBLEM, SHORTAGE.

THERE ARE PLANS FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNMENT TO PUT INTO PLACE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SHOULD HAVE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AND LATER HOW TO RAISE EXPECTATIONS IN PERFORMANCE.

TALKING ABOUT HOW OUR SHORT-TERM WORKFORCE GOALS AND IMMEDIATE CALLS CAN WORK WITH GETTING A BETTER EDUCATED PRODUCT FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TO GO INTO THAT WORKFORCE.

>> I THINK IT STARTS WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION.

THAT IS GOALS BACK TO THE LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACT.

BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES AGAIN CHILDREN WERE BEING PROMOTED AND MOVED ALONG AND GRADUATING SOMETIMES AND THEY'RE FUNCTIONALLY ILL LIT RATE.

THAT DOESN'T HELP THEM.

OR THEY'RE GOING TO DROP OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH SCHOOL.

AND IT JUST DOESN'T END WELL.

GIVEN THAT STRONG FOUNDATION WILL CERTAINLY HELP THEM ACHIEVE MORE IN THE LEFT ARM BUT THEN ACHIEVED MORE IN THE WORKFORCE AND WE ARE SPENDING A GOOD BIT OF MONEY IN THE WORKFORCE PERFORMANCE, TECH, TRAINING, CAREER ACADEMIES, ALL OF THESE THINGS COMING IN TO BARRETT AND SOMETHING YOU WILL SEE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND SAT THE HELPING FAMILIES INITIATIVE BECAUSE THAT HELPS KEEP CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

WE HEARD THE MAYOR WOODSON SAY, 150 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN IN BIRMINGHAM WERE SKIPPING SCHOOL OR NOT ATTENDING AND HOW DO WE KEEP CHILDREN AT SCHOOL?

WE NEED TO KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL, KEEP THEM FOCUSED AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM ON INTO THE WORKFORCE AND NOT GIVEN THE OPTION OF SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

>> CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO FOLLOW.

A LOT OF ISSUES ON YOUR PLATE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WILL LOOK TOWARD TO SEEING YOU THE REST OF THE WEEK.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

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

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