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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE LEGISLATURE WRAPPED UP A BUSY WEEK TODAY.

THEY ARE NOW ONE FIFTH OF THE WAY THROUGH THE REGULAR SESSION.

LET'S RUN THROUGH SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

THE SENATE PASSED A BILL FROM SENATOR DAN ROBERTS OF BIRMINGHAM THAT ENSURES WORKING FAMILIES AREN'T PENALIZED ON THEIR STATE INCOME TAXES FOR THE EXPANDED TAX CREDITS OFFERED BY CONGRESS LAST YEAR.

UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, THOSE EXTRA CREDITS ARE TAXABLE INCOME THAT FAMILIES WOULD HAVE TO CLAIM ON THEIR STATE TAXES.

>> THIS IS THE BILL THAT DEALS WITH THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDITS.

THESE ARE FOR WORKING ALABAMA FAMILIES.

THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT STARTED TO ARRIVE WITH ALABAMA FAMILIES, JULY 15, OF LAST YEAR AND ENDED ON DECEMBER 15.

THIS WAS A ONE YEAR THING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID.

WE ARE TREATING THESE DOLLARS IF THIS BILL PASSES, JUST AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING.

WE'LL GIVE CREDITS TO THOSE WHO HAD EARNED INCOME AND THEY WILL GET THE BENEFIT.

>> I HEARD SOMEBODY TALKING ABOUT IT YESTERDAY, ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE.

AND THEY SAID THAT IT MEANT FOR SOMEBODY, LIKE $91 AND THAT PERSON SAID WHAT THEY DID WAS $91 AND IT WAS LITERALLY THREE $30 PAYMENTS FOR SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT THAT WAS VERY VIABLE.

SO, SOMETIMES WE DON'T REALIZE THAT PEOPLE NEED EVERY DIME, JUST TO TAKE CARE OF BASIC THINGS.

>> THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL AIMED AT OFFERING TAX RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

HOUSE BILL 82 WOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES TO EXEMPT UP TO $40,000 IN BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

IT ALSO ENSURES THAT ANY FEDERAL RELIEF THAT FARMERS RECEIVED FROM CONGRESS IS EXEMPT FROM STATE TAXES.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT OF TRUSSVILLE SPONSORED THAT BILL.

>> THIS WOULD BASICALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE RELIEF TO FARMERS, DISADVANTAGED FARMERS ARE NOT TAXED AND WE GIVE A ONE MONTH EXTENSION FOR FILING ALABAMA INCOME TAX RETURNS FOR FEDERAL EXCISE TAXES AND THIRD, PROVIDING RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE REDUCTION IN THE REQUIREMENT FOR ESCALATED SALES TAX PAYMENTS.

AND ALSO, FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX FOR 75% OF THE ACCOUNTS IN ALABAMA.

>> THAT BILL ALSO PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THAT WILL GO TO THE SENATE.

A SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES A ONE-TIME BONUS.

THE AMOUNTS ARE BASED ON YEARS OF SERVICE, BUT UNDER ONE PROPOSAL RETIREES WOULD SEE A MINIMUM OF $300.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN GREG ALBRITTON EXPLAINED THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.

>> BOTH BILLS DEAL WITH A RETIREE BONUS AMOUNTS.

WITH SENATOR MARCH, HE HAS A $2 PER MONTH LONGEVITY CALCULATION, 300-DOLLAR FLOOR, EVERYBODY RECEIVES THE MINIMUM.

AND THERE IS NO CAP ON THAT AMOUNT.

ON THE BILL THAT I HAVE, 111, THIS IS THE BILL THAT I PULLED OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT CAME OVER WITH THE BUDGET.

THIS HAS BEEN PROPOUNDED BY THE GOVERNOR'S ASPECTS.

AND I'M CARRYING IT IN THAT REGARD.

AND THIS ONE FOR MARSHES, HAS A CALCULATION OF $1.25.

ALSO, IT HAS NO FLOOR ON IT.

ALSO, IT HAS NO CAP ON IT.

THOSE ARE THE TWO DIFFERENCES.

>> HOWEVER, DEMOCRATIC LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON WANTED THAT BONUS AMOUNT TO BE HIGHER.

HE SAID REPUBLICAN LEADERS BACKED OUT ON AN AGREEMENT.

>> NOW, THE CHAIRMAN ALONG WITH PARTS OF THE LEADERSHIP IS COMING BACK WITH A BILL THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS, 50% LESS THAN WHAT WE OFFERED.

WE OFFERED THESE BILLS LAST YEAR THAT WENT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, GOT TO THE FLOOR ON THE CALENDAR AND WE HAD A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD COME BACK THIS YEAR, DURING THE ELECTION YEAR AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE THE BONUS OUT.

SO, WE AGREED TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH IT LAST YEAR AND GAVE OUT THE GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT AND NOW THEY WANT TO RENIG ON THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE PUT OUT THERE.

>> SENATOR ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR HAS FILED A BILL AIMED AT IMPROVING MATH INSTRUCTION IN LOWER GRADES.

THE ALABAMA NUMERACY ACT WOULD REQUIRE STATE INTERVENTION FOR LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND SET UP A SUMMER MATH ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM.

IN AN ASSESSMENT LAST YEAR, ONLY 24% OF ALABAMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL FOURTH GRADERS WERE LABELED AS PROFICIENT OR BETTER IN MATH.

FOR EIGHTH GRADERS, IT WAS JUST 14%.

ORR SAID LOW MATH SCORES SHOW THE STATE NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS APPROACH TO INSTRUCTION.

>> WE'RE 52ND IN THE LATEST SCORES IN MATHEMATICS.

WE'RE BEHIND D.C. AND ALL OF THE MILITARY SCHOOLS WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER SO.

, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MATH PROFESSIONALS ON THIS BILL.

WE'LL BE FILING IT, AS I SAID, TODAY.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A GOOD COMMITMENT FROM THE STATE BUT ALSO HAS ACCOUNTABILITY AND THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO DEMAND OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> ORR'S BILL ALSO INCLUDES LANGUAGE PROHIBITING COMMON CORE STANDARDS, WHICH WERE REPEALED AND REPLACED BY THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD YEARS AGO.

ALSO, ON THE SUBJECT OF EDUCATION, THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT MAY SEE A DELAY OF ITS HOLD BACK PROVISIONS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS, WHO SPONSORED THE ORIGINAL LAW, NOW HAS A BILL DELAYING BY ONE YEAR THE REQUIREMENT THAT THIRD GRADE STUDENTS READ PROFICIENTLY BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO FOURTH GRADE.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND EDUCATION LEADERS AGREE THAT A DELAY IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE THE TESTING DATA NEEDED TO KNOW WHICH STUDENT NEED TO BE HELD BACK.

>> WE'VE DONE EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID.

WE HAD NO DATA WHICH MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

AND WE HAVE INFORMATION NOW, FOLLOWING THIS YEAR, A SECOND YEAR, AND I BELIEVE -- AND THE GOVERNOR RECOMMENDED THIS -- AND I AGREE WITH HER.

I THINK TO WAIT ONE MORE YEAR, SO YOU GET THREE YEARS OF DATA THAT SHOWS TRENDING AND MAKES SURE THAT THE DATA IS ACCURATE.

DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

CLARIFYING THINGS.

AND THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE CHANGES IN THE LITERACY ACT ALONG WITH A ONE YEAR DELAY WHICH IS WHAT EVERYBODY RECOMMENDED FROM THE LITERACY TASK FORCE TO THE GRADE LEVEL READING COMMITTEE, GOVERNOR, SCHOOL BOARD.

AND I TOOK THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE CHANGES ARE WHAT'S IN THE BILL RIGHT NOW.

>> AND THE VERDICT IN THE ROY MOORE DEFAMATION CASE IS IN.

A MONTGOMERY JURY HAS DECIDED THAT NEITHER MOORE OR HIS ACCUSER, LEIGH CORFMAN, DEFAMED ONE ANOTHER.

THE JURY DELIBERATED FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS BEFORE RULING THAT NEITHER SIDE HAD PROVED ITS CASE DURING THE EMOTIONALLY CHARGED TRIAL.

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

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY SENATOR ALLEN SENATOR ALLEN ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

NOW, YOU HAVE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY IN THE SENATE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> ACTUALLY, IT'S GOING BACK TO THE GIVING US THE RIGHT AND FREEDOM TO PROTECT OURSELVES, OUR FAMILY, AND OUR BUSINESSES.

THAT'S THE BASICS OF IT.

AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR FULFILLING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

THAT'S THE SECOND THING.

AND THE THIRD THING IS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO WORK WITH, MAKING SURE THAT WE HANDLE THE BILL AND PUTTING IN EFFECT, ONCE IT'S PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

>> AND YOU HAVE PRESENTED THE BILL BEFORE BUT THIS YEAR SEEMS TO HAVE MORE MOMENTUM.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> WELL, NOT ALWAYS HERE IN ALABAMA, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT OUT THERE THAT HAS INTENSIFIED THE PUBLIC KNOWING FOR LACK OF A TERM, FEAR FACTOR ISSUE AND TO BE SURE THAT THAT PERSON, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES ARE SAFE AND SECURE AND ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AS WELL.

I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST FACTOR WHY THE MOMENTUM HAS SOMEWHAT SHIFTED AND THE POLL NUMBERS SHOW THAT THIS IS A VERY FAVORABLE YEAR FOR US TO PASS THIS MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> THERE WAS QUITE A SHOW ON THE PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS WEEK, BOTH ON THE STEPS OF THE STATE HOUSE, IN COMMITTEE, SHERIFFS, POLICE OFFICERS, TELLING THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS A BIG PART OF THIS, THEY COUNT ON IT TO PROTECT OFFICERS.

ARE YOU SURPRISE FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DERAILING THE BILL?

>> NO, SIR, I'M NOT.

IN FACT, I TOOK MY PERMIT OUT OF MY POCKET AND SHOWED IT TO THE COMMITTEE, AND TO THE OFFICERS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE AT THE MEETING.

THIS, YOU KNOW, THE PERMIT, THERE'S NOT ONE WORD IN THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHERE WE ARE DOING AWAY WITH PERMITS.

IN FACT, OTHER STATES THAT HAVE PASSED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, THEIR PERMITS STAY THE SAME, SOMETIMES THEY INCREASE AND MAYBE IN SOME STATES LOST ONE OR TWO POINTS.

BUT THAT'S ONE THING THAT I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS MISUNDERSTOOD ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY.

WE'RE NOT DOING AWAY WITH PERMITS.

IN FACT, WE FEEL THAT HAVING A PERMIT IS A VERY GOOD TOOL.

TO TRAVEL WITH IT, YOUR WEAPON, TO OTHER STATES, TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A GUN SHOP OR MAYBE A GUN SHOW BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEN AT THE SAME TIME, LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WHO DRIVE UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAYS OF ALABAMA, THEY CAN SHOW THAT PERMIT IF IT'S EVER ANYTHING IN QUESTION.

CERTAINLY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR IT.

FOR INSTANCE, LET'S JUST SAY THAT A MAN HAS A WEAPON IN HIS VEHICLE AND HE PARKED BEHIND HIS WIFE'S VEHICLE AND THE WIFE HAS TO RUN TO THE STORE AND THE WEAPON IS IN THE VEHICLE AND THE WIFE DOESN'T HAVE A PERMIT.

SO, SEE, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ENROUTE TO THE STORE AND BACK, THEN SHE'S IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.

SO, IT'S JUST SOMETHING, A USEFUL TOOL BUT I WANT TO BE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WE'RE NOT DOING AWAY WITH THE PERMITS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY, I DON'T THINK IF HE THEY HAVE ANY WORRIES ABOUT THAT FEE MONEY IF IT'S PAID TO EACH COUNTY IN THE STATE.

>> WELL, WHY DO IT?

LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO THEIR JOB.

AND THAT TRAFFIC STOP, DOMESTIC SITUATION, HAVING THAT PERMIT PROCESS, KNOWING WHETHER THAT PERSON IS ON THE LIST IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING OFFICERS.

SO, IF THAT'S THE CASE AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOOL, WHY DO WE NEED THE BILL?

>> WELL, THERE AGAIN, I'VE BEEN STOPPED BECAUSE MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT OR TAILLIGHT WAS OUT, FOR OTHER VARIOUS REASONS.

BUT IT CALLS FOR ACTION FOR A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSON TO STOP SOMEONE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT YOU CAN FULFILL YOUR JOB AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSON.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER BILLS THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, SB2.

CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY IS SB1.

AND SB2, WE PASS THAT OUT OF COMMITTEE AS WELL.

THAT IS FOR WASHINGTON TO HAVE AN OVERREACH TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA AND WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH THEIR WEAPONS AND AMMO.

THAT'S A BILL THAT PASSED OUR COMMITTEE AS WELL.

AND WE HOPE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR SOMETIME REAL SOON.

>> YOU REPRESENT A COLLEGE TOWN.

AND THERE'S A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE EDUCATION FUND AND ARE YOU HOPING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THESE EXTRA REVENUES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC LIKE WE HAVE FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS, TWO YEARS.

AND FOR OUR NUMBERS TO BE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE, I CERTAINLY THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS K-12 AND POST SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES, STATE EMPLOYEES MAY SEE SOME FORM OF A PAY RAISE.

THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> I ENJOYED IT.

PLEASE INVITE ME BACK.

>> I SURE WILL.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY IS THE SECOND OLDEST HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE IN ALABAMA AND ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

FOUNDED IN 1881, AS THE NORMAL SCHOOL FOR COLORED TEACHERS AT TUSKEGEE, THE SCHOOL BECAME A DRIVING FORCE IN THE INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION MOVEMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, THE FIRST PRESIDENT.

IN THE EARLY DECADES, TUSKEEGEE INSTITUTE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO AGRICULTURE AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF BLACK FARMERS.

TUSKEGEE, IT HAS PIONEERED AS A MOVABLE SCHOOL SERVING AS THE GROUND FOR THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND IN ADDITION TO THE NOTABLE ALUMNI, IT WAS THE FIRST HBCU TO HAVE A MARCHING BAND.

AND IT WAS RANKED AS THE TOP BLACK COLLEGE IN ALABAMA AND SIXTH NATIONALLY.

>> NEXT UP, I'M JOINED BY JIMMY BAKER, CHANCELLOR OF THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOU TO MOVING UP TO THIS POSITION.

>> THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT WE REPORTED THAT THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM HAS SEEN SUCH A GROWTH.

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE GROWTH TO?

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT IS DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE EXPANDED JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS AND REALLY EXTENDED SHORT TERM COURSES.

WITH CERTIFICATIONS THAT WERE NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DID A LOT OF IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT, I HAVE THEY HAVE CONDUCTED PROGRAMS ALL ACROSS THE SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR WHAT STUDENT SERVICES SHOULD BE, MUST BE TO SERVE STUDENTS.

AND THINK THAT ALONE HAS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH OUR GROWTH.

I KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS PRESENTED CHALLENGES FOR GROWTH, AND SPECIFICALLY COLLEGES.

BUT HOW HAVE YOU WEATHERED THE STORM?

>> DISTANCE LEARNING AND SINCE WE DO SO MUCH IN THE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM, WE LITERALLY SPLIT CLASSES SO WE CAN GET THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STUDENTS.

INSTEAD OF TEACHING ONE CLASS, WE'RE TEACHING TWO CLASSES AND SOMETIMES THREE WHICH IS A LOT OF EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE STAFF.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND I THINK AS A RESULT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND JUST NOT FALL SO FAR BEHIND.

>> I SAW THAT YOU GAVE YOUR BUDGET PRESENTATION TO THE LEGISLATURE DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS.

WHAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE ASKING FROM THE LEGISLATURE IN YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR.

>> WELL, WE'RE ASKING, OF COURSE, TO COVER WHATEVER PAY RAISE THEY MANDATE.

CERTAINLY WE WANT TO DO THAT.

WE ARE EXPANDING A DUAL ENROLLMENT.

THINK YOU SEE AS TIME GOES BACK, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE DEMAND THAT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HAVE SOME KIND OF TRAINING IN A JOB PROGRAM OF SOME NATURE.

MAY BE ACADEMIC, BUT PROBABLY GOING TO BE A HANDS-ON PROGRAM.

SO, WE'VE ASKED FOR MONEY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

IT COSTS MONEY WHEN YOU EXPAND PROGRAMS AND SKILLS AND REQUIRES A LOT OF EQUIPMENT MAINTAINING THAT EQUIPMENT.

SO, WE'VE ASKED FOR INCREASED FUNDING AND THAT, WITH THE DUAL ENROLLMENT.

IT GIVES STUDENTS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COLLEGE THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OTHERWISE.

SO, THAT WAS ONE OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS.

AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SUPPORTED THAT POSITION.

WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A CAPITAL FUND.

HISTORICALLY, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, SCHOOLS FUNDED ON THE CREDIT UNITS.

AND EVEN IF THEY TAUGHT NON CREDIT UNITS, SHORT TERM CLASS, THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY FUNDS.

THEY HAD TO DE DEPEND ON THE MONEY THEY RAISED BY THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS PRIMARILY.

AND THEY WERE TRYING TO ESTABLISH, THINK THE FUND WILL HELP TO PROVIDE FOR SKILLED TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REAL PLUSES OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND OVERALL, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON STUDENTS.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THIS.

BUT WE HAVE IN EXCESS OF 144,000 STUDENTS THAT WE TOUCH EVERY YEAR.

AND SOMETIMES MORE THAN THAT.

I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

JUST PROVIDING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORTING THAT PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY LEAN ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR.

>> WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU WERE IN THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS.

A KEY PART OF THE PIPELINE THERE.

RIGHT NOW, IN THIS ECONOMY, THERE'S JUST THIS WORKER SHORTAGE, NOT JUST IN ALABAMA BUT NATIONWIDE.

SO MUCH HAS CHANGED.

THE NATURE OF THE MODERN WORKER HAS CHANGED.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM PLAY IN ADDRESSING THE WORKER SHORTAGE PROBLEM?

>> WELL, LET ME TELL YOU A UNIQUE STORY THAT I THINK ADDRESSES THAT TO A DEGREE.

ACTUALLY, YESTERDAY, WE ANNOUNCED A MAJOR PROGRAM FOR A MAJOR COMPANY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, PILGRIM'S PRIDE, HUGE POULTRY BUSINESS.

THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING LABOR.

WE'VE WORKED AND IT TOOK US ALMOST A YEAR TO DO THIS WITH THE HEADQUARTERS WHICH WAS IN DENVER.

AND WE WORKED OUT A DEAL THAT PILGRIM'S PRIDE IS NOW SAYING TO EVERY EMPLOYEE, WE'LL PAY YOUR TUITION IF YOU CHOOSE TO IMPROVE YOURSELF AND YOUR SKILLS THROUGH A PROGRAM WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

MORE THAN THAT, WE WILL PAY YOUR DEPENDENTS' TUITION FOR THAT.

NOW, THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT WHEN THEY GO SIT DOWN AND TRY TO RECRUIT SOMEBODY TO COME TO WORK AND YOU SAY TO THEM, WE'LL PICK UP YOUR COSTS, IF YOU CHOOSE, OR YOUR CHILDRENS' COST FOR A COMMUNE COLLEGE EDUCATION.

AND THAT'S A REAL COME-ON IN TERMS OF HIRING FOR EMPLOYEES.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, WE'VE CREATED WHAT WE CALL THE INNOVATION CENTER, WITH THE HELP OF THE LEGISLATURE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ASSOCIATIONS IN THE STATE, LIKE HOSPITALITY, ALL OF THE TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS, ALL OF THOSE.

AND WE SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND WE SAY, OKAY.

WHAT DO YOU NEED IN THE WAY OF A SKILL FOR THIS PERSON THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT.

AND THEN WE'RE STANDING UP PROGRAMS OF TRAINING FOR THEM WITH THEIR INPUT OF WHAT THE TRAINING MUST BE.

AND.

Todd Stacy: DOING SO, WE CAN RECRUIT PEOPLE TO COME IN, GIVE THEM A CERTIFICATE AND LATER IF THEY DECIDE TO GO FOR A COLLEGE DEGREE OR WHATEVER, THEN WE CAN HONOR THAT.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT SHORT TERM TRAINING SO AN EMPLOYER LIKE A RESTAURANT CAN GO IN AND SAY, IF YOU COME TO WORK, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH TRAINING THAT ACTUALLY COULD LEAD YOU TO RUN OR OWN A RESTAURANT.

SO, WE WANT TO DO THINGS WITH EMPLOYERS THAT HELP THEM RECRUIT AND AT THE SAME TIME, HELPS GROW THE COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING SERVED BY THAT AREA.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY SET THE GOAL OF NEW CREDENTIALED SKILLED WORKERS IN 2025.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED ECONOMICALLY SINCE SHE SET THE GOAL, IS IT STILL REALISTIC?

>> WELL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOOT FOR THE GOAL.

IS IT REALISTIC?

PROBABLY NOT QUITE.

>> WELL, SHE WAS NOT COUNTING ON A PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

>> TO BE FAIR.

>> AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

OVERALL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, IF IT'S NOT THAT NUMBER, IT'S GOING TO BE A SIZEABLE IMPROVEMENT FOR THE STATE.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON AND EXPLAINING THE WORK FORCE ISSUES COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRAINING.

WE'LL HAVE YOU ON AGAIN SOMETIME SOON.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> BIRMINGHAM ENTREPRENEUR A.G. GASTON WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS MAN TO BUILD A $40 MILLION BUSINESS EMPIRE.

GASTON WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, SOLD STOCK OPTIONS AND SOLD IT TO THE EMPLOYEES FOR A FRACTION OF ITS VALUE.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" WEEK IN REVIEW, 7:30 RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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