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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 2024 SESSION AND LAWMAKERS AREN'T WASTING ANY TIME GETTING INTO SERIOUS ISSUES.

BOTH CHAMBERS CONVENED TODAY FOR WHAT WERE MOSTLY PRO FORMA SESSIONS SINCE IT IS TOO EARLY FOR LEGISLATION TO BE IN POSITION FOR A HOUSE OR SENATE VOTE.

BUT IT DID ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO FILE BILLS AND START THEM ON THE FIRST STEP OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

WE'LL START UPSTAIRS IN THE SENATE, WHERE THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MET TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION ON ABSENTEE VOTING.

SENATE BILL 1 FROM STATE SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER OF CULLMAN WOULD INCREASE THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR SO CALLED BALLOT HARVESTING, MAKING IT A FELONY INSTEAD OF A MISDEMEANOR.

DEMOCRATS HAVE VOWED TO FIERCELY OPPOSE THIS BILL AS THEY SAY IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR ELDERLY AND RURAL VOTERS TO CAST ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

GUDGER SUBSTITUTED HIS ORIGINAL BILL WITH A NEW VERSION HE SAYS SHOULD ALLEVIATE CRITICS CONCERNS.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE HOWEVER AS VOTING GROUPS AND COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE BILL AND THE PROCESS SAYING THEY HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH TIME TO READ THE NEW BILL.

BUT JUDGER SAYS HE'S GOING TO ASK LEADERSHIP TO POSTPONE THE BILL UNTIL FULL SENATE MEETS NEXT WEEK.

>> I REQUESTED, LET'S DO NOT PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW.

LET'S GO OVER THE FULL WEEKEND AND WAIT, BECAUSE WE DON'T COME BACK UNTIL TUESDAY.

SO, IF WE DON'T DO IT TOMORROW, FIVE DAYS TO ALLOW EVERYBODY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA TO REVIEW THE BILL.

>> I GO TO MY GREAT AUNT OLIVIA'S HOME TO HELP HER WITH THE ABSENTEE BALLOT.

IF I HELP PRE-FILL IT OR WHEN WE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION ITSELF, IF SHE SAYS TO ME, WHICH WOULD NOT BE UNCOMMON FOR HER TO SAY, BABY, CAN I GIVE YOU $2 FOR YOUR TIME OR FOR YOUR GAS.

BOTH OF US, ACCORDING TO THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME.

IF AN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTS US, TAKE AS STATED, MAYBE GIVE SOMEBODY MONETARY FOR GAS OR MAYBE A MEAL.

INDIVIDUALS, NOT ONLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, EVERY INDIVIDUAL RUNS THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING CRIMINALIZED FOR JUST PERFORMING ONE OF ALABAMA'S HOSPITALITIES.

>> GRANDMOTHER OR GRANDFATHER IS GOING PAY $2 FOR THEM TO PUTTING THE APPLICATION IN THE MAILBOX, CHANCES ARE AUTHORITIES ARE NOT GOING BACK AFTER THEM.

BUT IF THEY COLLECT 220 BALLOTS, AS WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF THAT IN THE PAST, SOMETHING IS GOING ON THERE.

WE'RE GOING AFTER BAD ACTORS BECAUSE OF THE BALLOT HARVESTING NOT FOR THE SMALL PEOPLE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE.

NOW ON TO THE HOUSE.

THAT'S THE GAMBLING LEGISLATION HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING FOR MONTHS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVES CHRIS BLACKSHEAR, ANDY WITT, AND SAM JONES, ALONG WITH SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON TODAY HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO BRIEF MEMBERS OF THE PRESS ON THEIR COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PROPOSAL.

IT WOULD ALLOW FOR A STATE LOTTERY, EXPANDED CASINO GAMBLING AND SPORTS BETTING, ALL IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT, SHOULD IT PASS THE LEGISLATURE, WOULD BE PUT BEFORE STATE VOTERS.

BUT IT IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS GAMBLING PROPOSALS BECAUSE IT RESETS THE LEGAL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL FORMS OF GAMBLING IN THE STATE.

BLACKSHEAR DESCRIBED THE PROPOSAL AT LENGTH.

WITH.

>> FIRST, IT'S THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, CA ON THE BALLOT.

THAT BILL IS ONLY NINE PAGES, VERY SIMPLE.

WHAT IT DOES, TAKES EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS IN ALABAMA TODAY AND COMPLETELY IMPLODES IT.

ALL LOCAL CA'S, ALL 18 OF THEM WOULD BE ABOLISHED AND REMOVED.

IN FACT, GOING FORWARD IN THE LEGISLATION, NO CA RELATED TO GAMING AND COMING TO THE LOCAL BODY IN THE 67 COUNTIES TO VOTE ON.

WE HERE IN THE STATE WOULD TAKE OVER CONTROL AND REGULATE IT IN GAMING IN ALABAMA.

WHAT WOULD THE GAMINGS BE?

WE WOULD NOW SET WHAT IS LEGAL IN ALABAMA.

THAT COULD BE CASINOS, A STATE LOTTERY, SPORTS BETTING, BINGO AND TRADITIONAL BINGO, PAPER BINGO THAT'S THE ONLY FIVE THINGS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

ALSO, THERE WOULD BE A COMMISSION ESTABLISHED, GAMING COMMISSION AND THEY WOULD HIRE FALLING UNDER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND ALSO, A LOTTERY COMMISSION 7 MEMBER BOARD AND THAT AND LOTTERY BOARD THAT FALLS UNDERNEATH THAT.

AND THE GAMING COMMISSION WOULD BE A NINE PERSON BOARD APPOINTED THROUGH NONE OF WHICH HAVE MAJORITY-APPOINTING ABILITY ON THAT BOARD.

AND ALSO, ANYBODY ON THE BOARD COULD BE REMOVED AT ANY TIME FOR CAUSE IF THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING ON THAT BOARD.

ALSO, IT GIVES THE AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR TO ENTER INTO COMPAQ NEGOTIATIONS WITH PCI, POARCH CREEK INDIANS, WHICH HAS BEEN EXISTING FOR YEARS IN THE STATE.

AND I THINK THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HERE ESTABLISHES THE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE GAMING DIVISION.

THERE WOULD BE AN ENFORCEMENT WING WHERE WE HIRING AUDITORS INVESTIGATORS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DO, AND ACCOUNTANTS.

WE WOULD SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON GAMING IN ALABAMA.

NOT PART OF ALEA, NOR PART OF THE AG'S OFFICE, UNDERNEATH THE GAMING COMMISSION WHERE WE FOCUS SOLELY ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH GAMING IN ALABAMA.

>> THE GAMBLING PROPOSAL HAS NOT BEEN FILED YET, BUT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED DRAFT COPIES TO LOOK OVER AS THE BILLS COULD DROP AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE CLOSELY AS THE SESSION PROCEEDS ANOTHER BIG ISSUE THIS SESSION IS SCHOOL CHOICE, AND SPECIFICALLY, EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

IF YOU WATCHED LAST NIGHT'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, YOU HEARD GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAY PASSING EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WAS HER TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY.

SHE AND TOP LAWMAKERS HAVE PRODUCED SENATE BILL 61 WHICH TAKES A MEASURED, INCREMENTAL APPROACH TO THE PROGRAM.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO APPLY A $7,000 TAX CREDIT TOWARD TUITION AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW A $2,000 FOR HOMESCHOOL PARENTS.

BUT THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS.

ANY SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WOULD NEED TO BE ACCREDITED OR AT LEAST PENDING ACCREDITATION.

THE SCHOOLS MUST PARTICIPATE IN A LEGITIMATE TESTING PROGRAM TO TRACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

AND AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, ONLY FAMILIES MAKING LESS THAN $90,000 A YEAR WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VOUCHERS.

THE BILL WAS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH THIS MORNING AT THE ALABAMA DAILY NEWS LEGISLATIVE ISSUES BREAKFAST.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, WHO IS THE HOUSE SPONSOR, SAID THE BILL SHOULD APPEAL TO EVEN PEOPLE WITH MIXED VIEWS ON SCHOOL CHOICE.

BUT STATE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA DRUMMOND DISAGREED SAYING THE LEGISLATURE'S FOCUS SHOULD BE ON IMPROVING EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> WELL, FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU ARE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS FOR SCHOOL CHOICE YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE BILL.

BECAUSE THIS BILL IS BETTER THAN WHAT MOST STATES HAVE DONE.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S BETTER.

IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO SCHOOL CHOICE, YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THIS BILL BECAUSE THIS BILL IS A FISCALLY, PRUDENT AND RESPONSIBLE WAY TO BUILD THAT SCHOOL CHOICE MODEL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS WILL DO, IT WILL GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED ALTERNATIVES.

THERE ARE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT THAT DO NOT HAVE AN ADEQUATE PLACE TO GO.

THE LOCAL SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE THE WHERE WITH ALL, THE RESOURCES OR THE NETWORK TO HELP THEM.

THE FIRST 500 ESA'S EVERY YEAR WILL GO TO SPECIAL NEEDS.

AND THAT GIVES THE PARENTS THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND IT'S FOCUSED ON 300 PERCENT POVERTY LEVEL WHICH HITS A SWEET SPOT FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED SOME ALTERNATIVES.

>> THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND POOR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE LOOKING FOR TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTHCARE, AND THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, THEY HAVE ONE SCHOOL AND THAT IS IT.

SO, WHERE WILL THEY GO?

HOW WILL THEY GET THERE?

I'M ALWAYS WORRIED, WE TALK ABOUT GIVING PARENTS ANOTHER CHOICE.

WE HAVE PARENTS OUT THERE WHO ARE BARELY MAKING A CHOICE, LIVE AND SLEEP AND HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND.

>> ALSO DISCUSSED AT THE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST WAS THE ISSUE OF IMPROVING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

POWERSOUTH CEO GARY SMITH, WHO SERVED AS A CO-CHAIR ON LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH'S WORKFORCE COMMISSION, SAID EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MUST BOTH BE WORKING FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY TO MOVE AHEAD.

>> I THINK THROUGH EDUCATION, AND THINK THROUGH WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, I COME AWAY WITH AN UPSIDE DOWN TRIANGLE.

ON THE BOTTOM IS EDUCATION.

AND ON ONE SIDE IS WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND UP THE OTHER SIDE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHY I THINK OF A TRIANGLE UPSIDE-DOWN IS THAT EDUCATION SUPPORTS THOSE OTHER TWO LEGS.

WITHOUT EDUCATION, IF WE DON'T GET EDUCATION RIGHT, THOSE OTHER TWO LEGS JUST ARE NOT UP THERE.

AND THE REGULAR ACROSS THE TOP IS THE TIE BETWEEN WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> ALSO AT THE STATE HOUSE TODAY, PRAYERS FOR THE STATE'S LEADERS AS THE SESSION BEGINS.

ALCAP, THE ALABAMA CITIZENS ACTION PROGRAM, GATHERED MINISTERS ON THE FRONT STEPS TO OFFER PRAYERS FOR LAWMAKERS, EXECUTIVE BRANCH LEADERS AND JUDGES.

ALCAP PRESIDENT GREG DAVIS SAID THE GROUP MAKES IT A POINT TO PRAY FOR THE STATE'S LEADERS.

>> THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THAT ALCAP HAS SPEAR HEADED THIS, PRAYING FOR THE JUDICIAL, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO IT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE JUST GETS TO TOWN, JUST BEGINNING THEIR BUSINESS.

AND IT'S A GOOD TIME TO PRAY FOR EVERY ONE.

WE ALL LIVE IN PERILOUS TIMES AND WE ALL NEED PRAYER.

WE'RE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE AS MUCH AS A PHYSICAL BATTLE.

WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND POINTS US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WHO WE SERVE AND WHERE WE CAME FROM.

>> COMING UP NEXT, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE DONNA GIVENS OF LOXLEY ABOUT HER LEGISLATION TARGETING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TODD STACY: WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE DONNA GIVENS, FROM BALDWIN COUNTY.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SINCE BEING ELECTED IN 2022.

IT IS.

>> WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

I'M ALWAYS THRILLED TO INTRODUCE NEW REPRESENTATIVES.

YOU ARE NOT NEW ANY MORE, YOU HAVE A SESSION UNDER YOUR BELT.

SO, TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

AND MAYBE YOUR DISTRICT A LITTLE BIT, A PROFILE OF YOUR DISTRICT.

>> I GREW UP IN LOXLEY, BEEN IN BALDWIN COUNTY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND MY CAREER WAS BALDWIN E.M.C., ELECTRIC CO-OP.

AND MY LAST 21 YEARS AT BALDWIN EMC, I DID GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.

I WAS IN AND OUT OF MONTGOMERY WORKING WITH GINA MUSSFORD, THE LOBBYIST AND THEN SHAWN STRICTLER.

I DID MORE LOCAL IN THE LATER YEARS, MORE LOCAL.

ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR WHAT WAS GOOD FOR BALDWIN E.M.C., THE ELECTRIC CO-OP AND WHAT WAS NOT.

GOT MY FEET WET, IN AND OUT OF MONTGOMERY.

LOVED IT.

LOVED BEING ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND LOOKING OUT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE MEMBERS OF THE CO-OP.

SO, THAT'S WHERE I GOT STARTED.

SO, I KNEW WHEN I RETIRED, THAT I WOULD WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

THE HOUSE WAS ALWAYS MY FORTE BECAUSE I SPENT MORE TIME WITH HOUSE MEMBERS THAN I DID WITH THE SENATE.

ALTHOUGH, I HAD GREAT FRIENDS IN THE SENATE.

AND WHEN REPRESENTATIVE HARRY SHIVER WAS THINKING OF RETIRING, HE CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME HE WOULD LIKE TO RETIRE AND WOULD LOVE FOR ME TO RUN IN HIS POSITION.

SO, THE JOURNEY BEGAN.

>> TODD STACY: THAT'S QUITE A COMPLIMENT COMING FROM OLE COACH.

HE HAD QUITE THE CAREER UP HERE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT.

BALDWIN COUNTY JUST SEEMS TO BE GROWING LIKE CRAZY.

THAT PROBABLY GIVES YOU SPECIAL ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.

>> IT DOES.

AND BALDWIN COUNTY IS GROWING, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING IN THE STATE.

AND WITH THAT GROWTH COMES ISSUES.

MY DISTRICT IS, AND IT CHANGED SO MUCH FROM WHAT REPRESENTATIVE SHIVER HAD.

AND IT CHANGED DRASTICALLY IN THE REDISTRICTING.

AND STOCKTON WHERE HE LIVED IS NO LONGER IN THE DISTRICT.

MY DISTRICT STARTS AT THE TIP END OF COASTAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GOES SOUTH, TAKES IN PINE GROVE, STAPLETON, LOXLEY, BELFOREST, SILVERHILL, ROBERTSDALE, SUMMERDALE, FOLEY.

IT'S DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WITH A FEW POCKETS OFF, LIKE PINE GROVE IN THE NORTH AREA AND THEN BELFOREST.

>> SO, LOTS OF SMALL TOWNS GETTING SMALL EVERYDAY.

>> LIKE LOXLEY.

FOR YEARS, MY WHOLE LIFE, IT WAS A TOWN.

AND NOW, LOXLEY IS A CITY.

SO MUCH GROWTH RIGHT THERE.

AND MANY OF THE OTHER CITIES HAVE HAD A MAJOR GROWTH.

BUT LOXLEY CERTAINLY HAS EXPERIENCED GROWTH IN THESE LATER YEARS.

>> WE CAN TELL EVERY TIME WE DRIVE TO THE BEACH.

THE REASON I WANTED YOU ON TONIGHT, YOU HAVE A BILL HAVING TO DO WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, BASED OFF THE MOVIE, SOUND OF FREEDOM, THAT HAS JUST SPREAD LIKE WILD FIRE.

SUCH A POPULAR FILM.

AND YOUR BILL GOT A SHOUT-OUT FROM GOVERNOR IVEY IN THE STATE OF THE STATE SHE GAVE.

AND THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR.

TELL ME ABOUT THE BILL AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

>> FOR YEARS, I'VE READ BOOKS AND LISTENED TO NEWS AND NEWS ARTICLES AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT JUST TOUCHED MY HEART.

IT WAS, LIKE, HOW CAN YOU LOSE A CHILD, HOW WOULD YOU EVER RECOVER, LIVING KNOWING THAT THE ABUSE THIS CHILD WAS RECEIVING, SEXUAL ABUSE OR WHATEVER, BEING IN A LABOR CAMP OR WHATEVER THEY WOULD BE GOING THROUGH.

SO, THAT ALWAYS JUST TOUCHED MY HEART AND IN MY PRAYERS, I WOULD PRAY FOR THESE CHILDREN THAT WERE ABDUCTED AND FOR THE PARENTS.

I WANTED TO SEE THE MOVIE WHEN IT CAME OUT.

AND TWO OF MY GRANDCHILDREN AND I WENT TO SEE IT AND WE WERE NOT FINISHED DURING SESSION.

I WAS IN PRATTVILLE AND THESE TWO GRANDCHILDREN LIVED IN PRATTVILLE AND I SAID, LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES.

THEY WERE SO EXCITED AND VERY ACTIVE IN THEIR CHURCH AND HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AND NUMEROUS HAD SEEN THE MOVIE.

THAT NIGHT AFTER IT WAS OVER, I TOLD THE TWO OF THEM, MIMI IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I CAN ONLY FOCUS ON ALABAMA, ONLY WORK ALABAMA AT THIS CURRENT TIME.

SO, I HAD THOUGHT OF THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.

JUST CHANGING IT FROM THE MOVIE.

AND I CONTACTED LSA AND IT BEGAN.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, THEY WERE ALWAYS SO WILLING TO WORK WITH US AND DOING A GREAT JOB.

>> VERY PROFESSIONAL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHEN I PRE FILED THE BILL, I WAS CONTACTED BY THE FIRST NEWS OUTLET AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND I SAID, IT'S REALLY SIMPLE, YOU GET CAUGHT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA TRAFFICKING SOMEONE 18 YEARS OR YOUNGER, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A MANDATORY LICENSE.

AND THEIR QUESTION, WHAT IS IT NOW.

I SAID, CLASS A FELONY, UP TO 20 YEARS IN JAIL.

AND DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS THE TOUGHEST RESPONSE IN THE NATION.

AND I SAID, YES.

IT'S A HORRIBLE CRIME.

SO, IT NEEDS A TOUGH, VERY TOUGH SENTENCE, I FEEL LIKE, FOR SOMEONE DOING THIS CRIME.

SO, I'M VERY AWARE THAT THIS IS THE TOUGHEST IN THE NATION.

AND I HOPE THAT OTHER STATES WILL FOLLOW THIS.

THERE'S SO MUCH, SO MANY CHILDREN THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE A STRONG STAND AGAINST THIS.

>> TODD STACY: H-MM.

AND THE FILM, I CONFESS, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT IT'S ABOUT CIA OR INTELLIGENCE TYPE OF PERSON DOWN IN SOUTH AMERICA THAT BASICALLY IS TOLD TO GIVE UP AND COME BACK HOME.

AND HE GOES ROGUE ON HIS OWN TO FIND A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND FUNDING WAS CUT BECAUSE HE WAS TOLD TO COME HOME.

AND HE AND HIS WIFE FUNDED THE MISSION AND MY UNDERSTANDING CONTINUING TO WORK TODAY DOING THIS.

>> TODD STACY: I DO HAVE TO ASK.

LIFE IN PRISON, THAT'S A HUGE PENALTY.

I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY EIGHTH AMENDMENT CONCERNS, OVERREACHING IN FEDERAL COURT IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT?

WAS THAT BROUGHT UP IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH COLLEAGUES OR LAWYERS.

>> IT HAS NOT.

AND I'VE TALKED TO THE LEGAL ASSOCIATION.

I'VE TALKED TO THE DA'S ASSOCIATION, OUR LOCAL SHERIFF, HOSS MACK, I TALKED TO HIM.

AND I HAVE FULL SUPPORT.

FULL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR AND FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NATHANIEL LEDBETTER.

SO, TO ME, WHEN YOU HAVE EVERYBODY LIKE THAT BEHIND YOU, AND SUPPORTING IT AND WANTING TO HELP YOU GET THE BILL PASSED, NOBODY HAS MENTIONED ANY RAMIFICATIONS FROM A FEDERAL STANDPOINT.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES?

EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT SENTENCING HERE IN LEGISLATURE, IT BECOMES CONTROVERSIAL PRETTY QUICK.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

LOTS OF TIMES, THEY OBJECT TO ANYTHING THAT HAS INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ANYTHING.

BUT OF COURSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING NOBODY IS FOR THAT.

BUT SOMETIMES IT GETS PEOPLE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT?

>> I HAVE NOT.

I TRY TO TALK AS MANY AS I CAN TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE BILL.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE ON BOARD.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO SEE THIS PASS, AND WANT TO DO THEIR PART TO HELP GET IT PASSED.

IT TAKES US ALL.

IT TAKES A TEAM.

THERE'S ONE THAT SPONSORS THE BILL BUT THERE'S OTHERS TO TAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BEING BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WORKING TOGETHER, JUST LIKE WITH MY BABY IN THE BOX BILL.

>> TODD STACY: I WAS WANTING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

WHILE I HAVE YOU.

SO, LAST YEAR, YOU SPONSORED THE BABY IN THE BOX BILL, A WAY FOR PARENTS OR MOTHERS WHERE THEY ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR CHILD, ALLOWING A SAFE OPTION FOR THAT, ANONYMOUS, NON CRIMINAL OPTION FOR THAT.

IT PASSED.

IT'S LAW.

AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN UTILIZED.

IT HAS, WE HAVE TWO BOXES INSTALLED AND WAITING ON THE REST.

FIRST ONE WAS IN MADISON COUNTY AND THE SECOND ONE WAS IN PRATTVILLE.

THE BOX IN MADISON 12 DAYS IN USE, OPEN FOR USE.

AND THEY RECEIVED THE FIRST BABY.

SO, AS SAD AS IT SOUNDS, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE MY THOUGHTS WERE, WHERE WOULD THIS BABY BE?

>> IT'S A LIFE SAVED.

>> RIGHT.

IF THE BOXED NOT BEEN IN USE.

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE BABY.

AND ALSO, IT SAVES A YOUNG MOTHER'S LIFE.

BECAUSE IF NOT, SHE WOULD BE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER AND HER LIFE WOULD BE RUINED.

AND HER TRYING TO LIVE WITH HERSELF FROM THEN ON.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT STATE OF MIND THAT THEY MAY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SO, IT'S NOT ONLY SAVING THE BABY'S LIFE, IT ALLOWS FOR A COUPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WANTING TO ADOPT, WANTING A BABY SO BADLY.

SO, I LOOK AT IT AS 3 IN 1.

SAVES THE BABY'S LIFE, SAVES THE YOUNG LADY FROM MAKING A MISTAKE OF HER LIFE.

AND THEN GIVES THE BABY TO A YOUNG COUPLE SO EAGER TO ADOPT.

>> RIGHT, IT'S TOUGH TO TALK ABOUT, BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S COMPASSION.

>> RIGHT, IT'S LOVE ON THE MOTHER'S PART TO SAY, I CAN'T DO THIS.

MY BABY WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN SOMEONE'S ARMS THAT WILL LOVE IT AND THIS CHILD, WOULD BE THEIR BABY AND RAISE IT AS THEIR OWN.

SO, TO ME, THAT'S A MOTHER THAT REALLY DOES LOVE THE BABY.

MAYBE SHE'S NOT IN THE BEST CIRCUMSTANCES.

MAYBE MENTALLY SHE CAN'T CARE FOR THE BABY.

I'M NOT JUDGING, BY NO MEANS.

BUT I SEE IT HAS TOUGH LOVE.

SHE'S MADE A TOUGH DECISION TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE BABY.

>> ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE LEGISLATION ACTUALLY BECOME REALITY OUT THERE, IN THE REAL WORLD.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

LOOK TO HAVE YOU BACK MORE IN THE COMING YEARS AND SEE YOU AROUND THE STATE HOUSE.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

>> TODD STACY: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TODD STACY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT, SAME TIME, WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL" RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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