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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING HAS ENDED.

THE HOUSE TODAY GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO A BILL ALLOCATING ABOUT $772 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.

THE MONEY IS BEING PUT TOWARD SUPPORTING HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, BUILDING OUT WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPANDING BROADBAND INTERNET INTO RURAL AREAS AND SHORING UP THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS STRESSED THAT THE SPENDING ISN'T EARMARKED FOR SPECIFIC PET PROJECTS, BUT RATHER ADMINISTERED BY STATE AGENCIES THROUGH A GRANT PROCESS.

>> ADEM HAS PREPARED AN EMAIL TO BE GOING OUT TO THE EVERY AUTHORITY AND ENTITY DEALING WITH CLEAN WATER AND SEWER GIVING THEM INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY AND HOW TO ACCOMPLISH.

I HAVE A COPY OF THAT UP HERE.

ALSO ALONG WITH THAT WILL BE ANOTHER TWO-PAGED DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE GOING OUT WITH THE EMAIL WHICH ALSO GIVES INFORMATION AS TO THE CRITERIA THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE PRIORITYSTATION OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING N THIS IS ALL DEALING WITH ADEM WITH THE CLEAN WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS.

>> LAWMAKERS ALSO ALLOCATED $20 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDERS, INCLUDING $10 MILLION FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR MANY RURAL LAKERS, INCLUDING STATE SENATOR BILLY BEASLEY OF CLAYTON.

>> THERE IS NO APPLICATION PROCESS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, INVOLVED WITH THAT.

THOSE MONIES WILL BE SIMPLY A MATTER OF DIVISION WORK.

WHEN THE MONIES ARE RECEIVED TO THE AGENCY, THE AGENCY WILL BE COULD DOING A DIVISION OF THE AMOUNT WHICH IS $10 MILLION DIVIDED BY THE EASY NUMBER OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS THERE AND THAT TOTAL THEN WILL BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY OUT TO EACH FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> SO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S $10,000 EACH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> APPROXIMATELY $10,200, SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE, YES.

>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN >> GOVERNOR IVEY IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE BILL AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

WELL, THE ISSUE THAT HAS THE STATE HOUSE ALL ABUZZ IS REDISTRICTING, AND SPECIFICALLY THIS WEEK'S RULING BY A THREE JUDGE PANEL THAT ALABAMA'S NEWLY-DRAWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS CANNOT MOVE FORWARD.

THE JUDGES HAVE ORDERED THE LEGISLATURE TO REDRAW THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP WITH TWO SO-CALLED OPPORTUNITY DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF BLACK VOTERS.

SOME REPUBLICANS SAY THAT'S AN OVERREACH AND ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL IS APPEALING THE RULING.

BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS WHETHER LAWMAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE ORDER AND REDRAW THE MAP OR REFUSE AND LET THE COURT DO THE WORK.

REPUBLICANS ARE IN WAIT AND SEE MODE, WHILE DEMOCRATS WANT TO START REDRAWING THE MAP.

>> WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH LEGAL AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR LAWYERS AND THE COURTS AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.

AND AS OF NOW, RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

BUT WE DID GET A WRITTEN RESPONSE AS OF LAST NIGHT FROM THE LEGAL STAFF THAT QUALIFYING DATES THAT THIS ORDER IS ONLY GOING TO AFFECT THE CONGRESSIONAL QUALIFYING CASES.

ALL OTHER QUALIFYING DATES WILL STAND ON THE 28TH.

>> WE THINK THAT IT HOLDS THE CONSTITUTION IN TERMS OF GERRYMANDERING AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION IT HOLDS THE COUNTIES, IT HOLDS COUNTIES TOGETHER.

WE THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY IF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT IS HEARD THE COURT WILL SEE WHY OUR MAPS MAKE SENSE.

BECAUSE THEY PERFORM WELL ACROSS THE SIXTH AND SEVEN COUNTY DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE ELECTED AND 56 PERCENT HAS BEEN STRONG DEMOCRATIC AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTES ACROSS THAT AREA SO WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE.

>> I'LL TALK WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CLAY SCOFIELD ABOUT THE ISSUE WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE SENATOR CLAY SCOFIELD, THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE ALABAMA SENATE.

MR. LEADER THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU DON.

YOU LOOK DIFFERENT.

>> OK. ALL RIGHT.

FAIR ENOUGH.

FAIR ENOUGH.

>> LOOK CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M REALLY PROUD FOR YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME, AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY THAT'S -- IT'S TOUGH SHOES TO FILL.

DON WAS DEFINITELY A MOVER AND SHAKER AND A FORCE, BUT WHAT A GREAT PERSON TO TAKE HIS SPOT AND MOVE THE SHOW FORWARD.

>> WELL, YOU'RE VERY KIND.

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING FUN.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE MISS DON.

I THINK A LOT OF VIEWERS MISS DONE.

HUGE SHOES TO FILL BUT WE'RE HAVING FUN.

>> GOOD.

>> I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON BECAUSE AS MAJORITY LEADER WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SPECIAL SESSION.

IT'S NOW FINISHED.

YOU HAVE PASSED THE BILLS.

THEY'RE -- THE BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO GOV.

IVEY'S DESK.

GENERALLY SPEAKING ARE YOU PLEASED WITH WHAT THE LEGISLATURE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS SPECIAL -- >> I AM OVERLY PLEASED WITH IT.

>> YOU KNOW THIS -- THIS LEGISLATION REALLY -- I'M VERY PLEASED AT HOW BIPARTISAN IT WAS.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THESE DOLLARS WILL BENEFIT EVERY AREA OF THE STATE.

EVERY ZIP CODE IN THE STATE.

AND YOU I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS.

AND YOU KNOW WE BROUGHT BOTH SIDES TO THE TABLE, BOTH SIDES HAD, YOU KNOW -- HAD GREAT IDEAS ON WHERE TO INVEST THIS MONEY.

AND WE WILL SAY THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT WE ARE SPENDING THIS MONEY.

WE'RE INVESTING IT.

AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE TOOK THAT APPROACH.

THIS OBVIOUS I HAVE ONE-TIME MONEY.

A LOT OF MONEY THAT FRANKLY OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE LOOK FOR FOR REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I THINK IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT WE WERE METICULOUS AND THOUGHTFUL ON HOW WE INVESTED THESE DOLLARS AND WE DID NOT SPEND THESE DOLLARS.

SPENDING THEM ON THINGS LIKE INVESTING IN BROADBAND, INVESTING IN WATER AND SEWER, INVESTING IN OUR HEALTH CARE, IN OUR RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS, REPLENISHING THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND THAT WILL RESULT IN A TAX CUT FOR EVERY BITS IN THE STATE AFTER THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, HARD TIMES WITH THE PANDEMIC.

SO I AM VERY PLEASED AT HOW WE HANDLED IT, OUR APPROACH TO IT.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE SECOND TRANCH COMING THAT IS -- >> ANOTHER BILLION.

>> AN EVEN LARGER AMOUNT, $1.1 BILLION SO WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT SAME DIRECTION AND THAT SAME APPROACH.

THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IN NOTING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO PORK MONEY IN THIS.

THERE'S NOT -- YOU KNOW THIS DISTRICT IS GETTING THIS AND THIS DISTRICT IS GETTING THAT -- IT'S ALL GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED BY A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS.

AND I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA SHOULD REALLY CELEBRATE.

WE DID NOT -- WE DID NOT FILL IT WITH A BUNCH OF PORK PROJECTS.

THEY WILL BE APPROVED BASED OFF OF THEIR MERIT.

AND THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF AND I THINK OUR MEMBERS ARE VERY PROUD OF AS WELL.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF BROADBAND REALLY SINCE IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON THE TABLE.

NOW, WITH THE NEW MAP IN PLACE AND NOW THE MONEY IN PLACE, HOW DO YOU SEE -- HOW IS ALABAMA POSITIONED MAYBE AS OPPOSED TO OUR PEER STATES AS IT COMES TO EXPANSION OF BROADBAND?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

AND I DO LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE ALABAMA IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, A LEADER IN THE WORLD OF BROADBAND AND IN OUR CONNECTIVITY PLAN THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK MOST STATES PROSECUTE HAVING TO -- ONCE THIS MONEY CAME DOWN, MOST STATES HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO SET UP, YOU KNOW, AUTHORITIES AND WAYS TO DISTRIBUTE THIS.

STATES HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN COPYING WHAT ALABAMA HAS DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROVEN GRANT PROCESS THAT IS WORKING, IS EFFECTIVE, AND ONE THING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IS THAT IT HAS EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS ITS COST.

NERDS, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET BROADBAND TO A NEW HOME, A NEW BUSINESS.

OUR COSTS HAVE BEEN VERY LOW ON THAT.

MOST STATES ARE COMING AND COPYING THAT.

WE SET UP THE ADEA COMMITTEE LAST YEAR THAT I SHARE AND, AND OUR COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE DEPLOYMENT PLAN, AND, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE MAP IS DONE.

WE STARTED THAT BACK IN 2018.

THAT'S HOW FAR BACK WE GO.

AND IT'S TAKEN THAT LONG TO DEVELOP THIS MAP.

YOU'RE DEALING WITH INSTITUTIONAL PROPRIETARY INFORMATION THAT SOME OF THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE LEERY ABOUT TURNING OVER.

THEY DON'T WANT ANY COMPETITORS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THROUGH A PROCESS OF SIGNING NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND ALL OF THAT, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER -- LITERALLY IT IS THE BEST MAP IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WE WILL BE UPDATING IT IN REAL TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN NEW AREAS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO TO ADECA'S WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE MAP.

WE NOW KNOW AT AN ADDRESS LEVEL WHERE BROADBAND IS AND IS NOT AND WHAT SPEEDS AND WE BELIEVE THAT WILL HELP US POTENTIALLY BRING DOWN MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE STARTED THAT PROGRESSION IN '18, AND THESE OTHER -- OUR PEER STATES AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE.

WHAT THAT MAP IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO AND OUR COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO IS TO REALLY LASER FOCUS IN AND HAVE A TARGET THE APPROACH.

MOST OF THESE OTHER STATES, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO THROW AT BROADBAND AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE LIKE A SHOTGUN APPROACH.

THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS GOING TO TAKE MORE OF A RIFLED APPROACH AND REALLY MAKE THESE DOLLARS STRETCH WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO GET ABOUT 35 PERCENT OF THIS ROUND OF ARPA DOLLARS FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION, 200 -- WHAT WAS IT, $276 MILLION.

WE CAN DO A LOT WITH THAT.

AND TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.

SO THAT 276 DOUBLES.

IT AT LEAST DOUBLES, MAYBE TRIPLES.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL BE MAKING A STAB IN THE SECOND TRANCH FOR ANOTHER BURST OF FUNDS FOR INVESTING IN BROADBAND.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING COURT CASE.

REALLY MONUMENTAL RULING OUT OF NORTH ALABAMA.

IT HAS POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT ARE REALLY WIDESPREAD.

I MEAN WE COULD BE LOOKING AT TWO WHOLE REDRAWN MAP.

BUT IT'S THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE COURT HAS ORDERED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, REDRAW THE MAPS AS INSTRUCTED.

DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL ATTACK THAT AND WILL REDRAW THE MAPS OR PUNT IT TO THE COURTS?

>> WELL, WE RESPECT THE COURT'S DECISION BUT WE RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH IT.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE LEGISLATURE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES AS SET FORTH, THE LAW THAT IS SET FORTH AND WE DRAW THE MAPS ACCORDING TO THOSE.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS APPEALED TO BOTH THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND SO WE CONTINUE AND WILL CONTINUE TO WEIGH OUR OPTIONS AS THAT PROCESS PLAYS OUT AND WE WILL JUST SEE WHERE IT ENDS.

>> WELL, ONE REASON WHY I ASK IS NOW THAT THE SPECIAL SESSION IS OVER, YOU PRESUMABLY GO RIGHT BACK INTO THE REGULAR AND I HAVE TO THINK YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF YOUR CAUCUS AND OTHERS WHO ARE READY TO GET ON WITH LEGISLATION THAT THEY'VE HAD SITTING AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS SO I'M SURE THEY'RE EAGER TO GET THEIR OWN BILLS STARTED.

>> SURE.

AND NEXT WEEK, BY THE WAY, WE WILL GO BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION.

2:00 ON TUESDAY.

AND WHAT WE WANT NEXT WEEK IS SOME GOOD COMMITTEE WORK SO THAT LEGISLATION IS IN POSITION.

WE MAY DO A TWO OR THREE -- MAY DO A THREE-DAY WEEK NEXT WEEK, AND SO THAT WE CAN GET BILLS INTO POSITION.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

I REMEMBER A COUPLE OF SESSIONS AGO WE HAD A VERY ABBREVIATED SESSION WE LOST A LOT OF TIME DUE TO COVID.

LAST YEAR WE HAD -- WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL SESSION ON TOP OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT TWO OR THREE SPECIALS IN THERE AND SO, YES, OUR MEMBERS HAVE LEGISLATION THAT THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEIR DISTRICTS AND VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR DAYS AND SO NEXT WEEK WILL BE, YOU KNOW, A BRISK COMMITTEE PROCESS SO THAT LEGISLATION IS IN PLACE WHEN WE COME BACK THE NEXT WEEK.

>> WELL, WE WILL BE HERE WATCHING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRY COLLINS OF DECATUR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

FIRST TIME WITH YOU SO I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> I'M EXCITED TOO.

ONE REASON I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON, IT'S SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATE.

YOU HAVE SPONSORED MANY OF THE CURRENT LAWS IN PLACE AND OTHER POLICIES.

THIS WEEK IS FULL OF ALL KINDS OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CELEBRATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE STATE OF SCHOOL CHOICE IS RIGHT NOW IN ALABAMA.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WELL, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT.

I WOULD SAY LIST STILL VERY LIMITED.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT FAMILIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT HAVE RUN INTO SOME ISSUES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE, LIKE CLOSINGS, WHEN PARENTS NEEDED TO BE AT WORK AND THEY SUDDENLY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPTION, THEY NEEDED MORE OPTIONS WHICH IS WHAT SCHOOL CHOICE IS ABOUT.

AND SO WHILE WE HAVE MANY THINGS IN PLACE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AS MUCH AS WE WILL NEED AND AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> I MEAN LAST YEAR, IT HAD TO BE FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAD YOUR CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING BILL ON THE FLOOR AND WERE CLOTURED, MEANING THEY SHUT OFF DEBATE AND THAT WAS MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN PARTY THAT DID THAT.

THAT WAS SURPRISING TO SEE.

>> WHAT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.

A LOT OF THE CHARTER CHANGES -- THE BILL TO ME CLEARLY SAYS THAT THE LOCAL AND THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL MONEY FOLLOW THE STUDENT.

AND IT LIMITS IT SOMEWHAT BUT IT STILL SHOULD BE FOLLOWING.

AND NO LOCAL -- NO CITY AND NO COUNTY IS FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE SUBSEQUENT OF IT WAS.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS LIMIT IT MORE IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE.

BUT IF A PARENT HAS CHOSEN TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, THEIR LOCAL TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THAT STUDENT.

I BELIEVE THAT.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

BECAUSE IT PUTS THE CHARTER -- THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ALREADY OPERATE WITH LESS FUNDING, AND IT PUTS THEM IN JUST A STRUGGLE WHEN SOME OF THAT LOCAL FUNDING SHOULD BE THERE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THAT FUNDING ISSUE LIMITS THE NUMBER OF CHARTER SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO LOCATE IN ALABAMA?

>> YES.

I HAVE HEARD THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

UNTIL WE GET THIS ISSUE STRAIGHTENED OUT, THAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIMITED.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE GETTING THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND SOME FORM OF THAT LOCAL REALLY NEEDS TO FOLLOW.

AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE -- ALL OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE MOVING AND MAKING GREAT PROGRESS WITH THE STUDENTS.

EVERY SINGLE ONE I SAW, THOSE STUDENTS AND THOSE CHARTERS WERE PERFORMING ACADEMICALLY HIGHER THAN THE SAME STUDENTS IN THE SAMES THAT ARE SURROUNDING IT.

SO HIRE ACHIEVEMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE WILLING FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT SCHOOL CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITY.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN BIG SUCCESS STORIES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR -- ESPECIALLY IN CITIES, BIRMINGHAM SPECIFICALLY HAS HAD SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PERFORMED REALLY WELL.

AND YET IT MAY NOT BE AS FAST A PACE AT PEOPLE MAYBE EXPECT.

THEY WANT CHANGE TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.

DID YOU EXPECT THAT WHEN WE PASSED THE -- >> I MEAN I'M ALWAYS OVERLY OPTIMISTIC SO, YES, I EXPECT IT.

BUT WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, TOO, AND YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN THINKS, I MEAN WOULD I LOVE EVERYBODY TO BE HAVING 78 PERCENT GROWTH.

I THINK I SAW THAT.

BUT THAT WAS FOR A FEMALE, YOU KNOW -- I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL OF THE RACIAL COMPONENTS OF EVERYTHING.

BUT IT WAS ONE PIECE.

I WANT EVERYBODY DOING THAT WELL.

BUT YOU STILL HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING IN TO EVEN THE SCHOOL OF THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR CHOICE AND THEY STILL HAVE TO MAKE UP GROUND SOMETIMES.

SO THAT MAKING UP OF THAT GROUND IS WHAT STILL HOLDS BACK -- LIKE I KNOW ESPECIALLY OUR HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS DOWN IN MOBILE, SOME OF THEIR SCORES MAY NOT BE WELL BUT ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS WERE ON THE TRACK TO DROP OUT.

SO TO ME THE SUCCESS IN THOSE CASES IS NOT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THEM TO GET TO BE A GRADUATE BUT DO THEY GRADUATE -- BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO.

AND SO GRADUATION TO ME IS THAT GREAT BAR THAT WE'RE SEEING, AND THEY'RE MAKING SUCH GOOD PROGRESS WITH THE STUDENTS ALL ALONG THE WAY.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LITERACY ACT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS PASSED IN 2019.

IT WAS YOUR BILL.

AND THERE WAS BROAD SUPPORT, CONSENSUS AND EXCITING EVEN ABOUT REALLY ATTACKING THE LITERACY PROBLEM IN STATE SCHOOLS, AND YET HERE COMES THE PANDEMIC, AND LAST YEAR THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL TO BASICALLY DELAY IT BY 2 YEARS.

GOVERNOR IVEY VETOED IT.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

AND YOU ARGUED THAT IT WAS PLEA MATURE BECAUSE THERE WASN'T DATA AVAILABLE.

AND YET NOW THERE IS TALK OF SOME DELAY.

>> YES.

>> WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> THE LATEST IS I ACTUALLY HAVE THE LEGISLATION READY.

I HAVE -- I HAVE BEEN GETTING CO-SPONSORS HOPING IT WILL BE BIPARTISAN TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

WE ARE DONE EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID.

WE HAD NO DATA WHEN WE WERE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

WE HAVE GOT ONE YEAR NOW, THIS CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN, WE WILL HAVE A SECOND YEAR.

I BELIEVE THAT -- AND THE GOVERNOR RECOMMENDED THIS BUT I AGREE WITH HER.

I THINK TO WAITED ONE MORE YEAR SO THAT YOU GET THREE YEARS OF DATA THAT CAN SHOW TRENDING, THAT MAKES SURE THAT THAT DATA IS ACCURATE, THAT WE'RE DOING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, WE'RE CLARIFYING SOME THINKS, SO THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE CHANGES IN THE LITERACY ACT ALONG WITH A ONE-YEAR DELAY WHICH IS WHAT EVERYONE RECOMMENDED FROM THE LITERACY TASK FORCE TO THE GRADE LEVEL READING COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR, THE SCHOOL BOARD, SO I HAVE TAKEN THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE CHANGES ARE WHAT'S IN THE BILL RIGHT NOW.

SO I'M HOPING -- I'M HOPING FOR BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, HOPING TO GET IT FILED NEXT WEEK.

>> I SAW WHEN I HAD CAME OUT WITH THE SCORING SYSTEM, AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE UPDATES TO IT BUT IT REALLY WASN'T ALL THAT EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENT WHOSE ARE NOT USED TO DATA.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT AS WE GET THE DATA CONVERSATION GOING, TO MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY WHAT THE METRICS ARE -- TO GET HELD BACK, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> IT IS A BIG DEAL.

>> SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

>> EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

AND I THINK, TOO, SO THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR SECOND YEAR OF DATA.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO HELP CLARIFY SOME MORE THINKS.

LAST YEAR THEY DID.

THEY GOT SOME CLARIFICATION.

THIS YEAR THEY WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BY THE THIRD YEAR, I THINK PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.

WHAT WE SAW IN MISSISSIPPI WHICH IS WHERE WE BASED A LOT OF OUR LAW ON, WAS LITERALLY, THEY PASSED THEIR BILL.

THEY GAVE THREE YEARS LIKE WE HAD GIVEN.

WE DIDN'T GET ONE OF OUR YEARS OF TESTING WHICH IS WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE ONE-YEAR DELAY.

BUT THEY GAVE THREE YEARS SO THAT THEY WERE PREPARING THOSE FIRST GRADERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH SO THEY WERE READY.

SO THE GOOD NEWS WAS IN MISSISSIPPI, WHEN THE BILL WAS FINAL IMPLEMENTED, THEY LITERALLY HAD FEWER THIRD GRADERS HELD BACK THAN THEY HAD BEFORE BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN PREPARING THEM ALL ALONG THE WAY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TOLY.

>> THAT'S LEARN FOR A MOMENT TO ABORTION POLITICS.

YOU SPONSORED THE BILL THAT GAVE ALABAMA THE STRICTEST ABORTION LAW IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT LAW IS ON HOLD BY THE COURTS.

AND THE SUPREME COURT IS DEALING WITH THE MISSISSIPPI LAW, OR THEY'RE GOING TO TO RULE ON IT MAYBE THIS YEAR.

SHOULD THAT LAW BE DECLARED CONSTITUTIONAL AND ESSENTIALLY ROE VS. WADE BE ALTERED OR OVERTURNED DO YOU THINK ALABAMA SHOULD MIMIC WHAT MISSISSIPPI DID IN THEIR LAW BECAUSE IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL OR GO BACK TO THE -- TRY TO PURSUE THAT STRICTER STANCE?

>> THE LAW THAT WE PASSED IN ALABAMA, THE GOAL OF IT WAS ALWAYS TO TRY TO ATTACK THE PREMISE OF ROE VS. WADE SO THAT IT WOULD BE OVERTURNED.

AND THEN IT WOULD ALLOW STATES TO PASS THEIR OWN LAW THAT BEST SUITS THEIR PEOPLE.

AND SO WHAT WE PASSED WAS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT I WOULD ADVOCATE.

I HAD WORKED ON A HEARTBEAT BILL FOR ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT YEARS OVER THE TIME.

BUT ALL OF THOSE BILLS GET STOPPED IN THE COURTS BECAUSE OF ROE VS. WADE.

SO IF THE MISSISSIPPI BILL WAS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND VIDEO V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED, WHICH IN MY MIND, IT DOESN'T COMPLETELY CANCEL ABORTION OR OPEN IT; IT SIMPLY ALLOWS SITES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THE BILLS THAT BEST FIT THEIR PEOPLE.

OUR PEOPLE VOTED AND FOR THE MOST PART, THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THERE ARE SITUATIONS, THERE ARE THINGS WHERE IT AT LEAST NEEDS HAVE A CONVERSATION I BELIEVE, AND SO THE HEARTBEAT BILL THAT HAD WORKED ON PREVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD BE WHAT I HOPE OUR STATE WOULD DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TOO.

BUT I'M SURE LOTS OF PEOPLE WOULD ALSO HAVE THEIR IDEAS WHAT IS BEST.

SO IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LEGISLATION AND THEN ALABAMA, WHATEVER CAME OUT WOULD BE WHAT WE FELT LIKE OUR PEOPLE FELT LIKE WAS BEST FOR OUR STATE.

>> WELL, WE WILL SEE WHAT THE COURT DOES.

>> YES, WE WILL.

AND EITHER WAY -- I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IF OUR BILL WAS TO DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT OFF THE JUDGE'S DESK AND LET IT MOVE IN THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I STILL HOPE THAT HAPPENS.

AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE.

BUT IF THIS ONE ACCOMPLISHED THE PURPOSE, THEN I WOULD WANT -- I WOULD PROBABLY GO BACK TO THE HEARTBEAT BILL BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOOD AND THAT'S PROBABLY PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT MISSISSIPPI HAD.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODD.

NICE TO SPEAK TO YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30 FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" "WEEK IN REVIEW" RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪