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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THIS WEEK THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RESUMES.

LAWMAKERS RECONVENE ON TUESDAY AND COULD WORK A THREE LEGISLATIVE DAY WEEK TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

HAVING SPENT THE LAST TWO WEEKS SOLELY ON FEDERAL RELIEF SPENDING, LAWMAKERS ARE READY TO MOVE ON TO OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING THE STATE BUDGETS AND THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL BILLS.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAID THE BUDGETS PRESENT A SPECIAL CHALLENGE THIS YEAR GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT REVENUE GROWTH.

AND REPUBLICANS WANT TO GET BACK TO THEIR AGENDA ITEMS.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS, EVEN THOUGH THE VIRUS HAS HURT US, IT'S STILL A CRISES.

IT'S STILL A PROBLEM.

BUT WE'VE DONE VERY WELL AT ALABAMA'S ECONOMY DURING THIS TIME.

WE'VE GOT STRONG BUDGETS AND BEING ABLE TO ALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES IN THE RIGHT PLACE IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT WILL QUICKLY BE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL AGAIN FOCUS ON.

AND I HAVE SAID BEFORE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT MEMBERS OF THE BODY HAVE A CHANCE TO FOCUS ON AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT COVER A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL AREAS AND REGIONS AND COMMUNITIES AND I WANT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IN PARTICULAR THE SENATE, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER DEBATE AND WORK OPEN THOSE PARTICULAR PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE PRIORITIZING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AS THE SESSION RESUMES.

STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON SAID WHAT WAS PASSED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION ON PRISON CONSTRUCTION DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE REVOLVING DOOR IN STATE PENITENTIARIES.

>> THROUGH THAT PRISON EDUCATION THAT ONCE AN INMATE IS RELEASED AND THEY HAVE A SKILL, SAY THEY'RE TAKING WELDING OR CARPENTRY, WE WANT TO SET UP THROUGH THE PARDONS AND PAROLES OFFICE TO SHOW THEM HOW TO GET A LICENSE, SET THEM UP AS CORPORATION, HOW TO GET THAT JOB, HOW TO START THAT YOU ARE OWN BUSINESS.

AND WE NEED TO PASS THAT BILL.

WE HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET AS A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THAT SO NOW WE NEED PASS THE LEGISLATION TO HELP THAT.

WE NEED TO GET MONEY FOR OUR DATABASE ON BAD COPS, WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW WHERE THE CAPS ARE MOMOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT SO WE CAN SET UP THAT DATABASE.

WE PASSED LEGISLATION FOR THE DATABASE.

NOW WE NEED GET THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO BRING THAT DATABASE TO FRUITION.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING THE ISSUE OF MEDICAID EXPANSION AS THE SESSION GETS BACK UNDER WAY.

REPUBLICANS HAVE RESISTED EXPANSION ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WOULD COST THE STATE TOO MUCH, BUT A RECENT STUDY FROM THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL SAYS THE SAVINGS REALIZED FROM EXPANDING COULD MORE THAN COVER THE COSTS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HALL SAYS PART OF THAT SAVINGS COMES FROM ENSURING NEW MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.

>> A MOTHER THAT HAS A CHILD UNDER MEDICAID ONLY GETS TWO MONTHS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND WE FIND MANY CASES, STATISTICS SHOWS, WITH MATERNAL MORTALITY LOTS OF PROBLEMS OR PROBLEMS DO EXIST, THAT EVENTUALLY MAY CAUSE THE DEATH OF A MOTHER.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND WE WANT TO BE ON THE PROACTIVE END MAKING SURE THAT THAT COVERAGE IS PROVIDED.

AND THE BEST WAY TO DO IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE THROUGH MEDICAID EXPANSION.

IT CAN BE DONE OUTSIDE, BUT WE THINK USING THE FUNDS AND THE NEXT ROUND WOULD CERTAINLY BE -- THAT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE.

>> ONE PERENNIAL ISSUE AT THE STATE HOUSE IS GAMBLING.

LAWMAKERS LAST YEAR CAME CLOSE TO PASSING A WIDE-RANGING PLAN FOR A LOTTERY, CASINO GAMBLING AND SPORTS BETTING.

IT PASSED THE SENATE BUT DIED IN THE HOUSE, AND MOST THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS DEAD FOR THIS TERM.

BUT STATE SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON SAYS THAT, OTHER THAN THE BUDGETS, REVIVING GAMBLING WILL BE HIS TOP PRIORITY.

>> SENATOR DEL MARSH IS MAKING >> EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN PROJECTS TO DO.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SEVERING OPINION TO EVERYBODY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT TOO.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT.

FROM MY PERSONAL ASPECT, OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND THAT I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON I'M GOING TO BE TRYING TO GET A COMPREHENSIVE GAMING BILL COMPLETED AND MOVED FORWARD IN THE BODY.

THAT'S MY NEXT GOAL.

>> SENATOR DEL MARSH IS MAKING WAVES TODAY.

THE FORMER SENATE LEADER ANNOUNCED HE'LL BE INTRODUCING WHAT HE CALLS THE QUOTE “MOTHER OF ALL SCHOOL CHOICE BILLS.” THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW FOR EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, IN WHICH PARENTS COULD TAKE A PORTION THEIR STATE TAX DOLLARS AND USE IT TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO A SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.

THE CHECK WOULD AMOUNT TO ABOUT SIXTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND COULD GO TOWARD PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR HOMESCHOOLING.

MARSH SAYS THE BILL SHOULD BE IN COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY, WHERE IT IS SURE TO GENERATE DEBATE.

HE'LL JOIN US ON CAPITOL JOURNAL TO DISCUSS THE BILL TOMORROW.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT SENT MORE THAN $2 BILLION TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS DIRECTLY TO COUNTIES AND CITIES BASED ON THEIR POPULATION.

BUT SOME OF THE STATE'S SMALLEST TOWNS HAVE DECLINED THE FUNDING.

ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, 18 TOWNS DECLINED THE FUNDS, RANGING FROM A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO AS MUCH AS A $147,000.

THOSE DOLLARS NOW GET REDISTRIBUTED TO OTHER TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

GREG COCHRAN OF THE ALABAMA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES EXPLAINED THAT SOME TOWNS WERE CONCERNED THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY AND DIDN'T WANT THE COMPLICATIONS.

>> THEY FELT GOOD FINANCIALLY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

AND SINCE THE EMPHASIS WAS ON INFRASTRUCTURE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DIDN'T VIOLATE ANY TYPES OF LAWS.

ALL OF THE MONEY WHICH WENT BACK, WHICH IS ABOUT $600,000 WAS DIVIDED AMONG THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WANTED IT.

>> I'LL SPEAK WITH MR. COCHRAN IN MORE DETAIL LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS ASKING ALABAMIANS TO DONATE BLOOD.

THE STATE'S HOSPITALS AND BLOOD BANKS ARE RUNNING SHORT OF THE O NEGATIVE TYPE, WHICH IS THE MOT COMMONLY USED BLOOD IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

DR. DON WILLIAMSON SAID THE RECENT SURGE IN COVID CASES MAY HAVE DISCOURAGED PEOPLE FROM DONATING RECENTLY.

>> BECAUSE MUCH COVID AND HOW INFECTIOUS OMICRON HAS BEEN A LOT OF BLOOD DRIVES HAVE BEEN AND AS A RESULT PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN DONATING.

AND LAST WEEK ALABAMA GOT INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD NO O NEGATIVE BLOOD ON THE SHUFFLE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE O NEGATIVE IS THE UNIVERSAL DONOR, THE SHOCK ABSORBER IN THE SYSTEM AND WE ONLY HAD TWO TO 3 DAYS OF ANY TYPE OF BLOOD.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ALABAMA.

IT'S NOT JUST LIFE SOUTH.

IT'S ALSO RED CROSS WAS SEEING THIS.

SO THERE WASN'T THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE BLOOD.

>> MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR. WILLIAMSON WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY DR. DON WILLIAMSON, PRESIDENT AND CROW OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WELL, I WANTED TO OFFER YOU A CHANCE TO UPDATE OUR VIEWERS ON JUST HOW THINKS ARE GOING WITH COVID-19, THE ONLY I DON'T KNOW VARIANT AND IT'S IMPACT ON HOSPITALS.

>> WELL, TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT 2805 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL.

LAST IT'S THAT'S BETTER THAN LAST WEEK WHERE WE HAD ABOUT 2900.

WE HAD 600 PEOPLE IN THE ICU, AND ABOUT 300 ON VENTILATORS.

NOW, THAT'S BETTER THAN WE WERE WITH DELTA.

BUT STILL THAT'S CREATING A MAJOR STRAIN.

STATEWIDE WE HAVE FEWER THAN A HUNDRED ICU BEDS TODAY.

WE HAVE GOT ABOUT 60 CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID.

WE HAVE SOME IN THE ICU AND EVEN ON VENTILATORS.

OVER THE LAST WEEK OVER 200 PEOPLE IN ALABAMA HAVE DIED FROM COVID.

THIS IS A TIME THAT OMICRON IS THE DOMINANT VARIANT.

SO CLEARLY WHILE THIS MAY BE MILDER THAN DELTA, IT IS NOT MILD.

PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS, ESPECIALLY UNVACCINATED AND INDIVIDUALS WITH OTHER UNDERLYING IMMUNE CONDITIONS.

>> I WAS TALKING WITH DR. HARRIS THE OTHER DAY AND HE WAS SAYING THAT SOME PEOPLE COME TO THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID BUT THEY AREN'T NECESSARILY -- THEY'RE COMING FOR A DIFFERENT REASON BUT YOU HAVE TO TREAT THEM JUST THE SAME IN TERMS OF ISOLATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> WE HAVE TALKED TO OUR HOSPITAL QUESTIONS AND THE NUMBER IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 20, 30 PERCENT, MAYBE 35 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HOSPITAL ARE THERE WITH -- NOT BECAUSE.

BUT HERE IS THE INTERESTING THING.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

I DOESN'T CHANGE HOW YOU MANAGE THAT PATIENT WITH RESPECT TO COVID.

THEY HAVE TO BE NO RESPIRATORY ISOLATION AND YOU HAVE TO WEAR THE APPROPRIATE PPE.

AND IN SOME CASES IT'S ACTUALLY A BIGGER BURDEN ON THE HOSPITAL.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE COMING BECAUSE THE COVID YOU PROBABLY END UP ON A FLOOR WITH A LOT OF OTHER PATIENTS WITH COVID.

EVERYBODY ON THE FLOOR WITH THE STAFF THEY'RE USED TO PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF THE PPE.

NOW, IF YOU COME TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HEART ATTACKED, YOU MY FIND YOURSELF ON A FLOOR WHERE PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY HAVE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE IN PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF PPE.

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION.

BUT AS I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, IT'S A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> NOW, HERE WE ARE BASICALLY STARTING YEAR THREE OF THIS PANDEMIC, AND IT'S NO SECRET THAT HOSPITAL PERSONNEL -- YOUR STAFF -- HAS REALLY TAKEN IT ON THE CHIN.

HOW ARE THEY HOLDING UP?

>> LOOK, I REALLY CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPRESS ENOUGH.

WHAT A TRUE GROUP OF HEROS THERE HAVE BEEN IN ALABAMA HOSPITALS OFFER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, WORKED EXTRA SHIFTS.

THEY COME IN, THEY HAVE TAKEN EXTRA CALL, THEY MISSED VACATIONS, THEY MISSED FAMILY ENGAGEMENTS.

THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ALL OF US IN THE LAST YEAR.

BUT THEY'RE TIRED.

I MEAN IF YOU LOOK BACK, SEVERAL OF OUR SURGES, THE DELTA SURGE, WAS CLEARLY A SURGE OF THE UNVACCINATED.

AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IN LARGE MEASURE.

THAT PREVENTED FRUSTRATION.

THEY HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT GET COVID DON'T HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES.

SO THAT'S FRUSTRATING.

NOW, IT'S COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT, WHILE WITH DELTA TWO DOSES OF VACCINE AND A BOOSTERS WERE INVEST EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING HEALTH CARE WORKERS FROM GETTING INFECTED, WITH OMICRON NOT QUITE AS EFFECTIVE.

MAYBE 70 TO 75 PERCENT EFFECTIVE.

THAT MEANS OUR STAFFING ISSUES ARE EVEN MADE WORSE NOW BECAUSE WEED HAVE SO MANY OF OUR OWN STAFF OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE ILL, THEY'RE IN QUARANTINE.

SO THINGS ARE VERY, VERY CHALLENGING FOR OUR FOCUS.

OURS HOSPITALS ARE FULL NOT JUST WITH COVID BUT WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS TO US IN LIFE.

SO STAFF IS PRETTY EXHAUSTED.

>> JUST LAST WEEK, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT MONEY, I GUESS ABOUT $40 MILLION OF THAT WENT TO HOSPITALS.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE EXPENSES YOUR MEMBERS HAVE HAD.

>> 40 MILLION WENT TO ALL ALABAMA HOSPITALS AND AND 30 MILLION WENT SPECIFICALLY TO RURAL HOSPITALS.

THE SPECIFICS ON EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GOING -- HOW SERVE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT IS NOT CLEAR BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXPENSES THAT HOSPITALS HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, PERSONNEL, BOTH BRINGING PEOPLE IN, IN ADDITION OVER 85 PERCENT OF ALABAMA HOSPITALS HAVE DONE RETENTION BONUSES, PAY RAISES, WITH THEIR OWN STAFF TO KEEP THEIR OWN STAFF.

SO PERSONNEL COSTS IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

THERE HAVE BEEN THE COST OF DRUGS BE, THE COST OF PPE, THERE HAVE BEEN ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT A HOSPITAL TO HAVE TO SPEND FOR THESE UNANTICIPATED COSTS AS WELL AS WE HAVE HOSPITALS THAT HAVE HAD TO CONVERTED NONINTENSIVE CARE EXPENSES TO INTENSIVE CARE SPACES.

WE HAVE HOSPITALS CONVERTING NONPATIENT CARE AREAS INTO PATIENT CARE AREAS JUST TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS OVERFLOW.

SO WE ALREADY KNOW, WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COSTS THAT HOSPITALS HAVE INCURRED.

>> YOU MENTIONED VACCINES.

THE VACCINE MANDATE ON LARGE EMPLOYERS WAS STRUCK DOWN BY THE COURT OR AT LEAST BLOCKED.

BUT THE VACCINE MANDATE FROM HHS ON HEALTH CARE WORKERS WAS UP HELD AND ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD AND SOON TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AT ALL IN TERMS OF LOSING STAFF?

>> YOU NEVER NOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT.

BUT WOULD I POINTED OUT THAT, UNLIKE THE MANDATE FOR LARGE EMPLOYERS, FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS THERE IS A MED EXEMPTION AND A RELIGIOUS EXCEPTION AND THOSE AREN'T NEW.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE LONG BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'VE BEEN EXPECTED TO BE VACCINATED BUT THERE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN RELIGIOUS AND MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS SO I THINK AS THIS PLAYS OUT I'M CONFIDENT IT WILL NOT HAVE THE KIND OF DISRUPTION THAT IT COULD HAVE WITHOUT THOSE EXEMPTIONS.

>> I SAW WHERE THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS ENCOURAGING BLOOD DONATIONS.

IS THAT A COVID OCCURRENCE OR -- WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE WITH THE BLOOD DONATIONS.

>> THAT'S REALLY A COROLLARY OF COVID.

BECAUSE OF COVID AND BECAUSE HOW INFECTIOUS COMB I DON'T KNOW HAS BEEN, A LOT OF BLOOD DRIVES HAVE BEEN CANCELED.

AND AS A RESULT, PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN DONATING.

AND ALABAMA LAST WEEK GOT INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE REALLY HAD HAD NO O NEGATIVE BLOOD ON THE SHELF.

WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT IS O NEGATIVE IS THE UNIVERSAL DONOR, THE SHOCK ABSORBER IN THE SYSTEM.

AND WE HAD ONLY TWO TO 3 DAYS OF ANY TYPE OF BLOOD.

AND THE CONCERN IS -- AND IT'S NOT JUST ALABAMA.

IT'S NOT JUST LIFE SOUTH.

IT'S ALSO RED CROSS WAS SEEING THIS SO THERE WASN'T THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE BLOOD: THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO FIND YOURSELF NEEDING LARGE VOLUMES OF BLOOD, WHETHER IT'S FROM A GUN SHOT INJURY, WHETHER THAT'S FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, WHETHER IT'S FROM SOME PATIENT WHOSE HAVE CANCERS, WE WERE IN A VERY CRITICAL SITUATION AND OUR GREAT CONCERN WAS AND REMAINS THAT THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHICH COULD RAISE WHERE WE COULD BE REALLY CHALLENGED IN OUR ABILITY ZERO MEET THE BLOOD NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO OTHER PHARMACOLOGIC AGENT THAT WILL REPLACE HUMAN BLOOD.

IT IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE AGENT THERE.

>> WELL, IT WILL CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND GIVE BLOOD.

BEFORE I LET YOU GO I SAW WHERE THE NEW STATE HEALTH LAB IN PRATTVILLE WAS NAMED IN YOUR HONOR.

THAT HAD TO BE A SPECIAL HONOR.

>> WELL, I'M OBVIOUSLY HUMBLED AND VERY APPRECIATIVE.

BUT THE REALITY IS, THAT WAS DONE BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF ALL THE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH IN MY 23 YEARS AS HEALTH OFFICER.

NOBLE ACCOMPLISHES ANYTHING BY THEMSELVES.

>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND OFFERING US AN UPDATE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOIN BY BRETT COCHRAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS EVENING.

>> I WANTED TO HAVE YOU IN BECAUSE ALL LAST WEEK WE DEALT WITH ARP, A THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, THE FEDERAL LAW THAT HAS REALLY INFUSED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO ALABAMA, INCLUDING PLENTY DIRECTLY TO CITIES AND TOWNS, MEMBERS OF YOURS.

AND WITH SO MUCH MONEY I WOULD IMAGINE NOT ALL CITIES ARE CUSTOMED TO DEALING WITH THAT ONE TIME MONEY COMING AT THEM.

I WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL TO YOUR MEMBERS FROM THE LEAGUE IN TERMS OF HOW TO SET PRIORITIES FOR THESE MONIES.

>> THIS WAS A ONCE IN A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF RESOURCES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, GIVEN TO THEM TO PUT LIFETIME PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THE 1ST THING WE ADVISED OUR MEMBERS OF WAS TO TAKE A BREATH, SLOW DOWN, TALK TO THE CITIZENS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, REALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY 250 UTILIZE THESE RESOURCES, THE MONEY THAT HAD COME IN NOT ONLY FROM THE FEDS BUT AT THE STATE -- WE HAD A VERY FORTUNATE TIME DURING COVID IN THAT MOST OF OUR COMMUNITIES STILL DID WELL FINANCIALLY.

SO THE COVID MONEY REALLY WAS ICING ON TOP OF THE CASE FOR US, UNLIKE RUST BELT CITIES AND OTHERS IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE THEY HAD SEEN A REDUCTION IN SALES TAX REVENUES AND ALL OTHER REVENUES THAT HELPED CITIES FUNCTION.

SO WE WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE STABLE, WE HAD GREAT LEADERSHIP AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, GREAT LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT BY COLLABORATING THE STATE AND LOCAL DOLLARS WE CAN DO LIFE CHANGING EFFORTS IN OUR STATE, CLEAN WATER, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND PAD IN THE BROADBAND ON TOP OF IT.

WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE EDUCATION AT THE TOP SO CHILDREN WITH LEARN REMOTELY IF WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS -- ALSO TELEMEDICINE AND THINGS NEEDED THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE OF THAT WAY.

>> YET IT WAS REPORTED TODAY THAT SOME SMALLER TOWNS ARE FORE GOING THEIR ARPA FUNDS.

WHY IS THAT?

>> SOME OF OUR SMALL TOWNS JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY NEEDED THE EXTRA REVENUES COMING N THEY FELT GOOD FINANCIALLY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SINCE THE RESTRICTIONS ON USING THIS MONEY EARLY ON WAS ON JUST INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T VIOLATE ANY TYPES OF LAWS.

ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WENT BACK -- WHICH I BELIEVE IS ABOUT $600,000, WAS THEN DIVIDED AMONG THE COMMUNITIES THAT WANTED IT SO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TORE EVERYONE.

>> WE HEARD A LOT HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE ABOUT USING MONEY FOR ONE TIME EXPENSES VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SETTING UP EXPENSES THAT REQUIRE AN ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION AND MAYBE HOW STATEHOUSE LEADERS ADVISED PEOPLE NOT TO DO THAT.

DID YOU HAVE SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE DIDN'T WANT CITIES TO GET IN A POSITION WHERE THEY SEE ALLOCATING A ROLLING EXPENDITURE IN THEIR BUDGETS WHEN THIS MONEY RUNS OUT.

SO THE LIFETIME BENEFITS OF BUILDING OUT THEIR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILDING OUT WASTEWATER INFER STRUCTURE,'S WE TALKED ABOUT INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE MAKING SURE ALL ARE SOLID THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO USE THESE FUNDS RIGHT NOW AND THAT WAY THOSE ARE LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN UP IN THE NEWSPAPER, ABOUT HAVING INADEQUATE SEWER SYSTEMS, WHERE THE BATTER IS JUST LEECHING OUT ON TO THE GROUND.

THESE WILL GIVE THESE COMMUNITIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS ONE TIME MONEY TO CLEAN ALL OF THAT UP AND PUT ADEQUATE SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

THAT IS JUST A QUALITY OF LIFE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE VERY OFTEN.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL DEBATE ABOUT A THOUSAND BILLS EACH SESSION.

WE FIND ABILITY 300 OF THOSE WILL HAVE SOME POLICY IMPACT ON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE LEGISLATURES UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES THEY'RE DEBATING THAT IMPACT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL SO THIS GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY HAVE AFTERNOON ADVOCACY DAY TO HAVE MAYORS AND COULD YOU BELIEVE MEMBERS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ONE ON ONE.

THE BIG SURE ISSUE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A PTSD FOR 1ST RESPONDERS.

OUR MUNICIPALITIES DECIDED IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE TO WATCH OUR COMMUNITIES DAY AND NIGHT, THOSE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, EMT'S, ENSURING THAT IF THEY'RE DEVELOPING PTSD, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, THROUGH THEIR JOB, THAT THERE'S A STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THAT AND TO COPE WITH IT.

SO WE HAVE PUT A FRAMEWORK TOGETHER THAT WOULD PUT PEER TO PEER SPECIALISTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA SO THAT IF AN OFFICER SEES AN EVENT OR IS INVOLVED IN AN EVENT WHERE THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, EMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE THAT PEER TO PEER SUPPORT.

IF THE PEER TO PEER SPECIALIST DETERMINES THEY NEED ADVANCED TREATMENT WE WOULD HAVE PHYSICIANS LINED UP THAT ARE PTSD TRAINED, AND THOSE OFFICERS WOULD THEN GO SEE THOSE PHYSICIANS.

IN THAT WE WOULD PAY UP TO 80 HOURS OF PART-TIME LEAVE SO THEY COULD LEAVE AND NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE SICK LEAVE, NOT HAVE TO USE VACATION TIME AND THEN WE WOULD PAY UP TO 15,000 IN OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES.

SO WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE PROTECTING US AND SO WE'VE WORKED REAL HARD OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH SPECIALISTS IN THE FIELD, SIGNIFICANCES AND LOOKING AT OUR SURROUNDING STATES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A BEST PRACTICES TO DO JUST THAT.

>> HOW IS THE FEEDBACK BEEN FOR LAWMAKERS AS YOU HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PLAN HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE?

>> I THINK THEY'VE BEEN VERY EXCITED.

THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS WELL BEING BACK HOME.

THEY HAVE HEARD FROM FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS.

AND I BELIEVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF WORK.

AGAIN WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE FOLKS.

>> 1 ISSUE THAT REALLY WAS IN THE HEADLINES A LOT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WAS 5G.

AS INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CITIES HAD A LOT OF DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHAT'S THE LATEST ON 5G AND THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CITIES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS?

>> I THINK MOST HAVE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE NOW BETWEEN THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS AND OF THE CITIES.

NOW THAT WE SEE THIS INFLUX OF DOLLARS THAT THE STATE HAS APPROPRIATED, THANKFULLY OUR GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THIS FIBER IN THE GROUND.

NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING THE FIBER IN THE 5G NETWORK I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT EXPLODE THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AT THIS POINT.

>> SO DO YOU THINK BROADBAND KIND OF OVERTAKES 5G IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS MONEY.

>> THAT'S A QUESTION OUTSIDE OF MY PAY GRADE, TODD.

BUT I THINK THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO RUN THE WIRELESS 5G SO I BELIEVE WE WILL SEE THOSE GO HAND IN HAND, BUILD-OUTS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

>> WELL, LOTS OF INTERESTING ISSUES GOING ON.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TO TALK US THROUGH THEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW AT 1030 HERE ON APT, WITH CONTINUED COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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