>> IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS STATE LAWMAKERS WILL USE TO REDRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE WAKE OF A SUPREME COURT RULING FINDING THE CURRENT MAPS IN VIOLATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

A THREE JUDGE PANEL OF THE 11TH CIRCUIT DIRECTED THE LEGISLATURE TO DRAW NEW MAPS BY JULY 21, THAT MEANS A SPECIAL SESSION WOULD NEED TO BE CALLED NO LATER THAN JULY 17TH.

THIS WEEK LEADERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE APPOINTED THE PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON REAPPORTIONMENT, WHICH WILL BE CHARGED WITH DRAWING THOSE LINES AND RECOMMENDING A NEW MAP TO THE FULL LEGISLATURE.

FROM THE HOUSE ARE REPRESENTATIVES CYNTHIA ALMOND OF TUSCALOOSA; BARBARA BOYD OF ANNISTON; JIM CARNS OF BIRMINGHAM; STEVE CLOUSE OF OZARK; CORLEY ELLIS OF COLUMBIANA; CHRIS ENGLAND OF TUSCALOOSA; LAURA HALL OF HUNTSVILLE; SAM JONES MOBILE; JOE LOVVORN OF AUBURN; CHRIS PRINGLE MOBILE; AND REX REYNOLDS HUNTSVILLE.

FROM THE SENATE ARE SENATORS VIVIAN FIGURES OF MOBILE; WILL BARFOOT OF PIKE ROAD; LANCE BELL OF RIVERSIDE; CLAY SCOFIELD OF GUNTERSVILLE; STEVE LIVINGSTON OF SCOTTSBORO; DAN ROBERTS OF MOUNTAIN BROOK; BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO; ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR; JACK WILLIAMS OF WILMER; RODGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM; AND DONNIE CHESTEEN OF GENEVA.

REPRESENTATIVE PRINGLE AND SENATOR LIVINGSTON WILL SERVE AS COCHAIRS OF THE COMMITTEE.

ONCE FORMED, THE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED A SCHEDULE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER DEADLINES.

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON REDISTRICTING WILL BE TUESDAY, JUNE 27 AT 1:30 HERE AT THE STATE HOUSE IN ROOM 200.

THAT WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON THE LEGISLATURE'S WEBSITE.

JULY 7 IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT PLANS AND REQUESTS TO THE COMMITTEE.

THAT CAN BE DONE OVER EMAIL AT DISTRICT@ALSENATE.GOV.

THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, POSSIBLY WITH ACTUAL MAPS, WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 AT 1:30 IN THE SAME LOCATION HERE AT THE STATE HOUSE.

AND THEN THE NEWLY DRAWN MAPS WILL GO BEFORE THE THREE JUDGE PANEL AT A HEARING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 14 AT THE HUGO BLACK FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM.

ALABAMA'S AWARD WINNING FIRST CLASS PRE-K PROGRAM IS EXPANDING AGAIN.

THANKS TO INCREASED FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE, 69 ADDITIONAL PRE-K CLASSROOMS WILL BE COMING ONLINE THIS FALL.

THE EXPANSIONS ARE EXPECTED IN 30 COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHILE FIRST CLASS HAS BEEN THE NATION'S TOP RATED PROGRAM FOR QUALITY, NOT ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS HAVE ACCESS TO A PRE-K CLASSROOM.

THIS LATEST EXPANSION WILL BRING THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS SERVED TO 44 PERCENT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S GOAL IS AT LEAST 70 PERCENT.

RHONDA MANN OF VOICES FOR ALABAMA'S CHILDREN EXPLAINED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-K. MANN THE >> WHEN WE STARTED 1ST CLASS PRE-K, 2 PERCENT OF 4-YEAR-OLDS PARTICIPATED.

2 PERCENT IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON 1ST CLASS RETENTION OR READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY 3RD GRADE.

WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE ENOUGH SATURATION THAT ENOUGH CHILDREN HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THAT.

WE CONSIDER CHILDREN IN PARTICIPATING IN 1ST CLASS PRE-K AT ABOUT 70 PERCENT THAT THAT WOULD BE FULLY FUNDED, THAT SOME PARENT LESS CHOOSE NOT TO PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN THAT TYPE OF A PROGRAM, AND THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE ARE STILL RIGHT AROUND JUST UNDER 50 PERCENT OF 4-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM.

BUT THE ONES THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED TEACHERS SAY THEY CAN TELL, THEY DO VERY WELL AND IT CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN IN POVERTY THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING, MAY NOT GET THE SAME ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

1ST CLASS PRE-K IS THE SAME QUALITY PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE SO FOR A STATE LIKE OURS WHERE 55 COUNTIES ARE RURAL AND SO IN SOME PLACES RESOURCES ARE VERY LACKING, 1ST CLASS PRE-K CAN DO THAT FOR THE CHILDREN, CAN GIVE THEM A QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCE, GET THEM READY TO LEARN.

THE ANNIE E CASEY FOUNDATION HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL "“KIDS COUN"”" REPORT ASSESSING AND COMPARING THE WELFARE OF THE NATION'S CHILDREN.

IN HER REPORT, CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH LOOKS AT HOW WELL ALABAMA FARED IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THE 2023 NATIONAL KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK IS A STATE-BY-STATE COMPARISON OF CHILD WELL BEING.

THE REPORT CAPTURES RESULTS FROM 16 KEY INDICATORS AND FOUR CATEGORIES OR DOMAINS.

THIS YEAR, ALABAMA.

RANKS 45.

VOICES FOR ALABAMA'S CHILDREN, A CHILD ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IS ALABAMA'S KIDS COUNT GRANTEE.

>> ALABAMA CAME IN 45TH WHICH IS STILL IN THE BOTTOM 10 BUT WE'RE ONE -- WE IT PROVED ONE SPOT OVER WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR IMPROVEMENT ANY PLACE THAT WE CAN FIND IT.

>> ALABAMA IS IN THE BOTTOM FIVE IN THREE QUARTERS -- LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES, CHILD AND TEEN DEATHS PER 100,000 AND TEEN BIRTHS.

23 PER 1,000 BIRTHS.

HOWEVER THE STATE IS IN THE TOP 20 IN TWO INDICATORS.

>> IN HEALTH, WE HAD CHILDREN WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

WE'VE ALWAYS DONE REALLY WELL WITH THAT BECAUSE OF ALL KIDS IN OUR STATE.

WE RANKED 15TH COMPARED WITH OTHER STATES.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NOT GRADUATING ON TIME.

AND THAT MEANS A 9TH GRADE THAT STARTS SCHOOL, THAT FOUR YEARS LATER THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WE WENT FROM 8 PERCENT TO 9 PERCENT.

SO NOT A HUGE, YOU KNOW, DECREASE IN THAT INDICATOR, BUT WE RANKED 3RD BEST IN THE NATION.

>> THE REPORT NOTES THAT EVERY STATE IS STRUGGLING WITH AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE CHILDCARE.

>> WHAT IS IT THAT PARENTS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.

PARENTS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR THEIR CHILD.

EVERY PARENT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT.

THE REALITY IS IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR EVERY CHILD.

AND IN SOME CASES PARENTS ARE, I JUST NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF MY CHILD.

>> IN CHILDCARE, ALABAMA IS MAKING STRIDES.

>> IN 2018, VOICES WORK TO PASS THE CHILDCARE AND SAFETY ACT.

AND THAT ADDRESSED STRENGTHENING THE MINIMUM STANDARDS.

IT REQUIRES EVERY CHILDCARE WORKER TO HAVE BACKGROUND CHECKS, MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AROUND OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, THAT OUR KIDS ARE SAFE IN THOSE SITUATIONS, AND THAT WAS JUST SOME OF THE THINGS BUT IN ADDITION IT ALSO REQUIRED THAT IF YOU RECEIVE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDS YOU MUST BE LICENSED.

>> SHE ALSO SHARES THAT ALABAMA LAWMAKERS HAVE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS INVESTED NEARLY $48 MILLION IN THE CHILDCARE CENTER'S QUALITY RATING SYSTEM.

>> SO EVERY CHILDCARE CENTER THAT IS LICENSED AUTOMATICALLY GETS ONE STAR.

AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH OR MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA TO GAIN AN EXTRA STAR.

BUT FOR PARENTS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR CHILDCARE IF YOU SEE A CHILDCARE WITH ONE STAR, THAT'S GOOD.

YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE SO USED TO SEEING RATINGS AND ONE IS NOT GOOD AND FOUR OR FIVE IS GREAT.

IT IS A 1ST STEP TO A REAL HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE CENTER.

>> VOICES RECENTLY RELEASED ITS ALABAMA KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK WHICH IS A COUNTY BY COUNTY COMPARISON OF CHILD WELL BEING.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> TWO CENTRAL ALABAMA MAYORS AND THEIR POLICE CHIEFS ARE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED AND SELMA MAYOR JAMES PERKINS HELD A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK DECRYING THE SHOOTING DEATHS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THEIR CITIES AND ASKED FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE.

>> MY PUMP FOR JOINING WITH MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, THE HONORABLE STEPHEN REED DURING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, IS TO SPEAK TO THE FRUSTRATIONS, THE SET BACKS, AND THE MISERY INDEX, RESULTING FROM GUN VIOLENCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT STATISTICALLY, POLITICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SPEAKING, I'M CONVINCED THAT WE, ACROSS THIS NATION, I'M CONVINCED THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING ACROSS THIS NATION, THAT'S INCLUDING MY OWN COMMUNITY, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING.

>> WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING HERE AND THIS FASCINATION WITH GUN CULTURE THAT AMERICA HAS, WHAT IT COST US IN TERMS OF LIES, COST US IN TERMS OF TRAUMA, WHAT IT COST US IN TERMS OF OVERALL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> IN SUMMARY, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS NOT JUST PARTNER WITH LOCAL BUT STATE ORGANIZATIONS TO KIND OF HELP BEEF UP SOME OF THE PATROLS, CONDUCT MORE TRAFFIC STOPS, NOT JUST WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THAT IS WORKING IN OUR FAVOR.

AND I APPRECIATE THE STATE AND I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR ASSISTING US, BECAUSE, LIKE IT HAS BEEN SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT BUT WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS NOT IN SELMA BUT IN MONTGOMERY, FEEL SAFE.

AND IF THAT MEANS TAKING, PULLING OVER CARS, SEEING A LOT OF LIGHTS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SCIENCE LIGHTS IN THE RESIDENCE WHEN THE CITIZENS ARE AT WORK WE WANT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO ICK MA SURE THAT WE FEEL SAFE WHEN AT HOME AND WHEN YOU'RE AT WORK AND YOU'RE WATCHING YOUR HOME >>LAST WEEK CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTED ON THE NEW OVERTIME INCOME TAX CUT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

THIS WEEK HE'S TAKING A LOOK FROM A BUSINESS AND WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE, AND FOLKS ARE EXCITED.

>> WE WERE OPEN 11:00 TO 10:00 ASK BUT BACK TO 8:00 BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH PEOPLE IN HE EVER TO WORK FOR THAT LONG.

>> ALABAMA BUSINESSES ARE STILL DEALING WITH DIFFICULTY OF DIFFICULT TIMES POST-COVID BUT THINGS ARE IMPROVING.

>> IT WAS HARD AT 1ST ESPECIALLY WITH US BEING SHUT DOWN, TRYING TO GET THE CUSTOMERS BACK IN AND MORE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND TRY US OUTDOOR AS WELL AS TRYING TO FIND EMPLOYEES TO FILL OUR VOID AND WITH INCH BEING GONE.

IT'S BEEN REALLY TOUGH AT 1ST BUT WE'RE KIND OF GETTING THE HANK OF IT BACK NOW.

>> DALLAS IS THE MANAGER OF THE WISHBONE CAFÉ IN EAST MONTGOMERY, A POPULAR FAMILY-OWNED RESTAURANT AND IT CONTINUE TOTES MAKE PROGRESS.

HE AND STAFF ARE MANNING DIFFERENT POSITIONS EVERY DAY.

>> WE HAVE ON SEVERAL DAYS EXTEND BACK TO THE TIME THAT WE USUALLY HAVE OR STAY A LITTLE LONGER IF WE HAVE AN EVENT OR SOMETHING GOING ON.

BUT THAT'S COMING WITH MORE EMPLOYEES COMING BACK AND TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN THERE AS WELL.

>> HELP IS COMING TO BUSINESSES IN THE FORM OF NEW APPROPRIATES PAST BY THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

MEASURES INCLUDING HOUSE BILL 217 WHICH WILL CUT THE TAX ON OVERTIME PAY, AN IDEA DALLAS SAYS HE AND HIS STAFF CAN SUPPORT.

>> I THINK THEY WORKING HARDER KNOWING THEY CAN MORE TIME AND LESS TAX TAKEN OFF.

ALSO MORE IS COMING.

I THINK THAT WILL BE BETTER FOR THEM.

>> PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAVE NOTICED THE LEGISLATURE'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ALABAMA'S ECONOMY BY IMPRESSION ITS BILLS CLIMATE FROM BIG BOX STORES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE IDEA HAS ALABAMANS OPTIMISTIC.

>> DALLAS HAS THIS MESSAGE FOR LAWMAKERS.

>> I APPRECIATE THEM LOOKING OUT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT IT ALSO IS SOME MORE THAT COULD BE DONE, LOOKING OUT AS FAR AS BUSINESSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

NOT ONLY THE BIG CORPORATIONS ALREADY DOING WELL, BUT LOOK OUT FOR THE SMALL EVER PEOPLE AND BUSINESS OWNERS TRYING TO GET THAT WAY.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> AN ALABAMA STUDENT HAS WON THE JOHN F. KENNEDY "“PROFILES IN COURAGE"” NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST.

JEREMY HAYNES, A RECENT GRADUATE AT MOBILE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WAS SELECTED AS THE WINNER BY THE JOHN F. KENNEDY FOUNDATION, WHICH PUTS ON THE CONTEST EACH YEAR.

JEREMY'S ESSAY IS ABOUT FORMER MOBILE STATE SENATOR JOSEPH LANGAN WHO IN 1949 PUT ON THE FIRST PRO-CIVIL RIGHTS FILIBUSTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

IT WAS TO DEFEAT A PROPOSAL MEANT TO RESTRICT VOTING RIGHTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

YOU CAN READ IT ONLINE AT WWW.JKFLIBRARY.ORG.

AND I PROMISE YOU IT'S WORTH YOUR TIME.

THE ANNUAL PROFILE IN COURAGE ESSAY CONTEST INVITES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO WRITE AN ESSAY ON AN ACT OF POLITICAL COURAGE BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

JEREMY WILL RECEIVE A $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE JOHN F. KENNEDY FOUNDATION.

I'M TOLD HE PLANS TO ATTEND SPRING HILL COLLEGE THERE IN MOBILE TO MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND THEN PURSUE LAW SCHOOL.

SOMETHING TELLS ME WE MIGHT SEE HIM UP HERE ONE DAY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JEREMY AND TO HIS PROUD PARENTS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS VERNON BARNETT, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

VERNON, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, IT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING TAXES.

AND WE JUST CAME THROUGH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TAX LEGISLATION.

I KNOW YOU WERE FOLLOWING IT VERY CLOSELY AND INVOLVED VERY CLOSELY.

AT ONE TIME I COUNTED 15 OR 20 TAX CUTS AND REBATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO I KNOW IT HAYS BEEN VERY INVOLVED FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

>> IT WAS.

IT'S A CRAZY SESSION AND A GOOD ONE.

REMARKABLY BUSY.

EVERYONE HAD GOOD IDEAS AND A NUMBER OF GOOD IDEAS MADE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING WITH YOU TODAY.

>> LET'S START WITH THE TAX RECENT.

WE HAD ALL OF THIS SURPLUS REVENUE, CARRY IT FORWARD OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

AND THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT MAYBE OFFERING TAXPAYERS SOME RELIEF, GIVE IT BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS.

WENT BACK AND FORTH ON HOW MUCH BUT ENDED UP WITH THIS 300 FOR COUPLES AND 150 FOR INDIVIDUALS?

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

>> HOW EXACTLY WILL THAT WORK?

WILL PEOPLE SEE THAT?

COMING IN THEIR BANK DRAFT, HOW EXACTLY WILL THAT REBATE WORK?

>> IT COULD BE EITHER.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FILED THE 2021 TAX RETURN SO WE HAVE THEIR INFORMATION, FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT LISTED ON THEIR 21 TAXES RETURNS WE WILL JUST COULD A DIRECT DEBIT INTO THAT SO IT WILL BE ELECTRONIC.

AND FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO DO NOT HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT LISTED OR THEY DO AND THE BANK ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CLOSED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN IT WILL BE A PHYSICAL CHECK THAT WE WILL SEND TO THE ADDRESS ON THAT RETURN.

>> WHEN SHOULD FOLKS EXPECT THAT.

>> SO BY THE TERMS OF THE BILL WE CAN'T SEND ANY OF THIS OUT BEFORE NOVEMBER 30.

SO THAT 1ST WEEK IN DECEMBER, EVERYONE SHOULD BE SEEING IT SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

>> SO A LITTLE CRITICISMS SHOPPING MONEY?

>> EXACTLY.

>> MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THEY INTENDED?

>> I SUSPECT THAT'S THE CASE.

>> THERE'S ALSO A BILL THAT REALLY CAUGHT FIRE ON ELIMINATING INCOME TAX ON OVERTIME WAGES EARNED.

IT PASSED AND I THINK IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

HOW DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HOW DOES THAT WORKS IN PRACTICAL TERMS?

>> IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE.

IT'S THE 1ST TIME IT HAS BEEN DONE.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS -- IT'S TWOFOLD.

INTERNALLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF PROGRAMMING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO CREATE NEW DOCUMENTS AND NEW FILINGS FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE AND I BUSINESSES INVOLVED, WHAT THEY WILL DO, TODD, THAT WILL REPORT TO US THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME PAY DURING THE PERIOD AND THEN THEY WILL TELL US HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE WORKED THAT OVERTIME.

AND SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IN TAX ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING INTERNALLY ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE IN THE REAL WORLD EXTERNALLY.

SO I'M NOT PROCESS NOW OF REACHING OUT TO THE LARGE PAYROLL COMPANIES, QUICKBOOKS WHICH IS OWNED BY INTUIT AND OTHER BIG PLAYERS IN THIS ARENA AND WORKING AND TALKING TO THEM AND GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK, WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS, WHAT FIT FALLS DO YOU SEE BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN DONE ANYWHERE ELSE.

SO WE NEED TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT EVERYONE CAN COMPLY WITH.

IT CAN CREATE A SYSTEM FOR US AND SAY OH, I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND WE TRY TO HAVE STERNS I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS AND THESE TYPE OF THINGS.

>> GREAT IDEA FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

GREAT IDEA COMING DOWN THE PIKE BUT IT'S THE IMPLEMENTATION, THE ADMINISTRATION THAT REALLY -- IT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.

>> IT IS TRUE.

AND I WILL SAY ALL OF THE PARTIES IN THIS LEGISLATION, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM, BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT CAME OUT WAS ONE THAT WE COULDN'T ADMINISTER.

AND EVERY EVERYONE -- WE ALL GOT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND CAME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO DO IT.

>> THE GOVERNOR SENT BACK A SECOND AMENDMENT AND YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT.

>> AND THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.

ALSO AND I CAN'T GIVE THE GOVERNOR ENOUGH CREDIT FOR REMOVING THE CAP.

ORIGINALLY THERE WAS A CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME THAT COULD BE WHERE THE TAX WOULD NOT BE APPLIED.

AND BY REMOVING THAT CAP, WHAT SHE DID WAS SHE MADE THIS BENEFIT AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.

SO REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU WORK FOR, HOW BIG THEY ARE, THAT SORT OF THING, IF YOU WORK OVERTIME, YOUR OVER TIME WON'T BE TAXED.

>> AND THERE'S A SUNSET ON THIS, RIGHT, THERE'S AN EXPIRATION DATE, ALMOST MAKING IT A PILOT, IF YOU WILL.

>> RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF WAYS THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

NO OTHER STATE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S ONE 1/2 YEARS SUNSET, AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN, ON THE ONE HAND IT WAS EXPANDED SO THAT EVERYONE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT OR JOY THE BENEFITS OF IT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE EXTENSIVE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SO WE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT IS THE REAL IMPACT.

BUT WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, 2024, WE, THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WILL GIVE A HISTORICAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE SAYING OVER THE PAST YEAR, '23 CALENDAR YEAR THIS AMOUNT OVER TIME WAS EARNED AND THIS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES EARNED IT AND FROM THAT POINT ON EVERY MONTH OR QUARTER WE WILL GET REPORTS DEPENDING ON HOW EMPLOYERS FILE W-2S AND THEY WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT AND WE WILL BUILD A REPORT THAT WILL GIVE THE LEGISLATURE PRIOR TO THE NEXT SESSION.

SO -- >> SO THEY WILL HAVE INFORMATION, NEEDED INFORMATION FOR MAKING THAT DECISION.

DO WE EXTEND THIS AND MAKE IT PERMANENT OR NOT?

>> EXACTLY.

DO WE NEED TO TWEAK IT?

WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT?

EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

>> I KNOW THERE WAS THIS BILL DEALING WITH SMALL BUSINESS AND THEIR SALES TAXES AND HOW THEY REMIT THE DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS THERE.

WAS IT REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT?

>> IT CERTAINLY WAS.

HE WAS A GREAT PARTNER IN THAT EFFORT AND IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE BILL.

THERE WILL BE OVER 3,000 SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT.

BUT THE WAY IT WAS IF YOU OWED -- IF YOUR BUSINESS OWED ABOUT $5,000 A MONTH, LET'S SAY, IN SALES TAX, THAT'S THE KIND OF BUSINESS LEVEL YOU WERE AT, THEN ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, YOU HAD TO BASICALLY FRONT THE MONEY TO THE STATE.

SO YOU PAYED ESTIMATED TAXES EVERY MONTH.

AND THEN WE WOULD REFUND YOU ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS OVER THAT AMOUNT.

WITH THIS BILL, IT RACES IT -- RAISES IT FROM 5,000 TO 20,000.

AND ANY SMALL BUSINESS IN THE STATE THAT DOES LESS THAN $500,000 IN SALES EVERY YEAR OR EVERY MONTH, RATHER, EXCUSE ME, WILL NOT PAY ESTIMATED TAXES ANYMORE.

SO RATHER THAN FRONTING THE MONEY TO THE STATE EVERY MONTH, YOU REMIT WHAT YOU COLLECT, AND IT'S -- THAT'S A CASH FLOW ISSUE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, IT'S A CASH FLOW THING EVERY MONTH, YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE PAYROLL AND THIS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> OUR FRIEND ROSEMARY ELABASH WAS INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT AND ALL OF THE FOLKS AT NFIB AND THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WE WERE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> AGAIN HUGE SESSION.

LOTS OF TAX ISSUES.

WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BRING YOU BACK TO WALK THROUGH ALL OF THEM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS JOHN TREADWELL, CLERK OF THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MR.

CLERK, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WELL, WE'RE JUST RECOVERING FROM THIS REALLY LONGS AND DYNAMIC SESSION.

IT WAS YOUR 1ST AS THE CLERK.

HOUSE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR GENERAL TAKE AWAYS FROM YOUR JOB AND FROM WITNESSING REALLY A PRETTY HISTORIC SESSION?

>> NO.

IT WAS A GREAT SESSION.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK.

AND AS THE SMOKE IS CLEARING KIND OF SEE HOW THINGS WENT.

AND FROM THE START, THIS BEING A BIG YEAR OF CHANGES FROM THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION AND GETTING EVERYBODY ON BOARD AND GETTING PEOPLE IN OFFICES AND GETTING THE RULES ADOPTED AND SLIDE CHANGES AND MOVING TO THE REGULAR SESSION AND THE SPEAKER COMING IN AND THE CLERK BEING NEW, HAVING A NEW RULES CHAIR, LOTS OF CHANGES.

BUT WE -- I'D BE LYING TO YOU IF I TOLD YOU THERE WASN'T A LITTLE ANXIETY GOING INTO ALL OF THAT WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES.

BUT WITHIN THE 1ST OR SECOND WEEK OF SESSION I KNOW WE WOULD BE OKAY AND GET THE JOB DONE.

AND THE SPEAKER CAME RIGHT IN AND DID A PHENOMENAL JOB PICKING UP ON PRESIDING AND STAFF WAS PHENOMENAL AND WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS ROLLING AND KEEP THINGS GOING AND MEMBERS.

I HAVE GOT TO GIVE MEMBERS CREDIT AND WORKING TOGETHER DURING SESSION AND WE SAW A LOT OF THAT.

SO I THINK OVERALL, FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, IT WAS A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL SESSION.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED ALL OF THE NEW LEADERSHIP.

AND YOU'RE ALMOST EXPECTING SOME KIND OF HICCUP AND THERE REALLY WASN'T.

SO THAT IS IMPRESSIVE.

IF YOU TALK ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING BEHIND THE SCENES.

BECAUSE WHAT WE SEE ON TV OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING OF THE PROCEEDINGS OR EVEN WHAT WE REPORT HERE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL," IT'S MAINLY THE LAWMAKERS, RIGHT?

IT'S THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL AND THE LEADERSHIP AND ALL OF THIS.

BUT WHAT THEY DON'T SEE MAYBE IS YOUR TEAM WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE ALL OF THAT WORK.

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT COMES DOWN TO BILLS GOING FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FLOOR AND THE SENATE AND EVERYTHING.

TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHERE YOU ARE TEAM AND HOW YOU ORGAN MAKING EVERYTHING WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE AT TIMES.

BUT AGAIN WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE VERY DEVOTED AND VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

WE HAVE 53 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS AND THEN WE BRING IN ABOUT 30 PEOPLE OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES PER SESSION TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND WHAT IS GOING ON.

BUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS ROLLING.

OUR JOURNAL DEPARTMENT IS WORKING CONSTANTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS PUT INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM CORRECTLY SO THAT EVERYTHING IS DOCUMENTED CORRECTLY, AND THAT DRIVES HOW THINGS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

OUR CLERK'S OFFICE, OUR ENROLLING AND ENGROSSING OFFICE, BACK AND FORTH TO THE SENATE, APPRIZED OF WHAT WE PASSED AND HAVE DONE AND AMENDMENTED AND I BELIEVE I LOOKED UNIVERSITY A NUMBER.

THERE WERE 898 MESSAGES AND REPORTS 70 IN THE ENROLLING OFFICE AND CLERK'S OFFICE SENT TO THE SENATE.

JUST THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS A LOT TO KEEP UP WITH.

>> SO YOU'RE SENDING THE SENATE A MESSAGE SAYING WE HAVE PASSED THIS BILL, NOW IT'S IN YOUR HANDS OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND ACCURACY IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT IN THAT PROCESS TO KEEP THINGS FLOWING AND CHEAP THINGS MOVING AND OUR FOLKS DID A FACEMASK JOB OF THAT THIS SESSION.

ANOTHER CRITICAL PIECE IS THE ENROLLING AND ENGROSSING OF AMENDMENTS INTO THE BILL AND OUR ENROLLING AND ENGROSSING DEPARTMENT DID A FACEMASK JOB OF CULLING THROUGH AMENDMENTS AND SUBSTITUTES AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER IN THE END AND THE PROPER DOCUMENT WAS TRANSMITTED UPSTAIRS OR TRANSMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE THINGS WENT REALLY WELL AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD STAFF THERE DOING A FACEMASK JOB.

OUR COMMITTEE CLERKS -- I MEAN WE GIVE ALL OF OUR ATTENTION SOMETIMES TO THE FLOOR AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FLOOR AND THE CHAMBER AND THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF WHAT WE DO.

BUT OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, WE HAD A LOT OF NEW COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN THIS SESSION WHO CAME IN AND DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AND STEPPING IN AND KNOWING THE RULES RELATING TO THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, OUR COMMITTEE CLERKS, OUR TO ASSISTANTS WORKED HARD TO MAKES SURE THOSE MEMBERS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THINGS MOVING AND FLOWING.

WE HAD ONE RULE CHANGE THIS YEAR WHERE WE ENGROSSED COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS INTO A SUBSTITUTE.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT WAS A CHANGE AND IT TOOK A LITTLE GETTING USED TO.

BUT DO YOU THINK IT MADE IT FLOW BETTER.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT D THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A LEARNING CONSERVE CURVE THERE AND FOR MEMBERS TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THAT PROCESS.

UNDER THE OLD RULES IF WE PASSED TWO COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS THOSE WOULD BE INTO THE JACKET WHEN THAT BILL WAS BROUGHT UP ON THE FLOOR ON THE SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR OR WE WOULD VOTE INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE ENGROSSED IN THE BILL AND THE BILL WAS SENT TO THE SENATE.

UNDER THIS NEW RULE CHANGE THE AMENDMENTS WERE ENGROSSED INTO A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE SO THAT DOCUMENT WITH HIGHLIGHTING AND UNDERLINING TO SHOW WHAT CHANGED, WHERE THOSE AMENDMENTS FIT INTO THE BILL AND THEN THAT DOCUMENT WAS SENT TO THE CHAMBER FLOOR FOR CONSIDERATION AND A FINAL VOTE.

SO THAT NEW PROCEDURALLY WE HAD ONE VOTE VERSUS TWO AND IT ALSO ALLOWED OTHER MEMBERS SO SAY WHAT THEY COULD DO.

>> OR IF YOU HAD SIXTIES THERE WOULD BE SIX VOTES.

>> AND ALSO IN THE GAMUT IT THINGS THAT YOU DO TO THAT BILL WAS ON THE FLOOR, IF EVERYONE JUST RETHOUGHT THAT AND WE WERE LIKE, NO, WE DON'T WANT THIS IN THE BILL, IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AN AMENDMENT AND TAKE THAT PORTION OUT AND GO BACK TO SOME OF THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, ALL OF THOSE PROCEDURES WERE STILL IN PLACE, ALL OF THE SAFEGUARDS WERE STILL THERE TO DO FIX OR CHANGE ANYTHING THAT MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO FIX OR CHANGE.

>> I KNOW THERE WAS THIS ONE HICK UP WITH THE WRONG BILL, I GUESS, MAKING IT THROUGH COMMITTEE AND EVENTUALLY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK WHERE I GUESS SHE ENDED UP SIGNING THE WRONG VERSION OF THE BILL.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

ARE THERE HICCUPS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM?

BECAUSE IT WAS BRAND-NEW, RIGHT?

>> AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT EARLIER H1 OF OUR BIG CHANGES THAT WE HAD THIS SESSION WAS IMPLEMENTING THE NEW SYSTEM THAT STARTS WITH THE BILL DRAFTING PROCESS AND IS INTEGRATED ALL THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GET THAT IN PLACE AND TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY TO GO AND MOVING BUT THIS WAS OUR ACTUAL SESSION IN PUTTING EVERYTHING INTO MOTION SO WE KNEE THERE WERE GOING TO BE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO TWEAK AND THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO CLAIMS AND THIS GAVE OF GAVE US A GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND ON THAT PARTICULAR OCCASIONAL WHERE THE WRONG BILL WAS TRANSMITTED THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM.

THAT WAS THE NIGHT WE STAYED LATE FOR THE BUDGET.

WE WERE -- >> THAT LONG THURSDAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK THIS BILL WAS, IF I'M CORRECT, IT WAS TRANSMITTED ABOUT 12:38 THE NEXT DAY ON FRIDAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN OUR ENROLLING AND ENGROSSING DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS WORKING HARD AND CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE IN THERE CORRECTLY.

THEY DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM THAT IT REVERTED BACK TO THE ENGROSSED VERSION OF THE BILL WHICH DROPPED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL.

>> I SEE.

>> WELL, YEAH, THAT LONG THURSDAY.

I MEAN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES AND EVERYTHING SO I MEAN -- YEAH.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S A LONG NIGHT.

IT'S GOT TO BE A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR STAFF JUST TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING IN THERE.

THEY'RE RECESSING AND COMING BACK.

THEY WERE THERE UNTIL 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF STARTS AND STOPS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE TEAM AT LSA, THE FISCAL DIVISION, CURT AND THOSE FOLKS THAT WE WORKED WITH ON THE BUDGET AS WELL AS PAT HARRIS AND THE SENATE TEAM.

IT TOOK ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AND TO DO KEEP THINGS FLOWING AND THAT REALLY MADE US SUCCESSFUL ON THAT NIGHT TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER, GET THE JOB DONE.

I MEAN I KNOW SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T LOOK PRETTY WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF STOPPING AND STARTING OF BUT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT WE HAD THE BUDGETS READY TO GO AND HAD PROOFED THOSE AND IT WAS READY TO MOVE ALONG.

>> THAT WAS A LONG NIGHT FOR ALL OF US.

I REMEMBER WE WERE GOING LIVE AT 10:30.

AND USUALLY THE LEGISLATURE IS DONE BY THEN AND I WAS, LIKE, TEXTING WITH CHAIRMAN REYNOLDS ABOUT, ARE THESE BUDGET NUMBERS RIGHT AND HE'S TEXTING MIDDLE EAST RIGHT AS WE'RE GOING LIVE.

WELL, WE'RE NOT DONE.

WE'RE COMING BACK HERE IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

IT HALVES NOT BEEN CALLED YET BUT REDISTRICTING, IT'S LOOKING LIKE JULY.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A DEADLINE FOR JULY 21.

TALK ABOUT YOUR PREPARATIONS.

AND I KNOW EVERYBODY KIND OF NEEDS A BREAK BUT WE'RE COMING RIGHT BACK.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION ON THAT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF REMINDING THEM, HEY, WE'RE NOT DONE.

GET GEARED BACK UP AND READY TO GO AND IN JULY WE COULD BE BACK IN MID TO LATE JULY TO GET THINGS DONE.

SO COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF, KEEPING THEM UP TO DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEN TRYING TO SUPPORT THE JOINTLY APPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER, CONSIDER PLANS AND ADOPT PLANS AND GET EVERYTHING READY TO GO FOR THAT SESSION TO CONSIDER THAT LEGISLATION.

>> HOW SOON DO YOU THINK -- WELL, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY.

>> TUESDAY, RIGHT.

>> READY OR NOT, HERE WE GO.

>> AND WITH OUR NEW -- WITH 22 MEMBERS ON THE JOINT REAPPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGE IN RULE 200 AND WE HAVE STAFF GETTING THAT READY TO GO SO WE CAN FACILITATE EVERYONE THAT DAY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT POTENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING AND HAVING EVERYTHING READY TO GO FOR ACTUAL SESSION.

>> WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND WE WILL BE THERE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I ENJOYED IT.

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, FLORIDA GATORS IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.

I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG GATERS FAN.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

>> I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

I KNOW LSU IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH TEAM TO TAKE DOWN.

I DO HAVE JUDGES HILL ON MY SIDE SO I'M HOPING THAT WILL WORK TO OUR ADVANTAGE, AND ALL I CAN SAY IS GO GATERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD DEAL.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS MARK DICK SON, PRESIDENT OF THE A + EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.

MARK, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON, BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING A PRETTY MOMENTOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION FULL OF ISSUES, A LOT HAD TO DO WITH EDUCATION.

MAYBE SOMEWHAT OVERSHADOWED BY THE TAX BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT A LOT OF BILLS DEALING WITH EDUCATION.

I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT.

YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY A POLICY EXPERT AND WORK ON A LOT OF THESE BILLS.

LET'S START WITH THE BUDGETS.

I GUESS THE BUDGET, THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

RECORD SPENDING.

RESPECT HAD THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL WITH SPENDING THERE.

TALK ABOUT WHERE THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE EDUCATION FRONT.

>> YOU KNOW I THINK THE LEGISLATORS HAD A LOT TO DO -- A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND.

CERTAINLY $2.8 BILLION SURPLUS THEY HAD TO ALLOCATE.

FROM IT WAS GOOD WITH THE ONE TIME MONEY TO INFECTION ON CAPITAL NEEDS AND RISE IN IN POLICE STATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT TO DISTRICTS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF NEEDS THEY HAVE AND TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.

AND THEY ALSO INCLUDED OTHER THINGS RELATED TO PRE-K AND SOME ARE LEARNING CAMPS BOTH READING AND MATH SO ONE TIME MONEY THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEND WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR IMPLEMENTING THE LITERACY ACT AND NUMERACY ACT AND CONTINUING TO RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAIN BUDGET, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE IN OVER $8 BILLION, JUST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GROWTH.

AND THERE'S A 2% PAY RAISE NOR TEACHERS AND NOR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLY MONEY FOR THEM AS WELL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INITIATIVES DRIVING A LOT OF WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE MAKE REAL CHANGES AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, LIKE THE LITERACY ACT MAINTAINING THAT FUNDING AND CONTINUING TO FUND READING COACHES AND OTHER PROGRAMS, AN INCREASE IN THE ALABAMA NUMERACY ACT, CONTINUING THAT IMPLEMENTATION, DOUBLING COMPUTER SCIENCE TRAINING -- THAT'S A WITH HUGE PRIORITY BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRAINING FOR TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE IN AN AREA OF GROWTH.

AND THEN OF COURSE AN OVERALL OF $12 MILLION INCREASE IN ALABAMA'S 1ST CLASS PRE-K WHICH ROCKY MOUNTAINS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRE-K PROGRAMS IN THE NATION BUT WE'RE STILL LESS THAN 50 PERCENT OF STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED THERE SO A REAL PUSH BY THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLASSROOMS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND.

>> THAT WAS GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK WHEN -- GETTING UP THERE WITH THE GOAL OF 70 PERCENT I GUESS.

>> THEY ALSO CREATED THIS EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

I GUESS $250 MILLION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT AWAY FOR I HAVE GETS A RAINY DAY OF SORTS.

THEY CAN SPEND ANYTIME LEAN BUDGET YEARS THINKING WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN HIGH COTTON SO TO SPEAK.

WAS THAT A WISE MOVE?

DO YOU SEE THAT AS A POSITIVE.

>> I DO.

I THINK WITH COMING OUT OF COVID AND THE WORLD THE WAY IT IS NOW, AND LISTENING TO ECONOMISTS, EVERYONE DIS AGREES AND THINK SOMETHING IS COMING BUT NOBODY KNOWS.

SO BEING CAUTIOUS THERE IS IMPORTANT.

OF THE CURRENT STRUCTURE WITH THE ROLLING RESERVE ONLY ALLOWS THE SAVINGS TO BE TAPPED ONCE YOU DECLARE PRORATION WHICH IS A PRETTY DIRE MOMENT.

I THINK HAVING A SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHERE YOU CAN BE FLEXIBLE AND SAY THINGS ARE SLOWING DOWN, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE LITERACY ACT AND NUMERACY ACT AND OTHER PRIORITIES THEY SET, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THINGS JUST TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOT THAT CUSHION IF WE NEED IT.

>> AND THAT'S A GOOD DISTINCTION TO MAKE BECAUSE WE HAVE RAINY DAY ACCOUNTS AND THE ROLLING RESERVE, BUT, YEAH, YOU HAVE TO DECLARE PRORATION TO GET IT AND THAT'S REALLY UNLIKELY GIVEN SORT OF HOW THAT LAW WORKS SO THIS WOULD NOT REQUIRE THAT.

IT WOULD SIMPLY BE THE LEGISLATURE DRAWING ON IT SO THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

THERE WERE SOME POLICY CHANGES, POLICY BILLS, CHANGES TO CURRENT LAWS THAT PASSED.

I WANTED TO START WITH THE BILL FROM SENATOR OR DEALING WITH PRINCIPALS, BASICALLY IN COUNTING, INCENTIVIZING PRINCIPALS AND MENTOR MENTORSHIP.

TALK ABOUT WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

>> SO PRINCIPALS ARE SO CRITICAL IN MOVING OUR STATE, "IN ORDER WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES ZERO FOR STUDENTS.

THEY ARE THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL.

RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTURE.

YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT FEW TEACHERS AND THEY'RE GREAT WITH THEIR 25 STUDENTS OR MORE BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MOVE THAT BUILDING AND MAKE PROGRESS OVER TIME YOU NEED A GOOD PRINCIPAL AND WE HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING PRINCIPALS IN THAT WAY.

THIS EFFORT WAS LED BY VICK WILSON AND CLASS AND THEY REPRESENTED ADMINISTRATORS AROUND THE STATE.

WHAT IT DID WAS SAY, HEY, WHY DON'T WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STIPENDS FOR PRINCIPLES AND THIS IS $10,000 A YEAR FOR PRINCIPALS, $5,000 A YEAR FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, THE COMPLETED RIGOROUS PROGRAM OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.

SO THAT AS FAR AS WITH AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO MEET EVERY YEAR AND HAVE TO MEET WITH THE SCHOOLS AND TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND IN A COUPLE OF YEARS IT WILL ADD A NEW TWO-YEAR PROGRAM FOR NEW PRINCIPALS TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL, A NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRESS AND GROWTH AS WELL AS ACHIEVEMENT AS A PART OF THAT AND ALSO A FULL YEAR KIND OF INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OVER ADVERTISEMENT THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND ONCE THAT IS IMPLEMENTED THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS AND GET THE ADDITIONAL STIPEND, BUT IT'S ALSO AN ADDITIONAL STIPEND FOR SCHOOLS THAT ARE HARD TO STAFF, HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOLS, AND THEY WILL GET $15,000 AS A PRINCIPAL AND 7500 FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS BECAUSE WE WANT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO BE INCENTIVIZED TO GO WHERE WE HAVE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES.

>> THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

I'M JUST THINKING OF IT MORE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HAVING TRAINED THEM TO BE PRINCIPLES AND I WAS TALKING TO SENATOR O ARE THEM R AND NOT EVERYBODY IS CUT OUT FOR IT AND MAYBE THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF TRAINING AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL OR WHATEVER, SO I DO THINK THAT -- AND LIKE YOU SAID FOR THE HARD-TO-STAFF AREAS GIVING INCIDENTS THERE, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD BILL.

>> THE NEXT THING TO THINK ABOUT IS TEACHER LEADERSHIP IN THE FEW.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO GO THE PRINCIPAL ROUTE.

THEY MAY WANT TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM BUT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR TEACHERS IN THE FUTURE AND THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THE STATE GOING FORWARD.

>> INTERESTING.

YOU ALSO WORKED WITH REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS ON THIS ALSO CREDENTIAL -- IMPROVING CREDENTIALS.

YOU CAN SEE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

I REMEMBER FOLLOWING IT BUT I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE IT CAME FROM.

COULD YOU WALK THROUGH WHY THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT?

>> IN ALABAMA WE HAVE A GRADUATION RATE OF COURSE BUT WE ALSO HAVE A COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS RATE, OUR INDICATOR THAT STUDENTS WANT TO ACHIEVE TO SEW THAT THEY'RE REALLY READY FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR LIVES AND THOSE INDICATORS INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM HAVING A QUALIFYING STORE ON THE ACT TO ALSO PASSING AN AP COURSE, DUAL ENROLLMENT AND ONE OF THEM IS GETTING AN INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL.

THE GOVERNOR AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THIS ALONG WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CREDENTIALS ARE LEADING TO SOMETHING SO THEY PUT A LOT OF PROCESSES IN PLACE TO SAY IS THIS CREDENTIAL HIGH QUALITY, IS IT A LINE TO NEED, DOES IT BUILD OVER ADVERTISEMENT SO STUDENT STUDENTS KNOW THEY'RE ON TRACK FOR AN EFFECTIVE CAREER OR COLLEGE OR PATH THEY CHOOSE.

>> THIS ENSURES THE QUALITY OF THE COMMERCIALS AND COD PHASE AN EFFORT BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REQUIRE A COLLEGE INDICATOR FOR GRADUATION WHICH WOULD BE GOOD TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR STUDENTS OVER TIME.

IT ALSO CODIFIES OUR STATE'S LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM, ATLAS AND WE CAN LOOK AT DATA AND SEE ARE THE CREDENTIALS HAVING THE NECESSARY EFFECT AND ARE THE PROGRAMS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING HAVING AN IMPACT ON STUDENTS OR NOT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES LONG-TERM.

>> INTERESTING.

THERE WERE ALSO CHANGES TO THE LITERACY TASK FORCE.

I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR SOME TIME.

BILL GOT CHANGED A LITTLE BIT ALONG THE WAY.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED.

>> SO WHEN THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT PASSED IN 2019 IT CREATED THE LITERACY TASK FORCE WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE MADE UP OF EXPERT EDUCATORS ACROSS ALABAMA, A REALLY STELLAR GROUP OF FOLKS.

THEY PUT THEM IN CHARGE OF KIND OF RECOMMENDING THE HIGH-QUALITY CORE READING PROGRAMS, THE CORE CURRICULUM THAT TEACHERS NEED, INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO WORK WITH STRUGGLING READERS, AS WELL AS ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY STRUGGLING READERS EARLY IN STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA EARLY TO PROVIDE THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ALIGNED WITH SCIENCE OF READING AND THAT'S WHY THE LIT WAS TASK FORCE WAS PUT IN PLACE.

THERE HAD BEEN CONCERNS RAISED BY THE CONTENT AS WELL AS BY SOME OF THE ASSESSMENT VENDORS THAT WERE NOT ON THAT RECOMMENDED LIST AND DID NOT -- SO THERE WERE QUESTIONS PUT FORWARD.

THE ORIGINAL BILL WOULD HAVE HAD SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND MAY SLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW, AND SO WE WERE GRATEFUL TO REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT, THE SPONSOR TO TAKE SOME AMENDMENTS AND GET THAT TO IMPROVE THE BILL AND HELP IT TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT JUST PROVIDED A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR FOLKS MOVING FROM ONE ASSESSMENT TO ANOTHER OR TO PROVIDE THOSE ASSESSMENTS TIME TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR LITERACY LAW.

IT'S A VERY RIGOROUS LAW.

AND IT ALSO PROVIDED LEGISLATORS WITH TWO APPOINTMENTS THEY CAN ADD EDUCATORS TO THE TASK FORCE SO THEY HAVE INPUT INTO THE PROCESS.

>> BUT I WILL SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING GOING FORWARD IS THAT WE FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LITERACY.

IT IS THE FOUNDATION.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THIS LAW AND GIVE STUDENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED WE HAVE TO DO THIS AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY.

THAT IS CRITICAL GOING FORWARD.

>> WELL, LET ME GO FURTHER ON THAT BECAUSE I READ THIS GREAT STORY.

WE ACTUALLY RAN IT IN THE DAILY NEWS.

THE MISSISSIPPI MIRACLE, RIGHT, AN AP STORY ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS -- YOU SAW THE CHARTS AND MISSISSIPPI'S READING SCORES JUST SKYROCKETING AFTER THEY DID SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT YEARS BEFORE.

AND YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT ALABAMA AND OUR MOST RECENT PROGRESS, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT QUITE MISSISSIPPI'S LEVEL BUT I BRING IT UP BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE LITERACY EFFORT, THE LAW OF THE TASK FORCE AND ALL OF THIS, AND THIS WAS WIDELY READ.

MOST PAPERS RAN THIS.

DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN THEY'RE JUST HEAPING PRAISE ON MISSISSIPPI, AND WE PASS A LAW BASICALLY IDENTICAL TO IT, DOES IT HELP YOU AND HELP OTHER ADVOCATES GIVE LAWMAKERS KIND OF A VISUAL OF LIKE THIS IS WHAT IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GOAL TO ATTAIN SORT OF VISUALIZE THAT AND ACTUALIZE IT?

>> SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING.

ONE WE WANT ALL STATES TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE IN THIS FOR.

WE WANT ALL KIDS TO READ AND GO ON AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE.

MISSISSIPPI SHOWS THAT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT EFFECTIVE PRACTICES THAT POLICIES IN PLACE THAT ARE GROUNDED IN RESEARCH, THAT WE KNOW WORK, AND YOU STILL WITH IT OVER THE LONG HAUL THAT YOU CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROCESS.

THEY BASED THEIR LAW ON A LAW FLORIDA DID MANY YEARS AGO AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION AS WELL AS WORK FROM OUR ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE HERE IN ALABAMA OVER THE COURSE OF TIME TO PUT IN READING COACHES AND SCHOOLS SO THEY PUT ALL OF THAT INTO A LAW AND HAD VERY EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION FROM DR. CARRIE RIGHT, STATE SUPERINTENDENT AT THE TIME AND REALLY HAS LED TO MEETING THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND NOT ONLY READING BUT ALSO IN MATH AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY STUCK TO THE BASICS OF PUTTING IN THE HIGH RIGOROUS STANDARDS, ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE ALIGNED TO IT, READING COACHES AND SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THEY TEAM THE MOST AND THOSE HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE TALK ABOUT FROM CURRICULA TO STRUGGLING OR INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE NECESSARY ASSESSMENTS TO TRACK YOUR PROGRESS.

SO IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND OUR LITERACY ACT IS BASED ON THAT.

IF WE MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND AND CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT AS WELL, WE WILL GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

WE WERE -- WE MADE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN 4TH GRADE READING IN 2011 AND WE CAN GET BACK THERE IF WE DO THIS RIGHT.

>> YEAH, DR. MACKEY TALKS ABOUT THAT KIND OF TAKING THE-FOOT OFF THE GAS IN THAT BEARD PERIOD THAT WE HAD THERE.

WELL, HOW ARE WE DOING?

HOW IS THAT IMPLEMENTATION GOING?

IT WAS 2019 WHEN WE PASSED THE LAW.

OBVIOUSLY COVID INTERRUPTED SOME OF THAT.

HAVE WE MADE UP FOR LOST TIME A LITTLE BIT?

HOW IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LITERACY ACT GOING?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR NATIONAL'S DATA REPORT CARD AND COMPARE 2019 TO 22, DURING THE PANDEMIC ALABAMA WATTS ONE OF THE THREE STATES TO MAKE A SMALL GAINS.

A LOT OF OTHER STATES DID NOT.

SO THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY IN A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR TEACHERS AND FOR STUDENTS THE.

AND WE SAW THIS RECENTLY, SOME RESULTS COME OUT ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND THE FACT THAT WE DID SLIP A LITTLE BIT THIS AREA FOR OUR 3RD GRADERS.

THESE ARE ALSO THE 3RD GRADERS THAT WERE IN KINDERGARTEN AND 3RD GRADE DURING THE HEAVY COVID PERIOD AND THEY WERE HIT HARD AND THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY GET CAUGHT UP AND IT'S GOOD TO TRACK THAT PROGRESS OVER TIME.

SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE HAVE TO CAPITAL OUR-FOOT ON THE GAS, SO TO SPEAK.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE WERE ALSO CHANGES MADE TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL RAW, KIND OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND ALSO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THERE.

WERE Y'ALL SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE CHANGES?

>> WE ARE A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL OPTIONS IN THE STATE.

WE FELT THESE WERE VERY LONG OVERDUE, VERY NECESSARY CHANGES TO THE LAW.

ONE, IT STRENGTHENS THE ALABAMA CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION.

IT LENGTHENS THE TERM OF THOSE COMMISSIONERS FROM TWO TO FOUR YEARS SO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE PAPER CLIPS AND THE STAPLER IS BEFORE THEY GET MOVED OUT SO IT ALSO PROVIDES THEM TRAINING BECAUSE THIS IS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT AND PROVIDES TRAINING SO THEY CAN IMPROVE THAT.

AND IT ALSO PROVIDES DIRECT APPOINTMENTS FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS BY THE GOVERNOR, LT.

GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT JUST CLEANS UP A LOT OF THAT AND ALSO MAKES SOME ADJUSTMENTS AROUND CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE THREE CONVERSION CHARTERS MEANING THEY TOOK A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND CONVERTED IT INTO A CHARTER COOL AND PROVIDED THAT FLEX BIT.

IT JUST MAKES SOME CORRECTIONS ON FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS CLEAR MUCH WE THINK THAT'S A FREIGHT OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER DISTRICTS TODD IN THE FEW AND THIS WILL JUST MAKE THAT CHEER AS WELL.

THE GOAL HERE IS TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT CHARTER COMMISSION THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE STAFF THAT CAN DO THE WORK NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER HAD ECOSYSTEM IN THE STATE.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PAYING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN MONTGOMERY WITH THE CONVERSIONS.

LOOK IT'S EARLY BUT IT'S A LOT OF PRETTY PROMISING AND THAT COULD BE A MODEL THAT IS MAYBE COPIED MORE, SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES THERE.

LET ME ASK YOU ON THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

THERE ASS LOT OF SOUND AND FURRY AROUND THIS PRICE ACT.

THIS IS THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED PARENTS TO TAKE UP TO $6,900, ALMOST $7,000 FROM THE ETF, FROM THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR USE THAT FOR HOMESCHOOLING.

A LOT OF SOUND AND FURRY AT THE BEGINNING.

GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE AND NEVER HAD A FLOOR VOTE AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF OFTEN SIGNIFICANCE TO IT.

I WANT TO ASK FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHY THIS BILL NEVER REALLY GOT OFF THE GROUND.

>> I THINK THERE'S JUST STILL A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO.

THIS WOULD BE A BIG SWING FOR OUR STATE IN A COMPLETELY NEW DIRECTION.

THEORY OTHER STATES THAT HAVE MOVED IN THIS AREA.

THERE WERE OTHER BILLS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN -- REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT HAD THE SUN BILL WITH REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS THAT WOULD HAVE FOCUSED ON STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, MILITARY FAMILIES, FOSTER CHILDREN, HOMELESS CHILDREN -- SO START SMALL AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS INTEREST IN EXPANDING THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE.

THE GOVERNOR MADE IT A PRIORITY AND THE LEGISLATORS GLOMMED ON TO THAT AND WE TALK ABOUT THE CHARTER CHANGES, AND THERE WAS ALSO CHANGES TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT THAT RAISES THE CAP THAT CAN BE FOR TAX CREDITS THAT CAN BE GIVEN FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THOSE STUDENTS IN HIGH POVERTY AREAS AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT THERE THAT WE CAN TO DO IMPROVE AND LEARN OVER TIME BEFORE JUMPING IN WITH BOTH FEET INTO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

>> YEAH.

AND I KEPT HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW IT USUALLY TAKES A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR AN IDEA TO RIPEN AND GET IT PAST.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT -- I KEPT HEARING THAT FROM FOLKS TOO, LIKE LET'S USE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT IS ALREADY FOCUSED ON STUDENTS IN STRUGGLING AREAS YOU KNOW, GETTING THEM OPTIONS OUT OF THERE, SO, YEAH, I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND THE SPONSORS SAY THEY'RE COMING BACK AND MAY BE WILLING TO LOOK AT SOME CHANGES SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

BUT BEFORE I LET YOU GO.

I KNOW IT WAS A BIG WEEK LAST WEEK.

YOUR STUDENT VOICES TEAM WAS IN MONTGOMERY FOR A PRETTY SPECIAL DAY.

TALK ME THROUGH WHAT ALL -- WHAT IS THE STUDENT VOICES TEAM AND WHAT DO THEY GET TO DO HERE.

>> THE A PLUS STUDENT VOICES TEAM IS RELATIVELY NEW.

IT'S ONLY BEEN AROUND TWO OR THREE YEARS AND IT BRINGS TOGETHER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE STATE.

THEY APPLY TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM AND THEY CAN STAY IN IT THROUGHOUT THAT YOU ARE HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

THEY COME TOGETHER.

THIS HE LEARN ABOUT ADVOCACY.

THIS HE LEARN ABOUT EDUCATION.

THEY LEARN ABOUT POLICY.

THEY DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH.

THEY POLL THEIR STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE STATE.

WE HAD OVER 500 RESPONDENTS THIS TIME AROUND AND THAT'S ALL THEIR WORK.

THEY CREATE IT AND THEN THEY IDENTIFY WHAT ARE CHALLENGES STUDENTS ARE FEELING FROM AROUND THE STATE, WHETHER IT'S KIND OF A LACK OF STUDENT VOICE AND POLICY MAKING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S TEACHER SHORTAGES, A LOT OF STUDENTS EXPRESSING THOSE AND THEN OF COURSE MENTAL HEALTH REMAINS IN THE WAKE OF COVID, REMAINS A REAL CHALLENGE AND NEEDED TO BE A FOCUS THERE.

SO A LOT OF GOOD RESEARCH AND THEY COME AND THEY MEET WITH LEGISLATORS.

THEY ALSO AT THIS TIME WHEN THEY CAME AND MET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SHE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SIT DOWN IN HER OFFICE AND WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.

>> HERE THEY ARE.

>> SO SHE LISTENED TO THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ASKED THEM QUESTIONS.

AND THEN THEY ALSO WERE ABLE TO MEET STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AT THEIR MONTHLY MEETING SO IT WAS JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AND WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> VERY COOL.

WHAT AN INTERESTING -- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT BECAUSE WHEN ALL OF THE POLICIES GET DISCUSSED HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THE STATE BOARD IT'S ALWAYS ADULTS.

OBVIOUSLY STUDENTS ARE THE FOCUS SO TO GIVE THEM A VOICE IS REALLY INTERESTING.

AND REALLY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

SO THAT'S REALLY COOL.

>> WE APPRECIATED EVERYONE'S TIME.

IT WAS A VERY NEAT EXPERIENCE.

>> VERY COOL.

LOOK WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COPPING AND PLAYING SOME ISSUES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK, RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪