FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY.

I'M TODD STACEY.

WELCOME TO CAPITAL JOURNAL.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A WEEK IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

THAT LEAVES 18 POSSIBLE MEETING DAYS LEFT IN THE SESSION WITH TWO SPRING BREAK WEEKS PLANNED FOR MARCH.

LAWMAKERS SPENT MUCH OF THE WEEK DEALING WITH AN ISSUE THEY NEVER EXPECTED TO CROP UP GOING INTO THIS YEAR'S SESSION IN VITRO FERTILIZATION AND ATTEMPTING TO OFFER IVF CLINICS AND PATIENTS LIABILITY PROTECTIONS IN THE WAKE OF THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT'S RULING THAT FROZEN EMBRYOS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED CHILDREN UNDER ALABAMA LAW.

THAT RULING LED IVF CLINICS ACROSS THE STATE TO PAUSE THEIR SERVICES, LEAVING PROSPECTIVE PATIENTS IN LIMBO.

THIS WEEK, HUNDREDS OF IVF ADVOCATES DESCENDED ON THE STATE HOUSE TO URGE LAWMAKERS TO TAKE ACTION.

CAPITAL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT HAS THE STORY.

>> IT'S FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR THE REGULAR SESSION WHEN LAWMAKERS GET NEW PROPOSALS DUE TO A DECISION FROM THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT'S RULING ON IVF TREATMENTS.

THE RESULT IS HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS COMING TO THE STATEHOUSE TO LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD.

>> OUR MOTTO IS ADVANCED FERTILITY CARE CLOSE TO HOME.

THE SUPREME COURT RULING THREATENS THE EXISTENCE OF OUR PRACTICE AS WELL AS THE AVAILABILITY OF ADVANCED FERTILITY TREATMENTS TO >> THE WOMEN AND FAMILIES OF ALABAMA.

WE BELIEVE THAT ANY SOLUTION >> MUST PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR PATIENTS AND CLINICS.

>> THE ALABAMA HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS DISCUSSES A PROPOSAL THERE STANDING BEHIND HOUSE BILL >> 225 CODIFY INTO LAW A FUNDAMENTAL FACT THAT A FERTILIZED EMBRYO OUTSIDE OF A HUMAN UTERUS IS CERTAINLY NOT ANY FORM OF PERSON UNDER LAW.

REPRESENTATIVE >> TERRI COLLINS INTRODUCES HOUSE BILL 237 TO ALSO ADDRESS THIS TOPIC.

THIS PROPOSAL WAS APPROVED AND >> APPEARS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR DEBATE ON THURSDAY.

THIS BILL WOULD >> PROVIDE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL IMMUNITY OR DEATH OR CRIMINAL IMMUNITY OR DEATH OR DAMAGE TO AN EMBRYO TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR INTERSTATE WHEN PROVIDING OR RECEIVING GOODS OR SERVICES RELATED >> TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US CAME TO THE MICROPHONE TO TALK AND SAY LET'S LOOK AT THIS BILL BEFORE WE PASS IT SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE ANY MIS INTERPRETATION OF IS INTENT.

THE RULING >> BY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PARK IS A MIS INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE INTENT WAS OF THE ALABAMA ABORTION BILL.

>> HOUSE BILL 237 IS APPROVED AT THE STATEHOUSE.

RIDLEY SCOTT CAPITAL-JOURNAL NO.

THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A SIMILAR BILL ON THURSDAY AS WELL.

SO WHERE ARE WE IN THIS PROCESS?

IT TAKES FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS FOR A BILL TO BECOME A LAW.

THURSDAY WAS THE WORST DAY THREE OF THAT PROCESS.

THE BILLS WILL GO TO THE OTHER CHAMBERS FOR COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION LIKELY ON TUESDAY WITH THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE FINAL PASSAGE ON WEDNESDAY.

AND BECAUSE WHAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE PASS WERE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES COULD BE NEEDED.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE THESE BILLS ARE SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE IVF LIABILITY ISSUE.

IN ORDER TO GET CLINICS OPERATIONAL AGAIN, MANY ON BOTH SIDES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THE MORE LONG TERM FALLOUT FROM THE RULING MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED UPDATED WITH THE LATEST HERE ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

ANOTHER BIG ISSUE THIS WEEK WAS GAMBLING NOT BECAUSE ANY VOTES WERE TAKEN BUT BECAUSE OF A CONFUSING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT LEFT LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES WONDERING WHAT THE FUTURE IS ON THIS ISSUE.

THE SENATE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MET WEDNESDAY FOR ITS REGULAR MEETING.

THERE WERE NO BILLS POSTED ON THE AGENDA, BUT A PUBLIC HEARING WAS EVENTUALLY CALLED TO ALLOW ADVOCATES TO HAVE THEIR SAY.

ALL WHILE THERE WAS ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION BEING DRAFTED BEHIND THE SCENES.

THIS LED TO SOME CONFUSION AND IRRITATION AMONG COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE THE LEGISLATION WAS BEFORE THEM OR WHAT WAS IN THE POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTE.

JEFF SANDERS HAS MORE ON WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT WITH THE GAMBLING PACKAGE.

A CHAOTIC >> COMMITTEE HEARING THIS WEEK ON PROPOSED GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

EVERYTHING THAT I SAW ON THIS MEETING WAS TO BE ANNOUNCED.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BILL WAS GOING TO BE HERE, DIDN'T KNOW WAS GOING TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING IN ABOUT >> 6 OR 7 ON THE LIST TO SPEAK.

IF IT BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU ALL, I WOULD ASK THE CHAIRMAN WOULD GIVE THEM EACH A MINUTE TO SPEAK AND THEN I WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN.

DEMOCRATIC >> AND REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ARE UPSET OVER WHY THEY WERE NOT TOLD GAMBLING AND A PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA.

IT >> IS ALMOST LIKE A LITTLE BABY SHOWER.

YOU KNOW, THEY JUST BEEN TALKING TO THEMSELVES.

THEY BEGGED PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND WHATEVER DATE WHATEVER THEY THEY'RE USING TO DO IT.

DEMOCRATIC >> SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN REFERRING TO A PAIR OF SUBSTITUTE BILLS BEING WRITTEN TO REPLACE GAMBLING LEGISLATION ALREADY PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR GREGG ALBRITTON IS CARRYING THOSE BILLS IN THE SENATE.

THIS >> IS WHAT YOU SEE IN THE SAUSAGE MAKING.

YOU TRY TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER AND I'LL ADMIT I WAS THE CAUSE OF TODAY'S MEETING, MEANING I WANTED TO HAVE MY BILL ON IN THE COMMITTEE.

I WAS ACCOMMODATED THAT BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TWO OTHER SUBS THAT'S INTERFERING AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE DOING THIS AND DIFFERENT VOTE COUNTS AND SUCH, IT THROWS A MONKEY WRENCH INTO THAT SAUSAGE.

>> ALBRITTON TABLE OF HIS BILLS FOR NOW AND SAYS HE'S HOPEFUL TO PUT TOGETHER LEGISLATION THAT CAN GAIN BROAD SUPPORT.

MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON >> SAYS HE'S MET WITH REPUBLICAN DRAFTING SUBSTITUTE GAMBLING BILLS >> OVER THE WEEKEND.

THAT WE CAN COME BACK WITH A DRAFT, PUT IT IN COMMITTEE BY TUESDAY AND BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN VOTE ON.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS JUST >> TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING WHERE EVERYBODY IS INCLUDED AND >> WHATEVER LEGISLATION POTENTIALLY COMES OUT OF COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK WILL THEN HEAD HERE TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR WHAT COULD BE A VERY CONTENTIOUS DEBATE.

REPORTING FOR CAPITAL JOURNAL, I'M JEFF SANDERS.

YOU'VE >> HEARD US REPORT THAT SCHOOL CHOICE IS AMONG THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR REPUBLICAN LEADERS AND GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

THIS WEEK THE HOUSE PASSED HOUSE BILL 129 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT DUBBED THE CHOOSE ACT.

IT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS UP TO $7,000 A YEAR IN TAX CREDITS TO FUND THEIR CHILD'S TUITION AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR OTHER CHOICE OPTION.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW HOMESCHOOL PARENTS UP TO $2,000 TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES.

THERE WERE SOME CHANGES MADE TO THE BILL, INCLUDING PUTTING FINANCIAL GUARDRAILS ON THE TAX CREDITS AND REQUIRING ANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING TO SHARE TESTING DATA WITH PARENTS AND THE STATE.

THAT MADE THE BILL MORE PALATABLE TO EDUCATION GROUPS.

BUT HOUSE DEMOCRATS REMAIN OPPOSED AND ARGUED ON THE FLOOR THAT SCHOOL CHOICE ULTIMATELY UNDERMINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GARRETT SAID SOME OF THAT OPPOSITION MIGHT COME AROUND WHEN THEIR FEARS AREN'T REALIZED.

ALABAMA ALREADY HAS A NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS, BUT THIS WAS EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT WAS ONE OPTION WE DIDN'T OFFER.

AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT MOST STATES ARE LOOKING AT NOW TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO THE DISCUSSION BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I THINK AS YOU AS THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WITH LEGISLATION, THINGS EVOLVE OVER TIME.

PEOPLE BECAME MORE EDUCATED, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS WITH WITH THE DISCUSSION, WHAT IT WAS, WHAT IT WASN'T.

AND THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, MADE IT HER NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THIS YEAR.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAD BEEN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO IT WAS A TO THE POINT THAT I THINK WE WERE READY TO MAKE A MOVE.

AND SO TO BRING A BILL ABOUT WE WE WORKED WITH THE GOVERNOR, SENATE CHAIRMAN AND I WORKED TOGETHER WITH WITH WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF.

WE ALSO HAD INVOLVEMENT FROM THE EDUCATION COMMUNITIES.

WE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO WERE PRO SCHOOL CHOICE, THOSE WHO WERE NOT PRO SCHOOL CHOICE AND WOUND UP WITH A BILL THAT I THINK I SAID EARLY ON THAT IF YOU WERE AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE YOU SHOULD LIKE THIS BILL.

IF YOU'RE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE, YOU SHOULD LIKE THIS BILL BECAUSE I THINK WE HIT THIS SWEET SPOT THAT GAVE COMFORT TO THOSE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EDUCATION BUDGET BEING GUTTED.

MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRMAN GARRETT LATER IN THE SHOW.

ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE WAS DEBATED THIS WEEK ABSENTEE VOTING AND WHAT REPUBLICANS CHARACTERIZE AS BALLOT HARVESTING.

SENATE BILL ONE FROM SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER WAS IN THE HOUSE CAMPAIGN OWNS ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY.

THE BILL WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO HANDLE A NON-FAMILY MEMBER'S BALLOT APPLICATION.

DEMOCRATS FIERCELY OPPOSED THE MEASURE, ARGUING IT WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED VOTERS TO CAST BALLOTS.

GUDGER SO THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD ABOUT WHAT THE BILL ACTUALLY DOES.

BUT I'VE BEEN ALL >> OVER THE STATE IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE THE BILL AND PEOPLE THAT WERE FOR ME ON THIS SUBSTITUTE THAT THEY PRESENTED TODAY IS THE BEST TO MY ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO PRODUCE A BILL THAT IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

SO I'M VOTING IS SECURE HONEST AND IT KNOCKED DOWN WHAT I CALL THE LAST LEG OF A WAVE THAT THE BAD ACTORS OUT THERE ARE TRYING TO STEAL OUR ELECTIONS.

THE LOCAL STATE, FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

THIS BILL SHOULD NOT BE READ AS A REPUBLICAN BILL.

THIS BILL SHOULD NOT BE READ AS A DEMOCRAT BILL.

THIS BILL SHOULD NOT BE READ AS AN INDEPENDENT BILL.

THIS SHOULD BE A BILL FOR EVERY ALABAMA AND TO HAVE FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS.

>> THAT BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE AND IS NOW IN POSITION FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FULL HOUSE.

SECRETARY OF STATE WEST ALLEN WILL JOIN ME LATER IN THE SHOW FOR A FULLER EXPLANATION OF THE BILL.

A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT THIS WEEK FROM GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND LEADERS INVOLVED WITH BROADBAND INTERNET EFFORTS.

IVEY ANNOUNCED AN INVESTMENT OF NEARLY $150 MILLION TO BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO AREAS IN ALABAMA THAT NEED IT MOST.

THE PLAN INCLUDES GIVING OUT 66 GRANTS TO 16 INTERNET COMPANIES WHO WILL EXTEND HIGH SPEED FIBER LINES IN 48 COUNTIES.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE MIDDLE MILE PROJECTS THAT SERVE AS KIND OF CONNECTORS OFF THE MAIN INTERNET THOROUGHFARES.

THESE FUNDS WOULD GO TOWARD THE LAST MILE WITH MORE THAN 5000 MILES OF INTERNET CABLES CONNECTING ALMOST 54,000 PLACES LIKE HOMES, BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.

WE HAVE >> RECEIVED NATIONAL >> RECOGNITION FOR THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH.

IN 2021 THIS IS ALABAMA RIGHT NEAR THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY IN BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AT NUMBER 47.

BY LAST YEAR WE HAD RISEN 23 STEPS TO BE AMONG THE TOP 24 STATES.

IN BROADBAND READINESS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR STATE, THE BEST PLACE TO WORK RAISE A FAMILY.

AND HOW WE DO THAT IS PROJECTS THAT HELP PEOPLE AND HELPS OUR STATE SUCCEED.

THIS IS THE NEW ALABAMA AND I AM CERTAINLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF >> IT.

IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF ALABAMA COLLABORATING AND WORKING TOGETHER.

YOU'VE GOT THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU'VE GOT GOVERNMENT, YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THE NORTH, THE SOUTH, EVERYBODY COLLABORATING ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR ALABAMA'S FUTURE.

AND WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE INTERNET IS AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT COVERAGE IS GOING TO BE ACROSS OUR STATE.

I'VE SAID BEFORE ALABAMA CANNOT BE ALL THAT WE WANT HER TO BE IF SHE'S ONLY GROWING ALONG THE INTERSTATE.

SHE MUST BE GROWING IN RURAL ALABAMA'S WITH OPPORTUNITIES >> THERE.

JUST AS IS THE CASE IN OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL >> URBAN AREAS.

SOME BIG NEWS THIS WEEK FOR US SENATOR KATIE BRITT.

THE FIRST TERM SENATOR HAS BEEN TAPPED TO DELIVER THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

IT PUTS SENATOR BRITT IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AS MOST NEWS OUTLETS WILL AIR THE RESPONSE DIRECTLY AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.

HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL SAID THEY JOINTLY DECIDED THAT BRITT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE TO CONTRAST WITH BIDEN.

THEY CITED HER STORY AS THE YOUNGEST REPUBLICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO THE SENATE AND THE ONLY REPUBLICAN MOTHER OF SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.

IT'S A UNIQUELY EFFECTIVE NARRATIVE TO CONNECT WITH EVERYDAY AMERICANS.

THEY SAID.

WE WILL CERTAINLY BE WATCHING AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SENATOR BRITT BACK ON THE SHOW HERE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY.

THERE ARE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES FOR PRESIDENT CONGRESS, SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE AND OTHER RACES.

ALSO ON THE BALLOT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD SLIGHTLY ALTER THE PROCESS USED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS BILLS.

AMENDMENT ONE WOULD REMOVE A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE HURDLE CALLED THE BUDGET ISOLATION RESOLUTION FROM LOCAL NON-CONTROLLED OR SEAL BILLS.

I SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS THIS WEEK FOR A THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF THIS AMENDMENT TO HELP VOTERS UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT.

HERE'S PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MAYBE YOU NEED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF BEFORE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE BUDGET ISOLATION RESOLUTION BECAUSE WHAT WE CALL IT THAT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WE ARE TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGETS BEFORE WE DEAL WITH LEGISLATION.

ANY LEGISLATION.

SO THE CONSTITUTION ALSO PROVIDES A AN EXCEPTION, A WORKAROUND IF YOU WILL, IF YOU HAVE 3/5 OF THOSE VOTING, YOU CAN SET ASIDE THE THE BUDGETS AND DO WHATEVER LEGISLATION THAT YOU WANT.

WE DO THAT ROUTINELY ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT'S TYPICALLY LATE IN THE SESSION WHEN THE BUDGETS ARE READY AND THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT EARLY IN THE SESSION VERSUS LATE IN THE SESSION.

WE HAVE THREE MORE MONTHS OF DATA TO DO OUR PROJECTION.

SO THE LATER IN THE SESSION YOU DO YOUR BUDGET PROJECTIONS, THE MORE ACCURATE THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

SO THERE'S A THERE'S A GOOD REASON TO DO THAT.

SO THE SECOND THING THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS LOCAL LEGISLATION AND HOW THAT WORKS.

LOCAL LEGISLATION IS LEGISLATION THAT APPLIES TO A SPECIFIC COUNTY OR SPECIFIC CITY.

THE DELEGATION THAT REPRESENTS ANY PART OF THAT COUNTY OR CITY HAS A SAY IN THAT LEGISLATION.

IF ANY ONE OF THOSE LEGISLATORS, HOUSE OR SENATE OBJECTS TO THAT LEGISLATION, IT'S DEAD.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE 100% UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AMONG THE LOCAL DELEGATION.

SO THESE ARE NONCONTROVERSIAL, NON-CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

IF THEY'RE CONTROVERSIAL, YOU'LL HAVE A SPLIT AND IT WILL NEVER GET THIS FAR.

SO PUTTING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, WHAT HAPPENS WITH LOCAL LEGISLATION IS JUST A FORMALITY.

THE THIRD THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT I AS A LEGISLATOR IN CENTRAL ALABAMA, I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT NOR AM I GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO READ, STUDY AND RESEARCH, LOCAL LEGISLATE FROM SAY THE NORTHEAST OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY OR STATE.

SO I REALLY DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SO THEN YOU GET INTO THIS QUESTION OF 3/5 OF WHAT 3/5 OF THE BODY, 3/5 OF THE QUORUM, 3/5 OF THOSE VOTING.

AND IT'S BEEN INTERPRETED DIFFERENT WAYS BY A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS.

THIS AMENDMENT WOULD JUST CLEAR ALL OF THAT OUT.

YOU HAVE 100% AGREEMENT BY YOUR LOCAL DELEGATION.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE B R AND IT GOES THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS LIKE ANY OTHER BILL.

NOW, I WOULDN'T WANT TO ELIMINATE THIS ON ALL LEGISLATION BECAUSE THAT'S DIFFERENT.

YOU DON'T HAVE LOCAL COURTESY.

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT.

IT APPLIES TO THE WHOLE STATE.

SO THAT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN LOCAL LEGISLATION.

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ELECTION AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE.

ALABAMA VOTES.GOV.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL GO DEEPER ON THE IVF ISSUE WITH REPRESENTATIVE >> TERRI COLLINS WHO IS SPONSORING ONE OF THE BILLS AIMED AT FIXING THE PROBLEM.

AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN WARREN FOR THE DEMOCRATS PERSPECTIVE, HEALTH EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DANNY GARRETT JOINS ME TO DISCUSS HIS SCHOOL CHOICE BILL AND WHERE WE ARE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE WEST ALLEN IS IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY.

PLUS MORE ABOUT THAT ABSENTEE VOTING BILL.

>> STAY WITH US.

YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITAL JOURNAL ONLINE AT VIDEO DOT APP TBE DAWG CAPITAL JOURNAL EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON AP TV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH CAPITAL JOURNAL AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON CAPITAL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF CAPITAL JOURNAL WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH CAPITAL JOURNAL PODCAST.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITAL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

GLAD TO BE WITH YOU, JOHN.

>> IT'S BEEN QUITE A WEEK, UH, IN COMMITTEE ON THE FLOOR AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION.

YES, YOU HAVE A BILL PASSED THE HOUSE THIS WEEK TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT CLINICS CAN OPERATE WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING SUED.

SO WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOUR BILL DOES AND HOW IT ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM.

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW SEVERAL OF OUR CLINICS HAVE CLOSED AND SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE THREATENED BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THE THERE'S A BIGGER LIABILITY NOW THAN THEY HAD FELT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT RULING LAST WEEK.

AND SO THIS BILL OFFERS AN IMMUNITY FOR THAT FOR THE EMBRYO AND FOR THEM AS THE PROVIDER AND FOR THE RECEIVER.

SO FOR THE PATIENTS, WHICH YESTERDAY WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD NOT COVERED THEM WITH SOME IMMUNITY.

AND SO THIS DID BOTH.

IT'S MOVED VERY QUICKLY LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK WE DISCUSSED IT EVERY DAY.

LAST WEEK WE HAD A DIFFERENT BILL ALMOST EVERY DAY LAST WEEK CHANGED OVER THE WEEKEND IT CHANGED UP UNTIL TODAY IT HAS STAYED THE SAME, ALTHOUGH I THINK I MIGHT HAVE HEARD THE SENATE TOOK AN AMENDMENT.

SO WE ARE MOVING FAST BUT WE'RE MOVING FAST FOR THE SAME REASON THAT WE SAW SO MANY ADVOCATES HERE YESTERDAY AT THE STATE HOUSE, MANY OF WHOM WERE LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROCESS AND WHEN THEIR CLINICS PAUSED, IT PAUSED THEIR PROCESS AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH PRETTY EXTREME PROCESSES AND EVEN PAINFUL SOMETIMES AND TO STOP THAT IN THE MIDDLE.

THAT'S BEEN OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO KEEP TO GET THESE CLINICS TO OPEN BACK UP AS WE WORK THROUGH WHAT I'LL CALL THE DEEPER ISSUES OF THE RULING THAT THE SUPREME COURT >> HAD.

YEAH, BECAUSE TIMING IS SO CRITICAL IN THAT PROCESS.

>> WE HAVE FIVE DAYS TO PASS LEGISLATION BECAUSE YOU GET THREE RATINGS IN EACH HOUSE AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, BUT I'M SURE EVERYBODY ELSE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

SO WE FILED A BILL TUESDAY SO IT GOT A FIRST RATING.

IT WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY.

SO IT GOT A SECOND READING AND THEN WAS ON THE FLOOR TODAY WHERE IT GOT A THIRD READING IN THE HOUSE.

BUT WE SUBMITTED IT ALREADY TRANSMITTED IT TO THE SENATE.

SO IT'S GOTTEN ITS FIRST READING IN THE SENATE TODAY ON THURSDAY.

SO NEXT TUESDAY IT COULD BE IN COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE AND THEN BY WEDNESDAY IT COULD PASS BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AND THEN THE CLINICS THAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH FEEL COMFORTABLE TO OPEN.

OKAY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO NEXT WEDNESDAY IS THE SOONEST POSSIBLE.

IT IS THE SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT IS, I THINK POSSIBLE THAT THAT'S HOW IT COULD WORK OUT.

I REMEMBER TALKING TO YOU WHEN THE RULING OR THE EFFECTS OF THE RULING WERE FIRST STARTING TO COME IN YOUR YOUR CONSIDERING LEGISLATION AND YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY BUT WE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT RIGHT.

WHICH IS I THINK WE SAID THAT LAST THURSDAY AND HERE WE ARE THIS THURSDAY.

WELL YEAH.

SO ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT WHAT WE'RE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GOING TO GET IT RIGHT?

I MEAN YOU MENTIONED YOU MAY HAVE TO REVISIT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN JUST THE CLINICS.

IT TRULY IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN JUST THE CLINICS.

AND I THINK IT'S SOME VERY HARD CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK IT'S CONVERSATIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND WITHIN THE THE VERY SUPERMAJORITY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO.

I'M NOT GOING TO GUESSTIMATE ON THAT.

BUT I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WE'RE A PRO-LIFE STATE.

WE HAVE HUMAN LIFE PROTECTION ACT PASSED IN 19 THAT TALKS ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AND ALL, BUT WE HAVE STRONG PRO-LIFE.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE A STRONG PRO-LIFE STATE AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THROUGH IN VITRO FERTILIZATION AND THROUGH THESE METHODS, THESE WOMEN AND FAMILIES ARE BUILT IN THEIR FAMILY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WE WANT TO BE A PRO-FAMILY STATE.

RHONDA.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH.

WELL, THAT THAT KIND OF GETS TO MY NEXT QUESTION BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT AMENDMENT AND THE 19 BILL YOUR BILL WHEN THEY WERE PASSED, IT WAS ALMOST THEORETICAL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ROWE WAS STILL RIGHT BUT A NEW DOLLARS WAS COMING YET AND SO IT WAS ALMOST KIND OF EASIER TO PASS THOSE LAWS AND VOTE FOR THOSE THINGS WITHOUT LIKE THE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT.

AND SO DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BECAUSE IT LOOK, IT'S GOING TO BE POLITICALLY TOUGH TO OPEN ANY CAN OF WORMS DEALING WITH ABORTION OR WHEN LIFE BEGINS AND ALL THAT FOR REPUBLICANS.

BUT DO YOU THINK THIS ISSUE AND HOW IT'S JUST BLOWN UP NATIONWIDE EVEN IS THAT DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE REPUBLICANS, YOUR CAUCUS, THE SENATE TO BE ABLE TO REVISIT THESE ISSUES WITHOUT THE POLITICAL RISK THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEFORE?

I WOULD SAY THERE WERE TIMES THIS WEEK IT'S WE'VE MOVED QUICKLY BUT TRYING TO GET RIGHT WORDS THAT WHILE THEY PROVIDE SOME IMMUNITY, THEY WE ARE MAKING SURE THE CLINICS ARE WILLING TO OPEN.

I HAD HOPES THAT WE MIGHT BE CLOSER THAN WE THOUGHT.

I'LL SAY THAT YESTERDAY I THOUGHT THAT TODAY AFTER BEING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, I'M NOT SURE I HAVE THOSE SAME HOPES.

IT'S JUST SUCH A HARD ISSUE AND PEOPLE HAVE SUCH STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT IT AS AN ISSUE OF FAITH AND AND OF LIFE AND OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND AFTER STANDING FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON THE FLOOR LISTENING TO PEOPLE CHAT WITH ME ABOUT THIS, WE'RE NOT NEAR EACH OTHER ON LOTS OF THESE ISSUES.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE A HARD LIFT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A LIFT THAT WE END UP HAVING TO MAKE BECAUSE WE CAN'T STAY IN JUST LIMBO ABOUT IT.

WE MAY HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME DECISIONS AND WE'VE GOT GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY LOOKING INTO HOW OTHER STATES ARE DEALING WITH THIS, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE IN VITRO FERTILIZATION IS NEW IN CONCEPT AND GROWING.

IT'S AN EVER CHANGING SCIENCE AND WE WANT TO BE CUTTING EDGE.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

AND SO I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS AND LOOK AT.

AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

I'VE GOT A MEETING TO DO THAT NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO START THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE TRULY NOT TRYING TO KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD.

WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN THE CLINICS THIS WEEK AND THEN WE'LL TRY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE AT HEART >> AN ISSUE WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING VERY CLOSELY IN THE NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

YOU'RE THE HEALTH EDUCATION POLICY CHAIRMAN AND THERE'S LOTS OF ISSUES.

SO PLEASE COME BACK AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT I LOOK FOR A BETTER TOPIC ABILITY.

THANKS AGAIN.

THANKS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU >> CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES >> OF CAPITAL JOURNAL ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE AP TV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH CAPITAL JOURNAL AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON CAPITAL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> YOU'RE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION AND WELCOME BACK TO CAPITAL JOURNAL JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE PEMBERTON WARREN OF TUSKEGEE.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION AS ALWAYS.

>> WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IVF IN VITRO FERTILIZATION.

IT'S BEEN THE TOPIC REALLY OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

BUT LEGISLATION WAS MOVING THIS WEEK.

YOU'LL SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW YOU WERE PART OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER IN THE WEEK TO JUST REALLY GET OUT THE WORD ABOUT WHAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IT WASN'T YOUR BILL.

IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS BILL.

BUT WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT?

IT PASSED.

BUT ARE YOU OF THE MIND THAT IT NEEDS TO CHANGE BEFORE IT BECOMES LAW?

YEAH, I THINK TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, NONE OF US SAW THIS COMING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST HIT US SO HARD AND YOU HAD SO MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS CALLING.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN HERE DAY TO DAY TRYING TO TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT THE SITUATION REALLY IS BECAUSE NOT KNOWING WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND I THINK AS A QUICK REMEDY, REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY DANIELS SUBMITTED HOUSE BILL 225 OUT OF A BILL THAT WE MET ON AND AT THE SAME TIME ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE REPUBLICANS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WAS TRYING TO WORK ON A BILL.

SO WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO WAS TO TAKE THE THE REPUBLICAN BILL AND JUST GIVE A A QUICK REMEDY BECAUSE THAT'S ALL IT IS.

BASICALLY WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THAT PEOPLE HAVE EMBRYOS AT AT DIFFERENT FACILITIES, THEY WANT IT TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS.

THEY WERE EVEN PROHIBITED FROM GETTING THE EMBRYOS ONCE EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN.

IT WAS JUST IT WAS CHAOS.

THERE WAS ALL THE >> LIABILITY.

YEAH, EVERYTHING WAS THERE.

AND YOU START THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT THIS AND TALKING ABOUT THAT.

SO ALL THIS BILL DOES AND IS KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE IT BASICALLY VALIDATES WHAT'S THERE NOW BUT MAKING IT RETROACTIVE AND ONLY DOING IT FOR THIS SECTOR.

OKAY.

NOW THAT THAT'S THAT'S A LOT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU GOT ALL OTHER KIND OF DOCTORS OUT THERE DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS BUT THIS IS JUST ONLY TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION TODAY.

AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AS TO WHAT IS A HUMAN BEING ACTUALLY, AS YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT SAYS THAT THAT EMBRYO IS A HUMAN BEING, A LIVING HUMAN BEING AND IT IS AND THEY ARE BASING >> IT ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT'S OUT THERE ABOUT LIFE AND WHAT PERSONHOOD, PERSONHOOD AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

BUT YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S NO WAY THAT A HUMAN BEING COULD COME INTO EXISTENCE BE FROZEN THOUGHT OUT.

AND AS A HUMAN BEING THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THE TECHNICAL PARTS COME IN.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN MY COMMENTS TODAY THAT I MADE, I TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW, SO OFTEN WE SIT AND WE DO BILLS AND WE COME UP WITH SITUATIONS WITH LIMITED KNOWLEDGE WE DON'T KNOW YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT EXPERTS IN ALL THESE FIELDS AND AT SOME OF THESE FIELDS WE ARE REALLY OUT OF OUR PLACE AND TRYING TO DECIDE.

AND I TOLD THEM WE NEED TO GO TO OUR MEDICAL COLLEGES SOUTH ALABAMA, UAB AND GET WITH THE PHYSICIANS, GET THE RIGHT LANGUAGE, GET GET WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE SITUATION AND NOT SIT UP AND MAKE IT A PARTIZAN ISSUE AND COME UP WITH A BILL.

LET'S GO AROUND.

I PROMISE YOU IF WE HAD TO WRITE A BILL OURSELVES THERE WON'T BE FLAWS IN IT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO SEE ANY PERSON WHO WANTS TO HAVE A FAMILY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO YOU KNOW AND I THINK THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE, YOU KNOW, BY THE BOOK SO FAR.

THE ONLY >> THING THAT'S REALLY, REALLY SCARY AND I GAVE THEM EXAMPLE TO DATE OF A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD SOME EMBRYOS THAT WERE FROZEN AND I THINK SHE ENDED UP HAVING THREE PLACED IN HER ARE TWO OF THE BABIES DIED.

ONE WAS BORN WITH A SEVERE PHYSICAL MENTAL CONDITION AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT IF SHE USED THE OTHER EMBRYOS IT WOULD BASICALLY BE THE SAME THING.

SO I MEAN, WHY WOULD YOU SAVE EMBRYOS THAT YOU KNOW, ARE NOT GOING TO BE HEALTHY BODIES?

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW, THEY CAN BE CHARGED WITH MURDER.

YEAH.

AND GETTING TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT'S COME UP A LOT, I'VE HEARD FROM LEGAL EXPERTS THAT YES, THIS SHORT TERM FIX, THIS IMMEDIATE STATUTORY FIX WILL ENABLE THE CLINICS TO OPERATE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF ISSUE NUMBER ONE.

BUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT COULD BE AN ISSUE, BUT IT'S ALSO A VERY POLITICAL ONE BECAUSE GOING BACK TO WHY IT WAS PASSED IN THE FIRST PLACE IS AS A PRO-LIFE MEASURE, IT'S A PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.

AND SO I COULD I COULD SEE SOME HESITANCY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF DOING ANYTHING TO CHANGE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR THAT REASON TO APPEAL TO THE CONSERVATIVE PRO-LIFE FOLKS.

SO WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THERE?

I MEAN, THAT SEEMS LIKE A BIG WELL IS IT'S GOING >> TO BE A HURDLE, BUT I'M GOING TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

THAT IS A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE BY ALL OF US BECAUSE >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE SPLITS OVER THERE.

YOU I DOUBT IF YOU GOT TOO MANY SPLITS ON OUR SIDE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPLIT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SO AGAIN, THE WHOLE POINT WITH THEM IN THIS ISSUE, LIKE MANY OTHER ISSUES, LET'S COME TOGETHER.

DON'T SIT OUT HERE IN THIS GROUP IN THE SIDE WHAT'S GOING TO BE AND BRING IT OVER HERE TO THIS GROUP WITH US AND TELL US THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

LET'S SIT DOWN TOGETHER, START TOGETHER AND AND AGAIN WITH A PROPER ADVISING FROM THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, WORK ALL THOSE SITUATIONS THAT BECAUSE WE GOT TO DEFINE WHAT LIFE IS.

YEAH.

SO GOING BACK TO 2018 WHEN THAT AMENDMENT PASSED 2019 WHEN THE ABORTION BAN PASSED, YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS WHILE THEY WERE DEBATED A LOT, THEY WERE ALMOST ENACTED IN A THEORETICAL SENSE BECAUSE RULE WAS STILL IN PLACE AND WE HAD NO IDEA THAT DOLLARS WAS COMING.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK MANY VOTERS OUT THERE PROBABLY WEREN'T EVEN PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIKE REAL WORLD IMPLICATIONS.

NOW IT DOES.

IT DOES.

AND SO DO YOU THINK THAT CHANGES THE DEBATE AT ALL IN TERMS OF, WOW, OKAY, WE'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS THAT THAT THAT THIS IS AFFECTED.

WE MAY NOT HAVE MEANT FOR ALL THIS TO AFFECT IT IN THAT WAY.

DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD BE WILLING TO REVISIT IT?

I THINK THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REVISIT IT BECAUSE NOBODY SAW THIS COMING.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST EVERYTHING WAS GOING ALONG SMOOTHLY.

THAT WAS WHY WAS DOING WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

BUT AFTER THIS RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT THAT THAT PUT A WHOLE NEW LIGHT ON WHAT WE HAD IN PLACE.

AND I, I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THAT STRONG, STRONG PRO-LIFE GROUP OUT THERE AND THAT BUT AGAIN, JUST COMMON SENSE WILL TELL YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE AN EMBRYO OVER HERE THAT'S NOT A HEALTHY EMBRYO, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?

I MEAN, YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE MOTHER, LET HER HAVE THE BABY.

BABY'S BORN THERE.

I MEAN, WHO WANTS TO DO THAT?

I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE EASIER WAYS THAT WE CAN GET THIS THING RESOLVED WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT AS SOME CRIMINAL ACT OR REALLY IN THE MINDS OF SOME FOLKS A SINFUL ACT.

>> YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, RHETORIC MEETS REALITY AND ALL THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND AN ISSUE THAT NOBODY EXPECTED THE LEGISLATURE TO BE DEALING WITH IS NOW KIND OF THE BIGGEST IS IT'S THE BIGGEST STORY IN THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU KNOW WE HAD ALL THIS WEEK WE'VE HAD ALL THE NATIONAL STATIONS CNN, THE FOX FOXES, EVERYBODY'S BEEN HERE.

WE REPUBLICANS, MSNBC, WE KNOW WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S HERE, BUT IT'S A SITUATION BECAUSE IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO OTHER STATES.

YOU KNOW, WELL, WE ARE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THIS LEGISLATION THROUGH THE THROUGH THE HOUSE SENATE.

MAYBE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WILL BE FOLLOWING IT.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK ON.

>> OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING UP WITH A REASONABLE SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE WE WE SOMETIMES GET TOO MUCH INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSONAL LIVES AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PERSONAL DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING ABOUT THEIR EMBRYOS AND TO BE DICTATED BY SOME POLITICAL SIDELINE ACTIONS.

IT'S JUST IT'S NOT RIGHT.

WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS AGAIN.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL ONLINE AT VIDEO DOT APTIV DAWG CAPITAL JOURNAL EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON AP TV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH CAPITAL JOURNAL AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON CAPITOL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL PODCAST.

WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL JOINING ME NEXT STATE REPRESENTATIVE DENNY GARRETT, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHAT WAS THE BIG WEEK FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU PASSED THE THE CHOOSE ACT SCHOOL CHOICE IS KIND OF A BIG BUZZ WORD FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR YOU'LL PUT TOGETHER LEGISLATION PASS IT THROUGH THE HOUSE.

WELL, TELL ME KIND OF WHERE YOU ALL CAME TO THIS EXACT BILL BECAUSE THERE'S A LOTS OF DIFFERENT KIND OF CHOICE OPTIONS OUT THERE.

HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THIS PARTICULAR POLICY?

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING SCHOOL CHOICE PROBABLY FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS AND IT'S A IT'S A FAIRLY NEW CONCEPT AND IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S REALLY GAINED MOMENTUM IN THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS AS OTHER STATES HAVE ADOPTED SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS.

ALABAMA ALREADY HAS A NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS, BUT THIS WAS EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT WAS ONE OPTION WE DIDN'T OFFER AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT MOST STATES ARE LOOKING AT NOW TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO THE DISCUSSION BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I THINK AS YOU AS THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WITH LEGISLATION, THINGS EVOLVE OVER TIME.

PEOPLE BECAME MORE EDUCATED, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH WITH WITH THE DISCUSSION WHAT IT WAS, WHAT IT WASN'T.

AND THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, MADE IT HER NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THIS YEAR.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAD BEEN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO IT WAS A TO THE POINT THAT I THINK WE WERE READY TO MAKE A MOVE AND SO TO BRING A BILL ABOUT WE SO WE WORKED WITH THE GOVERNOR, SENATE CHAIRMAN AND I WORKED TOGETHER WITH WITH WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF.

WE ALSO HAD INVOLVEMENT FROM THE EDUCATION COMMUNITIES.

WE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO WERE PRO SCHOOL CHOICE, THOSE WHO WERE NOT PRO SCHOOL CHOICE AND WOUND UP WITH A BILL THAT I THINK I SAID EARLY ON THAT IF YOU WERE AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE YOU SHOULD LIKE THIS BILL.

IF YOU'RE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE, YOU SHOULD LIKE THIS BILL BECAUSE I THINK WE HIT THIS SWEET SPOT THAT GAVE COMFORT TO THOSE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EDUCATION BUDGET BEING GUTTED.

BUT ALSO WE GAVE A MEANINGFUL BILL, A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO REALLY IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

SO AT OUR PUBLIC HEARING WE HAD A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.

ALL THE MAJOR EDUCATION GROUPS BASICALLY WERE NEUTRAL, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, I THINK AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF THE BILL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING IT.

YEAH.

AND BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT AND LIKE THINKING ABOUT GROUPS LIKE ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SUPERINTENDENTS SO WHEN THEY WERE NEUTRAL I THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL MAYBE THIS WON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF DEBATE ON THE FLOOR.

BUT IT DID.

DEMOCRATS WERE VERY OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THIS BILL, TOOK UP FOUR HOURS OF DEBATE WHICH WAS A LITTLE SURPRISING TO ME.

SO I MEAN, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL CONCERNS ABOUT THAT ABOUT PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS GOING TO PRIVATE ENTITIES AND HOW THAT ALL WORKS.

HOW DO YOU ALLAY THOSE CONCERNS FOR DEMOCRATS?

YEAH, I REALLY WISH THAT THIS BILL WERE A BIPARTISAN BILL AND I MADE THAT STATEMENT ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE AND KNOW THAT THIS BILL WILL BENEFIT CHILDREN IN BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN AREAS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

INITIALLY FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS THIS BILL WILL BE BASED UPON THERE'S AN INCOME CAP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AND THEN FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PRIORITY GIVEN BASED UPON INCOME.

AND SO SOME OF THESE LOWER INCOME AREAS OF THE STATE AND THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING OR HAVE OTHER ISSUES, IT'S GOING TO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN OF THOSE IN THOSE AREAS.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE IMPACTFUL ACROSS THE STATE BUT ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT THE THE THERE'S A THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS AND AND PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WE WERE BASICALLY JUST PROVIDING A VOUCHER PROGRAM TO PAY FOR PRIVATE TUITION FOR WEALTHY CHILDREN AND WE'RE NOT THIS IS A THIS WILL OFFER CHOICE IMMEDIATELY IN SOME AREAS OF STATE IN MANY AREAS OF THE STATE, THERE IS NO EXISTING CHOICE OPTION.

BUT THIS COULD BE A FUNDING VEHICLE TO HELP THAT TO HELP CREATE AN OPTION.

SO I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE PEOPLE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT IS IT.

AND ALSO THE OTHER POINT WE MADE WAS THAT WE'RE CONTINUE TO INVEST HEAVILY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION WE HAVE THIS YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE A RECORD EDUCATION BUDGET WILL INCREASE IT $370 MILLION MORE THAN WE HAD LAST YEAR.

I THINK ALSO THIS TEES UP PERFECTLY DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE FUND EDUCATION AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING A FUNDING FORMULA FUNDING MODEL THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 30 YEARS.

WE'RE ONE OF SIX STATES WHO BASICALLY FUND EDUCATION BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF HEADS YOU HAVE, NOT ONLY THE NUMBER HEADS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, IT'S HOW MANY HEADS YOU HAD 20 DAYS AFTER LABOR DAY AND THEN TAKES TWO YEARS REALLY TO CATCH THE CHANGE THAT MOST STATES HAVE LOOKED AT REALLY HAVE IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE PARTICULAR NEEDS, SCOPE OF THOSE NEEDS AND FUND ACCORDINGLY.

SO WE'RE DOING SOME DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW PRELIMINARILY ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HEAVILY IN ANY ANY STUDY THAT'S BEEN DONE ABOUT LABOR PARTICIPATION OR INNOVATION COMMISSION OR HOW TO IMPROVE ANYTHING IN THE STATE.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH EDUCATION.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EDUCATION.

THIS IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT WILL BENEFIT CHILDREN.

THERE WILL ALSO BE CHILDREN WHO CAN MOVE FROM ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CHILDREN TRANSFER OR NEED DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR REASONS OTHER THAN JUST ACADEMICS.

SOME ARE JUST IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S JUST NOT CONDUCIVE TO THEM.

TODAY'S LIFE THAT WE LIVE IS ALL ABOUT FLEXIBILITY AND CUSTOMIZATION AND CHOICES AND EVERYTHING WE DO.

AND I THINK EDUCATION NEEDS TO EVOLVE TO THAT AND IS EVOLVING TO THAT.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET INTO THAT FUNDING MODEL.

MAYBE WE HAVE MORE TIME BECAUSE I KNOW TENNESSEE MADE SOME MOVES ON THAT.

I THINK IT'S IN THE FUTURE GOING TO BE A REAL INTERESTING CONCEPT TO GO ABOUT.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR OR THE ONE THAT YOU'RE BUDGETING FOR I GUESS THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

WHERE IS THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND?

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT TO REALLY START MOVING BECAUSE IT STARTS DOWNSTAIRS IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

YES.

THIS YEAR STARTS IN THE HOUSE.

THE GENERAL FUND WILL BEGIN IN THE SENATE.

TYPICALLY WE LIKE TO HAVE THE BUDGET FROM THE LOWER CHAMBER OR WHICHEVER CHAMBER STARTS FIRST TO THE NEXT CHAMBER.

YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE JUST PAST MAYBE THE HALFWAY POINT TO THAT.

BUT BUT WE'RE ALREADY ALMOST TO THAT POINT NOW BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING THREE DAY WEEKS AND WE'VE HAD THE FIRST WEEK WE WERE KIND OF FOCUSED ON THE GAMING ISSUES.

SO RIGHT NOW A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE SOME BREAK TIMES BREAK PERIODS HERE.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE'LL HAVE THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT 2 OR 3 WEEKS WE SHOULD HAVE THE HOUSE SHOULD HAVE THE BUDGET ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

AND I'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION ALL ALONG ABOUT SOME OF THE PRODUCT.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY WE HAD SO MUCH MONEY LAST YEAR AND NOW THAT WE WE'RE KIND OF BEING STRATEGIC IN HOW WE DO IT AND WE'RE ALIGNED AND HOW WE CAN LEAD TO PRIORITIZE OUR SPENDING.

SO I THINK THAT WE'VE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, BUT IT'S CRUNCH TIME CLEARLY FOR THE BUDGET.

WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THAT WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE.

WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS WE HAD LAST YEAR.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL LAST YEAR WE HAD $2.8 BILLION.

THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE ABOUT $670 MILLION AND THIS IS EXCESS EXCESS EXCESS ROOM.

THEY >> STILL HAVE PLENTY OF RESERVES.

WE HAVE ABOUT $1.75 BILLION IN THE INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGY FUND WILL CERTAINLY FREE UP SOME OF THAT IN THE BUDGET.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME DECISIONS TO NAIL DOWN BUT WE'RE IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE AND THAT'S REALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH ALL THE INFLUX OF FEDERAL MONEY AND HOW THAT WE INCREASE THE REVENUE IN OUR STATE, WE HAVE NOT SPENT EVERYTHING WE TOOK IN AND WE'VE BEEN VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE IN HOW WE MANAGE THAT AND MADE SOME GOOD INVESTMENTS.

SO I THINK WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE AND AGAIN WE LAST YEAR PASSED A SECONDARY CAP THAT LIMITS THE AMOUNT THE BUDGET CAN GROW THIS YEAR THE BUDGET CAN ONLY GROW 6.25%.

THAT'S $370 MILLION FOR THE K THROUGH 12 AND THE REST GOES TO RESERVE.

WELL WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY ABOUT 550 MILLION TOTAL BETWEEN HIGHER ED AND K-12.

BUT YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT'S REMAINING.

THERE'S A WATERFALL SOMEONE GO TO BUDGET STABILIZATION SOME GOES TO L.A., SOME GOES TO THE NEW EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT WE CAN ACCESS APART FROM PRORATION AND THEN OTHERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR NEXT YEAR'S SUPPLEMENTAL.

SO WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE.

I'M >> THINKING BACK TO TEN YEARS AGO WHEN BUDGETS WEREN'T HEALTHY AND THE RESERVES WERE GETTING COMPLETELY DRAINED SO THAT THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO WHILE I'VE GOT YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE LITERACY ACT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE REALLY MONUMENTAL LAWS THAT WAS PASSED, YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2019.

WE WENT THROUGH COVID, BUT THIS YEAR WILL BE THE YEAR THAT IT ACTUALLY THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISION WILL ACTUALLY GO INTO EFFECT, MEANING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T READ BY THIRD GRADE, IF YOU'RE NOT PROFICIENT READER, YOU POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HELD BACK.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS TO MITIGATE THAT AND TRY TO GET KIDS READY FOR THE FOURTH GRADE.

BUT ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW HAS BEEN ADEQUATE AND GOOD ENOUGH TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO WORK AS INTENDED?

WELL, I THINK THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY WORK AS INTENDED AND THE INTENTION IS TO IMPROVE READING SCORES AND HAVE CHILDREN PROFICIENT IN READING BY THE THIRD GRADE.

THAT'S VERY CRITICAL.

AND THIRD, READING BEYOND.

YOU CAN'T STOP A THIRD GRADE.

YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE.

SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THE IN OUR IN OUR FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS AND ALSO IN OUR RESOURCES THAT WE'RE DOING TO DO THAT EFFORT.

BUT THIS IS A CRITICAL YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS A YEAR THE FIRST YEAR THAT WILL BE ABLE RETAIN STUDENTS WHO DID NOT MEET THOSE STANDARDS.

NOW THERE ARE SOME IF YOU'RE NOT RETAINING, THERE'S A SUMMER TIME TO MAYBE CATCH UP AND DO SOME SOME REMEDIATION.

BUT IF YOU BELIEVE THE PREDICTORS AND I ASKED THE STATE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY SPOKE TO DR. MACKIE WHEN HE SPOKE TO US TO OUR COMMITTEE, ARE WE READY FOR THIS?

BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMETHING BETWEEN 20 TO 25% OF THIRD GRADE COULD BE RETAINED ON THIS STANDARD.

AND WHAT THAT DOES LOCALLY TO A SYSTEM WOULD BE IT WOULD MEAN THAT YOU MAY HAVE FEWER CHILDREN, MAYBE THE FOURTH GRADE.

SO MAYBE MAYBE SOME SHIFTING OF RESOURCES FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

BUT BUT YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION WAS ARE THE PARENTS READY?

ARE THE SCHOOLS READY?

ARE WE READY?

AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT I WILL VETO ANYBODY THAT WILL ANY BILL THAT COMES BACK TO TRY TO FURTHER DELAY THIS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO JUST EVENTUALLY TACKLE AND DO.

AND I THINK WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE WE DO BETTER THAN WHAT THE PREDICTORS MAY INDICATE.

BUT I THINK IN THE LONG RUN IT'S THE BEST THING FOR THESE CHILDREN AND FOR THE STATE AT LARGE.

YEAH, I MEAN TALKING ABOUT SOCIALLY PROMOTING CHILDREN, THEY CAN'T READ REALLY DOES THEM A DISSERVICE.

SEND THEM TO FOURTH GRADE IF THEY'RE NOT PREPARED AND YOU KNOW, KIND OF SNOWBALLS FROM THERE.

AND I'LL SAY THIS TOO ABOUT SCHOOL >> CHOICE.

YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I HAD A YEAR ROUND SCHOOL BILL WHICH FELL FLAT.

BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT THAT DIDN'T REALLY LITERALLY MEAN THAT EVERYBODY HAD SCHOOL YEAR ROUND BUT EXTENDED THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THE SYSTEM CAN OPERATE AND GIVE THEM GAVE THEM FLEXIBILITY TO PERHAPS HAVE A SCHEDULE THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE TRADITIONAL MODEL IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW UNDER SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING THIS, THEY WILL HAVE REMEDIATION PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS OPPOSED TO WAITING THE SUMMER TO CATCH UP.

AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGETS WELL MAYBE HELP PROVIDE FOR SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS.

YESTERDAY CITY BIRMINGHAM SCHOOLS CAME AND PRESENTED TO US HOW THEIR INTERSESSION PROGRAM WORK DURING COVID THEIR THEIR READING AND MATH SCORES ACTUALLY IMPROVED DURING COVID BECAUSE OF THESE INTERSESSION PROGRAMS AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR TO HAVE THAT LEARNING CATCH UP.

SO I THINK THAT SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS WILL ACTUALLY EVEN WITHIN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ALLOW US TO FURTHER ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND BETTER PREPARE OUR CHILDREN.

>> LOTS OF ISSUES TO WATCH ON THE EDUCATION FRONT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU >> CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITAL JOURNAL ONLINE.

ANY TIME.

AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, AP TV DOT ORG, CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH CAPITAL JOURNAL AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON CAPITAL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITAL JOURNAL.

ELECTION DAY IS THIS COMING TUESDAY.

AND JOINING ME NEXT IS ALABAMA'S CHIEF ELECTION OFFICIAL, SECRETARY OF STATE WEST ALLEN.

MR. SECRETARY, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANKS TO CALL ME WEST.

WELL, IT IS ELECTION DAY ON TUESDAY.

IT IS BIG DAY.

KNOW YOU'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS FOR MONTHS.

WHAT DO VOTERS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEY GO TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY?

WELL, JUST KNOW THAT ALABAMA ELECTIONS ARE SAFE, SECURE AND TRANSPARENT.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE THOSE COURT ORDERED MAPS CAME OUT LAST FALL, PREPARATION WITH OUR PROBATE JUDGES, CIRCUIT CLERKS, SHERIFFS BOARDS OF REGISTRARS.

SO IT'S BEEN GOING REALLY GOOD.

WE'RE EXCITED.

EVERYBODY'S BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD IN OUR ELECTION STAFF AND THEN OF COURSE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE PROBATE JUDGES, CIRCUIT CLERKS AND SHARES AND BOARDS OF REGISTRARS, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE ELECTIONS.

I MEAN THEY DO IT.

YOU KNOW, AS A FORMER PROBATE JUDGE, I CAN TELL YOU A LOT GOES INTO IT BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THE PUBLIC NEVER SEES.

AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR THE HARD WORK THEY DO IN PREPARATION LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT PREPARATION AND OF COURSE CAN'T FORGET THE POLL WORKERS.

YOU KNOW THEY DO IT'S A LONG DAY.

THEY GET THERE AT 615, 630, OPEN UP AT SEVEN, CLOSES AT 7 P.M.. AND THEN OF COURSE WRAPPING EVERYTHING UP, GETTING EVERYTHING BACK TO THE COURTHOUSE FOR THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS.

YOU KNOW, IT TAKES IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THESE GUYS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE PROCESS >> ALL GOT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

NO DOUBT.

I LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A SENSE OF DUTY AND PATRIOTISM.

IT IS AND GOES INTO THAT.

YOU MENTIONED THE DIFFERENT LINES, RIGHT?

THESE TWO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS CHANGE QUITE A BIT AND REALLY, REALLY THE FIFTH CHANGE TO OR THE SIXTH CHANGE TO SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THEY'RE IN.

HOW CAN PEOPLE WHETHER IT'S HERE IN THE MONTGOMERY AREA DOWN IN MOBILE, HOW CAN THEY FIGURE OUT WHICH DISTRICT THEY'RE IN?

SO WE GOT A GREAT TOOL ON ALABAMA VOTER.GOV AND OUR WEBSITE.

SO IF THEY'LL GO THERE AND GO TO THE ELECTIONS TAB IN THIS GOT A LITTLE TAB THERE THAT YOU CAN GO IN PUT YOUR NAME IN FULL NAME AND THEN YOUR BIRTHDATE AND IT'LL PULL UP A LITTLE MAP AND SHOW YOU YOUR DISTRICT, SHOW YOU WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO VOTE WHO YOU VOTE FOR, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT, STATE REP DISTRICT, STATE SENATE REST DISTRICT, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

SO IT'S GOT ALL OF ALL THAT INFORMATION.

IT'S A REALLY NEAT TOOL.

I WOULD SUGGEST ALL OF OUR VIEWERS HERE GO CHECK IT OUT THERE AND GOT ANY KIND OF QUESTION ABOUT IF THEIR PRECINCT HAS CHANGED?

YEAH, FOR SURE.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN, YOU KNOW, THESE DISTRICTS DIDN'T EXIST SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

YEAH.

SO YEAH, A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO GO AND GET THIS GET THIS GO AND YOU KNOW WELL YEAH BEST OF LUCK.

YEAH.

FOR ELECTION I DID WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE ISSUE THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE THE SESSION BUT THE BILL HAS KIND OF EVOLVED A LITTLE BIT.

IT HAD SOME CHANGES HAVING TO DO WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

WHAT REPUBLICANS REFER TO AS BALLOT HARVESTING BILLS CHANGED A BIT.

TELL US WHAT IT DOES IN ITS CURRENT FORM.

OKAY.

THE SERVER GETS SERVED RIGHT BECAUSE GARLAND GUIDE YOUR SENATOR GARLAND JUDGE IS HANDLING THE SENATE'S SB ONE RIGHT.

IT PROTECTS ABSENTEE PROCESS AND IT ONLY DEALS WITH THE APPLICATION PORTION OF THE ABSENTEE PROCESS.

IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL TO RETURN SOMEBODIES BALLOT FOR THEM.

SO WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ADDRESS THE APPLICATION PORTION OF THE ABSENTEE PROCESS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS BILL GETS PASSED.

I APPRECIATE THE SENATE FOR TAKING IT UP SO QUICKLY.

I APPRECIATE GOVERNOR IVEY FOR MAKING IT A PART OF HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO TO DO.

BUT IT ADDRESSES WHERE THE PROBLEM BEGINS AND THAT'S WHAT THE APPLICATION PORTION OF THE ABSENTEE PROCESS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THE DISABLED.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE BILL NOW, IT'S ENSHRINING IN THE BILL THE FEDERAL BASICALLY COPYING WHAT FEDERAL CODE SAYS IS THAT IF YOU'RE DISABLED BY THE DEFINITION OF FEDERAL LAW, YOU CAN GET ANYBODY THAT YOU WANT TO HELP YOU FROM START TO FINISH WITH THE BALLOT.

AND THE SAME THING WITH THE MILITARY OVERSEAS MILITARY VOTERS IN THE MAN'S CURRENT LAW 1711 FOUR IT SAYS ANY VOTER TODD STACIE CAN RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM ANYBODY HE SO CHOOSES SO YOU CAN GET STILL GET ASSISTANCE.

WE'RE NOT CHANGING THAT AT ALL.

WHAT WE ARE MAKING SURE OF AND TIGHTENING UP IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT RETURNS THAT APPLICATION, NOT THE ONE HELPING YOU DO IT.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO RETURN IT EITHER IN PERSON OR BY MAIL MAKING SURE THAT THESE THIRD PARTY VENDORS CAN'T MASS MAIL PRE FIELD APPLICATIONS.

WE'VE SEEN THAT IN THE PAST.

THE OFFICE THAT I OCCUPY AND SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IN THE PAST HAS GOTTEN A BUNCH OF TELEPHONE CALLS WITH AGGRAVATED VOTERS SAYING WHY AM I GETTING AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?

I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.

I WANT TO GO VOTE AT THE PRECINCT.

SO WE'VE SEEN THAT HEARD THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE THIRD PARTY VENDORS AREN'T MASS MAILING THESE APPLICATIONS.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE BIGGEST PART OF THE BILL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE BALLOT TRAFFICKERS, PARTY ACTIVISTS, BALLOT HARVESTERS CAN'T GET PAID OR COMPENSATED TO GO OUT AND TRY TO ROUND UP THESE APPLICATIONS AND MANIPULATE AND INTERFERE WITH THE ABSENTEE PROCESS.

SO WE REALLY THINK SB ONE PROTECTS THE ABSENTEE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TARGETING ANYBODY.

IT'S JUST MAKING SURE WE HAVE A GOOD SOUND ABSENTEE PROCESS AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR ME.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT IT BECAUSE ABSENTEE VOTING IS IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SURE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF COUNTY ON ELECTION DAY, YOU'RE WORKING CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE PRECINCT OR YOU'RE SICK OR INFIRMED.

IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT IT FOR THOSE >> PEOPLE.

WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU CLEARING THAT UP.

I THINK YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT SUBS COMING IN AND OUT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

YEAH, MAN, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WELL, GOOD LUCK ON ELECTION NIGHT.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF SLEEP, BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO MARCH THINGS.

I APPRECIATE DAD.

THANKS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> LAYLA WARREN WAS BORN IN CLAYTON BARBOUR COUNTY DURING A WRITING CAREER THAT SPANNED MORE THAN HALF THE 20TH CENTURY.

WARREN WROTE NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS AND FEATURES.

HOWEVER, HER INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION WAS BASED PRIMARILY ON THE SUCCESS OF A SINGLE BOOK FOUNDATION STONE A HISTORICAL NOVEL ABOUT A FAMILY THAT SETTLED IN ALABAMA IN THE FRONTIER PERIOD OF THE 1820S.

FOUNDATION STONE WAS AN IMMEDIATE POPULAR SUCCESS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL RETURN ON MONDAY FOR OUR NIGHTLY COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S 10:30 P.M.

HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

JUST SWITCH ON OVER AFTER YOUR LOCAL NEWS.

ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO.

AS PART OF A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE CIVILITY IN POLITICS, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND TUSCALOOSA MAYOR WALT MADDOX RECORDED A JOINT VIDEO THAT RELEASED TODAY.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THE TWO RAN AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR GOVERNOR BACK IN 2018.

THIS IS COORDINATED THROUGH THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION.

TAKE A LOOK.

I'M GOVERNOR >> KAY IVEY, REPUBLICAN AND A PROUD AUBURN TIGER.

AND I'M >> WALT MADDOX, MAYOR OF TUSCALOOSA, THE GREATEST FOOTBALL CITY IN AMERICA.

THERE >> ARE DAYS WHEN HARDWORKING ALABAMIANS WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS IN AMERICA.

AND I DON'T BLAME THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS MORE COMBATIVE AND CONTENTIOUS THAN FOOTBALL IN ALABAMA.

>> AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DISAGREE AND STILL LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND JUST LIKE WE BOTH UNDERSTAND THAT OUR STUDENTS EDUCATION IN ALABAMA IS PARAMOUNT >> AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

SO IT'S OKAY THAT WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON SOME THINGS, ESPECIALLY FOOTBALL >> BECAUSE CHANGING ALABAMA AND AMERICA FOR THE BETTER MEANS LEARNING TO DISAGREE BETTER.

PUTTING IN THE EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S PERSPECTIVES BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING.

BUT WE MUST LEARN TO DISAGREE BETTER.

ROLL >> TIDE OR EAGLE.

>> MORE OF THAT, PLEASE.

MORE OF THAT FOR OUR CAPITAL JOURNAL TEAM.

I'M TODD STACEY.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME >>