>>TONIGHT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL," WE ARE COVERING A WEEK'S WORTH OF ACTION FROM THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AS THE SESSION IS NOW 70% COMPLETE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATION BUDGET THAT PASSED THE HOUSE; STATE SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON DISCUSSES A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING EXTENDING MEDICAID HEALTH COVERAGE FOR NEW MOTHERS; STATE SENATOR DEL MARSH TALKS ABOUT HIS CHARTER SCHOOL BILL AND THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING; AND DR. SCOTT HARRIS OFFERS SOME UPDATES ON ENCOURAGING COVID NEWS PLUS OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE AS LAWMAKERS MET FOR THE 19TH, 20TH AND 21ST LEGISLATIVE DAYS OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

WITH SPRING BREAK SCHEDULED THE WEEK OF THE 21ST, THAT PUT US ON PACE TO FINISH THE SESSION BY MID-APRIL.

ONE OF THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE BILLS OF THIS SESSION IS NOW LAW.

HOUSE BILL 272, THE CONCEALED CARRY BILL, RECEIVED FINAL PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THURSDAY AND GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SIGNED IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THE BILL REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT THAT GUN OWNERS OBTAIN PERMITS TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUN.

A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MADE SOME LAST-MINUTE CHANGES TO THE BILL.

SENATORS WILL BARFOOT AND BOBBY SINGLETON DISCUSSED THOSE CHANGES ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> IF THE OFFICERS NOW FEEL THEY ARE NOT AT HARM ANYMORE, THAN THE OFFICER MUST RETURN THE GUN BACK TO THE OWNER, IF THE GUN IS CLEAN.

>> WITH ONE CAVEAT, I'D SAY THERE.

THE OFFICER CANNOT TAKE CONTROL OF THE FIREARM UNLESS THERE'S A REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT THE PERSON IS ENGAGED OR ABOUT TO BE ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL CONDUCT.

SO FOR THE PERSON THAT IS PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING AND IT'S SIMPLY A SPEEDING TICKET, THERE'S NO JUSTIFIABLE REASON ON ITS SURFACE THAT THOSE WEAPONS CAN BE HELD OR SEIZED BY THAT OFFICER EVEN TEMPORARILY THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.

>> I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO THE COMPROMISE, OTHERWISE YOU WOULD GET A LOT OF PROFILING WITH THAT.

>>THE CONCEALED CARRY BILL HAS BEEN ONE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS OF THE SESSION.

THAT DRAMA CONTINUED UP TO FINAL PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE, AS "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> WE WENT IN AND CHANGED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE DUE TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE HAD.

SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS IN OUR PARTY HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT.

REPRESENTATIVE ADDRESSES DEALING WITH THE CHANGES TO THE GUN PERMITS AFTER ALTERATIONS IN THE SENATE.

AMONG THE CHANGES A NEW GRANT PROGRAM FOR ALABAMA SHERIFFS WHOSE FUNDS DUE TO LOW PERMIT SALES.

NEW RULES FOR A NEW DATABASE TRACKING PEOPLE FORBIDDEN TO HAVE GUNS AND OFFICER'S ABILITY TO CONFISCATE ILLEGAL GUNS.

>> THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THE PROHIBITED PERSON DATABASE IS NOT AS SAFE AS WHAT WE ARE MOVING TO.

IN FACT, WE WILL CATCH PEOPLE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACK RIGHT NOW SINCE WE ARE JUST RELYING ON PISTOL PERMIT CHECKS TO GET THEM, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WILL BE A MUCH BETTER SYSTEM.

>> THE QUESTION CONCERNING IF THIS EFFORT WILL AID THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME OR HURT IT.

>> DON'T YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THESE PROBLEMS MUCH WORSE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK OUR SOCIETY AND LIKE THESE BILLS AND EVERYTHING IN LIFE THERE'S A BALANCE IN WHAT WE ARE DOING.

I THINK WE TRY TO MEET THE BALANCE AND WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE AND WORK HARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SLOW ANY OF THAT DOWN OR AFFECT ANY OF THAT.

>> IT'S GOING TO INCREASE CRIME.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN IN 21 OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE'S BEEN AN 11% INCREASE IN HOMICIDES.

SO WE ARE BASICALLY SUPPORTING A BILL TO INCREASE HOMICIDES IN ALABAMA.

>> DEBATE ENDS AND THE HOUSE APPROVES HOUSE BILL 272.

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

>>A BILL TO HELP PREVENT DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM FENTANYL HAS PASSED THE LEGISLATURE AND BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SENATE BILL 168 FROM SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS.

CURRENTLY THEY ARE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

>> MANY TIMES, THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUYING THESE DRUGS ON THE STREET CORNER, OR WHEREVER IT IS NOT THROUGH LEGITIMATE OUTLETS DON'T KNOW THEY ARE GETTING FENTANYL.

THEY THINK THEY ARE GETTING COCAINE, HEROIN OR SOMETHING TO STAY UP AND STUDY AT COLLEGE AND THEY ARE GETTING FENTANYL AND DYING FROM IT.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM -- THE TEST STRIPS FENTANYL IS IN THE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA LIST.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS EXEMPT THE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS FROM THE PARAPHERNALIA LAW SO SOMEONE DOING THIS CAN AT LEAST TEST THE DRUG AND ALL YOU DO IS TAKE A LITTLE OF THE DRUG AND LITTLE BIT OF WATER ON IT AND STICK THE STRIP DOWN THERE AND IT WILL TELL YOU IF YOU HAVE FENTANYL IN THERE OR NOT.

IT IS TRYING TO PREVENT DEATHS AND WE ARE HAVING DEATHS BY THE HUNDREDS.

>> A BILL CHANGING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR OPTOMETRISTS PASSED THE SENATE BUT NOT BEFORE SERIOUS DEBATE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL IMPLICATIONS.

IT WOULD ALLOW OPTOMETRIST TO EXPAND THEIR SCOPE OF PRACTICE TO INCLUDE SOME EYE SURGERIES AND INJECTIONS.

CURRENTLY, ONLY OPHTHALMOLOGISTS CAN PERFORM SUCH PROCEDURES.

OPPONENTS WARN THAT THE CHANGE COULD PUT PATIENTS AT RISK.

>> IF YOU WANT TO BE A PODIATRIST, A FOOT DOCTOR YOU GO TO THAT SCHOOL.

WHERE WILL THIS END?

WILL THERE BE A BILL NEXT WEEK TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS PROCESS TO ALLOW A HEART SURGEON TO DO BRAIN SURGERY?

WE CANNOT START THIS.

THAT'S WHAT THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS ARE FOR.

THAT'S WHAT THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS ARE FOR.

THIS IS NOT A SENATE MEDICAL SCHOOL WHERE WE ALLOW ONE SPECIALTY TO PERFORM ANOTHER SPECIALTY.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THIS LEGISLATION.

AND IT'S WRONG.

>>A WIDE-RANGING GAMBLING BILL FROM SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON PASSED COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND IS READY FOR FLOOR ACTION NEXT WEEK.

THE PLAN TO INSTITUTE A LOTTERY, EXPAND AND REGULATE CASINO GAMBLING AND LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING PASSED THE SENATE LAST YEAR, BUT RAN INTO TROUBLE IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S A REALITY ALBRITTON AND MARSH ACKNOWLEDGE AND WANT TO AVOID.

>> I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO THEM.

THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THEIR INABILITY TO SEE THE NECESSITY OF THE STATE EXERCISING ITS CONTROL.

YOU CAN'T BUILD A CHICKEN HOUSE OR OUTHOUSE WITHOUT A PERMIT OR SOME TYPE OF CONTROL AND YET YOU CAN BUILD A CASINO WITH NO PROBLEM.

>> THERE'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT I DON'T GET ASKED MORE ABOUT THAN THE GAMES ISSUE WHEN I GO HOME.

I THINK THE STATE WANTS SOMETHING TO VOTE AND MAKE A DECISION ON.

THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY HOUSE COUNTERPARTS TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO GET LEADERSHIP TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND MAKE CHANGES.

GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THUS FAR, IT'S BEEN THE SENATE THAT'S BEEN DOING THE WORK ON THIS.

>>"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE GAMBLING BILL SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED, INCLUDING IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

SHE HAS AN IN-DEPTH STORY ON THE BILL'S JOURNEY AND PROSPECTS.

>> IF LAWMAKERS PASS AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS SENATE BILL 294, ALONG WITH VOTERS APPROVING, SENATE BILL 293, ALABAMA WILL HAVE A GAMING COMMISSION TO CONTROL AND THE STATE WILL RECEIVE REVENUE FROM AN EDUCATION LOTTERY, CASINO-STYLE GAMES AND SPORTS BETTING.

>> THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED BY THE STATE.

THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IS RAN RAMPANT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

ALABAMA, THE STATE, HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

ALABAMA HAS NO BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

>> ON WEDNESDAY, BEFORE A FULL HOUSE, THE BILLS WERE APPROVED BY THE SENATE TOURISM COMMITTEE, BUT NINE PEOPLE SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THE PLANS AND THERE WAS A COMMON THEME.

>> THIS BILL, ONCE AGAIN, PICKS WINNERS AND LOSERS AND MY CLIENT IS A LOSER.

>> THIS BILL IS PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AGAIN.

>> IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED THE SELECTION OF WINNERS AND LOSERS IS A CONCERN.

>> THEY HAVE THE CONCERN BECAUSE SOME CURRENT FACILITIES WOULD CLOSE AND OTHERS WOULD HAVE THEIR OPERATIONS ARE REDUCED.

ONE OF HIS AREA SITES WOULD BE CLOSED AND THE OTHER REDUCED FROM 1200 MACHINES TO 300.

>> 500 SITES ARE LISTED IN THIS BILL.

IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND HAVE AS MUCH GAMING AS THEY WOULD LIKE.

I THINK THAT OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO ANY OTHER FACILITY, ESPECIALLY IN LOWNDES COUNTY TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AND LET THE MARKET DICTATE HOW BIG OR HOW MANY MACHINES OR HOW TO EXPAND, NOT ARBITRARILY DOING IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> THE BILL COULD BE DEBATE PD NEXT WEEK ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>>THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND PASSED THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

THE $8.1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FUNDS THE RANGE OF EDUCATION SERVICES FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

>>THE BUDGET INCLUDES A 4% PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATION WORKERS.

THAT SAME RAISE WAS EXTENDED TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKERS AS WELL.

IT INCLUDES TARGETED FUNDING FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAMS, SUCH AS FIRST CLASS PRE-K AND THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE.

MORE THAN $20 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARD A NEW PROGRAM INTENDED TO IMPROVE MATH INSTRUCTION IN LOWER GRADES.

>>STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, WHO CHAIRS THE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE, LED THE DISCUSSION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> WE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL $24 MILLION FOR OUR PRE-K PROGRAMS THAT TAKES US TO A TOTAL OF 174 MILLION.

THAT WILL PROVIDE 125 NEW PRE-K CLASSROOMS, WHICH WILL INCREASE PRE-K ACCESS FROM 42% TO 45%.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 3407 CHILDREN ON THE PRE-K WAITING LIST.

THIS WILL ALSO PROVIDE 35 NEW CLASSROOMS AND ADD TWO NEW COACHES FOR THE STRONG START, STRONG FINISH PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE GOVERNOR GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE TO GO TO THE LOWEST PERFORMING, THE AREAS OF MOST NEED AND 1.9 MILLION FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS FOR PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, BIRTH THROUGH AGE 5 THAT WAS PRECINCT FUNDED UNDER A GRANT AN $1.5 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL SUMMER AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

THAT'S WITH PRE-K. >> ALSO IN THE HOUSE, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WAS AMENDED IN COMMITTEE TO ALLOW THE STATE TO EXTEND MEDICAID HEALTH COVERAGE FOR NEW MOTHERS.

CURRENTLY, ELIGIBLE MOTHERS ARE COVERED FOR 60 DAYS AFTER GIVING BIRTH.

THE CHANGE WOULD OFFER THOSE ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE THAT HEALTH COVERAGE FOR A FULL YEAR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HALL CHAMPIONED THE ISSUE IN THE HOUSE.

>> I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVE STEVE CLOUSE THAT HE AND COMMISSIONER HAS AGREED THAT THE POST-PARTUM BILL THAT I'VE INTRODUCED WILL NOT BE NECESSARY AND THAT IT WOULD BE A PART OF THE BUDGET.

SO GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> OUR BOTTOM LINE IS WE WANT ALL ALABAMIANS TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE.

I'M SO GLAD THAT OUR BILLS ARE NOT NECESSARY, THAT THEY SAW IT WAS A NEED AN HOUR STATE AND STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM.

>>SENATOR DAN ROBERTS TOOK TO THE SENATE FLOOR TO THANK HIS COLLEAGUES FOR THE SUPPORT HE HAS RECEIVED UPON THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, ANNE GRIGGS ROBERTS.

HE SAID THAT SUPPORT WAS ESSENTIAL DURING THE TWO MONTHS THAT SHE STRUGGLED WITH COVID-19.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE ROBERTS FAMILY, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

IT'S BEEN A HARD FEW DAYS.

IT'S BEEN A HARD LAST TWO MONTHS.

YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR GRACIOUSNESS, YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR TEXTS, CALLS, MEANS MORE THAN YOU WILL KNOW.

I'LL NEVER FORGET -- COMING UP AFTER THE ELECTION AND SAYING YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO A FAMILY AND FRATERNAL GROUP OF SENATORS THAT YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU FOR THE HUGS, ENCOURAGEMENT.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ROBERTS FAMILY.

I HAVE A HUGE HOLE IN MY HEART.

YOU ASK HOW I AM DOING, I FEEL GOOD ONE MINUTE AND FEEL LIKE I WILL BURST INTO TEARS NEXT.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH YOU ALL, ALL AND I THANK YOU.

>>FINALLY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID WHEELER DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 72.

THAT SAD NEWS SPREAD ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE HOUSE WHERE HE WAS KNOWN AS A KIND AND JOVIAL LAWMAKER.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON ADDRESSED THE CHAMBER ON THURSDAY.

>> PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 47 AND ALL OF ALABAMA HAVE LOST A DEVOTED SERVANT AND I'VE LOST A GOOD FRIEND.

IT WAS RARE THAT DAVID CAME TO THE MICROPHONE TO SPEAK ON LEGISLATION, BUT WHEN HE DID HIS WORDS CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT.

WE COULD AGREE TO DISAGREE.

HE RESPECTED THE PROCESS.

HE WAS A HARD WORKER FOR HIS DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

HE WILL BE MISSED IN THIS HOUSE BODY.

>> MR. WHEELER WAS ALSO A FRIEND TO US HERE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND HE WILL BE MISSED.

WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE WHEELER FAMILY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT OF TRUSSVILLE WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU DID YOUR JOB.

THE HOUSE PASSED THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

IT WILL BE A RECORD WHEN IT PASSES THE FULL LEGISLATURE.

WALK WITH ME THROUGH THE HIGH POINTS OF WHAT THE BUDGET DOES.

>> I THINK THIS A REALLY GOOD BUDGET.

WE'RE IN UNUSUAL TIMES RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE STARTING WITH $1.3 BILLION BALANCE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS RECURRING AND SUSTAINABLE, WHAT CAN WE COUNT ON IN THE FUTURE?

WE HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE IN OUR PRACTICES AND POLICIES AND, IN FACT, THERE WAS A REPORT BY MOODY'S -- ACTUALLY STANDARD & POORS THAT CAME OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT TALKED ABOUT ALABAMA BEING IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE BECAUSE OF BUDGETING PRACTICES.

WE ARE NOT SPENDING ALL WE HAVE.

WE ARE TRYING TO BE MEASURED IN OUR APPROACH.

THE CAP CALCULATION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TELL US HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND IS $9 BILLION, UP 1.4 BILLION FROM LAST YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR SENT A BUDGET OF 8.3.

SO SHE CUT IT BY 700 MILLION.

IN THE HOUSE WE CUT 125 MILLION.

SO WE SPENT $8.1 BILLION IN THIS BUDGET.

WHAT I'M PLEASED WITH IS WE ARE DOING MEASURES THAT WILL REDUCE OUR DEBT, REDUCE FUTURE BUDGET OBLIGATIONS.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON EXPANDING OUR PRE-K PROGRAM WHICH IS SUCCESSFUL AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.

WE ARE TARGETING MONEY MANY INTO THE AREAS OF THE STATE, LOWEST PERFORMING IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC SCORES.

NEVER GOING TO RAISE THE STATE RANKINGS UNLESS WE ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AREAS AND THIS BUDGET DOES THAT.

I'M PLEASED WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE BUDGET.

IT IS FOCUSED ON MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AND TARGETED APPROACHES AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> YOU MENTIONED TARGETING PROBLEMATIC AREAS.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MATH.

I GUESS IN 2019, IT WAS THE LITERACY ACT, REALLY TARGETING OUR PROBLEM WITH READING AND THE SCORES CAME OUT AND WE ARE JUST AS BAD, IF NOT WORSE, IN MATH.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S BEEN A TARGETED FOCUS ON, OKAY, LET'S GET READING COACHES INTO THESE SCHOOLS TO HELP -- NOT NECESSARILY TEACH KIDS BUT TRAIN TEACHERS.

HOW HAS THIS GAINED MOMENTUM AND HOW DID YOU FUND IT IN THE BUDGET?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RANKINGS.

IN MY AREA WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS IN THE TOP 10% IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE MANY SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE THAT DO WELL, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY MORE THAT ARE UNDER RESOURCED, UNDER STAFFED AND THEIR SCORING IS MUCH LOWER.

THAT'S WHY OUR AVERAGE IS WHAT IT IS AS A STATE.

WHAT WE TEND TO DO IS TAKE THE MONEY WE HAVE AND ALLOCATE IT ACCORDING TO FORMULA.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE MONEY AND RESOURCES WHERE WITH CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS BUDGET IS DOING.

WE ARE FULLY FUNDING READING COACH PROGRAMS SO EVERY SCHOOL IN THE STATE WILL HAVE A READING COACH.

WE ARE FULLY FUNDING THE TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR SO EVERY DISTRICT HAS A TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR.

WITH RESPECT TO MATH, WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOCUSED ON GOING TO THE LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS, ADDING AUXILIARY TEACHERS, CHANGES TO CURRICULUM, ADDING MATH COACHES AND GOING TO THOSE AREAS -- IF WE CAN TAKE THE BOTTOM TIER SCHOOLS AND RAISE THEIR PERCENTAGES 10, 20, 30%, THE STATE IS NOT NUMBER 52 ANYMORE.

WE MOVE UP.

THIS BUDGET IS FOCUSED ON GOING TO THOSE AREAS AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN THIS LASER TYPE APPROACH TO THAT ISSUE.

>> YOU BRING UP AN INTERESTING POINT IN THE DISPARITY THING.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE ARE A STATE OF HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

YOU HEAR FROM FOLKS, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY.

IF YOU LIVE IN TRUSSVILLE OR OTHERS THAT HAVE A GREAT SYSTEM WHAT DO YOU CARE?

>> YOU THINK EVERYONE IS THAT WAY.

YOU DON'T REALIZE WE HAVE AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE WE CAN'T GET TEACHERS.

WE HAVE AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE GRADUATED TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING MATH.

WE ARE DOING A PILOT IN BIRMINGHAM, A HUB WE STARTED LAST YEAR.

WE ARE CONTINUING THAT PROGRAM IN THIS BUDGET TO EXPAND IT TO ANOTHER COUNTY.

WE ARE TEACHING OUT OF BIRMINGHAM VIRTUALLY INTO A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN BULLOCK COUNTY.

THERE WERE TWO MATH TEACHERS THERE.

ONE DID NOT COME BACK AND THE OTHER IS THERE HALF OF THE TIME BECAUSE SHE HAS A FAMILY EMERGENCY.

WHAT IS HAPPENING, THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CERTIFIED, QUALIFIED, GRADUATED TEACHERS TRYING TO TEACH MATH AND WE ARE ASKING CHILDREN TO TAKE THESE PROFICIENCY TESTS AND THEY ARE COMING OFF OF A YEAR WHEN THEY WERE NOT IN SCHOOL.

WE WILL HAVE TO FIX THAT.

ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T RESOLVED IS HOW DO WE GET TEACHERS INTO THE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO?

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE, WHICH I'M FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

THE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS IN MY DISTRICT MEAN ONE THING BUT WHAT WILL WE DO IN RESPECT TO AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE OTHER CHOICES, DON'T HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, DON'T EVEN HAVE TEACHERS?

WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT.

ONE THING WE ARE DOING IS FUNDING A PROGRAM FOR S.T.E.M.

TEACHER RECRUITMENT.

THERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM GOING ON, STILL IN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, STILL SIMILAR TO THIS.

WHAT IT DOES UNDER THIS PROGRAM IS WE WILL HAVE FOUR CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE AT FOUR INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

MODELED AFTER A PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

YOU GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE -- STUDENTS WHO ARE MAJORING IN S.T.E.M.

MAJORS.

ALONG WITH THEIR S.T.E.M.

MAJOR GRADUATE DEGREE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET CERTIFICATION TO TEACH.

SO WHEN THEY COME OUT OF COLLEGE, YOU MAY HAVE A BIOLOGY DEGREE.

YOU MAY WORK FOR A COMPANY AND DO BIOLOGY.

A LOT OF THEM WORK FOR BANKS OR SOMETHING BUT YOU WILL BE CERTIFIED TO TEACH.

IF WE CAN GET YOU INTO ONE OF THESE AREAS AND ALABAMA NOW WITH THIS TEAMS PROGRAM WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING BACK INTO TEACH MATH AND SCIENCE.

WE HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SALARIES IN THE BUDGET.

NOW WE CAN SAY OUR SALARIES FOR TEACHERS COMPARED TO SURROUNDING STATES ARE COMPETITIVE.

WE MAY LOSE TEACHERS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE SHOULDN'T LOSE TEACHERS TO OTHER STATES, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HEAR A LOT OF.

THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SO WE CAN GET THE TEACHERS WHERE WE NEED THEM AND ALSO WITH THE AUXILIARY TEACHERS, IT WILL BE A HELP TO THE TEACHERS IN THIS CLASSROOM WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE ON THIS HERCULEAN TASK OF GETTING STUDENTS WHO ARE LOW PROFICIENCY UP HIGHER.

THAT'S THE MODEL THAT WORKED WELL IN OUR PRE-K CLASSES.

AND IT FUNDS 125 NEW PRE-K CLASSES THAT TAKES US TO 45% OF ELIGIBLE 4-YEAR-OLDS BEING IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM IN THE STATE.

I THINK WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE DELVED INTO THE UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS AND WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF INITIATIVES INTO THAT AREA.

>> YOU MENTIONED SALARY INCREASES.

THERE'S ACROSS THE BOARD TEACHER PAY RAISE IN THE BILL BUT YOU ALSO FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE TEACHERS CAN EARN MORE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR CAREERS.

THEY DON'T GET THE AUTOMATIC MERIT RAISES LIKE STATE EMPLOYEES.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

>> WE HAVE GIVEN RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD AND AT THE LOWER AND UPPER END OF THE SALARY MATRIX, WE WERE COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING STATES BUT IN THE MIDDLE WE WERE NOT.

WE INCREASED THE STEP IN THAT MATRIX.

SO THAT FOR EXAMPLE A TEACHER THAT GETS 4% RAISE, DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE ON THE MATRIX, YOU MAY GET 4 1/2 OR 5% RAISE DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE IN THE MATRIX.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO RECRUIT TEACHERS, WHICH IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE GOING INTO EDUCATION.

WE ARE ALSO NEEDS TO RETAIN TEACHERS AND WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER STATES AS FAR AS TEACHER PAY BUT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

ULTIMATELY, I THINK WE ARE LOSING TEACHER TOLLS THE PRIVATE SECTOR NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE TO TEACH BUT THE OTHER ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM, THE LACK OF SUPPORT.

SO BEEFING UP THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ADDING AUXILIARY TEACHERS, INCREASING THE CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, WHICH WE ARE DOING IN THIS BUDGET.

THIS BUDGET PUTS A LOT OF MONEY DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THAT SHOULD HELP US RETAIN TEACHERS.

>> THIS WAS YOUR FIRST REGULAR SESSION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE BUDGET STARTED IN THE HOUSE.

NO PROBLEM THERE.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE LEADING THAT EFFORT?

>> WELL, I FOLLOWED BILL POOLE WHO WAS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.

HE DID A GREAT JOB SETTING THE PROCESS WE FOLLOWED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I WAS HIS VICE CHAIR.

WE TOOK GREAT COMFORT KNOWING THE BUDGET WAS ONE THAT BILL POOLE PUT TOGETHER.

WE KNEW WE HAD A SOLID FOUNDATION.

WE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES.

WE REDUCED THE NUMBER, $125 MILLION AND REALLOCATED SOME MONEY AROUND, BUT WE HAD A GOOD STARTING POINT.

YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER.

WE HAD SUPPORT FROM THE LEADERSHIP.

WE -- ONE THING I WILL SAY, A LOT OF THESE AREAS WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS IN EDUCATION ARE IN THE BLACK BELT AND THE OTHER AREAS, INNER CITIES, THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS.

WE REALLY ENGAGE THEM AND HELP DECIDE WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO FIX IT.

I FOUND OUT IN MY BUSINESS CAREER THAT SITTING IN MY CORPORATE OFFICE AS A CFO, I MAY FIGURE OUT -- I KNOW I HAVE A PROBLEM IN A FACILITY, A PLANT OR THE MANUFACTURING FLOOR BUT IF I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM I NEED TO GET INPUT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE TRIED DO THAT HERE AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND I THINK THEY WILL BE GOOD SOLID MOVES.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING THE BUDGET AS IT MOVES UPSTAIRS TO THE SENATE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN-MADISON FROM BIRMINGHAM.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A BIG ISSUE THIS WEEK DEALING WITH MEDICAID COVERAGE, EXTENDING MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR MOTHERS BEYOND THAT 60-DAY PERIOD.

TELL ME WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU.

>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SAVES LIVES.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND WE HAVE A MATERNAL STUDY GROUP RIGHT NOW.

THE STATE ESTABLISHED THAT TO GATHER DATA ON THE CAUSES OF WOMEN DYING AFTER HAVING A CHILD.

BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AS I SAID, BECAUSE IT DOES SAVE LIVES.

RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY -- AND THESE ARE WOMEN THAT ARE MEDICAID ELIGIBLE -- THEY HAVE 60 DAYS AFTER CHILDBIRTH TO BE COVERED UNDER MEDICAID.

WELL, 60 DAYS IS LESS EVER LESS THAN THREE MONTHS.

SO IF YOU THINK OF THAT, A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS OCCUR.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HAS DISCOVERED A LOT OF ISSUES DEALING WITH CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE DIED -- 33% OF WOMEN, BASED ON STUDIES THEY HAVE DONE, HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES AND THIS IS WITHIN 45 TO 365 DAYS.

IT'S WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD.

IT'S RIGHT WHEN THE INSURANCE HAS GIVEN OUT AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY COVERAGE.

SO YOU CAN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

EXTENDING THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GET MEDICAL CARE, PICK UP ON ANY TYPE OF CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT ARISE AND BASICALLY IT WOULD SAVE THE COST IN THE LONG RUN FROM OTHER MAJOR COMPLICATIONS.

>> WE REPORTED THIS MONEY IS NOW IN THE BUDGET IN THE HOUSE.

>> YES.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HALL AND I HAD A COMPANION BILL TO INTRODUCE.

I'M SO GLAD AND I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE CLOUSE IN THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS GENERAL FUND.

THEY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THIS BILL AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS AND SO HE HAS INCLUDED FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN GET STARTED ON THIS.

OF COURSE, WE WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER OF MEDICAID FOR AGREEING THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO START RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, DO WE KNOW WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS?

IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S ON BOARD?

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

OTHER ISSUES YOU ARE DEALING WITH THIS YEAR, YOU HAVE SENATE BILL 228, DEALING WITH CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED.

>> 220.

>> SENATE BILL 228.

>> 220.

RIGHT NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INCARCERATED THAT ARE BASICALLY STATE INMATES, IN COUNTY JAILS, OR IT COULD BE ANY FACILITY, BUT THEY HOLD YOU PRIOR TO TRIAL.

YOU MAYBE THREE MONTHS, 90 DAYS OR LONGER THAN THAT, AND THEN YOUR TRIAL COMES UP.

WHEN YOUR TRIAL COMES UP AND YOU ARE SENTENCED, THE SENTENCING TIME STARTS FROM THAT PERIOD BUT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP FOR MONTHS.

THIS IS RETROACTIVE AND WOULD PROVIDE CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED THEY WERE HELD INCARCERATED.

>> IT IS SENATE BILL 220.

I KEEP MESSING IT UP.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

SENATE BILL 6 DEALS WITH VOTING RIGHTS.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

>> WE HAVE.

I'M GLAD BECAUSE THE SENATOR AND I WORKED ON THIS BILL.

IT IS STRANGE.

IT IS ACROSS THE AISLE ON THIS.

I THINK AT FIRST HE WAS OPPOSED TO IT.

I WENT TO HIM AND SAID IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BILL I SAID TELL ME WHY.

HELP ME OUT.

WE SAT DOWN AND WORKED OUT SOME THINGS TOGETHER.

HE TOLD ME WHAT HE HAD OBJECTIONS TO AND WE SAT AND WORKED ON IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO SERVED OUR TIME AND YOU ARE OUT ON PAROLE, MAYBE END OF SENTENCE WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED OR YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR HEART AND TRYING TO GET YOUR VOTING RIGHTS BACK.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO REQUEST, FILL OUT AN APPLICATION TO GO THROUGH A CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY AND THEN, RIGHT NOW, IT'S ON THE PERSON THAT IS COMMITTED THE CRIME AND SERVED THEIR TIME TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE MET ALL OF THE CRITERIA.

WELL, YOU HAVE FINES, FEES, COURT COSTS AND YOU HAVE RESTITUTION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NO WAY THEY ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY OWE.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE LATE, SAY YOU MISS A PAROLE HEARING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT MAY BE ANOTHER FINE BUT THE PARDONS AND PAROLE AND THIS BILL WAS WORKED ON WITH COMMISSIONER CAM WARD.

THEY HAVE IN THEIR DATABASE, THEY CAN TRACK EVERYTHING AND KNOW HOW TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WILL BE KEEPING UP WITH THIS AND LET THE PERSON KNOW THEY HAVE MET THE CRITERIA.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW, TODD, IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INDIGENT.

AS I SAID, YOU CAN'T GET BLOOD OUT OF A TURNIP.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY.

WE HAVE WORKED OUT SOMETHING IN THIS BILL THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE.

THEY CAN DO COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LIEU OF PAYING FINES, FEES, COURT COSTS.

HOWEVER, THEY HAVE TO PAY ALL OF THE RESTITUTION.

THAT'S IN THE LAW RIGHT NOW.

AND REALLY YOU CAN'T USE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LIEU OF RESTITUTION.

YOU HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME.

YOU HARMED SOMEONE OR YOU OWE THEM SOME MONEY.

SO IT HAS TO BE PAID BACK.

THIS GOES A LONG WAY IN HELPING THE PERSON TO GET REESTABLISHED.

IT DOES SET UP -- YOU CAN BE ON A PAYMENT PLAN.

IT GIVES THEM TIME TO PAY IT.

AND THIS BILL WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO ME BY A GROUP OF MINISTERIAL GROUPS, ALABAMA RISE AND OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA ABOUT 70 DIFFERENT GROUPS WHO ARE WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

SO, THAT'S WHERE IT REALLY CAME FROM.

>> YOU MENTIONED WORKING WITH SENATOR GAVAN, THAT'S BIPARTISAN WORK THERE.

DO YOU SEE THIS MOVING FORWARD?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO PASS THE SENATE AND LEGISLATURE?

>> I HOPE SO.

LAST YEAR WE PASSED IT WITHOUT ONE DISSENTING VOTE.

IT PASSED COMMITTEE TODAY.

IT WAS SUBMITTED WITH BOTH OF OUR NAMES ON IT BECAUSE HE WORKED ON THIS BILL JUST AS HARD AS I DID.

I'M HOPING THAT OUR SENATE AND THE HOUSE WILL SEE THIS IS A BILL THAT'S BEEN WORKED ON VERY HARD, COLLABORATIVELY WITH BOTH PARTIES AND THAT IT WILL FINALLY GET OUT AND PASS THIS TIME.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS CRITICAL RACE THEORY SITUATION.

I KNOW THE ISSUE CAME UP IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

THE BILL DOESN'T ACTUALLY SAY CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

IT TALKS ABOUT DIVISIVE CONCEPTS AND SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IN CLASSROOMS IF THEY PASS THIS LAW IT WOULD BAN LANGUAGE OR CONCEPTS THAT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SHAME OR GUILT FOR BEING A CERTAIN RATE OR SEX.

IT DOESN'T SAY CRITICAL RACE THEORY BUT YOU MADE COMMENTS IN COMMITTEE SAYING IT WAS SAYING IT WITHOUT SAYING IT BASICALLY.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT IF YOU DESCRIBE IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.

IT IS LIKE PLAYING CHARADES, I GUESS.

GIVE THEM THE CLUES AND SOMEONE SAYS WHAT IS IT, OKAY.

EVEN THOUGH THE TERM IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE BILL, IT TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW AS FAR AS CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY MISCONCEPTIONS OF WHAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS OR DEFINITIONS ABOUT WHAT IT IS.

SO, I DID ASK THE QUESTION, OKAY, DOES THIS PROHIBIT EDUCATORS FROM TEACHING HISTORY, THE TRUE HISTORY, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY.

THEY SAID NO.

THAT IS NOT IN THE BILL.

I DO PLAN TO BRING AN AMENDMENT TO PUT THAT AS AN AMENDMENT TO ENSURE.

BECAUSE I THINK PART OF IT IS -- YOU SAY WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SHAME BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IF SOMEONE IS IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING THE TYPES OF THINGS THEY HAVE IN THAT BILL, THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING IT.

AND IF YOU KNOW THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING IN THAT MANNER, THEY SHOULD BE FIRED.

>> YOU COULD ALSO BRING LITIGATION UNDER THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THAT'S CURIOUS TO ME.

AS THIS ISSUE HAS GAINED STEAM, YOU HAVE HAD THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THEY PASSED A BAN.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID, HEY, THIS ISN'T BEING TAUGHT ANYWAY.

>> SO WHY THE BILL?

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOTIVATION IS?

>> IT IS ELECTION YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE CAMPAIGNING ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

I THINK IF YOU HAD -- IF YOU HAVE ALL THE LEGISLATOR UNLESS THE ROOM BECAUSE WHILE WE WERE LOOKING AT IT IN COMMITTEE, I JUST TURNED TO MY COLLEAGUE NEXT TO ME AND SAID, WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND I SAID, THAT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.

I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY MISCONCEPTIONS.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT AND THE ODD THING ABOUT THAT BILL IS THERE WAS NO DEFINITION IN THERE FOR CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED.

EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION.

FOR ME IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF YOU HAD A DEFINITION IN THAT BILL OF WHAT YOU MEAN.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING FLOOR DEBATE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY STATE SENATOR DEL MARSH FROM ANNISTON.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT ONE IS CHARTER SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL, GOT THROUGH COMMITTEE, HAVING TO DO WITH FUNDING PARITY FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> WE PASSED A PUBLIC CHARTER LEGISLATION SOME YEARS AGO.

TO DATE WE HAVE EIGHT CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

THESE SCHOOLS ARE SET UP TO HELP CHALLENGE DISTRICTS DEAL WITH SPECIAL SITUATIONS IN EDUCATION.

WHEN WE PASSED THAT BILL, IT WAS THE INTENT OF THE LOCAL MONEY TO FOLLOW THE CHILD.

BASED ON LEGISLATION, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS SPECIFICALLY SAYS TO THE COUNTIES IN WHICH THESE SCHOOLS RESIDE THAT THE CHILDREN THAT GO TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT THOSE MILLAGE TAXES FOLLOW THEM TO THAT SCHOOL.

THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD IN COUNTIES THAT HAVE 40,000 OR LESS POPULATION.

WE ARE ONLY MOVING 40% OF THOSE DOLLARS WITH THE CHILD BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE IT IS 100% OF THE DOLLARS THAT FOLLOW THE CHILD.

>> WILL THIS HELP CHARTER SCHOOLS BECOME MORE VIABLE?

WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THOUGH ISSUE OF -- WE HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE BUT A LOT MORE COULD COME AND BE MORE VIABLE WITH BETTER PARITY AND LOCAL FUNDING.

>> OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO FUND EDUCATION.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THESE CASES THE MONEY WAS NOT FOLLOWING THE CHILD.

THERE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN LEAVING THE PUBLIC SYSTEM.

THE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC SYSTEM.

IT WAS A GLITCH IN THE LEGISLATION.

THIS STRAIGHTENS IT OUT.

IT MIRRORS REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS' BILL IN THE HOUSE.

AND THIS BILL, OBVIOUSLY, HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TRYING TO GET THIS DONE, BUT IN THE EDUCATION STUDY COMMISSION, WHICH I AM IN ALONG WITH LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, WE SAT THAT UP, IF YOU REMEMBER, TO DEAL WITH THE PARENTS CHOICE BILL AND LEGISLATION OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

IN THESE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE ALSO DECIDED TO TRY TO MOVE SOME KEY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SUCH AS THE CHARTER BILL TO FIX GLITCHES IN THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM.

I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I THINK IT WILL HAVE GOOD SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AS WE WORK ON THE BIGGER, BROADER ITEMS.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT PARENTS CHOICE ACT.

IT WAS SENT TO THIS COMMISSION.

HOW HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS GONE?

DO YOU SEE IT COMING OUT OF THAT?

>> YEAH, IT HAS BEEN POSITIVE.

I WILL BE REALISTIC.

I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE IT IN THIS SESSION.

ONLY SO MANY DAYS LEFT.

BUT WHAT I THINK HAS COME OUT OF THIS IS THE DISCUSSION ON EDUCATION WHICH NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

WHEN YOU ARE LAST IN THE COUNTRY IN MATHEMATICS AND CLOSE TO LAST IN READING YOU HAVE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC YOU ARE ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS DOING.

IT STARTED WITH PARENTS CHOICE THAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN.

OTHER THINGS CAME UP, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT ABOUT THE EXISTING PUBLIC SYSTEM, THE KEY PROBLEMS, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THOSE?

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IS IT DOING ALL IT CAN, IF NOT WHAT CAN IT DO?

SOME REGIONS OF THE STATE THAT ARE MORE CHALLENGING THAN OTHERS.

THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE AND DISCUSSED BUT THE CHARTER BILL AND THE AAA BILL, THEM BILL THAT SENATOR ORR HAS ON MATH, SOME OF THOSE CAN BE DEALT IN THIS SESSION WHILE WE WORK ON THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE MATH BILL AND I WAS TALKING TO CHAIRMAN GARRETT AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS BUDGET MORE THAN MOST IN THE PAST IS TARGETING CERTAIN PROGRAMS, LESS ABOUT SPREADING MONEY AROUND AND TARGETING MATH, READING, SOME AREAS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN DEFICIENT.

THAT'S A CHANGE FROM YEARS PAST.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS LED TO THAT?

>> WE HAVE THE LARGEST BUDGET IN HISTORY OF THE STATE THAT WE WILL PASS.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE THE PROBLEMS TRULY EXIST AND WEIGH THOSE AREAS MORE HEAVY.

I MENTIONED EARLIER, MATHEMATICS WE ARE LAST IN THE COUNTRY, READING, WE'RE 46.

THEREFORE, WE HAVE THE READING INITIATIVE WE PUT SPECIFIC DOLLARS INTO.

THIS MATH INITIATIVE DOES THE SAME THING.

I TARGETS WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE AND PUTS REVENUE THERE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE.

NOT TO SAY IT IS ONLY TWO AREAS.

WE HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.

WHY IS THAT?

HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT?

THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION IS ABOUT.

WHERE ARE THE PROBLEMS AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS?

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GAMBLING.

YOU HAD IN YOUR COMMITTEE THE WIDE-RANGING GAMBLING BILL FROM SENATOR ALBRITTON.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE ONE YOU INTRODUCED LAST YEAR, WITH LOTTERY, CASINO AND SPORTS BETTING.

GOT THROUGH COMMITTEE WITH A FEW TWEAKS.

I ASSUME IT COULD GET TO THE SENATE PRETTY EASILY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PROSPECTS IN THE HOUSE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

THE BILL WAS PRETTY MUCH A MIRROR IMAGE OF LAST YEAR'S BILL.

HERE'S WHAT I KNOW -- IT HASN'T CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR.

A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ALABAMIANS ACROSS -- REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT MEN, WOMEN, ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, WANT TO HAVE A VOTE ON THE LOTTERY AND VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE ON GAMING IN GENERAL.

SO, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS KIND OF A MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE.

THEY WANT A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

ALL LEGISLATION WILL DO IS GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE.

I WOULD HOPE THE HOUSE -- BECAUSE THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL LAST YEAR.

I WOULD HOPE THE HOUSE WOULD SEE WISDOM IN LETTING THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA ADDRESS THE ISSUE THEY HAVE ASKED TO ADDRESS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I KNOW WE ARE GOING INTO AN ELECTION CYCLE.

I FEEL HESITANT TO DEAL WITH LARGE PIECE OF LEGISLATION DURING AN ELECTION CYCLE BUT THIS ONE IS SO POPULAR I WOULD HOPE THE HOUSE WOULD TAKE IT UP.

>> YOU HEAR THE ARGUMENT FROM OPPONENTS THAT THEY ARE BASICALLY GENERALLY OPPOSED TO GAMBLING.

THE STATE HASN'T ENFORCED THE LAW, RIGHT, THAT THESE CASINOS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO OPERATE OUTSIDE OF THE LAW AND THERE'S SOME KIND OF UNFAIRNESS ABOUT GRANDFATHERING THEM IN.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I THINK IN POLITICS YOU HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE YOU HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE.

THOSE ENTITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING IN THE STATE, OBVIOUSLY THE INDIANS HAVE THE FEDERAL RIGHT TO PERFORM HERE BUT THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE STATE, IN TRADITION WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY WILL CHANGE A MACHINE.

A MACHINE WILL BE DEEMED ILLEGAL.

WE STOP IT AND THEN THEY CHANGE THE MACHINE AND IT IS A CYCLE THAT GOES OVER AND OVER.

I WOULD HOPE THAT BY ADDRESSING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SAYS THE COMMISSION, AS WELL, THAT HAS OVERSIGHT ON THE EXISTING FACILITIES AND NEW ONES WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO.

TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THE LEGISLATION YOU HAVE TO BRING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE BUSINESS TO THE TABLE.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SPONSORED THIS BILL LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT.

YOU TOOK A LOT OF SLINGS AND ARROWS, RIGHT?

IS THAT A TOUGH SLOG?

>> I TELL MY COLLEAGUES THIS, THIS IS REALLY, IN MY OPINION, NOT A HEAVY LIFT.

THE LIFT IS GETTING A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE WILL MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION ON WHETHER TO GO WITH GAMING OR NOT.

THE DATA IS OUT THERE THAT SUPPORTS THEY WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS.

I DON'T SEE IT AS THAT A DIFFICULT TO PUT BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

THE DIFFICULTY IS PUTTING THE RIGHT PIECE OF LEGISLATION TOGETHER TO GET BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT, GETTING TO THE DETAILS A LITTLE BIT, LAST YEAR IN THE HOUSE, IT CAME DOWN TO A COUPLE OF THINGS, REVENUE AND HOW SPECIFIC ARE WE ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION, RIGHT, AND THEN ALSO DEALING WITH WHITE HALL, LOWNDES COUNTY, HOW SPECIFIC ARE WE.

YOU CALL IT SMALL DETAILS IN THE BILL BUT EVENTUALLY DERAILED IT.

HOW DO YOU SEE THOSE ISSUES IRONING OUT?

>> YOU SAY IT DERAILED IT.

THERE AGAIN, IF IT NEVER GETS TO THE FLOOR YOU CAN'T WORK ON SOMETHING.

TO MY MEMORY, IT NEVER GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

SO THE PROCESS IS TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS, TO ADDRESS WHERE THE CONCERNS ARE.

THE SENATE SENT A DOCUMENT DOWNSTAIRS TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE ISSUES EXPECTING THE HOUSE TO MAKE MORE CHANGES AND POSSIBLY GO TO CONFERENCE OR CONCUR.

THAT'S THE PROCESS.

BUT YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T MAKE PROGRESS IF YOU DON'T, AT LEAST, TAKE THE LEGISLATION UP.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE HOUSE, IF IT WERE TO GET OUT OF THE SENATE TO TAKE THE LEGISLATION UP AND ADDRESS THE CONCERN.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING IT AND I HOPE YOU CAN COME BACK ON AND TALK TO US MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND EDUCATION IN GENERAL.

>> YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY DR. SCOTT HARRIS, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

DOC, THANKS FOR COMING BACK ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> AS I WAS, AS I DO ALWAYS, MORE GOOD NEWS, 290 HOSPITALIZATIONS AS OF TODAY WITH COVID.

THAT'S DOWN FROM ALMOST 3,000 IN JANUARY.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE POSITIVE NUMBERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE PROUD ABOUT THAT.

AS YOU SAY, WE HAVE 10% OF THE NUMBER IN THE HOSPITAL WE HAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

THAT'S A REAL SUCCESS.

WE ARE STILL SEEING DEATHS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE LAST NUMBER TO GET BETTER.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR US TO COUNT ALL OF THOSE AND THOSE TYPICALLY OCCUR AFTER SOMEONE'S BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE.

SO WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO 19,000 TOTAL DEATHS WITH THE PANDEMIC.

BUT EVEN THE PIECE OF THAT IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN, AS WELL.

OVERALL, THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE ARE ENCOURAGING.

>> WELL, WE ARE COMING UP ON TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THE FIRST CASES OF COVID WERE, I G IDENTIFIED IN ALABAMA.

KIND OF SURREAL TO THINK ABOUT IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS.

IT FEELS A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT.

>> IT FEELS LIKE A DECADE.

ACTUALLY THIS WEEKEND IS EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO.

THE FIRST CASE WE HAD IN 2020 WAS MARCH 13th, WHICH WAS FRIDAY THE 13th AND IT FELT LIKE FRIDAY THE 13th EVER SINCE.

FINALLY, WE DO FEEL LIKE THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS, TODD, THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

JUST GOING FROM A DISEASE THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNKNOWN TO THE HUMAN RACE TO HAVING SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE AVAILABLE A YEAR LATER IS REALLY REMARKABLE.

IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLE.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BIG TOLL THAT HAD TO BE PAID.

THIS WEEK, WE LEARNED THAT 6 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HAVE DIED FROM THIS DISEASE.

>> WOW.

IT IS INTERESTING THINKING BACK.

I REMEMBER THINKING WE WERE HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE.

IT WAS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THERE WAS THIS FEELING THAT THERE WAS THIS INVISIBLE DISEASE THAT MAYBE HADN'T BEEN IDENTIFIED BUT YOU HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING SICK AND GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

EVERYBODY STARTS TO WASH THEIR HANDS A LOT AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT TO DO.

IT WAS A SCARY TIME BECAUSE, AS YOU MENTION, WE DIDN'T HAVE A VACCINE YET.

WE DIDN'T HAVE MEDICATION YET.

NOW, IT DOES FEEL A LOT DIFFERENT.

>> IT REALLY WAS LIKE THE FOG OF ORE, THE ICUS WERE FULL OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH PNEUMONIA.

WE WERE SEEING CASES IN NEW YORK CITY, THEY HAD A BIG OUTBREAK AT THAT POINT AND SEATTLE AREA BUT WE ONLY HAD TESTING AVAILABLE FOR EIGHT OR TEN DAYS.

EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW WE HAD SICK PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL IT TOOK A WHILE TO KNOW WHAT WAS COMING AND IT WAS A STRANGE, ALMOST HELPLESS FEELING.

WE WERE SEEING SICK PEOPLE COME IN AND WE COULDN'T PROVE THEY HAD COVID EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SUSPECTED IT AND HAD NOTHING TO OFFER IN THE WAY OF MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENT.

>> FOLKS MAY SEE THOSE GOOD NUMBERS, THE GOOD PROGRESS IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATION AND A SIGH OF RELIEF.

AND THEY MAY SEE IT AND THINK WE ARE OUT OF THE WOODS AND THERE'S NO REASON TO GET THAT VACCINE OR BOOSTER SHOT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE FOLKS?

>> THE REASON WE'RE POSSIBLY OUT OF THE WOODS IS MOST AMERICANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

BEING VACCINATED AND ESPECIALLY BOOSTED IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT REASON THAT CASE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN.

THAT AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE JUST GOTTEN INFECTED, AS WELL.

CERTAINLY THEY HAVE SOME IMMUNITY TOO, FOR A WHILE BUT WE DON'T USUALLY THINK IT IS VERY LONG LASTING.

I WOULD CAUTION PEOPLE IN ALABAMA TO REMEMBER WE STILL HAVE HALF OF OUR STATE THAT IS NOT VACCINATED AT THIS POINT.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE INFECTED IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY MANY WILL BE SUSCEPTIBLE IN A FEW MONTHS.

WE STILL HAVE A VARIANTS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT VIRUSES DO.

THEY MUTATE AND MAKE THEMSELVES EASIER TO SPREAD AROUND.

WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL PAY ATTENTION.

USE APPROPRIATE CAUTION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T GET BACK TO A NORMAL LIFE BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD HEALTH DECISIONS DON'T PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK UNNECESSARILY.

>> WHAT'S THE TIMING SITUATION?

TAKE ME, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD OMICRON OVER THE NEW YEAR.

SO IT HAS BEEN ALMOST THREE MONTHS.

SHOULD I GET A BOOSTER NOW OR IS THERE A TIME PERIOD THAT IS RIGHT?

>> A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS ARE BEING ANSWERED.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THE TIMING OF YOUR VACCINE SERIES AND THEN YOUR BOOSTER, WHENEVER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE BEEN INFECTED.

SO THAT SHOULDN'T CHANGE YOUR SCHEDULE.

WHEN IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO GET YOUR BOOSTER AFTER FIVE MONTHS OR WHATEVER YOUR SCHEDULE IS, YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND GET IT ON TIME.

THAT SAID, WE KNOW THAT IT IS UNUSUAL FOR PEOPLE TO GET INFECTED AGAIN, A SECOND TIME WITHIN THREE MONTHS.

SO MOST PEOPLE WILL HAVE ABOUT THREE MONTHS OF PROTECTION.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED VACCINATING WE TOLD PEOPLE IF THEY WERE INFECTED YOU CAN WAIT THREE MONTHS UNTIL YOU GET A SHOT.

THAT WAS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE TO GO AROUND AND WE KNOW THOSE RECENTLY INFECTED WOULD BE PROTECTED.

BUT NOW THERE IS PLENTY OF VACCINE.

SO YOU CAN GET VACCINATED ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AS EVERYONE ELSE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CDC HAS NEW RECOMMENDATIONS, UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF MASK RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> THEY RELEASED A NEW SET OF DATA.

IT'S ACTUALLY A NEW COLOR-CODED MAP, IF YOU WILL, THAT IS CALLED COMMUNITY LEVELS OF TRANSMISSION.

IN ALABAMA, JUST ABOUT THE WHOLE STATE IS IN EITHER GREEN OR YELLOW COLORED RISK AREA, WHICH MEANS MASKS AREN'T RECOMMENDED NECESSARILY.

FOR PEOPLE IN A YELLOW COUNTY, LIKE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND SEE IF YOUR OWN HEALTH STATUS MEANS YOU OUGHT TO CONSIDER WEARING A MASK BUT THERE IS NO LONGER A GENERAL MASK RECOMMENDATION FOR MOST PEOPLE IN MOST PARTS OF THE STATE AND THAT IS ACTUALLY TRUE FOR I THINK 80% OF THE COUNTRY.

TRANSMISSION LEVELS HAVE FALLEN ENOUGH THAT 80% OF THE COUNTRY THERE'S NOT A GENERAL MASK RECOMMENDATION FOR AMERICANS.

>> THAT WILL BE A RELIEF FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

SWITCHING GEARS REAL QUICK.

THE ISSUE OF FENTANYL.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME YOU WERE ON THE SHOW.

THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, RIGHT NOW IN THE STATEHOUSE, WOULD TAKE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS OFF THE LIST OF ILLEGAL DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

THE BILL PASSED THE LEGISLATURE AND GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING YOU RECOMMENDED AND SUPPORTED.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER STRATEGY OF RISK REDUCTION.

WE KNOW EVEN WHEN PEOPLE HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ADDICTED TO CERTAIN OPIOIDS, THEY STILL TRY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION THEY CAN ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE USING.

SO MANY TIMES NOW FENTANYL IS A REALLY POWERFUL OPIOID THAT ADULTERATES A LOT OF THESE STREET DRUGS OUT THERE.

IT IS INCREDIBLY POTENT.

IT CAN BE LETHAL JUST IN TINY DOSE AND IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO HEAR STORIES ABOUT A TEENAGER OR SOMEBODY WHO WILL EXPERIMENT AND TRY AN OPIOID FOR THE FIRST TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY IT IS FULL OF FENTANYL AND THEY DON'T SURVIVE EVEN TRYING DRUGS ONE SINGLE TIME.

SO THE TEST STRIPS ARE AVAILABLE IN MANY OTHER STATES.

THEY ARE ILLEGAL IN CERTAIN STATES, BUT BY LEGALIZING THOSE HERE IN ALABAMA, IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW IF THEY ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK FOR DYING.

IT IS A TOUGH ARGUMENT TO MAKE FOR SOME PEOPLE.

LIKE WHY WOULD WE WANT TO HELP A DRUG USER BUT I WOULD SAY THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THEM ALIVE UNTIL WE CAN GET THEM HELP.

WITH TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE AT DRUG ABUSE COUNSELING CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND GET THEM THERE AND THAT'S THE WAY TO PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH THE RESOURCES TO HOPEFULLY GET OVER THEIR PROBLEM.

>> IN THIS COVID TWO YEARS, HAVE WE SEEN AN UPTICK IN DRUG OVERDOSES?

>> DEFINITELY.

NATIONWIDE, WE HAVE EVIDENCE FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY ABOUT NUMBERS GOING UP THERE, AS WELL.

WE WILL THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE MENTAL HEALTH TOLL COVID HAS TAKEN ON EVERYBODY AND FRANKLY A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES AND OTHER MEDICAL AGENCIES HAVE HAD THEIR ATTENTION DIVERTED ELSEWHERE, INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON THE OPIOID PROBLEM AS HEAVILY AS BEFORE WE HAD OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND THAT LED TO AN UPTICK IN USE.

>> DR. HARRIS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

YOU HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS OVER THIS TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND FOR ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

NOW NOT NECESSARILY BEING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, I KNOW YOUR VISITS MAY BECOME LESS FREQUENT BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW ALL OF THESE TIMES.

>> IT'S A GREAT VENUE AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE FOR ME.

THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK MONDAY AT 10:30 FOR OUR NIGHTLY LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE.

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