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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE LEGISLATURE IS SET TO RETURN TOMORROW, RESUMING ACTION FOR THE 22 ND LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

THE PLAN IS TO MEET FOR TWO LEGISLATIVE DAYS THIS WEEK, THEN TAKE SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK.

THAT WOULD LEAVE US WITH SEVEN LEGISLATIVE DAYS FROM LATE MARCH TO MID-APRIL.

THE SESSION COULD LAST AS LONG AS APRIL 20TH OR AS SHORT AS APRIL 11TH .

SOMETIMES, LAWMAKERS WILL PUT A TEN-DAY WINDOW BETWEEN THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE SESSION TO ENSURE ANY VETOES FROM THE GOVERNOR COULD BE OVERRIDDEN.

HOWEVER, THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO THAT WHEN THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE MAJORITY ARE THE SAME PARTY AS THEY ARE NOW.

SO IF IT WERE ME, I'D PLAN FOR THE 11TH .

THIS WEEK IN THE STATE HOUSE, ALL EYES ARE ON THE SENATE FLOOR, WHERE WIDE RANGING GAMBLING LEGISLATION IS EXPECTED TO SEE DEBATE AND A VOTE.

SENATE BILL 293 FROM SEN. GREG ALBRITTON IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD INSTITUTE A STATE LOTTERY, EXPAND AND REGULATE CASINO GAMBLING, AND LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING.

REVENUE FROM THE LOTTERY WOULD BE GO TOWARD EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS, WHILE CASINO AND SPORTS BOOK REVENUE WOULD GO TOWARD EXPANDING BROADBAND INTERNET AND HEALTH CARE.

SENATE PASSAGE MAY BE A FOREGONE CONCLUSION GIVEN HOW THAT CHAMBER HAS EASILY PASSED SIMILAR BILLS IN THE PAST.

IT HAS BEEN THE HOUSE WHERE THE LEGISLATION HAS RUN INTO TROUBLE.

IT MAY AGAIN THIS YEAR, WHICH IS WHY ALBRITTON AND SEN. DEL MARSH ARE PUSHING HOUSE LEADERS TO GIVE THE BILL A SHOT.

>> I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO THEM.

THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

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

YOU CAN'T BUILD A CHICKEN HOUSE OR AN OUTHOUSE WITHOUT A PERMIT OF SOME TYPE AND CONTROL AND YET YOU CAN BUILD A CASINO WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

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

IT JUST IS.

I THINK THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE WANT SOMETHING TO VOTE ON AND MAKE A DECISION ON.

AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY HOUSE COUNTERPARTS TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO GET LEADERSHIP TO BRING US UP TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND MAKE CHANGES, GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

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

>> IN THE HOUSE, LAWMAKERS WILL BE TAKING UP THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW, ALONG WITH ALL ITS CORRESPONDING BILLS.

THE $2.7 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WOULD BE A RECORD FOR THE STATE.

IT INCLUDES TARGETED INCREASES FOR MANY AGENCIES, INCLUDING $17 MILLION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID THE HOUSE COULD TAKE UP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILLS AS WELL.

HE SAID THE HOUSE HAS BEEN WORKING METHODICALLY THROUGH ITS AGENDA OF BILLS EACH DAY AND PLANS TO DO THE SAME AS THE SESSION HITS ITS HOME STRETCH.

>> WE HAVE SOME GOOD BILLS ON THE COUNTER DEALING WITH ECONOMIC ISSUES.

WE WILL GET TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN WE WILL DO AN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE ARE AND LET'S JUST SEE WHAT WE GOT TO WORK WITH THE REST OF THE WEEK.

WE WILL LOOK AT THE FULL-TIME LINE THAT WE HAVE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE GO ON SPRING BREAK THE 2ND AND AFTER SPRING BREAK WE'RE ON THE TAIL END OF THE SESSION.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING OF COURSE AT THE GAMING BILL AND SEE HOW THAT GOES IN THE SENATE.

THERE WILL BE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE EDUCATION BUDGET, WE KNOW.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE GENERAL FUND.

WE ALWAYS HAVE ONE.

SO WE WILL BE DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES.

>> EVEN IF THE GENERAL FUND PASSES THE HOUSE THIS WEEK, IT WOULD STILL NEED TO GO BACK TO THE SENATE BEFORE SECURING FINAL PASSAGE.

THAT'S BECAUSE CHANGES WERE MADE IN THE HOUSE, INCLUDING ADDING FUNDING TO EXTEND MATERNITY HEALTH COVERAGE FOR NEW MOTHERS ON MEDICAID UP TO A YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, THOSE NEW MOTHERS ONLY RECEIVE 60 DAYS OF MATERNITY COVERAGE.

THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE DISAGREEMENT OVER THE BUDGET, BUT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAID HE STILL EXPECTS A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WILL BE NEEDED TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS GIVEN THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED.

.

>> I THINK THE GENERAL FUND IN THE HOUSE, IT SEEMS AS IF THE TWO CHAIRS HAVE BEEN WORKING CAREFULLY TOGETHER.

I THINK THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT ON A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

WE MAY STILL NEED TO HAVE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.

BUT I'M EXCITED THAT THE BUDGETS ARE MOVING FAST.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

>> SUNDAY MARKED TWO YEARS SINCE COVID-19 WAS FIRST DETECTED IN ALABAMA.

IT WAS MARCH 13, 2020 WHEN THE FIRST POSITIVE CASE WAS REPORTED.

IT WAS AN EERIE TIME WHEN MUCH OF THE WORLD WAS VULNERABLE AND SCARED.

AND YET TODAY THE MILESTONE COMES AS MOST METRICS SHOW THE VIRUS RECEDING IN THE STATE.

DR. SCOTT HARRIS OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REFLECTED ON THE ANNIVERSARY.

>> THE 1ST CASE WE HAD ON 2020 WAS A FRIDAY THE 13TH AND IT FELT LIKE FRIDAY THE 13TH EVER SINCE.

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

THERE ARE 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 CAREFUL AND EFFECTIVE VACCINES AVAILABLE A YEAR RARITY IS REALLY REMARKABLE.

IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLE.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A BIG TOLL THAT HAD TO BE PAID.

I THINK THIS YEAR -- I'M SORRY -- THIS WEEK WE LEARNED MORE THAN 6 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HAVE DIED FROM THIS DISEASE.

>> DR. HARRIS CONTINUES TO URGE ALABAMIANS TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED ON SCHEDULE SO AS TO BE PROTECTED FROM SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH IF AND WHEN ANOTHER VARIANT OR MUTATION EMERGES.

>> ALABAMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS STEADY AT 3.1 PERCENT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCED THE UPDATED RATE THIS MORNING, WHICH SHOWS THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION FROM JANUARY.

FEBRUARY'S NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS FIVE MONTHS.

THIS COMPARES TO A YEAR AGO WHEN THE RATE WAS 4% IN JANUARY 2021.

ACCORDING TO LABOR, 33,000 JOBS WERE CREATED IN THE LAST YEAR.

THE COUNTIES WITH LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT WERE SHELBY, MARSHALL, LIMESTONE, MORGAN, MARSHALL, LIMESTONE, MORGAN,, AND BLOUNT.

THE COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT WERE WILCOX, LOWNDES, PERRY, 8.4%.

SPEAKING OF JOBS, THERE ARE 557 NEW ONES COMING TO CENTRAL ALABAMA THANKS TO A CALIFORNIA APPAREL COMPANY LOCATING HERE.

BELLA+ CANVAS IS ACQUIRING THE OLD RUSSELL PLANT IN WETUMPKA THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.

PHOTO ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S OFFICE, THE COMPANY PLANS TO USE THE FACILITY FOR ADVANCED FABRIC CUTTING OPERATIONS.

THE STATE SAID JOBS WILL INCLUDE SPREADERS, CUTTERS, FORKLIFT OPERATORS, SHIPPING AND RECEIVING CLERKS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE OF $46,000 A YEAR.

AIDT, THE STATE JOB TRAINING AGENCY, IS HELPING THE COMPANY WITH TRAINING AND ONBOARDING WORKERS.

Reporter: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUEST.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY HAL TAYLOR, SECRETARY OF THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

SECRETARIAL, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> WELL, IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE SEVERAL OF THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO -- UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF ALEA.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE SOME ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT YOUR AGENCY DOES IN MISSION FOR THE STATE?

>> SURE.

SO THE BILL WAS PASSED IN 2013 TO CONSOLIDATE 12 AGENCIES.

WHAT THEY DID, THEY WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT AGENCIES THAT HAD STATE POLICE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY REDUNDANCY IN ANY OF THE AGENCIES.

AND THERE WAS SOME.

SO THEY STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT REVENUE WAS DOING, WHAT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WAS DOING, WHAT DIFFERENT AGENCIES WERE DOING THAT SOME WERE DOING THE SAME THING, SO THEY WERE TRYING TO STOP THE REDUNDANCY AND JUST HOUSED UNDER ONE UMBRELLA, AND THEN A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND GRANT MONEY WAS GOING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT AGENCIES FOR THE SAME THING.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT STARTED THE WHOLE THING.

SO THEY PASSED THE LAW IN 2013, AND IT WAS EFFECTIVE JANUARY OF '15, TO CONSOLIDATE 12 AGENCIES TOGETHER AS ONE UNDER ALEA.

SO WITH THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S TROOPERS, HIGHWAY PATROL AND WHAT USED TO BE AB.

AND I NOW IS SBI.

BUT YOU HAVE MARINE PATROL, YOU HAVE FORESTRY, YOU HAVE ABC, OFFICE OF PROSECUTION SERVICES ACEGS, SEVERAL MORE AGENCIES TOGETHER CONSOLIDATED.

YOU STILL HAVE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY BUT IT'S NOT AS YOU KNEW IT BEFORE.

IT'S STILL HIGHWAY PATROL, MARINE PATROL AND IT'S UNIFORMS BUT WE ALSO HAVE SBI, STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS THAT DOES NARCOTICS, THEY DO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, MAJOR CRIMES, AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSE DIVISION, WE HAVE AN AVIATION DIVISION.

WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER THINGS NOW.

BUT WE'RE A FORCED MULTIPLIER NOW, YOU EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER.

SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO OTHER AGENCIES AND ASKING FOR HELP WHEN YOU HAVE BIGGER EVENTS IT ALL WORKS NOW.

WE HAVE HAD A FEW POLICY THINGS TO ADJUST TO BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S WORKED REALLY WELL.

>> THE GENERAL FUND IS MOVING HERE AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD DEAL WITH IT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

OF COURSE YOU GET YOUR FUNDING MOST FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUT YOU NEVER GOT BUDGET HEARING BECAUSE THAT MEETING GOT CANCELED.

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET REQUEST?

WHAT ARE YOUR ITEMS IN THE BUDGET REQUEST AND ARE YOU PLEASED SO FAR WITH WHAT THE BUDGET LOOK LIKE?

>> WE ARE.

WE ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NEW DRIVER'S LICENSE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE STANDING UP.

THE ONE THAT WE HAVE HAD IS OLD AND HAS BEEN AROUND WITH SOME OF THE DATA SINCE '74.

WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM THAT WE WILL ROLL OUT IN APRIL.

SO WE WANT SOME FUNDING FOR IT AND GOT THAT.

SOME OTHER FUNDING FOR SOME OTHER DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUES FOR SOME ADDITIONAL STAFFING.

WHEN WE DID CONSOLIDATE, WE GOT A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS AND STATE POLICE.

WHAT WE DIDN'T GET IS SOME OF THE SUPPORT ROLE THAT WENT WITH THEM.

SOME OF THE AGENCIES STAYED AROUND, LIKE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE ABC BOARD AND FORESTRY AND AG AND INDUSTRY, WE TOOK THE INVESTIGATORS AND THE SWORN SIDE OF IT BUT THOSE AGENCIES STILL ARE AROUND.

SO THE OFFICERS CAME OVER BUT NOT MUCH SUPPORT STAFF.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO BACK-FILL THAT WITH SUPPORT STAFF TO HELP, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR MOSTLY IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR.

>> I WAS CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, GAS PRICES ARE STILL AT A RECORD HIGH RIGHT NOW.

IT'S AFFECTING MOST ALL AGENCIES BUT I WOULD IMAGINE WITH ALL OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S AFFECTING YOU TOO.

>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, TODD.

AND US BEING IF I WERE, IT'S REALLY TOUGH ON OUR BUDGET, GAS PRICES THE WAY THEY ARE AND US STILL TRYING TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHICH WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO.

NOW, WHAT THAT MAY CAUSE KNEE DO IS TAKE SOME FUNDING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, POSSIBLY HIRING OR OTHER FUNDING AND REPURPOSE IT FOR FUEL.

AND IF I HAVE TO DO THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO MAINTAIN AND DO WHAT WE CAN FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> SPEAKING OF HIRING I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT TROOPER STAFFING LEVELS.

I REMEMBER YEARS AGO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE WAS A SHORTAGE.

AND I KNOW WHEN YOU BECAME SECRETARY YOU TALKED ABOUT ADDRESSING THAT.

HOW WILL WE DOING WITH THE STAFFING LEVEL FOR TROOPERS ON THE ROAD?

>> WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL.

I'VE BEEN FORTUNE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS SUPPORTED ME SINCE I GOT HERE IN APRIL OF '17.

THERE WERE ROUGHLY 234 TROOPERS ON THE ROAD.

LAST YEAR WE WERE UP TO 507.

WE'RE AT 447 RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE HAD SOME RETIREMENTS AND PROMOTIONS AND DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THAT'S ACTUAL ON THE ROAD, WRITING TICKETS.

>> THAT'S DOUBLED IN FIVE YEARS?

>> THAT'S DOUBLE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATURE HELPING ME WITH THE FUNDING FOR THOSE.

AND IT'S HARD TO GET THAT MANY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED IN CARS AND GET THEM ON THE ROAD BUT WE HAVE DONE IT WITH THEIR HELP AND IT'S BAN HUGE EFFECT WITH JUST -- WE'RE DOWN IN ACCIDENTS AND WE'RE DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN DESKS.

>> DOES THAT PRESENCE ON THE HIGHWAY, PHYSICAL PRESENCE, I HAVE SEEN MORE TROOPERS DOES THAT HAVE AN EFFECT ON REDUCING ACCIDENTS AND REDUCING RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS.

>> IT DOES.

WHEN YOU SEE MARKED CARS AND UNIFORM OFFICERS IS A DETERRENT.

THE MORE YOU SEE, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

>> YEAH, I DO.

>> RIGHT.

WHEN YOU SEE ONE YOU AUTOMATICALLY SLOW DOWN.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT'S THE HOPE FOR SURE.

AND ALSO WITH RESPONSE TIME, ZERO FOR GOING AND WORKING WRECKS, EARLIER BEFORE WE HAD THIS MANY YOU HAD IS A TROOPER COME OUT AND WORK THREE COUNTIES.

IF THEY HAD A WRONG 56, THEY COULD BE IN ELMORE COUNTY AND IT COULD TAKE AN HOUR OR HOUR AND A HALF TO GET THERE.

IF 65 IS SHUT DOWN, IT BACKS UP AND THAT'S COMMERCE AND YOU HAVE TRUCKS SITTING AND WAITING TO GO TO HYUNDAI, 9 TIER ONE, TWO, AND THREE SUPPLIERS -- YOU DO A LOT WHEN YOU SHUT DOWN 65.

SO THAT HAS HELPED A WHOLE LOT WITH TIME AND GETTING IT BACK OPEN QUICKER.

>> BESIDES JUST THE BUDGET YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH LEGISLATION HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE.

ONE INVOLVES WIRETAPPING FOR FELONY DRUG ALLEGATIONS.

WALK ME THROUGH WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS HAD A WIRETAP CAPABILITY FOR YEARS.

AND WE HAVE HAD WORKED WITH THEM ON TASK FORCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT ALABAMA DOESN'T HAVE ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR STATE.

IT'S THE FEDERAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

WE WANT ONE FOR ALABAMA.

THE FEDS TAKES A LITTLE LONGER F YOU'RE WORKING THE CASE -- THE WIRETAP IS ONLY FOR FELONY, LARGE DRUG DEALS, FELONY DRUG DEALS.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING IT CAN BE USED FOR.

NO OTHER CASES.

IT'S ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX WHEN YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING ELSE TO TRY TO CATCH THESE BIG DRUG DEALERS.

IT LET'S YOU GO IN -- AND YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME THING YOU WOULD FOR A SEARCH WARRANT BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES FOR IT AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR THE AGENTS OUT HERE WORKING THE BIG FELONY DRUG CASES.

THERE WAS AN AGENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT GOT SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

HE WAS WORKING WITH A DRUG TEAM.

AND THEY WENT IN AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS IN THERE.

THEY THOUGHT THEY KNEW AND WHEN THEY WENT IN THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE THERE WITH GUNS.

HAD WE HAD THAT PRIOR TAP AND COULD HAVE LISTENED THEY PROBABLY COULD HAVE HEARD PEOPLE WERE THERE N. THERE AND POSSIBLY SAVED HIS LIFE.

SO THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT.

THESE LARGE DRUG DEALERS -- THEY'RE STARTING TO GO TO SMALLER CITIES WHERE THERE'S LESS RESOURCES.

THEY KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE THE POLICE AND THE TEAM CATCH THEM OR WORK OR TRY TO FIND THEM -- THE FUNDS PROBABLY AREN'T THERE.

>> RIGHT.

THEY AREN'T THERE.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO THE SMALLER AND THE SMALLER AGENCIES ARE ASKING US FOR HELP SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THEM AND TAKE THESE BIG DRUG DEALERS OFF THE STREETS.

DRUGS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS HEROINE HAS COME BACK.

4 YEARS AGO AN OUNCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE WAS A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

TODAY IT'S $300.

BECAUSE THE MARKET IS SATURATED AND THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THOSE DRUG DEALERS OFF THE STREET AND THAT IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.

>> YOU ALSO HEAR A LOT ABOUT FENTANYL AND ITS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IS THAT ANOTHER FOCUS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING EFFORT?

>> IT IS.

WHEN WE GET HEROIN IT'S LACED WITH FENTANYL.

WHEN WE GET IT BACK FROM THE -- AND IT'S KILLING PEOPLE DAILY.

>> SWITCHING GEARS, ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.

LAST YEAR THE LEGISLATURES PASSED A LAW DIRECTING ALEA TO SET UP THIS DATABASE OF INDIVIDUALS MORE NOT PERMITTED, YOU KNOW -- PROHIBITED IN FACT -- TO CARRY A FIREARM.

AND THEY'RE TALKING QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT THIS SESSION AS IT PERTAINS TO THE WHOLE CONCEAL CARRY THING.

BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS DATABASE DOES AND HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO GET IT DEPLOYED?

>> SO THEY PASSED IT LAST YEAR, AS YOU SAID FOR PEOPLE TO CARRY WHEN THEY CANNOT CARRY A FIREARM.

WE ARE WORKING ON IT NOW.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT ABOUT A YEAR AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THE TESTING PHASES IN AUGUST AND UP AND RUNNING BY OCTOBER 1 OF '22, THIS YEAR AS THE LAW REQUIRES.

BUT THAT DATABASE WILL HOUSE AND HOUSE THE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT CARRY A FIREARM.

SO WHEN THINK PASSED THE CONCEAL CARRY BILL THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE PUT IN THERE TOO, IF AN OFFICER STOPS SOMEONE AND THEY SEE A GUN AND IT POTENTIALLY IS GOING TO HARM THEM OR SOMEONE ELSE OR THE PERSON CAN'T TOUCH THAT WEAPON, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HOLD THAT WEAPON DURING THAT STOP OR CHECK THAT WEAPON OUT TO SEE IF IT'S BEEN USED IN ANY KIND OF FELONY -- POSSIBLY A SHOOTING OR SOMETHING ELSE.

IF SO THEY CAN TAKE THAT GUN AND ARREST THE PERSON AT THE TIME.

BUT THAT DATABASE IS FOR PROHIBITED PEOPLE WHO CAN'T CARRY A WEAPON.

>> DO YOU SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP OFFICERS FEEL PROTECTED KNOWING IF THEY RUN A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR RUN A TAG, THEY CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS PERSON IS AT LEAST ON THE CANNOT CARRY LIST.

>> YES.

WE HOPE SO.

WE HAVE TO GET INFORMATION FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO SEND US THINGS WHEN CONVICTIONS AND THINGS FROM THE COURT HAPPEN.

WE RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE TO SEND US INFORMATION FOR THIS DATABASE BUT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM AND THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE COMING FINE.

>> SPEAKING OF TRAFFIC STOPS, I KNOW THAT YOU AND GOVERNOR IVEY MADE ATE PRIORITY THAT ENSURING YOUR TROOPERS HAVE THE SENSORY TRAINING DEALING WITH TRAFFIC STOPS THAT INVOLVE FOCUS WITH SENSORY ISSUES.

I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET ALL TROOPERS TRAINED IN THIS.

HOW DOES THAT HELP THEM DO THEIR JOBS?

>> IT REALLY HELPS THEM A LOT.

AS YOU KNOW, TODD THAT IS A HUGE TRAINING FOR US.

YOU'RE NOT TAUGHT SOME OF THAT IN THE ACADEMY AND YEARS AGO.

YOU'RE JUST NOT TAUGHT WHAT TO LOOK FOR, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHALLENGES THAT WAY.

SO WITH THE CENTURY ISSUES HAVE LEARNED WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHERE, WITHOUT THIS TRAINING, WE MIGHT HAVE STOPPED SOMEBODY AND NOT KNOWN WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ON SOME TYPE OF DRUGS OR MAYBE THEY HAD TAKEN TOO MUCH OR OFF THEIR MEDICINE AND THEY HASN'T TAKEN IT WHEN REALLY THAT HAD NOTHING DO WITH IT AT ALL.

WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE CENTURY NEEDS AND DR. MAHA AND HE HAS BEEN SUCH A HELP TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

NOW, YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THESE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T LIKE LOUD NOISES.

SOME OF THEM DON'T.

SO YOU HAVE LEARNED, TALK SLOW TO THEM, TALK LOW AND YOU CAN A MUCH BETTER RESPONSE.

WHEREAS YOU MIGHT THINK SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG AND YOU ELEVATE YOUR VOICE AND YOU DO THINGS AND YOU REALLY CAUSED A PROBLEM.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT TRAINING FOR US.

ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALEA ARE TRAINED.

SB BI AND TROOPERS ON THE ROAD, EVERYONE THERE IN A SWORN CAPACITY HAS BEEN TRAINED WITH THE SENSORY NEEDS.

>> WE'RE ABOUT TO HIT SPRING BREAK SEASON.

RIGHT AFTER THAT WILL COME SUMMER BEACH SEASON.

THAT MEANS A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROADS AND THAT MEANS ACCIDENTS.

I KNOW YOU CAN'T PREVENT EVERYTHING BUT WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO ARE PREPARING TO HIT THE ROAD HERE IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS FOR THE BEACH?

>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THINK WILL BE HITTING THE ROAD AND HEADED TO THE BEACH.

SHOW DOWN.

DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

DON'T BE IN A HURRY.

DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE.

PAY ATTENTION TOO YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

IF THEY'RE CLOSE TO YOU OR -- JUST PAY ATTENTION WHAT IS GOING ON AND THESE DON'T BE DISTRACTED, WHATEVER THAT IS.

TEXTING AND DRIVING, TALKING ON THE PHONE, WHATEVER IT IS.

JUST PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE PHONE.

WE MAY HAVE THE QUITE AS MANY IF GAS KEEPS GOING UP LIKE IT IS.

>> THE GAS PRICES MAY BE A SILVER LINING, NOT QUITE AS MUCH CONGESTION ON THE ROADS.

HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE.

SECRETARIAL, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 ON APT WITH MORE COVERAGE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪