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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY DAY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, BOTH IN COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 17TH DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

THE SENATE DEBATED AND PASSED LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPROVING MATH EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SENATE BILL 171, DUBBED THE ALABAMA NUMERACY ACT, WOULD TARGET ALABAMA'S LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS WITH RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN BETTER MATH SKILLS.

MATH COACHES WOULD BE DEPLOYED TO ALL K-5 SCHOOLS OVER TIME TO HELP TEACHERS WITH THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING MATH.

SENATOR ARTHUR ORR SAYS HIS BILL IS IN RESPONSE TO ALABAMA TESTING DEAD LAST IN MATH ON THE LAST NATIONAL REPORT CARD.

>> WE'RE PUSHING THESE COACHES THAT WE HIRE IN 2022, AND SPRING 2023.

WE'RE GETTING THEM TRAINED AND READY AND PUSHING THEM OUT IN AUGUST 2023.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS IN THE HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS WOULD BE THE FIRST AREA OF FOCUS, PUSHING THEM OUT THERE, AUGUST 2023.

THAT SCHOOL YEAR.

THEN START THREE YEARS OF INTENSIVE SUPPORT AND HELP.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN HERE, EVEN SUMMER SCHOOL FOR FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS.

PULL OUT SESSIONS AFTER SCHOOL.

JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET THESE KIDS, IF THEY ARE NOT WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE, AS BEST WE CAN, WITH FOCUSING ON IT.

>> WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT GUN OWNERS OBTAIN A PERMIT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN.

HOUSE BILL 272 WAS IN A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY WHERE LAWMAKERS DEBATED THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE BILL.

ONE COMPLAINT HAS BEEN HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WOULD MISS OUT ON REVENUE DERIVED FROM PERMIT FEES.

AN AMENDMENT WAS ADDED TO THE BILL TO CREATE A GRANT PROGRAM TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LOST REVENUE.

>> WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY RELY ON THE REVENUE SO WE HAVE HERE A METHOD AND MEANS TO CONSENT AND HAVE MONIES AVAILABLE TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE.

THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS, OF COURSE, FOR SHOWING WHAT THE LOSSES ARE.

AND THERE'S A TIME LIMIT, THREE YEAR TIME LIMIT ON THIS.

>> WHY DON'T ALL OF THE CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WHY SHOULD THEY BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE SHERIFFS HAVE A MECHANISM TO DO THAT BY COLLECTING THE PERMIT MONEY.

AND WE'RE GOING ABOVE AND OVER TO TRY TO REPLACE MONEY, FUNDING SOMETHING WHEN THE MONEY IS ALREADY THERE.

WHY ARE WE GOING THIS EXTRA STEP, MR. CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, SHOULD THE BILL PASS THAT WE HAVE A MEANS TO PROTECT THOSE BENEFITS THAT THE MONEY HAS, WHAT IT HAS BEEN DOING.

WE DON'T WANT TO JERK THAT OUT FROM UNDER THE SHERIFF'S.

>> WELL, I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE WHERE I AM COMING FROM?

THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO DO THIS BILL, TO DO THIS AMENDMENT TO THE BILL WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO BE DOING THE BILL AT ALL.

OKAY?

>> THE BILL PASSED ON A 6-4 VOTE AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

A SENATE COMMITTEE DEBATED AND PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REVISE CERTAIN CHILDCARE FACILITY REQUIREMENTS.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON CHILD CARE WORKERS WOULD BE VALID FOR FIVE YEARS OR UNTIL A NEW BACKGROUND CHECK IS CONDUCTED, AND CRIMES UNRELATED TO CHILD CARE WORK WOULDN'T BE COUNTED AGAINST APPLICANTS.

SENATE BILL 248, FROM SENATOR DAN ROBERTS, WOULD ALSO ALLOW CHILD CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES TO WORK EXTENDED SHIFTS.

SENATOR MALIKA SANDERS FORTIER QUESTIONED THE IMPACT OF THE BILL AND WHETHER IT WOULD ROLL BACK STRICT REQUIREMENTS ADOPTED IN 2018.

>> I WISH WE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE ALL ADULTS WERE KIND, RESPECTFUL AND LOVING PEOPLE TO CHILDREN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

AND LET'S JUST BE HONEST.

EVEN IN FACILITIES WHERE THAT STANDARD, WE HOPE, WOULD BE THERE, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE PUTTING OUR CHILDREN IN THE CONTEXT WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED WOULD BE ABLE TO GO IN AND BE ABLE TO BE WITH CHILDREN.

>> I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH COMMON GROUND AND IN NO WAY DO WE WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO REPEAL WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN 2018.

WE'RE WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILDREN.

AND I WON'T SAY, TRUST ME ON THAT, BUT I TELL YOU, I GIVE YOU MY WORD WE'RE WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILDREN HERE.

>> THE BILL PASSED 6-3 AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

THE STATE'S EDUCATION BUDGET ADVANCED THROUGH COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE RECORD SETTING $8.17 BILLION EDUCATION TRUST FUND CONTAINS A FOUR PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS, PLUS ACROSS THE BOARD BUDGET INCREASES FOR PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES FUNDED THROUGH THE ETF.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE, SAID HE EXPECTS TO SEE THE BUDGET ON THE HOUSE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

>> I THINK WE'RE LASER FOCUSED ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN'T GET TEACHERS, NOR THE RESOURCES, DON'T HAVE BROADBAND IN THE HOMES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THIS PILOT THAT WE'RE DOING IN BIRMINGHAM, THIS VIRTUAL HUB IN THE EARLY STAGES, WE HOPE TO EXPAND THAT AND ALSO, WE'RE LOOKING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HOW WE RECRUIT TEACHERS.

AND IN THE YOU-TEACH PROGRAM, IT'S SUCCESSFUL GETTING TEACHERS IN THE AREAS WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO GO.

SO, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THAT AS WELL.

>> TRANSGENDER ISSUES CONTINUE TO BE HOTLY DEBATED THIS SESSION.

SENATE BILL 184 FROM SENATOR SHAY SHELLNUT WAS IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT DOCTORS FROM PRESCRIBING PUBERTY BLOCKERS OR PERFORMING GENDER TRANSITION SURGERY ON MINORS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION AND ARGUED IT WOULD SET A BAD PRECEDENT FOR DOCTORS AND PATIENTS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE WES ALLEN, WHO HAS SPONSORED SIMILAR LEGISLATION, DEFENDED THE PROPOSAL, SAYING IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM LIFE-ALTERING DECISIONS THEY MAY REGRET.

THE BILL PASSED COMMITTEE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR WHAT COULD BE FINAL PASSAGE.

SOME SAD NEWS TO REPORT.

AUTHERINE LUCY FOSTER, THE FIRST BLACK STUDENT TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 92.

JUST LAST MONTH, THE UNIVERSITY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED TO NAME A PROMINENT CAMPUS BUILDING IN HER HONOR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HALL SAID SHE WAS GLAD FOSTER GOT TO SEE THAT SPECIAL GESTURE BEFORE SHE DIED AND THAT HER LEGACY IS A POWERFUL ONE.

>> SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT BUILDING HONOR HER.

AND DURING WOMEN HISTORY MONTH, IT IS CERTAINLY, IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME TO SEE THAT HAPPEN BUT EVEN MORE SO, TO THINK THAT SHE LED THE WAY FOR SO MANY OF US, SO MANY YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO WERE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

AND THAT ROAD WAS NOT EASY FOR HER, WHEREAS IT IS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THERE TODAY.

BUT I SAY, THE CHALLENGE TO EACH ONE OF US IS TO CONTINUE TO TRAVEL THE ROAD SHE TRAVELED WHICH WAS PAVED OUT AND MADE A LITTLE SMOOTHER BUT REALIZE THERE'S GOING TO BE BUMPS AND DIPS BUT DON'T EVER GIVE UP.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> Todd Stacy: SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS WEEK, THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE GOING TO JOIN US THIS WEEK ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

STARTING WITH CYNTHIA ALMOND THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND AS I MENTIONED, YOU ARE ONE OF THE NEWEST REPRESENTATIVES, HOUSE DISTRICT 63, WHICH WHEN BILL POOLE WAS APPOINTED FINANCE DIRECTOR.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WELL, IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING FOR ME.

I WAS ON THE TUSCALOOSA CITY COUNCIL, 16 YEARS PRIOR TO DOING THIS.

AND I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MORE, BEYOND THAT, BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT OR WHEN.

THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME ALONG SHORTLY AFTER I HAD DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION FOR THE COUNCIL.

I DECIDED TO JUMP IN, AND HERE I AM.

SO.

>> I ALWAYS TRY TO REMIND PEOPLE, LEGISLATURE IS NOT A FULLTIME JOB.

SO WHAT'S YOUR BUSINESS BACK HOME?

>> I'M AN ATTORNEY BACK IN TUSCALOOSA.

I HAVE MY OWN LAW FIRM AND I OWN A BUSINESS CALLED CAPITAL PARK TITLE.

AND WE HAVE A TITLE COMPANY AS WELL.

>> WE'RE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSIONS THUS FAR?

>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE I'M DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN, SO MANY PEOPLE TO MEET.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT TO A PERSON, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SURPRISINGLY COLLEGIAL AND WELCOMING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I EXPECTED THAT, THE WAY IT'S BEEN.

IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE BE SO FRIENDLY, ACCEPTING, AND JUST HELPFUL.

FROM THE LEGISLATORS, TO THE STAFF, AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY NICE.

ALSO, THE PROCESSES ARE DIFFERENT HERE THAN ON THE COUNCIL LEVEL.

LOTS OF SIMILARITIES BUT DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT PROCESS TO LEARN.

YOU JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF BEFORE YOU START TO UNDERSTAND IT.

AND THE ISSUES ARE DIFFERENT TOO FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND THERE'S LOTS OF READING, KEEPING UP, READING AND WATCHING THE NEWS AS WELL FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES.

SO, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK.

>> AND YOU ARE KIND OF ASKED, EXPECTED TO BE AN EXPERT ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> WELL, LUCKILY WE DON'T HAVE TO BE EXPERTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTS AROUND US.

BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT THE BILL IS DOING AND HOW IT MAY IMPACT OTHER AREAS THAT SOMETIMES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR TIME ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

DOES THAT EXPERIENCE AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL HELP TO INFORM YOU AS A STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY, IT DOES.

IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GET SOME TRAINING FOR THIS ROLE.

AND YOU KNOW, I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AS I SAID, FOR 16 YEARS.

AND WE MET ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK.

AND I SPEND EVERY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING DOING COUNCIL WORK.

IT HELPS TO PREPARE ME TO, FOR LEARNING HOW TO MEET WITH MY CONSTITUENTS, UNDERSTAND MY CONSTITUENTS, THEIR NEEDS, AND THEIR DESIRES.

IT HELPED ME LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT ISSUES AND THINGS THAT CAN BE DECISIVE, AMONGST THE BODY.

AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO HANDLE THOSE THINGS PERSONALLY YOURSELF.

AND WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

A LOT OF GREAT TRAINING THERE AND I'M GLAD I HAD IT.

>> YOU MENTIONED COLLEGIALITY.

NOW, IT CAN KIND OF TURN ON A DIME, CAN'T IT.

BEST FRIENDS, EVERYBODY IS GETTING ALONG, KUMBAYA AND BILLS PASSING AND THEN SOMETHING TURNS AND IT'S A CRAZY DECISIVE ISSUE.

SO, WE SAW THAT LAST WEEK.

IS THAT JARRING AS A NEW MEMBER FOR YOU?

>> WELL, HAVING THE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, HAVING GONE THROUGH THAT BEFORE MULTIPLE TIMES, ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IT'S STILL DIFFICULT.

BUT MOST ALL OF US ARE PEOPLE LOVERS AND WE LIKE TO GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.

THAT'S SORT OF WHY WE ARE HERE.

AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO FEEL THE PRESSURE SOMETIMES OF GOING ALONG WITH THE GROUP.

AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, HAVE YOU TO DO WITH WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.

DEFINITELY A LOT OF PRESSURE THERE.

AND I THINK MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE AS HELPED ME ALONG WITH THAT.

AND THERE'S MORE TO COME I'M SURE.

>> YOU ARE ONE OF 18 WOMEN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ONE OF ONLY 6 IN THE HOUSE G.O.P.

CAUCUS.

NOW, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR WOMEN TO RUN, AND TO SERVE IN ELECTED OFFICE.

>> WE ARE ALL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FOLKS BACK HOME.

THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING AS MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES HERE AS WE CAN.

WE DON'T WANT TO ALL LOOK-ALIKE, SOUND ALIKE, THINK ALIKE.

BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE AT THE STATE.

THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO BE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICES.

IT'S NOT EASY FOR ANYONE, SOMETIMES PARTICULARLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN, AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO DO IT.

FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT AT ANY POINT, IT'S YOUR DECISION TO MAKE, WHETHER YOU HAVE NO CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN, GROWN CHILDREN.

FOR ME, MY CHILDREN ARE GROWN NOW.

IT MAKES IT EASIER TO COME HERE AND TO BE FULLY DEVOTED TO THE JOB.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO BE INVOLVED AND STEP UP AND RUN >> Todd Stacy: YOU KNOW, YOUR AREA OF TUSCALOOSA HAS BEEN GROWING LIKE CRAZY, ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING AREAS OF THE STATE.

PARTLY AND MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND ITS GROWTH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES.

I'M SURE THAT COMES WITH CHALLENGES, TOO, NOT JUST LOCAL LEVEL BUT HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

MAYBE YOU HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BOTH.

>> NO QUESTION THAT TUSCALOOSA HAS GROWN, QUITE A BIT.

AND MOST ALL OF THAT GROWTH HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO, YOU EXPERIENCE FIRST-HAND, BOTH BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH THAT.

A LOT OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FROM THE GROWTH, IN TERMS OF CHALLENGES WAS THE PROLIFERATION OF STUDENT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION COMPLEXES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND HOW TO HANDLE THAT, PROVIDING PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO STAY AND LIVE.

BUT ALSO, TOO, TO BE FAIR TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRYING TO KEEP THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS INTACT.

SO, THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.

STREETS, INFRASTRUCTURE WAS CERTAINLY ANOTHER.

AND DRAINAGE, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES COME WITH THE GROWTH.

SO, YES, I MEAN, WE STILL TALK A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUES HERE ON THE STATEWIDE LEVEL AND CERTAINLY HAVING THE BACKGROUND HAS BEEN HELPFUL >> Todd Stacy: REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

AND LET ME WISH YOU LUCK IN YOUR SERVICE GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

>> AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: NEXT, I'M GOING TO BE JOINED WITH REPRESENTATIVE KENYATTE' HASSEL.

YOU ARE ONE OF, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVE ALMOND, ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 78.

WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSIONS BEEN SO FAR.

AND BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, THOUGH, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE?

>> GROWING UP, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN CIVIC AND SEE PEOPLE LIVES GET BETTER.

I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN CARE OF OR HAVE A BETTER SITUATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I TELL PEOPLE ABOUT MY STORY, MY FAMILY HAD A BUSINESS RIGHT HERE ON HIGH STREET, TWO BLOCKS FROM THE CAPITOL AND I USED TO WALK DOWN HERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WALK IN THE CAPITOL AND GET KICKED OUT!

AND WALKING THE HALLS.

I THINK THAT SPARKED AN INTEREST OF WHAT WERE THESE BUILDINGS HERE FOR.

AND WHEN I GOT OLDER AND GOING TO CIVIC CLASSES AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, LEGISLATION, IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY, LEGISLATION IS WHAT YOU CHANGE FOR PEOPLES' LIVES LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> AND YOU REPRESENT A DISTRICT THAT'S UNIQUE.

SENATOR HATCHER WAS THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND ALVIN HOLMES WAS THERE FOR DECADES.

>> 44 YEARS, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND JUST A STALWART, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY BUT OF THE STATE.

BUT WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SERVE IN THAT DISTRICT HAVING SO MUCH HISTORY?

>> A LITTLE PRESSURE.

BUT I TELL PEOPLE, I'M MADE FOR IT.

I ALWAYS FOLLOWED REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES, AND SENATOR HATCHER'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

SO I'M DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE DISTRICT.

AND I GREW UP, AT THE TIME, I GREW UP IN SOUTH LAWN, AND WE MOVED TO MOBILE HEIGHTS WHICH IS THE SAME AREA, AND THEN TO THE NORTH PART OF MONTGOMERY.

AND I LIVE NOW ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SAME DISTRICT.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE DISTRICT AND I'M DEEPLY ROOTED AND I KNOW THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT TOO.

SO.

>> Todd Stacy: WE'RE HERE LITTLE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR FIRST SESSION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSIONS SO FAR?

>> I HAD TO GROW UP FAST.

I HAD TO GO TO THREE SPECIAL SESSIONS.

AND NOW, GOING THROUGH THE REGULAR SESSION, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH AND YOU KNOW THE PROCESS.

I'M LEARNING, AND I'M TAPPING INTO THE PROCESS, THE RULES.

AND THE CONSTITUENTS, THE MEMBERS.

TO MAKING SURE WE GET THINGS DONE AND MAKING BETTERS LIVES FOR THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA.

>> AND YOUR DISTRICT CHANGED QUITE A BIT IN REDISTRICTING AND SEEING IT BEFORE.

NORTH MONTGOMERY, EAST MONTGOMERY, IS THAT GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, AND HAVE YOU INTRODUCED YOURSELF TO THE NEW CONSTITUENTS.

JUST A FEW WEEKS.

>> I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS OF GETTING THE NEW CONSTITUENTS INTO DISTRICT 78.

I HAVE SOME FRIENDS AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE IN THE NEW AREA.

I BELIEVE IT WAS IN, MIGHT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM.

THINK HE GOT MOVED UP TO ELMORE COUNTY AND THAT PUSHED ME INTO THE LAKE FOREST ARROWHEAD AND TOWN LAKES AREA.

FURTHER NORTH, WHICH IS A VERY RURAL AREA.

BUT I WOULD MAKE SURE I GET UP THERE AND TALK TO THOSE CONSTITUENTS TOO.

WE LOST, ACTUALLY LOST SOUTH LAWN, MOBILE HEIGHTS.

>> WHERE YOU GREW UP.

>> RIGHT.

WHERE I GREW UP.

AND I WAS KIND OF COMFORTABLE THAT.

AND ONCE THE NEW CONSTITUENTS GET TO KNOW ME, THEY WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH ME.

>> AND YOU HAD SUCCESS EARLY IN THE SESSION PASSING A BILL THAT RELATES TO THIS INTERMODAL FACILITY COMING TO MONTGOMERY, INVOLVED WITH THE PORT.

CAN YOU KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> OKAY.

THE ALABAMA PORT AUTHORITY, AND WITH THE BILL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT COMES TO MONTGOMERY, INLAND PORT.

SO, YOU HAVE THOSE CONTAINERS THAT ARE IN MOBILE.

AND THAT'S GIVING THEM MORE SPACE.

THEY HAVE A CROWDED SPACE IN MOBILE AND IT'S GOING TO RELIEVE THE PORT TO PUT THE CONTAINERS IN MONTGOMERY.

AND MY BILL EXPANDED THAT AUTHORITY FROM RIVER WAYS, AND WATER WAYS TO HIGHWAYS, AND RAILYARD.

AND THEY TALK TO THE CSX, HAVING A PARTNERSHIP, TO MOVE THE CONTAINERS FROM MOBILE RIVER TO THE MONTGOMERY AREA, INLAND.

AND NOT JUST FOR MONTGOMERY BUT FOR THE WHOLE STATE.

WE HAVE OTHER PORTS IN ALABAMA THAT CAN BENEFIT ALSO IN THE FUTURE.

IF THEY NEED TO PUT MORE CONTAINERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU CAN TRANSPORT GOODS AND BUSINESSES AND SERVICES FASTER THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE.

>> SO, BASICALLY, A SHIP COMES TO THE PORT, UNLOADS WHETHER IT'S TRAIN OR TRUCK, AND I GUESS YOU CALL THEM CONTAINERS, THEY CAN GO STRAIGHT HERE, STORE, AND THEN THEY ARE SHIPPED OUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> YES ABSOLUTELY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR THE JOBS MARKET HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> AND NOW, SPEAKING OF LOCAL ISSUES, I WAS TALKING TO SENATOR HATCHER, LAST WEEK, ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT MONTGOMERY FACES.

EDUCATION, AND WE'VE HAD STRUGGLES THERE, EDUCATION CRIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT >> Todd Stacy: WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT HOW IS IT, I KNOW YOU ARE NOT A LOCAL OFFICIAL, YOU ARE A STATE OFFICIAL.

BUT HOW ARE YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS ADDRESSING THESE THINGS, CRIMES AND SUCH WITH MONTGOMERY.

>> WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAY TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

EVERY HOUSEHOLD.

IT'S HARD TO WRITE POLICY OR LEGISLATE DOMESTIC CRIMES.

SO, I'M PRETTY SURE WHAT THE MAYOR DID, HE CREATED A DEPARTMENT, SORT OF LIKE A CAMPAIGN.

THINK BEFORE YOU SHOOT.

AND I GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE, IF YOU ARE IN AN ARGUMENT AND YOU LOOK UP, SEEING A BILLBOARD, THINK BEFORE YOU SHOOT.

OR REMEMBER A CONVERSATION.

THIS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE THIS TO HELP STOP VIOLENCE AND GIVE THEM A CONSCIENCE.

SO, WE HAVE TO GET MORE FAMILIES ENGAGED.

FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW THE ONES WHO CAUSE THE PROBLEMS.

AND IF WE CAN GET THIS, INSTEAD OF REACTIVE BUT BE PRO ACTIVE TO THE POINT, IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON, CALL THE DEPARTMENT AND WE CAN TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT, OR COME UP WITH A TYPE OF SOLUTION TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE.

IT'S A TOUGH, VERY TOUGH SITUATION TO STOP DOMESTIC CRIMES.

TWO FRIENDS GET TOGETHER AND GET IN AN ARGUMENT AND PULL OUT A GUN AND ONE GETS SHOT.

HAD AND I'VE HEARD OF CASES, HOMICIDES HAPPENING WITHIN 3, 4, 5 MINUTES.

AND I PRAY ABOUT IT, THINK ABOUT IT, AND ASK, HOW CAN YOU STOP THIS.

NO LEGISLATION, NO POLICY, I MEAN, A POLICE OFFICERS CAN'T GET THERE THAT FAST BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO HAVE A CONVICTION TO SAY, WELL, LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS, TALK IT OUT, IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND IN A DIFFERENT SOLUTION.

I THINK OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS TO DO SIMPLE CLASSES, LIFE SKILLS CLASSES, ANGER MANAGEMENT.

AND THESE ARE THE TYPE OF CONVERSATION THAT IS WE HAVE WITH CITY LEADERS THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE ENGAGED INTO THAT HOUSE, THAT HOME.

I TELL EVERYBODY, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT BECOMES A TOWN AND CITY, COUNTY BECOMES STATES.

AND THAT'S HOW WE HAVE TO EFFECT TO MAKE THESE CHANGES FROM VIOLENCE AND THAT'S HAPPENING IN MONTGOMERY AND OTHER AREAS.

VIOLENCE IS GOING ON EVERYWHERE.

AND WE HERE, IN MONTGOMERY, WE HAVE TO KIND OF ENGAGE THESE HOMES AND FAMILIES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HASSEL, YOU ARE ONE OF THE NEW ONES COMING UP IN THE NEW LEGISLATURE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US RIGHT HERE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ALABAMA FEVER WAS A TERM USED TO LAND CLAIMS AND WAKE OF THIS IN CREEK INDIANS.

THIS WAS OPENED UP TO WHITE SETTLERS IN COTTON LAND AND DEPENDENCE ON SLAVERY.

THE ALABAMA TERRITORY WAS CREATED IN 1817.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT HERE ON APT FOR OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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