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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE LEGISLATURE WAS BACK IN ACTION TODAY AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 24TH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

THAT LEAVES SIX LEGISLATIVE DAYS LEFT IN THIS REGULAR SESSION.

THE HOUSE TODAY TOOK UP SENATE BILL 171 FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR.

THE BILL AIMS TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S LAGGING MATH SCORES BY TARGETING MORE RESOURCES TO STRUGGLING SCHOOLS, DEPLOYING MATH COACHES TO HELP TEACHERS AND HOLDING SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CONTINUED FAILURE TO IMPROVE.

REPRESENTATIVE ALAN BAKER CARRIED THE BILL IN THE HOUSE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ONLY 22% OF ALABAMA STUDENTS ARE PROFICIENT IN MATH.

THE STATE ALSO HAS 28 K-5 SCHOOLS ARE ZERO PERCENT PROFICIENT IN MATH.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRIED TO DO WITH THE BILL IS HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON K5, EARLY MATH A LOT OF WHAT THE BILL IS ABOUT.

OUR NUMBERS, SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT 22% OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE -- ONLY 22% ARE PROFICIENT IN MATH ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE 28 SCHOOLS THAT ARE 0% PROFICIENT IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

WE ARE IN A CRISIS.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE 76-24.

THE SENATE THEN QUICKLY CONCURRED, SENDING THE NUMERACY THE SENATE THEN QUICKLY CONCURRED, SENDING THE NUMERACY ACT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

I'LL SPEAK WITH MR. BAKER LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE HOUSE ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION RESTRICTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FROM SHACKLING FEMALE INMATES WHO ARE PREGNANT.

HOUSE BILL 230 FROM REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDA HOLLIS WOULD ALSO APPLY TO WOMEN WHO HAVE RECENTLY GIVEN BIRTH.

SHE SAID THIS MEASURE WAS IMPORTANT TO PROTECTING BOTH MOTHERS AND BABIES.

THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

I'LL SPEAK WITH REPRESENTATIVE HOLLIS HERE IN A BIT.

THE SENATE TODAY TOOK UP THE ISSUE OF TELEHEALTH.

ALABAMA IS ONE OF JUST A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT DON'T ALREADY HAVE TELEHEALTH REGULATIONS.

SENATE BILL 272 FROM SENATOR DAN ROBERTS ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE SAME STANDARDS OF CARE FOR IN-PERSON VISITS INTO VIRTUAL VISITS.

ROBERTS SAID RURAL ALABAMIANS STAND TO BENEFIT THE MOST.

>> AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS ADMIT THAT WE'RE LOWERING THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR RURAL MEDICINE.

I SEE THIS BEING THE STARTING POINT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TOGETHER.

THE BIGGEST BENEFIT, I THINK, IS IN THE RURAL HEALTHCARE.

AND THEN, ALABAMA DOCTORS UTILIZING THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS MOVING FORWARD.

BUT AT NO POINT IS THE GOAL OF THIS TO DECREASE THE QUALITY OF CARE.

>> THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

THERE WAS ALSO PLENTY OF ACTION IN COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE TOOK UP AND PASSED A NUMBER OF HOUSE BILLS.

HOUSE BILL 123 FROM REPRESENTATIVE NATHANIEL LEDBETTER WOULD ENSURE THAT EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES COORDINATOR.

HOUSE BILL 162 FROM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GREER WOULD OFFER TAX RELIEF TO RETIREES BY EXEMPTING $6000 OF TAXABLE RETIREMENT INCOME FOR THOSE 65 AND OLDER.

HOUSE BILL 231 FROM REPRESENTATIVE PEBBLIN WARREN WOULD REQUIRE ALABAMA FIVE-YEAR-OLDS TO ATTEND KINDERGARTEN OR DEMONSTRATE READINESS BEFORE ENTERING THE FIRST GRADE.

AND HOUSE BILL 50 FROM REPRESENTATIVE ROLONDA HOLLIS WOULD ENSURE GIRLS IN TITLE ONE SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON IS CARRYING THE BILL IN THE SENATE.

HE SAID THE BILL IS MEANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PERIOD POVERTY IN THE STATE.

>> THIS IS A GRANT PROGRAM FOR KIDS, IN GRADES 5-12.

THE PROGRAM MUST BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MUST ANNUALLY ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, CERTIFY THE TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BE AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM FOR EACH SCHOOL TO ALLOCATE THE AWARDS TO THE APPLICABLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

>> THE COMMITTEE ALSO PASSED A NEW BILL FROM SENATOR MALIKA SANDERS-FORTIER THAT WOULD CREATE SPACE FOR MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS TO BE DISPLAYED THAT REFLECT ALL FACETS OF ALABAMA HISTORY.

SENATE BILL 327 WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR THE NAMES OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOOT SOLDIERS TO BE ADDED TO THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE.

>> AND IT HAS TO DO WITH EMBRACING ALL OF OUR HISTORY, EMBRACING ALL OF THE MEMORIALS AND MAKING SPACE FOR THE NEW ONES WITH A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN ABOUT HEALING OUR HISTORY.

RATHER THAN SAYING, OH, WE SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF MEMORIAL OR THAT KIND OF MEMORIAL, THAT WE EMBRACE THEM ALL AND MAKE SPACE FOR THEM ALL.

AND WE CAN LEARN TOGETHER, SHARING TRUTH AND LOVE FOR THE SAKE OF PROGRESSING OUR STATE ESSENTIALLY WHICH IS THE IDEA.

>> ALL OF THESE BILLS NOW GO TO THE FULL SENATE.

FINALLY, TONIGHT IT APPEARS THAT GAMBLING LEGISLATION MAY BE DEAD FOR THE SESSION.

PROPOSALS TO CREATE A STATE LOTTERY AND EXPAND CASINO GAMBLING IN ALABAMA ARE UNLIKELY TO BE VOTED ON THIS SESSION ACCORDING TO THE BILL SPONSORS.

SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON PROPOSED A WIDE RANGING PACKAGE WITH A LOTTERY, CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING.

REPRESENTATIVE CHIP BROWN PROPOSED ESTABLISHING ONLY A LOTTERY.

BOTH SAID TUESDAY THAT THE MEASURES ARE UNLIKELY TO PASS THIS YEAR.

>> WELL, I THINK JUST ASSESSING WHERE WE ARE.

AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS PUT FORWARD A BILL OUT OF THE HOUSE, GETS TO THE SENATE, STALLS IN THE SENATE.

THAT DOESN'T DO ANY OF US ANY GOOD.

SO, THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT GETTING STARTED EARLIER IN THE SESSION ON A BILL LIKE THAT.

AND WORKING TO GET IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH UNTIL IT REACHES THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE TIME RIGHT NOW TO WORK ON SOMETHING AS COMPLEX AS THAT.

THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT IN ADDRESSING IN ANOTHER SESSION.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: NEXT, I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALAN BAKER, FROM BREWTON.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, TODD.

>> Todd Stacy: YOU HAD ONE OF THE TOP BILLS, SENATE BILL 171, FROM ARTHUR ORR WHICH YOU ARE CALLING NUMERACY ADDRESSING THE MATH INSTRUCTION ISSUE WE'RE HAVING IN THE STATE.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> THE BILL IS FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON K5, EARLY MATH THIS.

IS SOMETHING THAT IS FELT THAT WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A PROPER FOUNDATION EARLY ON AND NOT WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE YEARS AND TRYING TO PROVIDE REMEDIAL HELP ON THE BACK END, MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

THAT'S STILL IMPORTANT.

BUT A LOT OF ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON K5 AND TRYING TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORTS NEEDED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS AS WELL AS THE SCHOOLS IN GENERAL AND THE STUDENTS.

IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE BILL AND SORT OF A WORK THAT'S BEEN BREWING OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.

SENATOR ORR AS WELL AS OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE FELT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS SOONER THAN LATER.

THIS FLOWS ON THE HEELS OF THE LITERACY ACT.

ALL THIS THIS MIRRORS THIS, IT'S BRANCHED OUT IN A UNIQUE WAY TO MATH.

AND THE LITERACY HAS THE PROMOTION FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT PROOF ISHT AND IT'S NOT FOR THAT.

>> THIS STEMS FROM THE LAST NAPE SCORES, I GUESS THE FOURTH GRADERS, NOT IN THE SOUTHEAST BUT LAST IN THE COUNTRY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND YEAH, NOT JUST THE FACT OF BEING LAST BUT THE MERE FACT THAT WE WANT TO ELEVATE THESE WHETHER IT'S 24, 16 OR WHATEVER, WE WANT TO ELEVATE PROVIDING WHAT WE DO PROVIDING BETTER SUPPORT TO THE TEACHERS.

WE FEEL LIKE THE TEACHERS OFTENTIMES AREN'T MAYBE PROVIDED WITH ALL OF THE SKILL SETS THEY NEED COMING OUT OF THE TEACHER PREP PROGRAMS.

NOT ATTACKING OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER ED, BUT MAYBE TIME TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE AND SEE WHAT'S DONE ON THE FRONT END TO BETTER PREPARE THE TEACHERS.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE BILL FOR THE MATHEMATICS TASK FORCE CREATE UNDER THE BILL INCLUDING HIGHER ED PEOPLE AS WELL AS THOSE IN K12.

AND I'LL SEE IF MAYBE THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS THE GAP THAT WE FEEL MAY BE PRESENT THERE.

BUT AS MUCH, WE WANT THE TEACHERS IN THE FIELD TO HAVE THE PROPER TRAINING OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO BE UP TO SPEED WITH BETTER STRATEGIES AND JUST CONCEPTUALLY, BETTER WAYS TO DEALING WITH TEACHING MATHEMATICS.

>> I WAS WATCHING THE FLOOR DEBATE, AND YOU HAD SEVERAL COLLEAGUES COMING UP TO THE MIC THAT HAD CONCERNS, CONVINCED THAT COMMON CORE WAS IN THE BILL SOMEHOW EVEN THOUGH IT ADDRESSED THAT.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THE CONCERNS?

>> THE BILL REVERENCES STANDARDS, LAST PAGE, REVERENCE STANDARDS BUT DOES NOT ESTABLISH OR SET OR CHANGE THE STANDARDS.

SO, THE FRAMEWORK OF THE BILL FLOWS REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER STANDARDS MAY CHANGE IN THE YEARS AHEAD THROUGH THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD IS THE ENTITY THAT DOES SET THE STANDARDS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH WAS THAT THE BILL, ALTHOUGH THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE STANDARDS AND SUCH, BUT REALLY THAT'S NOT THE CRUX OF THE DEAL.

THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE BILL IS TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS, INTERVENTIONS, IDENTIFYING THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING, LOWEST 5% AND THEN THOSE FROM 6% TO 25% OF THE LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS WOULD BE IDENTIFIED AS LIMITED SUPPORT.

SEE TO IT THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE GETTING THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

NOT JUST FOCUSING ON THAT, BUT ALTHOUGH THOSE ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT K-5 SCHOOLS ARE SUPPORTED WITH THE MATH CODES GOING FORWARD.

>> Todd Stacy: THIS BILL AFTER IT PASSED THE HOUSE, THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING, THE SENATE TOOK IT UP AND CONCURRED WITH THE HOUSE CHANGES SO THAT MEANS IT'S SITTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH HER?

DO YOU EXPECT HER TO SIGN IT?

>> I DO.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS AND HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH US, THE NUMERACY ACT AND THE BILL CHANGED IN FORMAT ALONG THE WAY, WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY THE NUMERALCY ACT BILL FILED BY SENATOR ORR AND SUBSTITUTED IN THE SENATE.

AND THEN, AS IT CAME TO THE HOUSE, I FELT A STRONG CALLING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE SORTED EDUCATION ENTITIES, ALL HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK, INPUT INCLUDING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT I FELT LIKE WE COULD ARE ALREADY FELT CONCEPTUALLY A GOOD BILL COMING OUT OF THE SENATE BUT WE FELT WE COULD TWEAK IT AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER.

I WAS PLEASED WITH IT.

AND GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR AND HER TEAM WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORTS.

>> Todd Stacy: SWITCHING GEARS, I KNOW, ON ANOTHER EDUCATION BILL, YOU WERE WORKING SEVERAL YEARS TO ADDRESS THE DIFFERENT TIERS FOR RETIREMENT AND BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS.

YEARS AGO, OBVIOUSLY, THE BUDGET SITUATION PROMPTED THE LEGISLATURE TO CREATE A CHEAPER, DIFFERENT TIER, IF YOU WILL, FOR NEW TEACHERS ENTERING THE SYSTEM.

AND YET, WE SEE OURSELVES AT A TEACHER SHORTAGE.

YOU HAVE A BILL ADDRESSING.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH, TRYING TO REDUCE THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE TWO TRACKS OF TEACHERS, TIER ONE AND TWO.

AND IT STARTED WITH THREE BROAD STROKES TRYING TO RETURN BACK TO THE, AS CLOSE AS WE COULD, MULTIPLIER FOR EACH YEAR OF SERVICES, REDUCED FROM OVER 2% THEN TO 6.65%.

IT WAS SOMETHING INCORPORATED INTO THE ORIGINAL TIER 3 BILL THAT I BEGAN 4 YEARS AGO.

AND ALONG WITH THAT, SICK TIER CONVERSION, TIER 1 ENJOYED IT BUT TIER 2 DID NOT, SORT OF, USE YOUR SICK LEAVE OR LOSE IT.

INCORPORATED INTO THE TEACHERS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DRAW FROM TIER 2, WORKING UNTIL 26, WELL I SAY WORKING BUT I MEAN AGE, 62 AND TRYING TO GET 30 YEAR RETIREMENT I THINK IS REASONABLE.

THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE BILL.

LAST YEAR, SICK LEAVE CONVERSION MOVED FORWARD BUT THE 30 YEAR SERVICES RETIREMENT WAS STRIPPED OUT OF THE BILL.

AND I HAD EVERY INTENT TO PICK UP THE PIECE OF THAT AND RETURN WITH IT THIS YEAR, WHICH I HAVE DONE.

IT'S UP IN THE SENATE.

AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE HOUSE AND NOW IS UP IN THE SENATE AND SO EXPECTED TO BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE, THE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE UP IN THE SENATE TOMORROW.

>> Todd Stacy: THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS BEEN THE SENATE THAT HAS HAD THE TROUBLE WITH THE BILL IN THE PAST.

SOME SAY BECAUSE SOME OF THE AUTHORS OF THOSE ROLLBACKS, YEARS AGO, STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE IMPORTANT.

YET, WE SIT HERE WITH RECORD REVENUES.

DO YOU THINK THE RECORD REVENUES GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> I DO THINK IT HELPS.

BUT I THINK THAT SORT OF THE CONSTANT PUSH WITH THIS AS WELL.

MAYBE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, FOR THE TENACITY OF TRYING TO PUSH FORTH AND REMOVING THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN TIER ONE AND TIER TWO.

AND YOU HAVE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM ON TWO SEPARATE TRACKS.

AND THE BENEFITS THAT THEY RECEIVE.

SO THAT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING THAT'S CONTENTIOUS, NOT THAT THEY FIGHT THEMSELVES BUT THE FACT THAT SOME ARE RECEIVING MUCH BETTER BENEFITS THAT YOU ELUDED TO, THAT BE THE TIER 2 BENEFITS AND ANYTHING TO REDUCE THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE ARE THOSE SENATORS TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT WANT TO SORT OF EQUATE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO THE, SUCH AS STATE EMPLOYEES OR THE EDUCATION EMPLOYEES.

AND TO ME, IT'S A LITTLE TWO DIFFERENT WORLD'S THERE, APPLES AND ORANGES, IN REGARD TO THE TYPE OF WORK.

I'LL GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE IN REGARDS TO THE PROFESSION.

AND THERE ARE THREE PROFESSIONS OFTENTIMES ARE AWARDED SOME TYPE OF SERVICES RETIREMENT AND NOT HAVING TO WORK UNTIL AGE 62.

THAT'S MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND AS WELL AS EDUCATION.

SO, THESE SOMEWHERE HAVE AROUND 25-30 YEAR RETIREMENT.

AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE DEMANDS OF THOSE PARTICULAR POSITIONS, THE WORK THAT IS PERFORMED, EVEN TEACHING, THERE ARE THOSE THAT THINK, OH, SUMMER IS HERE, THEY ARE OFF.

THEY THINK MAYBE 8:00 TO 3:00 JOB.

AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND UNLESS THEY LIVE WITH A TEACHER, BEEN A TEACHER AND ALL OF THE EXTRA HOURS IS PART OF THE WORK ASSOCIATED WITH BEING AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATOR.

AND IT'S, BECOMES QUITE WEARYING ON THE BODY, NOT JUST THAT, BUT ON THE MIND.

ALSO FOR THESE TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR MAYBE 30 YEARS AND TRYING TO GO FOR 40 YEARS, SOME MAY DO WELL BEYOND THAT.

BUT THINK WITH POLICE OFFICERS, AS WELL AS MILITARY, AND ALSO, WITH TEACHERS, THINK THEY ARE VERY DESERVING BASED ON THE WORK THEY PERFORM OF HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AT LEAST 25-30 YEAR RETIREMENT.

AND FOR THE EDUCATORS, DON'T FEEL LIKE WE CAN GO BACK FROM THE 25-30 YEAR IS ATTAINABLE.

>> PAY RAISE COMING THIS YEAR, AND MAYBE CHANGING TIER 2 BENEFITS.

I KNOW HAVE YOU A TEACHER CERTIFICATION BILL.

ARE THESE GOING TO ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE WE HAVE IN ALABAMA?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO CHIP AWAY AT THIS IN EVERY WAY WE CAN.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ONE SILVER BULLET.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S FACETS OUT THERE, AND EVERYBODY IS EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF LABOR SHORTAGE THIS.

IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BEGINNING TO SURFACE, EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC FOR THE EDUCATION RANKS.

BUT I THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE EXACERBATED SOME IN TERMS OF THE VIRTUAL AND TEACHERS HAVING TO PULL DOUBLE DUTY BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM AND AS WELL AS THOSE DOING VIRTUALLY.

ANYWAY, THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AND WILL ADDRESS.

I HAD THE TEAMS BILL LAST YEAR, PRIVILEGED TO SPONSOR THAT IN THE HOUSE.

AND SOMETHING THAT SORT OF GOES AGAINST THE TYPICAL NORM OF GOING AGAINST DIFFERENTIATED PAY FOR TEACHERS.

SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHERS ON THE TEAMS CONTRACT AND THEY ARE ON A DIFFERENT SALARY MATRIX.

THEY HAVE HIGHER DEMANDS PLACED ON THEM IN REGARDS TO THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY ARE TO BE ACHIEVED AND ARE WORKING TOWARDS.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME FOR NOW.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THESE ISSUES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: NEXT, I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDA HOLLIS FROM BIRMINGHAM.

THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME, TODD.

>> YOU ARE MOVING LEGISLATION HERE IN THE HOME STRETCH OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO BILLS.

FIRST, UP IN THE SENATE, HOUSE BILL 50 DEALING WITH ADDRESSING PERIOD POVERTY.

Y'ALL PASSED IT OUT OF THE HOUSE.

YOU CAME ON EARLIER AND TALKED ABOUT IT.

AND NOW IT'S UP THROUGH A COMMITTEE HERE IN THE SENATE, REALLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE SENATE, YOUR BILL IS MOVING.

>> YEAH, SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON PASSED IT OUT OF THAT THIS MORNING AND SENATOR COLEMAN WILL PASS IT IN THE SENATE, HOPEFULLY LIKE YESTERDAY.

AND WE'RE EXCITED AND WAITING FOR THE BILL TO PASS OUT.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL COME OUT, BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND COME INTO LAW.

AND WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG FEMALES WAITING ON THIS BILL TO PASS.

AND IT'S HEART WARMING WHEN I SEE YOUNG FEMALES COME OUT AND SEE ME, VISITING IN THE SCHOOLS TO SAY THANK YOU.

AND THAT IT WAS MUCH NEEDED AND THAT I'M THAT GIRL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE PRODUCTS TO THE SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT A WAY WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE PRODUCTS.

>> AND LET ME BACK UP AND ASK YOU TO WALK ME THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> WHAT THE BILL DOES, IT PREVENTS PERIOD POVERTY WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.

PROVIDES FEMININE HYGIENE PROD DUCTS FROM THE FIFTH GRADE TO THE 129 GRADE NO CHARGE.

>> AND THESE ARE TITLE I SCHOOLS.

>> RIGHT, YEAH, BECAUSE DURING THE SURVEYS, WE FOUND THAT THEY WERE THE MOST SCHOOLS THAT WERE WITHOUT THE PRODUCTS.

>> DO YOU SENSE ANY CHANGES BEING MADE OR HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT IT'S GOING TO PASS?

>> I BELIEVE IN GOD THAT IT IS GOING TO PASS.

I BELIEVE IN EDUCATING, ESPECIALLY MEN, THEY SEE THE NEED AND WITH SO MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT'S NATIONWIDE, THAT THERE IS A NEED.

I NOW HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME FROM PARTS OF AFRICA SAYING, THANK YOU.

THEY WANT ME TO COME THERE TO HELP, NOW, BRING THOSE PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW.

SO, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

AND I'M JUST BELIEVING THAT IT WILL GO THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

AND OUR YOUNG WOMEN NEED THOSE PRODUCTS.

>> SWITCHING GEARS, YOU PASSED A BILL OUT OF THE HOUSE TODAY, HOUSE BILL 230.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH INCARCERATED WOMEN PREGNANT OR HAVE JUST GIVEN BIRTH AND RESTRICTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FROM SHACKLING THEM.

>> BELLY CHAINING AND SHACKLING.

I HAD A YOUNGS LADY COME TO MY OFFICE BEFORE WE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SHE TOLD ME HER STORY.

HER NAME WAS NICOLE.

SHE SPENT 18 MONTHS IN TUTWILER.

SHE WAS SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE BILL.

I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL.

SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH TWINS.

THEY HAD HER BELLY CHANGED AND SHACKLED WHICH MEANS THAT YOU ARE LIKE THIS, AND YOUR LEGS AND SHE WAS WALKING DOWN STEPS AND SHE LOST HER BALANCE.

AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR A FEMALE COP THAT CAUGHT HER, SHE COULD HAVE LOST HER TWINS.

SO, THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE TO SHOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT, IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE BABY.

THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT.

FOR WOMEN THAT'S PREGNANT, SUSPECT THAT THEY ARE PREGNANT, THEY GOT 72 HOURS TO DO A PREGNANCY TEST.

AND IF THEY ARE PREGNANT, WE'RE ASKING NOT TO TO SHACKLE OR BELLY CHAIN THE WOMEN.

AND ALSO, WHEN THEY ARE GIVING BIRTH, NOT TO HANDCUFF THEM TO THE BED AS THEY GIVE BIRTH.

AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE BABY, WOMEN GO THROUGH POST PARTUM AND DURING THAT TIME, NOT TO MAKE THEM COUGH OR -- WHAT YOU CALL IT?

-- I CAN'T THINK OF IT.

BUT NOT TO BE SHACKLED, NOT TO HAVE THE COUGH AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THEY GO THROUGH.

SO, THE YOUNG LADY WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THEIR PROCESS TOO AFTER SHE HAD JUST HAD A BABY.

AND THEY ASKED HER TO SQUAT AND COUGH.

OR SQUAT AND COUGH.

AND SHE WAS STILL DOING THAT POSTPARTUM PROCESS, BLEEDING HEAVY AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THAT'S A VERY CRITICAL TIME FOR A MOTHER, WHEN SHE HAS JUST HAD A BABY.

>> WE'VE ONLY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT IN THE SESSION.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TIME FOR THE BILL TO GO THROUGH?

>> WELL, THE BILL WENT STRAIGHT UP TO SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON.

I HOPE SO.

AND HE'S GOING TO HANDLE IT IN THE SENATE.

WE'RE HOPING HE WILL GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE FOR US.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND TALKING TO US.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME >> Todd Stacy: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JAMES WITHER SLOSS STARTED THE SLOS FURNACE AND A SECOND FURNACE SOON FOLLOWED AND THEY PRODUCED 24,000 TONS OF IRON IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION.

THEY WERE AN INDUSTRY LEADER IN INNOVATION AND DESIGN.

SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSTRUCTION, LED SLOSS THROUGH MODERNIZATION IN 1920'S RESULTING IN BECOMING THE SECOND LARGEST PROVIDERRER OF PIG IRON.

BUSINESS BEGAN TO DECLINE AND HIGHER POLLUTION STANDARDS CLOSED THE FURNACE INS 1970.

AND IN 1981, SLOSS WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC EVENT.

AND THE SITE CONTINUES TO STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO BIRMINGHAM'S INDUSTRIAL PAST.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 HERE ON APT FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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