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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THERE WAS PLENTY OF ACTION TODAY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 26TH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

THAT LEAVES FOUR LEGISLATIVE DAYS REMAINING IN THE SESSION.

WE'LL START IN THE SENATE, WHERE LAWMAKERS TOOK UP AND PASSED THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT FUNDS THE RANGE OF EDUCATION SERVICES, FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

THE $8.2 BILLION TOTAL IS THE MOST EVER SPENT IN ALABAMA HISTORY.

MOST NOTABLY THE BUDGET INCLUDES THE BIGGEST TEACHER PAY RAISE SEEN IN ALABAMA IN A GENERATION.

WHILE ALL TEACHERS WOULD GET AT LEAST A 4% PAY RAISE, THOSE RAISES ARE EVEN HIGHER FOR TEACHERS WITH MORE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

THOSE WITH NINE YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM GET A 5% RAISE.

THOSE WITH 15 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM GET A 7% RAISE.

20 YEARS GETS YOU A 10% RAISE, 25 YEARS A 12% RAISE, 30 YEARS A 15% RAISE AND 35 YEARS GETS YOU A 21% PAY RAISE.

SENATOR ARTHUR ORR, WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE, SAID IDEA IS TO HELP THE STATE RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS AND REVERSE THE TREND OF THE STATE'S CURRENT TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> SO, IN OUR FIRST BOX -- NOW T IT DOESN'T START UNTIL THE LAST YEAR -- EXCUSE ME, YEAR NINE THERE.

THE FIRST EIGHT, NINE YEARS -- EIGHT YEARS, GETTING TO THE END OF THE EIGHTH, STARTING THE NINTH, THOSE STAY THE SAME, BUT THE REASON THEY STAY THE SAME, SENATOR -- AND THE REASON THEY STAY THE SAME -- REMEMBER, WE SAID WE ARE DOING PRETTY WELL COMPARED TO EVERYBODY STARTING OUT.

IT IS THE MIDDLE YEARS WHERE WE FALL BEHIND.

>>THE BUDGET ALSO SETS ASIDE MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITY THAT COMES IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING BECAUSE MANY OF ITS STUDENTS ARE PART TIME.

SENATOR ORR EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS A FORMULA FOR HOW THE STATE CALCULATES FULL TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF FUNDING.

>> IF YOUR SCHOOL HAS 1,000 FTEs, YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH A SCHOOL WITH 4,000 FTEs.

SO, WE ARE TRYING TO BRING SOME BALANCE THERE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE, BUT WE DID THIS YEAR IS BRING EVERY SCHOOL UP, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CUT ANYBODY.

IF YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE REDUCED, BUT FOR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE LARGER FTEs AND SMALLER OR NOT COMPARABLE COMMISERATE FUNDING FOR THOSE FTEs, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MOVE THOSE UP.

>>THE SENATE ALSO AMENDED THE BUDGET TO REQUIRE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT TO NOTIFY EACH LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT AVAILABLE GRANTS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR THEM.

ORR SAID THE DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY DOING THIS, BUT SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN SAID HE WANTS TO SEE IT WRITTEN INTO LAW.

>> IF THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY, THEY NEED TO SEND OUT AN E-MAIL BLAST TO EVERY SYSTEM AND SAY THIS IS A COPY OF THE FORM.

THE FORM IS TO TRY TO GET MONEY.

I'M JUST PICKING THIS OUT FROM THE ALABAMA TECHNOLOGY FUND.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR X AMOUNT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

I'D LIKE THAT IN WRITING IN THE BILL THAT THEY DO THAT.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH -- THEY HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON SEVERAL THINGS IN A MANNER IN WHICH THEY SAID THEY WOULD.

I DIDN'T SAY THEY DIDN'T TRY TO DO SOME STUFF.

>>THE EDUCATION BUDGET NOW GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE AND WILL NEED A FINAL VOTE THERE BEFORE GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THE SENATE ALSO TOOK UP ANOTHER GUN RIGHTS BILL.

SENATE BILL 2 FROM SENATOR GERALD ALLEN IS AIMED AT RESISTING A HALF-DOZEN EXECUTIVE ACTIONS BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN RELATED TO GUNS.

THE BILL WOULD PROHIBIT STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE “ADMINISTRATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY PRESIDENTIAL GUN CONTROL ORDER."

DEMOCRATS DERIDED THE MEASURE AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ELECTION-YEAR PANDERING.

THE BILL PASSED 24-5 AND NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE.

>>> NOW TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

LAWMAKERS IN THE LOWER CHAMBER GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO THE GENERAL FUND TODAY.

THAT BUDGET TOTALS $2.7 BILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, ALSO RECORD LEVEL OF SPENDING FOR THE STATE.

IT INCLUDES A 4% PAY RAISE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND A ONE-TIME BONUS FOR RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE CLOUSE, WHO CHAIRS THE GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, SAID THE BUDGET IS HEALTHIER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.

>> THERE WERE JUST A COUPLE OF ISSUES.

THEY WERE BIG BY THEMSELVES, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE WORKED OUT.

WE HAVE, WHAT I WOULD SAY, IS THE LARGEST BUDGET IN THE STATE HISTORY.

WE'RE ALSO ALONG WITH THAT PAID OFF ALL OF THE DEBT WE OWE TO THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND, EIGHT YEARS IN ADVANCE.

SO, MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> THE HOUSE ALSO GOT BOGGED DOWN INTO HOURS-LONG DEBATE OVER A BILL THAT WOULD REVISE CHILD CUSTODY LAW.

HOUSE BILL 314 FROM REPRESENTATIVE BEN ROBBINS WOULD REMOVE THE EXISTING PROVISION THAT CHILD CUSTODY BE GRANTED TO A HUSBAND IN CASES OF ABANDONMENT BY THE WIFE ONLY AFTER THE CHILD IS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE ALL DIVORCED PARENTS TO AGREE TO A PARENTING PLAN, NOT JUST THOSE WHO HAVE JOINT CUSTODY AND ENABLES THE COURTS TO ESTABLISH A PARENTING PLAN IF THE PARTIES CAN'T AGREE.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JONES, WHO CHAIRS THE RULES COMMITTEE, SAID IT WAS A SENSITIVE ISSUE.

>> THIS IS DEALING WITH THE CUSTODY LAWS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A COMPLETE UPDATE OF WHAT HAS BEEN LAW FOR DECADES.

THERE ARE OTHER CODE SECTIONS THAT DEAL WITH OTHER PARTS OF DOMESTIC CASES.

THERE'S ALSO RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE THAT GIVE GUIDANCE TO JUDGES ON HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE TO RULE ON CERTAIN CASES.

I'M NOT AS PERSONALLY AWARE OF THE CASE DISCUSSED.

I'M GENERALLY AWARE OF IT BUT THAT'S IT.

FRANKLY, I TRY TO NEVER DISCUSS SPECIFIC CASES LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT TENDS TO CREATE PROBLEMS.

SO, OBVIOUSLY IT'S EMOTIONAL FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT DISCUSSED IN A PUBLIC CONTEXT.

>> LAWMAKERS ADOPTED AN AMENDMENT ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS IN THE BILL AND THEN VOTED TO PASS IT.

IT NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

AND THERE'S WORD FROM THE AMAZON UNION DEBATE IN BESSEMER.

WORKERS APPEAR TO HAVE REJECTED A BID TO UNIONIZE THE FACILITY THERE FOR A SECOND TIME.

IN AN INITIAL COUNT, WORKERS VOTED 993 TO 875 AGAINST FORMING A UNION.

THERE ARE 416 CONTESTED BALLOTS AND UNION LEADERS SAY THAT COULD REVERSE THE OUTCOME.

WE'LL KNOW MORE IN THE COMING DAYS.

THE VOTE HAS STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS.

THE DECISION TO LOCATE IN BESSEMER WAS SIGNIFICANT PARTLY BECAUSE OF ITS STATUS AS A CITY THAT IS 70% BLACK WITH A QUARTER OF ITS RESIDENTS LIVING IN POVERTY.

IT WAS A MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WIN FOR AN AREA THAT HAD FALLEN ON HARD TIMES.

HOWEVER, SOME FEAR THAT UNIONIZATION MAY DISSUADE COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON FROM INVESTING IN SUCH CITIES IN THE FUTURE.

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

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

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KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

♪ >> JOINING ME NEXT IS CLYDE CHAMBLISS FROM PRATTVILLE.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT IS TIMELY BECAUSE YOU WERE PART OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY WITH THE CIVIL ENGINEERS WITH A REPORT CARD FOR ALABAMA'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHAT'S OUR SCORE?

>> WELL, OUR OVERALL SCORE IS A C MINUS.

OBVIOUSLY, IT COULD BE A LOT BETTER.

IT HAS BEEN WORSE.

WE DO THIS EVERY FIVE YEARS OR SO.

THE LAST TIME WE DID WAS 2015 BUT WITH COVID AND ALL OF THE THINGS IT HAS BEEN DELAYED A LITTLE BIT.

OUR SCORE THIS TIME IS A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING BECAUSE WE ARE STILL AT A C MINUS, WHICH IS WHERE WE WERE.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE IMPROVED IN A LOT OF THE CATEGORIES, BUT A CATEGORY FOR STORM WATER WAS ADDED AND THAT BROUGHT OUR SCORE BACK DOWN, BUT WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT PROGRESS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE PORTS, THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT ARE ON HERE, ROADS, BRIDGES, PORTS, INLAND WATERWAYS, TRANSIT RAIL, WASTE WATER, WATER.

ALMOST EVERY CATEGORY THAT IS ON HERE WE HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS IN AS A STATE.

SOME USING STATE FUNDS AND SOME USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO MAKE THIS GO EVEN BETTER.

THIS WAS A SNAPSHOT FROM THE END OF LAST YEAR.

I ACTUALLY THINK WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WOULD PROBABLY BE FROM A C MINUS TO A C AND MY GOAL IS MAYBE GET TO A B MINUS THE NEXT TIME WE GET THIS REPORT CARD.

>> IT IS VERY VISUAL.

I'LL PICK IT UP AND SHOW.

USER-FRIENDLY IN SHOWING WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE THE STATE IS DOING.

THERE'S A WEBSITE, I THINK, RIGHT?

>> YES, THERE IS.

THE WEBSITE IS WWW.INFRASTRUCTUREREPORTCARD.ORG /ALABAMA.

AND THAT REMINDS ME, THIS IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT.

THIS IS NOT JUST ALABAMA.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS COORDINATES THIS NATIONWIDE SO THAT WE KNOW, NOT ONLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS AS A NATION REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE.

INFRASTRUCTURE, I CALL IT THE VEINS OF OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE FOR OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

YOU SEE HERE WE HAVE 12 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

WE SCORE ALL 12 CATEGORIES.

ENGINEERS ACROSS THE NATION VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO ASSESS AND GO THROUGH ALL OF THE MOUNDS OF INFORMATION TO COME UP WITH THIS.

IT PUTS IT IN A SIMPLE FORMAT THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE.

THE SCORE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE IMPORTANT PART.

IT'S THE TREND IN THE SCORE.

ARE WE IMPROVING?

ARE WE MOVING WHERE WE NEED TO BE OR GOING BACKWARDS?

FOR DECADES, WE WERE GOING BACKWARDS.

BUT NOW WE ARE MAKING A TREND AND GOING IN A MORE POSITIVE DIRECTION.

>> FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW YOU ARE A CIVIL ENGINEER BY TRADE.

>> RIGHT.

>> DOES THAT HELP YOU IN THE LEGISLATURE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND NEEDS?

>> IT REALLY DOES BECAUSE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF ISSUES AND TOPICS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS LEGISLATORS.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT EDUCATION OR MEDICAL OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATION EXPERTISE.

SO, I HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER LEGISLATORS TO HELP ME.

THOSE WHO ARE IN THE INDUSTRY.

SO, THE SAME THING WITH ENGINEERING.

SO, WHEN WE HAVE ENGINEERING-RELATED MATTERS, THAN THAT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE MY EXPERTISE, MY EDUCATION, TO HELP FORWARD OUR STATE ON MATTERS THAT ARE TECHNICAL OR INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, OBVIOUSLY THE BIG THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS REBUILD ALABAMA.

IT STARTED IN 2019 WHEN THE BILL PASSED.

INCREMENTAL RAISES IN THE GAS TAX, DERAILED A WILL LITTLE BIT BY COVID BUT IS IT ONLINE NOW?

ARE THE PRODUCTS GOING.

>> COVID HAS SLOWED DOWN EVERYTHING IN ALL WALKS OF OUR LIVES SO WE HAVE A LITTLE CATCH UP BUT THINGS ARE MOVING AHEAD.

THE WORK IS BEING DONE ON THE GROUND AND THAT'S SO GOOD TO SEE ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THE STATE PROJECTS, WERE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH BIGGER BUT THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVELS THEY HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND A LOT OF GOOD WORK IS BEING DONE.

>> I KNOW AS PART OF THE LAW YOU ALL SET UP AN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE FROM THE LEGISLATURE STANDPOINT YOU SEE HOW IT IS GOING, HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FROM D.O.T.

ARE YOU PLEASE SOD FAR WITH WHAT YOU ARE SEEING?

>> I AM.

WE HAVE TOTALLY REVAMPED THAT COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE FOUR MEETINGS A YEAR.

WE HAVE SPECIFIC MILESTONES, SPECIFIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE D.O.T.

TO COME IN AND KEEP US INVOLVED IN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PROCESS.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES?

AND WHAT THINGS HAVE GONE WELL?

THOSE ARE GOOD MEETINGS.

THEY ARE WELL ATTENDED EVERY QUARTER HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD THING FOR OUR STATE.

>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT GAS PRICES ARE AT RECORD HIGHS.

THE PRESIDENT'S TALKING ABOUT GOING TO THE STRATEGIC OIL RESERVE.

A LOT IS GOING ON BUT PEOPLE ARE PAYING AT THE PUMP.

SO, NATURALLY, FOLKS SAY, WELL, LOOK, LET'S TALK ABOUT REPEALING OR SUSPENDING OR WHATEVER THE GAS TAX THAT WAS ENACTED IN 2019.

OF COURSE, IT IS ONLY 10 CENTS.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ARE MAKING IT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO FOLKS MAKING THAT ARGUMENT?

>> WE HAVE TWO THINGS WE ARE DEALING.

ONE IS A TEN CENT GAS TAX USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO PAY DIVIDENDS DOWN THE ROAD, VERSUS THE DOLLAR, DOLLAR AND A HALF THAT GAS INCREASED THROUGH POLICIES OR LACK OF POLICIES AND THAT MONEY IS GOING AWAY.

THE POLICIES WE PUT IN PLACE ARE BEING USED TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE, TO PUT CONCRETE ASPHALT ON THE GROUND AND IT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS.

>> IF YOU SUSPENDED THE GAS TAX TODAY WOULD IT AFFECT THE PROJECTS GOING ON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY WOULD STOP.

NOT EVERY SINGLE PROJECT IN THE STATE BUT A LARGE NUMBER OF THE PROJECTS IN THE STATE WOULD STOP.

TO ME, WE HAVE THAT NEED.

WE HAVE HAD THAT NEED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

IF YOU DELVE INTO THIS DATA, WE STILL HAVE NEEDS.

SO, TO JUST PUT OUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND SAY LET'S JUST STOP THAT JUST TO BE POPULAR, IT'S, IN MY OPINION, IS NOT GOOD GOVERNMENT.

>> WE SAW POLLING ON THIS LAST WEEK.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS SIGNAL, GREAT TV POLL SHOWED A GREAT PLURALITY OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THAT APPROACH TO THE GAS TAX MORE THAN OPPOSED IT AND SOME SAID IT WASN'T RAISED ENOUGH.

OUT THERE ON THE GROUND WHEN YOU HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS ARE THEY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT GAS TAX AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN?

>> I'M HEARING A LOT OF POSITIVE.

I ALSO HEAR NEGATIVE STILL.

I WON'T SAY THAT'S NOT OUT THERE.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS, IS THIS MONEY GOING TO BE PUT INTO OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OR IS IT GOING TO BE USED SOME OTHER WAY TO INCREASING EMPLOYEES.

IT IS GETTING TO THE NEED ON THE GROUND.

WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY THAT AND THEY ARE WILLING TO KEEP GOING WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WELL, A FASCINATING TOPIC.

I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE HERE WITH US ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES 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 SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN-MADISON FROM BIRMINGHAM.

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

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE, TODD.

>> BIG DAY IN THE SENATE TODAY, PASSING THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

RECORD AMOUNTS OF MONEY, $8.2 BILLION.

NEVER SEEN THAT REVENUE BEFORE.

WHAT WERE YOUR TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS BUDGET?

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> IT DID PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

WE WORKED HARD.

OUR CONCERN WAS DOING GREAT BY THE TEACHERS.

REWARD THE TEACHERS THAT HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

DO SOMETHING FOR RETIREES AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES WHERE THERE WERE VOIDS TO PUT EXTRA MONEY IN THERE.

THIS BILL ACCOMPLISHED ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND AS I SAID WE REALLY WANTED TO TRY TO REWARD TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE PROFESSION A LONG TIME.

AS A FORMER EDUCATOR YOU GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THERE IS A PLATEAU AND YOU DON'T GET ANYMORE MONEY.

YOU ARE STILL THERE.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE.

OVER THE YEARS, YOU FIND THOSE DEDICATED TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE, THINGS ARE NOT THE SAME.

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SPARK.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A PUSH AND WIND BENEATH THE WINDS.

SO WE HOPE THIS IS WIND BENEATH THE WINGS AND A WAY OF SAYING WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO THE CHILDREN.

>> REALLY SIGNIFICANT PAY RAISES.

THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS GOING TO BE THE 4% ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYBODY, BUT IN THE SENATE YOU ALL ADDED THE STEP RAISES WHERE, YEAH, IF YOU SERVE TEN OR MORE YEARS OR 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THEY TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF RETAINING EXPERIENCED TEACHERS IN A TIME WHEN IT IS TOUGH TO HIRE TEACHERS RIGHT NOW.

>> WE LOST A LOT OF TEACHERS DURING THE COVID.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND BECAUSE OF ILLNESSES OR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MADE THEM BECOME PART OF THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, BUT IN SPITE OF THAT YOU HAD THE TEACHERS WHO HUNG IN THERE.

EVERY DAY THEY GAVE THEIR ALL.

THEY EARNED EVERY MONTH AND WENT BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AND WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REWARD THOSE TEACHERS.

WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF THE TEACHERS THAT ARE IN THE SCIENCE AND MATH, TECHNOLOGY KIND OF THINGS AND WE NEED TO RECRUIT GOOD TEACHERS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG INCENTIVES WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON.

WE WANT TO RECRUIT THOSE PERSONS TO MAINTAIN THEM, AS WELL, TO NOT LET THEM LOOK AT THE FIELD OF TEACHING AS AN AREA -- WELL, YOU KNOW, I LOVE TEACHING, I LOVE CHILDREN BUT I CAN'T MAKE A LIVING IN IT.

>> SURE, YEAH.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT SAID ON THE SENATE AND HOUSE FLOOR ABOUT THIS TEACHER SHORTAGE THAT WE ARE CLEARLY IN.

THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE GOING TO COLLEGE TO MAJOR IN EDUCATION AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE OUTPUT AND THE AVAILABILITY OF TEACHERS.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN TURN THAT AROUND IN TERMS OF CONVINCING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCOMING COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT, YES, THIS IS A PROFESSION YOU CAN BE REWARDED BOTH REWARDING EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, GOING IN, WE ARE PRETTY COMPETITIVE.

IF YOU START LOOKING AT STARTING SALARIES, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO RETAIN GOOD, QUALITY TEACHERS THAT ARE DEDICATED, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP STEP WITH OTHER STATES AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING SURROUNDING US.

SO AS WE STARTED TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER STATES WERE DOING AND PAYING TEACHERS FOR THOSE PERSONS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, WE WERE WAY OUT OF LINE ON THAT.

THIS TENDS TO TRY TO NARROW THE GAP, TO REWARD THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE STAYED IN EDUCATION FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THESE ARE SEASONED TEACHERS THAT WE NEED.

I KNOW GOING INTO TEACHING AS A YOUNG TEACHER, I HAD TO BE TAKEN UNDER THE WING OF ONE THAT HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND WE ARE STILL FRIENDS TO THIS DAY.

WERE IT NOT FOR HER TEACHING ME, WE NEED THOSE KIND OF MENTORS IN OUR CLASSROOM.

>> I WAS ALSO THINKING, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THE TOP NUMBER, 8.2 BILLION, RECORD AMOUNT.

I KNOW THE TEACHER PAY RAISES -- THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH REMEMBER THE WORD PRORATION.

>> OH, GOD, I DO.

>> WHICH IS REALLY PAINFUL.

ARE YOU CONCERNED IT IS TOO MUCH MONEY AND WE MIGHT BE HAVING TO CUT BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW?

>> NO.

I LOOK AT -- AS I SAID -- IT IS TOO LITTLE TO LATE.

WE ARE JUST CATCHING UP.

I'M GLAD WE PUT IN MECHANISMS THAT TAKE CARE OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS SO WE DON'T OVERSPEND AND GET TO THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET OR FINDING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR YOU HAVE TO CUT.

SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE REALLY DOING WELL.

REALLY, IF WE CONTINUE ON THE PACE WE ARE ON WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECRUITMENT AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HELPS TO FUND EDUCATION.

EDUCATION DOESN'T COST.

IT PAYS.

THE PEOPLE WE ARE PUTTING OUT NOW WILL BE OUR LEADERS OF TOMORROW.

THEY WILL BE OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE OF TOMORROW.

SO, IF WE ARE GOING TO RECRUIT BUSINESSES AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES THAT IS REALLY LET THAN 100 DAYS NOW THAT WILL BE HERE IN ALABAMA.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

SO, NO.

IT'S NOT TOO MUCH.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE A BILL ON RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS AND THE PROCESS THAT WORKS THERE.

WHERE IS THAT BILL IN THE PROCESS NOW?

>> WE FINALLY GOT THAT BILL OUT OF THE SENATE.

THIS IS OUR SECOND TRY.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SERVED YOUR TIME, YOU KNOW, PAID RESTITUTION AND EVERYTHING AND YOU ARE ALREADY OUT AND YOU WANT TO BECOME A FULL-FLEDGED CITIZEN, YOU HAVE TO APPLY TO THE PARDONS AND PAROLE BOARD FOR CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY.

THIS BILL WOULD TAKE THAT AWAY.

NOW THE PARDONS AND PAROLE, ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH US, AND THEY WILL LET THE PERSON KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE MET THE CRITERIA AND WHETHER YOU PAID ALL YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY AND FULFILLED THE OBLIGATION.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT AND ARE INDIGENT AND CAN'T PAY FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO THE COURT FINES AND FEES ARE ADDING UP BUT THEY CAN'T PAY IT.

WELL, THIS PARTICULAR BILL HAS A COMMUNITY SERVICE COMPONENT OF IT WHERE YOU CAN DO COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LIEU OF FINES AND FEES.

YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY RESTITUTION BUT THEY WILL PUT YOU ON A PAYMENT PLAN SO IT IS NOT A STRESS TYPE OF THING.

THE INTENT OF THIS IS TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM, TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM GOING BACK AND TRY TO HELP THAT PERSON TO BECOME WHOLE, TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND IDENTITY SO YOU CAN GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND BECOME A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF SOCIETY.

SO, THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

IT WAS ASSIGNED TO ONE COMMITTEE THAT WE FOUND OUT WAS NOT GOING TO MEET BEFORE WE ENDED SO WE HAD TO REASSIGN IT TO THE JUDICIARY AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS NOW AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL COME BEFORE THE HOUSE NEXT WEEK.

>> BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I SEE YOU ARE IN THE RED.

HOW WAS THE TURNOUT?

>> IT WAS GREAT.

IT ALWAYS IS.

AND WE ENJOY THE LADIES COMING TO THE STATE AND PAINTING THE CAPITOL RED.

THEY DO IT EVERY YEAR.

AND WE ARE ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION AND WE ARE ABOUT ADVOCACY.

SO THIS WAS ALL ABOUT TEACHING, AS WELL AS THE YOUNG ONES THAT COME IN COLLEGE ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WE HOPE THERE WILL BE THOSE DELTAS FOR THE FUTURE THAT WILL FOLLOW OUR FOOTSTEPS.

>> WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE DELTA DAY ON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> 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 THIS THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR OUR WEEK IN REVIEW SHOW WHEN WE'LL COVER THE WEEK THAT WAS IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S FRIDAY AT 7:30 PM HERE ON APT.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.