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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE TODAY ADVANCED A SPENDING PLAN TO USE THE STATE'S FINAL $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS.

THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE APPROVED THE LEGISLATION WITH ONE DISSENTING VOTE.

IT NOW MOVES TO THE FULL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE LAWMAKERS PLAN TO VOTE ON IT TUESDAY.

THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, REPUBLICAN REX REYNOLDS OF HUNTSVILLE, SAID HE HAS MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH HOUSE MEMBERS ABOUT THE PLAN AND IS HOPING FOR BROAD SUPPORT DURING NEXT WEEK'S FLOOR VOTE.

AS A REFRESHER FROM YESTERDAY, HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THAT MONEY IS DIRECTED IN THE BILL.

FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, $660 MILLION, INCLUDING $400 MILLION FOR WATER AND SEWER GRANTS AND $225 MILLION FOR BROADBAND.

FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, $339 MILLION, INCLUDING $100 MILLION TO REIMBURSE HOSPITALS.

$40 MILLION EACH FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION EMPLOYEES' HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN AND STATE EMPLOYEES' INSURANCE BOARD.

$23 MILLION FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.

AND $20 MILLION FOR A VOLUNTARY CLINICAL TRIAL AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.

FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES, $55 MILLION, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR FOOD BANKS, SENIOR SERVICES AND LONG-TERM HOUSING.

THERE IS ALSO $5 MILLION FOR THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR ITS EXPENSES IN RESPONDING TO UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

IN THE SENATE, LAWMAKERS ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS PAYING BACK THE FINAL $59 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND.

THE STATE BORROWED THE MONEY BACK IN 2012 TO FILL BUDGET HOLES DURING DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES.

THE SENATE FINANCE AND TAXATION GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE PASSED THE BILL UNANIMOUSLY.

STATE SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS TOLD REPORTERS THE LEGISLATURE IS KEEPING ITS COMMITMENT TO REPAY THE FUND.

.

>> IT'S A PROMISE MADE IS A PROMISE KEPT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTED IN WHEN I CAME HERE.

THAT, AND ALSO BUILDING RESERVES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

WE'RE WELL ON THE WAY TO DOING BOTH OF THEM.

THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS.

>> I DISAGREE WITH LEE AND THE CHARGE, SENATOR CHAMBLISS, I THINK YOU WERE A FORCE AND MAINSTAY WITH THE MOVING FORWARD OF THIS AND THE RESERVES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, APPRECIATE THAT.

>> IN THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE, LAWMAKERS ADVANCED LEGISLATION UNRELATED TO THE SPECIAL SESSION'S CALL.

SENATE BILL 2 FROM SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER WOULD SET GUIDELINES FOR VISITATION RIGHTS IN NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS, ESSENTIALLY REQUIRING THEM TO ADMIT VISITORS DURING A PANDEMIC.

THE BILL IS THE RESULT OF VISITATION LIMITS THAT WERE IMPOSED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

EVERY ONE, IF I WENT AROUND THE TABLE AND ASKED YOU TO GIVE ONE STORY, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE STORIES THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T GET IN TO BE ABLE TO SEE LOVED ONES THROUGH COVID OR OTHER TIMES THAT THEY WERE IN THE HOSPITAL OR THE NURSING HOMES.

I HAVE MULTIPLE STORIES MYSELF AND MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, TELLING ME, HEY, WE PASSED THIS BILL AND I STILL CAN'T GET IN TO SEE MY SPOUSE.

AND A LADY, HIS WIFE WANTED TO SEE HIM AND MARRIED 52 YEARS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET IN AND NOT ABLE TO SEE HIM BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.

>> BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S SPECIAL SESSION CALL, THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE TO BRING UP IN EACH CHAMBER.

THE PLAN ALSO ALLOWS FOR AN ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER TO BE GRANTED EXTENDED VISITATION TIME OF AT LEAST TWO HOURS.

GUDGER SAID HE'LL BRING A FLOOR AMENDMENT THAT DEFINES ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER.

.

>> IF THE DOCTOR SAYS NO VISITORS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE AROUND EVERY ONE THAT WANTS TO COME UP TO SEE HIM, HE CAN PUT UP NO VISITORS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE AN ESSENTIAL FAVOR, LIKE ME, I WANT TO COME IN, TAKE CARE OF HIM AND GET HIM MOUTH FED, YOU KNOW, SHOWER HIM IF I NEED TO, TAKE HIM TO THE RESTROOM AND MOST PEOPLE PREFER THAT RATHER THAN SOME NURSE OR SOMEBODY HE DIDN'T KNOW.

>> THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY HAPPENED WHEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CONVENED A JOINT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO HONOR RECENTLY-RETIRED U.S.

SENATOR RICHARD SHELBY FOR HIS REMARKABLE CAREER.

SHELBY'S POLITICAL CAREER ACTUALLY BEGIN IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO THE STATE SENATE IN 1970.

MORE THAN 100 OF THE STATE'S TOP POLITICAL LEADERS GATHERED FOR A LIVELY EVENT, TELLING OLD STORIES AND RECOUNTING SHELBY'S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

>> ECONOMICS DRIVES POLITICS, ECONOMICS DRIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.

SCHOOLS, GOOD EDUCATION, GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL OF THIS, IT'S GOOD COMMERCE FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR PEOPLE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY.

I'VE TRIED TO RUN THAT ROAD, TO PUSH THAT ROAD.

AND I THINK.

I'M PROUD AND I THANK THE PEOPLE, I'VE DONE IT MANY TIME FOR SENDING ME TO THE STATE SENATE.

I THOUGHT I WAS COMING DOWN HERE AND RUN THINGS BUT AFTER TWO DAYS, I KNEW I WASN'T.

ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE!

AND WHEN I GOT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I THOUGHT THERE'S 435 OF THEM BUT GOSH, I COULD HELP RUN THIS PLACE.

AND THEN I REALIZED, I HAD TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

THEN, I WENT TO THE U.S. SENATE AND I THOUGHT, I HAD ARRIVED AFTER THAT.

36 YEARS AGO.

THEN, I THOUGHT HOW DID THESE OTHER GUYS GET THERE, AFTER I GOT THERE.

YOU KNOW?

AND THEY WERE WONDERING HOW I GOT THERE!

AND THANKS TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA, I OWING THEM SO MUCH.

AND YOU OWING THEM, YOU ARE THE FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR, AND EVERYTHING.

WE'RE ON A ROLL IN ALABAMA.

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, WE HAVE CHALLENGES, YOU HAVE THEM HERE.

BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> AFTER THE EVENT, SHELBY SAT DOWN WITH ME THERE IN THE CAPITOL TO DISCUSS HIS LEGACY ACHIEVEMENTS AND MEMORIES FROM A LONG POLITICAL CAREER.

THAT INTERVIEW WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINT BY RECENTLY RETIRED UNITED STATES SENATOR SENATOR SHELBY HONORED IN THE ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL A FEW MINUTES AGO.

YOU WERE JUST HONORED HERE AT THIS EVENT IN THE OLD HOUSE CHAMBER.

AND STRIKES ME, THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT YOUR START, THERE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR IN THE STATE HOUSE IN THE CAPITOL.

BRING BACK ANY MEMORIES TODAY?

.

>> YEAH, I ELUDED TO THAT EARLIER, HARD TO REMEMBER, BUT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER, BUT 52 YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME TO THE STATE SENATE, RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL.

AND I SPENT TIME IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND I FELT, LIKE, FULL CIRCLE.

WELL, I ENJOYED HEARING SOME OF THE MEMORIES BACK AND FORTH, ESPECIALLY YOU AND SENATOR WAGNER, RIBBING EACH OTHER.

KIND OF CRAZY THAT HE WAS THERE WHEN YOU CAME AND STILL HERE AFTER YOU RETIRED.

RIGHT.

CONSECUTIVE, PROBABLY LONGER THAN ANYBODY.

THINK MAYBE A FEW YEARS BROKEN BUT HE SERVES THE STATE OF ALABAMA, SERVED HIS CONSTITUENTS WELL AND HE'S AN OLD FRIEND, JUST ON TOP OF THINGS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR LEGACY AND SEVERAL THINGS AROUND THE STATE AND IN WASHINGTON CELEBRATING THAT LEGACY.

LAST TIME WE TALKED, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, LAST TIME I INTERVIEWED YOU WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT SOME OF THOSE LEGACY PROJECTS WERE STILL IN THE WORKS AND NOT QUITE FUND HAD.

PORT DREDGING, FBI TO HUNTSVILLE, BIO TECH, TOMORROW SOME OF THESE LEGACY PROJECTS.

AND YOU MADE SURE TO GET THEM DOWN BEFORE YOU WENT OUT OF THE DOOR.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT FOR YOU TO SEE THAT?

>> WELL, BIG THING, PORT OF MOBILE, THAT'S PROBABLY A BILLION DOLLARS OPERATION THAT WILL FOREVER CHANGE MOBILE.

MOBILE IS NOW THE FASTEST GROWING CONTAINER POINT IN MOBILE.

AND LOTS OF JOBS.

EFFECTS THE WHOLE STATE.

BIGGEST SHIPS IN THE FEW YEARS WILL BE ABLE TO COME INTO THE MOBILE AREA.

AND THAT MEANS, JOBS, WEALTH, AND OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT ECONOMICS DROVE POLITICS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY.

SO, PART OF MY LEGACY WOULD BE ABOUT THAT, HOW CAN I HELP THE UNIVERSITIES TO EDUCATE AND HAVE SOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS.

HOW CAN WE HAVE THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WORLD, PORT OF MOBILE.

HUNTSVILLE, FOR EXAMPLE.

GREAT HIGH TECH AREA, ONE OF THE GREAT ONES IN THE COUNTRY.

HIGH EDUCATIONAL LEVEL.

AND THE FBI CAME TO ME, I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, 10-12 YEARS AND SAID WE WANT TO CONSOLIDATE A LOT OF TOMORROW'S STUFF, HUNTSVILLE, BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL.

SO, NOW, THEY ARE WORKING TOWARD A GOAL OF MAYBE 5,000 JOBS, SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.

SO, WE SPENT $2 BILLION OR $3 BILLION ON BRICK AND MORTAR ON 2200 ACRES, NOT HIRED ALL OF THE PEOPLE BUT MOVING THAT WAY.

AND ALL OF THIS HAS RAMIFICATIONS.

THE BIO MEDICAL, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS.

THINK THEY ARE GOOD INVESTMENTS.

THAT'S WHAT I PUSH INVESTMENTS.

DON'T GIVE MONEY AWAY THAT'S GONE BUT INVEST IN THE EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPPORTUNITY.

IT HELPS EVERYBODY.

>> AND ALSO, THOUGH, WHEN YOU SECURED THOSE INVESTMENTS, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE STATE OF ALABAMA WITH THE PORT, OR UNIVERSITIES, OR WHAT HAVE YOU, TO ALSO DO IT THEMSELVES, TO CONTRIBUTE THEMSELVES AND NOT JUST TAKE IT.

>> THEY HAVE TO PUT MONEY UP.

THEY HAVE TO.

AND PORT OF MOBILE, THE STATE PUT UP 25% OF THE MONEY THAT'S FEDERAL LAW.

AND WE ALL GOT SKIN IN THE GAME.

AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED TO THAT VERY WELL.

OUR UNIVERSITIES, STATE UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, SO IMPORTANT FOR TOMORROW.

ALABAMA IS ON A ROLL, ON A ROLL ECONOMICALLY, ONE OF THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT STATES IN THE NATION NOW.

WE GOT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

ALABAMA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

IT WAS NOT ALWAYS THAT WAY.

WE'VE GOT TO VN ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATED WORK FORCE, GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, GOOD SCHOOLS TO ATTRACT TOMORROW'S JOBS.

HUNTSVILLE IS A GOOD JOB BUT LOOK AT OPELIKA, AUBURN AREA.

AND UAB TURNS, CHURNS BIRMINGHAM.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WASHINGTON.

YOU AND SENATOR LAYEE WORKED TO REPAIR THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.

NOW YOU ARE BOTH GONE.

'^AND I'M WONDERING -- >> NEW PEOPLE STEP IN.

WE KNOW ALL OF THE PLAYERS, WE'VE SERVED WITH THEM.

THEY HAD EXPERIENCE.

AND IT WOULD BE TWO WOMEN, TWO TOP WOMEN APPROPRIATORS, SUSAN COLLINS AND THE TOP CHAIR IS SENATOR WASHINGTON, PATTY MURRAH OVER IN THE HOUSE.

AND GRANGER, CHAIR, REPUBLICAN AND ROSA DE LARIO FROM CONNECTICUT.

ALL WOMEN AND I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO DO WELL.

WE'VE LAID THE GROUND WORK, COOPERATION.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET SOMETHING DONE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GIVE AND TAKE.

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE ALL THE TIME.

SENATOR LEAHY AND YOU KNOW, POLITICS ARE DIFFERENT BUT YEAH, HOW TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT ON TIME, HOW TO MAKE IT WORK AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

IT WORKED FOR A WHILE.

>> AND TALKING ABOUT APPROPRIATIONS AND LONG TERM GOALS, THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT YOUR WORK ON THE COMMITTEE.

MANY OF THESE THINGS WERE LONG TERM, EVEN YEARS AND DECADES IN THE MAKING AND HAVING THE PATIENCE TO KNOW THAT MAYBE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT THIS YEAR BUT IT'S COMING DOWN THE LINE.

>> I WAS ACCUSED OF BEFORE, THINKING TOO BIG.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN THINK TOO BIG SOMETIMES YOUR GOALS NEVER GET TO THE DREAM.

BUT MY GOALS WERE ALWAYS MACRO, BIG THINGS AND NOT LITTLE THINGS THAT GET PEOPLE IN TROUBLE POLITICALLY AND AMOUNTS TO NOTHING AT THE END OF THE GAME.

BUT SERIOUS THINGS LIKE ENGINEERING.

FUNDING MAKING SURE THAT IN ALABAMA, AUBURN, ALABAMA, UAB, SOUTH ALABAMA, AND MOBILE, HUNTSVILLE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST AND FINEST ENGINEERING SCIENCE FACILITIES IN THE WORLD.

AND THEY DO, COSTS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

OVER THE YEARS, SAME THING WITH THE PORT OF MOBILE.

THAT WAS WORKING A 20 YEAR DEAL.

THAT WAS 20 YEARS!

AND ENDOWMENTS FOR THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROFESSORS.

I WORKED ON THAT FOR 14 YEARS.

IT WAS NOT A SMALL THING.

IT WAS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

>> YOU ARE A SUCCESSOR, KATIE BLITH OFF TO A FAST START IN WASHINGTON.

I'M CURIOUS WHAT ADVICE YOU HAVE FOR HER WHEN SHE WON THE JOB.

KATIE IS VERY ABLE, CHIEFS MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND I'M HIGH ON HER AND THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ALABAMA ARE.

SHE WENT ON APPROPRIATIONS AND BANKING, RULES COMMITTEE STRAIGHT ON.

>> BIG WINS.

>> BIG THING FOR ALABAMA!

YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR A LOT FROM HER.

SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, ALREADY THERE.

I DON'T GIVE HER ANY ADVICE.

SHE IS SELF PROPELLED AND I BELIEVE SHE'S GOING TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND OUR STATE WELL.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU, AFTER THIS LONG CAREER, DO YOU MISS THE SENATE YET?

YOUR CAREER?

>> WELL, WE MISS IT, PART OF WHATEVER WE WERE PART OF OVER THE YEARS.

I MISS THE STATE LEGISLATURE, 8 YEARS.

I MISS US THE U.S. HOUSE 8 YEARS AND MISS THE SENATE TOO, 6 YEARS, 36 YEARS.

I WANTED TO COME HOME.

AND I'M HOME.

I'M A PRIVATE CITIZEN NOW AND I HOPE I ENJOY THE REST OF MY DAYS.

>> I'M SURE IN RETIREMENT, A LOT OF REFLECTING GOES ON.

I'M SEWERIOUS, WHAT MADE YOU MAKE THAT FIRST DECISION TO RUN FOR STATE SENATE THOSE YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, I WAS INTERESTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT HOW IT EFFECTS THE STATE.

WHAT HAPPENS IN MONTGOMERY EFFECTS THE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

PUBLIC POLICY EFFECTS EVERY ONE.

ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, EVERYTHING.

I GOT INVOLVED IN THAT WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE RIGHT REASON.

AND THAT GREW INTO THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING SO MUCH TIME FOR US.

I KNOW THAT YOU ARE DONATING YOUR ARCHIVES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

I WOULD LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP THERE AND HAVE YOU WALK THROUGH YOUR IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING DOCUMENTS.

>> YEAH, THE UNIVERSITY WOULD, WELL, THEY GOT BOX AND BOXES OF RECORDS AND THE BIGTIME UNIVERSITIES WANTED MY PAPERS BUT I RATHER THAT IT CAME HOME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT, MARY SELL, BIRMINGHAM DAILY NEWS, THE EDITOR.

HOW ARE YOU DOING.

>> DOING WELL, WRAPPING UP THE FIRST WEEK.

>> WELL, WHIRLWIND WEEK IN TERMS OF ACTIONS AND LOTS OF ACTIVITIES.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, WE'RE IN A SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE TOPICS.

>> I LIKE THE SPECIAL SESSION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION BECAUSE YOU EASE INTO IT, NOT 20 COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY AND LET'S YOU GET YOUR MIND RIGHT.

>> LOTS OF NEW MAKERS, NEW LAWMAKERS THAT ARE BREAKING THEIR WAY IN.

AND ALEXANDER WILLIS, BREAKING INTO THAT TOO, OUR NEW REPORTER.

>> NOW, YOU ARE COVERING THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUNDS.

WHERE ARE THEY IN THE PROCESS?

ANY SURPRISES?

>> NO SURPRISES.

THERE'S A HOUSE AND SENATE VERSION, SAME BILL.

THEY BOTH CAME OUT OF THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES TODAY SO THEY ARE PREPPED FOR FLOOR VOTES ON TUESDAY WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN.

BUT YEAH, THE SPENDING IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE SAW EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

THE FOCUS IS BROAD WAND, SEWER AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE HAVE ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS TO PLAY WITH, LAST OF THE COVID MONEY SO EVERYBODY IS HIGHLY AWARE, THIS IS THE END OF THE MONEY, THE END OF THE TRAIN.

SO, $400 MILLION FOR SEWER, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

$200 MILLION ON BROADBAND.

>> WE REPORTED THE RUNDOWN ON THERE.

NO AMENDMENTS?

>> NO, NO AMENDMENTS.

PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD AND GOING TO THE FLOOR.

>> NOW, ONE OTHER THING GOVERNOR PUT INTO THIS, FINAL PAYBACK FOR THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND, 200-- >> 2012.

>> BORROWED THE MONEY AND THE ALABAMIANS APPROVED IT.

>> RIGHT.

IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BORROW $437 MILLION FROM THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND.

AND YOU REMEMBER THAT IN 2012.

THINGS WERE TIGHT.

WE WERE TALKING, IF WE DIDN'T DO THIS, WE WOULD CUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES, MEDICAID, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILDREN SERVICES, THINGS THAT AFFECTED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THEY BORROWED IT AND THE LAWMAKERS CAME UP WITH THE PLAN TO REPAY ALL OF IT.

THAT WAS THE PLEDGE.

THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER NOW AND THE SENATE BILL 1, SENATOR GREG ALLBRITTON PAYING BACK THE LAST REMAINING CHUNK $60 MILLION COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR.

>> AND NO TROUBLE WITH THAT?

>> EASY PEASY, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT KIND OF THING.

AND THINK THAT EVERY SENATOR WAS A COSPONSOR.

GOING TO THE FLOOR TUESDAY.

>> THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.

>> STICKING ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR A MINUTE.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAME EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THE PRISON SYSTEM IS GOING TO GET A MAJOR PAY INCREASE FOR PRISON GUARDS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HIRE MORE GUARDS.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU REMEMBER IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, LATE LAST MONTH, COMMISSIONER TOLD JOHN HAMM, THEY ARE STILL DOWN, ALMOST 700 CORRECTION OFFICERS IN THE PRISONS.

UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER TO UP THE NUMBER.

HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT.

WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE COURT ORDER FOR YEARS.

HAMM WAS CANDID, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY IDEAS I'M ALL EARS.

SO, HE SET FOR A PRESS RELEASE ON MONDAY, AND TRAINEE AT MAXIMUM FACILITIES MAKE $55,855 A YEAR.

AND THAT'S UP FROM PREVIOUSLY, DEPENDING ON YOUR EDUCATION LEVEL, BUT THE PAY RANGE WAS $35,000 TO $38,000.

SO THAT'S A $20,000 INCREASE.

IT'S HUGE.

AND IT'S BEING ADVERTISED ON THE WEB SITE RIGHT NOW.

I CHECKED WITH THE PERSONNEL AND THE INCREASE WAS APPROVED BY THE PERSONNEL BOARD AND THE GOVERNOR EARLIER THIS LAST MONTH.

>> 55 GRAND, THAT'S REAL MONEY.

>> THAT'S MORE THAN A TEACHER MAKES!

>> RIGHT.

AND IT'S FOR GOOD REASON.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS JOB.

>> INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL, WE'VE HAD PRISON GUARDS KILLED IN RECENT YEARS.

AND HURT.

SO, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

>> SO, WE'LL SEE IF THIS KIND OF HELPS THE RECRUITMENT PROBLEM.

>> AND ALSO, I MENTION THAT THERE'S PAY INCREASES FOR CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS AND PAY DIFFERENTIALS DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION.

I HAVE NOT SEEN A TOTAL COST ON THIS YET BUT I'M SURE WE'LL BE HEARING MORE ON THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.

>> I'M THOUGHT IT WAS CURIOUS THAT COMMISSIONER HAMM DIDN'T MENTION IT IN HIS BUDGET HEARING.

WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE PRESS RELEASE, I WAS THINKING, HOW DID THEY DO THIS?

>> THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE YOUR GOOD NEWS.

>> RIGHT, YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT SUCH SUBSTANTIAL RAISES VERY OFTEN.

>> NOW, BACK TO THE SESSION.

A SURPRISE TODAY.

DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION, NO OTHER ISSUES COME UP OTHER THAN WHAT'S IN THE CALL UNLESS THEY VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY AND THE BILL CAME UP, HAVING TO DO WITH HOSPITAL AND VISITATION RIGHTS FROM GARLAN GUDGER.

>> RIGHT, FROM CULLMAN, THAT WAS AN ISSUE OF HIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

HE HAD A BILL BACK IN 2021, HEIGHT OF COVID, WHEN WE HAD SO MANY TRAGIC STORIES OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALS AND BEING RESTRICTED FROM SEEING LOVED ONES.

HE HAD A BILL AND HIS INTENTION WAS TO OPEN UP VISITATION MORE AT HOSPITALS.

I DON'T THINK IT WORKED OUT QUITE AS HE INTENDED AND THIS SENATE BILL 2, WHICH GOT FAVORABLE REPORT IN THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE WOULD REQUIRE HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, INCLUDING NURSING HOMES TO COME UP WITH POLICIES.

BUT ALSO, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO.

WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REQUIRE ANY SORT OF VACCINATION PROOF AND BASICALLY SAYS, YOU HAVE TO LET PEOPLE HAVE VISITORS DURING VISITING HOURS.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND IT CAME OUT OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE PRETTY QUICKLY AND WAS NOT A LOT OF ISSUES.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS A SPECIAL SESSION ON THE TWO ITEMS THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT IN HER CALL.

A BILL OUTSIDE OF THE CALL CAN MOVE FORWARD BUT IT NEEDS A 2/3 VOTE IN BOTH CHAMBERS WHEREAS, IN THE NORMAL SESSION, IT WOULD JUST NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

SO, WHETHER OR NOT WE SEE IT MOVE NEXT WEEK DURING THE SPECIAL WHICH I THINK IS VERY MUCH HOW SENATOR JUDGER'S SESSION, OR IF IT WAITS'^ UNTIL THE NEXT SESSION.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY HAD SOMEBODY IN THE HOSPITAL AND EVERYBODY HAS A STORY HOW ROUGH IT WAS.

AND THE HOSPITALS ADMIT THAT.

THEY HATED THAT TOO.

BUT AT THE TIME, TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN GARLAN GUDGER WAS TRYING TO EXPAND THIS, THEY ARE SAYING OUR HANDS ARE TIED BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

SO, I'M NOT SURE A WHOLE LOT OF THAT CHANGED.

>> AND SOMETHING TO WATCH GOING FORWARD.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> THAT WENT QUICK!

>> IT TENDS TO, YEAH.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

THANKS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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