WE'LL REPORT ON THE UPCOMING FINAL DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT HANGS IN THE BALANCE, INCLUDING GAMBLING, A TRANSGENDER YOUTH MEDICAL BILL AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAR THE STATE FROM ENFORCING NEW FEDERAL GUN RESTRICTIONS.

WE'LL BE JOINED BY SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS OF PRATTVILLE, WHO'LL DISCUSS ANOTHER FINANCIAL UNDERWRITER PULLING OUT OF GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S PRIVATE LEASE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN AND HIS THINKING THAT A SPECIAL SESSION ON THE ISSUE MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY ALABAMA LABOR SECRETARY FITZGERALD WASHINGTON, WHO'LL TALK WITH US ABOUT THE DECISION TO END ALABAMA'S PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, TO GET MORE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL JOIN US TO DISCUSS OPENING UP CORONAVIRUS VACCINE ELIGIBILITY TO ADOLESCENT CHILDREN AGES 12 - 15.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS FOR THE FINAL DAY OF ITS REGULAR SESSION ON MONDAY AND SEVERAL CLOSELY-WATCHED MEASURES HANG IN THE BALANCE.

LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE TO GIVE FINAL PASSAGE TO THE RECORD $2.4 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

THE SENATE COULD STILL TAKE UP A BILL THAT WOULD BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE.

AND HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON OF MONROVIA TOLD CAPITOL JOURNAL LAST WEEK THAT CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN CERTAIN MEDICAL PROCEDURES FOR TRANSGENDER MINORS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED IN HIS CHAMBER.

>> It's a good possibility that pill might come back up again.

To include the passport vaccine issue.

That bill has become popular around people in the state.

I have received a lot of emails and phone calls on that issue.

On top of that, you have got the issue with Washington and some of the fear that people have about such things as second amendment rights and the overreach of federal government.

And there's a bill in there from the senate dealing be second amendment rights and federal executive orders.

>> Don: LAWMAKERS ON MONDAY COULD ALSO TAKE UP A SO-CALLED ‘CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY' BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW STATE RESIDENTS TO CARRY A CONCEALED PISTOL WITHOUT HAVING TO GET A PERMIT OR TO PAY FOR ONE.

SOME IN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE PUSHED BACK ON THE LEGISLATION AND REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER OF CITRONELLE SAID IN A STATEMENT TODAY THAT HE WAS PROUD TO BE ONE OF ITS SPONSORS.

THIS AFTER THE MOBILE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTEDLY CONFIRMED TODAY THAT STRINGER HAD BEEN REMOVED AS A CAPTAIN BECAUSE OF HIS SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

Did >> DON: A GAMBLING BILL COULD, OSTENSIBLY, BE VOTED OUT ON THE LEGISLATURE'S FINAL DAY, BUT MANY LAWMAKERS CONCEDE ITS DOUBTFUL.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SPOKE WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL LATE LAST WEEK ABOUT GAMBLING POSSIBLY RETURNING IN NEXT YEAR'S REGULAR SESSION.

>> DON: THE HOUSE LAST WEEK.

>> If we address this early on in the next session there's a chance we could get a product out for a constitutional amendment that could be on the battle in November of next year.

So it's not a lot of cause at this point.

But at the end of the day, we need more work to be done on the legislation.

And we need a senate-house-governor compromise that we can all work from.

>> DON: THE HOUSE LAST WEEK COULDN'T REACH CONSENSUS ON A COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN, SO A LOTTERY-ONLY BILL WAS FLOATED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT, MAY 6TH, BUT IT WAS REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION AFTER MANY LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WERE JUST SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

GAMBLING TOOK A VERY WINDING ROAD IN THE HOUSE THIS YEAR.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT TAKES A LOOK BACK AT THE TIMELINE.

>> To be or not to be -- that is the question about a lottery for Alabama.

Two bills addressing this issue see action in the house.

First up, Senate Bill 309 in the house ways and means education committee.

>> The stability of the Alabama education lottery corporation, how the lottery games and prizes will be played and distributed, the lottery retailers.

>> We know this plan that is inclusive of two-year and four-year Scholarships and inclusive of ways that we can motivate more people to achieve that bachelor's degree is something that will be good for our state.

>> The next day and the next committee is economic development and tourism featuring Senate Bill 319.

>> SBC319 is the constitutional amendment relating to the comprehensive gaming plan that passed the senate three weeks ago.

>> Basically it's just too hard to enforce.

Let's just legalize it and make money off of it.

That's what it says.

What that is basically says is that we don't want to do what the law wants us to do.

>> We should take a step back, think about what we're doing.

We're not only closing operations in the county that have been operating 18 years or month -- that's salt in the wound.

>> Both bills are approved and head to the house floor.

But the going is not so smooth as they arrive, disagreements increase.

>> We have suffered.

And to sit here tonight and see that we have been erased off the whole bored -- you don't give a doggone about what happens to my people in my county.

>> The lottery proposal is pulled, leaving it one Kay to either pass or fail.

For "Capitol Journal," I'm Randy Scott.

>> DON: THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAR TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THE STATE FROM UNDERGOING HORMONE THERAPIES AND FROM TAKING PUBERTY-BLOCKING DRUGS HAS ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE AND WAS ON THE HOUSE'S AGENDA BEFORE THE BREAK, BUT IT NEVER CAME UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS.

FRUSTRATED THE MEASURE'S SPONSOR.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH REPORTS ON IT AND ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DELAY HOLDING BACK STATE 3RD GRADERS WHO CAN'T READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

>> Last month state Senator Shea shellnut voiced his disappointment with the Alabama House of Representatives for not prioritizing his bill that would prohibit minors from getting gender change therapy.

>> That has been out of this body two years in a row.

Got should down by COVID.

The house companion bill passed out of the house last year and my bill is in position.

It's out of committee in the house and for some reason it's not getting any movement.

>> Rodger Smitherman has a bill to delay an Alabama literacy act that tests third graders and retains them in third grade if they're not reading at grade level.

>> You have to get back to sitting in the classroom with teachers in one-on-one instruction with them going over what these letters mean and how to put them together and how to pronounce words.

That can't be done by a soundbyte on a computer.

>> Both his and shellnut's bills were the last two on the house's order of business when they last met a week ago but the body adjourned before their bills could be discussed.

>> The bills could still receive final passage but there's more caveat, onma May 17 is the last day of the 2021 legislative session.

If Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Zitos any legislation, lawmakers would not be able to override the veto because the session would be over.

For "Capitol Journal," I'm Karen Goldsmith.

>> A third financial underwriter for Governor Kay Ivey's private lease prison construction plan withdrew this week and from some it cast further doubt on its future.

STEEFIL financial corporation joined Barkley and key financial markets which both pulled out of the prison deal weeks ago.

A a state bill to issue a state mandate to build new prisons was developed in case the private deal fell apart but it has in the been introduced: Governor Ivey said today she remains committed.

>> We're going to move forward and build those prisons because we need those prisons.

>> My guess and my hope is that if the private entity is not able to fulfill their commitments then the governor would pull together a group of both House and Senate members and we flesh out that plan that you're talking about and then we come in for a five-day special session and get it done.

I think that the willingness of the legislature is there now.

Earlier times a lot of the discussion was about if we need prisons and should we build prisons.

I think pretty much those questions are answered now.

>> Senator Chambliss service on the budget committee which funds prisons and also on the joint legislative prison committee.

He will join us later in the broadcast to talk more about the prospects for a special session on the issue.

MEANTIME, A MONTGOMERY COURT HEARING WAS HELD TODAY ON WHETHER TO ALLOW A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE PRIVATE LEASE DEAL TO GO FORWARD.

THE JUDGE IN THE CASE SAID HE WILL RULE SOON.

AMONG THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE ARE STATE AUDITOR JIM ZEIGLER AND REPRESENTATIVE JOHN ROGERS OF BIRMINGHAM.

>> DON: GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT, IN AN EFFORT TO GET MORE STATE RESIDENTS BACK TO WORK, ALABAMA WILL, ON JUNE 19TH, END ITS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERALLY-FUNDED PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAMS.

IT'S A MOVE THAT COMES AS MANY STATE BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND EMPLOYEES.

ALABAMA'S SECRETARY OF LABOR FITZGERALD WASHINGTON SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT THE BUSINESSES MOST AFFECTED.

>> A lot of employers, especially employers who pay a little bit lower wage.

So when you factor in the federal benefit, the $300 weekly benefit on top of what one would receive in state benefits, it was in some ways viewed as a discouragement for some people from getting back into the workforce.

>> DON: ANY ALABAMA APPLICATIS FOR THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FILED PRIOR TO AND UP TO JUNE 19TH WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROCESSED.

“HELP WANTED” SIGNS HAVE BECOME A COMMON SIGHT AT MANY STATE BUSINESSES, AND SOME HAVE EVEN HAD TO REDUCE THEIR OPERATING HOURS BECAUSE OF STAFF SHORTAGES.

IT'S A SITUATION THAT SECRETARY WASHINGTON TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL COULD BE COMPROMISING A TRUE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

HE SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT'S GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO GET THINGS BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> Our economy is actually really turning in the right direction.

There are several sectors in the workforce that have been performing well and met the challenge.

But we also know that there are some secretary whores are still struggling, the leisure and hospitality which includes restaurants have been having a difficulty time without filling job openings.

>> DON: SECRETARY WASHINGTON WILL JOIN US ON THE BROADCAST SHORTLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE DECISION TO END ALABAMA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAMS.

>> DON: MEANTIME, U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE OF AUBURN THIS WEEK JOINED A COUPLE OF HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN INTRODUCING WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE “BACK TO WORK BONUS ACT.”.

IT WOULD OFFER, WITH PROPER VERIFICATION, ONE-TIME BONUSES OF UP TO 12-HUNDRED DOLLARS TO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS WHO GET JOBS.

TUBERVILLE CONTENDS THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HAVE ACTUALLY PROVIDED INCENTIVE FOR SOME NOT TO LOOK FOR WORK.Ing >> I have been here four months.

You can't make this stuff up.

I thought the federal government was supposed to be help the people.

But we've got governor O. government versus the people.

I go to Alabama and I usually go back and get patted on the back.

I'm getting chewed out because we're up here giving money out.

We don't need to be giving money out.

We need to go back to work.

>> DON: IN ADDITION TO THE BACK TO WORK BONUSES, THE LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY SENATOR TUBERVILLE AND OTHERS WOULD ALSO REINSTATE THE FEDERAL WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

CONGRESS PROVIDED FLEXIBILITY FOR STATES TO WAIVE THAT REQUIREMENT.

>> DON: GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY WAS STILL URGING STATE RESIDENTS NOT TO PANIC BUY GASOLINE, IN THE WAKE OF A PIPELINE CYBERATTACK THAT RESULTED IN SOME EAST COAST FUEL SHORTAGES AND RISING PRICES.

>> Alabama's not as affected as some other states.

But everybody just needs to buy the gas that you need your vehicle but don't be taking jugs and cans and other canisters and filling them up because that lowers the supply on hand.

So use common sense.

Be courteous.

Fill up when you need it.

>> DON: COLONIAL PIPELINE IS BACK UP AND RUNNING FOLLOWING THE CYBERATTACK THAT TEMPORARILY SHUT THEM DOWN, BUT IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL DAYS FOR EVERYTHING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

>> DON: THE GOVERNOR TODAY JOINED OTHER OFFICIALS IN ANNOUNCING A NEW STATEWIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION INITIATIVE FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IVEY SAID IT AIMS TO CREATE A LONG-TERM OUTCOME ACROSS ALABAMA.

>> Folks to put it plainly, we simply owe these men and women to help them as they enter civilian life after their -- they have completed their military service.

>> As a marine veteran who has been personal affected by the devastation of a veteran taking their own life I understand not just the importance but the immediacy.

The metadataacy of addressing this issue directly, unapologetically and head on.

>> We're going to get after this issue, and I promise you that Alabama Department of Department of Veteran Affairs will be at the forefront of this effort.

It's a long way to go.

>> DON: THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH IS ALSO A STRATEGIC PARTNER IN THE SO-CALLED VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION CHALLENGE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

Is.

>> Next up, Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington is back in the studio with us.

Welcome back to "Capitol Journal."

>> Thank you for having me.

>> Always a pleasure.

>> It's been a busy week for you and your colleagues over at labor.

With the governor announcing this week that the state will be ending its participation in the federal pandemic jobless benefits program.

Now, this is the federal program that gave an additional payment to those who are unemployed on top of whatever state benefits they were already getting; right?

>> That is correct.

And let me say I really applaud Governor Kay Ivey for beak one of the first five states to make this decision in ramp up Alabama's economy.

This is one way that we get our economy back to full recovery.

>> Indeed.

She stated, among overly reasons why she was doing this was she wanted to get more people back into the job market and we've previously talked about on the show the fact that some sectors, especially restaurant and hospitality sectors are having trouble hiring people right now, and some viewed the continued participation in the federal jobless benefits as part of the reason.

>> If you look at where we were 14 months ago when the pandemic first let those uninsurance programs were necessary.

But now our economy is turning in the right direction.

There are several sectors in our workforce that have been performing well and have met the challenge.

But we also know that there are some sector who are still struggling, the leisure and hospitality includes one of them including restaurants have been having a difficult time filling job openings.

So with the the economy turning in the right direction this was part of the decision-making process in terms of why the state decided to end those federal programs.

>> Again the thinking has been that for some, it was maybe more profitable to draw unemployment than it was to return to or accept jobs that might be lower paying.

>> Certainly.

We have heard that concern from a lot of employers, especially employers that just pay a little bit lower wage.

So when you factor in the federal benefit, the three hundred dollars weekly open top of what one would be -- what one would receive in state benefits it was in some ways viewed as a dis currently for some people for getting back in the workforce.

>> When we say that there are rules in place -- and we have talked about this on the show previously -- there are certain things that you have to do to prove that you are actively looking for a job.

I think there was an overriding fear among system that the system was being abused during all of this.

>> Yeah, they beginning of the pandemic we received guidance from the U.S. DOL that we needed to relax our workforce requirement.

These people were laid off, no fault of their own.

Now that the turn is coming bag, it's time to put the regulation regulations back in because we know employers have open jobs they're looking to fill.

>> Are you optimistic that taking this action the governor is saying we lend our participation in the federal extension of jobs benefits could ultimately turn this around, the sectors that are having trouble finding workers.

>> Just ride around the state and see the now hiring signs signs.

We know certain employers are struggling trying to find workers to fill those positions so if you look at where we are, our unemployment rate is at 3798 percent.

As I stated before that's the lowest unemployment rate Alabama has versus any of our neighbors states.

If we can get that workforce back into the workforce we will be right back to where we were pre-pandemic.

>> Obviously the pandemic is why we got here but there are other factor that I think we should talk about here.

Say for instance that during the height of the pandemic, someone left the Lees usual and hospitality sector for whatever reason, maybe they had to go home and stay with a child who wasn't attending in person school classes but was learning at home or for any number of reasons and didn't go back and now that they're looking at the prospect of going back they're finding it less attractive for lack of a better way to put it?

>> You bring up a really good point.

At the beginning of the pandemic.

There were a lot of factors that, let's just say discouraged people getting in the workforce, transportation issues.

Day care issues.

And obviously what we talked about in terms of these federal programs.

But part of the panel sis, we reached out found out that there's no restrictions as it relates to day care to although of the day care have no restrictions in terms of their opening process and so that was part of the thought process in terms of how we want to make sure that we get people back into the workforce.

If you look at job ads.

Job ads over all, year to date are up 40 percent, again that's another sign that there are available jobs out there to be had.

>> I know Governor Ivey in announcing this week that we were going to end our participation in the federal benefits program pointed to the fact that day cares are no longer under restriction.

So if that was a barrier for anybody in returning to the job market it should be removed as one.

>> Absolutely.

Again we know neat there are available jobs out there and our economy?

Actually trending in the right direction.

So I'm really encouraged about what we see going forward in the future.

>> Now, for all of these folks, and I say folks meaning these sectors, leisure and hospital restaurants and et cetera are having trouble recruiting workers.

I know you have Heralded how your department can help them.

You have career sisters around the state and you can help these employers get connected to people who are looking for work.

>> Yes.

We manage 53 career centers throughout the state.

Say someone was laid off and they're looking at getting back into the workforce and they needed to polish up their résumé and go through interview training to make themselves marketable to go into some of these jobs.

All those are available in the career centers and best of all there's no charge for those services.

>> You know, during are this time when we have sheen so many help wanted signs out, especially at restaurants, I need that's where I personally noticed a allow the of these signs is help wanted.

I I have also noticed and a lot of other people have, that some restaurants even though we have come out of the pandemic restrictions, are still limiting their hours of operation and its because they don't have enough workers to work a full complement of hours the pre-pandemic full complement of hours.

>> That's why I want to encourage those employers to reach out to each one of our career centers.

We have a job daily basis where job seekers come through to look for work and that would be a really goodtors to find out where they could fields to open positions because we know be those jobs, those positions are available.

>> Right.

>> And mid side and small companies they're all hiring.

>> I actually went to a restaurant recently and it was closed and it was early in the evening.

And there was had a sign that said due to a worker shortage we have had to curtail our hours.

That's not an uncommon thing around of the state or around the country for that matter.

>> As mentioned in the leisure and hopss the last time talent sector there have been challenges.

No question about that.

We want to make sure all of the employers know where the opportunities are to look for skilled workers and you can find those in our job database in our local career centers.

>> Now, our participation in the federal jobless benefits extension program ends in June; right?

>> June 19.

>> So any claims that have been filed up to that date will be honored under the federal programs.

Any claims filed after that date through the federal programs will not be.

>> Will this immediately solve our problems with worker shortages in the leisure and hospitality industry or will it be more incremental with the coming back of these people.

>> I would say incremental.

We're taking this as a next step process.

Again the majority of the sector in our workforce in the safety of Alabama have recovered.

And again as mentioned there were some sector that have not recovered but sis this is a way that we could open up more opportunities for people looking for work.

There are jobs available.

Alabama is certainly open for business.

>> Yes, indeed.

In addition to announcing of course that our participation in this federal benefits program will expire, the governor a week or so ago announced that current health order that we have been under during the pandemic and the state of emergency will all be ending and that should send a signal to a lot of folks should it not that we're on the path to getting back to as close a normal as we can?

>> Yeah, I think the forecasters and the progress fast indicators are indicating that Alabama will continue its growth spurt you want to get back to where we were pre-pandemic.

As you think about it our unemployment in stands at 3.8 percent.

Pre-pandemic was 2797 so we're only 1791 percent ahead of where we were before the pandemic-hit and so 23 we can get more people back into the workforce, we will be looking at this pandemic through our are them.

>> At the outset, you praised Governor Ivey for taking this step.

She she only one of a handful of governs that have the done it thusnar and it seems rather bold and brave.

>> Yes, I would agree.

A lot of analysis and discussion went into making this decision.

And I felt like and the governor's office felt like this was a decision we needed to make had to get us back to full recovery.

>> In the last few minutes I want to touch on unemployment fraud for a moment.

It had as an been issue here in Birmingham as it has opinion had in a lot of states.

I have had friends and verified colleagues that told me they have been victims of this, that somebody filed a fraudulent unemployment claim in their name.

These things are usually caught very early on but it's going on unfortunately.

>> Yeah, and I know there are a lot of people in our state that are frustrated because we view this was San invasion of privacy.

I hear from people all the time who never been laid off, never been furloughed but yet a letter shows you see said that he had filed Ford unemployment and we knows they haven't.

That's why we took some necessary in steps a years ago and put together is a portal where people can report identity theft.

And it's unfortunate.

You have those sitting son the sidelines knowing that although labor agencies are naturally processing unemployment claims as a record pace and are testing of the soft spot in the system to see if thick get a benefit.

I have been fortune enough to say our systems are audited.

We look to see where spikes in our system exist.

And I can say with confidence that our system has not been hacked.

>> Yes.

And these things as I mentioned are caught very early on before they're ever prophecied or any payment is made.

I know a couple of my own colleagues suffered this unfortunately but our HR department contacted them, you know, right away and knew that they had had not filed for jobless claims and they were still currently employed, and I would imagine that's the scenario in most cases that these things can be caught very early.

>> Yeah, we created and develop an easy pathway for people to report identify they have to.

Once the identity theft is reported open our website, it immediately flags the account or the claim as fraud.

So there's no further action that the claim of the individual needs to take.

Would I also add that we're in constant collaboration with both state and federal officials to identify those these are and looking at ways on how we prosecute those individuals.

>> Just taking advantage of an overburdened system so to speak during this pandemic.

>> It is.

And again it's a nationwide issue.

I talk with my colleagues on a regular basis.

And all states are dealing with this very challenging issue.

>> Before we close, Mr. Sec, you mentioned our current unemployment rate.

It's 3-point percent.

And that is the lowest sips the pandemic began and there's no reason to think, is there, that we can't continue driving it down.

>> We're excited about where we are light now, especially when do you know why look at where we were 14 months ago.

I give a lot of credit had to Governor Ivey our administration in terms of how she's rallying us to come together to come up with creative ways on how we can improve the services that we offer.

And so we had are in a really good place right now so say we're at 3.8 percent unemployment.

The lowest since the pandemic.

Also the low of the unemployment rate of any of our neighboring states for two months in a row.

I think it speaks volumes to or governor and the administration in terms of how wee talk these major challenges during these unprecedented times.

>> Just to remind folks of where we were a year ago during the height of the pandemic, the unemployment rate was over 14 percent.

>> Yes.

>> And we had severely depleted the unemployment insurance fund which pays out these benefits.

>> That's correct.

In March of 2020, the unemployment was 2797 percent and all of a sudden the pandemic hit and it jumped up to over -- the unemployment jumped up to over 13 percent.

Since then, the unemployment rate that is been trending down to where we are right now at 3798 percent so we're really encouraged about how we're trending moving forward this year.

>> Alabama Secretary of Labor fits Jared Washington it's a else of always a pleasure so have you on the show.

Thank you for your leadership.

>> Thank you.

>> And "Capitol Journal" have be right back.

>> Next up on the broadcast, Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville is back with us.

Welcome back to "Capitol Journal."

>> Thank you Don.

Appreciate you having me.

>> Always nice to see you.

You don't want begin with prisons.

You serve on the general fund budget committee which appropriates money for corrections.

You also serve on the joint legislative prison committee.

You have served on the criminal justice reform study group.

You have prisoners in your district.

So you see come at this from a lot of different ages.

>> I want to talk specifically about the news this week that another underwriter for the governor's private lease prisoner plan dropped out.

And provides another setback for that plan.

How do you see us moving forward with this issue.

>> Well, obviously that is a set back.

The way I read the lease the private company has until June 1 to produce that financing and obviously the final cost of that leafs of least.

I think there's still some question between now and then what happens and do they have other alternatives.

Other private -- those entities were all public.

Are there other funding sources?

I don't know the answer to that obviously but if there are that can move forward.

We would have to look to the next plan.

>> A couple of weeks ago, when a couple of other underwriters pulled out, Governor Ivey said at the time that she wanted to continue toe move forward with a prison construction plan and she also said that that might include working with lawmakers on a bond issue.

Do you have a preference one way or the other where that stands.

>> Certainly my preference all along was to do a prison bond bill.

As a matter of fact several sessions back we got very close to getting that done?

>> However, absent that, the governor has led and taken charge.

And that's a good thing he we are closer now than we have been in the past.

There's a lot of things good about the direction she has taken us.

I think those counties are the place to put those prisons.

She's also formulated the re-alignment and closure type commission.

That's a positive thing.

Those are two of the big issues that we had on the legislative side.

So those are good and positive things.

And now it's just at the point, how do we finance it.

The other thing I was thinking that's good and positive is having the maintenance built into the lease.

That's one of the biggest problems and the reason why we are where we are as a state because when we have these downturns in the economy, maintenance money is the easiest money to pull back.

So that's what we have done decade after decade, and that's what has gotten us into this situation.

With her folding that in to the lease payment, that solves a long-term problem.

So there's a lot of positives.

The only real part of it that I disagree with is not putting it on state owned property and I think that's pretty well-known, my position on that.

So you know, all in all it's a good plan.

We Le see if the financing is there and if not, we will be ready to work with the governor to solve it.

>> I will remind our viewerses that the three proposed locations for the new mens prison wrestle mother county which is in your district, school district, and Bibb county.

I know there's been some push back in bib went county and also been some push back over what you alluded to and that is not put iting the prisons on state property.

Do you think that is going to hang this up in the long run?

The disagreement over that?

>> So far it hasn't.

It's a big issue in Elmore county and I'm sure the other counties as well.

And in Elmore county you're moving from the west side of the county where they're used to having prisons and accustomed to it.

We have a stayed on the property moving it to the east side where they're not accustomed to it and they don't want it.

But it means like the governor's plan has weathered that storm so it's really just a matter of financing at this point, even though that's not my prisoners.

>> Senator, there was a bill that was filed early in this session dealing with a state bond issue for prison construction.

It was just drafted I should say.

I wasn't actually filed or formally introduced but sort of put in a drawer someplace in case it was ever needed.

When the underwriters started pulling out of the private lease deal it started getting more attention but it Hass not been pulled out of the drawers and it's really not possible, is it, to pull it out of the drawer and pass it on the last legislative day.

>> The concern or my concern with that is that there are certain requirements in the lease.

As I read it, obviously and I'm not an attorney, but an engineer in doing development type of work, if we do something to below up that lease, then there are penalties and repercussions for us.

If the private company does not fulfill their obligations, then there's penalties and repurr curses for them.

So we're trying to have been very, very careful and obviously respectful of the governor's plan, and not to do something that is going to have an a negative impact on the state and we're frying to balance that.

And and obvious live with one day left the options are very, very narrow at this point.

>> But as you alluded to at the beginning of our conversation they have until June 1 to look at other alternatives for the private deal; right?

>> That's correct.

And unfortunately that's about 13 days after we're out of session.

So our options are limited.

My guess, my hope is that if the private entity not able to fulfill their commits then the governor would pull together a group of both House and Senate members, and we flesh out that plan that you're talking about a we come in for a five day special session and get it done.

I think the willingness of the legislature is there now.

Earlier times a lot of the discussion is that if we need prisons and should we build prisons, I think pretty much those of questions are answered now, and the question is more of what's the best way to finance it.

So I'm hopeful that if this -- if the governor's plan as it is currently going, if that doesn't materialize, that she will call us in to get it done legislatively.

>> Possibly this summer, you think or expect?

>> Well, I think hopefully this summer.

The DOJ and the courts have been very patient with us.

You know, we have worked and we have done a lot of things with funding and with the basic correctional officers and just the initiatives that we have put place so I think they understand that we're serious about it and obviously last year with COVID, everything got off track.

However, at some point in time, the DOJ is going to say they're not serious and they're not going to handle this and they're going to have to press their options so I think early summer would be when we need to do it if it's not taken care of by the governor's plan before then.

>> Again I will remind our viewers we're under a federal legal case concerning conditions in our prisons and they're watching our moves very closely where this is concerned.

>> And rightfully so.

We have had decades long problem.

And it's time for us to solve that.

And as Governor Ivey has said so many times we need an Alabama solution to this and I and other legislators continue to work with her and her staff to try to make sure that it is an Alabama solution.

>> So you would think or hope at least that there might be a special session on this issue and I ask that in the context of we widely expect another special session, probably in the full for legislators had to deal with reapportionment wiz you have to do and which you haven't been able to do because of the delay in census information.

>> That's correct.

We don't expect to receive the detail data until late summer or other early fall.

So until we get that precinct by precinct data we're not able to go in and draw the maps for the districts that we have to do every 10 years.

So once we get that data, then we will be able to do that and I expect to do that sometimes this fall.

>> So maybe two special sessions this year?

>> Well, obviously there would be efficiencies in doing both at the same time.

I'm not sure that we can wait that long on the prisons issue.

It's a long-term problem and it's time for us to solve it.

>> Let's put the last couple of minutes talking about some prison-related legislation that you have been carrying this year that you're hoping will get it out on the final day of the session.

Let's start with the will that would create the physicians of deputy Commissioner of prisoner rehabilitation in both Department of Corrections and Pardons and Paroles.

>> That's correct.

And these are not necessarily new positions.

These are tagging VP level in both of those entities with getting up every day and thinking about what do we need to do to rehabilitate those who are going to get out?

So 94 percent, I think, is the number, of those that are incarcerated will get out at some point in time.

So we need to be preparing them for when they get out so they can become productive citizens, for their benefit and also for the state's benefit.

So if we have someone identify or tagged in each of those entities and every day that's what their job is, and not only in their own entity but also across both of the DOC and Pardons and Paroles, coupled with the committee that we're putting together in that same bill of all of the stakeholders, really focus on rehabilitation and those that are getting either end of sentence offer getting released on parole, so that they have the tools available to them to go out and be productive.

If you think about it, think of about 10 years ago, say someone was incarcerated 10 years ago and they're getting out now, well, the world has changed significantly in the last 10 years.

We need to help equip them for success once they get out so there is not another victim, so that there is not another court case and ultimately more incarceration.

It service us all much better in we can handle that.

>> Overcrowding is one of our biggest challenges in the prison system and preventing recidivism as this bill would do could go a long way this that thing.

>> It really could as a numbers expert and also as I mentioned from the victim's perspective and the heart is headache and pain associated with that.

If we can help those that get out out go to work and have a good-paying job and provide for their family and those depend on them, then we have a chance.

And that's not to say, and I'm not naive enough to think we will have 100% success rate, because there are some that are just going to do things the wrong way.

But those who are trying, if we can help them, you know, and keep them from coming back into the system, that is a big thing.

>> I think this will get outdoor on the last day?

>> Well, I'm hopeful.

We're continuing to work hard and and the houses has a lot of things to deal with, as does the senate.

But in this case these are in the houses so I'm hopeful they will get it out 6:29 PM is up but briefly before we close you also have another corrections related bill question is in conference dealing with an education incentive.

Tell us what this is about.

>> This goes hand in hand with what I was talking about.

If someone has served 10 or ten years and they're about tote go out, we really need them to have a trade, a career, something that they can be employed would.

Engram state technical college and the president, they do such a good job at Engram state in my district as well and we're just trying to give them another tool to really help those that are about to get out of prison.

>> And you would recognize and give credit for these education incentives correct.

>> That's correct.

If they earn the certification, you know, lower certification getting a month or two early up to a maximum of 12 months early for some of the higher certifications like maybe a welding or that type of thing.

>> Do you think this one will get out too on the last day?

>> We're hopeful.

We have been working on it hall day told as far as the conference report and all of the parties are involved and engaged so I'm very hopeful it will get out on Monday.

>> Senator collide Chambliss.

Good luck to you on Monday last day of the session and thank you for your leadership.

>> Thank you for thank you.

We very much look forward to sine die Monday night.

>> And "Capitol Journal" will be right back.

>> Finally it's our weekly visit with Dr. Scott Harris.

Welcome back to "Capitol Journal" thank you for having me.

>> Dr. Harris, some new stats came out today about coronavirus in the state which were glaring, about five thousand.

Now, we heard earlier this week of another high number, a thousand cases in a day and it was said then a lot of that was due to a backlog in reporting.

Five thousand is another ballgame.

Is this a lot of bag logged cases getting in.

>> That's what we believe.

We're still sorting through that.

It's common for those nowadays who follow the information on the dash beard to see we get this giant data of months old delta.

We know that most of the cases that were reported to us today, almost five thousand cases most were backlog cases but there are still about a thousand or so that we're still sorting out.

I. I have to say I don't think we have thousands of new cases had.

That doesn't fit with anything that we have been seeing.

I think that is going to turn out of the to to be a backlog of cases but we just don't know at the moment and hopefully we will have that settled.

>> It doesn't match up with the hospitalization; right.

>> That's right.

The hospitalization numbers have been flat nor had a long time.

We're typically having 300 to 350 hospitalizations on any given day.

That's more than we would like.

But so much better than we were seeing.

We were seeing 10 times that back in January.

So we don't have any evidence that there's any kind of outbreak or uptick really going on but we were kind of surprised to have these numbers report the to us.

>> Across you sort through it you are hoping that the majority of these are backlog.

>> That's right.

You know, if you happen to look at the dashboard that we have online, we show each day how many new cases we have each day.

But there's another page of the dash beard that has the new cases reported by the day that they were actually infect issues based on when they had symptoms and when the testing was done, after we investigated the cases and gives you a truer picture of what days people were actually sick on.

>> We will stay tuned.

>> Yeah.

>> Dr. Harris in the meantime there are a a lot of other developments that we need to talk about?

>> Let's begin with the Colin Kaepernick's announcement about mask this week much this took a lot of folks by surprise with the CDC saying fully vaccinated people essentially don't have to mask up any longer except under specific circumstances.

>> That's right.

We were caught a little off-guard by the timing of that but we're happy to see it.

First of all we understand that we want people to be incentivized to get vaccinate sod being able to forget about wearing a mask lab power incentive for a lot of people.

As you mentioned interior some exceptions there and health care facilities like nursing homes and hospitals, those facilities are under other types of federal guidance and they will continue to wear mask policies.

Certainly some people in the state may be living in municipalities that have mask ordinances and this doesn't change that.

And people who are involved in public transportation, for example, where you're packed into a tight space with a lot of people for had a wrong time.

>> Airplanes, trains -- >> Exactly.

That's a real specific case where people may continue to wear masks and certainly there are businesses that may, you know, feel better about asking their customers to wear masks.

They're free to do that and the CDC guidance doesn't change that those individual businesses may do.

>> Where businesses are concerned, they make those decisions for themselves right.

>> That's right.

So in terms of state policy that public sheds puts out there we follow guidance from the CDC so we are going to do that.

But certainly businesses in our state, you know, have the freedom to make those choices for themselves.

>> Even though you mentioned that you were a little surprised with the CDC's announcement about masking this week, do you agree with it in principle?

>> In principle, yes.

Practically speaking it's a little different to implement?

>> CongregationWhat the guidance says is that regardless of who you're around or where you are, comment for those few exceptions if you're vaccinated you don't have to wear a mask.

I think that makes sense.

We know that in the real world these vaccines are about knife percent eel infect if I have and even in the cases where meme may get a break through infection, they tend to do very well N most cases they don't get sick or don't get very sick no most cases.

So that makes sense.

When you apply that to the real world it can become challenging.

For example, in public health we are going to allow our employees to follow the assume same guidelines in they're VAX nature they don't have to wear a mask unless they're doing if face face-to-face patient care.

We're not in the business of policing that and knowing who is VAX nature and who is not and want to don't plan to ask our employees did you get the shot or not.

We don't have that information about our employees.

So when you have meme who are not wearing masks, we just have to trust them in the they're vaccinated and made the right decision and hopefully they have.

>> It's an important variable is it not?

As we point out, we don't know who has been vaxinated and who haunt.

And proof of vaccination ban point of context for some folks.

As a matter of fact as I'm sure you're aware there's a bill in the legislature that could pass on the final day on that need that would ban so-called vaccine passports in Alabama.

>> I certainly have been following that.

You know a similar layer policy was enacted by executive order in the state of Tex ethics and something similar in Florida as well.

On the other hand, you have the City of New York, which has a vaccine registry that can be accessed which Eastside by businessos to decide can you come into this concert or not and so on.

So certainly different parts of the country have different views of that and public health we are certainly not interested in having a registry and that tell us them what they can and cannot do so I'm interested to see how this to plays out.

>> This also, when it comes down to it, and correct me if you think I'm off track here, with the new masking guideline is concerned from the CDC, it really becomes more about now, the unvaccinated than it does the vaccinated?

>> That's right.

The people who were motivated to be vaccinated in most cases have been vaccinated and we're glad they can be rewarded by not have been to wear a mask and at the same time those aren't the people we're trying to motivate to get vaccinated.

It's the people that haven't made up their mind yet.

Certainly there are some people who have made a decision they will never be vaccinated and we won't be able to reach those people.

But there are a lot of people who still have just problems with access.

They just haven't found it vent so get a vaccine yet and their he not opposed to it.

And then there were meme who are generally on the fence and they're waiting to give it more time to see if there's more information that comes occupant.

And I think for those people, thability to stop wearing masks and just about every situation may be an encouragement for them to get vaccinated.

>> Dr. Harris we have talked a lot about vaccine hesitancy being the predominant factor right now or getting these shots in our arms is concerned and the state has been increasingly turning to doctors and personal physicians to family practitioners to talk with their patients or for patients to seek advice from their doctor about this.

>> That really makes the most sense.

And there's been a lot of national polling done as well as some polling that we have commissioned here in the State of Alabama to try to understand people's attitudes towards VAX nation.

So I think there are many people that just ask really God smart questions about is this vaccine right for me.

They're not people who are hard-core opposed to all VAX nations or maybe they don't know what they should do.

So the best way to address those is for people to talk to their own health care providers and talk to to do the people that know you and they will not be coming from a partisan age and he will they will tell you what is right for your body based on their knowledge as a health care provider.

We have heard from a not going to be health care providers and some of our plan has involved recording videos and radio commercials from people who are health care providers themselves saying I am a physician and I think this is what you ought to do.

It's worth reminderring people about 95 percent of doctors in this country who have been offered the vaccine have taken it for themselves.

>> On top of all of this, Dr. Harris, we have started vaccinating adolescent children.

We're talking about kids ages 12 to phone we were already vaccinating 16 and older and thousand we added the adolescents ages 12 to 15 and Alabama jumped on board quickly in doing that.

>> We certainly had some warning that was coming.

We were very excited about that and the ACIP, the group that advises the CDCon that and made their decision on Wednesday of this weak and then the CDC concurred with that decision the you same day, so we actually had some people late on Wednesday that were starting to vaccinate definites in the 12 to 15 group.

It's important to remind people that this new authorization only applies to the Pfizer vaccine product so if so provider has Johnson & Johnson they will be part of the 18 and older group.

Now, marina has made an application to get an authorization for 12 and up as well and that should be coming in the next few weeks.

If people want to know where they can get their 12 through 17-year-old vaccinate God to VAX scenes.gov and you're able to search interest by the product type that you wanted and look for the Pfizer vaccine and find it's available in most counties in Alabama.

>> And again, 1215 and even 16 and 17-year-olds, phaser only right now.

>> That's right.

Only Pfizer is approved for that.

We expect the Moderna will also be approved for the same age group it it has not happened yet.

>> When we talk acvaccinating this younger group now, I imagine you have to go about it in a different way.

Heretofore, meme could just show up and request it but we're dealing with minors and I assume they're zero going to have to accompanied by a parent sore guardian or are they.

>> It dependence on the age group.

So actually, when we have gone into schools, we have going to know in to schools offered vaccines and we will ask for parental consent, even for 18-year-olds.

We feel like that's appropriate for a school system.

But under Alabama state law, 14 years old up and are able to give consent themselves and so if you're 14 or older and you show up at a vaccine clinic and request it you can be vaccinated under law.

>> A lot of people going to the mask clinic, and the drive through clinics set newspaper a lot of locations around the state now.

If you're under 156 you can't drive yourself but if you're with other people who don't happen to be your parent or guardian if you're 14 or older you can consent and get the shot right?

>> That's correct.

In you're 14 or 14 or older you can get the shot yourself.

You can walk up to most of the drive in vaccines yourself if you don't have a car.

But if you're 12 to 13 years old parental consent is necessary.

>> What kind of verification is done to proof your age so to speak so to speak.

>> For someone clearly a child we do want some identification to know how old they are unless they're accompanied by a parent who can attest for that.

If a parent is there and states this is my child and they should be vaccinated we certainly would accept that.

If you're someone that we're not sure of your age and you might be 13 or 15 then we're going to need some type of universe to prove.

>> Obviously you just started vaccinating the younger group of kids this week.

I don't know if you have been able to track yet how many have come out so far.

But from all accounts it seems there's a pretty good turnout of the younger group.

>> It actually has been a very good turnout.

We have been very pleased with that.

We have been working to include the pediatricians in the vaccination program.

We is 134 pediatrician practices that have been vaccinating the 17 and 18-year-old patients fore several months now and some of them have been offering vaccine to adults in the community now that the eligibility has been expanded we have had many more race interested in vaccinating and we have gotten the vaccine out to them and they seem to do a brisk business getting the kids in that accident serrated.

>> Dr. Scott Harris, thank you for being on the show and thank you for what you're doing.

>> Thank you.

>> And "Capitol Journal" will be right back.

>> DON: AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

AND WE'LL HAVE A COMPLETE WRAP-UP OF THE FINAL DAY OF THIS YEAR'S REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, WHO'LL DISCUSS LEGISLATION IMPORTANT TO HIS OFFICE AND HIS CONCERNS OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND GAMBLING.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE BACK WITH US TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ON THE PANDEMIC AND ON ALABAMA'S VACCINATION EFFORTS.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.