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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

ANOTHER BUSY DAY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 27TH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

THAT LEAVES JUST THREE MEETING DAYS LEFT IN THIS REGULAR SESSION.

WE'LL START OUR COVERAGE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

THE $3.4 BILLION BUDGET IS A RECORD FOR THE STATE, THANKS TO HISTORICALLY HIGH REVENUES, PARTICULARLY FROM THE ONLINE SALES TAX AND ACCRUED INTERESTS FROM STATE TRUST FUND ACCOUNT.

HOUSE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REX REYNOLDS SAID HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH HIS SENATE COUNTERPART TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE IN AGREEMENT.

>> SB67 DOES REFLECT A $3,373,459,234.

I HAVE A COMMITTEE SUB, AND SINCE NO BIR IS REQUIRED, I WILL GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN THAT.

AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER WE ENDED THE 2023 BUDGET CYCLE WITH ABOUT A 16.6% INCREASE OVER OUR 2022 NUMBERS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT SAME TYPE OF INCREASE IN THIS PHYSICAL BUDGET MAINLY DUE TO THE SAME FACTORS THAT I COMMENTED ON, ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

OUR SSUT TAX, OUR AD VALOREM TAXES AND CERTAINLY OUR INTEREST ON STATE ACCOUNTS THAT CONTINUE TO STAY UP MUCH LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

>> THE HOUSE ALSO GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO LEGISLATION AIMED AT CRACKING DOWN ON CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS.

SENATE BILL 119 FROM SENATOR ROBERT STEWART INSTITUTES STRICTER PENALTIES FOR EMPLOYERS FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION OF CHILD LABOR LAWS.

REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA ALMOND CARRIED THE BILL IN THE HOUSE.

>> AND THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS DEALING WITH PENALTIES.

RECENTLY, STORES WERE IN THE NEWS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS IN A CAR COMPANY KILLED DURING ROOFING OR SOMETHING.

WHAT IS IN PLACE NOW AND WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING, HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT OR DOES IT MAKE IT BETTER OR WORSE?

I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING, DISREGARD THE WORST, THAT HOW ARE WE IMPROVING ON THAT.

>> THOSE TWO BILLS ARE UNRELATED.

THIS BILL DOES NOT CHANGE THE AGE AT WHICH SOMEBODY IS ALLOWED TO WORK OR ANY OF THE RULES SURROUNDING THAT, IT JUST RECOGNIZES THAT, WHEN A CHILD, WHO IS ILLEGALLY EMPLOYED AND SUFFERS SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURE OR DIES DUE TO THAT EMPLOYMENT, WE'RE INCREASING THE FINES AND PENALTIES.

>> I'LL SPEAK WITH SENATOR STEWART IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT HIS BILL LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE SENATE TOOK UP THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND TODAY.

IT'S ALSO A RECORD SPENDING PLAN AT $9.3 BILLION.

EDUCATION BUDGET CHAIRMAN ARTHUR ORR SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE END RESULT, BUT WARNED THAT TOUGHER BUDGETARY TIMES COULD BE AHEAD.

>> THE VALUE OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE APPROPRIATING TODAY DON'T HAVE THE SAME VALUE.

ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, WE ARE $700 PER STUDENT LESS THAN WE WERE IN 2010.

SO THAT'S A REAL CONCERN.

WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY TOWARDS EDUCATION.

I DON'T KNOW THE FUTURE, BUT I DO READ THE FINANCIAL REPORT AND THE FINANCIAL MEDIA TO KNOW ENOUGH THAT THE PREDICTIONS ARE NOT ROSY FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO OR THREE AND THAT WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR EDUCATION REVENUES.

THAT'S A REAL CONCERN GOING FORWARD.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ONCE AGAIN EDUCATION STAFF ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A PAY RAISE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME THING IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, AS YOU ALL SAW, FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF AND STATE WORKERS DO A GREAT JOB.

THAT'S ONE ELEMENT.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT ARE, IN LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, RESOURCES GO TO SCHOOLS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, YOU SAW A HUGE COMMITMENT THERE.

ALSO ANOTHER CAPITOL EQUIPMENT TOUGH TO HEAR AND TALK ABOUT, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING ON MENTAL HEALTH RELATED ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SCHOOLS EVEN IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HARD TO KNOW, BUT IT'S A REQUIREMENT, AND WE HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO THOSE PROJECTS.

>> THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING PLAN AND THE ADVANCEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FUND ALL PASSED THE SENATE.

THE BILLS WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE, WHERE MEMBERS VOTED NOT TO ACCEPT THE SENATE'S CHANGES AND GO TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES.

LOOK FOR THAT NEXT WEEK.

THE SENATE ALSO TOOK UP THE ISSUE OF PARENTAL LEAVE FOR STATE AND EDUCATION EMPLOYEES.

A PLAN TO ALLOW NEW MOTHERS SIX WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE AFTER HAVING OR ADOPTING A CHILD PASSED COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

BUT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID THE FINANCES DIDN'T ADD UP AND IT'S TOO LATE IN THE SESSION TO PASS THAT KIND OF BILL.

SENATOR VIVIAN FIGURES BROUGHT THE BILL TO THE FLOOR TODAY AND SUCCESSFULLY AMENDED IT TO BE MORE EXPANSIVE, TO WHERE PARENTS WOULD GET 8 WEEKS PAID LEAVE AND IT WOULD APPLY FOR MISCARRIAGES OR STILL BIRTH.

THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL, BUT ONLY IN A CEREMONIAL WAY AS IT IS TOO LATE FOR THE BILL TO BECOME LAW.

BUT FIGURES WAS UPSET AND LASHED OUT AT REPUBLICAN LEADERS FOR NOT TRANSMITTING THE BILL TO THE HOUSE.

>> FEMALES ARE IN A MINORITY IN THIS CHAMBER, BUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR IDEAS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THIS UP TO DATE, YOUR REQUESTS, HAVE THE REVIEW, THE DISCUSSION, EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ITS PATH, YOU'VE ALREADY STATED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR AND BE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ALL OF US ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.

>> IT REALLY STINGS THAT YOU VOTED NOT TO -- THAT YOU OBJECTED TO IT BEING TRANSMITTED.

IT DOES BECAUSE IT WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE, ANYWAY.

AND I'VE NOT OBJECTED TO ANYTHING ELSE BEING TRANSMITTED HERE.

I ALWAYS TRY TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY, BUT MAYBE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START RAISING HELL LIKE SENATOR SMITHERMAN AND SENATOR SINGLETON DOES.

BUT I'M JUST REALLY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD MANY BILLS THIS SESSION.

ANYWAY, THANKS A LOT.

>> THE SENATE ALSO GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING THE ALABAMA SCHOOL FOR HEALTH SCIENCES IN DEMOPOLIS.

THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL FOR THIS HEALTH CARE CAREERS SIMILAR TO THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS IN BIRMINGHAM, THE SCHOOL OF MATH AND SCIENCE IN MOBILE AND THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY IN DECATUR.

SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON SAID HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ON FINALLY MAKING THIS A REALITY.

>> ANOTHER JEWEL FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA TO BE ABLE TO BRAG ON, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY, TO SET A TONE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WHEN YOU'VE GOT PHILANTHROPIST GROUPS LIKE THE BLOOMBERGS WHO BELIEVE IN INVESTING 26 MILLION, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS WITH TEN OTHER SPOTS AROUND THE NATION.

AND WHEN THEY LOOK AT YOU AND WE'RE THE ONLY RURAL THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT, THEY'RE MOSTLY IN URBAN AREAS.

SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT DEMOPOLIS.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE INVESTMENT THE STATE IS GOING TO GIVE TO US IN DEMOPOLIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE GREATEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE'VE SEEN BECAUSE THOSE NURSES, DOCTORS, ALL THOSE SPECIALTIES WILL STAY RIGHT HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> SO WHAT'S NEXT ON THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING?

AS WE'VE REPORTED, THE PACKAGE TO INSTITUTE A LOTTERY, LEGALIZE SLOT MACHINE CASINOS AND START A COMPACT WITH THE POARCH CREEK INDIANS FELL ONE VOTE SHORT IN THE SENATE ON TUESDAY.

THE PACKAGE DID NOT COME BACK UP TODAY AS SOME THOUGHT IT MIGHT, AND THERE WERE DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT ITS PROSPECTS IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION.

>> IF THEY'RE GOING TO GET THIS PASSED, THEY NEED TO FIND ANOTHER VOTE, MAYBE TWO OR THREE, JUST IN CASE THAT WE GO.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE JOB OF OTHERS.

MY DECISION IS MADE, THAT'S WHERE I AM.

PLENTY MORE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR MIND IF THEY CHOOSE.

THEIR EFFORTS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN MINE, THEIR VIEWS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MINE, BUT THAT'S WHERE I AM.

>> SOMEBODY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND MAKE THE MOTION TO NON-CONCUR AND GO BACK TO CONFERENCE AGAIN.

BUT YOU LOOK AT THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE, OKAY.

AND, SO, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST WORKING WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.

WE HAVE BEEN DEALT A HAND AND I'M HOPING MEMBERS WILL COME AROUND AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT STAKE AND BE ABLE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN MY MEMBERS, THIS BODY AND THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THIS BELL RINGS, SIGN OR DIE, I'M NOT GIVING UP.

>> A MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED ANNOUNCED THAT META, THE PARENT COMPANY OF FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, IS BUILDING AN $800 MILLION DATA CENTER IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

IT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE 100 JOBS AND BUILD ON THE STATE'S GROWING TECH INDUSTRY.

>> I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT META WILL OPEN A DATA CENTER RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY THAT WILL BUILD ON THEIR PREVIOUS INVESTMENT IN OUR GREAT STATE.

I'VE GOT TO SAY, IT'S NOT JUST THE BRICKS AND MORTAR HERE THAT WE SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT, BUT BYTES AND DATA THAT WILL KEEP SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR PLATFORMS RUNNING SMOOTHLY, RIGHT FROM OUR OWN BACKYARD.

>> META'S MONTGOMERY DATA CENTER WILL BE OPTIMIZED FOR OUR WORK LOADS AS PART OF THE HIGHLY ADVANCED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HELPS BRING OUR TECHNOLOGIES TO LIFE.

THESE BUILDINGS AND THE HARDWARE INSIDE OF THEM WILL HELP PEOPLE CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, FIND COMMUNITIES AND GROW BUSINESSES.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO US THAT THIS HIM PACT WITH OUR DATA CENTERS IS NOT ONLY FELT ONLINE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CREATING A POSITIVE IMPACT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MONTGOMERY.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN TO DISCUSS HER LEGISLATION MAKING SURE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT PLUS THE IDEA OF STATE COLLEGES PERHAPS PURCHASING THE BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN CAMPUS.

AND AFTER THAT, SENATOR ROBERT STEWART JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT HIS CHILD LABOR LEGISLATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE GAMBLING PACKAGE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN FROM BIRMINGHAM.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG SESSION.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

IT FEELS DIFFERENT.

>> KIND OF GLAD WE'RE AT THE END.

>> YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUT ONE YOU'VE WORKED ON MULTIPLE YEARS HAVING TO DO WITH BOY SCOUTS WHO WERE VICTIMS OF SEX CRIMES, AND THERE'S A WAY TO PARTICIPATE IN A NATIONAL TRUST FUND.

>> SURE.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> FOR FOUR YEARS, I'VE HAD A BROADER BILL FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX ASSAULT, AND THIS YEAR WE ACTUALLY HAD A STAND-ALONE BILL JUST FOR BOY SCOUTS AND WE CALLED IT THE SCOUTS-HONORED BILL.

BECAUSE THERE WAS A NATIONAL BOY SCOUTS SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT, SETTLEMENT TRUST FUND, AND THEY RECOGNIZED THEY HAD BEEN AT FAULT, THERE IS MONEY THERE, AND UNLESS WE PASS THAT BILL THIS YEAR, THE ROUGHLY 1500 SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEX ASSAULT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA WOULD NOT HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL AMOUNT OF MONEY -- THIS IS A CIVIL SETTLEMENT -- TO THE FULL AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY DESERVE.

SO I'M EXCITED WE GOT THAT DONE THIS YEAR.

>> THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT INTO BILL, THAT'S DONE.

>> SIGNED IT.

I HAD SURVIVORS WITH ME HERE YESTERDAY.

EVERY TIME I GET A BILL SIGNED THROUGH THE YEARS, I KEEP THE PEN THEY SIGN THOSE BILLS.

YESTERDAY, I GAVE THE FIRST PEN AWAY.

TO THINK OF WHAT THE CHILDREN AT THE TIME INSURED, AND NOW THE ADULTS, THE FIGHT TO PROTECT OTHER CHILDREN, I WANTED TO GIVE THAT AWAY TO ONE OF THE SURVIVORS, AND I COULD SEE THAT IT VISIBLY CHOKED HIM UP.

SO WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, THOUGH, WITH THE BROADER BILL.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND TO SEE IT GO INTO LAW IS A RALE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> YES.

>> ANOTHER BILL YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T EXPECT TO CARRY THIS YEAR IS MAKING SURE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN CAN BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED BACK IN 2020 WITH TRUMP, RIGHT?

>> IT DID.

>> NOW THE ROLES ARE REVERSED BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE CONVENTION?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ALSO.

WE GOT WORD FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WE HAD TO HAVE OUR NOMINEE IN 82 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

WELL, THE WAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION WAS SET, THE NOMINATION WAS NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETE, THE OFFICIAL NOMINATION FOR JOE BIDEN.

SO I DID PASS A BILL ALONG WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES IN BOTH PARTIES, WE DID IT ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ENDS UP BEING ON THE BALLOT.

I'M COMMITTED TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SO WE CAN GET A PERMANENT FIX AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.

>> SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO FIX THAT.

>> WE REALLY DO BECAUSE, AGAIN, I HEARD DEBATE FROM THE HOUSE TODAY, AND SOME WERE SAYING, LIKE, IN -- I DON'T KNOW, EITHER 2015, ONE OF THOSE OFF YEARS, SOMETHING HAPPENED, EVEN WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AGAIN, AND THEY HAD TO DO IT THAT TIME BECAUSE THEIR CONVENTION WAS IN SEPTEMBER.

SO WE DO NEED A PERMANENT FIX.

>> MAYBE SOMETHING TO WORK ON IN THE OFF SEASON.

>> I'M PROUD -- I HAVE TO SAY THIS -- I'M PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS CO-SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AND I KNOW SOME OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WERE GETTING PUSH BACK BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC THOUGHT IT WAS NEFARIOUS.

THEY TOOK TO THEIR GUNS AND HAD POLITICAL COURAGE AND SAID THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE WE HAD TO DO THE SAME THING IN THE PAST.

>> AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY EMBARRASSING FOR THE STATE IF THAT'S THE ONE BALLOT -- >> IT WAS TWO, ALABAMA AND OHIO, BUT WE GOT OURS DONE.

>> IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN.

>> SURE.

>> OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL THAT IT'S CLOSING.

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK, THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL BUYERS.

ALABAMA A&M IS TALKING ABOUT AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S A BIG PART OF THE BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY.

SO WERE YOU HEARING -- IS THIS A REALISTIC -- >> IT'S A BIG ISSUE, OF COURSE.

WE'RE REALLY SAD THAT, NUMBER ONE, BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN IS CLOSING.

I DID SUPPORT THEM STAYING OPEN, BUT WE ARE HERE NOW.

WHAT I'M ABLE TO GET BEHIND IS A CONSORTIUM.

I REPRESENT MILES COLLEGE.

THE PRESIDENT MET WITH ME.

SHE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE TWO-YEAR COLLEGE AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND HBCU PRESENTS, AND THEY WILL COME TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY AND HAVE SOME TYPE OF CONTINUING INSTITUTION OR, AGAIN, THAT'S AROUND STEM OR CYBERSECURITY AND MAKING SURE THESE FIRST-TIME -- MANY OF THE STUDENTS THAT GO THROUGH THESE HBCUS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO EVER GO TO COLLEGE, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT SCHOOL, THAT FACILITY, IT NOT BE AN EYESORE, BUT ALSO THAT COLLECTIVELY ALL OF THESE HBCUS THAT CAN COME TOGETHER, AND I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT THAT 100%.

>> IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND SUCH A WONDERFUL CAMPUS, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IT GO TO WASTE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE FOLLOWING.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK NEXT WEEK.

>> NO BITCOIN.

WE FORGET THAT ONE.

>> GAMBLING, LOTS TO TALK ABOUT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT, SENATOR ROBERT STEWART FROM SELMA.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> GREAT TO BE BACK.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

>> IT HAS BEEN.

BUT WE'RE AT THE END TO HAVE THE SESSION.

YOU HAVE JUST PASSED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAVING TO DO WITH CHILD LABOR LAWS AND MAYBE INCREASING SOME PENALTIES FOR THOSE FOUND IN VIOLATION.

TALK ABOUT THIS BILL, WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND IT'S NOW HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>> YES, SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY VALUE.

THIS IS, LIKE, THE FIRST BILL THAT I ACTUALLY DRAFTED AND LITERALLY -- I LITERALLY WALKED WITH THIS BILL FROM THE SENATE, WORKED GETTING IT DONE AND DRAFTING WITH L.S.A.

DURING THE SUMMER, HAVING IT PASS THE SENATE, HAVING IT PASS OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE, FULL SENATE, THEN WALK DOWN WITH THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THEN TO SEE IT PASS THE FULL HOUSE TODAY, IT WAS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE.

>> IT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS, IS IT?

>> IT'S NOT.

>> IT'S A HEAVY LIFT.

LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S ONE THING FOR NON-CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION BUT SOMETHING THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT, WHAT A STORY.

WHAT DOES THIS BILL DO?

>> THIS BILL, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE ADVENT OF INCREASING VIOLATIONS.

THERE ARE SO MANY CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS GOING ON, AND THIS IS A NATIONWIDE ISSUE.

WE'VE SEEN FROM 2022 TO 2023 AN INCREASE OF CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS OF NEARLY 40%.

>> REALLY.

>> AND, SO, WE'VE SEEN IT ALL IN ALABAMA AS WELL.

WHAT WAS REALLY THE CATALYST FOR THIS BILL IS JUST SEEING, IN NORTH ALABAMA, WE HAD A YOUNG MAN AGE 15 FALL OFF OF A ROOF ULTIMATELY TO HIS DEMISE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND, SO, HE WAS WORKING A CONSTRUCTION JOB, AND, SO, MY THOUGHT WAS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO DETER BAD ACTORS AND COMPANIES TO BE A DETERRENT FOR COMPANIES THAT VIOLATE THE CHILD LABOR LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

SO IT INCREASES CIVIL PENALTIES, SO THE FINES, AND IT ALSO INCREASES CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

SO WE HAVE SOME FELONIES THAT WILL BE LEVIED UPON EMPLOYERS WHO VIOLATE IT.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REALLY THE OVERSIGHT OF THIS.

>> AND I KNOW YOU WORKED WITH THE SECRETARY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ON THIS BILL, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND JUST ENGAGE WITH THEM, LEADERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THEY SAID THAT THE FEES WERE TOO LOW AND THE PENALTIES -- THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES WERE TOO LOW, AS WELL.

AND, SO, JUST EXCITED TO HAVE COLLABORATION.

JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT IT RECEIVED BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY ABOUT PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE ROLLING BACK OF CHILD LABOR PROTECTIONS.

AND, SO, THIS BILL IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I WORKED -- REALLY, I'M WONKY, AND, SO, I READ A LOT OF ECONOMIC POLICY AND ECONOMIC TRENDS, AND, SO, THE ECONOMIC POLLS -- POLICY INSTITUTE DID A STUDY OF CHILDREN AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKFORCE, AND WHAT THEY FOUND IS THERE'S A TREND FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN, THEY'RE DELAYING GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEY'RE STAYING IN SCHOOL, THEY'RE GETTING MORE CERTIFICATIONS, THEY'RE GETTING MORE EDUCATION, AND THAT IS A TREND THAT SHOULD NOT BE REVERSED.

IT MAKES US HAVE A STRONGER ECONOMY AS A STATE WHEN WE HAVE A MORE EDUCATED WORKFORCE AND A MORE SKILLED WORKFORCE, WE DEAL WITH THE SKILLS GAP ALL THE TIME.

THE STATE WAS PASSING LEGISLATION, A LOT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BILLS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED WHILE WE ARE ADVANCING OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING THIS BILL, A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE WEEK, AND THAT'S GAMBLING, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS IN YOUR DISTRICT, THE WHITE HALL FACILITY THERE IN LOWNDES COUNTY.

WHERE IS THIS BILL?

IS IT COMING BACK UP?

WHAT'S THE WORD IN THE SENATE?

>> WELL, FOR ME, I REALLY JUST WANT TO SHARE MY DISAPPOINTMENT AFFIDAVIT FAILURE OF THE BILL PASSING AND MISSING BY ONE VOTE.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT I REALLY -- MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF WHITE HALL IN LOWNDES COUNTY BECAUSE THAT FACILITY IS AN ENGINE DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDES JOBS FOR THE REGION.

SO I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED WHEN IT CLOSED DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

AND, SO, THE WHITE HALL FACILITY HAS BEEN TARGETED, AND I'M GRATEFUL THIS BILL, THIS POTENTIAL LEGISLATION WAS PASSED, WOULD ALLOW THE FACILITY TO REOPEN.

SO I'M OPTIMISTIC, I ALWAYS HAVE OPTIMISM.

THEY SAY HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, AND, SO, I'M REALLY WAITING ANXIOUSLY TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND JUST WILLING TO SUPPORT, ONCE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT AGAIN.

>> WE ARE ALL WAITING TO SEE.

WELL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

SENATOR STEWART, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE WEEK END REVIEW EPISODE 7:30 ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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