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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE IS AT THIS MOMENT FINALIZING THE STATE'S TWO BUDGETS TO SEND THEM ON TO GOVERNOR IVEY'S DESK.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING TO PASS THE GENERAL FUND AND THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, WITH VOTE ON THE FLOOR, CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES AND FINAL PASSAGE VOTES THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW.

LET'S RUN THROUGH WHAT'S IN THE BUDGETS, STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND.

TOTAL SPENDING IN THIS GENERAL FUND TOTALS $3 BILLION DOLLARS, WHICH AMOUNTS TO RECORD SPENDING.

THIS FUNDS THE RANGE OF NON-EDUCATION STATE AGENCIES.

THERE WAS ALSO A $180 MILLION DOLLAR SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING PLAN THAT SAW $50 MILLION GO TO A GENERAL FUND SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND $40 MILLION TO PAYING OFF DEBT.

ON TO THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, WHICH INCLUDES THE RANGE OF SCHOOL SPENDING FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

IT IS ALSO A RECORD AT $8.8 BILLION DOLLARS TOTAL.

THAT INCLUDES $5.1 BILLION TO LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS, $1.5 BILLION TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, $551 MILLION TO THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AND $534 MILLION TO THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

ON TO THE $2.8 BILLION DOLLAR SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION SPENDING BILL, WHICH HAS BEEN THE REAL SOURCE OF DRAMA THIS SESSION.

WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANGE TO THE ONE TIME TAX REBATE.

UNDER THE PLAN THAT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR, THE AMOUNT SPENT ON REBATES HAS BEEN REDUCED TO $393 MILLION.

THAT WOULD MEAN, IF IT BECOMES LAW, INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS WOULD GET A $150 DOLLAR REBATE CHECK AND COUPLES FILING JOINTLY WOULD GET $300 DOLLARS.

REMEMBER THAT AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR, THOSE REBATES WERE $400 FOR INDIVIDUALS AND $800 FOR COUPLES.

INSTEAD, THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED TO INVEST THOSE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS IN A SPECIAL EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT THE LEVEL OF $354 MILLION DOLLARS AND AN ACCOUNT FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CONTROLLED BY THE LT.

GOVERNOR AT $179 MILLION.

SO THESE BUDGETS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE DESK OF GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

AND NOW BEGINS A TEN DAY WINDOW IN WHICH SHE CAN EITHER SIGN THEM, VETO THEM, SEND THEM BACK WITH EXECUTIVE AMENDMENTS OR LET THEM BECOME LAW WITHOUT HER SIGNATURE.

MOST EXPECT AT LEAST SOME CHANGES ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL BECAUSE IT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

REMEMBER THAT, UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THE LEGISLATURE CAN OVERRIDE HER VETO, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE AMENDMENTS, WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.

SENATOR ARTHUR ORR CHAIRS THE EDUCATION BUDGET IN THE SENATE.

TONIGHT DURING THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE EDUCATION BILLS, HE WALKED THROUGH THE DETAILS OF SOME OF THE FINAL CHANGES.

>> WITH THE REDUCTION OF THE REBATE AMOUNT, THERE WAS $157 MILLION NEW THAT CAME FROM THE REBATE OR AS THE HOUSE PASSED IT AND SO THAT $157 MILLION THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE REBATED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT?

SO IN THIS SUBSTITUTE TO SB-87, THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE HAS THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS: $75 MILLION WILL GO TO THE FUND EXPENDED BY THE LT.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

I DO NOT HAVE A PAGE AND LINE NUMBER ON THIS.

BUT THAT WOULD INCREASE THAT AMOUNT, MY RECOLLECTION, CHAIRMAN GARRETT, TO $179 MILLION I THINK.

SO THAT NEW TOTAL WILL BE $179 MILLION FOR K-12 CAPITAL EXPENSES TO THE OFFICE OF THE LT.

GOVERNOR TO MAINTAIN THAT GRANT PROGRAM.

THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE WAS TO GO TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RESERVE FUND, A/K/A, THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

SO THAT WAS $150 MILLION TOTAL BETWEEN THE CAPITOL FUND AND THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AND IT RESTORES THE SENATE-PASSED VERSION OF $15 MILLION TO THE LAUDERDALE TRAINING CENTER WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE FRONT OF THE BILL ONLINE 105 AND THAT PUTS THAT NUMBER BACK AT THE SENATE-PASSED.

THE NEXT ITEM IS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, A $2.5 MILLION EXPENDITURE TO THE PARK SON ASSOCIATION LOCATED IN BIRMINGHAM.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER SAID HE SUPPORTED A GREATER REBATE THAN WHAT THE SENATE SENT DOWN.

HE CITED INFLATION'S IMPACT ON FAMILY'S BUDGETS.

>> I THINK MY THING WAS, WHEN I 1ST TALKED TO THE BODY ABOUT IT WAS JUST THE FACT THAT A HUNDRED DOLLARS IS NOT VERY MUCH AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALKED TO IN THE GROCERY TAX, INFLATION HAS BEEN TOUGH ON FAMILIES THIS YEAR AND I FELT LIKE IT BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBSTANTIAL, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS WAS GOING TO MAKE QUITE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE.

I HOPE THE SENATE KEEPS IT IN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE WILL SEE.

BUT I JUST FELT LIKE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE DID, THAT THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE FAIR PROBABLY.

>> ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, REPRESENTATIVE REX REYNOLDS SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE FINAL RESULT ON BOTH THE BUDGET AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.

>> STARTING OUT WITH THE AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM AND THIS IS PROBABLY NOT IN ORDER, MEMBERS, WITH YOUR LIST, RESTORING IT AT 250,000 AND THE BUSINESS CENTER RESTORED AT 200,000, CITY OF HOOVER PARK UPGRADES.

RESTORED 500,000, CRIME STOPPERS.

RESTORED 25,000, HELEN KELLER MONUMENT 200,000.

THE EAST END HOSPITAL WILL REMAIN AT 4 MILLION.

THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 4 MILLION IN THE ETM WHICH BRINGS THAT PROJECT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL $8 MILLION.

THE FORENSIC LAB EQUIPMENT FOR HUNTSVILLE, 4 MILLION.

THAT IS SPLIT 2 MILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL AND $2 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND.

ABC WAS REDUCED TO 200,000.

THE ADECA WAS LIMITED TO $200 MILLION.

THERE'S LANGUAGE THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE BILL ONCE THERE IS A WRITTEN PROPOSAL ON THAT ROCKET, THEN THAT 2 MILLION WOULD ONLY BE RELEASED AT THAT TIME.

THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS WAS INCREASED TO $6 MILLION.

WE DID REMOVE THE RICK WOOD PROJECT SPECIFICALLY BUT THAT WAS A PLUS UP FOR THE PARKS.

>> ALL OF THESE ARE WORTHWHILE PROJECTS.

THEY'RE GOOD THINGS AND GOOD FOR OUR STATE.

THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION AT ALL.

THE QUESTION IS SHOULD THEY BE IN THE STATE GENERAL FUND?

I THINK THE ANSWER, OVER MY OBJECTIONS IS THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THE STATE GENERAL FUND.

SO THEN WE HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT EQUITY.

NORTH ALABAMA, NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA, SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA, SOUTH ALABAMA -- AND MOST OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMES IN AS DIFFERENT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE.

IF I HAVE MY MATH CORRECTLY FROM MY NOTES, THIS WILL BE MY 23RD GOVERNMENTAL BUDGET THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN.

SLOWLY AND STATE.

FOR EDUCATIONAL BUDGETS AT NINE MORE TO THAT AND MAKE IT 32.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE LIKE THE ISRAELITES.

WE CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT WE KEPT DOING WRONG.

AND NOW WE'RE HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

A FEW YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES.

ANOTHER BIG DEVELOPMENT TODAY.

THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL CUTTING THE STATE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

HOUSE BILL 25 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT WOULD GRADUALLY REMOVE THE TAX BY ONE PERCENTAGE POINT A YEAR, PROVIDED THERE IS ENOUGH GROWTH IN THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND TO OFFSET THE REVENUE LOSS.

BY 2025 THE TAX WOULD BE CUT FROM 4% TO 2%.

GARRETT SAID HE WAS OPEN TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THE TAX IF THE RESULTS SHOW THE BUDGETS CAN HANDLE IT.

>> WHAT THIS BILL DOES, AS SUBSTITUTED WILL CONTINUE THE 2-CENT REDUCTION BUT THE 1ST CENT HAPPENS SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, ONE INCREMENT, AND THE NEXT WOULD HAPPEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025.

SO WE GET THE 2 CENTS IN 1 CENT INCREMENTS IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

AND RATHER THAN LOOKING BACK TO THE PRIOR YEAR APPROPRIATION PRIOR YEAR BUDGET, YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO SEE IF THERE'S BEEN 2 PERCENT GROWTH IN REVENUE.

SO IN OTHER WORDS WHEN YOU'RE PROJECTING -- WHEN YOU'RE IMPLEMENTING THE TAX YOU'RE IMPLEMENTING IT IN A YEAR WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE REVENUE GROWTH AND THAT HELPS WITH SUSTAINABILITY.

IT'S THE SAME WITH THE $300 MILLION FISCAL NOTE.

WE HAVE TAKEN AND LFO HAS RUN DETAILED CALCULATIONS LOOKING AT THE PROJECTED REVENUE, MODELING, RECESSION, AND LOOKING AT OUR EXISTING RESERVE BALANCES.

AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THIS TYPE OF GROCERY TAX RELIEF.

>> THAT BILL NOW GOES TO THE ALABAMA SENATE WHERE ALL SENATORS HAVE SIGNED ON SUPPORT OF SIMILAR LEGISLATION.

>> AND THERE YOU HAVE IT -- LAKE BREAKING NEWS HERE FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

LET ME JUST SAY WE WERE SCRAMBLING TO PUT THESE NUMBERS TOGETHER AS THEY WERE JUST COMING OFF THE LSA PRINTER AND MUCH OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.

SO IF WE MISSED ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT WE WILL UPDATE YOU "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ON OUR "WEEK IN REVIEW" PROGRAM.

IN FACT THERE'S ONE UPDATE I CAN ADD RIGHT NOW.

IN THE GENERAL FUND SUPPLEMENTAL BILL WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, $18 MILLION HAS BEEN ADDED BACK TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO PAY FOR THE TYLER-HARDIN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN TUSCALOOSA.

THAT WAS A QUESTION IN THE BUDGET FROM YESTERDAY.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH STATE SENATOR KIRK HATCHER.

>> JOINING KNEE NEXT IS STATE SENATOR KIRK HATCHER FROM MONTGOMERY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE LONG DAYS IN THE STATEHOUSE WHEN THE BUDGETS ARE MOVING.

BOTH BUDGETS AND BOTH CHAMBERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ACTION.

BUT TELL ME -- IS IT TOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE MOVING PARTS JUST AS A SENATOR TRYING TO TRACK DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS?

>> O, GOD, YES.

EVEN WHEN YOU SIT ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEES AND I SIT ON THE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE AND YOU KNOW, PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MARSHALING THE RESOURCES IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY THAT REALLY SUPPORTS BOTTOM LINE OUR TAXPAYERS IN THE STATE.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE SENATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE DRAMA IS BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING ARE YOU PLEASED WITH THE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE?

>> OVER ALL I AM SPEAKING TO THE EDUCATION PIECE BECAUSE AGAIN WE PASSED YET AGAIN HISTORY MAKING BUDGET, $8.8 BILLION.

SO FOR THE LAST I BELIEVE THREE YEARS THESE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN HISTORIC.

I THINK CHAIRMAN ORR AND THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN RECOGNIZING THESE RESOURCES -- THESE MONETARY RESOURCES WON'T ALWAYS BE AS ROBUST.

AND I THINK BETWEEN CHAIRMAN ORR AND THE SENATE AND CHAIRMAN GARRETT IN THE HOUSE, THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TEAR LEVEL BEST TO BE SURE THAT IS A WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN OUR SPENDING SO WE WON'T FIND OURSELVES IN THE POSITION THAT WE'RE IN ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE EVEN PRORATION AND ALL OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING CONSCIOUS ABOUT IT.

>> IT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A THEME OF THIS LEGISLATURE TO SAVE AND NOT SPEND EVERYTHING.

I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS AND DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS AND IT'S HARD TO WALK INTO THE ROOM AND SAY WE'RE CUTTING YOU WITH PRORATION.

WELL, LET'S GET TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF FOCUS HAVE DISAGREED.

THIS IS THE $2.8 BILLION EXTRA MONEY THAT IS BEING APPROPRIATED.

THE BIG ASK FOR MONTGOMERY WAS SETTING ASIDE FUNDS TO HELP WITH THE WHITEWATER PARK THAT'S BEING BUILT.

IT'S CLOSE TO OPENING.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY THAT BECAME THE TALKING POINT, THAT IT WAS WHITEWATER.

IT WAS A MAXWELL GATEWAY PROJECT.

THAT WAS A PART OF THE ACTUAL CONVERSATION FOR THE ASK.

>> IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- >> EXACTLY.

AND WITH A FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IT WILL HAVE THAT IMPACT.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, AND NO DOUBT YOUR VIEWERS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN THAT PUT MOMENT MONTGOMERY AS THE WHIPPING CHILD OUT THERE.

THIS IS FOR SOME WATER PARK, TYPICAL KIND OF WATER PARK THAT PEOPLE WOULD EXPERIENCE AND THIS KIND OF THINGS AND JUST SENT -- IT SENT EVERYBODY IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING CRITICAL ABOUT THIS.

BUT NO ONE HAD REAL CONTEXT.

AND AS I SHARE TODAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, WE HAVE ALWAYS FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS STATE IN PARTICULAR WHERE RESOURCES THAT WERE A LOT MORE PLENTY I FELT IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN THE SUMMIT MEANT THAT COULD BE USED FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT COULD BE WORKED TO RELATE TO EDUCATION.

SO WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING WORKFORCE OR YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY YOUR TRADITIONAL ASPECTS OF EDUCATION OR IN THE CASE OF THE WHITEWATER FACILITY WHICH ALSO HAS AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT TO IT WHERE YOU HAVE A ZIP LINE THAT GOES INTO THE ECOSYSTEM ACROSS THE WATER, OR THE CHANNELS THAT HAVE BEEN, THE RAFTING CHANNELS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT ENDLESSLY AS USED FOR SURE PHYSICS AND IN TERMS OF MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE USE AND 1ST RESPONDERS USE.

SO IT WASN'T SIMPLE -- A SIMPLE PROJECT.

IT IS QUITE A MEANINGFUL PROJECT RELATED TO NOT EVENLY CROSS-SECTION OF THE ENTERTAINMENT FACTORS BUT ENTERTAINMENT FACTORS SO IT JUST GOT -- IT WENT INTO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

>> WHEN YOU SAY WATER PARKS SOMETHING COMES TO MIND.

SO I TOTALLY GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

EVERY -- PEOPLE MAY NOT RELATED WHEN WE DO -- WHEN THE STATE DOES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES, TAX CREDITS ALL OF THAT, MOST OF IT, COMES FROM THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

SO THAT IS -- >> THAT'S NOT NEW.

>> SO WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF DOING THAT.

I TAKE YOUR ARGUMENT.

WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS OF GETTING IT BACK IN.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY IN IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL BUDGET.

DO YOU THINK WE COULD SEE AN EXECUTIVE AMENDMENT FROM HER TO GIVE SOMETHING TOWARD THAT PROJECT OR SOMETHING FOR MONTGOMERY.

>> I WOULDN'T PRESUME WHAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT DO AS IT RELATES TO THIS.

I DO KNOW THE PROOF OF THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE ASKED AND I MIGHT ADD, MONTGOMERY HAS NEVER MADE AN ASK FOR ANYTHING.

I SOON DISCOVERED THAT.

BUT IN THE COURSE OF THAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET HAD -- IT WAS IN THERE.

SO THERE WAS NO MISLEADING US FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF IT BEING THERE.

BUT IN BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND WHAT MATERIALIZED FROM THE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEES.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT SENATOR BARFOOT AND I ARE IN LOCK STEP IN DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RECOVERY THOSE RESOURCES IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS FOR MONTGOMERY ARE STILL ON THE LINE.

THEY'VE ALREADY PUT THEIR MONEY INTO JUST THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND AROUND IT: SO IT WOULD BE LIKE I'M SAYING TO YOU THREE MONTHS AGO HERE IS SOMETHING -- I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN WORK WITH YOU AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE HAPPEN AND I GO AND MAYBE GET SOME MONEY AND SAY -- I KNOW TODD WILL BE GOOD FOR THIS $25 MILLION AND THEN HERE WE ARE WHERE YOU HAVE TAXPAYERS THAT HAVE ALREADY INVESTED.

AND I'M GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN AND SENATOR BARFOOT AS WELL TO BE SURE THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS.

>> I WILL BE FOLLOWING IT BECAUSE I WAS SEEING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

IT'S GETTING READY TO OPEN.

>> I THINK THE TARGET DATE WAS JULY 7 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

>> THERE WERE INTERVIEWS WITH KAYAKERS AND THINGS AND THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> THERE WAS ONE A MAJOR IN THE MILITARY WHO WAS HERE, I BELIEVE, MAYBE A DAY OR SO AGO, AND VERY INTERESTED BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT'S ADJACENT TO MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE WHICH IS ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S MAJOR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

SINCE THE DAY THIS WAS TALKED ABOUT THERE'S BEEN FULL BUY IN FROM THEM NOTING THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT.

AND I MIGHT ADD, NOT ONLY THE IMPACT FOR, YOU KNOW, MONTGOMERY AND THE CENTRAL AREA, BUT FOR THE STATE AND FOR -- TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS AT MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE WHO ARE IN FULL SUPPORT AND HAVE NEVER WAFERED IN THEIR SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE CITY AND COMMUNITY BUT ALSO FOR FOLKS THAT ARE SERVING.

SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

>> SWITCHING GEARS I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THIS IS ONE OF YOUR KEY ISSUES AND IMPROVING SERVICES.

WE OBVIOUSLY HAD A LONG WAY TO COME FROM WHERE THOSE CUTS WHERE.

BUT THE BILL UP THIS YEAR IS THIS 988 -- 988 ALREADY EXISTS AS A HOTLINE LIKE 911 FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR FUNDING.

I WANT TO EXPAND SERVICES STATEWIDE TO INCLUDE RURAL AREAS SO IT WOULD BE A FEE, A USER FEE ON YOUR BILL.

I WAS IN COMMITTEE AND SAW THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROSPECTS OF THIS BEING OF BECOMING A REALITY ARE.

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF A SESSION LIKE THIS.

WHAT I WILL SAY TO YOU, AND NO DOUBT YOUR EXPERIENCE TELLS YOU AS WELL, WHENEVER YOU HAVE SOME SPENDING YOU WANT TO DO THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.

SO IT'S VERY HARD TO SAY IF WE WILL HAVE SUCCESS WITH IT NOW.

BUT I HOPE WE WILL.

I HOPE WE WILL.

BECAUSE IT'S SO PORCH, I THINK, TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE STRUGGLING PARTICULARLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID.

>> I THINK SO COVID KIND OF OPENED A LOT OF EYES TO MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS.

>> YES.

>> MAYBE IT WAS ONE OF THOSE TABOO THINGS, DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THAT KIND OF THINGS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MORE OPEN TO IT AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S OKAY AND YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT THINGS AND YOU HAVE JUST SEEN IN THIS LEGISLATURE A COMPLETE SEA CHANGE TOWARD INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH SO I'M CURIOUS IF THIS BILL COULD POSSIBLY -- LOOK, ANY TIME YOU RAISE A FEE THAT'S NOT THE MOST POPULAR THINGS TO DO.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

SERVICES COST MONEY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND LOOK, LIKE YOU SAID, WHAT IS ENCOURAGING TO ME AROUND THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOT, WHAT, LAST YEAR OR YEAR BEFORE LAST, NOW SPEAKER LEDBETTER LED THE EFFORTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION THERE.

WE ARE NO LONGER SIMPLY -- AS YOU POINTED OUT A MOMENT AGO, MENTAL HEALTH AND TALK OF IT BEING TABOO, BUT NOW NOT ONLY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CHALLENGES BUT ALSO THE WILLINGNESS TO FUND IT.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS 988 BILL IS LITERALLY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, LIFE AND DEATH.

LITERALLY.

AND AS YOU KNOW IN THE COMMITTEE, HEARING ONE AT A TIME OF OUR LEGISLATORS GAVE AN IT PASSIONED TESTIMONY THAT WILL THEM BROUGHT EVERYONE TO TEARS IN THAT ROOM.

AND I DO -- I'M LOOKING AT A LOT OF ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING TERRIBLY.

SO WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE AN ONSLAUGHT OF TREMENDOUS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY EXPECTED IT WOULD BE AS SIGNIFICANT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT OUR STATE IS ACTUALLY STEPPING UP.

>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THAT GILL AND ALL OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE -- >> STAY TUNED.

>> SENATOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 730 FOR OUR "WEEK IN REVIEW" PROGRAM.

FOR OUR CAPITAL JOURNALIST TEAM I'M TODD STACEY.