>> FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACEY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE HOME STRETCH OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S 2024 REGULAR SESSION.

THERE ARE JUST THREE LEGISLATIV DAYS LEFT AND ALL THOSE COULD TAKE PLACE THIS WEEK.

LET'S TALK THROUGH THE SCENARIO HERE.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE COULD MEET TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND ADJOURN SINE DIE ON THURSDAY.

THAT'S WHAT MOST ARE ANTICIPATING.

ALTERNATIVELY, THEY COULD MEET TWO DAYS THIS WEEK, THEN SAVE ONE FINAL DAY FOR NEXT WEEK.

OR, REVERTING BACK TO THE OLD DAYS, THEY WOULD MEET TWO DAYS THIS WEEK, THEN SAVE THE FINAL MEETING DAY FOR AFTER TEN DAYS HAS PASSED TO MEET FOR THE FINA DAY.

THAT WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATUR THE OPTION OF COMING BACK TO OVERRIDE ANY VETOES FROM GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

THAT TEN DAY WINDOW WAS PRETTY MUCH WRITTEN INTO THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR YEARS AGO, BUT THESE DAYS THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WORK A LOT MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER.

WE'LL KNOW MORE AFTER THE CAUCUSES MEET TOMORROW.

SO WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN THI LIKELY FINAL WEEK OF THE SESSION.

I SUPPOSE WE HAVE TO START WITH THE BUDGETS, WHICH ARE STILL NO TO FINAL PASSAGE.

THE $3.4 BILLION GENERAL FUND AND RELATED BILLS WERE APPROVED BY THE HOUSE LAST WEEK AND SIMPLY REQUIRE A CONCURRENCE VOTE IN THE SENATE TO BE TRANSMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S EXPECTED TO HAPPEN RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND WITHOUT FANFARE TOMORROW.

THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

MANY EXPECTED THE HOUSE TO CONCUR WITH THE SENATE'S CHANGE AND SEND THE BUDGET TO THE GOVERNOR LAST WEEK.

BUT INSTEAD, THE HOUSE VOTED TO NOT ACCEPT THE CHANGES AND FORM A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES.

PLENTY OF FOLKS IN AND AROUND THE STATE HOUSE ARE CURIOUS WHA MIGHT HAPPEN THERE WITH THE STATE'S $9.3 BILLION EDUCATION BUDGET AND RELATED BILLS.

WE ARE OF COURSE STILL FOLLOWIN GAMBLING.

REMEMBER THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE SENATE CAME UP ONE VOTE SHORT O PASSING THE GAMBLING PACKAGE, I CAN STILL BE BROUGHT UP AT ANYTIME.

IF IT DOES COME BACK UP, THAT WOULD PROBABLY MEAN SUPPORTERS OF THAT PACKAGE HAVE FOUND THE ONE VOTE THEY LACK.

WE ARE ALSO WATCHING WHETHER TH ETHICS REFORM BILL WILL COME UP IN THE SENATE.

THE HOUSE, LED BY REPRESENTATIV MATT SIMPSON, PASSED A PRETTY AMBITIOUS PLAN TO REVISE THE STATE'S ETHICS CODE, WITH THE GOAL OF STREAMLINING AND SIMPLIFYING.

BUT OPPOSITION FROM THE ATTORNE GENERAL AND ETHICS COMMISSION HAS SLOWED IT DOWN IN THE STATE FINALLY WE'LL BE WATCHING THE ISSUE OF WORKERS COMP.

SENATOR SAM GIVHAN HAS LEGISLATION THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WOULD OFFER WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE TO TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATION WORKERS.

IT PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE QUIETLY, BUT QUESTIONS ARE BEIN RAISED ABOUT THE COST TO THE STATE NOW THAT IT'S IN THE HOUSE.

THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL BILLS TO WATCH INVOLVING RESTRICTIONS ON SEX EDUCATION POLICIES IN SCHOOLS AND CONTENT RESTRICTION IN LIBRARIES WILL BE WORTH WATCHING IN THE LAST DAYS OF TH SESSION.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED ABOUT A FEW OF THESE ISSUES LAT LAST WEEK.

ON THAT GAMBLING VOTE, REED SAI HE FELT GOOD ABOUT IT BUT SAID SOME MEMBERS MADE THEIR MINDS U ON THE FLOOR.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ELEMENTS LOWER AND I THINK THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA UNDERSTAND MANY VOTES.

SOME OF THOSE MAYBE THEY DO NOT THERE'S A LOT OF STAKE HOLDERS IN THIS PROCESS BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS TO ME IS THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

IF WE'RE GOING TO WRITE SOMETHING TO THE SENATE FLOOR WAS WE DID WE HAVE TO FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT AND IT MAKE SURE IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT, WE THINK IS BEST.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID IS WE PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE.

HOW THE LEGISLATION HAS COME BACK DIFFERENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT.

>> I FELT CONFIDENT WITH WHERE WE WERE, OKAY, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO COME AND VOTE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY MEMBERS HAVE THEIR OWN DECISION.

THEIR DECISIONS ARE MADE RIGHT THERE ON THAT FLOOR.

MY JOB IS TO LEAD THEM FORWARD IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THINGS TO OPERATE WITHIN OUR RULES AND WITHIN A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA SO THAT'S OUR PROCESS.

ON ETHICS, REED SAID HE THINKS THE HOUSE BILL DESERVES A FAIR HEARING AND THAT THE SENATE COULD MOVE SOMETHING WITH AMENDMENTS.

>> I TOOK OUT OF THE BASKET THE ETHICS LAW.

IT'S GOING TO BE -- WE HAVE A SPONSOR AND IT'S MOVING FORWARD.

ALABAMA NEEDS STRONG ETHICS LAWS.

AND THIS PROCESS IS ONE THE HOUSE HAS WORKED ON.

WE'RE NOW WORKING ON AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE SENATE SO THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE DEBATE, THE ETHICS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT ALABAMA HAS THE STRONGEST ETHICS LAWS POSSIBLE AND THAT THEY'RE CLEAR AND WELL DEFINED IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE SENATE BODY.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL THAT IS ALREADY THERE.

I'VE GOT SOME VERY CAPABLE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE SENATORS THEY'VE TAKEN THIS SERIOUSLY.

THE WORK GOING ON OTHER THAN NOW, CERTAINLY THREE DAYS IS A SMALL WINDOW OF TIME TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING BUT AS YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST THE SENATE IS UP TO THE TASK.

IF IT'S A THING THAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT, IT'S A HOUSE BILL, WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH IT, PUT OURSELVES IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN DEBATE IT, GET INPUT FROM OTHERS AND DECIDE HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE TO WATCH IS SCHOOL SAFETY.

SENATOR ARTHUR ORR IS SPONSORIN LEGISLATION CREATING THE SCHOOL SECURITY PROGRAM AND PROVIDING SCHOOLS THE POLICY AND RESOURCE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MAKE CAMPUSE MORE SECURE.

THAT BILL COULD BE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

SOME NATIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY ADVOCATES ARE HOPING TO INSERT ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD MAKE ALABAMA THE SEVENTH STATE TO PASS ALLYSSA'S LAW.

NAMED FOR ALYSSA ALHADEFF, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED AT THE PARKLAND FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTIN IN 2018, THE PROPOSAL WOULD ENSURE SCHOOLS HAD SILENT PANIC BUTTON INSTALLED FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCES TIME FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET TO THE SCENE.

AND THE SYSTEMS COULD BE USED FOR ALL EMERGENCIES, NOT JUST THREATS.

I SPOKE WITH ALYSSA'S MOM LORI, WHO FOUNDED MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE EARLIER TODAY.

>> WE PASSED NOW ALYSSA'S LAW WHICH IS PANIC BUTTONS IN SCHOOLS SO IF THERE'S A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHETHER IT'S A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR AN ACTIVE SHOOTER WE E POWER TEACHERS TO PUSH A BUTTON, WHETHER IT'S AN APP ON A TEACHER'S PHONE, A WEARABLE PANIC BUTTON OR HARD WIRED PANIC BUTTON AND IT'S DIRECTLY LINKED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THEY CAN GET ON THE SCENE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO TAKE DOWN A THREAT OR TRIAGE ANY OF THE VICTIMS.

>> THAT FULL INTERVIEW COMING UP.

FIRST I SIT DOWN WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH HULSEY.

THAT INTERVIEW WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH HULSEY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL YOU JUST CAME DOWN THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

YOU WERE ELECTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU ON FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THAT BEING THE CASE CAN YOU TELL US OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT AND MAYBE WHAT GOT YOU INTO RUNNING FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE?

>> SURE.

I ACTUALLY JUST TRULY LOVE PUBLIC SERVICE.

I THINK THAT IT IS A REALLY FUN AND UNIQUE WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO 0 TRUTHFUL LIVE WHAT AT THE BOTTOM ME STARTED WAS JUST SEEING SOME THINGS THAT WERE MISSING BACK HOME WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE THE FIRST TIME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND THINKING WELL IF YOU'RE GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM YOU SHOULD GET UP AND TO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SO I DID.

AND THAT JUST STARTED A LOVE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND I MEAN HERE I AM 16 YEARS LATER, I GUESS IT IS, DOING THE JOB, AND LOVE IT JUST AS MUCH TODAY IF NOT MORE THAN I DID WHEN I STARTED.

MY DISTRICT, IT IS ENCUMBRANCE A PORTION OF LAKES VIEW.

I THINK IT'S A FUN DISTRICT.

IT'S VERY URBAN, I'LL SAY VERY RURAL AND I THINK IT'S A VERY DIVERSELY DRAWN DISTRICT.

IT PROVIDES ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY WORK WITH FARMERS.

AND ALSO WORK WITH CORPORATE AMERICA SO TO SPEAK.

SO IT LET'S ME GET MY HAND IN A LOT OF STUFF AND I LIKE THAT.

I LIKE THE CHALLENGE.

>> THERE IS PLENTY OF RURAL UP THERE BUT THEN YOU KNOW GET INTO HOOVER AND THAT'S INTERESTING.

>> WELL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS LEGISLATION THAT YOU HAVE MOVING.

I SAY MOVING.

YOU HAVE ALREADY PASSED TWO SIGNIFICANT BILLS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE.

ONE HAS TO DO WITH CRIMINALIZING CLERGY, MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY HAVING SEXUAL CONTACT WITH PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 19 IF I HAVE THAT CORRECT.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS, ME INCLUDED MIGHT ASK, GOODNESS WAS THAT ALREADY NOT WRONG, WAS THAT NOT ALREADY AGAINST SOME KIND OF LAW?

SO EXPLAIN WHERE THIS BILL CAME FROM.

>> I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST QUESTION YOU COULD AND ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION AROUND THIS PARTICULAR I GUESS AREA.

MOST PEOPLE DO THINK THAT IT'S ALREADY LEGAL ILLEGAL.

BUT IT IS NOT.

WELL, I GUESS TECHNICALLY NOW IT IS BECAUSE IT'S DONE.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED THIS INTO LAW.

>> PRIOR HAD TO THAT IT WASN'T.

IT ACTUALLY PROVIDED -- OUR LAW PROVIDED KIND OF A LOOPHOLE OF SORTS.

SO IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, THE AGE OF CONSENT IS 16.

BUT YOU'RE NOT AN ADULT UNTIL 19.

SO 16, 17 AND 18-YEAR-OLDS ARE ABLE TO CONSENT TO SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH EVERYONE.

>> EVEN AN ADULT.

>> AN ADULT.

A 45, 55, 30-YEAR-OLD -- IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IF THEY'RE CONSENTING THAT IS LEGAL IN THE STATE.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF CONFUSE STATUTORY RAIN -- RAPE WITH THAT.

BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH CONSENT.

IF THEY ARE CONSENTING AT 16 YEARS OF AGE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

SPECIFICALLY WHAT -- UNFORTUNATELY THIS CAME ABOUT BY JUST A FEW INDIVIDUALS CONTACTING ME ABOUT A PROBLEM LOCALLY AND I AGREED TO TACKLE THIS AND TAKE IT ON.

AND THEN I STARTED TO GET PHONE CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS SUPER HARD TO HEAR THOSE THINGS BUT HONESTLY IT MADE ME REALIZE THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS THROUGH FOR SURE.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE BILL DOES IS THAT IT WAIVES CONSENT AS A DEFENSE SO EVEN IF A 16, 17, 18-YEAR-OLD WERE TO CONSENT HE TO THOSE ACTIVITIES, WITH SAY THEIR YOUTH PASTOR, HE CAN'T USE THAT AS A DEFENSE IN COURT.

AND WE KIND OF REALTY NARROWED IT DOWN TO -- YOU DO HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION OF POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER THE CHILD SPECIFICALLY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST EVERY CHILD.

YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO BE CAREFUL IN THAT SOMETIMES YOU DO HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD AT A DIFFERENT CHURCH DATING SOMEONE THAT IS MAYBE A YOUTH PASTOR WHO IS 19, AND TECHNICALLY THAT LAW THAT JUST SAID A CHILD WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THAT TYPE OF SITUATION.

SO WHAT WE REALLY WERE LOOKING FOR WAS TO TRY TO HONE IN ON THE SPECIFIC SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE IN A POSITION OF POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER THAT CHILD.

>> YEAH.

THAT POWER DYNAMIC IS REALLY -- IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S THE CRITICAL APPEALS.

AND THIS IS -- UNLESS THIS IS JUST HOW THIS WORKS IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH, YOU WILL SEE GROOMING HAPPENING, UP THROUGH, YOU KNOW, 15 AND PERSPECTIVE TRAITORS WILL JUST UNTIL THEY'RE 16 BECAUSE THEY KNOW CONSENT IS 16 IN THE STATE SO THEY SPEND THIS TIME INVESTING IN THEM, TEACHING THEM THIS IS APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, AND IT'S NOT.

BUT THEY'RE VULNERABLE AND THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

SO WE'RE CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE.

>> THAT'S BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

WE SAY CLERGY BECAUSE THAT IS THE DEALT TERMS THAT GETS USED.

PEOPLE THINK OF PEOPLE WEARING ROBES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS COULD BE ANY PASTOR, YOUTH PASTOR, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A ROBE FOR THE RULES TO APPLY.

>> IT USES EVIDENCE 505 TO DEFINE CLERGYMAN.

BY USING THAT DEFINITION IT CATCHES EVERY PHASE OF RELIGION, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

BUT IT ALSO IT STAYS IN THAT REALM THE.

IT DOESN'T GET INTO YOUR VOLUNTEERS.

IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT NECESSARY YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.

BUT IF YOU ARE ORDAINED OR COMMISSIONED IN THINK ANY OF THOSE ROLES OR YOU SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF YOUR TIME DOING THAT VOCATION FOR A LIVING, THEN, YES, IT WOULD APPLY TO YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK -- I WASN'T ENTIRELY SURE.

SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS NEEDED.

YOU HAVE THIS OTHER BILL DEALING WITH MAKING SURE OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTS HAVE THE SENSORY TRAINING -- WE HAVEN'T HAD A BILL WITH THOSE SENSORY ISSUES.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS ALREADY HAPPENS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SO YOU'RE EXPANDING IT INTO THE WORLD OF FIRE AND E OF EMT.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THAT.

LAST YEAR BRINGING THE SENSORY BALL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THIS TIME IT'S REALLY VERY SIMILAR.

IT ADDRESSES THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF LEGISLATION, TRAINING, AND IT'S TAILORED TO SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE INVISIBLE DISABILITIES OR SENSORY DEPRESSING DISORDERS AND IT JUST TEACHES DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND TEACHES THEM TO RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS THAT MIGHT BE KIND OF A RED FLAG TO HEY, LET'S USE THIS TOOL TO WORK ON DEESCALATING THE SITUATION, CALMING AN INDIVIDUAL DOWN.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT UNCOMMON.

I CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE HERE.

WELL, GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT KIND OF THINGS WOULD BE, LIKE SENSORY SENSITIVITY THINGS.

>> GREAT ONE HONESTLY WOULD BE -- IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE SPECTRUM -- LET'S JUST SAY THAT MAYBE AN OFFICER OR A FIREFIGHTER IS WALKING UP TO AND THEM IF THEY COULD SEE SOME I.D.

IT'S REALLY IN THE WAY THAT I ASK THE QUESTION.

CAN I SEE YOUR I.D.?

NO.

YOU CAN'T PHYSICALLY SEE IT.

SO THEY'RE PERCEIVING SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.

>> THEY'RE PROCESSING DIFFERENTLY.

VERY LOGICAL PROCESSING.

IT JUST BECOMES A, NO, WE'RE NOT BEING DEFIANT.

ALL YOU READY NEED TO DO IS SAY CAN YOU HAND ME YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

TOTALLY CHANGES THAT IN THEIR MIND AND I THINK THAT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVEN'T SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND INTERACTING WITH INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT.

BUT EVEN LIGHTS.

JUST LIGHTS CAN BE SO OVERSTIMULATING THETA IT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN BE PRONE TO BE VERY ANXIOUS, VERY STRESSED OUT, VERY OVERWHELMED.

I THINK A LOT OF US DON'T RESPOND WELL TO SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHETHER WE HAVE A DISORDER OR NOT.

BUT THIS JUST KIND OF TEACHES THEM TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THINGS YOU KNOW, AND THEN MAYBE STEP BACK AND TURN OFF THEIR LIGHTS, TURN THEIR SIREN DOWN.

IT'S JUST FINDING THOSE DIFFERENT TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE A CONVERSATION THAT MAKES THEM LOOK COMFORTABLE AND ALSO EQUIPS THE OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER WITH WHAT THEY NEED AS WELL SO THEY CAN BE FIXED AS WELL.

>> THAT'S ALSO BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR SO YOU'RE RACKING UP THE WINS HERE.

ONE IS STILL IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

IT HAS TO DO WITH PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN THERE.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOUR BILL DOES AND WHERE IT IS IN THE PROCESS.

>> SO THIS BILL IS ABOUT DIRECT ACCESS.

SO YOU HAVE THREE TYPES OF ACCESS NOT COUNTRY.

WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED LIMITED DIRECT ACCESS, PROVISIONAL DIRECT ACCESS, AND THEN UNRESTRICTED.

OURS IS LIMITED.

WE'RE THE ONLY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT STILL HAS THIS TYPE OF PRACTICE.

SO BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IS FOR US TO GO TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REFERRAL FROM A DOCTOR.

THERE ARE FOUR EXCLUSIONS.

EVERY STATE HAS THOSE EXCLUSIONS.

IT'S KIND OF WHERE SOME OF THEM JUST STARTED THEIR PROCESS OF WORKING IN RESTRICTED.

THAT WAS DONE IN 2012.

THIS REALLY HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED AND GOTTEN THIS CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE SENSE THEN.

BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IT WOULD TAKE ALABAMA FROM A LIMITED DIRECT ACCESS TO PROVISIONAL ACCESS.

AND YOU COULD GO TO YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPIST WITHOUT A DOCTOR REFERRAL.

AND AS LONG AS YOU'RE CONTINUING TO BENEFIT FROM TREATMENT, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SEE YOU AND TREAT YOU.

IF FOR SOME REASON SOMETHING GOES WRONG OR YOU'RE NOT BENEFITING FROM THE TREATMENT AT THAT POINT THEY WOULD JUST NEED TO STOP TREATMENT AND REFER YOU TO A PHYSICIAN JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> INTERESTING.

>> BUT THAT'S REALLY TRULY THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THIS.

IT'S GIVING PEOPLE MORE ACCESS TO THE DECISION ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE.

AND IT'S BEEN PROVEN THAT THIS WILL ACTUALLY DECREASE HEALTH CARE COSTS BECAUSE IT CAN BE PREVENT ACTIVELY USED QUICKER.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM AND ALSO BRINGING US IN LINE WITH OTHER STATES.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE STRUGGLE WITH HERE IN ALABAMA SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THIS IS OFTENTIMES YOU DO HAVE OTHER POSITIONS OR YOU COULD REALLY TAKE ANY AREA OF MEDICINE AND THEY WILL COME HERE FOR SCHOOL AND THEN THEY WILL LEAVE THE STATE BECAUSE THEY GET PRACTICE AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF SCOPE IN ANOTHER STATE.

AND WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO RETAIN THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INVEST IN THEIR EDUCATION AND WE WANT THEM TO STAY HERE AND MAKE ALABAMA HOME AND PRACTICE AT THE LEVEL THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED TO PRACTICE.

>> REAL QUICK WHERE IS THAT IN THE PROCESS?

IT'S IN THE SENATE I THINK.

>> IT HAS COME OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE JUST WAITING TO GET ON THE FLOOR.

HOPEFULLY WE'RE DOWN TO TWO, THREE DAYS SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE ON THE CALENDAR TOMORROW.

>> WELL, WE WILL BE WATCHING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING MORE ABOUT THESE BILLS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS LORI ALHADEF FOUNDER OF MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I'D LOVE YOU TO TELL TO US ABOUT THE BACKGROUND, MAKES OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.

I KNOW YOU'RE IN SEVERAL STATES PUSHING FOR LAWS TO MAKE SEWER SCHOOLS SAFE.

BUT TALK ABOUT HOW THIS ORGANIZATION CAME ABOUT.

>> SO MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFE STARTED AFTER THE TRAGEDY AT DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.

MY DAUGHTER WAS ALYSSA WHO WAS MURDERED THAT DAY IN HER ENGLISH CLASSROOM.

MY HUSBAND AND I TURNED OUR PAIN AND GRIEF INTO ACTION AND STARTED MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFE.

>> I HAVE SEEN YOU HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL STATES URGING STATE ACTION ON THINGS LIKE SECURITY SYSTEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND REALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH GUNS NECESSARILY BUT MAKING SURE SECURITY IS HARDENED.

>> WE PASSED NOW ALYSSA'S LAW WHICH IS PANIC BUTTONS IN SCHOOLS SO IF THERE'S A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY SITUATION, A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR ACTIVE SHOOTER WE EMPOWER TEACHERS TO PUSH A BUTTON WHETHER IT'S AN APP ON A PHONE, A WEARABLE PANIC BUTTON OR HARD WIRED PANIC BUTTON AND IT'S DIRECTLY LINKED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THEY CAN GET ON THE SCENE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO TAKE TOWN THE THREAT OR TRIAGE ANY OF THE VICTIMS.

>> SO OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE TO THIS.

>> YES.

WE PASSED THE LAW NOW IN SIX STATES AND WE'RE HOPING TO PASS ALYSSA'S LAW HERE IN MOBILE, ALABAMA.

>> I KNOW THERE WAS HB-216, MR. TREADAWAY WAS SPONSORING THAT BUT WE'RE LATE IN THE SESSION AND MAYBE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE TO INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE IN OTHER LEGISLATION?

IS THAT WHERE WE ARE?

>> YEAH.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET ALYSSA'S LAW IN THE BIG SCHOOL SAFETY BILL AND WE KNOW THAT ALYSSA'S LAW WOULD BE AN AMAZING STANDARD SCHOOL SAFETY PROTECTION FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS HERE IN ALABAMA.

IT'S A LIFE SAVING MEASURE.

WE KNOW THAT TIMES EQUALS LIFE AND WE HAVE NEED TO GET HELP ON THE SCENE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> TIME SQUALLS LIFE.

THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO SHORTEN -- IN THE CASE OF THESE TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HOPE WOULD NEVER HAPPEN BUT WE KNOW THEY WILL, SHORTEN THE TIME PERIOD WHEN BETWEEN OF WHEN THAT INCIDENT BEGINS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN BE ON THE SCENE SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO IN AND TAKE DOWN THE SHOOTER.

AND IF THERE'S INITIAL THAT IS INJURED, THAT EMS CAN GET ON THE SCENE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ON FEBRUARY 14, 2018, DURING THE TRAGEDY AT MARJORIE DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL IN MY MIND I THOUGHT MY DAUGHTER MELISSA WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WASN'T AND HELP DIDN'T GET FAST ENOUGH.

>> WELL, IT CAN'T STILL BE EASY FOR YOU ALL OF THESE YEARS LATER.

BUT HAVE YOU AND MAYBE SOME OF YOUR OTHER PARENTS FOUND IT PRODUCTIVE AND A GOOD MEMORY TO CARRY THEIR MEMORY FORWARD AND DO THINGS LIKE THIS TO I'D HAVE TO FOR THINGS THAT WOULD PREVENT THE NEXT TRAGEDY FROM HAPPENING?

>> YES.

SO I KNOW EVERY TIME THAT PANIC BUTTON IS PUSHED THAT ALYSSA IS SAVING LIVES AND THAT WE KEEP ALYSSA'S MEMORY ALIVE FOREVER THROUGH PASSING OF ALYSSA'S LAW IN HERE ALABAMA.

>> LOOK WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS UP THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WHO HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE ABOUT WHAT THIS LAW IS FOR OR NOT.

>> SO WE PUT IN THE SCHOOL MEASURES LIKE ALYSSA'S LAW, PANIC BUTTONS IN SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE.

AND FORTUNATELY IT'S NOT IF THE NEXT SCHOOL SHOOTING HAPPENS BUT WHEN.

AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED THIS THESE LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

>> ALYSSA'S LAW, HB-216 AND ALSO WE CAN GET THE SENATE LEGISLATION MORE EXPANSIVE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE SAME TIME, MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACEY: SEE YOU NEXT