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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS THE 19TH DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO WE'RE GETTING INTO THE NITTY GRITTY WHEN TEMPERS CAN GET SHORT AND DAYS CAN GET LONG.

THAT WAS THE CASE IN THE SENATE, WHERE BUSINESS CAME TO A CRAWL AFTER STATE SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM BEGAN FILIBUSTERING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHAMBER CONVENED.

SMITHERMAN WAS UPSET ABOUT PREVIOUS BILLS THAT PASSED, ARGUING THAT HE WASN'T PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT LAST MINUTE CHANGES.

THE SENATE WAS ONLY ABLE TO PASS ONE LOCAL BILL, BUT WHEN SMITHERMAN PROMISED TO FILIBUSTER EVERY BILL ON THE AGENDA, MEMBERS DECIDED TO CALL IT A DAY.

>> I'M GOING TO READ THE BILL OUT FROM THE PODIUM, IF NECESSARY, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION ON EACH ONE OF THEM SO I WILLFULLY UNDERSTAND AND EVERYBODY IN THERE WILLFULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEFORE US AND WHAT WE ARE ADDRESSING.

IN FACT, WE HAD ONE BILL IN THERE, I READ THE BILL AND THERE WAS A CERTAIN WAY.

AND THEN YOU GET A SUB, AND THE SUB HAS CHANGES IN IT.

AND IF YOU NOTICE ON THE FLOOR, YOU HAVE A SMALL WINDOW WITH WHICH TO PRESENT IT ON THE FLOOR.

AND MAYBE PRIOR TO BEING PRESENTED IN COMMITTEE AND YOU GETTING A COPY IN ADVANCE.

ONCE IT GOES ACROSS THE DESK, YOU CAN REACH YOUR HAND OVER BUT IT'S GONE.

AND WE'RE AT A POINT NOW, LAST 1/3 OF THE SESSION AND LOTS OF THINGS COMING ACROSS THE DESK AND I WANT TO BE SURE WE HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THEM.

>> ONE ISSUE SMITHERMAN HAS BEEN WORKING ON IS THE ALLOCATION OF JUDGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH FELLOW LAWMAKERS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUDGES SO THAT CIRCUITS CAN AVOID CASE BACKLOGS.

SENATE BILL 39 WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE ADDITION OF 11 MORE CIRCUIT JUDGES.

IT ALSO CREATES A FORMULA THAT BASING THE NUMBER OF JUDGES ON THE RELATIVE NEED AND CASELOAD.

>> SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO LOOK AND HAVE A SYSTEM THEY TAKE IT FROM WHO MAY HAVE, WHO THINK THEY HAVE THE JUDGES.

IN THAT CASE, I'M TALKING ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HINDERED US, WAS THE WAY SOME COUNTIES WERE COUNTING CASES AND THE FORMULA THAT WE WERE USING.

WHEREAS IN OUR SYSTEM, YOU MAY HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A PERSON HAS DUI AND RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGE, THEN NO INSURANCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INSURANCE CHARGE.

AND THOSE ARE THREE DISTINCT CASES, DIFFERENT ELEMENTS WHEN YOU ARE JUST DRIVING ACROSS THE LINE OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR INSURANCE CARD.

IN OUR CIRCUIT, ALL OF THOSE THREE CASES ARE PUT UNDER ONE CASE NUMBER.

AND WHEN THEY SAY WE WANT THE CASE NUMBERS THAT YOU WANT, THAT'S TWO CASES LEFT OUT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY COUNT.

SO, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE NOW, THIS APPLIES TO EVERYBODY, NOT JUST JEFFERSON COUNTY, BUT SOME FOLKS DOING IT LIKE WE DOING AND OTHER FOLKS DOING IT OTHER WAY.

SO, NOW WE HAVE A UNIFIED COUNT OF ALL OF THE CASES AND WILLING TO THE COMPLEXITY OF CASES.

>> THE HOUSE HAD A PRODUCTIVE DAY, CONSIDERING A CALENDAR OF 19 BILLS.

AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST WAS A MEASURE ALTERING SOME INTERNAL LEGISLATIVE POLICIES AND MOST NOTABLY, TAKING AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STATE HOUSE.

SENATE BILL 222 FROM STATE SENATOR SAM GIVHAN WOULD AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONTRACT WITH THE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS OF ALABAMA TO CONSTRUCT A NEW STATE HOUSE AS WELL AS ACQUIRE OF LAND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CURRENT BUILDING WHERE IT WOULD LIKELY GO.

LAWMAKERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A NEW LEGISLATIVE HOME FOR YEARS, ESPECIALLY AS THIS CURRENT BUILDING HAS FALLEN INTO WORSE DISREPAIR AND PROVEN INADEQUATE AS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO OBVERSE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE CARRIED THE BILL IN THE HOUSE.

IT MADE TECHNICAL CHANGES TO INTERNAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY, BUT IT WAS THE STATE HOUSE PART OF THE BILL THAT RECEIVED PRAISE FROM REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

>> I HAVE TWO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS COMING TODAY.

ONE IS THE ISSUE ELECTION CONTEST REMOVING THE LANGUAGE THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS A PROBLEM WITH.

IT'S ALL COMING OUT OF THE BILL.

THE LAW WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN FOR OVER 120 YEARS.

THE OTHER AMENDMENT IS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT MY COLLEAGUE DISCOVERED, WITH THE CONTRACT REVIEW PROVISIONS ON THE WITNESSES, NAMES BEING REDACTED.

WHEN THE CONTRACT IS PUBLIC.

REMEMBER, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE STILL SEEING IT.

BUT WE HAVE TWO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS COMING FROM THE DIFFERENT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS EXPRESSED TO US IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING AND BEEN EXPRESSED TO ME THAT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE BILL.

>> ONE THING IN THE BILL THAT I GIVE ALL OF THE APPLAUSE IN THE BILL.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR A NEW STATE HOUSE.

OKAY.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE.

EVERY TIME I COME IN THIS BUILDING, I HAVE TO GET UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE.

MY DOCTOR TOLD ME, DON'T COME IN THAT BUILDING, DON'T GO IN THAT BUILDING WITHOUT A MASK BECAUSE OF THE MOLD AND MILDEW.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE BEEN SICK COMING INTO THIS BUILDING.

EVERY TIME I COME HERE, I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY THIS MORNING, SHE SAID SHE HAD THREE SURGERIES FOR MOLD AND MILDEW FROM THIS BUILDING.

SO, IT IS TRULY TIME THAT WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND MAKE THIS ENVIRONMENT A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR US TO COME IN HERE EVERYDAY.

>> SENATOR SAM GIVAHN, WHO SPONSORED THE BILL, REMINDED US THAT IT IS NOT JUST A STATE HOUSE BILL, BUT THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ADDRESS.

>> FIRST OF ALL SB222 DOES MORE THAN THAT.

IT DEALS WHEN WE COME INTO SESSION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS AGREE ON THE MOST, STARTING THE FIRST YEAR IN THE QUADRENNIUM INSTEAD OF MARCH.

BUT THIS BUILDING HAS A LOT OF ISSUES.

WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING THE PEOPLES' HOUSE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE ANOTHER COVID SITUATION AGAIN.

BUT TRULY IT WAS NOT THE PEOPLES' HOUSE, THE PEOPLE WERE LOCKED OUT, FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE WHERE PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE.

A LOT OF THE COMMITTEE ROOMS AND VIEWING PUBLIC MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THAT.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN, THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE ON SOME HOT BUTTON POSITIONS.

AND THE LOBBYISTS ARE THERE EARLY AND THEY TAKE UP ALL OF THE SEATS AND NOT ROOM FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR THE PRESS, TOO.

>> THE MEASURE PASSED 88-9, AND NOW GOES BACK TO THE SENATE BECAUSE AMENDMENTS WERE ADDED TO THE BILL.

ALSO PASSED IN THE HOUSE WAS LEGISLATION AIMED AT KEEPING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OR OTHER CHINESE ENTITIES FROM PURCHASING LAND IN ALABAMA.

HOUSE BILL 379 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT STADTHAGEN WOULD PROHIBIT NON-RESIDENT CHINESE CITIZENS, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER CHINESE ENTITIES FROM ACQUIRING A TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY IN THE STATE.

SOME QUESTIONED WHETHER THIS COULD STIFLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, CONSIDERING SOME CHINESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE LANDED IN ALABAMA.

STADTHAGEN SAID THE MEASURE WAS MEANT TO PROTECT PROPERTY FROM FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE A GEO POLITICAL RIVAL.

>> THE CONCERN OF NATIONAL THREAT, FROM CHINA, THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY, A NATIONAL THREAT RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE MILITARY BASES, THAT YOU KNOW, YOU ARE IN THE MILITARY, LAND IS BEING PURCHASED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE ENTIRE NATION AND THEY ARE TARGETING CERTAIN PLACES.

THIS PREVENTS ANY LAND BEING OWNED BY A COMMUNIST COUNTRY AROUND ANY MILITARY BASES OR ANYWHERE BY OUR PORTS, ANYWHERE SOMEWHERE IMPORTANT, IF THEY WANT TO, THEY CAN ACTUALLY UTILIZE AND USE AGAINST US.

>> YOU ARE SAYING WE WANT TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH MILITARY BASES OR HARBORS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR THE UNITED STATES PROPERTY.

>> TO PRE PREVENT THEM FROM DOING ANYTHING TO HARM US IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE BILL PASSED 73-23 AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

THE HOUSE ALSO TOOK UP LEGISLATION ALTERING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR OPTOMETRY IN THE STATE.

THESE BILLS ARE ALWAYS CONTROVERSIAL AND THIS ONE GENERATED PLENTY OF DEBATE AS WELL.

HOUSE BILL 349 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT WOULD ALLOW OPTOMETRISTS TO PERFORM CERTAIN VACCINATIONS RIGHT NOW LIMITED TO OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, BUT IT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM USING THE WORD SURGEON IN ADVERTISING.

IT ALSO MAKES SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR REGULATORY STRUCTURE.

GARRETT FIELDED PLENTY OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILL'S EFFECTS.

>> OPTOMETRISTS OPERATE ACROSS THE STATE IN 57 COUNTIES.

CONTRAST THAT TO OPTHAMOLOGISTS BEING LOCATED IN ONLY 24 COUNTIES.

AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE OPTOMETRY LAW HASN'T BEEN EXPANDED SINCE 1995, WAIT A MINUTE.

I'LL PUT IT UP.

1995 WAS THE LAST TIME THE OPTOMETRY WAS EXPANDED.

>> THIS BILL ALLOWS THE ABILITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE, AT LEAST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE BILL PASSED 78-6 WITH 18 ABSTENTIONS.

IT NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT OTHER BILLS THAT MOVED IN THE HOUSE TODAY.

SENATE BILL 228 FROM STATE SENATOR DAN ROBERTS WOULD AMEND REAL ESTATE LAW TO REQUIRE HOMEBUYERS TO DISCLOSE WHETHER OR NOT A PURCHASE IS PART OF A WHOLESALE DEAL.

IT WOULD ALSO DEEM UNENFORCEABLE CERTAIN UNFAIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS PURPORTING TO ESTABLISH A LONG TERM RIGHT TO LIST BETWEEN REAL ESTATE COMPANIES AND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE OWNERS.

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

HOUSE BILL 287 WOULD CRIMINALIZE DOXING, OR PUBLICLY EXPOSING SOMEONE'S PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH THE INTENT TO ENCOURAGE HARASSMENT.

THAT BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND GOES TO THE SENATE.

SENATE BILL 155 FROM STATE SENATOR APRIL WEAVER IS AIMED AT FIXING THE STATE'S PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE SHORTAGE THROUGH VARIOUS MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE MORE DOCTORS.

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

AND SENATE BILL 204 FROM STATE SENATOR SAM GIVHAN, THOSE WHO WORK IN AND AROUND THE LEGISLATURE WILL APPRECIATE THIS BILL.

IT CHANGES THE LEGISLATIVE MEETING SCHEDULE SO THAT OUTSIDE OF ELECTION YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BEGIN TO MEET IN FEBRUARY AND NOT MARCH.

CURRENTLY SESSIONS TEND TO STRETCH WELL INTO JUNE.

ELECTION YEAR SESSIONS WILL CONTINUE TO START IN JANUARY.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE TODAY.

COMING UP, NEXT I'LL SPEAK WITH WITH STATE SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER ABOUT A RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE 988 MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> BIRMINGHAM NATIVE, DAVID WAYNE PERKINS, ROCKING R AND B MUSICIAN, HAS MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO AND PROVIDED OVERDUB GUITAR TRACKS ON BOB MARLY ALBUM AND ALSO BY THE ROLLING STONES, 1976 ALBUM, BLACK AND BLUE.

>> JOINING ME NEXT, STATE SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER FROM ANNISTON.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

>> WELL, WE'RE UP 19 DAYS INTO THE SESSION AND 11 DAYS LEFT.

GETTING INTO THE FITTY GRITTY.

YOU SAW SOME TEMPERS AND SHORT FUSES ON THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY AND BASICALLY SHUT DOWN THE DAY.

THAT TENDS TO HAPPEN.

>> ONCE THE BUDGET GOES, YOU KIND OF CHANGE YOUR MINDSET, FOOTBALL TERMS, OFFENSE TO DEFENSE.

AND THE BILLS COME THROUGH THERE, AND BUDGET CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU OR FOR YOU OR LEVERAGE AND THEY TRY TO KILL BILLS INSTEAD OF GETTING BILLS PASSED.

AND I THINK YOU SAW THAT WITH THE FIRST DAY PAST, SINCE THE BUDGET IS GONE.

BUT THAT'S JUST PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT WE USE.

>> THE WAY IT GOES.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED.

IT'S IN STATE LAW NOW.

PART PART OF THE STATE GAME PACKAGE THAT WAS MADE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES BUT TRANSPARENCY.

WE HAVE ALL OF THESE INCENTIVES AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THEM NOW, DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY.

BUT YOU PASSED A BILL SAYING, OKAY.

ALL OF THAT, WHATEVER IS USED ON A PROJECT NEEDS TO BE POSTED ONLINE FOR TRANSPARENCY.

TELL ME WHY YOU WENT THAT ROUTE AND WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT.

I WAS LOCAL CITY COUNCIL AND BEEN IN THE SENATE FOR 5 YEARS.

I THINK ANY TIME THE PUBLIC SEES WHERE THEIR MONEY IS GOING, IT'S A POSITIVE AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY IS GOING.

HAVING THE WEB SITE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THEY ARE LISTING OUT, HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO GIVE THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY, HOW MANY JOBS CREATED, WHAT'S THE TERM OF INVESTMENT VS. WHAT'S COMING.

REMEMBER WE GIVE THE INCENTIVES A YEAR LATER AFTER THE INVESTMENT.

AND THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND DIRECTOR CANFIELD IS, WE'RE NOT DANGLING A CARROT IN FRONT OF THEM.

THESE ARE THE INCENTIVES AND IF YOU DO ONE YEAR LATER DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO, YOU WILL GET THE INCENTIVE AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ARE GETTING ON THEIR RETURN.

THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE ON THE WEB SITE.

>> OLD DAYS, IT WAS CASH, BORROWING MONEY AND GETTING CASH.

AND CANFIELD SAID THIS IS NOT DIFFERENT INFORMATION, IF YOU MADE A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST, YOU CAN GET IT.

SO, REALLY YOU ARE MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND BETTER UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> I THINK IT'S BETTER FOR PEOPLE TO GET ONLINE, EASIER TODAY THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

AND PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS AND RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THE INFORMATION.

WHY DO WE NOT GO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THEIR FINGER TIPS AND THERE'S AN INTERNAL BOARD CREATED THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND WE HAVE A JOINT BOARD FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BOTH REPRESENTED OBVIOUSLY WITH THE BUDGET CHAIRS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIRS.

AND THEY ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, CREATING A FORM AND PASSING IT OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND US GETTING THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION WE GET WE'RE ON TRACK, AND THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

>> GOOD OVERSIGHT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND SWITCHING GEARS.

CHAIRMAN REYNOLDS WAS ON THE SHOW THE OTHER DAY, 988, YOU KNOW, WHAT 911 IS FOR EMERGENCIES, THIS IS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

WALK ME THROUGH THE BILL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO 911 KNOWS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND COUNTRY, IT'S FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND 988 IS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SAY, DEALING WITH SOMEBODY DEALING WITH DRUGS AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY WALKING DOWN THE ROAD TALKING TO THEMSELVES OR A YOUNG PERSON CUTTING THEMSELVES OR YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAS SCHIZOPHRENIA AND YOU JUST KNOW SOMEBODY IN YOUR FAMILY THAT NEED HELP, MOST PEOPLE CALL 911 AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOWS UP, AND THEY TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL OR THE JAIL.

NEITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO PLACES ARE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE TYPE OF PATIENTS BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN PHYSICAL ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE.

IT'S REALLY A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

SO FROM THAT, WE'RE RUNNING A RAT RACE, HAMSTER IN THE WHEEL, SAY AND USING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE THERE AND USING UP PERSONNEL, THAT COSTS MONEY.

TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL OR TO THE JAIL AND THAT'S USING TAXPAYER'S MONEY AND THAT'S NOT THE PLACE.

SO, WHY DON'T WE CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS AND HAVE A 988 NUMBER AND KNOW THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN 911 AND 988.

FROM THAT, YOU CAN CALL A TRAINED SPECIALIST, ANALYZE THE PATIENT, FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED.

AND FROM THAT, PEOPLE JUST NEED HELP, SAY, STAYING AWAY FROM SOMEBODY WITH VIOLENCE AND THEY ARE SO DISTRAUGHT BEING IN A VIOLENT SITUATION THEY NEED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

AND OTHER PEOPLE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PROTECTION AND IT'S A SAVINGS IF WE'RE NOT RUNNING THE SAME HAMSTER IN THE WHEEL RACE THAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

>> AND IT ADDS A USER FEE ON YOUR TELEPHONE BILL.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S 98 CENTS, ANY TIME YOU DO THAT, PEOPLE DO HAVE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES WITH THAT.

SO, HOW ARE THE CONVERSATION GOING CONCERNING THAT?

>> THEY ARE GOING EXACTLY AS WHAT YOU THINK.

PART OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, WE DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES OR FEES.

IF I RAISED TAXES ON ANYTHING IT WOULD BE MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THE BAD THING OF RAISING THE FEES, THERE'S ANY CHANCE FROM 50 CENTS TO 98 CENTS THAT WE CAN LAND ON BUT IT PROVIDES ENOUGH MONEY FOR US, AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING THE SAME AMOUNT OR MORE SAVINGS FROM NOT USING PERSONNEL THAT WE'RE USING FROM THE FIRE, POLICE, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, EMS, THAT ARE NOT TAKING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL OR TO THE JAIL.

WE'RE SAVING MONEY FROM NOT GOING TO THE JAIL, TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR THAT.

AND ALSO, FOR THE HOSPITALS, TOO, WHERE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INDIGENT CARE.

AND THE SAVINGS ALONE IS A BREAK-EVEN REALLY WHAT THE 50 CENTS TO 98 CENTS IS GOING TO COST.

AND WE HAVEN'T LANDED ON A PRICE BUT I'M HOPING FOR THE 98 CURRENTS, THE HIGHER.

AND THE CLAUSE STRICTEN, YOU KNOW, I WAS EXACT ON THIS, MAKING SURE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE FEE TOO.

IF YOU ARE POVERTY LEVEL IN ALABAMA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY TAXES OR FEES AND YOU STILL GET ACCESS TO THE SERVICES.

>> WELL, THINGS COST MONEY AND I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 911 FEE AND THEY JUST EXPECT IT, WITH THE EXPECTATION, I CALL 911, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE THERE.

SO, MAYBE IT'S BUILDING THE CONVERSATION AROUND THIS, TOO, IS GOING TO BE AN EXPECTATION, ANY TIME YOU CALL 988, THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.

>> CORRECT.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY PRODUCE CRISIS CENTERS, BRICK AND MORE TAR, THE BIG FOUR AROUND THE STATE.

AND THEY HAVE A BED TO GO INTO AND THEY ARE ANALYZED, ONCE THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF, THEY CAN BE DISMISSED FROM THAT TYPE OF CRISIS BRICK AND MORE TAR UNIT OR HOSPITAL PER SE.

AND IN RURAL DISTRICTS, IF YOU ARE IN WINSTON COUNTY, THERE'S NOT ONE OF THE BRICK AND MORE TAR PLACES BUT THEY DO HAVE, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, LIKE, AMBULANCE, MOBILE CRISIS TO YOUR DOOR IF THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE CALLED IN, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND THE MOBILE UNIT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARTICULAR PATIENT AS IT IS IN GETTING THEM INTO A MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL.

SO, I'M EXCITING ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FUND MENTAL HEALTH SINCE IT WAS CUT IN THE GREAT RECESSION IN 2010.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, 50 CENTS TO 98 CENTS ON THE PHONE LINE TO GET MENTAL HEALTH BACK TO WHERE ITS NEEDED TO BE FUNDED SO YOU DON'T SEE THAT RAMPANT PROBLEM IN SOCIETY.

THAT BILL IS COMING FORWARD TOMORROW AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT.

OKAY.

SWITCH GEARS AND CHILD CARE ISSUE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE BILL DROPPED YET BUT YOU HAVE A TAX CREDIT WORKING WITH ALABAMA AND MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HELP WITH CHILD CARE, AS IT PERTAINS TO WORKER.

>> BEING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SENATE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES THAT WE'RE FACING THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE NATION IS TO FIND WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP, DOING THEIR JOB A FULL DAY AND STAY THERE CONSISTENTLY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST DETERRENTS OF THAT IS NOT HAVING CHILD CARE.

IF WE CAN, THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, GIVE A TAX CREDIT TO THE EMPLOYER AND THE INDIVIDUAL, CREDIT IN TAX CHILD CARE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP THEN.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A DAY CARE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ME, IF THE EMPLOYER PROVIDES THAT, THEN THEY WILL GET THE TAX CREDIT FOR THAT CHILD CARE AND ALLOW FOR THE MOTHER TO GO TO WORK, PROVIDE WORKERS FOR THE INDUSTRIES, TOO, AND STILL BE CLOSE TO THE CHILD AND BE CLOSE TO THE CHILD WHEN THEY GO HOME AND GET A PAYCHECK.

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY GUESTS WE HAVE ON HERE, IT'S A HUGE ISSUE, WE DON'T INTEND TO BRING IT UP, BUT IT COMES UP AND MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF COVID, ISSUE OF CHILD CARE.

AND NEAL WAITE WAS ON HERE, AND YOU KNOW, MONEY OF PROVIDING FOR THESE RESOURCES.

HOW ARE THE CONVERSATIONS GOING WITH THE COLLEAGUES OF YOURS, ARE THEY WARMING UP TO IT?

>> THEY ARE WARMING UP TO IT, THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN OFFICE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NEEDS, ESPECIALLY WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE QUESTIONS THAT I GET BACK, POSITIVE QUESTIONS AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK THROUGH.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT WHERE THE BILL IS GOING.

AND THE QUESTIONS, AS FAR AS HOW WE PROVIDE THE TAX CREDIT, 40-SOMETHING BILLS FOR THIS IN THE PROCESS, WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO MAKE IT AND WHICH ONES AREN'T.

MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED, DROP THE BILL, PUSH IT AS HARD AS I CAN, I BELIEVE IN IT, AND IF IT MAKES IT, GREAT AND IF NOT, I'LL BRING IT BACK NEXT YEAR BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BRING BACK UP.

>> OKAY.

LOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THEM GOING FORWARD.

SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> KATE CUMMINGS WAS A NURSE IN THE CONFEDERATE WAR WRITING ABOUT DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

COMING FROM SCOTLAND AND IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS A SOUTHERNER.

THE NURSES IN THE SOUTH WERE THE FIRST ONCE TO PUBLISH PER OBSERVATIONS AND HER NOW FAMOUS DIARY WAS PUBLISHED IN 1966.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

AND FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M TODD STACY AND WE'LL SEE YOU