>>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M JEFF SANDERS, FILLING IN FOR TODD STACY.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

LEADING OFF OUR NEWS THIS WEEK: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ONGOING TENSIONS INVOLVING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

AFTER MONTHS OF DISCORD BETWEEN COMMISSIONER KENT DAVIS, THE GOVERNOR, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, DAVIS HAD INITIALLY AGREED TO RESIGN BY YEAR'S END.

BUT AFTER A HEATED ADVA BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR STEPPED IN AND FIRED DAVIS.

RANDY SCOTT HAS THE STORY IN THIS WEEK'S TOP STORY.

>> HEREBY CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTO ORDER.

>> THEY ARE IN A SPECIAL MEETING TO DECIDE THE FATE OF COMMISSIONER KENT DAVIS.

GOVERNOR IVEY CALLED THE MEETING FOR AGENCY MEMBERS TO VOTE ON HER REQUEST TO HAVE DAVIS REMOVED FROM HIS POST.

BOARD MEMBERS HAVE CONCERNS.

>> A LACK OF TRUST, BIAS, ASSUMPTIONS, MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

TODAY WE WILL DEAL WITH FACTS.

THE BOARD HAS BEEN TRYING TO COME TO OBJECTIVE CONCLUSIONS.

IT'S BEEN HARD, THERE'S SO MANY MISTRUTHS AND ASSUMPTIONS.

>> IF YOUR VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION IN ANY WAY HINGES ON THE OUTCOME OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, LET ME RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST WE ARE MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.

TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY, YOU NEED TO AGREE WITH ONLY ONE, JUST ONE, GROUND IDENTIFIED BY GOVERNOR IVEY.

>> I HAVE HAD AND HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF HONORING MY AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.

I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE DONE ANYTHING TO ABROGATE THAT AGREEMENT.

>> THE DISCUSSION COVERS PROJECTS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES.

>> WE HAD A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH WHO WAS PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAD TRANSFERRED $7 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WHEN THEY EXPRESSED A CONCERN, I BELIEVE BEVERLY WILLIAMS, AND THEN BEVERLY GEPHARDT, SAID WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE TALKED TO MENTAL HEALTH WITH SOME GRANT RECIPIENTS BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK IT OUT IN THE CONTRACT PROCESS.

>> THE MOTION FAILED WITH THREE NOS AND TWO IN FAVOR.

TWO ABSTENTIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER DAVIS AND SOME VETERANS REACT AFTER THE MEETING.

>> THE COMMISSIONER IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE.

WE HAVE INADVERTENTLY STEPPED IN TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S TURF.

THIS IS THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE, THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE MONOPOLY IN THIS STATE IS TRYING TO SNUFF OUT ANY VETERAN-LED EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH CARE TREATMENT FOR VETERANS.

>> FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, I WILL CONTINUE TO PUT IN ABOUT 60 HOURS A WEEK IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY JOB BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO HELP THE VETERANS OF THE STATE.

THAT'S NOT A BRAG.

IT'S JUST A PASSION I HAVE TAKING CARE OF THOSE VETERANS.

>> IN MONTGOMERY, RANDY SCOTT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>>> SO, HOW DID THINGS ESCALATE TO THE POINT WHERE GOVERNOR IVEY DECIDED TO FIRE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER KENT DAVIS THIS WEEK?

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TIMELINE.

IN AUGUST 2023, THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, BOOSTING THE TOTAL TO $7 MILLION.

BY JANUARY 2024, A COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF OFFICIALS FROM BOTH THE ADVA AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH BEGAN REVIEWING GRANT APPLICATIONS.

THEY ULTIMATELY SELECTED 33 RECIPIENTS.

HOWEVER, IN APRIL 2024, THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE ADVA CAME TO AN END.

COMMISSIONER KIM BOSWELL CITED CONCERNS THAT THE GRANTS MIGHT NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL ARPA GUIDELINES.

AS TENSIONS ROSE, COMMISSIONER KENT DAVIS FILED AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST COMMISSIONER BOSWELL, BUT THE ETHICS COMMISSION DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT.

IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ISSUED A LETTER URGING DAVIS TO RESIGN, CITING WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS "AMPLE CAUSE" AND ALLEGATIONS OF MISHANDLING THE GRANTS.

DAVIS REFUSED.

ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, DAVIS MET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM AND AGREED TO RESIGN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

ON OCTOBER 10TH, THE STATE BOARD OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VOTED TO REQUEST THAT DAVIS RECONSIDER HIS RESIGNATION, A MOTION THAT PASSED AFTER GOVERNOR IVEY EXITED THE MEETING.

YET THE SITUATION CONTINUED TO UNFOLD WHEN THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR A MEETING ON OCTOBER 18TH TO SEEK DAVIS'S IMMEDIATE REMOVAL.

FINALLY, ON OCTOBER 22, THE BOARD VOTED AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S REMOVAL REQUEST.

THAT'S WHEN THE GOVERNOR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TERMINATING DAVIS.

>>> MEANWHILE, THE NEWLY FORMED VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH STEERING COMMITTEE IS MOVING FORWARD ON PLANS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SCREENINGS FOR VETERANS ACROSS ALABAMA.

WITH BRAIN INJURIES IDENTIFIED AS A MAJOR FACTOR IN VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, THE COMMITTEE, LED BY ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER KIM BOSWELL, SEES SCREENING EXPANSION AS A PRIORITY.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED A DETAILED BRIEFING ON THE WIDESPREAD PREVALENCE OF TBIS AMONG VETERANS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

>> WE'RE BEGINNING TO WORK THROUGH A PLAN THAT WAS LAID OUT IN THE LEGISLATION AND REALLY TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LOOKING AT WHAT SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO VETERANS.

YOU HEARD A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND SCREENING FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

WE KNOW VETERANS THAT HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ARE AT THE BIGGEST RISK OF SUICIDE.

ONE OF MY THINGS IS WE NEED TO SCREEN FOR BRAIN INJURY EVERYWHERE THERE IS A VETERAN.

WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS, TOO.

YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN I THINK GETTING INFORMATION OUT WAS ANOTHER RUNNING THEME TODAY.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE 988 PUBLICIZED ON EVERY WEBSITE THAT TOUCHES VETERANS.

>> WE COVERED SOME AREAS I HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE.

IT WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL FOR ME.

THE FACT THAT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES ARE SO PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST VETERANS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH, IT CARRIES FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND I WAS IMPRESSED BY THAT AND THAT WAS NEW TO ME.

>> THERE'S BEEN A SURGE VIOLENCE FOR ALABAMA PRISONS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

THERE WERE 916 TOTAL INSTANCES OF FIGHTING AMONG INMATES FROM OCTOBER OF 2023, THE BEGINNING OF THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, TO AUGUST 31ST, REPRESENTING A ROUGHLY 13% INCREASE WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, WHICH SAW 811 DOCUMENTED FIGHTS.

INSTANCES OF INMATE ASSAULTS ON PRISON STAFF HAD ALSO INCREASED, WITH 479 CASES AS OF AUGUST 31ST, UP FROM 453.

AS OF AUGUST 31ST, ALABAMA'S INCARCERATED POPULATION WAS 27,428, UP FROM 26,947 LAST YEAR.

>>> MEANWHILE, TENSION CONTINUES BETWEEN ALABAMA LAWMAKERS AND THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES OVER ITS HANDLING OF PAROLE GUIDELINES.

BOARD CHAIR LEIGH GWATHNEY APPEARED BEFORE THE JOINT PRISON OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, WHERE LAWMAKERS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE BOARD'S LOW RATE OF COMPLIANCE WITH ITS OWN RULES AND A LACK OF UPDATES TO THOSE GUIDELINES--REQUIREMENTS THE BOARD IS LEGALLY BOUND TO FOLLOW.

UNDER GWATHNEY'S LEADERSHIP SINCE 2019, THE PAROLE GRANT RATE IN ALABAMA HAS PLUMMETED FROM OVER 50% TO JUST 8% LAST YEAR.

THIS DECLINE IS DRAWING INCREASED SCRUTINY, AS LAWMAKERS QUESTION WHY THE BOARD FOLLOWS ITS GUIDELINES IN ONLY 25% OF CASES.

THE COMMITTEE IS NOW GIVING THE BOARD UNTIL NOVEMBER TO RESPOND TO OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS, HOPING FOR SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS BOTH TRANSPARENCY AND THE STATE'S PAROLE RATE.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ME WHO WROTE THESE.

I CAN TELL YOU THE NAMES AND THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENT WAS ACTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE.

I CAN TELL YOU ALL OF THAT.

SO, THAT'S WHY I'M STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO KNOW HOW YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IT'S NOT THAT I'M EVADING YOUR QUESTION, CHAIRMAN.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL THAT I WAS EVADING YOUR QUESTION IN ANY -- >> KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS STAFF AT THE BOARD OF -- AT THE BUREAU.

>> THE BUREAU.

>> PARDONS AND PAROLES DEVELOPED THIS INFORMATION.

>> YES.

>> THEY REVIEWED IT WITH US.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE, AS THE BOARD, ADOPT THE PAROLE GUIDELINES.

THAT'S THE ANSWER.

>> I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE CREATING A PROCESS THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TELL PEOPLE IF IT WORKS OR NOT.

HOW ARE WE, AS LEGISLATORS WHO PASS A LAW, PUT IT IN PLACE AND EXPECT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THOSE WHO WORK THERE TO FOLLOW OR AT LEAST IMPLEMENT IT THAT COME TO YOU FIVE YEARS LATER AND TELL YOU THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY.

SO, AGAIN, IF YOU ASK, IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUIDELINES BEING CHANGED, OR NOT FOLLOWED AT ALL, HOW DO YOU, AS A CITIZEN, HAVE ANY FAITH IN THAT PROCESS?

FOR US, AS A LEGISLATURE, HOW DO WE HAVE FAITH THAT YOU CAN FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP US SAFE?

>>> SOME ALABAMA LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INTO POSSIBLE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY SURROUNDING THE MISMANAGEMENT OF A STATE OCCUPATIONAL BOARD.

CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED REGARDING SMITH WARREN MANAGEMENT'S OVERSIGHT OF VARIOUS LICENSURE BOARDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER A RECENT AUDIT OF THE ALABAMA BOARD OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS REVEALED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL DISCREPANCIES.

LAWMAKERS LEARNED THAT SMITH WARREN BILLED FOR UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL AND FAILED TO DOCUMENT NEARLY $100,000 IN RECEIPTS.

REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON HIGHLIGHTED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION, SUGGESTING POTENTIAL THEFT, FRAUD, OR ETHICS VIOLATIONS MAY HAVE OCCURRED.

>> WHAT WE FOUND WAS IN ADDITION TO THEIR 5, 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS THEY WERE CHARGING FOR MORE SERVICES AND DOING INVESTIGATIONS.

THEY PAID $30,000 FOR ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR, PERSONNEL COST FOR A POLICY DIRECTOR/STATE GOVERNMENT LIAISON IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,000.

SO, THIS IS -- THEY HAD SOME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL.

GRAND TOTAL THEY WERE GETTING $82,261.96 ON STOP OF 510 THEY WERE GIVEN.

THEY ALSO PURCHASED A TAHOE WITHOUT LETTING THE BOARD KNOW THEY WERE USING A TAHOE AND THEN THEIR INVESTIGATORS WERE GETTING MILEAGE BACK FROM THE BOARD FOR MILEAGE THEY HAD.

WHEN YOU HAVE A VEHICLE, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GET MILEAGE IF YOU ARE USING A BOARD VEHICLE.

IT IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL DOUBLE DIPPING THAT WENT ON THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

>>> ALABAMA LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO RECEIVE A 4.2% PAY RAISE NEXT YEAR, INCREASING THEIR ANNUAL SALARIES TO $62,212, ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA STATE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT.

THE RAISE IS TIED TO THE STATE'S MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, A SYSTEM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2012 THROUGH A VOTER-APPROVED AMENDMENT.

THAT AMENDMENT INITIALLY CUT PAY FOR MANY LAWMAKERS, SETTING THEIR SALARY AT JUST UNDER $43,000 IN 2015.

SINCE THEN, LEGISLATORS HAVE SEEN INCREASES NEARLY EVERY YEAR.

WHILE LAWMAKERS' SALARIES HAVE GROWN BY NEARLY $20,000 SINCE 2015, IT'S LESS THAN THEY WOULD HAVE EARNED UNDER THE OLD PAY STRUCTURE.

ANALYSTS SAY THEY WOULD BE MAKING OVER $69,000 IN 2024 IF THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM HAD STAYED IN PLACE.

>>> THOUSANDS OF ALABAMA RESIDENTS WHO WERE MISTAKENLY LABELED AS "INACTIVE" VOTERS HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS CONFIRMING THEIR ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

THIS FOLLOWS A COURT ORDER BY U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ANNA MANASCO, WHICH HALTED A VOTER PURGE INITIATED BY ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE, WES ALLEN.

THE PURGE PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED IN AUGUST, AIMED TO REMOVE NONCITIZENS FROM THE STATE'S VOTER ROLLS BUT AFFECTED OVER 3,200 REGISTERED VOTERS, TWO-THIRDS OF WHOM WERE LEGALLY REGISTERED.

AFTER THE COURT'S INTERVENTION, ALLEN DIRECTED COUNTY REGISTRARS TO SEND LETTERS TO THE REACTIVATED VOTERS, ASSURING THEM OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>>> SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS, MONDAY MARKED THE DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AHEAD OF ALABAMA'S UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.

FOR THOSE PLANNING TO VOTE ABSENTEE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE REMINDS VOTERS THAT MAIL-IN APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY COUNTY ABSENTEE ELECTION MANAGERS BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH.

IF YOU PLAN TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION IN PERSON, THE DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31ST.

FOR RETURNING ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN PERSON, THEY MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON NOVEMBER 4TH, THE DAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST ARRIVE BY NOON ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 5TH.

>>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WENT ON THE ROAD MONDAY AS PART OF HER "REBUILD ALABAMA ROAD TOUR" TO SHOWCASE PROGRESS UNDER THE REBUILD ALABAMA ACT.

THE GOVERNOR MARKED THE LATEST ROUND OF ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS, INCLUDING A RESURFACING PROJECT IN THE TOWN OF ARITON IN DALE COUNTY.

SINCE THE REBUILD ALABAMA ACT WAS PASSED IN 2019, THE STATE HAS UNDERTAKEN SEVERAL HUNDRED ROAD PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE ARITON PROJECT INCLUDES RESURFACING NEARLY FIVE MILES ON CREEL RICHARDSON STREET, PEA RIVER ROAD, AND ATLANTIC ROAD, FUNDED THROUGH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM.

>> WHEN I TOOK OFFICE IN 2017, IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE WAS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US.

AT THAT TIME, WE HAD NOT INCREASED OUR INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN 30 YEARS.

THAT HAD TO CHANGE.

SO, WE CAME TOGETHER AND PASSED THE REBUILD ALABAMA ACT WITH GOOD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I PLEDGE THAT EVERY SINGLE PENNY WOULD GO TO ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS, AS WELL AS TO OUR PORT.

I PROMISED WE WOULD PUT THOSE DOLLARS INTO NEEDED PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THANKS TO THE REBUILD ALABAMA, WE HAVE EMBARKED ON MORE THAN 350 ROAD PROJECTS IN ALL 67 COUNTIES.

THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT.

>>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ALSO ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK OVER $7.2 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING THROUGH THE GROWING ALABAMA PROGRAM, AIMED AT ENHANCING INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL SITES IN FOUR KEY AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS FUNDING WILL SUPPORT SITE DEVELOPMENT IN CONECUH, LAUDERDALE, ST. CLAIR, AND ELMORE COUNTIES, BOOSTING SITE READINESS TO ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS EXPANSIONS.

GOVERNOR IVEY SAYS THE INVESTMENTS WILL HELP CREATE JOBS AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL ECONOMIES.

FUNDING IS SET TO INCLUDE $3.8 MILLION FOR INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY, $1.5 MILLION FOR AN AGRICULTURAL CENTER IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY, $1.2 MILLION FOR INDUSTRIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT IN CONECUH COUNTY, AND $792,000 FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN TALLASSEE.

THE GROWING ALABAMA PROGRAM, MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, PROVIDES TAX CREDITS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WITH COMMERCE SECRETARY ELLEN MCNAIR CALLING IT A KEY TOOL FOR SPURRING LONG-TERM GROWTH AND ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRIES TO ALABAMA.

>>> A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN ALABAMA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPUTE AS A JUDGE HAS APPOINTED A MEDIATOR TO HELP RESOLVE THE ONGOING LEGAL FIGHT OVER WHO GETS LICENSES TO GROW AND SELL MEDICAL CANNABIS.

MONTGOMERY CIRCUIT JUDGE JAMES ANDERSON APPOINTED RETIRED CIRCUIT JUDGE EUGENE REESE AS THE MEDIATOR IN THE CASE.

ALTHOUGH ALABAMA APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN 2021 FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE PROGRAM REMAINS STALLED DUE TO LEGAL CHALLENGES.

SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT WERE DENIED LICENSES HAVE ACCUSED THE ALABAMA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION OF BREAKING STATE LAWS AND RULES DURING THE SELECTION PROCESS.

THE ALABAMA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION HAS TRIED TO ISSUE LICENSES THREE TIMES, BUT EACH ATTEMPT HAS FACED LEGAL CHALLENGES.

>>> A NEW BILL IN ALABAMA AIMS TO PROTECT STUDENTS TRANSFERRING BETWEEN SCHOOLS BY ENSURING THEIR RECORDS AREN'T WITHHELD DUE TO UNPAID FEES.

REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON, A REPUBLICAN FROM DAPHNE, HAS PREFILED LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

SIMPSON SAID DAPHNE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FLETCHER COMER CONTACTED HIM ABOUT PROBLEMS GETTING STUDENTS' RECORDS WHEN THEY TRANSFER FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

FLETCHER COMER HIGHLIGHTED CHALLENGES WITH RECEIVING STUDENT RECORDS WHEN THEY TRANSFER FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE REFUSED TO RELEASE TRANSCRIPTS IF THE STUDENT OWES MONEY, PREVENTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM CONFIRMING WHETHER A STUDENT HAS ENOUGH CREDITS TO GRADUATE.

SIMPSON SAYS THIS HAS CAUSED A RIPPLE EFFECT, IMPACTING GRADUATION RATES AND SCHOOL RATINGS.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD PREVENT ANY K-12 SCHOOL--PUBLIC OR PRIVATE--FROM WITHHOLDING A STUDENT'S RECORDS SOLELY BECAUSE OF AN UNPAID BALANCE.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS REQUIRE THESE RECORDS TO ENSURE STUDENTS MEET GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

>>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, LONGTIME POLITICAL ANALYST STEVE FLOWERS JOINS US WITH HIS TAKE ON THE WEEK'S DRAMA INVOLVING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HIS INSIGHTS ON THE FINAL STRETCH TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>>> LATER, REPRESENTATIVE ED OLIVER DISCUSSES HIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO HELP RETAIN MORE DOCTORS IN RURAL ALABAMA, FOLLOWED BY A VISIT FROM STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

>>> STAY TUNED TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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>> WELCOME BACK.

I'M JOINED BY POLITICAL ANALYST STEVE FLOWERS.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT FROM THE STATE TO NATIONAL POLITICS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

STEVE, ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VETERANS BOARD IN THE STATE.

KENT DAVIS -- [ LAUGHTER ] WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, BUT TO BREAK IT DOWN, AS I SAID EARLIER, THEY FILED AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST KIM BOSWELL AND SOME INTERAGENCY DISPUTES THERE.

IT GOT LEAKED TO THE PRESS.

THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T LIKE IT AND WANTED HIM TO RESIGN AND HE SAID HE WOULD LEAVE THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN THE BOARD -- THEY DIDN'T FIRE HIM AND AFTER THE MEETING THE GOVERNOR SAID FINE I'LL USE MY EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY AND SHE TERMINATED HIM.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT LEGAL?

WE KNOW SOME GOVERNORS HAVE IT DONE BEFORE.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT SAYING THAT VETERANS AFFAIRS IS NOT THE MOST CABINET MEMBER, BUT IT'S NOT.

IN ALABAMA -- PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE MOST OF VETERANS AFFAIRS STUFF IS HANDLED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

CONGRESSMAN LIKE MIKE ROGERS WOULD HAVE MORE INFLUENCE BECAUSE IT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE.

WHEN I WAS IN WE DIDN'T HAVE A VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE.

IT IS A MATTER OF CABINET POST NOBODY KNOWS OR CARES WHO'S IN IT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE.

MY OBSERVATION IS THAT KAY IVEY IS PRETTY LOYAL TO HER CABINET MEMBERS, PEOPLE SHE SELECTED.

A LOT OF THEM STAY WITH HER A LONG TIME.

SHE'S NOT SOMEONE YOU WANT TO CROSS.

IF SHE DIDN'T THINK SHE HAD SOMETHING HE HAD DONE WRONG, I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD HAVE MOVED LIKE SHE DID.

>> I TALKED TO SOMEONE HIGH INSIDE OF STATE GOVERNMENT, NOT A LEGISLATOR BUT -- NOT A CABINET POSITION BUT PRETTY CLOSE AND THEIR RESPONSE TO ME WAS WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PICK A FIGHT WITH THE GOVERNOR?

>> EXACTLY.

SHE'S NOT ONE YOU WANT TO PICK A FIGHT.

SHE'S LAID BACK BUT SHE DOESN'T FORGET THINGS.

SHE GETS EVEN.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE THOUGHTS THEY COULD CHALLENGE IT IN COURT.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE IF THEY COULD DEPOSE THE GOVERNOR IN COURT.

>> MY GUESS IS SHE WILL PREVAIL.

>> YES, PROBABLY SO.

LET'S MOVE TO POLITICS ON A BIGGER SCALE.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD WE HAVE A BIG ELECTION COMING UP IN A WEEK AND A HALF.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL RACE IN A SECOND FOR PRESIDENT BUT LET'S DROP DOWN TO ALABAMA.

ALABAMA IS GOING TO GO TRUMP, WE KNOW THAT, WHETHER IT IS BY MARGIN A OR B, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE DISTRICT 2 RACE BETWEEN DOBSON AND FIGURES, DOBSON THE REPUBLICAN AND FIGURES THE DEMOCRAT, THE NEWLY DRAWN DISTRICT THAT COVERS SOUTH ALABAMA.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RACE AND WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING AT THIS POINT.

>> BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PREFACE, THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS PRETTY MUCH IN THE BAG.

I'M MEAN NOT THE RESULT BUT STRANGELY THERE ARE ONLY STATES THAT MATTER AND WE'RE NOT ONE OF THEM.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IN MY COLUMNS, IF MICKEY MOUSE WAS A REPUBLICAN HE WOULD CARRY ALABAMA.

AND IF DONALD DUCK WAS A DEMOCRAT -- HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE A REPUBLICAN STATE.

AS YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT WAS DRAWN BY THE FEDERAL COURTS TO CREATE A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

THE REASON I SAY THAT IS -- WHEN THE PLAINTIFFS FILED THEIR SUIT, THE FEDERAL COURT WAS INTENDING TO MAKE IT A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

THAT WAS THEIR INTENTION.

THEY ASKED THEM TO SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT TO SHOW WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULTS.

IN THIS RACE YOU HAD 16 ELECTIONS AND THE PLAINTIFFS SHOWED IN 15 OUT OF 16 ELECTIONS WHERE THERE WAS A CONTESTED RACE, LIKE THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THAT THE DEMOCRAT WOULD HAVE WON.

NOW, HAD BIDEN STAYED ON TOP OF THE TICKET, I DON'T THINK THE DEMOCRATIC BASE, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FEMALES, AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALES, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TURNED OUT FOR BIDEN LIKE THEY ARE FOR MS. HARRIS.

SO, THEREFORE, THAT RACE IS REALLY DICTATED BY THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> IN TURNOUT, OF COURSE.

>> THAT'S THE KEY.

THAT'S THE KEY.

I THINK IF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS TURN OUT, THEY WILL FAVOR SHOMARI FIGURES.

IF NOT IT FAVORS CAROLYN DOBSON.

IN MY COLUMN THIS WEEK, THE VOTERS MUST HAVE KNOWN THEY WANTED A YOUNG CANDIDATE AND THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO HAVE DONE.

THE SENIORITY SYSTEM IS SO IMPORTANT IN WASHINGTON, AS YOU KNOW, JEFF, YOU NEED A YOUNG PERSON TO GET UP THERE.

BOTH OF THOSE FOLKS ARE IN THEIR 30S AND BOTH WELL QUALIFIED.

EXTREMELY WELL QUALIFIED.

I CALL THEM TWO THOROUGHBREDS.

THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES SELECTED THE TWO BEST CANDIDATES THEY COULD HAVE PICKED IN THOSE PRIMARIES.

SHOMARI FIGURES IN HIS 30S.

HE HAS A DEMOCRATIC PEDIGREE A MILE LONG.

HIS FATHER WAS A STATE SENATOR OF 18 YEARS, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE SENATE.

VIVIAN HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING SENATORS THE LAST TWO OR THREE DECADES, HIS MOTHER WHO TOOK MICHAEL'S SEAT FOR MOBILE.

AND HE'S WORKED IN WASHINGTON WITH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND HE KNOWS DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.

CAROLYN, I HAVEN'T SEEN A BETTER CANDIDATE IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF FOLLOWING THAN THAT YOUNG LADY.

SHE EXUDES CLASS, INTEGRITY AND HAS WORKED SO HARD.

I MEAN SHE RAISED HER OWN MONEY.

I THOUGHT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD SPEND MORE MONEY ON THE RACE THAN THEY HAVE BUT SHE'S HAD TO RAISE HER OWN MONEY.

>> SHE REALLY BEATS SO MUCH ESTABLISHED REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE TO GET THAT NOMINATION.

>> NOBODY GAVE HER A CHANCE.

SHE BEAT DICK BREWBAKER BY A LONG SHOT.

>> 60-40 PRIMARY.

SHE HAS BEEN HELPED BY THE DISTRICT.

BUT SHE'S WORKED A HARD.

WE WILL SEE HOW IT WILL TURN OUT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

AS WE SAID THAT IS HAPPENING IN A WEEK AND A HALF IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD.

HARRIS VERSUS TRUMP.

YOU MENTIONED THE SEVEN SWING STATES THAT SEEM TO DEFINE THE ELECTION EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.

MOST POLLING WHEN WE RECORD THE SHOW HAS NECK AND NECK, MAYBE HARRIS UP A POINT OR TRUMP UP A POINT HERE AND THERE.

POLLS HAVE BEEN WRONG BEFORE.

THEY WERE FAMOUSLY WRONG IN 2016.

WHAT'S YOUR GAUGE AS WE ARE A WEEK AND A HALF OUT?

>> IT IS THE SEVEN STATES OF GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA IN THE SOUTH, ARIZONA AND NEVADA IN THE WEST AND PENNSYLVANIA AND WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN IN THE MIDWEST.

I THINK, FROM READING THE POLLING I'VE SEEN AND THE TRENDING THAT'S HAPPENING IN POLLING AND BACKUP POLLS SHOWS THAT I THINK TRUMP MAY CARRY GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA.

I THINK THOSE TWO SOUTHERN STATES WILL COME HOME TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE CLEANED UP A LOT OF LOOPHOLE STUFF FOUR YEARS AGO AND IT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS.

I THINK ARIZONA GOES REPUBLICAN BECAUSE OF THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

THEY HAVE BEEN HIT WITH IT THERE, OBVIOUSLY.

SO, THEY WANT TO END THAT SITUATION.

NOW, IRONICALLY, JEFF, IN THAT SITUATION, THAT SENATE CANDIDATE THERE IS A LIGHTNING ROD, KAREN LAKE.

FIRST NAME I FORGET.

>> CARRIE LAKE.

>> YES.

SHE IS HURTING TRUMP.

THE TOP OF THE TICKET USUALLY MAKES HIM A DIFFERENCE.

>> FORMER NEWS ANCHOR.

>> I THINK HE STILL GETS ARIZONA.

NEVADA DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT IS ONLY FOUR ELECTORAL VOTES.

>> AND THEN UP IN TO PENNSYLVANIA AND SWING STATES.

>> I THINK MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN.

>> I HAVE SEEN THE NATIONAL POLLS AND PRETTY PROMINENT NATIONAL POLLSTER MADE THE COMMENT THAT THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO TO HIM IS HARRIS CARRIES ALL SEVEN SWING STATES.

THE SECOND MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS TRUMP DOES.

THE POINT IS NORMALLY ONE CANDIDATE CARRIES THIS ONE AND THESE TWO, BUT HIS POINT IS IT IS SUCH A TIGHT RACE THAT IT IS ANYBODY'S RACE.

>> I THINK IT IS SO TIGHT THAT EVEN THE WEATHER THAT DAY COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK IT IS REALLY DOWN TO THOSE THREE STATES, PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN AND I WOULD LEAN TO -- I THINK PENNSYLVANIA GOES DEMOCRATIC.

I THINK PHILADELPHIA -- THEY HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND EFFORT IN PHILADELPHIA.

THE KAMALA HARRIS CAMPAIGN HAS AND I THINK IT WILL DEPEND ON DETROIT WHETHER THEY GET THE VOTERS TO THE POLLS IN DETROIT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MICHIGAN.

IT WILL BE THAT THIN.

>> WILL WE HAVE AN OCTOBER SURPRISE?

>> I THINK NOTHING SURPRISES YOU WHAT TRUMP DOES.

NOBODY IS SURPRISED BY WHAT TRUMP DOES.

HE CAN'T MAKE A SURPRISE.

WHEN YOU SEE A POLL THAT SHOWS 50/50, THEY ARE ACCURATE BUT WHO GETS THEIR FOLKS TO THE POLLS IS THE KEY TO IT.

>> WE WILL FIND OUT.

>> IN THOSE STATES.

LET'S GO BACK TO ALABAMA, 2026, YOU MENTIONED GOVERNOR IVEY EARLIER.

SHE WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

YOU WERE TELLING ME YOU GET ASKED THAT QUESTION MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR.

>> THAT'S THE MOST SURPRISING THING.

I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO HER THIS FALL, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO 30 ROTARY CLUBS FROM MOBILE TO ALBERTVILLE AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE CLUBS I WILL TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

EVEN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THE OTHER DAY, I OPENED IT FOR QUESTIONS AND I THOUGHT I WILL GET A QUESTION WHO WILL CARRY WISCONSIN OR WHATEVER.

THE FIRST QUESTION ASKED IN ABOUT HALF, WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026?

WHO'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR?

PEOPLE LOVE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN ALABAMA.

I SAY I THE THREE OBVIOUS ONES WILL AINSWORTH, WHO IS TERM LIMITED.

STEVE MARSHALL, TERM LIMITED AND THEY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE.

THEY ARE THREE OF THE BEST-KNOWN PEOPLE.

PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE OBVIOUS CHOICES.

THE ONE THING THIS ELECTION TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, NOVEMBER 5TH, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN OUR GUBERNATORIAL RACE FOR THIS REASON.

-- THE WILD CARD IS TOMMY TUBERVILLE.

THE SENATE SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION THE SAME YEAR 2026 OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

SOME PEOPLE THINK HE'S TIRING OF THE SENATE.

HE GOT THERE AT THE LATE AGE.

HE IS 70 YEARS OLD.

HE MAY BE WORN OUT WITH BEING IN THE SENATE.

PLUS, YOU ADD THIS CAVEAT TO IT -- HERE'S THE CAVEAT, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS, BUT TOMMY TUBERVILLE IS TRUMP'S CLOSEST FRIEND IN THE SENATE.

THEY LOVE EACH OTHER.

HE PLAYS GOLF WITH TRUMP ALL THE TIME IN MAR-A-LAGO.

I THINK TRUMP THINKS THAT MUCH OF HIM.

MY ADVICE IS STAY IN THE SENATE.

YOU CAN DO MORE FOR HIM IN THE SENATE.

>> ASK JEFF SESSIONS THAT QUESTION.

HE WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH YOU THERE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> TO PUT A BOW ON THAT, IF TRUMP WINS AND TUBERVILLE IS GIVEN A CABINET POSITION AND APPROVED BY THE SENATE, THAT OPENS UP WITH MARSHALL OR AINSWORTH, WHOEVER RUN FOR THE SENATE OPPOSED TO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

JOHN MERRILL IS OUT THERE.

I SEE HIM SO ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU TALK ABOUT SPEAKING TOURS.

HE IS TRAVELING THE STATE LEFT AND RIGHT.

>> MY GUESS IS -- THE BEST RACE IN THE STATE IS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING TO THAT ONE.

THAT MAY BE WHERE JOHN MERRILL WINDS UP.

>> PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT THIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> THAT'S THE RACE.

>> TWINKLE CAVANAUGH MAYBE IN THERE.

SHE IS A TOUGH CANDIDATE.

IT WILL BE -- LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACE WILL FIELD A LOT OF CANDIDATES NEXT TIME.

IT WILL START AS SOON AS THE POLLS CLOSE ON NOVEMBER 5TH.

IT WILL HAVE AN AFFECT ON WHAT TUBERVILLE WILL DO.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AINSWORTH, HE SAID HE IS MAKING A DECISION STILL.

I THINK HE WILL RUN.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION HE WANTS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

LET ME SAY ALL THREE OF THOSE GUYS I MENTIONED ONLY HAVE 20% NAME IDENTIFICATION.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS TO GET NAME IDENTIFICATION.

TUBERVILLE HAS 75% AND I KNOW HE HAS MADE SOME FAUX PASS AND DONE RIGHT-WING STUFF BUT HE IS POPULAR.

HE MAY RUN THEM OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IF HE GETS IN THERE.

>> IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING RACE IF HE DID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEVE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A BOOK.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT TIME YOU ARE ON THE SHOW AND WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK IN NOVEMBER AND SEE WHERE THE WORLD STANDS THEN IF IT DIDN'T FALL APART.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE ED OLIVER OUT OF DADEVILLE.

APPRECIATE YOU JOINING I TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RULE POSITION TAX CREDIT.

HOW DID IT GET ON YOUR RADAR?

>> WE HAVE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PHYSICIANS IN RURAL AREAS.

WE WILL UPDATE IT TO COMPENSATE FOR INFLATION.

WE HAVE A 1993 LAW INTENDED TO MAKE RURAL AREAS MORE COMPETITIVE FOR PHYSICIANS AND THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.

WE WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX CREDIT AND REDEFINE THE -- OR, ACTUALLY DEFINE THE AREAS WHERE IT WILL FIT.

>> YOU MENTIONED 1993, 30 SOMETHING YEARS AGO.

THE COST OF BEING A PHYSICIAN HAS CHANGED, EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAS CHANGED, JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS AFFECTED ACROSS THE STATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT AFFECT RURAL HEALTH.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, HOSPITALS ARE CLOSING, DOCTORS ARE MOVING OUT.

I ATTENDED A MEETING IN MY DISTRICT OF PHYSICIANS TWO WEEKS AGO AND LOOKED AT THE AGE AROUND THE ROOM.

THERE WERE NOT MANY THERE YOUNGER THAN I AM AND I'M NOT EXACTLY A SPRING CHICKEN.

>> GIVE YOURSELF A LITTLE MORE CREDIT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> YOU SAID UPDATE $10,000 FOR FOUR-YEAR TAX CREDIT AND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR PHYSICIANS TO LIVE AND PRACTICE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND IT WOULD SUNSET FROM 2020.

>> WE THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

UNDER THE CURRENT LAW THE EXISTING CREDIT IS AVAILABLE TO LICENSED RESIDENT PHYSICIAN WHO PRACTICE IN A CERTAIN AREA AND IN A SMALLER, RURAL ALABAMA COMMUNITY.

NOBODY DEFINED THAT IN A PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.

SO WE'RE SAYING IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LESS THAN 25,000 RESIDENTS AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE ADMISSION PRIVILEGES TO A SMALLER RURAL HOSPITAL.

AS HOSPITALS CLOSE THAT MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE YOU ARE ENCOURAGING PHYSICIANS TO MOVE OUT OF THOSE AREAS.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANTED TO CHANGE.

>> A LOT OF HOSPITALS GENERAL EARLIER IN THE SHOW, WE RAN A STORY ABOUT JACKSON RUNNING INTO MONEY TROUBLES AND THERE ARE OTHERS BUT WE HAVE SEEN HOSPITALS THAT CAN'T MAKE IT ANYMORE AND HAVING TO CLOSE DOWN.

WE ARE SEEING RESIDENTS HAVING TO DRIVE AN HOUR OR TWO AWAY TO GET ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL CARE.

THIS IS REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP GET THESE DOCTORS BACK INTO THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND YOU GRADUATED AND EVERYBODY SENT YOU A CREDIT CARD AND THEY WANT YOU TO BE A MEMBER OF THE COUNTRY CLUB AND YOU BUILT A HUGE MANSION ON THE HILL.

THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

THERE ARE OTHER STATES YOU CAN GO AND ACTUALLY MAKE MORE THAN IN THIS STATE FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

AS I SAID, IT'S REIMBURSEMENT RATES, INFLATION, YOUR PAYER MIX, THE FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS -- I LIVED IN THE CITY OF DOTHAN WHEN I FIRST GOT OUT OF COLLEGE YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

AT THE TIME, THE THOUGHT WAS WE ARE SEEING DOCTORS COMING IN TO BIG MEDICAL HOSPITALS IN DOTHAN, FROM CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES BUT AS YOU HAVE SAID TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND IT'S MUCH MORE -- I HATE TO SAY THE WORD HOSTILE BUT MORE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT.

>> MUCH MORE CHALLENGING.

THAT'S WHY WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME UP WITH THIS BILL.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS UPDATE IT TO $10,000 A YEAR OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD.

WE THINK THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME AND LIVE AND PRACTICE IN A RURAL SETTING.

I'D LIKE TO ADD, THOUGH, WHAT WE SEE FROM A PRACTICAL LEVEL, THE KIDS THAT COME FROM THE RURAL AREAS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND COME BACK.

THE SECOND IS THE TAX CREDIT.

>> EVERYONE THINKS THAT DOCTORS AND LAWYERS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH WHATSOEVER.

>> NOT ANYMORE.

>> THE COST OF BEING A DOCTOR, WHAT DOES IT COST TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THEN BY THE TIME YOU FINISH FOUR YEARS OF REGULAR COLLEGE, RESIDENCIES AND MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND YOU ARE IN YOUR LATE 20S AND 30S AND YOU HAVE A MOUNTAIN OF STUDENT DEBT AND YOU ARE RIGHT, SOME OF THE LARGER CITIES ARE MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN IT WOULD BE TO COME TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WHAT ARE THE DOCTORS TELLING YOU -- YOU MENTIONED GOING IN TO A ROOM AND THE DOCTORS ARE YOUNGER THAN YOUR AGE.

WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU.

>> $46,000 INSURANCE FOR HIMSELF AND THEN THE EMPLOYS YOU HAVE TO INSURE.

THE DOCTORS ARE LOOKING FOR A GROUP TO GO INTO BUSINESS.

THE DAYS OF A DOCTOR OPERATING ON HIS OWN AS A FAMILY PRACTITIONER ARE GOING AWAY QUICKLY.

>> HOW DO WE TAKE THIS AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT RURAL PRACTICES HERE.

YOU ARE FROM THE DADEVILLE AREA AND WE CAN GET BACK IN TO LEE COUNTY A BIT.

THERE ARE SMALLER COUNTIES AND AUBURN AND OPELIKA IS THERE.

HOW DOES HAVING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, HAVING A DOCTOR IN YOUR HOMETOWN AND A HOSPITAL NOT CLOSED, HOW DOES THAT NOT JUST CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BUT HELP THE ECONOMY IN THESE TOWNS?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE PILLARS OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER FOR MEDICINE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME WITH SERVICES FOR THE HOSPITAL, THEN THAT'S A HANDICAP.

THE FARTHER YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS.

I LIVE ON LAKE MARTIN.

AS OF COVID, THE MEDIAN HOUSE ON LAKE MARTIN IS 1.4 MILLION BUT IT IS HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO COMMIT TO LIVING THERE IF THEY HAVE HEALTH CHALLENGES OR ARE OLDER BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE TO DEFINITIVE HEALTH CARE.

>> ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE AN AMBULANCE OR TO GET FROM THERE TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> THAT'S AN ISSUE.

WE HAVE AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM RUNNING THAT WE GOT A GRANT FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR WHERE WE HAVE A PICKUP TRUCK WITH A PARAMEDIC WHO ACTUALLY PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING SERVICES BECAUSE HE NEVER LEAVES.

WE ONLY HAVE TWO AMBULANCES OUTSIDE OF ALEXANDER CITY TO SERVE ONE COUNTY THERE.

WHEN YOU NEED THE AMBULANCE IT'S GONE IN BIRMINGHAM OR MONTGOMERY.

WE HAVE ONE GUY AND HIS PICKUP TRUCK AND HE SITS IN THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA, NINE MILES OR SO SOUTH OF DADEVILLE AND HE RESPONDS TO CALLS IN THAT AREA.

>> YOU MENTIONED THIS LEGISLATION GETTING THAT THE SESSION STARTS IN A FEW MONTHS.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE LAWMAKERS WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE YOU ARE READING?

I KNOW IT'S EARLY?

>> WHO COULD BE AGAINST THIS IS WHAT I SAY ABOUT ALL OF MY LEGISLATION.

I THINK THE TEMPERATURE IS GOOD FOR THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT INFLATION A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG TOPIC AMONG AMERICANS.

POLITICALLY IT IS A BIG TOPIC WITH ELECTIONS COMING UP.

HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED THE REAL INCOME OF THESE DOCTORS?

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER INSURANCE AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

IS IT HAVING MORE STRANGLEHOLD THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON MAY THINK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK HEALTHCARE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS IN TROUBLE.

I THINK WE COULD SEE A RAPID DETERIORATION OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE IF WE DON'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WRESTLE IT NOW.

I THINK THE LONGER WE WAIT TO DO SOMETHING, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES.

>> YOU ALSO SERVE ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS.

THERE WAS A MEETING THIS PAST WEEK.

LET'S TALK ABOUT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES.

WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT THAT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WITH THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY.

TALK ABOUT HOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR YOU?

>> I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT PTSD, POST TIME TRAUMATIC ISSUES AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE REALIZING IS THE POPULATION AT LARGE, NOT JUST VETERANS FROM HEAD INJURIES, CONCUSSIONS YOU HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, THINGS YOU DID IN FOOTBALL OR PLAYING IN THE FRONT YARD WHEN YOU WERE SMALL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOU AS YOU GROW OLDER.

SEVERAL DISEASES THAT EVEN ALS MIGHT BE RELATED, BUT WE'RE DISCOVERING A LOT OF THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.

MANY OF THOSE TRANSLATE IN TO PERSONALITY CONFLICTS.

OF COURSE, I'M ON THE VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE.

THAT'S ONE THING WE HAVE PICKED UP ON IS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES SEEM TO BE A CATALYST FOR THAT.

>> THEY ARE A CATALYST FOR THAT.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT AND HOW, AS A LEGISLATOR, CAN YOU HELP ADDRESS THAT?

>> WELL, IN MY DISTRICT, TWO OF OUR FOOTBALL TEAMS HAVE PADDED HELMETS FOR PRACTICE.

THE TRUTH IS NOBODY HAS ALL OF THE ANSWERS.

WE'RE JUST NOT THAT SMART, BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO AND ONE THING IS JUST BEING AWARE.

OF COURSE, IF YOU SHOW SYMPTOMS OF SOMETHING NOT NORMAL YOU DON'T JUST BRUSH IT OFF.

YOU TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> WE HAVE BOTH HAD CONCUSSIONS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I HAD A CONCUSSION AND MY FATHER SAID JUST DON'T GO TO SLEEP FOR A FEW HOURS YOU ARE FINE.

>> IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE THE NEXT MORNING YOU ARE GOOD.

>> THERE IS A LOT GOING ON WITH THE RURAL POSITION TAX CREDIT.

I KNOW IT IS A BIG PRIORITY COMING UP IN THE SESSION.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANYTIME.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE WELCOMED BACK.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> SINCE 1997, ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS PROVIDED PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS, TEACHER AND PARENTS.

VISIT APTV.ORG/EDUCATION TO LEARN MORE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M JOINED NOW BY STATE HEALTH OFFICER, DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

>> SO MUCH GOING ON AND I HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS.

LET'S START WITH SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER, HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS.

I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE INVOLVED IN.

>> WE RESPOND TO NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE A NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES DO.

WITH THE HURRICANES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST WE HAVE RESPONDED BY HELPING SISTER STATES THAT HAVE NEEDS.

WE, IN PUBLIC HEALTH HAVE SENT A TEAM OF NURSES TO NORTH CAROLINA TO WORK IN A SHELTER THERE TO TAKE CARE OF DISPLACED PEOPLE, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL NEEDS THERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN THERE TWO WEEKS AT THIS POINT.

A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES DID THE SAME THING AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN OUR HISTORY WHERE OTHER STATES SHARED RESOURCES WITH US.

IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD TO DO.

I HAD SUCH A GREAT FEELING OF HOW OUR NURSES STEPPED UP AND VOLUNTEERED.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SEND ANYONE.

THEY WERE VOLUNTEERS AND STEPPED UP TO HELP.

THEY HAVE DONE GREAT WORK THERE.

>> WHEN WE THINK OF HURRICANES WE THINK OF THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND STORM SURGE AND WHEN YOU GET IN TO EASTERN TENNESSEE AND IT IS VERY DIFFERENT, MOUNTAINOUS AND HILLY.

I'M ASSUMING IT PRESENTED CHALLENGES BUT TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS IS IMPRESSIVE.

>> REALLY IS.

WE HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO A HURRICANE EVENT IN THAT TYPE OF TERRITORY BEFORE.

WE HAVE SENT TEAMS TO AREAS WITH ICE STORMS.

I KNOW SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN KENTUCKY THIS WAS A BIG ICE STORM THERE, SIMILAR LANDSCAPE PERHAPS BUT TRANSPORTATION, THE LOGISTICS OF TRANSPORTING PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT TO THIS AREA HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE BUT OUR FOLKS STEPPED UP TO DO THAT.

>> LET'S SWITCH GEARS TO SOMETHING MORE TRADITIONAL WHEN WE THINK OF YOUR OFFICE.

WE HAVE HEARD OF THE E. COLI OUTBREAK OR IF YOU HAVEN'T THERE'S BEEN ONE AT MCDONALD'S.

THEY MAY HAVE TRACED IT TO ONIONS.

AND QUARTER POUNDER OFF THE MENU.

HAS THAT AFFECTED ALABAMA?

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT.

WE FOLLOW IT CLOSELY.

THE FDA KEEPS US APPRISED OF THE INFORMATION.

THE PUBLIC WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW OFTEN WE BECOME AWARE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, CONTAMINATED FOOD PRODUCT IN AN ESTABLISHMENT LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WEEKLY, NOT QUITE DAILY BUT COMMON THING BUT THE SCALE OF THIS ONE HAS GOTTEN EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AND WHEN IT IS A POPULAR RESTAURANT IT GRABS HEADLINES BUT IT IS PRETTY COMMON EVENT.

>> I WAS READING IN A NATIONAL MAGAZINE THAT MCDONALD'S HAS ONE OF THE MOST STRINGENT GUIDELINES WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD SAFETY.

SO IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO MCDONALD'S IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE SCALE OF THE WAY FOOD IS HARVESTED AND TRANSPORTED AND PREPARED AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FOOD ITEMS THAT AREN'T COOKED.

IN THIS CASE, AS YOU SAID, IT MAY BE RAW ONIONS INVOLVED.

I'M SURE THEY ATTEMPT TO WASH THEM BUT THEY ARE NOT COOKED.

THERE'S ALWAYS RISK WITH THAT.

WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPPLIER FEEDING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS, YOU CAN SEE HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN.

>> WHAT DOES E. COLI DO IF I WAS TO GET E. COLI AND I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A FAIRLY STRONG STRAIN.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HUMAN BODY.

>> IT IS A COMMON GERM THAT WE ALL HAVE IN OUR BODIES.

IT LIVES IN OUR BOWEL AND THAT'S A NORMAL THING.

CERTAIN STRAINS CAUSE DIARRHEA, FEVER, AND PROBLEMS WITH BLOOD CLOTTING.

IT'S PARTICULARLY AN ISSUE FOR CHILDREN.

IF YOUNG KIDS GET THIS, THEY CAN END UP WITH KIDNEY FAILURE OR WORSE.

THERE CAN BE FATALITIES.

THERE HAS BEEN ONE FATALITY FROM THE CURRENT OUTBREAK IN THE U.S.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PREVENTED BY HANDLING FOOD SAFELY AND COOKING IT BEFORE EATING BUT IT CONTINUES TO CROP UP.

IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME NOW.

>> LET'S SWITCH FROM E. COLI TO THE BIRD FLU.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME NOW.

WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH THAT IN THE STATE?

>> BIRD FLU IS INTERESTING.

IT IS JUST WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, A TYPE OF FLU THAT AFFECTS BIRDS.

BIRDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFER IT TO CERTAIN OTHER ANIMALS.

SOMETIMES THEY WILL LAND ON A POULTRY FARM AND YOU END UP WITH A FLOCK INFECTED.

WE HAVE HAD THAT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

RARELY PEOPLE WILL BE INFECTED BUT IT CAN BE SEVERE WHEN THEY DO.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IS WE ARE SEEING INFECTED DAIRY CATTLE.

NOT IN ALABAMA YET BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BECOME INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU.

THAT PUTS THIS PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF THOSE COWS AT RISK FOR BIRD FLU AS WELL.

BIRD FLU HAS BEEN DETECTED IN MILK, ALTHOUGH PASTEURIZATION SEEMS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT SITUATION.

IT IS FELT TO BE A LOW RISK FOR MOST PEOPLE BUT JUST THE FACT IT IS IN THE HERDS OF CATTLE THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IS THE BIG STORY.

WE'RE MONITORING ANYONE WHO'S EXPOSED TO IT.

IF WE HAVE PATIENT, OR SOMEONE WHO CONTRACTS BIRD FLU THEY HAVE MOSTLY DONE WELL SO FAR WHEN IT'S HAPPENED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE HERE IN ALABAMA SO FAR.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

PREPAREDNESS IS WHAT WE DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE ARE MONITORING IT TO SEE IF SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS.

>> IT CAN SHOW HOW VIRUSES, SICKNESSES AND GERMS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, OBVIOUSLY NOT A DOCTOR BUT THEY EVOLVE OVER TIME.

THEY WANT TO FIND A WAY TO LIVE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NATURE ALWAYS WINS THE BATTLES.

NATURE IS SMARTER THAN WE ARE.

IT GOES TO SHOW YOU WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

WE WENT THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WE HAD THE H1N1 EPIDEMIC 15 YEARS AGO ALMOST.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING LURKING OUT THERE.

TOO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON IN NATURE FOR US TO BE INCAUTIOUS.

WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS THAT MONITOR THOSE THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A VIRUS THAT RECENTLY CAUSED AN OUTBREAK IN AFRICA CALLED THE MARBURG VIRUS.

IT BEHAVES LIKE EBOLA.

SO FAR IT IS CONFINED TO AFRICA BUT WE ARE MONITORING PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM THAT PART OF THE WORLD AND THEY ARE SENT TO CERTAIN AIRPORTS SO THEY GET HEALTH SCREENINGS.

IF SOMEONE TRAVELS FROM THAT PART OF THE WORLD TO ALABAMA OUR TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THOSE PEOPLE.

THERE ARE THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY.

>> YOU MENTIONED COVID AND YOU AND I GOT TO KNOW EACH BETTER WHEN YOU HAD WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCES.

WHERE ARE WE NOW WITH COVID?

>> WE HAD A LOT OF CASES THE LAST FEW MONTHS LIKE MOST OF THE COUNTRY DID.

WE WERE ABLE TO MONITOR COVID IN SOME WAYS WITH WASTE WATER SURVEILLANCE.

THERE'S A METHOD FOR SAMPLING SEWAGE AND YOU CAN FIND IF PEOPLE ARE PUTTING COVID VIRUS INTO THE SEWAGE BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO IS INFECTED WILL SHED IT WHEN USING THE BATHROOM.

IT IS A CLEVER WAY TO SEE WHAT THE COVID ACTIVITY IS, EVEN IF HOSPITALS AREN'T FILLING UP OR PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING TESTED.

IT'S AN EXTRA WAY TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CASES.

MOST PEOPLE DO VERY WELL THESE DAYS.

MOST HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR HAD COVID OR BOTH LIKE ME.

IT AFFORDS YOU SOME PROTECTION BUT IT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR MOST VULNERABLE, FOR SENIORS AND HAVE CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS.

IT CAN STILL BE A BIG DEAL.

>> IT IS LIKE THE FLU, RECOMMENDING A BOOSTER SHOT EACH YEAR.

>> THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS.

THERE'S A NEW VACCINE THAT JUST CAME OUT THIS FALL.

IT'S NOT CERTAIN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL RECOMMENDATION.

IT COULD BE MORE OR LESS OFTEN.

I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE THAT.

BUT THERE IS AN UPDATED VACCINE AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR TO SEE IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR THAT.

>> TALK ABOUT WHOOPING COUGH.

I ALWAYS HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING WHOOPING OR WHUPPING COUGH.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

A RECENT OUTBREAK HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> IT HAS HAPPENED AROUND THE COUNTRY AND NOT ONLY HERE IN ALABAMA.

SO WHOOPING COUGH IS HOW I LEARNED TO SAY IT.

IT DOES HAVE A W BUT IT MUST BE SILENT.

IT IS A DISEASE THAT CAUSES INFECTION OF THE AIRWAYS.

IT CAUSES SEVERE COUGH.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY, REALLY ANNOYING AND CAN PUT YOU DOWN FOR A WHILE IF YOU ARE AN ADULT, BUT IF YOU ARE AN INFANT, A CHILD THAT HAS THESE TINY AIRWAYS, THEY ARE PHYSICALLY SMALL, THEN WHOOPING COUGH CAN BE A FATAL ILLNESS.

VACCINE HAS BEEN THE WAY WE HAVE STOPPED THIS IN THIS COUNTRY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT THERE'S DECLINING VACCINE RATES SINCE THE PANDEMIC PARTICULARLY.

WE ARE SEEING OUTBREAKS.

THERE'S A BIG OUTBREAK IN THE MONTGOMERY REGION HERE BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THERE ARE OTHER OUTBREAKS AROUND THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE HIGHER NUMBER OF CASES THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN MANY YEARS RIGHT NOW.

>> IS THAT ADULTS OR CHILDREN OR WHAT DO WE MOSTLY SEE IT IN?

>> MOST OF THE CASES DO OCCUR IN ADOLESCENTS BECAUSE THE VACCINE HAS A LIMITED TIME OF THE EFFECTIVENESS.

YOU NEED A VACCINE AT LEAST EVERY TEN YEARS FOR WHOOPING COUGH.

BY THE TIME KIDS GET IN TO MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL OR GOING TO COLLEGE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DECADE OR SO SINCE THEY GOT THE CHILDHOOD SHOTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHEN IT SHOWS UP.

IT IS ALSO COMMON IN PEOPLE WHO ARE GRANDPARENT AGE.

NOW IF YOU HAVE A NEW GRANDCHILD, MANY TIMES YOU ARE WARNED BY YOUR CHILD'S PEDIATRICIAN, YOU CAN'T HOLD THIS BABY UNTIL YOU UPDATE YOUR WHOOPING COUGH SHOT.

THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME.

>> I DON'T WANT TO GIVE OUR AGES AWAY BUT WE ARE BOTH IN THE GRANDPARENT AGE RANGE AND I HAVEN'T HAD A VACCINE IN MORE THAN TEN YEARS.

>> WHEN YOU GET A GRANDCHILD THEY WILL NOT LET YOU IN THE HOSPITAL TO VISIT UNLESS YOU GET A WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE.

>> SOMETHING YOU LEARN.

TALK ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

YOU ALL HAVE A BROAD MISSION BUT ON A DAILY BASIS YOU MENTIONED -- YOU ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE GATE IT SEEMS LIKE AS FAR AS THE HEALTH OF THE STATE?

>> WE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES MOSTLY.

SOMEONE TOLD ME WHEN I WAS COMING IN TO PUBLIC HEALTH, YOU DON'T KNOW IT BUT PUBLIC HEALTH SAVED YOUR LIFE TODAY AND I LEARNED THAT IS TRUE.

THE WORK THAT MEN AND WOMEN DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH TO MAKE SURE OUR FOOD AND WATER IS SAFE, WHEN YOU FLUSH YOUR TOILET, SANITATION IS TAKEN CARE OF SO YOU ARE NOT EXPOSED TO SOMETHING.

THEY DO SO MANY THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE, THAT THEY CAN BE SAFE AND HEALTHY AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICER, DR. SCOTT HARRIS, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING NEW WHEN YOU ARE ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

TODD STACY WILL BE BACK IN THE ANCHOR CHAIR NEXT WEEK AS WE BREAK DOWN THE LATEST FROM THE STATE CAPITOL AND HEADLINES ACROSS ALABAMA.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M JEFF SANDERS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.