Alabama Legislature

Prison Construction Bills Pass First Vote in House Committee

MONTGOMERY — The prison construction package negotiated by Gov. Kay Ivey and top legislative leaders advanced in a House committee Tuesday, setting it up for a vote of the full House Wednesday. Republicans on the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee expressed confidence in the plan, but some Democrats remain concerned over the cost and ultimate effectiveness of the new buildings. Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, said that he thinks the new facilities are necessary to reduce the violence and keep staff numbers up. “The bill is a good start. It’s not the solution to all our problems and it’s going to take a lot of money, but one thing it may help us do is keep employees,” Greer said. Read more. Also Tuesday: Sentencing Reform Bills Pass Committee

by Caroline Beck and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Congressional Democrat to Treasury: Alabama ‘Misusing’ COVID-19 Funds for Prisons

Alabama’s plan to use $400 million in federal COVID-19 relief money on new prisons has caught the attention of top Democrats in Congress who moved Monday to try to prevent the expenditure. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, sent a letter to Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen asking her to stop Alabama from “misusing” a portion of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation. “Directing funding meant to protect our citizens from a pandemic to fuel mass incarceration is in direct contravention of the intended purposes of the ARP legislation and will particularly harm communities of color who are already disproportionately impacted by over-incarceration and this public health crisis,” Nadler wrote. Alabama legislators, however, said the plan to help fix Alabama’s prison crowding issues is a legitimate use of federal funds sent to states to make up for revenue lost during the pandemic. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Legislature Gavels In Special Session on Prisons

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature convened at the State House Monday for the start of a special session to consider a plan to build three new prisons along with two sentencing reform bills. The meeting is the latest attempt to fix the state's crowded, crumbling and chaotic prison system that for decades has been the target of federal investigations, lawsuits, court orders and threatened takeovers. The priority in the construction bill is two 4,000-bed men's facilities in Elmore and Escambia counties. Lawmakers estimate their costs at between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion. The full plan, which is sponsored by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, includes a new women's prison along with renovations of other men's prisons in its second phase. Read more. 10 Things to Know About Lawmakers’ Special Session

by Caroline Beck and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Alcohol Law Goes Into Effect Oct. 1, but Don’t Expect Deliveries Right Away

A new law allowing for the home delivery of beer, wine and spirits goes into effect Oct. 1, but Alabamians will have to wait longer for their favorite beverages at their front doors. “The law becoming effective Oct. 1 literally means that is the first day we can begin processing applications,” Alcoholic Beverage Control Board spokesman Daniel Dye told Alabama Daily News. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

10 Things to Know About Lawmakers’ Special Session

The Alabama Legislature will soon debate a prison plan that leaders say would address issues with the state’s outdated and crowded facilities and the violence and poor care that has prompted federal investigations and threats of takeovers. Lawmakers begin meeting Monday afternoon in a special session. Read on for 10 things to know about the session.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Lawmakers Estimate New Elmore, Escambia Prison Costs

The construction of the two men’s prison, which the Alabama Legislature will debate and possibly approve next week, will cost an estimated $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion. Improvements at other prisons and a new women’s prison will add to that amount, State House leaders say. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Draft Bill Closes 5 Prisons, Leaves Fate of Others to Be Determined

The prison construction bill the Alabama Legislature will consider in next week’s special session expressly closes five prisons in the state but leaves the futures of others up to decision makers at a later date. Men’s facilities Hamilton Aged and Infirmed Center, Staton, Elmore and Kilby and the Julia Tutwiler women’s prison would be closed under the bill in its draft form. The prison plan’s first phase includes two new 4,000-bed prisons in Elmore and Escambia counties and allows the state to borrow up to $785 million for their construction. Phase two includes a new women’s prison, though there’s no dedicated funding for that project in the bill. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Will Special Session Include Sentencing Reform Measures?

At the very end of the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 Regular Session in May, a slate of four criminal justice bills died before getting a vote in the Senate. The bills, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, received bi-partisan support in the House and looked to be a lock to go to the governor’s desk. But things can get testy between the chambers on the final days of session and they never came up for a final vote. “Sometimes with these things, you just run out of time,” Hill told Alabama Daily News on Monday. Now, Hill is prepared to file the bills again in the special session on prison construction, should they fit into Gov. Kay Ivey’s special session plan. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

State House’s COVID-19 Restrictions Eased for Upcoming Special Session

After restricted public access the past two regular legislative sessions, next week’s special session of the Alabama Legislature will largely be free of COVID-19 protocols. Secretary of the Senate Pat Harris said that people who aren’t vaccinated are asked to wear masks, as is the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but there will be no enforcement of that request. “We’re asking people to use common sense,” Harris said. The Senate gallery will again be open to the public, Harris said, but distancing in committee rooms will still be in place. “We’re not going to pack the hearing rooms,” Harris said.  Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Perry County Facility Key Factor in Prison Plan

The proposed plan to build new prisons in Alabama would also allow the purchase of the empty, privately owned prison in Perry County to hold parole violators who are crowding some county jails around the state.  The Perry County Correctional Facility "has always been the Rubik’s Cube of the prison problem that no one’s ever been really able to figure out,” Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole Director Cam Ward told Alabama Daily News. Built in the 2000s, Ward said, it’s a good 730-bed facility but its remote location and distance from medical care has been a challenge to operations. At one point, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the space. “But it’s never been used to capacity,” Ward said. Ward and other state leaders will meet with GEO Group, the private prison company that owns the site, this week, about the possible purchase. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News