Alabama Legislature Archives - Page 23 of 43 - BirminghamWatch

Alabama Legislature

Bill Puts Into Law Unemployment Benefit Fraud Protections

Earlier this month, Lad Drago received an email notification from the Alabama Department of Labor saying someone had filed an unemployment insurance claim against his Spanish Fort insurance agency. He went to the state’s online system for more information. “Lo and behold, Lad Drago was the claimant, and they had my Social Security number, as well as my date of birth,” Drago said. This began hours of trying to get more information about the fraudulent claim, including telling a Department of Labor representative it was a fake. He was pointed to a claims dispute webpage. “That’s where everything really started getting frustrating,” Drago told Alabama Daily News. He said he tried multiple ways to convey to Labor that payments shouldn’t be made to the bank account set up to collect the money. He said there’s an out-of-state phone number attached to the claim and a strange email address. On Monday, he received a notice of payment on the claim. Read more. More from the Legislature this week: Bill Would Ban All Chemical Abortions in Alabama Legislature Nearing Passage of State Budgets as Session Nears End

Bill Would Ban All Chemical Abortions in Alabama

MONTGOMERY — A bill that would outlaw all chemical abortions, or the use of prescription “abortion pills,” in Alabama will get a public hearing Wednesday in a House committee. House Bill 377, from Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, would make it a Class C felony for anyone in the state to administer medication that is commonly used to end a pregnancy during the first trimester. Sorrell said he thought the bill was needed now after seeing a push in some states to increase access to the medications through telemedicine means, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more. More from the Legislature this week: Legislature Nearing Passage of State Budgets as Session Nears End

Legislature Nearing Passage of State Budgets as Session Nears End

MONTGOMERY -- More progress was made on both state budgets on Tuesday, with lawmakers closing in on a final vote on both during the last days of the Alabama Legislature's 2021 regular session. The House of Representatives passed a record $7.6 billion Education Trust Fund budget with some slight increases from the Senate-passed version. The bill now goes back to the Senate, where senators can either vote to concur with the House changes and send it to the governor or vote to form a joint conference committee to work out the differences.  House education budget chairman Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, cited the resiliency of Alabamians during the COVID-19 pandemic for making it possible for the budget to avoid cuts. Read more.

Bill Would Remove Red Tape for Local School Projects, but Contractors Aren’t on Board

MONTGOMERY— A bill in the Alabama Senate regarding the construction of public buildings has some concerned about what it could mean to the safety of school buildings, while proponents see the legislation as a way to help education entities save money. Bill sponsor Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said House Bill 220 would help decrease building costs for public schools by reducing bureaucratic red tape, enabling money to be better used. He gave an example of a $2.4 million project being reduced to $1.7 million. “I’ve heard from K-12 and (Alabama Community College System) about the construction costs increasing due to red tape,” Ledbetter, the House majority leader, said. “This bill would help them save money, money that can be better spent elsewhere.” Read more.

Innovation Corporation Bills Pass the House

MONTGOMERY — Two bills meant to promote and boost entrepreneurship in the state overwhelmingly passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday. House Bill 540 from Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, would create the Alabama Innovation Corporation to help increase Alabama’s competitiveness in areas of technology and innovation as it relates to economic development strategies. Read more.

Senate Approves Ban on Double Voting, Delays Decision on Curbside Ban

The Alabama Senate on Thursday approved several measures related to elections and alleged voter fraud. “There are few pillars of our democracy more important than the security of our elections,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said after the votes. “Free and fair elections, conducted in a secure manner, are a hallmark of our country, and serve as a defender of the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans.” Among those measures are ones that would make it a felony to vote twice in any election, require legislation related to the conduct of general elections be passed at least six months before the election, and move up the deadline for applying to vote by absentee ballot. Read more. More from the Legislature: Charter School Funding Bill Fails in the House Innovation Corporation Bills Pass the House Legislative Oversight and State Parks Bills Advance, Other Bills Considered by Committees Civil Asset Forfeiture Compromise Clears Senate Legislative Briefs: Nursing Home, Hospital Visitation; Drive-Through Alcohol Sales

Legislative Oversight and State Parks Bills Advance, Other Bills Considered by Committees

MONTGOMERY — Several legislative committees met Wednesday as the Alabama Legislature continues its final month of the 2021 regular session. Here's a rundown of what happened at the State House. Legislative Oversight Bill Passed by Committee A bill that would create a joint legislative oversight committee to review any large expenditures from state agencies passed the Senate General Fund Committee on Wednesday. Read more. More from the Legislature: Civil Asset Forfeiture Compromise Clears Senate Legislative Briefs: Nursing Home, Hospital Visitation; Drive-Through Alcohol Sales

Legislative Briefs: Nursing Home, Hospital Visitation; Drive-Through Alcohol Sales

MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama Legislature met for the 24th day of its 30-day regular session Tuesday. Here are some highlights of what happened at the State House.  Bill Ensuring Hospital, Nursing Home Visitation Rights Goes to Governor Committee OKs Inmate IDs for Absentee Voting, Kills Curbside Voting Broadband Expansion Bill Heads to Full House Drive-Through Alcohol Bill Passes House Free Menstrual Products in Schools Passes First Vote Read more.

Civil Asset Forfeiture Compromise Clears Senate

MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama Senate on Tuesday approved legislation changing the state’s civil asset forfeiture laws, putting new rules on what law enforcement can take from those charged with low-level drug offenses. Advocacy groups have argued for years that current law allows police to seize property even without a conviction, which they say disproportionately hurts low-income individuals and minorities. “This will put better boundaries around the property of people and raise the bar for the government seizing it and forfeiting it for low-level charges,” Sen. Arthur Orr told Alabama Daily News. Read more.