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LWVAL Action Priority Level I (Highest) - Monitoring and action of highest priority. Major area for resource expenditures.Click a bill to see sponsor(s), summary (including link to full text), League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative progress. Inclusion of a bill in this list does not necessarily indicate LWVAL support. The League's position, if any, is noted under League Action & Justification.
Indicates change from previous week's report such as new progress in the legislature and/or League action. These updates are in green font.LWVAL has taken a position on these bills.
HB 8 and HB 12 - establish procedures to establish and maintain a legislative record on legislative process. (HB12 applies to both houses.)
Sponsor(s): Rep. Joseph Mitchell
Summary/Synopsis: Currently, the Alabama House and Senate do not maintain a legislative record concerning certain matters related to the legislative process. HB8 would require the Clerk of the House to establish procedures to implement and maintain a legislative record concerning matters related to the legislative process. The record would include, but is not limited to, a verbatim copy of discussions in committee meetings, committee reports, committee votes, floor debates, discussions during public hearings, insertion of statements into the record by individual members as to why the member voted for or against an instrument or took a particular action, and insertion of other materials upon the request of a member. The Clerk would be given authority to choose the appropriate mechanisms for maintaining the record based on consideration of: (1) Cost effectiveness and feasibility; (2) Accessibility and availability; (3) Usefulness.; (4) Accuracy; (5) Ability to fulfill historical preservation purposes. HB12 applies to both houses and directs the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate.
League Action & Justification: LWVAL supports HB 8 and HB 12. The legislation is consistent with League support for transparency in government. The League supported similar bills in the last session, but they did not move.
Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to (Same for both bills)
Summary/Synopsis: Currently, the Alabama House and Senate do not maintain a legislative record concerning certain matters related to the legislative process. HB8 would require the Clerk of the House to establish procedures to implement and maintain a legislative record concerning matters related to the legislative process. The record would include, but is not limited to, a verbatim copy of discussions in committee meetings, committee reports, committee votes, floor debates, discussions during public hearings, insertion of statements into the record by individual members as to why the member voted for or against an instrument or took a particular action, and insertion of other materials upon the request of a member. The Clerk would be given authority to choose the appropriate mechanisms for maintaining the record based on consideration of: (1) Cost effectiveness and feasibility; (2) Accessibility and availability; (3) Usefulness.; (4) Accuracy; (5) Ability to fulfill historical preservation purposes. HB12 applies to both houses and directs the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate.
League Action & Justification: LWVAL supports HB 8 and HB 12. The legislation is consistent with League support for transparency in government. The League supported similar bills in the last session, but they did not move.
Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to (Same for both bills)
HB 198 and SB 130 - Secty of State to post to website proposed statewide const. amendments with discussion, comments, interaction capabilities
Sponsor(s):
HB 198: Rep. Mike Ball, Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, Rep. Mac McCutcheon, Rep. Mike Hill, Rep. Greg Canfield, Rep. Randy Wood
SB 130: Sen. Arthur Orr
Summary/Synopsis: Secretary of State, required to post on website proposed statewide constitutional amendments and to provide a discussion platform with the capability to allow readers to offer comments in an interactive format.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL strongly supports HB 198 and SB 130. This is an innovation in an area where education is needed.
Bill Progress in the Legislature:
HB 198: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 2/11/2010: 2nd reading and placed on calendar pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt Oper.
SB 130: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 3/9/2010: 2nd read and placed on calendar with 1 amendment (119845-2), pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt Affairs with 1 amendment; The amendment drops the provision for a discussion platform and interactive comment capability.
HB 198: Rep. Mike Ball, Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, Rep. Mac McCutcheon, Rep. Mike Hill, Rep. Greg Canfield, Rep. Randy Wood
SB 130: Sen. Arthur Orr
Summary/Synopsis: Secretary of State, required to post on website proposed statewide constitutional amendments and to provide a discussion platform with the capability to allow readers to offer comments in an interactive format.
Download original SB 130. (See Bill Progress for amendment.)
(companion bills)League Action and Justification: LWVAL strongly supports HB 198 and SB 130. This is an innovation in an area where education is needed.
Bill Progress in the Legislature:
HB 198: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 2/11/2010: 2nd reading and placed on calendar pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt Oper.
SB 130: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 3/9/2010: 2nd read and placed on calendar with 1 amendment (119845-2), pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt Affairs with 1 amendment; The amendment drops the provision for a discussion platform and interactive comment capability.
HB 199 - State agencies, Internet database of state expenditures, Comptroller to include subcontracts and purchase orders.
Sponsor(s): Rep. Mike Ball
Summary/Synopsis: State agencies, Internet database of state expenditures, Comptroller to include subcontracts and purchase orders.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB 199. This is an innovation in an area where education is needed.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 2/11/2010: 2nd reading and places on calendar with 1 substitute (118162-1) ;pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt. Oper.
Summary/Synopsis: State agencies, Internet database of state expenditures, Comptroller to include subcontracts and purchase orders.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB 199. This is an innovation in an area where education is needed.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 2/11/2010: 2nd reading and places on calendar with 1 substitute (118162-1) ;pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt. Oper.
HB 258 and SB 255 - Attorney General, official opinions, distribution of electronic copies by e-mail in lieu of paper copies, posting on Internet required
Sponsor(s):
HB 258 - Rep. Craig Ford
SB 255 - Sen. Larry Means
Summary/Synopsis: Attorney General, official opinions, distribution of electronic copies by e-mail in lieu of paper copies, posting on Internet required (companion bills)
League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB 258 and SB 255. This is an innovation in an area where education is needed.
Bill Progress in the Legislature:
HB258 - 1st reading: 1/14/10 and assigned to 2nd Reading 1/21/10 and placed on calendar pending 3rd Reading and Favorable from Judiciary.
1/28/2010: 3rd reading and passed; sent to Senate 2/2/2010: 1st reading in Senate and referred to 2/9/2010: 2nd reading and placed on calendar pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt. Affairs.
4/22/2010: 3rd reading passed; Motion to read 3rd time and pass adopted (32-0-0); Passed 2nd house, enrolled, and delivered to governor
SB255 - 1st reading: 1/14/10 and referred to 2nd reading 2/2/10 and placed on the calendar. Pending 3rd reading. Favorable from Governmental Affairs 6-0.
2/16/2010: 3rd read passed and adopted (28-0-0); sent to House – 1st read and referred to 2/25/2010: 2nd read and placed on calendar pending 3rd favorable from Judiciary.
3/30/2010: 3rd read and passed (86-0-0); sent to governor.
HB 258 - Rep. Craig Ford
SB 255 - Sen. Larry Means
Summary/Synopsis: Attorney General, official opinions, distribution of electronic copies by e-mail in lieu of paper copies, posting on Internet required (companion bills)
League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB 258 and SB 255. This is an innovation in an area where education is needed.
Bill Progress in the Legislature:
HB258 - 1st reading: 1/14/10 and assigned to 2nd Reading 1/21/10 and placed on calendar pending 3rd Reading and Favorable from Judiciary.
1/28/2010: 3rd reading and passed; sent to Senate 2/2/2010: 1st reading in Senate and referred to 2/9/2010: 2nd reading and placed on calendar pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt. Affairs.
4/22/2010: 3rd reading passed; Motion to read 3rd time and pass adopted (32-0-0); Passed 2nd house, enrolled, and delivered to governor
SB255 - 1st reading: 1/14/10 and referred to 2nd reading 2/2/10 and placed on the calendar. Pending 3rd reading. Favorable from Governmental Affairs 6-0.
2/16/2010: 3rd read passed and adopted (28-0-0); sent to House – 1st read and referred to 2/25/2010: 2nd read and placed on calendar pending 3rd favorable from Judiciary.
3/30/2010: 3rd read and passed (86-0-0); sent to governor.
SB 152 - require public official to provide copy within 5 working days of request, allow the official to charge a reasonable fee for processing
Sponsor(s): Sen. Larry Dixon
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require the public official to provide the copy within five working days of the request and would allow the official to charge a reasonable fee for accessing, duplicating, supplying, and searching for the requested writing.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL strongly supports SB 152.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require the public official to provide the copy within five working days of the request and would allow the official to charge a reasonable fee for accessing, duplicating, supplying, and searching for the requested writing.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL strongly supports SB 152.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to
SB 154 - Sunset Law, state agencies and departments, reviewed every six years
Sponsor(s): Sen. Larry Dixon
Summary/Synopsis: Currently, departments and agencies that are subject to the Alabama Sunset Law are subject to review every four years. This bill would require such departments and agencies to be reviewed every six years.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports SB 154. The 6-year cycle would save legislative as well as the agencies time and money while still insuring a thorough periodic review of operations and compliance with the law.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 2/2/2010: 2nd reading and placed on calendar pending third read and favorable from Gov't. Affairs. 2/16/2010: 3rd reading; motion to read 3rd time and pass adopted (26-0-0); sent to House; 1st reading in house and referred to 3/31/2010: listed on Boards and Commissions meeting agenda, Room 601, 1:30 p.m.
Summary/Synopsis: Currently, departments and agencies that are subject to the Alabama Sunset Law are subject to review every four years. This bill would require such departments and agencies to be reviewed every six years.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports SB 154. The 6-year cycle would save legislative as well as the agencies time and money while still insuring a thorough periodic review of operations and compliance with the law.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to 2/2/2010: 2nd reading and placed on calendar pending third read and favorable from Gov't. Affairs. 2/16/2010: 3rd reading; motion to read 3rd time and pass adopted (26-0-0); sent to House; 1st reading in house and referred to 3/31/2010: listed on Boards and Commissions meeting agenda, Room 601, 1:30 p.m.
LWVAL is monitoring this bill.
SB 190 - Legis. procedures for presentment of adopted bill to Gov., gubernatorial vetoes, exec. amendments, item vetoes, vote recording, etc.
Sponsor(s): Sen. Del Marsh
Summary/Synopsis: Legislature, procedures concerning presentment of an adopted bill to the Governor, gubernatorial vetoes, and executive amendments, item vetoes, vote recording, new section, Bills Presented to the Governor, added,
League Action and Justification: LWVAL is monitoring SB 190.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to
Summary/Synopsis: Legislature, procedures concerning presentment of an adopted bill to the Governor, gubernatorial vetoes, and executive amendments, item vetoes, vote recording, new section, Bills Presented to the Governor, added,
League Action and Justification: LWVAL is monitoring SB 190.
Bill Progress in the Legislature: 1st reading: 1/12/10 and assigned to
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