Sponsor(s): Rep. DeMarco

Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require the Department of Finance to produce monthly reports on the condition of the State General Fund and the Education Trust Fund.

The bill requires publication in a prominent location on the Department of Finance web site to provide broad public access to “increase the transparency of state finances and, when conditions emerge that make budget proration likely, provide advance notice to the affected agencies of government so that they can prepare as much as possible for its impact on their operations.” It lists minimum content requirements for the reports.

LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB25. The League supports government transparency and its Budgetary Process position specially calls for making “information about the budgetary process as well as the enacted budget easily available to the public.” Revenue collection and expenditure information are important aspects of this process.

Bill Progress in Legislature: 3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:
3/9/2011: 2nd read and place on calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from SG
3/31/11: 3rd Reading and passed House;
4/6/2011: 1st Reading in the Senate and referred to 4/14/2011: 2nd Reading and placed on calendar; pending 3rd Reading and favorable from FR&A.
6/2/2011: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (29-0-0)
Passed 2nd House; Enrolled
Signature Requested; Forwarded to Governor at 8:30 p.m.

Sponsor(s):
HB12 - Rep. J. Williams
SB14 - Senator Ward
SB20 - Senator Ward

Summary/Synopsis: Municipalities, ordinances, planning, zoning, or licensing of businesses, publication or posting further provided for, Sec. 11-45-8 am'd.
LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL supports all three bills with SB20 preferable as it goes further to insure public access to governmental information.

All three bills require municipalities to publish or post ordinances for planning or zoning or licensing of businesses—all changes that citizens should be able to follow. The requirements about timely and accessible publication/posting seem carefully crafted. HB12 and SB14 are basically identical. SB20 adds publication on the Internet in addition to newspapers and posting a selected public space. The outline of information required for the Internet should ensure that a true account of the ordinance is given. It also adds a long list of specific subjects of ordinances to be so published; it is a more comprehensive bill than the other three.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB12 - 3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:
3/2/11 - HB12 was on committee schedule, 1:30 pm, Room 622.
3/3/11: 2nd Reading and placed on calendar, pending 3rd read and favorable from CMC.
4/19/2011: Motion to Read a 3rd time and Pass adopted; sent to Senate
4/19/2011: 1st Reading in Senate and referred to 4/26/2011: On Governmental Affairs schedule, Room 727, 10:30 a.m.
4/26/2011: 2nd Reading and placed on calendar with 1 amendment (130104-1); pending 3rd Reading and favorable from Governmental Affairs with 1 Amendment
Note: The amendment adds issuance of franchise licensing.

SB14 - 3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:

SB20 - 3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:
3/9/2011: 2nd read and placed on calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from Judiciary with 1 Amendment (127024-2).
4/27/2011: 3rd Reading passed; Motion to Adopt Amendment adopted; Motion to Read a 3rd time and Pass adopted
4/27/2011: 1st Reading in House and referred to 5/24/2011: 2nd read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from Judiciary
6/2/2011: 3rd Reading passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted
Passed 2nd house;
Signature requested; delivered to governor at 2 p.m.

Note: The amendment adds issuance of franchise licensing.

Sponsor(s): Rep. D. Williams

Summary/Synopsis: Municipalities, mayors, vacancies, procedures for filling in municipalities with population of 12,000 or more inhabitants, Sec. 11-44G-2, Code of Alabama 1075, not to apply, Sec. 11-44G-2 am'd.

This bill removes cities in categories 7 and 8, more than 12,000 people, from procedure described for all. Instead of letting the Council select the mayor, or failing that, appointment by the Governor or by a special election, it requires that if the post of mayor is vacant, the Council President is to serve.
LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB16.
Bill Progress in Legislature: 3/1/2011: 1st reading and referred to
3/2/11 - HB16 was on committee schedule, 1:30 pm, Room 622.
3/3/2011: 2nd reading and placed on calendar, pending 3rd Day and favorable from CMG.
3/31/2011: 3rd read and motion to pass adopted (97-1-1).
4/6/2011: 1st read in Senate and referred to 04/12/2011: 2nd read and placed on calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from Govt Affairs.

Sponsor(s): Representatives Canfield, Oden, Love, Collins, Rich, Merrill, Treadaway, Clouse, Wallace, Johnson (R), Patterson, Roberts, Henry, Bridges, Gaston, Johnson (K), Chesteen, Sanderford, Williams (D), McClendon, Wren, Williams (J), Hubbard (M), Williams (P), Baughn, Moore (B), Long, McClurkin and Lee

Summary/Synopsis: Under current law, there is no maximum amount that may be appropriated annually from the Education Trust Fund. Appropriations are based on estimates of the amount of revenue that will be available from all revenue sources to the Education Trust Fund. This bill provides for the maximum amount that may be appropriated annually from the Education Trust Fund; and provides for the establishment and operation of a budget stabilization fund and a capital fund for the Education Trust Fund.
LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL is monitoring HB57. The League is currently evaluating the procedures outlined in the bill to determine whether the bill is a step toward meeting the League position for, “Legislation that will assure adequate financing for the total needs of Alabama public schools.”

Bill Progress in Legislature:
3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:

3/3/2011: 2nd reading and placed on calendar, pending 3rd Day 3 favorable for WME.

3/8/11 Canfield Amendment 126749-1 passed. Motion by Holmes to Indefinitely postpone defeated. Various amendments offered by Moore (M), Hubbard (J), Lindsey, Scott and Black. All tabled. HB57 passed the Senate 67-34 and engrossed.

3/8/11 Read for first time in Senate and referred to
3/9/11 Read for the second time and placed on the calendar

3/10/11 Third reading passed. Amendments by Sanders, Irons, Brewbaker and Coleman lost in Roll Call. Coleman Amendment not considered and Marsh motion to Table lost Voice Vote. Third reading and HB57 passed the Senate.

3/10/11 HB57 Enrolled and Governor signed into law.