1st Day of the 2009 Legislative Session

Today is the first day of the 2009 Legislative Session, already 89 Senate Bills and 238 House Bills have been introduced. Among those bills are a couple that might catch the eye.

One in particular is a bill that would ban cloning in the state of Alabama. This bill introduced by Rep. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa and assigned to the Health Committee would prohibit the cloning of human beings and would provide for penalties and civil fines for violations. If this bill passes, it will be illegal to perform or attempt to perform human cloning; participate in human cloning, ship or receive for any purpose an embryo produced by human cloning or any product derived from an embryo produced by human cloning; no person shall knowingly import for any purpose an embryo produced by human cloning or any product derived from an embryo produced by human cloning.

Other bills of interest:

HB21 introduced by Rep. Mitchell
Synopsis: Legislature, persons employed by any entity that contracts with any two-year or four-year institution of higher education may not serve in Legislature, Section 47 (Section 47, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.


HB22 introduced by Rep. Mitchell
Synopsis: Legislature, persons in occupations or vocations involving serving as an officer of the court may not serve in Legislature, Section 47 (Section 47, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.


HB30 introduced by Rep. D. Newton
Synopsis: Constitutional Convention, election for calling to amend and replace Constitution of Alabama of 1901, delegates, election for ratification or rejection


HB42 introduced by Rep. Gordon
Synopsis: This bill would require the State Board of Health to provide each parent or guardian of a female student entering into the 6th grade certain information concerning infection and the immunization against the human papillomavirus.


HB154 introduced by Rep. McLaughlin
Synopsis: Campaign contributions, PAC to PAC transfers, prohibited, Sec. 17-5-15 am'd.

HB210 introduced by Rep. Allen
Synopsis: Alabama Boxing Act, Alabama Boxing Commission, established, medical advisory panel, licensure of promoters, standards for buildings for matches, boxing under the influence prohibited, age requirements, civil and criminal penalties, subject to Sunset Law

HB216 introduced by Rep. Graham
Synopsis: Student Harassment Prevention Act, established, Education Department to develop and implement model policy to prevent student harassment, appropriation


SB35 introduced by Sen. Erwin
Synopsis: Motor vehicles, students, drivers' licenses, suspension of by Public Safety Department for disruptive behavior in classrooms resulting in suspension or expulsion from school, based on recommendation of principal, procedures for hearing, Sec. 16-28-40 am'd.


SB47 introduced by Sen. Barron
Synopsis: Methamphetamines, drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine used to manufacture methamphetamines, provision-prohibiting sale after Oct. 1, 2009, deleted, Sec. 20-2-190 am'd


As the 2009 Legislative Session proceeds we will keep you up to date with updates from the Alabama State House. Stay tuned for a special State of the State blog tonight from the Alabama Capital.