HB373 “Free the Hops” would further define the term “beer” for ABC licensing purposes, to include malt beverages with higher alcohol content (13.9% increase of alcohol content).
First to take his fifteen minutes was Representative Bridges. Bridges said he thinks this bill would encourage more drinking, help people get intoxicated quicker and have less quality of life just because Alabama is trying to keep up with other states. Following Representative Bridges were three other members. Representative Holmes spoke against the bill stating that Alabama should focus on other things that affect the citizens of Alabama rather than the content of alcohol in gourmet beer.
With a vote of 49 to 37 House Bill 373 passed the Alabama House of Representatives.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Black Caucus Filibuster in the Alabama House
While the Alabama Senate took up sunset bills beginning at 2:00 pm CST, the Alabama House continued on their Special Order Calendar. Following some slight controversy over HB183 pertaining to methamphetamines, House Bill 146 regarding DNA testing of all persons arrested for a felony offense, fees, appropriation from DNA Database Fund to Forensic Sciences Department received a short filibuster from the House Black Caucus. HB146 passed after a thirty minute debate with 98 yeas, 1 nay from Representative Mitchell and 1 abstention from Representative Holmes.
HB373 “Free the Hops” has just come up on the House Floor.
HB373 “Free the Hops” has just come up on the House Floor.
Day 9 from the Alabama House
The Alabama House of Representatives convened at 1:00 pm CST. Following committee reports the Alabama House passed some uncontested bills then moved to their consent and special order calendar.
House Bill 183 by Representative McDaniel pertaining to methamphetamines--drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine used to manufacture methamphetamines provisions prohibiting sales after October 1, 2009 deleted—caused the first stir in the House on the 9th legislative day.
Representative Alvin Holmes challenged Representative McDaniel about his intentions for this bill. Holmes noted that meth affects more whites in Alabama than blacks. Holmes noted that McDaniel has never sponsored a bill that would keep cocaine off of the streets. Representative Holmes urged Representative McDaniel to focus on all drug problems in the state rather than just those that affect a higher percentage of whites.
Further down the House Special Order Calendar today is a bill that has gained much popularity over the past year, HB373 “Free the Hops” pertaining to alcoholic beverages, beer, and definition to include malt beverages with higher alcohol content. Stay tuned for Free the Hops updates.
House Bill 183 by Representative McDaniel pertaining to methamphetamines--drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine used to manufacture methamphetamines provisions prohibiting sales after October 1, 2009 deleted—caused the first stir in the House on the 9th legislative day.
Representative Alvin Holmes challenged Representative McDaniel about his intentions for this bill. Holmes noted that meth affects more whites in Alabama than blacks. Holmes noted that McDaniel has never sponsored a bill that would keep cocaine off of the streets. Representative Holmes urged Representative McDaniel to focus on all drug problems in the state rather than just those that affect a higher percentage of whites.
Further down the House Special Order Calendar today is a bill that has gained much popularity over the past year, HB373 “Free the Hops” pertaining to alcoholic beverages, beer, and definition to include malt beverages with higher alcohol content. Stay tuned for Free the Hops updates.
Inside the Alabama State House
The Alabama Senate following committee reports and bill introductions moved to their special order calendar proposed by the Rules Committee.
The Senate Special Order consisted of two bills sponsored by Senator Lowell Barron, SB367 and SB279. The first bill, according to Barron, is a stimulus package for the state that is tied to homes and homebuilders.
Senator Barron addressed the full senate stating that the concept for senate bill 367originated a couple of months ago. Barron said he began trying to discuss with various groups things that the legislature could do to stimulate jobs and boost the economy.
This bill would set aside $6,000,000.00 from the Capitol Improvement Fund, which was passed to allow the Governor to build industry. SB367 creates a “who will back the mortgages” in case one company is bad and goes under. This would guarantee up to 40% of the mortgage and give additional assurance to the mortgage holder. The Alabama Housing Finance Authority would administer the program and service the mortgage loans originated under the program.
The Alabama Housing Finance Authority created in 1980 has over 17,000 homes in their portfolio, their foreclose rate on the loans financed is .08% compared to Alabama’s 1% and the national foreclosure rate of 3.5%. Senator Barron says that this kind of management would finance more than seven thousand new or existing homes in Alabama.
The Alabama Senate is currently taking up Sunset Bills. 2:00 pm CST.
The Senate Special Order consisted of two bills sponsored by Senator Lowell Barron, SB367 and SB279. The first bill, according to Barron, is a stimulus package for the state that is tied to homes and homebuilders.
Senator Barron addressed the full senate stating that the concept for senate bill 367originated a couple of months ago. Barron said he began trying to discuss with various groups things that the legislature could do to stimulate jobs and boost the economy.
This bill would set aside $6,000,000.00 from the Capitol Improvement Fund, which was passed to allow the Governor to build industry. SB367 creates a “who will back the mortgages” in case one company is bad and goes under. This would guarantee up to 40% of the mortgage and give additional assurance to the mortgage holder. The Alabama Housing Finance Authority would administer the program and service the mortgage loans originated under the program.
The Alabama Housing Finance Authority created in 1980 has over 17,000 homes in their portfolio, their foreclose rate on the loans financed is .08% compared to Alabama’s 1% and the national foreclosure rate of 3.5%. Senator Barron says that this kind of management would finance more than seven thousand new or existing homes in Alabama.
The Alabama Senate is currently taking up Sunset Bills. 2:00 pm CST.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Making Progress on Day 8
The Alabama House of Representatives and Senate both convened at 10:00 am CST. Two of the first bills up for vote in the Alabama House were senate bills. The Alabama House voted to carry over ALL senate bills until the senate begins to take up house bills.
The Senate’s special order calendar consisted of only house sunset bills, seventeen sunset bills to be exact. Senator Barron stated that he planned to only introduce just that one Special Order calendar and let the Senate adjourn early. The Senate passed all seventeen bills on their Special Order calendar and adjourned at 11:50 am CST.
Representatives Mask and Gipson issued the following press release this morning pertaining to House Bill 389 relating to driving or operating a vehicle as defined (including vessels) under the influence of alcohol or drugs, criminal negligent homicide or assault in the first degree.
February 26, 2009
Reps. Mask and Gipson Sponsor DUI Boating Homicide Bill
MONTGOMERY State Representative Barry Mask ,(R)Wetumpka and State Representative Mac Gipson , ( R ) Prattville have introduced HB389, a bill which would clarify the law and penalties for persons who are drunk while operating a watercraft and kill another person . The bill would make such homicide the same as a DUI automobile homicide – a Class C felony.
The bill comes as a response to recent DUI boating Homicides on Lake Jordan, Lake Martin and other Alabama waterways since 2006.
In December, 2008, a special grand jury impaneled by 19th Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston recommended that the law be strengthened and clarified.
The bill has 30 co-sponsors and has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
Bills passed by the Alabama House of Representatives on the 8th Legislative Day:
HB356: Public School and College Authority, authorized to allocate certain amount of interest income to Walker County School System for capital improvements for Oakman Elementary School
HB202: Property owners, liability limited for leasing property for hunting or fishing, Landowners Protection Act
HB164: Landlord and tenant, goods and services, landlord or property owner not required to pay delinquent bill of tenant if account is in name of tenant
HB47: Public schools, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, employment of, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, employment of school nurses provided for, funding contingent on revenue available in Education Trust Fund and appropriation by Legislature
HB432: Sheriffs, pistol permits, records, not open to public disclosure, use for law enforcement only, penalties
HB210: 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
HB495: School Superintendents of Alabama to establish and administer professional development program for all county and city superintendents of education
HB253: Special county educational taxes, approval by majority vote authorized
HB464: Motor vehicles, school disciplinary point system established to determine age at which person is eligible to apply for learner's permit, motorcycle operator's license, or driver's license
HB213: Rules of the road, bicyclists, hand and arm signals, bicyclists authorized to give hand signals from right side
HB438: Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, established to assist children of active duty military families and certain veterans in education transition issues including transfer of records, enrollment, placement, extracurricular activities, graduation, uniform treatment at state and local district levels
The Alabama House adjourned at 12:05 this afternoon.
The Senate’s special order calendar consisted of only house sunset bills, seventeen sunset bills to be exact. Senator Barron stated that he planned to only introduce just that one Special Order calendar and let the Senate adjourn early. The Senate passed all seventeen bills on their Special Order calendar and adjourned at 11:50 am CST.
Representatives Mask and Gipson issued the following press release this morning pertaining to House Bill 389 relating to driving or operating a vehicle as defined (including vessels) under the influence of alcohol or drugs, criminal negligent homicide or assault in the first degree.
February 26, 2009
Reps. Mask and Gipson Sponsor DUI Boating Homicide Bill
MONTGOMERY State Representative Barry Mask ,(R)Wetumpka and State Representative Mac Gipson , ( R ) Prattville have introduced HB389, a bill which would clarify the law and penalties for persons who are drunk while operating a watercraft and kill another person . The bill would make such homicide the same as a DUI automobile homicide – a Class C felony.
The bill comes as a response to recent DUI boating Homicides on Lake Jordan, Lake Martin and other Alabama waterways since 2006.
In December, 2008, a special grand jury impaneled by 19th Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston recommended that the law be strengthened and clarified.
The bill has 30 co-sponsors and has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
Bills passed by the Alabama House of Representatives on the 8th Legislative Day:
HB356: Public School and College Authority, authorized to allocate certain amount of interest income to Walker County School System for capital improvements for Oakman Elementary School
HB202: Property owners, liability limited for leasing property for hunting or fishing, Landowners Protection Act
HB164: Landlord and tenant, goods and services, landlord or property owner not required to pay delinquent bill of tenant if account is in name of tenant
HB47: Public schools, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, employment of, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, employment of school nurses provided for, funding contingent on revenue available in Education Trust Fund and appropriation by Legislature
HB432: Sheriffs, pistol permits, records, not open to public disclosure, use for law enforcement only, penalties
HB210: 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
HB495: School Superintendents of Alabama to establish and administer professional development program for all county and city superintendents of education
HB253: Special county educational taxes, approval by majority vote authorized
HB464: Motor vehicles, school disciplinary point system established to determine age at which person is eligible to apply for learner's permit, motorcycle operator's license, or driver's license
HB213: Rules of the road, bicyclists, hand and arm signals, bicyclists authorized to give hand signals from right side
HB438: Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, established to assist children of active duty military families and certain veterans in education transition issues including transfer of records, enrollment, placement, extracurricular activities, graduation, uniform treatment at state and local district levels
The Alabama House adjourned at 12:05 this afternoon.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The 7th Legislative Day brings about continued progress in the Alabama House
The Alabama House of Representatives continued to function as usual, passing the following House Bills:
• HB382 (Representative Knight) relating to oil and gas, offshore, severance tax altered, determination of basis altered
• HB148 (Representative Fite) relating to computers and other property used to solicit a child or transmit obscene material to a child subject to forfeiture, procedure.
• HB221 (Representative McMillan) Sex crimes involving children, solicitation by computer, Internet, or otherwise, crime further provided for, penalties, jurisdiction includes place of transmission.
According to Representative McMillan there is currently a loop hole in Alabama law pertaining to when an undercover officer poses as a minor to catch an adult soliciting a minor. Existing law does not address officers of the law posing as a minor. Currently criminals are pleading not guilty to soliciting a minor stating that since they were not communicating with a minor that they did not violate state law. This bill would make it a crime to solicit a minor even if that minor is an undercover officer.
This law would strengthen the penalties for soliciting and taking a minor across state laws; it would also expand the definition of an electronic device used to solicit a minor. Representative McMillan mentioned that the Gulf Shores Police Department in a two month period caught 23 men that thought they were communicating with minors.
Other states have similar bills; Representative McMillan said this bill will help Alabama stop remaining a target. HB221 passed the Alabama House with a vote of 84 yeas and 0 nays.
• HB282 (Representative Gipson) "Graduated Driver's License" relating to motor vehicles, three-stage graduated licensing, driver training program, age requirements for licensed driver with student, age requirements for licensed driver accompanying driver with learner's permit, restrictions on persons 17 years of age with regular driver's license.
Representative Gipson said this bill is protecting everyone, not just the driver but the passengers in the car and other drivers on the road. Gipson also stated that statistics show that states that have adopted these laws have seen a reduced number of deaths related to teenage driver car accidents.
Proposed Stages:
I-Learning Permit (15 years-of-age)
II-Restricted Licensing -16 year-of-age)
After the 6 month restricted license period, providing that the driver has no violation, he/she can go automatically to the stage III, regular driver’s license.
During a stage II drivers license technological devices are prohibited including cellular telephones, GPS devices, and IPODs.
III-Unrestricted or Regular License (Starting at 16 and ½ years-of-age until 18 years-of-age)
HB282 passed the Alabama House of Representatives with 80 yeas and 10 nays.
• HB347 (Representative Guin) relating to accountants, certified public accountants, practice privilege provided for out-of-state CPA's, administrative fines increased, standards of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) added to auditing standards.
• HB60 (Representative Newton) relating to Alabama Security Regulatory Board, established, licensure and regulation of security officers, subject to Sunset Law
• HB89 (Representative Johnson) relating to Real estate agents and brokers, advertising size of type requirements altered, reciprocal licensing requirements
• HB173 (Representative Fields) relating to County officers, bonding for performance of official duties. Amended by Representative Knight.
• HB382 (Representative Knight) relating to oil and gas, offshore, severance tax altered, determination of basis altered
• HB148 (Representative Fite) relating to computers and other property used to solicit a child or transmit obscene material to a child subject to forfeiture, procedure.
• HB221 (Representative McMillan) Sex crimes involving children, solicitation by computer, Internet, or otherwise, crime further provided for, penalties, jurisdiction includes place of transmission.
According to Representative McMillan there is currently a loop hole in Alabama law pertaining to when an undercover officer poses as a minor to catch an adult soliciting a minor. Existing law does not address officers of the law posing as a minor. Currently criminals are pleading not guilty to soliciting a minor stating that since they were not communicating with a minor that they did not violate state law. This bill would make it a crime to solicit a minor even if that minor is an undercover officer.
This law would strengthen the penalties for soliciting and taking a minor across state laws; it would also expand the definition of an electronic device used to solicit a minor. Representative McMillan mentioned that the Gulf Shores Police Department in a two month period caught 23 men that thought they were communicating with minors.
Other states have similar bills; Representative McMillan said this bill will help Alabama stop remaining a target. HB221 passed the Alabama House with a vote of 84 yeas and 0 nays.
• HB282 (Representative Gipson) "Graduated Driver's License" relating to motor vehicles, three-stage graduated licensing, driver training program, age requirements for licensed driver with student, age requirements for licensed driver accompanying driver with learner's permit, restrictions on persons 17 years of age with regular driver's license.
Representative Gipson said this bill is protecting everyone, not just the driver but the passengers in the car and other drivers on the road. Gipson also stated that statistics show that states that have adopted these laws have seen a reduced number of deaths related to teenage driver car accidents.
Proposed Stages:
I-Learning Permit (15 years-of-age)
II-Restricted Licensing -16 year-of-age)
After the 6 month restricted license period, providing that the driver has no violation, he/she can go automatically to the stage III, regular driver’s license.
During a stage II drivers license technological devices are prohibited including cellular telephones, GPS devices, and IPODs.
III-Unrestricted or Regular License (Starting at 16 and ½ years-of-age until 18 years-of-age)
HB282 passed the Alabama House of Representatives with 80 yeas and 10 nays.
• HB347 (Representative Guin) relating to accountants, certified public accountants, practice privilege provided for out-of-state CPA's, administrative fines increased, standards of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) added to auditing standards.
• HB60 (Representative Newton) relating to Alabama Security Regulatory Board, established, licensure and regulation of security officers, subject to Sunset Law
• HB89 (Representative Johnson) relating to Real estate agents and brokers, advertising size of type requirements altered, reciprocal licensing requirements
• HB173 (Representative Fields) relating to County officers, bonding for performance of official duties. Amended by Representative Knight.
Back in full force on Day 7
The Alabama Senate convened at 2:00 pm CST this afternoon; much to the dismay of a number of people the Senate passed many uncontested local bills without much conflict. The Alabama Senate took up Sunset Bills pertaining to local legislation.
Currently Senator Phil Poole is at the podium filibustering in the Senate.
______________________________________________________
The Alabama House of Representatives convened at 3:00 pm CST today. Beginning with uncontested local bills, one bill that caused a stir was House Bill 363 pertaining to Bingo in Greene County. The speaker seeing that HB363 was contested immediately moved forward.
The first bill on the Special Order Calendar was Representative Knights bill, HB382 relating to oil and gas, offshore, severance tax altered, determination of basis altered. Representative Knight said this bill would not have a negative impact on the general fund stating that he has worked with the Governor’s office on this bill.
Representative Knight clarified that this bill is revenue neutral and is based on gross proceeds. He said with this bill there would be no dispute about deductions and there would be no loss to the general fund or the state of Alabama. HB382 takes away the gray area and makes taxes a lot easier to calculate and protects the state from disputes and potential loss. With a vote of 96 yeas and 1 nay House Bill 382 passed the Alabama House of Representatives.
Currently Representative Alvin Holmes is at the podium questioning the Speaker about President Obama’s stimulus package and Governor Riley’s plan for the stimulus package.
Currently Senator Phil Poole is at the podium filibustering in the Senate.
______________________________________________________
The Alabama House of Representatives convened at 3:00 pm CST today. Beginning with uncontested local bills, one bill that caused a stir was House Bill 363 pertaining to Bingo in Greene County. The speaker seeing that HB363 was contested immediately moved forward.
The first bill on the Special Order Calendar was Representative Knights bill, HB382 relating to oil and gas, offshore, severance tax altered, determination of basis altered. Representative Knight said this bill would not have a negative impact on the general fund stating that he has worked with the Governor’s office on this bill.
Representative Knight clarified that this bill is revenue neutral and is based on gross proceeds. He said with this bill there would be no dispute about deductions and there would be no loss to the general fund or the state of Alabama. HB382 takes away the gray area and makes taxes a lot easier to calculate and protects the state from disputes and potential loss. With a vote of 96 yeas and 1 nay House Bill 382 passed the Alabama House of Representatives.
Currently Representative Alvin Holmes is at the podium questioning the Speaker about President Obama’s stimulus package and Governor Riley’s plan for the stimulus package.
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