LEGISLATURE PREPARES FOR FINAL DAY OF SESSION
|
|
The Alabama Legislature will hold the final day of the 2012 Legislative Session Wednesday, May 16. With a number of legislative priorities remaining, including budgets and immigration, busy and long will likely be the best adjectives to describe the final day.
|
IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE
|
|
Changes to Alabama's immigration law that were passed by the House remain on hold in the Senate as Senator Scott Beason (R-Gardendale) suggests alternative language that would keep some revisions, but add additional requirements.
The items of concern to the HBAA, that Beason indicates he won't object, include:
- elimination of the affidavit requirement in section 9;
- exemption of bond/debt transactions from section 9;
- clarification that the law applies only to entities that actually employ at least one person working in Alabama;
- limitation of the application of section 30 "business-transactions" to five things: drivers license, car tags, professional licenses, commercial licenses and business licenses. Most people will only have to demonstrate lawful presence on initial application, not renewal.
Although Beason's bill will contain other changes such as extending the statute of limitations to ten years, the inclusion of the HBAA/business backed language in both versions gives hope that burdens on employers will be lessened to some degree and much sought clarity will be provided. The final form of the bill will likely be decided in conference committee regardless of what form of revision the Senate chooses to pass.
|
|
GENERAL FUND AND EDUCATION BUDGETS EXPECTED TO HEAD TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
|
|
The Senate approved the General Fund Budget this week. Facing the threat of a veto over a proposed Medicaid shortfall, the Senate voted to move hundreds of millions of dollars from the Department of Corrections to Medicaid. This means that Medicaid will be funded in the event that Alabama voters fail to approve a one-time withdrawal of funds from the Alabama Trust Fund. The 2013 budget will be 18.9% ($327 million) below the 2012 budget.
The House approved the Education Budget on Thursday which is $141 million less than the current budget. The budget will now go to conference committee on Wednesday for consideration. This 2.4% decrease would result in the elimination of some positions, but architects of the budget feel that those will be achieved through attrition rather than layoffs. Some 500 teaching and support staff positions will likely be eliminated.
|
|
ALABAMA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ACT RECEIVES FAVORABLE REPORT
|
|
HB 191 sponsored by Rep. Mike Hill (R-Columbiana) received a favorable report from the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee this week. The bill, which amends the Alabama Improvement District Act to allow developers to take advantage of alternative financing, awaits consideration on the last day of session.
|
