Alabama high school students would benefit from better equipment for career tech and agriscience programs with the passage of HB102, sponsored by Rep. Mac Buttram, R-Cullman. Known as the 21st Century Workforce Act, the bill would provide $50 million to update equipment for established and new career tech programs.

Alabama high school students enrolled in career tech classes would benefit from a bill providing money for new equipment purchases.

The bill gained traction early, passing the House of Representatives 93-1 and moving out of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee in February. It awaits a vote in the Senate.

"Alabama high school students who take advantage of career tech and agriscience classes receive a well-rounded education and learn about more options after graduation, from employment and technical school to 4-year degrees and beyond," said Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers Director Jennifer Himburg, who serves on the governor's College & Career Ready Task Force. "These students deserve to learn on the best equipment available, and this legislation ensures machinery in high schools matches what is used in industry and higher education."

The state has not provided funding for equipment purchases since 2005, according to Dr. Phillip Cleveland, career tech director at the State Department of Education. Cleveland said his department is working with two-year college systems to improve efficiency and explore potential time-shares of equipment.

The bill would distribute $30 million to schools based on the number of career tech programs and students enrolled. The remaining $20 million would be awarded through grants. Schools wishing to establish a career tech program could apply and use the money to buy machinery.   

Legislators are picking up the pace on passing the General Fund (GF) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) budgets as only eight days remain in the 2013 legislative session. Funding for agriculture programs remains unchanged in the GF budget proposal, approved by the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Wednesday. The bill, SB143, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is expected to be debated in the House of Representatives next week.

The bill includes $380,000 to offset registration fees for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), a program mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This amount will fully fund the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's (ADEM) oversight of CAFO. 

The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, chaired by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, passed the General Gund budget Wednesday with minimal changes from the Senate recommendation. From left are Reps. Charles Newton, D-Greenville, Clouse and Jim Barton, R-Mobile.

The State Soil & Water Conservation Committee (SWCC) would recieve $90,674 for the Agriculture Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). Federal funding for AWEP provides $9 for every dollar the state invests in irrigation. Overall, SWCC funding would increase nearly $800,000 from last year.

Bills recently introduced in the Legislature aim to better use Alabama taxpayer dollars by restructuring Medicaid and reducing fraud. SB340 and HB454 passed the Senate and House Health committees Wednesday.

The bills would establish Regional Care Organizations (RCOs) responsible for paying providers with funds received from the state.

"The reason we're doing this is simply finances," said Rep. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, chairman of the House Health Committee and sponsor of the legislation. "Medicaid right now is a fee-for-service program. The providers see the patients or recipients. Then they send a bill and (the state pays) them. It's an ever-growing burden on the Legislature's budgeting process and in-turn is an ever-growing problem on the taxpayers of Alabama."  

The House Health Committee passed HB454 to restructure Medicaid at Wednesday's meeting.

Approximately 940,000 Alabamians are on Medicaid. The General Fund budget proposal includes more than $615 million for Medicaid, or 35 percent of the budget.

McClendon said RCOs will take on risk and have the opportunity to make or lose money. He laid out a timeline with October 2016 as the target date for transferring Medicaid responsibilities to RCOs.

Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper, is the Senate sponsor of the legislation and chairman of the Senate Health Committee. The bills are supported by Gov. Robert Bentley and include recommendations from the board of the Alabama Medicaid Advisory Commission, chaired by State Health Officer of the Alabama Department of Public Health Dr. Donald Williamson. The commission was developed to evaluate the financial structure of the Alabama Medicaid Agency and to make recommendations to improve efficiency. 

Nurse Practitioners and Midwives, SB229, sponsored by Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper, is on the House Health Committee agenda for Wednesday, April 24, at 9 a.m. in the Statehouse eighth floor committee room. It passed the Senate in a 27-1 vote Tuesday. The bill aims to expand medical service in rural areas by allowing certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives to prescribe certain medicines. The House companion, HB307, sponsored by Rep. Ron Johnson, R-Sylacauga, is assigned to the Senate Health Committee. AFF supports. 

Weights and Measures, HB357, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, is on the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee agenda for Wednesday, April 24, at 2:30 p.m. in Statehouse room 316. The bill passed the House of Representatives 73-23 on Tuesday. It would require business owners to hire independent service agents registered with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) to perform tests on scales and weighing instruments used in business transactions. Currently, ADAI is required to perform the tests. The Senate companion, SB261, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, is awaiting a Senate vote. AFF neutral.

Emergency Communication Services, HB92, sponsored by Rep. Mac McCutcheon, 

R-Capshaw, unanimously passed the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Wednesday. The bill would establish the Alabama First Responder Wireless Commission to improve the state's emergency response. The commissioner of Agriculture and Industries would serve on the commission. HB92 and its Senate companion, SB219, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, 

R-Vestavia Hills, await a Senate vote. AFF supports. 

Hazardous Waste Disposal, HB181, sponsored by Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Demopolis, would lower state and local hazardous waste disposal fees. A public hearing on the bill will be held on Tuesday, April 23, during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting at 12:30 p.m. in Statehouse room 325. AFF monitoring. 

For questions or comments regarding newsletter content, e-mail:

Brian Hardin - Asst. Director of Governmental and Agricultural Programs

or

David Cole - Director of Agricultural Legislation

For distribution questions or media inquiries, e-mail:

Mary Johnson - Director of News Services