Summary of action in Alabama Legislature (Related to Prison/Judicial System) 06-11-03

[danielle]

Summary of action in Alabama Legislature (Related to Prison/Judicial System) ~ June 11, 2003

The Associated Press

6/11/03 7:35 PM

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- A summary of action in the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday, the 25th meeting day of the regular session:

HOUSE
--Approved a bill to provide $33 million in emergency funding for state agencies, including $25 million for prisons. Goes to Senate.
--Passed bill to transfer control of the Capitol Police Department from the state Department of Finance to the Department of Public Safety. Goes to Senate.
--Approved a bill that would set up a procedure to parole some nonviolent criminals who have already served 20 years in prison on a life without parole sentence. Goes to Senate.

SENATE
--Gave final approval to a bill requiring the clergy to report suspected child abuse to authorities. Goes to governor.

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House approves emergency funding for prisons, courts, DHR
By BOB JOHNSON
The Associated Press

6/11/03 6:58 PM

MONTGOMERY -- The House voted Wednesday to provide $33 million in emergency funding to several state agencies, including $25 million to help the Department of Corrections comply with court orders concerning prison overcrowding.
The bill, which passed the House 58-28, also provides $3 million to the state court system to insure that jury trials can continue until the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30 and $4.7 million to continue Department of Human Resources daycare programs.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, chairman of the House General Fund budget writing committee, said the money is urgently needed to get these agencies through the remainder of the current fiscal year.

The General Fund budget, liked the education budget, has been operating under financial restraints. Part of the reason for Gov. Bob Riley's $1.2 billion tax package, to be voted on in a statewide referendum Sept. 9, is to fill deficits in those budgets.

Several lawmakers complained the state shouldn't be spending money just days after Saturday's vote to send the $1.2 billion tax package to the voters.

Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, said many legislators took a political chance by voting for what would be the state's largest tax increase, if approved by the voters.

"Now you're asking me to spend, spend, spend," Ward said. He said spending this money would send the wrong message to voters.

Knight disagreed. "This isn't nearly enough to take care of what we need in corrections," he said.

Knight said the appropriations would leave the General Fund budget with "almost a zero balance" at the end of the year. He said some of the money is coming from a "rainy day" savings account set up to prevent cuts to the General Fund budget.

"It's certainly raining on the General Fund," Knight said.