February - Update on the 2010 Regular Legislative Session
February 26, 2010
With nearly half of the 2010 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature in the history books, it's important to me as your State Senator to update you on the progress of a few of the bills I am sponsoring:
Senate Bill 162 (SB162) is a bill I have introduced that provides a logical, non-taxable solution to the ailing Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program. The monies that I have earmarked are from the lessening of bonds service indebtedness over the next several years as is owed by the Alabama Public School and College Authority. The APSCA floats bonds to build schools, etc. and, of course, the bonds are gradually retired with monies from the Education Trust Fund. When these bonds are periodically retired, more money is then available to the Education Budget. The purpose of my legislation is to prioritize those returning funds to first be used through the year 2021 as an infusion to aid the financially challenged PACT Program. It is my opinion that the State of Alabama has a moral obligation and must stand behind the intent. I likewise feel that the program should not be reopened, but to the contrary, legislation should be introduced to terminate this program for future purposes. As of this writing, SB162 has passed the Senate with a vote of 33 yeas, 0 nays and is pending committee action in the House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 45 (SB45) is a bill that will allow the Board of Trustees at Auburn University, the executive committee of the board of trustees, or any other committee established by the board of trustees to participate in meetings by telephone conference or video conference if notice of the meetings is given pursuant to the Open Meetings Act and the members of the public are given the opportunity to simultaneously listen or to observe such meetings. In this day and time, teleconferencing and video conferencing are common business practices. It is often more practical and cost effective for people to conduct items of business without the added time and expense of travel and SB45 offers these alternatives within the guidelines mentioned. Incidentally, SB45 has the backing of the Alabama Press Association and follows the same legislation adopted in the 2009 Regular Session for the University of Alabama. This bill has received a favorable vote from the Senate body and is pending committee action in the House.
Senate Bill 195 (SB195) offers further enforcement of criminal littering. Currently, law enforcement officers are solely responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of criminal littering. SB195 would authorize enforcement of criminal littering by the county solid waste officer and, upon approval of the county, by the county license inspector. Furthermore, this bill deletes the requirement that there be an accumulation of certain items to create a presumption of littering and will further provide for the distribution of fines for litter enforcement. SB195 has also been voted on favorably in the Senate and is now pending committee action in the House.
Recently I had the honor of offering on the Senate floor a Joint Resolution memorializing the life and death of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Harold “Hal” Decker of Auburn. Lt. Col. Decker was a highly decorated Air Force Officer who fought in World War II, was shot down and captured by the Germans and was ultimately held captive as a prisoner of war for a total of 810 days. He became part of the prisoner’s “X” committee that was responsible for secret activities and he managed to operate a clandestine radio to monitor BBC radio news and ultimately lifted morale until the camp was liberated in 1945; he received a Bronze Star for his actions. After his retirement from the Air Force, Lt. Col. Decker taught Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University for 14 years. He was a vital part of Senate District No. 27 and leaves his legacy in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In my next column I will extend appreciation to the extraordinary military career of Colonel Robert Lewis Howard, recently deceased, who was born in Lee County.
As always, I value your comments and suggestions. Please feel free to contact me at senatortedlittle@gmail.com, www.tedlittle.com, www.facebook.com/tedlittle, www.twitter.com/senatorlittle, 800-835-4885 or my office in Montgomery at 334-242-7865.
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