Alabama Politics - Alabama - onPolitix

U.S. Rep Jo Bonner stepping down

2013-05-23T21:09:12Z

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) — Alabama U.S. House of Representative Jo Bonner announced Thursday, May 23, he will be stepping down from Congress to take a newly created position as Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Economic Development at The University of Alabama.

He said he will be retiring August 15. Among other reasons, he cited spending more family time motivation for stepping down.

“While, naturally, I consider my family – Janee, Lee and Robins – my greatest joy, the opportunity to work with and for the people I represent in the 1 st District – during this time, building on the remarkable legacies of two statesmen, Congressmen Jack Edwards and Sonny Callahan, has indeed been the utmost privilege,” he said.

He was the chairman of the House Ethics Committee for the 112th Congress.

Bonner has been a GOP for Alabama in the U.S. House for over a decade. He ran unopposed during the November 2012 election.

“Even though I was grateful to, once again, run for reelection unopposed last November, both Janee and I have known that this time would one day come; quite frankly, it has come sooner than either of us could have anticipated,” he said.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley will announce a date for a special election to fill the vacancy.

Talker: Who would you like to see replace him?

Armed resource officers may be reality

2013-05-22T23:09:30Z

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) — Armed resource officers in your child’s school might become a reality now that Senate Bill 383 is heading to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley’s desk.

The Mobile County Public School System, however, does not plan to hire more resource officers than they already have on payroll.

"It was really non-controversial. I don't know if there was a single one or two people in the house voted against it. I don't think anyone in the senate voted against the bill,” said Senator Rusty Glover.

The bill Senator Glover referred to is SB 383. It would allow resource officers to be hired by school systems within the state and be armed on campus.

"The last hurdle has to be passed by the governor. The governor has to sign it into law, and it will go into effect,” said Glover.

In 2005, the Alabama legislature revoked the use of firearms on school resource officers. Now in the wake of the shootings in Newtown, Conn., Senator Glover said this bill is needed. He said a local version of this bill has gone back and forth between the house and the Senate for quite some time now. That was until one senator proposed it for the entire state.

"Dick Brewbaker introduced the bill for state-wide. It would be state-wide if the resource officers meet the criteria, and it passed,” said Glover.

If hired, these officers would go through extensive training.

"The bill does mandate that the certain training, certified, shooting training. They have to go through a lot of training before they will be able to have their arms,” said Glover.

Senator Glover said this is a permissive bill, meaning it is up to individual public school systems to vote on the hiring of their own resource officers with their own money.

Mobile County Public School Superintendent Dr. Martha Peek said the school system already has 12 officers in place and doesn’t plan on hiring any more at this time.

"I don't anticipate our local board of school commissioners would contract or hire any outside parties to provide securities in the school system. If it was deemed necessary or needed to have additional officers, I'm sure we would budget funds in that way,” said Peek.

Peek said the officers are assets to the schools.

"They are competent. They are all former police officers, law enforcement officers, and are well trained, but they are not armed at this time,” said Peek.

Peek said safety is a number one priority of the school system. The school board discussed adding security cameras to all elementary schools in the system.

Elder protection act passes legislation

2013-05-22T15:29:31Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) — Attorney General Luther Strange applauded final legislative passage of the Protecting Alabama’s Elders Act.

The bill extends and strengthens legal protections from financial exploitation and physical or emotional abuse for all people aged 60 and older.

“I am pleased that the Legislature has strengthened our state laws to provide special protections for all who are 60 years or older,” said Attorney General Strange. “Previously, such protection applied only if the victim was defined as physically or mentally impaired. Sadly, experience tells us that criminals repeatedly target older people as victims, and the law passed today is a strong weapon to combat this.”

The Attorney General’s Office was actively involved in leadership of the Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, which crafted the Protecting Alabama’s Elders Act. The Council was created by the Alabama Legislature to examine this problem and suggest solutions. Members include representatives of about 30 various law enforcement, judicial, legal, health and senior advocate agencies and other organizations.

Attorney General Strange commended the leadership of Senator Cam Ward and Representative Paul DeMarco, the sponsors who successfully moved the bill through the Legislature. He also thanked Commissioner Nancy Buckner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources and Commissioner Neal Morrison of the Alabama Department of Senior Services-- heads of the two agencies that, along with the Attorney General’s Office, are leading the Council in its efforts to protect and prevent elder abuse—for their dedication to the legislation.

The proposed legislation does not change the current penalties provided by the Adult Protective Services Act, which will still apply to victims categorized as protected persons. Rather, it adds new sections to Alabama’s criminal code, providing additional avenues for law enforcement and prosecutors to fight elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Under this law, elder abuse and neglect can be prosecuted as first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree abuse or neglect, depending on the type and severity of harm to the victim.

The penalties range from a class A misdemeanor for elder abuse and neglect in the third degree to a class A felony for intentional abuse or neglect which causes serious physical injury.

The financial exploitation penalties range from a class A misdemeanor for exploitation of money or property totaling $500 or less to a class B felony for exploitation of money or property exceeding $2,500. A class A felony carries a sentence of 10 years to life; a class B felony, of two to 20 years; a class C felony, of one to 10 years; and a class A misdemeanor, of up to one year.

Animal protection groups praise Alabama bill

2013-05-22T13:44:10Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Animal protection groups are urging Alabama's governor to sign legislation toughening the penalties for animal cruelty.

The Legislature passed a bill on the last night of its session to increase the penalty for animal cruelty from a maximum of six months in jail to a maximum of one year.

The bill also adds a definition for torture that can cause the punishment to increase to a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison.

The Alabama director of the Humane Society of the United States, Mindy Gilbert, says the bill by Republican Rep. Joe Faust of Fairhope gives animals more protection.

An official with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Sherry Rout, says the Legislature made clear that people committing animal cruelty will be held accountable.

Adline Clarke wins District 97 seat

2013-05-22T01:46:20Z

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) — With 31 of 32 boxes reporting, Democratic nominee Adline Clarke won the District 97 seat for the Alabama House of Representatives with 1,258 votes. She beat out Burton LeFlore, who has 103 votes, and David Blunt who has 40.

The District 97 seat was left vacant in December when longtime legislator Yvonne Kennedy died.

In April, Clarke beat opponent Karlos Finley by about 169 votes. She credited that win to the absentee ballot, for which she said she campaigned hard.

Ala. legislators' view of session depends on party

2013-05-21T14:18:24Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The description of the Legislature's 2013 session depends on a legislator's party label.

The Senate's Republican leader, President Pro Tem Del Marsh, of Anniston called it the best session since Republicans gained a majority in the 2010 election.

Republicans passed the Alabama Accountability Act, loosened restrictions on guns, started the consolidation of state law enforcement agencies, and kept a promise to commit to the repayment of money removed for the Alabama Trust Fund.

The Senate's Democratic minority leader, Vivian Davis Figures, called it the worst session of her legislative career.

Democrats failed to pass their top priority, which was expanding the state Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act. Marsh said the Republican majority is opposed to enlarging the role of government.

The session ended at midnight Monday.

Animal cruelty bill to be signed into law

2013-05-21T01:10:20Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) — Monday was a great day for the animals of Alabama. In the final day of the Alabama Legislative Session HB 27 passed and is now headed to Governor Robert Bentley’s desk.

More than a year ago, FOX10 News profiled Alabama’s laws protecting animals. We have showed you case after case of those convicted of animal cruelty getting off with a slap on the wrist.

Many of you spoke out and Monday, May 20 it paid off.

Nearly 5,000 of you signed our online petition to strengthen laws protecting animals and with the passage of HB 27 you were heard.

Special Report: Cruel crimes

The bill passed with only one senator voting against it.

The bill strengthens penalties for animal cruelty; not just for dogs and cats, but all animals.

It was written by Baldwin County law student and founder of the U.S. Animal Law Center Linda Dooley.

The bill’s proud sponsor in the House of Representative Joe Faust said it is a people’s bill. He introduced it in the House of Representatives, where it went unopposed.

“I think animals will appreciate it,” said Faust.

The bill puts tools in the hands of prosecutors to go after those committing these cruel crimes.

The bill’s Senate sponsor Senator Marc Keahey is one of those prosecutors.

“That’s what we needed in our DA’s office back home is the tools to allow us investigate cases knowing that we can prosecute someone for an aggravated offense,” said Keahey.

Those tools are on the way.

“Thank you. Thank you to everyone... and Channel 10 goes right to the top,” said Faust.

Dooley said she will take a day to rest and then pick back up on next year’s bill.

Summary of action in Ala. Legislature

2013-05-20T23:14:52Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A summary of action in the Alabama Legislature on Monday, the 30th and final meeting day of the regular session:

HOUSE:

-Rejected the governor's proposal to delay Alabama's new private school tax credits for two years.

-Gave final approval to a major overhaul of Alabama's gun laws, including allowing workers to keep guns in their vehicles while at their jobs. Goes to governor.

-Gave final approval to a bill to provide funds for breast cancer treatment and education. Goes to governor.

SENATE:

-Gave final approval to a bill allowing city and county school systems to hire armed school guards that have had police training. Goes to governor.

-Gave final approval to a bill saying prosecutors no longer have to put on witnessed and prove guilt when a person pleads guilty to capital murder and is going to be sentenced to life without parole. Goes to governor.

COMMITTEEES:

-House Rules Committee rejected a resolution to discourage local schools from adopting Common Core educational standards.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Alabama House rejects Bentley's 2 year delay on school tax credits

2013-05-20T18:53:25Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama House has rejected Gov. Robert Bentley's proposal to delay private school tax credits for two years.

The House voted 57-10 Monday to reject the governor's proposal. Now the proposal goes to the Senate on the last meeting day of the legislative session.

The new Alabama Accountability Act provides state tax credits of about $3,500 for parents who enroll a child in a private school or non-failing public school rather than a public school rated as failing. Bentley wanted to delay the tax credits until 2015 to allow time for failing schools to improve and for the state to repay money borrowed from a trust fund.

The sponsor of the Accountability Act, Republican Rep. Chad Fincher of Semmes, says the tax credits for school choice need to begin now.

Talker: How do you think the school tax credit will impact educational standards in Alabama?

Alabama Legislature faces several bills on last day

2013-05-20T17:19:04Z

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) — It’s the final day of the legislative session in Alabama and lawmakers are gearing up for a long day.

FOX10 News is watching several bills for you.

Changes to the School Accountability Act

The Accountability Act is already law, but several changes passed the Senate and the House of Representatives and was sent to the governor's desk.

Governor Bentley announced recently he is looking at making some changes to the act.

Animal Cruelty

For more than a year, FOX10 News and thousands across Alabama have been pushing for HB27. The bill strengthens penalties for, and broadens the definition of, animal cruelty.

The bill passed the House.

Tornado Damaged Schools

A bill that would give Murphy High School $15 million to rebuild has been passed. The bill also helps other schools that have been damaged by tornados.