Kay Ivey hosts a ceremonial bill signing for 2021 legislative session
On Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey hosted a ceremonial bill signing for legislation passed during the 2021 Regular Session. The following bills will be ceremonially signed by the governor: House Bill 322 – This bill, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, Sen. Clyde Chambliss, and Sen. Tom Whatley, gives the responsibility of nominating members of the State Board of Registration for Foresters to the Alabama Division of the Society of American Foresters and any active state forestry organization that meets the criteria established by the Board. (Act 2021-433) House Bill 227 – Sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, Sen. Dan Roberts, and Sen. Tom Whatley, provides an income tax credit for the acquisition, construction, or installation of a qualified storm shelter. (Act 2021-540) House Bill 2 – Sponsored by Rep. Mike Holmes and Sen. Dan Roberts, HB 2 adds Tianeptine to the list of Class II controlled substances. (Act 2021-325) Senate Bill 261 – This bill, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss and Rep. Chip Brown, prohibits indemnification provisions for liability of a third party in contracts for design professionals. (Act 2021-318) House Bill 130 – Sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown and Sen. David Sessions, House Bill 130 is named after Aniah Blanchard and provides additional offenses that would allow a judge to deny bail to a defendant. (Act 2021-267) House Bill 136 – This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown and Sen. David Sessions, designates the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Alabama Aquarium as the official aquarium of Alabama. (Act 2021-411) House Bill 137 – Sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown and Sen. David Sessions, provides certain rights to victims of sexual assault and creates the Sexual Assault Task Force. (Act 2021-481) House Bill 166 – Sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson and Sen. David Sessions, creates a mental health diversionary program and funds a mental health court in Baldwin County. (Act 2021-154) Senate Bill 39 – SB 39, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price and Rep. Matt Simpson, establishes the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act and creates the crime of aggravated home repair fraud. (Act 2021-272) Senate Bill 308 – This bill, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price and Rep. Proncey Robertson, establishes the Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act and authorizes lifetime concealed carry permits. (Act 2021-246) Senate Bill 43 – This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price and Rep. Joe Lovvorn, requires EMA to adopt guidelines for identifying and designating safe place shelters throughout the state. (Act 2021-165) House Bill 172 – Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond and Sen. Bobby Singleton, requires the Chief Procurement Officer and the Secretary of State’s office to collect data on minority and women-owned businesses in the state and the participation of those businesses in the state procurement process. (Act 2021-223) House Bill 274 – Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, this bill provides for the licensure and regulation by the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering of mobile hair salons. (Act 2021-406) House Bill 175 – HB 175, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, adds computer science teachers serving in underserved areas of the state to the current AMSTEP loan repayment program for public high school math and science teachers. (Act 2021-389) House Bill 153 – This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, expands eligibility of children allowed to receive tuition assistance from the Police Officer’s and Firefighter’s Survivors Educational Assistance Program. (Act 2021-425) Senate Bill 61 – SB 61, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen and Rep. Joe Lovvorn, establishes the Education Retirees Trust Fund in the State Treasury to fund periodic bonuses for education retirees. (Act 2021-464)
Paul DeMarco: Aniah’s Law will make the state safer if Alabama voters approve at the ballot box
It has been a tragic trend across the nation, with crime rates soaring this past year. There have been many factors, but for certain, the efforts by progressive state legislatures and city councils around the country to hinder law enforcement and prosecutors have contributed to the spike in crime. Even in our state, the Alabama Legislature has seen too many bills introduced, and some actually passed that would weaken the criminal justice system. Yet, there was a Constitutional Amendment that lawmakers recently approved that will now go to the voters for consideration that would actually protect the public from violent crime in the future. The legislation, if it becomes law, would allow judges to deny bail to those charged with committing the most violent of crimes such as murder, kidnapping, rape, and first-degree robbery. Currently, the Alabama Consitution only allows a Judge to deny bail in capital murder cases or if provisions of bond are violated. The proposed amendment is called Aniah’s law, named after Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old Homewood native who was kidnapped and murdered by a suspect who was free on bond for another kidnapping and attempted murder case. Unfortunately, we have seen this time and time again through the years where criminals walk the street on bond after having committed a violent crime and then commit another violent crime. It is a failure in the system that many of the most violent and dangerous criminals must be granted a bond after having committed a heinous crime. Alabama voters should overwhelmingly approve this law when it is on the ballot so the courts can do more to prevent violent crime in our state. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
‘Aniah’s Law’ denying bail in more cases heads to voters
Alabama lawmakers have approved a proposal intended to give judges more discretion to deny bail to people accused of violent crimes that is named in honor of a college student killed in 2019. Legislators last week approved the proposed constitutional amendment rewriting a section of the Alabama Constitution to clarify a list of offenses where a judge can deny bail. The offenses include murder, kidnapping, rape, and first-degree robbery. Voters must approve the amendment before it can be added to the constitution. The proposal is called Aniah’s Law for 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard who was killed after being abducted from an Auburn gas station. The suspect in her killing was free on bond in an earlier kidnapping case, authorities said. “Too many of those who are accused of violent crimes are bonding out of jail and committing even more serious offenses, and it is time for law-abiding Alabamians to start fighting back,” Republican Rep. Chip Brown of Mobile, the sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. The Alabama Constitution now says that defendants have a right to bail “except for capital offenses, when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and that excessive bail shall not in any case be required.” The amendment would continue to say that defendants have a right to bail unless “charged with an offense enumerated by the Legislature by general law; and that excessive bail shall not in any case be required.” A companion bill lists the offenses where bail could be denied including murder, assault in the first degree, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, arson, terrorism and aggravated child abuse. While the bill passed overwhelmingly in the Alabama Legislature, at least one lawmaker questioned the need for it. Democratic Rep. John Rogers of Birmingham said he supported the bill but said judges can already deny bail to a person they think is a public threat or set it so high that the person has no chance of release. Brown responded that judges interpret the constitutional right to bond differently and said this would set a clear standard. Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, was a student at Southern Union State Community College. She was last seen Oct. 23, 2019, at a gas station in Auburn and her remains were later found in a wooded area. Blanchard’s mother told WBRC-TV that she was thankful for the passage of the bill. “I didn’t want my daughter to have to give her life, but she did, and she fought hard and so we are going to fight for her and everyone and to just keep Alabama safe,” Blanchard’s mother, Angela Hailey-Harris, said. “That is my mission now,” Harris told the station. “To make sure everyone knows that when they are going to vote, it is on the ballot. I don’t think I will ever feel like I can breathe again, but at least I will feel like my daughter didn’t die for nothing. That she gave her life to save other lives.” The measure will go before voters next year. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama House approves ‘Aniah’s Law’ named for slain teen
The Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a pair of bills intended to give judges more discretion to deny bail for people accused of violent crimes, a proposal inspired by the death of a college student. Representatives approved two bills to create Aniah’s Law, a measure named after 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard who was killed after being abducted from an Auburn gas station. At the time of the abduction, the suspect in the case was free on bond in an earlier kidnapping case. Republican Rep. Chip Brown, the sponsor of the bill, said law enforcement officials have asked for the bill for several years. “They believe this bill can save lives,” Brown, R-Mobile, said. The House passed the two bills by votes of 101-0 and 102-0. One is a constitutional amendment since the Alabama Constitution says people charged with crimes have a right to bail unless they are charged with capital murder. The proposal lists other crimes in which a judge may deny bond following a hearing. The crimes include murder, kidnapping, first-degree assault, rape, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and aggravated child abuse. The bills now move to the Alabama Senate. Because it involves a constitutional amendment, the proposal would also have to be approved by voters. Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, was a student at Southern Union State Community College. She was last seen Oct. 23, 2019, at a gas station in Auburn, and her remains were later found in a wooded area. During the short debate, Rep. Merika Coleman, who is the cousin of Blanchard’s stepmother, fought back tears as she described the teen. “No other family should have to go through what this family went through,” Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove said. “She was a beautiful young woman. She had a full life ahead of her. She could have accomplished so much,” Coleman said. Democratic Rep. John Rogers of Birmingham said he supported the bill but questioned the need for the legislation. He said judges can deny bail or set it so high that the person has no chance of release. “Any judge worth his salt is going to do the same thing anyway,” Rogers said. Brown responded that judges interpret the right to bond differently and said this would set a standard. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
