PROTECTING RIGHTS OF WORKERS TO FAIRLY CHOOSE REGARDING UNION

SB231 (Sen. Orr) Alabama is a right to work state.  Even so, Alabama workers are not fully protected from unions. The United Auto Workers (UAW) wants to unionize Mercedes and other automakers in Alabama.  SB231 deals with labor organizations, employer’s eligibility for economic development incentives conditioned upon employer refraining from certain practices relating to labor organizations.  Please read Sen. Allen’s warning of UAW’s push to unionize Mercedes in Tuscaloosa. 

STATUS: We support this bill.  It passed the Senate and the House Commerce and Small Business Committee and is waiting for a vote on the House floor. 

VOLUNTEER CAMPUS CHAPLAINS

SB294 (Sen. Smitherman) HB316 (Rep. Gidley) This bill would authorize a public school or public charter school to employ or accept as a volunteer a campus chaplain to provide services.  It would also require each local board of education and the governing body of each public charter school to vote on whether to allow schools in their jurisdiction to employ or accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer.  Most police and fire departments, hospitals, and prisons have volunteer chaplains. Their role is to offer reflective, non-judgmental listening to people going through a difficult time. This bill would allow schools to use volunteer campus chaplains that have gone through recognized chaplain programs. 

STATUS: We support this bill.  It passed the Senate and the House Education Committee and is waiting for a vote on the House floor.

RELIGIOUS/MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FOR VACCINES FOR MINORS

SB246 (Sen. Orr) This bill would clarify that a parent or guardian’s written declaration is sufficient documentation to exempt his or her child from a vaccine requirement for religious reasons. This bill would also provide that, if a public institution of higher education requires students to be vaccinated or tested for a disease, that a student may be exempt for medical reasons or because he or she objects for religious reasons. 

STATUS: We support this bill. It passed the Senate and is headed to the House.

CARBON CAPTURE STORAGE

SB230 (Sen. Albritton) HB327 (Rep. Baker) These identical bills would allow for the leasing of lands to capture and store carbon dioxide (also called carbon sequestration).

STATUS: The bills have passed in their respective chambers and are awaiting votes in the second chamber. See our Legislative Updates for Week 7 and Week 8 for more info on these bills.  

SHELBY COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD

HB89 (Rep. Mooney) This local bill relates specifically to Shelby County. The members of the library board shall be elected by the members of the Shelby County legislative delegation representing the geographic area of the library district or any portion thereof. 

STATUS: We support this bill. It passed the House and Senate and is awaiting Gov. Ivey’s signature. 

K-12 ONLINE INTERNET POLICY 

HB364 (Rep. Hulsey) This bill would require each local board of education to adopt an Internet safety policy for student access to the Internet provided in schools on district-owned devices by the local board of education. In public K-12 schools, each local board of education is required to adopt an Internet safety policy for district-owned devices used in schools, prohibiting use of certain platforms.

STATUS: We support this bill.  HB364 passed the House Education Policy Committee and is headed to the House. 

BANNING RANKED-CHOICE VOTING 

SB186 (Sen. Orr) This bill would prohibit the use of any ranked-choice voting method in elections except for electors who vote by absentee ballot pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.  Watch this 2 minute video that explains why ranked choice voting is bad public policy. 

STATUS: We support this bill to protect our sacred vote.  It passed the Senate and is awaiting a floor vote in the House.