WEEK 3 (FEB 18-20)
ATTENTION ALL VETERANS!
AL SENATE STRIPS VETERANS' AUTHORITY!
Overview of the SB67/HB154 Restructuring of the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA):
Since its establishment in 1945, the SBVA has been chaired by the Alabama governor, with board members chosen from nine military service organizations. Their main responsibilities include drafting and adopting rules and initiatives that govern veterans’ affairs in Alabama, with their rule-making authority carrying the “force of law.” The commissioner was selected by the board and could not act without the SBVA’s approval. SB67/HB154 View details and pics of how the original SB67/HB154 would remove veterans’ voices and power here.
UPDATE:
On Tuesday, Sen. Jones introduced a substitute to SB67 on the Senate floor. The proposed changes include:
- Granting the Governor sole authority to appoint the Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner.
- Removing all rule-making authority from the SBVA (composed of 9 service organizations) and reducing it to an “advisory” only board.
- Eliminating the SBVA’s oversight of the Commissioner (now a political appointee), allowing the Commissioner to make all decisions regarding Alabama veterans’ affairs independently and without accountability or oversight.
Sen. Jones denied any motions and requests from fellow senators to delay the vote for one day so they could read the 21-page bill. Consequently, a vote was held approximately 6 minutes after distributing copies of the substitute bill and unfortunately it passed 21-9. It’s a shame the veteran community did not have a chance to weigh in on the bill!
NEXT STEPS:
- SB67 is now heading to the House Military Committee. Please click here to send a prepared message to your House Representative, urging them to support Alabama Veterans by voting “NO” on SB67.
- Veterans are planning to meet on Tuesday, Feb 25th at 11:30 at the State House. See flyer here. This event is hosted by veterans not Eagle Forum of AL.
ADDRESSING OUR PHARAMCY CRISIS
In the last six years, roughly 300 of 800 independent pharmacies in Alabama have closed their doors. Practices of large pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) threaten the existence of community pharmacies and stifle patient choice and access to care.
Senate Legislative hearings to address regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) were packed. Even the overflow was standing room only!
WHAT IS A PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER (PBM)
Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) act as intermediaries between health insurance plans and pharmacies. They process claims, determine reimbursement amounts, and negotiate drug price discounts or rebates with manufacturers. Licensed and regulated by the Department of Insurance, PBMs may have affiliations with specific network pharmacies.
BILL: SB99 SPONSOR: Sen. Stutts
DESCRIPTION: This bill proposes expanding the Department of Insurance oversight by setting benchmarks for PBM reimbursements and regulating their claim processes, payment determinations, and rebate usage. It also prohibits PBMs from influencing health insurance beneficiaries’ choice of drug variants or pharmacies within the network. Additionally, the bill allows health insurance plans, beneficiaries, or pharmacies to take legal action against PBMs for violations. It further regulates PBM audits of pharmacies under the Pharmacy Audit Integrity Act, specifying conditions for recouping overpaid funds.
STATUS: A public hearing was held on Wednesday in the Senate Insurance and banking committee. No vote was taken.
OUR POSITION: We support PBM reform. We prefer SB99 as it is more comprehensive. See flyer here.
BILL: SB93 SPONSOR: Sen. Jones
DESCRIPTION: This bill prohibits pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from reimbursing pharmacies less than their actual acquisition costs and from charging miscellaneous fees related to network participation and claims processing. It allows pharmacists to disclose drug prices and alternative treatments to consumers. Pharmacies can refuse to dispense drugs if reimbursed below their dispensing costs, and PBMs cannot recover these costs by charging consumers higher deductibles or copayments. The Commissioner of Insurance is authorized to enforce violations of the Alabama Pharmacy Benefits Manager Licensure and Regulation Act and the Pharmacy Audit Integrity Act during PBM audits of pharmacies.
STATUS: A public hearing was held on Wednesday in the Senate Insurance and Banking committee. No vote was taken.
OUR POSITION: We support PBM reform.
PROTECTING KIDS ONLINE
BILL: HB235 SPONSOR: Rep. Faulkner
DESCRIPTION: This bill would require social media platforms to prevent individuals under 16 years of age from creating accounts.
STATUS: There was a public hearing in the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee. No vote was taken.
EF’s POSITION: Although we support the intent to protect minors, we do not support this bill. Young people can use their social media accounts as an outlet to promote Biblical and wholesome ideas. Most social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old to sign up due to regulations like the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
BILL HB276 SPONSOR: Rep. Robbins
DESCRIPTION: This bill would require social media platforms to display notifications when minor account holders under 18 years of age use the platform in certain circumstances. This bill would require social media platforms to prohibit certain actions regarding accounts owned by minors under 18 years of age. This bill would require social media platforms to use a commercially reasonable age verification process. This bill would require social media platforms to provide tools and settings for parents, guardians, and minors to support minors with accounts on the platform. This bill would require social media platforms to remove certain content in certain circumstances.
This bill would require social media platforms to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
STATUS: A public hearing was held in the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee. No vote was taken.
EF’s POSITION: We support this bill.
NEW IMMIGRATION BILL
BILL HB7 SPONSOR: Rep. Yarbrough
DESCRIPTION: This bill requires state and local government employees to handle information about individuals’ immigration status for public safety purposes. It allows law enforcement officers to transport and arrest illegal aliens based on their status or federal immigration law violations. It also sets standard procedures for the intake and booking of illegal aliens and foreign nationals in jails, and mandates that jails honor immigration detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security.
STATUS: HB7 passed out of Public Safety and Homeland Security but was re-referred to House Judiciary Committee.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
BILL HB247 SPONSOR: Rep. Standridge
DESCRIPTION: This bill would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” This bill would also require all state and local entities and all employees of those entities to observe and implement the name change where practicable.
STATUS: hb247 passed out of the House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit Committee and is awaiting House floor debate.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
OTHER BILLS THAT PROGRESSED THIS WEEK
Bills were tracking from previous weeks that were not mentioned above but DID make progress this week:
- BILL SB78 SPONSOR: Sen. Weaver- Prohibit minors from “Galaxy gas” (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Passed full Senate and House committee, waiting to be added to House Calendar.
- BILL SB63 SPONSOR: Sen. Bell – Require DNA and fingerprints of illegals when in police custody. (View details in Week 2.) Passed full Senate and is waiting to be heard in the House Health Committee. Waiting to be added to House Calendar
BILLS THAT DID NOT MOVE THIS WEEK
Bills we’ve been tracking from previous weeks that did NOT make progress this week.
- BILL SB35 SPONSOR: Sen. Allen – Prohibit Sextortion (View details in Week 2.) Waiting to be added to Senate Calendar.
- BILL HB79 SPONSOR: Rep. Brown – No retribution for recommending/prescribing off label RX (View details in Week 2.) Passed the House and is waiting to be heard in Senate Judiciary Committee.
- BILL SB101 SPONSOR: Sen. Stutts – Raising medical age of consent from 14 to 18. (View details in Week 2.) Waiting to be added to Senate Calendar.
- BILL HB2 SPONSOR: Rep. Brown – Parental consent for vaccines (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Passed the House and is waiting to be heard in Senate Judiciary Committee.
- BILL HB231 SPONSOR: Rep. Ingram – Prayer and pledge in school. (View details in Week 2.). Waiting to be added to House Calendar.
- BILL SB69 SPONSOR: Sen. Bell – Divesting in China. (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Waiting to be added to Senate Calendar.
- BILL SB53 SPONSOR: Sen. Kitchens – Prohibit human smuggling. (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Passed the Seante and waiting to be heard in House Judiciary Committee.
- BILL SB55 SPONSOR: Sen. Elliott – Illegals prohibited from driving in Alabama without a license indicating they are here legally. (View details in Week 2.) Passed the Senate and is waiting to be heard in the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
- BILL SB6 SPONSOR: Sen. Elliott – Library Board Appointments. (View details in Week 1.) Passed Senate committee waiting to be put on the Senate Calendar.
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