The Dillmans of Notasulga, Alabama

2019 Legislative Bills you might find interesting if not worth supporting or objecting to

Here is some facts you may dazzle your co-workers at lunch today.

House bills sponsored and co-sponsored TOTALING 148 bills by 6 representatives: Laura Hall (D) 23, John Rogers (D) 35, Ronald Johnson (R) 22, Merkia Coleman-Evans (D) 32, William Poole (R) 17, Pebblin Warren (D) 16.

Senate bills sponsored and co-sponsored by 6 senators equaling 188 bills: Arthur Orr (R) 31, Robert Ward (30), Thomas Whatley (R) 35, J. T. Waggoner (R) 30, Gerald Allen (R) 36, William Beasley (D) 26.
A few of these bills are necessary, however a sure sign of our state government's growth during one-yet unfinished session; a total of 336 sponsored and co-sponsored by these 12 legislators.

NOTE, between 1999 and 2000 the nation saw 10,000 new laws yet only 32 new laws from the people via Initiative and Referendum. So do not accept from anyone that laws from the people viat I&R will drown the state, that title is worn by the lawmakers.

---

House

• HB9, Hanes, "Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, able bodied adults without dependents, work requirements imposed to receive benefits" This bill has been carried over for a couple of sessions - time to move it on. NOTE: introduced on 5Mar2019 and as of 29Apr2019 remains in House State Government Committee. Time to THANK Representative Hanes for his persistence and the State Government Committee.
• HB13, Johnson, Technology and Research Committee "Public Service Commission, telephone and cellular telephone customers, Do Not Call List, inclusion of commercial and cellular telephone subscribers, penalties and civil fines increased, Secs. 8-19C-2, 8-19C-3, 8-19C-5, 8-19C-6, 8-19C-7 am'd."
• You got to be kidding. HB26, Hollis, "Consumer, regulate microblading and eyelash extension facilities, penalties." A waste of time. What is next regulate? Nose picking? For those who did not know "microblading." Tattoo facilities are already regulated.
• HB40, Lipscomb, Fiscal Note, "Telemarketers and telephone solicitations, knowing display of misleading caller identification information prohibited, Secs. 8-19A-3, 8-19C-5, 8-19C-11 am'd. Bill introduced March 5, 2019 and immediately referred to Judiciary Committee and subsequently Rereferred to Technology and Research Committee.
• HB82, McMillian
• HB422, first amendment, Warren, Electronic Bingo. The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee gave a unanimous voice vote in favor of the bill. The bill will now be presented to the House on Tuesday, 7May. If you want gaming in Macon County with electronic machines, it is imperative that you step up to the plate. Inasmuch as every house member will be voting on HB422 this Tuesday, 7May, you must contribute to emailing at least 5, if not 10 or more, house members telling them how you feel about the bill,  http://www.legislature.state.al.us/…/House/ALRepresentative… BEING SURE TO SEND A COPY OF YOUR EMAIL TO THE SPEAKER at mac.mccutcheon@alhouse.gov. Don't be BASHFUL, Macon County's improved socioeconomics hinges on your involvement. Simply email each legislator and Speaker that you want the bill to pass (insert your personal reasons if desired) and ask for a "Yea" vote on Tuesday, 7May.
• HB596 defining who may vote in Alabama elections. See its compainion bill, SB313
• Macon County Proposed Ambulance Tax:

  • A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT
    Relating to Macon County; to authorize the county commission to levy a temporary additional sales and use tax; to provide for the collection of the tax and for the distribution and use of the proceeds of the tax to fund only ambulance service for the citizens of the county; and to prescribe penalties and fix punishment for violation of this act.
    BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
    Section 1. (a) This act shall apply only to Macon County.
    (b) The Legislature finds that an immediate crisis exists in the delivery of ambulance service to the citizens of Macon County. Based on a unanimous resolution of the Macon County Commission, the Legislature, by this act, authorizes the Macon County Commission to levy
    a temporary onehalf cent sales and use tax in the county with the proceeds earmarked only for ambulance service for the citizens of Macon County.
    Section 2. As used in this act, the following words have the following meanings: (1) COUNTY. Macon County.
    (2) SALES AND USE TAX. A tax imposed by the state sales and use tax statutes and such other acts applicable to Macon County, including, but not limited to, Article 1 and Article 2 of Chapter 23, Title 40, Code of Alabama 1975.
    Section 3. (a) The Macon County Commission, upon a majority vote of the members and in
    addition to all other taxes, may levy a sales and use tax in an amount up to a onehalf of one percent sales and use tax on sales, use, storage, consumption, or gross receipts in the county. The tax authorized by this act may only be levied until November 30, 2020.
    (b) The gross receipts of any business and the gross proceeds of all sales and use of products or services which are presently exempt under the state sales and use tax statutes are exempt from the tax authorized by this act.
    (c) Any tax levied under this act may not be levied at a rate proportionately higher than the
    proportional rate for various types of sales and uses under the state sales and use tax.
    Section 4. The tax levied by this act shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as the state sales and use taxes are collected in the county and those sales and use taxes applicable only to the county.
    Section 5. Each person engaging or continuing in a business subject to the tax levied by this act shall add to the sales price and collect from the purchaser the amount due by the taxpayer because of the sale or use. It shall be unlawful for any person subjected to the tax to fail to refuse to add to the sales price and to collect from the purchaser the amount required to be added to the sale pursuant to this act. It shall be unlawful for any person subjected to the tax levied by this act to refund or offer to refund all or any part of the amount collected or to absorb or advertise directly or indirectly the absorption or refund of any portion of the tax.
    Section 6. The tax levied by this act shall constitute a debt due Macon County. The tax,
    together with any interest and penalties, shall constitute and be secured by a lien upon the
    property of any person from whom the tax is due or who is required to collect the tax. The county shall collect the tax and enforce this act and shall have and may exercise all rights and remedies otherwise currently applicable or which may be provided for in the future for the collection of the sales and use taxes in the county. The county may adopt any rules necessary to provide for the collection and administration of the tax.
    Section 7. All existing provisions of the sales and use tax statutes, whether imposed by state statutes or local act applicable to Macon County, with respect to the payment, assessment, and collection of the sales and use tax, making of reports, keeping and preserving records, penalties for failure to pay the tax, promulgating rules and regulations with respect to the sales and use tax, and the administration and enforcement of the sales and use taxes which are not inconsistent with this act shall apply to the tax levied under this act. The county shall have and exercise the same powers, duties, and obligations with respect to the tax levied under this act as imposed by the existing sales and use tax statutes, whether imposed by state statutes or local act applicable to the county. All provisions of the existing sales and use tax statutes that are made applicable by this act to the tax levied under this act, including any provisions for the administration and enforcement of this act, are incorporated by reference and made part of this act as if fully set forth herein.
    Section 8. All taxes collected under this act shall be remitted to Macon County and deposited in the Macon County General Fund to be used only to fund ambulance services for the citizens of Macon County.
    Section 9. The authority of the Macon County Commission to levy the sales and use tax authorized by this act shall expire on November 30, 2020. This provision shall not affect the authority of Macon County to collect any taxes levied pursuant to this act prior to that date.
    Section 10. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval
    by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Senate

• SB23, Chris Elliot, Currently assigned to the House County and Municipal Government Committee. Initially assigned to Governmental Affairs Committee. "Municipalities, police jurisdiction and planning jurisdiction, limited to property within corporate limits, provisions for business licenses and sales taxes outside of corporate limits repealed, Secs. 11-51-90, 11-51-206 repealed; Secs. 11-40-10, 11-52-30 am'd." Al.com article.
• Sam Givhan is opposed to the 12 cent fuel tax as is currently 8 cents to ALDot to be used at their current discretion, 3 cents to counties, and 1 cent to cities.
• As a sidebar these 11 senators have sponsored SO FAR 89 bills. The bracketted numbers following their names are their contribution to this total. SB230 Senator Albritton (15) sponsor. Senate co-sponsors: Holley (8), Whatley (20), Marsh (3), Chambliss (12), Melson (11), Butler (4), Barfoot (0), Elliott (7), Shelnutt (7) and Chesteen (2) feel governmental corruption will be lessen when the laws are thrown in the garbage. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com take on the bill - read entire column.
• SB237, Cam Ward, Open Records Legislation before the Governmental Affairs Committee. Easy contact information. Alabama will set the national Open Records bar with SB237. For all who believe in transparency in government this is the time to act. Sponsored by Senator Cam Ward.
• SB313, Del Marsh, "This bill would amend the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that only a citizen of the United States has the right to vote." As of May 16, 2019, it is pending its third reading on day 21 after receiving a favorable report from House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee.
• SB336, Cam Ward, Fiscal Note, "Elections, political parties and independent candidates for statewide office, number of names required to gain ballot access, reduced, Secs. 17-6-22, 17-9-3 am'd.", Introduced April 30, 2019 and immediately assigned to Judiciary Committee, where it is stuck today.
• PROPOSED LEGISLATION by Senator Billy Beasley. Confusing at best. Apparantly the senator is supporting the Town of Notasulga to annex nearly 738 A from the surrounding area, including into Lee County. As soon as I get more, I will include it here. It has already been printed in the paper for the first of the required four times. As a local bill, there is a much higher percentage of passage for the back-stretching that goes on in OUR White Control Tower.