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House approves trimmed budgets
The Alabama House of Representatives voted 84-11 this week to pass an operating budget that would include a General Fund of $1.19 billion for the 2003 budget year, which begins Oct. 1. Last week, members of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved a reduced General Fund budget that cut spending by $8.43 million next year. But House members rejected several areas of the committee’s budget plan, including increases in fees for driver’s operating records and transferring money from the Veterans’ Assistance Fund. House members further reduced the committee’s proposed General Fund budget by $10.2 million before the final vote. The budget doesn’t include money for a 3-percent pay raise for state employees that was proposed by Gov. Don Siegelman, which would have cost $40.5 million a year. Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, who serves as chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, told reporters the budget would allow the state to avoid layoffs, but added there would be no room for growth or additional services. The General Fund budget now goes to the Senate. The Education Budget was approved by a House committee on Wednesday, but does not include a 3 percent pay raise for teachers recommended by the governor which would have cost the state an additional $80 million. The proposed budget does include $80 million in conditional money for pay raises after Jan. 1, if the revenue is available. Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, who chairs the budget-writing committee, said if an economic recovery continues and tax revenue increases, the Legislature could authorize the additional $80 million early next year.
The House is expected to vote on the Education Budget next week.
Bills introduced to update peanut checkoff program
Bills introduced in the Alabama House and Senate this week will change portions of the peanut producers’ referendum, if they receive final passage. SB499, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Holley, D-Elba, would change the percentage of votes needed to approve a checkoff from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority, the same as with all other checkoffs in the state. The bill also would allow only producers to vote on the referendum. The bill passed the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee this week and is awaiting action by the full Senate. A companion bill, HB603, was introduced by Rep. Joe Carothers, D-Dothan. It has been assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. Both bills would allow producers to hold a revote within 90 days of a vote, if a referendum fails. The Alabama peanut checkoff program, which funds research and promotion efforts, was narrowly defeated in a recent referendum. Although a majority of farmers voted to continue the program, they failed to get the two-thirds majority required for passage.
Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) Executive Director Randy Griggs said peanut farmers plan to challenge the vote. APPA is a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Federation supports SB499 and HB603.
Senate study committee stalls Family Farm Act
Stalling tactics by a study committee in the Alabama Senate apparently have influenced members of the House Agriculture Committee to delay action on the Family Farm Preservation Act. “While we feel there is widespread support for this legislation, there has been quite a bit of negative publicity about the bill,” said Freddie Patterson, director of Federation’s Governmental Affairs Department. “Several members of the House Ag Committee said when it became apparent to them that the bill would not be passed by the Senate, they didn’t want to be criticized about a bill that wasn’t going to pass anyway,” he said. Patterson said the inaction by the Senate study committee has seriously jeopardized the bill’s chance of passage for this session. “This is an election year, and when politicians can avoid controversy, they usually do,” he said. “But Alabama needs this bill, and we will continue to work to see that it is passed to protect farmers and landowners from frivolous lawsuits.”
Constitutional convention resolutions introduced in Legislature
Two joint resolutions, HJR102 and SJR31, are pending in the Rules Committees of the House and Senate and call for a referendum to determine if voters want a constitutional convention. Another resolution in the House, HJR152, sets up the means to hold such a convention. Many who favor a constitutional convention want to remove rights to vote on property taxes and favor home rule for local government. The Federation opposes a constitutional convention and urges its members to contact their legislators.
Governor’s smart growth conference set for March 21
National land use experts as well as state and local officials will discuss development, zoning and home rule issues March 21-22 at the Governor’s Conference on Smart Growth and Brownfields Redevelopment Birmingham Southern College will host the conference, which will examine strategies for community growth to “restore and blend rural and urban economies in a manner that builds a better future.” For more information, including registration costs, contact Steve Guy of the Alabama Farmers Federation at 1-800-392-5705, ext. 4305 or sguy@alfafarmers.org.
Federation opposes water permitting bills
Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that would change requirements for diverting, withdrawing or consuming waters of the state. SB494, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Dial, D-Lineville, would require a person to submit a statement of beneficial use at least 90 days prior to the construction of any facility dependent upon the use or consumption of waters of the state and proof that they have a legal right to use the water. Dial also introduced SB496, which would transfer enforcement responsibility of the Alabama Water Resources Act from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to the Office of Water Resources. Companion bills (HB590 and HB589) have been introduced in the House by Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre. >b> The Federation opposes both bills.
Cotton bill awaits governor’s signature
Cotton Checkoff Bill (HB65) - The bill has been approved by the full Senate and is headed to the governor for his signature. The bill must be signed by the governor before March 20, in order for the Alabama Cotton Commission to include the new rate flexibility clause in its upcoming referendum. The bill allows changes to be made in the assessment rate (checkoff funds) paid by Alabama cotton producers. The new amount will be restricted to not exceed $1 per bale. Under existing law, the assessment is limited to 3/10 of 1 percent of the bale value, which is based on the average market price for cotton. The new assessment rate could be determined annually by the Alabama Cotton Commission, however because of depressed prices, the commission has agreed to keep the assessment at last year’s level for the 2002 crop year. Anti-Ag Terrorism Bills HB306 & SB271 - The Senate has passed its version of the bill, and it has been sent to the House where it was assigned to the House Agriculture Committee. The House version of the bill has passed out of committee, but it has yet to be considered by the full House. It will revise the Alabama Animal Research and Production Facilities Act to include crops and crop facility protection. The bill provides protection to farmers as well as private and public research investments. It says a person convicted of a violation of this act would pay restitution double the amount of damages. Sheep and Goat Checkoff Bills - (HB228 & HB229 and SB253 & SB254) - The bills were passed by the House on Feb. 26, and sent to the Senate where they were assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee. The Senate committee approved the package this week, and they are awaiting action by the full Senate. HB228 and SB253 would allow sheep and goat producers in Alabama to hold a referendum to enable them to collect funds at the point of sale to promote the production, marketing, use and sale of sheep and goats and their products. The companion bills, HB229 and SB254, would allow the Alabama Farmers Federation Sheep and Goat Committee to be the certified association to conduct and administer the referendum and associated programs. The amount of the assessment would be 50-cents per sheep or goat and would be deducted from all sales. Prohibition of Certain Animal Imports Bill (HB225 & SB235) - The House bill passed out of the Senate Committee this week and is awaiting final action in the Senate. SB235 remains on the Senate calendar for a full vote. The bill increases fines from $50-$250 up to $1,000-$5,000 for violations of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ prohibition on importation of certain animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. The bill would protect farms from the spread of animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease. Catfish Labeling Bill (HB220 & SB268) - The bill is on the House calendar and is awaiting action in the Senate Conservation, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. It will require truthful labeling of fish products sold in Alabama.It will protect consumers from purchasing fish mislabeled as farm-raised catfish. The Alabama Farmers Federation supports this bill.
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