Alabama Senate adopts special-order calendar, passes package including Resiliency Council and school recruiter day
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Summary
The Alabama Senate adopted a special-order calendar and approved multiple bills on final passage, including SB 137 to create an Alabama Resiliency Council, SB 158 allowing a school day for military recruiters' testing, and SB 136 concerning the Massage Therapy Licensing Board. Votes were taken largely by previous roll with unanimous or near-unanimous tallies reported.
The Alabama Senate adopted a rules committee special-order calendar and moved through a slate of bills on the seventh legislative day, approving a package that included measures on licensing boards, school access for military recruiters, criminal procedure and creation of a statewide resiliency council.
Senate Resolution 25, reported by the committee on rules, set a special and paramount order of business and placed bills such as Senate Bill 136 (Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board), Senate Bill 158 (public high schools and a recruiter/testing day), Senate Bill 22 (Commission on Uniform State Laws), Senate Bill 137 (Alabama Resiliency Council), Senate Bill 60 (criminal procedure), Senate Bill 109 (Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Act), Senate Bill 77 (9-1-1 board) and Senate Bill 163 (board of cosmetology and barbering) on the calendar. The report was adopted on the floor by voice/short roll.
Senate Bill 136: Senator Chris Elliott presented a substitute for SB 136 relating to the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board; the substitute was received and adopted without objection and the bill subsequently passed final passage on the floor with the tally announced on the record.
Senate Bill 158: Senator Price described SB 158 as one of the military bills, explaining that "what this bill does is actually allow a day that will be set aside in our schools across the state as far as for what the recruiters could come in and do the necessary testing that they need to do." The Senate passed SB 158 by previous roll without recorded objection.
Senate Bill 22: Senator Gavan said the bill addresses appointments to the Commission on Uniform State Laws and proposed that the president pro tempore appoint the Senate member if the Speaker appoints the House member; after explanation, the Senate passed SB 22 without objection.
Senate Bill 137: Senator Livingston said, "This bill creates the Alabama Resiliency Council," and cited recent severe weather—ice, snow and tornadoes across parts of the state—as justification for establishing the council; SB 137 passed the Senate on the special-order calendar.
Other bills that passed on the special-order calendar included SB 60 (criminal procedure), SB 109 (peer-to-peer car sharing), SB 77 (9-1-1 board), and SB 163 (cosmetology and barbering board matters). The chamber recorded votes on the floor (commonly announced as 33 or 34 ayes, 0 nays depending on the roll method) and proceeded without recorded objections on these items.
The Senate also concurred with an executive amendment to House Joint Resolution 4 transmitted by Governor Kay Ivey after a motion to concur was made and ordered without objection.
The floor concluded with brief remarks of appreciation among senators and a motion to adjourn until Thursday, January 29 at 12:15 p.m., leaving the journal open until 4:30 p.m.; the motion carried and the Senate adjourned.