News

Local legislation awaiting approval

Bills move to House committee, Riley; 3 days remain in session


By Dana Beyerle
Montgomery Bureau

Published: Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 11:51 p.m.

MONTGOMERY -- With three days left in the 2007 legislative session, the floodgates are open for passage of hundreds of local bills, not to mention the two state budgets, pay raises for teachers and state employees, and a few statewide bills of local interest.

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Local Shoals legislation still alive includes two bills deemed essential to enticing a significant industry to Colbert County.

The bills authorize sales tax increases of one-half cent in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. The money would be used to help the Shoals provide economic incentives to the industry.

The bills sponsored by Sen. Bobby Denton, D-Muscle Shoals, are in respective House local legislation committees awaiting the approval of Reps. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, Mike Curtis, D-Greenhill, and Tammy Irons, D-Florence.

Once signed, the bills move to the House calendar where they will compete with other local bills.

"I think we'll pass them (this) week,'' Black said Friday. "That's my goal, and I feel like we'll be able to. I've alerted everybody on both bills to be on the ready to get them out of committee and try to get them passed on Thursday.''

A third related bill already has been sent to Gov. Bob Riley for consideration. It sets up a committee consisting of elected officials in the two counties who will decide how to allocate the economic incentive funds.

Denton also has a bill to increase the Colbert County coroner's expense allowance by $10,000 a year.

A bill affecting the Tuscumbia civil service system still can pass as can others, including bills:

  • to establish a Colbert County pretrial diversion program.

  • to establish court costs to support the Colbert County drug task force.

  • to create community development commissions in Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties that would handle Tennessee Valley Authority payments.

    Irons has bills that could pass, including a draft and keg beer bill for Florence. She also has a bill pending that would create a Lauderdale County judicial selection committee and a Tennessee River water protection measure.

    Rep. Jody Letson, D-Hillsboro, has a bill on the House calendar that would reduce the county tax on used cars and trucks.

    A statewide bill that will affect the Shoals is one authorizing a referendum on Sunday liquor sales in Florence and Sheffield. The bill

    by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, is in a Senate committee.

    "This does not mandate Sunday sales,'' Ford said previously. "The city council must call for the referendum and also set up an ordinance outlining how it will be applied.''

    Ford's bill is sought by the hospitality, tourism, grocery, and retail industries but opposed by some religious leaders and legislators on moral grounds.

    If approved, the legislation would affect Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Decatur, Dothan, Enterprise, Florence, Gadsden, Ozark, Selma, Sheffield, Sylacauga, Talladega and Tuscaloosa.

    Although Florence has limited Sunday liquor sales, this bill could expand when and where alcoholic beverages could be sold in Florence.

    Sheffield does not allow Sunday alcoholic beverage sales.

    A separate Sunday liquor referendum bill for Sheffield, which originated in the House, is in a Senate committee and still alive.

    Also still alive in the Senate is a House bill by Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, that would authorize liquor sales at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville. The bill would simplify Sunday liquor sales at the Robert Trent Jones golf course in Colbert County.

    Black has a statewide constitutional amendment to authorize bingo at the dog tracks in Birmingham and Mobile. The amendment would also tax all legal bingo machines to support the state's Medicaid program.

    The bill is on the House calendar where it's competing for Black's time and political capital with the crucial local economic development bills.

    If the bill has any chance at all it must pass Tuesday, but then it faces potential assignment to a Senate committee that is chaired by an opponent who believes it will harm bingo and dog racing in his district.

    The education and general government budgets are in position to pass as are teacher and state employee pay raises.

    Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@aol.com.


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