Volume
1 Issue 3- May 2001
Lowell Barron
"We've also passed one of the most important pieces of consumer legislation in recent history."
By Senator Lowell Barron (D) President Pro Tempore, Alabama Senate
The State Legislature has reached the halfway point of the 2001 Regular Session, and we have passed some very good legislation.
With the on-going issue of proration, I believe the Superintendent Accountability Act is very timely. This bill stipulates that all superintendents and relevant school personnel attend financial and legal courses to enable them to better manage the school system's finances.
We have also passed legislation to aid in protecting our schools from violence. The School Violence Protection Act will open the criminal records of juveniles to school principals and superintendents if the crime was of a violent nature. This will allow school principals to more closely monitor the student's behavior and hopefully prevent any acts of violence on a school campus.
As we work to make our education system better, we cannot ignore the state's economic development. Our recent passage of what has become known as the Brownfield's Act is one way we hope to improve our potential for economic growth.
The Brownfield's Bill offers immunity to an industry that chooses to conduct a voluntary analysis and cleanup of an existing industrial site in order to locate at that site. We know that industries often choose not to locate in a vacated facility from fear of the future discovery of some type of environmental damage caused by the previous inhabitant. Passage of this act will remove the fear of liability if the industry conducts a voluntary cleanup and assessment prior to moving to the facility. This should assist in filling the vacant buildings and sites that exist throughout the state.
While this will help in locating industries to our communities, we also hope to pass a Business Licensure Act that will help make the licensing process easier for existing and future businesses. This piece of legislation will correct the decades-old requirement that retail business owners buy a separate business license to sell anything from playing cards to sewing machines. This legislation will make it possible to streamline the licensing procedure through a more uniform application process, and the funds will be allocated back to the appropriate governing body.
We've also passed one of the most important pieces of consumer legislation in recent history. The Identity Theft Bill will make it a crime to steal or sell an individual's identity. Currently, under Alabama law, it is not unlawful to use someone else's identity. This bill will make it a felony to use someone's identity to perpetrate such acts as opening financial accounts and making purchases. The bill also opens an avenue for the victim of identity theft to seek restitution for the damages incurred.
While we have managed to pass some very important legislation in the recent weeks, there is still much to be done. We have begun to address the issue of constitution reform. This will be a very consuming task, but it is certainly one of great importance.
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