Many, many thanks to all the county leaders who worked with their hometown legislators to make sure they understand the county impact of their actions. Special thanks too to the members of the ACCA Board of Directors and Legislative Committee who spent the day – and much of the night – in the State House on Monday.

The detailed final legislative report will have to come later, because the governor has 10 days to sign measures that passed yesterday. In the meantime, here is a quick status update on ACCA priorities.

Local bills

The Senate alone gave final passage to more than 80 local bills yesterday. If you want to check on the status of local legislation affecting your county, follow these directions. If you are unsure about the information you find in the Legislature’s web database, please call the ACCA office at 334-263-7594 and ask for Sonny, Mary, Sallie or John.

Gone to the governor

3 ACCA bills won final passage last night and now await the governor’s signature:
►HB 47 by Rep. Steve Clouse/Sen. Jerry Fielding & Sen. Cam Ward – reforms process of redeeming property that is sold for unpaid taxes.
►HB 54 by Rep. Todd Greeson/Sen. Rusty Glover – allows re-dispensing of unused prescription drugs in county jails.
►HB 514 by Rep. Dexter Grimsley/Sen. Roger Bedford – allows money from the 4-cent gas tax to be used on certain right-of-way maintenance activities.

Danger Bills

►SB 237, which would have required “prompt payment” on government construction projects, died without coming up on the House floor.
►The bill establishing a new process for sealing court records, which would have increased county liability exposure, died without coming up on the House floor.
►SB 260, which sets up on statewide referendum on a $50 million bond issue for National Guard armories, passed without an ACCA-backed amendment to shield county income from the Alabama Trust Fund.

Get ready for next year

Two ACCA proposals died without action in the Senate yesterday. HB 603 would have saved $1 million in taxpayer dollars every election year by shifting publication of the voter list from newspapers to the web. HB 46 would have allowed a portion of a state income tax refund to be set off to cover a debt to county government.

Got your ATRIP applications ready?
Counties that are still competing for ATRIP dollars have just a few days left to finalize their project information for ALDOT. Applications for funding in the third and final round of ATRIP are due Friday, May 31.

Last chance
The Alabama Legislature will go home at midnight tonight, and that is also the deadline to speak up about how ACCA communicates with you during the session. Please take a couple minutes to complete this brief online survey – especially if you are a commissioner. And many thanks to those of you who have already completed the survey – your input is means a lot!

Check out Colbert
Colbert County has unveiled an impressive new web presence at www.colbertcounty.org The project is a joint venture between the county and students at the University of North Alabama. The Association has also provided web assistance to counties looking for a basic web identity. For more information, contact Sallie Gowan.

CDBG grant time
ADECA is opening up the process for the next round of Community Development Block Grants, with a deadline of Aug. 1. See this memo for details.

One important development this week is that Gov. Robert Bentley signed ACCA’s credit card bill into law. Act 2013-211, which was effectively immediately, allows counties greater but still limited use of credit, debit and procurement cards. Many thanks to Rep. Alan Harper and Sen. Jimmy Holley for their hard work on this legislation!

Despite the apparent calm, county leaders have been busy reaching out to legislators this week. If you haven’t talked to your senator or House member yet, there’s a little time left. Both chambers will go into session at 9 a.m. Monday, and lawmakers are expected to work until midnight.

IN THE SENATE (Senate roster)

These 5 bills are ready for final passage in the Senate, so please make sure each and every senator is ready to vote “yes” on these bills!

1. Income tax refund set off (HB 46 by Rep. Steve Clouse/Sen. Jerry Fielding)
►The bill would allow counties and cities to “set-off” a person’s state income tax refund in order to pay any judgments or other debts owed local governments.
►Similar measures have been extremely successful for counties in North and South Carolina.
►Many state agencies in Alabama already use this process.

 2. Redemption of property (HB 47 by Rep. Steve Clouse/Sen. Jerry Fielding)
►This measure reforms the use and distribution of the so-called “overbid” on tax sales for properties with unpaid property taxes.
►It would resolve many questions that exist for counties that hold and distribute the payments for these sales.
►Last year the Senate passed a similar bill that did not become law.

3. Reusing prescription drugs in county jails (HB 54 by Rep. Todd Greeson/Sen. Rusty Glover)
► When an inmate leaves a county jail today, all the inmate’s remaining county-purchased prescription drugs are destroyed.
► This legislation would allow for unused drugs to go back to the pharmacy and be repackaged for another inmate with the same prescription, resulting in cost savings for counties.
► A similar provision has been very successful in the state prison system. 

 4. Gas tax for vegetation management (HB 514 by Rep. Dexter Grimsley/Sen. Roger Bedford)
►This bill makes technical changes to the so-called 4-cent gasoline tax to allow proceeds to be used on right-of-way maintenance on county roads.
►This would eliminate red tape that exists under current law because 4-cent spending must be tracked separately from other gas taxes, which can be used on right-of-way upkeep.
►The state of the right of way is an important factor when road condition is rated, which is often a requirement for federal funds.

5. Publishing the voter list online (HB 603 by Rep. Howard Sanderford/Sen. Paul Sanford)
►The goal of this bill is to save $1 million taxpayer dollars per election cycle by lifting the requirement to publish a complete voter list in the newspaper and shifting the list to the web.
►Counties would be required to publish two half-page newspaper ads indicating: (1) where the voter list is available online, (2) how to get the voter list at the courthouse, and (3) a phone number for citizens who want to call and verify their registration.
►Alabama is the only state where the complete voter list must be published in a newspaper for state or county elections. Publication is not required for city elections.
►This bill makes no changes to compensation for probate judges or circuit clerks.

IN THE HOUSE (House roster)

In the Legislature’s lower chamber, the county “to-do” list for the last day is all defense.

Protecting county revenue (SB 260 by Sen. Tom Whatley/Rep. Mark Tuggle)
►The bill would let the state borrow money for improvements at Alabama National Guard armories, with the debt to be repaid from the Alabama Trust Fund.
►Counties get 10 percent of the Alabama Trust Fund’s interest income every year, and it would cost the trust fund $70 million to pay back the debt.
►Every dollar withdrawn reduces the fund’s power to earn interest – and cuts county funding forever.
►An amendment will be offered on the House floor that will protect county revenue WITHOUT CUTTING FUNDING TO THE ARMORIES.
►Urge your House members to SUPPORT the county amendment to SB 260. Without the amendment, ask them to oppose the bill.

Protecting grant projects from unreasonable “prompt pay” requirements (SB 237 by Sen. Del Marsh/Rep. Bill Roberts)
►This bill tightens existing timelines for payment on many public construction projects.
► The bill currently contains a critical provision to shield grant-funded projects from the payment clock until the county receives the grant money.
►Many times grants require the work to be completed before the money will be transferred to the county, so it works as a reimbursement.
► We expect an attempt on the House floor to strip this critical provision. Ask your House members NOT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES to SB 237 on the floor.

Attn: Commissioners – ACCA needs your help!

Though overall response has been good to ACCA’s online survey, we are short on input from commissioners. In fact, more than twice as many county staff members as commissioners have responded!

We want to know how well our legislative communication tools work for you — from email newsletters to bill tracking lists to webinars. Please take a couple minutes to answer this brief online survey.

Thank you for your time – your input will help us serve you better!

P.S. If you have already completed the survey, thanks!!!

How are we doing?
ACCA needs to hear from you! We want to know how well our legislative communication tools work for you, from email newsletters to bill tracking lists to webinars. Please take a couple minutes to answer this brief online survey. Thank you for your time – your input will help us serve you better!

Leading NACo, part I
Incoming NACo President Linda Langston has announced her appointment process and schedule for certain NACo committees.  This information and the application are available online at Presidential Appointment Application.

Leading NACo, part II
You’ve got almost a month to submit your application to serve on one of NACo’s 11 Steering Committees. To learn more about the work of specific steering committees, please visit this page on the NACo website. If you already serve on a committee and would like to be reappointed, you must apply for a new term. Please see this form for additional details, and contact Marcia Collier if you have questions.

Engineer earns national honor
Shelby County Engineer Randy Cole was recently named 2012 Urban County Engineer of the Year by the National Association of County Engineers. (See news coverage at this link) Congrats! 

Several positive things happened this week. ACCA House bills relating to publishing voter lists and using 4-cent gas tax money for right-of-way work moved through a Senate committee at their very last opportunity, keeping these proposals “alive” for the last day. In addition, two Danger bills that threatened to come up in the House yesterday were avoided, giving counties much-needed time to communicate with legislators on these two issues.

The session’s last day will be Monday, May 20, and both chambers will begin work at 9 a.m. And, as you will read below, county leaders have work to do with every single legislator to prepare for the day.

In the Senate, there are four ACCA bills awaiting final passage, which will compete with a crowded field of more than 100 local bills and countless other statewide bills for consideration on the Senate floor. At the same time, there is no reason to believe that the Senate’s minority caucus won’t continue to slow movement with varying stalling tactics.

Meanwhile, the House faces a relatively short “to do” list, meaning that the pair of Danger bills still pending will likely be considered on the floor. This makes your communication with House members even more important than ever. In the lower chamber, ACCA will be working to amend SB 260 to protect counties from the diversion of more than $70 million from the Alabama Trust Fund and to prevent changes to SB 237 that would require counties to pay on public work contracts within 45 days.

After communicating with your legislators, please share any feedback you get that might be useful to the ACCA staff. It is helpful to know a particular legislator’s position, whether the lawmaker is with us, against us or undecided.

Protecting county revenue
The biggest threat to counties that is still pending this session is SB 260 by Sen. Tom Whatley/Rep. Mark Tuggle. The bill would let the state borrow money for improvements at Alabama National Guard armories, with the debt to be repaid from the Alabama Trust Fund.

Counties get 10 percent of the Alabama Trust Fund’s interest income every year, and it would cost the trust fund $70 million to pay back the debt. Every dollar withdrawn reduces the fund’s power to earn interest – and cuts county funding forever.

An amendment will be offered on the House floor that will protect county revenue WITHOUT CUTTING FUNDING TO THE ARMORIES.

Urge your House members to SUPPORT the county amendment to SB 260. Without the amendment, ask them to oppose the bill.

Protecting grant projects from unreasonable prompt payment requirements

The “prompt pay” bill for construction projects (SB 237 by Sen. Del Marsh/Rep. Bill Roberts) is expected on the House floor on the last day as well, and there is evidence that counties have been contacting their House members on this measure. The bill currently contains a provision to shield grant-funded projects from the payment clock until the county receives the grant money. We expect an attempt on the House floor to strip this critical provision. Ask your House members NOT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES to SB 237 on the floor.

Ready for Senate floor action

These four ACCA bills are ready for floor debates in the Senate, so please make sure each and every senator is ready to vote “yes” on these bills!

►Income tax refund set off:  HB 46 by Rep. Steve Clouse would allow counties and cities to “set-off” a person’s state income tax refund in order to pay any judgments or other debts owed the local governments. Similar measures have been extremely successful in North and South Carolina. The measure is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Jerry Fielding.

►Redemption of property: Passed by the Senate last session, this measure reforms the existing law regarding the use and distribution of the so-called “overbid” on tax sales for those properties involved in non-payment of ad valorem taxes. The legislation (HB 47 by Rep. Steve Clouse) would resolve many questions that exist for counties that must hold and distribute the payments for these sales. The measure is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Cam Ward.

►Gas tax for vegetation management: HB 514 by Rep. Dexter Grimsley makes technical changes in the so-called 4-cent gasoline tax levy to allow proceeds to be used on right-of-way maintenance. The Senate sponsor is Sen. Roger Bedford.

►Publishing the voter list online: ACCA’s bill to save taxpayer dollars – both state and county – on elections (HB 603 by Rep. Sanderford) is downsized from proposals earlier in the year and only changes requirements for election-related newspaper advertising. The biggest savings – some $1 million statewide – would come from lifting the requirement to publish a complete voter list in the newspaper and shifting the list to the web. Sen. Paul Sanford is the Senate sponsor.

Guns

The House still has to agree to the compromise gun bill developed in conference committee (SB 286 by Sen. Scott Beason/Rep. Ed Henry), but the agreement is expected to hold. Many thanks to the conference committee members and others who worked to ensure county interests were protected! Among the key provisions:

1) It will be unlawful to carry a gun into a courthouse, a courthouse annex, a building where a district attorney’s office is located or a building where a county commission is currently meeting.

2) Sheriffs will retain some discretion on issuing pistol permits, though a new appeals process would be available for denials.

3) Pistol permits will be available for as long as five years at a time at the current per-year cost.

4) Though employees will be allowed to have a firearm in their private vehicles at work, there are many restrictions such as the firearm must be unloaded, kept out of sight and locked up.

Property tax homestead exemptions

The Senate still has to agree to the compromise developed in conference committee, but no further changes are expected to the bill to repeal last year’s fix for the homestead exemption for the disabled (HB 19  by Rep. Jack Williams). The conference committee stripped the ACCA-supported provision that would have reined in abuse of an exemption that was originally targeted for low-income disabled homeowners.  As expected to pass the Legislature, the exemption would continue to benefit those with home values as high as $7 million, homeowners who clearly have significant means.

How are we doing?

ACCA needs to hear from you! We want to know how well our legislative communication tools work for you, from these email newsletters to bill tracking lists to webinars. Please take a couple minutes to answer this brief online survey. Thank you for your time – your input will help us serve you better!

Internet sales tax likely to advance
Later today the U.S. Senate is expected to pass legislation clearing the way for states and local governments to collect sales tax from internet and other “remote” sales tax transactions. The legislation would then go to the U.S. House of Representatives. In Alabama, the Association continues to take the lead on ensuring that local enforcement and compliance efforts can continue if the federal bill becomes law. Serious talks are set to begin later this month on how Alabama might craft a method to protect local involvement while also garnering revenue from this legislation.

9-1-1 rate near deadline
The deadline for the new 13-member board to make any changes in the statewide rate for 9-1-1 service is this week. The group is set to meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at 400 S. Union St. in Montgomery.  Effective Oct. 1, the rate has been adjusted by the Legislative Oversight Commission to $1.70 per month.  In the last month, telephone service providers have been asked to reevaluate their “line counts” and to provide new information that could be used to make further adjustments – if warranted.

Attn: Attorneys and engineers
The next County Government Education Institute course, “Legal Primer: County Roads,” is set for May 29-30 in Prattville. The course is an elective for engineers, and attorneys can now get 12 hours of CLE credit for participating. The deadline to register is May 15.

Reinsurance essential for funds
ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield serves as secretary of County Reinsurance Limited, a Vermont corporation that provides counties throughout the country with reinsurance coverage for their property, liability and workers’ compensation programs. This month he will participate in the annual meeting to establish rates for the new insurance year. The coverage provided by CRL plays a major role in protecting the long-range future of the Association’s self-funded insurance funds – and the sister funds from throughout the country. 

Last call for ATRIP
Counties that are still in the running for ATRIP dollars have until May 31 to submit their projects.

Attn: Safety coordinators
For counties in the ACCA self-insurance funds, safety coordinators can receive 100 percent reimbursement of their convention registration if they participate in all four of their training sessions. Topics will include safety committees, trend analysis, a case study and accident investigation. For more details on the ACCA Convention, set for Aug. 20-22, visit the ACCA website.

Building support for county government
Next week at the Association of County Administrators of Alabama conference, participants will get the scoop on a great way to build support for county government in the community by launching a Citizens’ Academy. Questions? Contact Sallie Gowan.

Immigration issues
ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield and Michele Waslin of The Pew Charitable Trust will lead a lesson on the impact local governments are feeling from recent Immigration Reform Legislation during the annual meeting of the Conference of Southern County Associations in May. The meeting is attended by county association staff and legislative leaders from throughout the south.

Ethics filings
The deadline for public officials and employees to submit their Statement of Economic Interests to the Alabama Ethics Commission is Tuesday, April 30.

Safety Coordinator Training revision
All 2013 training for county safety coordinators will be offered at the ACCA Annual Convention, Aug. 20-22, in Orange Beach. To fulfill requirement 1f of the 2012-13 Safety Incentive Discount Program, your county’s safety coordinator must attend this training. The ACCA self-insurance funds will reimburse member counties for the $185 convention registration fee. Questions? Contact Henry van Arcken.

Thank you, Clarke County!
Many thanks to Lois Morris, county administrator in Clarke County, for serving as the pilot county for last week’s Financial Statements Workshop. Counties are in a big transition to preparing their own financial statements for the Examiners of Public Accounts, and the examiners worked with Clarke County as their case study to show other counties the necessary steps.

Federal budget analysis
NACo has released a new analysis of the president’s 2014 budget request that shows the projected impacts on counties. 

9-1-1 statewide rate
The Statewide 9-1-1 Board will meet at 10 a.m. Friday in Montgomery to review the statewide fee of $1.70 per month as approved by the Legislative Oversight Commission.

Attn: Safety coordinators
For members of ACCA’s self-insurance funds, regional training for safety coordinators will be offered July 16, 18, 23 and 25. There will be no fee to attend, and lunch will be provided. Locations, agendas and more details to follow.

3^rd ACCA Legislative Briefing Webinar set for Friday
If you want to take part in the ACCA Legislative Briefing at 2 p.m. Friday, please email Sallie Gowan for the link. It will be a chance for ACCA members to hear the latest State House news and pose their questions to ACCA staff members. Now that we are all getting the hang of these webinars, we’re going to make an effort this time to get more discussion going. Questions may also still be submitted by typing into the chat box. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

ACCA office closed Monday
The ACCA office will be closed Monday for the state holiday.

Scrap tire cleanup with ADEM
ADEM has modified its popular scrap tire remediation program. The main difference is that agreements with counties are now for a period of three years and a maximum of $300,000, instead of one year and $100,000.

Grant writing class
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will host a two-day grant writing class in June. The class is organized by Grant Writing USA, and it is open to both beginning and experienced grant writers from local and state government, nonprofits and education. Registration info is available at this link, and, for more information, contact Corey Gray, training coordinator for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, at 256-533-8863.

NACo reinvents summer conference
Are you planning to head to Fort Worth, Texas, this summer for NACo’s annual conference? You should know that NACo is shaking things up with a new name for the meeting (County Solutions and Marketplace), a shorter program (four days instead of five) and more opportunities for county leaders to interact with their colleagues from around the country. Registration is open, and you can get the link at the ACCA event page.

Next classes for commissioners
Registration will close this week for the next two Alabama Local Government Training Institute classes for commissioners. Financial Administration on April 24-25 is a required course for the mandatory 50-hour program, and Personnel Administration on April 25-26 is an elective that can apply to both the mandatory and graduate programs.