MONTGOMERY — Despite several last-minute efforts to reach the finish line, legislation by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) to change the appointment and removal process for members of the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) was officially dead after both legislative bodies adjourned sine die.
Elliott's Senate Bill 77 (SB77) changes how board vacancies are handled on the ADAH's board of trustees. Instead of board vacancies being filled by the board as is the current practice, board vacancies would be filled on a rotating basis by House and Senate legislative leadership, the lieutenant governor and the governor.
Elliott failed to pass legislation during the last special session that would have taken back the $5 million in supplemental funding from ADAH over its controversial LGBTQ history luncheon. This session, Elliott is tackling how ADAH board members are appointed.
Earlier this month, the House passed the legislation after it had cleared the Senate. House lawmakers proposed a confusing amendment that would remove the Senate's appointment confirmation authority. The Senate later voted to non-concur with the changes, sending it to a conference committee for opposing lawmakers to hammer out a compromise.
The conference committee reached a compromise early Wednesday, poised to clear both houses and go to Gov. Kay Ivey to be signed into law. However, Wednesday's legislative day was eaten up by Democratic leadership in the Senate, who wasted as much time as possible while Senate leadership clotured debate on virtually every bill.
Debate on legislation granting enhanced protections for law enforcement officers ate up the remaining time in the House, and lawmakers ended the day just before midnight, killing the chances of SB 77 this session.
When asked if he planned to re-file the bill next session, Elliott laughed and replied, "Sure. Why not?"
"We just flat ran out of time," Elliott said. "Trying to get local bills out, that was the priority. With the clotures and everything, we just ran out of time. I think that's going to be the refrain you hear."
He continued, "I think, in the end, everybody was on the same page. You had Archives and History that was OK with it. You had the speaker's office that was OK with it. Just ran out of time. It happens."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
