MONTGOMERY — The House of Representatives passed two bills and one resolution on Tuesday in Gov. Kay Ivey's "Safe Alabama" public safety package. One bill creates scholarships for long-term law enforcement officers' dependents, and another allows the pardons and parole board and other state agencies to monitor certain juvenile offenders electronically.
Ivey touted the Safe Alabama package early this month in her State of the State Address, saying, "Bolstering public safety is my number one priority this session."
While some bills in the package are sure to cause vigorous debate and pushback, the two sent through the House on Tuesday passed in a truly bipartisan effort.
"The Safe Alabama Package further solidifies Alabama as a state that fully backs its men and women in blue and has zero tolerance for those who endanger our communities," said House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville). "The bills passed today will make an immediate impact on the safety of our state, and I appreciate the efforts of Representatives Treadaway, Hendrix, and Ingram in getting these bills passed."
The first bill in the Safe Alabama package was House Bill 188 (HB188), sponsored by State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris).
The bill establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers Family Scholarship Fund to pay tuition and associated expenses on behalf of children and spouses of long-term city, county, and state law enforcement officers. The scholarship money may be used for undergraduate courses offered by a public or private technical school, college, or university in the state.
The program would only be available for officers employed for at least seven years by a single law enforcement agency in the state or at least 12 continuous years full-time.
Treadaway presented the bill before the House, gaining massive support on both sides of the aisle.
State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) gave an emotional speech on the floor, holding up two large pictures of a fallen officer from the Birmingham Police Department (BPD) and another from a Birmingham fire station. Treadaway, who served in the Birmingham Police Department for over 30 years and retired as its assistant chief, was equally emotional when Givan reminisced of the day when the BPD officer was killed.
"I walk the street every day where his blood flowed in the streets of Birmingham, every day," Givan said. "So when I raise this issue of this crime, I remember Treadaway standing there that morning with tears in his eyes because he had lost a police officer."
The bill passed 101-0, and 97 members voted to have their names added as cosponsors.
Following the vote, Ledbetter refused to allow Treadaway to return to his seat without giving him his due.
"Treadaway is a little bit modest," Ledbetter said. "He's the one who brought the attention to the committee on this particular bill."
He continued," Him, along with everybody that worked on it, I know we had 12 people around the table at one time; maybe more than that. So, this is a cumulative effort of everybody. But, Chairman Treadaway, thank you for your work and for your service."
Treadaway received a standing ovation following the speaker's words.
Next was House Bill 199 (HB199) by State Rep. Travis Hendrix (D-Birmingham). The Juvenile Accountability and Monitoring Act clarifies that the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles or other state agencies can provide electronic monitoring for juveniles awaiting case disposition. It also repeals the 72-hour confinement limit for juvenile-status offenders who violate court orders.
The bill likewise received unanimous approval with a vote of 101-0, earning Hendrix a standing ovation of his own.
"During my time as a police officer with the City of Birmingham, I have unfortunately seen several situations where this legislation could have saved lives and prevented teenagers from making decisions that would stay with them forever," Hendrix said. "The statistics show that juveniles who have gotten themselves in trouble often commit even worse offenses once they are released to their guardians. Electronic monitoring serves as an extra level of protection for both the offender and the general public."
The House also passed a resolution by State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) backing Ivey's budget proposal to boost funding to the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, including $3 million in recurring appropriations supporting a permanent, 24-man crime suppression unit.
The unit was first launched in Montgomery and has operated since June 2024. To date, the unit has served 508 arrest warrants, made 202 arrests (including 14 juveniles), seized 157 firearms and 100 machine gun conversion devices, recovered 35 stolen vehicles, initiated 56 vehicle pursuits and conducted 44 drug seizures.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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