Document Ev7qpRN1V7XJdpkvekjMQbOw4

04/i1/97 07145:26 ALACHEH 11002-> BITA HABTttAN Page 001 Legislative I 1997 Regulars. April 11,1997 After taking a week off for the spring break, the House and Senate returned to Montgomery, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday and completing the 18th and 19th legislative days. There are eleven legislative days left in the 1997 Regular Session. The House returned to face a pending proposal by Representative Albert Hall to provide for open primary elections. The bill, House Bill 179, would make Alabama's election process similar to that ofLouisiana where all candidates from parties run together in the primary with the two top vote getters facing each other in the general election. Democrats feeling the heat from the many recent Republican wins in Alabama believe the open primary with raise their electoral chances. The bill faced solid opposition from Republicans and many Democrats. When the House convened on Tuesday, Republicans continued a filibuster which began before the recess for the spring break and the bill failed to received the necessary votes for consideration. After debating procedural issues relating to the bill, the House adjourned early on Thursday. In House committee action, or non-action as the case may be, House Bill 303 by Kepresentative Joe Ford, me labor lockout Din, was scheduled again ror a vote in tne Jtiouse Commerce, Transportation, and Utilities Committee on Wednesday. However, in the face of strong opposition from the business community, the bill was not brought up for a vote and is likely to not be brought back. The bill would provide unemployment compensation benefits for workers who have been locked out of a plant after labor negotiations have failed. Senator Charles Steele has introduced a similar bill which is pending on the Senate Calendar. In other House committee action, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a $949 million General Fund budget. The plan provides for a three percent increase for state employee pay raises and deletes $30 million for children's program initially proposed by Governor James. Members of the Senate spent the week working through numerous non-controversial and/or agreed to bills. A substitute unemployment compensation benefit increase which was supported by both business and labor passed the Senate on Tuesday. The compromise substitute biU, Senate Bill 324 by Senator Bobby Denton, would increase the maximum weekly unemployment benefit by $10 and would increase the minimum income required to qualify for unemployment benefits by raising the minimum benefit by $23. The bill would also allow the Department of Industrial Relations to use income tax refimd checkoffto collect overpayments of unemployment benefits. A compromise House version is pending on the House calendar. DSW 133581 Business Center of Alabama 2 North Jackson Street Montgomery Alabama 36104 (334) 265-7154 iwa) aA*.7TO* cav ResponsibleCare' STLCOPCB4033539 04/14/97 07:46:04 ALACHEM AlaChem Legislative Report April 11,1997 Page 2. 1100Z-> RITA HARTMAN Page 002 While Senators works through non-controversial and compromise legislation in the Senate chamber, the real action in the Senator this week was in the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Senator Roger Bedford. The committee held its first day ofpublic hears on the Governor's Tort Reform package made up ofthe three House-passed bills, House Bill 299, House Bill 301, and House Bill 302. The say the committee showed its trial lawyer leanings would be an understatement. The hear began by a statement from Lt. Governor Bon Siegelman where he incredibly asked the committee to not report out the bill in their present form but report out "better" bill which would increase the trial lawyer proposed net worth component for consideration of punitive damages. Senator Ted Little arranged for a panel offive "expert lawyers" to assist the committee and be on hand to answer legal questions during the hearing. With the excepting of one leading defense attorney from Birmingham who did a excellent job of answering questions from Bedford, Little and other committee members, the panel was consisted of leading trial lawyer who were allow every opportunity to editorialize, refute points from proponents, and voice opposition to any form of true civil justice reform. The committee heard testimony from many opponents ofthe legislative package including former U.S. Senator Donald Stuart who is trial lawyer representing some resident ofthe Anniston area who have files suit against Monsanto. Stuart brought with him some ofthose residents for effect. The Committee also heard from proponents oftort reform which included Attorney General Bill Pryor, small business owners, and economic developers. Representatives from business testified that the current out-of-line situation here is Alabama hinders their liability to grow and increases their liability insurance. Business owner also testified that they would not like to expose their net worth to a jury (or trial lawyers for that matter) or have to hold separate legal proceedings while lawyers litigated their net worth. A representative of economic developers testified that Alabama reputation for excessive punitive damages is a major "hurdle" which must be overcome when working with industrial prospects. A special thanks goes out to Senator Steve Windom who is quarterbacking the tort reform effort for the Governor in the Senate. The Committee will continue hearing on the package on Wednesday, April 16. Two environmental bill were introduced in the House and Senate this week. Senate Bill 659 by Senator E.B. McClain, would authorize ABEM to adopt, fund and administer a motor vehicle emission control program for Jefferson and Shelby Counties. House Bill 895 by Representative Allen Sanderson would establish a waste tire trust fund and program within the Alabama Department of Public Health. Senator Bill 351 by Senator Gerald Dial which creates the Alabama Drinking Water Finance Authority passed a procedural vote allowing consideration by the full Senate but final passage was delayed. Also, Senator Doug Ghee attempted to bring but his Conservation Easement bill. However, the Senator was unable to bring the bill up due to an objection. Senator Dial who raised the objection has since removed his objection and the bill could come back up soon. DSU 133582 STLCOPCB4033540 04/14/97 07:46:46 ALACHEH AlaChem Legislative Report April 11,1997 Page 3. 11002-> RITA HARTMAN Page 003 Identical legislation has now been introduced in both the House and Senate to clarify the definition of ingredients and components for the purposed of sales and use taxes. The bills will also reverse a proposal by the Alabama Department of Revenue to remove the sales and use tax exemption for ingredients and components. The bill revenue neutral and is the result of a compromise between manufacturers, including AlaChem, and the Department. Senate Bill 588 is sponsored by Senator Tom Butler and House Bill 917 bill sponsored by Representative Ralph Burke. Both bills are pending in committee. Governor Fob James addressed members ofthe House this week to answer questions on his legislative initiatives. The Governor indicated that legislators could be back in Montgomery this summer for as many three special sessions "before football season." Special Sessions could be called on tort reform, voter identification, welfare reform, initiative and referendum, and spending for higher education. Attached is a complete list of bills that AlaChem is currently tracking which are of interest to the chemical industry in Alabama. Ifyou know of a specific bill which you would like for Ala Chem to track that in not on the list, please contact the AlaChem office by telephone, fax, or email (AlaChem@aol.com). Additionally, for a faxed or mailed copy of any bill, on the tracking list or not, please feel free to contact the AlaChem office. OSW 133583 STLCOPCB4033541 OSW 133584 RITA HASTHAN AlaChem Legislative Tracking Sheet Alabama Chemical Association 1997 Regular Legislative Session Legislative Tracking Report - April 11,1997 House Bills Bill H.12 H.15 H.35 H.36 H.39 H.50 H.65 H.1S5 H.1S9 H.16S H.181 H.189 H.190 H.213 H.214 H.218 H.220 H.232 H.236 H.252 H.280 H.281 H.289 H.295 H.299 H.300 H.301 H.302 H.30G H.310 H.312 Title Require Approval of Gas Pipe Routes ADEM Permit Applications ACF Water Compact ACT Waiter Compact Restrict Occupational Tax Collection Limited Partnership Name Requirements Unemployment Compensation Lockout Mandatory Solid Waste Collection Age Discrimination Health Benefit Reform Mandated Utilization Review - Workers' Comp. Injured Employee Physian Selection Construction Industry Work Force Board DIR Workers' Comp. Fraud Unit Worker's Comp. NonoompRance Penalties Prohibit Genetic Testing for Cancer Fair Campaign Conduct Validate Municipal Annexations HMO Premium Tax Rates Regulation of Campaign Contributions Campaign Finance Regulations Employer Immunity from Civil liability Initiative and Referendum Chemical Weapon Disposal Tort Reform - Punitive Damages Cap Tort Reform - Criminal Fraud Tort Reform - Mental Anguish Tort Reform - Civil Fraud Unemployment Comp. Lockout Disqualifications Managed C-ire Out-of-Network Services Poetical Campaign Finances Sponsor Drake Morrison Laird Laird Gipson Clouse Ford Lindsey Buskey Rogers Gipson Sanderson Sandereon McDaniel McDaniel Hall Venable Hill Buskey Newton Hinshaw Gaines McKee Boyd Hooper Guin McDaniel Haney Ford Venatile IRd Cmt 2/4 CT&U 2/4 CT&U 2/4 W&M 2/4 W&M 2/4 LGOV 2/4 JUD 2/4 B&l 2/4 LGOV 2/4 B&L 2/4 INS. 2/4 B&L 2/4 B&L 2/4 EDU 2/4 B&L 2/4 B&L 2/4 INS. 2/4 C&E 2/4 LGOV. 2/4 W&M 2/4 C&E 2/4 C&E 2/4 B&L 2i4 SA 2/4 Health 2/4 C&E 2/4 C&E 2/4 C&E 2/4 C&E 214 CT&U !' . 1 2/4 Senate 2nd Pass Ini Cmt 3/6 2/6 2/12 2/12 ENV 2/6 2/12 2/12 ENV 2/12 2/27 2/27 JUD 2/20 2/20 2/20 2/12 2/12 2/6 3/6 2/12 2/12 2/27 2/27 EE&T 2/12a 2/12 3/19 2/20 3/13a 2/12 2/18 3/25 ENV. 2/25 JUD 2/12 2/12 2/20 2/20 2/25 JUD 2/25 JUD 2Rd Pass Gov Act# 2/13 2/13 2/16 2/16 2/25 2/25 97-67 97-68 3/4 4/10 AlaChem Position M M S s M M 0 M O M M M M M M M M 0 M M M M 0 M S S s s 0 2A- C6L. j ------------- 1________1___________ 11002-> 04/14/97 0 7 :4 7 :0 8 ALACHEM a-amended 8-substitute S-Support O-Oppose M-Monitor Pagel 04/14/97 0 7 :4 7 :5 2 ALACHEH 11002-> RITA HARTMAN Page 005 AiaChem Legislative Tracking Sheet House Bills (cont) Bill H.313 H.314 H.318 H.346 H.349 H.352 H.353 H.364 H.370 H.372 H.389 H.447 H.453 H.476 H.483 H.48S H.491 . H-502 H.518 H.S29 H.535 H.S36 H.541 H.547 H.574 H.601 H.606 H.615 H.61B H.619 H.644 H.645 H.658 H.662 H.665 Title Fair Campaign Practises Act - ID Sponsors Patient Protection Act of1997 Patient First Intiative Surface Mining Standards Legislative Environmental Oversite Committee Solid Waste Disposal Solid Waste Disposal Regulations. Motor Fuel Tax Exemption Motor Vehicle Load Security Unemployment Benefit Increase Age Discrimination Municipal Annexations Right-of-Way Property Negative Campaign Advertlsments EHS Audits Property Owners Rights (takings) Alabama Drinking Water Finance Authority Computer Software Tax Exemption Umlte PAC Contributions Capital Investment Grants Asbestos Removal Tax Credit UC Lockout Benefits Nonpartisian Judicial Elections UC Lockout Benefits Solid Waste Disposal Regulations Initiative and Referendum UC Lockout Benefits Temporary Employee UC Benefits Truck/Tractor Trailer Registration Non-Union Expense Reimbursement Investing Company Capital Credit Tax Incentive Reform Act Professional Engineers Regulations Limited U Company 1 Employef-L> ijiioyee Arbitral a - amended b-substitute Sponsor Venable Pringle Laird Clark Burke Knight (A) Knight (A) Knight (A) Johnson Hil Buskey Black (M) Camothers Guin Hill Fuller Carothers Gaines Galiher Robinson Mrrmiffeld Ford Box Rogers(J) Morrison Crigler Ford Jorgenson Johnson Newton Cams Cams Carothers IRd Cmt 2/4 C&E 2/4 Health 2/4 INS. 2/6 W&M 2/8 CT&U 2/6 CT&U 2/6 CT&U 2/6 W&M 2/6 H Safety 2/6 B&L 2/6 JUD 2M2 L.GOV 2/12 LGOV 2/12 C&E 2/12 CT&U 2/12 W&M 2/13 LGOV 2/13 W&M 2/13 C&E 2/18 W&M 2/18 W&M 2/18 CT&U 2/18 C&E 2/18 CT&U 2/20 CT&U 2/20 C&E 2120 CT&U 2/20 B&L 2/20 SA 2/25 JUD 2/25 IDEG 2/25 IDEG 2127 SA Senate 3rd Pass im 4/8 2/20 2727a cmt 4/8 2/12 4/8 2/12 3/18 3/25 EE&T 2/20 316 2/27 2/27 6E&T 2/20 3/6 4/8 3/13 ye ye 4/10 4/10 3/6 2Rd Pass 3/27 3m Gov Act# AiaChem j Position j MI 0 M M M M M M M M O 0 M M S M M M M M M O M 0 M O O o M M M M M . S-upport O-Oppose M-MonSor Page 2 CSW 1 3 3 5 8 5 STLCOPCB4033544 Page 006 AtaCtiem Legislative Tracking Sheet V-ww, --- ... Bill H.714 H.790 H.791 H.B23 H.838 H.850 H.892 H.9I7 Trite Candidate Filing Date Requirments Corporate Income Taw Credit Corporate Income Taw Credit Conservation Easements ADEM Ozone Protection Oversight Municipal Annexations Ingredient or Component Definition Ingredient/Component Sales and UseTax Definition Sponsor Rogers (M) Thomas (D) Thomas (D) Knight (A) Guin Cams Burke Burke IRd Cmt 3/6 CAE 3/13 W&M 3/13 W&M 3/18 CT&U 3/19 CT&U 3/20 LGOV 4/8 W&M 4/8 W&M Senate 3rd Pants In! 3/20 3/20 Cmt 2Rd Pass Gov AcW ASaChem Position M M M O M O S S sO 00 in ro rq jC CO Q RITA HflBTHflN 11002-> Senate Bills Bill S.5S S3 S.B6 S89 S.92 S.99 S.104 S.113 S.121 S.127 S.151 S.152 S.1S3 S.156 S.162 S.I80 S.190 S.197 S.231 S-2-'j S.256 Trite Mandatary Solid Waste Collection Limit PAC Contributions Report In-Kind Contributions Civil Tdals-Leas Than Unanimous Verdit Campaign Contributions Regulations Capital Tax Credits DIR Workers/ Comp. Fraud Unit Prohibit Genetic Testing for Cancer Sewage Disposal Site Regulations Workers' Comp. Medical Treatment Fair Campaign Practices Ac! - Filng Officer Contributions in Another Name Fair Campaign Practices Commission ACT Water Compact ADEM Perm* Fees ACF Water Compact Pollution Discharge Permits Tort Reform - Criminal Fraud Runoff Election Date Public's . vKnowAct Inftiatrve a,Keierendum House AUChem Sponsor IRd Cmt 2rd Pass Ird Cmt 2Rd Pass Gov Acte Position Roberts 2/4 EE&T 2/6 M Ghee 2/4 C&E 3/11 M Bedford 2/4 C&E M Bedford 2/4 JUD 2/13 M Ghee 2/4 C&E M Butter 2/4 ID&R M Butler 2/4 JUD M Bedford 2/4 EE&T 2/8 2/13a 2/18 INS 7177 M Waggoner 2/4 ENV M . Amari Little 2/4 B&L 2/4 C&E 2/6 7175, M M little 2/4 C&E 4/8 M little 2/4 C&E M Dal 2/4 ENV 2/12 S McClain 2/4 EE&T 216 M Dai! 2/4 ENV 2/12 S Poole Poole 2/4 ENV 2/4 JUD 3/11 0 s Dixon 2/4 CAE M > a -amended a - substitute S-Support O-Oppose M-Monitor Paged 04/14/97 07:48139 ALftCHEM OSW 1 3 3 5 8 7 Page 007 RITA HABTMAH AlaChem Legislative Tracking Sheet Senate Bills (cont.) Bill S.279 SJ280 S.283 S.296 S.302 S.313 S.323 S.339 S.351 S.3S4 S.388 S.40I S.404 S.428 S.431 S.444 S.468 S.402 S.487 S.488 S.4S3 S.494 S.495 S.502 S.540 S.564 S.565 S.574 S.588 S.61S S.618 S.649 S.6S9 TitJe Ape Discrimination Campaign Solicitation Period Lockout for Unemployment Comp. Patient Protection Act Municipal Annexations False PoStieal Advertising Patient First Initiative Closure of Solid Waste FadSties Alabama DrWdng Water Finance Authority Computer Software Tax Exemption EHS Audits Prohibit PAC-to-PAC Transfers Political Adveitisments Municipal Annexations Noopartisian Judicial Elections Employer-Employee Arbitration Conservation Easements Cn'minal Fraud Poiioe Juridiction Service Costa Capital Credit auafifications Temporary Employee UC Benefits Tax Incentive Reforms Act Changes Limited Liability Company Costs Professional Engineers Regulations Managed Care Provider Option Industrial Development Grant Making Criteria Workers' Comp. Assigned Risk Plan ADEM Ozone Protection Plan Ingredient/ComponentTax Definition Corporate City Limits Changes Unlimited Punitive Damages Award Unlimited Punitive Damages Award Clean Air Emissions Standards . Sponsor Freeman Little Steele Freeman UtHe Little Bailey Hale Dial Butler McClain Ghee Little Barron Ghee Smith Ghee Smitherman Roberts Roberts Butter Roberts Windom Bailey Ghee Roberts Mitchell Mitchell Butler Waggoner Bedford Bedford McClain IRd Cmt 2/4 EE&T 2/4 C&E 2/4 B&L 2/4 EEAT 2/6 GA 2/6 C&E 2/6 FR&A 2/12 CT&U 2/12 F&Y 2/13 EE&T 2/13 ENV 2/18 C&E 2/18 C&E 2/16 GA 2/18 C&E 2/20 JUD 2/2S Erw. 2/27 JUD 2/27 JUD 2/27 iD&R 2/27 B&L 2/27 ID&R 2/27 JUD 2/27 FR&A 3/6 Health 3/18 IND. 3/18 JUD 3/25 GA 3/25 FR&A 3/27 GA 3/27 JUD 4^ JUD [ 4/8 ENV House 3rd Pass Ird 2/6 3/18 2/6 2/18 2/18 2/25 2/27 2/18 2/18 2/18 2/18 3/11 3/11 3/12 4/8 Cmt t TRd Pass Gov 2/7 3/4 4/8 4/8 Ind. 3/4 4/8 3/11 4/6a 4/8 Ind. 4/8 3/27 4/10 4/10 . ___ __ ____ . -- Act# _ AlaChem Position O M O O 0 M M M M M S M M O M M 0 M M M M M M M M S M M S O 0 0 M 11002-> 04/14/97 07:49129 ALACHEH a-amended s-substitute S-Support O-Oppose M-Monitor Page 4