AL YMCA Youth in Government

Best Bills for the 61st Annual YMCA Youth Legislature

The best bills are chosen by an independent panel of judges based on originality, feasibility and evidence of research.

• Senate Bill 17: Zero Tolerance for DUI Offenders by Julia Maloney, Anniston. Places the legal alcohol limit when operating a motor vehicle for any DUI offender convicted in the past five years at 0.02% blood alcohol content level.
• House Bill 27:  Teacher Accountability Act by Sarah Strickland, Enterprise. All public schools must disclose absences for each student’s teachers on the student’s report card so parents/guardians can evaluate the student’s performance as it correlates to a teacher’s attendance.
• First Year Bill 02: Recycling Reward Act by Wilson Haliford and Taylor Rowell, Montgomery (Trinity). Provides for recycling bins for recycable waste at public schools and extra funding for those schools that recycle at least 30 percent (in pounds) of waste produced at the school.

Bills Signed Into Law by Gov. Roscoe Anderson

The following bills were approved by the 61th Annual YMCA Youth Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Roscoe Anderson. An * indicates a bill that was part of the governor’s special legislative package:

• SB 3*: Military Grace Period by Justine Early, Montgomery (Carver). Returning deployed military personnel with expired driver’s licenses or vehicle license plates will have a 30 day grace period to register their vehicle or renew their driver’s license.
• SB 6: Alabama High School Graduation Exam by Katherine Cardona, Enterprise. Public schools in Alabama will accept passing scores from high school exit exams in other states as long as the exams meet the 4 AAC 06.77 regulation.
• SB 20: Alabama State Lottery for Education Amendment by Evan Broder, Montgomery (Montgomery Academy). Creates a statewide lottery to raise funds for education.
• SB 22: An Act to Assemble a Constitutional Convention by Sam Hobbs, Montgomery (Montgomery Academy). Establishes a constitutional convention to rewrite Alabama’s constitution. Sets Nov. 4, 2010 election for Alabama voters to ratify the revised constitution.
• HB 9: Anti-Racism and Prejudice Act by Payton Haisten and Scott Ferguson, Prattville. No public funds to be used to provide information about or advance any race, religion or social or economic group.
• HB 11*: Automobile Tag Renewal Act by Ruquayah Yazeed and Maryam Yazeed, Montgomery (Carver). Drivers unable to show proof of insurance when renewing their vehicle license (car tag) will not be able to renew their vehicle license.
• HB 23: Sales Tax on Internet Purchases by Kendall Watson, Montgomery (St. James). Requires businesses operating in Alabama to collect and remit 4 percent state sales tax on all purchases made over the Internet.
• HB 27:  (See Best Bills)
• FY 2*: (See Best Bills)
• FY 7: A bill to make abortions under the age of 18 years old illegal by Lisa Marie Morgan, Meredith Lamberth, Montgomery (Trinity). Makes it illegal for a girl under the age of 18 to have an abortion even with parental consent.
• FY 12: License Verification Act by Anna Webb and Whitney Lott, Montgomery (Trinity). Establishments holding licenses to sell alcoholic beverages shall be required to scan, with an acceptable ID Verification Scanner, the driver’s license or other accepted form of identification of any customer before selling alcoholic beverages to the customer. Sets fines for minors using fake IDs.
• FY 18: Home School Students to Have Right to Participate in Public School Activities by Aaron Cecil, Huntsville. Permits home school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities.
• FY 21: Charitable Organizations Transparency Bill by Paige Sormrude, Enterprise. All charitable organizations registered as a 501-C3 tax exempt organization are to submit an annual itemized income and expense statement to the Alabama Secretary of State.
• FY 35: Outdoor Education to be Offered in Public Schools by David Kinstley, Birmingham (Oak Mountain). Mandates an elective offering of outdoor education courses in grades 9 -12 that teaches survival skills, wildlife management and earth economics.
• FY 36: Fences Around Swimming Pools by Kevin Norris and Cameron Powell, Montgomery (Catholic). Every swimming pool is required to have at a 5-foot fence completely enclosing it.