County Commission | The Magazine February 2017 | Page 39

of the Alabama Trust Fund
into the County and Municipal
Government Trust Fund which
would thereafter operate as a
separately-maintained Trust Fund
for counties and municipalities.
Legislative Policy
In addition to its strategic
goals, the Association has adopted
the following legislative policy
consistent with this Foundation
Principle:
Opposition to the withdrawal
or diversion of money currently
earmarked for Alabama Trust Fund.
the growing costs of health
care and the training and
compensation for officers
presents a challenge well
beyond the reach of a county
commission devoid of
revenue-generating powers.
On the other hand, an
efficient local law enforcement
agency and jail is necessary to
maintain order and to ensure
the safety of all Alabamians. The
Association is gravely concerned that
all reform efforts, statutory changes
or administrative rules be considered
only in light of direct, indirect and
unintended consequences generated
at the county level.
Strategic Goals
In furtherance of this
Foundation Principle, the
Association will actively pursue the
passage of legislation to accomplish
the following strategic goals:
g
Opposition to any economic
development legislation or programs
that mandate the expenditure of
county revenues or abate county taxes
without county commission consent.
g
Alabama’s Prisons
and County Jails
Foundation Principle
Alabama’s prison system faces a
crisis not unlike the crisis duplicated
on a daily basis in each of the 67
county jails. The watchful eye of
the federal courts, the never-ending
expense of providing jail services,
© Beaniebeagle | Dreamstime.com
To clarify that persons on
parole, probation or participants
in diversion programs are legally
and financially state inmates for
all purposes even when held for
temporary confinement in the
county jail or awaiting hearing or
transfer to a state facility.
n
Opposition to requiring
mandatory training for sheriffs,
sheriffs’ deputies, or other county
employees without county
commission approval.
g
Opposition to any prison reform
implementation activities that
significantly increase costs of or
create unsafe conditions in the
county jail.
g
Support for any legislation
necessary to correct any consequences
of prison reform implementation that
negatively impact the operation of
the county jail.
g
Opposition to pleading down
Class D Felonies for the purposes
of convicted persons serving time in
county jails.
g
Support for providing that non-
indigents serving sentences in the
county jail be required to pay a
portion of the cost of incarceration,
including medical expenses.
g
To amend the Alabama Medicaid
law to suspend Medicaid eligibility
of individuals in custody of county
jails rather than terminating
Medicaid benefits.
n
Legislative Policy
In addition to its strategic goals,
the Association has adopted the
following legislative policy consistent
with this Foundation Principle:
COUNTY COMMISSION | 39