HB294 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: John F. Knight Jr
Democrat
Co-Sponsors: Barbara Bigsby Boyd Demetrius C. Newton Gregory Canfield Jay Love
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Children First Trust Fund, appropriations from for fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, use of allocation pursuant to Section 41-15B-2.2 and this act, tobacco settlement revenues deposited in fund within 30 days of receipt, Finance Director to notify each agency of allocation, appropriations conditional on tobacco revenues, appropriation of additional tobacco settlement funds, audit, Children's Affairs Department to report to Legislature and Children's Policy Council
Summary: HB294 reallocates tobacco settlement funds to Alabama children's programs for FY2011 with set deposit timing, quarterly allocations, and oversight, and adds conditional access to additional tobacco funds.
What This Bill Does
It appropriates $44,362,974 from the Children First Trust Fund and $50,457,080 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2011 to specified agencies for children's programs, and requires tobacco revenues to be deposited into the Children First Trust Fund within 30 days of receipt. It mandates written notifications of anticipated allocations, quarterly allocations when funds are available, and that allocations are conditioned on receipt of tobacco revenues. It also creates a framework for an additional tobacco funds appropriation, requires investment plans with quality metrics, and requires reporting to lawmakers and oversight bodies.

Who It Affects
State agencies listed receive designated funding amounts for various programs (e.g., Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Department of Human Resources, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Youth Services, and others).
State officials and legislative/oversight bodies (Director of Finance, Governor, Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee, Alabama Children's Policy Council) oversee allocations, require plans and reporting, and provide notifications to lawmakers before funds reach recipients.

Key Provisions
Provision 1: Appropriations totaling 44,362,974 from the Children First Trust Fund to specific agencies for FY2011 and 50,457,080 from other tobacco settlement funds to additional entities.
Provision 2: All tobacco revenues designated for the Children First Trust Fund must be deposited within 30 days of receipt.
Provision 3: Allocations must be made quarterly; at least one-fourth of each agency's annual amount is allocated when funds are available, with equal quarterly allotments if funds aren't available yet; additional sums are allocated across remaining quarters or as a single sum when available.
Provision 4: Allocations from the Children First Trust Fund are conditioned on receipt of tobacco revenues; additional tobacco funds require approvals by key officials and the Governor.
Provision 5: The Department of Children’s Affairs must certify a plan of investment with at least four quality assurance items and have funds invested to show measurable outcomes; reports are audited and shared with oversight bodies.
Provision 6: The Commissioner for the Department of Children’s Affairs must notify legislators 10 days before funds reach recipient agencies.
Provision 7: Any remaining funds at year-end stay in the fund unless provided otherwise by HB277 or SB239 if enacted.
Provision 8: The act allows conditional appropriations of additional tobacco revenues with required approvals.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Children First Trust Fund