HB229 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve ClouseRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Children First Trust Fund, appropriations from for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, 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, appropriations from General Fund to various entities contingent upon adoption of const. amend. proposed by SB147, 2012 Reg. Sess.
Summary: HB229 would appropriate about $41 million from the Children First Trust Fund for FY 2015, require tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited into the fund, and set conditions on allocations and reporting.
What This Bill Does
It appropriates $40,972,964 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2015 to various agencies as listed in the act; it also allocates $44,875,562 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2015 to additional programs. It requires all tobacco revenues designated for the Children First Trust Fund to be deposited within 30 days, and it sets quarterly allocation schedules that depend on tobacco revenue receipts. It transfers the portion of CF Fund receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in FY2015, and creates conditional authority for any extra tobacco revenues subject to approval by specified officials and the Governor. Finally, it imposes a plan-of-investment requirement with quality assurance and reporting, oversight by legislative committees and the Children's Policy Council, and directs that unspent funds stay in the Children First Trust Fund.

Who It Affects
Children First Trust Fund recipient agencies (e.g., Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; Department of Human Resources; Medicaid Agency; Department of Mental Health; Department of Public Health; Department of Youth Services; Juvenile Probation Services Fund; State Multiple Needs Children's Fund; and others) who will receive specific annual allocations and must follow the approved plan of investment and quality reporting.
Department of Children's Affairs and state lawmakers who oversee funding through plans of investment, quarterly reporting, and notification requirements; Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and Alabama Children's Policy Council which receive investment plans and reports.
State General Fund and State Board of Education, due to the transfer of funds away from the Board of Education and the possibility of additional tobacco revenue appropriations requiring approvals.
Programs funded by tobacco settlement funds (e.g., 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Medicaid Agency, Senior Services - Medicaid Waiver) that receive specified FY2015 allocations, contingent on tobacco revenue receipts.

Key Provisions
Section 1(a): Appropriation of $40,972,964 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2015 to listed agencies per the plan of investment for each agency.
Section 1(b): (1) deposit all tobacco revenues designated for the CF Trust Fund within 30 days; (2) Finance Director must notify agencies by Sept 1, 2014 of expected allocations; (3) quarterly allocations (at least one-fourth when revenues are available) with funds available within five working days of quarter start; (4) allocations conditioned on receipt of tobacco revenues.
Section 2: Transfer to the State General Fund of the portion of CF Fund receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education during FY2015.
Section 3: Appropriation of $44,875,562 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2015 to specific entities (DCA, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Medicaid Waiver).
Section 4: Any additional tobacco revenues available shall be conditionally appropriated upon recommendations of the Director of Finance and the committee chairs and Governor's approval.
Section 5: Funds from the CF Fund shall be allotted only after certification of a plan of investment; plan must include at least four quality assurance items and require reporting; DCA Commissioner sets the plan format; legislators are to be notified 10 days before funds reach recipients.
Section 6: DCA Commissioner must report approved plans to the Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and the Alabama Children's Policy Council; adjusted plans may be approved; funds should be directed toward the most immediate needs of children.

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