HB178 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Pebblin W. WarrenRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Children First Trust Fund, appropriations from for fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, 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: HB178 would appropriate funds from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2018, deposit tobacco settlement revenues into that fund, and set new rules for quarterly allocations and oversight.
What This Bill Does
It appropriates 37,725,742 from the Children First Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018 to the entities and purposes designated in Section 41-15B-2.2. It requires tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited into the Children First Trust Fund, the State Director of Finance to notify each agency of expected allocations in writing, and to make quarterly allocations that depend on receipt of tobacco funds. It transfers the portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in fiscal year 2018. It also appropriates 47,788,069 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2018 to various programs and allows additional tobacco revenue to be appropriated upon recommendation and approval by designated officials and the Governor.

Who It Affects
State agencies receiving Children First Trust Fund allocations (e.g., Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; Children's Trust Fund; Department of Forensic Sciences; Department of Human Resources; Juvenile Probation Services Fund; Medicaid Agency; Department of Mental Health; State Multiple Needs Children's Fund; Department of Public Health; Department of Rehabilitation Services; Department of Youth Services) and their funding levels, which would be allocated quarterly and tied to tobacco revenue.
State Board of Education, whose current allocations from the Children First Trust Fund would be transferred to the State General Fund in FY2018.
Department of Early Childhood Education and related oversight bodies, which must approve plans of investment, require quarterly reporting and quality assurance measures, and notify legislators before funds reach recipients.
Legislators and the Governor, who will oversee and approve any additional tobacco revenue allocations and receive investment plans and reports.

Key Provisions
Section 1(a) appropriates 37,725,742 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2018 to specified agencies and purposes under the approved plan of investment (41-15B-2.2).
Section 1(b) requires all tobacco revenues designated for the Children First Trust Fund to be deposited within 30 days of receipt, mandates written notification of anticipated allocations to agencies, and requires quarterly allocations subject to tobacco revenue availability.
Section 2 transfers from the Children First Trust Fund the portion currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund during FY2018.
Section 3 appropriates 47,788,069 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2018 to specified entities (Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Medicaid, Medicaid Waiver).
Section 4 allows additional tobacco revenue to be appropriated in FY2018 only with recommendations from the Director of Finance and committee chairs and Governor approval.
Section 5 directs allotment of Children First Fund money only after the Early Childhood Education Commissioner certifies an approved plan of investment, requires a plan with at least four quality assurance items and periodic reporting/audit, and requires notification to legislators 10 days before funds reach recipients.
Section 6 requires the Early Childhood Education Commissioner to report plans of investment to the Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and the Alabama Children's Policy Council, and allows adjusted plans on request to meet immediate needs of children.
Section 7 and 8 provide standard legal and effective-date provisions, stating the act remains valid notwithstanding partial invalidity and becomes effective immediately upon passage and governor approval.

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