SB177 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Trip Pittman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Children First Trust Fund, appropriations from for fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, 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
Summary: SB 177 redirects and formalizes funding for children's programs from the Tobacco Settlement through the Children First Trust Fund for FY2019, with new deposit, allocation, and reporting rules.
What This Bill Does
It appropriates 38,460,473 to various agencies from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2019. It requires tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited into the fund within 30 days of receipt, with agency allocations notified in writing and distributed quarterly, conditioned on tobacco revenues. It also transfers a portion of CF Trust Fund receipts currently allocated to the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in FY2019 and appropriates 47,788,069 from other tobacco settlement funds to specific entities; it allows additional tobacco revenue to be appropriated conditionally with approvals, and requires a plan of investment with quality assurance measures and reporting to lawmakers.

Who It Affects
State agencies receiving Children First Trust Fund allocations (e.g., Department of Human Resources, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Public Health, Department of Youth Services, Juvenile Probation Services Fund, Department of Mental Health, Department of Forensic Sciences, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Early Childhood Education) — will receive designated funding in FY2019 with quarterly allocations.
State General Fund — receives a transfer of the portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts previously allocated to the State Board of Education in FY2019.
Other tobacco settlement funds recipients (e.g., Department of Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Senior Services - Medicaid Waiver) — will receive a combined appropriation of 47,788,069 for FY2019.
Governor, Director of Finance, and legislative committee chairs — involved in approving any additional tobacco revenue allocations.

Key Provisions
Section 1(a): Appropriates 38,460,473 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2019 to designated agencies per Section 41-15B-2.2.
Section 1(b): All tobacco settlement revenues designated for the Children First Trust Fund must be deposited within 30 days of receipt; the Director of Finance must notify each agency of anticipated allocations and allocate funds quarterly; allocations are conditioned on receipt of tobacco revenues.
Section 1(b)(3): Agencies receive at least one-fourth of their total annual allocation at the start of each quarter when funds are available, with adjustments for late arrivals and potential additional appropriations.
Section 2: Transfers the portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts currently allocated to the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in FY2019.
Section 3: Additional appropriation of 47,788,069 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2019 to specified entities (e.g., Department of Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Senior Services - Medicaid Waiver).
Section 4: Any additional tobacco revenues available may be appropriated conditionally upon recommendations by the Director of Finance and committee chairs and Governor approval.
Section 5: Funds from the Children First Trust Fund may be allotted only after the Commissioner of the Department of Early Childhood Education approves a plan of investment with at least four quality assurance items and periodic reporting/audit; the Commissioner must notify legislators ten days before funds reach recipients.
Section 6: The Commissioner must report each approved plan of investment to the Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and the Alabama Children's Policy Council; adjusted plans may be approved upon request to meet immediate needs.
Section 8: Act becomes effective immediately upon passage and 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