SB87 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

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 87 would fund the Children First Trust Fund and related tobacco settlement programs for FY 2020, require tobacco revenues to be deposited into the fund, allocate funds quarterly with conditions, shift some receipts to the General Fund, and add investment oversight requirements.

What This Bill Does

It appropriates $39,885,565 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY 2020 to designated agencies under Section 41-15B-2.2. It requires tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited into the Children First Trust Fund within 30 days of receipt, and mandates written notice of anticipated allocations to agencies with quarterly distributions conditioned on tobacco revenues. It transfers the portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in FY 2020. It also appropriates $48,901,593 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY 2020 to additional programs and allows conditional additional tobacco revenue allocations upon specified approvals, along with investment planning and reporting requirements.

Who It Affects

• State agencies receiving Children First Trust Fund allocations for FY 2020 (e.g., Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Children’s Trust Fund, Department of Forensic Sciences, Department of Human Resources, Juvenile Probation Services Fund, Alabama 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 the programs they fund.
• State Board of Education, whose share of Children First Trust Fund receipts would be transferred to the State General Fund in FY 2020.
• Department of Early Childhood Education, which would oversee plans of investment, require quality assurance reporting, and be involved in quarterly allocations and notifications to legislators.
• Programs funded by tobacco settlement funds (e.g., Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver programs) that would receive or potentially receive additional allocations for FY 2020.
• Legislative and oversight bodies (Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and Alabama Children’s Policy Council), which would receive reports on approved plans of investment and related oversight.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(a): Appropriates $39,885,565 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY 2020 to designated agencies for the purposes listed in Section 41-15B-2.2.
• Section 1(b): Requires tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited into the Children First Trust Fund within 30 days of receipt and mandates quarterly allocations to agencies, conditioned on tobacco revenues; requires written notification of anticipated allocations to each agency.
• Section 1(b)(3): At the start of each quarter, agencies receive at least one-fourth of their annual allocation, with adjustments if revenues are late or additional sums are appropriated; the Department of Early Childhood Education must be notified in writing of all allocations.
• Section 1(b)(4): Allocations from the Children First Trust Fund are conditioned on receipt of tobacco revenues.
• Section 2: Transfers the portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in FY 2020.
• Section 3: Adds a separate appropriation of $48,901,593 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY 2020 to several programs, including Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, and Medicaid Waiver.
• Section 4: Allows conditional appropriation of any additional tobacco revenue for FY 2020 upon recommendation by the Director of Finance and committee chairs and Governor approval.
• Section 5: Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Early Childhood Education to certify an approved plan of investment before funds are allotted, include at least four quality assurance items, and require periodic and audit reporting; also requires notification to legislators 10 days before funds reach the recipient.
• Section 6: Requires the Commissioner to report each approved plan of investment to the Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and the Alabama Children's Policy Council; allows adjusted plans upon request and emphasizes directing funds to 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