Under existing law, a person commits the crime of assault in the second degree if the person, with intent to cause physical injury to a teacher, employee of a public educational institution, or health care worker during or as a result of the performance of his or her duties, causes physical injury to any person.
This bill would provide that a person commits the crime of assault in the second degree if the person, with intent to cause physical injury to a journalist, during or as a result of the performance of the journalist's duties, causes physical injury to any person.
Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901 prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.
The purpose or effect of this general law would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621.
If this bill is not enacted by a 2/3 vote, it will not become effective with regard to a local entity unless approved by the local entity or until, and only as long as, the Legislature appropriates funds or provides for a local source of revenue.
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 192
Third Reading Passed
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary
Source: Alabama Legislature