SB158 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Children First Trust Fund, appropriations from for fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, 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 158 appropriates about $40.4 million from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2021, requires tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited and allocated quarterly, transfers a portion to the General Fund, and adds further tobacco funds with oversight and conditional provisions.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it would allocate $40,427,150 from the Children First Trust Fund to listed child-focused agencies for FY2021. It would require tobacco settlement revenues be deposited into the fund within 30 days, allocated quarterly, and conditioned on revenue receipts. It would transfer the portion of these receipts previously allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund, and appropriate $53,148,004 from other tobacco settlement funds to additional programs. It also allows for future tobacco revenue additions only with specified approvals and imposes investment planning, quality assurance, and reporting requirements to oversee how funds are spent.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: State agencies receiving Children First Trust Fund allocations for FY2021 (Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; Children's Trust Fund; Department of Forensic Sciences; Department of Human Resources; Juvenile Probation Services Fund; Alabama Medicaid Agency; Alabama 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.
• Group 2: The State General Fund (receives the transfer of funds from the Children First Trust Fund previously earmarked for the State Board of Education), and programs/authorities receiving additional tobacco settlement funds (Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Medicaid/Medicaid Waiver).

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Appropriates $40,427,150 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2021 to designated agencies per Section 41-15B-2.2.
• Provision 2: Requires tobacco settlement revenues designated for the Children First Trust Fund to be deposited within 30 days of receipt, with the Director of Finance notifying each agency prior to Sep 1, 2020 of expected allocations, and guarantees quarterly allocations when revenues are available, conditioned on revenue receipts.
• Provision 3: Transfers the portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts currently allocated to the State Board of Education to the State General Fund during FY2021.
• Provision 4: Appropriates $53,148,004 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2021 to additional programs (including Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, and Medicaid Waiver).
• Provision 5: Allows additional tobacco revenue appropriations to be made only with the recommendation of the Director of Finance, the chairs of specified committees, and approval of the Governor.
• Provision 6: Establishes an investment plan requirement with a form prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood Education, includes at least four quality assurance metrics, requires periodic reporting and audit, and requires notification to legislators 10 days before funds reach a recipient.
• Provision 7: Requires the Commissioner of Early Childhood Education to report approved plans to the Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and the Alabama Children's Policy Council, and allows adjusted plans upon request to meet immediate needs of children.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Children First Trust Fund