SB79 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

To make an appropriation of $39,097,848 from the Children First Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, to the entities and for the purposes designated in Section 41-15B-2.2, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide for the deposit of tobacco settlement revenues into the Children First Trust Fund; to require written notification of anticipated agency allocations by the State Director of Finance; to require quarterly allocations; to condition allocations on receipt of tobacco revenues; to provide for the transfer to the State General Fund during fiscal year 2024 that portion of Children First Trust Fund receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education; to make an appropriation of $50,511,261 from other tobacco settlement funds for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024; and to make a conditional appropriation and allocation of additional tobacco revenues upon the recommendation of the Director of Finance, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee, and the approval of the Governor.

Summary

SB79 would rework funding for the Children First Trust Fund in FY2024 by directing tobacco settlement revenues into the fund, approving a specific CFTF appropriation to child-focused agencies, requiring quarterly allocations backed by tobacco revenues, transferring SBOE funds to the General Fund, and adding investment and oversight requirements.

What This Bill Does

It appropriates $39,097,848 from the Children First Trust Fund to designated agencies for FY2024. It directs tobacco settlement revenues into the CFTF, requires written allocation notices and quarterly distributions, and conditions allocations on receipt of tobacco revenues; it also transfers the portion of SBOE allocations from the CFTF to the State General Fund in FY2024. It adds a separate appropriation of $50,511,261 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2024 to specific entities, and allows conditional appropriations of any additional tobacco revenues with approval by the Director of Finance, the House and Senate committee chairs, and the Governor. It establishes a plan-of-investment requirement with quality measures, annual reporting, and legislative notifications, and gives DOE and state officials oversight and flexibility to adjust plans to meet immediate needs.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: State agencies and funds that would receive the CFTF-based appropriations for FY2024 (including the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Department of Human Resources, Department of Public Health, Department of Forensic Sciences, Juvenile Probation Services Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Mental Health, State Multiple Needs Children's Fund, Department of Youth Services, and related funds) which would receive specified dollar amounts and must implement investment plans and quarterly allocations.
• Group 2: State officials and oversight bodies (Director of Finance, Department of Early Childhood Education, Governor, the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, the Senate Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee, Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee, and the Alabama Children's Policy Council) who must approve plans, oversee allocations, receive reports, and ensure compliance with the new funding and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(a): appropriates $39,097,848 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2024 to specified agencies per the plan in Section 41-15B-2.2.
• Section 1(b): tobacco settlement revenues deposited into the Children First Trust Fund; Director of Finance must notify each agency in writing of anticipated allocations; quarterly allocations required; allocations conditioned on receipt of tobacco revenues; any remaining year-end sums stay in the fund.
• Section 1(b)(2) and (3): notification by September 1, 2023 of expected FY2024 allocations; at the start of each quarter, agencies receive at least one-fourth of their total allocated amount when funds are available; if funds are not available, they receive equal quarterly allotments when funds become available.
• Section 1(b)(4): allocations are conditioned on the receipt of tobacco revenues; expenditures must follow Section 41-15B-2.2; end-of-year remaining sums stay in the fund.
• Section 2: the portion of CFTF receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education shall be transferred to the State General Fund during FY2024.
• Section 3: additional appropriation of $50,511,261 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2024 to specified entities (including DOE, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Alabama Medicaid Agency, and Medicaid Waiver).
• Section 4: any additional tobacco revenues available for FY2024 are conditionally appropriated upon recommendations by the Director of Finance, the appropriate committee chairs, and Governor’s approval.
• Section 5: the Executive Budget Office and Finance Director shall allot CFTF funds only after DOE certifies an approved plan of investment; DOE must prescribe a plan form with at least four quality assurance items and include measures of service reach and success; DOE will provide a measurement standard and notify legislators 10 days before funds reach recipients.
• Section 6: DOE Secretary must report each approved plan to the Joint Interim Legislative Oversight Committee and the Alabama Children's Policy Council; may approve adjusted plans upon request; funds should be directed to meet the most immediate needs of children.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.