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Backing the blue and combatting crime: A breakdown of Gov. Ivey's 鈥楽afe Alabama鈥� package

Backing the blue and combatting crime: A breakdown of Gov. Ivey's 鈥楽afe Alabama鈥� package
AND TONIGHT, LAWMAKERS ARE INTRODUCING A NEW SERIES OF BILLS TO INCREASE SAFETY MEASURES ACROSS THE STATE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. TONIGHT AT TEN. I鈥橫 SHERI FALK I鈥橫 GUY RAWLINGS THE SAFE ALABAMA PACKAGE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK HAS MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN BILLS TARGETING WHAT GOVERNOR IVEY CALLS SOME OF HER TOP PRIORITIES THIS YEAR. 米兰体育 13 JARVIS ROBERTSON TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT JUST A FEW OF THEM TONIGHT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE BILLS LOOK TO DO, JARVIS? WELL, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY FIRST ANNOUNCED LEGISLATIVE PLANS LAST NIGHT DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS. SHE CONSIDERS IT A SAFE ALABAMA PACKAGE. NOW WE鈥橰E GETTING A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW AND WHAT EXACTLY SHE WANTS DONE. NOW, ONE OF HER PRIORITIES IN THE PACKAGE IS THE BACK THE BLUE LEGAL PROTECTION ACT. THIS BILL LOOKS TO EXPAND CIVIL LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHILE THEY鈥橰E WORKING. ACCORDING TO THE BILL, AN OFFICER WOULD BE SHIELDED FROM LAWSUITS UNLESS THEY WERE, QUOTE, ACTING RECKLESSLY WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTION OR JUSTIFICATION, OR IF THEY VIOLATED A PERSON鈥橲 RIGHTS. NOW, IT ALSO SAYS AN OFFICER WOULD BE IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION FOR ON THE JOB USE OF FORCE UNLESS THEIR CONDUCT VIOLATES A PERSON鈥橲 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AGAINST EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE ACT ALSO HALTS ANY LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SO THE OFFICER CAN ESTABLISH PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW. THE NEXT IS INNER CITY GUN VIOLENCE ACT. IT FOCUSES ON FELONS AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, PRETRIAL DETENTION, SHOOTING INTO OCCUPIED DWELLINGS, PAROLE AND PROBATION, REVOCATION. NOW, THESE BILLS WOULD EXPAND AND INCREASE PENALTIES AGAINST SUSPECTS WITH FIREARMS IF THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME. HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE NEED TO A NEED TO HAVE A COMPANION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN ADDITIONS. ANOTHER ONE THAT鈥橲 BEEN TALKED ABOUT HEAVILY IN BIRMINGHAM THAT IS A GLOCK SWITCH BAN, A STATE BAN ON THE CONVERSION DEVICE WOULD MAKE IT A CLASS C FELONY IN ALABAMA. KEEP IN MIND, A GLOCK SWITCH CAN CONVERT A PISTOL TO A FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. NOW, WE DID RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM BIRMINGHAM MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN SAYING, QUOTE, BIRMINGHAM HAS LONG BEEN IN SUPPORT OF A STATE BAN ON CONVERSION DEVICES SUCH AS GLOCK SWITCHES, WHICH ARE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE ENCOURAGE STATE LAWMAKERS TO JOIN US AS A UNIFIED FRONT TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE. NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY LAWMAKERS FROM OUR AREA, AND MORE ARE EXPECTED TO COME. WE WILL CONTINU
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Updated: 2:09 PM CST Feb 6, 2025
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Backing the blue and combatting crime: A breakdown of Gov. Ivey's 鈥楽afe Alabama鈥� package
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Updated: 2:09 PM CST Feb 6, 2025
Editorial Standards 鈸�
We're learning more about the public safety package unveiled by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey during her State of the State address Tuesday night.鈥淏olstering public safety is my number one priority this session, and I am proud to partner with Speaker Ledbetter and a bipartisan group of legislators in putting forward a package of bills that will back the blue and combat inner-city gun violence,鈥� said Governor Ivey during her address. 鈥淲orking together, we will create a safer Alabama.鈥漈he public safety legislation, which prioritizes enhanced legal protection for local law enforcement and combatting gun violence in the state's metropolitan areas, will be dubbed the "Safe Alabama" package.鈥淔ighting crime in our cities, streets and neighborhoods and allowing Alabamians to feel safe in their homes rank among our most important duties as lawmakers,鈥� said Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger. 鈥淎t the same time, the men and women who wear a badge and patrol our cities must know that their elected leaders in Montgomery have their backs at all times, and I am confident that this package accomplishes all of those goals.鈥漎ou can read a breakdown of everything included in the Safe Alabama package below:Back the Blue Legal Protection ActThis bill aims to replace the current immunity law for peace officers with broader civil protections. Officers would be protected from lawsuits unless they act recklessly without justification or infringe on clearly established rights. In terms of criminal liability, they would be immune from prosecution for use of force on duty unless it breaches constitutional limits on excessive force. The bill also provides for pausing legal proceedings to allow officers to establish these protections under the new law.Law Enforcement Dependent Scholarship Aimed at increasing recruitment and retention, this bill would create the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers鈥� Family Scholarship Program.The program would provide financial aid for college tuition and related expenses to eligible dependents of long-serving officers. It would be applicable to undergraduate studies at participating public technical schools, colleges, and universities in Alabama.Officer Impersonation Prevention ActThe bill expands the crime of "impersonating a peace officer" to include those who knowingly take jobs as peace officers while ineligible to serve due to revoked or suspended certification. It also prohibits employers from hiring individuals they know are ineligible for these roles under similar conditions.Inner City Gun Violence Act This act broadens the existing law forbidding certain people from passing a firearm to include those convicted of any felony conviction unless pardoned. It also makes it a felony to possess a firearm while on bail for violent crimes, only if convicted of those crimes. The act also expands Aniah鈥檚 Law to deny bail for the charges of certain persons forbidden and shooting into an occupied dwelling. Bail could also be denied for those charged with solicitation, attempt or conspiracy to commit any offense where bail denial is allowed. A constitutional amendment would be required to implement these changes. It also elevates the penalty for shooting into occupied spaces to a Class A felony.Furthermore, it mandates revocation of parole or probation for individuals found unlawfully possessing firearms, meaning those individuals would face more than the current "45-day 'dunk' in the county jail."Aniah鈥檚 Law Enhancement Constitutional Amendment This would amend the constitution to align with the aforementioned changes being made in the Inner City Gun Violence Act. Metro Area Crime Suppression Budget ProposalThis would see to the annual allocation of $3 million to support a permanent 24-member Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit.Glock Switch BanWith certain exceptions, this would make it a Class C felony to knowingly possess a Glock switch.Juvenile Accountability and Monitoring Act This would allow the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles or other state agencies to provide electronic monitoring for high-risk juvenile offenders. It would also remove the 72-hour limit on detaining juvenile-status offenders who violate court orders.

We're learning more about the public safety package unveiled by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey during her State of the State address Tuesday night.

鈥淏olstering public safety is my number one priority this session, and I am proud to partner with Speaker Ledbetter and a bipartisan group of legislators in putting forward a package of bills that will back the blue and combat inner-city gun violence,鈥� said Governor Ivey during her address. 鈥淲orking together, we will create a safer Alabama.鈥�

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The public safety legislation, which prioritizes enhanced legal protection for local law enforcement and combatting gun violence in the state's metropolitan areas, will be dubbed the "Safe Alabama" package.

鈥淔ighting crime in our cities, streets and neighborhoods and allowing Alabamians to feel safe in their homes rank among our most important duties as lawmakers,鈥� said Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger. 鈥淎t the same time, the men and women who wear a badge and patrol our cities must know that their elected leaders in Montgomery have their backs at all times, and I am confident that this package accomplishes all of those goals.鈥�

You can read a breakdown of everything included in the Safe Alabama package below:

Back the Blue Legal Protection Act

This bill aims to replace the current immunity law for peace officers with broader civil protections. Officers would be protected from lawsuits unless they act recklessly without justification or infringe on clearly established rights.

In terms of criminal liability, they would be immune from prosecution for use of force on duty unless it breaches constitutional limits on excessive force.

The bill also provides for pausing legal proceedings to allow officers to establish these protections under the new law.

Law Enforcement Dependent Scholarship

Aimed at increasing recruitment and retention, this bill would create the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers鈥� Family Scholarship Program.

The program would provide financial aid for college tuition and related expenses to eligible dependents of long-serving officers. It would be applicable to undergraduate studies at participating public technical schools, colleges, and universities in Alabama.

Officer Impersonation Prevention Act

The bill expands the crime of "impersonating a peace officer" to include those who knowingly take jobs as peace officers while ineligible to serve due to revoked or suspended certification. It also prohibits employers from hiring individuals they know are ineligible for these roles under similar conditions.

Inner City Gun Violence Act

This act broadens the existing law forbidding certain people from passing a firearm to include those convicted of any felony conviction unless pardoned. It also makes it a felony to possess a firearm while on bail for violent crimes, only if convicted of those crimes.

The act also expands Aniah鈥檚 Law to deny bail for the charges of certain persons forbidden and shooting into an occupied dwelling. Bail could also be denied for those charged with solicitation, attempt or conspiracy to commit any offense where bail denial is allowed. A constitutional amendment would be required to implement these changes.

It also elevates the penalty for shooting into occupied spaces to a Class A felony.

Furthermore, it mandates revocation of parole or probation for individuals found unlawfully possessing firearms, meaning those individuals would face more than the current "45-day 'dunk' in the county jail."

Aniah鈥檚 Law Enhancement Constitutional Amendment

This would amend the constitution to align with the aforementioned changes being made in the Inner City Gun Violence Act.

Metro Area Crime Suppression Budget Proposal

This would see to the annual allocation of $3 million to support a permanent 24-member Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit.

Glock Switch Ban

With certain exceptions, this would make it a Class C felony to knowingly possess a Glock switch.

Juvenile Accountability and Monitoring Act

This would allow the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles or other state agencies to provide electronic monitoring for high-risk juvenile offenders. It would also remove the 72-hour limit on detaining juvenile-status offenders who violate court orders.