Ivey calls for prison overhaul, cools gambling talk in State of State

Feb. 5--Gov. Kay Ivey said she would press ahead with new investments in education and efforts to address the state's prison crisis in her State of the State on Tuesday evening.

At the same time, Ivey said she would pursue new prison construction plans but appeared willing to let the Legislature decide the steps to address a crisis of violence and overcrowding within the state's prison system. But Ivey added that "failure is not an option" in tackling the problem.

"You've heard me say this before," the governor said in her prepared remarks. "This is an Alabama problem that must have an Alabama solution. I look forward to working with each of you."

The 45-minute speech outlined the governor's policy priorities in the 2020 legislative session which began on Tuesday. Ivey and legislators appear to be in broad agreement on educational and prison issues.

But Ivey threw cold water on proposals to address the gambling issue in the state -- something legislators say they would like to do this year. The governor appeared skeptical of promises that gambling revenue could bring up to $1 billion to the state, though she said she believed "the people of Alabama should have the final say" on any gambling measures.

"Like you, I'm fully aware that the four states which border us all have some form of gambling," she said. "And neither you nor I are naive enough to believe that we're benefitting in any way when our people cross the state line to bet on a game of chance," Ivey said.

The governor said she would form a study group to examine the impact of gambling on the state. Ivey would have no official role in the authorization of a lottery -- a constitutional amendment that must be approved by the Legislature and then state voters -- but she would be responsible for negotiating any gambling compacts with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who operate casinos in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said Ivey had told him she wanted the study group last week.

"She has never felt like she has gotten accurate numbers," he said. "So she's put this commission together to study that. I can't argue with that. I think the voters need to have a realistic idea of what this would mean for the state."

But Marsh said he would push for a "timely" report. He said he would prefer to get the findings during the session, but said he could wait 6 months to address gambling in a special session.

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, whose district includes GreeneTrack, a dog track with electronic bingo, said Ivey "threw her stop sign out here."

"I think we will still have conversations, but I think you will see a lot of members want to respect what the governor has asked," he said.

Legislative leaders have said they want to address overcrowding in state prisons by investing in education and workforce training programs to reduce recidivism. Ivey embraced that approach in her speech, citing opportunities for inmates through Ingram State Technical College in Deatsville.

Ivey also touted her proposals to build three new men's facilities that she said would transition the corrections system "from warehousing inmates to rehabilitating people."

"Alabama has no choice but to reinvent our corrections system by replacing outdated and unsafe facilities that pose a great risk to public safety -- and inhibit development of programs for inmate rehabilitation," she said.

Ivey said she "looked forward to working with the Legislature" on bills to address the overcrowding crisis, though she did not provide specifics.

"I'm not convinced we're not going to have to come back at some point to deal with the prison issue," Marsh said. "Because based on their capital improvement requirements, if that ticket is big enough, we might need a gaming package to look at."

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said after the speech that the department expects to have proposals by April 30, with the announcement of an award in the late summer. All the proposals would follow a build-lease program, in which a private company would build the prisons and the state would lease them back.

Dunn said there was no price tag on the vocational programs being proposed, though he said he believed the costs would be "pennies on the dollar."

"I don't think we're talking enormous amounts of money," he said. "I think folks will be surprised at the modest amount of investment you can put either in the front end or transitioning people back into society, and it's an investment that's worth it."

Democrats said they didn't hear anything new in the proposals, and wanted to hear more about sentencing reform. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said he wanted more detail on the prison reform package.

"I think having conservations about sentencing and bail reform is something I would much rather have heard from her tonight," he said. "We didn't hear a whole lot about that."

The governor also praised the strong state economy, with an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent, and promised to back new investments in education. With the $7.1 billion education budget expected to grow 6% ($411.3 million) in fiscal year 2021, Ivey proposed a 3% teacher pay raise, costing about $135 million, and a $1 billion bond for capital improvements for public school and higher education facilities around the state.

Ivey also called for a 2% pay raise for state employees, which would cost the General Fund about $13 million. Legislators may be able to appropriate $400 million from the General Fund this year.

The governor also urged the passage of Amendment 1, a measure going before voters on March 3 that would replace the currently elected Alabama State Board of Education with one appointed by the governor. Ivey and SenatePresident Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, who sponsored the measure, argued that Alabama's poor standardized test scores required a change in educational governance.

"This isn't the fault of our hard-working teachers, principals, or local superintendents," she said. "This starts at the top."

Education experts have questioned whether changing the method of school board appointment will have any effect on student performance. The Alabama Republican Party passed a measure in August opposing the measure.

Marsh and other legislative leaders say they may propose additional changes to the education system, though they have not specified what those might be.

Ivey also said she would pursue investments in rural broadband, and measures to encourage medical providers to work in rural areas. Ivey also said she would seek to hire an additional 50 state troopers, and also urged Alabamians to respond to this year's U.S. Census.

The governor delivered the speech in a sling, after tripping over her dog last week. Ivey joked at the beginning of the speech that "my arm is not tied behind my back, it's just tied up."

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.

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