Representative David Grimes

• The Legislature, at the urging of Governor Bob Riley, passed legislation that will begin to bring tax fairness to Alabama’s lowest income families.
• Passed a Sales Tax Holiday for the purchase of school supplies, school clothes, textbooks and computers during the first weekend in August.
• Passed a bill that provides an income tax exemption for Alabama’s 529 college savings plan.

Unborn Victims of Violence Act

• Passed a bill that recognizes the inherent value in all life – born or unborn – by allowing Alabama to charge anyone who kills or injures a pregnant woman with two felony counts instead of one. This legislation, which had been a major agenda item of the House Republican Caucus’ the past three sessions, was quickly signed into law by Gov. Riley.

Crime and Punishment

• Passed Rep. David Grimes’ legislation that allows women who are sexually assaulted to have their attackers tested for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. Rep. Grimes’ legislation also provides counseling to those victims who need it.
• Passed Gov. Riley’s package of sentencing reform bills which includes increases in criminal fines, requires sentencing reports on convicted felons and allows use of prior DUI convictions in sentencing.
• Passed a bill submitted by Gov. Riley and our Republican attorney general that makes it possible for those who download or create child pornography on their computers to face charges for each individual image they possess rather than a single charge for their entire collection.

Citizen Protection

• Expanded the use of child passenger restraints for children 6 years old and younger.
• Provided funding for 100 new state troopers and granted current troopers a much-deserved pay increase.
• Passed a landlord-tenant bill that provides protection for renters while also ensuring fairness to landlords.
• Passed a bill that clarifies a citizen’s right to defend themselves against intruders in their own home without fear of being sued by the criminal.

Elections

• Passed legislation to provide runoff balloting for military personnel deployed overseas.

Education Budget

Highlights of the $6 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget include:

• A 5% pay raise for all education employees; which, when combined with last year’s 6% increase, takes a major step toward raising teacher salaries closer to the regional average.
• A 7% Cost of Living increase for education retirees.
• Full funding of the Department of Education’s request for the Alabama Reading Initiative at $56 million and the Alabama Math/Science/Technology Initiative at $22 million.
• $11.8 million for an estimated 180 additional special education teachers and $11.8 million for an estimated 180 physical education teachers (grades K-8)
• An increase of over $21 million to fully phase-in the school nurse program. 3 Increases the Classroom Technology allocation from $181 per teacher to $350 per teacher. 3 Increases the minimum number of classroom days from 175 to 180, bringing Alabama in line with most other states.