[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6789644,"mediaKeyId","5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5","parentId",5609086,"title","Examiners flag $32 million in held 9‑1‑1 funds and a rule that may conflict with statute","audioSeconds",136,"startMs",5835015,"endMs",5971850,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5&start=5835&end=5971","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5/thumbnail_5835015.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6789644/Alabama/Examiners-flag-32-million-in-held-911-funds-and-a-rule-that-may-conflict-with-statute","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789644-2a36dd4b94e097955a30d8493870a243/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929585&Signature=dVlBjoUzToBAmtMidiMEN04OKMuBBk1T4eYdHkQuuhh4J4PuCAPJsM1KWDYSpia76MHkYkW2jgqm5AOpGIx-fLtWxEobtEEWVEyz1ORBXidASmT5zs~PjgUjcOovuSZeBw7jhUBeRFbwSlM~k05YxWzXPDM5NUwF9FPOs4Ao3Yf-00As3pkh69t7V6-coZu5fo09W2qDCSf82VOMXls5WUnMasoxCETo-c8LXXw5XzpN4NoUH8a9GVJl4EY9k6ddBSTxTXHfouV7D7eftwmPMiYeVC8iXuHxM90X5sAat7eTE1Y09C9TZEVRsiab-3-yF95Bwc~IESgWptuWOFjoXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Joint Sessions","date","2025-08-21T00:11:06.62Z","article","Legislative examiners briefed the Joint Interim Committee on the Alabama Statewide 9‑1‑1 Board and raised concerns about large bank balances, a board rule that may conflict with statute, and the need to implement new 2025 law changes before Oct. 1.

Miss Thomas said the board administers the statewide 9‑1‑1 charge (currently about $2.23 per phone line) and distributes collections to 85 emergency communication districts (ECDs). She recited two 2025 session laws (Acts 2025‑373 and 2025‑376) that will take effect Oct. 1, 2025 and change required distributions and permitted uses of reserves to support a statewide voice/data 9‑1‑1 system and related costs.

Staff reported reconciled balances and reserves that members described as large for a pass‑through fund: a reconciled cost‑recovery account balance of $15,545,863.26 (May 2025) and an unreserved balance of $32,000,813.68 at the end of FY2024. Miss Thomas told the committee that the board has adopted an administrative rule to withhold monthly distributions from districts that do not meet certain continuing‑education or certification rules — a practice she said is not authorized by the board statute.

Committee members repeatedly raised the mismatch between local ECDs reporting “insufficient personnel and staffing” and the board’s retained balances. One member summarized: while local districts report funding shortfalls, the board has tens of millions in reserves and is changing reserve‑use rules under the new law. Members asked staff and the board to clarify how quickly monthly receipts are processed and when distributions are made, and to explain how the board will implement the new statutory uses for reserve funds and any rule changes that may conflict with statute.

No formal committee action was taken; members asked staff to obtain additional reconciliation detail and to question the board at a follow‑up session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Joint Interim Sunset Committee Meeting Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Examiners told the committee that the Statewide 9‑1‑1 Board holds roughly $32 million in unreserved balances while many local emergency communication districts report staffing and funding shortfalls.","taxTitle","Joint Interim Committees, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",14940,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6789648,"Sunset review flags limited regulation, modest fund decline for Alabama Prosthetics & Orthotics board",735,343070,1078440,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5&start=343&end=1078","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5/thumbnail_343070.jpg","/articles/6789648/Alabama/Sunset-review-flags-limited-regulation-modest-fund-decline-for-Alabama-Prosthetics-Orthotics-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789648-8567ed29284e629de80cc5ed7b3a416a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929585&Signature=ParDzfl~5GM1Tl56T2hs7KOjovVpQ1h5LC~iArbft6inXn7UEwfhLjfaNai5MTS4eEsLkZaFwQ0uivpW--V7t4DXJ32u3i5hi8dQ8-8Q92hi29V4F5bUtWXSnSrIUKuoLGoMKeiCu8XEyrOc93wfPVWrKcjlxLy0lHiNgw6y~FbEdLt3-qJvyv95bsdx7RV4q~DKyO4MhfRBOCemsCgngsnmeEO7swhwRVZW1armfYQQ3IKXICIcYhywTjOs9gQDn37GubnBeCG-xFnBvuTDeESi2RkFXj1EZbOKptJoZd5ZzeJrWwMdA71wr5dU8UX0y4tDbm3rdZ3DLg7vdozf8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Thomas presented the sunset review for the Alabama Board of Prosthetics & Orthotics, reporting statutory changes, licensing data and several governance and financial concerns.

The board, established by Act 2002‑527, regulates prosthetic and orthotic practitioners and suppliers. Miss Thomas reported 12 license types and 353 active licensees as of Oct. 1, 2024. The board uses an administrative services contract with Total Political Solutions at roughly $9,828.97 per month (about $117,009.47 annually), and the attorney general’s office provides legal counsel.

Examiners noted two recent session laws — Act 2022‑129 (clarifying an orthosis definition) and Act 2023‑326 (changing certification/approval procedures) — that affected board responsibilities. Miss Thomas said the board’s unobligated cash balance declined from $182,931 (FY 2020) to approximately $177,394 (FY 2024), and that expenditures exceeded revenues in FY 2021, 2023 and 2024.

A small responder pool returned 24 survey responses. Miss Thomas told the committee: “10 of the 24 responded that they believe the most significant issue facing their profession is insurance and reimbursements.” Ten respondents flagged insurance/reimbursement as their top concern; others cited licensing fees and non‑licensed practitioners. The report also found 15 of 24 licensees do not believe board regulation is necessary to protect the public, and 14 said the board’s rules are an unnecessary restriction on practice.

Committee members pressed staff for additional detail at the next meeting, asking whether state regulation is required by insurance reimbursement rules and requesting that a board representative attend to answer questions about degree requirements, reciprocity and the national exam statistics that appear in the report. A member also asked staff to confirm why the board stopped routine facility inspections after the 05/12/2021 board meeting; Miss Thomas noted inspections were discontinued to reduce expenses and that accredited national agencies still conduct inspections on a three‑year cycle.

The committee did not take formal action on the board’s report; members requested additional details and indicated they would revisit the item at the next session.","Examiners told the Joint Interim Committee that the Alabama Board of Prosthetics & Orthotics has 353 licensees, an administrative contract worth about $117,009.47 per year and several operational issues — including missed vacancy postings, declining cash balances, and licensee concerns about insurance reimbursement and fees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6789653,"Senators unanimously nominate Keith Kelly as co‑chair of sunset review committee",0,231420,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5&start=231&end=231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609086-8b9c15d063cd5c6a64e49239ac9e08f5/thumbnail_231420.jpg","/articles/6789653/Alabama/Senators-unanimously-nominate-Keith-Kelly-as-cochair-of-sunset-review-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789653-57f30019063274f5afb24cddbe18a86f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929585&Signature=GURicwX6qYKvQUOOuwrCFZROML0MCuB1k6izF66Y70qB6Uvp6zFe7ygfDEErn~T0juqi0gHfTLnBZh612jrTUi8eruybrGHicpnnU4N-7w0Cq9u-K5v1NKbdbGm2tSr2BPNpnoI0~9SEe5rI2Wg5unz0igr30KqXdKPhi2TDtvarT6qX8PpXU6bBF1x3Sj09Z2gakmN7Z7mgeEOGrfn8zg-2yNRcyayjy0pyk-e47SuxM8xSOhfsFZEnX22Bru9tcv7BjlDwe4WHtZGth5l8Lu0w7TnNrQ61HdJFYc1m7U8u-WnyLaODeeC~EhR2mHDDIGTYm27dnqjt7mWCF4yibQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators convened a sunset review session and nominated Senator Keith Kelly to serve as the committee’s new co‑chair. The nomination was moved and seconded and passed on a voice vote; members responded “aye” and the gavel was transferred to Kelly.

The change in leadership came during the meeting’s opening business, which also included roll call and procedural instructions from the presiding chair. The chair asked members to follow a printed packet and to raise questions as each board’s report was presented by staff.

Committee members then proceeded to scheduled presentations and Q&A on a series of boards and commissions, beginning with staff briefings on licensing, contract arrangements and financial data for each entity. The session concluded with a procedural proposal to require sworn or affirmed testimony from witnesses at future hearings.","At the start of a multi‑board sunset review session, members nominated and approved Senator Keith Kelly as co‑chair. The committee then began a series of scheduled board reviews and asked staff to present detailed reports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Examiners flag $32 million in held 9‑1‑1 funds and a rule that may conflict with statute

Sunset review flags limited regulation, modest fund decline for Alabama Prosthetics & Orthotics board

Senators unanimously nominate Keith Kelly as co‑chair of sunset review committee