Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) Executive Director Dan Ireland reported to state convention messengers that defeating liquor laws captured much of the organization’s time and energy in 2002.
Along with helping defeat four legislative bills during the regular session of the state legislature, ALCAP representatives also worked with church leaders in several cities and counties dealing with wet/dry issues.
Assisting the leaders in the cities of Cullman and Hartselle and in Chilton and Randolph counties, ALCAP offered resources and support as citizens said no to liquor sales. While citizens in Elba voted for liquor sales, Ireland said the church leaders worked hard against the move.
Other legislative issues monitored by ALCAP included bills focuses on gambling, abortion and a clean indoor air policy. A bill allowing for video gambling failed while legislation requiring abortion providers to give full information and disclosure, including alternatives, to a woman prior to her decision to have an abortion was signed into law.
ALCAP counts these two bills as victories but experienced defeat for the 13th year on a clean indoor air policy. The bill passed the Senate but was defeated in the House. Alabama remains the only state without a clean indoor air policy on smoking, Ireland said.
Alongside legislative watchdog duties, ALCAP also provides educational programs in schools around the state.
During the 2001-2002 school year, Bill Day and others who work with ALCAP’s drug education program, made 1,463 drug prevention and awareness presentations in 403 schools, reaching 60,590 students.
Sixty presentations also were made at the National Youth Sports Program, which takes place during the summer on college campuses. The program, which is sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, targets “at-risk” youth.
For advanced youth, ALCAP presented its drug-free program to 2,100 students on nine college campuses involved in Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services.
Share with others: