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Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville) addressed the Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council during the group’s quarterly meeting held Aug. 14, informing council members on legislative news impacting area children.

Lawrence shared good news with the council, describing Alabama’s Education Trust Fund budget as the largest in the fund’s history.

“We have the biggest Education Trust Fund budget in history this year,” Lawrence said. “That’s a good thing. More money for schools means more opportunities for our kids to get exposed to different things.”

The Alabama State Representative for District 69 also reported the House approved a cost of living raise for all state employees except retirees.

“The only people that we didn’t take care of, and I hear it every time, are the retirees,” Lawrence said. “But we’re working on it. Hopefully we can get something done next year.”

The legislature is also working on a series of initiatives, spearheaded by Gov. Kay Ivey to promote economic development and generate jobs with the overall goal of improving economic conditions of Alabama families, something which touches the lives of every child in the state.

“One particular project that came out of the plan was the Alabama Pathways Act, which creates a pathway for kids that do not necessarily want to go to college,” Lawrence said. “The pathway would create a particular curriculum for children who want to pursue trade school or the military.

“I think it’s really good because a lot of kids don’t have any desire to go to college. This is a great opportunity for those individuals.”

Lawrence also described other legislation which will benefit Alabama families. One will exempt Alabama income tax on overtime pay.

“This is designed to encourage people to work more by increasing what they bring home,” he said. “It puts a little more money into the pockets of everyday working families.”

According to Lawrence, another piece of legislation passed includes a childcare tax credit, giving individuals and families who have children but cannot afford childcare the opportunity to receive tax credit to help offset the cost.

“We know childcare is almost like [the cost of] a mortgage now, especially to make sure children have adequate care while parents go out and make a living,” Lawrence said.

In addition to legislative highlights, Lawrence described legislative actions he described as less than positive, including the passage of an absentee voting bill which will criminalize certain activities conducted as an effort to “help” someone complete an absentee ballot.

The Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. at the Lowndes County Courthouse.