Read the full stored bill text
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB650
11JS1ZL-1
By Representative Paschal
RFD: Children and Senior Advocacy
First Read: 31-Mar-26
1
2
3
4
5
11JS1ZL-1 03/30/2026 EGC (L)EGC 2026-1133
Page 1
First Read: 31-Mar-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would create the Permanent Joint
Legislative Advisory Commission on Alabama Boys and Men
to study issues affecting boys and men and to advise
the Legislature on legislative and policy
recommendations.
This bill would provide for the membership and
duties of the commission.
This bill would require the commission to submit
a report of its findings and recommendations to the
Legislature each year.
This bill would also provide that the commission
would sunset on October 1, 2030.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Legislature; to create the Permanent
Joint Legislative Advisory Commission on Alabama Boys and Men;
to provide for the membership and duties of the commission;
and to provide a sunset date for the commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) There is created the Permanent Joint
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 2
Section 1. (a) There is created the Permanent Joint
Legislative Advisory Commission on Alabama Boys and Men.
(b) The commission shall consist of 14 members,
including 10 nonlegislative members and four legislative
members, appointed as follows:
(1) Eight members appointed by the Governor who meet
the following requirements:
a. Are nominated by a statewide professional
association, nonprofit organization, community-based
organization, faith-based organization, or public agency.
Nominating entities may submit multiple nominees. The Governor
may appoint a member who has not been nominated if there are
not at least eight nominees submitted within 30 days of June
1, 2026. The Governor shall seek a balance of academic,
practitioner, and community-based perspectives, with no more
than three members from the same general sector to the extent
practicable.
b. Possess expertise or experience in education, public
health, mental health, workforce development, child and family
services, fatherhood engagement programs, or related fields.
c. At least one member shall have direct professional,
volunteer, or lived experience providing mentorship,
fatherhood engagement, or life skills development to boys or
young men in a community-based setting.
(2) One member of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(3) One member of the Senate appointed by the President
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 3
(3) One member of the Senate appointed by the President
Pro Tempore of the Senate, and one member of the Senate
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(4) Two members representing nonprofit or
community-based organizations serving boys, men, and families
appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
The members shall have experience delivering direct services
or programs, such as mentorship, fatherhood engagement, youth
development, or reentry services, to boys, men, and families.
The members shall provide a stakeholder perspective distinct
from subdivision (1).
(c) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their
appointments to assure the advisory commission membership is
inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban,
rural, and economic diversity of the state. The appointing
authorities shall also coordinate their appointments to assure
the meaningful inclusion of: (i) female members to provide
perspective on family stability, child development, and issues
affecting boys in relation to women and families; (ii)
multiple generations, including at least one member under 30
years of age and one member over 60 years of age; and (iii)
individuals with subject-matter expertise, direct service
experience, and relevant lived experience.
(d)(1) Nonlegislative members of the commission shall
serve terms of four years and may be reappointed for a second
term.
(2) Legislative members shall serve only as long as
they hold their public office.
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 4
they hold their public office.
(3) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment. A member appointed to fill a vacancy on
the commission which occurs before the expiration of the term
for which his or her predecessor was appointed shall serve
only for the remainder of the term.
(e)(1) The legislative members of the commission shall
be entitled to their legislative compensation, per diem, and
travel expenses for each day they attend a meeting of the
commission pursuant to Section 49 of the Constitution of
Alabama 2022.
(2) The nonlegislative members of the commission shall
serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary
expenses in attending meetings of the commission pursuant to
the policies of their respective appointing authority.
(f) The first meeting of the commission shall be held
at the call of the Speaker of the House of Representatives no
later than August 1, 2027, at which time the members of the
commission shall elect a chair and vice chair.
(g) The commission shall meet at least once each
quarter and may meet, act, and conduct its business at any
place within this state during the sessions of the Legislature
or any recess thereof, and in the interim period between
sessions.
(h) The commission shall have the following duties:
(1) Study issues affecting boys and men in Alabama,
within the following priority areas and as defined in the
annual work plan required in subdivision (6):
a. Education and workforce development, including
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 5
a. Education and workforce development, including
educational attainment, early literacy, academic outcomes,
career readiness, vocational and technical training, and
workforce participation.
b. Health and well-being, including physical and mental
health outcomes, access to care, substance abuse prevention,
suicide prevention, and the impact of technology and social
media on mental health and development.
c. Family stability and fatherhood engagement,
including paternal involvement, family formation, marriage
stability; barriers to paternal involvement and engagement,
such as structural, administrative, and socioeconomic factors;
and outcomes associated with family stability.
d. Public safety and social development, including
social and behavioral development, conflict resolution and
de-escalation, life skills necessary for successful transition
into adulthood, and preventative diversions from criminal
justice system involvement.
(2) Identify evidence-based strategies and best
practices from other states and jurisdictions to improve
outcomes for boys, men, and families.
(3) Conduct research, data analysis, public hearings,
stakeholder consultations, and educational symposiums or
forums as necessary to fulfill its duties.
(4) Consult with relevant state agencies, departments,
and other public entities to obtain data, information, and
technical assistance as necessary to fulfill its duties.
(5) Develop evidence-based, data-driven legislative and
policy recommendations through a transparent and inclusive
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 6
policy recommendations through a transparent and inclusive
stakeholder process and submit those recommendations to: (i)
the Legislature and the Governor, including recommendations
for regulatory changes; and (ii) the State Department of
Education upon request of the State Superintendent of
Education.
(6)a. Adopt an annual work plan no later than 60 days
prior to the beginning of each regular legislative session.
The work plan shall identify not more than five priority issue
areas for study during the year and shall include the
following:
1. Clearly defined research questions for each priority
issue area.
2. Identification of relevant data sources and metrics
to be used in the analysis.
3. A description of planned stakeholder engagement,
including public hearings, consultations, and other forms of
input.
4. A general timeline for completion of analysis and
development of recommendations.
b. For each priority issue area identified in the
annual work plan, the commission shall:
1. Analyze available data to establish baseline
conditions and trends over time;
2. Identify contributing factors supported by credible
research or data;
3. Review evidence-based practices and policies from
other states and jurisdictions; and
4. Develop specific, actionable legislative or policy
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
HB650 INTRODUCED
Page 7
4. Develop specific, actionable legislative or policy
recommendations.
(i) In carrying out its duties, the commission may
organize its work into subject-matter subcommittees aligned
with its priority issue areas, including education and
workforce development, health and well-being, family stability
and fatherhood engagement, and public safety and social
development.
(j) The commission shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the
Governor no later than the seventh legislative day of each
regular session. The report shall, at a minimum, include all
of the following:
(1) A summary of the commission's annual work plan and
priority issue areas detailing:
a. Data findings, including data sources and key
metrics;
b. Analysis of trend and contributing factors;
c. A summary of stakeholder input; and
d. Specific, evidence-based policy or legislative
recommendations.
(2) Any limitations in available data or areas
requiring further study.
(k) This section shall be repealed on October 1, 2030.
Section 2. This act shall become effective June 1,
2026.
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193