By Eden Hipps
Tomorrow-Today Staff Writer
First-year delegates confer on legislation being debated.
The First-Year chamber opened with a devotion from the chaplain, Drew McKeown. In his devotion, he reminded the first-year delegates that God tells us not to be afraid in anything. It was obvious the delegates took his devotion to heart.
The first bill up for debate was First Year Bill #17, The Second Chance Act, which would create a rehabilitation program for previously incarcerated people. Many delegates showed no fear as they stepped up to debate for or against the bill or to question the patron of the bill.
There were mixed opinions amongst delegates. Delegate Chloe Kinderman of Mountain Brook High School spoke against the bill because she believes too much money is spent on prisons as is, so the benefits of this bill would be too few for it to be passed. However, Delegate William Robertson of the Montgomery Academy spoke for the bill because it offers programs to help the previously incarcerated learn skills necessary for them to thrive in their life after prison.
One thing all delegates had in common was confidence; there was no trace of fear anywhere in the chamber.
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