Alabama senator delays committee vote on bill to bail out tuition plan with $236 million

Vote delayed on Ala. tuition plan bailout bill

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama Senate committee has postponed consideration of a bill to bail out the state’s financially troubled prepaid college tuition plan.

On Wednesday, the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Committee was scheduled to consider a tuition bill offered by the committee’s chairman, Democratic Sen. Ted Little of Auburn. Little’s bill would provide $236 million over several years to shore up the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition plan.

Little delayed consideration for one week because the Alabama Education Association requested a public hearing. AEA is concerned about using education tax revenue for the tuition program.

Little said the public hearing will be Jan. 20 and a vote will follow at the committee’s next meeting, which hasn’t been set.

(This version CORRECTS the date of the public hearing to Jan. 20.)