The Alabama Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank, released its “2024 Blueprint for Alabama” on Monday, which sets out 30 policy priorities.

These priorities include removing barriers for 14- and 15-year-olds to enter the workforce while creating barriers for them to make medical decisions or read library books. This includes:

Citing the state's labor shortage, the Blueprint identifies underage workers as a potential solution and states that one of the barriers to teenagers joining the workforce is that schools require “work eligibility certification.” It emphasizes the requirement to submit a written document. Eligibility for work requires such students to be in good standing with the school and demonstrate satisfactory attendance and progress.

The blueprint also suggests that minors are exposed to inappropriate materials in public libraries and that reforms should be taken to ensure that such content is not available to minors. No specific policies were mentioned.

Another policy goal is to raise the age of consent for medical procedures, which is currently 14 in most situations. The document does not specify at what age the age of majority should be raised.

The Alabama Legislature appears ready to tackle gaming legislation as much as ever, but API calls the lottery bill a “perverse incentive” for a fiscally and socially irresponsible government, and is pushing for passage. continues to resist efforts.

The platform also includes support for “educational freedom,” a reminder of the anticipated future push for an education savings account system, but the document specifically describes how educational freedom No details were given as to what should be pursued.

Some of the priorities refer to things that have been touted in the past, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the “protection of people's health freedoms,” which generally refers to government obligations in response to crises. . Two other priorities are reorganizing how the state health officer is appointed (by the governor rather than the Board of Public Health) and giving the Legislature the power to reduce the governor's emergency powers.

On the issue of abortion, API emphasizes the need for Congress to act to ensure bans on abortion-inducing drugs consistent with the intent of state abortion laws. Currently, women are not punished under the law for aborting their babies; only the provider faces serious charges.

One of the areas where the blueprint lists more specific policy goals is protecting children from online pornography, including supporting legislation requiring cell phone filters to be enabled by default and It refers to mandatory age verification functionality on sites.

The document also continues to address other hot-button issues, including banning public drug performance, resisting Medicaid expansion, and ending DEI programs at public universities.