House speaker creates task force to study poverty

MONTGOMERY (AP) — A task force formed by House Speaker Seth Hammett to study poverty in Alabama will hold its first meeting next week.

Hammett created the House Task Force on Poverty to identify conditions that create or wor-sen poverty and to propose legislation or policy initiatives to reduce or eliminate poverty.

The commission includes eight House members and representatives of state agencies and organizations that deal with issues related to poverty.

"We want to look at policies that adversely impact those in poverty and look at new policies that could lift people out of poverty," said Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, chair of the task force. She said the force will review proposed legislation that could be introduced in the upcoming session of the Legislature, which begins Feb. 5.

Todd introduced a resolution last session seeking to create a joint House and Senate task force. The resolution passed in the House, but died in the Senate.

The first task force meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in room 617 at the Alabama Statehouse.

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