An Alabama lawmaker temporarily suspended dozens of state agency contracts Thursday over what he said were delays by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in implementing a law adopted in 2023.

Sen. Chris Elliott, a Republican from Baldwin County, said the bill, which he sponsored, was intended to allow employees of businesses that serve alcohol to complete their jobs. the ABC Board Responsible Supplier Program online.

Elliott said the ABC board did not adopt rules allowing online training.

An ABC board spokesperson said online training was already underway.

But Elliott disputed that and said the ABC board rules contradicted the 2023 law.

“It is very frustrating for Parliament, an entire branch of government, to be ignored by the bureaucracy,” Elliott said.

“We passed this bill. We communicated with the CBA Board of Directors what the legislative intent was, communicated by phone call or in person, in writing what the intent was.

“And about 18 months later, we still have no rules promulgated by the bureaucracy charged with doing this,” Elliott said.

Elliott released a copy of a letter he wrote to the ABC board in September. The letter said the 2023 law was intended to remove barriers preventing businesses from participating in the Responsible Supplier Program.

Elliott’s comments came Thursday during the Legislature’s contract review committee meeting. The committee, which meets monthly, reviews state agency contracts and asks questions of agency representatives.

Any committee member can delay contracts for up to 45 days. But the committee cannot permanently block or cancel a contract.

The CBA board did not have any contracts on the committee’s agenda Thursday. Elliott said he suspended all other agencies’ contracts to pressure the ABC board to implement the law.

Dean Argo, head of government relations and communications for the ABC board, released a statement in response to Elliott’s comments.

Argo said online training for the Responsible Supplier Program is permitted and has been taking place for some time.

“Senator Chris Elliott’s Act of 2023 did not require the ABC board to promulgate rules or amend existing rules,” Argo said.

“A private association contacted the ABC Board of Directors three months ago and requested that several rules regarding the presentation of online training be clarified for the benefit of its members.

“The CBA Board agreed to do this as the clarifications did not impact whether or not online training would be offered. However, there was disagreement over how incorrect answers offered online were handled.

Argo said the ABC board plans to consider the rule change at its meeting next week.

“During its regular meeting on October 17, 2024, the Board requested additional research from staff on what other states are doing regarding online RVP training,” Argo said. “The proposed rule change is on the agenda for next week (November 14, 2024).”

Elliott said Argo’s statement was misleading.

“The ABC board’s statement is the type of classic bureaucratic doublespeak that frustrates small business owners and their representatives,” Elliott said in an email.

Elliott cited an ABC rule that says: “The format of the instructional course must include face-to-face training and question and answer opportunities. »

“This is obviously not conducive to online training,” Elliott said. “To say otherwise is simply wrong.”

Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, a member of the contract review committee, opposed Elliott’s decision to suspend all contracts.

“I think it’s unfair to the agencies that come here and present their case and generally object to approving any of the contracts,” Beasley said.

“I would like to propose that we rescind the request of the Baldwin County senator. If he wants to oppose and hold back ABC, that’s his prerogative. But I don’t think we need to retain everyone.

Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, said he understood Beasley’s point of view. But Pringle said the committee has always operated under the rules that a lawmaker could hold contracts without the consent of other members.

“A member has the right to hold every contract,” Pringle said. “And that’s kind of how this committee works.”

Elliott said his goal was to pressure the ABC board to implement the 2023 law. He said he would lift his hold on contracts when the board passes the rules of the law.

“I hope this pretty dramatic step gets their attention,” Elliott said. “And I hope to provide them with a little more incentive and put pressure on everyone in this room to deal with this issue the way they should.”

“This is something that has been going on for months and months. We pass laws and the governor signs them, and we wait for them to be signed into law by the executive branch.

Alabama’s Responsible Vendor Program is a voluntary program for licensees who sell and serve alcohol. To be certified, businesses must train all employees who sell and serve alcoholic beverages on topics such as Alabama alcohol laws, legal age determination, civil and criminal penalties, and mitigation techniques. risks.

“Obviously, I represent a very important area in the restaurant and hospitality world, they want more people to be trained responsibly to become servers,” said Elliott, whose district includes the beaches of the Gulf Coast of Baldwin County. “It’s a good thing for them. This is a good thing for their insurance.

“And so why the ABC board is not moving forward on this, I don’t know. I think they’ll get the message after today.

The contract review program included 60 contracts with a total cost of approximately $80 million.