This act authorizes oyster aquaculture licensees to harvest, shuck, and serve oysters from the aquaculture facility at no cost for sampling to determine the qualities of the oyster, except as provided by laws and rules to the contrary authorizing the State Board of Health to close oyster harvesting in unsafe waters.

This act amends Sections 9-3-5, 9-3-7, 9-13-3, 9-13-10, 9-13-11, 9-13-12, 9-13-140, 9-13-141, 9-13-142, 9-13-221, 9-13-222, and 9-13-225, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) authorize the State Forester to receive and use annual and sick leave and reimbursement for travel; (2) provide that construction of State Forestry Commission offices or buildings is not be subject to the Division of Construction Management within the Department of Finance unless the cost exceeds $750,000; (3) subject the conveyance of commission lands that are more than $50,000 in value to state laws governing the sale of certain state lands; (4) remove forest law enforcement officers' status, and all associated powers, as constituted peace officers of the state; (5) remove commission employees' right to enter lands to investigate fires; (6) revise the criminal violation of burning without a commission burn permit; (7) replace the State Forester's authority to declare drought emergency conditions with wildfire emergency conditions in counties; and (8) further provide for the seizure and forfeiture of equipment used by persons violating felony state laws involving forest products. This act adds Sections 9-3-5.1 and 9-13-11.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) authorize the State Forester to declare wildfire alerts when weather conditions create a heightened level of danger from fire or smoke; and (2) further provide for the issuance and requirements of commission burn permits to conduct prescribed burns. This act also repeals: (1) Sections 9-13-5, 9-13-6, 9-13-7, 9-13-8, and 9-13-9, Code of Alabama 1975, which provided for the appointment, duties, and compensation of forest fire wardens; (2) Sections 9-13-13, 9-13-14, and 9-13-15, Code of Alabama 1975, which prohibited certain conduct to prevent the spread of fire; and (3) Sections 9-13-24, 9-13-64, 9-13-223, and 9-13-226, Code of Alabama 1975, which established the powers and duties of commission employees, fees for arresting officers, and procedures for reporting and awarding property after timber theft.

This act adds Section 13A-7-94.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the Department of Corrections to take reasonable and necessary measures against unmanned aircraft systems operating unlawfully near corrections facilities.