| Tom Butler | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Alabama Senate from the 2nd district |
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| In office 1995 - 2010 |
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| Succeeded by | Bill Holtzclaw (R)[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1944 Huntsville, Alabama |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Karen |
| Profession | pharmacist and Medicare Health Plan manager |
| Religion | Baptist |
Tom Butler was a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, he represented the 2nd District from 1995 until 2010. Senate District 2 is one of the fastest growing regions of the state and encompasses most of Limestone County and western Madison County. It includes the cities of Athens, Huntsville and Madison. Senator Butler also served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 1982 through 1994.
A graduate of the University of Alabama and Auburn University, he is a pharmacist and health underwriter. He is a member of Optimist International, the North Alabama Health Underwriters Association, and the Alabama Pharmaceutical Association.
Senator Butler was an early enthusiastic supporter of making Automated External heart Defibrillators (AEDs) widely available in Alabama. He sponsored legislation that put AEDs in every public school in Alabama. He served on the Board of the Lord Wedgewood Charity in Birmingham, Alabama working to raise money to place AEDs in private schools in the state. He also sponsored the Automated External Defibrillator Act which allowed Defibrillators in public and private buildings in the state, provided for training and placement of AEDs in volunteer fire departments and most municipal fire departments across the state. He also proposed and helped pass an amendment to the Code of Alabama to protect anyone using a defibrillator in good faith to aid another citizen from lawsuits.
Senator Butler sponsored the legislation to establish the Citizenship Trust and American Village at Montevallo, Alabama with the mission "...to strengthen and renew the foundations of American liberty and self-government through citizenship education." Senator Butler serves on the Board of Directors for Citizenship Trust / American Village and was the Board Chair for 12 years.
At the request of residents and local business and political leaders Senator Tom Butler sponsored the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act. The primary purpose of the legislation was to prohibit nude dancing in Alabama. The legislation also made it is illegal in the state of Alabama to "distribute any obscene material or any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." Violators risk a $ 10.000 fine and a one-year jail sentence.
Senator Butler sponsored and helped pass the Dixon-Butler Permanent Contract Review Act. This legislation created a Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee to review certain state contracts. This was legislation was praised as tool for ensuring ethical standards were upheld in state contracts issued by the Administrative branch. Senator Butler served as chair and vice chair of this oversight committee.
As a supporter of veterans' issues, Senator Butler Sponsored legislation that resulted in the building of two State Veteran's Nursing Homes (in Huntsville and Bay Minette). His efforts were instrumental in building and funding the Veterans Memorial in Birmingham, the Veteran's Museum and Archives in Athens, the establishment of the Veteran's Living Legacy at the American Village at Montevallo and the creation of Alabama's Veteran's Assistance Fund.
Senator Butler authored and worked to pass the legislation that allowed the city of Madison, Alabama to establish its own school system. This school system has become one of the finest school systems in the state with some of its individual schools receiving national attention.
During his distinguished career Senator Butler served on numerous committees in the Alabama State House and State Senate. The following are some of the more recent committee assignments:
* Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Alabama Senate * Children, Youth Affairs, and Human Resources Committee, Alabama Senate Chairperson * Commerce, Transportation, and Utilities Committee, Alabama Senate * Finance and Taxation Education Committee, Alabama Senate * Finance and Taxation General Fund, Alabama Senate * Health Committee, Alabama Senate Deputy Chairperson * Local Legislation No. 1 Committee, Alabama Senate * Industrial Development and Recruitment Committee, Alabama Senate * Rules Committee, Alabama Senate