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Ala. Officials Differ Over Law Enforcement Merger

Daniel Evan Simmons, a 19-year-old student at U-A, has been arrested by the university's police department and charged with making a terrorist threat.
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Daniel Evan Simmons, a 19-year-old student at U-A, has been arrested by the university's police department and charged with making a terrorist threat.

Competing plans are being developed for achieving more efficiency in Alabama's law enforcement operations.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh unveiled legislation Friday that would consolidate and reorganize the state's many law enforcement functions into a new Public Safety Agency. It would include state troopers, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, marine police, the fire marshal and others. It would abolish the state Department of Homeland Security and divide its duties among other agencies.

The governor's office announced that Gov. Robert Bentley will hold a news conference Tuesday to discuss measures providing for greater efficiencies while preserving and protecting the integrity of the state's existing public safety agencies. The governor will also sign an executive order giving state Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier additional duties as senior law enforcement adviser.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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