By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery AL – More new laws have been signed by Governor Bob Riley. One new law prevents a person's Social Security number from appearing on a public document without their permission. If a person does not give consent, the state must remove it or cover it before the item is made public. The law does contain exceptions for certain documents ... including liens and judgment records, such as convictions and bankruptcy filings. The change is intended to make it harder to steal a person's identity. Another new law requires that pets adopted from animal shelters and humane societies must be spayed or neutered. The requirement takes effect on July first, and is aimed at controlling the number of unwanted animals. Many shelters already require people to sign an agreement at the time of adoption to have their animal spayed or neutered. Governor Riley has also signed into law legislation that establishes a process to pardon hundreds of people arrested for violating segregation-era laws. Those arrested or family members of those deceased would have to request the pardons under the bill, which was named the Rosa Parks Act. The legislation passed during the final hours of the 2006 regular session of the Legislature.