Representative Cindy Crawford

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (32:08)

court proceeding related to the consideration. Can you, um, elaborate on that? MR. Yes, Representative

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (31:37)

through things really fast. Uh, in my world, if we're going to oversee these, we need to know what we're looking at. So it took me a while, but while Senator Clark was there, I went back to the termination of pregnancy. I want to make sure I understand this. Um, let's look at, um, where it says DHS may be involved in any court proceedings.

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (24:53)

Have you guys done something to help that to where it can be done quicker? Yes,

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (24:31)

changes? No, sir. Representative Crawford? Thank you. On page five of Exhibit D, it talks about the prospective staff member may not begin to work until they receive back from the Arkansas State Police. That can take up to 30 days.

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (14:38)

it really upset all of Fort Smith when that was happening. I just wanted to follow up. I won't take any more time.

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (14:20)

just touched on it, what I was after. The federal funding stopped if it were house parents.

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (13:44)

well. Okay. What changed that? Was it the pass? Was it the funding? No, ma'am. No,

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (12:47)

what changed in the regulations? Something changed. Are you referring

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (11:49)

have changed to where, like the Young's Children's Home in Fort Smith, they had to change their host staffing to where they couldn't use house parents, that they had to use staff people. That's what some of my constituents have told me. Is that correct?

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (11:39)

next quarter. Okay. Thank you. Representative Crawford, you recognize? Thank you, Mr. Chair. My

Children & Youth Committee - Senate & Aging, Children & Youth, & Legislative Affairs- House — Dec. 10, 2019 (11:45)

question was the same. However, I do know that laws, regulations

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:07:41)

by different people because it is not specifically defined in the amendment. Okay. Thank you.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:07:31)

So I think that's an inconsistency there in the particular way that the bill is drafted. But those are examples, I believe, of standing. And again, it could be interpreted, I think, different ways

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:06:58)

them through the process. You could then possibly have three different attorneys in a situation that could be interpreted that way. It certainly could be interpreted to give someone the opportunity to bring a cause of action against somebody that isn't doing what they want them to do in terms of enforcing their rights here. It does talk about a section where it won't interfere with the prosecuting attorney's duties and responsibilities that the prosecuting attorney has under the law. But further down in the amendment, it talks about being able to compel that action.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:06:34)

attorney. So what does it mean when you guys are concerned about standing? Well, again,

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:06:28)

Follow-up, please. You're recognized. Help me understand standing. I'm not an

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:06:40)

many different versions of a Marcy's Law or a constitutional amendment exist, and they vary on what different levels of standing. Again, as I've said, I don't believe standing is defined in this bill enough to be very, very clear about that. That standing could certainly be interpreted to give somebody an attorney that would represent

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:05:58)

So we're certainly not opposed, you know, to looking at situations that might not be addressed. But those are very much two situations, I think Representative Brown said, that are different in the bill. The standing issue, like I said, as you heard from many of the prosecutors, is very problematic. You know, what does that actually mean? It's interpreted by many different people as many different things. And it is not defined in that constitutional amendment. Again, we believe that the better way to address some of these things is with a statute. I hope that answers your question.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:05:25)

front of me I know there are differences certainly the the issue of standing is one of those, and I believe Representative Brown was correct, and that this 1009 does extend those rights to different crimes than 1020 did. I will point out to the committee that that was amended. Our victim notification rights and the crimes that are affected by those statutes were amended with our Protect Arkansas Act. So you all did extend some crimes to our duties for notification in the Protect Arkansas Act.

State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs (House) — April 2, 2025 (2:04:53)

ones articulated in in our letter we oppose this bill and I hope that answers some of your questions again I wanted to be brief I'll be happy to try to answer anything if you have them there are a couple of other elected prosecutors here to address questions