Representative Marshall Wright
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Recent Meetings
Recent Transcript Excerpts
as important as judges, lawyers, public defenders, and prosecutors. It's not right that these ladies out there are having to worry about their paychecks. I would appreciate a good vote. Hopefully this
Colleagues, I want to thank Representative Hammer for his hard work on this bill. It's not been as easy as it seems, and he's put in a lot of time in on it. I was down here the other day and mentioned you about the bill to fix the payment of our trial court assistance. I just want to come down to remind everybody what hard work they do and how vital they are to the court system as a whole,
In the parole statutes, we noticed that a couple places it said Board of Corrections and said Board of Parole. So it simply should just say Board of Parole. Technical correction. Representative Wright has explained
is very simple. This is to correct some typos.
look, I did it, I violated, I just want to go back as quickly as I can to serve out my time, this allows them to do it. It's already the practice of the Board of Parole. We just want to make sure that it's clear. Appreciate any questions. Representative Wright
Representative Wright, you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, what this bill does is it provides that right now in Arkansas law, when you are on parole and you violate your parole, you're entitled to have a hearing to determine whether or not you have violated your parole. Basically, if you're on parole and you don't comply with the terms of your parole, you don't pass a drug test, you have that right to have a hearing before you go back to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. All this bill does is says that somebody can waive that right, which basically says if somebody says,
The other spouse would move, show up in a new county, and all of a sudden that county, and it filed for divorce, and that county was responsible in paying the cost of transport and housing that inmate. And again, I work with the ADC, and they're fine with this. Thank you.
I've worked with the ADC on this, the Sheriff's Association. I amended some language that the ADC asked me to amend. The ADC also stood by me as I presented this bill in committee, and they are in favor of it. I'm more than happy to take any questions, Mr. Speaker. Representative Clemory, we're on purpose.
this will reduce their cost? Absolutely. And Representative Clemory, I'll tell you where this came up from. And so everybody will know what came up is our county sheriffs found out that a husband and wife would be married in a county and one spouse would go to the Department of Corrections.
All this bill does is clarify that if there is a cause of action in a court of law in the state of Arkansas, If that cause of action derives from a criminal action taking place in that county, the county sheriffs will have to go to the ADC to pick up somebody in the custody of the ADC and transport them back. If the cause of action is derivative of another county in the state of Arkansas, and one of the parties to the cause of action is in custody of the ADC, the ADC will be responsible for the transport of that inmate.
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, members of the House. Very simple bill. If any of you want to go back today and call your county sheriff and your county judge and tell them that you voted for this bill, they will be very, very happy with you.
it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. you're just in time to sign alright is there anybody else here to present a bill anybody else here to present a bill I hear a motion to adjourn all those in favor all those opposed meeting
And we realized for the parole board that it should say, the parole board should promulgate their rules. So it's basically just changing it from Board of Corrections to Parole Board because that's who's doing it now anyway. It's just truly a technical change. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions. I'm sure Mr. Graves would as well. Any questions from
bill is passed. Thank you. Am I recognized to present 1254? Representative Wright, you're recognized to present House Bill 1254. Thank you,
Mr. Chairman. All Bill 1254 does is make some technical corrections to 16-93-207. Right now it reads, the Board of Corrections shall promulgate rules on parole.
All this does is codify this, what we've already been doing, that says that the person can choose to waive that hearing knowingly and intelligently, and they've already been getting that right. We just want to make sure that it's clear that somebody does get that right. I'd hate for it to pop up where somebody says, you know, I want to waive, and they don't allow them. So that's all it does. I'd be happy to take any questions, or I'm sure Mr. Graves would. Any questions from the committee?
and they commit some sort of parole violation, they're entitled to have a hearing to determine if they violated their parole. Also, what they have been doing for years, as long as I've been practicing law, 13 years, they have also been waiving their right that they don't want to have a parole hearing. If the person says, look, I made a mistake, violated my parole, I'll go back and do some time and go from there.
Mr. Chair. I appreciate it. I just want to let everybody know, sitting here to my left is Solomon Grays. He's with the Board of Parole. I have him here to answer any questions on the two bills I'm about to present. First is House Bill 1253 concerning the Waiver of Parole Replication Hearing. All this does is codify and clear up what is already being done. Right now, if somebody is on parole from the Department of Corrections
Got a motion from Representative Slinker. Do pass. All those in favor? All those opposed All right, pass your bill Thank
I'll take any questions anybody might have. Anybody wishing to speak for or against the bill? For or against the bill? Representative Steele, just one comment. It's been a big problem in the 1st District. My sheriffs have contacted me about this, about cell phones in jail for various reasons. Thanks for doing it. All right, what's the pleasure of the committee?
Bills Discussed
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