Senator Jamie Scott

Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs (Senate) — March 31, 2025 (1:47:19)

We're trying to address the issue with delays, and then you could potentially cause more delays. And so I don't see how we're solving a problem. I feel like it might be solving this problem, but you might be creating another problem for another group of constituents who have valid rights and concerns and are paying tax dollars as well. So that's my, that's me speaking. Senator Stone, you've

Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs (Senate) — March 31, 2025 (1:46:48)

Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think I like the framework and the issue we're trying to address. I'm not going to act like I understand all the complexities of what's going on. Some of the issues and concerns I had early on, Senator Dismaine got out of some of the people that spoke. But I think it's a bit overreaching to me that, and a bit excessive, that you could impact my other potential constituents and taxpayers by limiting their projects. So I feel like there's going to be delays.

Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs (Senate) — March 31, 2025 (58:45)

specific example though that you just gave us. - I

Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs (Senate) — March 31, 2025 (58:28)

thank you mr. chair the specific example that you just gave did you talk to senator Bryant about that to try to address that specific concern we

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:36:13)

meaning they weren't abducted, but they are still missing. And so that could fall into kids with disabilities or just young kids. And that's what happened in my district, and that's where this bill comes from. To me, every child deserves to be found, and their families shouldn't feel hopeless so that there's no help. Just because they don't meet the Amber Alert system. And so with that, I would ask you for a good vote. And I'll try to answer any questions if you

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:35:39)

And so they would collaborate with state agencies, school districts, state police, and local law enforcement. And right now that's not being done. And so that's why there's nothing going out statewide. This is what the suggestion was, came with the state police. They drafted this language for me when I went with them to the issue and they looked at what other states were doing. Other states that have something model similar to this is Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. So this bill would hopefully close the gaps when we have children that go missing who don't meet the Amber Alert,

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:35:06)

It's not something that has to be done. It will be similar to a silver alert. So do you know the silver alert that we have for our seniors? So you won't get the jarring alert that goes out for amber alerts. You're not going to get that every time this goes in place. It's going to be similar to an amber alert. The criteria for this notification would be a child has to be under 18. Law enforcement must determine that the child is missing and their whereabouts are unknown. and a child is believed to be in potential danger.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:34:29)

how were they still trying to assist the families in the communities in finding these children? So they sent over something that 18 different states were doing. 18 different states have something in addition to Amber Alert to help assist with missing kids. And so the suggestion that came from the state police was that we create a statewide notification process. And the alert system would notify our local enforcement, our media, and that we would, if needed, display a digital highway sign in your area if a kid is missing.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:33:58)

The current problem that we do have with the Amber Alert is that we have many students in our districts who don't always meet these qualifications. So this issue came up to me last year from a principal, some community leaders, and parents. So annually we have close to 100 kids who go missing all across Arkansas who don't meet the criteria for the Amber Alert. And so I reached out to the state police and I reached out to BLR last summer and I asked them what were other states doing that if their kids didn't meet Amber Alerts,

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:33:52)

for cases where children do not meet the criteria for the Amber Alert.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (1:33:45)

system. Senator Scott, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This bill establishes a standardized missing child alert system in Arkansas

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (29:26)

we are known as Titletown for a reason. So let's congratulate these ladies and show

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (29:09)

Okay, sorry. I'm just making sure that I'm reading it right. That the Senate in the House of Representatives concurring therewithin recognized the North Florida High School Charging Wildcats varsity cheer team for winning the Class 6A championship. I just want to say, in North Little Rock,

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (28:29)

proud of these ladies. This team, the coach, stand-up coach, the coach, has worked, she's quoted for saying that

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (28:38)

her team has worked incredibly hard during the season and won a 6A all-girl divisions with only 11 cheerleaders on the mat, which is a first for a team that have such few members in the 6A Division. So now be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, now the House of Representatives concurring therewithin, is that right?

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (27:53)

Whereas the North Florida Rock High School Charging Wildcats Varsity Cheer Team won Class 6A All-Girls State Championship held on December 20th of 2024. Whereas in addition to winning the state championship, the Charging Wildcats attended four competitions prior to the state championship and placed first in three of the four competitions and placed third in one of the four competitions. Whereas the Charging Wildcats also traveled to Orlando, Florida in a National High School cheerleading championship in February of 2025 and placed eight in a field of 43 teams. We are so

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (27:31)

Thank you, Madam Governor. Colleagues, today I would like to recognize the North Florida Rock High School Charging Wildcats Varsity Cheer Team for winning the

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (27:40)

Class 6A state championship. Would you stand up, ladies? Show your rings.

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (26:44)

Good afternoon, colleagues. Motion to suspend the rules to add Senate Concurrent Resolution 6

Meeting — March 31, 2025 (26:49)

to today's calendar for a third reading. All those in favor of the motion,