Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (77)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1964
Act 1065
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB 1964 TO REGULATE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AGREEMENTS.”
|
TO REGULATE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AGREEMENTS. | Gonzales | Notification that HB1964 is now Act 1065 |
|
HB1700
Act 1040
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1700 Wooten Cheatham TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO I…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INFORM AN EDUCATIONAL ENTITY TO WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL … | Wooten | Notification that HB1700 is now Act 1040 |
|
HB1810
Act 1047
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1810 Penzo Ballinger TO PROVIDE FOR QUALIFIED SPOUSAL TRUSTS IN…”
|
TO PROVIDE FOR QUALIFIED SPOUSAL TRUSTS IN ARKANSAS. | Penzo | Notification that HB1810 is now Act 1047 |
|
HB1811
Act 1048
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1811 Maddox B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES ON PUBLIC STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. | Maddox | Notification that HB1811 is now Act 1048 |
|
HB1944
Act 1061
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1944 S. Meeks Elliott CONCERNING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.”
|
CONCERNING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY. | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1944 is now Act 1061 |
|
HB1963
Act 1064
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1963 Gazaway Eads CONCERNING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDI…”
|
CONCERNING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE; TO CREATE A SCHOOL … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1963 is now Act 1064 |
|
HB1970
Act 1069
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1970 S. Meeks B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION NETWORK OF ARKANSAS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1970 is now Act 1069 |
|
HB1979
Act 1070
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1979 Richmond Wallace TO AMEND THE LAW DESIGNATING THE "GOLD STA…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW DESIGNATING THE "GOLD STAR FAMILIES HIGHWAY". | Richmond | Notification that HB1979 is now Act 1070 |
|
HB1385
Act 983
· 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “HB 1385”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW TO CREATE A DEFINITION OF "SCHOOLHOUSE" WITH REGARD TO BUSINESSES REGULATED … | J. Mayberry | Notification that HB1385 is now Act 983 |
|
HB1691
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1691 M. Gray Irvin TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISA…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO … | M. Gray | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1820
Act 1051
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB 1820 CONCERNING FIREARMS; CONCERNING FIREARM NOISE SUPPRESSORS A…”
|
CONCERNING FIREARMS; CONCERNING FIREARM NOISE SUPPRESSORS AND MACHINE GUNS; AND CONCERNING COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL … | Gonzales | Notification that HB1820 is now Act 1051 |
|
HB1985
Act 1073
· 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “HB1985 A. Davis Dismang TO PROMOTE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND…”
|
TO PROMOTE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO AMEND THE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND … | A. Davis | Notification that HB1985 is now Act 1073 |
|
SB592
Act 996
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB 592 #1 Elliot”
|
TO AMEND THE PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 1995; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Elliott | Notification that SB592 is now Act 996 |
|
SB668
· 2 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…Thank you, Mr. Governor. I'd like to make a motion to pull Senate Bill 668 from the calendar for consideration today and”
|
CONCERNING A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS CLASSIFIED AS BEING IN NEED OF LEVEL 5 … | K. Hammer | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SR30
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SR30 T. Garner TO CONDEMN THE POLICIES OF PRESIDENT NICOLÁS MADU…”
|
TO CONDEMN THE POLICIES OF PRESIDENT NICOLÁS MADURO OF VENEZUELA AND TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE … | T. Garner | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1106
Act 1005
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1106 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - R…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - REVENUE SERVICES DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1106 is now Act 1005 |
|
HB1109
Act 1006
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1109 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - D…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1109 is now Act 1006 |
|
HB1130
Act 1007
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1130 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS STATE POLICE APPROPRI…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS STATE POLICE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1130 is now Act 1007 |
|
HB1197
Act 1008
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1197 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR T…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1197 is now Act 1008 |
|
HB1200
Act 1009
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1200 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES-…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES-REYNOLDS CENTER ON AGING, BOOZMAN COLLEGE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1200 is now Act 1009 |
|
HB1433
Act 951
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1433 Rushing Hammer TO AUTHORIZE INDIVIDUALS WITH PRIOR DRUG-REL…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE INDIVIDUALS WITH PRIOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT … | Rushing | Notification that HB1433 is now Act 951 |
|
HB1557
Act 1034
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1557 House Cooper TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION FROM THE FREEDOM OF INF…”
|
TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION FROM THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO EXEMPT … | House | Notification that HB1557 is now Act 1034 |
|
HB1619
Act 1015
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Calendar. Committee on Transportation to whom was deferred House Bill 1619 by Representative Hodges, recommend do pass.”
|
TO CREATE THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED SCOOTER ACT. | G. Hodges | Notification that HB1619 is now Act 1015 |
|
HB1664
Act 1036
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1664 Crawford Ballinger TO ESTABLISH THE LIFE CHOICES LIFELINE P…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE LIFE CHOICES LIFELINE PROGRAM. | Crawford | Notification that HB1664 is now Act 1036 |
|
HB1698
Act 1039
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1698 Della Rosa Cooper TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE FILING AN…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE FILING AND PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS; AND … | Della Rosa | Notification that HB1698 is now Act 1039 |
|
HB1710
Act 1041
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB 1710 TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE ON TRANSPORTATION OF NONEMERGENCY…”
|
TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE ON TRANSPORTATION OF NONEMERGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS. | Perry | Notification that HB1710 is now Act 1041 |
|
HB1712
Act 1042
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1712 Wardlaw Irvin TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THAT INFORMATION…”
|
TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THAT INFORMATION OBTAINED ON HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES BE CONFIDENTIAL. | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1712 is now Act 1042 |
|
HB1731
Act 1043
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1731 G. Hodges Stubblefield TO REQUIRE COOPERATION BETWEEN CERTA…”
|
TO REQUIRE COOPERATION BETWEEN CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. | G. Hodges | Notification that HB1731 is now Act 1043 |
|
HB1782
Act 1044
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1782 Capp Bond CONCERNING COURT COSTS AND FEES FOR SPECIALTY COU…”
|
CONCERNING COURT COSTS AND FEES FOR SPECIALTY COURT IN THE STATE'S DISTRICT COURTS. | Capp | Notification that HB1782 is now Act 1044 |
|
HB1803
Act 1045
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1803 F. Allen Irvin TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH. | F. Allen | Notification that HB1803 is now Act 1045 |
|
HB1809
Act 1046
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1809 Love Clark TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL TERM OF IMPRISONMENT FOR…”
|
TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL TERM OF IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENSES THAT CONSTITUTE SERIOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE … | Love | Notification that HB1809 is now Act 1046 |
|
HB1814
Act 1049
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1814 Rushing Cooper CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF HARASSING COMMUNIC…”
|
CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF HARASSING COMMUNICATIONS. | Rushing | Notification that HB1814 is now Act 1049 |
|
HB1817
Act 1050
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1817 Capp Stubblefield TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING NATIVE WINE IN…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING NATIVE WINE INCENTIVE GRANTS; TO AMEND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF … | Capp | Notification that HB1817 is now Act 1050 |
|
HB1839
Act 1053
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1839 L. Johnson Rapert TO ESTABLISH THE PREPAID MOBILE DEVICE PR…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE PREPAID MOBILE DEVICE PROTECTION ACT. | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1839 is now Act 1053 |
|
HB1842
Act 1054
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1842 Pilkington Dismang TO STREAMLINE THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS FOR…”
|
TO STREAMLINE THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE … | Pilkington | Notification that HB1842 is now Act 1054 |
|
HB1850
Act 1055
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1850 Mccollum Hester TO ESTABLISH THE EMPOWER INDEPENDENT CONTRA…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE EMPOWER INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ACT OF 2019; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF THE LAW … | McCollum | Notification that HB1850 is now Act 1055 |
|
HB1856
Act 1057
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1856 Dotson Ballinger TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM CONSENTING…”
|
TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM CONSENTING OR APPROVING THE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL … | Dotson | Notification that HB1856 is now Act 1057 |
|
HB1866
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1866 Petty Hammer CONCERNING EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, PARDON, AND COM…”
|
CONCERNING EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, PARDON, AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. | Petty | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1878
Act 1058
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1878 Della Rosa Cooper TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN CAMPA…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN CAMPAIGN SIGNS AND LITERATURE; AND TO REQUIRE TRANSPARENCY BY … | Della Rosa | Notification that HB1878 is now Act 1058 |
|
HB19
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “to 0 and House bill 19 what does that say 65 or 85 85 was 96 to 0 okay a couple th…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1913
Act 1059
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1913 Bentley Flippo TO AMEND THE LONG-TERM CARE AIDE TRAINING AC…”
|
TO AMEND THE LONG-TERM CARE AIDE TRAINING ACT; AND TO SPECIFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR LONG-TERM … | Bentley | Notification that HB1913 is now Act 1059 |
|
HB1915
Act 1060
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1915 Womack Wallace TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING OPEN BURNING OF…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING OPEN BURNING OF VEGETATIVE STORM DEBRIS. | Womack | Notification that HB1915 is now Act 1060 |
|
HB1928
Act 1028
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1928 V. Flowers Elliott TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO REQUIRE ALL OPEN PUBLIC … | V. Flowers | Notification that HB1928 is now Act 1028 |
|
HB1933
Act 1029
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1933 Gazaway Dismang TO AMEND THE ANTI-BULLYING POLICY; TO REQUI…”
|
TO AMEND THE ANTI-BULLYING POLICY; TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1933 is now Act 1029 |
|
HB1947
Act 1031
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1947 Fortner Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EYESIGHT TEST RE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EYESIGHT TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE. | Fortner | Notification that HB1947 is now Act 1031 |
|
HB1950
Act 1062
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1950 Glover Cheatham TO ESTABLISH JOHN H. JOHNSON DAY AS A MEMOR…”
|
TO ESTABLISH JOHN H. JOHNSON DAY AS A MEMORIAL DAY. | Glover | Notification that HB1950 is now Act 1062 |
|
HB1956
Act 1063
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1956 Watson Pitsch TO PROVIDE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS…”
|
TO PROVIDE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR A NONCONSENT TOWING ROTATION SYSTEM FOR HEAVY-DUTY MOTOR … | Watson | Notification that HB1956 is now Act 1063 |
|
HB1965
Act 1066
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1965 V. Flowers Cheatham TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS DELTA MUSIC TRAI…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS DELTA MUSIC TRAIL ACT; TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES … | V. Flowers | Notification that HB1965 is now Act 1066 |
|
HB1967
Act 1067
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1967 Watson Irvin TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE RESOURC…”
|
TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE RESOURCE ACT. | Watson | Notification that HB1967 is now Act 1067 |
|
HB1968
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1968 D. Ferguson Ingram TO AMEND AN EXEMPTION TO THE ARKANSAS CL…”
|
TO AMEND AN EXEMPTION TO THE ARKANSAS CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT OF 2006. | D. Ferguson | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1969
Act 1068
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1969 Wardlaw Wallace TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING ARKANSAS'S…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING ARKANSAS'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL COLLECTION. | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1969 is now Act 1068 |
|
HB1982
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1982 #1 G. Hodges B. Davis TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED S…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED SCOOTER ACT. | G. Hodges | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1984
Act 1072
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1984 Perry Cooper TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION AND THE ARK…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION AND THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING CERTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. | Perry | Notification that HB1984 is now Act 1072 |
|
SB122
Act 986
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB122 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB122 is now Act 986 |
|
SB183
Act 987
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB183 #1 A. Clark TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS FR…”
|
TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS FROM HOLDING A POSITION OF PUBLIC TRUST. | A. Clark | Notification that SB183 is now Act 987 |
|
SB240
Act 988
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB240 #2 D. Wallace CONCERNING THE REEMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN RETIRE…”
|
CONCERNING THE REEMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT … | D. Wallace | Notification that SB240 is now Act 988 |
|
SB440
Act 989
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB440 #1 Bledsoe TO BAN USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN FOOD AND DRIN…”
|
TO BAN USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN FOOD AND DRINK EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. | Bledsoe | Notification that SB440 is now Act 989 |
|
SB451
Act 990
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB451 #1 J. Cooper TO AMEND THE LAWS REGARDING CRIMINAL BACKGROUN…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAWS REGARDING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS TO OBTAIN CONSISTENCY … | J. Cooper | Notification that SB451 is now Act 990 |
|
SB460
Act 991
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB460 #1 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "FERAL HOG"; TO AME…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "FERAL HOG"; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE RELEASE OF … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB460 is now Act 991 |
|
SB463
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB463 M. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVES AND REFE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING, REGISTRATION, … | M. Johnson | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB493
Act 992
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB493 #1 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSE R…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT FEES. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB493 is now Act 992 |
|
SB499
Act 993
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB499 #1 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MILITARY SERVICE A…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MILITARY SERVICE AND VETERANS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES; AND TO AUTHORIZE … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB499 is now Act 993 |
|
SB522
Act 1079
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “sir. Will your Committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 522 by Senator English recommend due pass to concur in House Am…”
|
TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM; TO COORDINATE VARIOUS WORKFORCE PROGRAMS; TO AMEND … | J. English | Notification that SB522 is now Act 1079 |
|
SB535
Act 1080
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o. 1? Calendar. Committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 535 by Senator Blake Johnson recommend due pass to concur in Ho…”
|
TO REVISE THE METHOD BY WHICH THE ACADEMIC FACILITIES WEALTH INDEX IS CALCULATED. | B. Johnson | Notification that SB535 is now Act 1080 |
|
SB544
Act 995
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB544 #1 Irvin TO ESTABLISH PREJUDGMENT AND POST-JUDGMENT INTERES…”
|
TO ESTABLISH PREJUDGMENT AND POST-JUDGMENT INTEREST RATES. | Irvin | Notification that SB544 is now Act 995 |
|
SB595
Act 997
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB595 AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MONIES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAINY DA…”
|
AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MONIES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAINY DAY FUND; AND … | Teague | Notification that SB595 is now Act 997 |
|
SB597
Act 998
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB597 TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN E…”
|
TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB597 is now Act 998 |
|
SB603
Act 1082
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o. 1? Calendar. Committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 603 by Senator Clark”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO CERTAIN PUBLIC … | A. Clark | Notification that SB603 is now Act 1082 |
|
SB612
Act 1000
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB612 #1 J. Cooper CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF UNLAWFUL USE OF AN U…”
|
CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF UNLAWFUL USE OF AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM; TO AMEND THE DEFINITION … | J. Cooper | Notification that SB612 is now Act 1000 |
|
SB632
Act 1085
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Calendar. Committee on Transportation to whom was referred Senate Bill 632 by Senator English, recommend do pass to concurrent House A…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A CYBER ALLIANCE IN ORDER TO … | J. English | Notification that SB632 is now Act 1085 |
|
SB646
Act 1001
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB646 #1 G. Leding CONCERNING CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED RECORDS…”
|
CONCERNING CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED RECORDS OF THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY. | G. Leding | Notification that SB646 is now Act 1001 |
|
SB658
Act 1003
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB658 #1 Hester CONCERNING CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, PROSECUTING ATTO…”
|
CONCERNING CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, AND THE JUDICIARY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Hester | Notification that SB658 is now Act 1003 |
|
SB665
Act 1004
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB 665 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMENDMENT OF 2016;…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMENDMENT OF 2016; TO ADD A FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS … | T. Garner | Notification that SB665 is now Act 1004 |
|
SB84
Act 984
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB84 #1 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PERMANENCY GOALS THA…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PERMANENCY GOALS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT AT A … | A. Clark | Notification that SB84 is now Act 984 |
|
SB85
Act 985
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB85 #1 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SERVICE OF A PETITI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SERVICE OF A PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS. | A. Clark | Notification that SB85 is now Act 985 |
|
SR43
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR43 Maloch TO COMMEND THE WORK OF FAMILIES AGAINST DISTRACTIVE…”
|
TO COMMEND THE WORK OF FAMILIES AGAINST DISTRACTIVE DRIVING. | Maloch | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SR44
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR44 B. Ballinger TO SUPPORT A SCENIC GONDOLA INSTALLATION AT BL…”
|
TO SUPPORT A SCENIC GONDOLA INSTALLATION AT BLACK MOUNTAIN ON THE MULBERRY RIVER. | B. Ballinger | Sine Die adjournment |
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Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting,
Speaker 5
7:07
Mallett, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubbleville, Sturge, Teague, Wallace.
Everyone please rise, including those in the gallery. Senator Hester will lead us in word prayer. Pray with me. Dear
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
7:22
Heavenly Father, we love you. Father, we pray that you'll be with us today as we make decisions that affect so many. We've got a long calendar. I pray that we'll be mindful of your guidance as we speak to each other, as we respond, as we act the way we speak and all that we do. I pray that we'll honor you with all these things today. Amen.
Speaker 11
7:42
Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
Speaker 12
7:47
to the republic for which it stands. one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
Chair
Unverified
7:56
all. Senator Hendren is recognized for an announcement. Okay, members,
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
8:02
a couple things. First one is
get your calendar out. The last page is the only one that we'll be batching.
The other ones, we've already pulled the batch bills out in the previous days. so on the last page the bills that are considered for batch are house bill 1700 house bill 1810 house bill 1811 the counts were 94 to nothing 81 to 0 87 to 0 then house bill 1944 was 92 to 0 House bill 1963 was 87 to 1 House bill 1970 was 89 to 0 House bill 1979 was 90
to 0 and House bill 19 what does that say 65 or 85 85 was 96 to 0 okay a couple things and again we'll go over that again and make the motion after you've had a chance to look at them. We've got, if you had a committee meeting this morning and a House bill has a Senate amendment on it, you need to make sure that we have a chance to get that back. The plan is to adjourn tomorrow and come back on the 24th for sine die, assuming
that we don't have any, you know, derailings today. So again, Chairman especially, look at the stuff that's in your committee. If there's something that needs to go to the other end, it would be good to get it off our floor today so that we can get down there for them to consider tomorrow I and while we're speaking of that there was one bill that was admitted from the calendar I've talked to many of you House Bill 1820 Senator Ballinger is going to be handling that bill it was signed out of City County it was submitted for the calendar but they get added so what I'd like to do is make a motion to suspend the rules to put House
Bill 1820 at the end of the House bills are prior to the batch for for a consideration today that's a motion you've
Speaker 23
10:03
heard the motion any questions any objections motion is carried without objection okay and again if you have
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
10:10
a bill that's not on the calendar that needs
to be considered make sure that you've got today we're going to go into session tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock with the idea of being done by noon again depend on how things go as you all as you
see the calendar today, we've got several Senate bills to concur with House amendments. As I asked you all yesterday, make sure that you give an explanation of what the House amendment did and those of you make sure that you realize that you've got 15 bills or so that this concurring with the House amendment is also approving the bill. So if you voted against it last time, you want to be sure that you may want to vote against it this time on the on the passage. We only have a couple Senate bills. The first two pages of House bills again the reason there's no batches there is because those are
left over from previous days and we've already pulled the batchable bills out okay so we've got a fairly long calendar hopefully we'll go through this smoothly you've got a bill that doesn't require a whole lot of explanation don't make a whole lot of explanation and hopefully we
can get done about too awful long a
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
11:15
day thank you Senator Urban is recognized yes House Bill 1691 That we're going to pass over, House Bill 1691. That is per request of the sponsor. Is that page three?
Speaker 32
11:26
It's on the third one. Page three. Third one on
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
11:29
page three. Yes. That was supposed to not have been on the calendar. We're passing it over at the request of the sponsor. For the request
Speaker 35
11:42
of the sponsor. Thank you. Okay. Any announcements? Senator Malek. Thank you, Governor. members if you have a folder at your desk that has any appointments by the governor in it if you would please review those and get that folder back to ann if and if there are no objections
on any of them we're we're not planning to have a rules committee meeting on them we've been requesting these for a few days and we just got them and so that that is short notice but there's not very many we will consider these for approval or for confirmation tomorrow so if you have a folder review those get that back to ann if you do have a problem with any of the appointments we can schedule a meeting uh prior to going in at 10 in the morning to the rules committee but if there's no objections we do not plan to have a rules committee meeting and we'll
just uh move to confirm them tomorrow but please review those get them back to ann thank you Any other announcements?
Do you have an announcement? Okay, just one second.
Speaker 42
12:51
Okay. Okay. Let's wait on Ann to get back. We don't
Speaker 32
12:56
have any more announcements. She wanted to make a motion.
Anybody who wants to make a motion right now can come on
Speaker 23
13:05
down. Line up, because I know, Senator Hammer, are you interested in a motion as well? Okay, Senator
Chair
Unverified
13:15
Chesterfield has a motion. Senator Chesterfield is recognized for a
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
13:20
motion. Yes, sir, Mr. Chair. I move that House Bill 1964 be read across the desk and put at the bottom of the calendar for consideration today. 1964.
Speaker 45
13:31
Could you tell us a little bit about which bill that is?
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
13:35
House Bill 1964 is by Representative Gonzalez. It's an act to regulate durable medical equipment agreements. And one of the things that we find is they have all of these advertisements for medical supplies, and then they find out later that the medical companies won't pay for it. And so this is an AG's bill, and so what we're trying to do is to make sure that those people have some recourse from being manipulated into buying
Speaker 23
14:05
an insurance and commerce it is out of insurance and commerce right this morning today no okay no opposition any questions on the motion any objection without a objection the motions carried okay senator hammer you
have a motion Thank you, Mr. Governor. I'd like to make a motion to pull Senate Bill 668 from the calendar for consideration today and
Speaker 23
14:32
send it to interim study. Any questions? Any objections?
Without objection, the motion is carried. Okay. Are there any items to read across the desk, Madam Secretary? Yes,
sir. Will your Committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 522 by Senator English recommend due pass to concur in House Amendment No. 1? Calendar. Committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 535 by Senator Blake Johnson recommend due pass to concur in House Amendment No. 1? Calendar. Committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 603 by Senator Clark
recommend due pass to concur in House Amendment No. 1? Calendar. Will your Committee on Insurance and Commerce to whom was referred Senate Bill 592 by Senator Elliott recommend do pass to concurrent amendment number one. Calendar. Committee on Insurance and Commerce to whom was deferred House Bill 1964 by Representative Gonzales, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Transportation to whom was referred Senate Bill 632 by Senator English, recommend do pass to concurrent House Amendment number one. Calendar. Committee on Transportation to whom was deferred House Bill 1619 by Representative Hodges, recommend do pass.
Speaker 32
15:44
Calendar. Audio is not. Senator Bond is having problems with his audio. Anybody else having audio problems? You are as well? Okay. We'll get that looked at. everybody speak louder than normal we're going old school why not senator are you
ready to begin with resolutions for Senator Garner
Senator Trent Garner Senate resolution 30 by Senator Garner to commend the policies of president Nicholas Maduro of
Speaker 82
16:39
Venezuela and to support the people of Venezuela. Senator Garner. Good afternoon. I draft
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
16:45
this resolution because I firmly believe that the socialist policies of Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro, whose regime is being supported by some within this country,
are antithetical to the principle upon which this nation and this state was founded. It is critical for this body to declare a position against these policies. While Venezuela was formerly one of the richest nations in Latin America, its economy is in shambles and its citizens are suffering. The country's inflation rate currently sits at 80,000% per year.
And one out of every three Venezuelans can't find a job. Many within the country have been forced to resort to eating zoo animals and dogs off the street in order to survive. Even for those Venezuelans who are fortunate enough to find a job, they are in a dire situation. The nation's health care system has failed them.
The infant mortality rate is worse today than when Hugo Chavez took over in 1998, and there are currently over a half a million cases of malaria. That country had eradicated malaria in 1961. It is truly an economic and humanitarian crisis, and it should come to no surprise to this body that thousands of Venezuelans are fleeing from that country every single day.
Let there be no doubt that the tragic state of things in Venezuela is directly attributed to the socialist policies of Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. Both Chavez and Maduro continue to nationalize Venezuela's oil industries and use revenue gain from the oil production to export exportation to fund failed social programs rather than to develop and discover new oil fields and develop industries that could help the people. These policies inevitably caused the
decline in oil production and contributed to the hyperinflation that currently infects Venezuela's economy. Moreover, the increase in government control in private industries in Venezuela perpetrated a pattern of government corruption that Hugo Chavez swore he would thwart. There's a lesson to learn in Venezuela. The government should operate to allow its citizens to pursue economic and business
industries on their own without the control of an overreaching and overarching government. this is why i sponsored this resolution it is important for this
body to say to the people of venezuela we understand their suffering and that we will do everything we can to end it
let us be resolved in our stance for the rights of arkansans to freely operate their businesses does not ignore the problems of venezuela as too remote or too outside of the norm that they can't
come to our shore especially with some of the national discussion around certain social policies We could easily find ourselves seduced by the same folly of ideas that led to this road of destruction in Venezuela. With that, I'll be happy to take any questions.
Speaker 91
20:32
Any questions for the senator? Anyone wish to speak on this? Senator
Speaker 93
20:44
Chesterfield. for again just on it she's just gonna honor thank you mr. chair for letting me
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
20:51
just on it I to worry about the people of Venezuela as I do about the citizens of the world because we do have some responsibility to those individuals but I'm wondering why Venezuela we have in Puerto Rico with 3,000 people who have died. We don't have
a resolution about that. And those are American citizens. We have a dictator in North Korea named Kim Jong-un, who has the capability of reaching this country
with nuclear weapons. We had an American resident shopped
into bits in Saudi Arabia, and yet we say nothing about it. But here we are in the middle of somebody else's business. We've had our own civil war. And in that civil war, one of the things that we worked so hard for was to keep France and England out of it and allowing us to resolve it ourselves. That's what independent
nations do. They fuss, and they fight.
And it is ultimately up to them to come together. Do I worry about the people suffering? Indeed I do. And I will not be angered or anything else if this passes. But I say to you, sometimes we need to pick what we're doing. And we need to try to fix what's here. This nation, too, to some extent, is in disarray. We still have
racial tensions in this country. We still have economic disunity in this country, and yet we're talking about Venezuela. Do what you will on the bill. I don't have as long a speech because I don't have a
speech writer. All I can do is speak from the heart and say it's about time we started doing something about the citizens of America and creating some resolutions about how this state will meet its own obligations rather than going into other countries' nation-building.
Speaker 101
23:08
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good or hindrance. Good consideration, both of you. We have a motion for immediate consideration. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. I have it. All in favor say aye. Aye. No. I have it. Resolution is adopted, Senator Ballinger.
Senator resolution 44 by Senator Ballinger to support a scenic gondola installation at Black Mountain on the Mulberry River. Senator Ballinger. Thank you, Mr. President. This is
Speaker 111
23:51
something that's actually like a really big deal for our district. It's something that started by a vision of really one guy, but then the communities come together. And so if you know the Pig Trail, that's Highway 23 going up north, where it hits Malbury, the Malbury River, that right there is where Turner Bend exists.
And there's a gentleman that would like to actually do a gondola and kind of an old, a whole recreational project right there at Turner Bend that would go to the top of Black Rock Mountain, which would enable people to go and experience it. And for this little area, this rural community, that would be huge economically. They're running into a little bit of trouble with the Forestry Department or the Department of Forestry because it doesn't fit into their plan. And so they're trying to do some modifications. One of the things they thought that could help is if the state Senate said they were on board with it.
So that's what this is about. so
Speaker 101
24:45
I'd appreciate a good vote. Any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Vote. Unanimity. Perfect. Senator Malek. Senator Resolution
work of families against distracted driving. Senator Malek is recognized. Thank you, Governor. I'd
Speaker 35
25:07
like to ask Senator Flippo if he would join me at the well Also, I'd ask Lee for Michelle Payden,
some of the folks that have worked hard on some of the distracted driving bills that we've had, if we'd have Lee for them to be able to stay in the chamber for a moment. Senator Flippo, would you join on this side? Before I read the resolution, Michelle Payden is from Magnolia. Michelle's right here, but she lives in Mountain Home, so she's in Senator Flippo's district now. uh michelle's nephew was injured a number of years ago in a serious car accident uh actually near property that our lieutenant governor's family used to own right across from columbia
christian school and the accident was because of distracted driving i think the driver looked down uh to text or to read something and had an accident uh her nephew was on the swim team he was really a star on the swim team and now he's paralyzed uh but anyway the michelle's done great work, and I'm just going to read quickly through the resolution. Whereas Ms. Michelle Payton, who grew up in Magnolia, Arkansas, is co-founder and president of Families Against Distractive Driving, also known as FAD. She serves on the Coalition for Safer Teen Driving Board
at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, and participated in the act to end deadly distractions second roundtable at the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C. in April of 2017. And whereas FAD was started in honor of Ms. Payton's nephew, Grant Pyle, who is a victim of distracted driving. And due to the driver of the car Grant was riding in, having been distracted by his phone, Grant is a quadriplegic and depends on a wheelchair for mobility. And whereas since July 2014, Ms. Payton has been spreading awareness
about the dangers of distracted driving at schools, civic clubs, and community events throughout Arkansas, During the 2015, 17, and 19 legislative sessions, she testified and worked with legislators to strengthen the distracted driving laws in Arkansas, and she is truly committed to FAD's mission of saving lives, preventing serious injuries, and making our Arkansas roadways safer. And whereas Ms. Payton and her husband Matt have one daughter Mackenzie, and they live in Mountain Home, Arkansas, now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the 92nd General
Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the Senate commends the work of Ms. Michelle Payton and families against distracted driving be it further resolved that upon adoption of this resolution a copy shall be provided to Ms. Michelle Payton and families against distracted driving. I'd like to express my appreciation to these representatives that have worked on these bills also to Senator Flippo and all of you who have done this important work of trying to further our state in our laws that will restrict this and the injuries that it's caused.
So with that, Mr. President, I'd move adoption of the resolution. All those
in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Resolution is adopted. Congratulations. One minute, Mr. President. Amen.
Senator Clark, these are Senate bills to concur in House amendments. We
will vote on the amendments and then the underlying bills.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
29:22
Senator Clark. Amendment 1 to Senate
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
29:30
Bill 84. This is just an amendment to add
a House sponsor. Add a House sponsor. Any objection? Without objection, the amendment is adopted. Senate
amend the law regarding permanency goals that are authorized by the Court of a permanency planning hearing. Does exactly
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
29:49
what the title said. Pass 35 to 0.
Speaker 23
29:52
last time we voted on any in okay one second any objection I mean
Speaker 32
30:00
any questions anyone wish to speak on the bill all
those in favor say aye opposed
Speaker 21
30:11
I have it enrolled now we have to roll call
it any objection rolling the vote please roll Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne,
Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Leading, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change
their vote? Seeing none, cast up the ballot, 35 yeas, 0 nays. The bill
is passed. Enroll it. Senator Clark, this is the second of three.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
30:57
Amendment 1, the Senate Bill 85. Thank you, Governor. Again this is an amendment just to add
Speaker 23
31:06
a House sponsor. Any objection? Without objection, the amendment is adopted.
Speaker 151
31:15
Madam Secretary, SB 85. We handled the amendment. You
Speaker 5
31:23
adopted the amendment. Assembly 85 of Senator Clark to amend the law concerning service of a petition to terminate
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
31:27
parental rights. Again, it does just what the title says
Speaker 55
31:36
and it passes the Senate 35-0. Any questions? Anyone wish to
speak on this? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham. Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eves, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace.
Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none, cast up the ballot. 35 yea, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Enroll it.
Speaker 52
32:17
Senate Bill 183. This is Amendment 1 to Senate
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
32:23
Bill 183, Senator Clark. Is there just one amendment? Well,
just one amendment. Thank you. This amendment, we had inadvertently kept anyone
who had sex offender status from working in a fire department,
Police Department or EMS, law enforcement or EMS. That
included janitors and switchboard operators, et cetera. We did not intend to do that, and
Speaker 162
32:49
this amendment fixes that. Any questions on the amendment?
Speaker 52
32:54
Any objection to the amendment? Without objection, the amendment is adopted. Now
Speaker 5
33:01
on the underlying bill. Symbol 183 by Senator Clark to prohibit certain registered sex offenders from
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
33:08
holding a position of public trust. Senator Clark. Thank you, Governor. This bill was
one that was brought to Senator Irvin and I both by numerous volunteer fire departments. And what the bill does is keeps sex offenders class two, three or four. It does not affect one, two, three or four from working with the amendment, from working in those agencies outside the building.
in an area of public trust, where they are working with people. And it passed 30 votes, four not voting,
and one present. Any questions? Mr. President, actually, maybe a
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
33:54
point of order. The sound keeps going in and out for the speaker. Yes. Thank you, Senator. We
They're working on it. That's all I can tell you. I'm trying to speak a little louder. When you come
down to the well, if you would just raise your voice. I've heard you raise your voice before, so I know you can do it. And hopefully you can do it without the passion that
normally is required. This is on the bill. Yes, that was on the bill. Any questions on the bill? Anyone wish
Speaker 32
34:28
to speak on the bill? Any objection to rolling the vote on the bill?
Seeing none, please roll the vote. Present. Senator Flowers is present. Anyone else? Anyone else?
Cast up the ballot. 34
yays, zero nays. The bill is passed. Enroll it.
Speaker 11
35:18
Senator Wallace, Lieutenant Colonel Wallace. Amendment 2, dissent bill 240. Thank you, Governor. This is
Speaker 179
35:28
on the amendment. Then we'll do the bill.
Speaker 181
35:32
This is the amendment that came back from the House on Senate Bill 240. It really made a good bill better and added some restrictions to keep people from going
back into the same job. Okay. If you would please try to speak a little louder. Anybody? Any questions
on the amendment? Senator Sample. Senator Sample, is this the same amendment that we have to? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions
on the amendment? Any objection to the amendment? Without objection, the amendment is adopted. Underlying bill,
Madam Secretary. Senate Bill 240 by Senator Wallace,
concerning the reemployment of certain retired members of the Arkansas local police and fire retirement system. Senator Wallace,
Speaker 192
36:28
I sent a good bill down to the House, and they sent a better one back. This bill
Speaker 194
36:35
originally allowed police officers and firemen who had
Speaker 181
36:40
retired to, what I would say, come back on active duty. That way, and still draw the retirement check. And the bill added, or the House added a clause that says you can do that, but you can't come
back to your original agency. That's a great idea because it prevents the good old boy network from working and someone holding a job open. So they've made a good bill a better bill. And I would ask for
Speaker 32
37:09
a good vote. Any questions on the bill? Anyone wish to speak on the bill?
Any objection to rolling the vote on the bill? Madam Secretary, please
Speaker 2
37:21
roll the vote. SB 240. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham.
the chamber it's all it's always difficult enough thank you for that
reminder they're working now well turn them
back off would you it's a lot better in here when they're off Senator Bledsoe is recognized this one needs 24 vote.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
38:41
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 440. Senator Bloodside.
Thank you so much. I, too, sent a bill
down to the House, and it came back. I don't know whether it
was better or not, but it's back. So, anyway, let me just tell you that there is an amendment from the House. It's Senate Bill 440. Of course, as we've heard before, is all about protecting children. Medical marijuana is supposed to be medicine. And what do we do with medicine? We keep it out of the hands of children. And so in Senate Bill 440, we are building a foundation, setting a standard for allowing
those who commercially provide these products to make sure that these products are not enticing to children. And here's part of the amendment. On page two, lines six, seven, and eight, the commercially available products in these House amendments say that these products have to be in a child-proof package or a container that they cannot appeal to minors due to shape, color, taste, or design of the product and cannot be in shape of animals, vehicles, people, or characters.
Also, page 2, lines 14 through 19, products that contain cannabinoid concentrates or extracts that are determined by the ABC board that they cannot be attracted to minors and those that are commonly sold in retail establishments that are individually packed, portioned, or multi-packed cannot be infused with cannabinoid concentrates or extracts.
They can't be in candy, cookies, cakes, pastries, chewing gum, and brownies. And the ABC board will promulgate rules to implement these actions, and they will report to the Secretary of State in January 2020. Or if that is, if they're not forthcoming with those rules, then it will go to ALC. Senator, just
Speaker 50
40:46
to clarify, and all of this is on the amendment, correct? On the amendment. That's correct. That's
Speaker 214
40:53
correct. Any? I'm sorry. Senator, finish with the amendment.
Pardon me? You're finished with the amendment. Yes, I am. Are there any questions on the amendment? Any at all? Any objection
to the amendment? Without objection, the amendment is adopted. All right. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And I just want to remind you that as we said before, whatever you make in your home, whatever you bake in your home, If you put the, if you infuse those products with marijuana, that is in your home. This is about commercially prepared products, and it's all about protecting children.
And with that, I'll take questions. Senate Bill
440 by Senator Bledsoe to ban use of medical marijuana in food and drink, except in certain circumstances. We're now
Speaker 23
41:41
dealing with the underlying bill. Any questions on
the underlying bill? Anyone who wants to speak on the underlying
Speaker 21
41:50
bill? Any objection to rolling the vote?
Center is closed. Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang,
Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rapert, Rice,
Speaker 5
42:09
Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none.
Oh, we have Senator Davis is not voting. Senator
Davis not voting. Anyone else? Cast up the ballot.
33 a's, 1 nay. The bill is passed. Enroll it. Senator Hendren is recognized. Members, we got one more request to
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
42:37
put a bill on the calendar. It came out of Insurance and Commerce today, House Bill 1964. I think it's going to be handled by Senator Chesterfield, but go ahead and vote for it anyway, or at least put it on the calendar. So I'd move that we suspend the rules to put House Bill 1964 at the bottom of the calendar. You've heard,
Chair
Unverified
42:54
Senator Chesterfield, do you wish to be recognized? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
43:00
The body has already agreed to put it at the bottom of the calendar. That's what I kept trying to tell you. So then why are we doing this? Because you're just zealous in your work, because you're the president
Speaker 228
43:13
pro tem, and you want to make sure... else has already
Speaker 230
43:17
put a bill on the counter don't come ask me to put it on there again
Speaker 22
43:22
okay everything goes well that's what it is let's let's let's vote on again
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
43:27
all right uh senator cooper amendment one to senate bill five uh 451.
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
43:31
senator cooper on the amendment on the amendment uh thank
you mr president this is an amendment in in the house for uh the attorney general's background check bill the this amendment tightens up the provisions for two entities all of it agreed to one of them is tightening up on the board of public accountancy that they may refuse to issue a license to someone who's been convicted of a felony involving theft or fraud the other one is to tighten up the
language on the contractor side of it which is also involves in dishonesty or fraud and also there's a provision in there concerning voyeurism which is see how that would affect contractors so appreciate a good vote any this is
Speaker 180
44:22
on the amendment any questions on the amendment any
objection to the amendment Without objection, the amendment is adopted. Now the underlying bill.
Senate Bill 451 by Senator Cooper to amend the laws regarding criminal background checks for professions and occupations
to obtain consistency regarding criminal background checks and disqualifying offenses for leisure. License. Senator Cooper. Thank you, Mr. President.
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
44:47
This is the bill that we worked with on the red tape reduction effort. It's the one that worked a long time with the Attorney General's office, and that's what it is. Thank you. Any questions on the bill?
Speaker 32
45:01
Anyone wish to speak on the bill? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Malik, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace.
up the ballot. 35 yeas, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Enroll it.
Speaker 236
45:39
Senator Hammer, we've got hammer time. We've got three in a row. Amendment
Speaker 61
45:44
1 to Senate Bill 460. Senator Hammer on the amendment. Thank
you, Mr. Governor. This picks up Representative Bragg as a sponsor on the bill. Any
Speaker 32
45:55
objection to the amendment? The amendment is adopted without objection. Now in the underlying bill. Senate
Bill 460 by Senator Hammer to amend the definition of feral hog, to amend the law regarding the release of feral hogs into the
Speaker 136
46:06
wild, and to amend the law regarding the capturing and killing of feral hogs.
Senator Hammer. Thank you again. This amended Representative Bragg's name onto the bill. What the bill did was it
came out of the feral hog task force. These were the recommendations agreed upon all the parties in the task force, and it deals with the
penalties, also the ability to transport the requirements, what it takes in order to be able to transport, and that's basically what it does.
Speaker 21
46:35
Any questions? Anyone wish to speak on it? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Drapert, Rice, Sample, Stubbeville, Sturge, Teague,
Speaker 5
46:58
Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote?
Senator Rice, not voting. else? Not voting,
Speaker 214
47:08
not present, right? Senator Rice, not voting. Okay, not voting. Senator
Filippo, not voting. Anyone else cast up the ballot? 32 yeas,
zero nays. The bill is passed. Enroll it. Senator Hammer on the amendment. Amendment 1
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
47:32
to Senate Bill 493. Senator Hammer. Thank
you. This did two things. It picked up Representative Nix as the House sponsor, but also it addressed the question of a person when it comes to the waiving of the reinstatement fees. They have to go to each court system of which they have reinstatement fees in and make sure that that particular court is satisfied as far as all. It's not a one judge waive it for everybody across the state. And that's what the amendment does. Thank you.
Any questions on the amendment? Any objection to the amendment? I see no objection. Without objection, the amendment is adopted. Read the
bill. The amendment is adopted. Send Bill 493 by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning driver's license
and reinstatement fees. Senator Hammer. Thank you. This bill is the one that if you are an individual that has an excessive amount of reinstatement fees accumulated, and if you fulfill the obligations of the court that you can have those restatement fees waived down to a $100 minimum
and this is what helps them get back in the workforce with a good driver's license and quit driving around on driver's license where they just keep getting restatement fees added on and on and on and so we'd appreciate a
Speaker 32
48:53
good vote. Any questions on the bill? Anyone wish to speak on the bill? Any objection to rolling the vote? please
roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield,
Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallet, Pitch, Rayford, Bryce, Sample, Stubblefield, Starch, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none, cast up
the ballot. 35 yeas, 0 nays. The bill is passed and roll
it. The third of Senator Hammer's bills. Amendment 1
to Senate Bill 499. This is on the amendment. Thank you, Mr. President. Picked up Representative Nix on this bill.
I'll explain in a minute. Thank you. Any questions on the amendment? Any objection to the amendment. Without
objection, the amendment is adopted. Senate Bill 499 by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning military service and veterans special license plates and to authorize the reissuance of a special license plate to a
surviving spouse of a recipient of the Distinguished Flying
Speaker 136
50:14
Crop. Senator Hammer. Thank you, Mr. Governor.
This is the license plate, or this is what allows the surviving spouse of the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross to be able to get that license plate, but also get it at the cost of which the active member would have received it at, which is around $3.98, give or take a little bit. And so I'd appreciate a good vote.
Speaker 91
50:37
Any questions? Anyone wish to speak on this? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismain, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone
Speaker 5
51:00
wish to change their vote? Seeing none, cast
Speaker 145
51:04
up the ballot 35 yays, zero nays. The bill
is passed. Enroll it. Senator Irvin. Amendment 1
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
51:13
to Senate Bill 544.
Senator Missy Irvin
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51:15
Thank you. Amendment dealt with sponsorships. I
Chair
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51:21
heard an explanation of the amendment. Any questions on the amendment? Seeing none. Any opposition? Seeing none.
Speaker 189
51:32
Senator Irving. The amendment is adopted. Senate Bill 544 by Senator Irving to establish the pre-judgment and post-judgment interest rates. Members,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
51:40
nothing has changed with the bill. So, again, this was just to add 2% to the Federal Reserve primary credit rate
and to establish the pre-judgment and post-judgment interest rate. You've heard an explanation of the
Chair
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51:54
bill. Is there any questions for Senator Irvin? The bill itself didn't change.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
51:58
It was just the amendment with the co-sponsor? Yes. The bill did not change. Oh, that's what you're on. Anyone
Speaker 275
52:03
to speak for or against? Yes. I know that. Seeing none. Senators
Chair
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52:13
closed for a bill? Yes. Madam Secretary, would you please roll the vote with Senator Hickey as a no.
Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Raifert, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Any senator who wishes to vote or change
Chair
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52:44
their vote? Senator Rice is non-voting. Senator Raifert is no.
Senator Teague is no. Senator Hill is no. Senator Hammer is no. Senator Chesterfield is present. Senator Cheatham is no. Any other senators who wish to vote or change their vote? I think Senator Hill is aye. Senator Elliott is no.
I'll catch up to the ballot.
The 25-dayday tax bill has passed and rolled it. Senator Hill
Senator Jim Hendren
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53:27
is recognized. Senator Elliott promised me she didn't already do this. Senate Bill 592 came out of insurance and commerce with a concurrence of the House amendment. While we're concurring with all these other amendments, we'd like to put this on the calendar to concur at the bottom of the concurrence calendar, so I'd move we suspend the rules to put Senate Bill 592 on the calendar after we concur with the other Senate bills for consideration.
Speaker 283
53:51
We've heard the motion to Senate Bill 5-9-2-S-1 on the current calendar. Any objections
Chair
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53:56
to the motion? No. No. No. No obligation to the motion to the motion to the motion to the motion
to the motion. Senator Cooper, we recognize the potential amendment to Senate Bill 6-12.
Senator John Cooper
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54:12
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 6-12. This just adds a House co-sponsor to my bill. Members, you've heard
Chair
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54:18
an explanation of the amendment. Is there any objection to the amendment?
Seeing no objection to the amendment, the amendment is adopted. Senator, you're recognized to
present your bill. Senate Bill 612 by Senator Cooper concerning the offense of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system to amend the definition of critical infrastructure. This bill just adds the
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
54:37
telecommunications equipment to the list of infrastructure, critical infrastructure. Senators, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Is there anyone who
Chair
Unverified
54:46
wishes to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, Senator is closed for his bill. Is there any objection to rolling the vote?
Seeing no objection to rolling the vote, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stubbafield, Starch, Teague, Wallace. Any senator who wishes to
Chair
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55:20
change their vote? Saying none, cast up the ballot. Vote 35 yeas.
The bill has passed. Enroll it. Senator Letting, you're recognized, sir. Amendment 1
Senator Greg Leding
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55:31
to Senate Bill 646. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, this is
that bill that had to do with making sure that all attorneys had the same access to crime lab information in a case. It got down to the House after passing out of here unanimously, and prosecutors decided they wanted to make sure that only parties who were actually involved in that particular case had access. Some third party couldn't necessarily have the same access, so they made an amendment down there.
The amendment also adds Representative Kapp as a sponsor.
Chair
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56:00
You've heard an explanation of the amendment. Is there any objection to the amendment? Say no objection. The amendment is adopted. Senator, you're recognized to explain your bill. Senate
Speaker 136
56:09
Bill 646 by Senator Letting concerning confidentiality and privilege records of the state crime laboratory. Senator Letting has closed for his bill.
Chair
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56:17
Is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill? Say none. Is there any objection to rolling the
vote? Say none. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Any senator who wishes to change their vote? Saying none, cast up
Chair
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56:48
the ballot. With a vote of 35 yeas, the bill has passed. Enroll it. Senator Hester.
Senator Greg Leding
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56:57
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 658. You're
Senator Bart Hester
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57:03
recognized, sir. Colleagues, this is an amendment put on by the House. There was just some conflicting language whether the new judge in District 4 started in
Chair
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57:12
2020 or 2021. We cleared it up to 2021. You've heard an explanation of the amendment. Is there any objection to the amendment? Seeing no objection, the
Speaker 132
57:25
amendment is adopted. Senator, you're recognized to explain your bill. Senate Bill 658 by
Speaker 193
57:29
Senator Hester, concerning circuit court judges, prosecuting attorneys,
and the judiciary, and declare an emergency.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
57:36
Members, this is a bill that adds to five
Chair
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57:40
new circuit judges. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Hester? Saying none, is there anyone
who wishes to speak for or against the bill? Say none. The
senator is closed. Senator is closed. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Say no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Rafer, Rice, Sample, Stubbeville, Sturge, Teague, Wallace.
Chair
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58:18
Any Senator who wishes to change their vote? saying none cast a ballot
with the vote of 35 yeas. The bill has passed. Enroll it. Senator Johnson,
Senator Mark Johnson
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58:30
you're recognized for a point of personal privilege. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to ask leave for y'all to allow my good friend and my actual former roommate in Washington DC, Judge Raymond Abramson, to be welcome and have privilege of the floor for this afternoon. Judge Abramson, in my period of many, many years.
Chair
Unverified
58:56
Senator Elliott, you're recognized to present your amendment for Senate
Bill 592. Amendment 1 to Senate
Speaker 317
59:15
swallow. Senator, you're recognized. Thank you.
I had to swallow. Members, this is an amendment to 592 where we had to work with the insurance companies to work out an issue regarding physicians and peer review committees that, and add,
excuse me, and add to it, I'm sorry, my voice is going. I know that will make you happy. let me start over. I might get through this. I'll just read it to you because the talking is not working. That unless a hospital physician's peer review committee concludes that the conduct of the physician adversely affected or could have adversely affected the patient by violating the standard of care or posing a risk to the health or welfare of a patient, we added this amendment to the bill, because this is a bill that we need to make sure that
unless a physician had violated the standard of care, that person would be included in the insurance networks, and sometimes they were being left out, and that's what it does. Senators, you've heard an explanation of
Chair
Unverified
1:00:19
the amendment. Any questions on the amendment? Is there any objection to the amendment? Seeing
none, the amendment is adopted. We'll now hear the full bill, Senate Bill
592. Senate Bill 592 by Senator Elliott to amend the Patient Protection Act of
1995 and to declare an emergency. Senator is
Chair
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1:00:42
closed for her bill. Senator is closed for her bill. Is
there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill?
Seeing none, is there any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram,
Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitt, Letting, Mallock, Pitch, Raypert, Rice,
Speaker 5
1:01:15
Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Tee, Wallace. Any Senator who wishes to change their vote? Seeing
Chair
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1:01:22
none, cast up the ballot. The vote of 35 yeas. The bill has passed. Enroll it. Madam Secretary, are the items at
the desk? Yes, sir. Notice of return of House Bill 1385 as requested. Notice of return of Senate Bill 560
as requested. Notice of return of Senate Bill 571 as requested. Thank you, Madam Secretary. File it. And notice of return of House Bill 1710 as requested. File it. Senators will now go
Chair
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1:02:06
to House bills with Senate amendments page 2. Senator Davis. Oh Senator
Speaker 35
1:02:21
Mallet you're recognized for a motion. Thank you Mr. President. Members yesterday we had House Bill 1710 that was had to do with the non-emergency transport of patients and it was creating a task force and uh we failed it uh we we did expunge the vote but they had already sent it to the back to the house we have recalled it it's back i move that we put house bill 1710 at the end of the house calendar today you've
Chair
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1:02:51
heard the motion to suspend the rules to put house bill 1710 at the end of the house
calendar today is there any objection to that motion
saying no objection the motion is adopted Thank you, Senator Malloy.
House Bill 1982, Senator Davis? Pass over, okay. We'll be passing over House Bill 1982. We'll then
go to Senate bills for third reading and passage. Senator Johnson, do you still wish to run Senate Bill 463?
Senators, this will be Senate Bill 463. Okay.
Senator Johnson, if you'll just wait, we're going to let the ladies
catch up, okay? Senate Bill 463 by Senator Mark Johnson. To amend the law concerning initiatives and referenda and to provide for the licensing, registration, and enforcement of laws concerning
certain persons and entities that participate in the paid canvassing industry. Senator
Chair
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1:04:08
Johnson, you're recognized to explain
Senator Mark Johnson
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1:04:11
your bill. Thank you, Mr. President. This is the bill that we did yesterday. I've had a couple of members that have reviewed it and seem to change their mind. Again, this is a bill that regulates only the paid canvassing industry. It regulates the companies that hire the paid canvassers, and it regulates the canvassers
themselves, requires that they be licensed, that they pass the test on both the state law Amendment 7 and the accompanying statutes, as well as the actual measure of which they are circulating the petition on. As I mentioned yesterday, I was brought this by a friend who actually had a story of how she had been approached by a paid canvasser that misled her and was fraudulently trying to get her to sign a petition. She actually texted me today and told me that the first
time the canvasser tried to trick her was at a clothing store in Little Rock, and the second time was in front of a store in Conway. And she actually tested the theory in seeing canvassers in other locations, including Benton and Hot Springs. And both of those times, the canvasser was trying to deceive her. So this would not affect people that are legitimately using Amendment 7 to change the Constitution, the grassroots efforts that was originally intended
for, but just put some serious restrictions on those that are paid to do so. And I would appreciate today a good vote. Any questions for Senator Johnson? Seeing no questions, is
Chair
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1:05:55
there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill? Senator Pitch, you're recognized to speak against the bill.
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
1:06:12
Colleagues, I've talked with Senator Johnson about this. As many of
you know, we wrote act 346 or Senate bill 346 which became an act on the petition gathering process we had legal people in that room that talked about doing some of these things we thought about trying to incorporate many of the things that are in this bill into ours but we were told they were unconstitutional not just by some people but folks that were associated with big-time law firms the
Attorney General's office, legal minds out of the Governor's office, the Election Commission, all said you can't do that. Paid canvassers, there's a thing called the Commerce Clause, you are limited in what you can do to prevent somebody from making a livable wage and earning money. And I feel like it's incumbent, I've shared this with Senator Johnson, I've shared it with the people that are trying to get him to do this, but I feel like it's important that we all understand that what we voted on earlier we feel is constitutional in the limiting of our
petition process, but this is some of the things we wanted to do, but it was beyond the scope
Chair
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1:07:29
I wanted to say that. Senator Pitch, will you take a question for Senator Rafer? Thank you.
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
1:07:37
Would you just expound a little bit upon the piece that you say that's unconstitutional? I'll do
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
1:07:43
the best. I'm obviously not a constitutional scholar, and so that's thus the six weeks in a room with attorneys and legal minds. But as I understand it, there's
the Commerce Clause is one of the issues. Demanding, it came up yesterday, this bill has a whole lot of testing required to be able to do that that takes it out of the process. One of the things that our Constitution requires is we don't change a threshold, i.e. the vote, you know, we had to keep the current constitutional vote, we had to keep the current constitutional percentage, but we could change other parts. There are certain things protected by our Constitution and many of
Speaker 343
1:08:21
which we are violating with this bill. Would it be fair to say that
Senator Jason Rapert
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1:08:27
regardless of whether the Senate passes this bill or not, that does not necessarily affect your
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
1:08:33
bill, correct? Well in some ways it does because we are putting out a law out there that we passed early in the session that many people, one group in particular, has already got a bill for petition turned into the Secretary of State that they have to follow those type rules, i.e. pulling the Attorney General out of the front of the process, only working on one initiative at a time, etc, etc. There's enough in this bill that our attorneys in our room felt
A, it was unconstitutional, B, it would change what has already been adopted this session. Because it's actually amending the same code. Same
Senator Jason Rapert
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1:09:07
code, that's correct. Yeah, which typically would end up at Code Revision Commission if it's not settled, and then the Code Revision Commission would have to decide
which one would carry. Well, that or we would go by which was the
Senator Mathew Pitsch
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1:09:18
last one the governor signed generically up front, but then it would go to code verification. All right, perhaps the
Senator Jason Rapert
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1:09:26
sponsor will speak more to that in a moment. Thank you.
Chair
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1:09:31
Anyone else to speak for or against the bill? Senator Chesterfield, do you recognize? Speak
Senator Linda Chesterfield
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1:09:47
against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. The people who gather these
signatures are just everyday folks trying to make a little money. Many of them are not educated individuals. Many of them are just folks who can't get a regular job. We talk
about we need people to be at work. This gives them a chance to at least make a little money. And if they make some mistakes, we have ways of reporting them if they're doing it in a deliberate fashion to mislead people. We know how to call the police. We know how to do all of that. But to make it almost a master's degree in order to collect a name is just a bit of overkill. And when we are talking
about paid canvassers, we're not talking about people coming from New York or Pennsylvania. We're talking about your neighbors next door who are probably just retired, need a little money to get ahead. It precludes them from making a living. And plus, it puts a chill on the ability of the people to decide what they want to do. This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and we are precluding the people from exercising their rights
to go about the business of collecting signatures for a matter that is of importance to them. I appreciate a note. Anyone
Chair
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1:11:18
else to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, the senator would like to
Senator Mark Johnson
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1:11:26
close the first bill. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. A couple of things. One of the cases that I believe that Senator Pitch was referring to is Buckley v. Vallejo. It's a pretty extensive case. I did have counsel from both the Attorney General's Office
and the Ethics Commission. Mr. Sloan actually recommended some changes that bring it in line and make it constitutional. I already have that amendment drawn and my plan will be to have it adopted in the House. There are some restrictions, but to give you an idea of how diverse these cases are, across the country we've had different case law. Some states have outlawed, tried to outlaw paying for, in a piecemeal, in other words,
$5 or whatever for each signature you obtain. In one state, they did, in many states around the country, that was ruled unconstitutional. But in the state of South Dakota, which is part of the Eighth Circuit, they ruled, the Appeals Court ruled that it was constitutional. So until the Supreme Court acts, those of us in the Eighth Circuit can regulate paid solicitors in that manner. So the amendment was drawn. I did not depend on downtown law firms that represent special interests.
I depended on lawyers that work for the state, both the Ethics Commission and the Attorney General, to draw this. And while certainly this is a policy decision that we in the General Assembly make, it's certainly not de facto unconstitutional. I think it's quite constitutional, and it would stop much, not all, there's no way we'll ever stop all of it, but it would stop much of the fraud that's perpetrated by these paid solicitors and these paid companies that come in and try to do this.
Chair
Unverified
1:13:18
Appreciate a good vote. Senator is closed for his bill. Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll for
Speaker 353
1:13:32
Senate Bill 463. Ballinger? Aye. Bledsoe? Bledsoe? Bond? Bond?
Caldwell? Aye. Cheatham? Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Cooper, Davis, Davis, Dismain, Dismain, Eads, Eads,
Speaker 353
1:14:05
Elliot, English, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hammer, Hendren Hendren Hester Hester Hickey Hickey Hill Ingram
Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Blake Johnson
Mark Johnson Letting Letting Mallett? No. Pitch? No. Rapert? No. Rice? No. Rice? No.
Speaker 357
1:15:04
Sample? Sample? Stubbafil? Stubbafil? Sturge? Aye. Teague? No. Wallace? Wallace?
Chair
Unverified
1:15:13
Senator Davis is aye. Is there any other senators who wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Eads
is aye. Any other senators who wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Stubblefield is aye. Any others? Senator Hammer is aye. Senator Ingram is no. Senator Bledsoe is aye. Any others who wish to change their vote?
cast up the ballot vote of 15 yea 8 nay the bill has failed to pass senator bond will now be moving house bills for third reading and passage senator bond house
bill 1782 house bill 1782 by representative kath an
act concerning court costs and fees for specialty court in the state's district courts.
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
1:16:16
This is the district court specialty courts bill by Representative Kapp. This just gives district courts a similar statutory authority as circuit court specialty courts. Many of you know there are district court specialty courts. Typically, there are sobriety courts in Craighead County, Pulaski County, Clark County, Jefferson County, Sebastian County, Independence County, Garland County, Benton County, Faulkner County, Crawford County, and Saline County. I'm happy to take any questions. Appreciate a good vote. Any
Chair
Unverified
1:16:46
questions for Senator Bond? Say no question. Senator Caldwell,
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
1:16:51
you're recognized for a question? Senator Bond, you go to
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
1:16:57
the same auctioneering school as Senator Mallick? No, but I'm jealous. I would love to go to auctioneering school. A little known fact Senator Mallick might not want me to share, he went
Chair
Unverified
1:17:10
to auctioneering school with former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. Any other questions for Senator Bond? Seeing none, anybody who wishes to speak for against
the bill? Seeing none, is there any objection to rolling the vote on this bill? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, would you
please roll the vote, House Bill 1782. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell,
Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubbeville, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Any senator who wishes to change their vote? Seeing none, cast up the ballot
Chair
Unverified
1:17:50
with a vote of 35 yeas. The bill has passed. Return to the
House. Senator Clark wishes to be recognized for a motion.
Senator Stubblefield, do you want to go ahead
and present your bill? Madam Secretary, would you
please read House Bill 1817. House Bill 1817 by Representative
Kapp. An act to amend the law regarding native wine incentive grants, to amend the maximum amount of incentive grant funds awarded at an eligible winery, to amend the law regarding the Arkansas Agricultural Marketing Grants Fund, to amend the law regarding the Arkansas Wine Grants Fund.
Senator Stuboff, do you recognize to explain your bill? Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1817 is a bill to amend the law regarding native wine incentive grants. It would amend the maximum amount of incentive grants funds awarded to an eligible winery. It amends the law regarding the Arkansas Agricultural Marketing Grant Fund, and it amends the law regarding the Arkansas Wine Grant Fund. This bill really fixes a bill that we passed back in the last session, Senate Bill 284.
There was previously an Arkansas Wine Grant Fund that had been in effect since 1985, and DF&A had interpreted that there was no longer any permanent funding source. And now with the current wine fees that are coming in, this language satisfies both DF&A and the wineries for grants and grants that are in additional amounts. So that's basically what it does. Senators deferred an explanation of the bill. Is there any questions for Senators Doublefield?
Chair
Unverified
1:20:13
Seeing no questions, is there anyone who wishes to speak for or against the bill?
Say none. Is there any objection to rolling
the vote on this bill? Say none. Madam Secretary, would you please roll the vote? Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallet, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample,
Steverfield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Senator Ballinger
Speaker 151
1:20:56
is no. Senator Sturge is not voting. Anybody else? Cast
up the ballot. 33a is one nay. The bill is passed. Return to the House. Yes, sir. Senator Clark is recognized. Thank
Senator Alan Clark
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1:21:18
you, Governor. We recalled House Bill 1385 back to the Senate
because we discovered a technical defect in the
bill. And I need to make a motion that we expunge the vote by which
House Bill 1385 passed the Senate. Any question on the motion?
Any objection to the motion? The motion is carried. Senator Ingram. what what is going to be done to
Speaker 376
1:21:46
the 1385 there was a technical there was a problem with it it needs to
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:21:52
be amended and i have passed out the amendment uh is on everyone's desk
Speaker 378
1:21:57
well uh this amendment uh would strike the amendment that was made in committee to clarify what schoolhouse means is that correct no it does not it added well this what you passed out it just says schoolhouse means
Speaker 381
1:22:22
and it would go back to its original form no
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:22:29
sir no so it causes the the two sections to match so the
Speaker 383
1:22:37
definition that was inserted in committee would would stay
Speaker 375
1:22:45
correct it will okay thank you do you have any objection to the motion senator okay anyone have an objection
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:22:58
without objection the motion is carried okay i need to uh
move need to place it on second reading for amendment as house bill 1385
Speaker 61
1:23:11
all in favor say aye opposed amendment two to house bill 1385 okay this is on the amendment This is on the amendment? Yes. You want to
Speaker 32
1:23:39
speak at all on the amendment? It's just a technical fix. Okay. Any questions on the amendment? Any objection to the amendment?
Speaker 394
1:23:42
The amendment is adopted without objection. Send to engrossing. Okay. And do we refer it? Then we ask to refer it to committee? Okay.
Speaker 42
1:24:05
Thank you. Okay, after it comes back from a grossing, it will go back to the city, county, local. Senator Rapert.
House Bill 1839 by Representative Johnson to establish the Prepaid Mobile Device Protection back. Thank you,
Senator Jason Rapert
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1:24:32
Mr. President. Members, this bill, Representative Johnson, actually, I'm carrying it for him here on the House floor, excuse me, the Senate floor, was presented in our committee. The bottom line is that there were occurrences where some young minors had been given cell phones by someone not in their family and without the permission
of the parents. And a parent had discovered this in one of the stories that was given. And so in discussions with law enforcement, with prosecutors, they decided to create a penalty and make it a crime if you get a cell phone and give that cell phone to a minor with an intent obviously to circumvent the permission of the parents and make contact with that person. The bill is pretty self-explanatory. If you've got any questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you, but bottom line it says it's unlawful for a person to purchase a
prepaid mobile device or refill a prepaid mobile device with wireless communication services on a previously purchased prepaid mobile device. Happy to answer any questions, it's straightforward. Any questions? Senator Garner has a question. Thank you Mr.
Speaker 401
1:25:41
President. Yeah, I think y'all changed this
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
1:25:43
bill, made it a lot better, because I think initially it would prohibit like miners to be able to buy it themselves. I think
you rectified that, so this is more about like people who may in prostitution range or sex offenders so they can't use these devices kind of circumvent kind of paracontrol well you also have the ability of you know
parents guardians other people to be able to give them that if needed that that's
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
1:26:07
correct isn't it that's right and it also states on here also providing funds like if they had that to get them to
refill that we had good questions in committee on this this is obviously technology that's moving and we've seen some real horror stories in that so I'm glad that representative Johnson's brought this to the body and appreciate a good vote. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak on
Speaker 145
1:26:26
the bell? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond,
Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace.
Speaker 5
1:26:53
Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up the ballot.
35 yeas, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Return it to the House.
Senator Dismay of White County. House
Bill 1842 by Ruffington Pilkington. An act to streamline the grievance process for state employees to amend the law concerning the procedures, factors to be considered, and standard of review of grievances. Senator Dismay has the floor. Thank you,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:27:36
Governor. House Bill 1842 does two things.
First, it makes it so that only terminations and suspensions are grievable actions. Also, it reestablishes the standard of review to the disciplinary policies of the agency. It's important to note that it doesn't eliminate the C-GAP appeal panel. It just focuses its processes on the functions of the most serious actions. The EEOC and Human Resources Department of each agency will and can handle other
issues. We have to take any questions. Senator Chesterfield and Senator Elliott.
Chair
Unverified
1:28:09
Thank you for the purpose of a question, Mr. Chair. So the
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:28:12
only thing that you can deal with as far as a grievance is concerned is a termination or a suspension? That's correct. Yes, ma'am. So if you are the victim of sexual harassment or you know that you're not being paid or a co-worker is being paid, too bad?
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:28:28
Those still can go to HR or human resources inside each one of those agencies or the EEOC. So you have to go to
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:28:36
EEOC in order to get? Or human resources, yes, ma'am.
Chair
Unverified
1:28:43
Okay, easy for you to say. Thank you. Senator Elliott is recognized. Well, on that line,
that's been left out that they could grieve that was
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:28:55
grievable. So the only thing left would be terminations and
suspensions. No, I was asking what was stricken
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:29:01
because I was trying to. Okay. Demotions written, reprimands, probation, discrimination, harassment, and approval, denial of comp time. And whose idea was that
to do this? The bill was
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:29:13
brought to me by the Attorney General's office.
This is my understanding that, you know, all those parties involved have, you know, that, like I said, I'm not sure exactly where all the bill came from, but directly to me from the Attorney General's office. Okay. Do you
know, if at all, the workers to whom this is going to apply, if they were part of this discussion? I'm not aware.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:29:33
I was just part of that. All right.
Speaker 427
1:29:36
Thank you. Any other questions? Senator Bond. Senator Bond, do you have a question? Well,
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
1:29:40
I know Senator Dismay may be in a tough spot. What's the explanation for why you shouldn't be able to grieve discrimination or sexual harassment?
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:29:48
So discrimination, now, if it's part of a suspension or a termination, then
you can still allege discrimination in those actions and those hearings. I think part of the problem is there's a, really, it's bogged down, CGAAP or that group, and they're not being able to process in a timely fashion the grievances that are coming forward. this really gets us back to where we were I think back in this was all changed in 2013 so it's prior to 2013 is my understanding thank you Senator
Speaker 145
1:30:19
any other questions anyone wish to speak on this Senator Chesterfield do you wish to speak Senator Chesterfield wishes to speak against
Speaker 435
1:30:34
we have so many Mr. Chair ladies and gentlemen, we have
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:30:40
so many instances of individuals being made uncomfortable in the workplace, but they'll have to go to EEOC. We have harassment in the workplace, but they'll
have to go to EEOC or count on HR. All of these are grievable offenses. They've been grievable for a very long time. And it seems that we are just turning back the clock on workers' rights. And it doesn't make sense. I worked in the public sector. And I could grieve something without having to go to EEOC and thus to court. It doesn't make sense that we're saving any money because EEOC invariably leads to, if it's egregious enough,
to individuals going to court. And there we are litigating what we could solve in house. Why would we not want to resolve this in house rather than having it go to EEOC and ultimately the court? This doesn't make sense from a financial perspective and it certainly is the best workplace bill, especially if you are on the receiving in of the harassment, I would urge a no vote.
Speaker 159
1:32:00
Anyone else wish to speak on this bill, in favor of the
bill, against the bill, on the bill? Senator Elliott is recognized to speak on it, against it.
He's going to speak about it. Senator's recognized. And people say prepositions don't matter. You
demonstrate that they do. um i i um i'm speaking against this bill because i think any workplace is made better
when the people who work there and the people who are their supervisors are working together and as a matter of law now we're going to put them in a position where one is under absolute subversion, and the others who are making the workplace work practically have no rights to just settle those things that they've been settling all along through a grievance process. We often tout our state as being a right-to-work state
and so proud that to most of us, rather than that meaning a right to work for less, we take it to mean that we just don't like unions. And so one of the things that we have done over the years since we are very much an anti-union state, one of the things we've done is in place of that, we would have these things called grievance procedures because we recognize we tend not to be a union state. and I don't one of the reasons I was curious about where it came from because I'm wondering
who is it that's supervising in the workplace who does not think the people who work there deserve the right and the dignity to be a part of solving problems one of the things
America learned when Japan outpaced us in the auto industry, one of the things we learned in a big way, a man named Deming tried
to help us understand in this country our car industry and everything else would be better
if all the people who were working there were part of making it work. We paid no attention. So he went
to Japan, Japan paid attention, and they put us in the dust. The
American car industry only came back after we decided that we were going to pay attention to what Deming, John Deming, said to us in this country in a workplace. If it is going to be as productive as it should be, and Lord knows we're always talking
about efficiency in our state government, this goes directly counter to what we should be doing. And if there is somebody who does not want to supervise their folks, and somebody who does not want to respect their folks enough to make them a part of problem solving, I think we ought to be looking at the people who wanted this bill. So I respectfully ask you to vote no, because we should not discount the people who work to make the state run in this way. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak?
Speaker 159
1:35:17
Senator Dismayne has the floor. And just for
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:35:19
a little bit of clarification, because it was a question, the Arkansas State Employees Association is neutral on the bill. Senator has closed. Please call the roll.
I assume there's an objection to roll on the vote, so just call the roll, please. Ballinger? Aye. Bledsoe? Aye. Bond? Bond?
Speaker 2
1:35:37
Caldwell, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Cooper, Davis, Davis,
Speaker 353
1:36:00
Dismang, Eads, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Aye Hickey Hickey Aye Hill Aye Ingram Ingram
Irvin Irvin Blake Johnson Aye Mark Johnson Aye
Gladding Yes Mallet Mallet Pitch Yes Riper Yes Rice Aye Sample. Sample.
Speaker 132
1:36:54
Stubbafil. Stubbafil. Sturge. Teague. Teague. Wallace.
Aye. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Cheatham is no. Senator Cooper is aye.
Anybody else over here? Senator Ingram, aye. Senator Ingram is aye. Senator Flippo, Senator Flowers is no. Anybody else? Anybody else? Cast
up the ballot. 21 yays, 6 nays. The bill is passed. Return it to the House.
Senator Hammer, once again. House Bill 1866, by Representative Petty and Senator Hammer, concerning executive clemency, pardon, and commutation of Senate. Senator Hammer.
Thank you, Mr. Governor. Regarding this bill, a few talking points. First of all, regarding the five-year
waiting period for pardons, 26 states, federal systems, and D.C. have a waiting period of three to ten years.
they allow applicants who have spent years or decades showing real-time life change to have priority over those who have just finished their sentence
the removal of the 30-day waiting and notification after the board recommendation does not remove law enforcement and victims from the process as they still receive notices beforehand it allows files to move quicker from the parole board to the governor's office and the pro board will still provide public notice of vote and this simply removes the waiting period
before the files can go to the governor. Regarding the four-year denied period starting from the date of the governor's denial, fewer notifications to the victims of the crimes more efficient. The governor retains the option to take no action on the applicant if he feels the full four-year wait is not warranted and overall this will speed up the process by allowing meritorious applicants to move to the front of the line and get their applications through the process in a more timely manner. No one spoke against this bill in either the House or Senate Judiciary Committee
and it passed the House floor with 79
to 8 votes and I'll be glad to take questions to the
Speaker 239
1:39:17
level I can. Senator Garner, then Senator Chesterfield. Senator Garner. Thank you
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
1:39:21
Mr. President. So just enlighten my ignorance on this so that the government the governor has the power of pardoned constitutionally, correct? And are we putting any kind of limitations on that constitutional power by this? I don't know that
we'd be putting limitations on or that we'd be
clarifying. And the intent of this, the whole intent
of this bill is to build a little more time between the time which the pardon was asked for, because the reason this was brought to us in the first place is the system is so jammed up right now that they wanted to put a little time between the time that the person got out and the time they would actually apply. And this is pretty well vetted by all the parties, including the parole board, so I don't think it would involve any constitutional issues. I guess
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
1:40:09
I don't have a problem with the parole board itself getting an application,
but if somehow they couldn't apply and that would prevent the governor from doing a pardon, I just worry that might be constitutional. If that's not an issue, maybe I'm ignorant
of the process. Right, and I think I addressed that, and then the statement said the governor retains the
option He'll take no action on the applicant if he feels the full four-year wait is not warranted. So he could supersede this if
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:40:42
he wanted to. I understand. Thank you. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you so much, sir. Could you tell me what you have amended lines 32, 33, and 34?
Chair
Unverified
1:40:51
Senator Chesterfield wants everybody to listen. not really but okay okay line 30 on line 35
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:41:03
it says for a period of five years could you tell me what it was before then I think you could fight
they could as soon as they fulfill the time they could apply right then and that's part of the problem the parole board believes that there should be a greater grace time upon which the person you know proves their worthiness for this and so
So they're delaying it to a five-year time so as to address the fact that the system is plugged up. Well, if
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:41:33
the individual has begun rehabilitation in the system and has demonstrated good citizenship. Thank you, Senator. Please proceed. If the individual has begun to turn his or her life around in prison and has demonstrated good citizenship not only in prison and great remorse after prison, they still have to wait five years?
That's my understanding, and I think the debate is that while that is good in theory, the reality is that it is
not necessarily proving out that way as it was. but we can't judge all people by one person is that correct I
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
1:42:13
think that's the I think that's the discretion of the government parole board
and that's why there's a little bit of latitude in here I see well thank you so much yes ma'am Senator
Elliott is recognized for a question Senator Hammer would you just
reclarify for me exactly what the problem is that we're fixing that is it the The problem is and
the reason this is being brought up is because as I understand it as soon as individuals get out and they apply for pardon that those that have been in line for a long time waiting to get it that that it is for the generic term layman's term was it was clogging it up so that it that it has they wanted to get the five year period in there because they believe that based on their history and their experience that it would that it on average takes that long.
And when you, you know, the fact that 20 other six states, federal systems, D.C., have a
period of three to ten years, they're trying to align with what appears to be the trend to really have adequate time for a person to show that
they are worthy of that pardon. So I'm trying to get to the nub of which problem we maybe should be fixing. So is there a clog up? I really realize there are several people. but what's happening at the end where they're supposed to be addressed that's causing a problem
could you ask that again so I'm following you that there are a lot of people in the system
who is it that's not able to handle all those people that get in that line who is that I
think you would find it would be the well the pro board is one that's brought this and asked for it so as to create a little
space and spread this out a little further so
I would say it's at the pro board level And so that's why I'm wondering, are we fixing the wrong problem? Do we need to fix the issue with the parole board
in that they are not able to, for whatever reason, address all these people who have done their due diligence? But now we're going to say, because the
parole board is not able to meet what they're supposed to do, we're going to have somebody wait five
years. And I think that what they would contend is that it still goes back to the question of a person having adequate time to show that their rehabilitation in while in prison they've had enough chance to show that once they have been
released and they want to based on their experience and based on other statistics be able to extend that out five years which they feel provides more of an opportunity for that person to prove themselves and I think part of the problem is they apply they get turned down and it's just a churn that if they could extend it out to the five years, it would reduce the churn and eventually, and perhaps I think this is one reason why the parole board is probably on overload and maybe before we go to talking about adding personnel or adding expenses and everything,
we need to apply this first as it aligns with 26 others to see if
it works. Is this a best practice around and around
the country? I would say it is, based on 26 other states in D.C., that this is the trend. This is kind of the acceptable average. So I don't think it's being over-burdensome on those that are applying for parole. I think this is best practices, and that's why they're bringing it to us.
So there are 20-something states who already have that five-year waiting period? Well,
there's 26 states, federal system in D.C. that have a waiting period of 3 to 10, and they felt that based on their personal experience and 5 being in the middle,
that was a good place to start. Okay. So, but then lastly, I want to
be sure because now is that in the bill about the parole board not being able to handle the backup? Is that somewhere in this bill?
I don't believe that's in the bill. I think that's speaking to the
reason why the bill is being
brought. Yeah, because I don't want us to start punishing people more because the parole board is not able to do its work. That's my worry here. Because if it's a matter of they need to wait five years and because we want them to be able to slowly assimilate into society,
I think that's what this ought to say. And the reason for wanting them to assimilate in society should not have anything
to do with whether or not the parole board is able to do its job, because if that's the case,
that's what we ought to fix. The way I would respond to that, Senator Elliott, I think by establishing the five-year mark, yeah it will it will reduce the redundancy of denials that are currently happening which keeps people in the system is going to prolong it a
little bit longer to line up with best practices so that the first time they apply they would be able to get it instead of being denied and then those numbers stay in the system and it just accumulates and accumulates and I think this is going to fix the problem or address it yes ma'am
Speaker 145
1:47:45
any other questions anyone wish to speak on
Speaker 117
1:47:49
this against for senator ballinger will speak for i just i
Speaker 111
1:47:56
mean because of the confusion i just
i hope to kind of help you understand how i understand this i mean we cannot limit the governor's ability to pardon he can pardon whoever he wants whenever he wants its executive function something constitutionally. But there is a mechanism now. There's kind of the aspect of it that is purely just sort of administrative, like how you do the application process. And so all this is, is just making it where you don't apply for the first five years. And the reason why I think that this actually benefits the people who are trying to get the reform is that if you are not five years after your discharge, you're probably not going to get
parted unless there's some sort of extraordinary circumstances where this has already been brought to the governor's attention anyway, and so it'll make it where I think there'll be more opportunity, more time to actually deliberate on the people who their, you
Speaker 498
1:48:43
know, applications are warranted. So anyway, I appreciate a good vote. Anyone else
Speaker 241
1:48:47
wish to speak on it? Senator, you ready to close? Briefly, I'd
like to give you a story that I think emphasizes part of the need for this.
An applicant pled guilty to a de-felony, domestic battery in the third degree for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. While serving probation, he was arrested on multiple occasions, was convicted of driving while intoxicated, and despite the serious crime and poor performance on probation, he submitted a pardon application within months of his sentence ending. Under our current sealing statutes, he would be ineligible to request to have his record sealed, but he was able to ask for a pardon. It is this type of applicant that
demonstrates the need for a five-year waiting period. Additionally, he got to make his request shortly after the sentence ended while other men and women spend years or even decades demonstrating their rehabilitation. It is that type of applicant who deserves priority. The ones who can show the majority life change or the major life changes and needs of a pardon to help them with employment, to adopt the children, sometimes just the means to find final forgiveness and and closure, so this will open the system up to where those individuals would have the greater opportunity.
So I appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed.
Is there any objection to rolling it? Is there
Speaker 502
1:50:17
any objection? There is an objection to rolling the vote. Please
Speaker 355
1:50:29
call the roll. Ballinger? Ballinger? Bledsoe? Bond? Caldwell? Bledsoe? Caldwell,
Cheatham, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Davis, Dismain,
Speaker 353
1:50:48
Eads, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark
Johnson. Mark Johnson. Letting. Mallet. Pitch. Pitch.
Rayford Rice Rice Sample Sample Stubbafill Stubbafill Sturge
Speaker 68
1:51:44
Sturge Teague Wallace Wallace is aye Anyone wish to vote or change their vote Senator Teague
is that not voting Senator Teague
is not voting Senator Pitch is aye.
Anybody else over here? Senator Flippo is aye. Senator English is aye. Senator Mark Johnson is no. Anyone else? Senator Clark is aye. Who are you pointing
Speaker 236
1:52:22
to, Senator Hester? Okay. Anybody else? Senator Sturge is aye. Okay. Cast up the ballot.
16 yays, 14 nays. the bill does not pass. Senator Elliott.
Speaker 52
1:52:38
Senator Elliott. You want to come back? Okay. This is HB
1928. Yes. House Bill 1928 by Representative Flowers to amend the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 and require all open public meetings to be recorded.
Senator Elliott. Thank you, Mr. Governor. So if Representative Vivian Flowers and Representative Payton got together and created a bill, knowing the extremes that they are, it would be this bill. If George Eliot and Jimmy Hickey, you better look around, on the same bill, do something together, it would probably result in this bill. I say all that to you to say this is very much a bipartisan bill that has to do with openness of government.
So, and that's the first thing I'd like you to know because some very unsuspecting groups work together on this bill. and it this i'll just read you what the notes are from the the presentation in the house so you'll know what it is and it's a government transparency bill that amends our foia law to ensure optimal citizen access awareness and engagement without burdening local governmental bodies so the idea here was to let them use whatever technology they can use without it
been a big expense to them. The bill is written to allow flexibility to use any equipment or medium, given the high level of technological sophistication, as well as low cost to no cost of those tools. And it's written to accommodate the ever-changing advancement in technology. The Arkansas Press Association and FOI Task Force supported the bill. 1928 has been engrossed with the amendments
that address their concerns, and they address the concerns of the Arkansas Municipal League in those amendments that are already engrossed, and other local governmental advocates and representatives. It exempts volunteer fire departments, extends implementation data of this proposed law for second class cities and incorporated towns to July 2020, so they will have time to get ready. And it adds enumerated exemptions for executive sessions within the bill.
So that specifically defines what's in that bill. And it is a requirement for officially scheduled, called, and special meetings to allow the public to have access. That's
Speaker 515
1:55:33
what it does. I'll take any questions. Any questions?
Senator Blake Johnson, then Senator Starch, then Senator hill senator blake johnson is
Speaker 516
1:55:46
there any fines i see there's none in the bill but later in code
what what's the fines if someone messes up and and don't
Speaker 517
1:55:56
make a recording or recording is not not available i don't i
don't know that for sure but what i think is that's that is something that is handled i think in the foia section of the bill of the law but i but that is not in here to say that i'm just going on what i think is my
Speaker 516
1:56:15
best knowledge i mean i know there will be minutes available uh if if the recording is not that's that's the only thing that i would have concern
with is whenever we codify this you know i think they can choose to do this now but if we codify it if somebody messes up i don't want it to be you know one striking you're out yeah
i i know that was there were some issues kind of like that
the municipal league had some some questions with and And they got good with the bill, so I assume it's been addressed, Senator.
All right, thank you. Senator Sturge is recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Elliott, I just have a concern about we don't really define public meetings in the bill.
So I guess I'm asking about the scope because we've exempted fire departments, volunteer fire departments, executive sessions and other things, but like fair board meetings or assessment coordination meetings or even political party meetings are all considered public meetings. Is that all going to be then under this purview? Well,
it's governmental meetings. So I would assume if you're having a meeting, a
governmental meeting, because it's a government bill, and like a party meeting would not be,
then if you're not one of these that are exempt in here, and I'm sure the Municipal League probably had a lot to say
about that, then it's everything else I would assume would be covered.
And we're requiring then the entity that calls the meeting to have the sound recording equipment and to keep the tapes for a year or whatever. We're not changing as far as the public is concerned. All public meetings could be recorded by the public, right, video recording or sound recording. We're just saying to the government entity that calls the meeting,
you have to provide that sound recording equipment you have to be the one to give
Speaker 310
1:58:04
it up to citizens if it's requested and so forth does that kind of
yeah it's up to the people who have in the meeting the governmental body that's having a meeting to decide how they want to record it because if you look at line 29 on the first page it says sound only recordings video recordings with sound and pictures or a digital or an analog broadcast capable of being recorded.
All of these things have to be recorded in some kind of way, and it doesn't have to be
what's technology changing. It's up to them. I might just take out a cell phone and record that meeting, but it
has to be something that if the public wants it, then they can have access. But it's one of those
things, right? You're just after the audio. It doesn't have to be that they set up camera systems or anything like that,
but they have to at least capture the audio. At least have that.
Speaker 109
1:58:55
At least that, yes. Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome. Senator Hill, then Senator Hammer, then Senator Pitch.
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
1:59:01
I guess my question is, what about your local county fair boards? Are they going to
have to record their meetings? And who's going to keep up with that? Let me finish on this. If you have a secretary of a fair board or any other group, I think it's going to be hard to get volunteers to keep up with all that
information for the freedom of information. Well, I think the idea, if they are a governmental body, they are getting governmental funds to run, that's
a responsibility they have, because that's probably, and I can't tell you which person in there is going to do it.
I don't pretend to do that. But there are so many ways that we keep up with our meetings. I go to meetings all the time, and I just lay down my cell phone and hit record. And that's something that's easy to do. So it's not dictated how you have to
do it, but you just have to keep it in a way that
Speaker 535
1:59:57
you can share it with the public. That's all.
Senator Hammer. Thank you, Mr. Governor. I guess my question,
one question based on what you just said.
So if I go to a public meeting, I'm the person that's designated, which I guess a person would have to be designated by the board as to who's going to be the official recorder of the meeting. and I do that on my personal cell phone, am I responsible or how long am I responsible to keep that on my personal device in the event somebody could question the meeting after
that? I believe it says in here that it's one year because just because you recorded on your cell phone doesn't mean that you have to keep it on your cell phone. You can have it transcribed
onto paper if you want to keep it that way. If you look at line 33 on the first page, A recording of an open meeting shall be maintained by the public entity
for a minimum of one year from the date
of the open public meeting. And so in the case of like, and I'm thinking about like volunteer fire department meetings or fair board meetings or some of these other little entities that occur, a library meeting because we had a situation come up in audit a year or so ago. Somebody
or that entity is going to have to retain that for one year. Is that
correct? Yes. Whoever it is that's recording. Whoever's doing the recording, however you want to do it, is not prescribed in here because these are the folks that are, I don't know what this might mean to you. The folks who are cities of a second class and incorporated towns are exempt from subdivisions of this bill. So, but it is the case, and I think the simplest way to put this,
if you're getting public funds, you are being run by public funds, and you are not exempt in this bill, then, yes, you have to keep records of what you do in the
meeting. Is what brought this up that we're
questioning the previous method, I guess, which was for a secretary to record minutes and those minutes to be official documents? What pushed this that we're moving away from what we
used to find acceptable to wanting to replace it with this?
Well, I don't know if that's what pushed us away from anything, but I think what we have here, rather,
are more options of how we are going to record these minutes. Is there anything that would prevent
them from doing that now? From doing what?
If they chose to record it. Oh, no.
No, it's just that some people were doing none of it. It's just that some people were doing none of these. Some people weren't keeping minutes at all.
And so when all this group of folks got together and worked with the Municipal League and worked with the FOIA Task Force, when they worked with all these groups, they tried to come up with ways that would provide everybody who it comes
under this bill they would have various ways they could record them their minutes
okay so before they had the option to do it
but now you're mandating on line 27 that they shall record it so keeping a secretary keeping
records anymore is is not going to be an option they're all going to have to have a recording device and record it correct and because
we're talking about the issue of sound and and this was informed by all the technology we have right now like things right in our hand or you can bring in a tape recorder or you can do it however you wish you can record it on video but it just seems a small thing to ask people who are using governmental funds not to record what they're doing all right
Speaker 465
2:03:45
Thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. Senator Pett, then Senator Mark Johnson Ferndale. Senator Pett, as
Speaker 544
2:03:53
I asked earlier, there's going to be a cost to this somehow. One
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
2:04:08
that comes up the most is I attend a city director's meeting where typically I'm the only one in the audience as an elected official.
It's a very small city south of Fort Smith. How would they propose taping this if they're the board? I mean, I see that we're going to have to get equipment on this, and I'm afraid there's going to be an unfunded mandate that you have to videotape or audio tape or get a hard something. And I guess the question I'd have also is what happens. I mean, like, we're a prime example. Our speakers and microphones aren't working. What happens then if you miss part of your public government meeting?
So that's my concern. Well, I think if something happens, then it's incumbent upon that body
to just to explain what happens, because things do happen. And I don't think anybody would just assume that it just happened conveniently, because it's just the way we have access to all kind of small technology now to do these kind of things. If somebody, for example, if something happened to my phone, probably somebody else in there has a phone, but it would make sense for people to plan to make sure that if we run out
of space on my phone or my recording device, that you have another one. And so I don't know that this is going to be an issue where smart folks can't overcome what's being asked here. I appreciate that question, but it's just pretty cheap to record most things these days. I don't think any of us
Speaker 341
2:05:46
disagree with the disagreement of the recording,
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
2:05:51
the cell phone, etc. I think it's the keeping it for a solid year
for any purpose that a government entity might have. that could end up being cost per day. Well, I'll tell you what
I would ask of you, Senator. The main parts of this bill is sitting right
back there and somebody else is going to ask me a question. Do you mind asking her to see if you can get some, if you can get some more clarification? Vivian Flowers sitting right back there on this. If you don't mind doing that,
and then I can go on and try to answer the next question. If you don't mind doing that, I would appreciate it,
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:06:28
Senator. Yes. thank you mr president uh senator elliott i was trying to count back in my mind how long ago it
was that i worked for the city north little rock and attended every city council meeting and the city clerk jackie neal used a cassette recorder and recorded every word of every meeting she plugged it into the pa system and when the tape clicked she flipped it over real quick and I guess, except for a second or two, we had every word. And I figured out that was 39 years ago. And I think we've not only progressed in the technology, but also lowering the cost of doing such a thing.
And I noticed, and I just want to clarify, on page, I guess it's page 2 of the bill, on line 5 and 6, they you've exempted or the sponsor has exempted cities of the second class and incorporated towns until July 1 2020 so they've got almost 14 15 months or whatever right to implement this I've just to me this is as much a protection for the the public bodies that are going to do this as
it is to allow the citizens to access this it's as you mentioned you can you're holding your phone We know we can do it with that, that you can have an iPod Touch or some other similar device, a little recorder, like some of the reporters use to record us, and we hear it on the radio or television, transcribe it to a digital file that could be posted on a website. Is that correct? Yeah, that
is correct. Because I find myself online all the time from somewhere somebody's recorded me
that I didn't even know they had done so. And it's out there on Twitter and the U-verse and every place else. So it is just one of those things, I think, that we've advanced so much that could hardly be a reason, seems to me, we can't do this. But when the Municipal League, of course, they had the concerns, of course, of those unincorporated cities. To move this out to 2020 was exactly what you said, to help somebody who could not figure out how to use the technology we have right now to do something.
Well, if you know you can't do that and you are not up on it, you have until 2020 to find a way just to record something. And this is only for public entities that are
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:08:56
already subject to the Freedom of Information Act. That's right. Is that correct? Thank you, Senator. And that's one of the reasons the FOIA task force was
interested as well, because that's part of what they advocate for. Thank you, Senator. Thank you. You're very welcome. We have a question. Mr. Herman has a question. Just a quick question.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:09:19
Okay, so it says executive sessions or volunteer fire departments. I'm sorry, Senator, are you on page two? I'm
on page two. Line three. Yes, two and three and four. It says that subdivisions D1 and 2 of the section do not apply to executive sessions or volunteer fire departments. Is there a reason why D3 wouldn't apply either? It seems to me you would, if they're not going to be applying to Executive Sessions or Volunteer Fire Departments, that they would, that D3 should also be included in that.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:09:56
you're talking about, I'm sorry. So D3 would be the recording shall be maintained in a format that may be reproduced upon a request under this chapter. D3. But we've exempted them out of D1 and D2, so I'm wondering why we wouldn't exempt them out of D3, because I don't know what recording they would maintain then if they're exempted out of D1 and D2. Does
that make sense? Yes. You're talking about these folks, like the volunteer fire department and executive sessions.
See what I'm saying? Yeah, if they are exempted, they're not going to have to
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:10:36
keep any of these records at all. Is that what you're asking me about? Yeah, it seems to me it should state subdivisions D1 and 2 and
3 of the sections do not apply. See what I'm saying? Second class. When you get to line 6, D1, D2, and you
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:10:58
think it should say and 3, is that what you're saying? Yeah, on page two, line two. I think if you're trying to amend or if you're trying to make it to where executive sessions or volunteer fire departments are excluded from D1 and D2, it should also include D3 because now there's no recording that they would maintain. That's just the way I read the bill.
No, I don't read it that way because on page 36 where it says, these recordings shall be maintained in a format that may be reproduced. And then we say, but these folks don't reproduce it. The ones under A, B, and C,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:11:47
they don't have to reproduce anything. Okay, I'm just not
sure why it's not, okay. All of the rest, when you look at everything right down through line one on page two refers to everybody else except these folks that are listed here, and that's why there's no reason to state them twice.
We state everything that is wanted, and then the exemptions are
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:12:14
made. Okay, I just would have included D, subsection 3 on page 2, line 2. But anyway. Okay, all right, thank you. Sorry. Senator Ballinger, are
Speaker 139
2:12:24
you... Anybody else got a question? Anybody
else? Anybody wish to speak? Senator Ingram. All right, are you going to, Senator, are you going to recommend the people
Speaker 381
2:12:40
that did the sound in this house to do the sound for these, in this ballot?
Speaker 117
2:12:47
I'll pass. Who wants to speak on this bill, against it, for it,
Speaker 137
2:12:54
Senator Ballinger's going to speak against the
Speaker 111
2:12:59
bill. I hate this because I actually really do appreciate what Representative Flowers and Senator Elliott is doing. I wish, I wish this would have been earlier on in the process. I think that honestly, I think that every one of these meetings that they're talking about should be recorded. The thing that I'm hesitant and the reason why I'm going to vote no as much
as I hate that is it's a misdemeanor if they negligently don't record this. So every little task force that's meeting anywhere, subcommittees of city council, school boards, all these people who are subject to FOI, and they should be, they're government employees, that transparency and accountability needs to be here and in this day and age it doesn't make any sense at all that they aren't recording that data is cheap they should find a way to do it but if they don't they're guilty of a misdemeanor and so I think at this point I would just say as much as I I mean
it pains me because all of you should do that I was actually visiting with Senator Hester and he said if I was running for county judge I'd run on the fact that this kind of transparency I'm going you generate and so that would be my recommendation is everybody ought to do this but if they don't they're they're guilty of a misdemeanor and so for that reason at this point i don't think we're ready for it thank you
Speaker 93
2:14:15
anybody else wish to speak on the bill uh senator bond you're on the fence about whether
Speaker 117
2:14:20
to speak you sure you want to speak i am on the fence i think he wants to speak
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
2:14:28
there's been some questions about the drafting and i understand where senator ervin's coming from but i think senator hickey and i believe that the bill is drafted correctly could be wrong but it says if you d1 and d2 are exempted meaning if you didn't record and uh then there's no reason to maintain it so i think the drafting is correct in the bill number two look we're streaming it took us forever to do it right uh everybody records everything how many of you have
a podcast in here. I know Senator Ingram has a podcast, right? Senator Flippo has a podcast or an audio. We all do these things. This is just good public open government and we ought to pass this
Speaker 169
2:15:16
bill. Anyone else wish to speak against? Four. Senator, ready to close? Yes.
Your hour's almost up. Members, I appreciate
all your questions and even all your concerns, but if this is a misdemeanor, I'm
just pretty sure it's been a misdemeanor for a long time.
This is not something that just came out of the blue. now we talk about governmental transparency all the time and we even got on board with what we're doing in streaming right now you know it took us a long time but we've gotten used to it we're doing it and when it comes to finding a way today the way we have cheap technology that we can't get ready by 2020
if you are a city of the second class. I think that's expecting so much less of us than we are capable of doing. And so if we're
going to talk about transparency, if we're going to say that's what we are and a bipartisan group gets together and works with the municipal league to make sure all of these issues that we're talking about regarding no matter what size city. And then on the other side of that, the
FOIA task force agrees we've got all these district bodies thinking this is good government. I would hate to send the message to the public that we don't agree that recording your meetings, if you're a governmental body, is not good government. So I ask you for a good vote on this bill because we have certainly talked about it long enough, I think, to know
that this is something that's good for all of us to do. So thank you very much. Thank you,
Senator. Madam Secretary, when you get a chance, please
Speaker 353
2:17:27
Bledsoe? Bledsoe? Bond? Caldwell? Caldwell?
Cheatham. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Cooper. Davis.
Speaker 353
2:17:48
Dismain. Dismain. Eads. Eads. Elliot.
English, English, Flippo,
Speaker 451
2:17:59
Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hammer, Hendron, Hendron, Hester, Hester,
Speaker 353
2:18:09
Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Irvin, Blake Johnson,
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Aye, Letting, Aye, Mallet, Mallet, Pitch, Pitch, Rapert,
Speaker 68
2:18:49
Rapert, Rice, Rice, Sample Stubbeville Stubbeville Sturge Sturge Teague Teague
Wallace Wallace Anyone wish to vote or change
their vote? Aye Senator Teague is aye Anybody else? Senator Hill is aye Cast up
the ballot 16 yeas Zero nays. The bill does not pass. Return to the House. Senator
Speaker 589
2:19:22
Hammer. You've heard the motion. All
those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.
Motion's carried. Vote's expunged. Senator Hammer, you're back again. Where's Senator Hammer? Hammer time. Okay. Senator Hammer, we're going to pass
over him. Okay, Senator Cheatham's up next, but we'll entertain a gentleman from South
Arkansas. House Bill 1950 by Representative Glover and Senator Cheatham to establish John H. Johnson
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
2:20:04
Day as a Memorial Day. Senator Garner. Thank you, Mr. President. This is the bill we ran a couple of bills ago that Senator Hammer
Speaker 41
2:20:16
ran, HB 1866. I'll tell you to come down, but we would recognize Senator Garner for a
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
2:20:21
motion. Correct. H.B. 1866 should be the one that Senator Hanuman ran about two bills ago, the one dealing with the parole
board. I was going to make a motion to expunge the vote by which that failed. The reason why is that I misunderstood which bill it was when it initially came across.
I would have spoke for it, and I think there are some actors who are supportive of the bill that would like to have a chance to talk to
members about that bill. I told Senator Hammer I was going to do this so I'm not trying to pull a move on him it's a motion to expunge the vote by which HB 1866 sorry hang on one second 1866
Speaker 595
2:21:13
we'll do this we'll do this a little later
Speaker 139
2:21:30
okay sorry Senator Cheatham didn't do her that Senator
Cheatham The atmosphere in here is very positive.
I appreciate that. House Bill 1950 by Representative Glover and Senator Cheatham to establish John H. Johnson Day as a
Speaker 601
2:21:53
Memorial Day. Senator Cheatham. Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and
Speaker 602
2:21:58
gentlemen, this is just a pretty simple bill. You may have heard of John H. Johnson. You may not have, but John Johnson was born in Arkansas City in the county of Dumas, which is in the heart of my district. He grew up there and moved to Chicago, finished college there, became a publisher, a writer, got involved in television, very, very well thought of in the city he lived in, did a lot of good for local and community.
As a matter of fact, in 1996, President Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the community there wants to have a day to honor him on November the 1st. Appreciate a good vote.
Any questions? Senator Mark Johnson is recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Cheatham, did you
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:22:56
know, do you remember when Mr. Bill Bowen created his national advisory council for what was then first commercial bank in downtown little rock and did you know that
mr johnson was one of the distinguished arkansans that was named to that board and that board did a lot of wonderful things for our state although most of the members were people that had
moved on to other places but came back here to try to help our state did you know that
Speaker 602
2:23:23
mr john johnson i appreciate that but he does note in the bill he was involved in a lot of different boards and philanthropic opportunities. He
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:23:32
was of course very active in his home later hometown of Chicago but he came back to Arkansas and
helped with some of the economic development things that that group
did so I wanted to know if you knew
Speaker 611
2:23:53
that and call your attention. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Have you closed for your bill?
Speaker 614
2:24:03
I am closed. The question before us is the passage of House
Speaker 2
2:24:07
Bill 1950. Call the roll, madam. Any objection to rolling this?
No objection. Roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang,
Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stebafield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wishing to vote or change their vote? Seeing none, cast up
Speaker 611
2:24:34
the ballot. By vote of 35 yeas, 0 nays, you passed House Bill 1950.
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:24:45
You have something up to the desk to read or calendar? New, Ms.
Speaker 61
2:24:51
Cornwell, the House of Representatives respectfully request the return to the House of House Bill 1978. Any objection? So
moved. Notice the passage of Senate Bill 665 as amended by the House. Agri-Agriculture.
We are committed on engrossed bills to whom was referred House Bill 1385
Speaker 136
2:25:19
by Representative Mayberry, compare the engrossed copies of Richland, find the same correctly engrossed. City, county, local.
whom was referred Senate Bill 537 by Senator Clark, recommend do pass to concur in House Amendment No. 1. Calendar. any other items
Speaker 78
2:25:45
I've got these right here and these are two I've written but one
Speaker 352
2:26:02
of these I think went before I got here Okay, we've got a few items at the desk, then we're going to go
House Bill 1865, by Representative Jean, an act to define
the monies to be available in the Rainy Day Fund and to allow that additional funds may be made available for state agencies and institutions appropriations. House Bill 1865. Calendar. House Bill 1876, by Representative Jean, an act to amend the Revenue Stabilization Law to
Speaker 158
2:26:43
declare an emergency. House Bill 1876. Calendar.
Speaker 632
2:26:50
it's good to have the legendary reporter Mr. Barnes over here today good to see you
Speaker 626
2:27:06
Barnes good to see you in the chamber legendary hearing as
Speaker 638
2:27:13
well I gave it to Joanne now we got a couple more Notice House
Bill 1986 by Representative Penzo, an act to amend the law prohibiting spoofing,
to amend the law regulating telecommunications service providers and spoofing providers, to declare an emergency, House Bill
1986. Insurance and Commerce. We've got one more. We've got House Bill.
House Bill 1980 by Representative Davis, an act concerning Arkansas tobacco control and regulation of tobacco products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products, e-liquid products, and cigarette papers to amend the Unfair Cigarette Sales Act to amend the Arkansas Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1977 and declare an emergency.
House Bill 1980. City, County, Local. Anything
Speaker 643
2:28:16
else at the desk? Anything else at the desk,
Speaker 644
2:28:20
Secretary? We're going to go to the budget bill next.
Speaker 185
2:28:32
go ahead and make your motion. Please
go to the well. Let's go make them
a quick motion. Senator Teagues, understanding. Collective. Senator Clark
Chair
Unverified
2:28:47
is recognized for a motion. I wish to move to
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:28:53
suspend the rules to place house built. One second, Senator. Go ahead, Senator. I wish to is
this working now? Yes. It's working better than it was. I wish to suspend the rules to place House Bill 1385 on the end of the calendar for today.
Speaker 52
2:29:16
Okay. Any questions? Any objection? We have an objection. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? No. Ayes have it. Okay. Senator Garner.
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
2:29:34
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules to place Senate Bill 665 at the end of the calendar. We came back from the House today. I talked to every single member of the Agri committee about this and about what the amendment does and it makes the
bill better. Pass 31 to I don't think there's any no votes on the Senate side. That has to be
placed at the end of the calendar today. Any questions?
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
2:29:58
Senator Irvin has a question. 665. Senate bill 665 has to do with the developmentally disabled facilities of
Speaker 58
2:30:05
medical marijuana. Any other questions? Is there any objection to this motion? No objection. Motion
Speaker 180
2:30:13
carried. Rules are suspended. Senator Teague is up. Budget. Thank you,
Speaker 611
2:30:22
Mr. President. Members, we have several bills. I have sent Bill 595 act to define the monies to be available in the rainy
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:30:31
day funds. Do we need to vote these and we won't vote
Speaker 611
2:30:38
these separate or we get back to all. Okay. All right. I'm gonna hold out Senate bill 122 and 1200 to the end. So I have Senate bill 597 revenue stabilization law. House bill 1106 Department of Finance Administration Revenue Services. That's bill 1109 Department of Finance Administration dispersing officer. House bill 1130
Department of Arkansas State Police. House bill 1197 Arkansas Tech University. We're going to vote on Senate Bill 122 and House Bill 1200 separately. We're going to vote on Senate Bill 122
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:31:07
and House Bill 1200 separately. Senator, the Senator would like to, it
is a motion to batch. Batch and roll the
Speaker 236
2:31:18
rest of it. Senator would like to batch all of these except if you have your budget calendar. you'd like to
vote on SB 122 separately and HB 1200 is that correct yes those two will come out
the rest will be batched any objection to the batching or the rolling
of the vote please I see none roll the vote you
Speaker 617
2:31:40
want to do the 12 the two first okay so
okay all right we're going to do it
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:31:47
in a different order go ahead all right members I have sent bill 122 and an actor,
Speaker 611
2:31:52
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and I have House Bill 1200, an actor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Reynolds Center on Aging, Bozeman College of Public Health, Public Sciences Institute.
I believe Senator Rayford wants to speak on this before we vote for it. So I have Senate Bill 122 and House Bill 1200.
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:32:06
I think we can treat them as a pair for Senator Rayford. So you want to batch those two together? Yes, as soon as Senator Rayford gets through with his talk on it. Yeah, I think that's fine. Or it doesn't matter to me. We can do them separate either way. Well, it matters. I mean, okay. Batch them. Let's batch those
two together unless there's an objection. Is there an objection to batching those two together that he pulled out of the others?
Speaker 32
2:32:32
There's no objection. Okay. Anybody have any questions on either one of those? Senator Rayford would like to
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
2:32:46
speak on... Speak on the bill. Speak on both of them or... Yes. Okay. members I actually have waited several weeks in order
to address this as you know down here in this body when we have issues that we need to cover with different agencies or different departments we try to work with them through the budget process to address those things I'm not going to take a lot
of time here today because it's late and we need to move forward but I want you to know that absolutely with all of my efforts to address the situation and when I feel a public employee that's paid over $200,000 a year at UAMS as a professor who decided to take to a publication and absolutely falsely accused me in that publication, couldn't simply say, I apologize. I was wrong. Dr. Cam Patterson met with me. He acknowledges
that the person was wrong, but he said, I can't force them to do the right thing. I'm not going to hold up this budget any further. I'm definitely not going to vote against the budget because I appreciate what UAMS does and it voted for the funding that we've done, we've put forward for UAMS. I appreciate that. But I am going to contemplate what we do to better hold people accountable that are paid with public taxpayer funds when they take to national media and say things that are absolutely false. I'm going to find out whether or not this
person has tenure and I'm going to write and object to tenure being given to them and if they have tenure I will write and state my case on why I think it should be taken from them. I believe the integrity of this body, I believe in the integrity of each person serving, and I fight hard for all of you when it's time. In this particular case it was me, that's why you haven't heard much about it till now, but I wanted to state my case clearly and publicly that in this state and really frankly across the country you can disagree on issues but
when you start using words that maliciously smear people's reputations and you do that just for spite it's wrong and shouldn't be rewarded and I'm absolutely astonished that more people at UAMS and the academic side of things there does not object to someone teaching students that would use that kind of language in a publication that's all i have to say
on it thank you thank you senator anyone
else wish to speak um for against on those two bills sb122 and hb1200 that are being backed
no one else centers closed
computer please roll the vote. I've already asked them. No one objected. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting,
Malik, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample, Stubble, Phil, Sturge, T. Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none,
cast up the ballot. 35 yeas, 0 nays. Both of those bills, one Senate
bill, one House bill, are passed. The Senate bill was transmitted to the House. The House bill is returned to the House. And now we have already agreed to batch and roll these next ones. We're batching the rest of them. Mr. President, can I just remind them what they are?
Speaker 611
2:36:20
Yes, please. Rainy Day Fund, Senate Bill 595, 597, Revenue Stabilization, House Bill 1106, Department of Finance Administration Revenue, House Bill 1109, Department of Finance Administration Disbursing, House Bill 1130, Department of Arkansas State Police, and House Bill 1197, Arkansas Tech University. And again, I move that
we batch and roll them. We've already made that motion, and I don't see any objection
to either. let's roll the vote once
Speaker 11
2:36:50
the computer once they're all properly she's ready
Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Rafer, Rice, Sample, Stevafield, Sturge, T. Wallace.
Speaker 5
2:37:15
Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up
the ballot. 35 yeas, 0 nays.
The bills are passed. Thank you, members. I appreciate it. House bills get returned to the House. Senate bill transmitted to the House. And we have one item at the desk, and I'm going to go to Senator
Elliott, who is in Senator Chesterfield's area. Well, your Committee on City, County, Local Affairs to Moose Bird House Bill 1385 by Representative Mayberry recommend do pass as amended No. 2. Calendar. Senator Elliott.
Senator is recognized. Senator Elliott is
recognized. Thank you, Mr. Governor. I am here actually in response to Senator Raper's comments just because I appreciate the fact that he is concerned about whatever it is that happened. But I happen to
know the person that's being referred to here,
who is a very fine doctor, and I must say in full disclosure, a close friend of mine, a person whom I know to be a very caring, loving person.
She was called because she is head of what is called the Medina Institute that is part of an institute that runs in the interest of Muslim outreach in our community and bringing people together and worshiping their faith. I am mindful that in our education committee, we passed a bill, which I think is a good bill.
about open expression and freedom of expression on our college campuses. This is a person who did
not make any comments on the college campus. So it causes me to wonder, whatever the comments are, and I haven't read them, do we really mean it when we say people ought to have freedom of expression? Should she have made whatever comments she made on the college campus and therefore they
would have been okay because that is exactly what our bill said. This person and I have to say in her defense did not even make these comments on a college campus. She made these comments on her own time as a leader and being part of the Board of Trustees at the Medina Institute and I just want you to understand that UAMS is not coddling somebody who is some kind of person who's not loving and
caring, but a person just like you and me who has a right to her First Amendment rights of expression. I don't want Senator Raybert to feel as if he's somehow belittled by it. I can't change that. But at the same time, I don't want us to get into censoring people, censoring people and somehow causing people to pay because they work in the government, because in state
government, you do have a right to your opinion on your own time. I just want to be clear, that's what happened. And I'm really glad we didn't end up doing anything negative to UAMS because of that. But this is my friend, this is a person I know who is a wonderful person and I
just couldn't sit still even without calling her name and not stand up on her behalf. So thank
you. Senator Hendren is recognized. Members, I think you noticed
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
2:41:10
we did the budget calendar because we want to make sure we got that done, but we've got 20 more bills to get through here in the batch. So we've got one more page and then whatever's left actually probably a couple more because there's some that have been added to the end. So again, and we have no choice. We will get through this calendar tonight. So keep that in mind of your presentations and your questions because I want us to be thorough, but I want us to understand we've got to finish this this evening. Senator Cooper.
If I go too fast, you all just let me know because we're going to
start rocking and rolling. Senator Cooper. House Bill 1557 by Representative House to create
an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 and to exempt security plans related to medical marijuana
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
2:42:06
facilities. Senator Cooper. Thank you, Mr. President. This is a bill to exempt from the FOI the security plans for the medical marijuana facilities.
that it exempts the security assessment, the drawings and diagrams and assessments and things like that. So I'll be ready to answer any questions if you have it.
Speaker 58
2:42:31
Any questions? Anyone wish to speak on this?
Speaker 174
2:42:34
Any objection rolling the vote? Please, Senator Closed?
Closed. Please, Closed. Please roll the vote. Balinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne,
Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none, cast up the ballot. 34
yeas, 1 nay. The bill is passed. Return of the House. Senator Ballinger. Senator Ballinger. While he's coming
Speaker 236
2:43:18
down, let's go to Senator Cooper.
Senator Cooper. I mean, he's in deep conversation. House Bill
Speaker 61
2:43:29
1691 by Representative Gray. To require the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services of the
Department of Human Services to promulgate rules for the closure, sale, transfer, and expansion of... We passed over that one, Senator Irvings. Which
one? It's Senator De La Rosa and Cooper. Requires 24 votes. Oh, we passed over Ballinger.
Okay. 1698. House Bill 1698 by Representative De La Rosa to amend the law
concerning the filing and publication of certain campaign finance reports, and to amend portions of Arkansas code resulting from Initiated Act I of 1990 and Initiated Act
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
2:44:15
I of 1996. Senator Cooper. Thank you, Mr. President. This is a bill that does a cleanup concerning paper filing that requires the Secretary of State to notify paper filing
if their filing is not accepted, requires the Secretary of State to maintain a list of paper filers so users of the Financial Disclosure Database know which reports need to be reviewed individually, requires IECs and PACs to follow the same process as candidates for filing on paper. Currently they're inconsistent.
Speaker 91
2:44:51
You ready for questions, Senator? Any questions? Anyone wish to speak on this?
Speaker 21
2:44:57
Any objection to rolling the vote?
Is the senator closed? Closed. Please roll the
vote. Thank you. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Mallet, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. anyone wish to change their vote cast up
Speaker 145
2:45:28
the ballot 35 yeas 0 nays the bill is
passed return to the House Senator Ballinger HB
1664 has both 1664 births in New Crawford and Center Ballinger to establish the life choices lifeline program Senator Ballinger thank you mr.
Speaker 111
2:45:47
president this will be a great law someday I think if we actually carry it out but as it is now it's just completely optional but essentially what it does is it sets up the framework for a program called Life Choices Program, Life Choices Lifeline. It's actually modeled off from a program that they have in Texas, and
it just provides opportunities for outreach to reach women in crisis pregnancy situations. It's possible there could be some federal funding that will allow the Health Department to implement it, but without funding, I wouldn't expect the program to get started at least not for the next couple of years. Happy to answer any questions. Any
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
2:46:23
questions? Senator Bond, is it a private program? Because there's a, if you look at page two, line one, it says funding provided for services of a life choices lifeline program shall be used for non-sectarian purposes only? Correct.
Speaker 111
2:46:36
So it could be, so in Texas, the program
they're using, they contract out and there's an organization that does that. It could be something that the funding could be done through the agency itself. But if it is going to be done through a private organization, then it can't have a, obviously, for it to comply with constitutional requirements. It can't be a religious program. I guess the question
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
2:46:57
is, is there a particular entity that does this program, Life Choices Lifeline Program? My understanding is actually
Speaker 111
2:47:02
there's a couple entities. The ones in Texas, they're called the Human Coalition. And then
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
2:47:07
on page two, line four, this has been an issue in a lot of other things with regards to state money.
it allows for direct-to-participant marketing within the state. Right. Thank you, Senator
Bonds. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak on this? Senator Bond, do you object to roll on the vote? Okay, he's
going to vote no. Any objection to roll on the vote? Please roll the vote. Senator Bond's no. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Speaker 5
2:47:55
Letting, Mallet, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Senator
Flowers present. Senator Flowers present. Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up the ballot. 33 ayes, 1 nay. The bill
Speaker 249
2:48:18
is passed. Return to the House. Senator
Urban. Up next is Senator Urban. House Bill 1712 by Representative Wardlaw. To repeal the law requiring
Speaker 5
2:48:26
the information obtained on home health care services be confidential.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:48:31
Senator Urban. The bill does just exactly
what it says. It's a sunshine bill to allow for this information to be public. Any
questions for the senator? Anyone wish to speak on this?
Anyone? Senator Close? Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote, Madam
Speaker 42
2:48:53
Secretary. There was no objection. You're
up next, too, Senator Irvin. Don't leave us. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang,
Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Mallett, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stubbefield, Sturge, T. Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up the ballot. 35 yays, 0
nays. The bill is passed. Return of the House. Senator Irvin again.
House Bill 1803, by Representative Allen and Senator Irving, to create the Arkansas Blue Ribbon
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:49:41
Senator Irving. Thank you, members. I love this bill. I mean, it does exactly what it says. It creates this panel to create the Blue Ribbon Panel on Pediatric Cancer Research, which will assist in the NCI research and designation as well, and it outlines the duties. And they will be receiving and soliciting donations and grants with the federal government, and it puts together this blue ribbon panel to help seek that out. So, again, I just want to thank all the people that in this body and in the House that helped us on all of these issues.
But this one specifically is for pediatric cancer research, so I
Speaker 241
2:50:22
appreciate a good vote. Any questions? Anyone wish
Speaker 569
2:50:26
to speak on this? Is Senator closed? I have. Any
objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson,
Speaker 5
2:50:47
Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample,
Stubbafield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to
Speaker 145
2:50:54
change their vote? Seeing none, cast up the ballot. 35
yeas, zero nays. The bill is passed. Return to the House. Senator Urban wants to
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:51:08
say something. Members, I just want to thank Senator Bledsoe, Senator English,
Senator Elliott, Senator Chesterfield, Senator Davis, Senator English, the women in this body and the women in the House of Representatives, both Republican and Democrats, came together.
and we batched these two bills, but we came together to form the Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Infant Mortality Review Committees, and that was a bipartisan effort of all the women legislators in both the House and the Senate. And I also want to say that Representative Les Eves was also a co-sponsor on those because he lost his grandbaby this session. So we batch those bills, but I just really want to appreciate the both bipartisan support of the women for those review committees.
So and to ask that you keep representative lessees in your prayers. Thank you, Senator Clark. HB 1809. Thank you.
Speaker 632
2:52:09
A point of personal privilege. Senators
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:52:12
recognize. I just want to tell all of you, however you feel about each other, however you may have treated each other, you have all been very kind to me and I very much appreciated this session. House Bill 1806 is a sentence enhancement that a judge may, if they think it is proper,
add if violence is committed towards a church or at a church. I'll
Speaker 510
2:52:39
be happy to take any questions. Any questions for the Senate? House Bill
create an additional term of imprisonment on offenses that constitute serious acts of
violence against a person at a church or other place of worship. Any questions for the
senator? Anyone wish to speak on this?
Senator's closed. Senator's closed. Appreciate a good vote. Any
objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Desmaine, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallet, Hitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield,
Sterch, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up the ballot, 35 ayes 0,
nays the bill is passed, return to the House. Senator Cooper. House Bill 1814 by
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
2:53:56
Representative Rushing concerning the offense of harassing communications. Senator Cooper. Thank you, Mr. President. This is a bill from Representative Rushing over in the House, what we commonly call harassment
of communications, where somebody uses a telephone or social media to intimidate or frighten or threaten someone over communications media, and that's what the bill is, so I appreciate a good vote. Any
Speaker 703
2:54:29
objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Thank you, Senator Cooper. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismang,
Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Mallet, Pidge, Rapert, Rice, Sample,
Speaker 5
2:54:52
Stubbeffield, Starch, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Senator Sample is no.
Speaker 23
2:55:00
Anybody else? Cast up the ballot. 34 yeas, 1
Return it to the House.
Senator Hester, and this requires 24 votes. House Bill 1850 by Representative McCollum and Senator Hester
to establish the Empower Independence Contractors Act of 2019 to amend portions of the law impacting initiated Act IV of 1948 and to amend definitions of employee, employment, and employment status within Title XI. Thank you,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:55:38
members. This just brings Arkansas's definition of independent contractors into what the federal definition is.
Chair
Unverified
2:55:45
I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions? Are you
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
2:55:51
going to ask a question? I am. Senator Bond is recognized. Now, I received an email from the state chamber saying that they opposed 1850. Is that true? Not true? Am I wrong? I do not believe that is accurate.
I could be told differently. Lance, do you have a different opinion? Well, I was just looking around.
Speaker 174
2:56:17
Thank you, Senator. Senator, do you have anything to say about that? Okay. Anybody else have a question? And Senator Elliott has
a question, and then Senator Teague. It's spreading. So how did we come up with, is it 20? If I remember, if I was reading last night, these 20
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:56:39
criteria, where did that come from? Well, I can tell you what it currently is in Arkansas. It's called like the ABC factor, and I'll read them off. If you meet any of these three criteria currently in Arkansas, you cannot be an independent contractor.
You have to be a contractor. So, if the worker is free from the control and direction of the hire, if the worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hire's business, or the worker is customarily engaged in the independently established trade or occupation. The intent of this bill is to make it easier to be an independent contractor. We've been talking in here all the time. We know that the world is moving to online where more people can work at home, and maybe they can moonlight some at home or on the weekends.
Even in rural areas, somebody can work for a big firm in a rural area possibly through this independent contractor, of course, if they have access to broadband. And this is just simply making it easier on those people to be an independent
contractor. Would you repeat that first criteria, the
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:57:42
three that... Sure. The worker is free from the control and the direction of the hire in relation to the performance of the work, both under the contract and in
fact. How do you interpret what that means if I'm a contractor?
That sounds to me like somebody else is in control of what I do, that I may not be able to do it so independently. Am I interpreting that
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:58:06
wrong? So if I hire you for a particular task, and I say you
go do that task and you go do it, or if I say I'm hiring you for this task, be here at 8 a.m. every morning and I watch you do it and question you and very specific on how you do it and that's not considered very independent. Yeah, but is
that what that person means though? Yes. Yeah, that's what it means that I have to, I really am just kind of bowing to the will of the person who's hiring me.
That's right. As opposed to, and so now these 20 criteria will define what an independent worker is?
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:58:43
Well, you don't have to meet all 20. I'll tell you, this is on the side of the worker that chooses to be an independent contractor. And
the IRS used to use these, but does not anymore? That's what somebody told me? Is
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:58:59
that correct? We're moving to the IRS definition of how they identify an independent contractor.
19 other states do it this particular
way. But did somebody give me bad information when they said the IRS no longer uses those criteria. Correct. Now, these criteria that I'm
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:59:15
telling you, that's what the state of Arkansas does. If you meet any of these criteria, then you can't be an independent contractor. Okay. Thank
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:59:28
you. Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Secretary, first, could I confess to a conflict on this issue? You
Speaker 611
2:59:33
recall I'm an insurance agent, and I think this specifically affects work comp coverage for a lot of people.
Speaker 236
2:59:38
so I have a conflict on this issue here and Madam Secretary he's acknowledging a conflict your own
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
2:59:52
video so it's good so Senator Hester this appears to me to take a lot of people out from under work comp they're covered as an employee they're not covered as independent contractors that your is that your goal here tell
Speaker 611
3:00:07
me what tell me what your goal is to do this well I have two thoughts
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:00:13
on that question one not to know the states do this and we haven't seen
an exodus from work comp right the reality is there may be an individual who I could hire and I would hire a particular task but if it comes along with all the
extra work comp and taxes and things applied then I'm not going to hire them do you
Speaker 362
3:00:32
not normally make them carry their own not always no not
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:00:38
an independent contractor they have insurance that that's required of them so all right
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
3:00:45
thank you mr. president thank you any
other questions senator mark Johnson
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:00:53
Ferndale thank you mr. president senator Hester I'm trying to envision the situation and I've thought about one of my daughters who I would consider an independent contractor she used to work for a very very large company and wrote things for phones apps and she now does the technical side not the programming
side but the I might call the interface side for as an end of I consider her an independent contractor and someone that's designing an app but wants the look and feel to be a certain way that's kind of thing she does is that the kind of person that this would be they're hired by the company that wants an app developed for their company and they hire her to do that she doesn't have any staff she can work from anywhere is that the kind of tech worker that's
independent that we're referring to and I know it's not limited to technology
fields but is that an example of kind of what this would cover I think it's
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:01:55
a great example again like you know you said somebody working in the tech field that can work from home in Arkansas but we
be a you know be an independent contractor for a firm in New York City or wherever else you know that that's the intent people we're moving to a society that likes to kind of do their own thing and they want to work from home they want to
live in a really rural setting and still be able to operate and that's what this frees them up great
That sounds like a great bill. Thank you, sir. Any other questions? Senator Bond has another? Do you have a question? Okay. Any other
Speaker 683
3:02:28
questions? Anyone wish to speak against the bill? Looks like Senator
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
3:02:35
Bond wants to speak against the bill. I know everybody's tired of hearing from me, but if you look, the reason that I caught this is usually I read the chamber's legislative digest under the active bills we oppose to see where my bills are a lot of times.
And so, I mean, and the sponsor may want to respond, and maybe it's wrong, but it's from today, and it says that underneath the heading active bills we oppose, it says independent contractor HB 1850, it says the stated goal of this bill is to create consistency in the definition of independent contractor. Unfortunately, the bill only addresses the independent contractor definitions in unemployment insurance and workers' compensation. there are additional independent contractor definitions such as U.S. Department of Labor
and EEOC and others which will not be changed so that's their position and let me say this for those you know nobody likes to hear from
a lawyer there's no problem becoming an independent contractor all right that's that's not a problem in Arkansas law appreciate it anyone wish
Speaker 55
3:03:39
to speak in favor, Senator Wallace. What's that? Senator Wallace's bond was against.
Speaker 181
3:03:54
Senator Wallace is going to speak in favor of the bill. Thank you, Governor. This is a good bill. I do business in many states. I personally don't like 1099s. I have companies that use
Speaker 183
3:04:05
1099s that work against me. With that said, this is a good bill. There are folks out there that will be helped by this, some in home care, and I support this
Speaker 729
3:04:17
bill. Anybody else wish to speak on this bill? Senator, ready to close? Senator Hester is recognized.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:04:25
Well, for what it's worth, the Chamber's
not reached out to me, but I think what they're saying is it doesn't go far enough. Like, it should encompass more areas of the independent contractor. So, I mean, they didn't reach out to me, so apparently it's not that big a deal. And I think from reading that, that they're saying it could go further, and maybe
vote. Senator's closed. Please call the roll, Madam Secretary. I assume we have objections to rolling it. Ballinger?
Aye. Bledsoe? Bond? No. Caldwell? Aye. Cheatham? Cheatham? Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Eads, Eads, Elliott, Dismain, I think I passed you. English.
Aye. Flippo. Aye. Flowers. Aye. Garner. Yes. Hammer. Yes.
Hickey. Aye. Hill. Aye. Ingram. Ingram. Irvin. Irvin.
Blake Johnson. Aye. Mark Johnson. Aye. Letting. Letting. Mallet. No. Pitch. Pitch. Rapert. Aye. Rice. Aye. Sample. Sample. Stubbafil. Aye. Sturge.
Speaker 145
3:06:16
Anyone wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Pitch is aye.
Anybody else over here? Senator Eads is aye. Anybody else? Anybody else? Cast up the ballot. Senator Eads is aye. Well, I told you Senator Eads is aye before. It's wrong. He voted yes. So we need to hit reverse.
Speaker 740
3:06:48
Well, okay, well, I said it before we cast it, uh, in any event,
so I got you, I got you. They couldn't see you, but what, so here's
what we're going to do. Uh, we're going to, uh, we're going to have to cast this up. This
will be final. If you want to revote this, you can
Speaker 42
3:07:14
make a motion to, okay. All right.
just some technology you do okay okay
Speaker 236
3:07:22
hang on hang on hang on okay 23 a's four nays hb 1850 did not pass does you want to make a motion please come come down here make a motion and we'll thank you
mr president technology issue not a not a big deal senator hester mr president
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:07:47
i'd like make a motion that we expunge the vote by which house bill 1850 passed and then or failed failed
and then revoke you've heard the motion any question any objection without objection the
Speaker 23
3:08:15
The motion is carried. If you would, if you're standing up, you're making it hard for the staff to see what's going on. So that doesn't matter normally, but on a close vote, it can.
So please, please clear the line of sight, as the Army
Speaker 355
3:08:45
Caldwell? Aye. Cheatham? Cheatham? Cheatham?
Chesterfield? Chesterfield? Clark? Aye. Cooper?
Speaker 353
3:08:59
Aye. Davis? No. Dismang, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill,
Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Aye. Leading? Leading? Leading?
Mallet? No. Pitch? Yes. Rapert? Aye. Rice? Sample? Sample? Stubbafil?
Speaker 132
3:09:48
Stubbafil? Sturge? Aye. Sturge? Aye. Teague? Teague? Aye.
Speaker 68
3:09:58
Teague? Teague? Aye. Teague? Aye. Tick Wallace
anyone wants to vote or change their vote Senator Garner's aye anybody else over here Senator Davis is
aye Senator Stubblefield is aye
Senator Hill's aye anybody else cast up the ballot 24 yays
four nays the bill pass. Return to the House. Senator
Speaker 747
3:10:32
Ballinger. All good. All good. House Bill 1856
by Representative Doxon to prohibit state agencies from engaging in the decision-making for an individual in the custody of the state regarding the termination of a pregnancy and from
Speaker 5
3:11:04
extending state funds for the purpose of terminating a pregnancy. Senator Ballinger.
Speaker 111
3:11:10
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a legislation that Representative Doss and I have worked with DHS AG on, and essentially it just enacts Amendment 68, which prohibits the state from funding abortions.
So that's it. I'm happy to answer
your questions. Any question for Senator Ballinger? Senator Davis has a question. One second, Senator Davis. Senator Davis has the floor. I'm just
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:11:35
curious on this. I didn't see anything that maybe spoke about the mother's life being in danger. I mean, I
think in these situations, this bill seems that it would tend more towards minors. And I know in the past we've had cases of 10-year-olds that have been pregnant and been in state custody. And I just imagine that would be, could be a serious health risk for that 10-year-old.
Speaker 111
3:11:59
Yeah, and so that is actually an exception in this situation. So let me see if I can find it. The life of the mother is an exception here. But what I would say is that it is not a blanket prohibition. So they could still, through private means or through a private organization, still fund the abortion. All it is is just saying from the state standpoint, the state's not going to participate in funding of the abortion,
whether we're talking about a minor that's in DHS custody or an inmate in prison. Follow-up, please. Yeah.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:12:38
So, you know, it says that the state agency cannot consent to or approve. And
my question is, if the child is in the guardianship of the state, then who is left to approve a medical decision for this minor? A court, which is the way it happens today, is that a court will
Speaker 498
3:12:56
order it because they'll find it in the best interest of the child.
Speaker 575
3:13:04
However, from the state standpoint, our hope is actually that most of the time the state will fight that. Okay, thank you.
Speaker 145
3:13:14
Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak on this? Is Senator closed? I'm closed. Any objection
to the roll of the vote? There is an objection. Please call the
Speaker 175
3:13:27
roll. Ballinger? Aye. Bledsoe? Aye. Bond? Caldwell? Aye. Cheatham?
Aye. Cheatham? Aye. Chesterfield?
Chesterfield? Chesterfield? Clark? Cooper? Davis? Davis?
Speaker 353
3:13:56
Dismang? Eads? Eads? Elliot? English? Flippo?
Aye. Flowers? Aye. Garner? Yes. Hammer? Yes. Hendren? Aye. Hester?
Aye. Hickey? Hickey? Hill? Hill? Ingram? Ingram?
Irvin? Irvin? Blake Johnson? Mark Johnson? Letting. Letting. Mallock. Pitch. Rapert. Rapert. Rice. Rice. Sample. Sample. Stubbafil.
Speaker 23
3:15:03
Wallace. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Cheatham is aye. Anybody else over here? Senator
Desvane is aye. Senator Rice is aye. Senator Hickey is aye. Senator Hill at the
back of the room is aye. And Senator Davis as well. Senator Irvin. And Senator Sample.
Speaker 254
3:15:33
Anybody else? Okay, cast up the ballot. 29 yeas, 3 nays. The bill is passed. Return down to
our friends in the House, two of which are here in the chamber. Senator Cooper. Oh,
Senator Raper. Senator Raper. Yes, members, I want to make a motion. We have a bill that
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:16:02
just came over from the House, and I just want to make sure that it's showing here now House bill 1980
Correct I didn't get to this while they're looking it up members this President Hendren Was visited with me about
this and I've visited with the chair of City County local and all the members of the committee senator have been talked to
about that bill correct all right you do have it and you you have it here now okay yeah I'm just making sure it's all there okay
that's great just want to make sure they had it over here because it was quick center stubblefield and the committee visited in the hallway about this bill that's been signed out all of the members of the committee actually is had visited about it and I just want to make a motion if we could suspend the rules to be able to hear it at the end of the calendar and give you a chance to visit with me as well in
the interim if you need to about the bill you've heard up you have
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
3:17:08
any questions Senator Urban has a question does it have an
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:17:12
amendment on it that would have to be concurred this is a house bill so actually this
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
3:17:16
would be our action on it yeah I was just wondering if we could
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:17:20
do it tomorrow because I know it's a long bill well Senator Hendrick had mentioned we probably should do it today is the only reason i went ahead and made the motion well i just know that it's a long bill right i'll be happy yeah that's why i said put it at the end of the calendar you've got time to look at it i have a revenue impact
Speaker 300
3:17:35
statement every all the information will print it off for you okay well
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
3:17:38
i would just okay senator hendron yeah thank you mr president i think that we've got it straightened out it was signed out of committee so we need a motion to refer it back to city county which is going to meet and hear it at nine in the morning is what
Speaker 764
3:17:47
we're after no actually they it's been signed out a committee to yeah yeah it got signed out but we want to send it
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
3:17:53
back and that's what you want to send it back yeah to have a hearing in
Speaker 764
3:18:00
the committee no i don't think so sir it's miscommunicated to me why don't we i've not heard about
Speaker 766
3:18:06
that yeah why don't we gather up yeah senator english you have something yeah
i just want to know what the bill's about okay well i think they're trying to figure that out so they're going to get together, talk about it, and then they're going to come back with their
motion. We're going to keep going. Yeah, I'm going to withdraw the motion
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
3:18:28
this time. He's withdrawing the motion, and Senator Caldwell, do you still want to see? My
question was, has it been heard or will it be heard in committee? They're trying to figure that out. We're going to keep rolling because we've got
Speaker 236
3:18:40
a lot of work to do still. Senator Hammer, let's go back to the bill that we skipped over when you weren't here. That was HB 1947. HB 1947. This
is one we passed over. It's a House bill because Senator Hammer was not here. HB 1947. Y'all House Bill 1947
by Representative Fortner and Senator Hamer to amend the law concerning eyesight test requirements for the issuance
Speaker 61
3:19:10
of a driver's license. Senator Hamer. Thank you, Mr. Governor. Simply
put, what this bill will do is if you're applying for a driver's license, an eight-year driver's license, I'm sorry, for a four-year driver's license, every eight years, you would have to get an eye exam.
If you're applying for an eight-year license, you'd have to have an exam every 16 years. Here's a couple things I want you to notice, and I am carrying this on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicle, who supports this bill. currently there is no requirement at all to have to go and get your eye exam I'm on House Bill 1947 there there is there is no I've got a pair of glasses if you need there is no there is no requirement right now in law that you would have to go and get an eye exam and the reason that
they're wanting to stipulate and put this in here they're trying to move everything or as much as possible online and by you being able to go to the eye doctor you go into the eye doctor which most all of us do anyway within that length of time, you would actually be able to renew your driver's license online by being able to submit this. It does not remove the little devices. You know, when you go into the driver's license thing and you look and you do that little test, it doesn't remove it, but it also does not substitute for what would be required in law.
And currently there is a law in the book that if you get stopped and the officer has reason to believe that you are impaired because of your eyesight, you can be required to go and get an exam in order to have
that cleared up. So I'll be glad to take
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:21:00
any questions. Any questions? Thank you. Senator Hammer, I'm either against this or I'm confused,
and I hope you can change my mind to be against it. Eye sight test, I don't see that as an eye exam, and I certainly don't want to get the ophthalmologist and optometrist in to try to answer this question, but I thought eye sight test was
that machine that when you went down to the revenue office and looked in, Is that the eyesight test we're talking about in this? My understanding would require an
exam. Meaning from one kind of doctor or another?
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:21:41
Yes. Either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist? Yes.
Okay. So that would be in lieu of going down to do this online thing, you could, in lieu of going and standing in line at the revenue office on Rodney Parham or
whatever, you could go and you're in my case an optometrist could provide the exam that says he needs glasses and I could provide that online and therefore I would be able to skip the dfna eye test is that
kind of where we're heading that is where we're heading because that way it eliminates you having to stand in line and
at the driver's license office and do that little you know test and this would allow you to move toward doing it online.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:22:31
That's what they're trying to get to. The worry I had, it says 16 years. And next month I'll
be 65 years old, which meant in 16 years I would be 81. And I think at 81, you want to make sure I can see if I'm out driving. The rest of you want to make sure I can see
if I'm driving. Now, how would they deal with the other parts of the license, including your photograph? they are
working that I do not know I know this is what the departments want to
do so they can move to the online portion of that back to your first question though you know the illustration where you're going to be 81 in 16 years just remember this right now there's nothing that would help capture your inability to see which would make you for a safe driver as it is right
now all you got to be able to do is walk in and fool that little boxing department motor vehicle and you get your license, so this actually will address
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:23:27
what you just expressed. I just barely passed it the last time I went in and looked in that little box. So I got to thinking that if I could, you know, get just barely squeezed through, I'm not going to get another 16 years, am I?
Do you have another question, Senator? I thought that was my question. Oh, you're good? No, sir, I was just going to get an answer to the
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:23:49
question I just asked. Look, I'm sorry. But the, if I go in and I look in the box at the revenue office and I pass, you know,
and it's kind of a pass-fail. It's not like they're telling you that your left eye is this much off. It's literally a pass-fail type test. And if you pass it, you don't have to wear glasses to drive. And if you fail it, you've got to, it's noted on your license that you need to have corrected lenses before you can drive. And I'm just curious, if I go in and pass that, this isn't changing the period of time where
my license is valid, saying I don't need glasses.
Okay, so let me give you an illustration. You're 60 years old. You walk in, and you get your driver's license, and it is a four-year driver's license. It comes up, and
you're 64. You can walk in and get it, do it online. But when you turn 68, which is eight years later, you will need to have had an eye exam that you will present in order to get your driver's license. From a real doctor? From an
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:24:59
ophthalmologist, optometrist. So it's not loosening up, it's actually tightening it up on the vision side of things.
On the vision side of things, but I would say 99% of us go to the eye doctor within eight years anyway. So it shouldn't be too restrictive because most, 99% of people are going. But the other side of the point, it is, A, it's a safety factor because of the point you brought up earlier, but then, B, it's also a convenience factor because now you can register online, and that's what they're trying to move to, and with this piece of legislation, they'd be able to get that in place.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
3:25:35
You have answered my question satisfactorily. Thank you, Senator. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. and he's
much younger than 60 benefit of the doubt sir any other questions any other questions anyone wish to speak on this bill against for any objection
Speaker 174
3:25:53
or center close appreciate a good vote any objection rolling the vote there
Speaker 2
3:25:59
is an objection rolling the vote please call the roll Ballinger Ballinger
Speaker 355
3:26:10
Bledsoe Bond, Bond, Caldwell, Caldwell, Cheatham, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Davis,
Speaker 353
3:26:24
Dismang, Eads, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendren, Hester, Hickey, Hickey, Hill, Hill, Ingram, Ingram, Irvin,
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Aye. Letting. Aye. Letting. Mallet. No. Pitch. Pitch. Aye. Raper. Raper. Rice. No. Sample. No. Stubbafil.
Speaker 132
3:27:24
Stubbafil. Sturge. Sturge. Sturge. Teague.
Speaker 357
3:27:29
No. Wallace. No. Sturge. No. Sturge. No. Deke Wallace, Wallace.
Speaker 145
3:27:38
Anybody wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Davis
Speaker 236
3:27:43
is not voting. Senator Pitch is not voting. Senator Hester is no. Senator Hendren is no. Senator, I'm going to go slower. I
can see y'all, but the computer takes a little bit of time. We're going to get a Pentium chip pretty soon. Senator Hill is no. Senator Mark Johnson of Ferndale is no. Senator Flippo, did you say no, Flippo, Senator Flippo?
Senator Raper is no. Senator Stumplefield, Senator Stumplefield, did you say no? Senator Flowers is no. Senator Caldwell is
Speaker 78
3:28:25
no. Senator Davis is no. Senator Pitch is no. Is anybody yes? Okay. Senator Bledsoe is no. Senator
Speaker 695
3:28:35
Cheatham is yes. Clark Senator Clark anybody else
Speaker 663
3:28:49
anybody else look up I'm just saying if there's anybody
Speaker 791
3:29:09
You're no. Senator Ballinger's no. Cast up the ballot.
Eight yays, 22 nays. The bill was unsuccessful. Motion. Senators
recognize. Motion to expunge the vote by which House Bill 1947 failed. Is there any objection
Speaker 145
3:29:36
to the motion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?
No. No's have it. Motion fails. Mr. President. Senator
Speaker 794
3:29:50
Teague. Mr. President, that was Senator Hammer's 219th bill of the session.
And he tells me it's his last. I just thought somebody ought to chop.
Hurrah! I'm going to try to bring back one of his bills. There's no more on today's calendar. Do you have a follow-up, Senator Teague?
Okay. Let's keep going. Senator Cooper. House Bill 1878 by Representative De La Rosa to amend the law concerning certain campaign
signs and literature and to require transparency by political action committees and independent expenditure committees.
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
3:30:41
Senator Cooper. Thank you Mr. President. This bill adds IECs and PACs to the statute created in 2017 which requires candidates to put paid for buy on printed material push cards mailers, and so on. IECs and PACs are currently included in the statute which
requires paid for by to be included on TV, radio, newspaper, and electronic advertising, but were not included in the new statute passed in 2017 which applies to printed materials. This bill aligns the paid for by requirements so everyone is consistent. Any questions?
Speaker 800
3:31:18
Senator Garner. Thank you, Mr. President. Now,
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
3:31:22
independent expenditure committees and PACs usually have different constitutional standards because you have independent citizens versus a candidate whenever they're doing this kind of thing.
I know there's been some pretty stringent case law with Citizens United when it comes to the independent expenditures especially. Are you worried you're running afoul of constitutional law from Citizens United by forcing this kind of exposure to political speech? I don't think so. Okay. Thank you. Any other
Speaker 145
3:31:54
questions? Anyone wish to speak on this? Any? Senator, do you object to roll the vote? Senator objects.
Speaker 2
3:32:03
Please call the roll. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond. I thought
Speaker 804
3:32:15
you said that. Did you say roll it? No,
Speaker 2
3:32:19
just call the roll. Senator, Ballinger
Speaker 355
3:32:30
objects. Ballinger? Ballinger? Bledsoe. Bledsoe. Bond. Caldwell. Caldwell. Cheatham. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark.
Clark, Cooper, Davis, Davis,
Speaker 353
3:32:44
Dismaine, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin,
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Leading, Leading, Mallet, Pitch, Pitch, Raebert, Raebert, Rice, Rice, Sample, Sample, Stubbeville
Anyone Anyone wish to vote or change their vote Senator Davis is aye Anyone else Cast up the ballot 26
yay 0 nay The bill is passed, return to the house Senator
Speaker 112
3:34:01
Flippo Mr. President I think I've got the motion figured out now if I can make
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:34:09
a motion okay motion is to re-refer 1980 to the committee definitely has been some work
done and some confusion since they first
talked so this will be referring back to committee and Senator Stubblefield said they'll call a meeting in the morning for hearing of
it okay you've heard the motion to re-refer the bill back to committee Senator Caldwell has a question then Senator Hickey Senator Caldwell first thank you uh i looked
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
3:34:31
that bill up and it showed it was filed this morning we were told that any bill filed the last three days of the session will be unconstitutional is that correct i'm not aware of that it was passed out of the house when i looked it up when i looked it up it showed the date stamp
on it it's being filed this morning i
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:34:54
don't know you know i was trying to be a good member and just handle a
Speaker 569
3:35:00
bill for somebody. I appreciate that. Can y'all, will you withdraw your motion? I'm out. I
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
3:35:09
may be wrong. The date on the print. Senator Caldwell's got the floor. That's fine. It was filed a
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:35:15
second. The last printing was this morning. Okay. So regardless of that, that'll be
Speaker 674
3:35:20
discussed in committee form. Yeah. It, our, Senator, the Madam Secretary tells me it was
filed on april 2nd okay yeah so it's
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
3:35:28
it's okay then okay this is kind of what we're having with this bill there's a whole lot of information coming it was a pretty simple issue this
Speaker 764
3:35:36
morning but it's got to be very very complicated this afternoon okay so we want to refer it back to
Speaker 590
3:35:42
committee one one second i want everybody to
Speaker 632
3:35:44
be heard senator hickey do you still have something to say on this he does not anybody else have
Chair
Unverified
3:35:50
a question okay although you finished with your motion. Yes. All those in favor say aye. Aye.
Opposed? No. Ayes have it. The motion is carried by a hair.
Representative Bentley to amend the Long-Term Care Aid Training
Speaker 136
3:36:12
Act and to specify certain requirements for long-term aid training programs. Senator Filippo. Thank you,
Speaker 112
3:36:19
Governor. All right, members. So what
Senator Scott Flippo
Unverified
3:36:21
this bill does is it codifies into law current rules regarding the CNA training program. And so the scope of this bill is, or the crux, is that it requires the instructor to have at least one year experience in a long-term care facility within the last five years, as well as two years of general nursing experience.
and that's really the scope of this bill and that's why it's important is that we not be watering down the requirements for our CNAs. I have a long-term care facility and I can tell you how important their job is and how important it is that they have proper training. My colleague and friend, Senator English, is going to come down here and speak against this. We have visited about this before. She has some concerns about the training requirements and so with that in mind, I'm going to yield
Speaker 817
3:37:09
my bill. I'm happy to answer any questions and if not, turn it over to Senator English.
Any questions? Senator English is recognized. Thank you very much. You're welcome
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:37:25
Senator English. So I would like to speak against this bill. So for probably, we have CNA programs in secondary schools all over the state and in some two-year colleges and And the nursing home group have CNA training programs as well. One of the things that is happening, though, is that with this rule that they would like to put into law that says that you have to have at least one year out of five years working
in a nursing home or some associated type thing, it will totally keep out the secondary schools from having these CNA programs. We have been working with the Department of Human Services for the last year, trying to come up with an alternative to this one year, and they finally have come to agree to have an eight-hour course that a nurse who is teaching these medical programs, it's not just all
CNA, that's a very small part of the medical program at secondary schools, but with an eight-hour course, the nurse that is teaching these classes would be able to fulfill the requirement for the, that they have here. If we pass this law, it's going to require that the, that there be at least a nurse who's worked in the last five years in a nursing home those are almost impossible to find anymore in local communities
other than in a nursing home because the health care industry is expanding so fast that you can't find people who want to go and teach they would rather go work in a hospital and and or they're working in nursing homes so I would ask you please the other thing is is that if you look down the The rest of this, it is added on 90 o'clock hours on Alzheimer's and dementia and a specific program that goes along with Barbara Broyles' training program.
We don't tell secondary schools what they have to teach. We give them a list, a curriculum, a list of resources that they can use, and it's up to them to do that. So what we're doing with this bill is basically killing the secondary CNA programs.
Speaker 156
3:40:00
Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on the bill, for the bill, against the bill? Senator,
Senator Scott Flippo
Unverified
3:40:07
ready to close? Yes, sir. Respect Senator English's comments.
I disagree with him some. This is a good bill, and I would appreciate
a good vote. All right. You've heard the arguments. I assume we have an objection to rolling the vote, so please call the roll when you can. And Senator Hammer, if you want to come on down and get ready for your motion. I think
Speaker 236
3:40:30
you can kick that dead horse one more time. Do not roll it.
Speaker 355
3:40:56
Caldwell, Caldwell, Cheatham, Cheatham,
Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis,
Speaker 353
3:41:13
Dismang, Eads, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Flowers, Garner,
Hammer, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson,
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson? Aye. Letting? Letting? Mallet? Yes. Mallet? Yes. Pitch? Yes.
Raper? Yes. Raper? Yes. Rice? Aye. Sample?
Speaker 68
3:42:00
No. Stubbafil? No. Yes. Sturge? Sturge? Aye. Teague? Aye. Teague? Wallace? Aye. Aye. Anyone wish to vote
or change their vote? Senator Teague is aye.
Speaker 236
3:42:20
Senator Elliott is aye. Senator Bledsoe is aye. Senator Bond is aye.
Senator Hester is aye. Senator Hickey is aye. Senator Cheatham is no. Senator Caldwell is no. Oh, you're aye. Senator Caldwell is aye. Just checking to see if you're paying attention. Senator Hammer is aye. Anybody else?
Speaker 169
3:42:47
Anybody else? Cast up the ballot. 26 yays,
5 nays. The bill is passed. Return it to the House. Senator Wallace.
House Bill 1915 by Representative Walnut and Senator Wallace to amend the law concerning open burning of
Speaker 183
3:43:19
Governor. Our counties came to ADEQ and they had a problem, they needed some help with the way we burn storm debris. specifically we're talking about vegetative storm debris not tires not
plastic just tree limbs fallen trees whatever currently our law is that after we have a storm if a county wants to burn their storm debris they've got to come to ADQ and get permission what this does is it allows our counties to have sites pre-authorized and so they might have 10 or 12 throughout the county they
can only use for any one time but after the storm they just send a letter in that says we'd like to use these three these four burn sites and they're already pre-approved. There's some stipulations in here. Burn site cannot be within 500 feet of a residence, thousand feet of a school, and once
again it excludes any non-vegetative storm debris like tires, lumber, construction, debris, household waste. It's a good bill that's going to help our counties. And I would
ask for a good vote. Are there any questions from committee? Our committee, from senators? Senator Wallace, do these stipulations you have in here now, do they conform with ADEQ,
but you are just authorizing the burning place in a different way, like the 1,000 feet and the 500 feet. Is that a DEQ policy right now? Yes, and ADEQ actually
Speaker 192
3:45:17
wrote this bill for the counties. So this has gone through an ADEQ review, and it's those measurements I've
Speaker 183
3:45:23
mentioned, the 500 feet from the House, that's already in there. That's already, that's already. Okay, thank you. Senator Rice, you have a question? Thank you, Mr. President.
Speaker 832
3:45:38
Representative Richmond and I ran a bill a session or two ago on this issue. Was there any discussion in committee? What's the change on this? I mean, that's what it was all about, is having a predisposed site and burning storm debris, no tires, whatever, just strictly. None that I know of, Senator Rice. Okay, thank you. All right. Any other
senators have questions? Is there anyone that would like to speak for or
against the bill? Senator Irvin, you recognize to
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
3:46:16
speak for the bill? Yeah, I just, and I think Senator Rice, but when you've been hit by a tornado, like many of my counties have been, this was a problem because you had so many trees and debris all over the place and we couldn't burn it we couldn't do anything without having to go to adq to get a permit so i just i think this is a great bill because so many of my counties have been affected by tornadoes and storm damage so
i just i just think it's a great bill and
i appreciate the work on it all right anyone else who would like to speak for against
Speaker 2
3:46:59
the bill senator if you close for your bill i am closer all right madam secretary
Speaker 355
3:47:09
please call the roll Ballinger, Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Bond, Caldwell, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield,
Chesterfield, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Davis,
Speaker 353
3:47:28
Dismayne, Dismayne, Eads, Elliot, Flippo? Aye. Flowers? Aye. Garner? Yes. Hammer?
Yes. Hendren? Aye. Hickey? Aye.
Hill? Aye. Ingram? Irvin? Aye.
Blake Johnson? Aye. Mark Johnson? Aye. Johnson, Letting, Letting, Mallet, Pitch, Rapert, Rapert, Rice,
Speaker 68
3:48:16
Rice, Sample, Sample, Stubblefield,
Aye, Sturge, Sturge, Aye, Teague, Teague, Wallace, Aye, anyone want
to vote or change your vote. Senator Bonds is
an aye. Senator Rice is an aye. Anyone else? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, cast up the votes. By a vote of 28 yeas, 0 nays, your bill passes.
Speaker 78
3:48:52
Return to the House. Return to the House. From whence it came. Thank you,
Speaker 249
3:49:01
brother. Hey, take my microphone, take my music sheet. That was Senator Irvin's next. Senator
Cheatham's next. Senator Cheatham's next, sorry. Council Bill 1965 by Representative Flowers and Senator
Cheatham to create the Arkansas Delta Music Trail Act to promote tourism and provide tax incentives for art projects
Speaker 136
3:49:23
along designated music highways in the state and to require signage along
Speaker 601
3:49:30
designated music highways in the state. Senator Cheatham. Thank you, Mr. President. Over the last several sessions, we created, especially
Speaker 602
3:49:38
the Delta, designated parts of roads, Johnny Cash Memorial Highway, Delta Rhythms and Blues, LaVon Ham Memorial Highway, Rock and Roll Highway. And what this bill does, it creates a commission under the Department of Heritage who has approved this.
And what that commission is going to do is that what they're encouraging people to do is to put up art projects along these highways, visual art, include sculptures, murals, photographic rendering, mosaics. And there's a tax credit involved in this, and there's a question about that before I came down here. And there's a limit on the amount each year, $250,000, and the governor's office has approved that also. I'd be willing to take any questions.
Any questions for the senator? Anyone wish to speak on this? Any
Speaker 2
3:50:36
vote? Senator's closed? He's closed. Please roll the vote. Bellinger, Bledsoe,
Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismaine, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample,
Stubbeville, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to
change their vote? Senator Ballinger is a no. Anybody else? Cast up the ballot. Thirty-five, sorry, thirty-four yays,
Speaker 249
3:51:07
one nay. The bill is passed. Return to the House. Senator Irvin. House Bill
1967 by Representative Watson to create the Environmental Compliance Resource Act. Senator Irvin. Members, I'm going to
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
3:51:22
pass over this bill. Senator Irvin's got the floor.
Almost done. Senators. Can I speak now? Okay, good. Members, I'm going to pass over this bill because there were a lot of questions on this bill, so we'll put it on the calendar for tomorrow. But, Senator, so if you have questions, I would ask
you to contact ADEQ. Thank you. So you're going to pull the bill. Okay. very good uh the last one of senator ingrams we had passed over i assume we're going to keep passing over that
one okay right he's not here um
okay um now we're going to move to the batch bills
Speaker 32
3:52:13
okay hb we're going to go okay all the ones that are not served 1731, HB 1731, Senator
Stubblefield. House Bill 1731 by Representative Hodges and Senator Stubblefield
to require cooperation between certain state agencies regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility. Senator Stubblefield. Thank you, Mr. President. This
Speaker 608
3:52:39
is a good bill. It simply makes sure that children get their child support from parents. Eight
states have already implemented this and have great success with it. It simply says if someone fails to cooperate, they are notified.
If those cooperation requirements only, and by the way, those cooperation requirements only apply to the benefits of the non-custodial parent, they do not apply to the children. I mean, under federal law, the disqualification shall not apply to the entire household. That's federal law. It only affects non-custodial child parents. Any,
Speaker 427
3:53:28
any, are you ready for questions, Senator?
Speaker 241
3:53:34
I'm ready for questions. You're ready for questions. Any questions? Anyone wish
to speak on this? Senator Elliott, you have a question? Are there some
instances where that non-custodial parent maybe is, I don't know, maybe they're disabled, can't work or whatever? Are there some instances where they
can qualify for SNAP benefits or not?
Yes, there are exemptions in here for
non-custodial parents for certain things, health issues, other issues that are established. They're just not written right here, but they do exist within some
of the other rules and regulations, is that what you're saying? Right. But they're not in this bill per se. They're already in the regular, yeah.
Okay, in some other place. Right. Okay, thank you. Any other questions? Senator Bond has a question. Just to be clear,
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
3:54:33
what you're saying is if the parent gets cut off, the kids don't get cut off?
I thought this fell into the... If a non-custodial parent is
not cooperating under the rules of DHS or the child supports us, then he gets cut off. But the children, if he has children, if he's remarried and has children, that does not affect them. It does not affect any of the children. only only he
Speaker 854
3:55:01
loses his snap benefits i'm just trying to make clear
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
3:55:04
in my mind because i wasn't in committee for this you're saying but what about if the custodial parent it requires cooperation
with i thought this had something to do with child support if the custodial parent's not cooperating or something that this does she get cut off or the husband whoever's a custodial parent does
it have anything to do with that no this bill deals mainly with a non-custodial
parent not paying their child support and really a refusal it says a refusal to cooperate with non-custodial parents is defined as an unwillingness to cooperate as opposed to the inability to cooperate so there's there's two different there's
a difference there you know whether you refuse to cooperate or that you have some reason that you cannot cooperate so you know there's this most estimates say that this could bring anywhere from $3.5 to $4 million back to the parents, the moms of kids in this state to help them have a better life and bring them out of poverty. Kansas has already done this, and they've brought back like $3.7 million at no cost
because DHS already cooperates with the child custodian. Well, I'm
Speaker 857
3:56:19
confused, maybe not by your fault, but by my fault. I'll look back at it. Thank you.
You're welcome. Any other? Senator Elliott is recognized for a
question. Well, Senator, I am looking right back at it, and it says it should require a custodial parent or a non-custodial parent to cooperate. So suppose the custodial parent is not cooperating.
That parent will lose SNAP, but the kids won't. But the kids won't, under federal law. How would that work? How would the kids take advantage of SNAP with the benefit just be reduced to something? How would that work practically is what I'm trying to figure out if the kids are with that parent.
Well, according to what I, and I listened to this bill in committee, listened to it over and over, and this would only apply to the, this would not apply to any children.
Under federal law, it cannot apply to any children receiving SNAP benefits. I understand that, but
I'm trying to figure out how we would make it work, because if I'm the custodial parent and I have custody of my kids and I don't cooperate, my kids are not going to lose SNAP benefits, but I am. Okay, I'm there, but now how do the kids take advantage of SNAP benefits without a parent being involved, how does that actually happen?
Do they cut their mouth, or what
happens? Well, let me give you an example. In the Arkansas Work Program, DHS shares all this data with children as far as TEA, SNAP, and the Department of Work Services, and the Office of Child Services already shares data among children receiving these kind of benefits from custodial or non-custodial parents. And if, you know, if these kids, if they find out that these kids are not receiving their benefits, somebody's going to be in trouble.
Well, is it a mistake that custodial parent is in here? Is that a
mistake? Ma'am? Is it a mistake that custodial parent is included in the bill? Is that a mistake? Not that I'm
aware of. Am I the only person reading this
like this? The benefits for that person, but the family, the children at home, will not be affected.
I think there's something wrong with it. Well, there's something wrong with this. That's all there is to it. There's something
wrong with this that needs to be reconciled. Because if it's just about the non-custodial parent, custodial parents should not be in this bill. but it is that's what i'm saying jimmy you
Speaker 78
3:59:18
want to try somebody senator blake johnson then we'll go to senator hickie senator blake john
Speaker 516
3:59:25
under the tanf program this is this is given so those
children don't don't get harmed to a trusted caregiver if it's not if it is the custodial parent they'll they'll give it to a trusted caregiver and that's that's immediate family or other. That's how it's handled under the TANF program. I figure it's a similar situation in SNAP because they're in the same room. That's
Speaker 764
3:59:49
correct. Senator Hickey? Senator Stubblefield, I
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
3:59:56
want everybody to work as much as everyone else, but we had this SNAP
situation come up yesterday and now we've got it here again today. In the real world, this is what I see going to happen. I think Senator Elliott is right. I'm not for sure about the way that's written with the custodial and non-custodial. I agree with her on that language, but in the real world, this is what I see is going to happen. The dad be the non-custodial, they're going to have stepkids there at the house, and whenever he's cut off, all he's going to do is eat the kid's food. So in all
actuality, for that family, I'm afraid for those children, and that's why I voted against the one yesterday that they will be harmed in the end again i am more than willing to do whatever it takes that these people that are not out here trying to get a job and do whatever but whenever it comes to these snap benefits i do have a struggle with us taking that away i just
i think we're looking for a we're looking for a reason to do that and i'm
afraid afraid it'll hurt those children you're taking it away from the non-custodial parent who's not cooperating with
the authorities in paying his or her child support to their children.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
4:01:13
But it says custodial or non-custodial. Whenever you read the bill, it says custodial. Well, if they're not
complying or not in cooperation, then they are going to lose theirs, but the children will not lose theirs. I understand, but do you not think
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
4:01:27
that the custodial parent is not going to be eating that food and taking that away from those children? Senator
Hickey, if I knew, knowing what I know about human nature, I would say that
anything is possible if you don't care about your children. But I would say there's a lot of children and single moms in this state that are suffering as a result of non-custodial parents not paying their child
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
4:01:55
support. And I couldn't agree with you more on that part. But to try to correct this problem by taking away these
SNAP benefits, which are probably going to directly affect those kids. I just don't see that being the right force to get there. Well, I understand
what you're saying, but those kids are not going to lose their SNAP benefits.
Only that non-custodial parent is going to
lose theirs. Thank you, sir. You're welcome. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak on
Speaker 2
4:02:28
this? Center's closed. Please call the roll. Ballinger?
Speaker 355
4:02:36
Aye. Bledsoe? Bledsoe? Bond? No. Caldwell. Caldwell. Cheatham. Cheatham. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark. Cooper.
Davis, Davis, Dismang, Eads, Eads, Elliot,
Speaker 353
4:03:01
English, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Yes. Hammer. Hammer. Hendron. Aye. Hester. Aye. Hickey. No. Hill. Hill. Ingram. Ingram. Irvin.
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Letting, Mallet,
Pitch, Rayford, Rice,
Sample, Stubbafil, Sturge Teague Wallace Anyone
Speaker 145
4:04:02
the vote?
Senator Bledsoe is aye Senator Cheatham is
Speaker 78
4:04:09
no Senator Hammer is aye Senator Hill is aye Senator Colwell is aye Senator Eads is I Senator Ingram is
no anyone else cast up did we get everybody I said cast up the ballot
21 yays 10 nays the bill is passed return to the house Senator Dismang and then
Senator Pitch House Bill 1933 by Representative Gassaway to amend the anti-bullying policy, to require a school board member to receive information regarding school safety and school discipline, and to require a bullying and cyberbullying prevention professional development program. Thank you, Governor.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:05:06
According to the 2017 CDC statistics, Arkansas has the highest percentage of high school students in the nation who have reported having been bullied on school campus. The same CDC report also ranked Arkansas to have the second highest number of school students that have also attempted suicide and suffered an injury as a result from that attempt. It is something that has most likely impacted every one of us in this room in one way or another, and that being either the suicide or the impact of that bullying.
This bill is an attempt to combat those statistics and actually get us a meaningful change in place. So first, it requires two hours of professional development on school safety and student discipline for school board members. This is a one-time requirement. It also adds to the rotation two hours of professional development on bullying. This will also include a review of the relationship between bullying and suicide rates. It requires notification by the school after credible report of bullying to the parents of the child being bullied,
and it also requires the parents of the perpetrator to also be notified of that credible incident. It requires the Department of Education to issue a guidance document to school officials and parents regarding bullying prevention, reporting, and investigation. It adds and also adds the definition of cyberbullying to the anti-bullying policies that we currently have on the books. My understanding, Representative Gasway worked with all impacted parties. This is a bill that was filed at the very beginning of the session
and just now making it because of the diligence that he's had in making sure everyone was kind of in agreement with the bill. With
Speaker 42
4:06:49
that, I'd be happy to take any questions. Any questions? Anyone wish to
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
4:06:54
speak up? Senator Garner. Thank you, Mr. President. We talked about this sooner before. So when the definition of Section 6 defines cyberbullying, it's any electronic act, and then it has a pretty expansive definition of who that includes. It's not just the students, it's also public school employees or person whom the other student or public school employee is associated with.
So I guess my fear in that is, I mean, if a student, an 18-year-old student at the school sent a text message to his buddy, hey man, somebody's mom is upsetting me, I don't like her, and that's humiliating to her, then under this law they can be disciplined at school for cyberbullying. I appreciate everything else in this bill. I appreciate cyberbullying is a real concern. That's extremely expansive in the definition of that and how it can snare. Would you like to comment on that? No, and I
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:07:45
would, and I would share some of the same concerns just because of how do you control that,
and that's part of the reason the Department of Education is being brought on board inside this bill. You know, there are certain things that we may call bullying that truly aren't. It may be jest, whatever it may be, and so really trying to narrow it down, allow them to have some best practices and guidance in place for
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
4:08:19
on record i'm against bullying and that includes cyber bullying however
i read about professional development and two hours of professional development i start smelling money and i wonder is this being is this going to be farmed out to some consultant that's created a new business going to mandate it or will this uh
two hours of professional development be done by personnel of ade well the policy that's going to
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:08:45
be utilized during that those those two hours are going to be created by the department of education so if the department of education
wants to hire someone that's fine i mean i know where the origination of this bill come from came from, and it has nothing to do with anyone making any money or developing any program. To be honest, the meat of this bill, one of the most important things that's there, and I think one of the reasons it's brought about was we had a mutual friend or acquaintance whose son committed suicide. The problem was they knew what was happening at the school, but there was not a notification requirement to the parents, and so, I mean, to be honest, it was quite a shock
when it did occur and when it happened. And so that's part of what was required. And how do you do that? We've got to bring awareness and you've got to bring attention and you've got to have some type of education in place to let people know how to proceed and what to do. That's the
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
4:09:39
point of the bill. Well, I appreciate your explanation. I'm more comfortable knowing that you're familiar with the genesis of this. However, this is the kind of thing that maybe in the slave audit we'll look down the road, and we can look back and see if it turned out to be something
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:09:54
I should be concerned about in that regard. That's fine with me. I appreciate your answer. I have no
second guess of the origination of this bill, its intent, and its purpose, and I appreciate the question. Thank you, Senator. Any
Speaker 55
4:10:12
other questions? Anyone wish to... Senator Ballinger, you have a question?
Speaker 111
4:10:22
Yes, and I'm sorry that I should have been more diligent in reading it, is that you have a whole code section that conflicts with another bill that I passed that dealt with the collective bargaining, and that it actually
Speaker 498
4:10:34
reincorporates some language in this legislation that we took out in the other legislation, and I'm not sure how that conflict can be reconciled.
That's the reason we have code revision. Yeah. Senator Hammer, oh, sorry, Senator Clark, and then
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
4:10:56
Senator Hammer. Senator Dismay, I like the idea behind this bill. As a former youth pastor, I have said many times, you look at the school shootings across the country, a lot of times kids that have been bullied are involved, and it amazes me sometimes that administrators and others don't do anything about some of these things.
But do you think another level of
laws and rules is going to cause people to act that already don't have good enough sense to act? Well,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:11:24
the reality is unless we force that education to occur, it's not going to occur. I mean, their time is already in professional development allotted, set aside, and so it's up to us to be able to say that this two hour is going to be part of your rotation. And so in my opinion, I mean, I do think it's going to lead to positive outcomes and is is necessary for us to promulgate through law and we also do have to create the actions by
law or there'd be nothing enforceable in regards to bullying so yes sir i appreciate the question but i don't think it's something that can
be handled at the school level without us uh
kind of setting things in motion thank you senator hammer thank you senator i was
wondering in the education that they're going to get is this just going to be as far as addressing the issue you student to student, or is it also going to pick up a
teacher bullying a student or another teacher bullying another teacher or an administrator bullying a teacher?
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:12:23
I do not know that, I don't know, I mean, when I'm looking at it, it's more about teachers being aware and able to understand and identify bullying as it's occurring and what to do in response to it occurring. I mean, that may be a discussion to have with ADE. Now there is some notation in your regards to cyberbullying, I know, that that can be from student to teacher or from teacher to student, so I would assume there would
Speaker 541
4:12:50
have to be some cleanup for ADA to create. And really this
is just getting the educational component in the loop for the discussion,
right? Exactly. It's not about the policy making that's
going to be made at the local level. This is just requiring that. Is
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:13:06
that correct? But ADE is going to provide guidance to the local level, and it'll be up to the local level how they implement and
what they do. Yes, sir. Thank you. Any other questions? Anyone wish to
Speaker 569
4:13:17
speak on this bill? Senator's closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? There is an
Speaker 2
4:13:23
objection. Please call the roll. Ballinger? Ballinger? Ballinger? Bledsoe? Aye. Bond?
Speaker 355
4:13:29
Aye. Caldwell? Caldwell? Cheatham? Aye.
Chesterfield? Chesterfield, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Davis,
Speaker 353
4:13:45
Dismayne, Eads, Elliot, Elliot, English, English, Flippo, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Garner, Hammer, Hendren, Hester, Hickey, Hickey, Hill,
Ingram, Irvin, Blake
Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting,
Malik, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Aye. Stubbafil? Aye. Sturge?
Speaker 68
4:14:40
Aye. Teague?
Teague? Wallace? Aye. Wallace. Anyone
wish to vote or change their vote? Senator Hester? Aye. Senator Mark Johnson? Aye. Anybody
Speaker 78
4:15:00
else? Senator Clark? Is present. Senator Teague? Is aye. Senator Elliott? Is aye. Senator Ballinger is
present. Senator Filippo is also present.
Cast up the ballot. 22 yays, 0
nays. The bill is passed. Return to the House. Senator Pitch. Senator
Pitch and Senator Cooper. House Bill 1956 by Representative Watson to provide certain requirements and standards for a non-consent
Speaker 263
4:15:40
towing rotation system for heavy-duty motor
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
4:15:45
vehicles. Senator Pitch. Thank you, Governor. Colleagues, in 2017, there were five fatalities and 36 serious injuries
caused not in car wrecks but in secondary crashes of car wrecks. On March 22, a traffic accident on I-40 between Forest City and West Memphis led to four secondary crashes, that buzzword secondary crash, resulting in three fatalities. The interstate was blocked for 12 hours. A large part of that was because our tow companies are on a rotation basis, which they're all happy with. But the tow companies came up
with this idea that certain tow companies are willing to be certified to a higher level. This bill has met with the governor's approval. It's met with the Arkansas State Police's approval and the Arkansas Highway Police, not to mention the tow people. The intent of the legislation is to create a standard for tow companies that serve on a non-consent rotation for heavy-duty towing and recovery. When we get one of those accordion-style accidents with multiple big rigs, we need people with heavy-duty bases, heavy-duty cables that when the state police call for a tow company, they don't get just any tow company.
They have the ability to choose an enhanced tow company. This will improve the time to clearing our interstates and getting back to the production of transportation and commerce. It's a good bill. It's patterned after other states. I'm
available for questions. Any questions? Anyone wish to speak on the bill? Senator
Speaker 241
4:17:30
closed. Any objection to rolling the vote?
Please roll it. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eads,
Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubbafield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote, guess up the ballot, 35,
passed, return to the House. Senator Cooper, and if Senator Hammer, if you'll come on down,
Speaker 703
4:18:13
I'll get your quick motion after Senator Cooper before we
go to Senator Ballinger. Senator Cooper. House Bill 1984 by Representative Perry to amend the Arkansas Constitution
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
4:18:27
and the Arkansas Code concerning certain economic development projects. Senator Cooper. Thank you, Mr. President. This is a bill to allow sports complexes, major sports complexes, to be included in economic development. potential development for major projects in Central Arkansas, and I think there's some
potential to really develop an important project for Central Arkansas in
Speaker 241
4:18:58
regard to this. Any questions? Anyone who wishes
Speaker 156
4:19:03
to speak on the bill? Is Senator closed?
Speaker 2
4:19:07
Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll it. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond. Caldwell,
Cheatham, Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eads, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson,
Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Raper, Rice, Sample, Stubbefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish
Speaker 5
4:19:29
to change their vote? Cast up the ballot. 35
yeas, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Return of the House. Senator Hammer is recognized. Thank you,
Mr. Governor. Members, I did a really poor job of presenting my 299th bill a while
ago, which is House Bill 1947. I misspoke. You would not be mandated to go to the eye doctor.
The eye test that is referred to in the language is
at the Revenue Office. And what I'd like to do is ask to have the... I'd like to ask for a motion to expunge the vote to put it back on the calendar for tomorrow and I can come back up
and do a better job of explaining it but it would not mandate you to go to the eye doctor in fact if anything
it would keep you from having to go to the revenue office every other year and you could register for your driver's license online it just means you would
have to go back and and see it so that's what I'm asking for so I appreciate a
Speaker 894
4:20:36
motion to expunge vote put on calendar for tomorrow
Chair
Unverified
4:20:45
you've heard about the motion okay let's figure out where it
Speaker 804
4:20:53
gonna we'll recall it and then you can go through this tomorrow
Senator Ballinger, we're going to keep
Speaker 42
4:21:13
have a motion to recall it? Senator Hammer, where is Senator Hammer? Okay. And
Speaker 236
4:21:19
then Senator Ballinger and Senator Malek.
Thank you, Mr. Garrett. Make motion recall from the House, House Bill 1947.
Any objection to the motion? No. Without objection, motion carried. Senator
Ballinger. House Bill 1820 by Representative Gonzales concerning firearms, concerning firearm noise suppressors and machine guns, and concerning compliance with the National Firearms Act. Okay, Senator Ballinger. Thank you,
Speaker 111
4:21:57
Mr. President. This bill does sound a lot more
exciting than it is. It's kind of like what we did with the suppressors. Suppressors are something that's regulated by the feds. You can get a stamp in order to possess them. It's the same thing with shotguns and the same thing with short shotguns and it's the same thing with the fully automatic rifles. Well, in Arkansas code it looks like they're completely prohibited. Well, we know that there are people out there who went through the the process of getting the tax stamps and they possess these firearms so what we're doing essentially taking it out of our code we're not legalizing them because they're still heavily
regulated by the feds and so we're we would be relying on that regulation i'm happy to
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
4:22:43
answer any questions any questions senator bond just an explanation as i'm late to
the game here Where you're deleting on page one, lines 29, 30, and 31, and 32. Could you just explain exactly what we're
Speaker 111
4:23:01
it look like those things are specifically prohibited.
Well, they're actually being possessed right now by people who paid the $200 fee, waited the year or longer to get qualified, sent in their fingerprints, sent in the serial numbers, and they're actually owned by citizens in Arkansas right now. Well, what this would do is this would clarify that they aren't in violation of state law by doing so as long as they're complying with federal law. Well, and
Senator Will Bond
Unverified
4:23:27
that was my follow-up. Is there a question at least now of whether it's in violation of state law to possess those? You know, I
Speaker 111
4:23:35
would say that that is, maybe the argument would be the fact that it is
not enforced, so therefore it becomes unenforceable. but it looks like under the code that it's illegal and yet we know that people are out there and possessing them all the time Thank you,
Speaker 55
4:23:49
Senator Any other questions? Anyone want to speak on this bill? Do you have an objection to roll on the vote,
Senator Bond? Senator Flowers does Please call the roll She beat
Speaker 2
4:24:01
you to it Ballinger Aye Bledsoe Bond Caldwell Cheatham
Speaker 355
4:24:10
Cheatham Aye. Chesterfield. Chesterfield.
Clark. Clark. Cooper. Aye. Davis.
Speaker 353
4:24:27
Aye. Dismang. Dismang. Eads, Elliot,
English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer,
Speaker 353
4:24:42
Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill,
Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson
Mark Johnson Mark Johnson
Letting Letting Mallet
Pitch Raypert Rice Sample Stubbafil
Speaker 68
4:25:19
Sturge Sturge
Teague Teague Wallace Anyone wish to vote or change
29 yays, 3 nays The bill is passed, return of the House Senator Malik of Columbia County Is this
Speaker 841
4:25:55
17? Yes we we did recall it okay so we did recall it but now we have to expunge okay
Speaker 35
4:26:02
sir's recognized thank you governor uh members this was a bill we tried to expunge the vote yesterday but it had already gone to the house we had to recall it from the house it's back i move that we expunge the vote by which house bill
1710 failed deferred the motion any objection to the motion no objection motion carried vote is expunged do you want
Speaker 842
4:26:27
to read you want to re-vote is that no i
Speaker 123
4:26:29
i get i may have gotten that out of order because i made a motion earlier to place it
Speaker 35
4:26:34
into the calendar but i guess i may need
Speaker 123
4:26:40
to make that motion again yes but we hadn't
explained do i need another motion or are we ready to
present ready to call okay is there any of you want to Explain. House Bill 1710 by Representative Perry to create the Task Force on Transportation for Non-Emergency Behavioral Health
Speaker 35
4:26:57
Patients. Senator. Thank you, Governor. Members, this is what we had yesterday. We kind of got tripped up on it. There's not a fiscal impact. What they want to study, and they believe they will save millions of dollars on working through the issue of transport of non-emergency behavioral health patients.
The other issue that they have is a lot of times when they're transporting these patients by ambulance, which they really don't often need to do, it may take that ambulance out of that local community for five hours, four or five hours. And so they just want to get all the stakeholders together to work on this issue, and that's what it's for. No fiscal impact. I think there's two legislative members that can get mileage reimbursement, and that's it. Any questions, Senator Hammer? Thank you. Would you identify who they are? uh this will be and it's in the bill and i don't even have a copy with me it's it's set out but
it's it's basically people in the emergency services area health department a couple legislators senator teague's gonna help me i think you want to do it from back there
Speaker 253
4:27:56
thank you i'm good thank you thank you and
uh i'd appreciate any other uh questions anyone wish to speak on it senator garner wants to speak on it thank you mr president
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
4:28:10
i appreciate my colleagues helped me yesterday with this with the task force issue I had with the house after discussing that there's a big medical provider in my area
pro ambulance who wants this and thinks it's a good deal. Ultimately this is not going to cost a lot of money because it's paid for by outside sources and I decided unlike some in the house not to be petty about a good bill.
Speaker 185
4:28:32
Thank you. Has the center closed? Go give the go give the
Speaker 241
4:28:38
senator a hug would you? Anyone object to roll the vote? You do object. Please call the roll. Ballinger.
Speaker 355
4:28:57
Caldwell. Aye. Cheatham. Aye. Chesterfield.
Aye. Chesterfield. Clark. Aye. Cooper.
Speaker 353
4:29:11
Aye. Davis. Aye. Dismain. Dismang, Eads,
Speaker 451
4:29:19
Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron,
Speaker 353
4:29:30
Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark
Johnson Letting Mallet Pitch Rapert Rice Aye. Sample. Aye. Stubbafil. Aye. Sturge. Sturge.
Speaker 68
4:30:00
Teague. Teague. Aye. Wallace. Anyone wish to vote? Senator Wallace is aye. Anyone
wish to vote or change their vote?
Senator Blett, sorry, Senator Sturge is aye. Anybody else cast up the ballot? 30
A's, 1 Nay. The bill's passed. Return to the House. Senator
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
4:30:35
Hester's got a motion. Colleagues, I would like to recall Senate Bill 627 from the House and move it to interim study. This is the bill dealing with dental work.
see it's dentistry huh fixtures dental fish implants that's right anyway uh they uh representative gray uh worked it out with dfna on the house and they're going to move to interim study and work on it so just want to recall the
interim study you've heard the motion the objection to the motion. No objection. Motion carried without objection. Senator Rayford. House Bill 1964
of Representative Gonzales to regulate durable medical equipment agreements. Senator Rayford. Thank
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
4:31:27
you, members. House Bill 1964 actually is an attorney general's office bill, and if many of you have watched television for any length of time you have seen commercials where they'll say hey call up because your insurance or your Medicare will pay for this durable medical device that does not always say that so this is trying to prevent the misrepresentation that your coverage
will pay for device Attorney General Attorney General's office has handled complaints where people go in there and they say absolutely it's not covered and and so they want to provide protection for that so you person should not represent or advertise that the consumer's health insurance health benefit plan medicare medicaid will cover any portion of the cost of durable medical equipment unless a licensed physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse has made a referral for or prescribed the durable medical equipment in addition it does have a refund provision in it as well so it's a good consumer protection
Speaker 802
4:32:25
bill i have to answer questions any questions
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
4:32:30
senator rapert senator urban has a question Thank you for bringing this bill. There are so many patients that get hoodwinked
because of this, and they think
that their insurance is going to cover it and pay for it, and it does
Speaker 241
4:32:44
not. And so I just really appreciate y'all bringing this bill. Thank you. Any other questions? Anybody
Speaker 169
4:32:50
wish to speak on this? Any objection? Senator, closed? Closed. Any
Speaker 2
4:32:55
objection to rolling it? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham,
Chesterfield, Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismain, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Mallett, Pitch, Rafer, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Teague, Wallace. Anyone wish to change their vote? Seeing none, cast up the ballot. 35
yea, 0 nays. The bill is passed. Return of the House. Senator Clark.
House Bill 1385 by Representative Mayberry and Senator Hammer to amend the law to create a
definition of schoolhouse with regard to businesses regulated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Senator Clark. Thank you, Governor. I put a copy
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
4:33:51
of this bill on everybody's desk so that you wouldn't have to look it up. It's only two pages, very short, very simple. All of it does, all it does is define schoolhouse in the law.
I think the most important thing is that it passed the Senate before. This just had a technical amendment, that's why we had to bring it back. the why did we define schoolhouse we had attorney general's opinion that says that schoolhouse generally includes and let me read the direct quote generally includes a facility owned and operated by a public or private school and here's the important part or a public or private daycare center or a similar entity the but they also opined that since it's not in the
law that a court might not find that and it was ambiguous without us putting it in law the so what it does is it defines the defined schoolhouse it includes daycare that's the most important thing because we would know that hopefully we would know that any other schoolhouse was a schoolhouse we protect children in kindergarten through 12th grade why not why would we not protect them in birth
through fifth grade currently all this does is currently a liquor store has to be a thousand feet away from a schoolhouse, which is only the length of three football fields. Currently, if we didn't do this, a liquor store and a daycare can share the same wall. That needs to be changed. Violent crime and alcohol outlet density are significantly
associated. Many studies, but one specifically in Newark, New Jersey in 2001, found that alcohol outlet density was the single greatest predictor of violent crime at both the census tract and census block level and that needs to change I'll be happy to
take any questions any questions anyone wish
Speaker 145
4:36:11
to speak on this is there any is center closed I closed I appreciate a
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
4:36:18
good vote any objection to
Speaker 2
4:36:24
Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Bledsoe, Bond, Caldwell, Cheatham, Chesterfield,
Clark, Cooper, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendren, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Malik, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, T. Wallace.
Anyone wish to change their vote? Senator Hickey's present. Senator Stubblefield is no. Senator Garner is no. Senator Sample is no. Senator Pitch is no. Anybody else? Senator Elliott, is that present or not voting? It's hard. I mean, you know, it could mean either one. Present. Senator Elliott is present.
Senator Dismayne is present, yes. The verbal works much better.
Anybody else? Cast up the ballot. 26 a's, 5 nays, the bill passed. Send it back to the House. Okay, so we got Senator Garner is going to come on down,
Speaker 239
4:37:36
and then we're going to handle the batch. Thank you. This is an
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
4:37:44
amendment on that development and disabled thing that we did for medical marijuana facilities. At the House, we added emergency clause, and we also put a grandfather clause in there. There's been no reports
of this affecting a current place, but if that situation does arise, we're going to make sure there's no legal challenges that people would invest it to add the grandfather clause to what it does. Other than that, it's essentially the same bill. Amendment
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
4:38:05
1, Senate Bill 665. You want to describe the amendment? Oh, okay. Yes,
Speaker 52
4:38:14
sir. I thought I just did. Okay. That was what you described? Yes, sir. Okay.
You've heard the amendment. Is there any objection to the amendment? The amendment is adopted without objection. Now she's going to read the title of the bill.
Senate Bill 665 by Senator Garner. An act to amend the
Arkansas Constitution Amendment 98, also known as the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016 to add a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities to the distance requirements for a dispensary and to declare an emergency. Senator Garner. Thank you. This is, as I described, this is when we passed out with 31 votes. This would grandfather
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
4:38:51
people in if there's that rare case that exists, which I have heard of, and also do a verse of clause from here on out so people know the rules.
I have heard no opposition from this from any kind
Speaker 241
4:39:06
of organized group. Any questions? Anyone wish to speak? Senators closed. Any objections to rolling the
Speaker 174
4:39:11
vote? You're objected to rolling the vote. Please call the roll.
Speaker 355
4:39:22
Ballinger? Aye. Bledsoe? Aye. Bond? Aye. Caldwell? Caldwell? Cheatham? Aye. Chesterfield? Chesterfield? Clark? Clark?
Cooper? Aye. Davis?
Speaker 353
4:39:39
Aye. Dismang, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Aye. Ingram. Ingram. Irvin. Aye. Blake
Johnson. Blake Johnson. Aye. Mark Johnson.
Letting Malik Pitch Raypert Rice Sample Stebafil Sturge Teague Wallace Anyone wish to change their vote or vote cast up the ballot 30 a's one day the
uh to the house now we've got
one i'm what right right
we've got one two three four five one two three four five six seven
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
4:40:52
eight batch bill senator henry okay member just make sure you all agree on the batch you see them up there 1700 1810 1811 1944, 1963, 1970, 1979, and 19, or 1380, well, 1985. Is 1385 supposed to be in the batch? Yeah. Okay, but there's a 1385 up there.
She's going to take that out. Yeah, it should be eight. All right, last page, that's the batch. Is
Speaker 145
4:41:26
everybody in agreement with that? I do. We consider these bills as a batch. Any objection to batching and rolling the vote, please, Senators Close,
please roll the vote. House Bill 1700 by Representative Wooten to require the Department of Education to inform an educational entity
to which an individual is applying, whether the individual is eligible for employment based on the results of
the individual's background checks. House Bill 1810 by Representative Penzo to provide the qualified spousal
trust in Arkansas. House Bill 1811 by Representative Maddox to amend the law concerning the operation of all-terrain vehicles on public streets and highways. House Bill 1944 by Representative Meeks concerning blockchain technology.
House Bill 1963 by Representative Gassaway concerning the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute to create a school safety and crisis line and to create a school safety and crisis line fund. House Bill 1970, by Representative Meeks, to amend the law concerning the Information Network of Arkansas and declare an emergency. House Bill 1979, by Representative Richmond, to amend the law designating the Gold Star Families Highway.
House Bill 1985, by Representative Davis, to promote water
Speaker 2
4:43:11
resource conservation and development, and to amend
the
Water Resource Conservation and Development Incentives Act. Please roll the vote.
Speaker 632
4:43:36
Anyone wish to change their vote? Cast up the ballot, 35 yeas, 0 nays. All eight House bills passed. Return
them all to the House. Remember, we're here at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Senator Hendren is recognized. Well, thank you all for the
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
4:43:50
hard work. That was a big calendar, and I appreciate you staying put and getting through it. Tomorrow's calendar is not nearly as large. It's looking like about a dozen bills and some concurrences. So it is important that we have a group here, though, a good group here. so don't let's not have some votes fail or some bills get hung up because uh we have a lot of
people missing so please let me or uh senator flippo or senator hester know if you're not going to be here tomorrow so we can see if there's going to be a problem or not again we're going to start at 10. the hope is will not go more than an hour or certainly be done by lunch i know there may be a committee or two meeting at nine for some final touch-up things or concurrences so we will may have to have a real suspension or two to finish everything up that's on our calendar tomorrow but again the hope is to be done by noon and then come back on the 24th
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
4:44:41
senator colwell's got a quick announcement i have an announcement state agencies committee will meet in the morning at 8 30 concerning non-payment by dhs to providers we will not hear bill or resolution but we will if you have problems with your providers in your district not getting paid by DHS that will be the subject of that committee now I know y'all get tired of me saying this but I don't get tired of telling you I know we're at the end of the session thank you for everything y'all have done for me we love you
Speaker 794
4:45:14
Senator Teague, you got a quick announcement? Mr. President, it's not fair for me to have to follow that. Well, why don't you wait till tomorrow? I'm just going to remind members that we've got to have 75% to pass out revenue stabilization and rainy day, the House version. Anybody else?
Thank you. Senator Jones, 10 o'clock tomorrow. I got to go. My daughter is playing softball and I'm not going to mess the whole game.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Announcements
Items to be read
SR30 T. Garner TO CONDEMN THE POLICIES OF PRESIDENT NICOLÁS MADURO OF VENEZUELA AND TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA.
SR43 Maloch TO COMMEND THE WORK OF FAMILIES AGAINST DISTRACTIVE DRIVING.
SR44 B. Ballinger TO SUPPORT A SCENIC GONDOLA INSTALLATION AT BLACK MOUNTAIN ON THE MULBERRY RIVER.
SB84 #1 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PERMANENCY GOALS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT AT A PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING.
SB85 #1 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SERVICE OF A PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS.
SB183 #1 A. Clark TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS FROM HOLDING A POSITION OF PUBLIC TRUST.
SB240 #2 D. Wallace CONCERNING THE REEMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
SB440 #1 Bledsoe TO BAN USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN FOOD AND DRINK EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SB451 #1 J. Cooper TO AMEND THE LAWS REGARDING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS TO OBTAIN CONSISTENCY REGARDING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND DISQUALIFYING OFFENSES FOR LICENSURE.
SB460 #1 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "FERAL HOG"; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE RELEASE OF FERAL HOGS INTO THE WILD; AND TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE CAPTURING AND KILLING OF FERAL HOGS.
SB493 #1 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT FEES.
SB499 #1 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MILITARY SERVICE AND VETERANS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE REISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE TO A SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.
SB544 #1 Irvin TO ESTABLISH PREJUDGMENT AND POST-JUDGMENT INTEREST RATES.
SB612 #1 J. Cooper CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF UNLAWFUL USE OF AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM; TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE".
SB646 #1 G. Leding CONCERNING CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED RECORDS OF THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY.
SB658 #1 Hester CONCERNING CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, AND THE JUDICIARY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1982 #1 G. Hodges B. Davis TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRIC MOTORIZED SCOOTER ACT.
SB 592 #1 Elliot
Items at the desk
SB463 M. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING, REGISTRATION, AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS CONCERNING CERTAIN PERSONS AND ENTITIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PAID CANVASSING INDUSTRY.
SB668 K. Hammer CONCERNING A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS CLASSIFIED AS BEING IN NEED OF LEVEL 5 - INTENSIVE SUPPORT; AND TO ALLOW THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GRANT EXTENSIONS OF ITS ASSUMPTION OF AUTHORITY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
HB 1385
HB1782 Capp Bond CONCERNING COURT COSTS AND FEES FOR SPECIALTY COURT IN THE STATE'S DISTRICT COURTS.
HB1817 Capp Stubblefield TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING NATIVE WINE INCENTIVE GRANTS; TO AMEND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF NATIVE WINE INCENTIVE GRANT FUNDS AWARDED; AND TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS AGRICULTURAL MARKETING GRANTS FUND.
HB1839 L. Johnson Rapert TO ESTABLISH THE PREPAID MOBILE DEVICE PROTECTION ACT.
HB1842 Pilkington Dismang TO STREAMLINE THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PROCEDURES, FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED, AND STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR GRIEVANCES.
HB1866 Petty Hammer CONCERNING EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, PARDON, AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.
HB1928 V. Flowers Elliott TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO REQUIRE ALL OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE RECORDED.
HB1947 Fortner Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EYESIGHT TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
HB1950 Glover Cheatham TO ESTABLISH JOHN H. JOHNSON DAY AS A MEMORIAL DAY.
HB1557 House Cooper TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION FROM THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO EXEMPT SECURITY PLANS RELATED TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES.
HB1664 Crawford Ballinger TO ESTABLISH THE LIFE CHOICES LIFELINE PROGRAM.
HB1691 M. Gray Irvin TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROMULGATE RULES FOR CLOSURE, SALE, TRANSFER, AND EXPANSION OF CERTAIN FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
HB1698 Della Rosa Cooper TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE FILING AND PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF ARKANSAS CODE RESULTING FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990 AND INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.
HB1712 Wardlaw Irvin TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THAT INFORMATION OBTAINED ON HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES BE CONFIDENTIAL.
HB1803 F. Allen Irvin TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH.
HB1809 Love Clark TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL TERM OF IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENSES THAT CONSTITUTE SERIOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST A PERSON AT A CHURCH OR OTHER PLACE OF WORSHIP.
HB1814 Rushing Cooper CONCERNING THE OFFENSE OF HARASSING COMMUNICATIONS.
HB1850 Mccollum Hester TO ESTABLISH THE EMPOWER INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ACT OF 2019; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF THE LAW IMPACTING INITIATED ACT 4 OF 1948; AND TO AMEND DEFINITIONS OF "EMPLOYEE", "EMPLOYMENT", AND "EMPLOYMENT STATUS" WITHIN TITLE 11.
HB1856 Dotson Ballinger TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM CONSENTING OR APPROVING THE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE CUSTODY OR GUARDIANSHIP OF THE STATE AND FROM EXPENDING STATE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERMINATING A PREGNANCY.
HB1878 Della Rosa Cooper TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN CAMPAIGN SIGNS AND LITERATURE; AND TO REQUIRE TRANSPARENCY BY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES.
HB1913 Bentley Flippo TO AMEND THE LONG-TERM CARE AIDE TRAINING ACT; AND TO SPECIFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR LONG-TERM AIDE TRAINING PROGRAMS.
HB1915 Womack Wallace TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING OPEN BURNING OF VEGETATIVE STORM DEBRIS.
HB1965 V. Flowers Cheatham TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS DELTA MUSIC TRAIL ACT; TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES FOR ART PROJECTS ALONG DESIGNATED MUSIC HIGHWAYS IN THE STATE; AND TO REQUIRE SIGNAGE ALONG DESIGNATED MUSIC HIGHWAYS IN THE STATE.
HB1967 Watson Irvin TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE RESOURCE ACT.
HB1968 D. Ferguson Ingram TO AMEND AN EXEMPTION TO THE ARKANSAS CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT OF 2006.
HB1433 Rushing Hammer TO AUTHORIZE INDIVIDUALS WITH PRIOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AS PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS OR SIMILAR POSITIONS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1700 Wooten Cheatham TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INFORM AN EDUCATIONAL ENTITY TO WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL IS APPLYING WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S BACKGROUND CHECKS.
HB1731 G. Hodges Stubblefield TO REQUIRE COOPERATION BETWEEN CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.
HB1810 Penzo Ballinger TO PROVIDE FOR QUALIFIED SPOUSAL TRUSTS IN ARKANSAS.
HB1811 Maddox B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES ON PUBLIC STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.
HB1933 Gazaway Dismang TO AMEND THE ANTI-BULLYING POLICY; TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT DISCIPLINE; AND TO REQUIRE A BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING PREVENTION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
HB1944 S. Meeks Elliott CONCERNING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.
HB1956 Watson Pitsch TO PROVIDE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR A NONCONSENT TOWING ROTATION SYSTEM FOR HEAVY-DUTY MOTOR VEHICLES.
HB1963 Gazaway Eads CONCERNING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE; TO CREATE A SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS LINE; AND TO CREATE A SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS LINE FUND.
HB1969 Wardlaw Wallace TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING ARKANSAS'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL COLLECTION.
HB1970 S. Meeks B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION NETWORK OF ARKANSAS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1979 Richmond Wallace TO AMEND THE LAW DESIGNATING THE "GOLD STAR FAMILIES HIGHWAY".
HB1984 Perry Cooper TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION AND THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING CERTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
HB1985 A. Davis Dismang TO PROMOTE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO AMEND THE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES ACT.
HB 1820 CONCERNING FIREARMS; CONCERNING FIREARM NOISE SUPPRESSORS AND MACHINE GUNS; AND CONCERNING COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT.
HB 1710 TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE ON TRANSPORTATION OF NONEMERGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS.
HB 1964 TO REGULATE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AGREEMENTS.
HB 1385 TO AMEND THE LAW TO CREATE A DEFINITION OF "SCHOOLHOUSE" WITH REGARD TO BUSINESSES REGULATED BY THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD.
SB 665 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMENDMENT OF 2016; TO ADD A FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A DISPENSARY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Batched Bills
HB 1700 TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INFORM AN EDUCATIONAL ENTITY TO WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL IS APPLYING WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S BACKGROUND CHECKS.
HB 1810 TO PROVIDE FOR QUALIFIED SPOUSAL TRUSTS IN ARKANSAS.
HB 1811 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES ON PUBLIC STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.
HB 1944 CONCERNING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.
HB 1963 CONCERNING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE; TO CREATE A SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS LINE; AND TO CREATE A SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS LINE FUND.
HB 1970 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION NETWORK OF ARKANSAS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB 1979 TO AMEND THE LAW DESIGNATING THE "GOLD STAR FAMILIES HIGHWAY".
HB 1985 TO PROMOTE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO AMEND THE WATER RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES ACT.
SB595 AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MONIES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAINY DAY FUND; AND TO ALLOW THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR STATE AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS APPROPRIATIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Budget Bills
SB122 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR.
SB597 TO AMEND THE REVENUE STABILIZATION LAW; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1106 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - REVENUE SERVICES DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1109 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1130 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS STATE POLICE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1197 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1200 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES-REYNOLDS CENTER ON AGING, BOOZMAN COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ARK. BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE, & THE AREA HEALTH ED CENTER IN HELENA APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR.
Announcements
Adjourned
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Speaker 1
Senator Joyce Elliott Chair
Unverified
Speaker 5
Senator Cecile Bledsoe Chair
Unverified
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Speaker 11
Speaker 12
Chair
Unverified
Senator Jim Hendren
Unverified
Speaker 23
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 32
Speaker 35
Speaker 42
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Unverified
Speaker 45
Speaker 50
Senator Kim Hammer Chair
Unverified
Speaker 82
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
Speaker 91
Speaker 93
Speaker 101
Speaker 111
Speaker 117
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Speaker 136
Speaker 21
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Speaker 55
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Speaker 52
Speaker 162
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
Speaker 169
Speaker 179
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Speaker 2
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Speaker 228
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Speaker 22
Senator John Cooper
Unverified
Speaker 180
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Speaker 61
Speaker 145
Speaker 189
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Speaker 275
Speaker 283
Senator James Sturch Chair
Unverified
Speaker 132
Speaker 193
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Speaker 317
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
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Senator Will Bond
Unverified
Senator Ronald Caldwell
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Senator Gary Stubblefield Chair
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Senator Jonathan Dismang
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Senator Ricky Hill
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Senator Larry Teague
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Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
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Senator Scott Flippo
Unverified
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Senator Jane English
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