House Management

Of this this is something we've been working on for at least a couple months with the the bureau and also the Senate. And we've met. Jointly previously. We attended just last week the Senate efficiency. Meeting in so we're trying to. Work in conjunction as much as we can. Legislative committee rooms so are the the the plan. Is B. calls of this social distancing the spacing out we're going to have to. We can't use some of our committee in committee rooms we can use 151. Which is got a it's a larger room so we're on plan to use room 151. And we are looking. At renovating this is the fifth floor of mac down on the fourth floor. Parks and tourism because. Of transformation they vacated some of that and so there is a real nice conference room. On the fourth floor that that we're looking to renovate and use that as a. Committee room or all call maxi. Mac Kay this is Mike may and that would be maxi and. It will work for a a 20 person committee. So why. Each year the bureau has in its budget. 200 $5000 for committee room renovation or improvements the house used it a couple times will renovated 13138 when we renovated 149151 the Senate use that those funds for the spring court room and then they use them in room 171 so we're gonna. Avail ourselves the the bureau is going to use those funds to get this room ready for we can live stream out of it in use it is one of our committee rooms. So with that said. And when we get those. Preparations done. Then. The 8 committees this is we're just getting over and this is all tentative this is a plan. And women I am have to do this if you know the cases of drop way down in the pandemic is passed or whatever but if it's the same or a little bit worse or a little bit less or whatever it's about the same then this kind are planned for committees that is to come in on Mondays with 8 committees. So Monday morning. 8 committee would meet in 151. And in room maxi. Say 10:00. They would come in the session and immediately upon adjournment of the session. The other committees would make then we would have cleaned disinfected 151 Maxie would have it ready. Budget would be making in the mornings generally speaking and mac 8 in the afternoons mac K. becomes available so we can use for the remaining 38 committees we could use 151. Mac A and then maxi would cover matings than we the Senate will be a. Using. Their room 171 for their this is for their B. committees that will be made NO Mondays so they'd be use in 171 the Supreme Court room and then we get to where we need some approval and that is they would also be using our room 130 with your permission. And also room 138. While we're using 151 would also use 149 and the Senate would use 138 for what we're calling bull pens right now. For lack of a better term because we're going to. It people who would be a potential witnesses or tests to find and FOR against bills agency person nail people like that that that would need to come before the committee but you can't help we don't have enough room to socially distance those individuals in 151 nor with the Senate have room in 130 so we would put them the Senate would use 138 which is the ag education room while they're meeting in room 130 which public health and aging children youth they would use that and they would keep their witnesses over there we would be using 151 and we will keep our witnesses in 149 it has the luxury of having no. Hall way between the 2 right self that could work but there's also a proposal and I think the Senate I can't speak presents my understand they may be. Preparing to let their people testify by zoom instead actually come in physically and of that committee room we still I don't think have reached a conclusion about that one way other. So that's the plan on an as a set on Tuesdays you just. We would invite that in the Senate's 8 committees would be meeting and our B. committees to would meet in the morning. Utilize an 151 and maxi in an afternoon we utilize mac a maxi and 1:51 AM. Mardian in jail have worked up a schedule but we we at this point. I just kind of going all. Leave it open because we could for example on a Monday have. Public health and education that that needed to meet with pretty heavy agendas on Monday morning and I could use. Those 2 rooms that mention and then that afternoon there may be a lot or schedule for transportation revenue tax and. And who is the other one the other a committee then so. The issue judiciary thank you they had you know that. This just came to okay. So. That's kind of the plan so in Marty in dealer here to help answer any of those questions in any any any questions I'm ready to. Give it my best shot. Shepherd you're recognized thank you just to a few things in and I appreciate a rate being here for this committee meeting. Of I guess I give my thoughts on this and and Royce done a good job covering everything we have begun that discussion you know preliminarily about what what how the session would look like in January and you know from from my perspective I've already gotten calls from members there's as with a lot of things there's all kinds of speculation and rumors about what it might look like but the truth of the matter is that solve remains to be seen that's what we're working towards and that's the purpose of this house management meeting is is wanting to engage this committee into that discussion you know from my standpoint the things that that I think are important as they always are important continue to be that we want to be we want to work card we want to be efficient while we're here we want to be safe and provide a safe environment a healthy environment for our members but also for the public and for all the witnesses and the staff and everybody that's a part of this process and we one of the you know maintain our transparency which is something we've I think I've done a really good job of and if continued over the last several years to build on the transparency that we provided for in the process and then we want to make sure that that the members in a regular session we want to make sure that we preserve the right of the membership to file legislation to bring bills and to make sure that they're that we have ample opportunity to do the work you know I've had members concerned that that you know we're not going to look that we're gonna. Not gonna allow you know. Bills to be heard or whatever I mean now we're gonna work this is a regular session and and we're going to try and provide is normal of a process as we can thank you bye that's that's dealt with me knows that the dom it's very important to me that the membership have the ability to file and and debate and and conduct our business you know one thing that you know just for the benefit of the committee some of the things that thinker portent and one thing we many to talk about is I think on the the schedule and may be a mis read it first but right now are a committees or Tuesday Thursday so I I think would want to keep that is keep up our ETS on Tuesday Thursday if we need to move something to Monday that's what I'd like to see happen I was talking Marty about that you know I would to the best of our ability you know I will I think it worked well for us to to be off on Fridays as long as we possibly can and I want to continue trying to that now that's gonna be more challenging because we have. Limited you know there's the our facilities are such that not every we can't see you know we don't have every committee room fully available. For use because of the fact that you know for some committees there's not there's not space to provide the social distancing or to accommodate the public and witnesses and so that's why we're looking at what other options are available in this big maxi is is one option of you know there were some thoughts of just having the house and the Senate lip do committee house do committees on one day the Senate mates and then the next day the Senate do committees in the house speaks but I'm not I'm not particularly that's not something that I'm. Really thank yous is necessarily Bible at this point because when we're in session if the Senate committees are meeting we're gonna have house members the need to run bills down there and I'm also concerned about just the flow of work and so I think to the extent that we can keep. On as regular schedule as we can what what we've looked at here is the possibility really of splitting you know if need be splitting those 8 committees and B. committees during the day that allows us to continue to have committee work but at the same time to cat get our work done on the floor and also as everybody knows or some days we don't have much work to be done on the floor there's other days where there's a lot and that will allow us the flexibility to be able to work with our chairs and with the agenda that we have in front of us to hopefully keep keep the session moving. You know if things are back to normal or if we feel like it's safe for us to get back to you know kind of our regular routine then obviously we'd love to do that that's what we were all hoping for but we but we need to be prepared for the fact that you know we have a constitutional role to play a responsibility we need to be prepared to do our business and we will but we wanna make sure we do that in a way that says as a safe for the membership and everybody else involved so just wanted to share that again this is all tentative discussions and so we want to hear you know from the committee and for that matter from any other member if if people have questions or concerns you have certainly passes on to me but for what it's worth I want to share couple those thoughts today at the outset thank you thank you Mr Speaker any other questions. We are writing the very first textbook on how to deal with a modern day pandemic and so we are learning as we go or applying the best principles that we can and we try to adjust quickly whenever we see a shortfall in so we're trying to get ahead of any potential hitches that may come as the session approaches so that we can use the benefit of the recent experience we've had to help things be as seamless as possible as we move forward. If there are no other questions are you represent Fortner go ahead. G. damage my mask of a are there it's going to be expenses involved with the expenses to us involved with the renovation downstairs. Was read. Yes we're we're going to have to to spends money to get it ready to a live stream out of their. But again Marty and. That group is going to use funds out of the 205000 to get it up and ready to go how much approximately. Whole probably has the call center chunk of that 205 I don't know exactly how much but is gonna it's going to use. North of $170000. Okay thank you. And that's an annual appropriation that comes every year whether we use it or not most years we don't don't use within you last year but yeah the that's why we have that money set aside is in case we need to make some changes in and out Tokyo it's primarily going to be used for getting the live stream in the microphones in the been able to. No live stream and the rod cast out of there follows yes in and this may be premature Roy if it is just tell me and I'll wait I see the the. Plexiglass that's going to be expensive okay well that would talk about in just seconds yeah it's going to be and it's not only an expense not of the same fund now it'll come out of the house capital improvement phones I'll I'll wait in our. You'll be first in line we get to item number 2 on the agenda. Any other questions from the committee what we need is a motion from the committee if if the committee that is their desire to authorize the Senate to use these committee rooms and to be able to give us the flexibility to create as necessary motion. A second over there as well all right. All in favor say aye. The opposed all right. Let's move on to item number 2. Mr Ragland you have the floor. Well it's kind to because Wally get a grasp on. What. How we were going to do the regular session you know act the special session we went over to U. A L. R. to the Jack Stephen center you know 456 bills that's we can handle that. Just roll call in and so on even in the fiscal session we can we can handle that one way. Batch staff together row the boat. And didn't have that many role because but when you're talking about a regular session. And hundreds of bills not to mention actions motions and so on we we needed to be a buyer voting machine we need to be but that that board and you'll be able to devote so we looked at several options. Remote voting people being up in the galleries and in their offices in. But the Senate gave us some good insight on that because they they did that while we were out U. A L. R. and many of those centers said you know I we just didn't feel like we were part of the process because we're set up in these galleries you know you just you're not down there with the rest of the of the membership and I can see that you know we were all a body in and they want to be down there and so. We look at at some options we saw what of the states have done and state sly Rhode Island Tennessee Louisiana taxes Connecticut. They use Tennessee they use plexiglas like you see in a lot of the convenience stores where you walk up for our E. Walmart's in these places of got a shield up so and Marty in the and B. L. are are going to use that concept over here doing budget hearing so. We have. Got a couple of different groups contractors ace glance and southern office services have are working on some estimates will have one of the estimates of don't have the other one as of yet. And also yesterday Representative Johnson and myself met with the department of health. Because all of this would be in vain if if they didn't approve of it. And so we walk the department of health we had. Bish surely Louis who is this state to deputy epidemiologist. There with this and so we walk through and we went through our plans. And they were concerned about some things and one of them was ventilation. And once they saw what she saw how are chambers constructed should choose okay with that evacuation in case of a fire and these will not impede people's ability to get on get out in case of emergency and then the other thing was just that that we would follow the the other procedures such as mask. So what we would end up doing. He is. Being in these. Basically will turn into cubicles. With with your plexiglass cross the front if you just imagine of something a petition between you all right now and plexiglas crossed front plexiglass in between you then they will approve of us being able to meet in the chamber. Everybody can be in there. Use your vote machines participate just like we. I normally would so the other thing about that if you look up at the chart. If you can see this chart appear so if someone. In out in the middle came down with. A que PAS they've tested positive. Then it it what will happen is just the person right immediately to each side would have to be quarantine not the person that in front the person directly behind if you said no in the end it just be the one person. Would have to be quarantine because of the. The amount of time we would be together. Yeah we're gonna be over the 15 minutes most the time in a close proximity but we're fortunate in that the distance is. Plus the mask plus the plexiglas would make it where the person directly in front of your directly behind you would not have to be quarantine and all of this is important because we can't have. You know. 20 or 30 people gone. In a session or get into a situation where we have a bunch of the staff. It's this act out. So. That's kinda will rant. I don't have both the the estimate yet. Don't have asus back and so I prefer not to give out just the one be at at this time and but it's it's going to be a less than. $50000 to do it and it won't be none of it will be attached permanently to any of our desk or anything it's going to be where we can remove it it may make a spot or something would have to re finish. Does ray finishing at a later time and it may be that it the adhesive does do that I don't know but anyhow that's kind of war rant that's our option. We have a the other thing is in but is going to talk about that in a little while is what we know what about those 2 people had to be quarantine just because they were set next someone that got positive they have a right to still have a right to vote listen to all of the and so does the person for that matter that had the positive tests so we're going to look at some ways to accommodate that through remote voting but we want to minimize that is much as possible in this plexiglass proposal I believe will will do that so just to be clear we're gonna have plexiglass on the side and in the front select 3 fourths of the phone booth kind of the right situation okay. And it works out to where you can still turn your chairs they don't they don't touch it's going to be tapped but. It's we feel like it's the best I feel like it's the best. Alternative that we have. Any questions from the committee. Speaker shepherd you're recognized not not really a question I guess I'll just add additional comment so. Again this goes back to what I said earlier about we know one of the one of the things that the priority is being able to conduct our work in a safe environment and if you pricing other states have many have made some or similar arrangements if you if you of you know follow other state legislators on social media you pricing pictures what they've done so this is not necessarily uncommon and you know to the extent we tried to work with the department of health and I appreciate represent Johnson really going back to the special session and and what's going on throughout the in room with the bureau and others represent Johnson's really spend a lot of time and effort lot of his own time working on this and helping to make sure we're we're operating as safe as possible in the back to the matter is as I said earlier we have a constitutional duty and roll an obligation to meet and we're going to do that and you know what but at the same time we want to try and work with the department of health at the end of the day we've got to meet I mean that's the bottom line but to the extent that we can work with them and that that they just for example the quarantine issue understanding what the ramifications would be and how how that would work in this legislative environment it's it think it's important and and it's important for us to have go ahead and have those discussions you know I don't think it's not so much that we're looking for them to you know for trying to prove or tell us what we can or can't do because we're going to meet I mean that's the bottom line but we want to we want to make sure that we're working in a way that that we can work as safe as possible and so I appreciate the department's work in a rule A and everybody on staff has worked really hard on this but just wanted to mention that and you know again if there if there other thoughts see. Tions our ideas were always open to those discussions in and continue to look for ways to to be able to meet as safe as possible. Mr and I would have put this cabbie ought that we are waiting to get this and riding it was it was our understanding in discussion yesterday and and I sent the email with asking for written confirmation this is his way it's going to be in would be recognize so it's it's not 100 percent approved but it's it's in the works is it fair to say that by following the plan with the with the plexiglas this would eliminate the need for more people to be quarantined if there was a positive case and that if we were to go without the plexiglas in order to be able to get the blessing from the health department we would need to spread out into the galleries L. and elsewhere. That's correct I thank embodiment can helping for someone else the number we were cut it down to about 40 in the chamber. If you social distance without the plexiglas you're down to about 40 people you're going to have but the other 60 elsewhere. And that's gonna be a. Logistical nightmare in my opinion. Representative Johnson is on the phone bring a Mike over to the phone and. All right absent Johnson you're recognized. Can you hear me. Yes we can. Right I just wanted to say a few words in support of the car that and as stragglers said we may yes Sir department company. I just echo what the Speaker said you know this is important due to do we have to perform you know we have to remember we send our kids to school every day into an environment where they can't necessarily socially distance you know it because we think it's important and it's valuable it is important Bible so it's about it's about risk mitigation you know doing the best we can to mitigate response to be able to function perform our duties and you know to me I think it's critical that we're all in the chamber together I think that's the best way to function I think adding the plexiglas just you know is part of that risk mitigation helps reduce some of the risk and it's a relatively All Things Considered a relatively low cost model being from the top of intervention and so always happy to departments of she's able to support that to the I do think without that Kathy I they would be tuition to have a. Spread out in separate places and you know I think all of us agree that less less than ideal slot I know the plates glasses in party can there be some people that you know it creates an inconvenience for but at the end of the day I think that's the the best option we have and I'm glad they're witness pursuant. Thank you representantes any other questions from the committee. Represent Fortner. I think that the plexiglas is a a well thought out idea I think it's very doable. I have a couple questions that have you discussed or thought about going to the well especially those that are in the middle of the aisles they're gonna have to walk behind people closer that the health department going to be okay with that is we just not bring that up Lee that go. No we looked the dent in the front row is gonna have plexiglass alone face 7 of the podium will have plexiglass we your speaking it. We'll inhibit you know. The air from going out. Now this signed by the house will not have plexiglass because the cheers wouldn't turn but. A yeah they're they're fine with that because the contact will be minimal as you're walking by or whatever so and the other question what Mr Ragland. Lost my head there for second. Was there any discussion or any thought about testing the body whom we come in. To drop baseline we did not discuss that should we. I don't know what else not Michael I'd I'd I'm not afraid to suggested the. If we can find a person before we get into session it might stop a lot of us from being people. Infected. I made. Are you talking about the full testing or the screening like what we get before we enter committee every day no test the screen I'm not convinced that the. The temperature house anything really I tell you something those were the hot or not the but I don't know if it tells you a clear if you have color not but no attest and I know it's I know it would be expensive and I know it or not to consider one out of money but it might be worth spending a couple Bucks. To set a baseline. That's just a suggestion. Representative Johnson do I hear you clear in your throat. Hi. It's a good bit I think that's a great idea if the actors to the testing was better if the problem is the engine testing the 15 minute engine test this the quick turnaround test it has a high false negative rate and so if you tell you have to have it you can feel pretty confident that you have it I mean the false positive rate is very low but if this is you don't have to cope with and your asymptomatic it's probably 50 percent false negative so you know you may as well flip a coin is attested to the test of you in less the quality the testing improves the DO there's not a lot of value in the rapidly edition test for screening purposes in a systematic people that the PCR test is really accurate but the problem with that is you know it takes 6:00 hours to Ryan there you can do one in 90 minutes but that but you're from a decision to stand for that has to be routed allow the department so often you that the process there is a little more laborious so you know and I agree I do we would have a way to just test people as they came in the door but the reality of the testing situation is the quality that quick pastor so questionable for asymptomatic people that a you know it's gonna be hard to rely on that is a good tool to rule out people having covered for they enter the chamber. Representative Johnson may I ask you if with regards to the the the beginning of whenever you were exposed that's when you're more likely to have a false negative is that correct and is that the same with both the PC are and the indigent test. Yes Sir I mean it's it's a hard thing I because the ideal time to get tested is is day 5 after exposure it's so the false negative rate the starts out pretty I so let's say that you are not around each other you have coded and I found out later on today that you had got it will be I just was exposed to you the chance is me testing positive on day one of the exposure is about. Your 10 percent or less it indeed even if I happen and the Indian by day to you it's more like 80 by 20 percent day 3 is more like 30 days for goes up about 60 percent and in the day 5 would be 80 percent so so it you know as you get closer to day 5 the she is to be tested positive engine really having co opted that makes the answer so in other words the false negative rate declines as you go from day one to day 5 and the the most accurate time to test you would be a stop after exposure. Which is what the health department has recommended I think this a day 3 days tops. Thank you representantes a and there's also the possibility that between now and January we will have made great strides in testing and we can have immediate tests as we go in our flying cars to where they are but at this point. It is possible that are they were on the backside of occur by the end I mean I think there's a real chance you know when I talked about this yesterday I think we prepare for the worst and hope for the best that I think there is a chance that we could get into you know December and and have a marked decline in active cases and you know be less concerned. Yeah isn't that happens that's great but I think these preparations and FOR. Sounds good. Yes good deal good any other questions. We would entertain a similar motion if so inclined to be able to allow a authorize the concept of pursuing the plexiglas. Motion Rosa Fortner second Representative Allen and all in favor say aye. Andy oppose all right thank you. All right we'll move on item 3 of the agenda. Remote voting we will bring in our parliamentarian missed buddy Johnson. Thank you Mr chairman members the committee members of the house. Appreciate the opportunity to be here. This up. Earlier this summer after the fiscal and special sessions and we reached out to international roll call which has installed and serviced our voting machine since the 19 forties about what options were out there for facilitating remote voting as you recall during the fiscal side of during the special session March fiscal session April we the house approved a special rule allowing directed proxy voting to facilitate members been able to vote without necessarily being physically present at the meeting we saw that it it was seen as an essential step to get the work done 4 for the session there in. There was the. No way to employ the voting machine at that point. Special session fiscal session of. Workload allowed for the proxy voting it worked members were able to vote record necessary number of votes to pass legislation and the it it got the job done was less than satisfactory as you know and there was no question about it but I. Doing a directed proxy vote was not like B. and. Being there in person in voting up with your with your peers and so we reset their natural called to say what what options OR A out there for for remote voting. In the they. Responded with the information about what they call a in there's a hand that in your in your packet about that its the virtual voting console which is a web based application software it's not it's not additional hardware but it's a software based applications where a member on the legislative network with a house issued. A laptop computer. Or of work book what. 11 that when would that would work with the system only on there are network could have a virtual voting button a right just like you would in chamber in like a vote in real time. Own own you know like a a by in the chamber of. We presented the information to our. Information systems personnel with the bureau of legislative research today look into it and confirm that it could be done so that you know it it's it's very doable. Nash road called estimate the cost to implement it would be. Between 39 and $54000 it could be implemented in a week's time once we gave once the green light is given to them to pursue. The A is is Mr Ragland described the the plexiglas solution in the chamber. That. Was it was a great relief and in the. Consideration of options that. The house faces you know going into January if if the if the current conditions continue up to that point. It would it would allow business as usual on the house floor with the voting machine which is which would be the solution. This remote voting would allow. It would give us a give the house a tool to allow members if they were for whatever reason not comfortable being under the conditions with the plexiglass they could. They could be be remote and then they could vote this does not address the issues of of members participating in debate remotely this this doesn't employee a video or audio interface to facilitate that part of the legislative process is strictly it deals with voting and other options would have to be considered for other you know levels of participation in the process of and that doesn't that's not covered in in this in this report today. But it it goes this goes great way of overcoming some the shortcomings of the directed proxy voting the the house might consider continuing the of their proxy voting option for member who. Not only could not be on the floor say if they were quarantine and not within the physical confines of the capitol or or the the year this legislative spacing big mac building this on the legislative network the remote voting with with the system would work in those fifth physical areas it would not work from your house over north little rock. For instance so you would still needs do you know as a way of voting and so a proxy voting approach of some sort as was was used during the the special fiscal sessions not be continued but. Plexiglas on the floor this right here of the virtual voting buttons would you know pretty much accomplish. You know the voting system needs for the membership. Could you address security obviously that's going to be vital rye something like right and and you know as. The security of the of our voting machine is is sacred it always has been and you you know the the Great Lakes we goes. Through all payer voting during session near where you have to have witnesses and you know. Notary if you're if you're not in the building I mean it's it's it's a sacred this is the the in Terry of our voting is is is sacred of this of course is in wouldn't be as secure as the voting machines on the floor under the watchful eye of all the members with the key actually in the machine before a member can vote. But this only would be available own a. On the computer. That you know is is authorized by the by the house in a sign to a member. So if Representative Vaught had a laptop and was was using this should be using a laptop they had been assigned to her and that she would log into and so that would be that would be the level of security but also be on the legislative network. So. That there is a bad is secure and approach S. as could be short of. You know just being in the chamber under the the. Current circumstance. Representative Vaught you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair delay time what the delay between a because like when you're watchin committee meetings there's a delay right no matter what you do there's always a delay right so what it what are you gonna take into account delay of us watching something and delay of something getting from. The computer back to you I don't believe there would be a delay under this under the under this scenario it and and and I don't know the the technicalities of the delay I think. But there is a delay there is there has to be a delay in voting because you've got to give that person enough time to get from delay if. Because they're gonna here you're gonna say. Hi everyone of those everyone voted that has one voted will they have not even heard that probably at thank they might be hearing a. Call of the vote and it's actually they've missed the boat does that make sense it yet if it's like the video on the committee you this but a 30 second. The yeah I might be able to streamline that down a bit Speaker shepherd you have some that yeah so this this kind of goes back to just the discussion of trying to look at all the options that we had because originally as we looked at it we thought that we probably we're gonna have to spread out that made that even with the plexiglas maybe that was gonna be sufficient now we believe the plexiglass will be sufficient along with other precautions that we want to take this in my view this is my thoughts on this is that this is a tool I would in my personal opinion we would only want to rarely use it. It could might be that members. Some members may not feel comfortable for whatever reason sitting in close proximity on the floor and under this system we could put members in the gallery where they would be physically present would still be there but the but what could have their laptop and be voting as opposed to trying to come up with some other system to cast their ballots that's that what I think that's what I think at least personally would be maybe the likely use of that the other is let's say there was a large outbreak or we had a number of members and be quarantine then this would allow us the possibility of again we have to talk with department of health the others public health officials but if we had to set up some kind of room in the capitol or here on the campus where we say okay we've got a large number of individuals that maybe they're covered positive for or in quarantine we're going to set up of a way for them to come in and vote now we would obviously want to test that and be verified but this is not going to be a situation where it ever be utilized for members to not be here at the capitol on in this facility they would have to be here we would know who was here and utilizing it again my hope is that everybody can be on the floor of the house but we also understand that there may be reasons why we need to have members in the gallery them's itself and you know I know the Senate during this the special session fiscal session I believe that members in the gallery I know that Mike was down there I think that's right that they have an but the way the Senate boats is a lot different than the way 100 house members vote and so that's where I really think the potential use would be it's not to. We want to encourage people to be here they would have to be some discussion with about rule changes and I would perceive that we would have a very very narrow parameters by which we would even allow this type of system to be utilized but the fact is we need to be prepared because if we have something come up in the middle of session we're under a certain period of time within which to do our business and so that's that's kind of my view of of what I would see here at not I don't want anybody go away from the saying the house is looking to meet remotely and they're not wanting to be in the chat chamber me we want people to be there in the chamber but we also understand that there's a lot of variables here and we're trying to make sure we're prepared for whatever may come our way. Kind of the theme of this meeting is being flexible and able at the same time social comment you have some something to add here. With it your button if you would please. Okay there is a 30 second delay with the feet but time at your computer however we can explore if we were it had designated room so you you know the monitor is outside of the. Chamber those are direct those don't have a delay because it's going to feed directly from the cameras to that it's not going through our system so I could have J. Stanley explore getting a direct feed to certain areas as long it was on the capital and done with those would look like that we can because we're looking at that for those holding pens as well trying to get connected 130 to 138 make sure and make sure they're staying in real time so we had designated areas of the capitol 1 to explore putting a direct the 2 we come that. Thank you thank you. Any other questions. And just to be clear this is remote feed and the ability to vote but not debate they would not be able to participate in discussing pro or con on any bill like that separate that the. For the extent of this agenda out on today this is strictly about remote boating okay and and act in dissipated be further discussions down the road on facilitating. Debate and questioning of what the big drawback of the proxy voting system is that it it created a a differentiation among members in one the first rules of your parliamentary law is the quality of the members that every single member of the house is equal to his or her fellow and the proxy voting just kinda it just kind of snapped its nose at at that concept this is you know is this is a step toward you know restoring that a quality you know it they're still your limitations when when someone is not you physically present in the room and and Mr Ragland mention we went to the Senate efficiency committee meeting last week where they were discussing some of these issues and it was just a. A resounding theme that you know where the members you know the quality of the members is is is so important and that's what you know. We want to establish in in the house chamber the plexiglas goes a long ways to do it is the Speaker said this is just this is that tool it's not is not the your ultimate solution and you know ideally would be rarely employee but it it is a pool of tool that allows members to vote which is which is your big party your. And of your job and is further discussion on our flexibility issue if with regards to this if somebody was in an unequal position and had been incorrectly cast or the time had run out before they thought they were able to vote there would probably need to be some extended challenge time to be able to say Hey that was not my vote and and so with that something that we could address Ryan 8 in in the Speaker up you serving Speaker shepherd and all speakers have your during the vote any votes the other of their very. Cognizant of members having time as one of the almost it every about this and has everybody voted has their by voted much sure everybody has has a chance and if there is a lag in in the video and and that this is something says we and and I've talked about is you know over coming that that kind of a. Issue and and I I think the tech logically it can it can be done and we have not involve your setting up in one of our committee rooms which is you know what they're all wired together did not be able to to have a you know. Something there will not be able to use the zoom arrangement where member in a committee room could ask a question. As is the represented Johnson was was doing you know from his remote location over the microphone the other but but again. Today this street is strictly about the remote voting used on the voting machine okay. Yes in one as buddies mention we have some other the we're in the preliminary stages of other. Things like reason for debate nala but we're just not quite ready to to deal with that at this point but we're we're looking at because you still have. Those people who couldn't be at the capitol. That might have been infected or quarantine because of possible infection because someone right here so we we are working to try to figure out a way to accommodate that as well but that's not really part of this. Discussion what we're working on it and also working on. Making the quality better with the ability to ask questions if you you're off in another room or or whatever of the capital so. For whatever that's worth. Any other questions from the committee so what we're looking for is a motion just to continue in the investigation of this with no commitments to a specific plan but we're looking for a motion to pursue the potential for remote voting. Is that correct is that what you would like. Well I think there's some expense what is it we need to. The green not from the from the committee to contact an astral because say yes we would like to implement the this this remote Konso it with our voting machine okay proceed and and but we are now is the cost that was between 39 and 543954 yes. Yes on the first page of the of the handout okay that that that's their quote. On the proposal of which is the subsequent pages okay the hand represent of all you're recognized. It would the. It will come from our a a general operating of. Account. But. Elementary Speaker ship it to the law by a motion first remotely. The actor is in jail as Speaker shepherd said. Just FOR certain. I. And very. The motion with limitations with a narrow well I'm sorry that I've I think that this motion is just on the purchase the equipment ultimately there still has to be a rule change that would have to be approved by the rules committee amend that come through the rules committee ultimately to the full house road on so that you know what that would be my suggestion is I think we if we're gonna purchase it needs to just be. Purchased but then we all understand there's going to have to be a discussion and ultimately some adjustment to the rules to allow this and again my my desire. With this is that it would be hopefully we won't have to worry about using it but that if we do it would be narrow and would be very that strictly monitored and and handle. The motion was. Okay motion second all in favor say aye. Good discussion on the motion. Is this. No 30. It is time sensitive in the in in that. We we won't get it it would take about a week of corn in actual call to get it up and running a week but as I said it it's not hard work this is a hardware based solution this is all their their hardware is already in place and and it would be piggy backing on to the you know the personal computers that that the members have but of. Instituting it now would give us time to test it make sure it works S. as build and B. no you should the should for whatever reason the governor called in special session it would avoid having to go back out to. Yeah of Jack Stevens arena or some place to. Did to do business so. Pardon me. Well. Bills. Well it next week by here but we we wouldn't be ready by them but hopefully we can. Be ready sooner rather than later if we can get this system in and get the okay to get the bids done we will get the other thing is getting in the line international roll call we're not the only people it's going to be asking for this this particular service and it's the same is true with the plexiglas this this is getting harder and harder for them to get and they've got or the people that they're they're going to be what and Stalin the Senate is going to do the same thing and so. That's by point with this the sooner we can get this done. And the plexiglas then we will be ready will have tested will. We rated go sought that's that's our thank you don't wanna want to do it now and it is a lot of money to spend that we might not have to use but. We don't want to get down to January 12 the membership say why are you not prepared so I don't always peer like a cheapskate your button there's the Jack lean in I guess as I don't want always pair like a cheapskate I mean I am but I don't appear that way I just I just want to be proven and and use our money wisely 40000 you know when you talk about millions and millions and millions is no lot 40000 to an average citizen Arkansas's lot of money. A for some potentially we could wait a month or so and maybe not needed but I I mean I will vote against it and I just want to express that. Absent speaks you're recognized. Receipt from you. We don't every year every session we have people with the flu. And they come here they get about a ban on me because they want to vote and we can even use this during that time amend hopefully all this others go home but the dent but we do every year I mean every time we have a session we have people that come down with the flu and that they have a fever then a bunch gets the flu well you know so it could be utilized even during that time. Speaker shepherd you're recognized that's a good that's a good point represent speaks makes a good point and and represent Fortner makes a great point as well I thank you the certainly pry the house staff knows the number. The. Conservative when it comes to expenditure of funds and but I do think this relates to like the basic functions of us being able to conduct our business and I would also if it remind everyone and and. Buddy or what can answer this bill we've actually reduce the house appropriation the last 2 years what we 2 years ago we reduced it by what 20. A. 2 years ago the state bath 15 percent last the last year or during the fiscal session we do that about 10 percent right so you know I think in the and that's important to me I feel like again to represent porters point sending the message the people of Arkansas and also to you know state government in general I mean I know that we question a lot of expenditures we question a lot of appropriations and go through those things and so that's something that's been important to me is trying to show that we're gonna hold ourselves accountable to that but I wanted to make sure and remind everybody of that and that's been part to this committee I know that with the with these proposals we always bring that before the house management committee and I appreciate her race leadership on that point because I think it is I think it is important to represent Fortner point. Okay so we had a motion on the floor all in favor I. Any opposed. Okay thank you will move on to item number 4. All right Mr Ragland you have the floor. So well. We were we're looking at. Couple of things about the AM in sorry been mention about taking the temperatures. So we will either. We're gonna have to deal with that and in some way during the session perhaps. You know many times the governor's staff has someone set up for ma'am stand front door of the bureau has somebody over here. And and big mac but then sometimes of the governor doesn't have someone down there and sometimes. People have not come over to big mac or for whatever reason so I guess if if. This body is going to have to make a decision at some point. Whether we're gonna use ma'am it's like we did during the fiscal and special sessions. Or are we going to there's there's some automatic temperature detectors that the bureau's gonna using code as people enter and committee room so that's an option that we have and I'm trying to find out we when trying to find out. Late in the game here how much mediums charges because someone asked me that question what what would be the difference in the price because these. Temperature detectors. Like $2100 a pop so you woke up you know when you the picture. Rest up there and it tells you immediately watch your temperature is. No all it also chastise you if you don't have a masco so. For whatever that's worth they're not worth but we could if we get. But we get those for at the house would have to have 3 so you're looking at $6300 so how much mediums charges. For some reason I'm thinking it's like $300 a day. I don't I don't remember I just don't remember what the what the price was and I don't know. And and doctor Johnson was trying to find out what they charge to it we don't have that number so it's not it's not time super important that we make a decision on that today but it's something it's going to be out in front of you. To help us make a determination on what you want to do on it so I I would kind of think that we might just pass over any decision on their way I'll be glad to hear there the opinions and discussion about that house for direction. Seeing none I guess we have everybody's got the items in their document or the documentation they can feel free to take a look and just pass over those those 2 things in. In other business we and and I don't know that this is 100 percent. Necessary today but what we know we're looking a lot of different things during this during the session section is not. Having the ball teams down here for. Resolutions in. Accommodations and looking at not having pages this if things are as they are right now that would not probably be a good idea and a lot of other changes so just would like for the body to be aware that there's other things that were going to have to deal with that perhaps is is represented Fortner says we don't have to deal with that today but there's there may be if it's as it is right now there may be some rather. Significant changes that we will have to adjust to during that time probably no one up in the VIP room and and all that kind of stuff so just some thoughts to throw out there. All right we appreciate the the input on the inside there are no questions from the committee we will be as flexible as we have been to this point and even more so. Speaker shepherd you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman just to kind of close out on this. As the Mr Ragland indicated amend there's there's a lot of moving parts here there's a lot of things that have to be discussed and and nothing is nothing is set in stone here other than what the constitution requires us to do we're going to we're going to conduct our business as best we can but I would just encourage you and I know the net the special session and even the fiscal session and now as we get ready for regular session there's gonna be a lot of. You know there's law always a lot of discussion and rumor about will we're gonna have to do this or change that or whatever as please you know as as you get questions or comments or concerns you know encourage the membership to to talk to myself for Mr Ragland or for a member of house management and you know we're gonna we're continuing to work to move forward and and you all are a part of that process and you know we're gonna I would anticipate we're gonna have more meetings as we lead up to the session but just the. You know I think it's important just kind of keep those open lines of communication because inevitably there will be you know a concern to raise that maybe we are not even that's not even something that's Nestle being discussed but you'll hear some rumor that were changing something up it we want to try and do things as best we can the way they've always been done but were we also realize that we're dealing with the virus that we need to make sure we do what we can to keep our membership and staff and the public safe and I appreciate this committee in your work in that regard as well thank you thank you Mr Speaker I see no further business we are adjourned.