January 29, 2013
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (16)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1013
· 4 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1013.”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1191
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ction, read the bill again. House Bill 1190. Public Health. House Bill 1191.”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1020
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…eaker, we are a committee on judiciary to whom is referred. House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 12. We report we've had the same under cons…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1024
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “of the 89th General Assembly. House Bill 1024 is Act 3. Sincerely, Mike Beebe. All right, the”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1045
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ker, we are a committee on joint budget to whom is referred House Bill 1045, House Bill 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House B…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1046
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…mittee on joint budget to whom is referred House Bill 1045, House Bill 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House Bill 1049, House B…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1047
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…udget to whom is referred House Bill 1045, House Bill 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House Bill 1049, House Bill 1050,”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1048
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…referred House Bill 1045, House Bill 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House Bill 1049, House Bill 1050,”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1049
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 1045, House Bill 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House Bill 1049, House Bill 1050,”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1050
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House Bill 1049, House Bill 1050,”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1057
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1057, House Bill 1058, House Bill 1060, and House Bill 1071. By…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1058
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1057, House Bill 1058, House Bill 1060, and House Bill 1071. By we report we have…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1060
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1057, House Bill 1058, House Bill 1060, and House Bill 1071. By we report we have the same under c…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1071
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1057, House Bill 1058, House Bill 1060, and House Bill 1071. By we report we have the same under consideration here wit…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1190
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ther announcements? Seeing none, read the bills, Mr. Clerk. House Bill 1190. Without objection, read the bill again. House Bill 1190. P…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
SB12
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ittee on judiciary to whom is referred. House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 12. We report we've had the same under consideration. Herewith…”
|
Pre-2017 bill |
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Standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative
Speaker 2
0:05
Debbie Hobbs. Let us pray. O Lord, our Governor, the light of our forebears, the foundation of all wisdom and source of all courage, enlighten with your grace these your servants who have been duly elected as representatives of the people of this state. Keep them ever mindful of the honorable men and women who have gone before them
and of the sacred trust that has been given them and grant them strength in the fulfilling of their sacred vocation. As you have endowed them with the powers of state, may they have the fortitude to resist the abuse of those powers and to avoid the temptations that would divert them from their high calling. Grant them mutual respect for one another and deliver them from the short-sighted partisan strife that would prevent your flow of justice
and the resources that are so desperately needed for our common good. Guide them toward legislation that makes for the right use of our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment where their labors are justly rewarded. In the passions of debate, give them quiet spirits. In the complexities of the issues, give them clear minds. And in the moments of decision, give them the courage of a true heart
to follow the straight path of justice and truth so that all your people may be blessed and governed according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen. I pledge
Speaker 4
1:50
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
Speaker 7
1:55
to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Members, please indicate your presence
by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Cast with the
ballots, Mr. Clerk. There are 94 members present. The chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave?
Representative Nichols. Leave for Representative Walker. Leave granted for Representative Walker. Leave granted. Representative Branscombe. Leave for Representative Douglas. It's leave granted for Representative Douglas. Leave granted. Representative Slinkert, you're recognized. Leave. Representative Stephanie Malone.
Speaker 13
2:54
Leave granted for Representative Malone. Leave. Leave granted
for Representative Carnine. Leave for Representative Barnett. Leave granted for Representative Barnett. Leave.
Leave is granted. Any other requests for
Chair
Unverified
3:11
leave? Representative Wright, you recognize. I don't know if it's my fault or machine, but it didn't buzz in. Let the record show Mr. Wright is present.
Representative James Earl-Word, moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's journal. No objections, so ordered. Are there reports from select committees?
Speaker 18
3:31
Yes. Read the reports, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Speaker, we are a committee on joint budget to whom is referred House Bill 1045, House Bill 1046, House Bill 1047, House Bill 1048, House Bill 1049, House Bill 1050,
House Bill 1057, House Bill 1058, House Bill 1060, and House Bill 1071. By we report we have the same under consideration here with return the same with the recommendation that
Speaker 17
3:53
they do pass. Respectfully submitted, Duncan Baird, Chair. Other reports from standing committees. Read the reports, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Speaker, we are a committee on judiciary to whom is referred. House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 12. We report we've had the same under consideration. Herewith return the same with the recommendation that they do pass. Respectfully submitted, Marshall Wright, Chair.
Is there any unfinished business? Are there any executive communications? Read the letter from the Governor, Mr. Clerk. January 29,
Speaker 17
4:26
2013, to the Speaker of the House. Dear Mr. Speaker, this is to inform you that on January 29, 2013, 2013, I approve the following measure from the regular session
Speaker 18
4:35
of the 89th General Assembly. House Bill 1024 is Act 3. Sincerely, Mike Beebe. All right, the
morning hour has ended. We will go to the red calendar.
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1013.
Speaker 17
4:53
House Bill 1013 by Representative Edwards and all to change the location, use, and capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Home. Representative Edwards, you recognize
to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, there are many things that I'm thinking
about right now. I'm actually thinking about my great-grandfather.
My great-grandfather served in this chamber back in the 1920s, and he lived to be 108 years old. And his mind was perfect to the day he died. And that was a big benefit to me because he was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. And I grew up learning about the military from him. He always had a good sense of humor.
He was interviewed one time by Chuck Dovish on his 105th birthday. and Chuck Dovish asked him, Mr.
Hobgood, why is it that you live to be so old? And my great-grandfather looked at Chuck Dovish and said, why did I live to be so old? He said, son, I lived to be so old
because I didn't die. Now, he gave a very simple answer to something that can be complex.
And in that case, it was the issue of aging. Veterans' issues can be complex, too. When you get up in the morning, there are going to be a lot of news stories about our out-of-state guest, Governor Bush, today. He and others exercising their right to speak out on things they believe in. There's going to be other news articles about Governor Beebe making an exciting job announcement
for a part of the state that so desperately needs it. But there are going to be a lot of things you will not see in the newspaper tomorrow. A few miles from here, there's a place where there will be soldiers that will be taking the oath of office listing it into the service for their very first time somewhere out of this realm in Afghanistan there's a soldier right now that's freezing to death there's also soldiers
and veterans that are back home that they're suffering they're suffering from their service we have a chance to
do something constructive for the veterans of this state i am
not very proud about what i've seen in the last
couple of years and taking care of veterans in arkansas
and that's why i have this bill because i want to be a part of fixing that, and I need your help to fix that. Some of you may know
that there was a veteran's home in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was not well run. It was not well run from a fiscal manner. There were a lot of
issues with it. And it was closed, and that was the right thing to do.
Now, you may have heard about that because it was in the paper. What a
lot of our members and a lot of the public don't know is that there is an Arkansas State Department of Veterans Affairs, our own State Department. And we have been in the business of having homes for veterans for a very long time. We had the one in Little Rock. We had the one in Fayetteville. We still have the one in Fayetteville.
We've been in this business. We just haven't done it as well as we should. House Bill 1013 is a step in the direction of correcting this problem. Every state around Arkansas has figured out how to do this well. We can too. This bill authorizes the construction of a new veterans home.
It's an authorization bill only. Again, step one of many steps needed to see this goal to fruition. It amends a previous statute that's been in place that created the initial Little Rock home. Now what it does, it authorizes a
facility of up to 150 beds and the state director of Veterans Affairs working with the Arkansas State Veterans Commission and will also be
working with the Arkansas State Veterans Task Force, a bill that you'll be hearing about that is being sponsored by Senator English, Representative Kerr is a co-sponsor, as well as I. These bills will work together. But what this bill does, it's the first step to authorize the construction of a home. Now, the
next rational question is, how have these other states done so well? And how can we do so well? There's a program in place right now
where if a state can come up with their cost share of 35%, the federal VA will balance the 65% of the construction of a state veteran's home. The state of Louisiana, with a veteran population of slightly larger than ours, They have five such
homes, five such homes that are quality homes with quality care.
They figured it out. They came up with their way to get the local match
to go with the federal dollars to construct these homes. The last home they constructed was in 2007 at a cost of $21 million. i have visited this home on a
couple of occasions and every time i'm there i marvel at how well they perform how well they take care of their veterans
but construction is only part of the issue because after you construct a home you've got to operate and maintain it now how do you do that well the Fayetteville home right now is operating in such a manner that there's no state general revenue into its overall operation it is self-sustaining one of the problems with the Little Rock home was the way it was put
together that it was not self-sustaining. If my memory is correct, we were putting in $632,000 annually to support the Little Rock home. It did not make sense the
way we were operating there fiscally. And I think that's one thing that the task force that Senator English is working on can delve into to correct some of those issues.
Speaker 36
13:06
But folks, everybody around us has figured this out.
Speaker 37
13:11
Go to Missouri. Go to Tennessee. Go to Oklahoma.
We have a new director, Colonel Retired Sissy Rucker, and as I told the committee, she's a
buzzsaw and she's been cutting wood, and I wanted to continue to do so. But I think we owe it to the men and women that served this nation to give them an opportunity to have a home
to go to if that is their wish.
Now, I look in this room right now, I know there's several veterans in this room, one of which I've served with in one unit, and another, Representative Armstrong, I've served with in another unit in the Arkansas Guard. So I have Representative House and Representative Armstrong, two people in this chamber that I've served with in uniform. These are all volunteers. And as you will see in Senator English's task force, when that bill comes across,
it'll look into the issues that we have to deal with
with this new generation of veterans. Folks, we can do this. We owe it to these people. Mr. Speaker,
I'm closed for this portion of the program, and I'll be happy to take any questions.
Representative Edwards has explained his bill. Does anyone wish to speak against the bill, for the bill? not representative edwards you close for your bill thank
you very much i want to close by saying this um i'm very proud to be able to be here for many reasons when i got elected in 2008 i i didn't start off thinking that i wanted to be the the veterans advocate for the house
but that's kind of what i've become in a way and i'm i'm happy to be able to do that because there's so many people that couldn't be
here today and i'm thinking about a fellow that i was with that was killed yesterday the anniversary in 2005 a
guy named lyle reimer and there are a lot of Lyle Reimers who made the ultimate sacrifice, and there are a lot
of others, as I said earlier, that they are in our midst, that they need our help and care. I also want to say that I'm very proud
of the help and support of Senator English on this bill. One of the things about Senator English that is so great about her is that she's married to a great man named Don English. Don English is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran,
and when we have our receptions, I hope you get to visit with him. But Jane English, Senator Jane English, is a spouse of a veteran who's had to take care of things, and we need to remember these veteran families when we're doing these things as well folks we've got a lot to deal with this session we've got a lot of difficult issues and I know this adds to that plate
but I believe that this state and this nation is great enough that we can
do all of these things in the midst of our own American Civil War Abraham Lincoln pushed for the Transcontinental Railroad and the land grant university system folks we can do this we can do this, our veterans deserve it Arkansas needs to get off the list
of where it is today and get on the list of places where our veterans can be proud to have a home, thank you members
question before the house is the passage of house bill 1013 prepare the machine mr. clerk has everyone voted
has everyone voted cast the ballots Mr. Clerk with 96 yeas 0 nays and 0 present you have passed the bill members I'd like to announce the doctor of the day is Dr. Bud Henderson from Rogers Arkansas Dr. Henderson welcome applause applause applause applause applause Members would also like to announce the nurse of the day, Ms. Geraldine Rambeau.
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
18:43
Welcome, Rambeau. Representative Baird, you're recognized. After the announcements, reading of the bills, placing the calendars on the desks, amending members on bills with their own amendments, members withdrawing their own bills, finalizing resolutions, reading communications, and any remaining committee reports. I move we adjourn until 1.30 tomorrow. That's a proper
motion. None debatable. All in favor say aye.
Any opposed? Motion carries. Are there any announcements? Representative Fielding, you're recognized for an announcement. City and County
Representative David Fielding
Unverified
19:19
will meet tomorrow at 10 o'clock, and members of the committee, we will be taking photos tomorrow. So try to be there a little earlier so we can get started on time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Davis, recognized for an announcement. Rules will meet tomorrow at noon
Speaker 49
19:32
in Big Mac Room B. Representative Baird, you're recognized for an announcement. The
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
19:39
Joint Budget Committee will meet at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning in Room A of Big Mac.
Representative Scott, you're recognized for an announcement.
Representative Sue Scott
Unverified
19:50
Okay. All right. Even though Dan Douglas sits in seat 100, he has assured me that his age is not even half of that. I'd encourage each of you to wish him a happy birthday. today. Thank you. Happy birthday, Representative
Douglas. Representative Branscombe, you're recognized for an
Representative David L. Branscum
Unverified
20:11
announcement. Commissioner Speaker, Joint Energy will have a short meeting,
organizational meeting, will last about seven to nine minutes at one o'clock tomorrow,
room 149. Don't go over nine
Chair
Unverified
20:21
minutes now. Representative Meeks, you're recognized for an announcement. Aging Youth will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m., room 130.
Speaker 55
20:29
Representative Shepard, you're recognized. House Agriculture Committee will meet
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd
Unverified
20:32
tomorrow, morning at 10 a.m. in room 138. Representative Hobbs,
you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All lady legislators are reminded to please wear red tomorrow in honor of the National Heart Association Day, and they would like to take our picture at 1050. The Senate ladies are planning
wearing white shirts and red ties, I believe, so
if you want to do likewise, feel free to do so, but we'd encourage you to participate in the
Speaker 49
21:00
photo. Thank you. Representative Wren, you're recognized. Mr. Speaker, Insurance and Commerce, we'll meet in room 149 tomorrow at 10
o'clock. Are there any other announcements? Seeing none, read the bills, Mr. Clerk. House Bill 1190. Without objection, read the bill again. House Bill 1190. Public Health. House Bill 1191.
Without objection, read the bill again. House Bill 1191. revenue tax. The desk will remain
open for reading of the bills until 4 p.m. today and upon completion of the items named in the adjourned resolution, the House will be adjourned until 1.30 p.m. tomorrow.
Agenda
No agenda available.
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Representative John Charles Edwards Chair
Unverified
Speaker 2
Speaker 4
Speaker 7
Representative Tommy Wren Chair
Unverified
Speaker 13
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 18
Speaker 17
Speaker 36
Speaker 37
Representative Davy Carter Chair
Unverified
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
Representative David Fielding
Unverified
Speaker 49
Representative Sue Scott
Unverified
Representative David L. Branscum
Unverified
Speaker 55
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd
Unverified
Representative Debra M. Hobbs Chair
Unverified