March 31, 2011- Part 2
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (3)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1322
· 5 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…members, the House will come back to order. We're still on House Bill 1322. Representative Lindsay had spoken against the bill. Does a…”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB855
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “expunge the vote by which Senate bill 855 failed proper motion representative Kerr, you're recognized…”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SJR5
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SJR5”
|
Pre-2017 bill |
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Chair
Unverified
0:00
Members, while we're waiting for everyone to return to their seats, I'd like to take a moment of special recognition to our former colleague here in the House of Representatives, who's joining us today as Doctor of the Day, Dr. Gene Shelby. We're awfully glad to have you with us.
All right, members, the House will come back to order. We're still on House Bill 1322. Representative Lindsay had spoken against the bill. Does anyone wish to speak for the bill? Representative Steele, Nate Steele, you are recognized to come and speak for the bill.
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
1:12
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, as a member of the 4th District, I wanted to come down here, and I don't think I can give a 4th District perspective any better
Representative Nate Steel
Unverified
1:23
than our friend Representative Powers did. But I'm also a member of the State Agencies Committee, and I think it's worth pointing out that our options are very limited. I know the map looks a little different, and people have had a lot of questions about why we would have favor in the 4th District. I think Representative Cheatham gave some very compelling reasons why some of those
Delta counties, Chico County and Deshaies County, would find their way to the first. I found those reasons compelling, and I agreed with that. Once we do that, we're really only left with three options in the 4th District, and I don't think any of those three options are going to be any more popular than the one we have before us today. I
think the 4th District is forced to take in a metropolitan area once you give the Delta counties to the 1st
District. And those three options would be either A, Saline County.
I don't think they want us. B Fort Smith. They don't seem to want us. And from Representative Lindsey's points, they don't want us. So I guess I feel a little bit like a pound puppy that nobody wants being in the 4th District. We're having a hard time finding a way to expand the 4th District as we have to and find a metropolitan area that's going to jump on board and be happy to be part of the 4th District. But when you look at those three options, there's one distinction between Fayetteville.
And from a 4th District perspective, I think it's the University of Arkansas. I think the 4th District could stand to benefit particularly well with having the state's flagship university in its district, sharing a district with the University of Arkansas and with Fayetteville. Fayetteville's also made up of people from all over the state. It's important to note that a lot of the students at Fayetteville, I was there for seven years, but I was always registered to vote back in Howard County. Fayetteville's made up of people from all over the state. The university is made up of people from all over the state.
So I think it's particularly well-suited out of those three to shift. That's why I support this particular map. And I agree with what, I understand what Representative Lindsey said about splitting Fable from that Northwest community. But again, when we look at all three of those possibilities, If we were to take Saline County out of central Arkansas, I think we would receive quite a few objections that we're pulling them out of the central Arkansas business community.
If we were to take Fort Smith out of the third district and into the fourth, we would hear, I'm sure, many more objections than we've heard about Fayetteville, that we're pulling them out of the northwest Arkansas business community. So I think it's important to sit back and try not to lose sight of the forest for the trees and see that we really only have three options under this map. And I find the option of Fayetteville to the fourth as the most palatable. And I think that my colleagues in the fourth district on both sides of the aisle should support this map and understand
that we benefit most from this change. And I hope that if this bill does pass, that Fayetteville will accept this and we can be friends in the fourth district. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
4:33
I appreciate a good vote. Representative Steele has spoken against the bill. Representative, excuse me, excuse me. It's a tough issue here. Representative Steele, eloquently
spoke for the bill. Thank you. Representative Summers, you're recognized to come and speak against the bill.
Representative Tim Summers
Unverified
4:56
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I don't think my words are going to convince anybody to do anything different. But I've got a right to express my opinion down here. And I'm going to do that very briefly. I'm really, I saw this come out in the paper. I saw monkeys come out in the paper and I saw twins come out in the paper. Nothing about baseball. I was absolutely amazed. I mean amazed that this was a possibility.
We've had many people talk about how partisan this session has been. Wow, is this not partisan? Let's call it what it is. Let's don't call it that it's good for the 4th District or it's good for Pebble or it's good for anybody. I've got family in Pebble. I've got friends in Pebble. They're not for this. This is nothing but partisan politics. Again, I know I won't change anybody's vote, but I want to be on record that I'm very disappointed in this process.
Very disappointed. I'm disappointed in the leadership. I'm disappointed in every part of it. It makes no sense to anyone other than partisan politics. Thank you. Okay. Representative Summers
Chair
Unverified
6:13
has spoken against the bill. I'm wishing to speak against the bill. Representative Rogers, you are
recognized, come and speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker,
Representative Tiffany Rogers
Unverified
6:29
and thank you, members of the House.
Ladies and gentlemen, I rise to speak on behalf of House Bill 1322, and I tell you that, yes, we applaud the efforts of Northwest Arkansas and the achievements and goals that they have succeeded in over the past 20 years, And in many respects, we are all very envious of that success. There is no one that enjoys traveling to northwest Arkansas any more than I do. I have gone up there for football games, basketball games, and vacation my entire life,
with my parents and with my husband now. And throughout this session, many of us have heard many issues and comments made about how the dollars should flow following the people. And yes, all of us are elected in the same manner. We serve the same number of people, and we serve very diverse areas of the state of Arkansas. But, and I say but, we are a state. We are the state of Arkansas. And we need to learn to work and play well with others.
My husband's in the gallery, and he served on the bench for 20 years as a circuit judge in Arkansas County and continues to serve as a special judge. Many times he has come home and indicated, and not necessarily with jubilation but with reserve, that he must have done his job today because no one was happy. And with that, I ask you for a good vote on House Bill 1322. Thank
Chair
Unverified
8:05
you. Representative Rogers, spoken for the bill.
Representative Shepard, you're recognized to come and speak against the bill. Thank
Representative Matthew Shepherd
Unverified
8:19
you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the House, I almost made it the whole session without speaking against the bill, but today I feel compelled to speak against this particular congressional redistricting. I've heard from a number of people in my community, in my district, both Republicans
and Democrats, and without exception they have been opposed to this plan. As we've heard the many different issues related to congressional redistricting, let me say I understand that there is a political aspect to it, I understand that. As an attorney, I understand that there's a legal aspect to it, and I understand it's very difficult and that the committee and those who put together these plans have a a very tall order. I understand that. But with regard to this proposal, I've heard about the
concerns of Fayetteville, the concerns of the Delta, the concerns of Central Arkansas, the concerns of North Arkansas, but I feel today I need to give voice to the concerns of South Arkansas. Representative Lindsay outlined some of the potential unintended consequences when it comes to competition for medical school slots, for highway dollars, for any number of things. And that's my concern. I've heard supporters of this bill say Fayetteville should be for this bill because it gives them
two representatives. And I submit that if Fayetteville gets two representatives, that means that my constituents in South Arkansas get something less than one. And you might say, well, the 4th District must get larger. We understand that all too well. No one understands the loss of population like South Arkansas. We understand that. But the concern and the problem when you expand a district in a manner such as this is that the benefits conferred on Fayetteville,
which they necessarily get from the fact that the third district surrounds them, and then whatever is done for their benefit from the fourth comes to their favor, to the exclusion of South Arkansas. You might say, but Representative Shepard, when a representative does something to benefit South Arkansas, Fayetteville does not get that benefit. That may be true. But at least in South Arkansas, when a representative takes on an issue for the people of Ashley County or Union County,
there's a related benefit to Calhoun County, Columbia County, and all the surrounding counties. But because this map is drawn in such a way that Fayetteville is in and of itself an island in the 3rd District, there is little to no benefit outside of Fayetteville. And let's be honest, we would have to know and expect that a representative would have to pay serious attention to Fayetteville. You know, I spent three years in Fayetteville. I have family in northwest Arkansas.
This is certainly nothing, has nothing to do with not liking northwest Arkansas. But the bottom line is, there's just a difference. There's a difference between these areas. And I would encourage us to try and do better, to try and come up with a map that's more compact and that preserves the natural communities of interest that exist in Arkansas. At the end of the day, we're all Arkansans, and I'm confident that with whatever this body chooses to do, that we'll all come together.
But I felt compelled to come and ask you to vote against this bill, and let's try and do better. I believe we can produce a better product. Thank
Chair
Unverified
12:08
you. Representative Shepard has spoken against the bill. Representative Wilkins, you are recognized
to come and speak for the bill. Representative Wilkins, you're recognized.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do believe this is the first time that I have appeared down here to speak
for something other than bills that were mine, and I have not appeared down here to speak against anybody else's bill. And I think this is important. It's important to me for a number of reasons. And I have been torn exceedingly by
the map that was originally proposed.
I want to thank Representative Shepard for his comments because, in essence, some of things that he
said as reasons for not voting for this are actually reasons that are good reasons to vote for it. Secondly, I want to thank my good friend, Representative Lindsey. We agree on so, so many things and I have the highest of respect for him. I disagree with Representative Lindsey when he says that UAMS students will be put at
a disadvantage by being in the 4th Congressional District. As a matter of fact, I feel compelled to do everything that I can to help students in what is now the 4th Congressional District to prepare themselves to be competitive for attendance at UAMS because actually they will be put at a disadvantage by having Fayetteville in the 4th Congressional District. So why Why am I standing up here? Well, the reasons are complex. It was said that the work of
Northwest Arkansas would be hurt the 20 years of work. We all admire what has happened in Northwest Arkansas over the last 20 years. And actually, Representative Lindsey, it's been more than 20 years because 40 years ago, 30 years ago, during that time when my father was a state representative for 20 consecutive years, he would say to me, son, part of the
reason that we're having problems in other parts of the state is because we refuse to put aside our partisan bickering and issues and do what the folks in Northwest Arkansas have done, and that is they have decided they're going to work together in such a way that it will benefit their entire region and their community. So in some sense, we have done ourselves a disservice. So it's been longer than 20 years since Northwest Arkansas has been benefiting, and we're proud
of what's happened in Northwest Arkansas. Now, Representative Summers, my seatmate, he said he was disappointed. I've been kind of disappointed with part of the process, but you know at some point we get over it. I was disappointed with the dinner that my wife cooked last night when I got home. I did not like it worth a nickel. It ran my blood pressure up, but I ate it anyway because I decided, you know what, we're going to stay together and be happy.
I took a little bit of extra blood pressure medicine. I went on to bed. I prayed and asked God to wake me up this morning, and hallelujah, he did. So, yeah, there are disappointments in life, and there are some disappointments in this map for me, but you have to allow what you're dealing with to not be swallowed up by the disappointments. I pastored St. James United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. Check the record.
I've been pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff for 17 years. The first church I ever pastored 34, 35 years ago was in Fayetteville, Arkansas, by the same name of the church where I hope and pray, if the Lord willing, that I can stay there until I retire from the ministry. So I've lived in Fayetteville. Not only did I live in Fayetteville as a pastor, but I also attended law school in Fayetteville. I've got relatives in Fayetteville. I like Fayetteville.
I wasn't too crazy about having Fayetteville in the fourth congressional district because I looked at it like this when it was first pointed out to me. We're going to put Fayetteville in the fourth congressional district. I said, wait just a minute. So you're telling me that you're going to put a city in the fourth district where the town where I have the privilege of representing folks first in the House back in the late 90s, then in the Senate for 10 years, and now back in the House. And the predominant city in the 4th Congressional District is now going to be dominated by a city called Fayetteville,
which will now be the largest city in the 4th Congressional District. They will have the potential of electing congressmen, maybe even from northwest Arkansas. And then we've got all these congressmen from northwest Arkansas, and south Arkansas is not represented. my good friend, I won't call his name, but one of my closest and dearest friends in this chamber said to me, if you vote for this, the next congressman from the 4th Congressional District will be from Fayetteville. And I said to him, you know what? You're right. You're shaking your head
so I can call his name. Okay. Denny Alta said the next congressman from the 4th Congressional District is going to be from Fayetteville. How you like that? And I said, well, you know what, Denny? it's going to be all right because I'm going to move to Fayetteville and that's where I'll be running from. So while this map is not perfect, we agree. You know, you've got to tinker with the
map and I went over and I tinkered with the map. We did hundreds of configurations and yes, there It's some that I like better than this one, but the reality is that those configurations take, you know, a handful of folks from here and a handful of folks from there, and you split a county here, and you tear another city down the center over here. And I just finally said, you know what, let's just go ahead and do this, and in 10 years, we'll have an opportunity to correct it if it's a mistake.
but for once I've come to the conclusion that it's the right thing to do and I didn't come to that conclusion until about 15 hours ago and I'm going to vote for it now unless wild horses and the
hounds of hell drag me from this chamber thank you Mr. Speaker and thank
Chair
Unverified
19:33
you Carly Representative Wilkins has spoken for the bill.
Representative Garner, you are recognized to come and speak against the
Representative Ed Garner
Unverified
19:56
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak against the bill, and you may wonder, I'm not affected in central Arkansas, but But I got a call from my number one constituent, my daughter, who runs a business smack dab in the middle of Fayetteville.
There is a culture in Fayetteville, and I want to echo Representative Lindsey's comments. There is a culture in Fayetteville, and it involves what I would call some of the most liberal people I've ever met, and some staunch conservatives, and they work together and make that a great place and overwhelmingly they do not want this to happen. So I also want to say something in reference to comments made by a member of state agencies.
I also serve on state agencies and I watched two maps be presented that disrupted fewer counties, had lower variances, split fewer counties, and those were rejected. Now, why would you do that? You disrupt fewer people, you split fewer counties, both of those proposals, the least disruption, why would you do that other than a partisan politics in Little Rock
When the people in Fayetteville are getting along and they want to be left in the third district. Now, think of that. The people in Fayetteville want to stay in their district in a bipartisan way. But here in Little Rock, we're going to be partisan and we're going to not respect their wishes. When we had two alternatives that disrupted fewer people, split fewer counties, and shifted fewer counties, both proposals were better. They were voted down. This, to echo Representative Summers, this is the epitome of partisan Little Rock politics.
People in Fayetteville don't like it. I'm going to vote no for my number one constituent in a business in the center of Fayetteville. People all across the spectrum, the Chamber of Commerce came down, spoke against it. They don't want this. They don't want to be strong-armed out of Little
Chair
Unverified
22:20
Rock. Thank you. Representative Garner, spoken against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for the bill? Against
the bill? Representative Harris, you're recognized to come and speak against the bill.
Representative Justin T. Harris
Unverified
22:31
thank you mr speaker thank you colleagues in the house i told my other colleagues that i wouldn't speak today and i've realized in this house some people keep their word and some people don't That's just the harsh reality of what goes on down here. But I think this is way too important to pass an opportunity up to speak for the people of Fayetteville in my district.
When I was running for state representative, it was hard on my family. I have three young boys, a lovely wife, which I'd rather see grow up, be with them, be with my wife than to deal with some of the stuff that happens down here. but when he my middle child seven years old isaiah said daddy what are you doing i said i'm running for state representative well what does that mean i'm going to represent the people of my district and a seven-year-old took pause and said that what if they want you to do something
that you know is wrong and the harsh reality came on to me and i was like i am a representative and I said back to him, son, daddy will always do the right thing, that he believes in his heart. And I know from talking with people, there are people who are on the fringe of voting this bill down for whatever reason they may have changed their mind, that people in this chamber have fought hard against injustices in this world.
And this is an injustice. So I don't think we should change our principle just because someone wants you to. So I'm asking you to do the right thing and vote
Chair
Unverified
24:36
against this bill. Representative Harris, spoken against the bill. I want to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative Cheatham, we'll close for you, Bill. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
Unverified
24:50
Speaker. I really wasn't going to say anything
but I think I might need to clarify a couple things. Mr. Garner I understand where he's coming from he mentioned some other maps what he didn't mention is I did not want to talk about politics up here because I'm not a politician but the other maps did look pretty good there was one thing wrong they were real strong in favor of one party three districts maybe four in a couple years But I don't think I looked at the politics of this.
Mr. Lindsay, my friend, mentioned some things, and I'm not going to go into details, but we're not building a fence like they're building down on the Texas border. The lines are invisible. Hot Springs Village is split by Congressional District now. From my driveway to the U of A campus, where I hardly believe I have a degree, six hours. We're not different.
I've heard things about us being different. We're not different. And I was surprised yesterday when someone told me we're talking about and Mr. Gene, my dear friend, we laugh about things because we are friends and Mr. Shepard is my good friend. I hadn't even thought about the differences. But somebody said, Eddie, you need to go back and look at the last national election They look at the votes in that area. They look at the votes down in your area. You see how close they are. They look at the votes up there 50 miles from Fayetteville and how different they are.
This is a good map. I appreciate
Chair
Unverified
26:40
a good vote. All right, members. Representative Cheatham is closed for the bill. Question for the House. Passive House Bill 1322. Pair of the machine, Mr. Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot by a vote of 53A, 46A.
Pass the bill. All right. Sound the ballot. Five hands. I think I did see five hands. Okay. All right, everybody, everybody get in your seats. I call the ayes, Mr. Clerk. Allen.
Speaker 56
27:33
Baker. Bradford. Brown. Catlett. Cheatham. Colin Smith, Cowling, Dickinson, Edwards, Elliott, Fielding, Gaskell, Hall, Hyde,
Ingram Strike Mr. Hyde Ingram Lampkin Letting Wenderman
Speaker 56
28:50
Nichols, Overby, Patterson, Pen Arts, Perry, Pierce, Post,
Powers, Ratliff, Roebuck, Rogers, Smith, Steele, Steele,
Speaker 56
29:59
Wilkins, H. Wilkins, Williams, Word, Wren, Wright. Mr. Speaker.
Chair
Unverified
30:17
I vote of 52 ayes, 46 nays. You have passed the bill. Representative Wilkins
moves the clincher. All in favor say aye. Aye.
Opposed, no. No. The ayes have it. Clinch is adopted. No call. The rhythm is seen, Mr. Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. I voted 52 yea, 47 nay. clincher is adopted all right representative Kerr moves that we
expunge the vote by which Senate bill 855 failed proper motion representative Kerr, you're recognized. Come and explain your motion. Representative Kerr, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I'm going
Representative Allen Kerr
Unverified
31:32
to try one more time to bring this bill back. I had a lot
of people tell me the other day that when we voted on it, they did not have
the opportunity to vote and wanted me to try to bring it back. I want to mention And incidentally, this bill's got 35 senators signed off on it in their approval. So I appreciate a good vote. Members,
Chair
Unverified
31:58
you've heard an explanation of the motion. Anyone wish to speak against the motion, for the motion? If not, the question for the House is on motion to expunge a vote. Senate Bill 855, prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Everyone voted? Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot by a vote of 69 yay, 18 nay. Motion is adopted. Read Senate Bill 855. Senate Bill 855 by Senator Rappert
Speaker 56
32:37
to allow an auxiliary law enforcement officer appointed as a reserve law enforcement officer to administer blood alcohol tests and to operate a device to detect excessive speeding.
Chair
Unverified
32:50
Representative Kerr, you are recognized to explain
Representative Allen Kerr
Unverified
32:54
the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, members, for allowing me to bring this back to the floor again. Senate Bill
Speaker 71
33:03
855 is a bill that simply allows what you
Representative Allen Kerr
Unverified
33:12
might call a part-time police officer, a volunteer police officer, They work basically in the same capacity as a volunteer fireman. When a volunteer fireman buy their own equipment, so do these volunteer police officers.
There's a lot of parts of the state where these guys are very, very vital to the protection of those areas, and they have to cover a lot of square miles in order to protect their citizens. These guys kind of help fill in, men and women, that is, kind of help fill in in those needed areas. Now, this bill basically allows them to do a little bit more than what they're allowed to do right now. If they arrest someone for a DWI, for instance, they bring them in.
They're already allowed to arrest them and bring them in. Problem is, once they get them there, they get them back to the station, they have to pull a full-time officer off of his beat, off of his duty out in the county or the city to perform the breathalyzer test. What this does, this allows them to go to school, get their certification exactly the same way that the other police officers do, and allows them to be able to perform that function without having to pull a vital police officer off of the beat
and leaving two positions open for dangerous happenings. This is not a mandate that they have to do it. This is not a mandate that they are now, all of them are allowed to do it. They are subject to the purview of their police force that they work with. Be it the sheriff's department, be it the police departments that they work with.
those departments will decide whether they allow them to do these functions or not and where they're needed. Again, as I mentioned, there are 35 senators as sponsors on this bill, so you can tell what a great outcome it had on the other end of
Speaker 72
35:22
the legislature. I'll take questions. Mr.
Speaker 73
35:27
Smith, what purpose? I have a question. Recognized. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Representative Kerr, for this bill that you're
Representative Allen Kerr
Unverified
35:37
bringing back. I have a question. Where do we have, where are the constables, where do they fit in on this? This does not allow the constables in any way, shape, or form to have this function. Even though they're a constitutional officer? They are constitutional officers, but again, only the part-time or volunteer police officers that work for another entity like Little Rock Police Department or the Sheriff's Department or one of those entities, they are the ones, they are the governing body of this.
Speaker 71
36:09
A constable is not included in this bill. If the constable is elected by the people, do you not agree? I agree. They are elected by the people. Do they not also have the option to have this training if they're going to be law enforcement officers? Isn't that a good question? It's not a question I can answer, Representative Smith. I appreciate it. Any other questions at all? Representative McLean, what purpose? Question. Recognize.
Representative James McLean
Unverified
36:40
Representative Curry, I had an opportunity to speak with some folks about this bill and kind of get some clarification on it, and I feel a little bit better about it. Can you just tell me where the
Representative Allen Kerr
Unverified
36:53
Arkansas Association of Counties, where are they, how do they support the bill? The Arkansas Association of Counties is very much in support of
Representative James McLean
Unverified
37:01
it. The Sheriff's Association testified for it, and I believe the FOP testified for it also. Some of my initial concerns in terms of safeguards and liability issues, upon some discussions I've had,
I feel a whole lot better about this bill. Representative Kerr, I'll be voting for it. So thank you for bringing it
Chair
Unverified
37:24
back up. Thank you, Representative. Appreciate a good vote. Members, there are an explanation of the bill. Anyone wish to
speak against the bill? For the bill. Representative Baker, you're recognized. Come and speak for the bill.
Representative Tommy Lee Baker
Unverified
37:43
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Representative Kerr, for bringing this bill back again and again. I want to, you know, we have a lot of good legislation. As a matter of fact, all of our legislations are good down here. It's just a matter of who it's good for. And this
Speaker 81
38:14
legislation is good for the 500 cities in town across this state of Arkansas.
Representative Tommy Lee Baker
Unverified
38:21
And I want to tell you a little bit about who these people are. They're your engineers. They're your factory workers that can't go work for police part-time because they don't pay enough. There are your ministers, there are people that enjoy this type of work. And as a result, many of your state police ends up state police that started this very same way. As a matter of fact, some of the battle with small cities in town is to not get their police
trained and then promoted to state police. But this is one of the good bills that's going to help small cities to mend a police department during times when they're short financing, because most of these people work as volunteers, and I saw them just as good. As a matter of fact, in my city, we had a 27-year perfect attendance with the auxiliary police. So this is a good opportunity, and I didn't know that it was coming under the tag, but
we need to expand it to help to bring down the cost of government, because that's exactly what they do. Municipalities can only spend what you give them. And then there's still demands after they run out of money. This will help to fulfill some of
Chair
Unverified
39:47
that. Thank you. Senator Baker has spoken for the bill, and when we speak against the bill, what purpose You want Representative Bell, you're recognized to come speak for the bill.
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
40:10
Some of you know that prior to being elected here, I spent five years serving as one of these officers that's directly affected by this. And many times in the small counties in these rural areas, we have staffing issues. In the whole county sheriff's department where I served, we had a situation where many times we would have to get someone out of bed in the middle of the night who was certified on the breathalyzer machine to come in and do a breathalyzer for us to help make a case.
This simply will allow those of us who are out there doing that work anyway to get certified and be able to not have to get those people out of bed in the middle of the night, have to bring them in. This is a good piece of legislation that simply allows people who are already out there doing this work to get some additional training and help some of these small departments to fill in some gaps in their staffing. And
Chair
Unverified
41:15
I'd certainly appreciate a good vote on
this. the bill has spoken for the bill. Anyone wish to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Representative Kerr, you want to close for the bill? Representative Kerr has closed the bill. Question for the House. Passes to Senate Bill 855. I have to carry the machine, Mr. Clerk. Everyone voted? Everyone voted? Cast up the ballot by a vote of 79 yea, 5 nay, 0 present. You have passed the bill. All right, members, we're going to go back and pick up SJR 5.
Mr. Clerk, read the resolution. Representative Kerr moves for clincher on Senate Bill 855. All in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it clincher adopted. Now Mr. Clark reads Senate joint resolution number five. Senate joint resolution
Speaker 56
42:17
five by Senator Files proposing an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution concerning financial reform for counties and municipalities. Representative Perry you're recognized
Chair
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42:26
to explain the resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
42:31
Senate Joint Resolution 5 provides Arkansas some
economic development tools to be competitive when looking to attract non-industrial development, which is mainly hotel, entertainment and retail. We simply have to do all we can to make Arkansas as competitive as possible when it comes to recruitment of these vital job-creating, revenue-generating, quality-of-place improvement areas. Its main purpose is to establish redevelopment districts, which will be in any blighted or
vacant areas with which to issue sales tax anticipated revenue bonds. It also takes the proceeds of these bonds to be used for infrastructure work, such as utilities, streets, prep work, so that development can occur. It has been amended to apply only to city and county taxes. The Governor and the DFA are all in support of the bill. It does not take any money from the state general revenues. Let me give you an example.
Riverfront in Fort Smith, or a vacant partial in Russellville or Hot Springs, we establish a one-mile area-wide redevelopment district. We set up baseline tax bases, such as $10,000, and we have an anticipated sales tax base will be $100,000, so an increment is $90,000 per year to bond. It's used to run water and sewer to places where it's not been. When the bonds are paid off, the taxes remain at the current level and they go back into the
local treasury. It does not affect property taxes, payroll taxes, or other taxes. It's underwritten by bond writers so it does not obligate the state city or county it is permissive in that it will amend the constitution to allow it and then the general assembly will write the legislation to dictate its uses and function section two of it applies to local municipalities allowing them to refer a bond issue to the people to cover unfunded liabilities from local police and fire pensions
Section 3 is a clean-up to Amendment 78, which is short-term financing obligations, as it relates to contracts and financing of assets for municipalities. State chamber supports, municipal league supports. I'd appreciate
Chair
Unverified
45:08
a good vote. Representative Nichols, for the purpose, Representative Perry has yielded the floor. Anyone wish to speak? You've heard an explanation of the resolution. Anyone wish to speak against the resolution, for the resolution? Not the Representative Nichols speaking against the resolution?
Representative Nichols, if you are recognized, speak against the
Representative Jim Nickels
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45:47
resolution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This resolution did get to us in a strange way, but it's here and we need to deal with it. My problem with this, and I'm not – it looks to me like we are authorizing local governments to impose bond obligations on the people without a vote of the people, and that concerns me.
And they will be taking sales tax revenue, and I don't know if they mentioned the property tax revenue or not, but they're taking that revenue and kind of putting it out to the side for this redevelopment so we can build a motel or a hotel so we can pay some hotel maids minimum wage. and i don't think that's economic development and i think it is putting a burden on local governments the people without the the proper vote of the people so uh i'm speaking against
Chair
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46:48
this resolution and voting against it representative nichols has spoken
Representative Cheatham, what purpose? Mr. Nichols' question, Mr. Mayor. Would you have me clarify
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
Unverified
47:03
one thing? I should have done a little more research on this, and I'm glad you spoke against it. On these areas that are under this system, if they collect that sales tax, it's put aside, is that correct?
Representative Jim Nickels
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47:19
Are we in your business? Yes. whatever additional tax revenues are generated, I guess, will be used to pay off the bonds.
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
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47:28
That sales tax then would not go to your schools or counties? It
Representative Jim Nickels
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47:32
would not be used for what it's normally used for. It would just be going to pay off the bonds.
Chair
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47:40
Thank you. Representative Nichols has spoken against the resolution. Anyone wishing to speak for the resolution? Against the resolution?
Representative Representative Hobbs, what purpose? Say again. Speak against the resolution, please. Okay, Representative Hobbs, you recognize come and speak against the resolution.
Representative Debra M. Hobbs
Unverified
48:21
Mr. Speaker, am I recognized? I'm sorry, you are recognized. Thanks, sir. Representative Nichols, his heart kind of, I think, skipped a few beats when he realized we were both speaking against the same bill. and this is
I wanted to ask a couple of questions but Representative Perry left the well too quickly when this was presented in committee I believe it was DFA that spoke against it and perhaps the amendment has cleared their concerns however I did ask the question how sections 1 and sections 2 related and the person that was speaking at that time said he did not have a clue and that causes me concern especially since we have not had a ruling on the last constitutional
amendment about combining so um you might just want to think about that before you go thank you i've
Chair
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49:37
spoken against the bill anyone wish to speak for the bill against the resolution against the resolution okay uh representative hyde you want to close for the resolution i'm sorry i'm i'm
reading i'm reading it i'm reading the text from hyde here yeah i thought you got you're the one with hair okay yeah okay we got you that's that's what happens
when hyde is not here we take advantage of him in his absence all right you are recognized to uh close
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
50:09
for the resolution thank you mr speaker back in
the old uh cheat them and hide days uh a couple of quick notes uh you know the redevelopment district wouldn't exist the sales tax generated the taxes generated from the from the district wouldn't exist without the development dfa
dfna is in full support of this bill so i'd appreciate a
Chair
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50:32
good vote all right members uh representative perry has closed for the resolution the question for the House is passage of Senate Joint Resolution 5. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark. Everyone
voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 19 yea, 67
nay, you have defeated the resolution. Representative
Lee has moved the clincher on S.J.R. 5. All in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose no. No. Aye. That's how the clincher adopted.
Okay, members, here's the game plan, so listen up. We're going to take a one-hour recess. During that hour recess, we're going to have the A committees, and I'll let them make an announcement, the A committees being the two that I know of, public health and judiciary, are going to meet for 30 minutes. during the second 30 minutes. That'll be from 1.30 till 2.
The B committees, the following B committees will meet. They'll be state agencies, city, county, and Agri. They'll be meeting from 1.30 until 2. House is going to reconvene at 2 o'clock. Now, you're supposed to figure this out on your own, but when you're not in committee meeting, you're supposed to go eat lunch because this is a lunch break, too. If you have any bills when we come back from these meetings, you need to get them on the supplemental calendar.
All right, Representative Brown, what purpose? Question.
Representative Jerry R. Brown
Unverified
52:49
Yes, sir, you recognize. If my A committee that I share committee room with is not going to
Chair
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52:56
meet, can I not meet at 1 o'clock? Well, you've got committees, members that are on A and B committees, so you've got the conflict there. Thank you, sir. Okay. Ag. Committee chairs, you want to get recognized real quick and tell your members what you're going to do here. Representative Williams, you're recognized. Mr. Chairman, announcement.
Representative Darrin Williams
Unverified
53:16
You got it. Go. House Judiciary will meet starting at 1-10. Starting
Chair
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53:24
at 1-10. Okay. Representative Brown, you're recognized. Oh, you're good. Representative Cheatham, you're recognized. Mr. Baker,
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
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53:30
education will not meet today. We will clean our stuff up
Chair
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53:38
tomorrow morning. Okay, Representative Slinkard. State
Representative Charolette Wagner
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53:43
agencies will meet at 1.30 during the recess.
Chair
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53:46
Thank you. 1.51. Representative Wagner, if you
Representative Charolette Wagner
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53:52
recognize. Announcement. City, county, and local will meet at 1.30. Okay, thank you.
Chair
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53:57
Representative Woods. Announcement. You recognize. Public Health is
Representative Jon Woods
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54:03
going to meet right now in room 130. Thank you.
Chair
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54:11
Thank you. Outstanding recess until 2 o'clock.
Agenda
Call to Order
HB1322
SB855
SJR5
Recess
Announcements
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Chair
Unverified
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
Representative Nate Steel
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Representative Tim Summers
Unverified
Representative Tiffany Rogers
Unverified
Representative Matthew Shepherd
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Representative Butch Wilkins Chair
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Representative Ed Garner
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Representative Justin T. Harris
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Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
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Speaker 56
Speaker 61
Speaker 62
Representative Allen Kerr
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Speaker 71
Speaker 72
Speaker 73
Representative James McLean
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Representative Tommy Lee Baker
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Speaker 81
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
Representative Debra M. Hobbs
Unverified
Representative Jerry R. Brown
Unverified
Representative Darrin Williams
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Representative Charolette Wagner
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Representative Jon Woods
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