March 11, 2011
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (35)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1428
· 5 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1428”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1916
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…1415 and move it to the bottom of the list. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1916. House Bill 1916”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HR1025
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HR1025”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1021
· 3 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…that we consider concurring in In Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1021, read the amendment, Mr. Clark. Senate Amendment No. 1 to”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1348
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1348”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1415
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “chamber. We'll pass over House Bill 1415 and move it to the bottom of the list. Mr. Clerk, read Hous…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1424
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1424”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1426
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1426”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1434
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “on City, County, and Local, to whom was referred, House Bill 1434, by Representative Paul, House Bill 1474, by Representative…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1474
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…whom was referred, House Bill 1434, by Representative Paul, House Bill 1474, by Representative McLean, House Bill 1557, by Representati…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1498
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…er, we are Committee on State Agencies, to whom is referred House Bill 1498, by Representative Link, and House Bill 1926, by Representa…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1557
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…esentative Paul, House Bill 1474, by Representative McLean, House Bill 1557, by Representative Smith, and House Bill 1705, by Represent…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1620
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1620”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1623
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1623”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1628
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1628”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1705
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ative McLean, House Bill 1557, by Representative Smith, and House Bill 1705, by Representative Roebuck, beg to leave for the report we'…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1810
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1810”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1812
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1812”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1817
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1817”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1829
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1829”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1869
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Speaker, we are Committee on Judiciary, to whom is referred House Bill 1869, by Representative of Powers, beg leave to report we've had…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1875
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1875”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1895
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1895”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1899
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1899”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1902
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1902”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1924
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1924”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1926
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…om is referred House Bill 1498, by Representative Link, and House Bill 1926, by Representative Edwards, beg leave to report we've had t…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1949
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1949”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1966
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1966”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB2026
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB2026”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB2028
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB2028”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB2038
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB2038”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HCR1008
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ncurrent Memorial Resolution 1001 by our percent of Carter, House Concurrent Resolution 1008 by our percent of Jean, and House Memorial Resolution 1006…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HR1029
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…e committee on aging children and youth to whom is referred House Resolution 1029 by our percent of Wilkins, House Resolution 1040 by our per…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HR1040
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…s referred House Resolution 1029 by our percent of Wilkins, House Resolution 1040 by our percent of Lee, House Concurrent Memorial Resolution…”
|
Pre-2017 bill |
Machine transcript
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Speaker 1
0:00
Members, please take your seats. Members, the
Chair
Unverified
0:13
Assembly will come to order. Mr. Cozart, Representative Cozart.
Thank you. Mr. Cozart, can you join
us out here? Representative Cozart, I have received from the Secretary of State your certification
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
0:39
of election and your official commissions. Chair recognizes Mark Martin, Secretary of State, to declare the results of the special election. Mr. Secretary, you're recognized. Thank you,
Speaker 9
0:51
Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, in compliance with the requirements of Arkansas law, I have the honor today of presenting to this honorable body a new member who has been elected to the State House of Representatives of the 88th General Assembly. I hereby certify that Bruce Cozart
received the highest number of votes cast in the special election held on March 8th, 2011, to fill the vacancy for State Representative District 24, as certified to the Secretary of State by the Garland County Board of Election Commissioners.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:35
Pursuant to Article 5, Section 11 of the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, no opposition having
been received from any member of the House of Representatives by authority vested in the Speaker of the House, I officially declare Mr. Cozart as seated. The Chair will now recognize the Honorable Jim Hanna, Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, to approach the lectern. Mr. Cozart, will you please join the Chief Justice at the lectern?
Representative Tommy Wren
Unverified
2:15
You're recognized, Chief Justice. Thank you
Speaker 15
2:19
very much. Can you raise your right hand and just repeat after me, please? I, Bruce Kozart, do solemnly swear that I support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of State Representative, District 24, upon which I am now about to enter.
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
2:46
So help me God. Congratulations. Representative Cozart, that was important, but this
Speaker 19
3:04
is what you're looking for right here. It gives me
great pleasure to personally have the opportunity to present you with your legislative pen.
you.
will be as follows public transportation waterways and aeronautics permanent subcommittee aging children your B committee will be aging children youth legislative affairs with legislative military and veteran affairs being a permanent subcommittee your seat assignment will be number 40 and representative Cozart I would recognize you for any remarks you wish at this time thank you mr. speaker i would just like to
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
4:18
say i'll briefly say that i am honored to be here
i would like to thank all of y'all for having me here i know this is a something in the middle of the session to come into and everybody's told me it's going to be fun so i'm looking forward to working with each and every one of you, and we'll
Speaker 18
4:52
get about business. So, thank you. One quick thing. I did
Speaker 30
4:55
forget to introduce my family, if that's all right.
Speaker 33
4:59
Be recognized. My wife, Debbie. my son Cody my granddaughter Abby and my son Trevor
thank you thank you Representative Cozart you are eligible now
Take your seat up there between McLean and Thompson. I hope that's good news for
you. I invite members, press, staff, and all of you joining
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
5:50
us in the gallery today to please stand while we're led in prayer today by Pastor Chris Morrison of the DeRoach Missionary Baptist Church in Bismarck, who's here today as a guest of Representative Mock,
and then please remain standing and be
led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Billy Gass.
Speaker 38
6:12
Indeed, it's humbling to stand before you. I pray for you as a house body, as those who
Speaker 39
6:17
legislate the laws and do such business for the state. I pray for you as a citizen of the state. I've been a lifelong citizen of Arkansas, grew up in Saline County, was educated in public schools in Tulaski County, attended UALR College and Seminary in Little Rock, and have pastored in Hot Spring County for about 18 years now.
I'm a guest today, not only of you all as a body, but Loy Mock, who is one of the members of our New Testament church there in Bismarck. I want to read two passages, just a couple of verses here, and then lead you in prayer. The Bible says, Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven, and Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changeth the times and the seasons. He removeth kings, and He setteth up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them of understanding.
One other passage in 1 Timothy 2, I exhort therefore that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty may we bow for prayer our heavenly father we thank you for who you are and your goodness we thank you for the many virtues that you give to us as creator and sustainer of this very world we thank you for the government of our state in our country we thank you for the
freedoms that we have and the liberties we have to practice our religion and have liberty of conscience. We thank you for good men and women who serve and uphold the rule of law, that they represent the citizens of our state in such a fine manner, and that are able to conduct your business in such a way that even citizens such as myself have peace and safety to carry out my daily affairs, even as a pastor. God, may we all have the greatest respect for our God, for our
country, for our state. May we always do what the Scriptures tell us to do, and that is to respect those in authority and to have an obedience and appreciation for the laws of our land. God, we indeed are appreciative of those who serve, who uphold good and punish evil, who specifically legislate in these matters. God, we ask today and pray for wisdom and supply from your throne in heaven for these men and these women. Watch and protect over them, keep them safe as they do the law of the land. We pray these things
in Christ's name and for His sake.
Speaker 21
8:54
Amen. Amen. I pray that we lead you to the light of the United States of America who will return the love and praise the saints, our foundation and our God, and the good
of the people, for liberty and justice for all. Members, please indicate your presence by pushing the yellow
present button. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark. members please press the
yellow present button it's the yellow one there we go okay as everybody
indicated their presence cast out the ballot chair recognizes 94 members present there's a quorum of request for leave representative rice they were uh... reps in the corner we met it for representative car nine leaves granted representative uh... re-representing ran my button didn't first place uh... in cape representative land is being present representative
word and uh... what purpose lee
for representing to hank wilkins uh... we read it for representative wilkins we've read it representative makes that's uh... leave for representative king and representative high we've read it for representative can they've read it and
we've read it for representative ladies ready for the request representative eddie cheetah moves that we dispense of the reading of the previous day's journal no objection so ordered
Other reports from select committees, read the reports, Mr. Clark. Mr.
Speaker 50
10:43
Speaker, we are a committee on joint budget to whom is referred Senate
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
10:46
Bill 106 by Joint Budget Committee. I believe report we've had the same under consideration here to return the same with the recommendation that do
Speaker 53
10:59
pass as amended, respectfully submitted. Kathy Webb, Chair. Reports from
Speaker 50
11:04
standing committees, read the reports. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
11:06
on City, County, and Local, to whom was referred, House Bill 1434, by Representative Paul, House Bill 1474, by Representative McLean, House Bill 1557, by Representative Smith, and House Bill 1705, by Representative Roebuck, beg to leave for the report we've had the same, under consideration herewith, return the same with the recommendation that they do pass, respectfully submitted, Charlotte Wagner, Chair.
Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on Judiciary, to whom is referred House Bill 1869, by Representative of Powers, beg leave to report we've had the same, under consideration, and herewith return the same, with the recommendation that do pass as amended, respectfully submitted, Darren Williams, Chair. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on State Agencies, to whom is referred House Bill 1498, by Representative Link, and House Bill 1926, by Representative Edwards, beg leave to report we've had the same, under consideration, and herewith return the same, with the recommendation that they do pass, respectfully submitted, Clark Hall, Chair.
Mr. Speaker, we are committee on aging children and youth to whom is referred House Resolution 1029 by our percent of Wilkins, House Resolution 1040 by our percent of Lee, House Concurrent Memorial Resolution 1001 by our percent of Carter, House Concurrent Resolution 1008 by our percent of Jean, and House Memorial Resolution 1006 by our percent of Benedict. They believe we report we have the same under consideration and herewith return the same with the recommendation that they do pass. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Malone, Chair.
Any unfinished business? Executive communication? All right, members, we'll go to the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
12:31
red calendar. Before we do, let me recognize some guests with us today in the East Gallery, our guest of Representative Nate Steele, students from Nashville High School. If you all would stand so we'd be able to recognize you.
Speaker 57
12:54
Representative Steele, for what purpose? To indicate they're not here? Apology, Mr. Speaker, I think they snuck out. I'll be sure and tell them they
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
13:11
were organized. Tell them they got a good warm welcome. And I'm going to do this because it was from one of our former members, who's a very good friend, former Representative Roy Ragland, handed me a note and said, please wish Alice Stewart happy birthday today.
So we're wishing Alice Stewart happy birthday today. And my goodness, I'm just looking here at the doctors of the day. Doctor, we have with us today, Dr. Omar Atik from Pine Bluff. Doctor, we're certainly glad to have you. And
even with my bad vision, I recognize an old, old friend of mine, Dr. James Young from McGee.
We go way back in Arkansas City days. Glad to have you here, Doc.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
14:09
Thank you all. Mr. Clark Reed, House Resolution
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
14:14
1025. House Resolution 1025 by Representative Pennartz to encourage the Arkansas congressional delegation to support the maintenance, funding, and completion of the 12-foot channel on the Arkansas River.
Chair
Unverified
14:25
Representative Penartz, you are recognized to explain the resolution.
Representative Tracy Pennartz
Unverified
14:32
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 1025 is to encourage our Arkansas congressional delegation to support the maintenance, funding, and completion of a 12-foot channel to the Arkansas River. Many of you may know or may have become aware, I didn't know this until about eight or nine months ago, that we have a 9-foot channel in the Arkansas River. And even though the funds have been approved for a 12-foot channel, we're moving up the list.
Well, what the endorsement of this 12-foot channel will do is it will bring a significant increase in the tonnage that we can bring up the Arkansas River. It will make a great deal of difference to the ports that we have and to the economic development along our waterways. So I ask for your positive consideration of this resolution. Members have heard an explanation of the resolution.
Anyone wishing to speak against the resolution or the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
15:44
resolution? If not, a question for the House. Pass it to House Resolution 1025. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have
it. The resolution is adopted. The morning hour has expired. Clerk read House Bill, I'm sorry, Representative Hutchinson recommends that we concur in Amendment
No. 1 to House Bill 1428. Read the amendment,
Chair
Unverified
16:17
Mr. Clerk. Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1428. Representative Hutchinson,
you are recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you,
Representative Donna Hutchinson
Unverified
16:39
Mr. Speaker. I'm sure you all remember this bill.
This is the one we have to get passed by March 15th or children will not be able to buy health insurance. We added Senator Jeremy Hutchinson onto it in case they needed any changes on the Senate side. they wanted a few changes in wording but the bill is basically the same I appreciate a good vote and thank you
for helping us to meet this important timeline I'm returning the explanation of the amendment
anyone wishing to speak against the amendment for the
amendment not the question for the house adoption amendment number one to house bill 1428 prepare the machine Mr. Clark everyone voted everyone voted cast up the ballot by a vote of 89 yay 0 nays 0 present you have adopted the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
17:43
amendment Mr. Clerk oh I'm sorry Representative Lee
recommends that we consider concurring in In Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1021, read the amendment, Mr. Clark. Senate Amendment No. 1 to
Speaker 74
17:56
House Bill 1021. Representative Lee, you're recognized to
explain the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker 76
18:04
This was a bill that we passed out of here in the Senate in its infinite wisdom, decided to amend it. I concur with the amendment, and I ask you for a good vote. Thank you.
You've heard an explanation of the amendment. Anyone want to speak against the amendment, for the amendment? If not,
the question before the House is the concurrence of Senate Amendment 1, House Bill 1428. Excuse me, 1021, pardon
me. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr.
Clerk. By a vote of 94 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present,
Speaker 88
19:06
you have concurred in the amendment. Representative Post, request
that we pass over her bill and leave it on the calendar. All in favor,
say aye. Opposed, no.
Speaker 88
19:21
Ayes have it. Mr. Wilkins is not in the
chamber. We'll pass over House Bill 1415 and move it to the bottom of the list. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1916. House Bill 1916
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
19:43
by Representative Hobbs to enhance the effectiveness of early childhood programs in Arkansas and authorize grants and support for an early childhood foundation.
Ms. Hobbs, you're recognized to present the
Representative Debra M. Hobbs
Unverified
20:01
bill. Thank you. I'm not sure what to call you. I'm sorry. I didn't hear that. Madam Speaker will be fine. Madam Speaker. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Public-private partnerships are often used to improve the quality of early childhood education. House Bill 1916 would provide the opportunity to use the interest from the Arkansas Child Care Facilities Loan Guarantee Trust Fund
to establish seed funding for the Early Care and Education Foundation-slash-Partnership. This is money that is held in account. The people representing Early Childhood, including Tanya Russell, who is the director of Early Childhood, asked that I carry this bill and I ask that you vote yes on it. This will allow them to use some of that money to, as I stated, provide seed money so that they can form these public-private partnerships with people in the community, as in giving mini-grants, maybe for parental training or whatever is needed uniquely to that community.
Again, it does not increase any taxes or fees. This is money already held in account that they
Speaker 104
21:22
have oversight. And I would appreciate a good
vote. You've heard an explanation of the bill. Anyone want to speak against the bill? For the bill? If not, the question before the House is passage of House Bill 1916. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 94 yeas, 0 nays, and
0 presents, you have passed the bill. we have as guests today of representative stephanie malone visitors
from the carnell carnell elementary school of fort smith would you please stand for recognition
Speaker 107
22:35
Ms. Penartz, you are acknowledged as well.
Thank you. Mr. Clark, please read House Bill 1895. House
Speaker 60
22:48
Bill 1895 by representative powers and all to amend the Utility, Facility, Environmental, and Economic
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
22:53
Protection Act to clarify requirements for major utility facilities and declare emergency and to make technical corrections. You are recognized to present the
Representative David "Bubba" Powers
Unverified
23:03
bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members and friends, you know me quite well.
I've been down here many times, and most of the time I make a lighthearted crack to put you at ease and explain my position. There will be no lighthearted cracks today because I don't want you at ease. I want your full attention because of the importance of what I'm going to talk to you about today. House Bill 1895 can affect my people, your people, citizens throughout the state. I'm going to explain the importance of this bill by telling you what it does and what it does not do.
First of all, what this bill does, it provides the Public Service Commission discretion to decide, along with the parties involved, what the best way to hold the hearings during that commission's hearing phase, which they've been doing for many, many years until the Turk plan, and I'm sure you've heard of it, in Hempstead County 14 miles from my home until that was challenged in a court
and we had to change to what's called a merchant plant status now I won't bore you with the details of that other than to tell you that would allow the plant to be built and to operate except the citizens of Arkansas will not be able to gain electricity from the Turk plant they can sell on the wholesale market Another thing it does do, the discretion and the merchant plant status are very important, not just to the Turk plant, but for the future of industry in this state.
Let me assure you what it does not do. It doesn't take away judicial review. It does not create any retroactivity to change the status of the Turk plant. Now, if you read the papers like we all do, there's been a little squabble between the governor and our position this week. The governor is fine. We're fine. The lieutenant governor is fine. The attorney general does not oppose this bill. The public service commission does not oppose this bill.
Fifty-two of you are signed on as my co-sponsors. Thirteen senators. Frankly, I could have gotten more if I had waited another day. This is a bill about jobs for our state. We do have opponents. And honestly, I truly believe my opponents would take away those 1,600 jobs, those people that are working today as we speak, just west of my home. The 110 jobs, good-paying jobs that will come in the future with this.
This does not provide an unfair advantage to the turf plant. If it helps it, my goodness, I hope so. And I will say that I want your vote. I appreciate your vote. But more importantly, I have the proxy of 1,600 people working this morning to ask for your vote. Thank you. I'll answer any questions. Mr. Smith, for what
Chair
Unverified
26:19
purpose? You're recognized for the question. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
26:24
Thank you, Representative Powers, for bringing this bill. Can you give us today, in short form, approximately the
weekly payroll those 1,600 jobs offer for the state of Arkansas? Well, honestly,
Representative David "Bubba" Powers
Unverified
26:35
I don't have the number off the top of my head, but I know it's
Speaker 123
26:40
millions and millions of dollars yearly payroll. And then 110 full-time permanent jobs after the plan is operational. 110 full-time employees with an average salary of
Representative David "Bubba" Powers
Unverified
26:50
about $45,000 a year. Now, let me state that that may not seem like much to a lot of you.
Where I come from, that is something to be
Speaker 123
27:00
proud of and something to plan your future and your family's future with. I agree, and
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
27:06
I can't see why or how anyone in their current state of affairs in the economy of Arkansas could deny such a great opportunity for people to work in their home area. Thank you. Thank you for your comments,
Speaker 114
27:18
Representative Smith. I'd appreciate a good vote. You've
heard an explanation of the bill. Does there anyone want to speak against the bill?
For the bill? If not, the question before the House is passage of House Bill 1895. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
We're voting on the bill in the emergency clause. Everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote
of 91 yeas, 0 nays, and 3 presents, you have passed the bill and the emergency clause.
Mr. Clerk, please read. Representative Powers moves for the clincher. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? No. Ayes have it. Clencher is adopted. Mr. Clark, please
read House Bill 1424. House Bill
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
28:30
1424 by Representative Westerman to establish liability protection for agri-tourism. Representative
Chair
Unverified
28:38
Westerman, you're recognized to present the bill.
Representative Bruce Westerman
Unverified
28:41
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, this is an economic development bill. it's a if you've ever been to a pumpkin patch or a corn maze or a christmas tree farm that's what agri-tourism is it's a growing industry in the state i'd like to read to you just a little bit from a paper by the university of arkansas says agri-tourism development in arkansas economics and associated constraints their study found that all across the united states small and medium
scale farms are dwindling in numbers and their incomes are stagnating to revitalize rural agrarian economies agri-tourism activities are being used as a catalyst to generate supplemental income and trigger economic growth when the agricultural census was done in 2002 and then five years later in 2007 they found that agri-tourism activities had grown 17 percent in arkansas on down in this paper it says that based on the survey results the issue most common to
agri-tourism providers related to the operation of their enterprise were affordable health insurance promotion and marketing finding and hiring quality employees and liability insurance the purpose of this bill is to address one of those concerns of establishing liability protection for Agroturism operators. This bill is supported by both the Association of Trial Lawyers and the Farm Bureau, and I would appreciate a
good vote. And I'll take any questions. You've heard an explanation
of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak?
Representative Collins? Excuse me. Post. Excuse me. You're recognized. What purpose? That's
Representative Leslee Milam Post
Unverified
30:26
okay. You're not the first. We get confused a lot. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Representative Westerman, I have a question. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just have a quick question, and I apologize that I haven't spoke with you again about this. I think this is a wonderful bill, and I think it's so important that we have insurance. But my question is, is it really necessary?
I work in the agritourism business, and this question I brought to you before, isn't there already insurance for these type of small businesses? How is this different than the insurance that already exists? If you
Representative Bruce Westerman
Unverified
31:10
could clarify that, please. Thank you. Thank you, Representative Post. What this bill does is establishes liability protection. It defines what agri-tourism is, and then it talks about certain inerrant risks that are on these agri-tourism operations and how that the operators aren't responsible for those inerrant risks,
but they are responsible for, say, gross negligence or other items like that. You've
heard an explanation of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill,
for the bill? The question before the House is passage of House Bill 1424. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot,
Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 90 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you have passed the
bill. Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1628. House
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
32:18
Bill 1628, 1st of Letting, an act to clarify the law considering guardianships and to expand the range of persons eligible to be guardians. Mr. Letting,
you are recognized to present the bill.
Representative Greg Leding
Unverified
32:32
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Colleagues, you learn a lot in this job. One thing I recently learned is that for well more than a decade, Arkansas law has allowed a very select type of felon to serve as a relative foster or relative adoptive parent for a child. If you have ever been convicted of a serious or violent felony, you are never eligible. However, if at a young age you committed a theft but went on to become a law-abiding and productive individual, you could potentially be eligible. There's a thorough investigative and interview process. The first is with the Department of Human Services. The second
with a child welfare agency review board. If you pass those and have demonstrated rehabilitation, you are potentially eligible to be a relative adoptive or relative foster care parent. So what we're trying to do here, since foster care and adoption are not always an appropriate option, we're seeking to expand that to include guardianships so that you would go through the exact same process and, if you pass, become eligible to serve as a guardian for a relative child. child. We've got a lot of kids out there that need safe homes, a lot of kids in our foster
care system, and this bill is seeking to make sure that we get them into a safe home. We did have a few concerns in aging and youth the other day when we presented this bill because there was some inaccurate testimony given by us. We apologize for that, but I do believe we've gone back to every member who voted no that day, explained the situation, and that we have addressed all of their concerns and that they now support this bill. And Representative Pickerson, I'd like to thank you for your comments yesterday. I'll try to take any questions if there are any. Otherwise, I'd appreciate
Chair
Unverified
34:09
a good vote. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? You're
Representative Stephen Meeks
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34:12
recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a quick question on the bill. Is there any length of time between the time the felony was committed and the time they'll become eligible
Representative Greg Leding
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34:24
to become the guardians? There are. There are some felonies qualify for a five-year bar. You would not be eligible
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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34:34
to become a guardian for five years. Okay. Thank you. Representative Penartz, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized.
Representative Tracy Pennartz
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34:38
Representative Letting, this is a special area of mine. The first four years I was here, I served on aging children and youth,
and so I still retain that interest. Can you assure me that the guardianship that we're talking about, that there will be no persons who become guardians that committed a capital offense or a Class Y felony or a Class A felony. That is my understanding. You do understand what those are? I have a vague understanding. I'm not an attorney. I am not an attorney either. But I love my attorney friends.
But we're talking about people who committed sexual offenses, murder. Absolutely not. If you've ever been convicted of
Representative Greg Leding
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35:24
any kind of domestic abuse, child abuse, you've been caught with child pornography on your computer, anything like that, you can never, ever, ever, ever become a guardian. These are only minor felonies, such as theft or receipt of stolen property. Well, there's no such thing as a minor
Representative Tracy Pennartz
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35:37
felony, but I understand what you mean by that. A nonviolent felony. Right. Okay. Well,
Representative Mary L. Slinkard
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35:42
thank you, sir. Mr. Collins, for what purpose? Question, Madam Speaker.
Representative Charlie Collins
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35:49
You're recognized for the question. Representative Lending, I'm not trying to be difficult, but I'm actually reading the text on page 3, line 1, and a convicted and unpardoned felon, and I'm just looking for where the restrictions you mentioned are in the bill. Again, if
Representative Greg Leding
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36:03
you've been convicted of a violent felony or serious felony, you can never become eligible. There is a clear list in the code. It's not in this bill, but there is a clear list of specific felonies that if you've ever been convicted of those, you can never become eligible to be a relative foster,
relative adoptive, or relative guardian. it's in the
Representative Kim Hammer
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36:35
code representative hammer for what purpose question please ma'am you're recognized is this intended to address the situation where perhaps you have a family member who has committed a felony and it is one of those felonies that is not red flagged when dhs runs their background check
It has gone beyond that, and this allows for family members to be able to serve as the adopted parent, say, for a younger sibling where the parent has been removed from the situation. Is that part of what this bill is intended to help achieve? That would be correct. Thank you. Representative Steele,
for what purpose? You're recognized for the question. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I
Speaker 165
37:16
think Representative Powers helped you out, but just I want you to make it crystal clear that the information that they're asking is already an existing code.
Chair
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37:25
Is that correct? That is correct. Representative Stubblefield, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. I want to ask you this, Representative
Representative Gary Stubblefield
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37:34
Letting, again. The crime, the felony crime of kidnapping does carry with it a lifetime ban on adoption, correct? That is also correct.
Chair
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37:45
Okay, thank you. Representative Sanders, for what purpose? question if you're recognized
Speaker 168
37:48
letting this simply aligns the code for guardianships as exists for adoptive parents and foster parents is that correct that is correct thank you
i'd appreciate a good vote you've heard an explanation of the bill is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill for the bill the question before the
house is passage of House Bill 1628. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 85 yeas, 4 nays, and 2 presents,
you have pass the bill. Mr. Clerk, please
Representative Duncan Baird
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38:44
read House Bill 1924. House Bill 1924 by Representative Roebuck to revise the payroll deductions for state employees to include
deposits into a tax-deferred college savings plan. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House. Our current code, 194-1602, concerns payroll deductions for
state employees for certain purposes this house bill nineteen twenty four simply extends the authorization for payroll deductions for the state employees to include arkansas tax-deferred tuition savings program or a tax-deferred savings program and with certain restrictions that are listed in the mail this bill is at the request of our arkansas five twenty nine committee and as you know that includes the director of the department of higher Education, currently Interim Director Shane Broadway, our State Treasurer Martha Schaffner,
and the Director of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, George Hopkins. Senator Baker, Senator Key, and I would appreciate a good vote. You've heard an
explanation of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill, for the bill?
The question before the House is House Bill 1924. Prepare of the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Cast up the
ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of
91 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you have passed the bill.
Speaker 60
40:30
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill House Bill 1810 by Representative Hutchinson, Jonathan's Law
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
40:35
to establish safety standards for anchoring soccer goals on
playgrounds and other recreation areas. Representative Hutchinson, you are recognized to present the bill.
Representative Donna Hutchinson
Unverified
40:45
Thank you, Madam Speaker. If you were in the Public Health Committee yesterday, you heard a very emotional testimony from a family that lost their son needlessly.
We in America are just beginning to discover that while soccer is a wonderful sport, it does have its dangerous aspects, and that's the soccer goalposts. Australia, Canada, England have some very serious laws governing how those goalposts are anchored. We are just now discovering that we need to do it also. A young boy,
nine years old, was killed in my county when a soccer goal post fell over him.
It was a tragedy, and the family does not want his death to be wasted. This
is a wake-up call for all schools and public playing fields to please check your soccer goal post. We're basically saying we cannot ever use homemade soccer goals again. These are the ones that cause most of the damage because it may look easy, but they need to be built in a certain way so they won't fall over. And when this young boy was killed, the school checked their 36 soccer goals.
Only six of them had been anchored. And the city got busy and started checking, and hardly any of those soccer goals were anchored. So this is a wake-up call to our state. It's a wonderful game, but we need to make sure that the soccer goals are anchored and we don't need to have any more
children being injured or dying because of these sad tragedies. I'll be happy to take
any questions. Representative Carter, for what purpose? Question, please. You're recognized.
Representative Davy Carter
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42:36
Does the bill have any, and I'm sorry, I haven't read it line by line, does it have any penalties in it if these procedures or standards are
Representative Donna Hutchinson
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42:48
not followed? Thank you. And what happens if they don't do it? We have two items that will ensure compliance. There's
a new five-year-old agency in Arkansas. Many may not have heard about it. It's called the Arkansas Public School Academic Facility and Transportation, and they're in charge of making sure that these are complied.
And then we also said that violation of this section is admissible in a civil or criminal action court. So cities and schools know now that that might be hanging over their head if they don't take care of their soccer fields. But I think most of this is just we weren't thinking
about it, and now we're going to start thinking about it and noticing this. Thank you very much. Representative Hammer, for what purpose?
Chair
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43:43
Representative Hutchinson, Representative Hammer, for what purpose? Question,
Representative Kim Hammer
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43:49
please. You're recognized. And thank you for taking my question. And please do not take my questions to imply that I or anyone in this room is insensitive to the situation that happened. Just a couple points of clarification, please. The goals that are currently out there under the way in which this law is written, are they grandfathered in or, after the dates that are mentioned in this bill, Are agencies, boys and girls clubs, private entities that offer soccer programs,
are they going to be expected to replace all their existing goals with newly
Representative Donna Hutchinson
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44:25
purchased goals? Except for the homemade goals. The current goals are fine. The American Society for Testing and Measurements Internationally, internationally. They have just recently, this January, established what the soccer goals should look
like and how they should be anchored. And to tell you the truth, no one's making those goals yet. So this bill says that come 2012, if those goals are actually
being made by a company, then they will be required. But right now, no one's making them. So the goals that we're using right now will be fine, and they just need
to be anchored correctly. And that's what this bill says, please anchor the stocker goals correctly, because the biggest
Representative Kim Hammer
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45:11
problem is in the anchoring. Okay, and that brings me to my next question, Madam Chair, ma'am. My next question is, locally here, they responded by going around and sandbagging their goals, which seem to be an acceptable measure.
Is this law going to require that there are going to
be additional purchases that will have to be made
Representative Donna Hutchinson
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45:33
then in order to anchor those goals? No, the Consumer Product
Safety Commission gives about five different ways. You can use sandbags or pegs or various different other ways to anchor these, and they will be quite fine. It's just anchoring. I remember
Nathan Nelson told me after the committee that his school had just spent $3 million on a football field,
and he was hoping that schools would just spend a
little bit of money to anchor their soccer goals. I don't think we're asking for much from the schools or the cities to just spend a few more dollars to anchor the soccer goals for safety. Thank
you for taking my questions. Thank you. Representative Hutchinson has left the well. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill? For the bill? The question before the House is House Bill
1810. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote
of 81 yeas, 7 nays, and 2 present, you have passed the bill.
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 8-1966. House Bill
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
47:09
966, by Representative Letting, to amend Arkansas law concerning burial furniture associated with human skeletal burial
remains. Ms. Hutchinson, move for the clincher on the previous bill, House Bill 1810. All in favor? Aye. Anyone opposed? No. Clincher is passed. Thank you. Recognized, Mr. Letting.
Representative Greg Leding
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47:37
Thank you, Madam Speaker. This one's a little bit easier to lift. Currently, our law is very clear about what happens, who has a right to the remains if a grave is accidentally unearthed, say, in a construction project or maybe a Native American cemetery or something like that. The descendants have a right to the actual remains. The law is not clear whether or not they have a right to items buried with the body. And the legal term for that is burial furniture. This is something else I learned on this job.
So all we're doing is clarifying that the family has a right to the remains and any objects buried with the body. The Attorney General issued an opinion in 2007 saying we needed some clarification, so
that's all we're doing with this bill. I'm happy to take any questions. Otherwise, I'd appreciate
a good vote. Thanks. You've heard an explanation of House Bill
1966. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill?
For the bill, question before the House. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr.
Clerk. By a vote of 89 yeas, 1 nay, and 0 present, you have passed
the bill. Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1623.
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
49:16
House Bill 1623 by Representative Thompson, an act to streamline the process for criminal history checks for emergency medical technicians.
Representative Tommy Thompson
Unverified
49:24
You are recognized, Representative Thompson. Thank you, Madam Speaker. House Bill 1623 allows a division of emergency services to run the required background checks for people that apply for their license. The bill is supported by the Arkansas Ambulance Association, the Arkansas Department of Health. It has been reviewed and approved by the Arkansas State Police.
And it basically will reduce the applicant's fees, reduce the time that it takes to process the application. And really, there's no known opposition to the bill. I would appreciate a good vote. You've heard an explanation of
the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill, for the bill?
The question before the House is passes of House Bill 1623.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Cast up
the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 90 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you have passed the bill. Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 2028.
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
51:01
House Bill 2028 by Representative Perry to establish consistency in the laws concerning engineers.
Representative Mark Perry
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51:11
You're recognized, Mr. Perry. Thank you, Madam Chair. House Bill 2028 will bring consistency in the laws concerning engineers. Next week we'll have surveyors. They got assigned to Insurance and Commerce, so I wasn't able to run it twice, but this will do a lot of cleanup language, and I appreciate a good vote.
You've heard an explanation of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill?
For the bill, the question before the House is passage of House Bill 2028. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By
a vote of 91 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you have passed your bill.
You're recognized. Mr. Clark, please read House Bill 1949. House Bill 1949 by
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
52:16
Representative Perry to allow an employee of a utility, telecommunications, or a cable company working during a time of emergency or severe weather to operate an all-terrain vehicle on public street
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
52:29
or highway. You're recognized, Mr. Perry. Thank you, Madam Chair. House Bill 1949, this is my last four-wheeler bill. The first one had some other utilities, but I left off the cable companies and the electric companies.
So this would allow the electric and cable companies to get your service restored in a quicker manner during an emergency. So I appreciate a good vote. Ms. Lee, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized
Speaker 76
52:55
for a question? Would all of these all-terrain vehicles that you've been running through here, would they require turn signals on the front and back? Not until the manufacturers make
Representative Mark Perry
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53:05
them. You've heard an explanation of the bill.
Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill,
for the bill? The question before the House is passage of House Bill 1949. Prepare the machine, Mr.
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr.
Clerk. By a vote of 92 yeas, 1 nay, and 0 present, you have passed the bill.
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1902. House Bill
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
53:55
1902 by Representative Moore, the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 2011. Mr. Moore in the
chamber. Mr. Moore, you're recognized to present your bill. Thank
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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54:12
you, Madam Chair. Members, when I spoke to you about two months ago from this very place and told me about things that I felt were
major issues that we had to address in the 88th General Assembly,
this was right at the top of the list, highway funding. It's a matter of importance to every Arkansan
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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54:34
for the safety of our citizens, for the good and safe transportation of goods and services, and for the attraction of our number two industry in this state, tourism, so that people can come to our state and enjoy good roads as They see the many fine places, historic places, places of natural resource enjoyment in our state.
When I talked to you that first day, I told you that I think as members of the Assembly, we have a responsibility to identify problems that face all of the citizens of our state, and we have the responsibility to take action to resolve favorably for our citizens those problems that we identified I'm not gonna go into great detail because I think each one of you have been made adequately aware over the last several months
the fact that we are woefully underfunded in our ability to maintain our highway system we have a funding model, which is a tax on the unit of measure on a gallon of gasoline, a gallon of diesel. As we all know, as prices rise, the consumption of gasoline goes down, which means our ability to fund our repairs and needed maintenance is further eroded. We know
that the primary product in asphalt is oil, so when the cost of oil goes up, those maintenance costs go up. All of the equipment involved in road construction and maintenance is high consumer of gasoline and diesel, which means the cost of repairs continues to escalate is our ability to make those repairs under our current funding model continues to be
diminished. It was my intention to bring to you a new funding model that I think would have provided the much needed revenue in the future. As was eloquently said by one of one of my favorite rock groups the rolling stones you can't always get what you want and uh... that was something that wasn't going to happen so uh... we so what i bring you here today i think is a
uh... is a uh... a very well reasoned and good opportunity to provide uh... some funds and a means for uh... delivering those funds to see the much-needed improvements and maintenance to our interstates and our federal highway system. What I'm bringing to you today, I'm going to say it now, and I'll probably, you know, for those of you who don't recall, I have a military background of which I'm very proud,
and one of the things that they taught you in the military about the learning process is you tell them what you're going to tell them, then you tell them, and then you tell them what you told them. And through that process, sometimes it gets absorbed. So I want to tell you that what we're talking about here is not raising taxes. This is giving the people of the state of Arkansas the opportunity to be informed about the extent of the problem that we have in highway funding, and after they are the people that elect us are adequately
informed, then they make the decision, if this is a funding model, that they like to ensure that we have good roads in the future of the state of Arkansas. What the bill is, you know you've read the bill, this is a proposal to refer to the people So a five-cent diesel tax, that is diesel that's used on our highways, exempts agriculture off highway use, diesel consumption.
a five-cent diesel tax that would go to fund a Garvey bond program that would end result being about $1.1 billion that would be funded by the bond program, which would be paid off over a 10-year period with the additional five cents, four cents that was levied back 99 plus federal funding that is dedicated to repairs of the interstate net result of that
about 1.1 billion dollars that would be available for repairs and maintenance this is not new construction this is not building new interstates this kind of goes back to my analogy that i've given to a number of you it's kind of like if you're looking at buying a new car in your family That's another proposal that's out there is the four-lane grid system. Before you do that, you want to make sure if you've got another car and you're going to keep that, that you're able to maintain it. You can pay for the cost of that old car that you're running.
This bill is about maintaining our interstates and federal highways in Arkansas. The bill is brought to you in no small part because of the agreement of the Arkansas Truckers Association. This bill is supported by the people who will be paying the tax if the people of the state of Arkansas at an election decide that this is a tax to be assessed.
People who primarily will be the consumers of the diesel will be paying a tax or the people who are behind this bill. To me, that should make it fairly easy. We don't have too many easy things to do. It should make it fairly easy. Folks that are going to use it are saying, we want it. This is their home on the road. This is their office. They are willing and supportive of making upgrades to their office space,
not only for their comfort and convenience and safety as they ride over the roads of the states, but because when they're driving these big rigs over highways that are in terrible shape, interstates that are in terrible shape, it escalates their maintenance costs to these vehicles substantially. And so it's an investment in their workplace that they are supporting and asking you to support by passing this bill. This is the condition of our roads.
As you've heard many times, we're about $200 million a year short in being able to maintain our roads under the funding formula that we have now. For the reasons of the higher-cost fuel, that disparity is going to increase. And like all of us, having had occasion, whether it's home or with your car or something that you own, when you fail to maintain it properly, the longer you fail to maintain it,
the greater the cost of that maintaining that your home or your automobile is going to be. If you've got a roof leak in your house and you fix it, it's pretty cheap. If you let it continue and it gets down into the ceiling or gets down into your furniture and finally gets down to the floor, it becomes a horribly inordinate cost. So what do we do? We go out and, you know, we fix a roof real quick. That same thing that this bill is intended to do with our highway system is to take care of the repairs that are so much needed and so woefully underfunded.
The bill, the money will be split as our revenue, as our other sections of the code direct so that not only will this inure the benefit of the state highway system, but the cities and counties likewise would be the recipient of their portion of this money on the 70-15-15 split, which would mean for the tenure, incidentally, this tax would expire at the time the bonds are paid off in no less than 12 years.
And when the tax expires, that revenue stream would stop. But until that time, there would be approximately $20 million a year that would go to the State Highway Department for funding bonds and approximately $4.35 million over the life of the bond issue that would go each to the cities and counties. Under the terms of the bill that I'm bringing, this election would be held at either a special or a general election.
I've had communication with some members that that causes some consternation. I had a there are two things that I'll put out there to you number one I had a conversation with the governor this morning in response to that inquiry and the governor assured me and told me that I was authorized to stay on the floor today that the cost of any election that was called would be paramount in his decision-making process that meaning that I really don't want to amend this
to say that it would be held in the general election because that puts it off for whatever the calculation is, 12, 16, 18, 20 months from now. There may be other causes and initiatives that get brought to the ballot in the statewide election before then, so I think that it is only wise that with that assurance from the governor that if it can be brought in conjunction with some other special election that goes to the
ballot, that it might be appropriate to do that. We do have in our election commission, they have budgeted for a special election, but they have the money in there for a special election, but I'm not advocating that. I'm advocating what the governor told me would be paramount in his decision-making process. So, I think this is an extremely good bill. It's supported by the State Chamber, the Municipal League, Association of Arkansas Counties, and perhaps most importantly, the
Arkansas Trucking Association. With that, Madam Chair, I'll be glad to take questions. Representative Meeks, for what purpose?
Chair
Unverified
1:05:37
Question, please. You have recognized. Mr. Speaker,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:05:41
is there any estimations of what the special election, if it is held, will cost the citizens of Arkansas? What the what now? I'm sorry. If we do hold a special election to look at
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:05:54
this, do we have any estimates of what that cost would be? The last special election, which is the cost of
that election is borne by the State Election
Commission, not the local entities, was in 2005, was approximately three quarters of The Election Commission has in their budget for special elections $1.2 million currently. Thank you. Representative Lee, for what purpose you're
recognized? Thank you. My favorite Rolling Stone song
Speaker 76
1:06:25
is You Can't Get No Satisfaction. In your discussions, and I appreciate what you're chasing with this, we do need to address highway issues and fix them.
In your discussions on forming this bill, did House Bill 1891, which also provides another funding mechanism, and was one of the recommendations made by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Highways, was that brought into the discussion as far as long-term funding for highways? Tell me, is that the GR bill,
Speaker 53
1:06:58
general revenue? I don't know which bill you can take. It's transferring funds around. Yes, sir.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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1:07:09
Well, as you all are, and I'd say you all as members of the Assembly, are duly scrutinizing matters in our budget and looking at costs that we face in the future. We are looking at shortfalls in our big three and corrections and human services, health and human services and education. I mean, don't tell me there's not anybody out there
that doesn't get hit up by your educators needing more money, and justifiably so. Our prisons, hopefully we're going to have some legislation that's going to rein in some of the escalating costs there, but they certainly are not going the way it's not a solution that's going to diminish the need for adequate funding. We are looking at substantial costs, whatever happens, in regard to Medicaid and services that we provide to the people of the state of Arkansas that we represent.
And I tend to agree. I don't tend to agree. I agree with the governor. We do not have the ability to take revenue, divert revenue from our other programs and fund highways out of general revenue. I don't know of any other state that funds highways. There are a couple of states that have some provision for supplemental funding and general revenue, but I don't know of any state that funds highways totally
out of general revenues. So, and with all due respect, no, I don't think that's the answer.
Representative Smith, for what purpose? I have a question. If you're recognized for the question. Thank you,
Speaker 19
1:09:00
Madam Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've talked about this before, and
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
1:09:02
I appreciate the fact that we're proposing to send this to the public at large and let them have the power at the ballot box. Is this going to be enough to keep our roads from any further deterioration? I mean, I know we've got to first determine when we want to have the election, but is this a fund that you're talking about over a 10-, 12-year period of time? of time will that keep a status quo or do you have that information available at this point
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:09:30
the the last figures that I had was never compiled by last year when gasoline was probably 75 cents cheaper than it is now so and diesel so the cost of making those repairs is certainly increased in that period of time, but using the $200 million a year deficiency in our ability to fund our repairs, no, this doesn't make up that deficiency,
but what it will do is escalate through the Garvey bond program to take that money up front and make huge amounts of repairs that otherwise would be deferred over that 10-year period. So it will not solve the fact that we don't have a funding model to make repairs as we go forward in the future. But we're not going to get that out of this assembly. We're not going to resolve that problem. But what we can do is we can make this $1 billion worth of improvements to finish our
interstates that everybody knows how successful the Garvey Bond Program was in 1999 and what it did to improve our interstates and what it did to improve our image of the state of Arkansas and people in the state and who travel through the state and who consider locating their businesses in the state. And we know that this would give the ability to complete that project, plus substantial amounts of work on federal highways, our national highway system, our U.S. highways, and most importantly, this infusion of money would obviously free
up other monies that are going to interstate and federal highway to take care of uh other dire
Chair
Unverified
1:11:18
statewide needs representative stubblefield for what purpose a question you're recognized
Representative Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:11:24
thank you madam chair uh speaker moore assuming that house bill 1902 passes and also assuming there will be some type of an advertising campaign
that's going to promote the passage of this toward the electorate, where will those funds originate from to pay for this advertising campaign to promote the passage
Speaker 211
1:11:52
of House Bill 1902? Well, obviously, the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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1:11:56
associations that I enumerated that are in support of it, I would assume
that their support would be indicative of their willingness and intent to fund a campaign to educate the people of the state of Arkansas about the needs and what this will do and how it will benefit the safety and economy of the citizens of the state.
Speaker 211
1:12:23
But where will they come from? Where
Representative Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:12:30
will the funds actually come from? From the associations
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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1:12:34
that I... Are you talking about the trucking associations? Yeah, the trucking associations, State Chamber of Commerce, the Municipal League, the Association of Arkansas Counties, from private funding, if I'm understanding your
Representative Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:12:48
question. All right. Also, did you say this, if this passes, and it goes to the people,
Will this be a special election, or will it be a
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:12:59
regular election? The bill provides that the election would be called by the governor and could be a special election or in conjunction with a general election. And that was what I indicated in my remarks, that pursuant to inquiry, I talked with the governor right before coming in the well, and he said that, yes, that the cost of any special election would be paramount in his decision as to when to set an election, and gave me his authorization
to relate that on the floor
Representative Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:13:33
today. But there's no specific amount of money. I mean, he didn't give a number as to what it
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:13:41
would cost to hold a special election. Well, that was the information I gave in response to the earlier question from Representative Meeks. The last special election in 2005 was approximately three-quarters of a million dollars paid for by the Election Commission, which they have that in their budget for calling special elections.
They have $1.2 million in their budget. But I and the governor, by my conversation with him, agree that in the tight times that he would look for whatever opportunity may be to have this in conjunction if there's some reason to have another special election. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Elliott,
for what purpose? Question. You recognized? Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr.
Representative Efrem Elliott
Unverified
1:14:28
Speaker, of the resources that's going to be generated if this is passed by the people,
how much of that is actually going into our state's infrastructure, and will it
Speaker 37
1:14:46
create economic development? Let me read from pertinent provision. in the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:14:52
bill on page 5, section 5, line 9, highway improvements or highway improvement projects means restoration improvements to the interstate highway system and other routes
within the national highway system, which most of us refer as the U.S. highway system within the state, including roadways, bridges, right-of-ways under the jurisdiction commission, includes acquisition, construction, reconstruction, renovation of the interstate system and other routes within the national highway system within the state that I mean that tells you that tells you that describes highway improvements and over on page three it excuse me on on page
three line 19 says tax opposed by subchartes levied to provide revenue to be used by the state to defray and hold apart the cost of construction widening reconstruction, maintaining, resurfacing, and repairing the public highways of
the state. So that's where the money's going, all of it. Let me just say that I want to reiterate two things, three things, because I said I was going to reiterate this. This is permissive legislation
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:16:13
to allow an election. It is addressing
a problem that simply is not going away. It is not going away. Now, we can kick it on down the road and say we want the 89th or the 90th. We want to wash our hands of it. We don't want to take responsibility to address the problem. It is not going away. It is a matter that is of absolute necessity when we talk about economic development, job creation in the state of Arkansas. You simply are not going to have it if we don't have good roads
over which to provide the business that provide the goods and service to travel. If entities, business entities that are looking at coming into this state, and you may rest assured, and those of you that are in business, I know you know this, that one of the key factors that is considered is not only the condition of the roads, but the state's ability to maintain those roads so i i will appreciate a very good vote on this bill
you've heard an explanation of the bill is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill representative hutchinson you're recognized to speak against the bill
Representative Donna Hutchinson
Unverified
1:17:46
Thank you. You're recognized. I admit we do have a funding problem with the Highway Department.
We seriously do, but we also have a problem with how they fund the highway, where they spend the money. Mack Blackwell is the overall legal umbrella over the Highway Department. Before Mac Blackwell, we had 10 highway commissioners representing the 10 maintenance districts. They found out that doing it that way did not have equal representation. We passed Macwell and said, we're going to have five highway commissioners.
We don't want them representing the maintenance districts any longer. Representative Tyler, you're recognized. Point
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:18:29
of order. Your point. I'd like to
ask that we stay on the topic of the bill, please. I am staying on the topic. Madam Speaker, I would suggest that we are not. Representative Hutchinson, you're recognized to speak against the
bill. We should not vote for this bill. If you
Representative Donna Hutchinson
Unverified
1:18:50
have this paper and you can look, if you're at the bottom of 7, 8, 9, and 10,
you can see how much money you're getting per person. Now, if you're at the top, some people have mentioned that we have a Republican supporting this bill. Well, their money coming to their district per person is over $3,000. That is a good representative to support the bill. She is taking care of her people. She is making sure that they're getting a fair share. The speaker is from a highway district that is getting a great turn back per person.
But if you're at the bottom of that list and you see how much money you're getting per person, I think you need to ask, am I watching out for my people? I hope you'll send a message to the highway department that they need to straighten out their funding. They need to do that before we'll give them permission to get more money. Thank you. Representative Hutchinson
has spoken against the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak for the bill?
Excuse me. Representative Altus, you're recognized to speak
Representative Denny Altes
Unverified
1:20:11
for the bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker. We all know that taxes are a necessary evil. Without taxes, we don't have good highways. In my 12 years here in the legislature, I cannot remember voting for a single tax in that whole 12 years. Our voters deserve to be offered the opportunity to vote for this tax.
I think we should vote for this bill, get it out to the voters to allow them to make their decision. Thank
you. Representative Altus has spoken for the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill?
Chair
Unverified
1:20:47
Meeks, you're recognized. D before S. Might be a first though, huh?
Speaker 235
1:21:04
You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Colleagues, as has been
Speaker 236
1:21:10
said before, we admit that we need to do something to make sure adequately fund our roads what we're doing here today is not the right answer we need to understand that right now that our taxes on diesel are actually higher than the surrounding states by 2.7 cents if this gets passed it'll bump it up to 7.7 cents
we know that the truckers they may pay it at the pump but we know by experience we know by business that that will get passed on to the consumer in the cost of higher goods. I'm sure many of you have been grocery shopping lately, and you have noticed that over the past several months, the price of your groceries and the things you buy have gone up. That is partly because of the rise in the cost of fuel.
Arkansas currently overall has the eighth highest tax burden in the nation when it comes to sales tax we have the means necessary I believe already within our budget to pay and sustain our roads what do I mean by that back in late 1990s the Murphy Commission made some recommendations to the legislature.
Not all of those recommendations were taken into account. I believe they should have been. But there was a budget analysis done that said if we were to follow the recommendations of the Murphy Commission, our state would have been sitting around a $4 to $5 billion surplus. Let me repeat that. A $4 to $5 billion surplus. If we will take a hard look at the way we are spending our money here in the state of Arkansas
and make our government more efficient and more responsive, I believe that we will have enough money to fund our roads. We have been asked to make a tough decision, and I believe that this decision that we're about to make today is a tough decision. With all due respect to Representative Alts, He said, yeah, the people should have the opportunity to vote on this. I believe the people of Arkansas made that decision in November of 2010
when they sent us to the legislature. I believe that it is up to us to make the decisions that we need to fund our roads and not refer it back to the people of Arkansas. I am asking you today to do the right thing. I'm asking you today to seriously take a look at our state government to see what we can do to make it more efficient, more responsible, and to find the money without having to refer this tax increase.
Arkansans have been taxed enough. It's time we hold the line and stop taxing them even more. Again, I ask you to go against this bill. Thank you. Representative
Meeks has spoken against the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak for the bill? Representative Wren, you are acknowledged, recognized to speak for the
Representative Tommy Wren
Unverified
1:24:40
bill. You're recognized. Thank you, Speaker. Colleagues, I come before you today to ask you to speak for this bill.
Let's make this clear. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a party issue. This is a people issue. This has to do with the citizens of the great state of Arkansas. We are putting this decision in their hands, not ours. I want to address the economic development issue of this. As a businessman who has interest in all parts of the state, who has lobbied for industry, who has lobbied for jobs,
let's talk about the three things on those folks' lists. A, an educated or skilled workforce. B, infrastructure, us providing them with infrastructure to come. Thirdly, transportation, a means to get their goods or product from their facility. This is an issue that's not going to go away.
And I say that we were elected to protect and to serve, and we are here to serve the citizens of Arkansas by allowing them to vote on something that is going to help the state of Arkansas now and in the future. I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Wren has spoken for the bill.
Representative Meeks, you're recognized to speak against the bill. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:26:35
Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, if we do this, we're going to ask the citizens of Arkansas to make a choice of whether to increase this tax or not. We're going to spend three-quarters of a million dollars to do this. What's the outcome going to be?
Well, actually, I have a little bit of a glimpse of what that outcome might look like. I hold before me a Gallup poll that was conducted just this last week, and it asks Americans about the various different ways that legislators are looking at taking care of budget shortfalls. They asked them six different items. On those items, the one that we're discussing here today was the one that scored the lowest on the list. The actual numbers, 30% of Americans would be in favor of this.
An overwhelming majority, 66%, said no. So we know what the outcome of that election would be if held here in the state of Arkansas if we look at these numbers. Now, there is a problem here. So how do we solve this legitimate problem? I agree with the Speaker. We can't keep punting this down the road. What's the solution? Well, I'm going to look to Representative Smith. I talked to him just before this started. We have $640 billion worth of lignite sitting in South Arkansas. That lignite represents jobs, economic developments,
and if it's taxed at the 5% severance tax rate that we're doing with the oil and gas industry, that'll raise at this rate over $32 billion. The Speaker's proposal only takes care of 10% of what is being asked for by the Highway Department. If we get rid of all these other proposals, mine the lignite in South Arkansas, we create jobs, we grow infrastructure, and we get over three times what is necessary to take care of our roads. We don't raise taxes on anybody.
I believe instead of we need to get rid of these taxes that we're looking at and let's mine some lignite and do it the right way. Thank
you. Representative Meeks has spoken against the bill. Anyone want to speak for the bill? Representative Barnett, you're recognized to speak for the bill. You're recognized. Thank
Representative Jonathan Barnett
Unverified
1:28:53
you, Madam Speaker. Good morning. It's still morning according to the clock back there that I see.
It's going to be in the afternoon hour pretty soon. But I appreciate all the debate on this issue. I know it means a lot to a lot of people, and it's near and dear to a lot of people's heart, and it's actually near and dear to my heart as well. And fortunately or unfortunately, whichever side you may want to take up today, I have some experience here. I have some personal experience. And whether you like that or whether you don't, it's a matter of fact, I do. And I was fortunate enough to serve for 10 years.
governor huckabee appointed me in 1999 to serve on the highway commission and there's another member here today that you all are very familiar with who's had similar experience and had actually more experience than myself this bill this actually this bill has been debated before it was debated in 1999 we had a republican governor if you all recall in 1999 and this issue was debated very much so. And that governor went out all over the state and campaigned for
a bond program, for interstate rehabilitation program, and it passed. It passed overwhelmingly. And so we have history here. This is a repeat process. As you all well know, there was a a 10-year sunset clause on that, as there is this. And I think most of the citizens in this state will tell you that it was a very, very successful program. And the good news is it's a very, very short bond issue.
It's not a, you know, a lot of projects in this state, a lot of bond issues last 20, 30, 40 years. And, yeah, sometimes long bond issues get us in trouble. This is a very, very short 10-year bond issue. We're simply the, it's been mentioned in the Murphy Commission here today. The person that they named that commission after several years ago is now chair of the highway department, and if he were standing here today, he would tell you to vote for this.
He'd say this is a good bill, and the people of this state have the right to be able to choose whether they want to rehabilitate, continue to rehabilitate their interstate system and some other federal highways in this state. This, and there's some other things I would like to address, but Lane Kidd, who was the head of the Arkansas Trucking Association, he spoke of it like this. He said, now, if I were a railroad and we were asking you today to let us invest in our own rails,
would you agree with that? Would you say that the railroads should be able to invest in their own railroads? And the answer is yes, we probably would. Trucking industries want to invest in the roads that they travel on this state and therefore this bill. The people of the state of Arkansas need to have the right to say yes or no to help continue to maintain not only the interstate system but the federal highway system in this state. this is a good deal and I would encourage you to vote for it. Thank you very much.
Representative Barnett has spoken for the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against
the bill? For the bill? Mr. Moore, you are recognized to close for
your bill. The bill. Thank you, members, for your consideration here today.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:32:35
A couple of things I want to address is brought up. But I hope all of you have that little sheet that talks about highway funding and districts. I want you to think about this.
If we funded our interstate system in the United States of America on the basis of population, you know what would happen? Interstates would populate at areas, and they'd run out in the middle of the west, and they'd just go away. You know what we do on the federal system? We have states that help other states to build roads in unpopulated areas. We do the same thing in the state of Arkansas. If you see my district down there, because my district happens to be the only one in the state that doesn't have a four-lane road through it,
and after 20 years of promising, we've got some federal funds down there that help to get close to getting a four-lane road down there. You know what that does over that 10 years? that puts funds into building a project that connects Arkansas. You see funds in there, whatever the district is, up in northwest Arkansas. If you look at the population in that district and you, the way I-530, I believe it is,
or what's 540 up to, I'm not from northwest, I'm 540. If you fund it on the basis of population, you'd have a big gap in the interstate. You just have the interstate, and then we don't have funds available in that district, and then you'd start the interstate back again. With all due respect to Representative Hutchinson, this would be a horrible, it would be catastrophic if we associated highway dollars to a district so that each district was funded somehow equally.
We would get no projects done. It would take a project that might take two years to get a road done. If you funded it on the base of every district, get something equal, it might take you 20 years to get it done. Yes, over the 10-year period, you will see projects. Some of you, if you have an interstate running through your district, guess what? You're going to get a lot more money. This is federal money in here. It's not state money. This is federal and state money. If you've got an interstate running through your district and they came down and did a reconstruct on that interstate, boy, you're looking good. People are going, whoa, look how much money they get per population
in their highway district. I think you get the picture. That's not how we connect up the state. This is not about, you know, we don't have a fence around every district and we build roads to benefit people in that district. We build roads to benefit people in the state of Arkansas and people who travel through the state of Arkansas. Representative Meeks, brought up about the comparison of diesel. This five cents added on, if the people
decided it, would still be below the national average. There are other states that have other ways of supplementing. Missouri is lower than us, I know for a fact, because they do have some supplemental funding in general revenue. Georgia is lower than us because they have an excise tax. Boy, that's a dirty word, and I brought that up a few times, and nobody seemed to like that. They have an excise tax on their gasoline that supplements their funding.
I think the most interesting thing, with all due respect to Representative David Meeks, if I understood him correctly, he agrees with me that we have the responsibility to do something. That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to come to this body and say, let's this body pass this tax. But I didn't, I humbly felt like I wasn't going to get that done, because I think that's what we should do. But Representative Meeks, if I was hearing him correctly, he basically said, we have a responsibility to do nothing.
We have a responsibility to do nothing. We shouldn't let the people vote on it. We don't want any new taxes. I mean, how that resonates to me is we don't need good roads. Good roads are not important in the state of Arkansas. Well, I contend to you that they are extremely important to every citizen in every one of our legislative districts, that we have a problem that is going to escalate, that is going to be enormous for some subsequent legislative session to deal with.
And it is our responsibility. It is our obligation. and we do have the ability to send to the people of the state of Arkansas the opportunity for us to educate them. And Representative Stephen Meeks brought up the recent poll and said only 36% of the people favor this. God, I thought that was wonderful. 36% of the people out there with no education about the extent of the problem said they support it. That's all we've got to do is convince 15% of the people out there, and when they know what I know, I guarantee you they'll support this.
members there's just not going to be anything more important than we can do for the state of Arkansas that affects every citizen everybody you represent to give them the opportunity just like they have the opportunity to elect you or to elect somebody else to give them the opportunity to decide whether or not this is the right thing to do for the state and I believe given that opportunity that they will. Safety,
economic development, jobs. I ask for a good vote.
Representative Moore has closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1902.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark.
Has everyone voted? Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk.
By a vote of 67 yeas, 24 nays, and zero present, you have passed
the bill. Mr. Moore moves for a clincher. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? Clencher is passed. Mr. Clerk, read
House Bill 1426. House Bill 1426 by Representative
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:39:11
Baird to authorize a medical exemption designation for seatbelt use to be placed on a driver's license or identification card.
You're recognized, Mr. Baird. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, this bill amends the law to allow a medical exemption designation for seatbelt use to be placed on a driver's license or identification card. The current law provides that passengers and drivers with a physical disability that prevents the use of a seat belt and for which they have a doctor's note are exempt from wearing a seat belt. This bill will simply allow the medical exemption to be placed on the driver's license or ID card. There's no fiscal impact, and I'd appreciate a good vote.
An explanation of the bill. Does anyone like to speak against the bill, for the
bill? Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1426. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 85 yeas, 0 nays, and 0
present, you have passed the bill. Mr. Clerk, please read
Speaker 174
1:40:39
House Bill 2038. House Bill 2038, Burbson of Vines, to amend the law regarding exceptions for
Representative John T. Vines
Unverified
1:40:49
numbering motorboats. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Friends, I'm proud to bring a bill today, House Bill 2038, that has nothing to do with bail bonds
or bath salts. Thank you. All this bill does is amends and repeals, but amends Arkansas Code Annotated 27-101-302 that relaxes the requirement for boat dealers to number their boats when used for demo or testing purposes. Ultimately, those boats will get tagged down the road when they're sold, but this allows our friends that sell motorboats during the summer season to avoid that really unnecessary
permit. That permit currently is $2, and DF&A has no problem with relaxing
it. You've heard an explanation of the bill. Mr. Smith, for what purpose? You're recognized for a question.
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
1:41:50
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Representative Vines, is there any loss of income then to the state by your bill that you're supporting? DFNA didn't believe
Representative John T. Vines
Unverified
1:41:59
so. There was no fiscal impact. It just delays it until a later date? It delays it until the boat's ultimately sold, and again, it's a $2 permit.
It's a good bill for business? Yes, pro-business,
economic development. I agree. Thank you. For what purpose,
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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1:42:17
Representative Tyler? you're recognized for a question. Mr. Bynes, does this bill affect Franklin, Carroll, Faulkner, and Garland counties only, or all counties?
Representative John T. Vines
Unverified
1:42:28
Representative Tyler, I appreciate your question. It is my hope that this will benefit all 75 counties equally. Thank you, Mr. Bynes.
You've heard an explanation of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill, for the bill. The question before the House is passage of House Bill 2038. Prepare the machine, Mr.
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 88
yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, you have passed the bill.
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 2026. House Bill 2026,
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:43:18
Representative Catlett, to exempt the Arkansas Forestry Commission from the payment of fees and other licensing requirements for motor vehicles.
For what purpose, Representative Deffenbaugh? What's
Representative Gary Deffenbaugh
Unverified
1:43:28
the question? See if I can do this. Representative Catlett asked that we place this on the calendar for Monday. The reason is he's waiting on the impact study.
All those in favor, please indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Aye's habit. Put it on the bill calendar at the bottom of the list. Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1829. House Bill 1829 by
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:44:01
Representative Slinker to clarify collections and distributions related to the uniform rate of tax. Ms. Slinkard,
you're recognized to present the bill.
Representative Mary L. Slinkard
Unverified
1:44:16
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, this is House Bill 1829, was brought to me by the Department of Education through the cooperation of the Assessment Coordination Department and the county treasurers. What it does is county treasurers are currently doing an annual report, and they report all of the collections and distributions to the school districts. This also will repeal the requirement that is under Act 27 regarding the template
that was used to calculate the distribution of that 98% uniform rate of tax. This bill will repeal those sections that required that calculation because the county treasurers now already do an annual summary. The bill does require the county treasurers then to do their annual report and report to the treasurer of state, the Department of Education, and the superintendent of each school district within their county.
It just makes an easier flow for the distribution. It's easier, and this distribution, this annual recap or annual report by the county treasurers are the recap of the checks actually distributed to the schools, and it's more accurate in determining that 98% uniform rate of tax. I would appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Members, you've heard an explanation
of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill, for the bill?
The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1829. Prepare the machine,
Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? By a vote of 85 yeas, cast up the ballots, Mr. Clerk. Now, by a vote of 85 yeas, one nay, and one present, you have passed the bill.
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1620. House Bill
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:46:42
1620 by Representative Cheatham, to establish Arkansas College and Career Readiness Standards to develop criteria to evaluate, support, promote, and fund Arkansas Career and Technical Education Programs.
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
Unverified
1:46:53
We recognize Mr. Cheatham. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Office Bill 1628 is very simple. It
just sets up some standards and guidelines to develop criteria to evaluate, support, promote career and technical education in our public schools. It does some things that we've been trying to do through the educational system between
academic world, I guess, and colleges, and it's going to help line up some standards to lay out those standards between public school, high school, technical schools, two-year colleges and four-year colleges. It's really just setting up standards, and there's quite a few things in there that are very important, but I'd entertain questions, and I'd appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an explanation
of the bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak
against the bill, for the bill? The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1620. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. As everyone voted, cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 89 yeas, 0
nay, and 0 present, you have passed the bill. Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1348.
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:48:17
House Bill 1348, by Representative Summers, to amend Arkansas law concerning organizations that regulate extracurricular interscholastic activities in grades 7 through 12 in both public and private schools. Representative
Summers, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't know what those whistles mean other than good looks, I suppose. Would you agree? I'm carrying this bill for the AAA. This bill, that's the Arkansas Activities Association.
It's been endorsed by the AAEA, which is the Mr. Abernathy's group, the school boards and department of education. What it does, it requires any actions against the AAEA to take place and be filed in Pulaski County. And my first thought about it was, well, what about in Benton County where we're so far away? Anytime there's action, there's a number of people involved, and the road is as far one way as it is the other.
Obviously, there's a number of people interested, and if we have it in central Arkansas, then that makes it much more convenient for everybody involved, and we had no spoken opposition to it during the committee meeting yesterday. I'd ask for a good vote and answer any questions. Thank you. I've heard an explanation of the
bill. Is there anyone that would like to speak against the bill,
for the bill? The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1348.
Speaker 106
1:49:56
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone
voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 67 yeas, 17 nay, and 0 present, you have passed
the bill. Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1875.
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:50:29
House Bill 1875 by Representative Roebuck to require institutions of higher education to make a good-faith effort to obtain a student consent form and collect and report
the data required under the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
Act. Representative Roebuck, you are recognized to present the bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, Article 19, Section 14 of the Constitutional Amendment concerning the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery clearly states that it is the responsibility of the General Assembly to establish criteria for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, or as we sometimes call it, the Lottery Scholarship.
Current Code 685-215 obligates the approved institutions of higher education to collect a student consent form and allows them to undertake any procedure necessary to ensure that the collection of approved data allowable under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, to provide it to our Bureau of Legislative Research in an approved electronic format by November 1st of each year.
So why do we need this bill? We need it because in our existing law, there is no penalty for those institutions of higher education if they do not make an effort to collect this data. Now I want to be perfectly clear for my good friends in higher education. Most of them are making a great effort to collect this data. And today, I just received word that we have over a 70% return rate. But that is not good enough because we are responsible with making data-driven decisions about that scholarship.
And so we need as much data as possible. So this bill will put some penalties in place if the Department of Higher Education needs to use them for those institutions that do not submit the data. My co-sponsors are Lottery Oversight Committee, former House Chair Barry Hyde, current House Chair Mark Perry, and the Senate Chair Johnny Key. And they join me in asking you for a good vote on this bill so that we, as members of the General Assembly,
can continue to make good data-driven decisions about this scholarship. I'd appreciate a good vote, and I'll entertain questions. For
what purpose, Representative Smith? I have a question. You're recognized for the question.
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
1:53:00
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Representative Roebuck, what is the penalty to the institution of higher learning? I was reading the
Speaker 275
1:53:06
bill. You were addressing that, and I didn't see that. Did you have
it in there? Is there a definite amount? Yes, sir. That's the only addition to
the current code. It simply says that an approved institution of higher education may lose its approved status for receiving scholarship funds on behalf of a recipient
if they fail to make a good-faith effort to collect the student form required under the current code. So you couldn't give me a dollar amount specifically then?
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
1:53:32
They would lose their status, sir, so they would not
be able to collect any. Technically, they could lose all the dollars of scholarship
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
1:53:40
that would come to their institution if they don't comply with good faith at this bill that you're offering. Is that right? Yes, sir, because the money follows
the student, and so they would not be approved. I agree, and I definitely believe
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
1:53:52
that they are a partner in this effort, and they should do their best to do that.
Thank you for my questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Is there anyone that would
like to speak against the bill? For the bill, the question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1875. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 141
1:54:30
By a vote of 85 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, you have passed the bill.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:54:49
Ms. Clark Reed, House Bill 1878. House Bill 1878,
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
1:54:54
Representative Pierce, provide oversight and accountability for state desegregation funding received and expended by the Pulaski County School Districts and declare an emergency.
Representative Pierce, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Bobby J. Pierce
Unverified
1:55:07
Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you, this is one bill I've been waiting 20-something years to run, and I got the okay to run it yesterday, and I ran it, and I'm going to run it today. It's a great bill for the people all around the state and for the kids of this Pulaski County School District and the North Little Rock because it's going to give them a chance to see where their money goes and where we use the money at, too, for the state of Arkansas. is to make sure that they're spending it on their kids
and doing what they need to bring their grades up and to help the state of Arkansas is what this bill is for. And you can read it, you can see what it says. The physical impact for the state of Arkansas is zero, but the impact on the children in these districts is greater than that. And that's what we're doing this for, where we can see where this money's been going and if they're using it for their kids for after-school programs and stuff. And that's all we're asking from this bill. and I'll take questions, believe it or not. And I will appreciate a good...
Yes? Service, name's Stuart. What purpose? I have a
Speaker 278
1:56:07
question. You said you've been waiting 20 years to run this bill. I thought we were in
Representative Bobby J. Pierce
Unverified
1:56:13
term limits. I've been talking about it for 20 years, but anyway. Thank you
very much. I appreciate a good vote. Members, you
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
1:56:21
heard an explanation of the bill. Anyone wishing to speak against the bill, for the bill? If not, the question for the House, passage of House Bill 1878. Fair of the
machine, Mr. Clerk. Members voting on the bill and the emergency clause.
Everyone voted? Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot by a vote of 89, yea, 0, nays, 0, present. You pass the bill and the emergency clause. At this point in time, I'm going to request a report from the Rules Committee regarding the inquiry yesterday. Representative Ingram, if you would come to the well and give your report, please.
Representative Ingram, you are recognized to give the committee report.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The House Rules Committee considered the issue referred to us by you yesterday. The committee concluded that the scope of practice for pharmacists was not expanded by Senate Bill 437 and therefore the provisions of Joint Rule 17 do not apply to Senate Bill 437. Therefore, Senate Bill 437 was properly introduced.
Clerk, in his report in the journal, and I read, and thank
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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1:57:50
you, Representative Ingram and members of the committee for taking the time to consider that and give us a ruling. Representative Rogers moves that we place House Bill 1802 2 back on second reading without second reading for the purpose of amendment all in favor say aye opposed no ayes have
it mr. clerk read amendment number one amendment number one to house bill
1802 representative rogers you are recognized to explain the amendment You're recognized.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, House Bill 1802 is an
act concerning agriculture exemptions for sale and use tax. It is
an amendment to a current law that would also provide an exemption for water that's provided by a public service water delivery project to replace in-ground
water use in whole or in part or to reduce dependence on groundwater use for agriculture.
Members, there are many benefits to the use
of surface water. Those of which that would protect the Sparta Aquifer, protect regions for drinking water supply, the opportunities for future industrial development, the avoidance of regulations that could hurt future development, the elimination threat, to eliminate the threat of saltwater intrusion, to protect our alluvial aquifers,
to sustain irrigated agriculture critical to the nation's food independence. Also, it would ensure economic viability of the region, our municipalities, farm, agriculture, and hunting operations. On-farm reservoir sites currently enhance aquatic habitat in streams and ditches. They increase irrigation efficiency, decrease energy consumption, and reduce the emissions for our air quality.
The Department of Finance and Administration indicates that they are not aware of any of the specific situations where the purchase of water occur by farm community that replaces the use of
groundwater. Therefore, there is no impact, fiscal impact. The Arkansas Farm
Bureau supports this bill, and I would ask you to support this bill for the agriculture of Arkansas.
You have to say, Roger, you're speaking on the amendment. Is that your amendment that you explained? I'm sorry. Well, okay, well, I think you've heard an explanation of the amendment and then some. Okay, all right, the members have heard an explanation of the amendment. Anyone wishing to speak against the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
2:01:22
amendment for the amendment? If not, the question for the House is adoption of amendment number one to House Bill 1802. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Everyone voted, everyone voted, cast up the ballot by a vote of 87,
yea, 0, nays, 0 present. You have adopted the amendment. Mr. Clerk, send the bill back to committee. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Ms.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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2:01:54
Clerk, read House Bill 1899. House Bill 1899 by Representative Ingram, an act
Speaker 60
2:01:59
to amend the Equity Investment Tax Credit. Representative Ingram, you are recognized to explain the bill.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, members of the
House. This is two basically technical corrections to the equity investment tax credit. One, it more clearly states that the income tax credit purchased can be used in the year it's purchased and then up to nine years or until the credit is exhausted. The second is to require that, in addition to the director of AEDC, that the credit must
be approved jointly by the president of ADFA and ASTA. I appreciate a good vote on this. Members, heard an explanation
of the bill. Anyone wishing to speak against the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
2:02:51
bill, for the bill? If not, the question for the House passes the House Bill 1899. Pair the machine, Mr. Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot by a vote of 88 yeas, 0 nays, 0 present.
You have passed the bill. Mr. Clark, read House Bill 1812. House
Speaker 288
2:03:18
Bill 1817. Excuse me, how about 1817? House Bill 1817 by Representative
Chair
Unverified
2:03:24
Woods regarding the damaging or defacing of property by a minor. Representative Woods, you are recognized to explain the
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I'll try to explain this briefly. Right now, it's already current code. It's already current law. If you're a minor under the age of 18, if you destroy somebody's property, a parent is already held liable in civil court.
So if you take a baseball bat and you're under 18, you go smash out somebody's window, a car window, you're already held liable. Right now, in my area and in other areas, I've had other legislators come to me and thank me for running this. We have, you know, cases of graffiti where it costs a lot of money for a city to go out and remove graffiti, and anywhere from $250 to several thousand dollars, and it's not fair to the taxpayers and the cities who have to pay to remove these. So what this bill does is it places, in current law, we already have a parent that's held liable for if someone under the age of 18 destroys property.
All I'm doing is injecting a damage or deface into current law, and that's pretty much the bill. So I see a few questions. Representative Smith, what purpose? I
have a question, sir. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for bringing this to our attention,
Representative Garry L. Smith
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2:04:47
Representative Woods. The amount, I've got a couple of questions. The amount of $5,000, how did you arrive at that figure? Was that a compromise? No, that's current law. Current law.
And how do we enforce this law, the graffiti most especially? Is it how easy or how difficult would law enforcement have in trying to put a handle on who did the graffiti or who did the damage unless we actually saw it? Isn't this a real issue? Well, yeah, it's a
big issue. I mean, I'm not a police officer, so I don't know. But, I mean, I would imagine that there would have to be evidence for anybody to be found on it. Is this something that the law enforcement asks you to help them with? My city attorney and my mayor drove down, well, my mayor drove down,
and my city attorney asked me to run this piece of legislation, and this is a pretty big deal in my district.
Speaker 294
2:05:40
So we feel like it'll be an accomplishment to protect the property of the public at large. Do
you agree? Absolutely. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Representative Stephen
Representative Stephen Meeks
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2:05:53
Meeks, you're recognized for question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative, on this bill, there is an exemption for the Department of Human Services in this. Can you explain the background or reasoning for exempting the department?
Yeah, Department of Health, they came and approached me,
or I'm sorry, Department of Human Services approached me and asked me to make an amendment to where, you know, the state, like, foster care, they just don't want to get into legal entanglements and wanted to be exempted, and it was pretty important to them, so I obliged and added their amendment, but that's the history. They approached me. Okay, thank you. Representative Penartz, what purpose?
Representative Tracy Pennartz
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2:06:34
Question. You recognize. My good friend,
Mr. Woods, what rationale, other than what you've just explained, gives sufficient reason for us to exempt the Department of Human Services who has custody of that child? Because if we're in custody of anybody else who could be liable for damage that they caused, I have no problem with the damage or to face part of your bill.
The problem I have is exempting the Department of Human Services. So how do you justify, you said they came to you, how do you justify exempting them?
They have custody of that child. They are legally responsible for
them. It's kind of difficult to argue with that. I
Speaker 213
2:07:36
agree. Well, I appreciate your agreeing with me, but, you know, thank you.
Representative Nichols, what purpose? You're recognized. Representative Woods, isn't it
Representative Jim Nickels
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2:07:53
true that the Department of Human Services has a hard time talking people into being a foster parent? Would you agree with that? I would agree with that. Okay. And if they were to tell their foster parents or potential foster parents that if this kid we put in your charge goes out and does something, you could be liable for that?
I agree. Do you think that might be the
rationale that the Department of Human Services has that exception to the law that they
requested you to put in? I think the example you gave would be a
Speaker 217
2:08:32
good reason to vote for my bill. Thank
Speaker 306
2:08:34
you. Thank you. You're welcome. I'll take it. Representative Rice, for what purpose? Question. Recognize. Representative Woods, isn't
Speaker 307
2:08:40
it true that this bill came through that extremely competent House Judiciary Committee?
Representative Rice, it's been a very historic last seven or eight months, you know, in our
nation's history. First African-American president. We've, let's see here, the Giants won the World Series. This will be the first bill in Arkansas history that ever got a do not pass that'll be on the governor's desk in about three weeks, so thank you. Members, I really need your help on this. This is a big deal back
home. My mayor, my city attorney asked me to run this. If you don't care about this issue, please vote for it.
Thank you. Members have heard an explanation of the amendment. Anyone wishing to speak against the bill, anyone wishing to speak against the bill, Representative Pernarch, you are recognized to come to the well and speak against the bill. Mr. Woods,
Representative Tracy Pennartz
Unverified
2:09:49
if you just had the first part of the bill, I could have voted for the bill. But when you added that second part, you didn't get me.
And let me just say, I appreciate my good friend, Representative Nichols, indicating that the protection of the foster parents, because I, too, am concerned about the ability of DHS to attract foster parents. But in this case, it says children who are in the custody of DHS. DHS has ultimate responsibility for that child, and I do not believe that
Speaker 298
2:10:29
they should be held exempt in this case.
Representative Tracy Pennartz
Unverified
2:10:35
Now, if it had said foster parents are exempt, no problem. I'm with you, Mr. Nichols. but that's not what it says it says DHS they are responsible they took that child into their custody and they deserve to remain liable thank you Representative Penartz has spoken against
the bill anyone wishing to speak for the bill against the bill
Representative Woods you're recognized to come close for your bill Representative Penards, thank you for that suggestion and what
I'll do is what I'd like for my colleagues to do is if we can vote
on this, I'd like to get it out of the chamber today. In the Senate, I will discuss what you brought up with the other senators and I will get with the Department of Health and I will be more than glad to revisit that issue. I promise you that. I would really like to get this
bill out of the chamber today I don't want to send it back to the house and deal with John Walker's next week if
you can if I just please help me get the bill out of the chamber
today thank you very much Members, Representative Woods has closed for the bill.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
2:12:11
Question for the House is passage of House Bill 1817, prepared machine, Mr. Clerk. Everyone
ballot by a vote of 85 yea, 4 nay, 2 present. You have passed the bill.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
2:12:37
Representative Wood moves for the clincher.
Everybody in favor of the clincher? Say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Clincher adopted. Mr. Clerk,
Speaker 53
2:12:51
read House Bill 1812. House Bill 1812
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
2:12:56
by Representative Rogers concerning the Juvenile Code and Juvenile Court procedures. Representative Rogers, you
are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you,
Mr. Speaker. House Bill 1812 concerns the Juvenile Code and the Juvenile Court procedures.
It is a bill that comes from the Administrative Office of the Court, and the recommendations have been made by the juvenile judges across the state of Arkansas. There was compromise also with the Department of Human Services that was met and vetted, and this is a compromise as presented. What this legislation will do is to amend the Juvenile Code to clarify the role of the Court to determine custodial placements after evidence from parties, and to finding that such placement is in the child's best interest.
It will amend the juvenile termination of parental rights statute consistent with the adoption statute and case law, providing that the court can determine that DHS unreasonably withheld its consent for adoption-based and adoption is in the child's best interest. It will also clarify
that the court can terminate parental rights on one parent and not on the other parent if it finds that the termination is in the child's best interest. The
purpose of this legislation is to amend various statutes to clarify the right to counsel
of parents, punitive parents, and custodians in dependency neglect proceedings. It will also add the Indian Child Welfare Act burdens approved to the hearing section of the Juvenile Code. It will amend the petition section of the Juvenile Code to change the party status of a juvenile from a defendant in a dependency neglect petition to a respondent. It will also clarify the definition in the juvenile court concerning CASA volunteers, which are court-appointed special advocates for children.
In addition, it will add juvenile court costs and fines to the juvenile probation and service fee statute to support the juvenile court
and community programs with agreement of the quorum court and full accounting provisions. this bill
is also co-sponsored by someone within our house who is a member of and represents and works in the juvenile court system and I'm waiting for him to get back to his chair so that he can vote and with that I
would ask you for a good vote members heard an explanation of the bill
Anyone wishing to speak against the bill, for the bill, close for
your bill. If not, the question for the House, passage of House Bill 1812.
Speaker 37
2:15:47
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Everyone voted?
Everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 89 yea, 0 nay, 0 present, you have passed the
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
2:16:00
bill. Representative Wilkins moves that we leave House Bill, we pass over House Bill 1414 and leave it on the calendar without objection, so ordered.
Members, the chair here is recognizing that the day is fleeting by along with the lunch hour. We've looked at our calendar for Monday, and I believe we can absorb the other information we have to deal with on our red calendar day a little better on Monday. So we're going to sort of call it a day here. Before I do, I want to recognize Parliamentarian for an announcement. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker 310
2:16:36
Speaker. My congratulations to Mr. Cozart for his election. And as much as he was elected to fill the vacant position of House District 24, and due to the vacancy in House District 54, the seniority numbers are going to change for members with seniority from 91 to 100.
For parking purposes only, people from 91 through 100, the members are going to keep their same parking spot, but your parking sign is going to be changed to reflect your new seniority number. And for the rest of the members, a new seniority list will be placed on the desk. And I'd like to go through this. Number 92 is going to change to 91 for Mr. Fielding. Number 93 is going to change to 92 for Mr. Stubblefield. 94 is going to change to 93 for Mr. Bell. 95 is going to change to 94 for Mr. Elliott. 96 is going to change to 95 for Mr. Mouth.
97 is going to change to 100, and it's vacant. And 98 will change to 96 for Mr. Thompson, 99 to 97 for Mr. Hubbard, 100 through 98 for Ms. Post, and 91 will change to 99 for Mr. Cozart. If any of you have any questions about that, well, let me know. But the bottom line of this is that your parking spot is going to stay the same, but your senior archie sign number is going to be different for people between 91 to 100. Thank you,
Chair
Unverified
2:17:56
Mr. Speaker. Members, I hope you have a great and restful weekend.
Representative Fred Allen
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2:18:00
Representative Allen, you're recognized for motion. After the announcements, reading of the bills, transferring bills, placing accountants on the desk, amending members' own bills with their own amendments, members withdrawing their own bills, finalizing resolutions, reading communications, and any remaining committee reports, I move that we
adjourn until 1.30 on Monday. All for motion, non-debatable. All in favor say aye. Aye. No, ayes have it. Motion carried. Announcements.
Speaker 62
2:18:32
Representative Lindsey, what purpose? Announcement, Mr.
Representative Uvalde Lindsey
Unverified
2:18:35
Speaker. Personnel subcommittee of Joint Budget will meet at 8 o'clock on Monday, room 171. Thank you. Thank you.
Representative Viviano, what purpose? Announcement. Recognized. The freshman caucus will
Speaker 57
2:18:49
have a brief meeting upon adjournment Today, we're going to have a presentation on prison reform. Thank you. The meeting
will be in room 151.
Thank you, Representative Viviano. Representative Wilkins, what
Speaker 315
2:19:10
purpose? Announcement. Recognized. Retirement, we'll meet at 9.30 on Monday morning.
Thank you. Representative Patterson, what purpose? Announcement. Recognized.
Speaker 307
2:19:20
Communication technology meets 10.30 Monday morning. Thank you.
Representative Stubblefield, what purpose? Representative Stubblefield, you've got...
Representative Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
2:19:32
Yes, there's new seniority ranking.
What about the license plates? We're working
Speaker 317
2:19:38
on that, and I think we're going to issue you a new license plate, but we're going to probably ask you to return your
other ones, but we're working on it. Okay. Thank you. Any other announcements?
Representative Mary L. Slinkard
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2:19:55
Representative Slinkard, what purpose? Announcement? You're recognized. State agencies will meet immediately after adjournment on Monday.
Thank you. Thank you. Any other announcements?
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
2:20:08
Mr. Clark, read the committee reports. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on Agriculture to whom is referred House Bill 1773 by Representative Dale, House Bill 1898 by Representative Ingram, House Bill 1942 by Representative Lamkin, Senate Bill 47 by Senator Baker and Senate Bill 531 by Senator Sample. They believe the report we've had the same under consideration here with return the same with the recommendation that they do pass respectfully submitted. Jerry Brown, Chair. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on Insurance and Commerce to whom is referred House Bill 1981 by Representative Edwards and House Bill 2016 by Representative Ingram.
They believe the report that we've had the same under consideration here with return the same with the recommendation that they do pass respectfully submitted.
Speaker 214
2:20:53
Fred Allen, Chair. House stands adjournment until 1.30 p.m. on Monday.
Agenda
Call to Order
Invocation
Roll Call
HR1025
HB1428
HB1021
HB1916
HB1895
HB1424
HB1628
HB1924
HB1810
HB1966
HB1623
HB2028
HB1949
HB1902
HB1426
HB2038
HB2026
HB1829
HB1620
HB1348
HB1875
HB1899
HB1817
HB1812
Announcements
Reading of Bills
Adjournment
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Speaker 1
Chair
Unverified
Representative Keith M. Ingram Chair
Unverified
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
Speaker 9
Representative Tommy Wren
Unverified
Speaker 15
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
Speaker 19
Speaker 21
Speaker 18
Speaker 30
Speaker 33
Speaker 38
Speaker 39
Speaker 50
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
Speaker 53
Speaker 57
Representative Tracy Pennartz
Unverified
Representative Donna Hutchinson
Unverified
Speaker 74
Speaker 76
Representative Tiffany Rogers Chair
Unverified
Speaker 88
Representative Debra M. Hobbs
Unverified
Speaker 104
Speaker 107
Speaker 60
Representative David "Bubba" Powers
Unverified
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
Speaker 123
Speaker 114
Representative Bruce Westerman
Unverified
Representative Leslee Milam Post
Unverified
Representative Greg Leding
Unverified
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
Representative Mary L. Slinkard
Unverified
Representative Charlie Collins
Unverified
Representative Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 165
Representative Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
Speaker 168
Representative Johnnie J. Roebuck Chair
Unverified
Representative Davy Carter
Unverified
Representative Tommy Thompson
Unverified
Representative Tim Summers Chair
Unverified
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
Speaker 211
Representative Efrem Elliott
Unverified
Speaker 37
Representative Denny Altes
Unverified
Speaker 235
Speaker 236
Representative Jonathan Barnett
Unverified
Speaker 174
Representative John T. Vines
Unverified
Representative Gary Deffenbaugh
Unverified
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
Unverified
Speaker 106
Speaker 275
Speaker 141
Representative Bobby J. Pierce
Unverified
Speaker 278
Speaker 282
Speaker 288
Representative Jon Woods Chair
Unverified
Speaker 294
Speaker 213
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
Speaker 217
Speaker 306
Speaker 307
Speaker 298
Speaker 310
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
Speaker 62
Representative Uvalde Lindsey
Unverified
Speaker 315
Speaker 317
Speaker 214