February 7, 2011
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (13)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1284
· 5 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1284”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB112
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB112”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1013
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1013”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HR1005
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HR1005 - Expunge Vote”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1018
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…re a committee on public retirement to whom was referred to House Bill 1018 by Rep. Kerr. Begley to report we feel the same under consi…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1117
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…, we are Committee on Public Retirement to whom is referred House Bill 1117 by Representative Stewart and”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1223
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1223 by Rep. Wilkins.”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1278
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1278”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1283
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1283”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB134
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB134”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB139
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB139”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB58
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB58”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB74
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB74”
|
Pre-2017 bill |
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Members, please start making your way to your seat. We're having a little computer difficulty here. I hope we'll be ready to go in just a minute.
Speaker 3
1:00
Members, staff, press, guests in the gallery,
please join me standing as we ask Reverend John A. Fleming, First United Methodist Church, to lead us in prayer. Please remain standing and be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by our distinguished colleague, Representative Billy Gaskell, And also, before Reverend Fleming comes to lead us in prayer, we'd like to recognize he has a special day to day.
I believe it's your birthday, so happy birthday
to you on behalf of the members of the House. Thank you
Speaker 7
1:49
for being with us. Happy birthday to me. Let us pray. Lord, leadership examples in the Bible abound. Abraham was advanced in years when God asked him to start out on a new journey. Moses was hiding in the hills sending sheep when God told them he was standing on holy ground. Both were promised God would guide them. Time and time again, we hear the message
that God uses ordinary people to speak his message and his work. Lord, would you use us today? Would you use our hearts to feel your love, our minds to discover your will? Remind us, Lord, that we represent the people of Arkansas, but we also represent you. As always, Lord, remember those serving in our military and pray peace for their families. We ask this in the strong name of our Lord. Amen. Amen. I pledge
Speaker 10
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allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
Speaker 11
2:46
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
all. Members, please indicate your presence by pressing the yellow present. button, prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Passed up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. All right, let's see who
we got voting yay here. By an indication of 97 members
present, Chair, recognize the quorum. I would, members, like to, Representative Gene, are you not showing up being with us? We'll indicate Representative Gene is here, Mr. Clerk.
Representative Ingram, present also. So I'm showing you on my board here as you're present, but we'll let the clerk indicate that by the record. I did want to say to you members, if you noticed a brief hesitancy when I was asking Representative Gaskell to lead us in the pledge, it was coming out that I was going to refer to him as Reverend Gaskell, and somehow I knew in
my heart that wasn't exactly correct, and it came to me that it was Representative Gaskell.
Any requests for leave? Seeing none, Representative Eddie Cheatham moves that we dispense for the reading of the previous day's journal. No objections so ordered. Are there reports from select committees? Mr. Clark, read the
Speaker 18
4:44
reports. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on Public Retirement to whom is referred House Bill 1117 by Representative Stewart and
Speaker 20
4:51
House Bill 1223 by Rep. Wilkins.
Begley to report we feel the same under consideration and herewith return the same with the recommendation that they do pass. Mr. Speaker, we are a committee on public retirement to whom was referred to House Bill 1018 by Rep. Kerr. Begley to report we feel the same under consideration and herewith return the same with the recommendation that
Chair
Unverified
5:14
it do pass as amended, respectfully submitted. Les Carnine, Chair. Ms. Clerk, are there reports from standing committees? Any unfinished business? Executive Communications.
Seeing none, Mr. Wardlaw moves that we place Senate Bill 112 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. It's a proper motion to be able. Mr. Wardlaw, you're recognized to come and explain your amendment. Excuse me, your motion. All this is is to put
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
5:52
my name on the bill as a sponsor on the House end.
I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Members, we've heard an explanation of the
motion. Anyone wishing to speak against the motion for the motion, not the question for the House, is placing Senate Bill 112 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carried. Mr. Clark reads Senate Bill 112, amendments,
Senate Bill 112. House Amendment Number One to Senate Bill 112.
Mr. Wardlow, you're recognized to come and explain your amendment. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sorry about that a while
Speaker 28
6:42
ago. I was just a little bit nervous down here. All it is, like I said
Speaker 30
6:46
a while ago, is just to put my name on as a sponsor on the House end. I sure appreciate a
good vote. Members have heard an explanation of the amendment. Anyone wishing to speak against the amendment for the amendment?
If not, question for the House is passage of Amendment No. 1, Senate Bill
112. All in favor say aye. Opposed,
All right, we're going to... Representative Elliott moves that we expunge the vote by which House Resolution 1005 passed.
It's a debatable motion. Representative Elliott, you are recognized to come and explain your motion. Thank
Representative Efrem Elliott
Unverified
7:44
you, Mr. Speaker. All this does is allow them to bring the resolution back so that I can invite some people back to hear it being spoken on the House floor. It was read early in the morning time and passed, and what I ask for them to do is come on back and bring it back so I can have some of my constituents come over and visit with them.
Well, I appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an explanation of the
motion. Anyone wishing to speak against the motion or the motion? If not, the question for the House is to expunge the vote by which House Resolutions 1005 was passed. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Everyone voted. Everyone voted. cast up the ballot by a vote of 95, yea, 0, nay, and 0, present. You have passed the motion. Morning hour has ended. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1284. House Bill 1284 by Representative Moore
Speaker 23
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to amend several provisions of the law concerning members of the General Assembly.
Representative Klemmer, you are recognized to present House Bill 1284. I'm very
Representative Ann V. Clemmer
Unverified
9:25
grateful to be up here today asking for a good vote on this bill. This bill represents some efforts that started a couple of years ago to limit travel reimbursement by our body and at the other end
to limit our reimbursements to the most cost effective to the state requiring us to go in the cheapest manner of travel and you can read more about the details and I'll be happy to answer questions on details the other part of the bill this is two main provisions the other part of the bill requires a one year cooling off period between legislative service and lobbying. This will affect anyone who runs in 2012.
Now, I will tell you, we've had a little bit of criticism, and the criticism is that it doesn't go far enough. We are the first body, when this passes, and I believe, because I have faith in all of you, that it will, when this passes, we will be the first legislature to ever limit ourselves in any manner. And I think it's pretty long overdue. I think the voters are ready to see that we can constrain ourselves,
and maybe we'll get to go further next time around. Maybe, you know, sometimes we want to see what will pass get through. We didn't want to sacrifice anything on the altar of trying. And this bill does some very good things for the state, and I'll be happy to answer any questions. members you've heard an explanation
of the bill anyone wishing to speak against the bill
Speaker 41
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for the bill representative sanders you are recognized come and
Chair
Unverified
11:32
speak for the bill thank you mr speaker a lot of things that we deal with in this chamber is is policy and i think what's important is process and people and i wanted to come to the well today
one to say thank you to you mr speaker for taking the leadership to recognize that this was an issue that needed to be dealt with. I also want to say thank you to the members of the committee, a bipartisan committee. I see my friend Representative Edwards. I see Representative David Fielding. And let's see who else. We had Representative Leader Burrus, of course Representative Ann Clemmer as well, and Representative Linda Tyler all worked really starting at the end of November.
But I want to recognize somebody who I think, when you talk about ethics, I think his name is synonymous with ethics. And it's our colleague, Representative Duncan Baird. He's not going to come down here and speak for this bill. Duncan's not going to get in front of a camera. Duncan, y'all know him. He has a quiet confidence about him. But when Representative Baird came to this chamber two years ago, He did so making a pledge to his constituents
back in northwest Arkansas. And it was, I'm not going to participate and receive any of the lobbyist dinners that go on. It was sort of a self-imposed Walmart rule. And I think he was told that that's not possible, that it can't be done. But he did do it. And you know, we've all been part of something, whether it's a football team or a church group or any other thing that we've been involved with that has individuals and people that make it better,
that one individual, that one man, that one woman. And I want to thank Representative Baird for his example, not because he'll ever talk about it, because he walks through these chambers and these halls with a quiet confidence and does the right thing. So, Representative Baird, thank you for your
Speaker 27
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leadership as well. Representative Sanders has spoken for the bill. Anyone wishing to speak against
the bill, for the bill? Not the question for the House. Are you closed for your bill, Representative Clemmer?
Thank you. Representative Clemmer has closed the bill. The question for the House passes House Bill 1284. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Everyone voted. I voted 96 yea, 2 nay, 0 present. You have passed the bill.
Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1013. Representative Klemmer moves for the clincher on House Bill 1284, For a proper motion, non-debatable, all in favor say aye. Opposed,
no. Ayes have it. The clincher
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
14:47
is adopted. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1013. House Bill 1013 by Representative Nichols,
Speaker 23
14:54
an act to allow the Contractors Licensing Board
Speaker 20
14:57
to take action against a contractor for knowingly employing a worker
without legal authorization to work in the United States. Representative
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
15:14
Nichols, you are recognized. Come and present your bill. Thank
you, Mr. Speaker. This bill has been a difficult bill to run, I should
say. It's a bipartisan bill. I think bipartisanship is on the proponents and opponents of the bill.
I just hope we have 51 of us here that are in favor of the bill. I have passed out, or had passed out, to every member of this sheet, and I wish every member would take a
look at it. It's on your desk. Now, this bill that I have is to attempt to slow the
tide of illegals coming into the state of Arkansas to take construction type of jobs.
Now, what this sheet shows is what our surrounding states are doing. So if we don't do anything, who's going to fill that doughnut hole that this map shows? You and I know that it will just be more and more illegals coming into the state of Arkansas. Now, I've heard people say that it's illegal what we are trying to do,
But they do not support that statement with any case law or even statutory law that says what we are doing is illegal. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which we are part of in the federal court system, our federal cases are appealed to the Eighth Circuit where Mr. Shepard's father is a member of that particular body. Our cases go to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Well, a few years ago, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard a case out of Missouri
where a city in Missouri had passed an ordinance requiring their employers to do the e-verify. And the question was whether that was legal for a city to be able to pass an ordinance to require their employers to use a federal system. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in a ruling said it was okay. Now, that's the Eighth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit, and that is where the Arizona case has gone, the Ninth Circuit has said the same thing,
that states are not prohibited from making it mandatory that employers utilize the federal e-verify system. They've also mentioned that statutory law does not allow them to do these types of searches. Well, over the weekend, I looked up the federal law in this area. And in the immigration law, it says, notwithstanding any other provisions of federal, state, or local law,
a federal, state, or local government entity or official may not prohibit or in any way restrict any government entity or official from sending to or receiving from the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful of any individual. So we can tell, we can ask the federal government, is this person here legally? So where does that fit in with our arguments that we cannot ask the federal government any of this information?
Also, another federal law says any personal information utilized by the system may not be made available to government agencies, employers, or other persons except to the extent necessary to verify that an individual is not an unauthorized alien. So another federal law says that a state agency can get that information from the federal government. Now,
I think this is a law that is simple.
It says that the contractor's license board can revoke or suspend a contractor who hires illegals. That's all it says. And then it gives the contractor some protections. If they use E-Verify, that's an affirmative defense. All they have to do is use E-Verify. And then they have that affirmative defense. What that means is they're not going to be liable unless there is compelling evidence that it was just a sham,
but that would require the Contractors License Board to do an investigation, to have a hearing, and the folks will be protected, their due process rights will be protected. You know, I
think that the people who have opposed this are the people who have something to lose if this bill passes. the homebuilders. I think if any of you will drive to an active subdivision
where they're doing a lot of buildings, you will see what people have told me, and that is they cannot work there. They
will be delivering their paint to these work sites. They can't find anybody that speaks English that can sign for the delivery of the paint. Or as Mr. Hannibal, who testified in the hearing, mentioned, he's from Nate Bell's district, he travels all over looking for work as a framing contractor.
He goes up to these jobs, cannot find anybody that he can talk to because they don't speak English. So this bill is an attempt to take a small step in stemming the tide of illegals in this state. Now, I've also been criticized because this bill doesn't go far enough. Well, everybody that has mentioned that to
me who's in this chamber, you have just as much right to file your own bill as I do.
If you feel that way, then you know the process. File it. Don't criticize me because mine doesn't go far enough. You can take care of it yourself.
So anyway, this is the bill. It will help, I believe, stem the tide. that we see in this state, if we don't do something, our donut hole is really going to be filled. I'll accept any questions. Representative English, what purpose?
Representative Jane English
Unverified
21:57
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What purpose? Question. Do you recognize? Can you tell me if E-Verify, can it be used before when you're looking at potentially hiring somebody? could that be e-verify be done at that point in time the federal you have to wait until after they've been
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
22:18
hired the federal law says it has to be after they're hired okay i think you have 72 hours
after they're hired to run the e-verify but the you know i've amended i've amended this bill
three times to take care of concerns out there uh and each time i amend it seemed like the goal gets a little bit further down the down the down the field uh but i said you know using e-verify if allowed you know if you're allowed to do it on your current employees then you can do it if you're not allowed you don't have to do it but i think even if i in general says you're after they're hired because they don't want that to be if you do it before they're hired it may look like you are discriminated against the people based on their national origin which would be illegal
Representative Jane English
Unverified
23:03
One more question. Did they do the I-9 certification as well? The
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
23:09
I-9 certification has been the law since 1986. So they have to do that first before they're hired? They have to do that, but the reason we came up or Congress came up with the E-Verify is because even though we have the I-9 requirement, it was just with fraud. Fraud was everywhere because anybody could purchase an ID, and as long as the employer saw it,
even though the employer did not have to go behind that. All the employer had, yes, I saw a driver's license, social security number, birth certificate, I saw it. And so it didn't stem. The thought was that would slow down illegal immigration. But illegal immigration really picked up in the 90s in the construction, mainly in the poultry industry in Arkansas. So E-Verify was a way
to take the information from the I-9 and then verify whether or not it's correct.
Chair
Unverified
24:12
Thank you. Representative Bell, what purpose? Question. You recognize? You
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
24:24
mentioned the poultry industry. tyson foods i understand uses e-verify is that correct
Representative Jim Nickels
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24:29
uh from what i read in the paper they are now a model employer for checking the uh the immigration status of their employees they have signed on with some federal program and been recognized as such one additional question
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
24:43
in the use of e-verify does e-verify ever provide the employer the ability to determine whether that employee is actually ineligible for employment in the United States? I
Representative Jim Nickels
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24:56
think what E-Verify does, it tells the employer whether or not they show up on the Social Security database or Department of Homeland Security database as being in this country properly. I think that's the verification that is there.
If something comes back that does not show that, then the worker has the ability to straighten it out they cannot be fired if they are trying to straighten it out and so there are protections there for the
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
25:28
worker and I think the employer also so as an employer
is there any way by using E-Verify to determine that an employee is ineligible to work in
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
25:40
the United States there is if they do not I think my understanding of E-Verify if it if the employer has used it then again there is
a what is called a rebuttable presumption that that person is here legally. So it gives the employer that much protection, kind of like what I'm doing with the affirmative defense. So on the federal side, it gives
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
26:08
the employer's protection on whom they've hired. So an employer using
E-Verify who refuses to hire somebody based on repeated non-confirmations or temporary non-confirmations under E-Verify,
would that employer be vulnerable to unfair employment
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
26:27
practices lawsuits? Well, you need to distinguish what you said higher. Okay. The person has already been hired. Correct. Okay. And then they cannot get confirmation of that. And then they don't have to fire them still. But if they keep them on, then the determination will probably be made if they'd normally hired an illegal, and that is in violation of federal law.
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
26:54
So how would I, as an
employer, understand that that person was illegal using
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
27:00
E-Verify? Well, the question is whether or not you get a positive match or no match. That's what you, as an
Chair
Unverified
27:11
employer, need to be concerned with. Representative Benedict, what
Representative Lori Benedict
Unverified
27:15
purpose do you recognize? Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is, we have Amish families living in our county. They're very sought after as employees for contractors because they do really good work.
They have no identification. They don't have driver's licenses. A lot of them do not have Social Security numbers. So in this case, how does that affect them, seeing that they are as much a citizen as you and me their families have been here hundreds of years but they do not have
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
27:48
social security numbers the only way that would come up is if somebody claimed that they were here illegally and from what you described them all you got to do is explain that and i would assume there's some type of record of birth and they could you know see the the e-verify is is only there to
give you a protection from liability. And that's what it's for. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker 63
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Chairman. Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Representative
Speaker 24
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Nichols has explained this bill. Anyone wishing to speak against the bill? Representative
Chair
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28:23
Summers, you are recognized. Come to well and speak against the bill.
Representative Tim Summers
Unverified
28:38
You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Colleagues, Representative Nichols has done a good job of describing a problem with illegals. However, I feel that this bill puts an entirely unfair burden on our business community. The government should be the enforcer of these rules, not our business community. Contractors from northwest Arkansas, I've had a number of them contact me,
and they're totally opposed, which I'm sure Representative Nichols they would be because it adds red tape, it adds bureaucracy, and I believe it's bad for the business community. And in this economy, we've got to do everything we can to help our business community and our contractors succeed on this, and I would ask that you vote against this. Thank you.
Speaker 41
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Representative Summers, spoken against the bill. Anyone wishing to speak for the bill?
Representative Woods, you are recognized. Come and speak for the bill. You
Representative Jon Woods
Unverified
29:51
are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I
Chair
Unverified
29:53
wanted to give the General Assembly a clear picture that Representative Nichols has gotten a fair amount of questions from Republicans today, and this will be one Republican that will be voting for this piece of legislation. I want to let you know where I stand on it before we cast our votes.
I've been, this is my third term, one of a few third-termers left. I've been contacted by childhood friends who are now contractors that have asked me to vote against this bill, and I've told them that I will work with them on other pieces of legislation, but this will not be one of them. Representative Nichols, I owe this to you. You have a lot of guts. And I want to make sure that the reporters and Mr. Lyon up there get that. If there's one quote, and I hope that makes paper tomorrow, you have my respect, because you have guts.
And I appreciate what you're doing. The people are tired of hearing what could be and what couldn't be, what might be, and what is unconstitutional. Let the courts decide it. We're the legislator. We're grown-ups. We'll do our own business. I'd appreciate you to vote for this bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Wood
has spoken for the bill. Anyone wish to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Speaker 88
31:15
Representative Nichols, we'll close for you, Bill. Your recognized
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
31:34
close to your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the
bill has been adequately explained. Just remember that sheet that I gave you that shows a donut hole, and this is an attempt by Arkansas to do something about what is a major problem in this state and this nation,
and we're just not going to leave it up to federal government. This state is going
to do something about it, and I appreciate a
good vote. Thank you. members have heard an explanation of the bill question for the house passage of house bill 1013 prepare the machine Mr. Clerk everyone voted everyone voted
cast up the ballot Mr. Clerk by a vote of 54 4 yea, 39 nay, 2 present. You have passed the bill. Representative Nichols
moves for the clincher. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Aye. Have it. Clincher adopted. Members, before we move on to the next bill, please join me in welcoming in the East Gallery the members of the Northwest Arkansas Chamber of Commerce.
their guest of our members from Northwest Arkansas. Welcome to you all. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1283.
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
33:11
House Bill 1283 by Representative Smith to clarify
Speaker 23
33:15
that a person or other entity without a towing license may
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
33:18
tow a vehicle that it owns and to make other changes for clarity and consistency.
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
33:25
Representative Smith, what purpose? Motion. What's your motion? I'd like to take this bill back
to committee for further consideration. Proper motion. Representative Smith, you'll come to the well and explain your motion. Representative Smith, you're recognized. Explain your motion.
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
33:55
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, this is a bill that we ran through committee last week. And since we came through that with an absolute 100% vote, there have been several questions raised. And so there's others that want to be co-sponsors on this bill as well. I'd like to, with the permission of this body, take it back for further consideration.
I appreciate that. Thank you. Members, you've heard an explanation of the motion. anyone wishing to speak against the motion for the motion you close for your motion
Representative Smith Representative Smith closed question for the house is
motion to re-refer House Bill 1283 back to committee all in favor say aye opposed no ayes have it Mr. Clerk please note we'll be
referred back to committee Mr. Clerk read House Bill 1278 House Bill
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
34:50
1278 by Representative Rogers, regarding sex offender verification, email addresses, and internet identities.
Rogers, you are recognized to present
Representative Tiffany Rogers
Unverified
35:00
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, members of the House. This bill would amend current law that is in place. It would add to that bill, to the current law, it would create additional requirements to what a sex offender or a sexual predator must report during registration verification. Under this bill, sex offenders and sexual predators would now have to report the following change in information.
They would have to report access to any computer or other device with Internet capability, email addresses used, usernames, screen names, or instant message names used to communicate in real time with another person using the Internet. In this day of the Internet, including chat rooms, websites, social media, this is just an additional method of policing the sexual offenders and sexual predators. This bill would also require the above-listed things to be part of the registration file.
And with that, I would let you know, too, this is part of the Attorney General's Cyber crimes legislative package and with that i'd ask you for a good
vote thank you members representative rogers explained the bill anyone wishing to speak against the bill for the bill you close for your bill representative rogers closed
the question for the house passage of house bill 1283 prepare the machine mr clerk
Correction, that was House Bill 1278. House Bill 1278. Everyone voted? Everyone
voted? Cast up the ballot by a vote of 96 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present. You have passed the bill. Representative Rogers moves
for the clincher. All in favor say aye. Opposed, no. Clincher adopted. Mr. Clark Reed, Senate Bill 74. Senate Bill 74 by Senator Jeffress
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
37:06
to amend the definitions regarding the Arkansas State Highways Employees Retirement
System Representative Carnine you are recognized to
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
37:15
come and explain Senate Bill 74. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
There are three bills here. I'll just point that out at the time to save us a moment or two they're all technical corrections to bring us in compliance with IRS standards. I appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Members,
heard an explanation of the bill.
Anyone wishing to speak against the bill? For the bill? You close for your bill. Representative Carnine's closed. The
question for the House passed Senate Bill 74. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk, by a vote of 94 yea, 0 nay, 0 present. You have passed the bill. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill, correction, Senate Bill 58.
Speaker 20
38:12
Senate Bill 58 by Senator Key, an act to amend various statutes concerning the Arkansas local police and fire retirement system
Chair
Unverified
38:21
and for other purposes. Representative Carnine, you're recognized. Explain
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
38:25
the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've confirmed the same technical requirements have been met to the IRS. Thank
you. Members, heard an explanation of the bill? Anyone wishing to speak against the bill, for the bill, not the question for the House, is passage Senate Bill 58. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark.
You're voting on the bill and the emergency
clause. Everyone voted? Everyone voted? cast up the ballot. Mr. Clark, by a vote of 95, yea, 0, nay, 0, present, you have
passed the bill. Mr. Clark reads, Senate Bill 139. Senate Bill 139 by Senator Key, an
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
39:10
act to clarify the meaning of the term compensation for purposes of retirement and for other purposes.
Representative Carnine, you're recognized. The last
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
39:24
of the bills for today are technical requirements. We will have several in the next few sessions of similar. Appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Members, heard an
explanation of the bill. Anyone wishing to speak against the bill? For the bill? Not the question for the House? Passing Senate Bill 139. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Members, you're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted? Everyone voted? Cast
up the ballot. Mr. Clerk, by a vote of 96, yes, 0, nay, 0, present, you have passed the
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
40:02
bill. Mr. Clerk reads Senate Bill 134. Senate Bill 134 by Senator Teague, an act
Speaker 20
40:09
to amend the assessment fee levied on hospitals to improve health care access for the citizens of Arkansas. Representative Ingram, you're recognized to explain the bill.
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
40:21
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, members of the
House. This bill is an extension of a bill that the legislature passed in its wisdom two years ago. That bill has made the difference in many hospitals in this state keeping their doors open or closed. What this is is a provider assessment among 72 hospitals in the state who voluntarily tax themselves.
There is no cost to the patient whatsoever. Basically, they assess themselves a fee. They forward that money to Little Rock, and the state forwards that to the federal government and uses it as a match on somewhat of almost a four-to-one basis. Again, this is the difference in many hospitals staying open or closing their doors. What this legislation would do, we two years ago set a cap at nine-tenths of a percent.
This just allows us to maximize whatever dollars that we can receive. This allows the hospitals to put an assessment on themselves and maximize the federal dollars that are available to come back to the state of Arkansas. Appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an
explanation of the bill. Anyone wishing to speak against the bill? For the bill? Not the
question for the House. Passing to Senate Bill 134, prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 37
42:05
Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up
the ballot, Mr. Clerk, by a vote of 78 yea, 11 nay, and two present, you have passed the bill. Representative Ingram moves to the clincher. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Ayes have it.
The clincher adopted. Representative Allen, you
Chair
Unverified
42:31
are recognized. Thank you. After the
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
42:34
announcements, reading of the bills, placing the calendars on the desk,
amending members' own bills with their own amendments, members withdrawing their own bill, finalizing resolution, reading communication, and any remaining committee reports, I move that we
adjourn until 1.30 tomorrow. Proper motion, non-debatable. All in favor say aye. Opposed, no. Ayes
have it. Motion adopted. Are there announcements?
Chair
Unverified
43:05
Representative Stewart, what purpose? Now, please.
Representative Randy Stewart
Unverified
43:08
Recognized? Yes, thank you. In the morning, the education caucus will meet at 8 a.m. in room 138. Mr. Richard Wilson from Bureau of Legislative Research will explain the education funding matrix, so all you freshmen might want to learn how we spend education dollars. Thank you. Representative T. on
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
Unverified
43:30
what purpose? Announcements. Recognized? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Fourth Caucus and Friends was supposed to meet this evening right after adjournment on Ignite Information, but that meeting had been canceled.
You should have gotten an email. The other announcement is education will meet tomorrow in
Chair
Unverified
43:46
room 138 at 10 o'clock. Thank
you. Representative Woods, what purpose? You recognize? Public Health Committee meeting tomorrow, 10 a.m., room 130.
Thank you. Representative Cowling, what purpose? Announcement. Recognized. Tax
Representative Larry Cowling
Unverified
44:01
and revenue will meet in the morning at
Chair
Unverified
44:07
1.51, 10 o'clock. Representative Williams, what purpose? Announcement. Recognized.
Prayer caucus meets in the morning, 019 at 7
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
44:17
a.m. Any other announcements? If
not, Mr. Clerk, House Bill 1300, re-refer to House Transportation from Revenue and Tax. I hope you will read the bills. House Bill 1322
Speaker 23
44:39
by Representative Hall to establish the congressional districts in Arkansas.
in Arkansas. Out of objection, read it a second time, State Agencies. House Bill 1323 by Representative Benedict and All, an act to exempt Out of objection, read it a second time, House Bill 1323, Public Health. House Bill 1324 by Representative Nichols, the Employee Classification Act.
Without objection, rate the second time. House Bill 1324.
Speaker 124
45:28
Public Health. House Bill 1325 by Representative Nichols, an act. Without objection, rate the second
Speaker 23
45:37
time. House Bill 1325. Public Health. House Bill 1326 by Joint Budget Committee. Without objection, rate the second time. House Bill 1326. Joint budget. House Bill 1327. No objection rate a second time. House Bill 1327. Fine budget. House Bill 1328 by Joint Budget Committee and act for the...
Not objection to the second time. House Bill 1328. My budget. House Bill 1329 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the State Military Department. Not objection to the second time. House Bill 1329. Joint Budget. House Bill 1330 by Joint Budget Committee and Act... Objection to the second time. House Bill 1330. My
Speaker 121
46:19
budget. House Bill 1331 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the... Not objection to the second time. House Bill 1331. Joint Budget. House Bill 1332 by Joint Budget Committee. Not objection to the second time. House Bill 1332. Joint Budget.
Speaker 124
46:33
House Bill 1333 by Joint Budget Committee. Objection rates second time. House Bill 1333. Joint Budget. House Bill 1334 by Joint Budget
Speaker 23
46:44
Committee. Objection rates second time. House Bill 1334. Joint Budget. House Bill 1335 by Joint Budget Committee. Objection rates second time. House Bill 1335. Joint Budget. House Bill 1336 by Joint Budget Committee. Objection rates second time. House Bill 1336, House Bill 1337 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the Department of Education.
Objection rate, second time. House Bill 1337, House Bill 1338 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the Department of Education. Objection rate, second time.
Speaker 121
47:15
House Bill 1338, Point Budget. House Bill 1339 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the Department of Education. Objection rate, second time. House Bill 1339, Point
Speaker 23
47:24
Budget. House Bill 1340 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the Department of Education. Objection rate, second time. House Bill 1340, Point Budget. House Bill 1341 by Joint Budget Committee. House Bill 1341.
Speaker 120
47:34
House Bill 1342 by Joint Budget Committee. House Bill 1342. House Bill 1343 by Joint Budget Committee. House Bill 1343. House Bill 1344
Speaker 121
47:50
by Joint Budget Committee. House Bill 1345
Speaker 120
47:54
by Joint Budget Committee House Bill 1345
Speaker 23
48:00
House Bill 1346 by Joint Budget Committee
and Act Bridge House Bill 1346 House Bill 1347 by Joint Budget Committee and Act noite House Resolution 1011 by Representative Moore to designate April House Resolution 1011 Members, the desk will remain open
for reading of the bill until 4.30, and upon completion
of the items, name the adjourned resolution. The House will be adjourned until 1.30 tomorrow.
Agenda
Invocation
Call to Order
Roll Call
SB112
HR1005 - Expunge Vote
HB1284
HB1013
HB1283
HB1278
SB74
SB58
SB139
SB134
Reading of Bills
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Representative Tommy Thompson Chair
Unverified
Speaker 3
Speaker 7
Speaker 10
Speaker 11
Speaker 18
Speaker 20
Chair
Unverified
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
Speaker 28
Speaker 30
Speaker 33
Representative Efrem Elliott
Unverified
Speaker 23
Representative Ann V. Clemmer
Unverified
Speaker 41
Speaker 27
Representative Les "Skip" Carnine
Unverified
Representative Jim Nickels
Unverified
Representative Jane English
Unverified
Representative Nate Bell
Unverified
Representative Lori Benedict
Unverified
Speaker 63
Speaker 24
Representative Tim Summers
Unverified
Representative Jon Woods
Unverified
Speaker 88
Representative Duncan Baird
Unverified
Representative Garry L. Smith
Unverified
Representative Tiffany Rogers
Unverified
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
Speaker 37
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
Representative Randy Stewart
Unverified
Representative Eddie L. Cheatham
Unverified
Representative Larry Cowling
Unverified
Speaker 124
Speaker 121
Speaker 120