House Public Health Committee
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (8)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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SB113
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “That brings us to Senate Bill 113 from Senator Bledsoe,”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB134
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB134”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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SB112
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB112”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1247
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1247”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1279
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1279”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB112
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ent? If not, then all in favor of adopting the amendment to House Bill 112, I mean, Senate Bill 112, indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any…”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1205
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1205”
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Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HR1010
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1010”
|
Pre-2017 bill |
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Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
0:00
Go ahead and get the meeting called to order, please, and everybody take their seats. I'd appreciate it. Good morning again on this cold morning. We have a pretty full agenda, so we'll go ahead and get started. First on our agenda is House Bill 1247 with Representative Wilkins. Madam Chair, we're
Representative Butch Wilkins
Unverified
0:26
working on some language on that, and I'd like to pass over again.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
0:30
Thank you, Representative Wilkins. And I believe Representative Letting, you're also going to pass over on House Bill 1279 and Senate Bill 112. Representative Wardlaw, are you going to be presenting that bill on behalf of Senator Bledsoe? If you will, go ahead and take your seat at the table and present your bill. I
believe Representative Wardlaw and Senator Bledsoe have an amendment, and the staff is
passing out that amendment at this time. If you will, just go ahead and introduce your
guest or have your guest introduce himself while the staff is passing that out, and then go ahead and present your bill. Mr.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:15
Wardlaw. I have today with me Mr. Robert Breck from the Health Department to help
Robert Breck
Unverified
1:21
me with this. Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman, members of the committee. I'm Robert Breck, Deputy General Counsel for
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:30
the Arkansas Department of Health. Mr. Breck, welcome to the Public Health and Human Services and Labor Committee.
We appreciate you being here. The staff's busily doing that. I think we've gotten that accomplished
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:46
present your bill, please. This little bill doesn't really do anything. It just kind of changes some language from the previous session. It kind of protects our vets from getting their armied off with tigers and lions. What it does is it puts in the domestic feline and domestic canine, which makes it only pertain to those animals. And then another part of it, if I'm right,
it puts the governing body as the Livestock and Poultry Commission. And that's pretty much what it does unless Mr. Robert wants to add anything. Well, I would
Robert Breck
Unverified
2:16
just point out that Livestock and Poultry will have the authority for rules and regulations simply for the importation or transportation of dogs or cats through the state. The main Rabies Control Act will be administered by the Health Department.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
2:32
Committee, I believe the first order of business is to adopt the amendment first.
We have a motion to so move, Representative Lee. Any discussion on the motion to adopt the amendment? If not, then all in favor of adopting the amendment to House Bill 112, I mean, Senate Bill 112, indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The amendment has been adopted. So now we have the bill as amended. Do we have any, Representative Wardlaw, do you have a comment? I'd just like to make a motion to do pass.
Thank you, Representative Wardlaw. We'll take that motion momentarily. Let me make sure that the committee doesn't have any questions. Representative Mayberry Can you explain for us
Speaker 25
3:24
just a little bit about what the in a little more detail other than
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
3:29
getting their arms bitten off by tigers of what the need for the
Robert Breck
Unverified
3:37
change is What happened in the last session Senator Bledsoe
along with Representative Adcock who was a member of this committee, they sponsored a Rabies Control Act amendment or a bill that would amend there were two rabies control acts on the books. One was passed in the 1940s, another in the 1960s. They combined those. It was toward the end of the session. There was problematic language, and it deals with the language that you'll find in Section 2 of the bill. What we had to put in the law because of some procedural things was
that rabies could either be administered annually or as prescribed by the Board of Health. That was a concern to Representative Adcock. Senator Bledsoe, who's here, can speak for herself. She committed to Representative Adcock that she would go in and make that change, take out annually, and I committed that I would help her do that. That's the main emphasis. The other two things is we do want to ensure that it only applies to domestic dogs and cats. There are no approved vaccines for large, you know, wild cats. The other thing
that came up livestock and poultry had a rule that dealt with the importation of dogs and cats that said prior to that animal coming into the state it would have to be vaccinated the health department or the board of health had a rule that said you had 30 days to complete that vaccination the rules subcommittee of the legislative council really cited on this on the side of livestock and poultry they wanted those animals vaccinated before they entered the state and so the section three dealt with making sure the livestock and poultry had the authority
to have that rule and that's really the entire that's that's all I know about it but I'd be more than happy to answer any questions committee any other questions mr. Wardlaw will take your motion now you want to make your
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
5:27
motion now sir I thought that meant you don't take it already made it I'll make the motion
to do pass. We have a motion to do pass as amended. We have a motion do pass as amended on Senate
Bill 112. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Same sign. Your motion has passed. Senator Bledsoe should thank
you. Mr. Mock, are you in the committee room, House Bill 1205. We've been informed that Mr. Mock's going to put that on the deferred list. So we'll be going over now to Senate Bill 134 and I believe Representative Ingram.
He's right outside. Representative Link, I'm sorry, has informed me that he does not plan to He plans to pass over that today. I apologize
for not making that clear. Pardon me? We're waiting on Mr. Ingram to come in. He's right outside. We'll give him just a minute to do that.
Speaker 41
7:04
Representative Ingram, if you will take your place at the end of the table. We are ready to hear Senate Bill 134.
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
7:31
Thank you, Madam Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Committee.
Senate Bill 134 is to amend the provider assessment fee that the legislature passed in its infinite wisdom in 2009. This legislation that was passed has made the difference in rural hospitals as well as urban hospitals in the ability to stay open. You might remember what the original legislation did was it provided for the hospitals to assess
themselves, basically send the money to Little Rock, and Little Rock send the money to Washington and get it back on a four-to-one basis. And speaking from experience at Critton Regional Hospital in West Memphis, you know, it was the difference between the hospital making a profit and losing money, and I suspect that's true for hospitals all across this great state. There's no cost
involved to the patient, and what we are doing in amending this legislation is allowing us to maximize the dollars that the hospitals provide in the match with the federal government. So I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Representative Ingram, I'll remind the members, too, that you do
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
9:07
have a green sheet in your packet that indicates fiscal impact. I believe that fiscal impact indicates that there's no fiscal impact, but I just wanted
to bring that to your attention. Do we have any questions for Representative Ingram from the committee? Do we have anyone who wishes to speak against the bill? Anyone who wants to speak for the bill? Seeing none, Representative Ingram, would you like to close your bill? I'm
closed. Committee, what's your pleasure? Representative Wilkins? Do pass.
We have a motion to do pass. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, no. Representative Ingram, you have passed
Speaker 46
9:56
your bill. Committee, thank you, and I'm thanking you on behalf of not only the hospitals, but
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
10:01
the patients that utilize the services in these great hospitals in the state of Arkansas. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 41
10:06
That brings us to Senate Bill 113 from Senator Bledsoe,
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
10:10
and I believe Representative Lee is going to be presenting that bill. Representative Lee, if you will, take your place at the end of the table.
Senator Bledsoe, I did not realize you were here Are you going to be presenting your bill?
Speaker 52
10:24
I am not going to be presenting the bill But I am here to make some comments at the
Speaker 57
10:41
proper time Yes, ma'am, thank you Very much Representative Lee, you are recognized
Speaker 58
10:46
Thank you, Madam Chairman Thank you, committee members Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution, ratified in 1988, specifically prohibits the
use of the state tax dollars for abortion procedures. This amendment was ratified by Arkansas voters and has been part of the Arkansas Constitution for over 20 years. Senate Bill 113 upholds the Arkansas Constitution by ensuring that the federal health care law does not come into conflict with the Arkansas State Constitution. This ability is explicitly permitted under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act passed by Congress last year. President Obama promised Congressman Stupak that the language in the bill was clear that states could opt out of abortion coverage in the state-based insurance exchanges it creates and thereby prohibit taxpayer money from subsidizing plans that cover abortions within the state. This is what Senate Bill 113 covers. This bill is not about the legality of abortion, it is not about the availability of abortion, nor is it about any religious
beliefs about abortion. It is a sensible bill that reiterates and upholds policy that is part of Arkansas's Constitution. It helps ensure federal law and state law do not come into conflict where abortion is concerned, and it is entirely permissible under the newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Thank you. Ms. Lee,
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
12:23
we're, give us just a moment up here. We're, all right, thank you.
We do have a sign-up sheet as well. We're trying to make sure we have it in hand. Ms. Lee has presented the bill. Do we have any questions from
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
12:45
the committee. Representative Mayberry. Representative Lee, I've probably been watching too much Perry Mason, but can you tell me where you were on the morning of January 10th? Do you recall? That
Speaker 66
12:57
was the day that we took the oath up there. Oh, yes. I'm sorry. I'm not old
Speaker 57
13:02
enough to remember Perry Mason, Representative Mayberry, but
I'm more a CSI law and order kind of person, but feel
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
13:10
free to. Is that a reference to the few gray hairs that have
Speaker 57
13:14
popped out since this session has started? But
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
13:18
anyway. Yes, January 10th. I now remember where I was, yes, of this year. Yes, ma'am. You cited Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution. In that oath of office that each of us took, we pledged to uphold the Constitution of the United States and also the Arkansas Constitution.
Is that correct? Correct. Everyone at this table. With that, do you believe, is it your contention that this bill, that essentially we are therefore required to pass this bill in order to be upholding that Arkansas Constitution, that Amendment 68? Yeah, I think
Speaker 57
13:59
Amendment 68 was clear when the people passed
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
14:02
it, yes. Without any type of amendment of providing for further exemptions or anything of that nature.
Speaker 57
14:10
Is that correct? The Amendment 68 is pretty clear. It's one line. Do you have that line? No public funds will be used
Speaker 58
14:20
to pay for any abortion except to save the mother's life. That's Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution. Madam Chair, at the proper
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
14:29
time, I'd like to make a motion.
Speaker 64
14:33
Representative Mayberry will consider that motion at the proper time. Representative Hall. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
14:41
Representative Lee, can you help me go through some of these underlying additions to this act or proposed bill? I can attempt to, sir. On the first page, the line 33, where it says abortion means the use of or prescriptions of any instrument, medicine or drug, does that reference to what is commonly known as the morning-after pill, would that apply to your interpretation of a preemptive abortion?
Yes, sir. That would be my... Is that drug
available in the United States now? I believe so, sir. Is it available in Arkansas?
I believe so. Well, so you're moving past just the use of public funds for abortion is going into more of a restrictive use of legal means now to, for lack of a better term,
Speaker 86
15:58
And Representative Hall, I've just been informed I have
Speaker 72
16:02
misspoken. So if I could get someone else more knowledgeable than myself on that specific drug, I'd like to ask them up here to
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
16:13
testify. Well, it helped me a lot because I'm very pro-choice and pro-life
and the whole bit. But pro-life, not pro-choice, but pro-life. and I'd like an explanation if you would
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
16:29
if that's okay with the chair I appreciate that it is okay with the chair representative Lee do you have someone in
Speaker 92
16:39
the audience with you who would be able to testify
Speaker 66
16:43
to the use of drugs yes madam chair an obstetrician gynecologist if I could invite
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
16:48
them up here please sir if you'll come to the head of the table and introduce yourself for
Speaker 96
16:55
the record I'd appreciate it please good morning I'm Kevin Brenneman I'm an
Speaker 98
17:02
obstetrician you're going to need to get
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
17:05
very close to that mic it's uh I know it's in it it's a little scary to get so close but
Speaker 98
17:14
you just have to act like you like it thank you I'm Kevin
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
17:19
Brenneman obstetrician gynecologist here in Little Rock thank you sir uh would you be able to go ahead and
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
17:28
answer representative hall's question or would you like for
him to repeat it if you could repeat it that'd be great reading this proposed bill here it references the use of drugs and medicine as prohibited in abortion and I was asked in is that the so-called
morning after drug bill is it legal in Arkansas is it a legal prescribed pill medicine in in Arkansas today can you buy that if you have a prescription in Arkansas yes you can so then that's my point back at the representative Lee is Does that mean that you're moving further away from just the use of public funds for
abortion and going into the restricted use of the existing approved drug that's already on the, allowed by law today? That does not, and if I'm right, reverendably, the Constitution, which I agree with the Constitution on the public use of public funds for abortions, but I also have an understanding
that this is a prescription that is legal, so they're not in conflict with the amendment on the Constitutional Amendment. Would you agree with that? I would say there's no
Speaker 101
19:00
conflict. Emergency contraception or the morning after pill would be not considered abortion. okay well
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
19:08
then i have a problem repeatedly why sir then why is this in included if if you're saying that you're prohibiting that drug also in this bill i might speak
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
19:24
directed to representative lee we'll let her answer first and then we'll see if we have a follow-up question for
Speaker 72
19:31
you sir i do not see it as in conflict representative
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
19:38
hall members of the public uh you're not able to approach the table unless you have been called to the table would you please refrain from doing that thank you madam chair if
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
19:48
there's any notes passed that you're supposed to be presented to the chair at first
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
19:53
yes sir i understand that that's why i'm asking that if members of the public would if they approach the table they
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
19:58
come through the staff to do that yes sir you were
Speaker 101
20:09
getting ready to say make a comment yes sir I'm sorry for stepping out of line there are forms of abortion that do involve medicine administration that are outside of the
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
20:22
lines of the emergency contraception thank you sir referently if I make one more Another question, Refin of Lee, I concur that the amendment to the Constitution of the State
of Arkansas prohibits the public funds for abortion. I think everyone in this room agrees with the Constitution of the State of Arkansas and that it is the body of our laws in which we try to conduct the state business. Also, in my understanding of civics and government, is that the United States Constitution supersedes state constitutions.
Speaker 105
21:21
that? 99% I would agree with that. Well, you're either
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
21:27
a little bit pregnant or you're not. Let me ask you this. If the current proposed health care reform act opts the states out of providing funds for abortion, and if the state constitution prohibits the use of funds for abortion, then
why isn't this, I can't understand why this bill is necessary, because in my understanding, our constitution supersedes these laws until the people of the state changes the constitution. So I have this issue where if the state constitution says it's prohibited, all the laws we draw down here or write or pass down here is not going to supersede the constitution until it's voted on changed by the people. Is that not the way it works?
Representative Stephanie Malone
Unverified
22:23
That is the way it works. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Madam Chair. Representative Malone. Thank you, Madam Chair. And this is in response to Representative Hall's question. When you say the use of prescription when it comes to the morning after pill or Plan B pill, are you aware, sir, can you buy that over-the-counter without a prescription if you're over the age of 18?
Yes. So in this line, it still makes
Speaker 123
22:57
the Plan B pill available since it's not prescribed by a doctor. Thank you. Representative
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
23:12
Mayberry, you have a question? This is in response to, or I guess a follow-up to Representative
Hall's question about the drug. As we're looking at this, it's identifying that abortion means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance.
This is simply an identification, I believe if that's correct, Ms. Lee, of what methods may be utilized for the abortion. That this is
not actually in any way identifying through that language anything that would be utilized for an abortion that could not be utilized with the passage of this bill. That's my interpretation. This is limiting the use of taxpayer funds to fund that. is that correct yes sir but it would not be
restricting the use of any of those
Representative Butch Wilkins
Unverified
24:02
methods is that right representative Wilkins you have a question
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
24:16
I think they just answered it madam chair thank you do we have any other questions from the committee all right and seeing none then we'll go to our sign-up list and we'll be inviting those who want to speak against the bill first. And the first person on our list is, I believe, Joanne Mills.
Miss Mills, if you will take your place at the end of the table, state your name for the
Joanne Mills
Unverified
24:52
record, the organization you represent, and proceed. My name is Joanne Mills. I am an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. I'm on the board of Women's Action for New Directions and a founding member of a new
group called Women in the Halls. Thank you very much for allowing me a short statement. I am asking you to vote against Senate Bill 113. In addition to my prepared statements, it is my understanding, if you can clarify this for me, that this insurance exchange would be open to people who needed to purchase insurance that didn't have that, that they would be using their own money to purchase this insurance.
Speaker 132
25:36
Is that correct? It can be subsidized, but it could also be bought in by individuals. Does anybody know that?
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
25:48
Can I have that question answered? Ms. Mills, I'm not certain that we can answer your questions. Okay, I understand. We'd like for you to
Speaker 132
25:57
testify, and then we'll ask questions of you. Thank you. A couple of my points are I would like you all to consider something that my parents instilled in me, that when
Joanne Mills
Unverified
26:08
I made a judgment that I would first think by thinking about walking in those persons' shoes.
Speaker 132
26:13
So I ask you all to think of yourself as a woman who has been the victim of violence of rape. She has suffered the humiliation and pain of this violation by a stranger, boyfriend, or relative, and finds herself pregnant. Now consider that you have to make that consideration of whether to carry the seat of a violent criminal to term. That decision is an excruciating decision in any situation. But you must think of your future, your family, your other children.
So with the help of the health care professional, you decide to terminate the pregnancy. Then you're told that your insurance doesn't cover this, that just bring along your checkbook. Like she should have purchased a rider, like
Joanne Mills
Unverified
27:02
she had planned for this to happen. Point of order, ma'am. Madam Chairman. Representative Lee, you're wishing
Speaker 118
27:12
here. Oh, I'm sorry. Representative Wallace. I appreciate what the witness is saying, but she's really not speaking on the merit
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
27:20
of this bill that is presented before us.
That would be my assessment, and I would ask that she address the bill as it is presented to us.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
27:31
Ms. Mills, the bill, I believe, as representatively indicated in her presentation, has to do with the use of
public funds for abortion. Would you do your best to do that, please?
Joanne Mills
Unverified
27:43
And my understanding is that we already do have a law that says public funds cannot be used for abortions. And I do agree that and would like to make the statement that this is an unnecessary bill.
and that groups are coming to the Capitol here trying to force their moral feelings about abortion on the representatives so they will make a statement as to where they stand on that issue. And I think that is a terrible misuse of our lawmakers' time. And just one short statement about moral issues and laws. and laws, I believe it is immoral to drive a four-ton SUV gas-guzzling vehicle.
I think that is an immoral thing, but I'm not going to bring a law here to ask you to prohibit citizens from purchasing those automobiles. So I just say that I think they're immoral, so I don't buy them. If you think abortion is immoral, don't have one. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Mills. Now we have, we'll
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
28:57
go to anyone who wants to speak for the bill, and that would be Ms. Rose Mims.
If you will take your place at the end of the table, please introduce yourself and the organization you represent,
Rose Mims
Unverified
29:14
and go ahead and proceed. Thank you, Madam Chairman. My name is Rose Mims. I'm the Executive Director of Arkansas Right to Life. I'm very pleased to be here this morning to speak in support of Senate Bill 113. you know when they passed the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act there was a section specifically put in there for states to opt out of abortion coverage
when I learned that I thought great Arkansas is the perfect candidate for that because of our amendment 68 that says no abortion fund no public funds will be used to pay for abortions except for the life of the mother so that's why we drafted this bill, brought it before the legislature because it's really a no-brainer. All it does is codifies Amendment 68, which was a huge moral
issue that the voters of Arkansas decided on in the late 80s. That they did not want their tax dollars used to pay for abortion on demand. They made the exception for life of the mother only. So, you know, since 1973 when abortion became legal and the law that we had on our books was that no abortion would be prohibited in the state of Arkansas, Roe v. Wade overturned that law, 100,000 unborn children in Arkansas have been killed by illegal abortion.
Imagine the number it would be if you and I were paying through out of our pocket to subsidize insurance exchanges that included abortion on demand. One other point that I'd like to make is that we always hear that this is a private decision made between a woman, her doctor, and possibly her God, but yet they want John Q and Jane Q Public
to pay for it. And to me, that is totally absurd. Yes, our bill would prohibit funding of abortion, just like Amendment 68 says. But what it would not do is make abortion illegal. Any woman could still have an abortion. It does nothing to change what is law right now in our country, which is abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason whatsoever i don't want to pay for that and i've talked to many members on this committee
that say they don't want to pay for it either the people of arkansas have spoken this law just codifies amendment arkansas amendment 68
Chair
Unverified
31:59
to our constitution thank you miss mems i believe we have some questions representative hall thank you madam chair back to my
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
32:06
original question if you If you don't mind, maybe you can answer it. If the Constitution of the state of Arkansas already prohibits it, what is the necessity of this bill?
The Constitution of the state of Arkansas supersedes everything we do. It's the vote of the people. We're down here, you talk about codifying and statues and put it into the law books. The Constitution of the state of Arkansas already prohibits this. This bill, in my opinion, has no merit. based on the fact that the state of Arkansas' constitution supersedes what we do down here. Unless the Supreme Court of the state of Arkansas makes other judgment calls,
and that is, would you not agree that the state of Arkansas' constitution is superseding what we do down at this, Ms. Abadi? Would you agree that the state constitution supersedes what we do down here? I don't know that I can answer that
Speaker 144
33:06
question. I'm not an attorney. Do you not believe in the
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
33:11
state constitution? Yes, I do, Mr. Hall. Do you believe in the state constitution? Yes. Do you believe it is the body in which we govern ourselves by? Do we agree that the constitution is what we govern our body by?
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
33:25
Yes, sir, and that's why I believe... Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Representative Wardlaw. thank you mr. chairman do you have a copy of the bill at your hand yes sir i do can you go to page two line 12 and explain to me
Rose Mims
Unverified
33:49
that number one statement there are you talking about on mine it's line 11 is where it says federal funding for page two i don't guess you have a copy of
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
33:59
bill that we have because
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
34:03
don't. What does it say? The federal funding for insurance plans that covers abortions is prohibited by the Hyde
Rose Mims
Unverified
34:11
Amendment and the federal employee health benefits program. Yes, sir. Now, that is a statement of fact that right now in Arkansas, and going back to Representative Hyde's question, the supremacy clause in the United States Constitution says that if a federal law is passed, that violates or conflicts with Arkansas law, whether it's a constitutional amendment
or something in our code, that the federal law, you know, supersedes state law. That's exactly what happened right here in this section, because in the late 90s, the Hyde Amendment that was passed back in the 70s that prohibited tax funding of abortion except for the life of the mother was changed to add rape and incest. Because it conflicted with Arkansas law, we in Arkansas under the Medicaid program cover rape and incest abortions
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
35:05
in addition to life of the mother. So what you're telling me is if this bill passed, it's going
Rose Mims
Unverified
35:13
to cover those things under the Medicaid side? Yeah, nothing changes on that because it is a federal, the Hyde Amendment is passed every year. It's an appropriations amendment to the Health and Human Services. And, you know, it goes back and forth. It depends a lot on who's in control in Congress, who the president is, whether the Hyde Amendment is amended to include rape and incest or just life of the mother. So why are
Speaker 154
35:34
we going to separate these two populations, the Medicaid population and the private insurance?
Rose Mims
Unverified
35:38
They're separated now. We're not changing anything. People that are poor are on Medicaid. People that have insurance have private insurance. But the private
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
35:45
insurances that cover rape, incest, and the life of the mother, If this passes, that takes that out, does it not? No, sir. And
Rose Mims
Unverified
35:53
there's no private insurance right now that covers abortion in Arkansas. It's what we were told by the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner. Okay. Representative Mayberry.
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
36:10
Thank you, Madam Chair. This question goes back to address something that Representative Hall
had brought up a few moments ago regarding supremacy clause and also regarding if we already have a law on the books, Amendment 68, that says that this is not covered, then why do we need something else? Currently, the Patient Care and Affordability Act, if I'm correct, and please correct me if I'm wrong,
But the fallback position of that is
that in these independent or in these state insurance exchanges that they would cover abortion. Is that correct? Yes. And so that is federal legislation that would supersede Arkansas's Amendment 68. However, and so Arkansas's Amendment 68 would not apply in this situation. Is that correct? That's right. However, that federal legislation allowed for states to opt out of that public funding of abortion.
Is that correct? That's correct. And so, in other words, for Arkansas's Amendment 68, which was the will of the people, to continue to be in effect as it is today and has been in effect for many years, this bill must be passed. Is that correct? That's correct. Thank you. Senator
Speaker 52
37:44
madam chair and members of the committee thank you for letting me speak my I do not have a question but I would
like to make a statement about the discussion of amendment 68 if possible and to clear that up I'll be glad to wait until the end but it just seems like representative Mayberry did an excellent job of explaining the difference but I I would be glad to add to that. Senator Bledsoe, you'll
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
38:10
have an opportunity to do that upon close. I do have a question. The chair has a question. I think we do have that prerogative. There was
a question raised about the use of insurance, commercial insurance.
Do we have somebody here from the insurance commissioner's office who might come forward? Ms. Mims, would
you mind stepping aside just a minute and let me ask this question because I think it's important to follow up on it. If you will, sit down, sir, and introduce
John Morris
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38:40
yourself. Good morning. My name is John Morris. I'm general counsel for the Arkansas Insurance Department. Thank you,
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
38:46
sir, for being here. My question is, and I'm just a little bit confused, would you answer the question as to whether or
not we have insurance companies in the state
who do pay for abortion today and the limitations on those
John Morris
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39:00
abortions? In anticipation of this meeting and the discussions that are going on with respect to this bill, the Department did do an informal poll of some of the insurance companies doing business in the state to determine whether or not this bill would essentially have an effect on the coverages that are being offered in the state currently. And upon doing our informal poll, it was discovered that insurance companies currently are offering
coverages for non-elective abortions under certain circumstances. The requirement, some of them vary, some of them require or will cover the abortion in the event of rape or incest or life of the mom. Others are a little bit broader and will cover an abortion as long as it's medically ordered by a physician and done in a hospital setting, so there are currently abortions being covered
by private insurance that would be affected should this bill be passed. Thank you, sir.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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40:12
Appreciate your testimony. Ms. Mims, you're welcome to come back to the end of the table and complete your presentation. I'm
Speaker 168
40:28
available for more questions if that's do we have any more questions representative Gaskell thank you madam
Representative Billy W. Gaskill
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40:38
chair you know what we seem to forget here is ma'am and I have
a great deal of respect for you I've talked to you before but you know when we say something is according to the Constitution of Arkansas means they were dead-blamed people in Arkansas who voted on it as part of the Constitution. And whatever we do here can't override the Arkansas Constitution. We're just posturing. You know, if something is against the federal Constitution, then the federal Constitution takes control. So if we're going to make any changes here, we're going to have to do it to the whole state.
That means constitutionality. And somewhere we've got to get that through our head. Thank
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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41:21
you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Representative Gaskell. I see no further questions for Ms. Mims. Thank you
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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41:34
presentation. Thank you. I'm having a hard time reading the handwriting. Ramona, is it Ramona? Deputy, I'm not sure.
I'm sorry for I'm certain I butchered your name the pronunciation of your name I didn't mean to do
that but I can't read it so if you would introduce yourself tell us who you're representing please and thank you very much for being here
Ravina Daftari
Unverified
42:00
thank you madam chairwoman thank you committee my name is Ravina Daftari I am a resident of Arkansas and a health policy specialist and I just wanted to address some of the concerns that Ms. Mims raised regarding health policy and the laws that pertain in this issue this bill seems to have taken on a
conversation about being about public funding and I want to talk about some of the implications it has for private dollars being spent on abortion coverage and on insurance premiums for people in Arkansas I want to talk currently about three laws briefly the first is the Hyde Amendment which has been already discussed here and that prohibits any federal dollars for being spent on abortion coverage except for in cases of rape incest or life endangerment the second one has already been discussed and that is an Arkansas law that
prohibits any state funds from being used for coverage for abortion except for in the cases of rape incest and life endangerment those two laws taken together should provide ample coverage to make sure that not one dollar of taxpayer money is spent on abortion in the state. I think, you know, those issues should address many of the concerns that Ms. Mims had and with other sponsors of the bill have with abortion coverage in the state.
Finally, I just wanted to talk very quickly about some of the laws that pertain specifically to the exchanges and ensure that not $1 of taxpayer money is spent on coverage for abortion. Inside the Affordable Care Act, there are provisions to make sure that all insurance companies that are providing coverage to people inside the exchanges must segregate any funds that are used to cover abortions in any case that means that if I'm a person who is buying insurance in the exchange I'll pay for my premium and the insurance company has to make sure that not one dollar that is
spent on abortion is a dollar that is paid for by a taxpayer all of those laws I think make me fairly confident that not one dollar will be spent on abortions regardless of whether or not this bill is passed Thank you, thank you ma'am. We
Chair
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44:12
do have a question. Will you be willing to take some questions? Yes, ma'am Representative Mayberry Thank you, I appreciate you being here today
Representative Andy Mayberry
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44:25
In the federal legislation in the patient care and affordability act Would you agree that there is a provision in there that would offer the states the ability to opt out of the public funding for abortion? Yes, sir. If that is indeed the case, would you agree that this is Arkansas's opportunity to be able to utilize that provision of the federal legislation? Yes, sir. And would you agree that if that option is listed there, is part of that federal legislation,
that that would seem to indicate that there is a reason for that? I do not believe
Ravina Daftari
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45:09
that this bill represents the interest of people in Arkansas. And if you don't mind, I'll just explain very quickly why. With due respect, that's not my question, ma'am. Could you repeat
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
45:22
your question, sir? My question is, since there is an option there, wouldn't you agree that there is a reason that in the federal legislation that
option was included? Yes, sir. And would you state for us what you believe that reason to be?
Ravina Daftari
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45:39
Honestly, I don't purport to know why it was included in the federal legislation, because I do believe that there are ample provisions within the federal law to already protect taxpayer funds. Is it possible that that
Speaker 124
45:49
reason is there because there are states? Representative, do you have an order, please, ma'am? Yes,
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
45:57
sir, Representative Paul. My understanding of the procedures of this body and these house rules is that a witness can decline
to answer a question if they so choose. Is that not true? We are not in a court of law. We're not under oath.
Speaker 182
46:10
Is that a valid point? Point taken, Representative Paul. Yes,
Speaker 100
46:14
sir, that's right. Ma'am, Representative Hall, I believe, was
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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46:18
just trying to help us all understand the procedures. And if you choose to decline a question, you can do that. Thank you, ma'am. Go ahead, Representative Mayberry.
Representative Andy Mayberry
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46:28
I'm completed. Thank you very much. Representative
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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46:35
Ward-Law. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Would you
not agree that Amendment 68 already opts us out of that part of the National Health Bill?
Ravina Daftari
Unverified
46:44
In my understanding, Amendment 68 says that no taxpayer funds in the state of Arkansas under any circumstances except for those in the Hyde Amendment and listed in the actual statement itself would prohibit any state funds from being used for abortions. Yes. Does that answer your question, sir? Representative King.
Speaker 187
47:14
Thank you Madam Chair There's been a lot of debate on this Madam Chair
Speaker 189
47:20
I make a motion for immediate consideration Representative King We
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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47:26
still have a number of people who have Signed up I know
that is a non-debatable Motion So we'll I just want to make sure that you recognize There were a number of people who had signed up It's non-debatable The motion is on the floor for immediate consideration
All in favor indicate by saying aye. All opposed, no. The no's have it. We'll go ahead and proceed. Yes, sir, Representative Hall. I make a motion that
Speaker 118
47:55
we limit to the debate to 10 minutes on each side. Yes, sir, Representative King. I'd
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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48:06
like to roll call. I didn't see two hands, sir, saying that we already have a motion on the floor, so
I'm going to recognize Representative Hall. Representative Hall has made a motion for limiting debate.
Ten minutes on either side. That's non-debatable. All in favor
indicate by saying aye. All opposed? Ayes have it. So we will limit debate. Ten minutes on either side. So for everybody to understand the way this works, we will have ten minutes for those who want to speak for the amendment. We have ten minutes for those who want to speak for the bill and 10 minutes for those who wish to speak against the bill. And I will inform Representative Lee that
that does include your time for close,
so you'll want to make sure that you've taken care of that. Madam
Speaker 72
48:55
Chair, can I take care of that now and request that when there's two minutes left, I be given that to close? Yes, ma'am. Thank you very
Chair
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49:04
much. All right. Ma'am, do you have anything else you would like to
Ravina Daftari
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49:07
say? Just briefly, I just wanted to make sure that it was clear that the people who are buying insurance coverage inside the exchange are using their own private dollars to do that, and so this bill really doesn't do anything extra that protects public funds from being spent on abortion, but it does unnecessarily encroach on people's own ability to spend
their own money on the coverage that they think is best for their families. With that, I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out today.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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49:37
Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 195
49:41
We appreciate it. Next on the list is Dr. Brenneman.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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49:44
You're next on the list to speak for the bill. Do you want to approach the table and introduce yourself again and proceed? And he's passing over that time.
We have Dr. Kay Chandler signed up to speak for the bill, and she's passing also. and we have Mr. Jerry Cox with family council who's going to speak for the bill would you approach the table please introduce yourself and the organization you
Jerry Cox
Unverified
50:18
represent and proceed thank you madam chair I'm Jerry Cox I'm the director of family council and I appreciate the opportunity to say a word about this bill we support this bill and I think there's been
A considerable amount of light shined on why we need this bill, but I want you to know that I had the opportunity to work for the passage of Amendment 68 back in 1988. And so, obviously, I know a good bit about it. I'm not a lawyer, but I did speak with the author of the amendment. And I asked him, I said, In light of the fact that we have Amendment 68 that says no public funds for abortions,
As the author of Amendment 68, can you tell me why Senator Bledsoe's bill would be important to have? This is what he told me. He said, and this is a constitutional lawyer's opinion, he said some amendments are self-executing. When you write an amendment to a Constitution, sometimes it is self-executing. Excuse me, Representative
Representative Clark Hall
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51:28
understanding under the rules of the House is hearsay testimony is that, just hearsay.
Without the gentleman being here to ask questions, he's quoting a source on the validity of the Constitution Amendment and this bill. It would seem to me that that gentleman should be present to speak or answer questions far or against from this committee. Would you not agree? Mr. Cox, do you have the
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
51:53
author of Amendment 68 here with you today? I do not, Madam Chairman. Okay. If you
would, I believe Representative Hall is correct.
If you would just go
Jerry Cox
Unverified
52:08
ahead and proceed with your presentation from your own perspective, sir. Thank you for clarifying that. Some amendments are self-executing. They don't need enabling legislation to make them effective. Other amendments to the Constitution are not self-executing. They need laws to implement them. That's why this body passed a 120-something page bill to implement the state-run lottery. It's because there was not enough written into it for it to be self-executing on its own and by itself.
So I learned this, that this amendment, depending on who you ask, some lawyer would tell you that it's self-executing, that Amendment 68 has enough force to be self-executing. Others would tell you that it doesn't. And so for that reason, we need this amendment to be able to clarify for the people who are going to set up these health exchanges to know what to do, because we don't even know if it's going to be done by local people here in Arkansas
or if these exchanges are going to be set up by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. So why would we not want to clarify exactly what we mean for those people that are going to set up the health exchanges so that there will be no doubt, so they won't have to wonder if Amendment 68 is self-executing or not? We have the ability right here, this day, to pass this bill and clarify all that for everybody concerned. And I think that's the responsible thing to do.
And so, Madam Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to share that, but that's why I believe that this bill is necessary. And I'll be glad to do questions if you
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
54:05
have any. Thank you, sir. Representative Mayberry. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Cox, so if I understand correctly, what you're saying
is that, depending on who you talk to, Amendment 68 may be Arkansas's opt-out already automatically, or it might not be.
That's correct. And so, in essence, what this bill is, is a safeguard to ensure that the intent of Amendment 68 is carried out for the people of the state of Arkansas. That is exactly it. Okay.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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54:41
Thank you, sir. Okay. Representative Ward-Law. Thank you, Madam Chair. Jerry, thank you for being here today. Thank you. If all that's true, were you listening a
while ago when we had the Insurance Commission head lead counsel at the table, and he said there was already public, private policies
that covered certain incenses of rape, incest, and the life of the mother? That was
Jerry Cox
Unverified
55:01
the first time I've heard that, and I will have to just tell you that I don't understand that. So with hearing
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
55:09
that, would you be willing to pull this bill down, put those provisions in there so that we protect these
Speaker 206
55:16
people in their private funds? Let me point
Jerry Cox
Unverified
55:19
this out, if I may. If you look at Amendment 68, it only makes one exception for publicly funded abortions,
and that is to save the life of the mother. So if any other provision is added, if we as a state say, well, we'd like to fund abortions for C, D, and E, then that makes this bill unconstitutional because we then have stepped outside the boundaries that the people set when they passed Amendment 68. So what I'm saying is you can't add other reasons for abortions without making this unconstitutional.
That's where you cross that boundary. And I hope I'm making myself clear on that. Just one more question,
Speaker 16
56:10
Madam Chair. Certainly. But also, doesn't federal law
Jerry Cox
Unverified
56:13
oversee state law? Yes, sir. It always does. But the Hyde Amendment that we've been talking about only applies to women that are on Medicaid. It only applies to people on Medicaid. It does not apply to anybody else. And so that's why we said that Amendment 68 yielded a little bit to the federal law because the federal law does supersede that.
But that's a different issue there. Mr.
Speaker 59
56:44
Wardlaw, you completed that. Representative Malone. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Representative Stephanie Malone
Unverified
56:48
I don't want to take away from anybody's time. I just have a quick question for my own clarification. When the counsel from the insurance commissioner's office came, I thought he said just covers certain abortions. Did he actually, was he clear on that? Can he clarify that for me?
Mr. Tim Malone, we can ask that gentleman
Representative Linda S. Tyler
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57:10
to come back to the table and answer your questions. Mr. Cox, thank you for your testimony. Thank you. Thank you,
John Morris
Unverified
57:28
Madam Chair. Representative, your question – this is John Morris again with the Arkansas Insurance Department. Your question was whether or not the policies currently cover – Representative
Representative Stephanie Malone
Unverified
57:40
Malone, will you speak into your mic, please?
I'm sorry, Madam Chair. I didn't hear – I thought you just said it covers some types, and I didn't know that – I didn't know
Speaker 214
57:51
if you were specific, and I just wanted you to clarify it for me.
John Morris
Unverified
57:55
Some policies are more specific than others is what we have found. They all do not cover elective abortions. No policy that we found covers an elective abortion. Some are more specific and specifically say that they will cover abortions in the event of incest or rape and life of the mom. Others are more general and say that they will cover any abortion ordered by a physician
that's done in a hospital setting. So there's no definitive, you know, this is how it is across the board. Some are more general than others. Thank you. Thank
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
58:28
you, Madam Chair. Thank you, sir. Gentlemen, would you – sir, would you sit down, please, this morning? I think we have another question.
Speaker 72
58:37
Representative Lee, you have a question. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Would you agree that in the insurance world that riders on insurance are really driven by need and the people asking for them for the most part?
John Morris
Unverified
58:50
That's what drives them. Right. Riders exist to provide supplemental coverage over what is offered on a base policy. And that's driven by the
Speaker 75
59:00
market? Typically, yes. Thank you very much. Thank
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
59:07
you, Madam Chair. Representative Wardlaw. Thank you, Madam Chair. Are there any riders at the moment
John Morris
Unverified
59:12
that exist for an abortion? Again, we haven't had a whole lot of time to do the research on this, But the results of our research thus far shows that, no, there is no supplemental abortion rider that's currently being offered in the state.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
59:28
Representative Warlaw, you have another question? All right, thank you. All right, thank you, sir. Thank
you. We have Rosemary Menard. I know I'm also mispronouncing that are you Menard alright
are you wanting to come to the table please you're going to yield alright alright that's all
we have signed up to speak for and against the bill representative Lee if you would representative Wardlow you
have a question yes ma'am I'd like to
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:00:13
move for a motion to make an amendment
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:00:18
all right let's hear your motion sir
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:00:22
do you have a handout staff Mr. Price has the amendment all right
Speaker 230
1:01:12
All right, Mr. Wardlaw, if you would proceed with your motion. Yes, ma'am. Thank
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:01:30
you. It says on page 2, we'll
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:01:33
delete line 36 and substitute the following. abortion covered except in the case in which the woman became pregnant through an act of rape or incest or in the case in which a woman has in a severe health
condition requiring that abortion take place in
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:01:49
a hospital that motion is a debatable motion do we have any questions on that motion
Speaker 232
1:01:57
representative level yes sir we'll we'll approach you when we
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:02:01
get to the proper time mr. Mayberry regarding the amendment that
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
1:02:08
I see here this seems to
be in conflict with amendment 68 of the Arkansas Constitution and I just have had the
statement that that if this were accepted it appears as though this would
violate the Arkansas Constitution to accept this thank you sir mr. warbaugh you want to respond yes
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:02:29
ma'am this amendments to ensure the protection of these private policies that already covered these instances and that's the reason for the amendment mr. Hyde you have
Speaker 236
1:02:41
have a question for mr. Ward law who I guess is the author of this amendment it
Representative Barry Hyde
Unverified
1:02:46
it seems apparent this this is in conflict with with amendment 68 so is
this not your intention to be a poison pill basically a vote on this amendment is a vote on the bill is that is that what it appears to you because here's that your intention because that seems clear to me you're saying a vote for this amendment is a vote for the bill I'm asking my point is that let me rephrase it let me simplify it is this a friendly amendment or is this a an unfriendly or hostile I'm hoping
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:03:16
it's a friendly amendment due to the testimony from the
Representative Barry Hyde
Unverified
1:03:20
insurance agency did you did you talk to the sponsors or the representative in
the house who's carrying the bill and and y'all worked on this together and and she knew this was coming today no I didn't I asked them a while ago that's
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:03:32
all I had madam chair thank you I asked a
while ago if they would pull the bill to add this to ensure the protection and I have talked to miss me yesterday about adding this and she
Representative Bryan B. King
Unverified
1:03:44
reassured me they would not thank you mr. Wardlow mr. King thank you madam chair representative Wardlow did you in the testimony of the insurance commissioner did you hear him say and I believe and I'd like to be reminded about that these polls were informal polls i did so you're going to base this amendment
on the testimony of an informal poll that that we have not been handed any documentation or any concrete polls have been done substance and these insurance companies have not provided their own policy i am because i'm taking it that the insurance lead counsel would not
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:04:14
come and give us false information at a committee meeting i'm not saying he's given
Representative Bryan B. King
Unverified
1:04:19
a false information i'm just saying your basis for this amendment is on his testimony
Speaker 154
1:04:24
on his description of a informal poll that's exactly what i just said i'm taking his testimony for what it is thank you represent
Speaker 72
1:04:32
representative lee representative wardlaw did you also hear the state insurance gentlemen agree that It is driven by the market that when we start implementing the Affordable Patient Protection, pardon me, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that there's the possibility that that starts happening. If people start asking for that, it's driven by the market. Did you hear him agree? I did. But if we passed the
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
1:05:00
bill the way you had it written, it would be.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:05:06
That's all I ask. Thank you. Seeing no further questions, we have an amendment motion on the floor to amend Senate Bill 113. All in favor of approving that amendment, indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed?
No. Committee chair rules ayes have it. We have a roll call.
Mr. Price, if you will prepare for a roll call. And if
you will recall, we go in seniority order on the roll call, and
Speaker 245
1:05:51
Mr. Price will proceed. Representative Allen. Representative Gaskell. Representative Lovell. Representative King. Representative Hall, Representative Hyde, Representative Narns, Representative Wagner, Representative Word, Representative Lee, Representative Smith,
Representative Wilkins, Representative Perry, Representative Malone, Representative Representative Ledding? Representative Wardlaw? Representative Lampkin? Representative Mayberry?
Speaker 96
1:07:08
No. Vice Chairman Woods? Chairman Todd? Chairman Tugge. Pass. Pass.
Speaker 52
1:07:26
Pass. Pass. Pass. Pass. It's 11 right there. I don't
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:07:36
know. I think it passes. Mr. Wardlaw, on 11 ayes, 8 noes, and 1 pass, you have passed your amendment.
So what's the pleasure of the committee? Representative Penartz. Madam Chair, I recommend do pass
Speaker 68
1:07:52
for the bill as amended. We have a motion to do pass on the
Speaker 143
1:07:59
bill as amended. Point of order, Madam. I had a motion at
Speaker 254
1:08:03
an appropriate time. Sorry, I indicated that
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:08:07
I would recognize the motion when the appropriate time came, and I recognized the motion from Representative Penartz. Thank you.
Representative Penartz has a motion on the table to approve Senate Bill 113 as amended. Any comments or questions on the
Speaker 72
1:08:31
motion? Representative Lee. A few minutes ago, Representative Hyde made a comment, and Representative Wardlaw, I I respect that this is the appropriate time to offer a hostile amendment, and that's fine.
You know, you did not come to me or Senator Bledsoe, as far as I know, prior to this, and I respect that it's committee work that we do, and that's the appropriate time to do it. But Representative Hyde was making a point, I think, and every once in a while he and I mind meld, and I think we are on this. If we add this amendment, it's been added, if we pass this
Speaker 58
1:09:12
bill with this amendment, it renders this unconstitutional and therefore can be considered poison to the bill.
As a person who does not want
Speaker 57
1:09:22
to support publicly funded abortions, I can't see doing that. and and and accepting this and and if if it's appropriate at this time i would just
Speaker 72
1:09:34
like to pull the bill representative lee we have a motion on the floor
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:09:42
we'll have to deal with that motion first uh we have a substitute motion from representative hyde uh give me just a moment
i need to make sure i do
this just right all right it is a it's a debatable motion so So we'll hear your motion, Mr. Hyde.
Representative Barry Hyde
Unverified
1:10:05
Madam Chair, I move that we table this bill, lay upon the
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:10:10
table. We have a motion to, a substitute motion to table the bill. And
Speaker 260
1:10:23
that requires a... Representative Hyde, that's a non-debatable as amended.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:10:32
So we'll table the bill as amended, and that requires a majority of the quorum. All in favor of tabling the bill, indicate by saying aye. Aye. All
Speaker 97
1:10:47
opposed? I believe the ayes have it. The bill is tabled.
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:11:02
Ladies and gentlemen of the committee, we still have one other piece of business. Please keep your seats at the
table. Mr. Dale, Robert Dale, if you will come to the table and present House Resolution 1010. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Robert Dale
Unverified
1:11:32
My name is Robert Dale. I'm state representative with District 70. I wanted to present House Resolution 1010, which is committing CareCAP Connections Community Cancer Project founder and director, Mary Phillips. Mary Phillips is a retired schoolteacher of 30 years. She left her home in Texas to return to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, which is in my district. Upon her arrival here, she had a relative that was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
And Mrs. Phillips began sewing head scars for her sister, which this became a large project and has developed into a company called Care Cap Connections. They provide these Care Caps. Ladies and gentlemen,
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:12:22
let's give Mr. Dale our
Robert Dale
Unverified
1:12:26
attention, please. They provide these Care Caps to cancer patients with no charge. She has organized groups in not only Fairfield Bay, but Greenbrier, UAMS,
It's the Little Rock Air Force Base, Diamond Head, Hendricks College, Pine Bluff Southeast Department of Community Corrections, and Out of State and Converse, Louisiana. She leads her sew-ins personally, and on a monthly basis, over 1,500 women and men and youth are helped with cutting, planning. We just have an assembly line of preparing these caps. It's a wonderful, wonderful project.
There are more than 1,100 care caps that go to cancer centers and individuals each month. There's been over 31,500 of these caps manufactured and distributed across the United States. I wish I had one here with me, but when you get one, someone always needs it, so you give it up. It's a wonderful duty that Mrs. Phillips furnished to the state of Arkansas, and I think that we should recognize her for that.
Thank you very much and appreciate a good vote, Madam Chairman. Thank
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:13:51
you, Representative Dale. Representative Penartz. Recommend do pass.
We have a motion do pass. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? You have passed your resolution, Mr. Dale. Thank you. Thank
Robert Dale
Unverified
1:14:07
you, Madam Chairman and the committee. Seeing
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
1:14:09
no further business coming before this committee, we are adjourned.
Agenda
Call to Order
HB1247
HB1279
SB112
HB1205
SB134
SB113
HR1010
Adjournment
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Representative Linda S. Tyler
Unverified
Representative Butch Wilkins
Unverified
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
Robert Breck
Unverified
Speaker 14
Speaker 25
Representative Andy Mayberry
Unverified
Speaker 41
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
Speaker 46
Speaker 52
Speaker 57
Speaker 58
Speaker 66
Speaker 64
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
Speaker 86
Speaker 72
Speaker 92
Speaker 96
Speaker 98
Speaker 101
Speaker 107
Speaker 105
Representative Stephanie Malone
Unverified
Speaker 123
Joanne Mills
Unverified
Speaker 132
Speaker 15
Speaker 118
Rose Mims
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 144
Speaker 151
Speaker 154
Speaker 19
John Morris
Unverified
Speaker 168
Representative Billy W. Gaskill
Unverified
Speaker 173
Ravina Daftari
Unverified
Speaker 124
Speaker 182
Speaker 100
Speaker 187
Speaker 189
Speaker 195
Jerry Cox
Unverified
Speaker 26
Speaker 206
Speaker 16
Speaker 59
Speaker 214
Speaker 75
Speaker 230
Speaker 232
Speaker 236
Representative Barry Hyde
Unverified
Representative Bryan B. King
Unverified
Speaker 245
Speaker 68
Speaker 143
Speaker 254
Speaker 260
Speaker 97
Robert Dale
Unverified