Arkansas House of Representatives Fiscal Session - Day 17
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (10)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1163
· 5 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…endment. Okay. I believe you want to make a motion to place House Bill 1163”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1122
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1122 Joint Budget Committee - Amendment 2”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1020
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “we are a committee on joint budget to whom was referred House Bill 1020 by Joint Budget Committee,”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1032
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1032 by Joint Budget Committee, House Bill 1050 by Joint Budget…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1035
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…sures from the fiscal session of the 87th General Assembly. House Bill 1035 is Act 212. House Bill 1052 is Act 213. House Bill 1053 is…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1050
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1032 by Joint Budget Committee, House Bill 1050 by Joint Budget Committee, House Bill 1130 by Joint Budget…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1081
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1081 is Act 215. House Bill 1083 is Act 216. House Bill 1092 is…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
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HB1130
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…udget Committee, House Bill 1050 by Joint Budget Committee, House Bill 1130 by Joint Budget Committee, and House Bill 1172 by Joint Bud…”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1159
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1159 Joint Budget - Supplemental”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1172
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…t Committee, House Bill 1130 by Joint Budget Committee, and House Bill 1172 by Joint Budget Committee. Begley's report we've had the sa…”
|
Pre-2017 bill |
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Speaker 3
4:30
The House will come to order. I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by the Reverend Cornell
Chair
Unverified
4:51
Malbia, pastor of the True Holiness Saints Center in Conway, Arkansas, and to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Bill Abernathy.
Speaker 9
5:03
Father, we want to thank you today for democracy and what this democracy means to our great nation. Today, as we begin our general session, we ask you to help us to continue to be men and women of integrity, men and women who represent our local communities with sincerity and honor. This is our prayer. Amen.
Chair
Unverified
5:30
Members, indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 15
6:00
Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. With 100 members present, the Chair sees a quorum. Representative Nancy Duffy
Chair
Unverified
6:16
Blount moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's journal. No objections, so ordered. Are there reports from select committees? Read the reports, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Speaker,
we are a committee on joint budget to whom was referred House Bill 1020 by Joint Budget Committee,
House Bill 1032 by Joint Budget Committee, House Bill 1050 by Joint Budget Committee, House Bill 1130 by Joint Budget Committee, and House Bill 1172 by Joint Budget Committee. Begley's report we've had the same under consideration and herewith return the same with the recommendation that they do pass. Mr. Speaker, we are a committee on joint budget to whom was referred House Bill 1122 by Joint Budget Committee. I beg to report we've had the same under consideration here with the return, the same with the recommendation that it do pass as amended. Respectfully submitted, Bruce Malik, Chair.
Speaker 14
7:07
Are there reports from standing committees? Is there any unfinished business? Are there any executive communications?
Read the letter from the Governor, Mr. Clerk. To the Speaker of the House, dear Mr. Speaker, This is to inform you that on February 24, 2010, I approve the following measures from the fiscal session of the 87th General Assembly. House Bill 1035 is Act 212. House Bill 1052 is Act 213. House Bill 1053 is Act 214.
House Bill 1081 is Act 215. House Bill 1083 is Act 216. House Bill 1092 is Act 217. House Bill 1094 is Act 218. House Bill 1101 is Act 219. House Bill 1107 is Act 220. House Bill 1148 is Act 221. House Bill 1155 is Act 222. House Bill 1157 is Act 223. House Bill 1158 is Act 224. House Bill 1162 is Act 225.
Speaker 21
8:10
Sincerely, Mike Beebe. Members, before we go to our calendars, We have a number of visitors with us in the House of Representatives today that
Chair
Unverified
8:24
I would like to introduce at this time. First of all, in the back of the chamber, we have a delegation from the Southern Legislative Conference, which is headquartered in Atlanta. We have the SLC Deputy Director, Ken Fern. We have the Senior Fiscal Analyst, Sujit Kanagaretna, and a Policy Analyst, Jeremy Williams. Gentlemen, welcome to the House of Representatives.
Also, from Bentonville High School, we have the student Teenage Republicans, their guests of Representatives Tim Summers, Donna Hutchinson, and
Speaker 3
8:56
the other Benton County Representatives. Welcome to the House of Representatives. In
Chair
Unverified
9:06
the West Gallery today, we have the Leadership Russellville class and their guests of Representative Andrea Lee. Welcome.
In the East Gallery today, we have the 9th grade civics class from the E-STEM school and their guests are Representative Kathy Webb. Then in the North Gallery today, we have Fred Smith, the former Harlem Globetrotter, and his driver, Reginald Abram, their guests are Representative Otis Davis and Keith Ingram. Members, also in the
Speaker 21
9:47
North Gallery today, I have a special guest I want to introduce to you.
Many of you know that we have made some improvements to our public galleries over the last several months, and one of the things that we have done is made our North Gallery accessible to Arkansans with disabilities. And I would like for you to meet a good friend of mine and really the inspiration for me championing this over the last several months. His name is John Wilkerson, and he's here with his mother, Marty Wilkerson. John, if you'll wave to everyone.
Members, until this renovation, it would have been impossible for John to observe this session from the North Gallery. So I just wanted to point that out to you. Also in the back of the chamber today, we have
Chair
Unverified
10:38
our Doctor of the Day from Jonesboro, Dr. Greg Spears. Welcome to the House of Representatives. Mr. Burris, do you have a motion at this time?
Speaker 21
11:06
Yes, I'd like to run an amendment. Okay. I believe you want to make a motion to place House Bill 1163
Speaker 15
11:16
back on second reading for the purposes of amendment. Put it way better than me. Yes, thank
Chair
Unverified
11:23
you. Proper motion. It is debatable. You're recognized to come to the well. It is a proper motion. It is debatable. You're recognized to come to the well to explain the motion.
Speaker 21
11:36
to put the bill back on second reading, not the amendment itself. Thank you, members.
Representative John Burris
Unverified
11:42
I have an amendment that I would like to run on the proposed lottery legislation, so I'd appreciate a good vote.
Speaker 21
11:49
Members, you've heard an explanation of the motion. Would anyone like to speak against the motion, for the motion? Question before the House, is the
Chair
Unverified
11:59
motion to place House Bill 1163 back on second reading for the purposes of amendment. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'm
Speaker 21
12:16
Are there five hands to have a roll call? Chair sees five hands. Mr. Clerk, prepare the machine.
Chair
Unverified
12:40
has everyone voted has everyone voted cast up the ballot
Speaker 21
12:46
mr. clerk by a vote of 32 yays 57 nays
and one present the motion has failed mr. clerk members
Chair
Unverified
12:56
we're going to go to the red calendar at this time. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1163. House Bill 1163, births
and wills, the Jody Mahoney Scholarship Act. Mr. Speaker, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members,
Speaker 21
13:26
it's my honor today to present to you House Bill 1163, which is the long anticipated and much labored over amendment to the Lottery Act that this body passed unanimously in the regular session of 2009. As promised, the Lottery Oversight Committee and a work group of volunteers from the House and the Senate have labored long and hard since the adjournment of our regular session to bring this bill to you. The first thing I want to point out is the subtitle of this act.
And let me start by saying none of us would be here today working on this piece of legislation if it weren't for the
Speaker 3
14:09
leadership and the vision of Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. And I'd like to acknowledge his leadership in getting it on the ballot and getting it passed. But I know the lieutenant governor agrees with me that the work product that you
Speaker 21
14:26
see in front of you today, in large part, would not be what it is without the contributions, the hard work, the diligence,
the dogged determination of Jody Mahoney. what you have
Speaker 3
14:45
in front of you is the last great labor of love from a warrior for education he loved this this
Speaker 21
14:54
issue he loved the idea of making the scholarship program work he loved the task of stretching this as far as we could to benefit as many students as we could he was the
first one, members, to believe that we could provide the same scholarship for sophomores, juniors, and seniors that we're providing for freshmen in this scholarship. He was the first one to see it. He convinced me of it, and we went to work convincing all of you, hopefully resulting in your vote today. So this
Speaker 3
15:28
act of 2010 is subtitled in honor of Jody. we've talked about this a lot in committee i won't go through the bill line by line but let
Speaker 21
15:40
me just hit the high points for you the first thing this does is sets the amount of the scholarships provided by the arkansas scholarship lottery those amounts are five thousand dollars for students at a four-year institution and twenty five hundred dollars
Speaker 3
15:56
for students at a two-year institution the qualifications to earn this scholarship for high school graduates is they have to have a 2.5 grade point average for students
Speaker 21
16:07
already on campus those who will be sophomores juniors and seniors next year they have to take a full-time
Speaker 3
16:13
load they have to have a 2.5 grade point average they will receive the same amount that the entering freshmen will receive
Speaker 21
16:23
we have set aside forty one million five hundred thousand dollars to fund the scholarships for those upper class students. We call them current achievers. In addition to that, we have set aside $12 million to fund scholarships for non-traditional students and part-time students. And let me put that in perspective for you. The old academic challenge scholarship had about $20 million total,
and we're putting $12 million just for non-traditional and part-time students. We're taking a scholarship program that currently serves about 8,000 students, and it will serve upwards of 30,000 students. So that's what this bill does. Think about what that's going to do for the future of Arkansas. Think about what that's going to do for our ability to attract business and industry to this state when we grow our knowledge base by that factor. There are a number of things in the bill that we have worked on over the course of the last year.
As promised, this bill contains nothing that couldn't wait until the next regular session in 2011. Everything in this bill was vetted by the Lottery Oversight Committee and passed without objection, unanimously. These are all things that could not wait until next year. So with that, Mr. Speaker, I'd be happy to entertain any questions that any members have.
Speaker 45
17:51
Representative Hobbs, for what purpose? Question? You're recognized. Thank you. Representative Wills,
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
18:01
it refers to what I think is commonly known as grade inflation. Could you tell me how long these schools have been reported as being grade-inflated schools? Well, there have
Speaker 21
18:15
been several years running that there's been a, quote, grade-inflation list. This issue, I think, came to the legislature's attention for many of us for the first time when
this bill was being drafted last year. The decision at that time was to enforce a standard that would require students who are enrolled at schools on that list to have an extra requirement. They would have to also not only have a 2.5 grade point average, but they would have to pass proficient on their end-of-course exams. There are four sections outlined in the bill. There are Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, and beginning with the 2013 school year, Literacy. So that was kind
of an insurance that students at those schools were prepared for college. And I'll be honest with you, last year I was advocating for every student at every school to have to pass their end-of-course exams because we wanted to make sure that these scholarships were, that we had as much as possible, we were getting kids who were prepared for
Speaker 3
19:19
college a scholarship. But I lost out on that debate last year, and we had a compromise that led to what you see in the act from last year.
Now, we all voted on that. It passed unanimously. A couple of weeks ago, this issue came back up, and it was brought
Speaker 21
19:37
to our attention in lottery oversight that there were some concerns about how that list was put together. There were actually seven schools that were on the list that we started with that shouldn't have been on there, and our Bureau of Legislative Research found that out. There were some questions about how some schools that have two campuses were treated separately. For instance, in North Little Rock, the high school has two campuses.
If you keep them separate, one is on the list and one isn't, but if you combine them, neither should be on the list. So there was
Speaker 3
20:13
just enough of a cloud over how that list was put together that the committee felt like it made more sense to delay this for one year and allow the committee to gather data on, first of all, who would have been affected, who wouldn't have gotten the
Speaker 21
20:27
scholarship if this were enforced immediately. It will give us time to put pressure where it really belongs, which is the Department of Education.
This is an issue that they've been aware of for a long time, and they have to be proactive on. It gives us another year to put pressure on them, but it also gives us a year to prepare families and students. If this bill passes and nothing else is done, a year from now this standard will kick in. So I think it underlines the importance of end-of-course exams. It underlines the importance of school districts addressing their grade inflation issues so that we can all be prepared for when this standard fully kicks in.
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
21:06
Do you think it underlines the importance of being prepared for college
Speaker 52
21:13
to be successful? Yes. Again, this is a compromise. Not everyone is totally
Speaker 21
21:17
happy with a compromise, any compromise. And I'll tell you, for the next year, I'm going to advocate that every student should have to pass their end-of-course exams prior to getting a scholarship. I may be the only one advocating for that. What it does is clearly puts students, families, and school districts on notice that the legislature is serious about this.
We were asked to take this language completely out of the act. We didn't do that.
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
21:46
We delayed it for one year. okay and how much do we spend on remediation now and on the college level too much which is i've heard
Speaker 21
21:56
65 million is that i've heard i've heard the same figures it's too much our remediation rates are abysmal and we've got to address that but the i the final analysis of the lottery oversight committee was there was enough of a doubt over how this list is put together
And if we're going to err, we want to err on the side of the students and not have students be punished for things that are really out of their control. A student doesn't have control over what school district they live in. That's their mom and dad's decision. A student doesn't have control over the quality of their teacher. That's the school district and the department's problem. We're not putting this off forever. We're putting this off for one year, and it will give this legislature the time we need to come up with a long-term, fair, equitable policy solution.
Speaker 54
22:41
Okay. But the way I understand before this amendment, those students still had
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
22:47
an opportunity to show that they were ready for college. Correct? That's correct. Okay. Thank
Speaker 58
22:53
you. Representative Hatch, for what purpose?
Speaker 60
23:01
A question, Mr. You're recognized. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, can the scholarship funds be used to pay for remediation classes, or can they be used to pay for only course credit classes?
Speaker 29
23:13
MR. They can – I mean, it's a scholarship for whatever the course load the student has.
Speaker 60
23:23
It follows the student. MS. So if we did not take care of schools that have inflated grades, the scholarship funds will be used overwhelmingly for remediation classes because they will not be prepared to take course credit i don't know if
Speaker 21
23:41
i can agree with that statement i'll say this whether or not this
language was included in the bill there would be students anyway that would receive the scholarship that may end up having to be remediated so there's no way to guarantee that that wouldn't have happened anyway. I think that's another factor, Representative Hutchinson, that we've got to be proactive about. But again, this year, at this time, it was the feeling of the Lottery Oversight Committee and those that were working on this that if we're going to err, which I'm not admitting that we're erring, but if we are, we're going to err on the side of the students and give them the
opportunity to prove themselves. And one of the things we'll learn this year is how many students that get the scholarship are remediated how many students that get the scholarship flunk out it's impossible to say how many that will be today because we haven't awarded the scholarship so it really gives us
Speaker 60
24:41
more more hard data to to make decisions so as we change and maybe tweak this law next session we could require that it be used only for credit courses then if we want to
Speaker 21
24:52
limit it that way that is that's certainly one option that this
Speaker 37
25:02
legislature and future general assemblies will have thank you representative garner for what purpose question you're
Representative Ed Garner
Unverified
25:08
recognized thank you mr speaker representative wills um you've often characterized legislation as sausage making and i agree with that when i look at this legislation i also am concerned about the liability
presented by the testimony of the department of higher education as they look at the increasing numbers of students that we will put into higher education facilities institutions they say or testified that scholarship and or tuition pays for 50 cents on the dollar of the cost of educating a student this to me looks like higher education is going to come back to this body in future
sessions and ask for dramatic increases in the amount of money that we give to those institutions to fund this education, or they seem to be indicating that they would have to ask for dramatic increases in tuition, which negates the effectiveness of this. So I guess I'm asking you to bend a little bit here and give us your vision for how we deal with that,
that although it's outside the bill itself it is it is an implication of passing this bill in this form that either we're going to be looking at dramatic increases in monies going to higher education or higher education with little oversight from this body will increase tuition do you have if we pass this do you have a a vision for how we deal with that well Well, I mean, I
Speaker 75
27:01
do. I don't know that my personal vision is particularly relevant.
It's the will of this chamber. It's the will of this membership. But I'll tell you this, we can be as involved or uninvolved in holding our institutions accountable as we want to be. I hope we will be. I won't be here, Representative Garner. You will be. So I hope you will be diligent, and it sounds like you will be. Thank you, sir. you've heard the
Speaker 37
27:25
explanation of the bill anybody want to speak against
the bill you recognize speaking against the bill
Representative John Burris
Unverified
27:36
thank you I don't want to be down here today in fact it's about the
last thing I had planned I spoke against the resolution when we started to bring this bill up, it said I did it for two reasons. One, because as we now know, there are several provisions in the bill that deal with policy, which is what we all agreed we wouldn't do
when we walked into this chamber. Second, the policy that it deals with reverses a policy that we debated a year ago that we all decided was good enough policy where we voted 100 to nothing to enact the legislation. I signed on to co-sponsor this bill before some of these changes were made. I thought about running an amendment to take my name off, along with several others who felt the same way, but I decided for the sake of the process that wouldn't be best. But I'm down here today
speaking against this bill because, in essence, you all have forced me to. I spoke against the resolution. I went to committee. I was told that the proper form to debate this bill would be in the committee. We went to committee. It was debated for 45 minutes, and the debate was cut off, and me or any other member didn't have a chance to say their piece. It got sent back the next day, but I already had an obligation. I had folks from Bergman here that you saw yesterday. You know, there's nothing I could do. I couldn't be there, so I didn't get to make my point. So I had an amendment I wanted to run to make the point and then be able
to vote for it, but I didn't get that opportunity either. This bill deals with policy, policy that we established. We agreed we wouldn't change policy. And beyond all that, as I said the other day, it takes us a step back. We're not doing anybody any favors by passing these kids on to higher ed or by not holding their school districts accountable to give them the education that they're supposed to give them. This is a scholarship, and I want kids to go to school just as much as anybody. But again, everybody has an opportunity here. You either make a 2.5,
You make a 19 if you're from a grade-inflated school. Your GPA, we've determined, doesn't matter. Make a 19 on the ACT. We're not doing them any favors by sending them on to higher ed, who gets the money from the scholarship to remediate when they shouldn't be there in the first place. And who it hurts. We can look at this graduating class of seniors now, but who it hurts are the kids behind them. We've known about grade inflation. We've known about it. Nobody's been there. We finally have a carrot, and we're just delaying it for another year. and who it hurts. It's easy to look at this group of seniors right now, but what about the kids
behind them? That's who my concern is. These kids deserve an education, and the districts have fallen short. Yes, it is their district's fault, but if we remove the carrot, delay it a year, then the kids behind them aren't going to be in any better shape. We're going to be dealing with this problem a year down the road. So I didn't want to vote against this. When I spoke against the resolution to bring it up. I said the reason I was doing it is because once the resolution passes, the train's on the tracks. And now I'm forced to do exactly what I said I didn't want to be in the
position to be in, which is to vote against this bill. I'm probably going to spend the next week in Harrison, Arkansas, explaining to parents why I voted against this bill. And I'm frustrated that I was put in this position. I did everything I could to avoid it. But at the end of the day, this is bad policy, and it's not what we agreed to do. And so I'm voting no. And I'd urge you to do the same thing. I'd be happy to answer any
questions. Thank you. Representative Byrd spoke against the bill. Anybody want to speak for the
bill? Mr. Speaker, you're going to close for the bill. Representative Saunders, you're going to speak for the bill. You're recognized.
Speaker 83
31:31
I'm term limited. I just wanted the opportunity to come down here one
Speaker 85
31:44
more time. I'd appreciate a good vote. Actually, what we're doing here is setting scholarships amounts. You know, I kind of agree with Representative Burris about a little policy, but this came along, and it's an opportunity to do something that I think we need to do. I think we need a one-year moratorium. A lot of you guys that sit on the education committee that are in the same term-limited shape I am,
we've watched grade inflation for a long time, haven't we? It took us a long time to write a bill, as a matter of fact. It took Dave Bisbee, former senator, jumping up and down, screaming and cussing his own school district. But grade inflation has been with us a long time. And we are trying to do something about it. And Representative Burris and the rest of you folks that are going to return, I urge you to stay in here and do something about this because it's a true problem. However, a one-year moratorium is the proper way to handle this.
And the proper thing to do is set these scholarship amounts and let these folks have this money. We are number 48 in college degrees in the nation. Don't ever forget that. We are number 48. that does nothing for the citizenry of Arkansas it does nothing for economic development for the citizen of Arkansas we need to do everything we can let's don't
Speaker 83
33:00
stand in the way of this wonderful wonderful thing for our people thank you thank you for what for what
purpose Representative Hobbs you're going to ask
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
33:13
for a question sir thank you Representative Saunders you're welcome Okay, you said we're number 48 in college completion. What number are we in college
Speaker 89
33:23
starts? College starts? Yes, sir. I think
Speaker 85
33:26
we, you know, I can't tell you exactly, but we're not that low. We have a lot that graduate and go
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
33:33
to college. It's my understanding in what I have read that we are above national average in those that begin college. Is that correct? I believe that's correct. Yes, ma'am.
But our issue is not the beginning, it's the completion, correct? No doubt about it. And so by allowing students, and again, Representative Burris pointed out this is a scholarship, not an entitlement. Right. Right? So if we are sending students, adding more students that are not college ready, how is that going to help our college students? A
Speaker 85
34:07
couple of things, if you'll allow me. Yes, sir. the number one reason for lack of completion cited is money.
They go to work. They come out of there and go straight to work. They buy something and they want to pay for it or, you know, whatever life brings them. That's the number one reason for dropping out of college. Number two, I was one of those kids that came out of high school that wasn't ready for college. Lord, I had to take ex-English and ex-Math, and I graduated from Hot Springs High School when I went to the University of Arkansas. So we're not going to, and I made grades to get out of high school, so we're not going to cure it all in one fell swoop.
But this bill and this great inflation process I think is working, and we honestly, if you guys stay vigilant, we will absolutely cure this problem. These high schools letting these kids get out with higher grades than they should. Thank you, sir. And were you on the committee that debated
Representative Charolette Wagner
Unverified
35:03
this for hours and hours during the regular session? I was. And you agreed, and I believe you voted for that bill that came out of that? Absolutely correct. Just a few months ago?
Thank you, sir. You're welcome. Representative Dishmayne, for what purpose? For the
Speaker 100
35:28
bill. We'll get to you then. Representative Blot, for what purpose? Question for Representative Sanders. Don't you agree that the grade inflation is not the student's fault or responsibility, but rather the school district, which is one of the reasons that it should not be held against the students in the initial requirement for scholarships, which was also not intended
when we asked the voters to support the referendum. It was that if the kids made the grade, they would qualify for the scholarship, and there would not be separate criteria for different classes of students. Is that not correct? not correct i agree with all of that you are correct
Speaker 80
36:08
thank you very much representative breedlove for what purpose i have a question you're recognized
Speaker 106
36:18
for a question representative saunders who sets the standard for college entrance requirements well the state board of
Speaker 85
36:25
education and the state board of higher education in each college does not
Speaker 106
36:30
each college set that standard yeah based upon their their entrance requirements yes sir this bill does not set that
Speaker 83
36:36
standard, does it? No, it does not. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Representative. Appreciate it. Representative
Saunders spoke for the bill. You may want to speak against the bill. For the bill,
Representative Dishmane, you're recognized. Speak for the bill.
Speaker 108
37:01
You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just really wanted to see everybody's face for me to speak for Bill and Burris to be speaking against it. But, I mean, seriously, I just want to kind of give a quick overview of where I've come with my decision on this bill and why. Yesterday we were able to discuss the bill and great inflation in the Rules Committee, and there, more than anything, I was just glad to see the dedication of the members of that committee, the Speaker, and everybody else, too, dealing with great inflation.
And as I told that committee, when we allow great inflation to happen and hope to send those kids on to college, it's those kids that we're hurting and those kids that we're harming. And so I ask you, you know, we're looking for a long-term solution. I hope we can find it in the short term, and I hope that you're dedicated to finding it in the short term and join the speaker and everybody else in this body to make sure we make that happen. So I appreciate a good vote. Representative Dismayne spoke for the bill.
Anyone want to speak against the bill? Mr. Speaker, you want
Speaker 21
38:15
to close for the bill? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, what we have in front of us is an opportunity for statesmanship. This bill has over 600 and something lines of language. I don't know what percentage that is. But I'm going to estimate that 99.9% of this bill is agreeable to everyone in this room.
What I'm asking you to do is focus on that 99.9% and not that 0.1% that you may have issues with. It's like the old saying says, we should never let the perfect be the enemy of the good, or in this case, the enemy of the great. we have such an opportunity ahead of us in this state. This bill has been worked on a long time, and lawmaking is sausage-making.
But you know, Curran Everett makes a pretty mean venison sausage, and when you cook it up just right, it tastes really, really good. I
Speaker 75
39:20
think that will be the result of this bill, too, so I ask for a good
Speaker 110
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vote. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, close for the bill. Question for the House, pass House Bill 1163. Pardon me, Mr. Clerk. All
in favor, vote aye. All opposed. Has everyone voted?
Cast a ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 98, 8 yeas and 2 nays, you passed your bill.
Speaker 15
40:20
Members, we're going to your regular budget calendar.
Speaker 21
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Regular budget calendar. Representative Malik moves that we place House Bill 1122 back on second reading for the purposes of amendment. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any
Speaker 15
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opposed? Read amendment number two, Mr. Clerk. Amendment number two to House Bill 1122. Mr. Malik, you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you, Mr.
Chair
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Speaker. Members, this is the amendment to properly place the name of the Fay Bozeman College of
Speaker 116
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Public Health in the bill. Members, you've heard an explanation of the amendment.
Speaker 10
40:56
Would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment? If not, the
Chair
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question before the House is the adoption
Speaker 3
41:03
of House Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 1122. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? The amendment is adopted. Mr. Clerk, let the record reflect the amendment received more than 51 votes and send the bill to engrossing. Mr. Malik, you're recognized to explain our procedure
Chair
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moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, if you'll take out your budget calendar, we're following the same process. we're going to be voting the remainder of the bills on the first page
with the exception of House Bill 1145. We will remove House Bill 1145 at the request of a member already, and then I will be happy to answer any questions that you might have, or we will remove any other bills that you might so desire. Any questions on the
Speaker 116
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bills on the front page with the exception of 1145? Representative Adcock, you're recognized for a question.
Representative Pam Adcock
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42:08
Thank you. Mr. Malick on House Bill 1037. I do understand now the question I asked the other day was the 61 positions, Are these new positions, or is there a body already in the chair and that kind of stuff? I did find out that it is 61 new positions that we would be adding to DHS for the Medicaid division. And what I'm still unclear of on page 5 of the bill is where's the money going to come to pay for these positions.
And I know the money's not there now, but what I'm reading is it's either coming from the tobacco settlement money, I think, because right under page 5, lines 8 and 9, and it talks about the tobacco settlement funds are not sufficient to finance the position. And then on 9, it says state funds will not be used to replace the tobacco settlement fund.
So if there's money that's going to appear, where would it
Chair
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appear from? First of all, now the 61 positions are not 61 new positions. They are 61 authorized positions. There are 20-something of those positions currently filled. There is appropriation there for those positions, and it just depends upon the funding that they have with respect to those positions, whether there's money available that may not be used for other programs.
And let me mention a few of the programs that the Medicaid expansion program covers. Some prescription drugs, Our Kids First, is actually administered under this budget. There's an Our Health program that was implemented a few years ago on a health insurance program. Let me look through the bill in just a moment. But you've got the funding there. There's the special language that has to do with the tobacco money. There's also a Medicaid expansion fund that has monies in it.
But this is simply the appropriation. Certainly they're limited by the funding that they receive within revenue stabilization, the management of those funds as to how many of those positions they might fill. And I really can't speak directly to that today, to what the department's plans are.
Representative Pam Adcock
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44:36
And I did vote, and I believe it was Representative Moore that carried the Medicaid expansion. And my question at that time was, we're going to keep expanding this program, and I'm all for helping everybody that I can.
But where are we going to get the money? We keep dumping more and more and more on this program, but we're not putting any money with it. Where are you going to get the money? I never got the answer then. I'm still not getting the answer now. But what I don't want to see happen is to keep adding employees but cutting services. Can you tell me that that's not
Speaker 125
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going to happen? I want to vote for this, but I don't want to be employing people and cutting Medicaid services.
Speaker 129
45:23
Let me make this response, Representative Adcock.
Chair
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45:26
And you have been a great champion of these services and these programs, and we know where your heart is, and I appreciate that so much. Now, if services have to be cut, certainly they shouldn't have to have as many employees to administer those services. This is all wrapped into this huge Medicaid issue. Public Health had a meeting the other day. One of the things, and I guess maybe one of the frustrations that we've had in the session, is that we can't solve those problems in this fiscal session.
We can certainly highlight those problems, and one of the things that we did, and it's in a bill that's in the Senate today that we'll have tomorrow, is added that special language that will require legislative involvement in any changes to the Medicaid program. I think the committee had a good report yesterday and perhaps a little more optimistic than we had thought previously. But certainly, Medicaid, there are long-term issues.
This state is going to take steps, whether it's to limit services or to increase some revenue. And hopefully, as the economy improves, maybe there are folks that are now eligible for services that won't need them. Now, many of the services that you're talking about, those services are going to be needed. I appreciate your commitment to these services. I can't stand here and tell you exactly what services might be maintained or cut or increased and the employees needed to serve those. I think the Department knows the interest not only of you but of
Speaker 130
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this entire legislature in maintaining services for the neediest of Arkansans.
Representative Pam Adcock
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47:11
And I appreciate that, Mr. Malik. And just one more comment. I will be voting for this bill, but I will make it very well known that I will not vote if we're called back into a special session for a tax increase to cover these services if I find out that employees have been added with the services being cut. Thank you. I think that's appropriate. Thank you. Representative Stewart, for what purpose?
Representative Randy Stewart
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47:42
Question, Mr. Malik. I would like to hold House
Speaker 135
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Bill 1115. Remove House Bill 1115 from the list. Thank you. All right. With
Chair
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those deletions from the front page, removing House Bill 1115 and House
Speaker 130
48:01
Bill 1145, we will vote on the remainder as a batch. Mr. Clerk, read the bills for
Chair
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48:10
the third time. Excuse me, Mr. Clerk, one second.
Speaker 139
48:14
Representative Martin, for what purpose? I was just wondering if we could have 1037 also removed from the consent
Speaker 141
48:24
batch. Mr. Clerk, please remove House Bill 1037 from the consent batch. Are there any others? Seeing
Chair
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48:34
none, Mr. Clerk, read the bills for the third time. House Bill 1020.
House Bill 1032, House Bill 1039, House Bill 1040, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1050, House Bill 1066, House Bill 1106 House Bill 1111 House Bill 1130 House Bill 1135 House Bill 1151 House Bill 1152 House Bill 1160 and House Bill 1161
Speaker 10
49:15
Question before the House is a consent passage of the preceding bills and emergency clauses. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Speaker 141
49:30
Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 100 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you have passed the bills and the emergency clauses. Okay, members, the
Speaker 10
49:37
three bills that were taken out of the batch are now going to be presented individually, where they'll be subject to debate, beginning with House Bill 1037.
Speaker 15
49:58
1037. Members, it will be a moment while the clerk is preparing
Chair
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50:05
the machine. I want to recognize some other visitors we have with us today in
the West Gallery. Would you
please acknowledge the fifth grade class from the Anthony School? They are guests
Chair
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50:38
of Representatives Kathy Webb and Darren Williams. Thank you.
This is funded with the tobacco, 29.8% or whatever the tobacco settlement proceeds on an annual basis. That's where the funding comes from. We will be voting separately on the Medicaid expansion bill, House Bill 1037. I appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an explanation of the bill.
Speaker 21
50:58
Representative Saunders, for what purpose? Mr. Speaker. Mr. Malik, do you yield to
Chair
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51:05
a question? You're recognized, Mr. Saunders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker 85
51:14
Representative Malik, if an agency got an influx of money from federal tobacco, whatever, and they did
Speaker 129
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not have the positions authorized to fill, what would they do? Well, we all know that we're
Chair
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51:26
limited by appropriation or authorized positions, or we're limited by funding. Let's say they had this. If more funding came in, if they wanted to increase services or increase positions, it's got to be in this bill. That's what I thought. So their
Speaker 85
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only alternative would be to ask the governor to call a special session.
That's correct. And authorize those positions. That's correct. Same thing with appropriation. That's right. If they don't have enough appropriation to cover an influx of money to expend for services to folks, that same scenario would play out. That's correct. Thank you, Mr. Mallett. Representative Martin, for what purpose? Speak against the bill. You're recognized to
Speaker 10
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come to the well to speak against the bill.
Speaker 139
52:21
Ladies and gentlemen, you're recognized. Ladies and gentlemen, if you remember back during the session when we actually was voting on this Medicaid expansion, expansion. I spoke against the bill at the time. One of the things that actually concerns me about this, that we do time after time, is that we expand these services, and then when we get in a budget crunch, those people that most need it and are most worthy of actually receiving these things that I could very heartily support getting it to, they're the ones that
are frightened to death that they're actually going to be the ones that cut services. And Very often, they're the ones that are actually contacted and said, we're having a budget shortfall, and you guys are going to be cut. Why do we do it that way? Rather than actually look at these expansions and stuff like that, we contact the ones that everybody agrees doesn't need to be cut because we want to put a scare tactic in place, and we want to actually maintain an ever-growing system
rather than actually making sure that we do the best possible job we can to serve those people that are absolutely, without a doubt, every single one of us in here believes is a role of a state government. While we might not agree that it's the role of the federal government, everybody in here agrees that these people is a legitimate role of our state government. But we irresponsibly frighten the people that are most worthy and most honorable when they receive these services that we support
and we frighten them the most and public turns about ever being able to shrink a program because the ones that most needed are the ones that's paraded out front rather than actually having to do the tough job and making the decisions not to expand the program but to concentrate the program and make the program more efficient for those that deserve it. Thank you very much for hearing my words. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative Martin has spoken
Speaker 10
54:23
against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill, against the bill?
Speaker 116
54:30
Representative Malik, would you like to close for the bill? Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I had
Chair
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a little difficult time just hearing all of that. Well, let me state that, again, the Medicaid expansion is from the tobacco settlement funds. There is special language within the bill that provides that the state is not obligated to make up any shortfall of tobacco settlement funds with state funds unless appropriated by the General Assembly. It requires the involvement of the General Assembly.
And the other things that we've done in this special language on the DHS medical services bill that we'll be considering tomorrow is to require the involvement of this legislature. And so this particular language has been in this bill for a number of years, and I think it's a good bill. It's an appropriation bill. We need 75 votes to pass this, and I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Malik has closed for the bill.
The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1037. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 141
55:37
You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 96 yeas, 1 nay, and 0 present, You've passed the
Speaker 15
55:50
bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Clerk, read
House Bill 1115. House Bill 1115 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Appropriation for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Representative Malik,
Chair
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56:07
you're recognized. Members, this is the main general appropriation bill for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department.
Department funds all their positions, the highway operations, a large bill. Again, it's their main operating bill. I'd be happy to answer any questions if I can. Otherwise, I would appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Would
Speaker 10
56:26
anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Stewart, for what purpose? Just making a point, please.
Speaker 57
56:35
I'm sorry, for what purpose? My hold, earlier. Can I
Chair
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56:40
come to the well, please? Representative Stewart, you are recognized to come to the well, I believe, to speak for the bill, but we'll find out when you get there.
Representative Randy Stewart
Unverified
56:55
You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've been informed by Mr. Malik, but because of time
constraints, you can't really hold the bill. But I can work my situation out on the Senate end, so I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you. I think
Chair
Unverified
57:14
Representative Stewart just spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? If not, the question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1115.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Cast up
Speaker 15
57:44
the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 100 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you've passed the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1145.
House Bill 1145 by Joint Budget Committee, an act for the Department of Finance and Administration,
Chair
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57:57
Diversing Officer, Reappropriation. Representative Malik, you're
recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, this is the bill that we considered the amendment on yesterday with regard to the fire department distribution. Let me state that I understand the concern of some of the members. I would have preferred that the need had not arisen to include that special language in the bill. One reason that I was not necessarily adamant that it not be included was because of some of the questions that were raised
regarding notice of the meeting in Pulaski County that was held regarding the change of the interlocal agreement, the result of this in funding the fire departments would still get rural fire departments in Pulaski County more than they would have otherwise gotten had that not been interlocal agreement, had it not been changed after we were in session. Now, let me also point out in this bill, this is the DFA dispersing officer reappropriation bill.
This is what we sometimes refer to as our Christmas tree bill because it's what we put a host of other things into. So let me tell you some other things that are in here. Just grants to fire departments in general, which are all of your other fire departments possibly across the state. Supplemental county and municipal aid, all of the county-city turn-back that we did out of general improvement money comes from this. So every county and every city in the state gets money in this bill. I mentioned the grants to fire departments previously.
All of the planning and development district funds that we dispersed according to general improvement monies are in this bill. The drug and alcohol addiction, county hospitals, the prior center at the University of Arkansas, There's some other University of Arkansas money in this bill, so you just need to consider, again, all of these different appropriations to make certain that you know what you are voting on, and again, I would appreciate a good vote.
Speaker 171
1:00:08
Representative Garner, for what purpose? You're recognized. Question. Mr. Malik, are
Representative Ed Garner
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1:00:13
you saying that after the debate we had the other day, if we have serious constitutional concerns about this, that there is no mechanism for us to address the other funding other than to vote for this bill? Is that the argument you're making for voting for this bill, that we have no other mechanism to deal with this appropriation in this session? Well, I'm simply
Chair
Unverified
1:00:37
saying that we voted on the amendment yesterday, and I know it was a split vote, but once that amendment is adopted, it is engrossed into the bill, and so it is now a part of the bill, and our option at this point is to vote up or down on this bill.
Representative Ed Garner
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1:00:54
And that there is no further option to address this bill in this
Speaker 116
1:01:01
session? I'm asking about time constraints. Well, I understand, and I think Representative Burris earlier on the lottery bill attempted an amendment from the floor
Chair
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1:01:09
on that, but it is on third reading, and so the rules are different than when it's on a first or second
Speaker 143
1:01:21
reading. Thank you. Representative Cheatham, for what purpose? Mr. Speaker? You're recognized.
Speaker 179
1:01:25
Mr. Ballack, there's been some comments about constitutional... But this bill has come
Speaker 181
1:01:34
through legislative research and other avenues that where lawyers looked at this bill. Was there any concerns raised in any of those? I think even the governor's people have looked at it.
Chair
Unverified
1:01:46
Well, it did come through those channels. Representative Greenberg certainly raised that issue and made an argument for that issue yesterday. And, you know, at this point, I'm more a banker than I am a lawyer.
And so, you know, but the funds were not earmarked for local projects. The funds in that portion of the bill were distributed statewide, and at the time that we did it, it was to be in accordance with the Act 833 insurance premium money. And I'm sure others will come up to speak on this that are much more familiar with it than I am. There were some changes made, and I think the real issue is whether people had proper notice.
I think, and this is, I'm speaking from reading in the paper on this. There are Pulaski County representatives that may want to speak to this, that it was acknowledged that minutes of one of those meetings where it was changed listed people as present who were not at the meeting. And so I think it's because of some of those issues that some people and some members felt a little more acceptable to considering the language. We did that yesterday, and now it's a part of the bill. But basically on the
Speaker 179
1:03:03
constitutional issue, and you being a lawyer, part-time lawyer,
Speaker 181
1:03:07
part-time banker, you get a couple lawyers in one room, you don't get anybody that agrees. Is that correct? Now, Representative
Speaker 161
1:03:13
Sheatham, we're streaming live, and if my boss back at the bank is watching, I don't want you to call me a part-time banker. but yours is to
Speaker 148
1:03:25
speak against is it correct okay thank you thank you members members you've heard an explanation of the
Chair
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1:03:31
bill mr greenberg you're recognized to come to the well to speak against the bill thank you i'll be
Speaker 186
1:03:44
brief i think a number of members in this room have both
policy concerns and constitutional concerns about this
Dan Greenberg
Unverified
1:03:49
bill. The policy concerns really are that we have a situation now where we have 74 counties with intergovernmental councils who have fire departments who make their own funding decisions, and we're about to have one county, Pulaski County, where the judgment of the intergovernmental council is going to be superseded by a couple of representatives from central Pulaski County. And I'm facing a conflict here because I represent people both inside cities and outside cities, but my concern is that if they can do it to my fire departments, they can do it to yours.
That's a serious concern from a policy perspective. Let me say just a little bit about the Constitution. Amendment 14 to the Arkansas Constitution says the General Assembly shall not pass any local or special act. I want to make two points about that, and then I'm done. First, let me read you two sentences from Wilson v. Weiss. That's interpreted, Amendment 14. It says, local legislation is a law that arbitrarily applies to one geographic division of the state to the exclusion of the rest of the state.
The second sentence I want you to read is, when a law applies only to one geographic division of the state, there must be a rational reason for making the decision to pick that one area of the state over all other areas. Let me make my other point about constitutional law, which is, if this ain't local and special legislation, I am Angelina Jolie. Thank you very much. I'd be happy to
Speaker 188
1:05:14
take any questions. Representative Creekmore, for what purpose? Question.
Speaker 190
1:05:22
You're recognized. Representative Greenberg, to the best of your knowledge,
did the Intergovernmental Council have a formal meeting or hearing and by majority vote approved to distribute their funds in such a way that they are now? Yes, I believe that's
Dan Greenberg
Unverified
1:05:36
correct. And, of course, that's the opinion not only my opinion. I think that's the opinion of the
Speaker 190
1:05:45
vast majority of the members of the Intergovernmental Council. Is it also, to your knowledge, that the Quorum Court approved a resolution approving the recommendation by that Intergovernmental Council?
Dan Greenberg
Unverified
1:05:55
Yes, the Pulaski County Quorum Court did approve the existing Intergovernmental Council decision before we had a couple of Central Pulaski legislators who decided they want to overrule it. Yes, that's correct. This has
Speaker 190
1:06:07
already been approved by two governmental agencies. Wouldn't you agree? That's absolutely
Dan Greenberg
Unverified
1:06:11
right. The Intergovernmental Council's decision has already been approved, just as it's been approved and has been successful in 74 other counties.
Speaker 140
1:06:21
That's correct. Representative Webb, for what purpose? Question. You're
Speaker 60
1:06:25
recognized. Is it not accurate that members of the quorum court, once they found out about all of the behind-the-scenes going on
at the Intergovernmental Council, were very dismayed at their vote? Is that not accurate, Representative Greenberg? You would have to
Dan Greenberg
Unverified
1:06:37
speak to that, because I can tell you, I've looked at the minutes of the Pulaski County Quorum Court, and I know what their official decision is. If they're saying something else privately, I really couldn't speak to that. I'd be hesitant to discuss that. You might want to tell me what they've said publicly, because I know what they've said publicly in terms of their approval of it. So you might be able, perhaps, to tell me what public decision, what public vote they have made that contradicts
Speaker 188
1:06:58
that. I would actually like to call the question.
Representative Barry Hyde
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1:07:03
Representative Hyde, for what purpose? Question, Mr. Speaker. You're recognized. Thank you. Mr. Greenberg, I know that
you've really, really studied this law, and I wish if you'd go back a little bit in your memory, are you certain, you stated a moment ago that the quorum court approved the action of the Intergovernmental Committee. Are you certain that the law calls for them to approve this, or do they simply accept what comes from the intergovernmental?
I mean, I'm sure that your memory is dead on on this law, so I just
Dan Greenberg
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1:07:40
need a clarification. Well, I can clarify it for you in this way. I've looked at the resolution where they voted, and I can certainly get you a copy of that resolution. But I take that resolution where they sign off on the decision of the Intergovernmental Council as a kind of approval. And I was speaking perhaps less formally than you are, but they passed a resolution in support of that decision. Okay, so
Representative Barry Hyde
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1:08:00
the law didn't call, you acknowledged then that the law doesn't call for them to approve. They just simply accept what is presented.
They don't vote, yes, I approve, yes, I agree. They simply vote to accept. What
Speaker 192
1:08:16
is the question exactly? You've asked me a couple of different
Representative Barry Hyde
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1:08:21
questions in that question. I'm asking you if the law requires the quorum court to vote and approve the recommendation or the submission from the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, or do they
actually vote to approve? Is it an approval or is it an acceptance? I don't know
Dan Greenberg
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1:08:38
if it's part of the statutory law.
I can certainly tell you that I think of it as part of the common law, because it's always been the procedure in Pulaski County that that's been part of the procedure where the quorum court, you might say, signs off on that allocation. But
Speaker 186
1:08:53
I don't know if you'd call that common law or statutory law, and I don't know if it's some sort
Representative Barry Hyde
Unverified
1:08:58
of statutory requirement or not. Well, I appreciate that answer. A minute ago I thought I heard you say that they approved this, and I'm certain that the law doesn't require approval. I
Speaker 188
1:09:07
take their passing a resolution as a kind of approval. Yes, sir.
Speaker 18
1:09:12
Representative Rogers, for a purpose. Mr. Speaker, call for the
Speaker 109
1:09:17
question. um mr greenberg have you yielded the
Speaker 141
1:09:22
well sure representative rogers let me make sure i understand what you've just asked did
Speaker 21
1:09:28
you move immediate consideration on this bill okay representative rogers has moved immediate consideration proper motion is not debatable all in favor say aye any opposed and rule the ayes have it question before the house
Speaker 143
1:09:42
is the passage of House Bill 1145. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Chair
Unverified
1:09:55
Has everyone... Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a
Speaker 141
1:10:00
vote of 81 yeas, 12 nays, and 2 present, you have passed the bill and the emergency clause. Mr.
Speaker 21
1:10:09
Malik, you're recognized to Mr. Carroll Moose Clencher. All in favor say aye.
Aye. Any opposed? Clinchers adopted. Representative Malick, you're recognized to explain our
Speaker 116
1:10:22
procedure moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, look
Chair
Unverified
1:10:29
on the second page, if you would. The next bills that we are going to batch are House Bills 1171 through 1176 less minus 1172. We're going to vote 1172 separately.
So we're going to batch 1171, 1173, 1174, 1175, and 1176. Now, members, this has to do with the supplemental appropriations. Let me say we should never compromise our morals or our ethics or our integrity. But just as the Speaker mentioned when he was presenting the lottery bill, sometimes we do compromise in the political process.
And he mentioned that sausage-making, and he mentioned how good
Speaker 116
1:11:24
Representative Everett was at sausage-making. And Representative Everett made some pretty good sausage yesterday down in Joint Budget Committee. So what we've got, and
Chair
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1:11:35
I'm going to speak really just once, and it's going to apply to these bills. and it will apply to two bills that are down in the Senate today that we'll get tomorrow. There were $12.2 million worth of supplemental appropriations. You all know the story and the progression where we have ended up.
We are funding corrections, county jail reimbursement, $4.2 million out of Legislative General Improvement Fund, $3 million out of the Governor's General Improvement Fund. We are appropriating and funding $1.6 million to community corrections out of legislative general improvement fund. The redistricting, which is in the Senate bill, $1.6 million will come out of state central services.
Fortunately, only $600-and-something thousand of that is expected
Speaker 116
1:12:31
to be spent this next fiscal year. Then defibrillators, health department money, defibrillators $200,000, health department $600,000 for the health information exchange, and the youth services, well,
Chair
Unverified
1:12:46
defibrillators health department comes out of unclaimed property. Youth services is where we split the baby again, $500,000 out of GIF, $500,000 out of unclaimed property.
Here's the bottom line. We will do $6.3 million total out of the Legislative General Improvement Fund, $3 million out of the Governor's General Improvement, $1.6 million out of Central Services, $1.3 million out of unclaimed property. We still have within revenue stabilization the paragraph that will recapture from year-end fund balances, first, any of the legislative GIF, second, the governor's GIF.
I believe those fund balances will be recovered and that the GIF will be replenished. So some of these bills that we've got are out of GIF. Some of them are out of unclaimed property. We'll have two from the Senate tomorrow, one split between GIF and unclaimed property, and the other one out of state central services. 1171, Department of Corrections County Jail Reimbursement. 1173, Community Corrections. 1174, Health
Speaker 116
1:14:00
Department Defibrillators. 1175 and 1176 are companion bills for the Health Information Exchange.
Speaker 14
1:14:07
Any questions? I would appreciate a good vote.
Okay, Mr. Clerk, please read the bills for the third time. House Bill 1171, House Bill 1173, House Bill 1174, House Bill 1175, House Bill 1176.
Speaker 10
1:14:40
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Members, the question before the House is a consent passage of the preceding bills and emergency clauses. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has
Speaker 141
1:14:58
everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 98 yeas, 2 nays, and 0 present, you pass the bills
Chair
Unverified
1:15:08
and the emergency clauses. Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 1172.
House Bill 1172 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the Department of Higher Education State Teacher Education Program Grants Supplemental Appropriation. Mr. Malik, you're recognized. Thank you,
Chair
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1:15:32
Mr. Speaker. I didn't have any particular reason to pull this out, except it was in between all of those others. So this is simply the Department of Higher Ed State Teacher Education Grant Supplemental Appropriation Bill. Members, you've heard an explanation
Speaker 10
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of the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? If not, the question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1172.
Chair
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Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone
Speaker 21
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voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 141
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By a vote of 100 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you pass the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Malik, you're recognized to explain
Chair
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our procedure moving forward. Members, begin with Senate Bill 27, which is just up above the line division, and go all the way down through Senate Bill 127. This is all of the Senate bills that we have for today, and we will batch those unless you have questions or request to remove one.
Speaker 211
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Representative Greenberg, for what purpose? I have a question. You're recognized. I wonder if we could remove and individually vote
Speaker 135
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on SB 120. Yes. Removes Senate Bill 120 from the batch. Representative Adcock,
Speaker 26
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for what purpose? Just a quick question on Senate Bill 27. You're recognized. Senate
Representative Pam Adcock
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1:17:01
Bill 27, my Adobe's went out on my computer and I'm just now trying to get it up over here on Don's.
Is there an increase for this department for the developmental disability services? Were they able to get an increase this time? I'm not talking salaries,
Speaker 161
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I'm talking services. Representative Adcock, I don't have the exact
Chair
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comparison with last year. This authorizes 2,726 full-time positions, 200 part-time positions.
You know, it's a huge combination of both general revenue, federal, most of it's federal. With those grants, I do not have the direct comparison with last year. Okay, but
Representative Pam Adcock
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1:17:49
you don't see a cut in there anywhere? No, I
Chair
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don't think there's a cut in any of these. A lot of them
Speaker 125
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are pretty flat. That's what I need. Thank you.
Speaker 85
1:17:59
Representative Saunders, for what purpose? To assist in answering the representative's questions, assist Mr. Malek. May I do that? You're recognized. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 89
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that.
Speaker 85
1:18:11
Mr. Malek, if you'll recall back during the session, we approved a payer rate increase for DDS in lieu
Speaker 129
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of any increase in those things. and so they, in fact, did get a large increase from that very thing, a tax. That's right, and then you get the
Chair
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match on that, and Representative Saunders, thank you very much for that. Thank you.
Speaker 141
1:18:42
Okay, members, you have heard an explanation of the bill, or the bills. Mr.
Clerk, please read the bills for the third time. Senate Bill 27, Senate Bill 35, Senate Bill 37, Senate Bill 39, Senate Bill 40, Senate Bill 64, Senate Bill 69, Senate Bill 81, Senate Bill 84, Senate Bill 103, Senate Bill 104, Senate Bill 115, Senate Bill 127.
Speaker 10
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The question before the House is a consent passage of the preceding bills and emergency clauses. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 141
1:19:32
Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 100 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you pass the bills and the emergency clauses. Mr. Clerk, read Senate Bill 120.
Speaker 116
1:19:48
Mr. Malik, you're recognized. While they're working through that batch, getting ready for the next, Representative
Chair
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Adcock, I had my revenue stabilization schedule ready for in just a few minutes, but I didn't have it with me. Let me get back. Disability Services gets just under a $1 million increase for the coming year.
Speaker 142
1:20:30
Mr. Clerk, read Senate Bill 120. Senate Bill 120 by Joint Budget Committee, an act for the Department of
Speaker 162
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Education, grants an aid to local school
Chair
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districts, appropriation for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Representative Malick, you're recognized. member senate bill 120 is uh just the general education department budget grants an aid to local school districts this is 2.6 billion dollars from the public school fund a host of other appropriations to fund our education system in our schools be happy to answer any questions or
would appreciate a good vote thank you members you've
Speaker 10
1:21:07
heard an explanation of the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? If not, the
Chair
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1:21:12
question before the House is a passage of Senate Bill 120. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast
Speaker 21
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up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 99 yeas, 0 nays, and 1 present, you have passed the bill and the
Speaker 21
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Members, we're going to take a 10-minute recess while we wait for House Bill 1122 to be returned from engrossing, and then we will come back and take up House Bill 1122, and then we will take up House Bill 1159, the revenue stabilization law. The House stands in recess for 10 minutes.
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Speaker 15
1:37:33
The House will come to order. Members, we're going to take up the supplemental calendar at this time. Mr. Clerk, read
House Bill 1122. House Bill 1122 by Joint Budget Committee and Act for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Donald W. Reynolds Center of Aging, College of Public Health, College Biosciences Institute, and the Area Health Education Center in Helena Appropriation.
Chair
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1:38:04
Representative Malik, you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you,
Mr. Speaker. Members, this is just the bill with the amendment engrossed into it that we had earlier today. I would appreciate a good vote.
Members, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? If not, the question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1122. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast at the ballot, Mr. Clerk, by a vote of 100 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present, you've passed the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Clerk,
read House Bill 1159. House Bill 1159 by Representative Malik, an act to amend the Arkansas Revenue Stabilization
Chair
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1:38:51
Law of Arkansas. Representative Malik, you're recognized to
explain the bill. Thank you, members. I hope you have a copy of the schedule. This has been on your desk since last week. This is the revenue stabilization bill. This is the funding bill.
This is really the meat of the session as I see it. I'm going to cover just a few highlights and then open it for any questions that you might have. And, of course, we'll vote on the Senate's version of this tomorrow, and it's identical. The total funding projected for the 2011 fiscal year is $4.478 billion. Now let me back up three years. In fiscal 2008, we collected net available money of $4.5 billion. In 2009, we collected net available $4.43 billion.
So we had a decline from 2008 to 2009. When we started out fiscal year 10 that we're in right now, we had a projected budget of $4.508 billion. In October, you know that was cut $100 million, $4.408 billion. In January, that was cut $106 million to $4.302 billion. So we are projecting for this fiscal year a second year of decline.
We are projecting slight, moderate growth for the coming year, and I think because of the decline, then the growth will really only get us to almost where we were for fiscal 08, 4.5, of what our actual net collections were. So those are the total dollar numbers. You've got the schedule that breaks it out. Let me make a couple of other comments about some special language and other sections in the bill.
Section 14 of the Revenue Stabilization Law provides for the transfer of $21 million from the unclaimed property fund into the Educational Adequacy Fund. As we've had the cuts this year, we've had to draw down on the public school fund. This will put some money back there to give a little cushion. Education is our number one priority. Section 15 provides for $25 million to be borrowed or to be used from the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund,
if needed, solely to cover income tax refunds that are in excess of projections. Now, we project a year-end balance in the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund of $231 million. This would allow the use of up to $25 million this fiscal year for tax refunds above projections,
Speaker 116
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just as a safeguard. Section 16 provides that any monies that were used from legislative GIF, which
Chair
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is the $6.3 million that we talked about earlier,
will be replenished out of year-end fund balances, that first. Second, any fund balances could be used to replenish the executive division, the $3 million that the governor puts in, and then other provisions there. Anything above that would go into the general revenue allotment reserve surplus. So with that, those are the total numbers. Those are the special provisions that I wanted to call your attention to, and I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
Representative Randy Stewart
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1:42:39
Representative King, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You
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know, Representative Malik, I first want to thank you for your job in joint budget this time. You've been extremely helpful to myself, and I feel like I've got honest answers, and you've been available to take the time to inform me about what's going on. You know, as we've talked about in our private discussions, you know, the problem I had with state spending, And I know the Americans for Prosperity have just released their annual report about state spending, how it is increasing.
And also, you know, Talk Business sent out this e-mail earlier this week, you know, to Salt Falcon to shut down for two weeks, train to lay off $212 in Fort Smith, Windstream sees their net income fall. And in areas in my district, we have like Tyson's Foods, which cut out overtime pay for all the employees. So, you know, people are not budgeting more money. And I know we're budgeting more money. We have to spend what we take in. And revenue stabilization allows us to only spend what we take in.
But the growth in state government in these economic times is, to me, is getting too much. And that's the problem. I guess I'm trying to explain why I'm going to vote against this. But, you know, state government spending, as we see, is just increasing at a time when people, is families' budgets increasing? Well, no, not in my district. Are businesses increasing? No. People are making cuts. So I guess that's my comment to you about where do you see state government spending, like in this report, that it continues to rise and people's income and businesses are hurting and things are going down.
Speaker 116
1:44:21
Thank you, Representative King. And I certainly understand and appreciate your
Chair
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concerns. and we all know that we are in the most difficult economy that any of us have ever experienced. And I've told many of you in 07 when we had a good surplus and I tried to create a rainy day fund and put some money aside, I was looking when I researched drafting that bill, what trigger should I use to be able to access the rainy day fund?
And at first I thought, well, I would access it when growth went negative. And I started doing some checking, and historically, growth was negative in 01, 02 fiscal year. And then you had to go back for years and years to find even another negative growth year. And I haven't seen, and I haven't gone back beyond 50 years, but I have not seen two years back-to-back negative growth, and that's
Speaker 145
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what we've got. Now, Representative King, I've asked those same questions.
I've asked them of DF&A, and I've asked them of our own economist, Richard Wilson, who works
Chair
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for us. And to a great extent, I have to rely on them. Mr. Wilson basically agrees with the projections of DF&A. I will state this. I think he was a little bit under the DF&A projection on gross receipts, sales tax. but he was certainly within the amount that we've got in Category B, which is $34.5 million.
He was less than that on the difference. My initial reaction, if you will, on a 4% growth is, well, yeah, that seems pretty strong. And I think one reason that it may not be as strong is because we're coming off such a dip. And I'm really not going to argue. None of us really know. You know, that's the projection. It's the best projection that we have. And I think it's because we had two back-to-back negative years.
That growth really just puts us up where we had hoped to be at the beginning of this year. As far as growing state government, it's a concern that I have. I mean, we've talked certainly about the Medicaid issue and those. And to a lesser extent, we've got to be conservative. We've got to be prudent. We're tightening our belts. We've got to be careful about expanding programs. I still view this budget as a flat budget. Yes, it's got a $170-something billion increase, but it's no higher than where we thought we were going to be at the beginning of the 2010 year.
So, I mean, your concerns are well-founded, and I don't know that any of us know. There are some national economic numbers that are turning back up. Gross domestic products and things like that are turning back up. I have always thought Arkansas lagged a little bit going into the recession, that we lag maybe a little bit coming out. But I think things in the 2011 fiscal year will turn back up. I don't
Speaker 161
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think it's going to be robust.
I don't think we're going to take off.
Chair
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1:47:39
But I can't argue with the professional economist at both DF&A and within the Bureau. And I understand that, and I respect
Speaker 224
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their opinion, especially Richard Wilson's. But it gets back to the same thing we did last year, and then we budgeted this much money in colleges and went out there and said, hey, we're going to get this money. And then the next thing you know, I'm reading headlines when we had to make the cuts, or the governor made the cuts, that, you know what the headlines was? this college had to cut funding, had to cut what they planned.
I mean, to me, a more conservative approach is to cut the spending even more. And if we, you know, accumulate more, then that would go into a surplus. And then hopefully we would get back to where we should be giving tax relief back to people and businesses and helping in tough times. So that's – I guess that's my point that I have, that it's another – could possibly be another
Speaker 209
1:48:34
over-budgeting situation. I understand, of course, the beauty of revenue stabilization is that we do cut that budget
Chair
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1:48:41
and we maintain a balanced budget, and that's the reason our state is one of a few that does not have severe economic budgetary problems. And I think all those colleges and universities and state agencies out there understand right now that even though we make this projection, they still need to be very careful. Representative Saunders, for what purpose? Question, Mr. Speaker? You're
Speaker 89
1:49:06
recognized. Thank you. Mr. Malek, are there any increased taxes other than the cigarette tax in this budget?
Speaker 85
1:49:13
No. That's it? That's it. Did we decrease taxes in the
Speaker 116
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last session? In the last session, yes, the grocery tax. So we
Chair
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1:49:23
took some revenue away, and that puts that revenue back into the pockets of the
Speaker 85
1:49:29
citizens of the state of Arkansas. In fact, as you just mentioned with regard to the revenue stabilization, when the executive branch cuts budget amounts, budgeted amounts, isn't that doing just exactly what Representative King wants us to do?
Speaker 89
1:49:45
Aren't we being very conservative with how we spend? We're not
Chair
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1:49:49
spending that money. Is that not correct? Well, I think revenue stabilization is a conservative approach. And I think one thing, and back to Representative King's comments and yours as well, I think one of the main benefits of this fiscal session, the amendment for which I voted against, is that we are drafting a more conservative revenue stabilization bill than if we had written a two-year bill a year ago.
A year ago, we didn't see as much of a downturn that we had in the fall and winter of this year. And so we would have, I think, funded an increase for 2011 above 2010. Now, when revenue declines, the governor cuts that budget and we take care of it. But if revenue turned back up, if we'd had a two-year funding bill, we probably would have automatically spent it, which Representative King would prefer not to do. If we are fortunate and the economy recovers and we have more growth than projected, we can accumulate some surplus which is needed for state buildings and other needs that we don't fund in the operating budget of the state.
Speaker 228
1:50:57
Thank you, Mr. Malik. I want Representative King to vote for this bill. I think we've done
Speaker 184
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a great job. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker 232
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Speaker. Representative Smith, for a purpose. Question. You recognize? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Malik, don't you think that our position as legislators in the state should send a message to the people at large that we believe in a positive view that Arkansas's economy is rebounding and that by placing these monies back into the budget, we're allowing consumer confidence to increase
because people look at our decisions, they judge us based on our performance, and we've done exceptionally well in the past. So I think that this is the right move, and I appreciate your leadership with this. Do you not agree? I agree. Thank you. Representative Reap,
Speaker 228
1:51:45
for what purpose? Question. You recognize? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Malek, I just want to clarify something. I think in your give and take there with Representative Saunders, in this RSA and this budget for this fiscal year, we have raised no taxes. Oh, no.
Chair
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1:51:58
That was all done in the last regular session. We have not raised or cut in this fiscal session. and he was referring to some things that we did last session, which did impact our revenue, the cigarette tax on the positive side, but we had specific health initiatives, and then, of course, the grocery tax cut on giving back to the citizens. Thank you. Members,
Speaker 234
1:52:19
I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Garner, for what purpose? Question.
Representative Ed Garner
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1:52:28
You're recognized. Representative Malick, and I want to echo the comments about the yeoman's work you've done on this.
and i view this resource and always have appreciate your work sir my question is that early on when we were talking about the pre-session budget hearings and you and i talked about the possibility of creating a conservative budget that perhaps would allow for some surplus so that we could in the next session when it's appropriate improve the the tax
climate of arkansas to create jobs
which i think we both agree we're under the gun to create an environment where jobs can be created
with included in this is dfna's projection for a 6.7 percent increase in sales tax revenue and an overall increase in the budget of four percent do you do you feel uh optimistic that the vision that we had at the beginning of this process where potentially arkansas had a
chance to create a surplus do you do you still have that are you confident of that vision or do you see this as an optimistic
budget in which the state is prepared to spend every dime that comes in?
Chair
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1:53:51
Well, let me say, first of all, Representative Garner, I think it is a reasonable budget. Now, let me make another comment, and I'm not trying to give you any funny math or anything else like that. Do I think sales tax are going to increase 6.7% personally? No, and I
don't remember exactly what that figure was. But let me tell you something else that skews those numbers a little bit. Most of you are familiar with the manufacturer's sales tax reduction that we did we've kind of graduated that down but those manufacturers have to claim a rebate on that sales tax they pay it and then they get it back some of them that do it electronically may can can end up netting it out when they file but this fiscal year we've had a large claim
on a sales tax refund and it's knocked us down and so then maybe you've got three or four percent growth next year, but because we had an extra-large refund this year, it looks like six or seven. So there's a few things like that that can explain part of that. I can't go through all the detail, but sometimes we'll have an audit. We may have a settlement on someone that had income tax that we recovered for several years. It could be a refund. It could go the other way.
But generally, it's worth collecting from them. But anyway, there's a few extraordinary items like that that affect those numbers, make them look a little perhaps unrealistic.
Speaker 161
1:55:18
That could explain some of those. I think the budget's reasonable. I hope we have some surplus. But, you know, we've got to wait. We'll know June
Representative Ed Garner
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1:55:32
do you feel, at the end of this process, as optimistic as you were at the
start of this process, that we would, in fact, budget conservatively enough to have a surplus?
Chair
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1:55:44
I think so. And let me mention this difference for this coming fiscal year and this fiscal session as opposed to last regular session. We put some items – of course, we had a Category A, a Category B1, and a B last time. But we had some appropriations and we had some funding out there in some categories that our projected revenue would not fund. But we put some items out there that if revenue was more, it would automatically fund.
We have not put a dime in this Revenue Stabilization Act that we do not project we will take in. So if there is growth, it's not automatically taken up. Now, we didn't have a lot last time, but we did have some that was above the projections out there in a third category. We didn't do any of that this time. You know, the governor initially wanted that $34.5 million with his discretion to plug, And we did end up going ahead and allocating that.
Now, the only other comment that I should have made earlier, if you look in that B category of the allocations, the corrections and community corrections does not have an allocation in B, and that's because the governor has made them whole out of his $40 million discretionary
Speaker 236
1:57:07
fund on the budget cuts that we had in October and
Representative Ed Garner
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1:57:13
January. this this budget is larger than the budget that we had in
2007 where we had a 1.1 billion dollar
surplus is that is that correct now i know and i'm going to qualify that because uh because i want to manipulate i understand 450 million of that went to the school
facilities we've cut Since that time, we've cut the grocery tax twice and the manufacturers cut on use of energy. We raised a cigarette tax. But at the net, we are still a larger growing budget state than we were at 2007 because we have revenue exceeding that, even accounting for those tax cuts.
Speaker 10
1:57:59
Is that a fair characterization? That's correct. Thank you. Thank you, members. Members, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Would anyone like to
Chair
Unverified
1:58:12
speak against the bill, for the bill? If not, the question for the House is the passage of House Bill 1159. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Speaker 141
1:58:29
Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 94 yeas, 5 nays, and 0 present, you've passed the bill and the emergency clause. Members, we've received a bill from the Senate that I will now ask the Clerk to read across the desk.
Senate Bill 126 by Senator Selman and Aul to amend the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act and to provide for state income taxes. Without objection, read the bill a second
Speaker 21
1:59:20
time. Bill 126. Rules. Members, before I accept the adjournment motion, I have a couple of announcements. The first is we've been asked by many people today for an update on Tim. And I want everybody to know that he has been released from the hospital.
He is at home resting. In fact,
Speaker 15
1:59:35
he's probably watching live right now. So, Tim, if you're at home, we love you. Get well soon. And, members, secondly, we are on track
Speaker 21
2:00:05
to do something that, frankly, I wasn't sure we would be able to do when we started
Speaker 141
2:00:10
this fiscal session, and that is finish early.
So I want to briefly explain the procedure that we're looking at for the next 24 hours or so. The bill that was just read across the desk was the Senate version of the scholarship lottery bill. That bill has been assigned to the Rules Committee. I believe you'll hear an announcement
Speaker 21
2:00:31
from the chair of that committee about a meeting this afternoon to take that bill up, which will put us in the posture to have that bill on our calendar for tomorrow, along with the other Senate appropriation bills that they have voted on today.
That puts us in an excellent position to finish up tomorrow, which is five days
Speaker 141
2:00:50
ahead of schedule. I want to, first of all, thank all of you for your hard work and your dedication, because it wouldn't have happened without you, but also ask for you to read those bills very carefully, because if we get caught up on any one
Speaker 21
2:01:06
of them tomorrow, then finishing tomorrow might be a challenge. So, with that, Representative Everett, for what purpose? Adjournment, motion. Let's
Speaker 234
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hear your motion. After the announcement of reading the
Speaker 110
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bill, it's placing a calendar on the desk,
a member of their own bill, a member of withdrawing their own bill. I move we adjourn until 10
Chair
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o'clock tomorrow. Proper motion, not debatable. All in favor say aye. Any
Speaker 143
2:01:29
opposed? Motion carries. Are there any announcements? Representative Reynolds, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Joint
Speaker 242
2:01:38
Energy will meet upon adjournment today in room 171. Representative Moore, for what
Speaker 243
2:01:45
purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Rules Committee will meet in room 51 presently.
Speaker 143
2:01:49
Please join me. Representative Overby, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Public retirement
Speaker 242
2:01:55
is fixing to meet in about five minutes in room
Speaker 245
2:01:57
130. I hope all members and anybody else that wants to will show up. Are there any
Speaker 143
2:02:04
other announcements? Representative Harrelson, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Members,
Speaker 246
2:02:12
Democratic Caucus will meet this afternoon. We know that there is joint energy, joint retirement rules. We're going to try
Speaker 247
2:02:17
and meet at 4 o'clock at the AA building, third floor.
Speaker 15
2:02:21
If you can make it, I'd love to have you. Are there any other announcements? Members, the desk will remain open until 4.30 today for the reading of bills received from the Senate. The House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. Thank you.
Agenda
Call to Order
HB1163 Wills
HB1122 Joint Budget Committee - Amendment 2
Introduction Joint Budget Bills
Roll Call Joint Budget Bills
Introduction Joint Budget Bills
Roll Call Joint Budget Bills
HB1122 Joint Budget - Supplemental
HB1159 Joint Budget - Supplemental
Other Business
Adjournment
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
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Chair
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Representative Duncan Baird Chair
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Representative John Burris
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Representative Charolette Wagner
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Representative Ed Garner
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Representative Jonathan Dismang Chair
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Representative Pam Adcock
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Representative Randy Stewart
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Dan Greenberg
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Representative Barry Hyde
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