House Convenes

Amber staff pressing against the. The House order I invite the member staff pressing guests in the gallery sustained be led in prayer by. John face in mass pastor of Conway missionary Baptist Church guest of representative Matt brown and to remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Lane Jean. Thank you for this opportunity let's pray. Heavenly father we humbly bow before your wonderful and powerful and also from the grace. I was so thankful when such an honor to be here today to open this session up in prayer I'm so thankful for each and ever man and woman in person represented in this room. That step out of our comfort zone. It decided to run for office in very difficult times. And sometimes people is not nice I pray for each and every representative representative this room that was elected by the people for the people I pray for their health the welfare will being paid for their families ward and I pray that they will continue to stand strong in and push forward for this wonderful state of Arkansas I've been honored board by your power might to be able to visit other great state and city in this Republic. And I'm gonna go overseas and visit foreign countries preaching the gospel as a pastor in Africa in Colombia. Paraguay Brazil Argentina and a deep part of Mexico. The lord there's no place by my wonderful home state of Arkansas. A place where we can on Saturday call the hogs say whooping city and on Sunday we can praise god and worship him you freely in this house in your house so thank you for again this opportunity I pray that this session would go with off without a hitch I pray that each and everyone would work together not not necessarily given up morals and principles and and and things like that but they would come together on things that have common ground on a for the betterment of Arkansas but again I just thank you for this opportunity thank you for this wonderful legislators and thank you for everyone that's stepped out we love you we praise you we thank you in the name of Jesus Amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present about and prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety six members present jerseys a quorum are there any requests for leave. Representative Fortner. For what purpose leave. You're recognized a representative Deborah Ferguson is leave granted for representative Deborah Ferguson. Representative reporter for what purpose leave you're recognized leave or representative long is leave granted representative long. Represent Stan Berry for what purpose leave you're recognized leave or representative Richards is leave granted for representative Richardson. Representative Jeffrey Wardlaw moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal no objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees read reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we are committee on joint budget committee to whom was referred house bill ten fifty three house bill twelve fifteen house bill twelve sixteen house bill twenty nine house bill twelve thirty two house bill twelve forty nine house bill twelve seventy beg leave to what we have the same to the same consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition they do pass as a sort of the engine co chair. Are they Reports from standing committees read reports Mr Clark. The Speaker we are committee on public transportation to whom was referred house bill fourteen eighty five house of fifteen sixty three house bill sixteen twenty one beg leave to report we have that had the same consideration here they're trying to say with the recommendation that do pass as a respectfully submitted record Clerk vice chair Mister Speaker we are committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred house bill never little forty three beg leave to report we had under the same consideration here the turn the same with a recommendation and you pass the current sentiment everyone into exactly submitted last the chair Mr Speaker we committee on Revenue and Tax and was referred house bill fifty ninety four beg leave to report we have had the same under consideration here they're trying to say with the recommendation that do pass strictly submitted lessees chair Mister Speaker we are committee on education to was referred house bill forty eighty five house bill fifteen fifty nine beg leave to what we thought it had the same under consideration here they're trying to say with the recommendation that do pass record respect with with the Keith Brooks vice chair. Mr Speaker we are committee on public health welfare and labor to whom was referred senate bill three twenty two but the to what we have the same consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that do pass as amended or wonder surface with the Johnson chair Speaker we are committee on public health welfare and labor to whom was referred house bill sixteen twenty nine beg leave to report that we have had that the same consideration and your the transit with the recognition do pass as amended one respectfully submitted the Johnson chair Speaker your committee on public health welfare and labor team was referred house bill forty forty six as a fifteen eighty hustle fifteen eighty two Senate bill three eighteen beg leave to what we've had the same consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition I do pass or recycling wood Lee Johnson chair. Is there any unfinished business. Are there any look Executive communications. Read the letter from the governor. March fourteenth one twenty three to the Speaker of the house the Speaker this is to inform you that on March thirteenth one twenty three are reviewed and approved the following measures from the legislative session of the ninety first General Assembly house bill ten eighty two this act two fifty seven house eleven twenty eight activity a houseful of forty two is active fifty nine of eleven eighty one is that to sixty house bill twelve before's nineteen sixty one I thought twelve forty six ACT to secure house bill thirty five ACT two six the house bill three sixty five is that to secure also thirty four as two ACT two sixty five as a Fortino one is at two six six of forty six to sixty seven possibility fourteen twenty as at two sixty eight has reported that some of that to sixty nine has a forty five ACT two seventy thousand fourteen thirty two is active thirty one house of fourteen ninety three sectors thirty two has a forty ninety four is active two thirty three serially Senator Huckabee Sanders. Members are doctor of the day is Dr Patrick Fraley the specialty I cannot pronounce and he is from Conway the gas the representative Bentley. In our nurse of the day is Sherri Benard. Our Arkansas state troopers are corporal calving grounds and sergeant David fourth man. We have several gas with this today we have in the north gallery as guest of representative eleven Melissa and Layne Evans wife and daughter representative Brian S. Evans. We also have the leaders and members of the national down syndrome association also the guest of representative eleven. In the east gallery we have no a more sign of representative can grow more. Also in the east gallery we have the Franklin County senior center who are the guests of Representative mark berry and myself. Also in the east gallery we have the hot springs village Republican women who are the guests of representative McGrew and representative Bentley. Also in this gallery are the Jacksonville chamber leadership which is are the gas the the representative mark Perry and Karilyn Brown. And representative Wardlaw would not forgive me if I didn't recognize that his daughter Paisley in Pitsch Wardlaw are serving as pages today. Mr Clark reed House resolution ten forty three. House resolution ten forty three of a resident representative in it okay March thirteen through seventeen twenty twenty three as americorps is weak in Arkansas. Represented in it you're recognized to present your resolution. Thank you Mr. Holly's. Can I as representative calling to come up here with me. House resolution ten forty three is to proclaim that this week is americorps week here in Arkansas. Representatives. Andrew Collins and I are proud alumni of americorps. Back in the late nineties right before Y. two K. I had the honor of setting up an after school program in college station here Pulaski County. announced to me working with all those lovely people local leaders parents and students I was becoming a public servants. I'm standing here because of the time I spent with americorps. can I. Can I recognize the. I'm sorry I like to recognize my guest here all americorps members in the west gallery you please stand. With that Mister Clark can you please read read the resolution in this full entirety Mr Clark please read resolution in its entirety. Where a service to others is a hallmark of the American character and throughout our history citizens of stepped up to meet our challenges by volunteering in their communities and we're as americorps provides opportunities for nearly two hundred thousand Americans each year to serve their country through an intensive commitment to service at non profit schools public agencies and community and faith based groups across the country and we as Americans with enriches the lives of its members building habits that create engaged citizens who are active participants in civic matters affecting their communities long after their servants service terms of included we're as americorps members encourage collaboration partnerships leveraging millions of volunteers and servicing requiring the support of business partners to increase the effectiveness of their and and it initiatives and we're as an Arkansas more than twenty two thousand five hundred americorps members of various ages and backgrounds help to meet local needs of more than three hundred locations in the state right to during our mentoring children and youth restoring the environment increasing food security responding to disasters. And we're as in exchange for their services record members develop valuable work skills earn money for continuing education and strengthen the lives of their families their communities in the state as a whole and rest since America was founded in nineteen ninety three more than eleven thousand residents in Arkansas has served approximately eighteen million hours through americorps and have received higher education loan reimbursement for is the single americorps education award totaling more than thirty six thirty six million dollars North America week as a as an opportunity to recognize the dedication and commitment of the more than one million Americans who have chosen to serve their country through americorps and their community partners and to encourage more Americans to follow their footsteps and service now therefore be it resolved in the house of representatives of the ninety first General Assembly the state of Arkansas the house of representatives thank americorps members for their service and proclaimed the week of March thirteenth to the seventeen twenty twenty three as americorps week in Arkansas. Representative Dennis presented to resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. For the resolution. Representative Bennett are you close for the resolution question before the House is the passage of house resolution ten forty three all in favor say aye. Opposed nay resolution is passed. Members I need to recognize some additional people that are here today we have some north side high school students are serving as pages and they are the guests of represent Gramlich Richardson in Crawford. In the east gallery we also have Jennifer her name and her daughter Edie the guest of representative the Hodges. Mr Clark reed House resolution ten forty nine. House resolution to forty I've a representive wing to recognize the red cross for their countless hours of service. Represent when you're recognized presenter resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker the American red cross was founded in eighteen eighty one by the great Clara Barton and under her leadership and with her vision the organization became the iconic symbol of humanitarian aid that we know today during World War two president Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed March as red cross month to honor their efforts during that time of global adversity so here in Arkansas the red cross is come to aid for those who are victims of tornadoes floods and other natural disasters the red cross also aggressively works in prevention by installing smoke alarms and of course their blood donation drives today we have the executive director of the greater Arkansas chapter of the Arkansas Red Cross miss Lori Arnold Ellis joined by Julie brown executive director for the northwest Arkansas red cross and James Keenan board member for northwest Arkansas red cross please stand and welcome them and thank them for the great work that they do here in Arkansas. Thank you colleagues I appreciate your support for this organization which has meant so much to us during some of our darkest and most difficult times Mr Speaker please have the Clerk read the title of the resolution. Mr Clark please read the title of the resolution to recognize the red cross for their countless hours of service. Represent weighing as presented to resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. For the resolution representive wing is closed for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of house resolution ten forty nine all in favor say aye. Those nay resolution is passed. Mr Clark reed House resolution ten fifty. House resolution ten fifty representative Charlene Fite to recognize representative William Larry Prater for in service to this community and to the state of Arkansas. Represented by a recognized to explain your resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker Mr William Larry Prater yes my constituent he served in this body for three terms since he left the legislature he has stayed involved in his community working with our local bands senior centers schools four H. fairs and church while he was here in this body he worked getting funding and support for our libraries are fire departments are schools veterans children and many other causes Mr pray there will turn ninety on March the eighteenth so it's only right that we recognise him for all the great work that he has done for his community and for the state of Arkansas and Mr Clark would you please read the. Installation by title. Mr Kirk Clark could you please read the resolution by title only. To recognize our president William later Prater for a service to the community into the state of Arkansas. Representive art has presented the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. For the resolution representative fights close for the resolution question before the House is the passage of house resolution ten fifty all in favor say aye. Pose nee resolutions passed. Mr Clark reed House resolution ten fifty one. House resolution to fifty one by representative eleven to celebrate recognized world down syndrome day in the state of Arkansas. Senate Bevins you're recognized president resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker members very happy today to bring resolution ten fifty one to you as we celebrate and recognize down syndrome day in the state of Arkansas just for a moment of information and as it will be read in the resolution the date for world syndrome date is the twenty first day of the third month every year the three twenty one is very significant because that is selected to signify the uniqueness of the triple cation of the twenty first chromosome which causes down syndrome we have a group with this today I believe they're up in the east gallery from the Arkansas down syndrome federation or association they've been here all day today they've had time with the governor they spent some time down in the Senate and we're very happy and honored to have them here with us this afternoon so if you would all join me in welcoming them and then after that Mister Speaker if you would have the Clerk please read to read the read the resolution in its entirety. Mr Clark would you please read the resolutions in its entirety. Where is down Senator day is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in very well thanks on a learning styles physical characteristics or health and we're is adequate access to health care early intervention programs inclusive education are vital to the growth and development of into individuals with down syndrome and whereas it is imperative that we remember the inherent dignity worth and valuable contributions of persons with intellectual disabilities and importance of each person's individual autonomy and independence and we're as the date for world down syndrome day is the twenty first day of the third month selected to signify the uniqueness of the triple cation of the twenty first chromosome which causes down syndrome and wears down syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting one in over eight hundred babies or possibly six thousand births per year in the United States and whereas if you're marks the eighteenth university world down syndrome day with supports individuals with down syndrome and those who advocate for them now therefore be it resolved in the house of representatives of the ninety fourth General Assembly of the State of Arkansas the house of representatives celebrated recognize and recognize March twenty first twenty twenty three as well down syndrome day in Arkansas. Thank you Mr Clark and members we're doing this today because as noted in the resolution the actual the date that this is honored is three twenty one that's next week we will all be gone on spring break so we wanted to make sure that we took care of this today and if there's any confusion or if any of you think that they were meant for you the one up in the east gallery that was throwing the heart and blowing kisses that was for me that's my daughter. Representative bill eleven has presented the resolution. Question on the floor is passage of HR at ten fifty one all in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed nay. The ayes have it resolution is passed. Mr Clark please read HR ten forty eight. House resolution to forty eight representative Richmond to call the United States government to declare if an all to be a weapon of mass destruction and it is that designates the Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organization. Representative Richmond you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Colleagues. Basically what's happened here is that myself as well as I think a lot of citizens in the state of Arkansas have grown weary. Of an action. A lack of a course of action that's going to address this problem that we have and what is a problem we're losing over a hundred thousand Americans per year. Overdoses and sixty six percent of those can be related back to opioids. But not. Is a chemical. Is a chemical that is killing approx one hundred and ninety six Americans per day. Being a chemical it is being used like a chemical weapon. Chemical weapons are weapons of mass destruction. And if you're killing a hundred thousand people a day a year I would say that is in fact a weapons of mass destruction. And it's time to do something about that. It's time to have a response now some people say well I spent no that's a drug this different. The results are the same it doesn't matter that is not a nerve agent doesn't matter that it's not a blister agent doesn't matter that is not a choking agent it is still killing Americans and we need to do something B. for all of us have somebody in our family that has been a victim of this because that is the direction that we're going right now. It is time for federal government. To get busy and to act now we know where these drugs are coming from they're coming up from the south to be brought to this truth by the cartels and these cartels aren't this just little mom and pop group that is coming in and selling a little marijuana or whatever else they're bringing these drugs in and they know what the results of these drugs are these organizations have their own professional armies. Mexico. Those powerful particular private armies are such with the Mexican government. Mr for. Of trying to do something about. Well something has to change. In this particular resolution is simply asking the federal government declaring that the here is a problem. Stop eating cotton candy and get something done police now before we lose a million Americans. As we're on our way. And it is definitely time to change. So it's asking that these cartels be declared terrorist organizations why. Because then you can reach out and touch them. In different ways than what you can if you're just considering them simply a crime organization and I think we've hit that point with this many people die. I think we've hit that point with the murder in the corporation and all the other stuff that they're doing they are intimidating both politically. For political reasons to intimidate their own Mexican government as well as for monetary reasons. That is a terrorist organization that is the definition of a terrorist organization. Let's do something about it. I do believe it's time to stop wringing our hands and wondering what we should do it's time for the federal government to curl at hand up into a fist and start fighting back. There's no reason to wait till tomorrow or the next day. Take the tools that we have. And let's punch a running nose it is time to put on the war paint it is time to get me and deal with them the way they deserved to be deal. And again I just think that our federal government needs to listen to the people in this assembly. Needs a list of the people in this state and they need to listen to the people in this country. And start taking some action. Mister Speaker I would ask you that you have the Clerk read the resolution and title only. Mr Clark please read resolution and title only. To call the United States government to declare for not to be a weapon of mass destruction and to designate the Mexican drug cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations. Representative Richmond has explained the resolution. Anyone like to speak against resolution for the resolution. You close for the resolution. The question before the House is passage of HR ten forty eight all in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed signify by saying may. The ayes have it. Resolutions passed. Representive Eubanks for what purpose point of personal privilege you're recognized. Members four years ago I was at NCSL log conference and I met the. Mark Bailey who is the twenty fourth chair of the senate of Ireland. And. I became the House co chair of the American Irish caucus will and so I received the package. Earlier this well actually it was last week and it included the plans that you have at your seats and a flag that my good friend representive Wardlaw Holcomb is supposed to be holding up at the back of the room so you. Now I can I wanted to bring it up to the well but we can have props. But the this flag actually has flown over it's called thirty three the mall and water for. From where the Thomas F. major flu a tri color flag for the first time on the seventh of March eighteen forty eight now Thomas F. Meagher was a and Irish patriot and he was also Vaught Mr he was a brigadier general general and the famous fighting Irish brigade in the Union Army during the civil war and was governor of Montana but the. It was a real pleasure meeting the Senator day and I want to explain what the colors represent on the flag. The white in the centre signifies the lasting truth truce between orange and green. I trust that the needs that holds the hands of the Irish Catholic and Irish Protestant may be classed in generous and heroic brotherhood now that was a a number of worthy goal that he had unfortunately I I'm a. I'm afraid that history hasn't proven that out but maybe maybe there's still hope that the the folks can work through their differences and work in. Tala there any together but. I thought it was pretty neat that Senator day sent me this package with the flag in the pens to hand out. And since the Speaker is in here. Here's a prop. If anybody is interested in having a signed certificate by senator mark Daly and become a member of the Irish American Irish state legislators caucus just contact me representative Eubanks that's election material right not a problem. Morning hour is ended. Representative Wardlaw recommends that we concur in the Senate amendment one to HB thirteen oh seven. Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one. Senate whatever one to House Bill thirteen oh seven. Represent Wardlaw you're recognized to explain the amendment. All right we're gonna. We're gonna go ahead and pass. we're gonna pass over H. B. fourteen sixty eight. Mr Clark please read H. B. fourteen ninety six. Also fourteen ninety six representative talk to in the law concerning abuse of athletic contest official. President fox you're recognized to present your bill thank you Mr Speaker is pending that will bring in officials bill on the first day of March madness so before anybody gets mad at any official I wanna get this past colleagues I I got to say that I learned a lot over the last couple weeks from representative doll being Gazaway on all laws and what battery is and what a salty does And so with that being said this hello this House bill has been vetted thoroughly through the Judiciary Committee in fact so much so we had to go back in amended to make it with the proper battery and assault laws right now what this is going to do is it's going to or per protect our officials at the Little League level at the high school level and at the collegiate level in the state of Arkansas I don't know if you remember about a year ago up in Mountain Home there was an official that was doing a high school basketball game and a fan came out of the stands and just laid a haymaker on and put him in the hospital and that's what we're trying to do right now is protect your officials these guys make sixty to seventy dollars as a part time job for most of them and so we want to have some protections in place for them we do have colleagues on this house floor and on the Senate floor that are officials in this means a lot to them as well and with that being said I ask for any questions. Yes Sir. Reps representative wouldn't for what reason for what reason code represented within for one reason or representative will call. Sir did you make a bad call. I don't know that to be. I don't know. Secondly it was due to a production of of physical abuse verbal abuse so this is all just about physical abuse verbal abuse there's okay yeah there's nothing in this that if if you want to go in screaming at officials I know there's been some people that have asked us if I if I want to sling obscenities at officials my gonna get arrested and you're not going to be arrested for this is if you actually physically put your hands on officials there's three tiers of what physicality it looks like and what the charges might be it's a good bill we need to thank you Sir. Represent Crawford what reason question you're recognized for a question we talked a representative hawking Committee so I want to get you on public record again that you will make sure that the Little League parents and those people in school know what the consequences are getting angry and getting out of control yes ma'am so to your point I and I followed up with the Arkansas activities association and they are going to let every member school know about this new law and the consequences I have already started to engage people in the sewing County area about this I reached out already since we had committee and talk to tournament directors around the state to let them know when they've all even said we will post something so that when we have a tournament wherever it may be in the state of Arkansas the fans would know something about this. Representative ray. Question you're recognized I apologize represent hawk I wasn't able to watch the committee presentation so you may have already answered this question some point but. There are the penalties for assault and battery on an official would they be higher than they would be for if you if you committed the same crime against just a normal person on the street they would be enhanced so yes there is and really the enhancement comes on the misdemeanors so the battery in the assault laws representative Gazaway worked with me to keep those in line but if you look down on line three of of where we start defining the the language so so basically let's say that an official is doing a baseball game and the fan comes up and grabs him by the chest protector and throws him up against the fence we're not gonna throw him in jail for that because they did not physically bruise or harming official they just threatened so the minimum fine is gonna be it's gonna be a misdemeanor but they're gonna get a thousand dollar minimum fine on something like that. Follow up. You can use explain why you think that they ought to be subject to stiffer penalties and for this the status of the victim as an official rather than on any other person absolutely so right now we've got a shortage in the state of Arkansas and really across the country of officials and this was brought to me by the of the high school officials association and they said look we can't get young guys to come in and do a ball game for sixty dollars and I was talking a little league on pyres associations interment records and they said look these guys do this all part time basis and you know they don't want to they don't want to have guys coming up and threatening them physically and so what this is done twenty two other states have passes exact law that said you know what we're going to stand behind our officials we're gonna just have a little bit more backing because if we don't have officials we're gonna have games that are gonna be one day a week when fans are going to use the Friday night football you might have Tuesday night football because that's going to you get to get officials to call games hopefully that answers your question. Representative months for. I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative hawk has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent pain you're recognized speak for the bill. Colleagues I am a football high school football official and I'm from not home so I would really love this bill and wooden we are always right thanks. We would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Okay representative moving you're recognized speak for the bill. I feel like I need to respond to that they are I and we need an an is coaches and fans and parents we need to recognize what are we teaching our children would we abuse official when he follows is black he calls a penalty in the basketball guy. He's the man in charge. And we need to have a great deal of respect for I have never never physically abused offense and I hope I don't think I have ever abuse one verbally I have blood all. But. The baby is bad is doing this is a good bill. We would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent gas well you're recognized speak for the bill. this I just do want to speak in favor of this bill this is a good bill represented hard work with the committee to make sure that this was In line with with existing law and and not you know really. Out in the field no pun intended but so basically what it does is it says because serious physical injury to or athletic official acting in the course of. their their duties that that can be a Class B. felony which is in line with the acting with the purpose to cause physical look serious physical injury to anyone else causing serious physical injury to have the intent to cause physical injury but you cause serious physical injury that's a C. felony which actually is a little bit upgraded from other law that applies to anyone else that's typically a D. felony in this instance because athletic official that'll be a C. felony and then on the misdemeanor portion of the bill that that conduct is the same as we recognized for anyone else same for athletic official except we would impose a twenty five hundred dollar fine if you acted with the purpose to cause physical injury to an athletic official and then you actually caused physical injury to the athletic official it be course outside the scope of the game you know would be like something you could do in the course of the game that happened by accident you have to be trying to do this on purpose knowingly so I think it's a well reasoned bill now just trip trying to help representative talk out with some of the particulars of it but I think it's a good bill thank you. We would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Rick. President of hawking you close for your bill. As president hawkers close for his bill questions for the house's passage of H. B. fourteen ninety six per the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Yes that the ballots Mr Clark. With seventy sixty eight seventy five Yeas four Nays and nine present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read H. B. fourteen oh eight. Also Fortino ever resent about brown to create the uniform easement relocation Act. Representative brown you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues of fourteen oh eight is the uniform easement relocation act this is a new uniform act that has been promulgated by the uniform law commission for your members not be familiar with the uniform law commission is a group of lawyers legislators professors nerds and had to come together in the right uniform laws for adoption the states some classic examples here in Arkansas that we adopted several the uniform commercial code you from liability code under current law there is no mechanism in the law that lets the permits the relocation of an easement unless both parties to the easement agree both the owner of the property to which these impasses in the owner of the easement this uniform law would empower a court to be able to relocate an easement if I had owner of land goes into court demonstrates judge there is a very good reason we need to move this easement I thank the and it does not interfere with the easements used by the easement owner I think a perfect example of this is if you had a eighty acre field and there's a road going to the middle of it that allows the former behind you get to his field the road could be moved over to your fence line and he can still get this bill no problems and it means you have a full eight acres to farm or whatever reason he won't do it out of spite you could go to court and you could there is a process by which you can get it may I would point out that if you do this option you are responsible for one hundred percent of the cost okay involve the relocation so the farmer has a road you have to build a brand new road there's no opposition to the bill I think it was unanimous in committee I appreciate a good vote. Representative brown has explained the Bill. We would like to speak against the bill. For the bill. President bounty close for your bill representative brown's close for his bill question before the floor is H. B. of fourteen oh eight the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Yes of the ballot Mr Clark. With eighty seven Yeas four Nays one present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read House Bill H. fourteen oh nine. House Bill fourteen and I represented by brown to adopt the uniformed community property disposition at death act representative brown you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues same song second verse the uniform Committee proper uniform committee property dips disposition and deaf Act has been promulgated by the U. S. C. L. I would point out that we actually already have this law on the books we adopted the original versions Act of nineteen eighty one since that time the issue has arisen that more more people are using beneficiary deeds trusts and other methods to dispose of property of death instead of traditional probate and this amendment has been done to take care of those situations I would point out that this does not create committee property all this law does is it gives us a mechanism in Arkansas to handle if someone lives in Arkansas and dies with a on community property to me property state how do we minister in our probate procedures this again there is no known opposition this is merely an update the law that we already adopted about forty years ago appreciate a good vote. Representative brown has explained the bill we would like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Randy was close for your bill representative brown's close for the bill question before the House is passage of H. B. fourteen oh nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Cast cast a ballot Mr Blurton. With ninety three a zero a zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read H. B. fifteen forty three. Because of fifteen forty three by representative and it to mean the cemetery Act for perpetually maintain cemeteries and to modify the law concerning the state board of embalmers funeral directors cemeteries and burial services. we're gonna pass over that bill. Mr Clark. Please read H. B. fourteen seventy nine. Also fourteen thirty number represented per year to prohibit the purchase of or acquisition of title to agricultural land by a governmental entity of the people's Republic of China or certain entities connected with the people's Republic of China. Representative you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues this bill. Are we done with one. This bill will prohibit the people's Republic of China from pursing agar. In the last decade Chinese Helen's of ag Landis told more than three hundred eighty thousand acres across the U. S. Arkansas does not need to add to this total with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Peter has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill representive Andrews you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Alex several weeks ago I was talking with represent earlier we have mostly the same identical language for a bill it was this bill and so I gradually let him run this bill and I fully support. So thank you. Representative for you would you like to close for your bill I would like to close with thanking Mister a representative managers or we put this together that's why he is the first name on the co sponsored. So no in all seriousness our constituents in as the Little Rock with the expectation have an America first attitude in protecting this great state for future generations and I think this bill is a good step in doing that thank you. Representative appears close for his bill. The question before the House is passage of H. B. fourteen seventy nine repair the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Seventy six days four Nays and one present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read H. B. fifteen sixty six. House fifteen sixty six representative ought to modify the collaborative practice agreement established under act once you want to twenty twenty three and to prohibit a veterinarian technician specialist from receiving compensation for performing specialized veterinarian technology. Senate bill you're recognized to present the bill thank you Mr Speaker this is whenever we pass the bill off this floor earlier I told you that there was still two spots that would have to be fixed in the actor it still say prescription authority and one that said compensation and this is just doing exactly what I told you I would do bring it back with the fix for it so I appreciate a good vote. Representative Vaught has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative body red clothes for your bill representative laws close for bill question before the House is passage of H. B. fifteen sixty six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballots Mr Clark. With ninety one U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Sir Clark please read HB fifteen eighty six. Also fifteen eighty six service in our very to amend the law concerning military type canteens in exchanges. Representative where you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you Mr chairman colleagues this is just simply a a change in some language or changing the word canteen to exchanges about thirty five times in this bill this as a sensually all that it does have you have to take any questions. Representative pending for what reason question you're recognized for a question general very wise is necessary. Well that's a great question from army soldier I appreciate the question but we have this problem out at camp Robinson and some of our places were the marines keep showing up and they've got these vessels that hold water and they go out there and trying to fill their canteens and it's not that type of the canteen so that's the primary reason for. Per pass the bill does seem no further questions I appreciate a good vote thank you wait wait just a minute you might like to speak against the bill. For the bill. The representative very as the the bill that you wish to explore. You wish to close for your bill represent very as close for his bill the question before the House acids of H. B. fifteen eighty six per the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Yes of the ballots meant Mr Clark. With ninety three A. zero nine zero present your bill is passed. We're going to pass over H. B. eleven sixty. Mr Clark please read H. B. twelve seventy three. I will tell seventy three by representative Johnson to mean the healthcare payer identification identification card act into the fine short term limited duration insurance. Representative Johnson you're recognized to present the bill thank you Mr Mister Speaker I appreciate it Callie sometime ago we passed a bill that required as to what type of insurance we have on a patient ensures identification card this bill is just designed to add a couple of different types that could be put on the card I will say it did bring up the topic in committee that we're gonna try to address on the Senate side I thought was interesting there was some concern that maybe now we're having electronic cards and not always paper cards printed there's some a desire for everybody to have a paper card and not just electronic education an accident so it was fun cars I did bring that up the committee did mention we would try to amend that on the Senate side so we'll dress up from the well and I'd be happy to answer any questions on the bill. Senate appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Johnson has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Sam Johnson who was close for your bill. Representative Johnson close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of H. B. twelve seventy three. The machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. With ninety three a zero day and zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read H. B. twelve seventy five. House bill twelve thirty five a representative Johnson to regulate electronical medical records into private healthcare pair that has electronic access to medical records from requesting medical records in a different format than a healthcare provider. President Johnson you're recognized to present the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues many times when a healthcare provider processes a claim with their insurance agent or insurance company the insurance company will request additional information to make sure they're adequate processing the claim sometimes that can be time consuming and laborious many healthcare providers have electronic medical record that can easily be accessed by the insurance company all this bill does is it says look if we're provider and we have an electronic medical record and we're willing to give you the insurance company permission to access our record we want you to access our records don't call us your two three times saying Hey we need this paperwork come back to me this one just just come in the records get whatever you want and you can process the claim it doesn't preclude paper printing you know if the if the it just allows the insurance companies access to that electronic medical record they can still print whatever they want from the record he just basically is requiring insurance companies to utilize this method if the healthcare provider requests it and I'll be happy to answer questions. Representative Cavenaugh for what reason question you're recognized for a question so how is it going to be secure access at their only access and the proper records so that's usually handled through an agreement with the with the medical record entity itself so if you have it into this the medical records system is gonna be hippa compliant and the insurance agency would have to then sign an agreement like an on screen kind of rude with the electronic medical record company to make sure that access to secure on that and that's something that's done fairly common with hospitals for other electronic medical record systems follow up Mister chair yes you're recognized okay but is it going to prohibit the insurance company from getting to my record if I'm not the one they need. Yes those will also be set up in the same hippa requirements would be there from the on the healthcare provider side that are there it within the system right now so if you're employee of a hospital well you could potentially get in and access to record a song the hospital to make sure that that's not happening enforce the compliance of the people are interfering with your own personal records if I am. With Blue Cross blue shield and y'all are actually treating me right now and you have a hit but they give information already to Blue Cross blue shield but they don't need my record what's going to keep my record from getting access by the insurance company. I think I understand the question and I'm not sure that what we're doing here creates any new avenues right now they can access the medical already we're just requiring them to do that if we allow the permissions I don't think we're creating any new access through this bill. But yours I'm still concerned about the security if they're not supposed to be access and mine how do we know they're not going to access mine and I would say that's through the firewall set up within the electronic medical record records system already the hospital already already maintains for anyone that has access to the records so that that potential risk is there with anyone that access the record whether it's an insurance company or some of the support of the hospital or another vendor to the hospital there you my understanding is the medical records have have systems in place trying to protect against that already. Representative once for one reason question. You're recognized for a question I think I may be repeating representative Cavenaugh questions so bear with me sir what's to keep a hospital employee or the insurance company that's looking through my records on that particular instance I broke my arm but they're also looking through and saying oh she did this or she's got that what's to protect my privacy it's it's a good question is the question that didn't come up in committee so I'm having a little trouble addressing in a way I think it's accurate to what I believe is is that those those precautions are there every day with anyone that works in the system so it for me for example is a position working a hospital I receive hippa compliance training as does everyone with the hospital last year I'm sure insurance companies because the insurance company right now has access to all your records and someone within that company to come in and pull from those I think we're all trained in compliance with regard to privacy I don't think this is changing that training or the protections that are already there in place to protect against that process. Thank you I trust you one hundred percent I know I'm not sure what else on your electric bills from the answer the questions as best I can and and again I'll be happy to work on this more if if there's something I'm missing with regard to privacy I certainly don't want it yes Sir we might not my intention with this bill to credit at access issue and it's my hope that the insurance companies who worked with other providers to come to this agreement would be able to answer those questions I will say committee we did talk to the service providers about addressing some other concerns they had on the Senate side so I'll certainly be paying close attention to that if it's an issue will make sure we're thanks thank you for trying to answer my questions thank you any other questions. Sing nine I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Johnson has explained the bill we would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative Pilkington you're recognized to speak for the bill. Ever wanted ME to come down here today but I just with some of the questions I just want to kind of help answer a little little bit. Within the EMR you can track and see what people access needs of someone is you know like doctor Johnson said if someone is acting improperly and access is a part of the file they're not supposed to be there's a record of them doing that and that the insurance companies are able to go after those bad actors of their safety mechanisms place to make sure that people are accessing information nation access and so I just wanted to clear that up so that. Represent Pilkington spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Johnson's close for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve seventy five where the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Seventy eight yeas eight nays and poor present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill fifteen fifteen. How fifteen fifteen or representative Maddox to amend a law concerning retail water providers and related services. Maddox you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues. So this bill is it's not real simple but I'll try to be brief last session already probably remembered we passed ACT six so five of twenty twenty one it provided more a great deal more regulation of retail water providers so in the interim I had a lot of people I had had numerous constituents contacted me with concerns about it particularly these constituents were on the rural water boards so that in serving for a long time and they saw concerns with this so the first thing I did being a good legislator like I am I filed a bill to completely repeal the whole act and then I brought a lot of people to the table and I realize that was not the best thing to do so that was a good conversation starter I think so anyway the more I researched it the more I talked a lot of the legislators out there there's a lot of good in ACT six oh five so what we did is in numerous legislators out here assisted but we sat down with part of agriculture a and R. C. Municipal League in the rural water association it took weeks but we did come up with a compromise legislation in this is that everyone is on board there's no one out opposing it and I'm I'm very happy about that Senate take a long time I do want to talk about one modification I really wanted this in the bill so under the under the act now a rate study is required every five years so you know my first thought and that is that was overbearing but what I learned was there are certain municipalities who are never raising the water rates and then it becomes a problem and you know they don't do maintenance they don't do operations and then the state has to come in and and put the bill so the water rate study is still there and and the more I've learned about it's a really good thing under that I've the rate study said you had to if you had to increase rates under the under the act now you had to do it within one or a maximum of two years so there's a municipality in my day. District now that their rates they're gonna to a massive increase an upgrade so the rate would more than double in two years for the consumer so that's going to cause a lot of problems in a lot of people be very unhappy so what this the major modification in this is This allows. The municipality whoever it is to implement the rate increases consistent with the rate study so when the one in my district it can be within a five year incremental period so that's going to greatly assist is still going to be painful for the consumer but that rate to be spread out for five years an increase of very proud of that it'll be much more palatable for the consumer and everything else is agreed upon everything's read upon I know of no opposition so that's what we've done in this bill I'll be glad to take any questions on. Sing nine appreciate a good vote. Represent Maddox's explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Maddox is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen fifteen per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety three eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill sixteen oh six. This section as a service representative here are more regarding the suspension of apartments were retailers failure to pay wholesaler or many factor for tobacco products vapor products alternative nicotine products E. liquids. Represent more you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker so this bill is pretty straightforward you have those with life. Gas stations and you have tobacco wholesalers currently what's happening. The convenience store for by several thousands of dollars worth of product from the back a wholesaler. The wholesaler within the bill the bill will lapse they won't pay it. Little things that the wholesaler can do to go after that money so this bill does two things the first it says that the debt that they go to the wholesaler will follow the license so currently that store owner can sell that to back a license and store to somebody else and that person that now holds of the license is no longer liable for the debt that was incurred under that license so this would mean that that would follow the license they were to sell the store secondly If a wholesaler has not been paid after five days when the bill is due they can report it to tobacco tobacco control and tobacco control will put a we'll start to limit how much limit their ability to buy tobacco from other wholesalers so there is no known office. This and with that I'll take any questions you have. Ferguson McKenzie for purpose question you're recognized representative more this doesn't prohibit a licensed tobacco retailers from selling tobacco products on memo or on consignment this is just relative to an unpaid that correct correct this only has to do with unpaid debts thank you. Represent Cavenaugh for what purpose question you're recognized thank you represent more and this just popped in my head I would ask earlier so if I'm the person that's buying the location. And they owe a past due bill. I'm not getting the product. But I'm getting the debt correct how is that fair to the people that don't have the product. That are paying a debt for something they don't out of if you're buying a store that as currently and that I would. If the well let me phrase it this way if they are selling a store with the tobacco license. About that it is not from my perspective it's not fair to the wholesaler for instance and twenty twenty two there's a wholesaler the had roughly two hundred and seventy thousand dollars worth of transactions that were attempted to be paid for with. So they made a contractual agreement where they would sell a product and then be paid for it and. Paying for that and selling. If you're going to buy a company that. As a significant. Hello Mister chair you're recognized a lot of times when people do business in this this way with any business they don't buy assets so they're not thank you for calling phrase that they will buy certain assets doesn't mean they by the corporation so they may by the lan. And they may tourney and because they already have another business that they run a convenience store out of they're not buying the assets of the company they are just literally buying the land to operate why should that person they and be responsible for any debt on something they're not purchased and they're not buying. They're not buying the you know the business they're buying the land. And they're getting there are you know all license follows the. License. Not the land not the building just the entity that whole. And what if they already have that last. Or that. Individual. Okay thank you of the helps. Representative Richardson for what purpose question you're recognized representative is is part of the reason that that date is following because there's been a second there's been some issues where they've just passed that license on to a family member in order to avoid that that that's correct thank you. Represent brown for what purpose question. Represent more is less well. Representative more has presented the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent more close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill sixteen oh six the machine Mr Clerk. Because everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark seventy nine a seven days and to present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill fourteen twelve. How fourteen twelve a representative may very to require the Division of higher education to promulgate certain rules concerning the administration of scholarships funded by the state funds under process proceeds to declare emergency. Represent Mayberry recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members this bill will give flexibility to college students to graduate on time or maybe even graduate earlier than on time by allowing state scholarships to be used over the summer and if you'll give me just takes a minute to explain how I became aware of this issue and how it impacted our life at my home. My daughter who has spina diffident graduated in twenty twenty and she was looking forward to going to Pulaski tech for school to get an associate's degree and now I will say she's at UALR she got her associate's degree in December she finished in two years. Now. That might not seem remarkable to many people. But in the last two and a half years my daughter has spent more than a hundred and sixty days impatient at various times in the hospital. She graduated on time in that two year time frame because she was determined to not give up taking classes. And she had to take fewer classes in the fall in in the spring to be able to maintain. Mental health physical health to do the work and she made it up by taking summer classes and that's how she was able to completed in that time frame. But we had to pay out of pocket for those summer classes she qualified for the state scholarships and for scholarship from Arkansas rehab services but to keep her on pace which was really important to her we had to pay out of pocket and I thought why. Lots of people can have lots of reasons to have different paces on scholarships and going to school and and all that for example I began thinking what if someone has to work. Going to school and working can be complicated if you're taking a full time schedule maybe going a little bit less in the fall and the spring and you make up those classes in the summer that helps you keep a job. And then what about those Overachievers who want to finish instead of in four years they want to finish in three and they can do that by taking summer classes that's what this bill will allow it will give more flexibility there's really no cost to this I worked with the department of higher education on this bill they actually helped me write it and they were very supportive of the bill and spoke in Education Committee yesterday for the bill I appreciate a good vote are there any questions. Thank you. The Mayberry is present the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Mayberry is close to the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen twelve the machine Mr Clerk. The voting on the bill and the emergency clause has everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety one J. zero nine zero present the bill and the emergency clause has passed. Members are going to pass over the next three Bills. Mr Clark read house bill five fifteen ninety nine. Also fifty ninety number representive right to me the law concerning contribution limits to political action committees and to amend the campaign finance law to many portions of initiated act one of nineteen ninety and initiated act one of nineteen ninety six. Send Ray recognizes plan the bill. Thank you Mr chair colleagues House Bill fifteen ninety nine increases the annual contribution limit for state pacs political action committees from five thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars. The reason that I'm bringing this bill is to pull number one unlike our camp so with our campaign contribution limits those are those are tied to the Federal Election Commission limit and the Federal Election Commission adjust those limits every election cycle. however pack limits are not tied to anything and so the only time there ever adjusted is when they're Justin statute the last time that our state pac limits were adjusted was in nineteen ninety nine. If you go to the U. S. bureau of labor statistics website they have an inflation calculator and you can put in what five thousand dollars in January of nineteen ninety nine would be in January of twenty twenty three and it comes out to between nine and ten thousand dollars so that's where I got that number but also there's the issue of multiple packs that I've heard people raise people don't always like that the reason the people great multiple packs is because the contribution limit is five thousand I think that adjusting the contribution limit would actually reduce the number of people who see fit to create multiple packs and if you reduce that actually increases transparency because people can more easily track where money is given and where it's going I do wanna emphasize this does not change how much campaign can't except for a pack and only changes how much a pack can accept in a calendar year. Be happy to answer any questions. Representative Cavenaugh for purpose question you're recognized for a question when we're raising thank you Mr Speaker so when we're raising this ability to always have five thousand dollars is that correct or is it ten thousand ten ten sorry someone raising that to ten thousand we're not still limit how many packs that they can get that so currently now though what they give five or whatever and so they give five to any number of packs that they think can create giving giving give. We're not saying that you're not can't give it up anymore number of packs and you were you're just able to give more to it so it's not really limited the number of packs no does this bill doesn't address that okay thank you. All right appreciate a good vote. Represent raise explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent rate is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen ninety nine prepare the machine Mr Clark. Has everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of sixty six yeas fifteen nascent five president. The bill is failed. Sir Clark please read house bill sixteen hundred. As a sixteen hundred a representative ray to repeal a law concerning display of campaign literature on vehicles of candidates for public office or public officials while on State Capitol grounds. The Brady recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker we'll give this one another gal house bill sixteen hundred is of a bill to repeal the state law concerning display of campaign literature on a vehicle while the state capitol so currently it is illegal for you to have a sticker or a sign or a magnet of your campaign on your personal vehicle while you are here at the state capitol the prohibition applies to anything larger than twelve inches by twelve inches which is really sort of an arbitrary standard if you think about it that a thirteen inch magnet would be it would make you a criminal but a ten inch magnet would be perfectly acceptable frankly this is sort of a silly law any time you're regulating political speech the Courts and determined that subject to strict scrutiny and I don't think it's really plausible to make a case that this represents a compelling government interest which is the highest standard that applies constitutionally to political speech so I think this is an unconstitutional law spoken with the Attorney General about this he agrees that this this laws constitutionally dubious I have asked around and talk to some of the original sponsors of this law back in I can't reference twenty thirteen to twenty fifteen when it originally passed and sort of try to find out what the origins of this are and I've heard a couple of different versions of that but every version of the story basically comes down to there was one elected official that was mad in another elected official and so they passed this law I don't really think that's a good basis for making policy. there's nothing on ethical there's nothing harmful there's nothing corrupt about having a magnet on your car at the capitol one thing to consider is the ethics commission. god bless some but it takes about six to eight months to reach a conclusion anytime somebody files an ethics complaint part of the reason it takes in so long I presume is because the number of frivolous complaints they get and they have had to deal with a lot of these sorts of complaints of the last couple years so I do think one byproduct of getting rid of this silly on constitutional law would be that there are fewer frivolous complaints filed. Would be happy to take any. Percent flowers for what purpose question back in a. The rate I'm. Semi an agreement with you philosophically on this however and I've listened to this when I was in Committee. Stop by. But I'm wondering could. Are there any other. Say someone wanting to. Or do you think this could kind of services slippery slope that could lead to someone saying Hey I'm I don't you know I'm free now to to kind of whatever could it lead to more yeah there I mean there's prohibitions on like using state resources for campaigning and whatnot I mean it would be certainly inappropriate to say for example make fundraising calls for your reelection from your state office clearly that would that would be inappropriate but on your personal vehicle to simply parking that's a very passive Act and I can't imagine that rises to the level of compelling governmental interest that the state needs to prohibit all up. So fair point like maybe not using the Capitol but wearing a tee shirt. You know we're in other things that are you on your person or that are personal to you. You know I guess where would we draw the line if we said Hey no limits so we're not saying that we're increasing the size what we're saying is no limit in size as long as it's your personal vehicle or on your person what would stop someone from coming in you know with T. shirts and caps you can wear it could wear a political T. shirts or caps in the capital that's there's there's nothing that would prohibit that I've seen I've seen people do it many times as okay that's were free in America to do that thank you purpose of the call what purpose question you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker have the besides the reasons you said does it make you uncomfortable at all for us being appear at the people's house making laws for the people to to be promoting ourselves appear. Well I don't know who you're promoting it to I mean all of us represent a district right and so unless you represent the district at the capitol sits in which I thank you you might Every. So maybe you don't want to do that I don't I don't either I don't even I don't even own campaign car magnets right but everyone else I don't know who you would be campaigning to get the vote of right because you know you know representative representative berries constituents are in Johnson and Franklin counties he's not gonna get any votes here by putting a campaign magnet on his car so I just think it's sort of a silly law that is constitutionally dubious and we would we would be well advised to just remove it from the books. Mayberry for purpose. A question recognized. Representative ray would you agree that this potentially could come into play if someone running for an office somewhere decided to do a rap on their car which is more and more common and they were using that to campaign in their community and their area we see wraps more and more and if they happen to drive up here maybe even someone who's not even elected but they were to drive up here to file for office or whatever they no longer can use their vehicle and they've spent all this money to have you know campaign in their district with me what you're saying might yes what you're describing is would it would be illegal so it doesn't just apply to elected officials and applies to all candidates so yes if someone had a vehicle wrap and they drove to the capital and a part to come in and pay the filing fee they would be committing a criminal act or an illegal act. The president right for what purpose question you're recognized. Representative right want to bring up one thing here back in nineteen the same issues or two thousand. Eighteen they started use aluminum and pickup trucks and stickers will not magnetic please stay on there and you've got to use certain stuff to make it stay on there so this is a little bit different than what we were in five six years ago. You know yes Sir we need. Colleagues I appreciate a good vote. Mayes explained the building would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representive ray is close from bill the question before the House is a passage of house bill sixteen hundred per machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot. Sir Clark. By a vote of seventy two yea's six nays may present the bill is passed. Members room back to House Bill fifteen forty three. Mr Clark please read house bill fifteen forty three also fifty forty three of a representative then it to mean the cemetery after personally maintain cemeteries and to modify the law concerning the state board of embalmers funeral directors cemeteries and burial services. Percent minute you're recognized explain the bill good afternoon Speaker and colleagues today I have a friend you house bill fifteen forty three this is a constituent let bill had a constituent call me last summer about a problem she was having at a cemetery in his Lee Arkansas which is in my district as well the problem was that the cemetery was not properly maintaining the premises and so she had problems with that and so they're hoping to other people so this is a simple bill and ask fines to wrongdoers who own perpetual care cemeteries. That's it thank you. Represent it is explained the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent any disclose for the bill the question before the House is pastor of House Bill fifteen forty three. Per the machines Clark. Is everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty ninety eight zero nine a. In zero present the bill is passed. Represent Johnson moves Senate bill seventy nine be re referred to committee that's proper motion represent Johnson you're recognized to explain The motion. Matic's you're recognized explain. Thank you for making that distinction this bill is re referred to committee. That's all I have. Person map explained the motion we would like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. President Maddox is close for the motion the question before the House is re referral of Senate bill seventy nine to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes Mr Clarkson the bill back to committee. Mr Clark Senate bill ninety. Senate bill ninety a representative called to create the automatic occupational licensure for out of state licensure act. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues today we have a great opportunity in front of us to make Arkansas's workforce more competitive I know we hear a lot about the labor in the work force or I do. And how we want to keep up with our neighbors either in Tennessee or taxes or attracting workers from around the globe and growing their local conference. As for the bill itself the intent is simply to remove unnecessary hurdles to employment by making it easier for skilled and licensed individuals to be moved to Arkansas and begin working immediately. The status quo does not allow for that. To the contrary makes the decision to move here more difficult lost wages temporary unemployment higher education constant licensing fees. I know we want families to move to our state to start a business to hire Kansans we want our state to grow. Also we have problems that need to be addressed more quickly again a lack of licensed workers in a week workforce this is something we hear from employers all the time. I'm confident that this bill in front of you today will address both of those issues and provide for competitive advantage. Over our surrounding states as we compete for that talent for years to come. Probably a good example of. What this bill would do is fight if I live in Tennessee and my wife gets a job in Bentonville at the Walmart home office and I'm a. Licensed electricity. I've got my years of training in Tennessee or taxes maybe taxes are some would say that it's not institution in terms of years of degrees or I know we are prideful about the extent of training we do to get a license in Arkansas. But I don't want to deny someone who's moving from Tennessee. Just because they're coming Arkansas may have different priorities. The burden. Discretion is still with the licensing boards whether or not they want to have this individual get this automatic degree. If the individual comes from Tennessee. Networks and they're licensed in Tennessee. And they've done so for over a year it becomes automatic. Three your language that you see in the bill that has to do with how do we think about the fact that. There are a lot of jobs in Arkansas that are currently licensed that are not licensed in other states. What we do with that we have them start over even though they've been working in that field for over three years so this bill describes what that process means and what that looks like. And I take any questions if there are any. President Clowney for what purpose question you're recognized represent a common thank you just said this but I just wanna make sure clear so if you're living out of state you know and that if you're in that three year category where there's no license it's not just that you have to be living out of state for three years you also have to be working out of state is that correct. Yes that is correct you have to be working in a similar scope for at least three years With no criminal record no complaints and even in that scenario it's still up to the board whether or not they want to accept that individual the stuff to all of the renewal education related to Arkansas specific. the scope of practice and. A good vote. Coleman splaine the Bill would anyone like to speak again. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate bill ninety pair. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast. Senate bill two fifty five by representa Holcomb to provide for certain requirements related to storm shelters for educational facilities into the Arkansas fire prevention code into declare emergency represent Holcomb. Thank you Mr Speaker of real simple bill actually moves this storm shelter fire prevention code to January of twenty twenty five basically what happened we had I know of three school districts across state of Arkansas did their cost estimates they Handful they ran a millage passed the millage when they got ready and promised the people in addition what they would build after they got their confidence back in after they passed a millage with the estimated two hundred dollars a square foot and it was actually more like three hundred dollars a square foot which the we're not going to build me a bill nearly what they promised also the storm shelter was going to be a great experience we met with the fire marshal he agreed that we can move this to to twenty twenty five that would be in their best interest and it does have an emergency clause that be glad to answer any questions. Thank. President Holcomb. Miss close for the bill the question. Three fifty five the president seems to Clerk. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause. Cast upon. Ninety three a zero day and zero present. Bill emergency clause or pass representative Cavenaugh what purpose. Motion your motion I'd like to make a motion for reconsideration of H. B. fifteen ninety nine representative Cavenaugh how did you vote no. That's proper motion is debatable represent Cavenaugh you're recognized to explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker it's been brought to my attention that there were some members that maybe didn't get the opportunity to vote the way that they really wanted to voter understood what they were voting on and I would just like for us to be able to go ahead and give them the opportunity to reconsider it and to vote the way that they feel they need to vote and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Kavanagh's explain The motion when he would like to. Would anyone like to speak. For the motion. Representative Cavenaugh is close for the motion the question before the House is the reconsideration. House Bill fifteen ninety nine all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. She before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen ninety nine. Per the machines to Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark by a vote of sixty nine yeas thirteen nays and for president the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill. Senate bill two O. seven by representative Richmond to modify the Arkansas corporate franchise tax act of nineteen seventy nine and create the secretary of state business and commercial service this is electronic filing system special fund. Represent Richmond you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this bill was brought to me by the Secretary of State. The problem that they're trying to correct this is that the online franchise system that they have is an eighteen year old computer system that's about a hundred eighty years here years the vendor is refusing to do any more work with the sole they're losing their online capability. This bill simply creates a bridge so that they can move to a new system there is no new fees there's no new charges there's no new money the only real change. Is that we made them create an account with the treasurer so at this money doesn't go in some black hole somewhere in secretary of state that it will be out there and there's more transparency and I appreciate a good vote. President Richmond is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. When you would like to speak for the bill. President Richmond is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two O. seven machines Clark. Is everyone voted. As everyone votes. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of seventy seven yeas eleven nays and one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill three thirty three. Senate bill through thirty three by representative million to add certain gas pipeline facilities as an exemption under the utility facility environmental and economic protection act declare an emergency represent million you're recognized to explain the. Thank you Mr Speaker calling Senate bill three thirty three this bill simply allows for construction of a natural gas pipeline serving a single customer be exempt from the studies that are required to to have a if the pipeline serves the public city state is not necessary in a situation where the pipeline serves a single customer public service commission's been worked with on on this bill and they're neutral and the there's no opposition known opposition and there's no cost to the state at all. Any questions. Thank you I appreciate a good. We would like to speak for the bill. President Milligan is closed for the bill the question before the House is passive Senate bill three thirty three per machines. You voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark by a vote of ninety three eight zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one ninety five. Senate bill one ninety five representative showing five to clarify when parents rights no longer touch regarding safe haven infants Intamin definitions under the laws regarding safe haven president fight you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker there's been some misunderstanding about this bill so I want to clarify that this bill does not touch anything to do with the safe haven boxes it addresses the situation when a baby is presented to a healthcare provider and the mother states it is a safe haven baby but the identity of the mother becomes known this is happened twice in the state of Arkansas once was when the wristband was the hospital wristband was left on the baby and the baby was placed in a safe haven box the second was when a hospital employee notified a relative our expert extended family member of the mother and the family had not known that the young woman was having a baby and she took it upon herself to tell them that information once the identity is revealed intentionally or unintentionally Department of Human Services has no choice but to get involved so this bill simplifies the process and honors the intent of the mother to let the baby continue as a safe haven baby in short it expedites the process for adoption to take place while aligning with all other requirements of the law if the baby's mother a family is never revealed the process continues as a safe haven baby but this law addresses that establishes the process when the identity is revealed. So that the baby can continue to be treated as a safe haven baby we have now worked out with all the agencies that that have agreed that this is a good bill and does what we wanted to do and there is no known opposition so I would appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Represent Fite has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. It's close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one ninety five per the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. I voted A. zero nine zero president asked Mr Clark please read Senate bill three forty six. Senate bill three forty six terms in Charlene Fite to refer promote permanency and to strengthen kinship placements for children in foster care. As to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker. The goal of the department of child and family services is always to keep the child with family members if there's not an available member then the goal is to place a child with the active can fictive can mean someone who is known to the child perhaps a neighbor perhaps a teacher perhaps someone in the child's church. What DeCSS can do is quickly do a background check walk through the dwelling and be sure that it's safe and within within a matter of hours place the child into that home. Until recently that that family could not receive any kind of a payment. Until they had gone through all the training to become an official foster home last August the as a LC passed regulations to let them start getting Board payments to Provisional foster homes. This law would just put that into code what we are already doing. It would not add anything to the cost of what we're currently doing it would just make it official we have the situation often where perhaps a grandmother wants to take a sibling group of three or four children but financially she cannot afford to do that so this will keep families together keep children with people who are known to them eliminate some of the trauma that they are going to feel when they are removed from their home so I appreciate a good vote. President fight is. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Fite is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill three forty six prepared machines. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of two yeah zero nine one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill three forty C.. Senate bill two forty seven or representative Charlene Fite wrote child safety while reducing child welfare welfare agency involvement in the lives of Arkansas rest. Fite recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This bill does several things so bear with me it clarifies that for purposes of whether the hotline can accept a sexual abuse allegation for a child who is eleven years old or younger who presents with physical evidence of sexual activity the child is presumed to have not consented. It clarifies that sexual grooming includes acts that take place over the phone or via a virtual platforms and are not limited to acts that take place in the physical presence of a minor it allows DCFS to provide notice to the school when a young adults aged eighteen or older who is enrolled in the school is named as an alleged offender in a child maltreatment report it allows DCFS under certain circumstances to provide notice of the true reports of child maltreatment that is pending due process it has cleanup language regarding assignment of child maltreatment reports to investigative agency to ensure consistency of language it removes the term parental unfitness and definitions of child maltreatment however for mental and fitness will remain a ground that the court may issue to Kate at juvenile as a dependent neglected juvenile. It adds requirement of serious bodily injury to the definition of failure to protect it removes the requirement for the hotline to accept a report about treatment involving a bruise if the press is not visible at the time of the report it amends the definition of an adequate supervision in order to accept allegations related to safety while screening out allegations that only pose a risk of harm but not a risk to safety. Our threat to safety and finally it replaces the existing language protection plans with an immediate safety plans. Prior to the legislative session we met with Arkansas advocates for children and families Arkansas children's hospital UAMS casa child safety centers child commission on child abuse rape and domestic violence court improvement program Arkansas crimes against children division attorney ad litem program DCFS office of chief counsel the governor's office juvenile judges a parent council program and none of these have any objection whatsoever to this bill so I would ask for. Thank you. Represent finds explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for. Fite is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill. Three forty seven per machine Mr Clark. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety three eight zero nine zero president bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill ninety five. Senate bill ninety five a representative to a cartoon in the law regarding embalmers and funeral directors and to revise the due date for renewal of licenses under the re law regarding embalmers and funeral directors. President Carter you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker Senate bill ninety five came to me through Senator Wallace and from the state board of embalmers funeral directors cemeteries and burial services and in Senate bill ninety five it makes an amendment to existing law the first part it allows them to pay double the price instead of re issue read new in their license annually it allows them to do that for two years at a time and the other part. Is that it changes wording on the the expiration to the last day of the year. Any questions. Senate cars explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President cars close for the bill the question before the House is pastor Senate bill ninety five prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voter. Everyone voted. Cast out Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety one U. A. zero nine zero president. Bills pass Mr Clark please read Senate bill nine. Senate bill ninety seven or representative Jerry cartoon in the Arkansas prepaid funeral benefits law to regulate prepaid benefits contracts and to enhance the administration of the Arkansas prepaid funeral benefits law president. Thank you Mr Speaker Senate bill ninety seven as well came from the state board of embalmers director cemeteries and burial services it amends current law there are three parts those three section section two of the proposed language adds a thirty day time frame it also sets the penalties in the event of a feudal Director allowing their license to expire in the in the in its suspended or revoked. Section four it remove the requirement of quarterly reports any changes that now to where its annual reports. The second part of the second section four Amendment as references that language was a. Updated because about seventy five percent of the prepaid contracts are funded by insurance policy or annuity rather than cash so that correlates the language to current operations today and the third part section six. It clarifies the requirements when consumer wants to transfer the contract to another funeral home in the event they move it also clarifies who has control over the prepaid contract in the event the person becomes deceased it just indicates who is over the their financial. Affairs of thirty as a reference to the final disposition Rights Act and finally the languages needed for clarification consistency throughout the prepaid code I would just like to say thank you to the insurance and commerce for unanimous vote not entertaining questions. President cars explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Kerr it's close for the bill the question before the House is passed Senate bill ninety seven. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety three eight zero nine zero president bill is passed Mr Clark. Senate bill three twenty one by representative Graham like to clarify the definition of a collection agency and concerning appointments removal and vacancies of the state board of collection agencies. Thank you Mr Speaker Senate bill three twenty one has two sections section one rewrites the definition of collection agency for clarity and to perform the Arkansas because stop is not change its meaning section to those two things remove the requirements during the appointment process for the governor's council credit associations they're no longer active in the state but all substantive qualifications the board made the same and the state board of of collections agencies not a minister license exams in decades therefore the reference to grading examinations in the statute is eliminated I appreciate a good vote. Purpose of Graham because explain the building when. We would like to speak for the bill. President Graham like is closed for the bill the question before the House is a passive Senate bill three twenty one. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot. Rezant the bill is passed Mr Clark. Senate bill three forty eight by representative brown to amend the liability of third parties to amend to the Department of Human Services for Arkansas Medicaid program claims. Representative Matt Matt brown you're recognized explained that. Thank you Mr Speaker I colleagues Congress in twenty twenty to make some changes to Medicaid with regard to third party liability since under current law if another insurance company if the Medicaid patients covered by their insurance that other insurance has to pay for some Medicaid keeps up makes a difference Congress passed law to take care of some games of these insurance companies replying by providing that if Medicaid has authorized a procedure that a third party insurer can't nine on the grounds that they do not pre authorized themselves it also places a sixty day deadline for these third party insurance companies to respond to requests for claim increase under federal law we are required to adopt this during this session to go to effect January first twenty twenty four to appreciate a good vote. Like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. President Brown is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill three forty eight per. Voted. Asked about Mr Clark. Zero present. The bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill two ninety two. Senate bill two ninety two representative Cooper Tim in the conversation of a member of the County Board of election commissioners and to amend the duties of a member of the County Board of election commissioners president Cooper you're recognized explained. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this bill as part of the election integrity package that comes from the state board of election commissioners. SB two ninety two six to amend the compensation so the minimum payment threshold for county election commissioners the goal of this bill is to help alleviate turnover in our election commissioner positions making the pay scale commensurate with other election official positions of this poll worker and site captain. We know the services election commissioner carries great responsibility and it's not something to be taken lightly. Requires a lot of time and dedication it's a stressful stressful position ensuring that the election is handled legally professionally and with integrity. We need dedicated transparent and trustworthy individuals to be in these positions. So what this bill does is currently in state law commissioners receive at least twenty five dollars per public meeting per election with no cap on the number of meetings. This bill would set a minimum payment threshold of one hundred and twenty five dollars per meeting. The capped at a maximum of ten meetings per election. That the commission is to meet more than ten times than those meetings over the number of ten revert back to the current minimum required rate of twenty five dollars per meeting. Additionally the Bill provides required pay for work done outside the scope of regular meeting this only would occur if the county has not hired or designated election coordinator. In this case the quorum court could authorized election commissioners to be paid not less than fifteen dollars per hour for a maximum of forty hours per election. Commissioners cannot be paid for this I really compensation for tasks that are completed more than one hundred days prior to election day for more than forty days after election day. These guidelines provide safeguards so that no one can take advantage or abuse the system. Enclosing we're seeing high turnover in our election commissioner positions we've probably seen this and all of the counties we represent. We've been instances where there's been a vacancy on the county commission Irvin will qualified poll workers he could take those positions if they were interested because of the greatly increased responsibility for a lower rate of pay. So we hope this bill will encourage dedicated individuals to continue to serve as a county election commissioners. Members this bill has sixty co sponsors it passed the Senate with thirty four votes there were no dissenting votes and state agencies on the house side is supported by the state board of election commissioners and the language is agreed upon by the association of counties that's all I have and I will try to answer any questions if you have. A good vote. Represent Cooper's explain the building. We would like to speak for the bill. For is closed for the bill the question before the House is passive Senate bill two ninety two prepared machines Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mister Clerk by the ninety eighth one name one present the bill is passed. Sir Clark please read Senate bill three thirty five. Senate bill through thirty five a representative very to amend the law concerning the Arkansas capitol grounds monument anymore preservation fund to the law concerning the maintenance repair and upkeep of monuments and memorial areas on the State Capitol grounds. The Bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues this bill has absolutely nothing to do with the marine corps other than it was written by a marine and marines Love monuments but it gives a of a wave for a of funds to go into a pot of money to pay for improvements and the maintenance of money Mrs on the capitol grounds and in the interest of razorback basketball game I want to take any questions I appreciate a good vote thank. President berries explain the bill would he would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. President various close for the bill question before the House is passive Senate bill three thirty five she Mr Clark. Everyone voted. Cast about. Ten days since ex president bills passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill three. Senate bill two fifty six representative Cavenaugh to a policy inactive state entities to amend the law concerning the reporting of boards and commissions in a declared emergency. Some Cavanaugh you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this bill does exactly what the title says this is going to abolish an active boards and commissions a group of us started working with boards and commissions and Labor licensure to look at all the different boards and commissions we had some months ago and during this they self reported all of these twenty two boards is in active and so we're trying to do is to repeal the language for these inactive boards and with that. I will take any questions. If not at present a good vote. President Cavenaugh is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Cavenaugh as close for the bill the question before the House is a passion Senate bill three fifty six prepared machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill any emergency clause is everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark by a vote of eighty ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed represent Meeks. For what purpose motion please to your motion after the ouster training the bills transfer the bills placing the counters on the desk members amending their own bills on Amendment members withdrawing their own bills finalized resolution three communications and any remaining committee report I move that we adjourn until one thirty PM on Monday March twenty seventh. Proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Any announcements. Represent Warren for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized. Click retirement will meet Monday morning that we come back on the twenty seventh at nine o'clock in big mac a we will have a pretty sizeable agenda so please be there. Represent wing for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized we have a House Management Committee meeting right now so let's go ahead and knock that baby out and then let's go home. One thirty eight any other announcements members. We're still shooting for April seventh with signing that at the beginning of may that's what we're still working towards. But I would say obviously we've seen this week we've had a lot more meetings when we come back just be understand if we're going to be flexible and you know we may even have to look at working on Fridays but just giving you a heads up on that but otherwise I hope you enjoy a week away any other announcements. Desk remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named the joint resolution the house to be adjourned until one thirty PM. Monday. March twenty seventh.