City, County & Local Affairs Committee - Senate

All fourteen sixty nine third call if you wanna go real quickly. If you introduce yourself and to be recognized proceed with the bill. Thank you see parole district three Senate bill fourteen sixty nine it's it's really simple senate bill at circles a House bill or Senate bill house bill sorry my bad okay house bill seventeen sixty nine. it's really simple bill it's agreed upon by cities counties the state board of elections it's to bring all streamline all municipalities deadlines to the exact same time so that there's no confusion about when they are it's just that simple. All right members you for an explanation of the bill are there any questions. Senator Solomon you're recognized during the opposition to the bill which you know now okay thank. See what no more questions three by Senator speak for against this art or having by signed up with that circle you're recognized close your bill. Close appreciate a good vote thank you our member got a motion from thirty seconds are Stubblefield all in favor say aye. Post graduate senator bill passes. Senator Penzo. You're going to be running the house bill thirteen eighty is that correct. However great if ordered as yourself the recognized perceive your bill. Senator Clint Penzo district thirty one. A house bill thirteen eighty is a bill that makes improvements to existing retail tasting event law the bill does is not opposed within the industry. Retailers and wholesale distributors hold in store tasting events so can consumers can sample new products and learn more about the one beer or spirits a consumer these are educational opportunities that help retailers connect with their customers and help wholesaler's get the word out about new products this bill makes three simple changes the first permits wholesaler or manufacturer reps to poor they'll call whether conducting educational testing tasting if they choose to current law only allows a store employee to pour the alcohol. The Bill Coates tasting permit fees in half current permit fees are just too high the combination tasting fee which includes spirits wine and beer is a thousand dollars which is more than the annual retail liquor license that cost a hundred fifty dollars this bill would make combination tasting permits five hundred dollars and single alcohol tasting permits two hundred and fifty DFA has scored the bill as having no fiscal impact on the budget. House bill thirteen eighty also minimally adjusts serving amounts from everyone else to two ounces for spirits three ounces to six ounces for one and four ounces to eight ounces for beer to be clear holding one type of alcohol can be ported tasting it easier to eight ounces of spirits which is roughly wondering six ounces of wine which is about a glass or eight ounces of beer which is less than one can importantly participants in a tasting are not served enough to become impaired in fact this bill ensures that the tasting is focused on only one alcohol time and does not permit a consumer to drink multiple types of alcohol at the tasting the purpose of adjusting the poor language is to give retailers and wholesalers more flexibility for example as many as eight different beers could be ported one else servings for four different beers into a servings or three different ones into it servings which gives tasting participants or water ready of products to sample. All right members of her next tennis of the bill our questions from committee. There's a notice any samples available. We work something out. It. There is a signed up to speak for or against this bill I don't see anybody okay with that Senator Penzo you're recognized close your bill of sale we had a questions Senator Stubblefield. The sister so we if you get your microphone. Who monitor who monitors. This whole process. I'm assuming the ABC of. Would monitor your serving the ABC yes The bill I've got a bill passed clear you do we have the leverage should lead on that. There's a we got somebody or maybe see they can. With this bill that down and give us your name position record to be recognized to see remarks Michael is in director the ABC or ABC Administration ABC enforcement would be responsible for monitoring the samples. And what what is the frequency of monitoring of. That's up to ABC enforcement they regularly conduct compliance checks and also obtain information from people within the industry should there be any issues. That's all right okay all right. Thank you. Our members are there questions from committee. R. C. nine center you're now recognized question bill I'm closed okay per share closed at a motion the second all in favor say aye. Opposed. Julissa dribble pass thanks committee. All rights Senator English. Welcome Senator English and if you'll give us your bill first of all we will be in the range H. two O. one Senate bill two O. one members thank you good morning Jane English Senator district thirteen and I am back again today before the committee we are have amended our bill and have on our last visit here we were asking of this committee was asked to hold a public hearing. And there was no opposition to the public hearing and public hearing and they passed a resolution which you have received and they posted a had a three the online polls. Using the social media ninety percent of the folks approved of the of the Office opportunity to vote on this in the in the annexed area on this allowed accordance to allow them to. I have. Beer and wine of the amended the bill to ask for a vote so that's what we're doing here today is we're we're asking for your permission basically to allow the city of sure would to hold an election in the annexed area that would give them the ability to be able to. Have an alcohol. The person who opposes this the last time the liquor store owner I his his claim was that it would be competition and but if you notice on the handout that you receive their. But then two miles. Of his liquor store there are already number of of establishments they're selling beer and wine and liquor this would be over three miles away from. The I. his store. With the possibility of maybe selling beer and wine. So we have people here speak for the bill. Thank you Senator English members or any questions for Senator English Senator Rapert you're recognized for a question. Thank you Senator English or the people the in the area to be annexed or they allowed to vote. People that that it's the people inside the annexed areas that would be voting is not people outside the annexed areas. Stated again and again. People inside the annexed area that would be voting not books outside the and people that would be an ex ticket do not have a. I know that they have been annexed already in there the already been annexed is or any other people that are involved in this now I have a. it's not it would not be outside of the city limits of sure what thank you. I think Senator are are there any questions for members. All right center for questions or to go in order here This door Sanderson or see here. Right. Good morning I'm Doris Anderson I'm a citizen share with thank you for I mean you come and speak today I've been this is a sure would since nineteen ninety five I believe in Pulaski County since nineteen eighty nine and the nearest grocery store to my actual home insurer would is twenty six miles away in Bologna and it's hard grocery store and I go there gladly because that grocery store accommodates my disable grandchildren I have four grandchildren that a healthcare for keeping for grandchildren corral. Difficult at times but I'm happy to go there because I live on the backside of habit I passed to make it not pass through for instance I passed through a lot of and there's no grocery store that services the entire community from Maryland Avenue insurer would to Bologna and and that's just difficult for so many families that need a grocery store three stores will not build without the opportunity to sell beer and wine I'm from Forrest city St Francis County Edward's family there they started with the giant years and years ago there in Little Rock mountain in central Arkansas now they're expanding senator Fred Love recently. Them expand and take over Kroger store that it closed we we have that same opportunity insurer would have a grocery store come and serve our citizens that need it so badly and we really need this to be able to come to a vote for our citizens to the last annexation in the city sure we're was into thousand nine we have a special election in twenty seventeen it passed with eighty one to eighty four percent positive for liquor on premises with the. Our culture running from eighty nine to ninety four percent right now I've been running those polls for years since the twenty seventh election people want the opportunity to have a grocery store to have the same facilities and same opportunities in the north part of her would that exist for the rest of the community and the citizens have been crying for this is two thousand I think we really need this to happen thank you. Thank you Mister senator any questions from yours Committee single questions miss Anderson thank you for being here today. The high anybody Senate speak against this what will continue to go in order tonsil. Welcome back. Senator source of all thank you for your time is your support she started just at a record I am merry merry Joe Hyde council marriage sure with okay thank you you're recognized for the announcmenet thank you guys so much for these opportunity for the time and reconsideration of this bill I told you last time that this piece of legislation is critical to our future it greatly impacts economically approximately half of our city our city is literally being stymied by a nineteen fifties rule in a township that doesn't even exist anymore we're being asked to stand at this vast area way beyond our borders an area that is so vast that even at every single registered voter and the sure would areas signed a petition to bring this before a vote that would only be thirty six percent of the thirty eight percent needed in order to bring this forward for vote. How could this be fair by any standard we're not in a dry county like so many of these other cases we're in a wet one we need a grocery store in the northern part of our city not only do we need it for the fact that we have a growing food desert of which you will have heard about before we all know the growth and other businesses that happy when you had a shopping center with a grocery store anchor do we have an interest in intention of several grocery store chains yes we do but not until this situation is resolved so why to give you an idea of what a big issue this is sure would has to grocery stores currently they are literally a stone's throw away from each other. Kind of unusual and they sit right on the line just inside where it's wet. Early on the line. This is the difference it makes all more a grocery store located when you're in a wet areas adjacent to try one why because beer and wine accounts for approximately twenty five percent of those profits. We heard last time three liquor stores insurer would oppose it. What you weren't told last time as two of those are centrally from the same family. And the owner that spoke last time failed to mention that after his store was established at CVS was built just across the street that also sells wine and beer and that within a couple of blocks at that grocery store I me of that liquor store are the two grocery stores I just mentioned to you that sell wine and beer. And yet given all this competition. He was probably just awarded the North Little Rock business of the year by the North Little Rock chamber of commerce out of all the possible businesses in all of North Little Rock his was selected because I'm asking you just keep your remarks to this bill and not to the disagreements with you know the gentleman that was here to speak against this bill is and I was about the change in this bill right what you think that's fair I mean that would be appropriate so in and I bring that up because that was a big issue because of competition and about signing small business opportunities that were already there so my point with all that is is that we're not signing existing businesses and their potential revenue and competition which was an issue last time also we talked about the vote last time and that that being an issue clearly we now have a justice for that in just to make it clear the only people that can vote on this bill are the people who are who are devoted to be annexed into this area a one time vote to decide whether or not they get to go drive or get to go what. What could be more. What could be more and do and. More inclusive of a local option in this. What we're asking for basically is that these people get their own self determination they can determine what they want for their future. Over all all we're asking for is local control. Asking for a chance for our citizens in this area to be able to determine their fate. I thought conservatism was about preservation of the free enterprise system that our country was built upon. Not about stuff I mean potential competition please on behalf of this community for the sake and economic progress for eliminating a food desert for the sake of future small businesses police and vote for this bill to go forward for the sake of our community. Thank. All right are there any questions for the committee. Hi. Okay presenter paddy. I don't know if it's presenting lesser of the mayor but you were saying that to be clear that the only people that can vote in this this election are those that are in this area yes Sir and the annexed areas the annex the annexed areas and and the the the catch twenty two is there's not enough voters in this area to go through the normal petition process correct because the area is so vast. Okay so vast or doesn't have enough now it says it will literally as as we mentioned before you're talking about an area that goes all the way to the line all the way to cap it in terms of terrain and so when you look at the population. Max have a map of which I can show you we are citizens are only thirty six percent of the entire area of this default township. And it takes thirty eight percent so even if it every single registered voter we still don't even have enough to bring it to a vote. Thank you. Our. The chairman I'd like to call for immediate consideration on the table for committee consideration is not available our would you all that motion Senator jim okay Sullivan. Where is the one year right. ago tried again. If I remember the testimony last time this committee was asking the same thing you are asking for a vote he seemed to be very critical of the committee although now we're asking we ask the same questions you're asking now if my memory raw. I'm not being critical at all at the the Committee in any way shape or form what this amendment is doing is now doing everything that was asked before we're allowing for a vote will allow local election but we're doing things we were doing what was asked. Yes yes Sir absolutely. All right Sir Ricky it's the appropriate time and call for immediate consideration all rights members we have a motion for committee consideration of some non debatable motion I got a second for the committee a second Sir Brian all in favor say aye. Opposed all right so most passes now we're going to get up Senator English your be allowed to close for your bill. All right servings close for bill members I have a motion and a motion that second all in favor say aye. Post. Resolution center your bill passes. All right there in our members here to their bills run Sir can you have one which the running. Okay members senator McCain can be ready Senate bill three seven four. The limitations of the buildings germinal or does your cells and Matt McKee St seven six this is Senate bill three seventy four. Scott sensible or county treasurer on behalf of the Arkansas County treasure's Association. Tim stopped only county treasurer on behalf of the Arkansas County treasure's Association welcome German happy to have you server key you're recognized perceive your bill. Thank you Mr chairman members this is basically a clean up bill modernizing some language I could go through a long list of everything that's modernized we're deleting any reference to the batch redeem Warren system which is no longer used by county government replacing the word money with revenue replacing the word warrant with word check placing term treasures book or record of accounts with county financial records separated bank account and pause requirements from the requirements for this receiving revenue providing additional language concerning bank accounts and bank deposits but we either myself or one of these two fine gentlemen would be happy to answer any questions you have. Our members are the questions from committee. I see no questions for you my son speak for against this do not see anybody with that Sir you're recognized closer bill closer bill appreciate a good vote all right members of centers close first build a motion. The motion sir Stubblefield circumcenter Petty all in favor say aye. Post graduation senate bill passes. I'll see body else in here miss anybody. Your bills are seen since he's me Senator Rapert. Let's talk about. House Bill fourteen ninety eight. Okay. All right represent your areas yourself for the record thank you Mr chair of Matt brown house district fifty five senators fourteen ninety eight is a bill involving I'm gonna butcher this point three times during my discussion microbrewery restaurant private club permits such twenty that out there it's intend to bring some parity between the restaurant private club permit and the microbrewery restaurant products department it's also did clarify some low microbreweries build us for things the first thing the big thing is is under current law a microbrewery restaurant private club may only sell beer wine this amendment would allow the micro very private club restaurant to sell beer wine and spirits essentially what is going to match what a restaurant private club can do as I tell folks we want to be able to compete with the Chiles across the street there is no known opposition some people reached out we took care their concerns in this bill this would also affect a total of three permittee's across the state does it have anything only applies dry counties second thing this bill does And this is I think back to the parity is under current law on these microbrewery permitted there's a permit violation the ABC shall revoke the permit this law is gives the ABC some discretion to a may revoke this again is repaired to the private club permit if there is a very minor violation this gives the ABC discretion to go through their their process in determining appropriate to a penalty if anything things can lead to better enforcement because inspector may be reluctant to site and microbrewery for minor violation knowing that the by law that the penalty is permit revocation instead of what you messed up your paperwork is due to our find under again as to clarity this bill also clarifies that if a microbrewery isn't is located in a legally status certamen District they can participate in a payment district just like a private club I think there's lamivudine all right now we just clarify that you for entertainment district you're good to go and then the final thing is this is actually from a. Hey university is under current law we have the prohibition both private clubs in microbreweries amount you cannot advertise in such a manner that promotes the consumption of alcohol this would clarify that if a microbrewery restaurant advertises using just its name of the restaurant that is not considered promoting the consumption of alcohol so that example I give people is that right now said come drink beer at Sam's restaurant clearly that's still illegal but if Sam's restaurant wants to sponsor something in the community in their name Sam's restaurant is listed as it was when the sponsors that's not considered promoting the sale of alcohol be glad to take any questions from the committee. Our center so when you're recognized for a question to you so I'm gonna dry county not heard tricounty come up tell me what that means for direct County so this only applies to dry counties and it's for dry counties where we have a we have a restaurant to get a private club permit be able sell beer wine spirits in the restaurant this allows microbrewery private club restaurants are created in the ninety second General Assembly session so they're fairly new and for whatever reason is created spirits got left off and so we're adding spirit so that you can buy a mixed drink at a microbrewery restaurant the same you can buy it at the private club restaurant across the street okay of a I've also heard some issues with you are you mentioned advertising by your name. For you can now advertise bernehmen that was before prohibited I think that it personally was permitted before but I know that the ambiguity in there I think made a lot of people afraid to the current law for both private clubs in my cover is that you cannot advertise in such a manner that encourages the consumption of alcohol or that actually like advertise like the price of alcohol so you can add like come for happy hour in order I County private club this just clarifies it's just your name that's okay good thank you thank you Sir thank you senator all right members or any more questions from committee. By Senator questions do we have any somebody signed up to speak. Okay we got John adults that Giacomin Jon Venables. This doubles gives whether quick sit right there and just. Okay so you don't is but yeah okay perfect. All right members of course four three four revealed this time all right members so you for an explanation the bill representative be closer bill I'm close I think committee for listening to me appreciate good vote part numbers. I have a motion for committee a motion the second all in favor say aye. Post resolutions the Bill pass is thank you. All right members see no further business to come before this committee we are adjourned.