House Convenes

House will come to order I'm by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Dr Gary Yarborough the pastor both Wilson Methodist Church and Kaiser Methodist Church he's the guest and the cousin of represent Gazaway and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance speak led by representative Lane Jean. I ask you about for the invocation. Heavenly father I thank you for the word that has given us the foundation upon which this nation and its states are found. Teachings which guide us into freedom prosperity and truth. That word teaches us that we are created for service to others and I thank you for the men and women that make up this body and for their service I pray that your spirit would feel this chamber that you would guide each representative into your wisdom and empower each to do your will. In the challenging moments when hard decisions must be made I pray that they would find their strength and you. When they faced criticism I pray that your spirit with give them peace and I pray that you would be a hedge of protection around their families as these men and women are separated from their friends and families and service to others I pray that they would find communion with you and community with one another. As they work to serve others I pray for their needs I ask for healing for any that may be sick in their bodies your provision for any that struggle financially your peace and comfort for those who struggle with grief and loss lord we recognize you is sovereign over all things and pray your blessings upon this nation upon the state of Arkansas and upon each communities across this great state these things I ask in the name of our savior and friend Jesus Christ amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button prepared machine madam Clark. Cast about Manafort with ninety nine members present the chair sees a quorum or the request for leave represent Springer for what purpose the you're recognized me for representative government is leave granted represent Gramley. So noted. President Jeffrey Wardlaw most we dispense with the reading reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees. R. their fortune standing committees read reports Manafort. Mr Speaker you Committee on Advanced Communications information technologies of whom was referred house bill thirteen sixty nine Bigley report we have the same consideration here besides a recommendation that a do pass as amended number three Mr Speaker we are Committee on Advanced Communications information technology to whom was referred house bill fifteen fifty five in the report that we have in the same consideration here concerns I recognize that a do pass as amended number one respectfully submitted Jeremy Walters vice chair. Three and finish business they're Executive communications. Members we do have a few. Guests with us today. In the north gallery we have Randy Hawkins who is the it needs to represent white Taschen we also have a representantes is great needs S. Lee Hawkins and so if you would welcome them. And additionally Johnson my commended represent Macklin and sign is also paging with this today. Also in the north gallery we have Joshua Allen little who is the grandson of representative Fred Allen. Arkansas state troopers with this today or corporal Kevin grounds and sergeant David Forsman. Members for a Passover House resolution ten thirty five minutes thirty please read House memorial resolution one thousand two House somewhere resolution one thousand two by representative Collins remember rent Renault and to recognize his contributions to the state of Arkansas in filmmaking. Represent college you're recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker. this is House memorial resolution one thousand two to remember Brent were known and recognized his contributions to the state of Arkansas in filmmaking. One year ago March thirteenth two thousand twenty two the world was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of one of the great documentary journalists and one of the pride's of Arkansas rumor NO. Room was with his brother correct an award winning documentary filmmaker ram was killed by gunfire in Ukraine one year ago today the first American journalists to lose his life in that war. He was there doing what he always did telling the stories that needed to be told. Thank you Craney was helping us learn about the refugees fleeing from the Russian invasion. It was our eyes on the ground and always was not just in Ukraine but in so many places where lighting need to be signed. Over is long and respected career Brandt with his brother took us all over the world they took us to an inner city Chicago school for the vice series last chance time which won the two thousand fifteen Peabody Award. It shows the impact of one of the great social scourges of our time drugs with two important HBO films dope sick love film The New York City and math storm film right here in Arkansas the ticket to Central America Mexico Haiti Iraq China and so many other hot spots that affect our lives right here in the United States. And they took us to Central High School right here in Little Rock to see what life was really like fifty years after integration. These stories need to be told and red Renault told them. Ran was unflinching in his personal bravery but more importantly he was unflinching in his bravery in candor as a journalist. Brandt was a proud son of Arkansas his family still lives here in my district here in Little Rock and they're up in the north calorie today would you please join me in welcoming friends family. Remove those too soon but we are left with his work in those who live in the millions of people he reached in his life well lived that impact will be a lasting legacy that will indoor. Mr Clark would you please read the resolution in its entirety. And third please read the resolution in its entirety whereas where there was born on October second nineteen seventy one in Memphis Tennessee and that on March thirteenth twenty twenty two and with Renault was killed in Ukraine with Russian troops opened fire according to Andre never source ahead the carrier regional police force and whereas you crime president Vladimir Volinsky wrote a talented and brave journalists Brandt losses life while documenting human tragedy devastation and suffering a million Ukrainians and whereas Brantley NO was a loving son brother uncle friend and award winning documentary filmmaker who grew up in little rock Arkansas and we're is renew graduated from hall high school received undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist United. Seven Methodist University in Dallas Texas and a master's degree from Columbia University in New York New York and we're as Brent with these younger brother Craig known as the Reno brothers co founded five oh one feels a small film. Seventy that won many national and international awards for the documentaries about human suffering around the world and with writing credit also co founder The Little Rock Film Festival in Arkansas motion pictures Institute in with Brent and Craig made films for HBO NBC discovery PBS The New York Times vice news and others and their families to anti an eight part series for vice media one of Peabody award the most prestigious prize recognized journalists can receive and worth reading creating collaboration with Christoph puzzle was a dupont Columbia award for vanguard vanguard arming the Mexican cartel and when Christoph pencil learned of his close friends death he told WGBH Boston records like nobody I've ever seen you at the same time have the heart to go in where. He knew he was needed and he was so incredibly careful in focus I don't know how many people who can do that and with return I was known as quiet humble rate kind and hardworking filmmaker and with what was the name and fellow in two thousand nineteen at Harvard University in naming curator in Marie Lipinski's said France filmmaking was exceptional and what made it so with not just the the benefits go but a kind is indeed humanity he brought to his work he told us that what he saw in his journalism was thoughtful stories about this franchise people when he lived up to that credo everyday his death as the devastating loss and with harbor university right study that effects of trauma and mental and emotional illness of rates poverty and violence in America and with return I was visiting distinguished professor from the center for ethics in journalism at the university of Arkansas Fayetteville in two thousand nineteen and with Renault was widely respected as a photo journalist and documentary filmmaker and Larry follies here the University of Arkansas school journalism and strategic media and with Renault's twenty fifteen short documentary between what is American migrant crisis helped bring a new level awareness of the youth migrant crisis into Central America and his award winning two thousand eighteen features them shelter has raised millions of dollars to come that the youth homeless crisis in New Orleans Louisiana and with Raymond McCaffrey director of the center for the ethics in journalism said there Brandt Renault possess unique journalistic skills that are especially valuable in today's changing media environment and consider brand specially qualified to teach students about the power of multimedia journalism as well as the ethical challenges that journalists can face when using technology to help with the news and whereas the recognition of many contributions Renault brought to Arkansas in the filmmaking industry brands family of France or the Renault foundation and means continuing his vision and with Renault sacrifices life to bring awareness of the war in Ukraine and his loss will never be forgotten now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House representative remember right right now for his service and dedication to the state of Arkansas the filmmaking industry in the. Extend sincere condolences to the family. President Collins explained the resolution would anyone like to speak against resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. President college recognized to close for the resolution. Thank you again to the family for joining us today and for lending brown and his talents to the world I appreciate a good vote. President Collins is closed for the bill the question before the House is the adoption of house memorial memorial resolution one thousand two all in favor say aye. Any opposed the resolution is adopted. Madam Clark please read house concurrent resolution one thousand eleven has resolution ten eleven by representative vote to increase the United States Congress to encourage the use of Unidos packing and for narcotics and opioids to preserve the health and safety of all citizens of the nation. Represent all your. I had a constituent every staff to me to request that we take up legislation dealing with the misuse of a prescription opioids and other narcotics by requiring them to manufacture them in packages kind of like what women would call the birth control packages the reason that she thought this would be better is because somebody who is going through pain management might forget if they've taken the appeals or not for that day and if they come in it was like on a calendar top rotator it would show that they had already taken it for that day. Unfortunately that is a federal rule and it's also something we can't do because of crossing over people state lines so instead representative Johnson and I decided to run a concurrent resolution bringing much needed a lot to have individual. Beneficial patient friendly packaging. Up for people's pain management of. For the pain management medicine Mr Speaker please have the Clerk just read the title lady. First please read the resolution by title only to the United States Congress to encourage the use of unit dose packing for narcotics and opioids reserve the health and safety of all citizens of this nation represent Vaught has explained the resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent Vaught yeah. I wanted to do something in her honor because she did she has suffered with this for many many years and she is really trying to bring a lot a lot to the fact that the packaging that we use for opioids right now for people that are in pain management is not always the most up friendly type packaging and with that I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Vaught has closed for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of house concurrent resolution ten eleven all in favor say aye. He opposed the resolution passes. Morning hour is indeed. Members at this time I'm gonna recognize the parliamentarian. Thank you Mr Speaker members I want to have your attention for a moment there's a mistake on today's rate calendar and for that I apologize of House Bill fourteen fifty nine came out Judiciary Committee on Thursday and should have appeared on the red calendar it did not and we've rectified that with the issuance of the supplemental calendar this on your desk so when we get to the third page of the calendar today for house bill fourteen fifty nine will be there and it will be in the place of house bill fifteen forty nine which inadvertently wound up on the counter Mr back sorry about that and so I just wanna explain that if there's any any questions I'll be happy to visit with you about it. Thank you your Speaker. Madam Clark please read house bill eleven twenty one. House eleven twenty one by representative Allen concerning coverage for by maker testing for early detection and management for cancer diagnosis. The value recognized explain the bit. Thank you Mr Speaker and Colleen's house bill eleven twenty one is a bill designed to help with counsel about testing what about testing the else they would take a. PCO tissue you blew it and then we use that asset sample of what type of treatment you should be receiving or what type of drill you should be using. One of the bands of valmark to testing is that the growing use of our market is targeted precision medicine to biomarkers based on the best available evidence using the patient all tissue and blue. Ballinger Barker testing can help save our by early detection of various cancers. Marcus can better inform treatment plan options and reduce unnecessary treatments actually no when a person is going through cancer they spend a lot of money they have to travel they have to go to. Different places there copays insurance as drugs that's also housing that's involved so it could be very very expensive and what this bill does it cuts down on the calls after the fact CBS did a study and a study of a seat at the up front you will spend twelve hundred dollars but on the back in you have eighty five hundred dollars savings per patient per month if you do the math on that that's a savings of over a hundred thousand dollars per patient so there are a lot of them model organizations that are supporting this we have you M. S. part time for the G. Coleman then the National Council advocate network the American kidney fund American urology association and of there are several of those but I'm not going to name the also this legislation was passed in four different states Arizala who found Eleanor's in Rhode Island and just last month Oklahoma passed this legislation so as you can see this is a great meal so I would appreciate a good vote. Represent balance explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent balance close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven twenty one prepared machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voter. Cast a ballot madam Clark by a vote of ninety eight yeas. And zero nays the bill is passed. Adam Clark please read house bill fifteen twelve. S. the fifteenth twelve my representative McCollum to amend the law concerning absentee ballots of qualified electors outside the United States since amend the law concerning absentee ballots represent column you're recognized to explain. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues so this afternoon we have the opportunity to discreet some uniformity and simplicity for both the voter as well as the election commissioners and the clerks so this bill is brought to you by a working group so thank you all multiple colleagues in the room that I've been working on this package and At the forefront of this bill was the state board of election commissioners and their goal was to avoid unnecessary rejection of ballots and. For that reason is why we can have it under the umbrella of the election integrity the actual bill what's the change we're changing the deadline the State Board of Election Commission does not see a policy reason for treating the date which a voter applies is a relevant. For the ballot return deadline. Consequentially the. Language in here just creates a single deadline instead of thirty days before a ten day period. What we're attempting to do is say both overseas individuals. Civilians military. One set of rules. A good vote. McCollum plane the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. For the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen twelve prepared machine metaphor. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted cast a ballot madam Clark by a vote of ninety four Yeas zero nine zero president. The bill is passed Manford please read house bill fifteen forty one as for fifteen forty one by representative gene to increase amounts paid by a quorum court for the continuing education of county officials and to increase the amount of real real property transfer tax revenue distributed for continuing education of county officials represent gene you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleges come from the association Arkansas counties. Two years ago the General Assembly put in of continuing education requirements for our treasure collectors corner county circuit clerk's. It's been since two thousand fourteen they've had any increase on their Education Fund and what this does is two ways of funding is your current quorum court in each one of our seventy five counties Page for the continuing education for the treasurer and collector. And then the other three the corner county Clerk circuit Clerk is paid through out of the. A real estate transfer fee which is it gives eligible for ten percent of that money to pay for continuing education so this is not an increase on a fee this is increase on their travel and also to get in under covid a lot of the. Motel rooms have gone up if we've noticed and also getting the speakers in for the continuing education programs of so with this bill and we cut it in half we cut it in half of what the county's Raskin of so any questions on this. Spotted G. R. comes out of the real estate transfer fee. Appreciate a good vote. Represent changes explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Jean is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen forty one prepare the machine ma'am Clark. Everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast a ballot I'm clear. By a vote of ninety six yeas and one nine zero present the bill is passed. Clark please read house bill twelve seventy one. Seventy one by representative Johnson to amend the prior authorization Transparency Act into exempt certain health care providers that provide certain healthcare services for prior authorization requirements represent Johnson you're recognized to explain the Bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues partners agents are an important tool for insurance companies to help control costs in overutilization this bill does not remove the prior authorization process from insurance companies what it does is it rewards good providers who more than ninety percent of the time have their prior authorizations approved so for me as a position if I'm someone who calls and goes to the process to get a prior authorization to allow me to order a test for you as a patient and I'm doing that ninety percent of the time or better getting told yes you can do this it provides a mechanism to exempt me as a provider for a period of time from asking for this proctors ation there's within the legislation checks and balances on that to allow the insurance companies come in and rescind that exemption and they also allowed to review that within a certain period time to decide if I can continue to have this exemption process this is a bill model after the legislation is passed in states like Texas and West Virginia in Louisiana it's a good bill this can reduce some of the bureaucracy that's grown around this process and it will remove barriers to care and speed the process for patients who need the care that we order and I'd be happy to try to answer any questions. Cena representative vote thank you represent Johnson explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Johnson is close for the bill the question before the House is a passive house bill twelve seventy one prepared. Everyone voted as everyone voted. Cast a ballot man park by a vote of ninety five Yeas zero nine one present the bill is passed man Clark please read house bill fourteen fifty seven fourteen fifty seven by representative pharmacist services Arkansas poll watchers Bill of Rights Act of twenty twenty three to amend the law concerning poll watchers and to amend the law concerning election procedures. Person firm in your. Thank you Mr Speaker. House Bill fourteen fifty seven creates the Arkansas poll watcher bill of rights it identifies who can be a poll watcher and requires them to wear an identification badge with their name on it so they can be recognized. It also directs the state board of election commissioners to create uniform training material to be made available online so all the poll watchers across the state are having the same training so we don't have a mix match of. Training material. It makes the process for challenging the ballot more effective currently U. K. can't challenge a ballot missing notify the election sheriff and from my understanding the sheriff can be all over the place at a polling site so now if this passes the poll worker or a poll watcher will notify a poll worker this can be a challenge and the process pauses because once the voter signs the book to to sign a vote you can't challenge it so if the poll watcher notify them of the challenge it pauses the process the sheriff will come over the table and then execute the challenge from that point so makes the process much more smoother. It also this amendment came from the Committee. If anybody violates anybody's rights if the poll watcher violates the voter's right or if the election commissioner violates the poll watchers right whoever violates whoever's right they get a Class C. misdemeanor so it's fair across the board nobody's getting more punishment than the other. So that's. About a scene of questions I appreciate a good vote. President permanent explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for. Fuhrman is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen fifty seven. Repaired machine madam Clark. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark. By a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Represent McCollum moves we moved house bill fifteen thirteen be re referred to committee that's proper motion represent McCollum your. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues I am working with the attorney general's office to take a look at some suggested amendments we want to go back to the committee make sure the committee has the opportunity to take a look at what the implications of sentiments would be present we appreciate the opportunity Senate back thanks. President McCollum is explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the. Column is close for the motion the question before the House is re referral of house bill fifteen thirteen back to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes ma'am courts in the bill back to committee. Members were pass over house bill fifteen sixty two. We do have another guest with us today we have former representative Darrell pace. Madam Clark please read house bill fifteen sixty five fifty sixty five a representative vote to create the Arkansas Legislative study on mental and behavioral health. President Vaught you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker as we were doing our mental behavioral health a steady throughout the year this past year we decided that we wanted to continue the work because there's still a lot of work to be done in mental and behavioral health field and we're not going to get all the legislation ran that we thought we might get ran this section so we would like to continue on that work and working with all of the entities to see what we can do to better help serve our Kansans with the mental and behavioral health issues that they have and with that I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Vaught is explain the bill we would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Vaught is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen sixty five prepared. Has everyone voted. One voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk. Babble ninety sixty eight zero nine zero present the bill has passed I'm Clark please read house bill fifteen oh nine. House bill fifty nine and a representative may be to amend the nine patient left behind. Some in the no patient left alone and to require outpatient facilities to comply with visitation to support person requirements and activities for a violation of the new patient left alone at. Represent Mayberry recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker all may not realize that this week three years ago is when the state of Arkansas started shutting down March eleventh was actually the very first day that we had our first patient in the State of Arkansas to have covid. One of the horrible things that that whole experience was that families were not allowed to visit their loved one in a hospital or a nursing home or even in the doctor's office to be with them to provide care care that only a loved one can get so thankfully we pass no patient left alone and we were the very first state to do so other state since followed our pattern I ask the alarm to go back and see if there's anything that another state did that we need to do here and that's kinda what this bill is doing first of all I found out in April or may of twenty twenty two a friend of mine was bringing her husband to get a colonoscopy done. And she was told that she couldn't go into the building. And I don't know if you've ever had a colonoscopy done but you have to have someone with you because you can't drive home you've been put under anesthesia and even in April may of twenty twenty two they still were not allowing someone to come in because I did not put in here that an outpatient center had to allow a visitor so that's one of the first things were putting in here hopefully we won't need this in the future because things are getting back to normal the other thing we did we did allow for clergy to be with the patient in the hospital but we're clarifying some of that language in tightening it up adding some additional things in there and then the other thing that I noticed after you pass the bills at some hospitals would allow someone to be in there and tell maybe seven or eight o'clock at night and then they would send them home it's a visiting hours is over well if you've ever had a patient in the hospital the hardest time usually when they need you most is in the middle of the night and you need to be with your loved one there in the hospital and the worst thing you can do is actually send that loved one home to be exposed to all the other germs in that house from all the other people that might be there if you would send me home from the hospital and my daughter was in there I would have gone home to my other children who also would have been at school exposed a whole bunch of things I turn around I would head back to the hospital the next day and expose my left one I don't think that's what we want to do so this also would allow patients to spend the night in the hospital with their loved one This is just clarifying some other things in here and I hope that we can all agree that this is a good vote thank you. President Mayberry has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Seeing none are you close for your bill. Representative may very is closed for a bill. Question for the house's passage of. H. B. fifteen oh nine. Repair the machine madam Clerk. Is everyone voted. The cast of the ballots man Clark. With ninety three a three nays and one present the bill is passed. Madam read bill H. B. fifteen forty five has the fifteen forty five a representative Johnson concerning role medical practice student loans and scholarships. Representative Johnson you're recognized to present the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues at UAMS as a program for loan forgiveness for medical students is designed to try to encourage physicians to settle in rural and underserved areas the way the statutes currently written they define role as any community with twenty thousand people last within twenty miles that's a lot of places in Arkansas that in my opinion are necessarily under served they defined under served as a very subjective way that sort of left up to the board to talk to the site is an underserved or is it not what I'm doing in this bill is very simple I'm removing the Works role and all the requirements and just saying under served and we're tying that to federal guidelines that tell us where we need physicians and where we don't so there are some places that are underserved I don't necessarily rule in there some rule places that are not necessarily under services just cleaning that up and make it very clear we want our physicians to go places where we need physicians and to me that doesn't matter if it's rule Arkansas urban Arkansas we need them an underserved areas and I'd be happy to try to answer questions on this bill. Senate president give a thank you. Representative Johnson has. President of the bill we would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representantes de close for your bill. Representative Johnson's close for his bill. Question for the house's passage of H. B. fifteen forty five prepare the machine medical or. Yes that the balance medical or. With ninety one yeas to nays and to present the bill is passed. Madam Clerk read the bill H. B. fifteen forty four. Fifteen forty four by representative I think concerning the osteopathic real medical practice too long is because a program. Representative Johnson you're recognized to present the bill. Members this bill bill Maher's the last bill so you a message program is state funded in the public school DO schools in the state of Arkansas the osteopathic schools or private schools we had to set up a different scholarship program for them in twenty nineteen to mirror what we're doing here in mass this is changing that same language that's in statute for this bill it also clarifies the mechanism for appointing members to the board at their some language in there that need to be clarified to make sure that everyone understands the governor the points members to the board overseeing this program and I'd be happy to answer any questions. Syna percent of a thank you. Representative Johnson has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Questions for the house's passage of H. B. fifteen forty four prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Yes of the ballots medical or. With ninety eight is three nays and to present the bill is passed. Madam Clark please read H. B. eleven oh two eleven if I representative so content to create the universal newborn screening actions to ensure the nip that newborns are screened for conditions recommended by the United States department of health and Human Services representative Pilkington you're recognized to present your bill thank you Mr Speaker this bill aims of Arkansas match the national guidelines for screening of rare diseases in newborns under this law Arkansas would implement screenings for any additional diseases as they are added to the national screening panel this is not changing the procedurally but allows additional conditions to be screened under the existing method of testing which is one drop of blood there were not asking for any more drops right now Arkansas currently screens for thirty plus rare diseases when a child is born we match all the current diseases on the list of the national panel now we're just basically doing this so that we're not always having to add to the list every time we come in here we can just follow the national less currently surrounding states like Kansas Oklahoma Louisiana Alabama Florida Mississippi at all pass this just to make it easier on us or on him to come back and do clean up their ads every single time so with that ask for a good vote. The no questions thank you. In the long reason question you're recognized for a question does this bill require the parents to do this or do they have a choice. my understanding is you could opt out of screen your children if you wanted to but we're or RT screening children right now this is no new screenings like I said we're already doing all these tests to begin with so. Thank you. Representative Pilkington has presented the bill. Anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Pilkington ready to close for your bill. Representative Pilkington as close for the bill questions for the house's passage of H. B. eleven oh to prepare the machine medical or. Is everyone voted. Cast the ballots man third. With eighty nine yeas or nays and five present the bill is passed. Representative long moved that the House house bill fourteen sixty eight be re referred to committee that's proper motion. Representative longer you're recognized you're recognized to explain The motion. Thank you Mr Speaker since the bill passed out of committee we do have our cross a couple things that we thought might need some clarification so when we talk to make a good bill better appreciate a good vote. President long has presented the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. For the motion. Close friends. Question before the House the motion before the house is to re referred house bill fourteen sixty eight to committee all in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed nay. The eyes have it your motion has passed. Members were passing over H. B. fifteen thirty one. And we're gonna move to the supplemental calendar. Madam Clerk please read bill H. the fourteen fifty nine. House bill forty fifty nine The representative Charlene Fite to amend the law concerning human trafficking related offenses and to amend the law concerning fines for human trafficking. Sentifi you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is part of a package of bills that I'm bringing and that representative Gazaway will be bringing on behalf of the attorney general's office concerning human trafficking and I want to thank representative Gazaway for his keen insight and help in formulating these bills. What is human trafficking. Now on the unlawful act of transporting are coercing people in order to benefit from their workers service typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation what this house bill fourteen fifty nine do it amends the laws concerning human trafficking and related offenses and the fines for these related offenses this bill does five things one it changes the culpable mental statement into sex trafficking crimes the trafficking of persons and the patronizing a victim of human trafficking from knowing to know or should have known to it increases from two hundred and fifty dollars to one thousand dollars the additional fine imposed on defendants convicted of trafficking of persons solicitation of sex or prostitution who are found to have paid for sexual activity as a part of the crime three and as the same special fine to additional relevant criminal offenses for it splits the fine revenues between the safe safe harbor Fund for sexually exploited children and the human trafficking victims support fund and five it adds to the list of appropriate uses for the human trafficking victims support fund and I'll take any questions. Seeing nine I appreciate a good vote. Representative find has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representive five you wish to close for your bill. Representative fine has closed for bill the question for the house's passage of H. B. fourteen fifty nine per the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Yes of the ballot madam Clerk. By a vote of ninety six EA zero nays and zero present the bill is passed. Madam Clerk with a member's we're gonna go back to the regular agenda madam Clark would you please read the H. bill fourteen seventy fourteen seventy by representative Charlene Fite to amend the law concerning conditions for crime victims reparations for victims of human trafficking and child sex victims. Thank you Mr Speaker you're recognized to present the bill thank you this is a companion bill to the bell I just presented to you the Arkansas crime victims reparations Board provides financial compensation to victims of crime who have suffered personal injury or death as a result of violent crime the current law states that if the victim has not fully cooperated with law enforcement officials in a criminal case then they cannot receive compensation from this board this bill simply provides an exception to that general rule for children who are victims of a sex offense as well as an exception for people of any age who had been the victim of human trafficking if either of these two types of victims are too scared are coerced into silence or for any other reason. Are not comfortable with answering questions or otherwise complying with law enforcement officials in the investigation this bill will allow them to still receive the compensation that they should receive and it helps to further protect these two types of victim from being subject to re victimization and I'll be glad to take any questions. Seeing nine I appreciate a good vote. Representative find has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative fight which to close for the bill. We know that nothing helps victims of human trafficking more than law enforcement having the tools that they need and this is one more tool thank you for a good vote. Representative fine has closed for the bill. The question before the House is passage of H. B. fourteen seventy. Where the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Yes of the ballot madam Clerk. With the vote of ninety six U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Madam Clerk read bill H. B. fourteen thirty four S. the fourteen thirty four by representative vote to amend the law regarding agriculture and to place the burden of proof on the party bring bring an action against an agricultural operation as a nuisance. Representative Paul you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker our state is a fact pleading state so this bill just clarifies the someone's gonna bring an action against someone who has an agricultural operation that they have to have facts before they can actually do anything to them. With that I appreciate a good vote. Representative mark has presented the bill we would like to speak against the bill. Or the bill. Representative Barney close for you bill representive on is closed for her bill question before the House is the passage We're. Has everyone voted. Yes of the balance Mendler. With with ninety four yea zero nays and zero present the bill is passed. And Clark please read house bill fourteen forty eight that's the fourteen forty eight by representative Gazaway to modernize probate proceedings in them in the law meant an update the law concerning adoptions guardianships into the ministration of the Senate this state and amend the probate code represent Gazaway you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues is a bill that comes to us from the Arkansas judicial council to modernize the probate process if any of you ever been involved in a probate proceeding you know just how cumbersome and difficult those can be whether that's the probate of a will establishing a guardianship Warren adoption and so this bill this five simple things one it raises the dollar amount to require a guardianship when selling a personal injury case from five thousand to twenty five thousand establishes better procedures to sell real property out of an estate to give reasonable flexibility on the price it makes it more affordable to carry out adoptions by waving the home study requirement when the adoptive parent is related to the person to be adopted within three degrees of consanguinity or has been a permanent guardian of the of the person for more than one year. Four it gives the court authority to order a person to pay attorney's fees in guardianship cases when they are in contempt of court or they have acted in bad faith in other words they attempt to abuse the process that allows the court to award it again attorney's fees and also sanctions and then five it removes the mandatory requirement for bonds in decedent's estate cases but creates fair procedures where the court consent binds when appropriate it's all the bill does And happy to answer any questions. Seeing none of an appreciate a good vote thank you represent gas was explained the bill would be would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to. Please close for the bill the question before the House is passive house bill fourteen forty eight prepared machine ma'am Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark. By a vote of no. The bill is passed and park please read house bill fourteen twenty four fourteen twenty four by representative maximum along concerning court proceedings for unlawful detainer. Represent Maddox recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is actually another very simple bill this bill modifies the unlawful detainer statute so right now that's basically an eviction so right now under the code the circuit Clerk actually issues the red of possession and at this point there is no one overseeing that what this will do is apply a circuit judge authorize the issuance of a writ which is this is a court order so it makes more sense for a judge to issue a court order when you're removing someone from their home as opposed to the circuit Clerk so the circuit clerk's associations all in favor this circuit judges are for it but I do I take any questions. Senate president of a person Maddox explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Bill represent Maddox is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen twenty four prepared machine madam Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about my work by a vote of ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill is passed Manafort. Ninety four by representative acre to modify the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act. Thank you thank you I. in all seriousness I I do appreciate everyone who's reached out and all the efforts you guys put forth obviously the real hero is my wife who is now responsible for a whole lot more duties than she was originally prepared for with our two and a half year old at home as well so shout out loud do that. And so I just wanted to again thank all of you also just and I'm really disappointed in our colleagues across the capitol who had to take out two Achilles tendons to prevent the greatest comeback in the history of basketball. It ever could have possibly happened but it is an honor roll down here in present this bill. Senate bill ninety four it's been a work in progress with the insurance commissioner's office to close some semantic loopholes that PBMs of use to argue their way out of paying claims for violations that they've made it also provides more leniency and discretion with the insurance commissioner to find good actors more appropriately than bad actors and it also lowers the reporting requirement from an automatic submission of all data to just that data that the insurance Mr feels is pertinent to the investigation so with that I will welcome any questions very. See non. I appreciate a good vote. Represent a chorus X. explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent bakeries close for the bill the question before the House is a passive Senate bill ninety four prepared machine medical. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast out man Clark. By a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed by a court please read Senate bill two fifty five. Two fifty five a representative packed to amend the law concerning the allocation of election expenses and to restrict the source of election finding. President hockey recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and at a good fundraising for us next time around will be the picture of our representative a core on the tip off with Clint Penzo are Senator I mean their fingers are like this so how you ever got that high I have no idea that that was awesome you'll sign signatures I'm sure of that picture. During the twenty twenty election outside groups use you poles loopholes to infiltrate election offices across the country more than four hundred million dollars in private funding went to election administrators and local officials with the purpose of influencing the outcome of our elections. In Arkansas more than twenty counties receive to one point one million dollars in outside funding to our election officials. The ninety third assembly and the twenty twenty one session passed ACT nine sixty one which band election commissioners from accepting these funds this bill today expands that ban to include County clerk's employees and officials from using outside money to administer our elections but that'll take any questions. C. nine I appreciate a good vote. President hawkers explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill president pockets close for the bill the question before the House is passive Senate bill two fifty five she made a part. Everyone voted has everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark by a vote of ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill is passed member please read Senate bill two fifty eight. Senate bill two fifty eight by representative back to amend the method of voting absentee integrated the use of absentee ballot drop boxes. The Berks you're recognized to present the bill thank you madam Speaker SB two fifty eight is one of our many election integrity bills this one created by the working group this bill prohibits the use of drop boxes for absentee ballots and clarifies that an absentee ballot must either be mailed in or hand delivered inside the office of the county Clerk thank you with that I appreciate a good. Representative Burks has explained the bill would anyone want to speak against the bill. Representative McAuliffe for what purpose. To speak against the bill you're recognized. Thank you madam Speaker. How can it be necessary to ban a simple safe and secure method of voting one that we don't even regularly use in the state of Arkansas. I am this protects against voter fraud is not true we've had three cases of voter fraud in Arkansas this century and this bill would not have prevented any of those cases we already have a biz more voter turn out our state often ranked fiftieth nationally and this bill does nothing to help increase our civic engagement in fact it further because the hands of local election officials with restrictions against a method of voting that might afforded a voter the chance to cast their first vote. I ask you to vote no. Because restricting safe and secure voting methods is wrong approach should be to make sure every citizen who is allowed to vote can vote in a secure way and this bill does not achieve that go. Representative McCollum has spoken against the bill does anyone want to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative first would you like to close for your bill. Just real quick I'd like to remind everybody if you saw the movie two thousand meals that's the kind of drop box that we're talking about here also in two thousand twenty one we attempted to clarify that ballots needed to be turned in inside the office of the clerk's office but there were some questions about that so this bill just further clarifies that thank you. Representative Burks has closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two fifty eight madam Clark repair the machine. As everyone voted. With the F. eighty a sixteen night and zero present the bill has passed. Madam Clark please relate read Senate bill two nine seven. Senate bill two ninety seven by representatives to amend the Arkansas underground facility damage prevention act as declared emergency. Representative H. you're recognized to present the bill thank you madam Speaker members today I bring you a bill that does you see amend the Arkansas underground facilities damage prevention act we are on the verge of the federal government taking over our pipeline enforcement program and losing those federal dollars so what this bill does is creates a tiered penalty structure for those eight one one violations it also gives the AG's office express authority to settle these cases up to the amount that would be liable for under the tiered penalty structure and I'd be happy to answer any questions. Acting on appreciate a good vote. Representative payees has presented the bill does anyone wish to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two nine seven madam Clark prepare the machine. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. With the vote of ninety eight yeah a zero day and zero present the bill has passed and the emergency clause. Madam Clark please read Senate bill two fifty one to fifty one by representative waters concerning the administrative office of the keep Arkansas beautiful commission and to mend the duties of the State Parks Division. Representative will rate you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you madam Speaker members this is a bill that moves the keep Arkansas beautiful commission out from under the director of this state parks are of the heritage tourism in parks and moves it under the direction of the state park director that I'll answer any questions. CNN I appreciate a good vote. Representive well which has presented the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill represent will which is a has indicated that he is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two fifty one madam Clark repair the machine. As everyone voted. With the vote F.. Ninety one days to nee and zero present the bill has passed. Man court please read Senate bill two ninety three Senate bill two ninety three areas represented fireman to amend the law concerning the correction of errors on ballots to amend the law concerning election procedures and to create a procedure for candidate review of the ballot. The Fuhrman recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker calling this is a really simple bill that just deals with the correction of errors on ballots in a candidate's name if they're spelled wrong remitted or ballot titles like insulin County this last election cycle the if the title for issue to do not appear on the ballot or you might remember the case of a candidate packet whose name appears Jack packet currently to fix that you know the County Board of election commissioners can't even begin discussing corrections until there's affidavit filed by and local elected or. This bill would allow the mistake to be corrected by the county election commissioners announcing that there is an error having a meeting to discuss how to best fix their as long as it's feasible can be corrected really quick so in the event that my name is ever spelled wrong your calls him to respond the wrong I would appreciate a good vote. President Fuhrman is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Fuhrman is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two ninety three compare the machine madam Clark. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk by the ninety seven yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Represent Jeanne moos we place house bill fourteen sixty six on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection read Amendment number one man for. Amendment number one to House Bill fourteen sixty six ingenieur recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker. Calling this is a came out of the claims commission yesterday this amendment. That adds two hundred fifty two thousand dollars on a claim that was originally filed for two million dollars this had a of agreement for the claims commission. You A. M. S. and the and the lady that the brought the suit before you A. M. S. is all agreed upon and approved by with the glass claims committee any questions. I appreciate a good vote on the amendment. Represent changes explain the amendment when he would like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Jean is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the adoption of amendment number one to House Bill fourteen sixty six all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion passes. In the building gross amount Clark. President Jeanne moos we re referred house bill ten ninety five backed committee that's proper motion it is the. Thank your Speaker were sent and house bill ten ninety five the division of emergency management they realize that there was a grant item that the appropriation did not feel adequately fund so we're going to send back and look this over the committee and in a add an additional funds for this grant any questions. Preciado vote. Represent changes explained the motion would anyone like to speak against them the motion. We would like to speak for the motion. Represent Jean is closed for the motion the question before the House is the motion to re referred house bill ten ninety five back to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes Madam courts in the bill back to committee represent gene you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker. Calling for we're going to have or had a request. Full house bill. Ten seventy eight out of the match. I'll go over the the other bills that we're doing house bill ten sixty five that's a seventeen million dollar reduction for the Division Division of information system the I. S. of they don't need the money that they thought they needed for capital outlays went to seventeen million dollar decrease. Of a house bill ten forty seven. This is all the same stuff Gamblin alcohol liquor. Marijuana over those budgets there is a four hundred thousand dollar increase to of it two hundred thousand of it is for salary and it of matching and another two hundred thousand is a a program for a yeah. Thank you ten seventy four. And transposing numbers now. Anyway ten seventy four of four thousand dollar increase two hundred thousand for salaries two hundred thousand for a gambling addiction that was written in the bill when it was passed in the constitutional amendment. A house bill ten seventy five of the child support. This is a decrease of six positions it does add two million dollars and for data processing. House bill ten. seventy nine were skipping over seventy eight this is the Department of this of securities it is no G. R. and it is a decrease of one position. House bill ten eighty has no G. R. department of tobacco settlement of and it is a decrease of two positions. House bill ten eighty one. Of the Arkansas rehabilitation services this is a two million dollar hit with the federal funds for a the blind is more workforce training for the school the blind there's been there's but if the increase of two million but it's not general revenues federal revenue. House Bill. Eleven oh six Department of military appropriations this. does have a decrease of nine positions but it is a four million dollar increase mainly federal dollars the parade of our or training at fort Chaffee our federal training and at a camp Robinson. And the last one is house bill eleven thirty four this department of corrections it does have a seventy eight increased positions but fifty nine of them are coming from the department of corrections is for community corrections of. And I'll take any questions on these bills represent Wardlaw for purpose. Request you're recognized for a question pullout house bill ten seventy four four separate vote please seventy four. Represent cap for what purpose request you're recognized if you can pull out ten eighty for a separate vote. In eighty. Represent McCollum for what purpose. Any other TV put out for the match. Very for what purpose. Eleven of six please. Representive resent Gazaway for what purpose. Question you're recognized for a question. House bill eleven thirty four division of corrections we have an amount of an increase on that. do. It's roughly nineteen million dollars. But a lot has been transferred from the department of correction to community corrections. McCollum for what purpose. Request you're recognized House bill ten seventy five can we pull that out the batch please. Any other. Okay here's what's left. On the bathroom will be voting house bill ten sixty five. House bill ten seventy nine. House bill ten eighty one. And house bill eleven thirty four. That's in the batch any questions. Your one vote is for the bills emergency clause Mister Speaker the Clerk read the bill third to have. I have parts please read the bills for the third time in sixty five house bill ten seventy nine house bill ten eighty one house bill eleven thirty four the machine ma'am Clerk. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark by a vote of ninety seven yeah zero nine zero present the bills emergency clauses are passed. Jean you're recognized. Okay this is house bill ten seventy four the FNA. Record or division any questions. You want voted for the bill number two calls miss bigger the corporate bill third time. I'm Clerk please read the bill for the third time in seventy four percent jeans explained the the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent gene is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten seventy four per machine madam Clerk. Everyone voted. Is putting on the bill and emergency clauses everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark. I have a seventy two days twenty one days and five present the bill is fail. President Jean you're recognized. This house bill ten seventy five this is the child support enforcement any questions. C. ninety one voted for the bill number to call for Speaker the Clerk read bill third time. I'm Clark please read the bill for third time as the ten seventy five represent genes explain the building would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Jean is closed for the bill the question before the House is passive house bill ten seventy five per machine madam Clerk. So everyone voted. As everyone voted voted on the bill and work in the emergency clause cast about madam Clerk by a vote of eighty four yeas five Mason eight present the bill emergency clause passed represent gene you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker this house bill ten seventy eight ACT in the budget is flat no no new positions any questions. You one vote for the bill number to call for Speaker the Clerk read the bill third time I'm Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten seventy eight represent genes explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Jean is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten seventy eight per machine map Clark. Is everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark by a vote of sixty eight twenty six nays and to present the bill is fail. Representing record. Your Speaker. Colleges house bill ten eighty. Of the Department of Health this is the of tobacco cessation program it has to list provisions no general revenue any questions. The one voted for the bill emergency clause for Speaker the court Clerk read the bill third time madam Clark please read the bill for third time that's the ten eighty percent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative gene is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten eighty prepared machine made a part. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clark by a vote of eighty eighth eleven days and six present the bill emergency clause or pass represent gene you're recognized. Thank you Speaker. Last preparation for the day is house bill eleven oh six Military Department any questions. One voted for the bill Murphy called miss Baker the Clerk with bill third time Adam Clark please read the bill for the third time that's the limit estate represent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. When you would like to speak for the bill. Represent Jean is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven oh six per machine madam Clark. But in the bill in the emergency clauses everyone voted has everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark by a vote of ninety six yeah zero nine one present the bill emergency clause are passed represent Meeks what purpose. Motion place your motion after the announcmenet of the bills transferring the bill's place of the counters on the desk members amending their own bills the only members members withdrawing their own bills finalize resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move we adjourn until one thirty tomorrow afternoon that's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it any announcements represent fight for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized city county local will meet in mac B. and fifteen minutes represent gene for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized joint budget will meet tomorrow morning nine AM big mac a representative Stan Berry for what purpose. You're recognized judiciary will meet in room one forty nine at ten o'clock tomorrow morning representative Cavenaugh for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized a joint budget special language will meet tomorrow morning at eight AM big mac B. represent hope for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized public transportation will meet in the morning at ten o'clock in mac B.. Representatives for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized revenue tax will meet tomorrow room one fifty one ten AM representantes for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized state agencies will meet in fifteen minutes in room one fifty one represent Johnson for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized public health meet tomorrow ten AM room one thirty represent evidence for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized House education will meet ten AM tomorrow morning room one thirty eight any other announcements members as well as I mentioned last week especially as we approach being off next week we're gonna try and get as much as we can get done this week before we leave so we're already having a couple committee meetings this afternoon that's outside their regular times to just continue to listen to announcements check your email and pay attention to the arc leg calendar any other announcements. Not the best remain open as needed for the reading of the bills upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house would be adjourned until