House Convenes

Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button the machine madam Clark. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk with ninety eight members present chair sees a quorum are there any requests for leave represent Fortner for what purpose leave you're recognized leave for Deborah Ferguson is leave granted per Deborah Ferguson. Represent Vaught for what purpose leave you're recognized leave for representative acre leave grant represent Baker. So noted. President Jeffrey Wardlaw most we dispense the ring at previous day's Journal without objection so ordered other reports from select committees. The reports man park Mr speaking if we are committee on house bills to whom was referred house bill fourteen ninety eight Senate bill sixty six Senate bill two eighty Bentley report we have the same consideration here transaminase that do pass as quickly submitted DM Vaught chair. Any reports from standing committees read the reports by a court Mister Speaker you committee on city county local affairs to whom was referred house bill fifteen forty one badly report we have in the same consideration here the time same connection that do pass as amended number one was a Speaker your committee on city county local to whom was referred house bill fifteen seventeen house bill fifty fifty seven Senate bill two eighty seven vaguely report we have the same consideration here times a recommendation that a do pass as quickly submitted Milton Nicks vice chair Mister Speaker we your committee on state agencies and governmental affairs to whom was referred house bill fourteen fifty seven thank you what we have the same consideration here time same information that it do pass as amended number two Mr Speaker we are committee on state agencies and governmental affairs to whom was referred house bill fifteen thirteen Senate bill two fifty five Senate bill two fifty eight thank Lee report we have the same consideration here concerns I recognize that a do pass as amended number one Mr Speaker we are committee on state agencies and governmental affairs House bills to whom was referred house bill fifteen twelve fifteen twenty fourth senate bill two fifty four Senate bill two sixty seven Senate bill two seventy three Senate bill two ninety three Senate bill three oh seven Senate bill three forty three beg leave a for we have the same consideration here the times I recognize that it do pass as quickly submitted Dwight Tosh two Mr Speaker your committee on aging children and youth Legislative and Military Affairs to whom was referred house bill fourteen twenty five house bill fourteen sixty two House resolution ten thirty four House resolution ten thirty nine House resolution him forty House concurrent resolution one thousand nine house concurrent resolution ten ten house concurrent resolution one thousand one Bentley report we have in the same consideration here to town with a recognition that a do pass thankfully submitted fine yes Eubanks Barker chair Mister Speaker your committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred house bill twelve seventy one big the report we have the same consideration here times and recognition that do pass as amended number two to speak or your committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred house bill eleven twenty one house bill fifteen twenty five houseful fifteen thirty two to House Bill fifteen fifty eight Senate bill ninety four Senate bill two ninety five Senate bill two ninety seven then the report we have same consideration here was time same recognition that it do pass thankfully submitted John Maddox chair Mister Speaker will your committee on agroforestry in economic. Ability to whom was referred Senate bill two fifty one big the report we have the same consideration here was times I recognized that it do pass respectfully submitted. Share. Or in this business the executive communication read the letter from the government for. To the Speaker of the house Dennis to speak this is known for me on March second twenty twenty three I reviewed and approved the following measures from legislative session ninety first General Assembly house bill ten eighteen ACT one sixty six house bill eleven fifteen ACT one sixty seven house bill eleven fifty three ACT one sixty eight house bill eleven sixty two ACT one sixty nine house bill eleven eighty six ACT one seventy House eleven eighty seven ACT one seventy one house bill eleven ninety one ACT one seventy two house bill twelve twenty four ACT one seventy three house bill twelve seventy nine ACT one seventy four house bill twelve eighty three ACT one seventy five house bill twelve eighty four ACT one seventy six house bill twelve eighty seven ACT one seventy seven house bill twelve eighty nine ACT one seventy eight house bill twelve ninety eight one seventy nine house bill twelve ninety one ACT one eighty house bill twelve ninety four ACT one eighty one house bill twelve ninety five ACT one eighty two sincerely Sarah Huckabee Sanders governor of Arkansas. Members the doctor the day is doctor Willard Burks of women against represent all well and nursing days Mr Bernard. We also have with this in the east gallery. The Greene County tech gifted and talented program against a president gas. Also in the east gallery with have the Arkansas EMS starts of life guests of represent peers represent shorts. Will serve with this Karen kite Powell executive director of abilities and limited she's a guest represent one. And paging with this today we have Courtney Mayberry the daughter of representative maker. And Clark please read House resolution ten twenty eight ACT. I sober House resolution ten twenty eight. I'm Clark please read House resolution ten twenty. House resolution ten twenty eight by represented McNair to recognize ms Arkansas twenty twenty two Eboni Mitchell. Thank you for your of I have the honor and privilege to welcome. Is there any mental would miss Arkansas in the north gallery but even is from from here in which he was a goblin cheerleader. I've got to know a little bit. Over meeting here since he was a. Like Mr Arkansas a very intelligent talented young lady of this changes I've got a wonderful outlook on life in which is going around fairing or platform. A responsible digital you. thank you also has her mother view lane and her sister Rockin weather and. Or rather you lane actually attended school with my son and daughter in law so it's it's pretty special for me to have this honor to presented resolution to amend Arkansas. I'm gonna have the. Mister Speaker I like to have a Clerk to read the resolution in its entirety and wanted to read if you all don't mind give her a good warm welcome thank you. Whereas on June eighteenth twenty twenty two ms any Mitchell from Harrison Arkansas was crowned miss Arkansas and we're the first miss Arkansas from here to miss Mitchell one thirty thousand dollars more than seventy five thousand dollars in awards Woodrow transportation against and with miss Mitchell has made and continues to make appearances throughout the state promoting her personal platform of a responsible digital you and where as during the miss Arkansas competition with Mitchell one with their **** over at private interview award the bill targeting overall evening gown award the actual rate mentor award the all grown up award in the gray Scholarship in with miss Mitchell received her bachelor's degree in business administration from the university of central Arkansas in twenty nineteen to receive her master's degree in health administration from John Brown University in twenty twenty two and where is miss Mitchell competed for the title of Miss America twenty twenty three in December twenty twenty two and where the upon the completion of her tenure at as miss Arkansas miss Mitchell plans to pursue her doctorate of business administration continue to work in the healthcare administration feel now therefore be it resolved by the House representative of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House representative of the ninety first General Assembly recognized miss Arkansas twenty twenty two Eboni Mitchell. Represent McNair has explained resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution representative McNair is close for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of house resolution ten twenty eight all in favor say aye. Any oppose. The resolution is adopted. Adam Clark please read has risen resolution ten thirty one House resolution ten thirty one by representative shall so designate the stars of like today and to recognize the accomplishments of certain emergency medical professionals. President George recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker with your permission I'd like to invite representative Dr Lee Johnson to the well. Colleagues what this resolution does it recognizes today as the Arkansas EMS stars of life day first off I want to say how honored humbled I am to carry this resolution for all these EMS heroes are set up here and the ones who are here today when we're at our worst they're they're at their best they take care of us twenty four seven three sixty five. This is just a small way to recognize their sacrifice with that I'd ask you to stand in recognized with me. Would you as the Clerk read. Madam Clark please read the resolution tired where the medicine medical services are vital public service and with the members of the emergency medical services team are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need twenty twenty four hours a day seven days a week and where the members of emergency medical services team with whether career or volunteer often go beyond the call of duty to carry out life saving measures and to promote the cause of the ambulance industry and where the members of emergency medical services seems to serve on the front lines carry for critical patients during the coronavirus twenty nineteen pandemic and where is it is appropriate to recognize the value in the consciousness of selected individuals within the spirit of emergency medical service now therefore be it resolved by the House represent the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House representative. March eighth twenty twenty three as the stars of light day and recognize individuals are being awarded as Arkansas EMS stars of life. Represent Schultz has. Okay for the resolution when he would like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent Schultz is close for the resolution. The question before the House is the adoption of house resolution ten thirty one all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Resolution is adopted. An important please read House memorial resolution one thousand three has somewhere resolution one thousand three by representative mac and we need to remember Mr Madison James eating for his commitment to the family friends and community. President back when you're recognized explain the resolution. Thank you. I'd like to introduce you a young man who died unexpectedly at the age of expatriates because we have sixteen his name is Mason Edens he contributed much to this community school and his family had a love of god I love the country and it showed in all that he did he was always ready to help out at a moment's notice. He was a competition track and football anybody smile to the face of all of his friends. He loves his family more than anything I had the pleasure of meeting this young man when he was just a child and I watched him grow into the strong young man that he became. I have the honor bringing his family here today I have as parents Jenny and Dave to Sarajevo in his brothers Anthony and Gavin with us. I am richer for having known Mason madam Clark would you please read the resolution of full. Clark please read the resolution. Whereas Mr Mason James Ian's was born on April thirteenth two thousand six and died on November fourteenth twenty twenty two and whereas Mr Eden's will be remembered for his love of god family friends in football and with Mr in the tenet Bentonville west high school and with the student athletes who participate on football and track and field high school teams and where is Mr Eames will be remembered for being a carefree spirit who made a lasting impact on all who knew him and we're assistance contributed to the benefit of his school and his classmates their support and friendships and had an under underlying passion for his country and where's Mr Eames had a level for life and yet left the world too soon and whereas Mr easily behind the scenes Jeannie and David the sorry okay and Brian and Cindy Eads as brothers dominate this area Matthew this area Gaven means Anthony to sorrow and his sister in law I'm working to sorry niece Gabrielle to sorry okay in numerous levels family in France all who left with the benefit and benefited from the joy of knowing Mr Eames now therefore it be resolved by the House represents of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House represent is remember Mr Mason James Ian's for his commitment to his family friends and extended sincere condolences to the family. Some Macklin is explain the resolution we would like to speak against resolution. Would anyone like to speak. Back when it is closed for the resolution the question before the House is the adoption of house more memorial resolution one thousand three all in favor say aye. Any opposed the resolution is adopted. Morning hour is indeed. Repor. President Baker recommends we concurrence Senate Amendment number one to House Bill twelve forty four madam Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate Amendment number one to House Bill twelve forty four represent park you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker calling so representative Baker says he misses you dearly and he's watching online right now so he appreciates a good vote this is a really clean up from be a law when it got to the Senate house bill twelve forty four need to change the effective dates on section two line three and four they change the effective date to say effective on or after February first two thousand twenty five. With that I appreciate a good vote so this representative occur. Represent hawkers explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Percent hawk is close for the amendment the question before the House is concurrent with Senate Amendment number one house bill twelve forty four prepared machine madam Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Manafort by a vote of ninety four Yeas zero nine zero president you've concurred in Senate amendment will have number one to House Bill twelve forty four representative Haak recommends we concur in the Senate amendment number one to House Bill Levin eighty one Manafort please read Senate Amendment number one Senate member number one to House Bill eleven eighty one percent park you're recognized. Mr Speaker you may remember this bill is about accounts and compact for licensed professional counselors and when when it went to the Senate we had a uniformity of language in this compact and others coming before us and that's what this amendment does and if they're not any questions I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Represent park is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. President Haak is closed for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment number one to House Bill Levin eighty one prepare the machine metal parts. As everyone voted as everyone voted. Asked about madam Clark by a vote of eighty three days five days and to present your concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill Levin eighty one. Representative Pilkington recommends that we can current Senate amendment number one to House Bill tune eighty two madam Clark please read Senate Amendment number one Senate member number one to House Bill tend eighty two. President Pilkington you're recognized to explain the amendment thank you Mr Speaker this amendment at Senator Flippo as a co sponsor and clean up some language adding a L. C. in there instead of just the Arkansas General Assembly since obviously we are not always in session and that's the clean up bill and cleanup amendment thank you that's for good vote. Represent Pilkington is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Pilkington is close for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence with Senate Amendment number one to House Bill teen eighty two per machine man Clark. Everyone voted. Has everyone voted cast about madam Clerk by a vote of ninety four yeah zero nine one present your card and Senate Amendment number one to House Bill tend eighty two. Members for impasse over house bill thirteen seventy madam Clark please read house bill fifteen twenty three. House bill fifteen twenty three by representative can do more to provide a sales and use tax exemption from certain sales by nonprofit organizations. Person more you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker H. B. fifteen twenty three is just an update to a bill that was passed last session allowing and non profit youth athletic organizations operating concession stands to be exempt from collecting sales tax this update removes the term athletic to allow for other non profit organizations to benefit from this exemption as well such as band boosters quiz bowl teams et cetera and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Represent more is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent more as close for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill fifteen twenty three prepared machine man Clark. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about ma'am Clerk by a vote of ninety seven yeah zero nine zero president. You passed house bill fifteen twenty three. I'm Clark please read house bill fifteen eighteen. As the fifteen eighteen by representative maybe to set minimum dimensions training requirements for staff members who are employed by an assisted living facility president Mayberry you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is another bill that came from the Alzheimer's and dementia Advisory Council in the state plan supporting organizations include the Arkansas health care association the Arkansas residential assisted living association and it was drafted with assistance from DHS briefly it establishes minimum dementia training standards for assisting living a direct care staff it ensures the new direct care staff receives no less than four hours of initial training in dementia specific content it also ensures that direct care staff will receive two hours of continuing training in dementia specific content each year I appreciate a good vote thank you. It's close for the bill the question before the House. Per machine Clerk. As everyone votes. As everyone voted. Asked about Clark by a vote of ninety four yeah zero nine zero present past madam park please read house bill fifteen forty six as the fifteen forty six by representative want to amend the law regarding individuals with disabilities and to recognize and protect organizations holding certificates issued under section fourteen C. of the fair labor standards act percent worn. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues house bill fifteen forty six will create a law in Arkansas to protect all fourteen C. workers from any outside forces trying to make them seek regular jobs this would be a protection for developmentally disabled individuals to be able to continue going to an understanding work environment allows them to work at their pace they have a sense of community an accomplishment. The pay is based upon prevailing wages but it is tied to productivity a protective any rate that varies with each worker. Most people love to get their paychecks the. The other side of the coin is that these individuals have a reason to get up every day and go to work. These works places do so much more for these folks and just providing a job. They teach them skills and how to live independently some workers to live with their families in these situations those family members allow time to get some other things done do not have to be a care giver one hundred percent of the time these individuals and their families and their communities are all better because we have fourteen C. workstations I would appreciate your vote so that we can protect these workspaces for our individuals represent in it for what purpose question recognized organizations with fourteen sees are already allowed to employ people with disabilities is that right. Right now it's the. I think they are but we want to make a put a law on the books to make sure that their protected from here forward without any questions okay so what's the purpose again of this at and we're trying to establish that they are a protected entity their entities they're trying to say that they are not a viable workplaces they're going against laws for work spaces and we're trying to put a law on the books to make sure that it is continue to be a safe workplace right thank you. Garnaut appreciate a good. Representative Warren I appreciate you bringing this bill friends I have twenty one years of experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities I've seen first hand how important these programs are to the success in the well being of the clients they serve we need to protect these programs for these reasons I ask that you join me in voting for this good bill. Warren. Close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifty. Or. Cast about. The bill is passed member please read fifteen twenty House Bill fifteen twenty. Fifteen twenty three by representative Bobby concerning the salaries of Aries District Court personnel. Dalby recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this bill is a bill that comes to us every year and all this bill does is set the salaries for your District Court personnel this bill get sent out November December each year to all the counties the cities and the various district judges throughout the state to look at any changes in this is also the same bill that I often announce that it's sitting on my desk for you to look at this infectious those folks it has no general revenue to the status the cities and counties that will be picking up the pay for these individuals. We should a good vote. The house is passage of house bill fifteen twenty two per machine Madam. Asked about man for. Five present the bill is passed. That's the fourteen seventy one by representative part to reveal the redundant reporting requirement that public school district board of directors review and approve certain salary increases. three reasons why we are asking today to repeal this required report that goes to school boards one is redundancy of this report is filed with the school district two years reporting on two years that they've already identified the positions approve the salaries and the personnel this report and calms and there's over five hundred to a thousand names on a spreadsheet and every single one of those names has to be identified as to why they received a five percent increase it can be because they move from a part time position to a full time position or a a summer job it can be a pay raise in bus driving it can be any number of things but all of that has to be researched out for every individual person that has already been approved for the previous two years by the board and the superintendent the second thing is on it also. can be lead to privacy issues because sometimes at an employee of a school district would be On leave and their pay one year would be less than the next year when they were not on leave and that is private information that would not be disclosed anywhere else in the And the and the district or in the public's eye and the last thing is That there is a lot of resources that it takes for the financial departments of the school districts to compile all of this information a week's worth of time from a a number of employees that are spent doing this report that is redundant is rarely looked at and has no influence on decisions that have already been made with that I will take any questions. And C. nine I'll ask for a good vote thank you. Representative Haak has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representive park is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fourteen seventy one. Madam Clark please prepare the machine. As everyone voted. Test at the ballot medical. With that if ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill has passed. Madam Clark please read house bill fifteen thirty three House Bill fifteen thirty three by representative Cozart to exclude certain students from inclusion in a school dropout rate for purposes of a school performance report. Representive Cozart you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. This gentleman fifteen thirty three is an act to amend school performance report but real good to me so I want to continue that streak that you've been doing even vote real good for me so listless. but anyway of. It's it's to keep the dropout rate from being so bad a lot of schools that have things a change in their in their school line up there's a big long list and this call is one of this whistling in the chamber that you get pulled out of school for. But now we add to the list there's a lot of things that that change that when it goes against your rating on the schools that are part of put out every year and assistance assessment ratings losses staff qualification for per pupil spending in a lot of different things only want to do is add up a couple things to that. It would be a student who passes the G. E. The develop our general education development test or GED test that they leave or they've got that so that would not count against your ratings of that you do have to drop out also a school of a student in the grades nine through twelve the transfer to a public school or a home school private school or parochial school that those are they are actually going somewhere else to go to school so that would not count against your your graduation rates and drop out rates so that's what I'm asking for their other things they already have in there this is just an ad in their little to change the rules little add an I try to answer questions you have one if not I appreciate a good vote. Representative Cozart has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Cozart are you closed for the bill. Representive Cozart has indicated he's closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen thirty four madam Clark repair the machine. A correction that was house bill fifteen thirty three madam Clark prepared. As everyone voted. With the ninety three a one that provides zero Nays one present ninety four yea zero nine A. and one present the bill has passed representative Cozart. Madam Clark please read house bill fifteen thirty. House bill fifteen thirty four by representative Cozart to repeal requirements placed on school districts I have a ten percent or greater minority population of the total population. Representative Cozart you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. This as I said this is Act repealed the requirements placed on the school districts that have ten percent or greater minority population out of the total population by Senator striking that whole language and this is what we think of no school should have any or destruction have requirements on because this really opens it up to where if you have a minority of any if it's black Hispanic or Asian or anything in that district that gives them the chance for being in that hole district bill run not just be penned into one of those all and so we think that's really good and at it's just it's just a great it's a great bill that we thank open up we have a lot of trouble getting of people to run for school boards and so we would love to open this up we get more than thank you and give you a chance to just redirect you to run for that district so that's what we're looking for and five questions I'll try to answer not would love to have a good vote on it thank you. Representive Whitaker representative Cozart has left the well. President of Cozart has explained the bill would anyone want to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Cozart are you close for the bill he is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill fifteen thirty four madam Clark prepare the machine. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot madam Clerk. With a vote of seventy seven yeah a fourteen day and to present the bill has passed. Madam Clark please read house bill fifteen thirty five also a fifteen thirty five a representative Cozart to requires certain information be provided monthly to school district board of directors. Representative Cozart you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you again madam Speaker this is myself was bill my shortest bill won't be my last bill but this is going to be an easy one all this does is it requires the school board or district board of directors to be provided at each monthly membership the school board of directors a report or presentation regarding student academic data or performance shall be provided to the board of directors and that's all this. Be informed of how they're doing academic. The meeting. And without any questions I appreciate a good vote. Representative Cozart has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill representive Cozart is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen thirty five madam Clark please prepare the machine. As everyone voted. Madam Clerk cast at the ballot. With the voted ninety four yea one day and zero present the bill has passed. Madam Clark please read house bill ten thirty house bill ten thirty by representative makes concerning age of residency requirements for attending public schools and to expand the number of individuals for whom public school shall be open and free representative makes you're recognized to present the bill thank you madam Speaker we're gonna. Adult international flair to our proceedings this afternoon and with the speakers permission this bill is about international exchange students and we happen to have two international exchange students that are paging for us today and I'm gonna try to introduce them to you and get their names right we have patched up bank play from Thailand who is. Back here the maximum and then we also have all be of Sammy from Italy who's paging and he was over here so if you would help me welcome these two gentleman to our country. Thank you so while this bill came to my attention when I was a host family for international exchange student and there was some questions in Arkansas Code about what the requirements are what the responsibility is for our school districts to accept international exchange students and when they do except on what responsibilities they have so last fall I began working on this bill to set those out in and not shall so what this bill does is it says that when a international exchange student comes to our nation that the school district has the option to require them to quarantine for seven days on or that comes from right back in COVID days or longer if there's a guidelines from the CDC so if there's an outbreak in that nation it does say that the school can expel the students if they don't meet the student discipline policies so if they break the discipline policy they can be expelled and allows the school to limit the number of exchange students that they get it gives them the option to include the test results from the students and their standardized test scores so what we didn't want to happen is for students for the schools to be held accountable for this in their school letter grades unless they want the schools also are not required to provide ESL service English language services these students are here to learn English and so it should not be and convert upon the school to also provide services in their native language we also say that schools do not have to accept the students unless the exchange organization is registered with the council on standards for international education travel so that's the standards organisation unfortunately there are some organizations that are not we'll just say top quality organizations and can leave some of the international exchange students in a. March and what we don't want to do is require school districts to have to take responsibility for the students if the exchange organization is not living up to their responsibilities and so this says the school does not have to accept those students and accept that responsibility if they're not part of the standards organization and then the last thing it does is it says that the school can required that the students provide proof that they are proficient in English before they come over that's pretty much standard practice and so that's what the bill does And not shall I will answer any questions saying none of. Representative Ladyman for what purpose question you're recognized thank you committee chair representative why put a limit on how many exchange students that a school can have so the the way the bills drafted it says that so there are some schools are just not taking any exchange students right now so what this bill does it says they have to take a minimum of one per fifty so if the school district passe three hundred students then they have to accept at least six exchange students if they want to do more they can but will be concern is you don't wanna get into a situation where a small school district has you know thirty forty fifty exchange students show up in the school district just not have the capability to handle that many so generally speaking. they can take as many as they want but this just allows them to limit if they so choose to no fewer than that one and fifty. Mark. Representative Cavenaugh for what purpose question you're recognized representative makes do the schools get reimbursed do they get funding for the students out ATM yeah accounts for the ATM for the schools okay thank you. Saying no further questions I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative makes has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative makes are you close for your bill he's closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten thirty madam Clark prepare the machine. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk. With the vote of ninety six J. zero Nays and zero present the bill has passed madam Clark please read house bill fifteen twenty. Fifteen twenty by representative Ladyman to amend the petroleum storage tank trust fund act to amend the payment limit per occurrence for corrective action and to declare an emergency representative Ladyman you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you madam chair of I want to add a little more international player could could have appointed person proves before I present the bill my. Yes thank you. today marks the eighth is international women's day. so that's why I'm wearing this I didn't have a bow tie notices some people responded and did wear a bow tie like we were requested but I believe we ought to recognize the women in this chamber especially for their accomplishments and being elected to this house so man I I'd ask you to recognize the women of our chamber. Madam Speaker thank you thank you for giving me that time. House Bill fifteen twenty one twenty. House Bill fifteen twenty. Is has to do with the petroleum storage tank trust fund which is used to clean up underground storage tanks that leak. What this bill does is is basically a update on the bill of the current bill the current law. Establishes a maximum of one point five million dollars per clean up. For underground storage tanks what this bill does it raise it to two million per storage tank the reason for that that one half million was established in the nineteen eighties inflation since the time this was established has gone up sixty one point three percent. This bill is just requesting a thirty three percent increase on that cap. it's coming from the trust fund the trust fund is healthy and should not hurt the amount of the trust fund so with that I'd be happy to take any questions. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote represent Ladyman as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Ladyman is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed house bill fifteen twenty prepared machine madam Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clauses everyone voted. One voted. Cast about Manafort by a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero president bill emergency clause of past madam Clark please read house bill ten thirty five ten thirty five a representative Pilkington to require screening for depression of birth mothers at the time of birth and to mandate that insurance policies cover screening for depression of birth mothers at the time of birth. President Pilkington you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker This bill Has we just got the reports back and has no physical impacts no fiscal impact on Medicaid either since we're trying to do is to improve our maternal health at rates when things we found was by making sure that women after they give birth I have a depression screening within the first six weeks cerpen is on the books talk to a few insurance companies they also said that they're not opposes there's no fiscal impact for them as well I did get a question from a member for I came down here that if a mother is offered this they're not required to do it they can opt out if they deal with the screen for depression in a cancer there's no requirement on the mother just the provider to offer this depression screening because obviously by catch these things early we can improve our outcomes and so that ask forget that thank you. President talked. Bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Pilkington is close for the bill the question before the house passed house bill ten thirty five per machine and for. As everyone voted has everyone voted cast about madam Clark. Three present the bill is passed Manafort please read house bill eleven twenty nine eleven twenty nine The representative Johnson to require the Arkansas Medicaid program in insurance policies to reinsure reimburse for behavioral health services provided in certain settings Tim Johnson you're recognized explained bill thank you Mr Speaker I like a sum of representative Pilkington's comments the fiscal impact came back for this zero so this bill is ensuring that hospitals and clinics can bill appropriately for outpatient medical services in those settings and also ensures that insurance covers in the NHS will also pay for behavior how screenings and I'd be happy to try to answer any questions. CNN appreciate a good vote thank you president Johnson's explain the bill would anyone like to. Question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven twenty nine. As everyone voted. Cast about my employer level ninety one yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed man park please read house bill one. One thousand eight by representative Pilkington to modify the coverage of continuous glucose monitors in the Arkansas Medicaid program. Thank you Mr Speaker. Is a good bill it out when we got the fiscal impact back in action so that we're going to save the state over one million dollars because around one point two one point three million dollars base or doing is the content because minor program we passed last session we're taking it from anywhere with the medical benefits to being a pharmacy benefit and that simple change is going to allow us to create this savings and so that's why I ran this bill with that I'd ask for a good vote thank you. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Asked about Manafort by a vote of ninety four Yeas zero nine zero present the bill is passed madam Clark please read Senate bill two hundred. Two hundred by representative Mary to amend various provisions of law related to tuition benefits for soldiers and airmen of the Arkansas National Guard. Thank you Mr Speaker of this bill quite simply is the National Guard tuition assistance program or unless the cap every now and there there comes a time with some of our soldiers or airmen they need their degree requirements for more than a hundred twenty hours so this lives that cap and in conjunction with the department of higher education adjutant general they can they'll approve those additional hours I'll be happy to take up any serious questions and dot nine from a representative Lane Jean. And I will say that because this does not address the marine corps we have taking out a subscription for highlights for children to make sure that their needs are met. No single questions I appreciate a good vote. Person very has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President very is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two hundred per machine. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk. Ninety four yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed man part please read Senate bill two seventy six to seventy six by representative painter to amend the candidate filing period for a position on the school district board of directors and to clear any emergency. President painter you're recognized explained bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues all this bill does is will clarify the appropriate filing period for November elections in odd number years to concede with a one week period ending in ninety days before the November election an even number of years and that's all so I appreciate a good vote. Represent painters explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill represent painter is close for the bill the question before the House is pastor Senate bill two seventy six per machine medical. As everyone voter. Billin the Emergency Clause everyone voted. Cast about manta Clerk by a vote of ninety forty eight zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause or past madam Clark. Senate bill two sixty four by representative Womack. In the Arkansas social work licensing board to remove racial requirement for membership on the Arkansas social work licensing board and to declare an emergency. Thank you Mr Speaker members is very simply removes eight words that are an unconstitutional mandate which require the governor to meet racial quotas one appointing members of social work licensing board I appreciate a good vote. Well Richmond Womack is explain the bill we would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Womack is close for the bill the question before the house passed Senate bill two sixty four prepared machine metaphor. As everyone voted voting on the bill in the Emergency Clause everyone voted. Cast about matter for. Days twelve days seven present the. Manafort please read Senate bill one ninety nine one ninety nine The representative Bentley concerning medical malpractice and gender transition to minors and to create the protecting minors from medical malpractice active twenty twenty three represent Bentley you're recognized to explain the. Colleagues is maybe the last bill the Davis definitely the best and I feel very honored to be able to carry this bill that was brought to me by the attorney general's office is a bill that senator Tom cotton brand washing DC's this important bill will help protect the students in our this is the the children our state in a great manner really what should just take a minute and listen to what I have to say on this it allows two simple things the first one it allows a minor who has been injured by gender affirming care increasing the statute of limitations to sue for malpractice up to fifteen years after they turn eighteen we're currently now is this two years the second thing this bill does it creates a safe harbor for those minor suffering with gender identity disorder and their parents it provides a much needed safeguards for for life altering medical treatment can be the same again as well as a list of the risks that are involved. Before I start talking about this bill I want to share the story of Chloe Cole because of not listening closely Cole's testimony can easily go online here for story it's such a tragedy and the really dissipated mais what happens in too often in our nation now on why we bring this bill to you. Chloe was twelve years old she founders of this really having a hard time fitting in with their peers of the girls in her class at your without much more comfortable with the boys she was a tomboy like much of us girls or Tom always. Doing great isolation spent quite a bit of time on her cell phone and during that time started going with different Snapchat since working with different groups and after a little while as we know too much time on their cell phones can guess with the wrong with the wrong group and she can always say make wondering maybe I'm a boy after all maybe I'm not a girl just from being on those online Snapchat's where she was so she decided to stand right of parents and tell her parents she was aboard and after parents receive that letter hers parents wisely took or to get some counseling. Unfortunately she did not receive any psychiatric care archer Service gender affirming care and after two short visits Chloe was on of puberty blockers and cross sex hormones shortly after that. Unfortunately close more depressed and get an active presence during that time. Then she went to class one day was sexually assaulted by a young boy in front of all the everybody in the classroom she was sexually assaulted by the board grant wrapped her breasts in the classroom after that time just such as going or chest compressions and and compressor breast so that would never happen to her again. During this time she's going to see her therapist but knowing asking why what's going on inside or washes when a chest compressor. She decided after while she's really wary of wearing that and so maybe just getting a double mastectomy we the best thing for her to do so she had with the call top secretary and a fifteen have both her breasts removed. During that time after that shortly after she had a mastectomy it was COVID time and she was in her room by herself a lot and alone and actually start in several studies online at your own took a psychology course there and started really stating what what happened to Chloe what happened in our life realized she was actually on the spectrum spectrum for autism. And started resume that is why I have all this troubles dealing with people while I was gone so I slid wide and fit in with my peer. Skews me. The true catching all this with Chloe is that she never got the second. It has been well documented for decades that if medical treatment is not given seventy five to ninety. Realized and recess for the agenda that they were born with them to live and join a sexual activity in the bill to have children. As well as enjoy the wonderful bonding abridge. Issue closely will never have that option. I wish the close case was a single case that wasn't happening anywhere but unfortunately it's not this happening all over this country every day. In Missouri just last month Attorney General launched an investigation about the transgender clinic at the St Louis children's hospital in Missouri is a whistleblower came came out when the healthcare providers there just could not take it anymore what was going on the transgender clinic that she worked at. She saw rapid Miller the medicalization of children the transgender kids that came there for care poor mental health assessments and a lack of written consent before permanent irreversible harm and injury was caused by the medical treatment provided by the center. We know after decades in Finland and Sweden and England and all across your in here that puberty blockers and sex hormones and have serious long lasting lifetime side effects including. Sterilization decrease bone density increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis blood loss corner order order disease including without limitations heart attacks and strokes. Like me I imagine you're wondering why would any healthcare provider give a child knowing these like these long lasting side effects. Associated with them. Why would they give them to him knowing that they just leave them out seventy five to eighty five percent of them will align with the gender that they were born with. We have all been told about the reason we're doing it is because it decreases suicide. That's what we're told over and over the report shows that it decreases the risk of suicide. But State Farm gender affirming interventions prevent suicide failed to show a single causal relationship between medications and the decrease in suicide. Dr J. green with the heritage foundation has use of peer research designs showing. That easing the access to people blockers and cross sex hormones by mark by minors without parental consent increases suicide rates doesn't decrease the it increases them. Using your research designs the new analysis finds that increasing minors access to cross sex hormones and of blockers the socialist significant increase an adolescent suicide rate. If we're not decreasing suicide rates. Excuse me if we're not creating suicide rates and we know that children will resolve their gender identity disorder by seventy five to ninety five percent if they're not giving medical treatment why are they doing it. Could it be ideologically. Or financially driven. I will never seen in the past right where people have given up we can think about the past we've had with opioids here in our state the problem so it had with the physicians were told there is no objective results of the players and now the mess the whole nations and with opioid addiction. In a video twenty eighteen service by journalist Matt Walsh Dr Shane Taylor university professor and a position at the Vanderbilt clinic for transgender help explain your election how she convinced Nashville to get progressive on this issue she had with the transgenderism is a big money maker especially because the surge two surgeries require a lot of follow ups Taylor delivered these remarks the same year the clinic opened its doors these servers make a lot of money she said in the video so female to male chest reconstruction can bring up to forty thousand dollars a patient just some routine hormone treatment for molesting a few times a year can bring several thousand dollars. It's actually a real money maker for the hospital. I think questions from members of the committee want to make sure that we were not interfering with physicians giving necessary medical care to individuals born with of our variable disorder of sex development when their child if you look on page two lines ten to thirty we clarify that we're not addressing this at all. These are rare conditions which babies are born with atypical genitalia cases I call first sophisticated care and compassion. Unfortunately prohibited blockers and cross sex hormones are creating a whole cohort of kids with a typical genitals these teens have no idea who they could even be as an adult and yet all too often we promptly transform which just a few short visits to a therapist. Collins I repeat to you that Sweden Finland and the United Kingdom have conducted systematic reviews of evidence and concluded that there is no evidence of the potential benefits of puberty blockers and cross sex hormones for this purpose outweigh the known or assumed risk medical authorities in these countries absence recommended cycle therapy as a first line of treatment for which used with gender dysphoria Reserve drugs and surgeries of the very last resort. I can. All this bill does is allow minor. Who has been injured by gender affirming care an increase in the statute of limitations to sue the malpractice up to fifteen years after the turn age eighteen it creates a safe harbor for those minor suffering with gender identity disorder and their parents and provides much needed safeguards before life altering medical treatment can begin as well as a list of the risks involved. And with that I know this was just passed yesterday's of any questions I'll be happy to take any questions. With that I'd appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Bentley X. as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President Hudson you're recognized. First with all due respect to our friends at the heritage foundation if you'd like to look at some statistics from twenty twenty one from a peer reviewed journal I might suggest the BJ site open from November of twenty twenty one which was a peer reviewed study conducted in the U. K. which found that only one to eight percent of miners received two gender affirming treatment actually do transition into adulthood. I've been told that there's no political value to speak about transaction. And I'll be honest I'm not sure why the challenges of the small community have affected me so deeply except to say that is a mom whose heart often breaks watching her own kids struggle it's difficult for me to watch the hardships his community Anders often without anyone willing to speak up for them. The stated purpose of SP one ninety nine is to protect children who may reach adulthood and have remorse or ongoing side effects as a result of medical interventions made. To treat their gender dysphoria. Before they return twenty eighteen. It's a stunning departure from our long established framework for bringing medical malpractice claims against providers for medical negligence for two main reasons. First SP one ninety nine allows for an action to be brought against a provider even if the treatment they provided was within the standard of care and wasn't negligent. This means that a doctor could provide treatment to the patient and do everything exactly right in accordance with accepted medical standards and still have exposure which is more can in the law to a standard that we call strict liability. Second the bill extends the statute of limitations for a patient to bring a lawsuit to up to fifteen years after the patient turns eighteen. Or reference our current medical malpractice statute say that a minor with a medical negligence claim in many cases has until they reach the age of nineteen to bring an action in similar circumstances. There are a number of problems with this framework for everyone doctors in Arkansas are only required to keep a minor's medical records for six years following the conclusion of treatment which means that they would often be finding themselves in a lawsuit without even the benefit of their medical records of the treatment provided decades earlier. Or another I can promise that there's not a single medical malpractice insurer who will write a policy under these circumstances and because these insurers are risk averse there is no question that this will affect medical costs for other patients in need of per month there to be who are not members of the transgender community. And of course the big consequence which sadly is likely the point is that these problems will ultimately result in physicians on willing to provide treatment for this population at the risk of their own livelihoods and families meaning that this already vulnerable population will be left even more vulnerable and unable to seek medical care. It's that issue which is ultimately fatal to the bill. Because in short we have what's called a pre tax problem. And Constitutional jurisprudence pretext happens when a law is ostensibly neutral but is actually a justification for discrimination against a protected class which is subject to heightened scrutiny and ordinarily invalidation of the law we know transgender kids or protected class how do we know that well we know that because the eighth circuit already told us so in the currently on going litigation against Arkansas regarding the safe act which banned Transylvanians state in that case the eighth circuit determined that the plaintiffs transcripts their parents and their positions were entitled to an injunction against an accident of the safe act pending final trial on the merits why is that important well because one of the elements the plaintiff has to prove in order to get an injunction is that they are likely to succeed on the merits. Which means they're likely to win the whole case. And a district judge here in Arkansas and a three judge panel of the eighth circuit the notoriously conservative circuit in the country agreed that the injunction should stance so then we have to ask whether this bill is facially neutral I would imagine that the state will argue that it is but the reality is that it discriminates quite clearly on the basis of sex it doesn't offer the same type of protection to non trans minors to receive hormone treatments or minors generally who received treatment that might have longstanding physical or mental attacks nor does it similarly burdened positions requiring requiring medical malpractice insurance to care for non trans minus. This contradiction alone is likely enough report to conclude that the law is it facially neutral and that it clearly targets a protected class next we as a state would then have to prove that the state has a compelling interest in the aims of the law of course we do protecting children right that's a winning argument for it not the eighth circuit already said in brand purses Rutledge that this very clearly was an example of pre tax when they said quote the District Court found that the act prohibits medical treatment that conforms with the recognized standard of care for adolescent gender dysphoria and that such treatment is supported by medical evidence that has been subject to rigorous study and that the purpose of the act is not to ban treatment but to ban an outcome that the state teams under undesirable the record at this stage provide substantial evidence to support these factual findings those findings being that that justification by the state was pre tax the analysis here's the same by sabotaging this new burden on physicians treating trans children the state will effectively ban access to this treatment by chilling the willingness of physicians to provide care at the risk of being sued years later or having their medical malpractice insurance canceled either way the effect is the same as the effect of the safe at these kids and families are denied access to medical care supported by the vast majority of the medical community as within the standard of care. The US justice in the on going litigation in the branch case it is exceedingly unlikely that the state will yet again lose a case involving our ongoing assault of this tiny vulnerable group of kids as of this morning the number of kids affected is at approximately a hundred and forty and most of them planned to leave at the end of the school year. I'll close going back to what I started with. I don't know why I care so much about these kids but I think what's more mystifying to me is why we as a body have decided that we must continue to file a bill after bill to help a community that has begged us to stop. Bank yes. I am still haunted by the idea that last session doctors at children's hospital told us the kids were trying to commit suicide as a direct result of the actions we take up here. And I know that some of you were not here so let me be here clear kids tried to kill themselves because of things we said because of the things we file and because of votes we made. I certainly won't pretend to be an expert on what the best medical treatment for trans kids is. But I know for certain that I'd rather that they lived through the session have a chance to find out for themselves I'll be in now. Would anyone like to speak against the bill or some call. Thank you Mr Speaker. We spend a lot of time talking about misinformation here in this chamber and in the media. This is one bill this session with more misinformation there's no bill in this session with more missing information on this one. I'm not down here to litigate what is false about this bill. That's been done. The sponsors rely on hearsay random Swedish studies and more to get this bill through. Are unable to point to even one case of this treatment causing irreversible harm to a minor the reason is because this isn't happening in Arkansas. This bill tells certain children in Arkansas that we don't care about them it tells trans kids at their very existence is wrong it tells these children to leave Arkansas if they want to. Get the care they need to live and it tells the parents of these kids that their love in innate desire to protect them doesn't matter. Passing this bill says to one of the most vulnerable communities in the state that we don't care about you it's as to trance kids just because you're different than us you don't deserve to be protected or cared for it says are oath as lawmakers to protect the constitution rights of citizens does not extend to you. I know a little bit of what this is light being shined and other. Because of being gay is a pain that I still feel every day. I know you not you might not understand what it means to be gay or trans or member of the LGBTQ community I get that. But I'm standing here is the only member of that community and then tired General Assembly a caucus of one. Telling you the message this bill sends us it denies trans kids the most affirming care they may ever receive in their life and that's cruel. This bill will not protect one child in Arkansas in fact it put so many in harm's way by preventing unnecessary medical care I hope you hear me and vote now. Semicolon spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Just a couple quick thoughts that I wanted to share first of all speak to the children the representative Hudson mentioned who have considered suicide. An awful it's a traffic tragic time to go through and I want to say to those that are considering such surgeries and such actions moving forward in their life that this will not be the answer to that. As the husband of a wife who had to endure a bilateral mastectomy due to breast cancer for life saving procedures and had to indoor still doesn't or hormone therapies and the tragic side effects that come along with that. for that to take place in a child before they can begin to comprehend what it would be like to give birth what would be like to breastfeed their child the loss of sensation the loss of development of organs. this is bad children should not. Be confused into deciding to do something of this nature at an age where they can't fully understand saw reiterate it one more time. These are life changing life altering decisions that cannot be on done that cannot be corrected once again with your secretary and they're not decisions that children are capable of making as I said before my wife had to go through some of these things to save her life and if that had not been the fact there's no way we ever would have considered entertaining those thoughts thank you I appreciate a good vote. President Rosa spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the. Dalby recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker representative Hudson is exactly right in her analysis as to the change of law for medical malpractice in these types of cases she stated the law exactly correct. With this bill boils down to if you want to change the law regarding medical malpractice statute of limitations. For this area of practice from two years to fifteen years thank you vote for this bill. If you want to change the standard for negligence in middle school malpractice of these types of cases to strict strict scrutiny which the lawyers in this room I understand what that means you will vote for this bill if you don't want to change the statute of limitations and keep it as it is those cases can still be brought it's just the statute change this limitation period changes that's what this bill is doing this bill is not changing the safe act from last session it's not changing what can be done under that under litigation that may very well get set aside but with this bill is doing is looking at statute of limitation changes and whether it's a negligence per St Ste route the case I will caution you that if this happens be prepared for other cases maybe we need to look at statute of limitation cases of four surgeries that have gone wrong maybe they took out the wrong word. Maybe that needs to go from two years to fifteen years but that's what this bill is boiling down to and that's really what the bill is about thank you. President always spoke before the bill would anyone. Colleagues thank you for your time today and for your close attention to this really important bill I think these children deserve some extra time and some extra care and I want to say is a nurse that worked at children's hospital for fourteen years and continue to care about kids this is about kids is about protecting these kids we need to care for these children got to look at the results was happening around the globe. We can't just ignore what other places are telling us I was just given this and committed the other day I could think about for on a jeep ride out through the Ozarks right now Mister in the jeep ride in the lead G. realize the whole roads been wiped out thank goodness that the jeeps got a cell phone to call back and say guys the roads wiped out don't come this way turn around to go a different way other nations are screaming at us and saying don't go this direction this is not best the rest do not outweigh the benefits and so we want to give some time we want to care about these kids as I look to those kids yesterday I'm praying for all of them we want to give them some extra time it's a mixture Care and that's exactly what the bill is about that I'd appreciate a good vote thank you president Bentley is closed for the bill the question before the House. Is the passage of Senate bill one ninety nine prepared machine. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark by a vote of seventy sixty a seventeen nays and one present the bill is passed represent makes for what purpose motion place what's your motion after the announcmenet of free of the bills transferring the bill's place in the counters on the desk members amending their own bills on Amendment members withdrawing their own bills finalized resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until eleven AM tomorrow morning. That's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion carries any announcements represent gene for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized joint budget will meet at nine AM big mac a tomorrow morning. Represent Womack for purpose announcmenet you're recognized would like to invite everybody to the Legislative appreciation reception today at four thirty at the issue Systems Office cross street posted by the Arkadelphia regional economic development alliance an area chamber of commerce president very for purpose announcmenet you're recognized judiciary will meet in the morning at ten o'clock what. Representatives for purpose announcmenet you're recognized revenue tax me tomorrow morning ten AM room one fifty one percent eleven for what purpose. Announcmenet you're recognized House education will be ten AM tomorrow morning room one thirty eight percent Johnson for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized Public Health meet tomorrow nine thirty AM room one thirty thank you. Any other announcements members just a few things to keep in mind as we. I move towards next week and then take a break the following week I've asked the committee chairs to try to be as caught up as possible as we head into that break so next week we may have to look it kind of doing some things differently. So I just want you to keep that in mind so pay attention your email your calendar and the other thing I would mention is we're still working towards April seventh as time to wrap things up and then come back for Sonny died at the first of may but that being said. We don't have a bill filing deadline but needless to say if you've got legislation you want to try to pass it you need to get it filed in get it moved along because while there's no deadline there will be a time when we run out of time. That all right. Any other announcements. The desk remain open as needed for the reading of bills upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house be