Senate Convenes

Senate. To order are there any requests for one time Senator Stubblefield you're recognized Lee lane. Quest you Mr president first of all I want to ask for relief for senator king. next of all I wanted to do so a guy that I've known all my life used to be my pastor there and branch guy that's been all over the United States is preaching thirty different countries bill. I don't even know how many. Churches all over South America but gathered I deeply admire and love and it's an honor to have you here today and to some of you know him I know senator Payton knows him he's from Eureka Springs account for church there in Eureka Springs so brother Bob shall. Thank you Gary let's pressure our father we thank you for a beautiful day that you've given us inside these walls we need wisdom we need wisdom in our families and wisdom in the state house we thank you lord for such a place where decisions are made that affect so many people's lives so we ask for wisdom we ask for peace in our hearts and joy in our hearts as we go about a very important matter I pray for these men and these women as they make decisions that affect not only our state but families I pray that you'll give them that wisdom and that love thank you for the beautiful state to give us thank you for your grace to each and everyone of us we pray in Jesus name amen they. It will. All. Madam secretary please call the roll bowhead Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark cruel Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McGill Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace thank you madam secretary ladies and gentleman in the gallery welcome two Arkansas state Senate is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum during today's proceedings and govern yourselves accordingly without objection the rules will be suspended and the Senate bill Spencer the reading of the Journal. The morning hour has now begun are there any any announcements or introductions at this time Senator Missy Irvin from the winning Senate basketball team you're recognized right. No words required no words required. Both of them okay I'm actually I'm actually here to introduce our doctor of the day but let me just say congratulations you all played phenomenally great jobs in a sorry can be there last night our doctor of the day is none other than our doctor Evan brand scum he grew up in Marshall Arkansas in Searcy County he is the son of our wonderful friend and colleague representative David Branscum and he's a family medicine practice doctor in Harrison does a great job up there has a beautiful family I adore him and is in his and his whole entire family and his he is in Harrison and his Senator is Bryan King but I got to see these these guys grow up so glad that they came back to the state of Arkansas I'm practicing ruled Medicine and he should be a applauded for that thank you for being with us. And Sheri Bernard R. nurse thank you thank you for taking care of me yesterday to. Thank you Senator Irvin and thank you former representative branch number being up in the gallery today thank you. I know that you're proud that other announcements Senator Leding you're recognized. Thank you Mr president colleagues like to welcome our pages the day real quickly I have thirteen year old Joaquin Acosta from federal goes to woodland junior high is into reading soccer robotics piano and the violin does it have violin viola viola I obviously need to know more about music future plans include going to Harvard MIT or the U. of a being and a software engineer you're far more ambitious than I was at that age that we have as brother Matteo Acosta it is in grade five The McNair back and fed Bills into baseball loves to read play board games and let us write a master builder yet no not yet okay we'll keep working on it I also would like to go to Harvard or join the military Sunday and be in the CIA. It went wire right now are you know okay and it also we have John Lowery thirteen year old seventh grade at woodland junior high back in Fay Advil he is in track you're on the quiz bowl team you're also into robotics in your in the orchestra and what is the play a third place in the school spelling bee with you guys and plans to go to university of Arkansas if you could just give a warm welcome to our pages for that I thank. Thank you Senator Leding. Any other announcements. Senator Clark you are recognized. Thank you governor thank you colleagues would like to introduce my paid for the day her name is Kate Hurst she's thirteen in the seventh grade at lakeside And she doesn't know this but that's where I went to school and junior high she's of a been playing volleyball for three years. Tennis she's on the fearlessly club volleyball team and sings in the choir and she would like to go to Georgia Alabama or Penn state at the moment I wasn't thinking about college and seven correct which I'll give her a hand. And Senator Irvin and mad river she would like to be a lawyer or a doctor of some. Thank you and may I suggest Dr. Any other announcements. Senator English you're recognized. Thank you I would like to make a motion to release our hold on house bill thirteen thirty two and send it back to the house thank you senator senator hands asked to release the hold on house bill thirteen thirty two. And submit to the House returning to the house. Without objection will return to the House. As. Thank you Senator any other announcements if not harder items at the desk. Where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill ninety one by Senator Hammer compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed. Public health committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill two seventy by Senator Peyton compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed Judiciary Committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred Senate bill two ninety five by Senator Dismang a recommend to pass as amended number three calendar committee on Insurance commerce to whom was referred Senate bill two ninety seven by Senator Dismang recommend to pass as amended number one. Calendar for you Committee on state agencies governmental affairs to whom was referred Senate bill ninety by Senator hill recommend to pass as amended number five counted Committee on state agencies to whom was referred Senate bill two sixty seven by Senator Blake Johnson recommend due pass counted Committee on state agencies to whom was referred senate bill three thirty five by Senator Rapert recommend due pass counted Committee on state agencies to whom was referred senate bill three forty three by Senator Hammer recommend due pass counted transaction fees to whom was referred house bill fourteen nineteen by representive Underwood recommend due pass counted. Senate resolution eighteen by Senator Hill recognizing the electric cooperatives of Arkansas as an organization that is vital to the economy and critical infrastructure growth in the state Senate resolution eighteen calendar Senate resolution nineteen by Senator staff to recognise March fifteen twenty twenty three AS Arkansas DeMolay day in Arkansas Senate resolution nineteen. Thank you madam secretary is there any further business to come before the body in the morning hour. If not the morning hour has expired we will now begin the business agenda. Beginning with amendment one two Senate bill one eighty nine Amendment one Senate bill one eighty nine. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you am madam governor. Members the amendments and the that we put on this bill in the house which we are and concurring today is that after the bill initially passed out of the Senate we had some discussions with some of the providers as they continue to read the language and they began to disagree with each other about the interpretation of one piece of the original bill language and so what the house amendment that we have here today clarifies that language to resolve those conversations and disagreements before but among sub providers and so just some really changes that just to have more clarification and be responsive to some of the comments that we received. Any questions on the amendment. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Oppose. Amendment is adopted. One eighty nine by Senator Irvin to clarify the definition of intellectual and developmental disability in Arkansas Code. Senator you're recognized thank you so much and members again this bill what this does is current law has several different definitions of intellectual and developmental disabilities and those definition definitions were in conflict with one another so the bill creates a single definition so that everything in the code will be consistent as you can see from the amendment we had a lot of discussion with the the different providers and to address their concerns and everybody's all the providers associations are in agreement with the bill and we appreciate I appreciate their due diligence and working with me in collaborating with us not me but the Department of Human Services on the bill I appreciate a good vote. Any questions for the senator. Anyone wishing to speak against her for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling about. And secretary please rowboat Boyd Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice down Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Same manner please pass the ballot. But at thirty four D. A. zero nine. S. the one eighty nine passes please transmit. I would rather. As B. two sixty two Amendment one Senate bill two sixty two. Senate you're recognized thank you madam president colleagues this is a member we adopted in committee to one of my more popular bills I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you senator any questions all those in favor signify by saying aye. He opposed. Senator Dodd senator. Amendment to the to Senate bill two sixty two. Senator you're recognized thank you this is an amendment to add co sponsors and like I said this is one of my more popular bills if it weren't for used car sales tax relief it would probably be my most popular bill. Follows the amendment signify by saying aye. Any opposed. Amendment is adopted please send to engrossing. One two Senate bill two sixty three Amendment one Senate bill two sixty three Hester you're recognized thank you members is just an amendment that we added on in committee to make a good bill better appreciate a good vote. All those in favor please signify by saying aye. Any opposed. Amendment is adopted for the center address and. House bill ten eighty two amendment one. Senator Flippo you're recognized thank you governor members my bill my amendment president of the. All those in favor the amendment please signify by saying aye. He opposed. Minutes after police entering road. Amendment one to eleven eighty house bill eleven eighty one member one the house bill eleven eighty one. Centreboard you're recognized. Thank you madam president this amendment is very similar to the one that was just presented to you it's regarding a compact and so I appreciate a good vote. All those in favor please signify by saying aye. The opposed. Members good please. Senate bill one ninety. Senate bill one ninety by Senator Murdock to amend the process by which a public school district may obtain a waiver. Senate MODOK you're recognized thank you governor. Colleagues many of you remember at twelve forty of two thousand fifteen that we pass that allows for flexibility ease. Among our school districts to utilize a waiver process also many of you may know that that bill now has become the most utilize bill and educational delivery in the state of Arkansas is been so much that it's a part of the the motley agenda of the education department out you help me past it many years ago and is this your just a cleanup bill to make it more sensible and a better bill if you will a good bill better what it has done in the past a little bit on it you know there was some concerns at the beginning back in fifteen we did this what those concerns have not even been realized because it's been such a great situation for every school districts for the good school districts to get better for the school districts that were struggling to utilize these waivers to to get better it's been utilized all across the state in every corner of the state and in central Arkansas I've got more accommodation from school boards superintendents all all of this which is in this big in this room have appreciated this bill and this bill just takes away when I met with the governor and the secretary of education talked about taking away some of the the red tape for the for them to continue with this process so that's all they see is really clean up to make it better easily assessable so that we can continue to how the challenges that we face. I'll take any questions. Questions for. Senator Solomon you're recognized for a question. The for the bill is based upon the school correct of the different for different based upon their needs are for that that applies so deposit every school district in the state who has utilized this and they are able to use those waivers to make their delivery better it is different for different districts depend on as superintendent that district that community they take and they apply what they need if they don't need they don't use it but this gives them flexibility and accountability to do it for other. Based on a certain that is not on the other criteria yes Sir yes Sir great thank you. Senate dismaying you're recognized. And I think just for clarification this is just allowing school districts to be innovative and the delivery process and thank you and I may have actually been not too long ago when we had some overlap in our districts to reduce school that was seen tremendous results because they were able to draw things that we've been tested on a charter level inside their school district yes I and improve them out and said that the results of the kids were. I have served as an incredible it's as simple as may be removing the alarm system I mean you know the the bills between classes and everything that they were doing the date that required a waiver but we're really having at the results of the one elaborate on that and just thank you right would you say it was good enough and that was that me that's these so many there's so many stories about people of utilize these waivers to make their deliveries better so many. Any other questions for senator Murdock. Anyone wish to speak against or for clothes Center has posed any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary. Please well that. What brought Caldwell Chesterfield Clark prole Davis dis dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me kidi Murdock Payton Penzo Petty writes some stubble fields Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote Senator flowers. Is a no any other Senator wish to change his or her vote Senator Tucker president. Please cast the ballot. By a vote of thirty two yea one night and one present Senate bill one ninety passes please transmit to the House Senate bill two hundred. Senate bill two hundred by Senator English to amend various provisions of law related to tuition benefits for soldiers and airman of the Arkansas National Guard. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. The US state through the lottery provides a tuition assistance for our Arkansas National Guard airman and and troops and one of the things that it calls for is eight semesters a hundred twenty hours in the rare instance that a course could require more than a hundred and twenty hours this a law or this change would allow that to happen with the permission of the a National Guard chair and head of the National Guard and the department of higher education. Any questions for Senator English. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Closed closed any objection rowing boat madam secretary please vote Boyd Bragg Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis dis dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote. Please cast a ballot by voting at thirty forty eight zero nine. Senate bill two hundred passes please transfer to the House. Now Senate bill two seventy three send up to seventy three by Senator Petty to amend the election law concerning polling sites and to amend the location of voter centers center Petty you're recognized. Thank you madam president. So there's been a lot of you guys know from the committee meetings and from here about election integrity and and this is another one of the the committee bills that we are bringing to you for consideration this one I believe has a little less may be controversy associated with it but I'm gonna point out the problem came to us from the state board of elections and and then be as responsible and has or any questions and then move on so. This this proposal dresses two problems the first is which the the current law prohibits the chair of the changing of polling sites to thirty days prior to a run off election prior to the development of vote centers limitation on holy sites worked automatically because only poles with issues on the ballot in the run off election would be open so only those that were affected would be open But however now that we have centers serving the the precincts every precinct in the county is open and the law would require that the county opened every poll for the run off that was open for the principal election or vote to just polling sites based on the County Board of election commission's best guess as to where the run offs may need to be so in the case of where there's a maybe a small municipality and only a small section in the run off they could only open those that were affected that were in close proximity to the to the run off part of the county so this would address that and then the second problem is it is a clean up but ACT six ten sixty three of twenty twenty one establish an appeal process for the closure of polling locations and and to accommodate this process the deadline to change the polling site was moved from thirty days to sixty days for those elections which were subject to the appeal process however the deadline to make changes to a vote centers provided for separately in a later subsection. and so this rich restatement of the deadline was not adjusted to sixty days creating an ambiguity in the law of the tensely defeating the intent of act ten sixty three to make vote centers which are included within the meaning of the polling sites subject to the review process so this is addressing those two problems came from the state board of elections and I'll be happy to answer any questions that I can. Any questions for centre Petty. Anyone who wish to speak against four four. Close would appreciate a good vote. Any objection rowing the boat. Madam secretary please well that Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis the Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stun Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Same manner please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty forty eight zero named Senate bill two seventy three passes please transmit to the House. We will be. Senate bill two seventy five will be placed at the end. Today's calendar we will now take up Senate bill two seventy six Senate bill two seventy six by Senator Hammer to amend the K. candidate filing period for a position of a school district board of directors and declare an emergency Hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr president the Emergency Clause pretty well says it all found and determined by the General Assembly state of Arkansas that confusion exists concerning candidate filing period for position on the school board of directors the school elections held November in odd number years what this bill does is it was inadvertently left off last session it brings in an alignment so that on the odd numbered years in the even numbered years The dates align with each other to help eliminate some of the confusion that's the nuts and bolts of what the bill does be glad to answer any questions any questions for senator Hammer. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed. A good vote. Senator has closed any objection rowing the boat. Madam secretary please roll the vote so it Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice done Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator who wishes to change his or her vote. Sandline please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty four EA in zero nine Senate bill two seventy six in the emergency Clause pass please transmitted to the house. Senate bill two eighty Senate bill two eighty by Senator this Senator Dismang to amend the law concerning the creation duties of the Arkansas ethics commission and to amend portions of initiated act one of nineteen ninety initiated act one of nineteen ninety six. This man you're recognized governor members this was bill those brought forward by the ethics commission mainly technical changes need to provide some clarification so first every year the ethic or every two years ethics committee is required by law to update the campaign contribution limits by in but by inflation also but though in the law currently there is an announcmenet that means you'd also have to change the amount that strikes that and will allow and keep that requirement if it up that update for inflation but we won't have did update the amount in the code section every single time sections three four and five all relate to statutes that are under currently underneath the ethics commission's purview and that just pushes those into the neighboring legislation part of that is a hundred fifty dollar fine related to signs I'm sorry stickers or decals whatever may be on cars on Capitol grounds section seven How that conform C. independent expenditure committees filing requirements to that of an individual and so that you're very imposed filing requirements for an election and then section eight just requires that if you got a two sided signage put paid for on both sides evidently that's led to a large number of calls people complaining that that's not been included which then you just come to find out it was on the other side of the sign this to set a grandfather in so if you've got signs right now you're that are printed on both sides the size of the fine and it sets out that it will be effective on November first two thousand twenty three we have to take any questions any questions for Senator Dismang Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam president Senator Dismang I think it's okay builds up for one little problem I want to ask you about it may be this state to be addressed elsewhere okay it is my. An educated. That seven one one fourteen is unconstitutional if I drive my car over here and it has not yet my sticker on it. Probably actually would have done it except I had a magnetic sign that exceed the twelve by twelve but it won't stick to the aluminum by my car so I didn't have it but I have no we have colleagues in this chamber that had a similar sign on their car and technically are in violation of. Is there a do we need to continue to start tweaking the five as opposed to repealing this probably a constitutional I mean what what I would say is that I was getting into the weeds on what we should not do in the event at the commission is really trying to clean up was currently on the books and so the member wants to file a bill to remove that provision then I mean obviously everything that would fall out from that would be the same but again I don't think the ethics commission was trying to make a policy decision which that would have been and and at that time I was in I mean I wanted to keep it clean to just to clean up but on the bill for the commission if I could matter slightly different questions on the same bill as I understand it to to date the ethics commission they set the The maximum but they donation but they tend to follow what the the Federal Election Commission has said so is there generally can we can we just put that in law rather than because there's sometimes a lack a member speaking to Mr Sloan about hair we at the federal level well we will leave it the commission actually has to act on it yes I think getting that on them rather than just tracking the the federal law but I think that's what this is doing essentially man and think it's by inflation maybe not tied directly to federal law but the federal laws trailing inflation so when they can get you to the same place again not trying to make a policy decision in order to change the problem I think the way it is it is by law it set at an amount which means they would have always been a lack by removing the amount and allowing them to promulgate a rule that amount and under the provisions that have the guidelines they have it has to be inflationary adjustment and I think it's also a little bit of what you're talking about as far as the lack so would you agree that this might be streamlines the process for that that's to go yeah I think it's just it's just because you have to change in two places were not always in session and maybe the change happens you know. Right I'm saying this very good bill thank you thank you for that. Any other questions for Senator Dismang anyone wish to speak against four four. Senator you're. Senator has closed is there any objection rowing the boat. This does take twenty four votes madam secretary please role that Boyd Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis the Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stem Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Sandline please cast a ballot. But thirty four yea zero nine Senate bill two eighty passes please transmit to the House Senate bill two eighty senate two eighty two by Senator Irvin to amend the law concerning a civil cause of action for victims of human trafficking. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you madam governor and and members of the Senate I really want to Say thank you to the colleagues that worked on human trafficking with me over the years and Senator Greg Leding Senator Joyce Elliott Senator Jason Rapert representative David Meeks and others and I think Arkansas has done a lot of work in. Improving our laws so that we can tackle human trafficking and members of the bill that you have before you today what it does is it adopts see it amends the current code to adopt the negligence standard which is used in civil cases the current standard is from criminal law this Mears the standard that is used in federal anti trafficking laws Arkansas would be consistent with existing standards that are enforced in federal court cases so no substantive changes for businesses here are made that already are under the standards and it would allow litigants to choose to file suit under the Arkansas law without having to meets the criminal law standard in the event that I motel or hotel is found guilty under the criminal a current criminal standards of arguably a prosecutor could consider holding the motel and hotel liable criminally under the current criminal standard our Kansans who are successfully sued under this act will face exclusion from insurance coverage because they would not have have coverage for what may be excluded under the policy as intentional misconduct so what this does is make sure that our laws are clarified under what is intentional misconduct an intentional negligence and this helps and protects our hotels and motels from insurance policy coverage exclusions based on intentional conduct and most of them they are already insuring against risks under the general negligence standard of knew or should have known and so this bring sex trafficking under that same standard and the also the second part of this bill which is very very important makes it clear that victims of crimes are not responsible for being victimized under this act a lead against must first prove that the person bringing this suit is a sex trafficking victims to recover hallmark in a sex trafficking. Case is that the victim has been subjected to fraud force or coercion a person cannot volunteer to be a victim under our definition of a sex trafficking victim. If that person is subjected to fraud force or coercion and is manipulated into the sex trafficking trade to hold them at fault allows those prospering from his or her victimization to shift the blame off of them and on to the victim victims of crime are responsible for being victimized by a criminal hotels and motels will still be able to compare fault with the trafficker. Members it's very important to understand that human trafficking sex trafficking is occurring in the State of Arkansas most recently we had a pretty horrific case and I want to thank a group of attorneys that represented and worked with are victims of human trafficking to to work on this language with me and they are the ones that really are the ones to get the credit for for this could change to our laws we've got to make sure that those victims of sex trafficking are not accused in a court of law because they have been the victims and this clarifies that it's also important to note that human trafficking and sex trafficking as a monetary industry it is a money making machine and it's and it's the worst kind of money making machine when you're using people and you're selling people for sex and that is that is horrific and if you are complicit in that and if you are turning a blind eye to what you know is happening in your establishment then you should be held liable and you should pay for that and that's what this law does and so I'm happy to bring this bill and I hope that I can answer any questions I appreciate a good vote. read any questions for Senator Irvin. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator you're pretty close I'm closed thank you senator has closed any objection to rowing the vote madam secretary please well the vote Boyd Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dobson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Senator wish to change his or her vote. Same manner please pass the balanced. Five thirty forty eight and zero nine Senate bill two eighty two passes please transmit to the House. Senate bill three twenty one senate three twenty one by Senator Irvin to clarify the definition of a collection agency and concerning apartments removal and vacancies of the state board of collection agencies. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you this bill is really a clarification bill on appointments to this board it was brought to me by the agency that works with the boards and there are no changes to the number of people it's just a restructuring of and making sure that if there is a vacancy that there's a process to to fill the vacancy. Any questions for Senator Irvin. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the vote. Madam secretary please fill that void Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark groaned Davis the Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stem Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty forty eight zero nine Senate bill three twenty one passes please transmit to the House. Senate bill three twenty three Senate bill three twenty three by Senator Irvin to print the secretary of the department of labor licensing designated person to serve on his or her behalf or on the elevator safety board. Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you members that's exactly what the bill does is just allow it does the need for the secretary of labor to serve on this board instead of him if or her if they're not available. Any questions for the senator. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. The senator has closed any objection to rowing the boat madam secretary please role that Boyd Bragg Caldwell Chesterfield Clark cruel Davis the Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty Reinstein said seven feels Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine passed up the ballot. By a vote of thirty four yea and zero name Senate bill three twenty three passes please transmit to the House. House bill ten twenty seven. Ten twenty seven by representative right. And Senator Mark Johnson require voter approval of certain tax levies to make technical corrections and declare an emergency. Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized thank you madam president of colleagues this is a bill that representative ray drafted I think it's excellent it. Restores the right for voters to vote on local sales taxes the only exception then be able to do that now is the are the a and P. advertising promotion taxes and what this does going forward. It to a requires voters to approve any new a and pay tax. For an increase in the rate it does not repeat it does not apply to existing a and pay taxes they stay the same. And it's only dresses increases or a new tax put in place that's what it does I might tell you a little bit about a in P. two tax to two six a the total restaurant tax in little rock north little rock fable in hot springs is higher than it is in forty seven of the country's fifty largest cities it's a higher for example than what diners would pay in New York City Los Angeles San Francisco Washington DC Memphis or Las Vegas I will add that to both the Municipal League and this The Little Rock convention visitors bureau are neutral on this legislation get does not affect again the existing taxes I'll be happy to answer any questions. Any questions for senator mark Johnson. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question yes thank you madam chair you're saying is neutral on the bill what about the association of counties and they also. Senator I don't want to quote them because I don't have that and notes from representative ray I did not hear anything from them when I brought it up in in committee they and they were there I'm sorry ma'am agency to advocate one way or the other that's my understanding but I hate to absolutely say that having not heard from them but I do know about the Municipal League but once again it is only Prost Bective it does not affect any existing tax thank you so much thank you me any other questions. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. Senator you're pretty close I'm close Senator has any object thank you rolling the vote. Madam secretary please roll the vote Boyd Brown Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stands Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senators wish to change his or her vote Senator. President. Senator Chesterfield present any other senators on this side. Senator flowers president. Any other senators. Same manner please cast a ballot. But at thirty one eighty eight zero nine three present house bill ten twenty seven AM the Emergency Clause pass please return to the House. House bill twelve ten house bill twelve ten by representative hall consented pens as to mend the tax credit for the support of a child with a developmental disability and remove the requirement for re certification of the developed built developmental disability that is expected to continue indefinitely. Senator Penzo you're recognized. Thank you Mr president currently those caring for an individual with a certified developmental disability can claim a fifth five hundred dollar tax credit however they must recertify by a physician every five years that the individual continues to have the disability developmental disabilities by definition or to diagnosed before the age of twenty to include down syndrome and cerebral palsy since these are lifetime diagnosis there's no need to recertify every five years house bill twelve ten has no fiscal impact. We have a answer any questions any questions for Senator pens that. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed. Any objections rowing the boat. Madam secretary please roll the vote Boyd Bragg Caldwell Chesterfield Clark groaned Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice done Stubblefield Tucker Wallace. Any senators wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty four EA and C. remain H. B. twelve ten passes please return to the House H. House Bill thirteen forty four thirteen forty by representative Josh Senator Wallace regarding supplemental nutrition assistance program requires part of Human Services to apply for a waiver regarding certain veterans disability benefits if allowed under federal law. Senator Wallace you're recognized madam president members this bill. may help a very small number of disabled veterans who were wounded or injured in combat the title says it all it requires DHS to request a waiver from the federal government so that a disabled veteran may be able to offer snaps keep in mind. Foods that level right now it's about twelve hundred fifty dollars. Can still draw that instill draw their. Federal disability the average disability for veterans in arm in an Arkansas comes out no the whole state comes out to about thirty three dollars a month. So that it many veterans have the live on food stamps. Please proceed to for ready and that extra thirteen hundred would really help no physical impact to the state very very small impact the federal government. It with that I stand by for your questions any questions for senator Wallace. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator you are free. Closed it's closed any objection to rolling about. Madam secretary please robot Ford Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis the Dismang Dobson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me kidi Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stem Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast what. Senator Dotson president. Any other Senator. Please cast a ballot. By a vote at thirty three eight zero nine and one present HB thirteen forty passes please return to the House. We are passing over a house bill thirteen forty nine now we will take it House Bill thirteen seventy nine House for thirteen seventy nine by representative back on them and Senator Kroll require the like chronic filing of certain sales and use tax returns. Senate pro you're recognized thank you governor this bill would require that taxpayers file their sales and use tax return by electronics electronically average monthly if their tax liability was five thousand dollars or more during the preceding year DF a would waive any requirements of electronic filing if this would cause hardship or taxpayer burden D. if a currently has nine thousand ninety five thousand sales tax and uses twenty six percent of them filing paper seventy four percent of them file electronically this would simply. Streamline the process for about eight hundred sixty five more clients there is no penalty if you do not do it and they're they're open to being very if you have somebody that's a lady that's done in a paper for thirty years there I can make or change to but this is a just simple cleanup bill Mississippi and Tennessee require this and they may they have fees we are doing no fees. This a committee of this to come into effect January one twenty twenty four and there's no revenue impact. Any questions for central. Senator Clark you're recognized for a question. Center I'm confused. What are required or not required. That's exactly what they want they want to require they want to require it but they're gonna give waivers to people at the causes them hardship. trust the. Any other questions for Senator chrome anyone wishing to speak against. Four four. Senator. Senator has closed any objection to rowing the boat. Benefactor please call the vote. Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark prole Davis these this fine Dobson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me kidi Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice done Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote Senator flowers and I apologize all the sides will will start on the side this time so I see senator flowers no I see Senator Flippo no. I see. Senator Rice no. Senator Stubblefield you have end up at some point. No. Senator Stubblefield as press. Senator Mark Johnson is no. Senator Penzo president. Senator Solomon president. Anyone else on the side. With this side Senator Bryant president. Senator Ricky president. Senator Clark no. Anyone else. Senator Chesterfield present. Anyone else please check the ballot please speak up. Please cast a ballot. By a vote at twenty three eight five nine and six present house bill thirteen seventy nine. **** please return to the House. We are passing over house bill fourteen oh four we will now take a House bill fourteen ten. Fourteen ten by representative person center Penzo provides the child labor laws and to create the youth hiring active twenty twenty three. Senator Penzo you're recognized. Thank you madam chair. Of. Members this bill saying simply seeks to eliminate the work prime permit required by our state government before someone under the age of sixteen can get a job. Keep in mind that most cases a child must be at least fourteen years old to be employed and lists there working for a family business or there's a few other exemptions I know me personally I started laying tile with my dad's a construction company when I was thirteen so I think it. Help me build a lot of character working at an early age So like I said this this will affect fourteen fifteen year old eliminating this bureaucracy is not a new idea at least fifteen other states do not require this work permit and the federal government doesn't required either the. The work permit was put in place back in nineteen fourteen had to do but it was a an agreement between a school superintendent and of mine usually kids would get out of school work in a mine currently under state and federal laws kids aren't allowed to work in any kind of dangerous setting like that today there's no reason why anyone should have to get a government's permission to get a job bear in mind the floor is responsible and liable for violating the child labor laws of the higher as a teenager and puts them in a job he isn't supposed to do or works in more hours than is supposed to one of the. One of the things I learned doing this is that we need to address our current state law penalties we've got great laws that to protect our kids the penalties are just extremely weak wasn't really aware this till I got kind of involved in it so I'm working with the representative Berks AG's office on a bill right now on coming back in and kind of strengthening there are no civil it's only civil penalties there are no criminal charges currently in state law I think that's the. it needs to be fixed so look forward to working with you on that in a few weeks This bill restores the decision making to parents and gets the government out of what the should be a family decision. the department of labor has no issue with us removing this the governor's office supports this bill. I will tell you that the. One of the. One of the groups that was in opposition. The certified amended some of the do not call a foul language that they would come back and remove their opposition you know that sounds great but it's do not codified language and it was more of the perception of what the bill did based on the language than actually what the bill does they understood what the bill does it was just the perception of an all read it to you it says the Division not the employer should not require that a child under sixteen years of age verify proof of their age their employment certificate it's not saying they don't have to verify their age that's what people reading as it just says if you don't have to verify through the employment certificate as a condition of employment so like I said that's the application process this was just the do not call a foul language only directs the rulemaking process it does not affect how any of the any of the state or federal laws that are currently protect children in Arkansas I'd be happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Penzo I see senator Lloyd question. Thank you Mr president Senator Penzo. With a parent and adversely. Like to know if the child was working for a legitimate employer by the fact that like to open a bank account to get paid cash a check you've got to have a parent or guardian have you do that you know there's there's probably a laundry list of other things besides bank accounts another one I can think of is the every everybody in the state has to have a nine nine filled out to work that's residents US citizens anybody that works in the United States has to have an I. nine form completed in order to fill out that I nine you have to have multiple forms of identification depending on who it is it's can be a foreign passport U. S. passport it can be a birth certificate there's a lot of steps involved that the parent would have to be involved in helping a minor you know usually usually most fourteen fifteen year olds are carrying around a passport or their birth certificate the parents are usually hold on to those for the child so I think the bank account is just another Way that the parent has to be involved in the process. Any other questions Senator padded. So I have made for me protecting the children is important and and so I wanted just to be clear of that but and I'm supportive of what you're trying to do here and I'll be supportive of in enhancing the penalties but we have as you said a laundry list all that are available on the department of labor web websites and this bill does nothing to that verification for employment eligibility and working and danger situations in certain hours and and and the number of hours this bill doesn't modify any of that correct that is correct title eleven chapter six several pages of of rules that say they can't work in a they can't do tunneling they can't work cleaning dangers equipment working with dangerous chemicals this is there certain amount of hours they can work and we can't work past a certain time on school nights the cumulative hours for the week so there's there's all kinds of. Laws that protect children I just argue that we need to come back and fix there are no criminal penalties in Arkansas for bad actors and and I like I said I'm coming back with another bill to to correct that and that's that's where I think our focus needs to be on trying to prevent kids from being taken advantage of so essentially the to the finish up essentially this is removing the paper which I have experience with and in my district it's usually based on just my experience two to three weeks behind when you apply it takes two to three weeks to get that back. Approved so there's a delay there but it's just removing that requirement have that paper to be able to work sh just removing the permission slip that the government makes people have to work in Arkansas thank you. Senator live here question. Thank you Matt senator Penzo we we did discuss bill and in Committee of let me ask you this though because I didn't ask. So I wanted. If this law was to go into effect could age shall. Gain for them without their parents permission. I would say. That a child to. Could force their parents signature on this form and gain employment I'm sure can you can be creative and find the way to get around the the bank accounts the filling out the I. nine you know I'm I'm sure there's a scenario out there were a kid could you know they could also you know slip out work for a drug dealer too so I mean there's all kinds of possible scenarios in rabbit holes we can run them. Okay sentence of a woman trying to solve but sometimes. It's all here. But I'm going to ask you the same question. Under this law shall pass could age shall. Go and gain employment with how. The parents because. Under current law and under this bill a kid could slip out and get a job without their parents consent. Okay thank you thank you. Question. Just just to see if we can the way this is written before he said you know no person firm corporation shall. Boyd and without that. If we look into this is this create any type obligation on the employer or the employee themselves that if somebody applies at the age of fifteen that they have to consider their performance much the same way they would anybody that's over eighteen. The. What you're talking about on the as far as the federal labor laws and things like that but what my question is this your. If you're I'll make some of Joe's car shop. And they advertise for employment on somebody else that we need somebody to come and work for us. Are they are they still able to say well we want someone that's eighteen years of age or older. Or does this woman or does this make the more they have to consider somebody that's under that a. I mean nice. You're so so what you're asking is if the thing you have eighteen year olds only for the top job there want to do and they will only one they don't want sixteen year olds have only one eighteen year olds and so I guess some if they're if they're already. Differentiating between F. sixteen year old an eighteen year old I don't think a fourteen or fifteen year old would be different. That kind of what you're that's that's my only thing I'm just wanting to make sure that we're not requiring you know that we're not requiring that employers would have would have to put someone like this all. A because of some type of age discrimination or something else that could be brought forward because I understand that you know the workers comp and all that may not include yes I'm civil what you're trying to do I'm just worried I just wanna make sure that we're not requiring them for years at this point in unclear what you're saying but would would to prevent them currently from discriminating against the sixteen or seventeen year old I'm not I mean I so mean I mean if they're already doing that with sixteen several to many of the jobs I don't know that I don't think that's an issue. One is going to look into it yeah that not not that specifically but I don't think it's a problem okay. This is a House bill so. I guess if we were to look into that after this we can run another bill between now and again and I just be happy that would be my only thing I would never want six were killing this language over here that that requires an important look at them you know not on the basis of age or anything like that run right and like I said I've got to another one then being drafted right now to create some criminal offenses for for the bad actors so if if if we do need to add some language to clear up any that I that's the vehicle we would use thank you Sir thank you. Senator Boyd you're recognized. Thank you madam president could you just once again reminded us the I. nine and the information that it contains you know that that clarifies this employment information thank you. You have to give me a second senator. Okay so on nine nine. You either have to have will it asks for your birthday and then you have to verify the birthday You have you can either use a passport or driver's license social security so with with. With young kids Coast Guard merchant marine merchant marine card the school record or report card clinic doctor hospital records those types of things have to be in combination with the social security card copy of a birth certificate US citizen ID card I mean there's several several things required some of you can just have one document if it's from the list being C. you have to have one of each I don't know if I answered your question on a okay thank you. Senator days. Robert. When I reviewed this bill I I was. Over this shall not exceed groups and and I can say that on both sides I feel more more confident there are a lot less issues with this bill from from the CACD for example When I when I saw I believe it helps us From a. That will take you to respect on this we met with a lot of the college presidents the chancellor reverse of Arkansas and they fail to submit that we're seeing we're seeing mature young women coming to college we're seeing little boys from the college and there's a perspective of we are not encouraging a healthy work environment at earlier age and when I read this bill I thought it would help with that I thought it would it would encourage us as a society to say that we're going to tell our young people to reject passivity to get off the video games get out there and get to work force accept responsibility we trust them with a driver's license you know sixteen years old it's so in your opinion would you say that this bill strengthens our workforce and our our image three of our young people I definitely think it strengthens our youth I mean I like I said I started working when I was thirteen I've had at least one job up to five jobs at a time all through put myself through college I graduated without any student debt did they getting loans you know I worked all through school and I think I think we need to see more than our society of people that are willing to get out more take care business and to get the job done thank you thank you. Any other questions for Senator Penzo. Anyone wish to speak against. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you madam chair lays down to the Senate. We trust parents with some things and other things we don't trust parents to do we have shown that by the legislation that we passed over the last several days so we don't engender all of this trust in Paris and I'm looking at that recent settlement where the federal government won a one point five million dollars settlement chipotle had to pay seven point size seven point signed by seven point seven five million. In child labor law violations. A. It seems to me that we're sending the message. That is okay again date of child labor there were reasons a child labor laws will put into effect in nineteen thirty eight. And those reasons being children were habitually being used sometimes by their own parents to work alone hours and to do it in unsafe conditions. I don't want the state of Arkansas to be one of those states that has gone on and turn its back on just one little piece of paper they could make a big difference in whether or not we utilize our children properly. Maybe you all have more knowledge of this and I do. But I do know having started work at the age of seven it's not fun. It's not fun I believe children ought to be able to enjoy their use I don't I don't envy them that time I do believe in hard work we work work hard in my family everybody had to work hard and contribute to the family so that we could eat and pay the bills we did that so I have no problem with labor but I do have a problem with us turning back the clock. Turning back the clock so this state looks like it's going back to a time where the safeguard just one small safeguard is an inconvenience. Inconvenience. Every every effort must be made to protect our children and signing a piece of paper is not that big a deal when you're talking about protecting young people I appreciate a vote. Thank you for. Thank you governor. Well the reasons I'm here. Is because a government government does not need to be involved in everything. This is not nineteen thirty eight. Children are much more hurt today by a lack of having a productive job then the fact that they might be forced into child labor and employer worth his salt will be sure. That a minor applying for a job has our parents permission they're insane if they don't of and that this is not about a parental rights about parental rights this is about having asked the government for the actor or not I'm sure appreciate center Penzo bring this bill and I'm glad I was born in a family with the family business where. If that hadn't. Rations have been made in this lazy teenager I don't know what I would have been. Speaking against the mark Johnson. Thank you madam president I find myself agreeing with comments made by Senator duties and Senator Clark and I do agree with them but notice to ironically maybe Senator Irvin had brought us a bill about human trafficking and while I'm not saying that someone with a fourteen fifteen year old child as a human trafficker please don't put that in my mouth but. I have. Positive feelings on young people working as senator Clark alluded to I think we need more of it I'm glad that the learns Act has some required volunteer is amended because a lot of young people find their place in life through some volunteer activities that they come to it but I will call I must have been about twelve I guess my cousin was fifteen and he wanted to work so bad he his mom my aunt was a single mom and and and he wanted to put some money in his pocket member going within to the log cabin Democrat in Conway Arkansas applying for a job and they said son. When you're sixteen will hire you but you're fifteen so we want so I thought that was a thing it ought to be changed and I'm glad it's allowed however because of some of the things we've seen lately including some abuses shall we are missing the article about the cleaning up poultry plant where there was uh Children being forced to do the job which even if if they were sixteen they might and not legally been able to I just think that that where we are right now with this permit it's just one more little safeguard that maybe we should leave in place again I encourage fourteen fifteen year old girls to be have initiative and seek employment I certainly think the parents need to know about it and there needs to be a process just just to make sure and if the labor department's moving too slowly maybe we need to give them instead but I just I'm I'm just extra careful when I'm dealing with children so I will be voting against thank you madam president I'll take a question from senator. Senator you're recognized for a question for Senator Mark Johnson thank you and you did talk about it and and one of my concerns is and there are a lot of kids that don't have parents or that can participate in that manner but there's a lot of kids that do end up in sex trafficking because of child labor and trafficking as well like child labor trafficking as it is a very adult child labor trafficking is also a very real thing so I have friends that that's what happened to him at a young age and so I just I didn't share that I share that story in committee that do you see the of us that just to build that case you mention the poultry and factoring that that when you're trying to litigate a case have the ability to go back to paper that would be in that part of that process Senator is chair public health welfare and labor I defer to your expertise on things like this if you have a concern with that than I would share that concern I just again I like the idea of kids having jobs I think it's wonderful but again I just like a little extracellular to and and that's where I am as far as the procedure to do it I defer to experts like you that have worked in this area so much but I appreciate you asking that I do think that Senator pencils absolutely spot on and that he we do need to change the laws and criminalize that that opportunity and make sure that were clearly defined in the safety of the hours words and we don't want a fourteen year old closing at midnight obviously any in any establishment that appreciate the questions Senator Irvin agree a hundred percent what you said and I'll take another question anyone got it otherwise I'm I'm done thank you members. Thank. Four Senator Rapert you're recognized. I really didn't expect it to come down here. But. Responsible use is one thing that I have sought after to brag on kids to support kids and also it's not I'm not trying to take away from that I appreciate by colleagues and saying for safety. In this day in time when we have. Following in video we have communication. And we've got some parents don't care I understand. We have protected our kids to a deficit. In their life. They cannot function. They cannot communicate they cannot do a lot of things that we did add eleven years so I don't want to work and being abused are are that but it fourteen and fifteen. They want to work that's the best training they will get and I can't stand and tell you there won't be something happen. But I can tell you this to be a lot more good done. For the whole. You for coming home and if we don't get this turned around just look at your violence look at your vacancies look at all the stuff going on in youth. I guarantee if you put them to work it used to work and it still will. And we can do it safely if we need to work it will work it but for god's sake let's do some stuff for our youth thank you. Speaking Senator Leding. Thank you Mr president colleagues sixteen days ago on Valentine's day our governor issued an executive order the third clause of which reads or as the Arkansas state police child abuse hotline is accepted two hundred and forty three reports of human trafficking involving a minor since August of two thousand seventeen Arkansas lacks a uniform and consistent screening and identification process of human trafficking resulting in the under reporting of this horrific criminal act you heard Senator Irvin say earlier that twelve years ago she and I and another group of bipartisan lawmakers worked together to pass a package of legislation that took Arkansas from being among the state's least equipped to fight human trafficking to among the states that are best equipped but clearly we we passed a bill just today she in our governor realize that there is still work to be done in this issue also clearly the sponsors are trying to make it easier for companies to exploit or traffic minors for labor they see these permits is a minor but unnecessary burden on companies under the department of labor testified in committee they do use these permits to verify the age of the child make sure the parent or guardian has signed off on their working to make sure that they're not working too many hours of these permits which are free and quick and easy to get to serve as a central purpose in helping protect kids just a few weeks ago there was an ad national investigation that found a hundred violations of child labor mistreatment including two facilities here in Arkansas one in Batesville and one Green Forest the hat is involved a third party contractor that was sending kids as young as thirteen into meat processing facilities to clean sauce I'm all for building character I don't think that's a safe condition of for thirteen year old. So I do believe these permits again it's if we think the process needs to be streamlined I'm happy to work with the sponsor the department of labor and business is to find out something that'll work a little bit better but again these permits are free they're easy to get and I think they serve an important role in helping to protect kids here in Arkansas thank you. Senator Clark you're recognized for a question of centre Leding yes what in these two of occurrences that you just spoke of. This is under the current system with requiring a permit. Right so I'd hesitate to remove any layer of protection because it could have become something that happens more often than work very well. Perhaps not assistance but this is a system that would also help protect businesses because there's or helping to create a paper trail so the businesses know that these kids are verified if we have the system in place with these examples in there that and there are more I would just pay hesitant to remove any layer of protection especially one that is again so quick and easy to achieve thank you. Thank you for. See Senator Wallace. And center these. So they. Then. Senate inside the wall thank you Mr. my son is in the gallery today. He's right up here he's thirteen years old. This bill will affect him right that right right here today. It's important you heard my tone today because I am an intentional about making sure that this young man right here is ready to become a man to take care of his family. To grow into a man that that that he's proud of to support his family I believe this bill helps strengthen that I do find it find some irony in in center Chesterfield comments about the pressure about the inconvenience that we're worried about about taking this out about to fear protecting children when just a few days ago we talked about. The inconvenience of making sure that people go to the right bathrooms again with the protection of children in mind I don't think those balance very well it doesn't I don't believe that fits well with that narrative it's a today I would encourage us to make sure you do you take in a perspective that I have that I care about our future our youth that encourages us to make sure that we are preparing them for life preparing them for when they leave outside of our of our homes that they care about working hard and provide for their family someday I believe that what this bill does is exactly that we have built a generation that says the exact opposite that says Roman you should depend on your government to take care of you you said only work on video games no you should get out get off your tail learn to reject passivity accept responsibility get a job be honorable and take care of family not not within my house rest your life the sound good I appreciate a good vote on this thank you. Anyone else wish to speak against. Senator Tucker you're recognized. Thank you Mr president I want to I was not planning on speaking on this and I can add to what Senator Chesterfield Senator Leding in center Johnson already said I just wanna make one small point. And it's it's portable to this bill for certain but other bills as well we hear center Penzo talk about his family business when he was a child Senator Clark do the same and now Senator dis talk about his own son and those situations are all wonderful and I'm happy for each of you my son if he went to work at the at thirteen he's going to have a great experience but what we have to do in this chamber is recognized that our situations are not representative of every situation in the state we're not making laws just for us and our families there are a lot of people out there in the state who need a little bit more assistance than just the thirty five people in this room that's what the law on the books as it is right now does for kids other than just our own families and they need that protection to make sure that they're not trafficked or abused and any other way so just my only point is we need to look beyond ourselves we're passing laws and and I'm doing that with this this this law does make a difference for my family but it makes a difference for a lot of other so I'll be good enough. Thanks for reading. Thank you madam president. I'll be refi think we've probably beat this one to death I always appreciate the perspective of Senator Tucker center Chesterfield and I think we all agree that we're here to protect the children my only last comment is the situation that that we've all read and heard about in terms of of chipotle is a big example. The laws are in effect the laws that they were fined for violating were exactly what we're talking about the the work permit in the state that their required requiring more hours longer hours all of which are on the books currently and people that are gonna intentionally violate those are going to violate those whether or not there on the books seven and a half seven point seven five million dollars related specifically to. Thirteen thousand violations of not required not requiring a work permit in the states that they require a work permit working beyond the hours that they work and so removing this piece of paper is not going to change the requirement that all of the other verification process and approval processes and and the bill the driver's licenses in the permits are all there this is the one paper is not going to change that and with that I'm going to be voting for. Question for centre Petty Chesterfield you're recognized thank you so much and thank you senator paid for taking my question much as been made about this bill getting kids off on video games et cetera et cetera. would you agree that the reason his rodeo game just because parents let them be there. I can only speak from my. J. son who's twenty six who occasionally gets on the the video games but I would agree I would agree that in each and every case is going to be unique and different there are situations where that is the case there are situations where it is not the case and if a parent is responsible enough to allow his or her child estimate BDO games there is no food at all the having this law is going to get him off of it is now I don't think that's what the intent of the law is about. It. Speaking against. Senator love you're recognized to speak against. Thank you committee president of one one simple thing that isn't being missed here you know people make a big point about the little piece of paper the simple piece of paper. What was testified in committee is that piece of paper has helped. This helped attorneys to litigate against the violations to have been made and so therefore the that piece of paper has some safeguards in it. And that was that that his allow. The litigation against chipotle and different agencies like this yes I would say the department of labor said that they were neutral on the bill however there are some safeguards in the bill and then the secondly is there and the reason why I asked senator Penzo that question twice in regards to parents is because. In the in the the language this is not to codify says it's given parents a protection or are given in putting it back in the hands of parents the thing about it is there are kids that are coming here. They have no parents their foster kids that have no parents you all we have to protect our kids at all cost. And so I would implore you to protect our kids today. To make sure that the safeguards stay in place so that we you know we can make sure that we take our take care of our kids I have a son that's twelve these and I will tell you this he is going to the the video games however it is my job as a parent to get my son up and say Hey it's time to go to work. That's my job as a pair. And so I don't think then this piece of paper you know the government intervention or whatever I don't think this Senate did I think we are needing those safeguards put is my job as a parent to give my my checkout ready and prepare for the work force but I also want to know when my son is getting ready and prepare for the work force I want to know that they're taking the job and I want to know what type of job. How many hours of work in in different things like that but. Keep keep this safeguard in place thank you senator Clark you're recognized for a question. Senator love has left the well. Less and less take a question with the questions of the law. Question. For the lotus then set about removing protections for children and I know that you're sincere the you don't have a phone call to take to the department of labor to get them to come investigate someone breaking child labor will. I would not know that because I don't work there however I do know this which was testified to that this piece of paper that we keep arguing about is a safeguard so that they can do the investigation also impediment for going to work. I don't consider them but okay thank you. Thank you for Senator Wallace you're recognized. Members we've heard some good arguments on both sides. I said the same committee That Senator love then I heard a little bit different and I was watching the department of labor folks that were there with us. This page papers not a safeguard. With when they get this piece of paper they put it in the fall. They don't look at again no one come soon gathers up. Ten fifteen twenty pieces of those paper and go out and inspect to see what's done is to the administrative. Process that they go through. It's not a safeguard. And I I respect that we need more more safeguards. This is not a safeguard. Thank you. Thank you senator anyone else wish to speak against or for. Sanders Stubblefield you're recognized to speak for. They did that on purpose. Although I would like to make a motion. I made a move for me to consideration thank. All those in favor. Any opposed. I said. To start senate. No qualities. Question. Yes just wanna ruin I think Senator Stubblefield was in the well when the motion was made and so I don't think it was a proper motion. you get a minute the chair rules then that's fine but I we have someone else but I think that's how that works that is correct okay this this was the first time it happened so I hold I know Hey if you all would like to. That is not going to allow the Stubblefield to make an argument for if you all want to do that but we don't need if a motion to undo it the vote for many generations. Motion's been made to. Ex five The vote for mediation separation. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any oppose ayes have it. Enter Stubblefield is recognized to speak. Thank you Mr chairman of manager woman. If you want to. Can I make a motion sensor call would have remained in the chamber. No listen I don't have a lot to go by. Other than the fact I know how I was raised and I know how everybody else around me was raised you know the other communities. And we grew up working. We grew up working by the time we were ten twelve thirteen year old we either hall Hey we milk cows we worked in the garden we learned how to work when we were young. You know when I was sent back or listen dollars I thought. All these people that I grew up with that work like I did. As little kids. And we're jobs in our parents loved us I didn't miss treated us. We went to school. We had we were proficient reading I got by the second third grade. But all these people that I grew up with the learn to work how I work for. Sell route to be outstanding. Community leaders bankers lawyers. Successful people. The Committee. Because they had a work ethic. One John Adams just thirteen when you want to be the ambassador to Great Britain. When you look back at our founding fathers a lot of those. Ten twelve fourteen year old when they were. When all the world. Doing working. Now we got. Kids are sitting home with twenty six euro in the basement. Some have. Working is it's it's a good thing and I know there's printed abuses the real question is permitted abuse everything. Thank you a lot more good that comes out of this and not so. Thank you for giving me the time to speak. I'm sorry Senator Solomon. Meeting separation all those in favor signify by saying aye. Any of those. As. Madam secretary please call the roll Boyd. Right. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Cruel. Davis Davis these. DISMANG. DISMANG. Johnson English. Flippo flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Health. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. King Leding. Love. The key. Murdock. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice Staffan. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace. Any senators wish to vote and that not voted or who wish to change their vote I'll begin on this side of the center Davis is no. Any other centers on the side. Centers on the side Senator Dismang president. Any other senators. Cast a ballot. But at twenty forty eight nine name and one president. House Bill fourteen ten passes. Return to the House. House Bill fourteen thirty fourteen thirty by representative Lundstrum and senator Hammer to amend the division for for services law and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer you're recognized. Madam chair. This bill deals with the unemployment trust fund if you have a handout sheet on your desk I'm not going to read it to you in its entirety just kind of hit a few the high points the unemployment trust fund is currently in excess nine hundred million the balances at historically high levels and that's even after the pandemic that is more than sufficient to pay the benefits what this bill does is take the benefit period from sixteen weeks down to twelve weeks the statewide average is under nine weeks of benefits so if you have a county and you're wondering how your county is going to be impacted by this the statewide average there are none that are over twelve weeks are averaging more than twelve weeks the this kind I'm mayors of what is being done in some other states and it the most positive affect of this is that it's going to provide thirty one million dollars in unemployment tax cut to employers with no impact on the state budget reduces maximum weeks of a benefit from twelve to sixteen sixteen to twelve weeks and it of course will encourage people to return to work so it's thirty one million dollars come back into our local economy to the employers who hopefully will turn around to do great things with that money will be glad to answer any questions any questions for senator Hammer. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. Senator close close Preciado good vote. And has closed any objection to rowing the boat. Committee secretary please well the vote Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark role Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice system Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. On this side I see Senator love no. Senator Tucker no. Senator Chesterfield president. Senator Murdock president. Anyone else on this side of. Anyone on this side. Please cast a ballot. By a vote of twenty ninety three night and to present House Bill. Fourteen thirteen and the Emergency Clause pass returned to the house. House Bill fourteen thirty three House Bill fourteen thirty three viruses Lundstrum and senator Hammer to Activision for for services general on this act and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer you're right. Thank you ma'am chair bill does basically two things number one it adds the ability for the Division to be able to promulgate a emergency rule establishes the criteria for that on page two which pretty much will Alliance up with what other agencies do and the other thing it does is they have determined that people have figured out how to because of information that can be F. O. I'd they have determine the people are able to find that and use it to cheat the system and so this is going to close that loophole to where that information would not be available and this is brought to you by the division Preciado a good vote now answering questions any questions for senator Hammer. One wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed projected vote. Any objection to rowing the boat. And secretary please or both Boyd Bragg Caldwell Chesterfield Clark rolled Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. I see on this side of Senator love present anyone else on this side. On the side. Anyone on the side. Please cast a ballot. But thirty two date one night and one present House Bill fourteen thirty three and if the Emergency Clause pass returned to the house. House Bill fourteen thirty five House Bill fourteen thirty five a representative Tom consent to Petty to amend the pre payment calculation for sales tax for the preceding calendar year to the preceding fiscal year and Clara merchants. Senate you're recognized. Thank you madam president members I've been in this position before his late the day late in the week and you get a subjects that did get you deep in the weeds of numbers and so I'm going to attempt to be brief with my statements and then answer any questions that you that you might have this is dealing with sales tax and under the current law in Arkansas retailer with an average net sales for a month of two hundred thousand dollars is required to make prepayments of their sales tax by electronic funds transfer a retailer subject to the requirement is required to use the preceding calendar year of sales to determine what it whether or not they're required to file this pre payment or not. This it is unfortunately creates a situation because of when you put your prior year's calculated you may actually have your next report due before you are able to determine what that number is in this this will correct that it's going to basically amend the time period used to calculate the sales tax to July first as opposed to December thirty first when a report would be due in an early January there's no change to the number of businesses that are required under this to requirement to make three payments or increase the number or amount of the prepayment with that I'm a leave the rest of my notes for potential questions. Questions for centre Petty center Chesterfield recognized for a question thank you Medicare's senator Katie is an agreed to the retailer. I'm ready to build this agree to bill this was brought to us by the FNA is that what you're looking for yes yes thank you so much. Any other questions. Senator right Thirty two degree to build from the retail. In the business is that the the businesses hand That effect. I said now that I can answer. Senator well of this state answered questions this is a consumer friendly bill which is actually the retailers right now they may not know what they have to do in that calendar year this is actually giving them more time and more time to prepare is that not correct that that was what I was going to follow up on I do know that. Thank. The answer for. Senator you're very close I'm closed appreciate a good vote any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please robot Boyd Brown Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis the Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Hey Leding Love Me kidi Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. Five thirty forty eight and zero nine. House Bill fourteen thirty five in the emergency clause passed returned to the house. Now house bill fourteen forty five. House Bill fourteen forty five by representative Eubanks is Senator Irvin to establish cost reporting for assisted living facilities to the Department of Human Services as a condition of participation in the Arkansas Medicaid program. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you. This bill requires assisted living providers that accept Medicaid to report their operational costs to the state similar to how the nursing homes are also required to submit their costs to Medicaid we use that data or deep Medicaid will use that data to base at a different rates on right now Medicaid must rely on cost of that providers voluntarily submit in response to surveys that the survey participation has been very low so it skewed the data the bill does not require Medicaid to reimburse assisted living providers for every cost a report it just requires that they report the costs so that Medicaid can make more accurate decisions about whether costs should be included what costs should be included in any payment rates I appreciate the assisted living associations they support the bill and the governor also supports this bill because it does bring transparency and accuracy to our process of setting Medicaid payment rates for this level providers and similar to other providers in in the same industry I'll be happy to answer any questions any questions for Senator Rapert you're recognized the president and. To a question we talked to someone else those that around the issue only assisted living for many. We worked on the line I thank you and to the in your statement there but this is not a guarantee that the annual survey and allow for the bill this is not a guarantee that rates will be increased all right court records show is that correct that's correct and then the other thing is if this is passed recommended right. Allow CMS to go ahead and sign off and be implemented I think this is a time. Yeah. So I think those issues are mutually exclusive this is just setting a process for the cost data reports what what is currently being reviewed I guess by the new administration and CMS is separate from this issue in for membership and and new ones that have been here because we changed the ministration but This is been somewhat devices and and and I've just said again it is not just totally regarding this bill I'm promotion called up for service delivery I'm taking care of the elderly yeah. In this. This is what we're trying to get to I just want members to know we have assisted living this been working at supposedly a bolo calls correct some of it is because they were approved by the state on a totally are almost total Medicaid reimbursement versus. Private and. So this bill will give a true study prior to the one before thank you mentioned in that despite the. We've got some assisted livings that may go out of business because it's been delayed. It was passed the council in December. Was this by the way the rejection but it passed with the exception of CMS per. So we are in a quandary. The weather elderly people. Not be put out of assisted living that's my concern shall hold anything we can do. Push this process and I appreciate all my colleagues at the thank you for bringing the bill yeah thank you so much Senator Rice. Other questions Senator Hammer you're recognized for a question thank you ma'am chair centerman thanks for bringing legislation two things one it's just make sure I understood while ago the assisted living industry is supportive of this is that what you said yes okay and then the second thing is this the the assisted living rage may this was sent Rogers talking about the assisted living rates right now are held up over DHS with the understanding that we're waiting for information back from CMS with this in any way shape or form hold that up for late. Section process now known those two issues are mutually exclusive so so no it would not okay so if the rate that was currently approved but is been put on hold comes in as CMS's okay then they should be of you it was ninety six dollars something like that so yes so I mean I can I can articulate that that's not on the bill that I can I can speak to that there were rates that were put in place during COVID in the public health emergency and they're working through those issues right now but that's separate from this cost data report collection okay thank you I just wanna make sure yeah hold it up by now thanks. If that were the case I think that the bill would need an emergency clause on it which you know it's it's not these two are totally different sides issues. Any other questions. Anyone would speak against her for. I'm I'm close appreciate a good vote thank you senator has closed any objection rowing the boat. Man secretary please role of a Bo and Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark for a while Davis the Dismang Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote. Please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty forty eight zero made house bill fourteen forty five passes please return to the House. House Bill fourteen fifty eight house bill fourteen fifty eight the representative Cavenaugh and senator Solomon to correct the Benson parks law requires structures complete training on the recognition and management of certain health conditions and declare an emergency. Senator Solomon you're recognized thank you madam president yeah you per I wrecked remember that we had an officer who died during training this bill is the Vincent park law and this requires that certain training occur far the trainers of the instructors when our cadets go out for training that's a good bill it does require an emergent are has emergency clause I appreciate your consideration of good vote thank you. Any questions anyone speaking against or for. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote. Madam secretary please well that bill and Brian Caldwell Chesterfield Clark role Davis the Dismang Johnson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love the key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stem Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote. Please cast a ballot. Fite thirty forty eight zero may House Bill fourteen fifty eight and the emergency clause passed please return to the House House Bill fourteen sixty house bill fourteen sixty by representative Taschen Senator Wallace top prize individuals with violent offenses to work with individuals receiving substance abuse treatment as peer support specialist or summer positions requiring a history of receiving behavioral health services. Senator Wallace you're recognized men present members this bill pertains to our peer support specialist in the bill simply gives DHS the Bill T. to evaluate the offense that's mentioned in make the determination so the person on the ground gets to evaluate the fence that has occurred and we're talking about Authorizing individuals that have had a. The fifth said included violence. Follows in the. Criminal code the wide ranging you can range from somebody shooting it to a fist fight outside local bar. He would try to help folks with. Drug abuse problems then the person that understands that problem the best as someone that experienced that. Someone that is. Going through the process. This command side. Free of drugs. Most people. They've gone down that road at one time or another have probably been involved in a fight of some type so bollocks of some type this bill was written by a retired captain Arkansas state police. It's a good bill because it allows DHS to make the decision was this a fistfight or was it something a lot more serious. And with that I sent by to answer questions. Any questions for senator Wallace. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. Lows. What about the. Senator has closed any objection rowing the boat. Secretary please role of a board right Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson came Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senators wish to change your vote. Please ballot. Five thirty four eight zero nine House Bill fourteen sixteen passes returned to the house. Reminder we have Senate bill we do Senator Hammer you're recognized manager I'd like to request a Senate bill two seventy five be moved to Mondays placed on Monday's calendar please. Thank. Thank you. Senator the date of December Hammer. I wanted to pass manager thank you. Items at the desk. Where your committee on engrossed bills to is to whom was referred Senate bill two sixty two by Senator Payton for the rest of the original find same correctly engrossed counted Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill two sixty three by Senator Hester compared the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed calendar committee on dress Bills to whom was referred house bill eleven eighty one by representative pop the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed counted Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred house house bill ten eighty two by representative thank you for the rest of the original find same correctly engrossed calendar. Any announcements at this time. Senator Mark Johnson has an announcmenet. Transportation will meet Monday morning at nine thirty AM until spring portraying. Any other announcements. No other announcements the Senate will stand endangerment subject to the clear to the desk and till one PM Monday March six.