House Convenes

And by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by pastor Martin Jones of new life church in Arkadelphia aghast of representative Richard Womack and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Lane Jean. Our heavenly father we thank you so much for this day I thank you for the privilege in honor. That we have to approach your throne what an honor it is for me to be here today or to bring this body to you to lift them up for your care for your ministry for your strength for your support thank you so much especially for the invitation that you've given to us to. To come boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. And lord we need you we need you corporately and collectively. And certainly individually we need your care and your help. So we come to you boldly for that grace and mercy father if there be one here today in this house. That is down. Discourage we pray that you lift them up father we pray the administered to every individual that represents not only their district but their families. Lord we just pray that you lift the burden that some may be having today. Maybe those who are not feeling well that there may be those who are stressed so we just pray for all of the needs that you see so clearly you see the heart we don't see the N. word but lord we thank you we know that you see all things. And you see in ways that we do not. So I asked the guy to power the governor grace is the god of mercy and god of love and the god of the Bible. The god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the father of our lord Jesus Christ would come into this house and just lay your hand of mercy and grace upon each individual we thank you for who they are we thank you for choosing them to be placed in this position of leadership and we thank you for the citizens who chose to put them here as well so we pray for our state we pray for this body we pray the blessing of god and as they opened this session we pray that you would also open the windows of heaven upon them more import out upon them everything that they need for the B. wisdom or encouragement or strength we just pray that every individual. Receive from your bounty today we thank you for your blessing and we lay our blessing here upon this body in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy ghost a man. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button repair the machine madam Clerk. Casts up the ballot madam Clerk with one hundred members present chair sees a quorum present Jeffrey Wardlaw most we dispense the reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered or the Reports from select committees are their fortunes standing committees read the reports matter Clark Mr Speaker you Committee on Public Health WEF and Labor to whom was referred Senate bill two sixty five Senate bill two seventy nine the the report that we have in the same consideration here find same condition that a do pass respectfully submitted Lee Johnson chair Mr Speaker we are committee on public transportation to whom was referred house bill fourteen. Ninety nine big league before we have the same consideration here with time the same recommendation that it do pass as amended number one Mr Speaker we are committee on public transportation to whom was referred house bill fourteen eighty six house bill fourteen thirty seven house bill thirteen sixty five Begley report we have the same consideration here concerning same recognition that do pass respectfully submitted Mike Holcomb chair Mister Speaker with your committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill fourteen twenty six house bill fourteen fifty five house bill fourteen seventy two house bill fourteen ninety three house bill fourteen ninety four Senate bill two eleven basically report we have the same consideration here concerning same recognition that it do pass as quickly submitted Carol Dalby to. Read letter from the government Clerk. To the Speaker of the house you Mr Speaker this is to inform you that on February seventeenth twenty twenty three I review the and approved the following measures from the legislative session of the ninety first General Assembly house bill ten fifty nine ACT ninety house eleven seventy one ACT ninety one house bill eleven ninety eight ACT ninety two house bill twelve sixty five ACT ninety three house bill thirteen twenty one ACT ninety four house bill thirteen forty four ACT ninety five house concurrent resolution one thousand seven sincerely Sarah Huckabee Sanders governor of Arkansas. Madam Clark please re House resolution ten twenty nine. As resolution ten twenty nine by representative vote to recognize the positive impact of the Arkansas four H. program on our use and to proclaim for each day on February twenty eight twenty twenty three percent of all you're recognized to explain the resolution thank you Mr Speaker my representative Cooper join me in the well please. That today is for a day and I have a whole big group product there. And we want to welcome for eight years to our state capital what an honor it is to have you here with us today and to be able to honor you. If you know the place for the four H. their plans in Moscow yeah can stand and let's do it together about that. I pledge my head to clearer thinking my heart for greater loyalty my hands for larger service my health for better living for my club my community and my world. Thank you all so much. So I think these are words that we would all want to each and everyone of us to live by rai I mean this is something that we should all live by and I appreciate everything that for ages done for my family my husband's family and now I'm fixing to be my grand kids because they're about to join you know into some for it so we're pretty excited about that for H. does a great service for all of our communities and I don't think they're recognized near enough for what all they do so I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all that you've done for each and everyone of your communities and your schools. I appreciate representative Vaught inviting me down here to well with her so representative these representative would you may not know that the White County for the service or the Arkansas four H. program has its roots in our home county White County it was started in nineteen oh eight as the White County corn and cotton club and that later on became the four H. program so my grandmother was born in nineteen ten in el Paso Arkansas that's in southwest White County. I wish you became old enough she became a member of the four H. club we have a ticket that she saves when she was a teenager where she won some kind of competition and four H. provided her with a train ticket to catch a train it Conway and ride to the state fair grounds for the state fair and she kept that ticket we we've got that as part of our family history so that means to me that that four H. meant a lot to her. So my mom was for each member my mom was also a lifelong for each phones here I was in the fridge program from ages eight to age nineteen both my daughters are in four H. they hold elected positions in their local club and may participate in every activity in every competition that they possibly can my wife is a volunteer four H. leaders as a certified for eight shooting sport instructor so as you can tell for each means a lot to me a lot to my family and we just are so thankful for the corporate extension service for a county agents in four four H. volunteer leaders because without them none of this would be possible. I want to thank each and everyone of you for wearing green today for your four H. grapes and with that Mister Speaker I ask that madam Clerk would read the bill or the resolution in its entirety and third please read the resolution in its entirety whereas in October nineteen oh eight a group of about sixty five boys from the White County corn and cotton club as a way to learn the latest in agriculture technology resulting in their learned agriculture practices being adopted by their counterparts in this club became the Arkansas four H. programming with while the activities that the participants enjoy may have changed since nineteen oh eight the mission of for aids to help the youth of this country become productive citizens have not changed whereas the seed planted by the first club provided the rates for a program that today reaches more than one hundred and forty thousand youth and school enrichment programs in over two hundred and fifty eight thousand youth in all program areas ages five to nineteen across the seventy five counties in Arkansas including rural suburban and urban you. And whereas for ages the premier youth development program conducted by the cooperative extension service of the United University of Arkansas System Division of our agriculture and with three in formal scientific research based experimental educational activities four H. participants gain knowledge and enhance life skills enabling them to become positive productive capable and compassionate. Members of society and where is for ages is assigned to prepare young people to step up to the challenges in their communities and provide you with the skills to leave for a lifetime the core elements the four H. include youth leadership youth adult partnerships lysyl anything Community Service and whereas for each member's complete hands on projects in areas like science health agriculture in citizenship in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and encouraged to take a proactive leader roles and whereas the Arkansas four H. program fosters and intent vedika learn by doing approach with proven results in four H. is committed. The building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today's global society through in school programs on military installations at their after school programs and west findings from the test university four H. study of positive youth development indicates that when compared to their peers young people in four H. make more civic contributions to their communities and more healthier choices and whereas in twenty nineteen the national four H. council partnership with its research to conduct a study of all for its alumni across the country and the results found that in four H. experience. Collaborates with long term success in life and we're as four H. in the nation's largest development organization empowering nearly six million people throughout the United States and we're as a structured learning encouragement and don't miss one provided to force members by thousands of hours given by Arkansas volunteers play a vital role in helping our youth achieve success now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House representatives recognize the positive impact of the Arkansas four H. program on the use in for claims February twenty eight twenty twenty three as for each day at the state capitol. If you look up in the north gallery that is sure state officers for the four H.. And with that. And with that I would ask and representative paper would ask for a good vote for the resolution. Represent voters explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Anyone like to speak for the resolution. Represent Vaught is close for the resolution the question before the House is passive House resolution ten twenty nine all in favor say aye. Any opposed the resolution is adopted. Members are Dr the day is doctor Wallace Tracy and to wit he's the guest of represent your mom more and he is also the father of our own will Tracy that keeps us streaming and looking good over the internet additionally will's daughter Quinn is also paging with us today. Enters the day's misprint Human. In the east gallery we have the Saint James school Texarkana the guest of represent Dalby. We also have A group of community college students from across Arkansas including the University of Arkansas casa type here's guests of represent Vaught all of those Committee college students are in these galleries. In these Galleria Monica Daniels an administrator with cornerstone and Madison Tyson a C. CA high school English teacher they're both against a person Wardlaw. And in the east gallery we have in a research Jones is a political science major day issue and she's spending today shadowing representative Rick Beck. in the north gallery we have Debbie Cozart the wife of president Bruce Cozart and additionally. Additionally represent Cozart granddaughters Tenley and Kinley Cozart paging forested. Also in the. North gallery we have Karen leave higher against of represents Stommel. And we have Ernestine Ross and Carl Frank teachers the Arkansas school of mathematics science and the arts the guest of represent mapper. Morning hour is indeed. Represent Lanny Fite moves we place house bill thirteen seventy on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection read a member number five madam Clerk amendment number five to House Bill thirteen seventy. Fite you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker this is Amendment number five own House bill thirteen seventy as most of you all know the net metering bill we have a compromise that we've worked out with the solar industry we had some clean up language that both sides agree with mainly what it is changing the word from direct to alternating current and that's in five locations I believe and also we're clarifying something on thirteen thirty three where it says allowing net metering facilities of individuals just a saying just clarifying language she was intent of the bill but they brought it to us we agreed to make these amendments and the last moment is representative Wardlaw last vehicle sponsor of the bill. Or give me. Be happy to answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote. President fight is explain the amendment would he would like to speak against the amendment. We would like to speak for the amendment. President finds close for the amendment the question before the House is a passive Amendment number five house bill thirteen seventy all in favor say aye. Any opposed the amendments adopted. In the building grossing madam Clerk. Apart please re house bill thirteen thirteen thirteen thirteen by representative has into many exemptions of life insurance proceeds from actions by creditors and representatives present Hudson you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues I'm before you today to present one of the most controversial topics that we're going to hear this week and by that I mean life insurance this bill is just more or less a cleanup bill I had a constituent come to me and tell me that there were some issues and some confusion in the existing code about how that proceeds from life insurance policy ought to be treated with regard to attachments for debts of the deceased so we took a look at that and there there is a little bit of confusion about it given the fact that there are a couple of at court opinions that seem to conflict with the code and so we set about to try to clean that up a little bit and get S. more in line with what the state surrounding us have been doing with their treatment of life insurance proceeds so what this does is clarifies that provided that the proceeds are going to a third party beneficiary whether that's a family member or friend charitable organization something other than the decedent's estate then it can be protected from attachment by creditors except for in specific situations like repayment of child support that and and and in the case of fraud and some other issues so this is just a matter of trying to get us on par with the surrounding states I took a look at and all the states bordering us in Texas had a really nice clean Code section on this and so we we pulled from that quite a bit to make sure that we got something that would be a little bit easier for people to understand happy to answer any questions if there are any. If not I appreciate a good vote. President Hudson's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President of Hudson is close for the bill the question before the House is passed house bill thirteen thirteen she mental Clark. Is everyone voted has everyone voted. Cast ballot madam Clark by a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed by a court please read house bill twelve. Twelve forty six by representative vote to amend the law concerning the effective date of benefits paid survivors of deceased members former members and retirants and to the Arkansas judicial retirement system cenvat read. Thank you Mr Speaker at this bill clarifies the effective date of survivor benefits in the month following the death of the member or the retired the this bill creates two sections of the Arkansas Code to cover both tier one and tier two plans as of the Arkansas judicial retirement system this bill clarifies that the effective date of monthly benefits payable to survivors for deceased member and deceased retiree is the month following the death of the member of the retire AT this bill creates the law creates law to reflect what the current practices are and with that I would appreciate a good vote. President Baltz explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. President Vaught is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve forty six prepared. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Asked about Manafort by a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed Manafort please read house bill twelve forty seven. Forty seven by representative vote to amend the law concerning benefits paid to survivors and beneficiaries after the death of members and retirees of the State Police retirement system president Vaught you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker this bill does the same exact thing except for its for the Arkansas state police and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. President Vaught has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Vaught is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed house bill twelve forty seven per machine. One voted as everyone voted cast up the ballot madam Clark by a vote of ninety forty eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed I move into the budget calendar represent Jeanne moos we place house bill eleven thirty three on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection remember remember one medical or member number one house bill eleven thirty three percent Jean you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker this amendment more house bill eleven thirty seven the secretary of state's amendment one what this does is on their cash funds what they get paid for building leases in the parking lot it raise the appropriation from three hundred seventy five thousand to a million dollars and what they're gonna do with it is renovate and you don't get out of the tail let have representive wing helper talk about it of the thirty four sold so many offices that we have over big mac on floor B. that's what this appropriation is for the secretary of state any questions. Get too much detail questions on the construction wing for to come up here. Seeing none. I appreciate a good vote on the amendment. Represent changes explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment would anyone like to speak for the amendment represent Jean is closed for the amendment question before the House is the adoption of amendment number one to House Bill eleven thirty three all in favor say aye. Any opposed the amendments adopted. Representing recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues we've got. All Senate bills today. And we're going to take up Senate bill two eighteen and these are all what we did last week on house bills re appropriations these are no more money that was it was the appropriated last session but this gives me allows up to two of St carry this over to the new fiscal year beginning July first no more money same money they're not they're with the projects right now so this just reappropriation we're going to start senate bill two eighteen and go all the way down to Senate bill two twenty nine and I have had a request from the US Senate bill two twenty three which is higher education to pull that out of the batch if you time to look at these bills get any questions do we need to pull any more out of this bad. Seeing none will take the backs will start senate bill two eighteen on these reappropriation to go down to Senate bill two twenty nine and will vote Senate bill two twenty three on a separate vote your one vote or for the bills emergency calls means because the Clerk read the bill third tax please read bills for the third time Senate bill two eighteen to nineteen to twenty Senate bill two twenty one Senate bill two twenty two Senate bill two twenty fourth senate bill two twenty five Senate bill two twenty six at about two twenty seven Senate bill two twenty eight Senate bill two twenty nine per machine. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Ask the ballot Manafort by a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero president bills emergency clauses have passed representing you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker will take up Senate bill two twenty three a higher education reappropriation any questions. One voted for the bill Murphy Clause respect at the Clerk read bill third time. I'm Clerk please read the bill for the first time Senate bill two twenty three. President jeans planned building would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill represent gene is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed Senate bill two twenty three prepared machine. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause as everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk. I voted ninety As and one day the bill emergency clause passed representing your. Thank you Mr Speaker will start senate bill two forty. These all come from governor's letters these are for potential capital improvements mainly air conditioner boulders roof that may have a problem during the next fiscal year there's no guarantee that they will have a problem with this is always fun to be put aside of but it'll be through the oversight of A. L. C. through the restricted reserve money and the and enhancement funds. We will start senate bill two forty. Two forty one to forty two to forty three. We have been requested to pull two forty four higher education out of the back and then also will take up Senate bill two forty five do I need to pull any of these others either bad. Person McCollum for what purpose. Request to recognized Senate bill two forty from the batch two forty. Yes so. Any others any questions okay this bachelor will be voting on two forty one to forty two to forty three and two forty five percent Wardlaw for what purpose. Let's request you're recognized this Passover to forty three Senate bill two forty three until tomorrow please all right. We got much of a batch. We're gonna vote on Senate bill two forty one to forty two at two forty five any other the be pulled out any discussion. Your one voted for the three bills emergency clauses restrict or the park revealed Thursday I'm Clark please read bills for the third time. Senate bill two forty one Senate bill two forty two Senate bill two forty five. Per machine. Voting on the bills and emergency clauses as everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clark by a vote of ninety five Yeas one nine zero president bills emergency clauses have passed represent gene you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker will take up Senate bill two forty. This is the part of commerce economic development any questions. The one voted for the bill emergency clause the Speaker at the park with bill third time for please read the bill for the third time Senate bill two forty represent Jean is explained bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent gene is close for the bill the question before the House is passed Senate bill two forty per machine metaphor. Voting on the bill emergency clauses everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot employer. By a vote of ninety one Yeas three days and three present the bill emergency clause are passed. Jean you're recognized. All right we'll pass over to forty three. This B. Senate bill two forty for higher ed. Any questions. You want voted for the bill emergency clause miss Baker the Clerk read the bill third time I'm part please read the bill for the third time Senate bill two forty four percent genes explain the bill would you would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Jane is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two forty four per machine map parked. Voting on the bill in the emergency clauses everyone voted as everyone voted. Cast about Manafort by a vote of eighty nine Yeas one day and six president bill emergency clause or past. It makes what purpose motion place you're recognized after the announcmenet reading the bills transferring the bills placing the counters on that as members amending their own bills don't members members of drawing their own bills finalizing resolution three communications and any remaining committee reports I move we adjourn until one thirty tomorrow afternoon that's proper motion is not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes. Any announcements represent Fortner for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized a committee will meet at ten o'clock in the morning and room one thirty eight percent Lanny Fite for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized city county local will meet at ten AM tomorrow morning. President Cavenaugh for purpose now you're recognized a special language or meet at eight AM tomorrow big mac be present Barker for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized aging children you for me tomorrow at ten AM in room one thirty percent in it what purpose announcmenet recognized. What sorry preserve Arkansas the Quapaw quarter association is hosting a reception for us right across the street the S. bill sent gas station thank you president Tosh what purpose announcmenet recognized state agencies ten AM in the morning president Bob what purpose. You're recognized a pair caucus in the morning at seven seven AM and rules tomorrow at noon. Purpose announcmenet you're recognized Insurance and Commerce tomorrow morning ten AM eleven four purpose announcmenet recognized House educational reconvene and big mac a in fifteen minutes the other announcements. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named the adjourn resolution house to be adjourned