Public Transportation- House

Persons. I want to remind the committee on March the seventh be sure to put this on your Callamard to seven we're having a committee meeting or committee meal at copper grill at six thirty that's on March seventh so please put that on the Committee on your calendar okay we're gonna without objection we're going to move down the calendar when I moved to representative Hudson she is on judicial needs go to her committee so represent Hudson fuel induce yourself call any witnesses you have you may proceed. Thank you Mr chairman thank you Committee I'm here today presenting house bill fourteen eighty six to amend the law concerning distracted driving and to create actions law and. Often we're asked the why for why we bring different parts pieces of legislation and this one is probably one of the more personal pieces of legislation that I've Bryant I got a call and this past summer from a friend of ours who lives in Fairfield Bay representative Miller's district about the fact that his oldest daughter had been involved in a car accident in which she was killed and what what led from that discussion was the realization that it appeared that the other driver had been distracted texting at the time of the accident and never it has been on the brakes. He asked me at that time and whether we had any sort of penalties and and our code as it stands for situations in which a distracted driving causes an accident that causes serious injury or death so I looked and while we do have in our code fines for at driver who is pulled over for texting and driving up to two hundred and fifty dollars we do not have any sort of enhancement or penalty when those drivers cause an accident that hurt someone or kills them. So I promised him then that I would presented bill that that look to fix that and what this bill does is it creates an enhancement for ad distracted drivers who cause an accident that involved serious injury or death it makes a class A. misdemeanor for that type of activity which provides for up to one year imprisonment fines of up to twenty five hundred dollars and up to one hundred hours of community service. I have been told in consultation with the prosecutors and with the sheriff's association and and the state police that in in many cases this might be considered an enhancement on top of additional charges associated with reckless driving or or vehicular homicide or some of that other at charges that we have available or could be a standalone just depending on the specific facts another question that I had had early on and that I that I that it with those stakeholders was whether or not we have the capability to adequately investigate whether or not texting were some distraction was a factor in causing an accident and I have been assured that that we do have those capabilities not in every case of course but but certainly all of us can think of situations in which you can check and see the last time the text was sent whether there's a song playing on somebody's phone and so on and so forth and so that the sheriffs and the state police to be sure to me that they do have the capability to determine whether or not a distraction was was eight because of the accident and. The family and this is called ashen law because actions law because Ashton woods was that the girl who was killed and the family wanted to be here today but couldn't they've experienced some significant trauma as you can imagine from losing their daughter at that they did ask that I read a statement from them today and with your permission Mister chair I'll do that now. Okay. The what's family would like to thank the honorable representative Hudson and the honorable representative Miller and the honorable senator Missy Irvin spurs for sponsoring H. B. fourteen eighty six Aston's law and also the public transportation House committee members we regret that we couldn't be in attendance today due to the trauma we have suffered emotionally. Let us tell you about our daughter action ray woods she was a graduate of the harvest Bible college in Glasgow Scotland with a degree in missions and theology she served as a full time missionary and travel to more than twenty four countries and tell COVID forced her to come back to the United States in twenty twenty one. Unfortunately she lost her life in a distracted driver crossed the center double line. And collided with her in a head on motor vehicle accident in Stone County Arkansas on October seventh twenty twenty two she was a resident of Claiborne county and loves being back home in the Ozarks we often see the TV campaigns that say you taxed you drive you pay in Arkansas it reminds drivers of the deadly dangers in the legal consequences including fines and penalties for distracted driving and texting behind the wheel however it mentions nothing about pathology crashes. Arkansas penalties currently provide no justice for families like ours or others that have endured a tragic fatality incident as this yet we and other families are left with thousands of dollars in burial medical and personal expenses not covered by insurance while however the individual responsible pays a minimum fine and goes home. Unfortunately it's difficult to charge additional statutes that can be stacked like a wrongful death or negligence. Homicide charge which is a felony in results in additional penalties on top of those available under the statutes in last alcohol or drugs are involved. July twenty first twenty twenty to the national highway traffic safety administration reports that driving while distracted or texting is six times more dangerous than drunk driving in Arkansas approximately forty eight hundred accidents per year are caused by distracted driving an eight percent are fatal so today we call on the public transportation House committee members for unanimous approval for H. B. fourteen eighty six Ashton's law to move the vote to the floor for voting Grayson with kind regards to what's family. Happy to answer any questions. Questor Committee. C.. Representative you're recognized motion motion at the proper time. Senate macrorie recognized. Did I miss the question. I know this is difficult. situation. But your attorney auction is as I'm sure. That they were contacted by. Several attorneys. I was in a little fender Bender. In the my phone was is in a dangerous. Attorneys and you know that you have that Avenue even though you know what. Save five hundred two hundred fifty dollar fee will bring her back. But they do have this opportunity to seek justice on the court allowed to they do on the civil side that's correct one of the things that that her father jim leads has been adamant about though is trying to come up with something on the criminal side that acts as a deterrent for this type of behavior probably all of us in this room are guilty of texting and driving or fiddling with their phones while we drive without thinking much about what the potential consequences action might be and they're less interested in trying to seek Monetary at. At a monetary award through the civil suit but wanted to make sure that distracted drivers recognized that there are there are additional penalties under the criminal code that would try to deter this type of behavior so that other people don't lose their family members in the future all right thank you. Any other questions committee. Anyone who's served to testify for against the bill. Is in Virginia hello. And thank you committee for your time and attention this morning and one thing just to reiterate on this bill because right now is represented by four pointed out the fine is up to two hundred fifty dollars this would increase the fines twenty five hundred dollars and and and he's absolutely right that none of the spring session back but actually lived a life of service and they're hoping that her death will also be a service to the community and and trying to keep this from happening from other families with that I'm close to my bill thank you representative you're recognized. motion do pass in discussion for committee. Seeing none all in favor say aye. Any oppose similar accent hearing none resolution bill passed thank you Mr chairman thank you committee without objection committee we're going to move to representative Maddox to present House Bill fourteen thirty seven representative Maddox you'll would approaching identify yourself any witnesses you might have. Thank you Mr chairman representative Maddox and could ask a witness to come to the table place. Hi Jennifer what can I with the electric cooperatives Arkansas. You tell us our fresh water Jennifer what can I the electric cooperatives of Arkansas thank you ma'am. You will see. Thank you Mr chairman colleagues and I would say this all the time but this truly is a very simple little bill which hopefully will go quickly although a missing education right now so anyway but I hope this ms very quickly so what this does is amended the code to allow an employee or an agent of one of these companies listed in the statute to operate an ATV on a public street or highway if performing a function directly related to the operation of the company or during a time of emergency or severe weather so that's all this does is amended that this one code section which is in existence now to allow for this for these for these companies that's all it does. I'll be glad to take any questions okay just for just for the committee's information the highway department contact me this morning that said they had no issues with the bill so as for bringing that to okay any any questions from committee. Hearing none. We're seeing ninety one here speak for against the bill. President Maddox not close. Yes Sir thank you Mister chairman and thank you Committee on clothes from a bill appreciate a good vote. President will occur you're recognized motion do pass I have a motion do pass in discussion from committee. All in favor say aye opposed Like sign here nine congratulates you bill place thank you Mr chairman thank you Committee. House bill thirteen sixty five representative Holcomb. Mr chairman slash representative we please identify yourself. Thank you Mr representative Mike Holcomb district ninety three of the objection I'd like called up Mr Clark with more often associated Arkansas counties cases any hard questions so. Thank you Mr thirteen sixty five is a catalytic converter Bill Kattegat Canada converters are being stolen at an increased creasing the higher rate due to their valuable metals in the and it's such as a rhodium platinum and and I played him and actually the national insurance crime bureau estimated that the staff's increased thirty six percent in twenty twenty and increase another three hundred and fifty three percent in twenty twenty one so Stone cannot converters king Garner anywhere from depending on where they sell on of anywhere from twenty dollars three hundred fifty dollars on the black market now legally they sell for a little more but with replacement cost to the the calendar murder to ever was shown somewhere around twenty five hundred dollars probably everyone here knows somebody or has had a catalytic converter stolen or it's stolen from your school or your church or something like that so this you notice this bill has been on the agenda for a while and we put it on deferred and we work with the recyclers we work with the shares we work with subsection Arkansas counties to make up to make up a bill or really good bill something that everyone could could get on board with of the there was some amendments made to it but it's engrossed in the bill so if you see if you see it before you I'll just hit a few of the highlights and then if if you have questions I'll certainly be glad to to answer them of one of the changes in that we made in section one on page two of the says that they have there has to be something a permanent marker of some kind on the catalytic converter which legally in case the date that the Catalan. Converter was moved from the vehicle up vehicle identification number of the motor vehicle the Cadillac ever was removed from also down in that same section down a little further it says knowingly pose a person who commits unauthorized possession of kind of like a murder if the person knowingly possesses a catalytic converter that is being removed from a vehicle that is not permanently marked it is not the owner of the motor vehicle for which the catalytic converter was removed of. Also I'm going to move on over to page three of theft of a cat Connecticut murder this increases the penalty of this was agreed to with the with the recyclers and with the shares and the and the actually placed some situation with quite a few people in on this this deal so that the catalytic converter is a Class C. felony says the court may order a person convicted of a catalytic converter theft pay restitution for the value of the repair or replacement catalytic converter up an authorized positioning Cadillac murder is a Class C. felony it that increases if it's someone who's had a prior position stating catalytic converters also we we in section B. on page two of when you got in this section be in Arkansas Code seventeen forty four one oh nine the bill read a buyer of a catalytic converter and then it said other than a scrap metal recycler we stress that out now it includes us so it's a bar of a use catalytic converter shall be filed in electronic record of use kind that converted purchase you never worry the believe it's a leads online if I'm not mistaken they that they will report to like they do any other metals that take a picture of the cat converter thumbprints a member who said on that a picture ID it'll go to Leeds online courses any stolen catalytic converters also on the last page of. We were said the buyer of used catalytic converter the it did have other than a scrap metal recycler scratched out now that includes them anybody ever used used Cadillac director shall maintain a receipt of electronic record entry has record a purchase of USDCAD Act murder and is subject to penalties under one oh two for failure to file electronically for the parts of used Cadillac converter also down the last section section five we're cannot give it were a scrap metal dealers was it was scratched through it is now in this section of by abuse can lead to murder shall register with the county share so in so we've we've increased the penalty we've we've increased that we're now you can up we can identify if you have one legally you can identify that you get is a police officer authority P. stop some one that can lead to murders in there he can do a little more than you could before to help us to enforce this law also it includes everyone to report the same way it's a I think it's a really good bill on and I'd be glad to it this time take any questions that you might have if you have anything to add Mr Whitmore okay any questions from the committee. Saying none. Is there a motion women. Our office is there anyone here to speak for the bill or against the bill. A. I like to close with just just short letter okay when you're ready proceed Mr okay this is from the director of governmental affairs national insurance crime bureau is it my name is Eric accomplished and I'm representing the national insurance crime bureau I'm reaching out thank you for introducing house bill thirteen sixty five and also introducing amendment to establish himself or catalytic converter is a felony as provided by amendment to will help deter thieves and provide law enforcement and prosecutors with additional tools to prosecute can that converted fails particularly those involving prolific fails or organized criminal rings Negley negatively impact Arkansas communities on behalf of the N. I. C. B. we thank you for being a champion on this issue with that Mr I'm close. And I make a motion to do pass. The motion to pass is there any further discussion from the Committee. All in favor say aye All opposed nay nay. Congratulations Mister chairman thank you Mr chairman committee. Sorry Mr deadlock. All right that was Mr Whitmore's easiest testimony he had given. All right this. Representative Richardson are you prepared run H. B. fourteen twenty nine I understand you have an amendment so we would deal with the U. S. really introduce yourself calling witnesses you have and start with your management then we'll go from there thank you Mr chair Jay Richardson district forty nine Fort Smith. thank you guys should have an amendment on your desk or in front of you if being passed out now. so since our our last meeting several changes have been made and there are outlined in this amendment form if you walk through those Take some time to explain a little bit of it to you guys real quick of we went back and added some section of code in the beginning so what you see at the at the very front in sections one into these these have been added in addition to the original bill that was that was brought to you a couple weeks ago. Of speaking of specifically on on how driver's licenses can be revoked if they're showing us insufficient evidence of of issues in other states with that was added. Of. If we flip over some other additions that were made based on what the committee commented of definite assets to be more specific or actually state police as to be more specific about when they were filing tax returns so we added Arkansas state tax returns we clarified the of the organization is going to be responsible which is the office of driver services there were some confusion on that initially of and then we talked about specifically where the fees would go the fifty dollar fee for these licenses will then go back into the FNA for the cost of administering these driver's license and we identified that as well we made a couple of other adjustments based on some feedback we got from some attorneys of we made it clear that they are unable to get a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit with this driver's license this is only for this is six this does not count for commercial driving of and another one that we added on page three line sixteen of. The following are suspects to state tax return for each year between the date of issuance was another piece that we added specifically for individuals that are eighteen years of age you may not have had a chance to file three years of tax returns this now states that they have to file one your tax return for each year they have until they hit three years of so the same requirements have not changed an individual will have to provide tax return or I intend number of will have to pass all necessary testing in order to get a driver's license those things have not changed and those are the amendments that you have before you. Thank you any questions the committee on the amendment. I get a motion. Hawking recognized. Thank you Mr chairman I'm just looking through this you know one thing we talked about was changing the overall look of the that license to was that conversation ever had with with the driver's license services or anybody so long again after you and I spoke if the goal was not to change the license completely it is to highlight and I had some mock ups from one of my constituents disa markups of what that would look like we work with the FNA or the driver's license division to work on what that looks like. Follow follow. women. Okay great and you said that you've spoken with the state police is that state police or negative or neutral on this what about sheriffs association sheriffs association as neutral as well so it no law enforcement has said yea or nay on this at all Arkansas state police the Arkansas police chiefs association was affirmed their support thank you. Any other questions. President grant up reserve region if I read the bill correctly under this subsection is amended could an illegal immigrants to get a driver's license. Correct thank you. Any other questions. I was will committee. Spranger motion do pass a motion to passing discuss met I have a motion to adopt the amendment as amended this. Documented so we have a motion do pass to adopt the amendment any discussion all in favor say aye. Women got I do have questions guess get into bigger absent very thank you Mr chairman so of representative rich so I just want to verify did I hear of you right with the your response representative brown that an illegal immigrant could still obtain a license. Individuals that are in the state they cannot prove where they are have the ability to get a license with proof that they are state live in the state that they've permitted tax returns for the last three years OR they have and I intend on so it is just not card once you get a license follow up Mr or so it's not actually an illegal immigrant as we these these are in addition to who who can't prove where they are okay thank you Mr. Anymore questions. Seeing none. We have a motion to adopt the amendment all in favor say aye. The opposing my accent. Okay we have knows but it the amendment passes you may proceed thank you Mr chair so based on these amendments let's walk back through what the bill does as I spoke to you guys a couple weeks ago. We have people that are in our communities and our neighborhoods that we see every day of that are going to work that are doing the right thing of when we looked at some of the data There is a significant amount of people that are here they just don't have the ability to get a driver's license but there yet in this the other driving they're paying taxes of their coaching soccer teams are doing all these different things in our communities they just don't have a driver's license I was contacted by some attorneys in my area who said that they saw the need for a bill like this that of gives people an opportunity to get a driver's license so that they can get insurance right now you can't get insurance if you don't have a driver's license this would allow for that to happen. So when we look at it from this perspective my goal is to the neighbors that I have in my neighborhood that I see every day I want to give them the opportunity to get a driver's license to be insured and continue to contribute to the to the community that were any of let me be very clear this is not just let's give a driver's license to everyone that's that's not what this bill does this bill has specific requirements and guard rails for people who can't obtain a driver's license these individuals have to be a resident of this state and prove their resident of the state they have to show tax returns from the last few years they have to either have an I. NTN number from that is federally issued there are guardrails appear that manages this and people in my community of people that are closest to me can benefit from from from this going into place. And with that I'll take questions. I of course. I read you were asking you if illegal aliens can get driver's license then in your testimony you said that they have jobs they were paying taxes they have a number so. Hi how are the highly classified illegal if they're able to detain although signed what so I'm trying to so what what I've what I meant to clarify where these are individuals who cannot prove their. Whether they're legal or illegal these are individuals who don't have proof of their here they are still able to work you as we know people are they are still paying taxes or are thank you for your question your. Representative Hodges yeah I just had a question so you do it you are getting these license so that they can get insurance what is to so they get these license what's to say they're going to get insurance. Well. That's a that's a good question I guess we can say that any of us if we choose to get license or not I mean insurance or not but if they're not able to show the on a permanent residents or whatever then if there's something happens with no insurance how would you follow us so they they part of the reason is one of the requirements is that they have to show residents in the state for the last three years so they are able to do that in order to get the life. For the for the last three years okay. Yes I'm not I'm not speak for against the bill I'm just make a comment to get some clarity side because I don't take sides on the bill because I'm the chairman but to answer your question if I purchase a vehicle they have to have proof of of of insurance and the insurance now is live online other words people at one time were sending offered insurance card online and getting six months and years than canceling it is still have their card can't do that anymore now it's now slab online if you're stopped by a police officer he can check like that see what you have insurance or not so if they buy a vehicle they they would have to have insurance okay okay next representantes. Thank you Mr. Representative. Is appreciate all the amendment you made in your brain is bill back but. Looking over a is something that really concerns me is the cost it's involved with this if I'm reading this correctly to make the programming changes necessary it looks like it's about a hundred and thirty six thousand dollars yearly maintenance on that would be eight thousand and I understand that but one of the things that really concerns me is how many additional personnel that would have to be employed through the Arkansas state police driver's license division and I'm reading this correctly choose many years thirty additional employees yes Sir that's what the the FNA provided. The impact of that thirty additional ploys with their salaries in with their insurance and the. Do we have any idea what that would cost is there's no cost involved with that in the end what I'm looking at so my understanding is based on that that costs wouldn't would include those individuals a hundred and thirty thousand individual costs and then the eight thousand ongoing maintenance I don't know if I have anybody from different a hearing not but we do well we let me get somebody if a if you go ahead with your question but we well I'm just going to all. All white we just going to disagree that under thirty six thousand would cover the cost thirty additional employee. Okay you did. This yourself in and give us a so clearly on the representantes question yes Sir thank you chair thank you members of the committee representative Tosh you're looking at the resources required for implementing the proposed changes of this bill there are two components there is the programming changes that would be required within the air system Arkansas integrated revenue system which is the hundred and thirty six thousand dollars in programming changes and then the on going maintenance of those changes within the system and then separately is the personnel and that would be required and to see a little more information as the the process does it described in the bill would require additional employees within DFA that would be having to review these documentation documents that were presented as well as verifying the information those documents and also the have to account for the increased number of individuals that would potentially qualify for a license to apply for one within DFA as well as the renewals of those licenses as contemplated the bill. Okay Mr use use thirty additional employees and the other night and. In full this is is the office of drivers services I thought they were referring to the state police driver's license examiners how many additional employees will be required to be able to administer those test I thought that's what you were referring to in the thirty employees so you got thirty additional ploys India of the night and now how many additional employees are we talking about it had to be required to even administer the tests yes Sir so that's that's a valid point we don't have any information about what would be contemplated by state police in order to administer the written and the skills test are revenue impact is only focused upon the additional resources that DFA would would require. But if perhaps state police might have someone present they can speak to that issue I'm not aware that they've provided a number as to any additional employees they might need. Follow up Mr. But the cost the impact of thirty additional ploys employees for even the FNA. Was not listed do we have any idea what that impact would be but we would be able to provide an additional number of I think what we would have to really figure out is is right now if the person comes into a revenue office and presents their documentation for a driver's license that meets those existing qualifications that would be specifically grated position within DFA this may require people that are able to review tax returns as well as review these the documentation that is presented this potentially would require a higher graded individual in order to do this more intensive review process but we don't have a a numerical figure of as to what the actual personal I would be happy to ask the office of driver services to come up with a more definite figure for this proposal. Mr chairman of the the view on that that we need a fiscal impact study on what these thirty additional employees will cost will also cause to Arkansas state police if they're going to have to employ any additional personnel to administer chest of Michigan also would like to know what is going to college or do you have an eight to create a of. For the driver services for the state revenue offices for law enforcement and for courts I understand you're going to have to come up with all new material and there's no cost involved in what I'm reading here as to what that's going to college just creating that new material for the for each one of those agencies that I just mentioned so would I would use it my correct that that has also not not been an impact as to what that would cost about correct representative of Tosh currently we after we have a legislative session that impacts driver services motor vehicle or tax section we didn't have comprehensive training materials that we develop for the entirety of the session so we would not have a specifically identified training materials for maybe one particular bill we would develop a training packet to make sure our employees are aware so that I don't think it we would generate a separate line item revenue impact for just a specific bill change but we certainly would have a line item bill impact for programming which is which is the hundred and thirty six thousand and the on going maintenance and the additional personnel but we will be happy to go back to our staff and get an actual number on the personnel requirements and their estimates of what Grady type positions that they would need to to process these types of applications as well as the renewals thank you for that Mister I'm I'm I'm concerned not knowing the cost involved with this and I'm a little reluctant to pass this out here today until we know exactly what we're looking at okay let me. A reserve rich I know you've been here before we we can. He's asking for additional impact statement which you know what that does that that complicates the bill you want full build out this time you were school and take testimony and wait you get a finance or more on a financial impact statement come back again how do you want to hand it up you know we would do it however you want to. You. Sorry Mr yeah I'll. I'll pull it I'll pull it right now I'll pull it will put or put a red band put it he's gonna put it down when he gets the. You'll get this the rest of the financial impact statement and also of. President Richard I would. I would I would ask the state police to give you are we do that Mr chairman and I believe the state police with we need to have to speak to the additional personnel or or programming costs that they're gonna have on their side but also we with the amendment that was adopted today we will incorporate whatever changes are within the amendment in our next fiscal impact as well. Okay you will now we will. We'll we'll just pull down the market back after you get actually get these finance string that will let's try it again the honor to. Okay thank you thank you. Okay. Of. Committee we're gonna stand in recess for just about five minutes Risi okay I skews me. Represent bill to the other I didn't realize you were here so would you. We have an amendment your run house bill fourteen ninety nine. we have an amendment so your dental by yourself present the amendment. Yes and don't worry about overlooking the chairman it happens all the time you're the short. Hello just before you start in the middle of clarity on something. Those of you that we're here on fourteen twenty nine would if you're here on fourteen twenty nine hold up just a minute let me so I will run to have a under this. Okay those that those of you that are here to testify on fourteen twenty nine to let you know what's going to happen I'm not going to I'm not going to call a special order of business and set up a specific time what I'm gonna do is move it to the deferred list and when when a representative Richardson gets ready to run it again I'll put it back on the regular agenda and you can come to testify but that's were at because we get financial impact statements we can't go any further with okay thank you all right represent Pilkington fewer dishes if you may begin with your Memon on fourteen ninety nine thank you Mr chairman this minutes pretty simple I had a conversation the ETC this morning arts or commerce department's morning they're neutral on the bill they said Hey we just one little tweak with like there was some shall language we wish it was may. If the funding becomes available and so I'll go to this when I present the bill but there's appropriation center boys running this is just enabling language so mine is just saying if they get the money that a they will have to do this feasibility study so just that amendments so there wasn't something where they felt like they it might pass the board didn't pass that they would be on the hook to do this without any money coming behind and so that's that that's why we have this amendment and and they're happy with that and I'm happy with that that was the intention of the bill to begin with and so with that I just ask for a good vote on the amendment okay any any questions the committee on the amendment. You senator I have a motion on Amendment. I have a motion of representative berry in discussion all purpose a I could amendment passes you proceed with your bill. Thank you chairman thank you Committee I'm here today to discuss the important questions related to the feasibility of building a space port in Arkansas the construction space for could be could be a significant benefit the state include economic development job creation and increased national attention however there are many factors that we need to consider when evaluating whether Arkansas should research receive this venture firstly is the cost if we were to build a space for it can range anywhere from twenty million dollars to two hundred million dollars on going maintenance another operational costs are significant and could for the more increase the cost as well however we know that through other states have done this and from studies done by the FFA that it could be a a generator of over a hundred million dollars a year to the state of Arkansas and of course because of the already err Namik. the companies that we have look in Arkansas we could create supply chains that would build upon themselves here as well so that is why we need a feasibility study we didn't want to build just go out there and say Hey we're gonna build a spaceport we're gonna dump a bunch of money into this without knowing is this the best thing for Arkansas and so we may ask why are we even concerning this to begin with the reality is they are already about thirteen space ports across the southern United states ranging from California to Florida there's even one in nearby Oklahoma the reality is is where a prime location to build a space port because of our temperature are are like Senator local industry that we have cost of land and of course not being densely populated is actually a benefit where in most cases it's not a benefit the reality is falling space debris launching in areas that are not densely populated it's actually a positive thing so um. That's kind of the general gist of it if you'll recall I about a year ago governor Aissa Hutchinson create a mobility task force to look at things This Is adjustment came out of it was to create a feasibility study to look at this to see if this is something that would benefit Arkansas like I said when I was presenting the amendment this is not report this isn't this is any costs this is the enabling language to say if money gets appropriated to do a feasibility study we are authorizing ATC to do the study with a timeline to give a report to the governor the legislature and the Department your interpretation and with that I I take any questions. Thank you Mr welcome representative of just a quick question when looking at these kind of things This feasibility study would also I hope include ADC or commerce and we call it now of. Look at the very real possibility of private investment offset some of the cost of building and operating such facility is that's one of things on their in their purview of this study yes and I know a lot of space ports that have been developed and other other states have used a form of private public partnership so I don't I don't think that specifically given the bill that they need to look at that but that is it I didn't attic it's kind of a given if if that makes sense that's kinda standard operating procedure for this well I hope so well for now. I noticed in the in the amendment talked about if funding is available and you mentioned funding that's not part of this correct and I take on your word up do you have any kind of a ballpark of what kind of appropriation you'd be looking at. yeah I do not that would be of the discuss invoice appropriation but I don't have an exact number on on what that would be it's like that it's just a study it's not we're not build the port or anything about the bad so I don't I don't know what exactly that's that would be I I don't think it's a very large some that I'm understood that's what but I was prompted by the insertion of it if funding is available which suggests they might think it isn't so thank you yeah that thanks a date commerce wanted that they wanted the leeway they didn't feel like they got the spot where they had to divert funds from something else because of this bill and and I think that's a reasonable thing to ask this is something new and I don't want to affect the current budget and so the Leslie decides not to appropriated that's our purview and you know they don't they don't have to worry about this in their hands are tied. Any other questions committee. Represent Kerr you're recognized I make a motion to pass when appropriate okay represent mackerel we we have an astronaut school to. I will sign up. You to spoil the surprise is gonna make you dean. Beam me up Scotty. You had the bill passed and you said that so. Of. Any other any other questions committee. Seeing none of we have here to speak for the bill Tyler beavers that correct Tyler introduce yourself we represent you might see. I represent myself as well as space for development LLC I'm here work. I'm representing myself in space for development LLC and I work with various entities and. Tyler beaver yep to the river I work with the various entities and on various endeavors in the space industry I'm here today to urge you to support the bill to execute a feasibility study for a space port here in Arkansas. As we all know there's ways industry's been a critical contributor to the economic development of many states here in our country Arkansas is well positioned become a major player in the aerospace industry and spaceport would provide us with the opportunity to leverage our existing strengths in this field the aerospace industry requires a highly skilled workforce in space at a port in Arkansas would provide us with unique opportunity to invest in our children develop and train a workforce in cutting edge technologies the development of a space for recreate a highly a create many highly skilled jobs and the demand for skilled workers in the industry will only continue to grow in the coming years. Furthermore aerospace manufacturing is already a contributor to the Arkansas economy with the industry employing over ten thousand people and generating an annual output of over two point two billion dollars already. Arkansas is already a significant player in the aerospace manufacturing industry with companies like Lockheed Martin aero jet Rocketdyne Raytheon operating within our borders the development of space were not only strengthen our existing aerospace industry but also attract new aerospace companies create a more diversified economy I personally engage with some of these company leaders and they've expressed to me their willingness to do so in writing and express their willingness to engage in this endeavor here in Arkansas by developing a space for we not only create more high paying jobs but also attract additional aerospace manufacturing companies to the state further boosting our economy in addition these economic benefits a space for the Arkansas would provide us with the platform to conduct scientific research and space exploration this would allow us to take part in national and international efforts to advance our understanding of space universe of potentially lead to breakthroughs. Moreover the feasibility study would provide us with the detail analysis of the potential costs and benefits of developing a space port here in Arkansas by the conducting a thorough analysis we can ensure that we are making a sound investment in our state's future finally I like to stress the importance of ensuring that Arkansas remains competitive in the aerospace industry as other states continue to develop their own space sports invest in the industry is critical that we do not fall behind by supporting the bill to execute a feasibility study for a spaceport in Arkansas we can position ourselves as a major player in the industry and ensure that we continue to attract aerospace companies and investments to our state ultimately space for the Arkansas would provide us with the tremendous economic scientific and technological benefits I urge you to support the build is executed feasibility study for space for an Arkansan position our state is a leader in the aerospace industry thank you for your time and consideration on this. Rigorous bear any questions from committee. Seeing none. Thank you testimony I don't see anyone here to speak or anyone else speak for against the bill no questions represent Pilkington would you like to go yes I appreciate that that testimony and I just say I hope for a good vote let hopefully one day all their dreams will come true we can shoot McElroy into space. Represent Kerr you're recognized. I have a motion with as amended have a motion do pass as amended in discussions in committee. Sang none all in favor say aye what what what men hold it hold it hold it got December. Chairman you're you're killing me so many so I'm very much an advocate for this I think you know we as a state need to be more proactive instead of reactive when it comes to opportunities in the future and I know representative Pilkington is not old enough but I am to remember when fed ex looked at moving into Little Rock and we work ready to accommodate their needs and they ended up going to Memphis so it's one of those situations where I believe we do need to be ready we need to take more of an advantage of all of the capabilities of the law of Arkansas the military infrastructure that we have in places such as Camden for chatting even at camp Robinson so we are very Arkansas is very geographically it's just a great location to have a space port in the central part of the United States and we need to consider more opportunities as and bring more high paying technological jobs to the state of Arkansas other than Chinese companies that's and not in our best interest so I'm a big advocate of it and I appreciate the representative Phil and bring the bill to the Committee thank you Mr chairman you have a comment question Committee. All right thank you we're ready to vote now all in favor for the of a do pass motion say aye. Any opposing Lacson hearing none congratulations your bill passes any other business come before the committee today. Mr could you hold up just Miller like to speak to you before you leave please all right this committee stands adjourned. This is.