State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

Section bills out of the order on the agenda and my vice chair has to leave here in a little bit so I'm going to go ahead while he's here and he'll take over just time and I will be run in house bill thirteen ninety six. Ninety six. Mister chair. A bill them by yourself for the record and then you may proceed with your bill thank you Mr I'm representative Dwight Tosh and with your permission I have at the table with me and I'll let him identify himself to the committee. My David cook senior public policy manager for the Alzheimer's association. Committee members what this bill does And Mister co contacted me it's reference the law enforcement training for people that they have Alzheimer's or dementia I've talked to of the commission on law enforcement standards and training also I've spoken with the lady of the Arkansas law enforcement training academy and we've set aside in their curriculum to our blog to teach the anyone going through one of our law enforcement academies starting in January of the twenty twenty four they'll be taught a two hour block and just remind the committee so you'll know it'll be taught by a mental health expert and in the bill it is some of the things that the law enforcement officers will be taught how to identify someone experience in these type of issues of the resources available to them also I might point out that if you remember a couple sessions ago when we established a crisis stabilization unit we require law enforcement at that time to take a in our basic police academy is a sixteen hour course identifying individuals that within the mental health crisis purses of someone that was actually committing a criminal act and this would just be it'll be incorporated into that type of training we're already teaching sixteen so this bill to our blog to address those people experiencing those issues. And with that Mr cook did you have anything you want to say. Okay. Are there any questions from the committee. It is there anyone in the audience signed up to speak against the bill. R. for the bill. Seeing none of are you ready close for your bill the chairman I'm closed like a motion do pass have a motion do pass what's the feel of the committee. All in favor. All opposed. Thank you Mr thank you committee members who have had a real congratulations to the roll call. Mister chair this power is intoxicating. Representative Cavenaugh. Are you going to the. Is it house bill I'm sorry it's a Senate bill is that correct. Go ahead by yourself to the committee and which Senate bill is number Senate bill one ninety four okay committee members it Senate bill one ninety four Senator Hester is the sponsor. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized to present your bill or representative Frank Kavanagh District thirty this is a simple bill that is going to allow the secretary of corrections to serve at the will of the governor currently they serve at the will of the board of the corrections this is going to fix that where they will serve at the will of the governor this is the only secretary that does not currently serve at the will of the governor and this is just clean up. And that's it okay thank you to the Committee members you've heard presentation any questions from committee members. Say none no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Representative Cavenaugh of you're recognized close with the bill I'm close for the bill and I would appreciate a good vote representative Cavenaugh is close with the bill I have a motion to have a motion of a do pass any discussion on the motion saying none all in favor say aye All opposed say no congratulations your bill is passed thank you members. Committee members also just for you to make a note we will not be hearing house bill thirteen oh two. Or House Bill been informed by staff house bill fourteen oh five. House bill thirteen oh two and house bill fourteen oh five next item on today's. House Bill House Bill twelve forty a representative Gonzalez centers. In Rome the. House bill thirteen twenty representative ray. Represent your right you would just in a value set up to the Committee need you're recognized present your bill. Thank you Mr chairman representative David Ray District sixty nine with your permission I'd like to invite Mr run Ousley from the attorney general's office to join me okay so recognized you would charges notifies up to committee to represent. Thank you Mr chair right now is the deputy Attorney General the opinions Division okay you're recognized president Bill thank you Mr chairman colleagues this legislation moves the ballot title review process from the state board of election commissioners back to the office of the Attorney General where it existed prior to twenty nineteen I might take a few minutes to go through this and and try and preemptively answer any questions of folks might have. So to give you a little bit of the background as to how we got to this point in nineteen twenty amendment seven to the Arkansas constitution was passed that establish the process for initiatives and petitions in nineteen forty three the legislature passed act one ninety five which created ballot title review process and House center the office of the Attorney General. That process was challenged in nineteen fifty six I went to the state Supreme Court in a case called Washburn versus hall and it was up held on the grounds that the the court found that the ballot title review process was not restrictive of citizens amendment seven rights but was rather in furtherance of those amendment seven rights. Fast forward to twenty nineteen sixty three years later the legislature moved the ballot title review process from the AG office over to state board of election commissioners I'm sure everyone will remember last year. The state board of election commissioners declined to certify the ballot title for the recreational marijuana amendment that resulted in litigation they went to the Supreme Court and in the Armstrong case the state Supreme Court struck down our review process that was passed in twenty nineteen as unconstitutional. That leaves us where we are today which is with no ballot title review process so as we sit today no state entity has the ability to review a ballot title to ensure that it's legally sufficient and that is extremely problematic because if you don't have a review process for ballot titles you're going to end up with ballot titles that are wildly confusing deceptive or misleading. So what does this review under the attorney general's office look like I'll take I'll summarize what the bill does before any signatures can be gathered the sponsors have to submit language to the office of the Attorney General that includes the full text of the measure the ballot title and this the popular name. The Attorney General has ten business days either to approve and certify the ballot title or the Attorney General can substitute and certify a more suitable ballot title or if the Attorney General finds that the ballot title is deceptive or misleading the Attorney General can reject the proposal provide the sponsors with the reasons for rejecting that proposal and instructors nurse to redesign their routes proposed measure. If anywhere along the way the sponsor of the measure Feels aggrieved by the attorney general's actions they can petition the Supreme Court for proper relief. So the reasons that we would want to move this process back number one as I stated we don't have any review process at the moment and that's extremely problematic but to the timing in the ordering of the process makes more sense this way. And what I mean is that ensuring that the ballot title is legally sufficient should be the first step in the process before a sponsor can go and get any signatures for their measure the other way around is extremely chaotic if you're going out and collecting tens of thousands eighty ninety hundred thousand signatures within on approved ballot title that's going to certainly be chaotic this will this process provides more clarity and more certainty for everyone involved. Third the AG's office is uniquely suited suited to reviewing ballot titles this office is the largest law firm in the state and they have a decade's worth of institutional knowledge and experience reviewing ballot titles and then lastly this is the only mandatory ballot review process ballot title review process that has ever been of approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court and so as I mentioned that process was approved in nineteen fifty six in a washroom case and if you want a review process which we all should then we have to do something to put that in place after the Armstrong decision last year and so with that committee members if you have any easy questions you can direct them to me if you have any difficult questions you can direct them to Mr Ousley. Committee members heard a presentation any any questions from committee members. J. none no one signed up to speak for against the bill representative right you're recognized close we bill. I'm close for the bill and I appreciate everyone's time and attention today representatives close with these build representative Richmond. I have a motion do pass be any discussion on the motion saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no does have a graduation your bill is passed thank you Mr chairman. If there's any representative said are here that are here to present a one of the Senate bills would you. Notifies staff up here representative McCullough hello the just notifies staff which Senate bill you're here to To present. Committee members next item on today's agenda is house bill thirteen twenty six representative Mayberry. Representative Mayberry. The representative Mayberry next item on today's agenda will be House resolution ten twelve representative Pilkington. Representative's desk by yourself to the committee then you're recognized to present your bill thank you Mr chairman representative Aaron Pilkington district forty five Johnson in Polk County. Today president you House resolution ten twelve to encourage the United States to become a member of the Commonwealth of nations and so before president as I want to give a little backstory on why I would do a resolution like this which I know many of you got emails about as you know we have a controversial eighty C. office in the people's Republic of China. there's been talks about moving it and during those discussions ideas that came out the maybe we should move it to to London after brexit obviously they're looking for better trading partners now that they're no longer part of the European Union there were several African countries are mentioned as well and then of course another member even suggested moving into India which is a political and economic counterweight to China and South Asia. And after that conversation I went back and I realize that all these countries have something in common they're all part of the Commonwealth the nation which is a large voluntary group of of nations and so obvious is the resolution is not a bill it doesn't do anything it just says this is something the United States and might be interested in seeing may say well why why should we care about being a part of this group well the reality is is they have a lot of same similar values the values of democracy use of the English language human rights rule of law. And so I think obviously as we want to expand trade into other countries and increasing trade with those but not only lessen our reliance on China which obviously we saw during covered was problematic it also increases our relationships both in heart and mind with a lot of African nations which make up about ninety four percent of the population within the Commonwealth of nations and as you know China and Russia have been investing heavily within Southeast Asia and Africa and it's all of us if you recall a few months ago president Biden announce I think front of forty four billion dollar investment into Africa there is there's it is important content that we need to be involved in and while we are increasing our investment as the United States I also think it's going to be part of cooperative organizations that share the similar values as us and so that's why I I thought this was a good idea to resolution it let's say we were to pass this all it would send a letter to the United States Congress and and with that I'll take any questions. Question from committee members represented Bentley you're recognized for a question. Representative Pilkington heavy visit with any of our congressional delegation about this is why they may have not entered into it or had a conversation with them about the only one I've talked to is is represented French Hill but I did not hear back from his office I know that he's part of the U. K. U. S. parliamentary exchange program and that's why I brought it up to him but I hadn't received a response back. One follow up chair you're recognized so again give me the benefits why would want to do this is not. I would just trade is that the main thing that you want to get to meet in the main deals trade nations that join the Commonwealth of nations usually see around a twenty six percent increase in trade with other membership nations these include a con me such as India China Australia which already large trading partners as well as well as South Africa and and I like I said it's it's fifty six states a majority which are actually republics and so just wanting to increase trade with those nations and decrease our reliance on our trading partners China. Any further questions from committee members represent Richman you're recognized for a question. Representable content can you tell us some of the requirements that a nation has to have an to be considered to join this service are going to be any kind of military obligation at some point or is this just a bunch of friends have an opportunity to play chess was or what it's just a bunch of friends there's no military obligation there's there's nothing that would require us to give up any sort of sovereignty like I said it is a a voluntary organization which member states they claim are say are free and equal so no one no one member is greater than the other member. Representative more you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair are there any dues or any costs associated with joining this Commonwealth of nations I I'd have to get back to you I'm not sure if there is a is a new announcmenet. Blaze is a resolution so we would be way down the line and have to get the United States Congress and the state department to pursue this before we. We would have to pay anything so if there were any days. Any further questions from committee members. Representative Cooper you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair. I don't know where an I just don't feel good about it there's just something that doesn't sit right that doesn't feel right. And I know that you've had I've had plenty of emails. So help me can you help me with the. Sure so no there's there's been some opposition people claim that we're trying to start a new world order which is hilarious glad to know I'm part of the I think I even got accused of being part of the Illuminati which is quite an achievement I do know is that powerful So that it's it's that I I think it's just you know people say well you know this is you know do you know that the a lot of these countries are also members of the U. in its like will yeah so are we from the security council I just I think some people are just misinformed about I mean like I said this is a voluntary organization there's there's nothing that being part of this organization would somehow take away the rights and liberties of any sort of American you know I think it is good though to be a part of an organization that shares our similar values that for that in past world wars we fought along side I mean you look at the geopolitical stage right now our enemies of Russia and China and he's standing on the other side it is countries like Australia which we've entered into military alliances it is the United Kingdom and Canada which are part of NATO and a part of us as well you know I I clearly see this is a lot of countries that we have shared common values with that also stand oppose some of our greatest geopolitical threats and so that's why I think it's good if anyone thinks that this is somehow you know. I was trying to give away our sovereignty or go back to being British subjects this is just simply not true it maybe it's a problem with optics but but it but it's not the reality and tuned to more nations actually just on the Commonwealth in two thousand two as well so it's not like this is a okay an organization that's decreasing our people want to get away from it people are still showing it being members I think you know be a part of an organization that allows us to increase our trade with countries that are seen as our friends oppose our enemies is a good thing that. Any further questions from committee representative Richmond you're recognized. Thank you Mr bear with me represent poked them but the I know that several is members we have a lot in common with these members we we fought together we've been allies in a lot of things but but also some of these members have very draconian gun laws. And I'm I'm sorry I can't find very much information about this group online but I haven't looked at already either until just recently but. Is there a possibility that they at some point would start pressuring our nation to get in line with their nation on gun laws no there's there's nothing like that I understand that that fear about it you can there's no way that they can enforce any sort of gun law or or anything like that on us you know like I said every country is call is free and equal and they're able to do essentially whatever they want you know there's there's a lot of members in this who have you know canceling all around the place. So but I'll tell you this if we were to join the call of the nation's in there there were even a chance that that would happen I will cut my right hand off because I'm not sure it would never happen. Any further questions from committee members. Say none anyone here to speak for against the bill. Saying none I'm closer my bill represent those clothes with the bill I have a motion. Recognized for motion. I'll give an example cannot motion to pass. I have a motion to do pass any discussion on the motion. Saying none you have discussion on the motion you're recognized yeah I just think the representative to make a point about working with our allies and some instead of those who are enemies and I think we should give him the opportunity to make that same pitch the full chamber so appreciate you approach Goshen on a motion saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. The nose added to bills or resolutions failed thank you happy presidents day thank you. Representative Paul House Bill Fortino for you would have stated in the table. Divisor of committee and the your against it in the table with you and then you're be recognized to present your bill. Thank you Mr chairman thank you committee said Delia Haak from district seventeen in western Benton county and They are sold to a service director for the state Election Commission. You're recognized present your bill thank you very much we bring before you today house bill fourteen oh four as part of election integrity package of bills to secure Arkansas elections this bill is going to help a situation that has come up in the past and just a for a little brief summary of it it's for early voting when tabulators are moved from one location to another location and re used this would make sure that those are sealed up at the end of the day before that tabulator is moved to another location and the ballots that were voted on at. On a particular day are contained at the centralized location for ballots and sealed and not counted until election day and that machine can be moved to another location for another early voting day and this came about because of a certain county that their early voting sites had to be what way spread out and was trying to solve a problem to get more people engaged in early voting but wanting to secure those ballots every day and make sure they're sealed up and not carry it to the next location but centralized every evening and secured at a central location. So that's what this bill is meant to accomplish the shows you have any comments. This time I believe the representative explained it well but I'm available to answer any questions any questions from committee members. Say no question of committee members anyone here to speak for against the bill no one signed up representative healthcare recognized close we bill thank you and we are happy to bring this bill to you today and would appreciate a do pass. Representative bill kids clothes with bill I have a motion for representative gene motion do pass have a motion of do pass any discussion on the motion. You saying none all in favor say aye All opposed say no congratulations your bill is passed. Skipping over house bill fourteen oh five House Bill Fortino seven representative Cllr. If you would identify yourself to committee have you guess also identify herself to the committee and you're recognized present your bill record District twenty nine hot spring and selling County. Leslie Bellamy director of elections for the Arkansas secretary of state's office you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. One of the underlying themes of this particular general session is election integrity. It's my understanding that there will be approximately twenty five bills or more to be filed this session focusing on some part of election entered. Well the most vital parts of election integrity is making sure that our voter rolls are as up to date as possible or seventy five elected county Clerk recorder on voter rolls this bill does not change the responsibility it hopefully makes their job easier and certainly makes their of voter list much more accurate. This bill allows for the cleanup of voter rolls to ensure accuracy. This bill allows for added. A data resources that are secure for better reconciliation procedures one example issues a lot utilizing such things as the master death file or index compiled by the Social Security Administration. This will also enhances legislative oversight with audit authority. You'll see on page four line seventeen every six months the state level administration of each voter registration agency shall issue a report to the Legislative Council. This also the bidding process of voters to identify any suspect or any legal voters. Accurate voter registration rolls will help with many things including petitions county petitions any other even jury rolls petitioning or looking for potential jurors those working with the list will not have to work to a list that perhaps maybe out of date the list will be updated on a regular basis basis at the state level the Arkansas association of counties has been had input on this bill and the writing of this bill is by understanding that they are fine with it the second the secretary of state's office election division has had significant input. One of the things that we need to think about keeping or voter of roles accurate is I believe it would not be a stretch to say that our voter rolls change hourly he said how could that be between spot someone passing away somebody registering to vote someone moving out of state someone moving in state when you look at that across the state it is a moving target all the way around and what this bill does help says it does it's not perfect but what it does helps us get the most accurate roles and keep some up to date as much as possible so with that we'll take any questions that you might have. Yes seven comments. No Sir I believe that a representative McClure covered everything but I am available for questions okay any questions from committee members. Say none we do have someone. I someone signed up to. Speak against the bill so if you all would just thank H. your state's ruler against come to the end of the table. But let Lancasters that Roger yes Sir good afternoon this data by yourself to the committee and you you're recognized to give your testimony thank you Mr chair my name is Clint Lancaster I'm an attorney and a lobbyist for the Arkansas voter integrity initiative Inc I do not to be clear represent Conrad Reynolds I represent the funders behind A. B. I. which is a five oh one C. for I am here to speak against this bill even though representative and the color is my representative if you do not know me I represented president trump in the twenty twenty Wisconsin election challenge I also represented the Wisconsin special counsel investigating the twenty twenty elections and his report to the Wisconsin assembly I have recently returned from a Mar a Lago last week where I had a one hour and fifteen minute with former president trump who has endorsed the what I am about to propose to you I am against this bill for a couple reasons first off it does not have a provision which purchase any of the voter rolls for ineligible voters there's nothing in here that says once the secretary of state has identified voters who are dead double registered moved out of state or any other provision there's nothing that says they can remove those instead what it does is it says it can report about those well as a good conservative I happen to think what we need is just want less report about voting who about anything a government. To that end I also have concerns about how the bill and the proposed amendment would require the secretary of state to work with other states this opens up the secretary of the state to contract out these obligations to an entity such as Eric the electronic registration information center the largest organization that does this type of thing that bills itself as an organization that keeps our voter rolls clean however what you don't understand or don't know maybe about Eric is it's funded by George Soros and led by a guy named David Becker who is as far left as you can get this organization does not keep our voter rolls clean but is nothing more than a repository for liberal organizations to have a voter list of potential voters instead I have drafted some proposed legislation that would purge our voter rolls and that puts the burden to purge those voter rolls on the county clerk's where people vote in the counties it It absolutely identically mirrors the national voter registration act which provides a method for purging voter rolls in compliance with federal elections these this purging process would be the exact same for state elections as it would be for federal elections it also criminalizes conduct for those who would intentionally remove an eligible voter or intentionally add an L. in the eligibility is an eligible voter skews me. I don't see these provisions and represent the colors bill or the amendment I had all the election work I have done I have never seen or heard anybody say Mr Lancaster you caught me hi stuck that ballot box for Joe Biden what they say is I'm sorry I made a mistake okay yes I did it what are you gonna do about it it till we have some stronger provisions I could not support representing the colors bill I ask that you consider died be giving it a no vote not passing it out this committee in considering the legislation that I have drafted which would be a state statute that does not have to be approved by our voters and those are the reasons why I'm against it and I'm happy to take any questions. Any questions from committee members. Pitsch Richmond you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr where is your legislation proposed legislation right now who is who is running it who has it in their hand to send a little B. alarm to get it filed I have put it in the hands of Senator Kim Hammer representative long and Carlton right I believe we lean there I always get those got so many W's I have a copy Sir if you'd like to look at it. I'll see you later follow up Mr. You're recognized. You didn't realize that if your bill passes after McClure's bill. If it actually passes gets out of here goes the floor makes always governor signs and whatever your bill being the latter bill that your bill will be the one that is actually used to enforce existing laws that even if his bill passes the it does not mean that your bills that I understand that yes Sir thank you. Any further questions from committee members. Saying none thank you Michelin cash burning your testimony thank you Mr chair with. Representative and. your. You're recognized to You will close with the bill. Yeah. Of yeah we're gonna answer the first question right quick please. The New that in your clothes. Okay we're we're closing for the bill so let me just let me just have a quick explanation of purging and the county Clerk issue. The information what the bill would do speak with senator Hammer the heritage foundation representing the Clerk the information on the report we gather would go to the registrar's which of the county clerks and their interment fifty one are able to cancel those registrations all this would do is allow us some further access to data sources we're not naming anyone dares force like Eric or anything in the the bill or not name in the safe programming the bill or any of those were keeping it you know pretty blank towards something else come up we can use or we could actually get our own agenda as well with data scale to vendor that we've talked to about some information I use with of assessor records and things like that but right now it as the permit fifty one stand the Secretary start state cannot purge anyone we don't have it's not our records and that's why it doesn't have it in the bill. Page McClure a couple things when I started this journey actually started at the county Clerk level that's where I started now for those of you that is set in these committee rooms and listen to all the different ones that come in from all the different counties and all the different audits and all the different things that come in here we see that our county clerks have allotted to various challenges workload is one in smaller County sometimes that only one in the office they're not paid well we have a lot of different things there that that make voter rolls maybe they're not top priority the second thing would be how on earth are we going to enforce it are we going to have some money going around to seventy five courthouses trying to monitor seventy five county clerks how long is that gonna take company F. T. E.'s is that gonna take how many we can just continue going actually that grows government is what it does and I don't know that would be that effective neither one of these bills are perfect our ideas would be perfect what this does is it cleans it up at the state level passes it down and it still is going to rest with the county Clerk so with that I'm closed and I appreciate a good vote represented because close with these bill. What's the. Will the committee. I have a motion. Representative Richmond is measured by the motion of the past hello motion of a do pass any discussion on the motion. You're recognized for discussion on the motion. Yeah I'd like this whole thing to be fixed from top to bottom. But my fear is is that we kill this bill. The other bill that is being proposed that we haven't heard yet or seen or anything that it comes down and that you see this wave the synonymy of opposition roles in because somebody somewhere is going to be upset about what it does and so then we have nothing. We end up with nothing. So motion do pass to go ahead and give this bill a chance to be heard on the floor and the other bill if it come before this committee and it does what it's saying to do that may be moved even further to take care of some other things I'll be happy to vote for that bill to. Thank you. Any further discussion on the motion. Saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. Does have a graduation bills passed. Next item on today's agenda is house bill fourteen eleven representative McLean you're recognized to identify just identify yourself and you're recognized present your bill. Thank you chairman members I am represented many macalin House District ten and I have a guest with me Leslie Bellamy director of elections Arkansas secretary of state's office. You're recognized thank you so I'm here to present house bill fourteen eleven and this is basically it's a pretty simple bill making sure that we are amending the way that we do absentee balloting so it says a couple things first it says that applications must be sent out blank and this helps to prohibit unsolicited ballots from being sent out to the ballots must be requested if the applicant has helping getting the ballot filled out then that ballot must be signed by the person who helped him along with a statement saying that they did indeed help them and this helps to increase election security. And then when the person goes to pick up the ballot the absentee ballot they have to present an ID they have to be the person that is designated or they have to be at the nursing home where the person resides and again they have to present a photo ID along with that to be sure that we're preventing any type of election fraud schemes so these procedures to help to make our elections is a little bit more secure anyone violating these will it will be a Class es misdemeanor. Do you want anything. I believe the representative correctly covered what the bill does And I'm available for questions thank you. Any questions from committee members. I have a question representative clown you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair represented by Clinton I am so sorry I was in another meeting and I had to run over so if I miss this part to catch me up on can you tell me a little bit about what led to this bill in other words we hear a lot about election fraud all the time but is there evidence that anything actually happen in Arkansas to lead to the necessity of this. Representative Clowney I think that one of the major things This does and this happens in almost every county one group for one candidates side might go get and just completely blank absentee applications and they'll circulating around the county they a lot of times even help other people feel the mail out and then take the applications back it also has led in the past to some people have access to ballots there really wasn't time for a designated bearer to have the ballot but they go back and help that person feel that ballot out and then return it so this would just make sure that the applications from the voter themselves it's filled out by the voter's hand writing and signed by the voter instead of being generated by maybe like you know we've seen it a lot of times with family members for especially municipal elections where they they work the heck out of that absentee box with blank applications. Recognized thank you Mr okay I'm thank you for that answer I guess. My concern is it's already hard in Arkansas for a lot of people to vote I'm thinking about you know folks here in long term care facilities folks with disabilities this seems to be making it harder and I and I understand the potential problems that could happen but again I just am not sure that we have seen any evidence of those potential problems actually having happened that would necessitate more barriers to folks right to vote could you just talk a little bit about how you all have it these barriers and maybe whether we have seen a decrease in voting from folks who have every right to have an absentee ballots submitted in their states where who adopted similar legislation. Absolutely representive Clowney I think you've I've worked with you on bills before and it's very important to me that each individual have a right to to vote and have that easy access to vote this does happen unfortunately in elections my staff and I see it all the time we hear back from County Board of election commissioners words happening and currently there's really no law to prevent someone from picking up that stack of applications and work in that box like that so that was the intent on some of some of the reasons we came to the US most of the county clerk's we work closely with them and for shut ins and and you know people that might find this to be a deterrent that the clerk's office seems to work really well with those and I know there voters better than we do in the and they help those voters and I know that at times it does seem like it just continues to make it harder and and I have a problem sometimes with that that I have to clarify my mind that the fraud verses the issues to keep it from being more fraudulent out ways what we can do for the study and voters and I have spoken with the the coordinators but that Washington County and both of them have spoken into this bill we made some changes at the recommendations to make sure that it is working for the county level as well thank you. Any further questions from committee members. I pledge god you have a question thank you Mr chairman thank you for being here I just have a quick question about I guess the language regarding administrators and long care facilities and residential facilities how did you come put that responsibility on the administrator scorn for it seems like a lot of responsibilities to put on someone at that level. I believe that was derived from some as well as from some national language looking at absentee fraud and one of the things they wanted to do is make sure that someone it's bringing those back the administrators that they show ID that they are the person that is supposed to be bringing those back it's kind of like to see an ID for a designated bearer that they're actually supposed to be the custodian and have that and that keeps track of who's assisting voters as well the Clerk found that very helpful if they're trying to track of someone supposed to be delivering ballots are not. Any further questions from committee members. Committee we have three people signed up to speak against the bill representative shall we just thank agency to make room for those that first up is Josh will prize. Is Your recognized or take stated in the table. Sir if you would just identify yourself to the committee and who you represent and you're here to speak against the bill is my understanding yes Sir thank you Mr chair thank you to committee my name is Joshua price I am a speak against this bill as a private citizen and also a former election commissioner in Pulaski County. You're recognized thank you Mr chair so I don't really have too much of a problem the first couple sections of this bill Anderston the need for there to be security as far as absentee ballots and applications my main issue is with the photo ID component especially read seniors and people with disabilities during my time on the commission which was during the twenty twenty election clearly was the middle COVID we had twenty five thousand absentee ballots come in six percent of those about fifteen hundred ended up being rejected for various reasons I would say easily eighty percent of those were from seniors and people with disabilities these folks a lot of times they don't have ID's they don't drive anymore my own mother she's seventy two years old god bless Sir had covid no longer drives unfortunately is bedridden and as miss Bellamy said about we've got a lot of shut ins and folks in assisted living facilities that are able to have an ID they don't again they don't drive I can't tell you how many absentee ballots I saw got turned in which someone put a photocopy of their utility bill or their Medicare card or a their insurance card just trying to send something because they no longer had a photo ID so my only issue again is just a clarification on that language on that last section to make sure we're not making it harder for folks with disabilities that are seniors to be able to cast their vote. Thank you Sir thank you any questions from committee members. Repligen bridge when you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr have you had an opportunity to sit and speak with the sponsor this bill to try to earn this out I have not but I would love that opportunity okay thank you. Well follow up recognized why not I actually just found out about the bill on Friday so. Yes Sir. Other questions from committee members. This prize thank you for your testimony thank take time come here today thanks very much. Next signed up to speak against the bill is. Now Matthews. Ma'am if you would just have stated in the table indemnify yourself to the committee know you represent my name is bill. My name is no Matthews and I am a member of the league of women voters you're recognized for your testimony thank you so and the. At during the pandemic I love volunteering this food pantry at you know my church runs at a local elementary school and because I'm also a league member and one of the very important things that the league does this help citizens get registered to vote give them information about where to vote when the vote and I do candidate forms where we introduce the different candidates for office to the voters so that they can make decisions informed decisions that cast their ballots so this is all things that the league does so naturally at the during the pandemic when finally it was announced that we could have absentee ballots Given to us because of the not wanting to go to the polling place so it was something that we were spreading the information out about and there are a lot of questions people wanted to know how to get him and so forth so I printed off a bunch of the absentee ballot request forms and took him with me to the pantry along with voter registration forms many of the people that come to the pantry move frequently and so needing to update their their residence is is always a big issue and frequently it's also a name change to so I help people if they needed to fill out the registration form used to point out to them that you need to be sure and put the name that you're going to sign when you do when you sign ballots and so forth you need to be sure and put that don't put some nickname in there you need to do this you need to do that read these four questions carefully don't just go and say yes yes yes yes Reedham and make sure you understand what they say so on same thing with the absentee ballot request it's okay here's your form you're gonna check this box because that's the one that you're permitted to do and then you need to be sure and put your residents not where you get your may not your post office box but your residents the ones that shows where you live so that you will be getting the right kind of ballots so that you can vote for the right representative so now according to this. I'm going to have to put a statement on to any ballot applications for the absentee ballot application stating that I've helped them I've given them assistance and I'm gonna have to put my name and address in a signature well okay I will do that me but why what are you gonna do with it now so then they do it they fill it out they turned it in they do it correctly or they do it incorrectly despite whatever information I've given them and now you have the statement from me so what is that what's the purpose of that it makes no sense it's not gonna do anything it has my name and address of my signature saying that yes I gave this person form and help them to get it back. That's my objection and I would like to see that stricken there's no reason to have it in there. Thank you. Representative berry you have a question thank you Mr chairman so just for clarification purposes did you say you're representing the league of women voters or you're a member I am a member of the league of women voters and I'm a member of the league of women voters of Pulaski County specifically I was formerly president of the league of women voters of Arkansas and I was formerly president of the league of women voters of Pulaski County but now I represent Pulaski County specifically and I. And I ate indirectly represent the league of women voters of Arkansas follow up question you're recognized so just to clarify you're not speaking for the league of women voters the national organization no the state organization no the local organization yes thank you Mr. Thank you. This is made to thank you for your testimony appreciate you being here today. Committee members at this time I'm going to as the sponsor of the bill and we've got someone else signed up to speak against the bill but at this time on west palm should be able to come back to the end of the table and I understand the. I understand representative that a lot of everything it's come about here today I understand you may have something you want to go back and pull this bill down and do it amendment is that correct yes Sir okay so that your requested eleven point to point a bill that would bring it back this committee with an amendment at a later date yes okay ten minutes so recognized and we're pulling the bill down at this time thank you thank you. Committee members next item on today's agenda is house bill fourteen nineteen of representative under where you're ready to run your bill okay representative there's up committee member there's an amendment. And that amendment is being handed out at this time. Representive Underwood if you would justify it said committee so you got a guest table they need to identify themselves and then you're recognized to You're recognized for your amendment amendment can under Underwood says state representative district sixteen have with me Senator jim Dotson here Senator Dotson district thirty four okay recognized to present your amendment thank you Mr chair the amendments there's a few different things one adds an emergency clause and also as a co sponsor of the bill and then probably more the and then there's some changes regarding just the language of minimum to at least which is more is more in line with our state constitution says but the more significant change the amendment is a previously the bill had revise the proportionate share signatures percentage in each county from six to seventy five percent this is moving that back down to fifty percent which is also already our state constitution so there's no change there with this amendment and at the proper time I'd like to make a motion to adopt the amendment. Any questions from committee members. I have a motion to adopt the amendment. Any discussion on the motion. Hey none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. The amendment has been adopted now you're recognized to present your bill as amended thank you committee what this bill does is simply today out of state to special interest groups can spend a lot of money in our state trying to change our constitution and all they have to do is gather signatures from fifteen counties and typically those counties are the larger counties and more populated counties which in turn allows them to ignore the rest the statement nor a moral counties so our state constitution says that you have to get signatures from at least fifteen counties so so so for that we have to get those signatures however what this bill does is raise that floor to fifty counties. by passing this bill we can ensure that our Kansans and I have it more Kansas have a chance to participate in this process And particularly helps us avoid having well funded out of state special interest groups trying to change our laws and change our constitution I believe our constitutions sticker document and I believe it should be amended with more widespread support and out of sentencing if you have any additional comments and we're open for questions thank you. Question of the representative council recognized for a question thank you Mr chair thank every Senate and and senator Dotson I am assuming I was just gonna ask about the amendment that that yours is being amended on the Senate side and the same way I would imagine just to sort of mayor at I guess that's my first question well depending on how this one goes. You'll just run one of the other one will need both of them. Follows you're recognized thank you Mr chair okay no more the substance of the bill and it you mentioned that you're sort of looking out for for more rural areas of the state act act. Fifteen counties I think is is a decent number of counties that jump from fifteen to fifty is that right chills extreme I think we can go a lot less than fifty counties and still make sure that we are representing rural counties in that number right if we looked at each county in Arkansas we certainly got plenty there and if we went less than fifty in my concern I'm asking you that question why we're jumping all the way up to fifty is because you just said at the end of your presentation that you want to make it harder for out of state interest groups to come in and do what they want this seems on my reading like it would make it much harder for the average our cans and to get something done this is going to make it so that it's only the extremely well funded out of the interest groups who were able to afford that kind of work that goes into this number of signatures this feels more like an attempt to keep everything off the ballot can you address those concerns please yeah I'm and sent out seven point if any of this house can't I would say the reason for the fifty was based off of feedback from colleagues we could change it to a variety of numbers which has fifty because that's two thirds we believe that's a that means there's widespread support at that point when you get on the ballot and so obviously something's on about that point is a lot it's popular and it's it's has a high likelihood of passing I don't agree though that makes it harder for average or Kansas to get things on the ballot I think that this allows for true grassroots supports as a measures to get on the ballot I mean if you have a truly popular measure that's truly grass the grass roots you don't have to pay canvassers to try to get those deals but I think when it's out of state special interest groups who maybe has a dent agenda that's not what most Arkansans want and they paid these canvassers to do that that's a different story and send us anything additional I think his actor right if you have widespread support for measure that is a very popular measure You'll have. Entities in every county in the state that are going out there. Trying to collect signatures for it and make sure that it's something that gets on the ballot that needs to be done so it's it's a I think that the true grab truly grassroots type things will still have just as much access as they have always had opportunity to without having to pay. They canvassers to to go out and collect signatures one more follow up to be recognized thank you Mr Taking that as true which I think I just disagree with on its on its face but even if we were to take that is true I just heard from both of you concerned about things that the majority of our Kansans don't agree with the process right now with these things end up on the ballot where people get to go vote and say whether or not this is something they agree with why is the current process the current process that the people of Arkansas said four years ago when they could vote to change it chose not to change why is this process not sufficient to show what the will of the majority of our Kansans want they get to vote. Again I think with the way this the way it's not sufficient now is that it requires people to just go to the larger more populated counties and ignore everybody else in the state so this way allows you to go to moral counties as well and get them involved in addition I think that without a state special interest money it's easy to get people to pay canvassers and then they come to you at a basketball game or wherever they stick a petition in your face I think a lot of people sign it just trying to get them to go away and so this allows for an additional check on those type of things that we know that what we're truly getting is truly has more widespread support. Sorry I think there was a misunderstanding can I just clarify please Mr you're recognized for clarification thank you I'm. Thing about getting something on the ballot my question is when something is on the ballot if we're concerned about what a majority of our Kansans want their vote whether their vote is a majority or not wanting a thing should be sufficient to tell us if it's what a majority of our Kansans want why is that not enough. Well I think the first one not changing any of the laws regarding the. You know how what the threshold is once people get to vote for it but I also think that again it's an additional check because you can have somebody out of state out of state special interest money come with the ballot title that may be deceitful and put them on the ballot and then I hear all talking constituents body that's make these things so complicated and we try to do it I mean I know we try to address that when we refer things out I think this is again an additional measure to accommodate things that I think I hear from my constituents a lot about these measures I also think I mean we've seen this last cycle that All of the measures which was struck down so I do think our Kansas are getting a little tired of seeing a lot of these things come up and so again I think we want things that are truly popular truly has widespread support across the state. Representative bridge when you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair. Representive Underwood center Dotson is it not true that a lot of times the special interest money from out of state that allows these canvassers a lot of people funds that this enormous amount of money also then moved to the general election and has the same influence and impact upon our population in that if they want something passed they will pour as much money as necessary to get the past is that not a true statement. I believe that's accurate right thank you. Any further questions questions from committee members. Say none gentleman P. would vacate those stage we've got three people signed up to speak against the bill. Rebecca Zimmerman. Zimmerman if you were just have stated in the table. Get it by yourself. To the Committee and who you're representing your here to speak against the bill is that correct yes Sir I'm Rebecca during Zimmerman I can't even say my own name with Arkansas advocates for children and families and we are against the bill okay you're recognized give you testimony Arkansas advocates for children and families opposes house bill fourteen nineteen Arkansas is. But. We say that the people role in Arkansas and this bill really goes against that that message at the end of the day for ballot measures this is been a rate that we've had for over a century for citizens to put measures on the ballot that impact their communities and it's already a rigorous process that has many checks and balances that Really insurer integrity of the measures but. Citizens in this state have rejected for the past two elections efforts to push back against rights of the citizens our constitutional right to put measures on the ballot I'm in this bill but directly subverts the will of the voters when they voted down issue three and twenty twenty and I understand that a member of the committee you're probably most interested in how their own of voters in their districts voted on this and I think it's important to note that the majority of voters and seventy one counties voted down issue three that had similar provisions if this bill passes it will increase the amount of out of state dollars streaming into our state of for these changed a signature collection requirements and it really does to shut out the every day voter from being able to put measures on the ballot and really increases the power of out of state interest in our elections so we hope that you'll vote against eight house bill fourteen nineteen please. Any questions from committee members. Jane is Everman those I'm sorry representative Scott you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman thank you miss the moment for being here can you give me an example of something that has been passed this been signature let that's kind of help to you the families of Arkansas well to be completely honest most of the measures that we worked on is in opposition both of the measures that have been put on the ballot by the legislature in measures that a pet been put on by citizens but we still believe that it's a fundamental right of the citizens of our state to put measures on the ballot and that it should be protected and and certainly there could be measures put on that would improve the lives of kids and families in this state but this is really about our fundamental constitutional rights to put measures on the ballot. The questions from committee members present moment thank you for your time thank you for participating in the process. Next signed up to speak against the bill is nail Matthews miss Matthews. You would. Then divide yourself again to the committee and you represent you're recognized to give you testimony my name is bill Matthews and I am a member of the league of women voters and I am speaking on behalf of the league of women voters of Pulaski County. You're recognized for your testimony thank you I wanted to tell you all my experience in trying to collect signatures number one I had never met in our cans and that when you shove some in their face they're gonna just sign it and say okay go away the shove it right back at you they are want to read it they want to see what they're doing and they don't put their signature on lightly I went to Hillcrest harvest fest this is a big festival in the fall and there's lots and lots of people that walk through and I was doing signatures on petitions you know you got a big only go sheet you have your clipboards and I had about six clipboards going and I had a two or three people helping me we worked the whole harvest fest from the time it started Intel finally everybody was going except for the beer vendors and. I got three hundred and thirty signatures and that was working very very dedicatedly hard moving throughout the crowd with different. Places where people could sign it's not easy to collect the signatures and for for anyone to think that you just can just throw some money at it you're going to get a you're going to get the signatures you need has never had to deal with trying to run a petition campaign I've done I've been involved in a couple now because the league has been interested in nonpartisan redistricting and we had enough signatures for that to go on the ballot but you know it got thrown out because of a technicality so don't think if you if you move and how many of counties are there that are not. Considered rule there is you know Pulaski and a couple others but if you have to have the signatures fifteen you're going to have to figure out how to get out to the smaller rural counties and where to find the event where you can get more than fifteen or twenty signatures. It's not easy it's already very difficult to do this and it already requires a ton of volunteer time and it. And paid canvassers truly where the blade that we could do it now it has to be a campus or that is paid that lives in Arkansas we're going to try and figure this out but if you pass this one you're just killing the opportunity for citizens to be involved in government thank you any questions from committee members. Say none miss Matthews thank you get pre testimony thank signed up to speak against. Against the bill is Mr bill copy. Thirty would justify yourself to the committee and who you represent us my understanding you're speaking against the bill yes I am speaking against the bill my name is bill Cobb ski on the Director of the Arkansas public policy panel in the citizens first Congress okay disappointed Phillips my kids are doing a great job just hanging out with us today so I appreciate them being over there quiet Elliott has a chess tournament coming up so he's practicing on his chest out there So the Arkansas Policy panel insistence First Congress believe every or cans and has the right to have a say on the laws in the issues that matter to them we just voters this right is under attack by H. B. fourteen nineteen and it's a partner SB two sixty. I feel like I'm having deja vu all over again in twenty nineteen the Arkansas legislature referred issue three two the twenty twenty ballot it we're to tail citizens rates to place measures on the ballot nearly identical waste HB fourteen nineteen Arkansas voters soundly rejected it with nearly fifty six percent of voters saying no and as miss Simmons said across the vast majority of Arkansas counties. Arkansas lawmakers undaunted in twenty twenty one referred issue to to the twenty twenty to ballot to again the taxes since right to pass ballot measures Arkansas voters liked even less and rejected it with nearly sixty percent of the vote. The issue is not partisan. Democrats Republicans and independents from across the political support spectrum support the citizens initiative process found in the Arkansas constitution rural and urban counties overwhelmingly defeated issues two and three and support citizens right to direct democracy. We all want the freedom to make decisions on issues that affect our lives in Arkansas we voted on ballot measures for over a hundred years exercise that freedom and make our communities better. The writers of the Arkansas constitution but the process the way it is in our constitution because they trusted Arkansas voters more than the politicians and the big money lobbyists who comptroller capital. At the panel and the CFC we trust those voters to. Now despite voters soundly rejecting their ideas repeatedly these bills are trying to take our rights on ballot measures away again some lawmakers don't like the decisions that the people that we the people have made it the ballot box so they're trying to rewrite the rules. Arkansas state motto is regnant populace where the people rule because Arkansas has a long tradition of trusting voters more than politicians and lobbyists to take care of people. H. B. fourteen nineteen undermines our state motto taking power away from everyday citizens and giving it to politicians the well to do and the well connected. Is already very hard for citizens to get a measure on the Arkansas ballot and is evidence in this last election even harder to convince voters to approve it. There are very specific rules that have to be followed to draft a proposal collected signatures get the measure approved system survive the court challenges that inevitably come the process while difficult is still doable for grassroots our Kansans who want to improve their community but H. T. H. B. fourteen nineteen will make it nearly impossible and much more expensive there's not been in my memory and my knowledge of Arkansas constitutional amendments and amendment ever brought forward in the modern era at least they did not use at least some paid signature collection it simply isn't unto uble with the purely volunteer basis but grassroots citizens are able to come together to raise enough money to do the signature collection when it's at a manageable level this blows that out. There is no where in Arkansas politics where big money is more influential in the elections of Arkansas lawmakers from the congressional level to the constitutional offices to the state house some politicians justify their attack on people's right to have a say in the laws that affect them by saying there's too much money involved in ballot measures while lawmakers could pass campaign finance reform and ethics reforms to limit the influence of big money in all of our political system we're waiting to see that legislation and can't wait to help support it. I agree Mr cop you need to okay I. You can against the bill but I think you kind of got off into an area there that was really what and Directing your comments to the bill itself let's try to just stay up what what's purports today at fourteen nineteen second try to push the point just a smidge further okay you're right I'll be copy cat folks I don't wanna be on the line you're recognized go ahead the total amount of dollars spent on Arkansas elections compared to Arkansas ballot measures it's not even come compatible it's off the charts and different. So again we trust Arkansas voters we know they're smart enough to decide what to sign we know they're smart enough to decide what to vote on to make our state better they've already spoken to this issue twice in the past three years soundly rejecting it we ask you Arkansas lawmakers to respect the will of the people and reject HB fourteen nineteen let's keep Arkansas the land with the people rule and I appreciate you. Any questions from committee member representative Richmond you're recognized for a question. If you could please help clarify that we can trust the voters in fifteen counties but if we moved that the city council is we can no longer trust those voters on the server you have to it right now if the right about measure in Arkansas you have to persuade voters in all of our counties you know any political adviser who tells you just to focus your campaign on fifteen counties is a political advisers like any business very long you have to focus on rural counties in Arkansas to get the vote this is a rule state there's not a way to win election in Arkansas by focusing purely on urban places and that is the check on the process is the fact that you have to get the vote from the whole state. It further questions from committee members saying numbers cops thank you for your testimony here today thank you thank you. No one else signed up to speak for or against the bill representive Underwood. But what you're recognized close with the bill are you ready to close I am and I think Senator out so I have a couple comments okay you're recognized for those comments just listen testimony and and some of the questions that were asked before there's reference is brought up to amendments that this assembly passed out in previous years and it did not pass the ballot however some of those were much more expensive than this particular proposal that's before you in fact the one that was referred to that was put on the ballot a few years ago as a constitutional amendment actually increase the threshold that Would require for the General Assembly to refer the ballot measures out to the public to a three fifths. Majority so the voters rejected that as well they apparently if you read that into it the the voters want us to have the ability to refer measures to the ballot so that that is a This is a different proposal it's a different time and I think there is certainly an opportunity for this to go forward and and for it to to be successful. And I would just say including I agree with the sentiment that the people rule and that's why under this bill what we're saying is we want more Arkansans to participate we want we want increase the voice of our Kansans by saying you've got to go to more counties you've got talk to mark instance rather than only talking to a select few and just fifteen counties some of that I'll close now to make a motion to do pass as amended. I have a motion do pass as amended. Any discussion on the motion representative more you're recognized for discussion on the motion thank you Mr chair There are sixteen counties that have a population under ten thousand. I live in Monroe County which has a population of sixty four hundred and twenty twenty three estimated it is the fifth most rural county in the state I represent also would your county which has a population of just under six thousand is the third most rural county in the state. I cannot tell you the last time I saw somebody passing around constitutional ballot measure trying to get on on for referral from referendum. my house district is a hundred and twenty seven miles from top to bottom to cover thirty thousand five hundred and sixty two people. Two and a half hours five counties twenty two towns I represent a whole lot of territory that has very little representation and I've got to go and fight for them. Every day I'm here and I hope I do them. A proud job. But I would like them to be asked about these referendums I'd like them and their perspective to be heard and so I think we should all vote in favor of this thank you. The representative. I like to order representative Clowney recognized for a question another question but speak on the motion thank you Mr chair represent more I appreciate that I think my response to that and and on my my thoughts on this motion are that your people do have a chance your people do have a chance to weigh in and that is when this issue if it comes to them comes to the ballot box everybody gets the same ballot a state of Arkansas when it comes to these issues that is when they have the opportunity to weigh in I think that. I think that it is borderline insulting to say Arkansas voters that the reason that they voted for minimum wages because they were manipulated by special interests the Arkansas voters voted overwhelmingly for minimum wage rates because the Arkansas voters were overwhelmingly hurting by low wages Arkansas voters voted overwhelmingly for medical marijuana because they were hurting from not being able to use that as they felt that they should be entitled to under Arkansas law. Arkansas voters have the chance to weigh in on whether the majority of this state once a change to our constitution or not they currently have that under current law it would be virtually impossible to meet the buyer set out in this bill and so I would ask you all to let Arkansas voters voices be heard at the ballot box like they always have been appreciated president of the thank you. Any further discussion on the motion representative Gazaway you're recognized for discussion on the motion thank you Mr chairman. I want to commend senator Sir Dotson and a representative Underwood for bringing this bill sorry I want to call your representative but For bringing this bill because I think it's very important first of all I think what we have to understand about the initiative and the referendum process is that it truly should be a grass roots process I agree that in Arkansas them to the motto is that the people rule and if the people are going to rule that it has it has to be from a grass roots type of perspective I personally think if we're going to require signatures that we should require signatures from every county but I understand that this bill has tempered that it only requires signatures from fifty counties as my understanding and has is brought that back to what I think some of the opponents would say would be a more reasonable level but this is a entirely proper and I think well thought out procedure to ensure that the type of things that we put on our ballot are truly grass roots initiatives of the people not something that special interests can swoop in I go to just a few counties pay for canvassers to gather the signatures that they need and put something on our ballot that they can then spend millions of dollars trying to convince the people to pass that may not be a great idea and so this is a more fair way to do it I personally think it should be from every county but I think that this is an improvement and so I'm happy to support the bill thank you very much. Entity Gazaway spoken on the motion any further discussion on the motion representative Womack you're recognized for a question on the motion thank you Mr chair of. Man I I I just it seems like a hard sell to me that that these out of state special interest groups that you guys of reference over over the spend millions of dollars in untold amount of money so how are not going to have the. The access to the money to get to fifty counties. And make it so and I I mean I think I heard you say it is going to be easier for Arkansans to get all fifty that's crazy this is this is clearly in my mind only hurting the citizens of the State of Arkansas those guys are still going to have their millions and millions and millions of dollars to get to the fifty counties are seventy five or whatever you want to but the citizens have so far have not made it to the threshold we currently have are now going to have to what over triple that threshold. The this just seems absolutely not the right way to go for the state of Arkansas if the people want to roll I really hope this measure gets voted down. Representative will make spoken on the motion any further discussion on the motion. Saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. As average bills passed. Thank you Sir thank you may. As amended. Committee members who have just a few more bills I appreciate you being patient or representative painter. You would just have a. Stated in the table you're recognized president house bill fourteen twenty three. Okay with you Mister chair of got a guest instead of patter that is propelled by a begins to do it by myself and you're recognized present your bill Stetson pair district three Baxter County in western Fulton County. The usual structure for the Salishan commission. You're recognized thank you Mr chair colleagues committee members H. B. fourteen twenty three does three things this bill removes all language that has to do with obsolete voting machines that are in current statute number two this bill codifies a procedure process for conducting a recount third this bill specifies the deadline for recount petition submission all and that's all the bill does I'll be glad to take any questions any hard questions please. Any questions from committee members. Saying no no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Representative you're recognized close with the bill I am close Mister chair and appreciate a good vote representative players close with the bill. Representative Scott. I have a motion of do pass any discussion on the motion. Saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no congratulations your bill is passed. Thank you Committee. Represented the McCollum. Still here. I'm sorry I know it's been a long wait. You would just verify yourself to the committee in you're recognized to present your bill representative Tippi McCullough District seventy four. You're recognized thank you Mr chair a constituent brought this to this idea Senator Tucker and myself she was an election commissioner and had to resign because when she became ill not long before an election the purpose of this bill is to ensure a full Election Commission for every county if for some reason a commissioner has to resign because of health reasons moves away or god forbid dies shortly before an election the way the law is formally written the vacancy is filled by an election of the county party with party rules regarding notice of election sometimes elections can't be held in a timely manner so this bill says a county party chair will appoint a commissioner to fill the remainder of the term the appointment by county party chairs only temporary until the county party can elect the permanent replacement the state party chair only steps in in two instances for the temporary appointment if there is no County party chair or for the for the permanent replacement if the county party does not elect anyone within that forty five days the bill does explicitly say that the state party chair can appoint the same person and both of those circumstances. and I'm happy to take any questions Mr any questions from committee members. J. man no one signed up to speak for against the bill representative you're recognized close with the bill I'll close for my bill this change because it was close with the bill what's Budget Committee representative Scott. I have a motion of do pass any discussion on the motion. Saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. Does having graduations your bill is passed thank you Mr chair thank you Committee. Bills committee members we have a Senate bill two forty seven center Dotson. We would device ships Committee you're recognized present your bill thank you Mr chairman Senator Dotson House or Senate district thirty four I get confused on that I have. Represent Gazaway is gone so Senate bill two forty seven. This allows for an absentee voting process when someone's making the request for an absentee ballot. Currently there's only three things that you can make a request for an absentee ballot one of which is not a religious observance so this was identified found out that Arkansas does not make an exception for allowance for someone to request an absentee ballot if they have a religious observance or a religious holiday during early during the twelve hours that the polls are open on election day and so this would allow that exception to be added to the for ballot absentee ballot request form only so they can make that request and say Hey I've got a religious observance on that day I can't vote I need to vote absentee so that's in a nutshell try to ask any questions answer any questions. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair senator Dodson might county Clerk I talked to her about this and she felt like it was already covered I guess it would be in on line twenty six any person who will be unavoidably absent they can get. And absentee ballots so her question is why add this when they can already get that done well I mean that I'd have the assumption that somebody who is very religious in nature might not want to say something if they they're able to actually come physically so they wouldn't be unavoidably absent so honesty might be a factor for someone who has a religious observance. Other questions from committee members. Saying none no one signed up to speak for against the bill representative dot you're recognized close we bill I'm close appreciate a good vote. Third largest close with the bill that I have a motion. Representative Bentley made a motion of a do pass any discussion on the motion. Saying none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. As David bills passed thank you Mr members the committee. Representative ray are you still in the room. Committee members I want to thank you for being here today I know it's been a long afternoon I really appreciate you hanging in here this meeting is adjourned.