Senate Convenes

All. Senate will now be called order any requests for leave at this time Senator Ricky Hill you're recognized. Senator Mark Johnson and Senator Hill bass lead for Senator Hammer. Thank you. Madam secretary it's good to have you back your team did an excellent job in your absence. It's good to be back and I can't thank all of you on that for all the prayers of faults all the support and especially to the staff and the session staff here I really really appreciated I've watched every day there never was a hiccup everybody did fabulous thank you also. Thank you madam secretary if you would now call the roll. Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McCaig Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Thank you madam secretary and if everyone in the chamber in the galleries would please rise and report for a prayer led by. Friend of center hill he will introduce and then we'll have that whole by the pledge allegiance thank you madam chair it's with great honor that I introduce brother Ron riddle from el Paso Catholic Church to do open per day they have three other branches besides el Paso and they are currently the fastest growing church in the state of Arkansas in having to services at each one of their facilities and are maxed out all the way through so with Greece great was great honor there to see him in well with the Catholic Church as well we have Blake Harrison over here with them representing them so with I look forward to a good word for him. If you would value heads join with me in prayer this afternoon great segment father want to come before you today and I want to thank you for blessing us with men and women who are concerned about the welfare of our community and our state we thank you for giving us our governmental leaders wisdom to be able to identify and courageously impact the great state of Arkansas thank you lord god for their lives in ward your kingdom we know is an everlasting kingdom that you rule throughout all generations and that you always keep your promises and the your gracious and all that you do you help the following you live those that are bent beneath their loads the eyes of all look to you lord god and hope you give them their food as they needed when you open your hand you satisfy the hunger and the thirst of every single living thing ward we praise and bless your holy name. Father we know the government of the earth is on the shoulders of Jesus Christ the one we call wonderful counselor almighty god's eternal father and prince of peace therefore we pray that our leaders will rule in a manner that reflects the law of and the authority that's been given through Christ by faith we pray that our leaders and those who work with them will trusting you with all their hearts and not depend on their own understanding that they will seek year we'll in all that they do and as they do this we trust that you will show them which path to take we pray that they will not be impressed with their own wisdom but they will fear you and turn away from evil lord your word admonishes that a house divided against itself cannot stand there for our prayer is that our leaders on every level work together for the good of all our Kansans I pray our leaders will turn away from division and evil and do good I pray that they will search for peace and that their work hard to maintain it I pray Holy Spirit that you would arise in this state and especially in the Senate session and because your enemies including racism sexism classism partiality confusion discord the lack of respect for the sanctity of life that all of those enemies would be scattered I pray that you would continue to impart your wisdom your discernment and understanding to them I pray that you would touch their hearts to govern with fairness give them the answers to be able to address the issues that adversely impact our state. Whether it be poverty economic disparity in adequate education healthcare the rising cost of living the rising murder rate or the scent of abortion father I pray I pray please protect our leaders as they deal with these issues protected from injury and from violence we pray that you would grant them wisdom so that we can all live peacefully quiet lives marked by godliness indignant C. ward I pray that you would help our government leaders not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one and lord we exalt you we praise you lord for the opportunity to be able to self govern we thank you lord for the way the blessed our state and I thank you for the leaders that you're raising that fear you and that loves you board again I rise and ask that you would just ignore this time in this session that you lead and guide and I answered be done according to your perfect will and I pray in Jesus Christ's holy name amen. Thank you brother Ron. Your message today it's good to have you here in Arkansas state Senate and I think now we can all understand why some of the fastest growing churches and. Thank you Sir. In the gallery your Arkansas state Senate. It is our expectation that each of you will govern. Your sales accordingly and exercise proper decorum during today's proceedings without objection the rules will be suspended and sent to the stands with the reading of the Journal of the morning hour has now begun or other introductions announcements at this time Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized. Thank you madam president I'm honored data have joining us. My cousin. Leslie Switzer from Crossett she is a constituent of senator Gilmore's she's also the granddaughter in the the great niece of a senator and not only that but she's my cousin and I wanted to have or not as to the Senate give leave to allow to have the privilege of the floor today. Thank you John thank you and ladies thank you madam president. Thanks center Johnson. Senator Gilmore you're recognized. Thank you madam chair if I could have my pages that are in the back with me today I'd like to introduce these outstanding and sharp young young men for my district from Monticello first off I would like to recognize Adrian reckless who is fifteen in the tenth grade you guys are just line up there he is he's and he's involved a lot of things from fishing for H. hunting swim team basketball and he does shooting sports as well one of the things I think is outstanding he plans to attend a U. A. M. there Monticello but also wants to be a navy seal at some point which I think is awesome next up I have Joe Rogers again age fifteen in the ninth grade. he's involved in again for H. fishing hunting I think that he could probably take me and maybe a few other my colleagues down because it does jujitsu he plans to attend UAM and wants to be in the cattle business. Then we have Cooper stout fifteen tenth grade from Monticello again involved in four H. shooting sports and plans to go to college in the future I'm sure you'll be figuring out where I might suggest you AM in Monticello hi. And then I have been leased out brother there to Cooper age seventeenth in the eleventh grade from Monticello again involved in shooting sports motor sports likes antique cars and plans to attend a issue B. B. to achieve agree a degree in animal science so with that. Please recognize and give a warm welcome to my pages. In thank you all for being here I do have these. Thank you senator Gilmore other announcmenet. Center Grove. I'd like to introduce my page. M. whatever bill she is a close close family friend she actually lives in Mr stone's district and thank you for letting me have her as a page today. She goes the Camden Fairview high school I've known her for a long time she is interested FFA volleyball and traveling she plans to attend college and be a pilot in the Air Force or the navy. Interesting fact about Emma is last year we traveled with my daughter she ended up in the top twenty five shooters in the nation. Of all women between eighteen and fifty five and I looked it up real quickly and she would have ended up at ninety eight of all. People. Eighteen and above male and female. Thank you very much. Senator Hester president pro tem. Now so you guys have been around awhile remember a mystifies used to set right over here these are her grandsons and they are they are back here and so I just want to recognize them so first up I've got Jacob Mathias from Fayetteville Arkansas in fable high school is free time he plays tennis golf basketball he's in the chess club he likes to buy phones future goals or he wants to be a lawyer so I'm not certain about that but we're there'd be some argue we should need a few more those in this chamber. All right the next I have Ross May he's also ten stable high school he's in the tennis biking he likes to watch the stock market which some of us like to do that and he plans to go to college and he's interested in some service to our country in the military service potentially one day and no please well welcome with me. Thank you president Senator Tucker. Thank you madam president I want to welcome our doctor of the day to day Dr Chad Rogers who is a pediatrician he's not just any old pediatrician he's a pediatrician for my two children since the day they are that he's taking care of my two kids since the day they were born and aye aye I'm sure is the case with a lot of you yield a special place a very special place in our family so I'm very excited to have Dr riders here with us in the Senate as the doctor of the day today and then of course our nurse of the day miss Brenda you would please join me in welcoming them to the Senate. Dr Rogers was also my concilium partner in crime and so he can do a great walls in a tango and anyway. Great to have my high school buddy here with me today. Any other announcements. Madam secretary I. Do madam president this is to inform you on February thirteenth twenty twenty three I received an approved the following measures for the legislative session the ninety fourth General Assembly Senate bill six ACT seventy three Senate bill twenty five ACT seventy four Senate bill twenty seven ACT seventy five Senate bill eighty four ACT seventy six Senate bill one fifteen ACT seventy seven Senate current coverage resolution three sincerely Sarah Huckabee Sanders governor. Follows. President will your committee on aero Bills to whom was referred the following Senate bill sixty five by joint budget Senate bill seventy two by Senator Jimmy Hickey junior Senate bill one ninety one by Senator David Wallace Senate bill one ninety two by Senator Justin Boyd Senate bill two ten by Senator Missy Irvin the compared the enrolled copies with the original find same correctly engrossed road and have at nine forty nine delivered to the government approval County. Your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill ones. One ninety seven my Senator Bryant's compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. City county local for your committee on public health to whom was referred Senate bill two sixty five by Senator bowing compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed. Hello. We are committee on joint retirement and social security whom was first senate seventy eight by Senator Jimmy Hickey junior recommend to pass. Calendar calendar Committee on joint retirement social security to whom was referred Senate bill one seventeen by Senator Hammer recommend to pass as amended number one calendar. We are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill eighty one by Senator Sullivan recommend due pass as amended number two. Counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill one ninety nine by Senator Stubblefield recommend due pass counted. Senate memorial resolution by Senator Tucker. To remember Brandt Broussard per night and to recognize his contributions to the state of Arkansas and filmmaking Senate memorial resolution to calendar Senate bill two eighty three by Senator Gilmore. Creating the finale and Forsman and accountability act of twenty twenty three concerning concerning technology other controlled substances and to establish increased penalties and clear emergency civil to eighty three Judiciary save up to eighty four by Senator English to amend the law regarding alcoholic beverages and repel the delivery of alcoholic beverages table two eighty four. City county local bill two eighty five by Senator Tucker to amend the law concerning absence from school and to provide for an excused absence for stir for companies the student's parent or legal guardian of a civil to eighty five education Senate bill two eighty six by Senator Flippo an act of for the Department finance ministrations person officer preparation for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four fiscal year Senate bill two eighty six by joint budget senate two eighty seven by Senator Brian. To amend the law relating to recording substitute subdivision plat states and instruments of transfer Intermin the law relating to recording certain documents prepared by lance of rare Senate bill two eighty seven city county local. Thank you madam secretary is any further business to come before the body during the morning hour. If not the morning hour has expired we will now begin the business agenda. Beginning with amendment one to escape through thirty two. One or two thirty two. Thank you just just adding a House sponsors. Richard. Thank you senator Clark all those in favor signify by saying aye. Any imposed. Is haven't adopted Senator gross the number I would like to move to put this bill on the end of today's agenda say a simple bill with no opposition. Any questions for senator Clark on this you would wish to speak against a four. Motion is to put this bill. At the end of today's agenda all those in favor signify. Thank you yes Senator Irvin would you mind just have an imprint that bill off for us right now that would be great thank you. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed. Thank you pass. Amendment one to SB two. Senate thank you madam chair at one Senate bill two sixty. My bill my amendment appreciate a good vote. Thank you senator. Any questions anyone wish to speak against her for. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed. It is adopted Senator Ingram. B. seventy one. Madam president I'd like to move to re refer Senate bill seventy one back to committee for the purpose of amendment. Thank you Senator Solomon motion to refer the seventy one back many. Any questions. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed. As the seventy one was referred back to committee. S. one eighty four. Senate bill one ninety four by Senator Blake Johnson to clarify the effective date of filing by mail with the tax appeals commission and declare an emergency. Johnson you're recognized members this is a the technical clean up and clarifies a process by them the tax bill's commission receiving the mail the and it has a a emergency clause because it is needed like last week. They are functioning now so I appreciate a good vote. Any questions Senator Blake Johnson anyone wish to speak against. Anyone would speak for. Senator has closed. For any objection to rowing the boat. Secretary please call the vote. Right Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis these dismaying Johnson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stem Stubblefield Tucker Wallace. C. nine please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty forty eight and zero made the bill and the emergency clause passed. These transmit to the House. One eighty six seven one eighty six by Senator Irvin to protect individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you for the purpose of this bill is to clarify the requirements for background checks for workers to provide hands on direct care to clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities or who have access to those clients property and the current law has a little bit of a patchwork of a process so what this does is clarifies it brings it all together into a uniform process across the road board approach so there are no gaps or loopholes that could be found we amended the language to X. address any concerns that was expressed by providers and change some confusion about drug testing requirements that already do exist and current law I'd be happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Irvin. Anyone wish to speak against her for. Senator. I'll just close by saying that remember that before a worker is hired to work with one of these clients there must be a criminal history check there has to be a sex offender registry check child and adult abuse registry checks and drug screens and I appreciate a good vote thank you. Thank you centers or any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please roll that bill would have Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me kidi Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice system Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any center wish to change his or her vote. Please cast a ballot. By a vote of thirty forty eight zero nine. S. the one eighty six passes please transmit to the House SP two seventeen. Senate bill two seventeen by Senator board and Senator Mark Johnson to amend the Journal mango and rifles and I believe act and authorized electronic advertising of rifles. Senator Boyd you're recognized. Thank you madam president senators this bill updates the raffle and it just it's specific to raffle doesn't do anything with B. bingo so it's for charitable Raffles and so when you go and read the the current law it sounds like if you put something on Facebook or you know send out an email that the you'd be violating Arkansas Code so this just makes it clear that you can advertise if your and uncompensated volunteer so it does there's this distinction between advertising and and actually selling and so I work with the casino industry they seem to be good with it with with this language that said I'd be happy to try to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Boyd Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized for a question. Centreboard way I understand this is does not allow any. Raffle tickets remain to be sold online it's just that if for example a church is having a raffle they can put on their Facebook page and we're having a raffle I think is that correct then the report that's correct so charitable organizations such as a a church a five oh one see three so we have a constitutional amendment that makes it illegal to do that but it has to be person to person sales this does not allow online sales but it does make it clear that you can advertise let people know so either the organization selling the raffle tickets for an uncompensated volunteer that is working to sell the raffle to so I could put it on my way on my Facebook page that Hey this great organization my district is having a raffle and that wouldn't violate the law I'm not an attorney but that's my intent and it as long as you're and uncompensated volunteer and the key is uncompensated okay thank you senator thank you members thank you any other questions for Senator boy. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. Senator you're pretty close I appreciate a good vote thank you. Thank you senator any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please role of a board Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me kidi Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stuff Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Please cast a ballot. My vote at thirty forty eight zero nine. As the two seventeen passes please bring it to the house SB two fifty eight Senate bill two fifty eight by Senator duties to amend the method of voting absentee and privacy use of absentee ballot drop boxes. Senator days you're recognized. Thank you madam chair. Member Senate bill two fifty eight this is about election integrity we've been working with multiple different organizations including our secretary of state's office to prepare our state to continue to be one of the most secure election states in in the country so what this does is eliminates the potential and the opportunity for absentee drop boxes currently our state does not partake in these other states do and we've had issues where fraud has been seen or potential fraud with what what these boxes do and so what this bill does is outlaws absentee drop boxes being allowed to be used across our state the secretary of state's office just for clarity does not consider anything we currently do in a voting location to be considered a drop box application and I'll remind you that we have seen across the country where ballot illegal block ballot harvesting is taking place and we've actually seen another set of circumstances where drop boxes have been used to destroy good legitimate ballots and so by doing this by passing this we secure Arkansas to make sure that that does not take place for on May and drop boxes across our state we are currently according to the heritage foundation we are ranked in the the election integrity scorecard is the sixth most secure state and this continues to make sure that that is for front an important for us so with that have to take any questions any questions. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question thank you chair Senator would you tell me those places where drop boxes have been shown to be and for the way of loading one of those states and because I'm not aware of. Sure it happy to look those up I've been told of multiple states where that they have seen this happen I've also seen examples in California and Illinois I believe we're Dropbox is been destroyed and set on fire it's I know those two states have been brought to me and I want to ensure that that doesn't happen we're legitimate ballots are being destroyed and no way to trace them back to the originator. So what you're talking about is someone engaged in. And on for that but the box itself was not shown to begin secure. By those acts happening I think that proves that those boxes are in secure thank you. Any other questions for Senator days in your life you're recognized for a question thank you Mr. Senator these I'm looking at the building is pretty straightforward and your comments you say unmanned drop boxes but. It doesn't say anything about fine man drop boxes the decision another step. For using Dropbox correct can you clarify that sure I believe drop boxes should be outlawed in Arkansas whether manned or unmanned. Okay so that that's what the bill says any drop boxes. Thank you. Any other questions for Senator days. Anyone wishing to speak against. Anyone wishing to speak for. Senator you're pretty close. I believe this bill is important because when our public. When they see when our voters see drop boxes across the country in other states that allow them to act as a beacon of mistrust and they do not encourage a a fair and equal process we need to make sure that Arkansas does not partake in that so I appreciate a good vote to move that direction thank you. Thank you senator any objection to rolling the vote. Madam secretary please call the roll. Boyd. Right. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. For. Davis. These. DISMANG. Dotson. English. Four five. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey Hill. Irving. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. The key Murdock. Hi. Penzo Petty. Rice. Statham. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace aye. The Senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. Five votes. Twenty eighty eight six nine. S. B. two fifty eight passes please transmit to the House. As B. two fifty nine. Madam president I moved to re refer Senate bill two fifty nine back to the Committee. Thank you senator Senator Wallace has moved to re refer to fifty nine back to the committee all those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed. As the two fifty nine is re referred back to committee. We will pass over HB ten thirty one. Because senator Hammer is not here. H. B. eleven sixty one. House bill eleven sixty one by representative have tennis centre Tucker to create the support for pregnant and parenting stage This act. Senator Tucker you're recognized. Thank you madam president this bill seeks to support students who are in school who may also be parents as you all may know Arkansas we're number one in the country and teen pregnancy and we are not close to number one in terms of the number of kids graduate from high school and there's not a coincidence there there's a relationship there and so what this bill seeks to do is provide a little more support for the kids who are still in school who are also parents themselves does a couple things one is it provides for there to be an excused absence anytime. A pregnant or or parenting student has to attend a prenatal or postnatal appointment also if if the student is going to give the baby up for adoption there's an excused absence to ten of those legal proceedings there's a period of a ten day absence for the birth of the child right now there are laws on the books that if a student misses a certain number of days they're considered true and they need to be removed from the rolls of the school and this says that absences related to the birth of a child not contribute to that number to those number of absences because what we found is we need to support these kids who are parents themselves because if they are able to stay in school and graduate it's going to be a better outcome for them and about a better outcome for their babies as well it's not a get out of school free card you do have to have a note from a doctor or a parent to miss school and then you have to make the work up when you get back but there are procedures for there to be reasonable accommodations to make up the work once you get back for the young women who are nursing their children there's also a section of the bill to say that schools have to provide a a private space that's not a restroom not to nurse your baby at school but to a pump breast milk and then there has to be a place for you to to plug the the pump in and a place for you to clean the breast pump and all of its equipment and then the last thing is if there's a child care facility on site which a number of schools across the state have then the students are able to keep their kids in that same child care facility but if not then you provide information for a close by facility so I'll be glad to take any questions but this is a bill that's that's easy to support I want to thank my colleagues for working on this in a bipartisan manner and bringing this for the body there's no known opposition that I'm aware of and as I said we have to take any questions. Any questions for the senator Tucker. Anyone wish to speak against her for. Senator you're pretty close. I'm close appreciate a good vote. You senator any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please roll the vote Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvine Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stem Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator who wishes to change his or her vote. Senator Irvin. Voting present. Any other senators. I can't balance. Right thirty three date zero nine and one president. Eight eleven sixty one passes returned to the house. H. B. eleven sixty three house bill eleven sixty three by Senator Stubblefield representative Bentley to amend the law related to the management of the lands located or created within lakes or rivers by the commissioner of state lands. Senator Stubblefield you're recognized. Thank you madam president. Let me six house bill eleven sixty three simply makes it easier for an individual to apply to the Commissioner of State Lanford deed for remarks lands oftentimes a river using this as well as I were river rules wind in such a manner as to carve out a new section of land on the inside centre the B. and when this happens the owner of the land can apply for D. for that land it is in this bill simply establishes a clarifies the process for applying for the the Commissioner of State lands also is to create an online application provide for it to be completed online the disturbance is a requirement for the survey the staff is is a six month timeline for the survey to be submitted to the Commissioner of Thailand's establishes requirement for three competent witnesses to supply upon affidavits and also includes a non codified section on rules promulgation. Because I think the question. Any questions for Senator Stubblefield Senator Dismang you're recognized for a question in and under the miglior with that so what is the how does the process work now to report this to the guy I guess more of a process is statute is it all in rule or I see what happens now the rules will be promulgated after this is passed but if a river cuts through and cut out a piece of land then the owner of the land the joining that can apply for deed to that plan. Which you know I. I can't imagine I'm a former not have landed creeks to cut through yeah why would I worry on the deed to the land but this just makes it easier for an individual to the plot of State Commissioner of lands for date but the so how does the process work now what did they go through a similar application process is I just put in law or how does I'm not sure there is a process Senator Dismang okay this is bill whose created. So my only concern would be a minute. What is a land come from women I understand maybe the base of the rivers you know set in this building up your creating additional and where there was a river bed. But if not here's taking through the initially when we talk about decades of inside I guess I'm a little bit I'm confused about what it does but that's that's okay thank you. Any other questions. Anyone wishing to speak against or for Senator you're free close close. Thank you senator any objection to rowing the boat. And secretary please well the vote. Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Crowell Davis DES dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Three nine please cast a ballot. But at thirty four U. S. A. N. zero nine H. B. eleven sixty three passes please return to the House. H. B. eleven eighty five house bill eleven eighty five by representative Mayberry Senator Clark to amend the law concerning the limitation on school choice transfers under the Public School choice active twenty fifteen Senator Clark you're recognized thank you madam governor of colleagues this is very simple bill it just allows those who have their kids at a preschool to continue at that school when they become of age whether they're in that district or not and regardless of any of capsule. A school choice which were supposed to do away with but at the moment we have a. We have to take any questions any questions for Senator Clark. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. Senator you're pretty close I'm close Richard good vote thank you senator any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please roll the vote Boyd have Caldwell Chesterfield Clark coral Davis dis dismaying Johnson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stone some of Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. You Senator wish to change his or her vote. Senator flowers but president any other Senator which changes her vote. C. nine please cast a ballot. By boat at thirty three eight zero nine eight and one present HB eleven eighty five passes returned to the house H. B. eleven ninety six house bill eleven ninety six by representative and wouldn't Senator Gilmore. To modify the requirements for public housing and to create the welfare Reform Act twenty twenty three Senator Gilmore you're recognized thank you madam chair members this bill is quite simply a bill that incentivizes work I think that everyone in this room would agree that work is a good thing And we should incentivize that and so that's what this bill does it basically states that if you are receiving public housing assistance of which there is already a monthly work requirement about eight hours of a month imposed this would ask that the state and housing authorities petition the federal government to increase that to twenty hours and with that there's exemptions for working skews me able bodied working age adults one of the amendments that we made pretty early on this bill was we had an exemption that if you had a is that what the exemption stated if there is if you had a child of four months or older that you would still be required to work we've increased that to five years of age or older which I think is good smart policy so again we've seen some housing authorities across the country in Texas to to name one in North Carolina there's been a couple that have done this under the by the administration's moving to work program where they've actually actually are encouraging incentivizing people to work so we've seen some of that happened already there's flexibilities to allow for the hud secretary to grant these waivers as they deem fit and so this bill would just petition the federal government to do that and so with that I'll be happy to take questions. Questions Senator Boyd you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam president Senator Gilmore have you talked with anybody from public Housing Authority about the challenges they might have in administering these requirements thank you yeah I talked to one in particular I think it was your district is one of the ones that reached out to me directly I know that representive Underwood talked to some on the house in this is already past the obviously to House Bill one of the concerns that was addressed was the the five years of age we made that change there's a couple of other things that they were concerned with about whether or not the federal government would allow this with that there's language in the bill that says that if the government federal government doesn't allow this to be implemented that we just petition every twenty four months. Murdock you're recognized for a question. Thank you senator. As it relates to a full time students in my district I have families this state. But they have a full time it would not how will this work that they would be exempted under this as as being a student there's also measures that it is so there's volunteer ism is is one thing if they're getting an education if they're doing a substance abuse training so it's pretty broad as to what they're able to do. yes I'll have to read through to find that specifically but yes if they're if they're getting if they're getting an education yes. Okay. That the tenements of the board said who will be the referee. Twenty hours of volunteer. Back to the front of house correct leaving it to the. Reporter. That would be managed by the public Housing Authority so the public Housing Authority would be obligated if the waiver is granted to to manage that and making sure that they're complying with that requirement the. For the information to anyone else it would be reported to I believe DWS on the state level to make sure that they're complying with those requirements. Any other questions Senator Tucker. Thank you madam president. I have a question about what the term employability plan means that the bottom of page two. Did you say you have a question regarding that yes yes what what does that mean it means that they have to have some sort of plan that that it has to be approved with the Housing Authority as I understand it that they have to say Hey I'm protect I'm planning to participate in either a job whether it's part time full time or whatever or I am somehow otherwise achieving the goals of what's laid out here so as long as they present that and say here's the steps that I'm going to take to do that that's what that means okay. The question a little bit better my understanding is that work requirements can be productive if they're coupled with job skills training or job search assistance to childcare assistance and if they're not paired with those helpful points and they can be counterproductive I don't know if the employability plan or anything the bill makes provision for helping people find a job or helping them get transferred jobber or helping them find childcare. So to that question I would I would say that that a lot of the individuals that would fall under this are receiving some sort of assistance or other requirements that they might be receiving other benefits that would be required to to meet those so I think that that's already in place with other things that they could be receiving. A couple years ago the state of Arkansas put on a work requirement for for the Medicaid expansion and what we found was that a bunch of people included out of Medicaid sent expansion even though they were complying with a work requirement because they didn't get through all the red tape affiliated with the work requirement I'm just curious if there's any provision to make sure that we're not gonna kick people out of public housing to a complying with this but they just can't quite make it through the government red tape well I and and to that point I would say that this is a very broad standard as to what we're asking I don't think it's overly burdensome I do things that one of the things take into consideration are those who are on a waiting list who desperately need housing and I think that if we are trying to make sure that everyone's taking care of which is what we want we want to make sure that the folks who needed or getting the help they need so with that if if we have a very broad policies like that that's laid out here that asking people to go and seek employment or take educational opportunities are doing all of those steps considering the fact that there's also measures in here to you know protect the aging and elderly and those who are able to work then as far as to the red tape that goes with this I think that it actually says alleviates a problem in the sense of taking care of a wait list of those who just aren't going to comply because maybe they don't want to then we should we should take that in consideration that we're actually creating additional space for those who really need it that are on the waiting list I think there's another question here in the front Sir just bill. Senate bill you're recognized by the presiding officer. I just didn't want to miss women have to remind them. Thank you. Thank you senator thank you for taking my question five I'm thinking of snowflake Arkansas. And there's nothing in snowflake but snowflake. And if by chance someone decided they would settled there in the housing. Wood working for them constitute a lot of the work week with that because there's nothing there except a few people at this I would argue these desserts adjourn no we've got a lot of these these little cities where there's nothing there but they are. And so I want to make sure that if somebody decides to go into that area hopefully and create some housing availability would working for that Housing Authority itself constitute work how we define the so that in those housing gathers in those transportation deserts in those education that. Because there's nothing and no later but. Senate let your so I'm trying to make sure then that we're not counting them out for eliminating the possibility of somebody going in there and then there's nothing for them to do but. I have a house there thank you with that yes thanks for the question center I think it's well it's well taken in the sense of If we're going to ask them to do this we need to make sure that they're able to do it and with that it's written very very broadly that I think that any sort of work whatever that work is would be accepted there's also volunteer hours there's also education component substance abuse there's a it's very very broad as to what that constitutes and what they're able to do so if that were the case in in the hypothetical that you laid out if that were the case then if they are engaging in work under this bill that would be allowed. Thank you. Senator Eddie you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr president so just to be clear circle back. the the concerns have been shared with me and this is a federal program and this is state law this is this you know putting a burden on on the federal program and is that a legal and it sounds like that there's a provision in the bill that says if for whatever reason the feds say no which it sounds like that a lot of the other places that have been this is not applicable to the correct so it would have to go back to the platform okay yes so would you would to your point this is if the feds say no which they may or may not I don't know I mean the sort of goes in hand in hand with the announcmenet made by our governor I guess maybe last week as relates to Arkansas works or. Whatever we're calling to this point With that if the feds don't allow it then it's not gonna happen all this is at that point is every twenty four months were required to petition the feds to ask permission. That's what I thought I would be clear on that and then one other question. public housing is is income based the perpetual non working is is somewhat driven by if I go to work and I lose my lose my housing because I am making too much money to be eligible whether whether the provisions in their insurers don't encourage people to go to work and then penalize and keep a master well it to that point what I think we don't want is people preferred perpetually living in poverty because they're not working that would stay and ran and continue on a path that just quite frankly I don't think it's a good pass not to say there's anything wrong with that people need help when they need assistance and hopefully this will encourage and incentivize that and so with that if they do get a job and they are making money which I would add back this could be volunteer work this could be you know any number of things not just actually get a job and make money but if they do decide to do that are making money to afford housing elsewhere that's fantastic because I think that's what we want and then that allows this frees up space for those who truly are in need to add that are on these waiting lists that are expensive to get the help that they need so thank you very much I am honored. Thank you at one I'll take this question is. And so just a couple first in membership with trying to do I think we should take a holistic view of what we're doing is making sure we don't create a cycle contributed to cycle that we could even allow savings that sort of thing place or similar forward to working with you on those types of issues one thing I'm trying to understand that what is the Housing Authority despite what would make you more comfortable in the bill is a little bit too Senate Chesterfield point there's certain areas in the state. Whether on a lot of jobs in a lot of opportunity but it doesn't mean the people don't live there that does mean for people to live there. When we say Housing Authority are they able to on a individual level Basis in those areas when you're creating that would employability. Plan Hey there that to what's happening maybe in that particular area I can if if a. Manufacture shuts down or whatever I mean there's there's lots of things that can happen but I mean are they able to tailor that plan for that particular area so we don't find ourselves you know the wishing for employment in place it doesn't exist sure I think the answer to that is yes this this bill is very broad and would allow for that and with that I mean Senator Murdock and questions of I'm. Senators are college as we say you're happy to take questions I take you at your word says anyone wish to speak against. Senator Murdock you're recognized to speak against. Thank you. Governor I didn't want to speak against I want to get more clarity from the senators so I've I've read section want to thirteen and have the exemptions in it don't lose school I have some constituent watching this and that it does not list education so I do need to somehow force to get that in there because it's very important if someone is going to school and they live in those housing situations that they still would be held what I think that's your intent that's what you're saying what is not in the bill. So that's what I'm trying so that's what I wanna see can we get it rectified. Thank you. You're recognized ask questions Senator Murdock are you are you asking for in school being in high school or no and no income okay right twenty year old. Okay because yeah okay thank you. Okay. Anyone wish to speak for. Anyone wish to speak against center Gilmore your senate live you're recognized to speak against. Thank you Mr president and I spoke with senator Gilmore before I came up here because I do want to express something in full disclosure I do as part of my full time full time job. In the housing authority. Tennis Senator Gilmore senses that there's already something in place right now we are a if someone is not working they do have to actually do a requirement as far as volunteering This two pieces to this bill that I feel that a very detrimental number one the work requirement is not so detriment I do think that all able bodied people should be working. However when you say that they should be working within sixty days this should take place a sixty days that really deviates from what the federal government wants to do which is to house people in so I think the unintended consequences of this bill will be that there's going to be a lot of homeless children. You know when you start talking about Hey this is going to be in nineteen sixty days sixty days is a is a short period of time number two I will talk about the. The impact to the House an authority staff I mean to track all this information that is there is this pretty much unfunded mandate. The state is going to hand it down but we have to actually carried out and so without things like Senator Clarke Tucker mentioned there the requirement of actually assisting people to get into work assisting people to get the voluntarism I mean these things are going to be detrimental to actually deal with the program is designed to do which is to house so I would encourage you if you cannot vote no just do not vote thank you. Anyone wish to speak for anyone wish to speak against. Senator Gilmour your. Senator has closed. Please call the roll. Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Kroll. Davis. Davis. These. DISMANG. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Yes. Hammer Hester. Hickey. Hickey Hill. Irvine. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson King. Leding. Love. Mickey. Murdock. Murdock. Payton Penzo. Petty. Rice. Staffan. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace. You senator who did not pose both wish to vote or wish to change his or her vote. This site first anybody on this side Senator Hickey is and I. Senator Murdock. Would you like to vote on this bill. Senator Mark Johnson made. No you don't want to vote or your name. Okay I'm sorry Senator I just wanna make sure that we put you down after they are you voting no on this bill are you not. Thank you thank you Sir Clark Johnson Murdock president anyone else. C. nine please cast a ballot. The vote twenty eighty eight five nine and one president bill passes please return to the House. H. B. thirteen oh eight. Thirteen have buy a representative finds Senator Hill. Two men the law to provide for changes related Arkansas constitution amendment one or one and declared emergency. Senate bill you're recognized thank you madam. Arkansas constitution minute ninety one is temporary one half cent sales tax for highways is ending June the thirtieth twenty twenty three Department half cent sales tax amendment one oh one takes effect on July the first twenty twenty three languages bill simply allows revenues in the constitution amendment one oh one to be used for bonds for surface transportation projects as the Amendment ninety one this bill but he does nothing but replace the half cent temporary sales tax Amendment ninety one with the permit has seen sales tax amendment one oh one. That being said I'll take any questions. Questions for senate bill. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Under your free clothes I appreciate a good vote. Any objection to rowing the boat we're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Madam secretary please role that Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these this my Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love Me key Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice system Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any center wish to change his or her vote as the sender Payton is voting no. Anyone else Senator Solomon voting no Senator Irvin president. Any other senators wish to change his or her vote Senator Chesterfield president Senator style no. Senator Penzo president. Any other senators wish to change his or her vote please check the board. Please cast the ballot. By a vote of twenty eight yea three nine and three present. H. the thirteen oh eight passes and as well as the emergency clause please return to the House. Items at the desk where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill two thirty two by Senator Clark per the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed. We are committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill two sixty by Senator Johnson compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed calendar. Now as the two thirty two. Senate bill two thirty two by Senator Clark to allow a student whose parent or legal guardian relocates him or her to a different school districts to complete his or her remaining school years at the school district in which he or she is enrolled at the time of Rinorea Breanna. Senator Clark you're recognized thank you madam governor thank you colleagues for limited places a to the calendar I apologize it was not engrossed so it does not show the amendment which is representative or Robin Lundstrum as cosponsors of the bill itself doesn't change at all so you've got the exactly what it says and it says that if the family should move that a child can stay at the school district that they are in until they finish if they wish the school does not have to provide transportation there is no known opposition a big happy to take any questions any questions for Senator Clark. Anyone wishing to speak against or for. Senator you're free to pose thank you closed appreciate a good vote. Thank you senator any objection to rowing the boat. Madam secretary please role that Boyd Bryant Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Kroll Davis these dismaying Dotson English Flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson King Leding Love McKee Murdock Payton Penzo Petty rice stand Stubblefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace any senator wish to change his or her vote. C. nine please cast up the ballot. Fite thirty forty eight zero nine. S. the two thirteen pass please transmit to the House. Are there any announcmenet. Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized. Thank you madam president will remind everyone tomorrow February twenty first he's home school day at the capitol you're invited to take part in a group picture on the steps of the capitol at twelve fifteen efficient inclement weather it'll be inside on the second floor rotunda and home schoolers will gather on the second floor rotunda to meet their representatives at twelve thirty and their senators at twelve forty five so encourage all of you to come we expect close to a thousand home schoolers to be in attendance tomorrow thank you madam thank you senator Johnson Senator Dismang you're recognized. Joint Budget me tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. Any other announcements. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you madam chair tomorrow is delta sigma theta day at the capitol they're inviting every and I know I'm alpha Kappa alpha incorporated but I do have friends who are Delta is please share that with them they are inviting you to lunch at the Arkansas counties building tomorrow at eleven thirty if you have something red or white that you wish to wear in honor of that day I'm sure they would appreciate it greatly now the upgrade is day is going to be next week when alpha Kappa alpha will be here in thinking great. Thank you senator any other announcements. If no further announcements. The Senate will stand in a German. Subject to the clearing of the desk until one PM tomorrow February twenty first.