House Convenes

The House will come to order I am by the members staff pressing guest in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by. Robert whether into an Reverend and record for at St Mary's as possible charge an elder rada guests of representative our Speaker Shepherd. And remain standing for the pledge of the allegiance to the B. led by representative Lane Jean. Good afternoon. Invite you to join me in prayer. Almighty god. In your infinite wisdom you have chosen to send your Holy Spirit. To guide the hearts hands and minds of humanity. For the building up of your kingdom. We have heard the voice of your Holy Spirit from the miles of prophets apostles and leaders who have applied your wisdom to the challenges of their own day. Today we ask that you send your Holy Spirit among us. To guide these men and women who have been raised up to serve the people of Arkansas. Give them enquiring minds and dedicated spirits to accomplish the work that has been set for them. We ask you to bless their work. Less their families and bless this state that will be impacted by the decisions that they make today. Guide them as you have guided those who have come before them to build up your kingdom. So that we might more fully know your presence in the world. We ask this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. came to walk among us and show us the way towards the kingdom of god. I'm in. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine Mrs Clark. Casts up the ballot ma'am. One hundred members present chair sees a quorum. Are there. The representative Wardlaw moves we dismiss dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal no objections so ordered are there any Reports from select committees. Read the reports Madam. Spieker your committee on joint budget committee to whom was referred house bill ten fifty house bill two sixty four house bill ten CC two is helpful ten sixty three Beckley report that we have in the same consideration here to serve the same recommendation that a do pass respectfully submitted Lane Jean chair. Are there any Reports from standing committees please read the reports. Maddox Speaker we are committee on public transportation to whom was referred house bill thirteen thirty two house bill thirty fifty one house bill thirty fifty four back in the report that we have in the same consideration here at the time the same recommendation that a do pass especially submitted representative Holcomb Jean. Is there any unfinished business. Maddox Speaker you Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill twelve seventy eight house bill twelve eighty households have anyone house bill twelve eighty two house bill thirteen fifty two beg leave to report that we have in the same consideration here the time the same recognition that it do pass. Manistique area Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill one hundred Beckley report we have in the same consideration here the time same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted Stan Berry vice chair. Now is there any unfinished business. Are there any Executive communications. Madam Clark please read the letter from the governor's office. To the Speaker of the house there Mister Speaker system This is to inform you that on February third twenty twenty three I reviewed and approved the following measures from the legislative session of the ninety first General Assembly house bill ten fourteen ACT thirty three house bill ten twenty four at thirty four house bill ten forty eight thirty two house bill eleven twenty three ACT thirty house eleven twenty five and thirty five house bill eleven forty seven ACT thirty one sincerely Sarah Huckabee Sanders governor of Arkansas. Our doctor the date today is Dr John us off from Little Rock. And the nurse of the day is miss Brenda Hugh it. And doctor Shaw is a guest of representative Tippi McCullough. The Arkansas are Arkansas state police center here today is corporal Kevin grounds and sergeant Greg **** as. In the west gallery today we have south Mississippi County leadership class guest of Joey car represented car. In the east gallery we have Colonel Nate Todd U. S. army retiree former secretary of Veterans affair and current trustee at the University of Arkansas guest at representative Unger. Also in the east gallery we have Merion visual and performing arts magnet honor society gas at representative Deborah Ferguson. Also in the east gallery is the Arkansas professional fire fighters they represent sixteen hundred firefighters from twenty eight cities in Arkansas. Madam Clark please read Senate resolution. Three. Senate concurrent resolution by a representative separate designating hyper tropic Carter my pathi awareness day to educate people about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Representative Shepherd you're recognized. Thank you madam chair good afternoon colleagues this is a resolution in conjunction with senator law as we all are aware of February is heart awareness month and Senator love decided to run this resolution because there are approximately according to the research seven hundred thousand Americans that presented hospital with this problem at least eighty five percent of those Americans go on diagnose so Senator love and I thought that it would be a fabulous idea to recognize the last Wednesday of every month at eight fifty AM date so we would appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative shepherd has explained the resolution would anybody like to speak for the resolution. Against the resolution. Are you close for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of. S. C. R. three. All in favor say aye. Oppose no. Congratulations your resolution has passed. Madam Clark would you please read House resolution one thousand fourteen House resolution ten fourteen by representative anger to recognize February as black veterans my. Representative anger you're recognized. Thank you madam Speaker. February is black history month in the United States of America and I believe it ought to be black veterans month in the state of Arkansas colonel Todd thank you for coming today. in the culture that I grew up in basically I was in the navy my whole adult life. And when you have a chance to do a friend a solid you do it this is my way of saying thanks for the memories. Madam Clark would you please read the bill in its entirety. Maddox Maddox Clark please pray read the resolution in its entirety where is dating back to the American revolution African Americans have played key roles in the history and success of the United States military and where there are more than two million African American veterans in the United States and we're as Americans story is written in this week sweat and blood of military here is on the lower and service and we're as African Americans have stood on their diverse counterparts training and fighting for the principles of justice freedom and democracy and where as the first Rhode Island Rayment the first Continental Army unit largely comprise comprised of black new Englanders showcase African American steel as soldiers and commitment to their brethren in the battlefield and whereas just over one hundred years ago during World War one the Harlem hell fighters battled hostile forces of bride and racism and home demonstrating a remarkable commitment to the country and we're as beginning in nineteen forty one the nine hundred twenty six all electricity airman carried out hundreds of escort missions during the World War two never losing a single plane to the enemy and we're at African American veterans have use the experience and discipline they acquired in the military to attain prominent positions in the civil civilian world including David Robinson James Earl Jones Arkansas native Sheryl Underwood and Morgan Freeman in which John Hanks Alexander from Arkansas was a very first AfricanAmerican United States history to hold a regular command position as a troop commander of the troops ninety Calvary now therefore be it resolved in the House representative of mine for General Assembly of the State of Arkansas. Colleagues I ask you for a good vote. Representative Unger has explained the resolution would anybody like to speak for the resolution. Against the resolution. Are you close for your resolution. Representive under. Has explained. Other question before the House is the passage of house resolution. One thousand and fourteen. All in favor say aye. Opposed no the resolution is passed. The morning hour has ended. Madam Clark please read house bill thirteen forty thirteen forty by representative Tosh regarding the supplemental nutrition assistance program and to require the Department of Human Services to apply for a waiver regarding certain veterans disability benefits if allowed under federal law represent Tosh you're recognized. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues in as we all know that ever bill has a history of story behind it I just want to briefly share that story with you as to why presenting this bill today. About a year ago I had a constituent contact me. Not just any constituent this was a combat veteran that had been in injured obviously income that. He was paralyzed him and some of his fellow soldiers were in a vehicle and I. Ran up on a land mine and he was able to survive that but you know he was paralyzed. From the waist down. He applied to the snap program which we all know is a one hundred percent federally funded program and. Anyway she applied for food stamps. His wife to. Unable to work because she has to take care of him around the clock. Three kids. He calls me up and he tells me like many of you get calls from constituents and this is when we realize maybe there's a problem and something that we as legislators need to address. But he told me that he had been declined for the food stamps. And so when I checked out it would be a J. as I found out that what they were doing is they were counting his disability check his military disability check as a combat veteran they were charging that against him and that put him over the maximum amount of money that you can make to receive food stamps. Collins I understand that and I get it I know we have to have a maximum amount that we have to draw the line and say if you make over this amount then you cannot qualify for food stamps but. What I have a problem is that when we've got a better. A veteran. That was standing our watch. For us. When over there. Let the wild kids behind. Came back paralyzed. His life was changed forever. And of all people and of all the groups and all the things that we do in this state to help people with food stamps and everything else. Our our combat veteran was declined. Because of that disability check. The college I'm gonna take you. A disability check there's a reason he's receiving that. It's to compensate Hillman I can assure you whatever amount he's receiving in no way. Can truly compensate him. Are any of our combat veterans when they lose a leg or an arm. Are they lose the right side or they're just figured. Are my constituents case paralyzed. From the waist down. And I look at a way to try to help my constituents just like you look for ways to help yours. And I found out since this was a federally funded program that here in the state that was very little that I could do. So I met with DHEA is trying to find a way to resolve and get help especially for combat Beck bedrooms it replaced in this same situation DHS tells me there's probably about sixty to seventy combat veterans. You're in the state of Arkansas. That would be affected if we could get a waiver. That your disability checks that they receive for those injuries in combat was not counted against them in the total income that they receive every month. I ask DHS that they would submit a waiver. To the federal government. Asking them. If we could have a waiver not to count that disability check. Against our veterans are combat veterans and the agents told me that the only way they can make that request. Was that they would have to have legislative authority. So I come before you today and I bring you this bill. And with your help today. We can give DHS that legislative authority to make that request to the federal government to see if they will give us a waiver not to count our combat veterans disability checks against him in the total income. Colleagues I understand that I know that. You know if they if they reach a certain amount and they're disability check is not counted against of obsolete they don't qualify I understand that but I'm just saying for what they've gone through and for the suffering they've expansion for the life change that they've gone through and because they were doing this standing or watch for us. Not counted against on the list we have DHS the opportunity to send this waiver to the federal government and see if we can get some help for a combat veteran about that madam Speaker I take any questions. No you change roads a lot as. If you look back first or. Represent Bentley for what purpose question. Can have representation Committee and listen to this bill I believe is only about three months of these guys will be able to check this get these food stamps is that what you're understanding is for their roles right now I understand the rules that federal government that that for this program for the snap program on thank you Jack right I think every three months that that has to be re evaluated and I'm sure if we get that we get we're able to get the waiver it will be re evaluated every three months thank you thank you Sir thank you. J. no further questions. President Tosh is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. What do you would like to speak for the bill. Representantes you're recognized close for the bill. Thank you thank you colleagues. I appreciate you. And I'll be. I would be and I know that. This is a long shot. I know it is. I'm now asking the federal government to give us just waiting for. It is a long shot. But I'm telling you. Our bedroom. They took that shot for us. And I say let's take that shot for the. I appreciate a good vote thank you very much. President Tosh is close for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill thirteen forty prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk with the voter ninety four Yeas zero nine to present the bill is passed madam Clark please read house bill two. House bill twelve fifty four by representative may be to amend the state's financial participation amount by using the basic project cost per square foot for public school new construction projects. Thank you before we begin the session. Some legislators gathered with some superintendents from a variety of size of school districts both small and large and they shared with us some of their concerns that they had one of their big issues was that the cost of everything has gone up and I think all of us can agree that there is probably nothing right now the cost the same that it did in twenty nineteen. But their issue with the school district is that we've got a lot of construction projects going on and currently they're being funded at two hundred dollars a square foot. The average price in twenty twenty two for construction projects at our schools was three hundred seventy five dollars a square foot they're being funded at two hundred. Now with this New rule a lot of school districts also have to add a safe room. And because of that safe room the cost goes up even more in the projected cost is five hundred dollars a square foot I'm gonna back up and remind you they're being funded at two hundred dollars a square foot. We've got to figure out what we can do to make this work there is only so much money there. And so we have to divide that money in a different way and what this bill does is it allows the current cost factors to be considered. When you're planning the budget don't you want to know what. The real budget is real numbers that's what this bill does it make some look at real numbers today not numbers that were arbitrarily assigned at an earlier point in time. If you are a fiscal conservative you should be for this bill because it's making us do it to the current budget and allotment with current numbers if you are for small school districts you need to be for this bill because it helps small school districts accomplish what they want to do very briefly I want to tell you that in committee it was shared that the top ten school districts we're all basically small school districts but I want to add that the top fifty school districts that would benefit from this thirty four of them thirty four. R. will use athletic terms R. one eight into a school districts. Those are the smallest school districts in the state. This is going to help your school district actually accomplish what it wants to do and it wants to build facilities because our school is growing. I will be happy to take questions please be nice represent bought for what purpose question recognized so I do have a question I know that our funding is done two years out. So we're we're two years off and in that two years if the costs wings back to where it's less than are we not going to be stuck at that because that was the first initial cost that's why we're using funding factors so that we can make sure that we are using. Real time dollars what what it really costs. Can have a follow up Sir. So what are you will need to be funded at the five hundred dollars per square foot meaning the state puts every penny for the building. Well that there be and that they're doing now well this the state doesn't find completely it's based on a wealth ratio and the state does not pay completely for the school district has to put money up to that of up to that cost. Represent what for what purpose. Thank you you're you're recognized for a question thank you Mr president of. To support your bill a hundred percent my question is I've got some districts that have already received state funding they went out and passed a millage and then they got their business twelve million dollars short will this help them in the law this is for future I think we have a lot of issues that we need to talk about moving forward Dollars yes yes so I will say that we as a body can do something to help all the school districts that are in the crunch right now but this is moving forward we need to make sure that we corrected so we don't have those same problems moving forward so you agree that we need to go back and look at those of already been funded but inflation there is filed Hillman January or February and they found their twelve million dollars or one this I I I do say we need to look at that as a legislative body and figure out what we can do we're dealing a lot with some potential education plans and some income tax cuts that we want to do and I think all that needs to be in discussion do I have the complete solution no but I'm sure the school districts would love to have some more money I think our department of ed would love to have more money to help with facilities in those difficult situations thank you Mr chairman representative represent Wardlaw what purpose question you're recognized. And I'm real slow so you may have already said this so just kind of bear with me farmers don't do well of words. Funding factors is the language that you actually added in in place of formulas can you explain to me the difference between funding factors and formulas and how that would be calculated going forward and maybe a follow up missed Speaker. Funding factors would actually make them look at what it costs right now to build it instead of just eight arbitrary formula that is used out there would have to Max actually look and say last year twenty twenty to cost three hundred seventy five dollars on average to to build this facility. So you're using that average to set the participation rate from the state to the school I was on school board for a while so I I understand facility funding a little bit not very much. So that's what you're saying is this would change that percentage or would it change the way they look at the square footage cost I think eighty would have to analyze how they would do all of that okay representative ray for what purpose. You're recognized. A representative Mayberry I'm a little bit confused reading the fiscal impact statement it says that there's no revenue impact but then it later goes on to say the proposed bill will increase the cost by sixty two point three million can you explain sure absolutely so there is no fiscal impact in other words nothing about this bill puts more money into facility funding I mean it's it's zero we still have the same pot of money that doesn't change what does change is based on this bill. The amount that could potentially go towards each school district increases so therefore last school districts receive funding so we go from seventy five school districts that might have received some funding at two hundred dollars a square foot to potentially fifty school districts that will now receive money it's the same pot of money we're just dividing it in less dividing it less but the school districts are actually receiving more money so they can accomplish what they're trying to accomplish. So so if if you were districts are going to receive the the award. Who who for lack of better term who's gonna be the winners and the losers in a question well as I as I pointed out in this Reference here thirty four well I'll just say twenty two of the school districts for one eight twelve of the school districts are two eight seven three eight five or four eight three or five eight zero or six a and one is seven may so really are smaller school districts will benefit from this and then everybody else starts moving up the ladder it doesn't mean that they never get funding it just means that they are not able to get funding right now because we only have so much but we as legislators can put more towards it thank you I appreciate a good vote represent Vaught. Avery's let the well. We would like to speak against the bill represent Vaught you're recognized speak against. I really don't want to come speak against the bill I just had another question that I was hoping to be asked I ask this question in committee and I don't think I ever really got the answer to the question if the school has received the money but cannot finish a project right now they've received it's been given to them. They can't finish is the money being taken back and re allocated to schools in which can finish their projects. And with that until I get the questions answered and I would I would appreciated that. President voted spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill represent Cozart you're recognized before the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This bill is you know it's kind of confusing to a lot of people what it does what it can't do what it would do what I would do in the future is what this bill is about we have a big problem in our facilities I think mostly you heard from your superintendents you've heard from everybody around you we don't have enough money there's ninety one million dollars in there to spend the last two years the cost of these buildings have winter midge Ripley we were at funding at two hundred we just made a recommendation to our adequacy recommendation last year to move that up to seventy five and we knew then that was not enough money to seventy five still not money for all of the schools especially now since the requirement on that is for a storm building H. once elected governor of three fifty to five hundred dollars for where you're at that price could range in a rule school during the process a little lower in a in a real mall for all metropolitan area house prices are higher so that is a problem we have got to fix this we're the schools can't get that money but is she right they're not the formula is wrong the formula is going to be fixed we're that you're figuring it and it's changing with the times so that's got to be fixed first all this body right here is going to have come up more money for facilities ninety one million dollars is not enough for facilities it doesn't go very far it wouldn't touch hardly any of the schools now that we're doing we need to move that to probably two hundred million and I'm just going to say that to me is that people's gonna go nuts in the D. F. and I'd probably listen to go. You know but. Wis is things we gotta do this bill does not do anything at this time until we fix all of it together but it's a great start and I'm a yes on this bill. Representatives. Cozart spoken for the building when like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill president will your. Colleagues I just wanna code what representative Cozart shared with you this is a beginning to deal with the situation it's only going to get worse as long as inflation continues and inflation is here for a while don't be just. don't get lost in the media state of New that this over with all the good news the worst is yet to come reckoning that is coming with all the trillions of dollars of Floridian inflation is not going to hear I give you two examples of two districts that were I have been working with what Kelly central and south side by rule. Boso. Well now to their constituents in their districts in Seoul a new building two new buildings three new buildings. Writings the bill is right to be able to do that and then. The state in the airport then they get the bills in January and February are back latter part of last year and and they're they're sixteen million dollars short that's in the in two districts in the state I was told it was on the front burner that it was going to be taken care of in the special session never happened. Never occurred. These districts so what we do I said you got two choices you either cut the size of the building or you know bill and that's all the choices that got but yes they have promised their people the Bill do this and their constituents and in those districts have agreed to increase their Miller drive. And their leaders. And they said punished for their school district. So this bill starts to have a wrong it's only going to get worse if we don't take care of it right now. Represent Springer for what purpose. Question of representative Wooten recognized for a question thank you representative will do it what is your opinion with respect to the comments that have been made with respect to whether or not school districts who have already been awarded certain monies will they continue to get that money that they've previously been awarded what is your opinion with respect I thank what representative Paul are you referring to hers that's a whole different deal not that I'm going to tell you how I feel about that that was in. We get and we pulled it back when I was a kid that's what we call Indian give it but we we pulled it back and the we you know we we got thrown under the bus and I knew that was going to happen from day one when the governor said the three hundred million dollar calls teachers two things pay rose special session. Neither one of them have. And then we came up with the grandiose plan to pull them back four hundred and fifty million so that's that's not involved in this situation here we've got here to deal with that role. Representative. Just a quick question in this this actually might be best directed to representative may very in case you want to close for her bill but this also might help answer representative Springer's question as well from is it your impression that what this would do would be able to give financial certainty to the fifty school districts who would receive the funding rather than uncertainty to all seventy five who are currently being under funded that might help and I don't know if you've got that but I've this is my way of being able to pass that question long to the bill sponsor we're dealing with the future here in these in this legislation we have yet I want to put I want to put that before you again we've with the school districts in the behind the ear and we need to address that we're going to have to do it later which was with the junior going to to make an attempt to do that but this is for the future this is for the future to keep or more of them from getting in the same trouble that they're in right now the other ones thank you very much thank you Mr. Purpose of this book and for the bill. Represent Richmond recognized speak against the. Thank you Mr Speaker I. Ridgeway could read a sign not really speak for against the bill just simply curious his or anybody in here that's been on the Education Committee or anything else that can answer the question that represent Vaught asked about will this bill enable. Money to be taken from existing projects or whatever that are out there right now thank you president. Represent Richmond I believe if you take the money are your your funded the money and you can't do your project you have started project you can do your project there's a certain time limit that you have to turn the money back. You can't keep it if you can do the project so that's the I believe that's the process or maybe some others might know in here but if I'm not wrong I think lane Lane Jean and I were talking about it and you have to turn the money back after a certain period of time if you. When you agree. Thank you appreciate it thank you respect. Represent Richmond spoken against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill represent hawk you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker you know I I've heard a lot of colleagues talk about this bill and I know that there's concern I was at the Education Committee and you know a lot of people think that this is going to affect some of the large schools to well what representative Mayberry it talked about no it's all about expansion how much capacity you have for expansion in what to our point with the one A. schools in the two eight and some of the smaller schools those are the areas right now that that can take the most expansionist not some of these bigger school districts and one thing that we've learned with some of the smaller school districts they don't have the mill just a push to to make some these buildings and and with the new education package that hopefully we are able to pass on this house floor they're going to need a lot of help and with the inflation costs going on with concrete and everything like that we've got to be able to adjust not the formula. But the factors that are in place so I really would appreciate a good vote on this on this is going to help all schools across the state of Arkansas for any questions yes Sir. The thieves what purpose question you're recognized for a question can you give us some clarity on a school that already has a big project under way that sixty or seventy percent completed now how would it affect those schools so if you're if so to what represent Cozart just said so if this is working for the future right now I I representive Cozart might because he's been more involved in that but since we're talking about moving forward in the future I don't know exactly what those projects in current existence I know that let's say Searcy school comes in after this is passed and they say we want to we want to start the process process to build a building and they get through in a year later concrete prices are not two hundred twenty dollars a square and they're not that money that was allocated to them originally we can go back and say Hey you know we're gonna just the the factors in place to be able to get the moneys they've been approved on this as far as what is in the rears and the I. may have represented Cozart after I get done to address I don't know exactly for what's happened in the past or present. Offer what purpose Weston you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker so. I think I understood what representative Cozart said but I'm going to ask it may be a little different way and maybe you can answer me your school puts in a project my school puts in a project your school can find more than my school confined so my school does not get funding with that be correct. Not necessarily know it all depends on where they are so that that draft that she had passed on Education Committee so everybody is ranked right based on capacity so it really doesn't matter on whether a bigger school can fund the project at a better rate it all depends on where you fall in that ranking and that ranking is always changing depending on priorities so you're going to move off on that ranking scale so as representative Mayberry said just a moment ago as it sits right now you've got one et schools two A. schools and three schools that are in the most need so if those schools come in and say Hey we need a project on we need a new. Educar a language language building and a school like Bryant comes in and says we need a new auditorium the smaller schools going to get the the preferential treatment to start their project because they're higher up on the pecking order right now does that make sense the answer questions yet but follow up okay sorry I'm following what you're saying. But if my school does cannot finish completion if my school can't actually finish the funding that they need for the project my school would not be chosen in years would but so it can finish the project correctly to my understanding and then I wouldn't have to fall to the bottom of the list I could stay in my order and moved one hundred percent you're not going to fall back down thanks you're exactly right thank you. The flowers for purpose. Question and I don't I'm I hope I'm I ask this question right to space on what I've heard about how funding would have to be released by a school district if they're at the project wasn't completed by certain period of time. What is that time frame now in if it would change under this bill how would how would that time frame change I wish I could answer I don't know what the time frame would have to get somebody from the Education Committee up here to answer that is I'm on the education I don't know what I don't know what the time frame would be right now I'm not I'm not on that I just know that as far as what it is right now I'm sorry I I don't wanna say something that is that's okay I mean perhaps this is something represent Mayberry me because I've heard that that's a different deal than I heard hours so I'm. Some confusion that could be cleared up and and it may be something that I wasn't privy to in the committee thank you Sir thank you thank my Speaker. President fox vote for the bill we would like to speak against the bill. President baby you're recognized speak against the bill. I. Thank you Mr Speaker I come down to follow up on stone something that represented Wardlaw pointed out that that kind of drew our attention we're we're all safe on formulas and we understand how to calculate using formulas on page two of this bill lines five through six it strikes the word formula and says funding factors so what I would encourage representative may very to do is go back and have a division of public school facility and transportation go ahead draft those funding factors so we'll know exactly hal the phone the models are going to be of the funding is going to be calculated until that's done I'd ask you to vote no on this bill thank you president baby spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill. We would like to speak against the bill. Represent Mayberry you're recognized close for the bill. Your Speaker. Oh boy this bill doesn't do as much as you all think it does. Okay it's really simple this is only addressing moving forward there are a lot of issues as you can see and it gets very confusing there's a lot of things we need to address this is one piece of that puzzle I wish we could go back with this bill and fix everything that's happened we can't this is moving forward this is giving an opportunity for fifty school districts absolutely have the money that they need. Does that mean that twenty five may not correct but if I'm in that twenty five what I'd rather hear that seventy five school districts got money but none of us can complete our project. I wouldn't want to be in that situation right. I'd rather know I have the money to do what I've told my school district we're going to do that's why this bill is supported by the eighty eight these are tough decisions no one wants to have to make these decisions we want to help every school district. We can't we have to go within the amount of money that we have and we only have so much money right now if we're not happy with that guess what we get to decide the budget. And we get to decide how much more we want to help the school districts. So let's fix the formula moving forward the and and do it by funding factors real data real information from today not based on what was done in twenty oh nine. And move forward with something that's actually going to fix the problem in the future that's what this bill is about it's not about other things that others have tried to make it there were so many things that were brought up I don't remember what else I need to address it's a good bill Hey eighty A. supports this bill. Please let it pass through this session through this house so we can get over to the Senate and start helping our school districts in the future have the money that they need to complete these projects thank you I appreciate a good vote represent Mayberry is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve fifty four prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark. With seventy seven yeas eight days seven present the bill is passed. Alan Clark please read house bill eleven sixty six. After the eleven sixty six by representative due to add an additional member to the Alzheimer's disease and dementia Advisory Council. Then Duke you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I am excited to tell you guys that this really is a simple bill and I'm the first one to say that today. All this does it was brought to you by the Alzheimer's association and adds to members the Alzheimer and dementia Advisory Council this is a voluntary group that works together to do great things to help our care givers and are people suffering our cans and suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia so um got a questions surely got those all out of you just a minute ago. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote. President due to explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill president Duke is close for the bill question before the house passed house bill eleven sixty six. Per the machine Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk. With ninety seven Yeas one nine zero present the bill is passed. Adam Clark please read house bill thirteen thirty one House thirteen thirty one by representative so content to establish June twelfth of each year the women veterans day president Pilkington you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this bill pretty simple I'd like it like the title suggests it creates June second women's veterans day I appreciate representative Graham like he's leaving the chamber for some reason for writing this bill to committee I've two sister in laws are both veterans one with the United States Navy one the United States Army and I know a lot of times they they sometimes feel like they're they're overlooked but there can contribution but they've women have contributed a lot to our armed forces and I just want to have a special day to recognize them this isn't a holiday unfortunately that we get off work so you're still going to show up on June second for work so but with that I ask for a good vote thank you represent Meeks for what purpose can place you're recognized I'm just wondering the significance of June twelve I think I know but I want to see if there was a reason why June twelfth is the is the date sure so if you read the bill on June second it says it and uh the first pages on June twelve nineteen forty eight president Harry S. Truman signed into law the women's armed services integration act of nineteen forty eight so we're putting it on the day to commemorate that action by president Truman. Thank you. motion to okay. Thank you. Represent poking as explained the bill. We would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Pilkington is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen thirty one prepare them as. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about and Clark with ninety six C. A. zero nine one present bills passed. And Clark please read house bill thirteen nineteen. Thirteen nineteen by representative Mike berry to provide food and medical care to a K. nine retired from the division of Arkansas state police in certain circumstances and to create Reno's low represent very recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr chairman colleagues and I I think of my friend Mister Pilkington shave just come to the well so I'm proud of you. So for those of you that warning Committee Estrie rhino is a retired Belgian malam all that is served with the Arkansas state police ending is eight and a half years old. So the typical working life of a state police working dog and he's like twenty thousand dollar dogs is ten to fourteen years well rhino works forty hours a week every time his trooper handler is on the road rhinos with the officer ten callous. that canine spends more time with that handler than he does and his family the Hammer spends with family members so that they have a very unique bond in the past two years of the Arkansas state police canines they raked in one point eight million dollars off of seized money from drugs and going to the drug cartels and tonight the these canines are not adoptable so when it comes time to the end of their working life there's essentially two choices The canine is euthanized. The canine is euthanized or the handler can take the canine home in adopting well house bill thirteen nineteen or rhinos law will provide for rhino in his retirement currently we have one canine in retirement this bill will provide a maximum of twenty five hundred dollars a year for the retired canines to pay for their food that bills vaccinations of any of that stuff up to twenty five hundred dollars a year and as well as the tech tree so otherwise the troopers that adopt their partner has been part of their lives for so many years otherwise he would have to bear the cost of taking care of that that K. nine so with that being said I'd be happy to take this representive Tosh says serious questions. On this Wardlaw sit down. Thank you and I appreciate your vote. Hi representative berry has explained the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill. The non representative very close for a bill or present barriers close first bill the question for the houses now the passage of house bill thirteen nineteen madam Clerk please proceed. As everyone voted. Clark please cast up the ballot. With ninety three yeah zero ninety five present the bill is passed. Madam Clark please read house bill thirteen twenty two. S. the thirteenth twenty two by representative Cavenaugh to amend Arkansas law concerning the reduction of certain regulatory fees and charges and to declare an emergency representative Cavenaugh you are recognized to present the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is a bill that actually sets the steps so when a commissioner board in the department of health or labor licensing has three years worth of fund balance that they will start reducing the fees that they charge the people that they collect their fees from it sets up the structure how will do that and that's simply what the bill does and if you have any questions I'll be glad to answer them. Saying no I appreciate a good vote. Representative Cavenaugh has explained the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill. All representative having only close for your bill. I will take that as a yes. at this time members questions before the house is the passage of house bill thirteen twenty two it does have an emergency clause on it madam Clark please prepare the machine. In your voting on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. Madam Clark please cast up the ballot. With ninety nine EA zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Okay madam Clark please read house bill ten oh five. One thousand five a representative Pilkington to repeal section five X. twenty twenty one number five sixty eight. Representative Pilkington you may present the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker The title is very vague so let me read the full title to you so explain an act to repeal section five back to one number five fifty eight so that the small town Economic Development Act which we passed last session amends the extension of the license requirement and does not expire in December this year layman's terms we passed the bill last session we gave it a sense of sunshine for two years. A city county local came back we review the law we all agree recommend that we get rather sunshine language and now this is just a continuation of getting around that sun sign language that we put in there there's concerns about safety and There's concerns about safety we have an eighties or safety issues and I appreciate city can local giving it a unanimous vote of support with that I will take questions from any non freshman. Okay well. The representative use what purpose question recognized for a question Sir was wanted you could explain what the sunshine part of this is. No Way sunshine part. Is it sunset or sunshine are all right you're right I'd. I'm trying to you might speed up to like Mary Bentley levels so I. you're right sunset that's my bad okay sorry sorry all right thank you thank you representatives and I'm sure represent McKenzie gave Madison. Representative Pilkington has explained the the bill I would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Pilkington you close for your bill okay the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten oh five minute Clerk prepare the machine. Everyone voted. Everyone voted man Clark cast up the ballot. With ninety nine yeas or nays are present the bill is passed. madam Clerk please read house bill thirteen oh eight. Thirteen a representative Lanny Fite to amend the law to provide for changes related Arkansas constitution amendment one oh one and to declare an emergency representative you are recognized to present the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker back in two thousand one we pass legislation that required cities of misspent money out of the street fund to be repaid out of the general revenues at the rate of ten percent. Well during the legislative audit approach me last year and notified me that sometimes restricted funds like that eight thirty three money goes into that fund course we cannot take ten percent of that so we had to come back and make a definition for this purpose here and that's all we've added to the bill and why we were doing that we also found some obsolete language and we have deleted that I'd be happy to answer any questions. Being non I appreciate a good vote. The representative of the fight has explained the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative you're recognized to close your bill representative fight indicates he is close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen oh eight this does have an emergency clause on it man Clerk prepare the voting machine. Your vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted. Madam Clark please cast about but ninety nine EA zero nine zero present the bill is passed. And the emergency clause madam Clark please read house bill ten thirty one ten thirty one by representative Lanny Fite to amend the Arkansas highway revenue distribution law concerning distributions the County Aid fines and Municipal Aid Fund representative fire recognized to present the bill. Of the Speaker I think I presented the wrong law last time if. That I presented our team. Thirteen oh eight thirteen oh it's the bill we just did are now doing ten thirty one okay thirteen oh eight NO ten thirty ones are doing now. Is being. Ten thirty one is the bill we're doing now. Okay. I present I presented ten thirty one last time you I apologize. It's all also often sold to the parliamentarian in the House did pass thirteen oh eight so you're if you say you're going to continue on ten thirty one. Same as last time appreciate a good. Doesn't get much easier than that. Would anybody like to speak against this bill. For the bill. I was in a fight I'm assuming you're close for this one as well. Now the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten thirty one madam Clark please for the machine. Has everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark. With ninety eight one nine zero present the bill is passed. Manafort please read house bill thirteen thirty five S. the thirty thirty five a representative part to amend the law concerning election or appointment of city attorneys and some in the law concerning the office of city attorney and mayor council city represent hawk you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you thank you Mr Speaker. House bill thirteen thirty five is one that was similar to one that represent Cavenaugh passed last session I believe in that one all it's going to do is to allow for welcome isn't municipalities to pass an ordinance to allow to not have an elected city attorney so it would be an appointed city attorney at that point all right now the quorum court's in counties or don't have elected city attorney in so this is this bill would be for fifty thousand people Alaska municipal league has got behind this bill and so the ordinance has to be placed by the city councils in the cities in order for this to going to affect so if an ordinance is done and then the state law stays in place words in elected city attorney so with that I'll answer any questions. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote represent hawkers explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill represent hawk is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen thirty five prepared machine madam Clark. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark. The voter ninety four yeas to nays zero present the bill is passed. Members were Passover house bill thirteen forty nine madam Clark please re house bill thirteen forty four. House bill thirteen forty four by representative McKenzie to set the minimum container size of you're just liquor to be sold for off premises consumption. Some kids you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and fellow members at today I'm here to present. Pardon me. Today I'm here to present HB one three four four to build relevant to the minimum container of spirits beverages sold in the state of Arkansas I know it's been a means today that we people come to Florence said this is a simple bill my bill is the simplest bill it's twenty four words long and affects two characters of our current state code to put this bill presentation to very fine point under current Arkansas state code consumers are walking so off premises off premises licensed liquor stores in the state of Arkansas are required to purchase a hundred milliliters of spirits beverage and for those of you are aware or may it may know the what's called an airplane bottle the most common denomination of that airplane bottles fifty milliliters so currently our state code requires consumers walking into liquor stores to purchase two of those bottles at a time we're requires retailers to spend the extra effort time and money to package those two together or distillers or distributors to spend additional costs to also co pack those products this bill is unique in that it we have a we have retailers distributors distillers as well as no no no opposition from organizations that we are all familiar with who often do oppose liquor legislation With that a happy to answer any questions if there are any. All right appreciate of a. President mackenzie's explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent McKenzie is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen forty four per the machine man Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Manafort. By a vote of seventy five Yeas seven days in twelve present the bill is passed. Members. We're going to we're going to skip the Senate bills today. Going to take up the budget calendar. And And. Just for a second before represent Jean Takes the floor we do have with us today. Just in time the county judges of Arkansas there here we have two former state reps among their number in their here on the floor former representative Mike Patterson and former representative Larry counted. And any view with the go ahead and join me in giving applause for all of our county judges and everybody else in ring the room. Senator Jane you're recognized president Budget cal. Thank you Mr Speaker. Calling we're going to have a we're going to the one house bill the Arkansas. Public employees retirement system any questions. President Wardlaw you're recognized for a question. A request recognized thank you Mr Speaker I request we hold is to Monday please pass over to Monday yes Sir all writing. Then we'll get to the Senate bills. We have Senate bill twenty five is the partner of transmission shared services it does have a little Jett general revenue but it is flat. Senate bill twenty seven which is the alter for the status of continuing education for our county clerks candy treasures and all that it has no general revenue impact. Senate bill sixty five this is the Arkansas teacher retirement system it also has no general revenue impact. And Senate bill eighty four department of parks and tourism this is for only for the capital zoning of Commission and it has general revenue but no increase. Do I have any of these need to be pulled out of the back for any reason represent Wardlaw for purpose. Request you're recognized I request that we pass over Senate bill sixty five until Monday please. The retirement age of retirement system yes okay we'll pass over this bill and put it on the calendar for next week. Any other request. Any other questions only the other three bills we're gonna take up Senate bill twenty five Senate bill twenty seven and Senate bill eighty four. Remember that your one vote is for the bill emergency clause Mister Speaker the Clerk read the bill for the third time. I don't Clark please read the bills for the third time in about twenty five Senate bill twenty seven Senate bill eighty four. Per machine metal parts. Voting on the bills and the emergency clause. Everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark. By a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill emerges bills emergency clauses are past members overlooked one other groups with this today in the east gallery guests of represent of entries represent Gonzales is leadership debate a county. President makes what purpose motion place let's hear motion after the House entering the bills transferring the bill's place on the counters on the desk members amending their own bills their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalized resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until one thirty on Monday afternoon proper motion is not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed motion passes are there any announcements. Represent all be for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized members on Monday at three o'clock in the rotunda you're going to be the therapy dogs courthouse therapy dogs which will invite all of you to stop by for that presentation represent warrant what purpose announcmenet you're recognized retirement committee will meet Monday morning at eight thirty AM in mac a. Do what purpose you're recognized. Any of you all have not signed that new my former step while still my dad my dad former state representative can hindrance birthday card I'm taken back to today I just ask for you stop by and sign that before I leave thank you reserve wing purpose. You're recognized I just wanna remind every. back on again just remind everybody that the mailboxes in the private room are listed by your district number not by seniority not by your favorite number or your last winning lottery ticket numbers so seniority number please and then also be sure and clean those out on a regular basis this is the last district. Okay. Let's the women were start all this over again I'll leave out the funny part it is by your district number not by seniority or any other number district thank you. Represent makes purpose. Please you're recognized the advanced communication and information technology committee will meet Monday at twelve thirty and one fifty one and we are gonna get our picture taken saw Monday at twelve thirty represent rate for purpose you're recognized. Colleagues I was asked to remind everyone that next Wednesday February fifteenth is all timers and dimension dementia awareness day is going to be at a ceremony at eleven thirty in the second floor rotunda and you're invited to wear purple and honor that because. Represent Lanny Fite what purpose announcmenet you're recognized ninety judges dinner tonight at five thirty days the building. Represent Crawford what purpose announcmenet you're recognized I February fifteenth we will have the pregnancy resource centers in the capital everyone's invited to lunch but I need to head count will be at the RPA please either text me or email me if you want to come to that lunch thank you. Any other announcements. Represent eleven. Seeing no other announcements the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills upon completion The Addams named in the adjourned resolution. The house will be adjourned until one thirty PM Monday.