House Convenes

I by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by a representative Jack Fortner and remain standing for the pledge allegiance to be led by representative Lane Jean. Let's pray. Heavenly father we come before you today with thankful hearts we thank you for the country that we live in we thank you for our health we thank you for our ability to be here and do what we do we are so thankful that you bless us every day we ask that you will help us today to do your will be the people you want us to be. And I do your work a man. Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button repair the machine madam Clark. Cast about my part. With ninety eight members present the chair sees a quorum. Are there any request for leave. Representative Kenneth Ferguson for what purpose leave you're recognized legal representative David Whitaker. It's leave granted representative would occur. So noted represent Berks what purpose you're recognized leave a representative Lundstrum is leave granted represent once from. So noted and let the journal reflect their ninety seven members press. Representative Jeffrey Wardlaw moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal without objection so ordered R. their Reports from select committees are the Reports from standing committees read the reports madam Clark is we are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill eleven forty four thank you for for the same consideration here return with recommendation that a do pass respectfully submit representative very vice chair Mister Speaker we are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill forty eight basically report that insane under consideration here determine the same recommendation that a do pass respectfully submitted representative Dalby chair Mister Speaker your committee on education to whom was referred Senate bill sixty eight beg leave to report that we have same consideration here the time with recommendation that a do pass thankfully submitted represented eleven chair. Mr Speaker we are committee on public health welfare and labor committee to whom was referred house bill one thousand nine house bill eleven fifty five Senate bill seventy four Senate bill ninety three big labor for that we have in the same consideration here the time with the same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted representative Johnson J. Mr Speaker your committee on public transportation to whom was referred house bill eleven seventy one house bill thirteen twenty one house bill thirteen twenty fourth senate bill forty seven. Beg leave to report that we have in the same consideration here the time with the recommendation that a do pass respectfully submit representative Holcomb chair. Three unfinished business. There any Executive communications. Members we do have a couple of guests with this. In the. North gallery we have Tiffany and Bonnie Graham like the wife and daughter of representative Graham like who have graciously loaned us represent Graham like for the duration of our. Clark please read Senate concurrent resolution. Senate concurrent resolution number one to adopt the joint rules of the house of representatives and. And the Senate of the ninety first General Assembly. President Vaught you're recognized to explain the resolution. Speaker as so this will do for things it'll set a deadline for the lottery scholarships the the legislation for those scholarships it'll per change the procedure for lottery scholarships. Right restricts committee meetings from being taken place during council week except for the council committees and it changes the pronouns of the governor for he and she and with that I would appreciate a good vote. President falls explain the resolution anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. President Vaught is close for the resolution the question before the House is the adoption of Senate concurrent passage of Senate concurrent resolution one. All in favor say aye. Any opposed resolution is passed. Let the record reflect that the resolution received more than. Morning hour is indeed madam Clark please read House Bill. House Bill Evans twenty seven by representative Johnson to create the rules emergency hospital Act to authorize the licensure of rule emergency hospitals by the department of health and to declare an emergency representative Johnson you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members I think all of us know that our rural hospitals are struggling right now struggling to financially staff float some of them or the risk of closure this is all across the country that's not a problem unique to Arkansas the federal government recognized that back in twenty twenty and they created a new hospital designation and call the rule emergency hospital designation this designation is intended to be a lifeline are struggling rural hospitals so currently the only designation available to these hospitals in rural areas that we get enhanced payment from Medicare is critical access hospitals so this allows a new designation for critical access hospitals to convert to what the federal government is deemed a rule emergency hospital this allows them to shift the emphasis of enhanced payment from inpatient care to outpatient care so when you look at how we deliver care in rural hospitals now because of the. Advances we've seen in medical care more and more we're needing to transfer patients from a rule facilities Jarvis of Jesus is no slot on a responsibilities is just the fact is how we deliver care has become more complicated and more often require specialized treatment from specialists that just don't live or practice in a rural communities so our rural hospitals have shifted more from inpatient care to outpatient care over the last twenty five years this recognizes that fact will provide a hundred five percent reimbursement for outpatient services which would be emergency services and for patients that are capped for less than forty eight hours for observation this is an enhancement the currently these hospitals can't get by applying for this new status they can they can achieve this new enhanced I this will be for every hospital there some hospitals in our look at the map of this and decide that continuing to get provide inpatient services and be a critical access hospitals the rock moved for them they'll be some hospitals look at this look at their average daily census for inpatient care to have for us it makes more sense to convert to this rule emergency hospital designation so there's no requirement for any hospital do this this is a lot the all the all the legislation is is presently is just enabling legislation so this is legislation that will create this licensure which currently doesn't exist in Arkansas to line with the federal licensure status of again this is an opportunity for the hospitals that that want to try to apply for this new designation this creates that pathway a question came up to the committee that I said I would address the well there there is a date limit on this so this is for existing hospitals that resistance as of December twenty seventh twenty twenty and the reason they tried to put this date in there was some concern that if they allowed new hospitals to come into these communities that there might be a chance for them to take advantage of this new designation in and through this process maybe put undue pressure on existing role Haas. Bills so just to be clear this is only for existing hospitals not for new hospitals that may create new licensors in the future again this is a federal stipulations there's really not anything at a state level we can do to change that but I didn't that that question did come up the committee and I just want to try to address that from the well I'd be happy to answer any other questions if any members have any questions about this bill. It's a really good opportunity to help out a rural hospitals I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Johnson has explained the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative Johnson would you like to close for your bill representative Johnson is closed for the bill. The question before the House is passage of. House bill eleven twenty seven. Where the machine madam Clerk. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everybody voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk. With a votive ninety five yea one nine zero present the bill has passed. And the emergency clause. Madam Clark read house bill eleven ninety eight representative Gramlich house bill eleven ninety eight by representative families to amend the law concerning early voting on county holiday. Representative Gramlich you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you first off I've taught eighth graders for seven years you can't hurt me All right house bill eleven ninety eight is a very simple bill it was brought to me by solicitation counties there's no opposition essentially what it does is it takes out the ability for a polling place to coat close on a county holiday what this will do is we'll and allow uniform voting across the entire state and makes it easier for someone who lives on this side County but works on this council decides they need to go back and it just makes uniform voting across the states it'll be easier for everyone again assessing counties came to me no no no opposition I never even heard of a county holiday. Bentley a county judge can call for everyone but that's that's all I know. And I think a question if you got one. Thank you. Representative Gramlich has explained the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative Gramlich has indicated he is closed for the bill madam Clerk. The question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven ninety eight madam Clark. Please prepare the machine. As everyone voted. With the vote of ninety. With that if ninety five yea. Would you repeat that please. Zero nine zero present the bill has passed. Madam Clerk please read house bill twelve sixty seven the representative Mayberry House Bill so sixty seven by representative maybe to require specific number of hours of dementia training for home care givers. President of Mayberry you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you madam chair. this bill here today came from a working group thanks to this body legislators last session passed a bill that created Advisory Council or the Alzheimer's disease and dementia Advisory Council a group of people from around the state representing different organizations and governmental agencies we've been working on some ideas to help those who have Alzheimer's disease and dementia and of course their family and their care givers and this is one of those ideas that came out you will eventually hear of more ideas but one is to make sure that in the current forty hours it's already required for in home care givers that we use for those hours specifically on Alzheimer's disease and dementia and understanding the difference between the two and just what someone needs to know in those special situations this is a great bill and it's going to help out many families in the state I'd be happy to take any questions. Representative brown for what purpose question you're recognized representative may very I think this sounds wonderful but could you tell me is this available to all families for certain families actually it's for the in home care giver that's going to be providing the care so it's not for the family member. Follow up I recognize is this just you're recognized for your follow up thank you. What I'm saying is this a Medicaid benefit or as is available to all in home care givers. It is to the provider so it's not the if you're a care giver as in the child of that person with Alzheimer's disease okay that's not what this is This is the one who is paid to come into the home to provide care through Medicaid or Medicare or whatever services might be providing that the professional that's coming into the home has to have forty hours of training for those hours now specifically are Alzheimer's disease and dementia thank you for that clarification. Representive Richmond for what purpose question you're recognized represent Mayberry Is this going to have additional cost associated with with the training of the home care now they're already required to do this forty hours of training it's already in there we just or making sure that there is a section that deals specifically with Alzheimer's disease and dementia because how you might handle that person is a little bit differently than how you might handle someone who does not thank you. No extra cost representative Holcomb for what purpose question you're recognized thank you represent Mayberry yeah I know we both dealt with the same situation in my mother's case. I will I still be able to choose who. We still be able to hire people us someone we know in the family or in the community to come in and assistance with with that care that just watched some without going through this training this that's to be available to this this bill does not affect that and not at all thank. I'd appreciate a good vote thank you I will also say that DHS and the department of health have looked at this bill gave it to him a few months ago no problems happy with the bill I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Mayberry has explained the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative may very are you close to your bill. Representative Mayberry is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve sixty seven. Batum Clark please prepare the voting machine. As everyone voted. Yes that the ballot madam Clerk. With that if ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill has passed madam Clerk please Riyadh read house bill twelve sixty five representatives all. House bill twelve sixty five by representative Dalby to amend the real estate license loss modify the definition a licensee under the real estate license law and to allow a broker or salesman to do business as a professional limited liability company. Epicenter Dalby you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you madam chair members house bill twelve sixty five simply is clarifying law that a licensee under the real estate license law may do business as a professional limited liability company. At a. Representative Dalby has explained the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representative dobby is indicated she is closed for the bill. Madam Clark please prepare the machine. The question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve sixty five. As everyone votes. Yes that the ballot madam Clerk. With the vote of ninety five Yeas zero Nays and zero present the bill has passed. Madam Clark please read house bill twelve fifty eight a representative Lundstrum policies may we're going to pass over that today. Madam Clerk please really read house bill eleven seventy five a representative under would. House bill eleven seventy five a representative Underwood to amend the law to create consistency among statutes concerning the establishment and duties of municipal police departments and municipal fire departments. Centered under would you are recognized to present the bill. I thank you at this bill brought to me by the Municipal League last session we passed a bill that just inadvertently remove some language about who are the policy makers for police departments and so musically just want to clarify that and then they also discovered that there was some inconsistencies between the policy makers for police departments and fire departments so all this bill is just clarifying that as well and obviously and the support of the bill happy to take questions if there are any. I sing nine is a good vote thank you. Representive Underwood has explained the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Representive Underwood has indicated he is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven seventy five. Madam Clark please cast a please prepare the machine. As everyone voted. Madam Clerk. Please cast the of the ballot. With that ninety six Yeas zero nine zero present the bill has passed we're going to back up to house bill twelve fifty eight. Representative births. You are recognized to present the bill. That is Clark please read house bill eleven. Fifty eight. Is the twelve fifty eight house bill twelve fifty eight by representative mark to amend the prohibition on the sale of sale or use of sky lanterns into other cities to issue permits for the use of skyline. Representative Burke you're recognized. Share colleagues and friends I'm presenting this bill for representative Lundstrum today you may or may not realize that ten plus years ago we outlawed the use of sky lanterns in Arkansas those are the lanterns that you often see at weddings or funerals sometimes to symbolize assault being cast up in or at a wedding for a celebration in the last ten plus years of sky lanterns have evolved greatly in their design and this bill is to amend the prohibition of the sale or use of sky lanterns and authorize cities to issue permits for use of sky lanterns so the cities will still have the responsibility of issuing a permit in the event of an event to be held in the public With that I ask for a good vote. President Burks's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Burks's click close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve fifty eight prepared machine mental Clark. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark with ninety two U. A. zero nine to present the bill is passed. Madam Clark please read house bill thirteen eighteen. S. the thirteenth eighteen by representative Cavenaugh concerning an allowance basis for bids for certain municipal purchasing contract. President Cavenaugh you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker hi this is a simple bill that's going to allow municipalities and their utilities to be able to look at the life cost associated with doing projects or bids currently now most is up most cities will just look at the initial cost when doing the bed this will allow me to be able to look at the lifetime cost the actual language is similar to what is already exist for state agencies because they can already do this so this is just put municipalities on the par with state agencies and with that I'd appreciate a good vote president Kavanagh's explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the. President Cavenaugh is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill thirteen eighteen prepared machine madam Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark. With ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill is passed Adam Clark please read house bill eleven seventy seven house bill eleven seventy seven by representative Johnson to amend the law regarding alcoholic beverages to clarify the law on private club advertising percent Johnson you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker members I I know I'll call bill sometimes our system issues going to be real clear on what this does currently in dry counties we have a process for private clubs to license to sell alcohol it's clear the statute that they're not allowed to advertise that they sell alcohol and I totally support that there's been some confusion over how we define advertising in the statute it says not use media but there's been sometimes interpretations were just seeing someone drinking alcoholic beverage to the window has maybe been interpreted as advertising so for me just visualizing someone consuming our place was absolutely to consume I that doesn't rise to the level of advertising the statute just clarifies that says this is not advertising it doesn't create any new alcohol sales that is certainly doesn't enhance the advertising opportunities and I'd be happy to try to answer any questions that you may. Senior questions representative more for purpose question you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker of this includes people drinking or eating food on patios or outdoor spaces it's a great question so we did we do have an entertainment district law that we passed some years ago in the last session it was clarified that. People with dry counties can apply to have an entertainment district so if they're outside of the restaurant and that and they have a designated entertainment districts as permitted by the local government so that process for you obtaining intake distributor dry counties have to go through the local government if there any entertainment district they can consume on a patio if they're not in an entertainment district they cannot this would not enable them to consume outside of the restaurant it would just say that if you're seen drinking a beverage through the window that's not advertising represent hawk for what purpose question you're recognized for saying what this bill is that because of the privacy stab which meant we can't advertise a happy hour anything to promote business so that's already in statute so already in statute is very clear that you can't put me on signs put up you know some sort of advertisement for happy hour you can advertise pricing this is not changing that that's still in statute this is just saying clearly that you know just just seeing someone their window is not advertising there was some restaurants that had to go in and to get their windows to try to make sure that they weren't interpreted as advertising just when someone sees someone sitting at a table inside the restaurant drinking about. Any other questions. Sing I appreciate a good vote thank you represent Johnson explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Johnson is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill eleven seventy seven prepared machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk with seventy five Yeas six six nays and nine present the bill is passed. President makes what purpose motion place let's hear your motion after the announcmenet trading the bills transferring the bill's place in the counties on that as members amending their own bills on Amendment members withdrawing their own bills finalize resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee report I move we adjourn until one thirty on Monday afternoon. That's proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye any oppose motion passes are there any announcements. Representative ray for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized colleagues I just wanna remind everybody that tomorrow February third is wear red day and all of your boxes you should have go red for women lapel pin to commemorate that day just a reminder that it's raising awareness for cardiovascular disease which is the number one killer of women so. Be sure to wear red tomorrow. Even up. Even though we're not here right. Represent Fortner for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized admittedly following a recess in big mac A. AG is going to meet and I would invite any of the body that wants to come the folks from the Louisiana school of veterinary science are here to make a presentation to us and I would appreciate your support. President Warren for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized. Retirement committee will meet Monday morning at eight thirty in mac eighty come ready for picture first thank you representative Wayne for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized I just wanted to make House Management Committee members aware we are going to have a meeting upon adjournment on Monday size so get that on your calendar I need resolutions were filed today would also be on that agenda. Any other announcements. Not the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of bills upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house to