House Convenes

And by the member staff press and guests in the gallery sustained to be led in prayer by representative Milton Nicks and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Lang. Thank you Mr last Friday most gracious heavenly father we come before you this this afternoon probably just first of all given thanks to you for the many places that you stored upon us and father we pray for your guidance as we go through this this day of session we we pray that you as we prepared to do the state's business we pray lord that you allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our decision making And father we pray for those members that may be traveling in this bad weather and we asked laws to cover him protect him with your amazing grace in Jesus name we pray amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing you yellow present button prepare the machine madam Clark. Cast a ballot madam Clerk. With ninety five members present chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave represent Fortner for what purpose lease you're recognized leave for representative Ferguson and Whitaker sleep right of representative Deborah Ferguson. So notice it's leave granted for representative would occur. Some noted. President Richmond for what purpose you're recognized. Request leave for representative Holcomb is leave grant represent Holcomb the so noted representative car for purpose you're recognized. representative wouldn't is leave granted for represent Wooten. Some noted thank you Mr. And Clark please read act actually runs Passover House resolution one thousand four man part please read Senate concurrent resolution to. Senate concurrent resolution by House Management providing that the Senate and the. In the representatives of the General Assembly may recess on March sixteenth twenty twenty three and reconvene on March twenty seventh twenty twenty three. Speakers Shepherd you're recognized president resolution. Thank you Mr chairman members you have before you today Senate concurrent resolution to this is sponsored by Senator Hester Senator Hester had reached out to me several weeks ago asking about the possibility of the house in the Senate taking off all of what is spring break across all of our public schools here in Arkansas as those that have been here will recall over the last two regular sessions we have limited our business that we to really the first two days the week we had an abbreviated week and so that meant that we would you know work. Really hard the week before and then it would also allow us time to come back the following week and so this is passed out of the Senate and I bring it to you today I told him I would run it here on the house in this is my perspective on it is to yeah I know there's always concern about taking days off and obviously we're working today and we try to we try to be here to work what I would say about taking off the week of spring break is it does allow number of members and staff and others to be able to spend some time with their family but also allows all of us to be back in our districts where we can meet with constituents and what I've also found is that usually about the time spring break rolls around is also about the time everybody's kind of sick and sick of each other and it doesn't hurt to have a little bit of time to go home catch our breath and come back and and one of the added benefits as well as I think it would also assist in allowing the bureau as we head towards the end of session gives them the opportunity to maybe be able to catch up on amendments and other things that are that need to happen before we wrap up session I would say if this passes then again what I would anticipate is the week for spring break we would work really hard to try to get as much done as we can to kind of clear our calendars as best we can and then obviously come back ready to work following spring break. Be glad to answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote. Speaker Shepherd as president the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. For the resolution. Speaker Shepherd is close for the resolution to question before the House is the passage of S. C. R. to all in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Resolution is adopted. Members room back up for just a moment are there any Reports from select committees. Read the reports in the committee spent Clark Mr Speaker your committee on public health welfare and labor to whom was referred house bill eleven twenty seven seven basically report that we have had in the same consideration here the time from the same recommendation that it do pass as amended number one respectfully submitted. Representative Lee Johnson chair Mr Speaker we your committee on public health and welfare and labor to whom was referred house bill eleven of a house bill twelve fifty house bill twelve fifty one Senate bill fifty eight beg leave to report that we have had under consideration here return the same recommendation that it do pass Mr Speaker we are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill one thousand four house bill twelve forty five beg leave to report that we have and same consideration here's a fine with the same recommendation that it do pass Mister Speaker we are. Committee on Education to whom was referred house bill one fifty six house bill in fifty seven house bill twelve thirty eight beg leave to report that we have same under consideration here to time with the same recommendation that a do pass thankfully submitted representative Evans chair. Members represent different Wardlaw most we dispensed the ring a previous day's Journal without objections so ordered is there any unfinished business are there any Executive communications are. Morning hour is ended Adam Clark please read house bill ten eighty two. House bill ten eighty two by representative cooking is to establish activation therapy licensure compact in Arkansas. President Pilkington you're recognized to explain your bill thank you Mr Speaker I today bring to you the O. T. compact legislation that we pass on the public health committee I know it's been on the counter for a while and I appreciate you all being patient with me real quick just pretty simple that's been passed in twenty two states with six more states pending the idea behind the the compact is that we're opening it up making it a lot for occupational therapists to come in and work in states enhance mobility supports relocation for spouses who are hold O. T. licenses improve continuity of care and also allows for the practice of telemedicine in various states you know just to make sure that address any concerns this is not a takeover state regulatory authority this is not a takeover state licensing systems either you get in Arkansas licensed your license in the state of Arkansas if you wanna get a compact is in addition to this then you can become a compact license member and operate in the other twenty two states so if you don't wanna be part of the compact you know to be part of the compact it doesn't take away anything doesn't doesn't get rid of state sovereignty or anything like that so with that ask for a good vote. Thank you represent Wardlaw. President Pilkington is left the well. President Putin is explained bill anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent would like to speak against the bill. President Wardlaw you're you're recognized speak. Thank you Mr Speaker I don't like speaking against bills but if you read on page thirteen I can't remember the line off top of my head but it talks about rulemaking authority and it talks about prosecuting ability of you go to page seventeen at lines out the rule making process and it doesn't follow the same rule making process is a state of Arkansas it also lays out that the only way we can disagree with any rule for as a state of Arkansas is a vote of the legislature when we're in session any other agency or any other government body when they set forth and have rule making authority they come to council on a monthly basis and we can overrule those rules if they don't follow constitutionality are state law or federal law so this does give away a good bit of power of the state of Arkansas over see folks that are doing business in the state of Arkansas so that is a big concern of mine of there's another bill in public health had the same language in it and it was pulled down I have no problem with where we're going with this I have no problem with occupational therapist at get and compact like sins I just have a problem with not being able to oversee the rulemaking ability and the prosecuting part I have no idea why they need that I have no idea one that's in there that also is very concerning so with that I'd greatly ask. Person Wardlaw spoke against building would like to speak for the bill. Would like to speak against of represent hockey recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker it's nice to hear when legislators are seeking to solve problems that our Kansans have by providing services qualified on a national standard basis that others can practice here in Arkansas and others can practice with arc their licenses moving to other states as well I support the bill and I encourage everyone here to educate themselves on any information that might have been given that is not accurate about the wording on national compact's thank you. Sifaka spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill president Pilkington you're recognized close for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker up president Wardlaw address those issues with me yesterday I went to be all are discussing with my with the bill drafter those concerns and and like I said you have an Arkansas license this is the compact the worked on top of it the idea and the rules that he's referencing to on I believe it's Page twelve. essentially only deals with the compact itself and so obviously the compact has the ability to govern itself to make rules about itself we are participating member they get about along with every other compact state so there's no I'm not seen and my the bill drafter I discusses with NPR's the same where they could come in and affect the Arkansas O. T. license to possess if you're in our cans in you're gonna live in Arkansas the rest of your life you never want to practice eighteen or else get in Arkansas of the license like you currently have but if you live in the border Washington County Benton County you know some of the county and you find that you maybe want to open up another sign another state and practise Otey over there. You might consider getting the compact and yes it is a little more rules and rags on you but no one is forcing you to join that compact wasn't there twenty two other states that participate in this I really highly doubt it that some of these states have given away their state sovereignty. Over O. T.. With that I ask for a good vote and I appreciate the ability to bring this bill for to you today thank. Precipitous closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten eighty two per machine. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot madam Clark with seventy one the A. seven days twelve present the bill is passed Manafort please read house bill ten twenty six. House bill ten twenty six by representative Fraser prohibit local governments from enacting an income tax rate you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is a pretty simple bill it would prohibit local governments from imposing a tax on income in the state of Arkansas currently there are no local governments cities counties or otherwise that impose a local income tax but across the country there are literally thousands of jurisdictions that do four thousand nine hundred and sixty four of them to be exact if you have never lived in one of these places that may seem a little odd but several States seventeen of them mostly in the rust belt and in the northeast DO have local income taxes Iowa for example has two hundred and eighty jurisdictions that levy one Kentucky has two hundred and ten I'll high has eight hundred and forty eight such jurisdictions As far as taxes go I think most folks in this room would agree that income taxes are some of the most economically damaging of all taxes they just incentivize work and labor and productivity all things that we want more of in society not less of and it's been there there's lots of reasons to oppose a local income tax but one of the primary ones I think for our purposes is it's been the policy of this body for the last eight years to consistently year after year lower the income tax burden of our Kansans and with the direction that we are heading in the future of hopefully phasing out our state income tax the last thing that we know we need is to come back in on the local and and back fill that very same tax burden and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Percent raise explain the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill percent raise close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten twenty six per machine madam Clerk. Everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark with seventy nine Yeas ten days and one present the bill is passed members or pass over house bill ten forty two madam Clark please read house bill eleven ten. House bill eleven ten by representative Warren Warren to eliminate obsolete mapping requirements for the premium tax revenues to be distributed to a city town or fire protection district for the purpose of funding local police and fire relief and pension funds. Warren you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues. House bill eleven ten as fire and police pension review board bill it's technical change bill the changes removed obsolete mapping requirements for premium tax distribution as mapping information is no longer required as part of the process. We used to use a mapping requirement that required UALR to do the work. That contract runs out in June of this year. The process has been changed it's just a straight percentage being used now for the formula so will be saving money by not requiring the services of UA lar for the calculation so I'm just asking that we update the language here and remove the mapping requirements. She's a good vote. One is explain the building would like to speak. Percent worn is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven ten prepared machine. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark with ninety one yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed madam Clark please read house bill eleven eleven. House bill eleven eleven to amend the age in which members of certain plans under the Arkansas local police and fire retirement system and local police and fire pension and relief funds begin to receive fund distributions someone you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and colleagues this bill is also a technical change bill for both lobby and the pension review board the changes amend the maximum age for distribution as allowed by federal law basically what we're doing is matching the federal law with the state law basically it's going to allow people to do for taking retirement to basically anywhere from eight seventy three to seventy five so we're just matching federal law I appreciate a good vote. Percent worn as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to see. Percent worn is closed for the bill the question before the House is pastor of House Bill. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about man Clerk with ninety one U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Person makes for what purpose motion place what's your motion after the announcmenet three of the bill structuring bills place the counters on the desk members amending their own bills or amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalized resolutions reading communications and any remaining reports I move we adjourn until one thirty tomorrow afternoon contingent upon the call of the chair. That's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed motion passes. Members before we move to announcements the time being we're we're planning on a normal schedule tomorrow but will monitor what happens overnight with the roads look like in the morning as you. At home if you have travel issues or other issues that come up feel free to reach out to us to myself for Roy if you need further assistance are there any announce. Represent Fortner what purpose. You're recognized acclimate at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. If Lanny Fite what purpose now that's what you're recognized city county local will meet in mac a tomorrow at ten AM represent Mayberry for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized aging children and youth military affairs will meet at ten AM. Representative wing for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized members just be looking for an email regarding offices and any potential switches that will explain everything but be looking for that email and then we'll follow up tomorrow representantes for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized state agencies will meet at ten AM in the morning room one fifty one percent of off what purpose to announcements you're recognized per caucus will not meet in the morning due to the weather so we just what we have and per caucus and rules will meet tomorrow at nine. Maddox what purpose announcmenet you're recognized Insurance and Commerce meet tomorrow at ten AM. Members one other announcmenet. Approximately fifteen minutes after we adjourn we will let most if not all the House staff go home obviously you still have access with your key cards but just want you to be aware of that in case there is anything that you need to get with staff. Right. Any other announcements. Yes we're main open is needed for the reading of bills upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution the house to be adjourned until one thirty PM tomorrow for the call of the chair.