House Convenes

I am by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by bishop James Bolden the third of evangelistic ministries church of Jacksonville guests to represent Mark Perry and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Let us for. Hello FOR. In the mighty name of Jesus we give thanks follow Arkansas state government. We hold up in prayer before you all governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the entire Arkansas ninety four General Assembly these individuals who are in positions of authority. We fasten three two in a scene from house of representatives that the spirit of the lord rest upon them. We believe this skillful and godly wisdom has entered the hearts of all house of representatives and into the heart of our entrusted elective officials. Right right shall dwell in the house that the individuals blameless and complete in just like father Guard shall remain in these positions of authority. Your word plainly declares that blessed is the nation whose god is the lord we receive your blessing father god. You are refuge and stronghold in times of trouble and confusion. When you were at the heart of the king. Which means leadership is in the hand of the lord and that you turn it which ever way you desire. We believe the hearts of all house of representatives elected officials are in your hands and that the decisions are divinely directed of the law. We give thanks to this ninety for the General Assembly that you have given us in Jesus name amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button machine madam Clerk. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk. With ninety nine members present The chair sees a quorum or other request for leave. Represent McAuliffe what purpose leave you're recognized leave the representative flowers is leave granted for RepresentativeHouse hours so no. Senate Jeff Wardlaw most we dispense the reading of the previous day's Journal without objection so ordered are there Reports from select committees. Are the reports from standing committees read the reports madam Clerk. Mr Speaker we are committee on city county local and affairs to whom was referred house bill ten fourteen by representative Watson daily report that we have the same into consideration here a time frame with recommendation that a do pass respectfully submitted Lanny Fite two years. Mr Speaker we your committee on state agencies and governmental affairs to whom was referred house bill ten ninety nine house bill eleven sixty three house bill eleven sixty four big league report that we have had in the same consideration here they're trying to thank the recommendation that a do pass. This is Speaker we are committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred house bill ten forty house bill ten forty two house bill eleven forty seven Bagley report that we have had under same consideration here the time frame recommendation that a do pass. Three unfinished business. Other Executive communications. Members are doctor of the day is doctor ball lots Simon of Little Rock in our nurses days miss sherry wine on. We also have with this in the east gallery the Arkansas optometric association. And as a guest of representative works we have the bill do we of spring Dale who is a student at the southern college of optometry. In the north gallery. We have as the guests of represent Charlene Fite represent Jon Eubanks ray and Margaret Roberson and special note their nephew is just opinion who helped the hawks to victory last night so. Madam Clark please read House resolution one thousand three. House resolution one thousand three by representative Beatty junior to recognize and celebrate Arkansas forestry day at the state capitol in January twenty fifth twenty twenty three. President baby you're recognized explain resolution. Mister Speaker I ask representative Wardlaw to join me in the will. Well you told me this was a time you do what I told you to do some taking advantage of that. Mister Speaker colleagues I have the honor to date to run resolution one thousand three to recognize January twenty fifth of twenty twenty three is as Arkansas for C. day at the state capitol this is a resolution that historically it's been prepared and presented by our retired colleague Ken Bragg is a distinct honor for me to stand here today and do this on behalf of the fifty four thousand plus our Kansans they're employed in the forestry industry at this time represent Wardlaw at this time I would I would ask that the Clerk read the the short resolution in its entirety. I'm court please read resolution. House resolution one thousand three to recognize and celebrate Arkansas four issue date the state capitol on January twenty fifth twenty twenty three whereas private landowners on fifteen million three hundred thousand acres of state forests and forest and almost three million six hundred thousand acres of publicly owned in a federal state and other public entities and west fourth provide more than five thousand products we depend on every day and we're as the state the money for its resources have provided important economic and environmental benefits the state and nation since the eighteen eighties And whereas the state forest lands are diverse in their make it with six million two hundred thousand. Nine hundred thousand acres of oak and pine and ten million four hundred thousand acres of hard with and we're as forestry value added contribution to the state's economic. Economy is five million four hundred million dollars and we're at the forest products industry supports twenty six thousand five hundred fifteen different direct jobs and fifty four thousand nine hundred eighty two total jobs and with one in fourteen of all Arkansans owned forest land and we're at sixty seven percent of the state's forests are owned by family forest landowners and where the Arkansas families depend on the one million seven hundred and sixty million dollars in direct wages provided by the forest products industry and whereas the average compensation in the forest products industry is higher than both the national and Arkansas average wage and whereas for every one job created by the forestry industry in the state of Arkansas two the Fourteenth jobs are created indirectly and we're as the timber harvesters and fourth land owners follow voluntary best management practices that protect water quality and where the state's fourth provide unparalleled scenic beauty and where is the fourth in the Arkansas support have a set for more than six hundred species of fish and wildlife and where the state's fourth land owners manage their lands to protect and enhance habitat for threatened and endangered species and whereas since nineteen forty seven Arkansas forestry association has served as the voice of which you for the state's entire fortune Committee now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the house of representatives recognize and celebrate Arkansas force today the state capitol building on January twenty fifth twenty twenty three. Members I'd appreciate a good vote thank you president based explain the resolution when anyone. Would anyone like to speak for the. It's close for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of house resolution one thousand three all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Resolution passes and members I would also mention I believe we have members of the Arkansas forestry association in the east gallery as well with this today. Morning hour has ended. Members were gonna pass over house bill ten eighty two Adam Clark please read house bill eleven twenty five. House bill eleven twenty five a representative eleven to prohibit a register a registered sex offender for purchasing owning possessing using or operating an aircraft for private use. Thank you Mr Speaker. Members let me start by saying that this bill is brought to me by constituents in my district. And I think that in most cases we would be thankful that they brought the constituent base bill to us but unfortunately on this particular bill neither I nor my constituents are happy that we've had to do this. In short the purpose of this bill is to prohibit. A level three or level four sex offender from purchasing owning possessing using or operating an unmanned aircraft also known frequently as a drone. and and assessing a penalty to that. Of the lead that being a sex offender that is a level three or level four that a high risk for someone who has been deemed as a sexually violent predator. Assessing a penalty that as a violation of a Class D. felony. In short. My constituents were. Curiously confronted. The privacy of their own backyard. Multiple occasions. Of that frequent of that noise that familiar noise that you're hearing you're not sure exactly what it is until you look up and you realize that you've got a drone hovering over you. In all these cases. They were in their backyard the privacy of their fence laying out by the pool. Day after day the drone was appearing in as they talk with their neighbors in our neighborhood watch group they knew that it wasn't anyone in their neighborhood. The drum was actually coming across a big wooded area into their backyard. First it was a little bit humorous tune but then it became a little bit of annoyance as the drone got closer and closer and closer to. I made a joke what would we do if the drone ever crashed in the backyard what we do two ways minding their own business being in their backyard. Well sure not the state would have a couple days later here's the drone again and this time it did the crash in the backyard. They picked it up there's identification on it. They decided they were loaded up take it to the local sheriff's office they didn't live within the city limits submitted to the county. Loaded up as are leaving to go to the sheriff's department. The truck cuts him off at the end of the road. Gentleman jumps out. Pretty high tempered wanted to know if they'd seen a drone anywhere. Matter fact we did where is what's in the trunk of our car. What you gonna do with it what you just give it back to me now we're going to take the sheriff's office you're welcome to follow us down the sheriff's office and retrieve it there. He wasn't interested in doing that when I got the sheriff's office they found that one. The sheriff's office was very familiar with it was thing actually had called him by name even though his identification was on the drone they already knew they got home a little bit of research to find out he was a level three sex offender. Contact with our local sheriff the sheriff made it very clear that you know we're very much aware of who he is we're very much aware worriedly as. But really in this instance there's nothing we can do because there is no law that prohibits him from doing what he's doing. So that's what this bill does. Text the privacy of your constituents in the privacy of their backyards. Doing whatever it is they're doing. It also protects that child that's home by themselves in the backyard. It protects that situation with that drones hovering day after day over that piece of property to learn the patterns of when mom and dad are there when they're not there if there's a big dog in the backyard they have a sliding back glass maybe to get into the house may instead of a dead vote. DO Framestore I think this bill helps tie up one potential Lucy and to protect our constituents. I'm thankful for the fact I was contacted this morning by the Arkansas general aviation association who gave their full support of this bill and there's been no objections with that I appreciate a good vote. Liability would like to speak against the bill. We would like. As for the bill the question before the House. As everyone voted. Asked if the ballot madam Clerk. Ninety five Yeas. Last. Apart please read house bill eleven thirty six. Eleven thirty six by representative Cavenaugh to remove the licensure requirement of a good moral character from the social work licensing act president Cavenaugh you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this bill is just a technical clean up bill back in two thousand nineteen we removed good character and good moral character from the statues of the Arkansas code title seventeen this was just messed and this is just a clean up to go ahead and get that deleted like we have all the other ones and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Like to speak for the bill. President Cavenaugh is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven thirty six prepare the machine metal parts. Everyone voted. As everyone. Cast up the ballot madam third with ninety five Yeas three nays and zero present the bill is passed madam Clark please read house bill ten. House bill ten fifteen my representative agrees to amend the Arkansas water and air pollution control act and to exempt certain property owners association and homeowners associations from certain water permits actions represent a group you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Calling to bring you house bill ten fifteen this bill doesn't do a whole lot if what it does do is It takes a community that's five thousand more or more and put them in a position similar to a Mrs municipality and this particular thing it's a law that was put in place I believe it was two nine that team that changed actuation peel ways to have them placed into a fund for the small organization relieving problem for the state to clean up what this bill does is take them out of the funds so they are no longer subject to the to the fees that are paid in there also longer subject to get any peace out of there it just treats them like a municipality it's written basically for Hot springs village it's in my district it's a community of over seventeen thousand residents that live there And it just treats them just like a city that's basically their same size Monticello and that's all that does come available for any questions. Ian and I appreciate a good vote thank. In the building would like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for. The group is close for the bill the question before the House the passage of house bill ten fifteen prepared machine by a court. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark. With ninety eight zero nine eight zero present the bill is passed represent eleven for what purpose. Your motion. I move that house bill eleven seventy three be re referred back to education are choose me to public health committee for amendment that's proper motion it is debatable represent eleven you're recognized to explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker members ran house bill eleven seventy three public health yesterday the bill came out without any dissenting vote however there were some questions that was posed during the time of testimony and I just and after much consideration I don't think I gave very good thorough answers on that and I would like to that just out of respect my colleagues are on that committee I would like to send that back to be able to spend a little time over the next couple of days gathering up some additional information so that I'm giving them very thorough information before I ask them to vote on the house floor appreciate a good vote. Purpose of eleven explain The motion when. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Person and Evans is close for the motion the question before the House is the re referral of House. All in favor say aye. Any opposed motion passes and clerks in the. Barclay's read house bill eleven seventy eight. House Bill Evans seventy eight by representative Johnson to reduce the hours of training required for licensure of a community paramedic. Percent Johnson you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues at this bill changes number hours training for Committee paramedics many paramedics is a service certification we recognize some years ago it provides additional training to normal paramedic to allow them to go to people's houses and do some a case management work some follow ups after discharge and we're utilizing them now and and more different way so it also changes a little bit the experience criteria that they have replacing emergency department experience with social terms of health and this was negotiated between the and association also the department of health and I think you're based on board with the plan and if there's anyone that's the questions I'd be happy to try to answer. Seeing none on. President Johnson's explain the bill would anyone like to. President Johnson is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill eleven seventy eight prepared machine madam Clerk. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clark with ninety six Yeas one nine zero present the bill is passed madam Clark please read house bill ten ninety one. Also ten ninety one by representative dobby to require that the passage of a GED test be treated the same as a receipt of a high school diploma president Dalby you're recognized to explain. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues. House bill ten ninety one is simply a definition bill there's not a definition in law right now and this is what this bill is cleaning up it simply saying that for purposes of employment that receiving a high school earning a high school diploma through a nationally recognized course load and test should be treated as a high school diploma for employment purposes that's all this bill does. Be happy to answer any questions. President always explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. I would like to speak for the bill. Represent all these clothes for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill ten ninety one. The man Clerk. Everyone voted. Asked about Manafort with ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. we're about to move to the House Budget calendar before we do we do have one other guest with us today in the east gallery Dr Matt Jones is here from Blackpool he's a guest of representative shall we call our. Represent gene you're recognized president budget. Thank your Speaker. We've got the. Two bills we need to refer back to the Joint Budget one is house bill ten seventy two the State Bank department this is at their request either waiting on a governor's letter to make a change so we need to make this referred this back to Joint Budget. President Jean is explained the motion we would like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Represent gene is close for the motion the question before the House is the re referral of house bill ten seventy two back to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes metal parts in the bill back to committee. Representing you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker call one more house bill ten seventy nine the state security department they've asked this be referred back to join Burch budget force more work appreciate a good vote. President Jean Jean has explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. President Jean is close for the motion the question before the House is the re referral of house bill ten seventy nine back to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed motion passes Madam parks in the bill back to committee. President Jean you're recognized. I miss Baker college we have a. Five appropriations house bill ten fifty five states claims that's not the claim that the off budget for them house bill ten sixty three department of commerce the Arkansas waterways Commission. House bill ten seventy three department of health Human Service permitting. House bill ten eighty three. Of. State department for so security this is the federal social security this is all federal funds no state funds and house bill eleven thirty eight of the Department intergender vitamin old building gas commission. Do I need to pull any of these five out of a bad batch. These have no general revenue increase might affect only one got a small amount of general revenue which should be Of. The Arkansas waterways but it is a very small amount but no increase in general revenue. Any questions. Rep similar what purpose. As for questions are I don't know it's a question because we pull of. Eleven thirty eight AM backs please. Eleven thirty eight will do that bullet out of actual to go against Commission for separate separate vote today okay. All right the for the bank to be house bill ten fifty five house bill ten sixty three house bill ten seventy three and house bill ten eighty three your one vote is for the bills emergency clause Mister Speaker the Clerk read the bill for the third time and Clark please read the bills for the. House bill ten fifty five house bill two sixty three house bill ten seventy three. And house bill ten eighty three. You're voting on the bills and the emergency clauses. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast of the ballot madam Clark. With ninety eight A. zero nine zero print present the bills emergency clauses are passed. Thank you Mr Speaker this is a house bill eleven thirty eight oil and gas commission any questions. You want voted for the bill members across much bigger the Clerk read the bill third time madam Clark please read the bill for the third time house eleven thirty eight. The machine. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted voting on the bill emergency clause. Cast about madam Clark with ninety four yeas to nays and to present the bill emergency clause or pass. President makes for what purpose. Motion place let's hear your motion after the announcmenet for any of the bills transferring the bill's place of the counters on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalized resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until eleven AM tomorrow morning that's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion passes any announcements represent gene you're recognized. Announcmenet. You're recognized joint budget will meet tomorrow morning at big mac a at nine AM. Any of the members date if you have a bill that you got it by noon today we will hear it tomorrow. Represents Stan Berry for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized of the judiciary will meet in the morning and in room one forty nine at ten AM representive Wardlaw for what purpose now you're recognized sportsman caucus tonight at six at the session the county's building please come and eat all the fish you can eat. Represent Holcomb for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized Public Transportation meeting that was scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled. Represent warrant for purpose announcmenet you're recognized thank you apparently many of you've heard about the deadline for retirement bills on Friday just one last reminder. We for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized House Management needs right now in room one thirty eight House Management one thirty eight percent aw for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized a lot of people vast about paying for their basketball jerseys you can now do that with amber back in the back I'm not holding on any cash if you want the vin mo or the pay pal accounts email me and I'll send you the link you've got until Monday if you want to share even if you're not playing you're sure if you will want one you get to Monday to sign up with amber and easy in the back. Representative Johnson for what purpose you're recognized Public Health meet at ten AM tomorrow and one thirty thank you represent eleven for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized House education will meet tomorrow morning immediately upon adjournment of house budget in room one thirty eight. Representatives for purpose announcmenet you're recognized Revenue and Tax to meet tomorrow morning at ten AM room one fifty one. Any other announce. Hearing none the desk remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution the house to be