House Convenes

I'm by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by Lieutenant Commander sterling Claypoole the Tallien command chaplain fourth marine division third battalion twenty third marines and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance be led by representative Lane Jean. Mr Speaker members of the House thank you let us pray. Everlasting god. We come here to pray you requesting that you hear our words. I praise you for your gracious plan of this day in the days to come I give you praise for salvation through your son in wisdom through your Holy Spirit. Remember to look at us in here what we ask. Please come and remind us that is not our own interests that we come to serve our country in the great state of Arkansas but we want to serve humbly. Speak to our innermost parts of our heart our minds and allow each member of this chamber to dive deep into you. Bless the pilgrimage of our labors as we persevere and carry on democracy I'll pull liberty and serve the citizens of Arkansas thankfully. Ranters the insight from your wisdom in the shield of your truth and righteousness father god I pray for strength for the members that sit here today give them the ideas of service and the focus of loyalty and allow their truth to be guided by your love I call us to remember the ultimate sacrifice of the men and women who bravely have gone before us who have loved their country more than themselves and we're willing to live and liberate the world of strife me and our flaws forgive our sins and allow us to focus on the successes and you give us. This is your day that you have made and allow us now to align our plans to your plans for this in your beautiful name of your son that operates on the. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepared machine Adam Clark. Asked about madam Clark. With ninety nine members present chair sees a quorum. Are there any request from the. Representative Jeff Wardlaw most we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees. Read the reports medical. Mr Speaker we are a committee on house rules to whom was referred house bill ten twenty four house bill ten twenty eight. Beg leave to report that we have have the same into consideration here with which time the same recommendation that a do pass. Mr Speaker we your committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill ten twenty three in House current resolution one thousand one beg leave to report that we have had their same under consideration here they're trying the same with recommendation that a do pass respectfully the White chance chair Mister Speaker we are committee on City County and local affairs to whom was referred house bill ten fourteen ten ninety eleven hundred. Beg leave to report that we have had the same and consideration here the return the same with recommendation that it do pass respectfully Lanny Fite tear. Any other committee reports. Is there any unfinished business. Are there any executive communications. Members the doctor of the day is Dr jim Ingram of Little Rock and the nurse today is ms ridiculing. The morning hour is indeed. Adam Clark please read house bill ten eighty six. House bill ten eighty six and it to amend the law concerning parking privileges for a person issued a disabled a disabled veterans special license plate. Represent very recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr chairman in good afternoon colleagues of this amendment is a bill there were some unintended consequences when the original bill was written back in two thousand and fifteen so our two thousand thirteen so what this does so keep in mind I am eighty percent disabled by the state. There's nothing wrong with my pieces and parts and I can walk in and walk in the building so I have no mobility issues while under the current law if you have a disabled veteran tag you can park in your thirty percent disabled you can park in the DYS in a handicapped parking spot. Well. You can have sleep apnea. You can have a hysterectomy you can have a record out this function in the thirty percent disabled according to the VA but that has nothing to do with the mobility challenge. So I. see to authorize and provide so I see too often I see in this building. There's a handicapped spot right out back. I see a gentleman I don't know who it is that every day he's got disabled veteran tags on his vehicle parked in a handicapped spot in runs up the steps in the back of the capital. When the meantime. That does not afford our colleagues Josh Miller. Who has mobility challenges. My colleague Julie Mayberry her handicapped daughter the ability to use that parking spot so this is not denying veterans the ability to park in a handicapped spot what it will require them to do just like every our cans and then the state they will go get a handicapped placard hanging on the mirror if they have mobility issues that's all it does but it's I think it's fair for veterans that really need those spot. It's fair for the average or Kansan who has mobility issues to be able to have the use of those spots in the create and to stop a lot of this for the sake of if easy for me to park here because I have a disabled veterans tag on my vehicle is just wrong Senator Josh Bryant another veteran is sponsoring this bill for me in the Senate because we felt that was the right thing to do is veterans responsible veterans and to make sure that the handicapped community in the state of Arkansas is taking care of it so I'd be happy to take any questions. If not I would appreciate a good vote. President berries explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill represent Richmond you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Joe I'm very sorry to hear of the committee. Problems that you have. On this thing it does it does cause me concern to. But. But you're absolutely right. You're absolutely right in that. You know I'm disabled also I'm a disabled veteran results of a plane crash. But I couldn't get around I can walk around and I'm never. Going to park in a handicapped place until I have to literally get out and we'll myself in or whatever else or somebody do it. It's not right. It's not right for somebody. Even though you're veteran and you have a disability if you can walk. Then walk go park somewhere else and get your rear in gear and get where you need to go without taking up a spot. That really somebody else truly needs I thank you for bringing this bill thank you Mr. President Richmond spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President very you're recognized close for the bill thank you Mr I was going to be closed for the bill but since representative Richmond brought it up my disability is because I've lost my eyesight from accident what Amala. Okay so all the other stuff works. I just. I just want to. With that being said I appreciate a good vote. President Mary has closed for the bill. The question before the House. Is the passage of house bill ten eighty six. Madam Clark prepared machine. Everyone voted as everyone voted. Cast about madam Clark. With ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill has passed madam Clark please read house bill ten eighteen. House bill ten eighteen by representative makes to allow members of the municipal fire department bomb squad to make arrests and lawfully carry a weapon in certain circumstances. The make sure recognized to explain the bill. Just all right I thank you Mr Speaker thought colleagues Elise they say when you start of speech it's always good to start off with the joke and I thought about to all manner of good to bomb related jokes that I could start off with their you know good quality dad jokes but after what just happened I don't think I can top that so I'm just gonna jump straight into the meat of the bill here so I'm honored to bring to you our first Public safety bill and let me kind of give you a little bit of a background about what we're trying to fix and then I'll tell you about what we're trying to to to do with the bill so currently under Arkansas law bomb squad technicians are All required to go through a certain level of training before they become certified as a bomb technician that training includes certified law enforcement standard training a basically deputy Reserve training that they have to complete and then they also have to go through a class by the FBI that so I think was held in Alabama but so they have to create they have to complete all this criteria. When a emergency call comes up that involves the bomb squad. Because they've had that reserve deputy training if there authorized by their local share of they're allowed to carry a weapon into those situations in order to be able to defend themselves but they can only do it under the authority of the local share of. the organised of the bomb squad in Fort Smith has run into a situation where the sheriff out there has decided that he doesn't want to have any reserve deputies so this is not something that is directly pointed out the bomb squad it's just a general rule that he's he's set up so because of that these bomb squad technicians that are going into these highly volatile situations over the Fort Smith area are currently not allowed to carry a weapon to be able to protect themselves and these are the guys for going into buildings when everybody else is leaving and if they were doing counter a perpetrator in that circumstance Hey they would not be able to defend themselves nor be would they be able to necessarily stop the perpetrator from doing something unthinkable and so um this bill was brought to me by a man that I've known since high school and he's actually with me today so I want you all to see who this bill affects self you all look over here in the east gallery that we have bomb squad commander Todd card from Conway Todd if you go ahead and stand forth and then chief winners also owe the Conway fire department I want to thank you two gentlemen for being here and members if you would please. join me in recognizing the service they do for our community. So what these gentlemen and I are asking for is just the ability for them to be able to defend themselves in these situations so what the what the bill says is once these gentlemen have got the proper training through the law enforcement training standards they have no black marks against them they're not under the influence of any substances that they can carry a weapon into the circumstances to be able to defend themselves and a lot of times they going to these rural areas and it may be just the one bomb technician and one deputy and if something happens that deputy the bomb technician is not able to defend himself or that wanted deputy the other thing this bill does is it gives a very narrow defined arrest distorting so if they do run into a perpetrator in these buildings or the circumstances they can arrest and detain them now there were some questions in committee yesterday there raise some concern about a bomb squad technicians having these having a rest ability so yesterday after the committee meeting I talk with Faulkner County sheriff ryals and the president of the Arkansas sheriff's association we've visited about about this bill the arrested forty was the one concern that committee members had and it was also the one concern that the sheriff's association had. The reason why that part is in there is not because the bomb squad technicians want to go around act like police officers the reason why it's in there is because god forbid there were another Oklahoma City bombing in order for the US marshal service to be able to deputise are bomb technicians to be able to go to adjoining states to assist in these emergency situations our technicians have to have a some sort of arrest authority. So Assuming this passes here when it goes down to the Senate and there will be an amendment made to this bill the first thing we're gonna do is we're going to better define the the training that the technicians have to have everybody's in agreement over what that training is supposed to be we're just gonna tighten that language up a little bit in the bill and then the the bomb squad technicians of the other of federal agencies that are involved in this and the sheriff we're going to continue to talk so we can work through that arrest if we can come to some sort of happy ground we will amend the bill that way if we cannot then we're just going to remove that arrest authority altogether because ultimately what this bill is about is about our guys being able to protect themselves of the property and and our families and so with that I will entertain any questions that you have. President of planning for what purpose you're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker thank you representative means for clarifying that share says concerns I've heard from various things I guess my question is if we don't exactly know I mean I certainly take you at your word that will be amended but if we don't actually know what those amendments will look like wire we voting on this right now rather than just kind of working it out on the house side before we send it over to the so it's already passed the committee and I want to go ahead and get it through the through the house and get it moving I get it down to the Senate and then as you know this is this is standard procedure for all the freshmen here it's not unusual for us to do this and it down and will amended in the and the Senate side once that amendment has taken place it'll have to come back down here for everybody to agree on so it's not like I'm isn't down there you take my word for and we're never going to see it again you will we will see it back down here once it's been been corrected. Represent Duffield for. Mmhm. You too grant. the permits for the gentleman to carry when we have been recognized as an open carry state constitutional I have that same question I'm so so for a couple reasons one is the the open constitutional Kerry is in flux is not really clear in law I remember when that happened and we're kind of at a point where trying to get that clarified his just there's just never been a way to get that done a one way or the other and so open carry is always been an interpretation about with the current governor who the current Attorney General is and and and so forth I agree we are an open carry state so that's why I have this similar question the other thing is there are certain places even though we have open carry that you still cannot carry a weapon so you can not going to a school ground you cannot going to governmental buildings unless you have the enhanced carry someone so this allows them if god for bid the threat was at a local school they could carry into a school without this they would not be able to do that so that's the and that helps clean and clean that up a little bit they appreciate your question represent Richmond for what purpose I don't know I might step out of the well based on the last okay I'm sorry. Question you're recognized for a question thank you and Steven I apologize you just said a word while ago that just triggered the start otherwise I've spoken to you before hand but when you talk about federal federal people and helping them my concern is is that can will this and you may not have an answer for that and that's fine but is this a possibility that this may be a way that the federal government can circumvent the authority of sheriffs in their counties on some of these issues you know there's people that that do a lot of uh loading and stuff like that and they have literally a lot of gunpowder another thing survey calls so I'm concerned about that could you address that please yes on answer questions now this does not allow for the use or representative of state authority a lot of times you just mentioned in the circumstances the fed and state are involved in it and the the only reason for the this to take place as you know. Our guys don't have the authority to act in their capacity saying Oklahoma or Texas or Louisiana the only way they would have that authority is to be deputized of the federal government so the federal government is only one who has the nation what of thorny so this is just to allow us to help our neighboring states and not to as yeah I would have that same concern we don't want them over writing all of the shares by any means. Represent Ladyman for what purpose question you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker representative makes how many bombs was do we have in Arkansas where they located how many people with this act actually I'm glad you asked that I mean I'm I'm sorry I meant to to mentioned that my remarks also there are currently three bomb squads located here in Arkansas they are Fort Smith Conway in little rock and so we're talking about a total of about twenty individuals overall so it's not it's not a large group of our candidates but definitely some of our our bravest represent baby for what purpose. Question recognized for a question representative Meeks I think everyone in this chamber is this passion about law enforcement and our our firefighters and the service they do for the state my question is with all of the unknowns in the areas that you have to address. Personally I'd I'd love to vote for this bill but there are a lot of unknowns out there so we we define pulling this bill down to bring it back when you have answers to all those questions and final detail so so let me let me clarify that the only on known that we have is on the arrest authority. So I and on the respiratory re going to tighten it up or get rid of it. So in my mind that's not a huge amount. So right so right now the way the bill is written the only time they would have arrest authority is if a bomb is involved they don't have arrest authority if you're speeding if you're shoplifting. Only in the circumstances were talking about an explosive device and so the only amendment we're gonna make on that is the way they're going to get rid of it or going to tighten it up a little bit. At this is typically how we do these things and and it happens quite often this early in the session and I again I would respectfully ask that you pull this down clean clean up the bill and bring it back. Well at this point I want to try to like said move forward with it and then we'll get it taken care and on the Saturday. Saying no now step aside see if there's any form against. Person makes as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. A person makes. You're recognized close for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker so calling so that the whole purpose of this bill is for our guys to be able to defend themselves. And I'm gonna personalize this little bit normally I would say. If we don't do this. The one of these guys can end up losing their lives I'm not gonna say. We I'm gonna say if we don't do this today it's your fault and my fault if one of these guys and this is their life because they're not able to defend themselves so what I'm gonna ask you to do is let's start off the session by showing our support for the super heroes send this bill out of here down to the Senate and allow these guys to be able to not only take care of themselves but to take care of our fellow citizens here in the state and with that I'd appreciate a good vote represent makes has closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten eighteen prepared machine madam Clark. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk. With seventy one yeas nine days and ten present the bill is passed. Members removed to our yellow budget calendar represent gene you're recognized to present the budget bills. Thank you Mr Speaker. Calling we have a. For appropriations today house bill ten fifty two for being promotion board house bill ten fifty six the corn sorghum motion board house bill ten fifty seven have promotion board and house bill ten fifty eight the we promotion board these are all cash Adams fees taken out of the industry that are taxed on the industry no general revenue no increases any questions. Your one vote is for each of the bills and by survey do I need to take any of these other that for any reason we're batching them. Seeing none your one vote is for the bills emergency clause Mister Speaker the Clerk bill read the bill for the third time madam Clark please read the bills for the third time house bill ten fifty two house bill ten fifty six house bill ten fifty seven house bill ten fifty eight. Repair the machine madam Clerk. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot madam Clerk with ninety five Yeas one nine zero present the bills emergency clauses are passed. Represent makes for what purpose. Let's hear your motion the announcements reading the bills transferring the bill's place the counters on the desk members amending their own bills own amendments members of withdrawing their own bills finalize resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move we adjourn until eleven o'clock tomorrow morning. That's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion passes. Members. Before before we go to announcements. You just heard we're we'll convene tomorrow eleven AM. For some of your. Committees some committees may meet at ten some committees may come in at nine o'clock and then I think there's a budget subcommittee at eight so listen to these announcements continue to pay attention to your emails and to the website as well. All right any announcements. Represent Miller. Yes Sir thank you you're recognized thank you. Public health is the morning. Before session. At nine or ten we'll let you know. Probably not. Probably nine all right reserved bees what purpose ounce meant tax for me tomorrow morning room one fifty one at ten AM. Represent what what purpose. You're recognized personnel committee meeting at eight o'clock and big mac in the morning representative Stan Berry for purpose. Announcer you're recognized Judiciary makes Thursday which is in the morning the nineteenth at nine AM and room one forty nine. Represent Holcomb for what purpose. You're recognized expectation will meet in the morning at nine nine AM and may be also remember we're going to take a photograph in the morning at nine o'clock mac basically everyone try to be there thank you represent warrant for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized just a reminder to the membership all retirement bills have to be filed by next Friday. Represent eleven for purpose announcmenet you're recognized House education meets tomorrow morning ten AM room one thirty eight any other announcements. Hearing none the desk remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house would be