Boys State

Check one. Good morning man thanks for for being here the officers of the house the report here please. I'm. Unless it's a different kid. You may be. If you are an officer we please come down here to the front please. And all right let me have your tension per second. I'm looking for a chief Clark Joshua. Yes Donna. In a parliamentarian Ian Butler. Okay is there okay and. Jack preserving. Jack Henry frisbee. First Jack Henry. Okay let me call. Hey buddy. You're supposed a Jerry. This Is Your sergeant at arms help stay right there. This Is Your sergeant at arms that's your sergeant at arms. Okay guys. Guys listen up. Okay we're not ready to start but I want to tell you this. That we're live streaming. So if you want to text your parents or anyone. It's Arkansas House dot ward they can go to it and they can watch you. So and it's are also going to be archived there as well. So you'll be able to go there and see it replayed. So just a heads up before we get started you might want to tell them now so that they can. Pull it up and be a part of your experience here today. Arkansas House dot work. All right boys takes delegates welcome to the house of representatives you're in an area that a lot of people never get to come to. Because this is a restricted area. They can come up to the gallery. And watch but they don't get to actually walk on the house floor. So you're getting to have a unique experience this morning by being here. I am going to serve as the chair today for the House I am pleased to from hot springs a chair the joint retirement committee and social security. am in my third term running for a fourth term the vice chair is representative Carol Dalby raise your hand there she chairs the house Judiciary Committee she's from Texarkana she and I came in the same time she's in her third term. So. Sitting right beside her taking a selfie there is representative Monte Hodges the money is from Blytheville money you've served five terms right. And So behind him. Mark Perry. Representative mark Perry and hometown is. Jacksonville that's right is complete you will be further out and. He is in his actually mark has been here left and has come back so it's unique the terms how they can work out in your political career and then representative jim Dotson up in Bentonville. He has been in the house. Five terms and he just won a primary to be a senator and he is the vice chair of Arkansas Legislative Council which is a big deal here that's sort of what runs the government when we're not in session so all right let's see representative Johnny rye from Truman Johnny also came in in my class in two thousand seventeen so he's third term representative Rick Beck from center. Senate bill I was gonna say centerpoint close to me so and recurring your fourth running for your fifth term and Four star okay and he chairs the Committee on Energy. And then next to him is representative Mary Bentley from Perryville. And she just one she what you heard of redistricting so her district that really changed so she is really relieved that the primaries over which she won because she had a really new district but she worked really hard got reelected and social be back for. Yes. Well do you have a general election so all right so if you don't have a general then you get you when your primary and it's coasting until January of two thousand twenty three so and then representative Brian S. Evans from Cabot. He is in his second term. Running for his third term and he is the vice chair of the Education Committee has become a great friend here at the capitol we we call each other frequently go back and forth on issues of. have by Mister any I'll representative Fred Love I'm saying you're part of the staff the way you're leaning their representative Fred Love how many terms have you been here. Six and he is running for the Senate and we're going to pose for your primary. So do you have an opponent in the fall. Okay so Fred has been the minority leader in the house great guy from here in Little Rock so you can see you got a diverse representation here working with you today so if you haven't met someone from your town your district. Asking to come over and introduce yourselves and get appointed. So first thing I'm going to do is tell you to. Turn your phones off and engage in this process if you're sitting there on your phone the whole time you gonna miss out on some of what we're trying to teach you today. Well we've got a senator here so Senator Missy Irvin Irvin from Mountain Home. Mountain View I'm sorry always switch those two. I was actually in college one of my college roommates was her brother and so I I didn't know who Missy Irvin was until someone said you know that that Spence's sister so we've had a good connection here and so good to have you in. And we're glad to have the Senate delegation here with us so Missy do you want to. Okay I ask. Please come down and the. You're recognized. I'm gonna take an opportunity just to say hello I was not able to be with you at Boise state on Wednesday with my son's twenty second birthday he was also a Boise state alum both my boys were boys state lands in my two girls were girls state alone so thank you. For leading me to say hello to you I'm Senator Missy Irvin and you'll love your time this week and the connections you make carry them with you for life reach out to anyone of us and enjoy your time here and I'm here with the Senate and I want them. The Senate is open and ready for business. Okay there a little bit ahead of us so that's a process when we come into session. They come and tell us they're ready for business we do the same to them so and typically when that would happen the sergeant at arms with the announced that we had someone Speaker would recognize them and they would come forward and give us their piece of business so during the proceedings you'll be recognized by the Speaker according to the name that's on your desk so make sure you see the name on your desk because that's how he will call on you if you wish to be recognized please stand at your desk and hold up the microphone the microphone will pull out and you just stand with it in front of you during the debate if you wish to speak for or against the bill please stand and give a thumbs up if you wish to speak for a bill or a thumbs down if you wish to speak against the bill make eye contact with the parliamentarian who will maintain a list of members wishing to speak in debate. if you're recognized to speak for against the bill please come to the well this is the well. the House to make your presentation. A procedural motions cannot be accepted if someone is in the well. While they're here speaking. They have the floor. please do not hit the microphone to see if their life. The microphones do not have on off switches they are activated by the sound Clerk once the Speaker recognizes you to speak. When using the voting machines the green button signifies a yes the red button the navy and the yellow button signifies press. So if you're not sure how you want to vote or you. You're not a farm yes Sir firm no and you like I'm not going to vote on that either way you can vote pressed the cut the buttons become active when the Speaker calls for the voting machine to be open. we ask for the delegates not have food or drink in the chamber. So. Any questions. All right so you've got your Speaker the elected your parliamentarian. So I will turn it over to them with no questions so welcome enjoy your experience and we are glad to have you here today. The house of representatives was state when it come to order I'd like a member's staff press and guests in the gallery to stand to be led in prayer by the house chaplain Andrew Johnston and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Kishan pets. I major Johnson and I'm gonna get this started with a pair says hello buyer heads and I pray that we as a nation can come together I pray that regardless of race ethnicity gender religion we can all come together as a single people and overcome our differences to make our nation a better. I pray for the people for the victims of all of the recent shootings the one in Wisconsin. The one in Tulsa and the one in Texas I pray that they can overcome the hardships of that hindered and I pray that we can change our nation to make sure something like this never happens again. Thank you name and. You will. All. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Just of the Ballon Mr Clark with ninety seven members present The chair sees a quorum. But your points the following Committee to notify the Senate that the House is organized and ready for business Kobe Qualls John Hilliard Andrew Binion. The chair points the following Committee to notify the governor that the house is organized and ready for business Ammann Patel told Douglas and David were tomorrow. The Committee return shortly but we will begin considering bills now. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand and one. House Bill one thousand one by representative in Eubanks. To create the teaching excellence Arkansas ACT. Review representative Eubanks were not recognized to explain your bill. I'm representative Eubanks and I am presenting. An axe to create teaching excellence in Arkansas. This bill is intended to increase the quality of teaching in Arkansas schools. In order to do this we we will. First grade teacher resource fund it's a fun for teachers to purchase class materials and anything that may need for the kind of coming school year before the school year starts. This. Alleviate some financial strain on teachers before the school year starts so they may not have to pull anything from their own pocket or to pay for this allowing them to focus on the curriculum itself and teaching their students. Second. There shall be. This should be a. Requirements certain requirements it should not allow any teacher not license in a particular subject to teach that subject for more than thirty days in a classroom as you read at the at the bottom of page one and the surface to. This this allows for a licensee choose to teach the classes that they're licensed in in order to give the students the best education. Following is possible. Under this teachers that are not licensed in that will not. Say muddy up the. Education of the students and the subject. With this will create a more cohesive learning. And. And the knowledge that the students receive will be consistent throughout. Are there any questions. The House recognized Mister Perry at this time. Thank you Mr Speaker question how many how much money would be in the fund. So we decided that in order to pay for this teacher researchers find that every teacher shows see if one thousand dollars. At the beginning of every academic year so before the school year starts this should be taken from the Arkansas general fund to as you know there are there is over a billion dollars in this fund created from budget surpluses over the years. This will go to the register teachers for what they need this will also. Since from the register teachers. This will create an incentive to register the seizures and. Coming from the fund it will. It will last for quite awhile until they can find a permanent solution to this problem. Thank you. Representative Murdock for what purpose. Question. You're recognized. The bill also state something about increasing the qualifications for teachers what are those increased qualifications. It's qualifications are more for. The teaching of any particular subject these qualifications will allow the teachers to better educate their students and some of the. And some of the ways that before had they not receive this for their education would not be able to allowing them to be more prepared for higher grades higher education and life in the real world. Representative Ladyman for what purpose. Thank you question. You're recognized. What should happen if a teacher does not use this money for in class purposes. If the teacher should not use the fund for that purpose then the teacher shall receive an infraction or punishment Particularly or. More hopefully from the school district and they shall receive this fund and they may not receive one for the next academic year if they. If they have violated the rules of the act. Thank you. Representative love for what purpose question you're recognized. The bill itself does not detail any school supplies specifically so what other purposes can this bill the or the money to be used for. Well the reason it is not specified areas because there are many teachers between kindergarten through twelfth grade and to that level and enter to list all of those it would be very inclusive but the fund could also mean for. Can be for special projects for example if a science teacher would need to purchase materials for a science experiment let's say and the the second nine weeks of the first semester then they might use the fund to purchase the materials required or to purchase other equipment that would be needed for it. If it's not specify them how are we able to tell when a teacher is misusing the funds. Love our Mr love to follow I do yes. You're recognized thank you. So if it's not specified how are we able to tell when the funds are being misused. That we left up to the individual school to. Representative Davis what purpose question you're recognized. So it specifically with a thirty day limit to a substitute teacher to replace a teacher if they just leave I guess what happens if the school cannot replace that teachers do they just have to keep cycling substitute that might not be. Good enough for that class is even sub substitutes have enough education to run a class for longer than thirty days. I believe in that case that in the event that a suitable teacher confinement cannot be found at the time that. In may be acceptable to. Find a teacher also within the school district to. Fill in at certain times to educate the students so for example if there is another English teacher on campus than they may act as a substitute while another substitute. What's of their class so that the students in the first class will still receive a quality education. I have a follow up. You're recognized. So you're saying let's disrupt another teacher's class to help another teacher's class. That because their teacher left that is the unfortunate reality yes. Thank you. Representative from for what purpose. Question you're recognized. What is a long term sustainable way to fund this act other than relying on our trainers up surplus. Well programs will be cut if there was not a surplus. In deliberation among the council of education we. In deliberation by the council of the House counsel education we. We had come to the conclusion that we may have to. Either create a new tax or increase. An existing tax and pay for that. Mister brown you will follow up. Thank you I'm Mister Cozart for what purpose. You're recognized. At my school there are teachers that are getting their certifications as they teach so what would they do they would just be out of a job. Can you be the question please Senate my school their teachers their students certifications as a speech as they teach what would they do. I believe in that case that that would be acceptable seeing as they are currently being taught in the school or in the subject that they will be teaching and and that while they're getting their education they can reciprocate that information to the students. Mister Cozart you follow. Representative Eubanks as explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representive Smith you're recognized. Of my fellow representatives the this bill I would say is is weighed too vague and Bilbao exactly what would happen for the fund it is not going to detail about how the TGB partnership they misuse did it doesn't specify exactly how much each phone would receive it does even specify if it's up to the independent school districts to determine so I do hope you will vote is down because it's just way too vague. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representive Eubanks D. was to close for your bill. Representive Eubanks is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of house bill one thousand and one prepare the machine was. Cast of the ballot Mr. Voted as everyone voted. Now cast of the ballot is the Clerk. With fifty with a vote of fifteen yeas eighty nays and one present the bill is fail. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand and two. Representative Warren you're recognized. Okay let's talk for a couple of minutes. All right so representative Eubanks do not feel bad you're the Guinea pig. You're the first bill to come before this group so when you come to the well. And your presenting a bill. The first thing you do is thank you Mr Speaker because he has recognized you and giving you the right to present to this group. Speaker is in control of the house of representatives you go through him if you're going to make a presentation then you're recognized the body. fellow representatives from here to percent. And then you make your case. So when you finish making your presentation you just stepped to the side. And at the end of your presentation you give sort of a summary like this is something I really believe will help us or whatever. And I appreciate a good vote they need to step to the side because they will do a couple of procedural steps and then he will the Speaker will say are you close for your bill. In the sign is if you're closed this you just give that sign to the Speaker and he goes okay a represent Eubanks is close for his bill if not you would have a chance to come back up if there were any comments made that you want clarify or whatever you could come back up make some final comments then be closed go back to your state so. Just some tips it's a process we come in here as freshman and they say okay this is like drinking from a firehose it really is there so much to learn in short order so anyway any other representatives have some a comment you want to make. Add to that. Okay thank you. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand and two. House bill one thousand two by a representative C. quest Qualls. To amend the income thresholds for the individual income tax tables. Representative calls you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker my bill that I seek to amend today re organizes the tax brackets for a the Arkansas income tax this bill is to help the common our cans and. This bill Raises the highest tax bracket to a hundred and twenty thousand dollars at the maximum. And on that end it the lower portion of that tax bracket is. All my paper here. Okay. This one thousand two. Without objection we'll pass over house bill one thousand and two and continue to House Bill one thousand three. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand three. House Bill one thousand three by representative is G. overman a Tarpley A. Patel D. Douglas. Now okay. To increase the funding to research and halts the spread of chronic wasting disease. Representative over men you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. With this bill we are pushing to increase funding for and research and see the and also there are few points that I want to push before I actually get into everything else TDD is one hundred percent fatal. It is affecting and devastating order numbers in Arkansas and is it including in twenty sixteen was the first time the elk actually Was tested positive and want to see W. gets in an area it was standing area and with this bill we will. We will get will get increased funding to our wildlife and game agencies and we will also be able to stop the spread of specially in the south Arkansas. I'm open questions. Representative Lowery for what purpose question you're recognized. where exactly will the funding for this program be drawn from yes so we have reached out and the animal plant health inspection services as well as the health and Human Services have been you know grants and to contain CVS looks Congress just sign a sign a bill for ten million dollars to be put towards the research and containment acidity so we'd be points from these federal sources instead appoint from our forces in Arkansas. Thank you. Representative Ladyman for what purpose question you're recognized. If you would mind me asking what is currently being done to study and prevent this yes so what is being done right now is we have testing locations on Aug Arkansas especially where the disease is prevalent and what these presentations do is there's a limit now to the next and what you do with your tears whenever you turn it in you put that in the drop box and you're able to have your you're tested for CWD and then not only does that tell you if it is not recommend to eat the meat according to CDC thank you do not have a is not legally changed yet but also that helps with our research as a whole to find out how we're city is and the numbers this. Thank you. Representative Scott what purpose question you're recognized. It says here that the money will be of filed into universities for research why is that. What we are finding manger universe of research not only because it gives colleges universe of Tennessee but that those aware that our experts are they're actually saying this is these and also to get people interested in this disease and maybe get some experts that we can start developing cures and more research on that. For question you're recognized thank you. Will there be if there's any excess money from the federal level funds will this be used for anything extra like test sites. Yes so am I a portion of the money will go to Arkansas game and fish commission because that is the organization that is doing the most to limit the spread of committee and also we are experts in Arkansas are and also the good thing about our Arkansas game and fish commission they can work with other states as this is not just a state issue this is a nationwide issue affecting thirty of the fifty states in United States. Representative tossed what purpose. You're recognized. How much of an increase will be made to the hunting license to pay for this so this is not in the bill but in the Senate bill we are thinking of its twin the range of two to five dollars a similar to a to hunt thirteen Arkansas you have to have a Turkey stamp and waterfall in Arkansas without the consent all right what a constant and then also trial you have to have an extra addition to that license if you want to harvest that so it would be the same as those. Representative Murdock for what purpose. Question you're recognized. So if this is an issue that affects so many states why we delegating it to just be funded by Arkansas research as opposed to the federal government funding multiple universities so yes that is in is really to pull money in Arkansas because we are a hot spot such enormous Arkansas also we want to get people to research and our Arkansas game and fish commission because permit if somebody from another state this man is research they might be in there said a really whatever we do is going to help the nation as a whole it is not going to be It is not going to be just limited to Arkansas or to another state especially with our argument this mission working with other states and with our surrounding states. Resented Bentley for what purpose. You're recognized so you talk about containment within the bill but what exactly is I containment going to look like yes so the containment is the axle. Spread of the disease in an area so examples we have three tiers in Arkansas of the and those tears have different regulations and what is the maps and with Wes Arkansas and as far north was Arkansas is tier one which is the resident like hot zone where the it is the most strict you cannot you can only bring the bone meat out of the area two two that is where you're able to bring bone in the meat but it's also be scanned out and got it in that area and then tier three that has less regulations but the containment is to not allow deer in the other area and possible I guess the animal matter that to get in that area because once it gets in the area it says an area. Man all of. You're recognized so when we talk about how we're going to fund this bill you also talked about the same in license but in the bill and we talk about hunting license or we can start putting fishing license in this bill as well to pay for it. I would say that we should not do that because some fishermen may not the purpose of the actual addition of the. I guess Hunter tax not tax but addition to the bill is to increase awareness and to increase awareness that takes funds and especially hunters are the ones that are primarily going to be spreading this so to you educate them that is where the funds will be going thank you. And I would greatly appreciate your vote and let's not less spread anywhere else in Arkansas thank you. Representative over minutes explain the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would you would like to speak for the bill. Our representatives Smith you're recognized to speak against the bill. Just before the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative Scott you're recognized at this time to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker are some of you speak a little bit on conquests these or CWD of for one to address the issue that there is no cure for it that's only what we have seen in the year so far that's why I want to do research on it and also CWD research has shown that there's a capability for to jump into cal as you discuss and then also to jump to humans. Now this is these that has no cure and could and of your future for future thank you means we would want you all as much research as we cannot write. We will protect our cattle business and we're the natural state we want to as much as we can. So that's why I want to speak on CWD. However questions. Representative Murdock for what purpose. Let's see motion. It consideration. That's a proper motion is not debatable. The question before the House is immediate consideration of house bill one thousand three. All in favor say aye. All opposed say may. The I. seven. The question we've got before the House is the passage of house bill one thousand three. The machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty five Yeas and Nays and everyone present the bill has passed. Representive one you're recognized okay I want to Just. Please explain what just happened I'm going to let the representative Dotson take the lead on that come on. All right immediate consideration obviously as you just saw means that if someone makes that motion for committee consideration is not debatable you can't speak for against it it takes a two thirds of the majority to actually pass that generally it's done in a voice vote but if you disagree that it was two thirds of the the body that want to do that you can ask for a roll call roll call takes five hands and then it would go up on the board and you'll see if two thirds actually made the motion for immediate consideration. What immediate consideration does is it obviously allows you go straight to a vote but it also doesn't allow the bill sponsor to close for the bill so if if you're really for or you're the bill sponsor you wanted to close or you have some some last points that you think will sway the folks and it's a very controversial bill that might be fifty fifty you can sometimes kill the immediate consideration so you can come down and and close for the bill The other thing is at. All these motions on of the respond motions on the last page of your package. So as you look through here you can see what those motions are and or or what several motions are so if you have questions on on a motion or you want to know something more about it rather just grabbed one of us's were walking around and we can try to explain it to you it's kind of fun to make some motions in and change it up a little bit as you're going through. Yep in just when it comes to a voice vote like that immediate consideration something along those lines. Really project and let everybody know where you're at because sometimes it's hard for the Speaker to tell whether or not it's it's a yea or nay generally people are are yelling pretty loud one way or the other so just so the Speaker can have an idea of whether or not it was actually two thirds or or not so anyway thank you. Okay don't wanna explain one other thing. when representative Qualls got up to present this bill he was seeing that there was a tax bracket that was supposed to be in his bill that was not there. In the regular process for the house of representatives that would have been discovered. In the Committee or before that because you go into a Committee and your knowing your bill you're reading your bill before you get to committee. You you've worked with a draft for at bill or your of Legislative Research for the attorneys helpless and so you would have seen that we're doing this such a rushed process for you that it's just all hitting you like overnight but that would have been seen well before here so we're trying to work with you to get that in there so you have a corrected bill but that's not the typical process. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand four. House bill one thousand four by representative G. okay. To legalize recreational marijuana. Representative Holcomb you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Yes I am here to propose a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for multiple reasons I'll start with the marijuana industry is a very lucrative business and right now in Arkansas recreationally a lot of this money is going into the black market and not back into our society so we need to capitalize on this lucrative business and take money away from the black market. This will create jobs and unemployment will go down in real GDP will go up. the money collected from it part of it can go to teachers wages with as we know is a big problem organ does this already in which they take money from the marijuana business and Fund teachers. Also efforts to incarcerate marijuana offenders will stop so we don't have to spend as much money on just putting marijuana offenders in jail experts say this can save up to seven point seven billion dollars this can this decreases crime rates inherently so and marijuana offenders will be released from jail this will take stress off jails however of course if the person has other charges they will serve the time for those charges Thirdly it safer than tobacco which is a legal products it's natural and non addictive and legislation and so legalize marijuana will allow the regulation of itself so fake products will not be in the market for people to buy and die off of. licenses for manufacturers will be a fifty thousand dollar payment one time payment five thousand dollar annual renewal. we're gonna collect a ten percent sales tax even more money off of the manufactures for an individual is a thirty dollar one time payment with the thirty dollar annual renewal to grow up to three plants maximum. I'm ready for questions. Reproved. Resented Lowery for what purpose question you're recognized. So you've said that like past offenders would be released but what the actual charges be cleared from the record. Yes so they would remain on the record but since this legalized it will not affect them at all. The school this is for like job opportunities maybe somebody that wants somebody to smoke on the smoke on the job but it's legal so. Thank you. Representative brown for what purpose. You're recognized question. You're recognized. Did did you say that marijuana is not addictive. Yes I that it is habit forming but is not addictive it does not have a compound in it that makes an addictive. So if forms of representative will follow up Speaker you're recognized. So if forms an addictive habit. So this can be this ideology can be put to pretty much anything such as sugar it just depends on the person and how they choose to carry out. Themselves. Thank you. Representative Ladyman for what purpose. You're recognized. It seems to me that this entire thing is to jeopardize on the profit of money is there another purpose besides that. Money is the main thing. Okay thank you. Representative Coleman for what purpose. You're recognized what do you say to people who think that we legalize marijuana that we should make you legalize every other drug out there. So I disagree with this number one other drugs are actually addictive they're not just have a forming they have compounds in them that make them addictive number two other drugs are harmful to your body it has been proven that marijuana is less harmful than tobacco which is a legal product and other drugs should not be legalized. Thank you. Representative twilight for what purpose. You're recognized. So you talk about how do you justify marijuana being a gateway drug because if if we legalize recreational marijuana and the rates of other drug usage spikes how do you justify that so good question In my idea these people that are buying drugs currently are buying different drugs from the same source so say a drug dealer has many different drugs they will go to that drug dealer to buy marijuana woods if it's a gateway drug will make them more likely to buy other drugs the legalization of this will separate marijuana and other drugs so they're buying from safe sources so as not as easily accessible for the other drugs if they're only buying from the regulated safe source. A follow up question you're recognized so how do you justify the death rates go up Blake if death from drugs goes up once we legalize or recreational marijuana how do you justify that. Yes so I would have to justify it because in Colorado marijuana is legalized as you know and marijuana death rates have not changed. Thank you. Representative Parker for what purpose. question you're recognized marijuana is not legal and the federal government and this money can go on to banks to be taxed I just have a question of how are you gonna taxes money. Yes so a big part of we're going to get our money is from the licenses also in Colorado there's wholesale and sales tax that we can collect off of this and you mentioned a good point it can't be circulated and things because not on a federal level legalized so um we're gonna mere Colorado and the fact that we're now money houses that people can store their and these are going to be determined and regulated by the manufacturers thank. In conclusion. This is an untapped market. Millions billions of dollars that are just waiting. And if we legalize it will help us exponentially thank you. Representative hold has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Penzo you're recognized. Though I understand that it's an untapped market it is a lot of money because there are a lot of underground deals that happen with marijuana at the same time the representative talked about how it can bring in more jobs time consuming because they're growing more to sell more but at the same time. One it can also cause highs and stuff so I feel like that can cause more people at this recreational like you can do as much of it as you want I can cause people to like. Not get addicted because not like that but create the habit of it so they get multiple nights like that then they might stop showing up for jobs and I also feel like that you see in Colorado sometimes in bigger cities like Denver if you see a lot more people on the streets with marijuana and other drugs like that somewhere that might turn Arkansas I like some of the beautiful nature places that we have like national parks in my ten those into places where people who can get the recreational marijuana easier to go some of that and it might mess up our natural beauty in the State. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Cooper you're recognized you're recognized at this time is before the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker so I've actually got a lot of research on this topic and I'd like to say the economies in these in our states that have legalized the recreational use have absolutely skyrocketed like Dave said with the incarceration of minor drugs and just this state and just the legalization of recreational marijuana in all fifty states we are losing the potential of seven point seven billion dollars I saw a lot of money I'd like to say which we could put it back into education we could put into everything that we really need to vote okay down on. Anything just one second. A lot of people Representative Holcomb for what purpose. You're recognized okay for the people that are for the bill how are you planning on helping representative as left wing at the stem from a month or. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Bentley you're recognized at this time. Hello gentlemen so when talking about this bill we have to acknowledge something that when we legalize this drug usage is going to go up there is a correlation that is inevitable so when we see that usage goes up the negative facts are going to go up when we see that the disorientation that the car crashes that is the the value not want to go to work those are something that are gonna happen and they're going to increase but also we have to see that if we legalize this the minorities and the younger people are gonna be using that as well so therefore we're leaving our teams and our people even younger than that the owner would be using this drug and therefore they have a higher probability of being addicted and as well using other drugs so there's a lot of talk about money here but we have to acknowledge is the lives of the people and now we're leaving the people at risk to using this drug in the net effects of drugs and even increase of death so you can talk about money all you want we also harm the lives of our teams in that people across America and that's why it's an indication for this bill thank you. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative flowers you're recognized at this times before the bill. I want it is lousy with purpose I want a motion. By the House where your motion. Limited debate for five minutes on each side. That is a proper motion is not debatable. Question for the House is immediate. Question before the House is to limit debate to five minutes on the side all in favor say aye. All oppose the may. The ayes have it it is. Debate is limited to five minutes. Who's speaking for the bill. Our we would like to speak for the bill. Representative. You're recognized at this time. Thank you Speaker hello delegates so. A lot of you claim that with legalizing recreational marijuana that usage among people will go up. I believe that you know it will go up but people that are already you know smoking marijuana are already doing it and they're gonna find a way to do it so doing this it gives people a safer place to get access to better quality products because just like what the representative was saying there is a lot of black market products out on the street. And he's black market products can be tested to test for many pesticides inside every single product so doing this will not only allow people to higher quality it will decrease the number of health problems that people Receive from the usage of very very bad quality products and for manufacturing of products for Sir in that concentrates for example B. HL those are butane extractions at people try to do these at home and it's very dangerous as butane is very flammable and people are very prone to burning their house on fire or damaging it themselves or people around them so legalizing something like this you're not going to stop people from smoking marijuana it's going to happen people gonna do what they want to do doing this just allows people to get a safer place and it it will bring in more money it's we've seen in other states I think it will be a very successful business and it could bring a lot of money to Arkansas thank you. We would like to speak against the bill. Representative Coleman you're recognized to speak against the bill. I apologize representative limited Ladyman you're recognized that the some speak against the bill. Speaking against way Beaty said Giving them an easier way to get this stuff is. A downside to it I believe that making it easier for them is just giving them what they want along with that the money that will get is not worth it because we're just going to create more addictive people. I believe this bill has a lot of vague details in it and I believe that a. I believe that a lot of stuff that was said. Was just in. Speaking for profit. Thank you. Would like to speak for the bill. Representative paid you're recognized at this time to speak for the bill. Before we hear the army with a representative Dotson would like this. In just one point. We have for and against Senate what is it five minutes what we what we done to on either side. Four against and three four okay so just keep in mind any of you who are speaking for the bill. In that three minute time frame if you speak a long time you'll run out the bill's sponsors time to close for so if if you want to give the opportunity for the bill sponsor to have a moment to close at least don't speak very long for it allow the people to speak against it and let him close with with the last few minutes to. You know recognized before the bill. hello I support the bill mainly because first of all we already have so many under aged kids and parents using marijuana and if you legalize it I feel like yes it might be an easier way for them to get it but at least for one the money is going towards a bigger sponsor but at the same time the government can also keep tabs on who is purchasing it which could possibly lead to bigger drug busts which could possibly benefit society a little bit easier on when it comes to Usage of different drugs whether it be legal or non legal so I got. Would you like to speak against the bill. Representative Gazaway you not recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker my biggest concern is when you come down to using marijuana and things like that it's obviously going to affect your ability to work it's going to affect your behavior and things like that so where I come from this any job you work your. Your ability performing job is very very important in if you're on marijuana obviously that's going to affect your job you're gonna have to go through drug testing obviously so I think my biggest concern is how are you going to be able to perform the job or pass a drug test or anything like that when you're on this drug this also will I mean it's gonna if people are gonna lose jobs because of it if if you. If you legalize marijuana but you keep it on the drug test obviously people are going to use it because they're going to want to take advantage of it but at the same time people are going to lose their jobs so I feel like the public would be hurt more in terms of that situation instead of legalizing it. obviously it's going to create a bunch of jobs and it's going to put more revenue and and circulation society. But I almost see it as. As a way of flight. Big companies like tobacco companies obviously I mean we see those commercials on TV all the time tobacco companies and things like that big tobacco I mean they're trying to take advantage of it he came up here with the with a smug grin on his face talking about profit I mean he's trying to take advantage of everyone in this room and I think we need to think we need to take that separation thank you. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative sleep you now recognize the signs before the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker as previous representative said it is an addictive drug as it's been said by the sponsor on many accounts is also not an addictive substance in it and if you want if you want to say that it will also inherently affects people whose jobs you can also say. Other drugs that are out there there are legalized actually do such as opioids fat now in the past morphine and heroin. You can't make that argument saying it's a day to drive when there's not an addictive substance simply one that makes a habit of it. When you would like to speak against the bill representative very you're not recognized at this time. Thank you Mr Speaker I know one of my previous representatives mentioned under age people being on it as a justification for legalizing marijuana I don't quite understand why that. Justifies it I would think we want to keep our youth off of this since it is known as the gateway drug and as a mother represented set also I think this is to take advantage of the people that are on this track of this habit of using marijuana. So I got thank you. Would you like to speak for the bill. Resented flowers you're recognized at this time. So what I would like to say is to Ladyman base when he was talking about like drugs so how do you off in the pose is how do I feel about doctors being able to give um patients drugs that are icy Act addictive. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Resented back you're recognized at this time. I'm frankly concerned with what this bill is going to do for private businesses small businesses in Arkansas. there is no protection offer anybody in that works in a business on the business to do anything about people that are smoking marijuana on the job it's going to make them less productive it's going to make them more secure job and there's going to be nothing that tells us that those people could be fired or anything like that. So personally I I believe that we should have something in place in this bill that says that if somebody is smoking marijuana on the job. that they should be. has have something happens to them because I think the privatization make that decision for themselves whether or not they want people smoking marijuana that work for them and that page in their stores. Thank you. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. I would. Representative hold you're now recognized to close your bill yes so some main worries I heard is it for jobs this is just the legalization of marijuana Dutton affect the regulations companies have on their employees so they can still fire workers if they go against their regulations on marijuana policy also another worry that I heard is kid use if you'll look the age is going to be twenty one and up and a solution to this is we can have more harsh punishments for minors or for the parents of minors that are caught using marijuana also I think a big misconception is the legalization of marijuana does not imply that you have to smoke marijuana so there are still going to be people that don't smoke marijuana and everyone's not going to smoke marijuana if it's legalized also another worry is in public zones this can be up to local government but the local government will determine no smoking zones so you cannot smoke within the public areas so you don't have to go around smelling joints all the time and if somebody violates system this can be a fine of up to a thousand dollars because this mir's Colorado and another worry is people dying off of it I would argue that it would. Your time is up. We would like to speak against the bill. President of common you're recognized at this time speak against the bill. Thank you Speaker. here on page two it says for. Able to get marijuana says up to an ounce now either that is at a time or day of fun mention but let's go to the tobacco you can by countless cigarettes at a gas station or wherever stellen but here is the limitation either at that time tobacco doesn't have that time and if. Tobacco is worse than marijuana why is that. It's. Time is expired to argue for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Resented Lowery you're recognized at this time to speak against the bill. Who motion. What's your motion immediate consideration. There's a proper motion is not debatable. The question before the House is the passage of bill one thousand three. All in favor say aye. se NO. You guys have. The question before the House is the passage of house bill one thousand four. For the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Just about Mr Clark. By a vote of six fifty six yeas and thirty eight nays and to present the bill is passed. Without objection Mister Clark. The House return house bill one thousand and two. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand two. House bill one thousand and two by representative C. Qualls. To amend the income thresholds for the individual income tax tables. Representative Qualls a recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker as I said earlier the bill I am going to try to mend today is a bill to relieve the tax burden on certain tax brackets. this bill adds another tax bracket to the current practice that we have it adds one that is up to a hundred and twenty thousand dollars I'm sorry a hundred twenty thousand dollars and above. The first brackets instead of it stopping at a hundred twenty two thousand six hundred dollars is now race to thirty eight thousand dollars the rates for that is the first four thousand seven hundred ninety nine dollars gonna be taxed zero percent. the next up to nine thousand four hundred and ninety nine as taxing the two percent rate. The next fourteen point two nine nine percent is taxed at three percent. And up to thirty eight thousand is taxed at three point four percent. The next bracket if you for the next page the first record that was mentioned earlier up to four thousand seven hundred ninety nine is taxed at a point seven five rate the next bracket is taxed at two point five the next at three point five the next at four point five the next at five and the next one is actually raised a little bit up to eighty eight thousand and the tax rate is actually being lowered in the higher bracket now two five point one percent. The next record you'll see below that is actually shortened to three different separations first for thousands tax rate of two thousand or two percent the next eight thousand at four percent and the next up to one to one hundred thousand. Nineteen nine hundred and ninety nine is taxed at the lower rate of five point one. The next record you'll see below that is for the one hundred twenty thousand and above. the rates are the same for the first two for the four thousand eight thousand two and four percent respectively. Is also the same rate for the next one of A hundred nineteen thousand nine hundred ninety nine if you look at page over you'll see underlined that a hundred and twenty thousand and above is taxes five point three which is the current rate the in is in legislation still but is going to be the new current for the highest tax bracket. I really believe that this bill is going to help our essential workers such as our teachers our firefighters are police officers. that make you know not in the highest tax bracket this is going to give them a tax break as it lowers them from paying in the current highest rate which does not make sense to me I don't understand why a teacher would have to pay just as much tax as a very wealthy person such as like a you know like a doctor or some it is you know very wealthy maybe like a millionaire. I'm open for questions now. Representative Lowery for what purpose question you're recognized. So with this bill it will lead to like at the a decrease in revenue so. If the surplus of a billion dollars would eventually run out what like services would you cut. Two. fortis that's a great question. we're planning on cutting a little bit of welfare money as more people come back to the job market less people are going to be unemployed since our economy is starting to recover from the Copa nineteen pandemic I feel that is a A reasonable cut to give. Representative toilette for what purpose. You're recognized. So with these lower taxes would be having Americans having more money in their paychecks correct correct of follows. You're recognized so if these Americans have. Arkansans I suppose have more money in their paychecks. And the price of things keeps going up how is this going to combat inflation that's a great question. If they have more money in their pockets for one they're not going to feel the inflation as much and giving more money back to the people is actually gonna help inflation because we're not having to print as much money to get out to the people from the government. Follow. The House matter follow from representative Twyla. Representative Scott for what purpose. Question you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker. I'm gonna take for example section four of the taxes so from zero to four thousand the first four thousand that somebody makes will be taxed at two percent in the next four thousand we tax at four percent correct. All of them if the page. You're saying on the highest bracket correct. Yes Sir. Yes that is recess. Paul question please you're recognized thank you so every single time that we go through a new margin on the section we hit four thousand the tax because of the tax for that first four thousand you make is just gonna stay there until you go into the next bracket correct. We ask that question again I don't quite understand dressed. So yes I'm trying to say is the first four thousand some aces any tax to the a two percent thanks four thousand four percent in the next so much so you two hundred twenty thousand will be tax of five point one percent so if you make a hundred twenty thousand dollars if I can be tax all that five point three percent only what you make about five hundred that is correct yes Sir. Payton for what purpose. You're recognized how would you say that your bill will go towards the fact that you'll make sure that. A person's income will go with that same right. Ask again I'm quite sure trust. So I'm looking at record one and it's saying that the rate would be zero percent tax rate How would you go about making sure that that person's income doesn't like how would you make sure the tax is correct for that individual compared to every other individual well they would fall into the bracket so they would get taxed at that rate. That answer questions. Yeah. Represented one representative when for what purpose. You're recognized you mentioned teachers firefighters and. Vigils how it affects small business owners in Arkansas. I believe it'll actually benefit most small business owners. Actually Where would we find that so let's say let's say that small business owner is in either bracket to or bracket three if they're making up on the higher end of that bracket their taxes lowered by point two percent so it's going to benefit what they're making and this this isn't a tax on the business this is just the tax on the individual's income. Thank you. Senator fox what purpose. You're recognized so will this bill be able to be adjusted as we progress through this. All right yes Sir this is ultimately a short term bill that will last. you know we could say a year to eighteen months and then we come back and we re evaluate what is gonna happen because what what I really realized through this bill is that we cannot make a rapid change we can't just drop all the taxes to the floor we have to slowly kind of waterfall down and we'll give will give the people a break over time and this is just going to this is gonna be better for the state it'll help us control our money better. Thank you. Representative Davis what purpose question you're recognized so what is the point of the bill is it to combat a recession or is it to combat inflation. As I said this is the core of this bill is to benefit the the lower tax brackets and the people that are in the higher end of the tax brackets where they are lowered to the current to the new five point one percent. I believe this is gonna help put money back in the pockets of the common folk and especially our social workers as I mentioned before. Are you aware that if you have a follow up question I'm sorry can I have a follow up please you're recognized are you will. Do you understand that cutting taxes leads to an increase in inflation or. That's not how that works if you give more money back to the people you don't have to print more money putting the moneys because the inflation. Representative garner for what purpose. You're recognized all. We would like to speak against the bill. President of brown you're recognized to speak against the bill. Firstly let's consider the major flaw of this bill which is to. Which is to cut welfare and then which is to cut taxes and then and cutting welfare the sponsors said that the point of this bill is to give back to the common man but in this bill it specifically takes money from the poor and lower class and give and fees it to the middle class and that's against the grain of what everybody else is doing if it's actually from the rich it's understandable well when you take money from welfare's that supplement the incomes of lower class company and a lower class families and then feed it to middle class that does not make sense for a bill. And also as the sponsor state it was it's a going to be a short term bill however when you decrease taxes and you had re address the brackets is it is extremely difficult for people to agree to actually up to taxes and once again so this this is not going to be a short term bill as the sponsors that. L. once and the sponsor reference to the differences and. The paper Senators between a teacher and owner how they pay the same income tax however the sponsor only adjusted the income tax income tax bracket percentages for the of around the middle class but what about let's say compare I had a dentist to a multimillionaire and that makes five million dollars a year is unfair that they don't get it is unfair that the Dennis paid the sin taxes as a multimillionaire and they don't get a difference in the tax rates adjustments. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative Penzo you're not recognized to speak for the bill. so there's two things here so far as we can I feel like we can all recognize that inflation is an up to our state it's up to the country mainly so with this bill if you can put more money in Americans pockets let's say you're going to Walmart and your groceries are hundred dollars one so we will in six months maybe with inflation there hundred twenty dollars what with this bill with the tax cuts maybe we can help them get that extra twenty dollars to it there I have it taken on credit in getting an award that they'll have that money and then second of all taking this from welfare in the last year with COVID we've been giving people unemployment tax through the state if you can prove that you were fired from a job not that you quit and so with COVID being gone and the bill not renewing this money can be taken from welfare without taking it from the lower class you can still allocate the money for the lower class you might have disabilities might not be able to work or just need like food stamps and you can take it away from more of the middle class workers let's just say a passport office worker his middle class who got laid off during that pandemic but is going back to work now well we don't have that like well for money for them anymore set aside in the state budget so you can take that money from that and not or what caused it like a deficit from this tax bill. Representative toss what purpose. House where the motion. Immediate consideration. That is a proper motion is not debatable the question before the House immediate consideration of house bill one thousand and two all in favor say aye. All opposed say no. The I. seven. The question before the House is the passage of house bill one thousand two. The machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Cast the ballot Mr Clark. By a vote of thirty sixty days and forty five days and fifteen present the bill has failed. President of one you're recognized. All right so it's my pleasure to Talk to you about something that the House gets to deal with we are fortunate to have a this during our match right now at least we did already go. Yeah. So. The Speaker of the house is actually here today it is representative Matthew Shepherd from L. diretor do we have anybody from El Dorado. Okay all right good well the speakers from your hometown Matthew Shepherd is has just been elected for a third term as Speaker of the house which until he was elected as a second term we never had anybody served two terms as a Speaker and now he's for his third term as Speaker it's been a real pleasure I come from the small town of Smackover so suburb of the liberated but he's become a great friend but I'm going to ask the Speaker a boys state if you would to please recognize the Speaker of the house and ask him to come forward and address is correct. Speaker Shepherd you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker. I want to welcome you all to the House representatives it's an honor to have boys state here again thinking back it was I guess twenty nine years ago in the summer of nineteen ninety three that that I was a representative from elder radio I wasn't is accomplished is as you guys because I don't think I was elected the house I think I was elected dog catcher or something along those lines but we state was a great experience I hope you've had a great week and I know that there been so many volunteers as well as members from both the house and Senate that it participated you know I think one of the main take aways from Boise state that I hope for each of you as well as as all other students whether they're boys state or not is just to recognize the importance of Pollitt of the political process the importance of civil public discourse and that in our nation is. You know the greatest nation ever to exist on the face of the earth but but it's I work in progress to and that we have to be vigilant that we have to work hard that it takes. Members of the community to step up and run for office and to support good candidates and so I hope that you've enjoyed your week I hope that as you go back to your respective communities that you'll have a better understanding of the political process you'll have a better understanding of state government and that this is something that you can look back on in the years to come as a great experience if there's anything that I can ever do for for you just feel free to reach out the House will go back into session in January although we may be in special session before the end if any of you saw the governor's press conference yesterday and so it's an honor to serve as Speaker of the house I'm very fortunate to serve with with great members from across the state of Arkansas one of the things that I would say about the house of representatives and one of the reasons that that I've enjoyed serving here and that maybe have passed up opportunities to run for for other offices is that you know when in state government the house is really in my view it's the it's the representatives that are closest to the people you know in the House each of us represent about thirty thousand individuals on the Senate in they represent about ninety to a hundred thousand individuals. And so what that means is that you know we represent smaller smaller areas of the state that we represent you know a smaller segment of the population but that also allows us to be very much in tune with what's important to our constituents and so the great thing about the houses that their representatives from the four corners of the state I'm from elder rate which is twelve miles from the Louisiana border are revenue tax here Joe Jett is from success Arkansas that's just a few miles from the Missouri border we represent Deborah Ferguson from West Memphis and we have representative Jay Richardson from Fort Smith and we have representatives all in between. But we all come together we answer the call. We disagree at times we agree we work hard we take the vote then we move on to the next thing And we currently we're in an era of really hyper partisanship. But you know I in the House of we're very fortunate in the vast majority the issues that we Or issues that we're just trying to vote and make decisions that we believe in the best interest of our constituents in a lot of times that may break down the kind of a rural versus urban discussion but the house is a dynamic body and that's the thing I love about it things can be going very smoothly and we can go to once we come back and it's like you know it's a completely different world when we get back here and and we're arguing in and fight and all that in a civil way. But that's what I love about the house and so congratulations on your election to the house I hope you enjoy your day if there's anything I can ever do for anyone of you just let me know thank you. Thank you Mr Speaker Mr Clark please read Senate bill one. Senate bill one by Senator J. fields. To increase mental health services the public schools grades seven through twelve and to appoint a task force to study access to mental health services. We need a representative who is willing to speak for Senate bill one. Representative Douglas you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker of representatives I'm before you today to talk about a bill to increase mental health services for public schools between grades seven through twelve and this is been a really big problem recently due to school shootings we seen and the other issues with guns and and right now due to cove in other circumstances there's a huge shortage of counselors within schools right now and it's really hard to get the help that students need so this bill is calling to create a committee a task force appointed by the governor of one counselor to public school teachers three parents for students and five mental health professionals and these people were work will work together to figure out the issues that are going on in the school and study how to decrease violence violence in schools increase access to mental health services in schools and apply the findings to elementary schools and assess the impact on a minority schools so this is a very big problem right now and I believe we should work to increase the counters in our school in the counseling so we can stop these issues that is that are going on. I'm open questions. Presenter very for what purpose question. You're recognized where will this funding come from and how much funding will require this will actually require very minimal funding only committee costs and that's it and this can be pulled from some schools money. Okay. You're recognized is it not illegal to take money from the public schools funding. Actually the schools will be wanting to allocate this money for this use and and work together to create more counselor so the schools will be alright they will volunteer to use this money for this cause. Representive Smith for what purpose. You are recognized to always act as will the report from this task force be transmitted to the governor's office or to the legislature will be public so why we know the information from this task force there is a provision in the bill that says on or before June first of twenty twenty three the task force shall file a final report on their findings in their activities and it will be open to the public. Representative garner for what purpose question you're recognized what is the significance of this task force led what will it what is the purpose once again the purpose is to help find the big issues that are going on in schools and where we're going wrong with the mental health and why these kids are not receiving the treatment they need and this is this can in turn to decrease violence in schools or bullying or other issues. Representative Holcomb you up for what purpose. Well you're recognized if the schools the need the services don't have the money or how are you planning on helping them. would you what would anyone like to speak against the bill. Of represent very. You're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker I'm either for or against the bill yet I just want the sponsor to answer a question in his closing argument has a closing statement or these committees or this board will members cycle on and off because I don't really feel like to teachers or you know the certain amount of parents or students is going to be a good representation unless we're constantly pulling new people in and cycling the old people out to see what the real issues actually are I just I think it's kind of a little bit of an important question that I did not see in the bill thank you. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representive told that you are recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker. I believe that a lot of these school shootings that have happened have been because of mental health issues and a lot of them that have started in the early years of middle school right like seventh grade eighth grade. A lot of these pubescent teenagers will be bullied ridiculed and sometimes that traumatize them and they need to access the services so they can get help instead of turning to this extremely violent means. Of getting. Closure I suppose thank. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representar Love you're recognized. Thank you Speaker. The bill states that the parents shall be notified when a mental health risk is identified often times mental health risks or issues are caused by parents or influenced by the parents so my fear is that the student maybe. I guess persecuted by their parents if this issue is notified by the school. Reserved for groups Ferguson for what purpose. H. your motion. Immediate consideration. That's a proper motion. That's not debatable. Question for the House. Is immediate consideration for Senate bill one. All in favor say aye. All in favor say no you. The nasihat. The nays have the. A. Okay here's an example of. The yeas and the nays were close enough where in regular session our our representatives will go no no no that's not right the Nays want to know the ETS want so that's when you have to raise your hand if you have five hands go up for roll call then the Speaker has to roll call but you have to do that right after the vote. So that's what we're saying raise your hands and that forces the roll call you'll have to put your vote up on the screen so that it's then officially counted and we see if the yeas or nays one. The question for the houses immediate consideration for Senate bill one. She. For the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. You're voting on the immediate consideration motion. Not the bill. Cast a ballot Mr Clark. With fifty eight thirty six nays into presence the meeting consideration has failed. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative grow you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I'd like to say that this bill is beneficial for all those people who struggle with mental health it gives them an option to not just go to their counselors I know in my school I constantly have to search for my counselor to seek advice on where to go to college or even if I'm struggling with mental health with the task force it gives opportunities for teachers parents even. Even the counselors themselves to have an opportunity to help the students and as a response to one of the questions asked is about the parents and how they might deal with the mental health issues is the task force will handle that they could go to the task force if they do not feel safe at home and also I do agree this mental health issue is mainly the reasons why these shootings happen and this gives us an opportunity to stop the shootings before they happen thank you. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. A representative Pilkington you're you're recognized. I would first like to say that I think we need a mental health bill I think it is a problem in America but I do not believe that this is the bill to do it I believe this bill does not outline funding well enough to. Be considered for passing in the house I think if we do have a bill that supports mental health it needs to go into more detail about what exactly it will do and how exactly it will be funded because I I feel that this bill does not adequately explain that. Representative toss for what purpose motion. Let's hear your motion limited debate to three minutes on each side. That's a proper motion that is not debatable. The question for the House. Is limited debate. For the for three minutes on solid. All in favor say aye. All. Opposed no you. The I. seventy. Debate is limited. Alright guys let me explain that to you so that means that the total amount of time allotted for all of you to speak for the bill is three minutes total. The time allowed for people to speak against this bill is three minutes total so if one person speaks for three minutes for the bill that's it. So be respectful of other people's other people wanting to speak for or against. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. To use. Representative ease you are recognized. Motion. State of the state your motion motion to amend. The motion to use. To place Senate bill one back on second reading for a part for the purpose of amendment. Is debatable. Representive easy you are recognized to explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker. A. like to what representative love pointed out about section one be A school district identified mental concern involving a student the public school district shall notify the parents or the student's parent or guardian I believe in the bill I think it's a good bill but I believe that this section could be harmful to the student like representative love said and I wanted strict. Thank you. Yes spoken for the motion. Would anyone like to speak against the motion. Representive told that you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker so I do believe that it could possibly be harmful to the US student. But instead of this what if the task force has the Department of Human Services official as part of the team so if there is something going on at home they can tell that person to get it taken care of. Instead of just taking it out because it should be reported to someone it shouldn't just be representative I need to speak on the motion. Okay I'm against the motion because it should be left in the bill because it should be reported to someone thank you. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Representative Pilkington you're recognized. Keep your marks on the motion please. I think this motion is a good thing because I feel that there are many cases of mental health where the parent is a contributing factor to the mental you need to speak on the motion. Okay I think this part should be removed from the bill because. Parents are often tripping fact or and I believe that the. Person has mental health struggles should necessarily have to Talk to their parents if they don't want to it should be their choice. All right guys sometimes in the house of representatives we get into very tangled issues and we actually will adjourn for a few not a term but recess for a few minutes while the parliamentarian and the Speaker mate or get with some people and our parliamentarian is here and but the finest Jones has been in this position how many years. Ten years and he has done an outstanding job we've got a great staff which by the way I should should recognize to apologize but I'm going to ask him to come in just give me a little bit of detail on what's happening right now so if we were in a real session what would happen and explain the situation to you. Recognized you're recognized thank you Speaker Hardwick Man of the house want to explain what's going on here inclined. I don't I'm not I'm not so that is your decision as all decisions here or up to the body. But when a one of the bill is before the House and someone wants to amend it the proper motion is to put it back on second reading for amendment. And all that does is open the door for an amendment or many amendments so the the particular motion a debate right now is to open the door for amendments if you want the bill to stay as it is you would vote against that motion. if you saying that you need to consider amendments to the bill you would vote for that motion and if that motion passes then you would consider specific amendments. In this case it would be removed some no particular language somewhere in the bill. But keep in mind that if you open that door someone else can come with an amendment to amend something else in the bill until all the amendments offered are considered so the bottom line is once you open the door for amendment it's a it you know you might get your your memo but you're not giving them that you don't lack either so it is kind of a risky thing and and also the amendment that we're talking about here I understand would be of what we call a verbal amendment as this not in writing in those kind of amendments are prohibited in the House representatives everything has to be in writing and if someone wants to offer an amendment is not in writing it doesn't happen up here. Doesn't happen up here. So that that I want to explain that to you will continue going through the process but again if you pass this motion is going to is going to add a layer of complexity to the process thank. Would anyone like to speak against the motion. For the motion. The representative bill ten would you like to of. Representative ease would you like to of close your motion. The question put before the house. Senate bill one back on second reading. For the purpose of amendment. All in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The nays have boot. Motion fails. The machine Mr Clerk. You're voting for paying the bill back on second amendment. Has everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. With thirty eight east fifty seven days in a presence this has bill. Would anyone like to speak against Senate bill one. Would anyone like to speak for Senate bill one. Go to and tune you're recognized. Oh sorry sorry for what purpose. That is a proper motion that is not debatable. The question before the House. Is immediate consideration Senate bill one. All in favor say aye hi. All opposed say no or nay. Five seven. The question before the House. Is the passage of Senate bill one. Per the shift machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Cascabel Mr color. With seventy five Yeas twenty days and three put presence Senate bill one has passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill three. Quick intro. Representative Tippi McCullough from Little Rock just in or do I have any other reps that have entered. Okay. Senate bill three by Senator J. Acosta. To provide bus transportation for low income individuals and their families. Represent Bentley you are recognized. Hello gentlemen today we are discussing Senate bill three which talks about an act to provide bus transportation for low income individuals and their families. So with this bill we are going to essentially be providing bus transportation to low income individuals and their families so we look at this one we are providing low income individuals transportation their jobs beings that and we instead provide stability to the Arkansas economy because we're allowing more income individuals be it a transportation to their job which therefore allows increased participation in increased mean basically just showing up to the job and allows them to work and it just makes me come a member society what's also interesting about this bill and what I love about this bill is about concludes our children we allow the opportunity for low income children to be attending school and getting equal education as other members of society we therefore allow them to participate in a have a future in Arkansas in United States basically because you allow them to have an education and therefore we're hoping our president and we're hoping the future and that is why I want to pass by today is to help the economy of the people help education and of the future P. through people coming up into America thank you gentlemen. Representative very for what purpose question you're recognized. Is there not already public transportation to schools so there is public transportation schools but was very interesting about this bill is that we're talking about the adults the does yours you cannot afford the church prison their jobs if you flip your page you actually can see public housing so we're per providing public housing and running transportation to public housing we allow people who don't have the opportunity to afford cars per se in our living with other individuals to also participate in the economy and I have the ability to get a job as well as looking out for their children as well a follow up you're recognized so the way that you worded it your first statement about the transportation and children sounded like the children would have the ability to go on the transportation by themselves what happens if they get you know adopted maybe on the public transportation so the a reduction in the public interest if you look at who is responsible on the bus transportation is provided by the Arkansas department of transportation so this isn't just some Joe blow picking someone up off the side of the road this is an official transportation transporting other members to the city so it's not something that's technically going to be adopted because it is in fact I having oversight by the Arkansas government. Representative Penzo for what purpose and you are recognized where does the government plan on getting all this extra money because for housing and transportation that's going to take a lot of extra money to the transportation budget so if you look on the first page on part three it talks about the capital cost and talk about the fixed expenses and initiating transport operations. So as you can see I mean there's already plans on how this is going to be funded now those plans aren't explicitly stated but there are capital cost that are sent away to plan for these fixed expenses so there are expenses that are going to be paid and there's a way to pay this in this by the capital costs. Hello do you have a follow up. Okay sorry representive Tollett for purpose question you're recognized. So how is this going to end up benefiting our Kansans financially. I'm sorry can you repeat the question. How is this bill going to end up benefiting our Kansans financially so when we're talking about benefiting our Kansas financially we're talking about allowing them to participate so if you don't have a car necessarily it's hard to get a job and if you're in if you're don't have a car it's hard allow your children go to school to allow the children to go to school and get an education to get a job and allowing our working force right now to be transported to their job can participate in the work force. Follow up you're recognized. As most of you know gas prices are at a record high right now how will those be covered for the public transportation if you if it's if it's free for people to ride how is that going to be covered so again this goes back to the capital cost that are sent away for the fixed expenses and this is again one thing we're looking at is we're taking away these guys expenses and putting them on the working for society and allowing the government to get through the saying Hey we're not going to make you take the burden is we're gonna take this and we're going to help you and this is exactly we're doing is helping the people thank you. Representative Godfrey for what purpose. You're recognized. Is this service only limited to low income individuals yes it's explicitly stated here that we're providing breast transportation for low can't low income individuals and their families. Follow up you're recognized how will they identify these low income individuals so there's and in fact of all rules in Arkansas of what says the guidelines for low income individuals and middle income individuals and we're going to follow the guidelines to be able to determine who is low income and who is middle income. Representative Lynch up for what purpose. You are recognized. So in low population areas this is actually something that's overlooked frequently within the schools and jobs is there in fact I mean they may have to resort to other options such as walking so when you're looking at there is the capital cost in that are transmitted to the purchase of land vehicles facilities and equipment so those are gonna be set aside to maybe low in a low popular population if it areas we can provide transportation so those those capital cost again coming in hand we're working provide transportation in those low population areas and low income. Thank you. Representative going for what purpose. A recognized. Question you're recognized. will this be connected in any way to a city is already established public transportation system or will this be a separate thing so yes this is gonna be something that's directly connected to maybe already existing public transportation but we have those capital costs aside in case we need to add on to the already existing public transportation. Another question. You're recognized. In cities do not already have an established public transportation system will this create one if this were to be repealed at some point what that is with the transportation system still be. In effect in the city no we will not be creating one as the bill states it's directly relative to the Arkansas department of transportation thank you. Representative bill continue or for what purpose. Question. You're recognized so I don't believe you mentioned how specifically you will get the money will be a new tax will it be taken from another government program or how how specifically will you fund this project so when looking at the bill as a sponsor I have to look at the fine print with the fine print says is the capital cost so we are trusting your is that the capital costs are going to be able to pay for these financial expenses now the fine print is not see how they're going to be met but I can't promise you there is a way this is going to be paid in the ways can be paid is the capital costs. Follows you're recognized so you define capital cost is the cost of the transportation stuff but you don't explain how we pay that cost how are we going to pay that capital cost and make and because this is not going to cost a lot of money gas prices that's how we gonna pay for that so we're gonna pay for this by the state government the state government sponsored this bill and this can be paid for by the state government. Can I do another follow up no you cannot. Representative garner for what purpose. You're recognized. Will it be immediate or will take some time to like get used to. So this bill is going to be a media as you turn to the second page there is a way of a means of access they're gonna create an electronic application that assist the public so we're talking to this is gonna be a meeting and we're gonna be helping the people get to the job help the children get to their get their education and we're gonna be sitting the public as soon as we can to make sure that we help the people of Arkansas all of you are recognized I recognize here during the reading this it has chairman and chairman of the board and others look away what does that mean in this regard. So when you're talking about chairman of the board I'm going to assume this is talking about you know with the oversight of this bill and how it's going to be passed but if you can give me an explicit time frame I can be able to get you to that. But. It really doesn't say much as just as chairman or chairman of the board or chairman of the board of the authority means the president officer or the of the authority as elected pursued to section fourteen another stuff so I believe that's a mix of just going to answer questions that their work that they're responsible for the protection of this okay thank you. Representive five for what purpose. Okay. That your motion. You have to will. For what purpose again. There is a proper motion that is not debatable. The question before the House is immediate consideration of Senate bill three. All in favor say aye. All in favor say no you. Or All opposed say no sorry. Das seventy. The question for the House before the passage of Senate bill three. Per the machine Mr Clerk. As a. Has everybody voted. Cast of the ballot Mr Clark. With. With forty six yeah who's in forty eight news and for presidents the Senate Senate bill number three has failed. Representative Warren you are recognized. All right guys so something that could have happened there you saw that that was forty six forty eight so. If he had wanted he could have come out and talk to a couple of you who voted against that bill. And you could have a motion for reconsideration it would have to be someone that voted against the bill to say you know what I guess I'm having second thoughts I think that might be a good bill. But someone that voted against could say motion for reconsideration. So then. You could possibly bring that bill back up. I can't hear you. And that. Does it apply for the people to put president. But he said. The ones motor president could not do a reconsideration motion. Just ask me those vote against it. So but anyway so. You see that a lot of different things happen now the other thing that you guys don't get the benefit of. If you if you actually served in the house or the Senate you're working your bill we we will have bills that we will. Some of us have already started working on bills and we will start working bills this call for sure. And we will be talking to other representatives going Hey I want you to get on board with me I'm gonna want you to help sponsors it be one of the sponsors of this bill you don't wait until you get here and come up with the bill and try to get people to support it you're doing that before you even get here in January. So there's a you it's not like what you guys experienced okay at I just heard about a bill and I've got to make a decision today or tomorrow. You were you've got constituents that are telling you about some needs that they have in you decide if it's something that you think you can bring to the legislature and get it done for your community that's also going to be good for the whole state so there's a whole process and you'll have people that come out of the woodwork So. Represent back what. Yeah I mean that that's something believe me when we get here the the first week after we start the session bills get filed in talk about going public. They they go public and people or what how did you see that bill that they filed and some people will be like this is great but other people will be calling the representative centers going we gotta kill at. I mean so it it's a it's a battle. Some bills get through a lot easier but some are I mean believe me we have bills that We we go forward in the house of the Senate and you gonna have both bodies agreeing to pass a bill so do you feel like you have a better picture of government. Okay I hope this wet your appetite in that some of you will get engaged in your school this year that you'll get engaged when you go to college and that you get engaged in your community you don't have to wait until you get through with high school or college to get engaged communities get engaged now and I want to do this I should have done this earlier but we have staff that are here with us we have an incredible House staff so Sherri stacks. I recognize there. Hillman tarian Malicious. the Tory has been sort of the lead person on our a whole boy state deal. And then Barrett Dudley we have what's called constituent services every representative were divided into the four congressional districts we each each congressional district has to a constituent services people and very just happens to be my a congressional district but they help us when we have Constituents call us with the problem we call our constituent services person and they go to work helping us resolve the problem but and then cherries Spurgeon is back here Jerry is security for the house of representatives he had a background he served in the FBI for years before he came to us so have I missed anybody Carol. So anyway we have an amazing staff that make us look a lot better than we are individually and then we also have the pure of Legislative Research. We got one member there I had to bring one over to help representative Qualls with his bill and so. They are always helping us put it all together and so we're very blessed to have great people helping us as representatives and senators but. Please get engaged and. Consider being a representative or a senator in the future some of you showed some really good qualities that the. You know how to debate and prepare so hopefully we'll get to see you taking our places down the road don't do it right now okay. I was a joke okay all right so thanks for being a part of this and we hope to see in the near future connect with your reps that are here today yes Sir all please yes the book sold that book up. Well that book up those books represent all these guys take those home with the that is the house of representatives gives to you. Just a momentum for being here so take those and who you want to come forward and tell your. Delegates were to go. Jack Henry until I need to see you right after that. Can we get one quick round of applause. All right so officially. The Speaker gets to. Adjourns so I'll return control to the Speaker. And great job Mister Speaker pro tem. There being no further business this section of Arkansas boys state is adjourned Senate by.