Girls State

Good morning good morning girls welcome to the house chambers you come me and just find the places that. More as you come in to find a place to set and I would like to officers Speaker of the house Speaker pro tem chief Clerk at cetera if you could report up here. We get settled in. Yes. Anywhere you. Welcome to the house chamber. all officers if you all would report up here we'll get squared away are you in office. What we do. Okay. If you are. Yes. I'm sure that's what I'm saying. Okay. All right. What is that what you're telling me or are they. Okay. Well they're all. That worked out thank and. I have a good chance he is assistant. Lowery Speaker. All right man they give him a chance to. More yeah what will be I'll get more. This. Yeah now we are good morning how are you ladies this morning. So I know we're a little bit late getting started just from the fact that we had some girls that didn't know that they were appointed they didn't know that they needed to be here this morning and we've had a little bit of issue with that so we're going to try to get us back on some kind of schedule of the first thing that I want to tell you is that you can text your parents take out their phones text your parents they can go to Arkansas house dot org. Arkansas house dot org all lower case all spelled out and they can watch those proceedings because we'll be live streaming it. All right so they can watch all in action. Or your counselor your teacher whoever you would like to text and tell them they can watch they'll be able to watch. Again that the Arkansas house dot org I. You want me to go ahead and do these announcements right now Mister body or you want to go ahead and do like we would normally start. Okay. That's what I thought okay so we're gonna go over just a few quick things just to remind you guys you don't want to be on your phone the whole time said try to I just wanted you all to make sure that you texted let your parents know that they could watch all right but try not to be on your phone ADD during these proceedings you will be recognized by the Speaker according to the name on the desk at which you are seated so for you that would be representative Mayberry for you that would be Charlene Fite or representative to fight okay we'll be your actual last name if you wish to be recognized if you'll remember we talked about this yesterday if you want to just ask a question you will stand at your desk hold up your microphone. If you want to speak for against the bill foragers times at you have to come here to speak against or for a bill the questions are asked at your desk if you want to speak against a bill it's a thumbs down and we're just trying to remind you of a few things that we already went over Motions if so if you want to make a motion say that represents McCall I wanted to make a motion she could make a motion as long as I'm standing in the way all so someone has to be outside the well before a motion can be made remember once that you are through talking about your bill and taking any questions or not taking questions have you want to do that you have to leave the well before somebody can proceed on all right whenever you are recognized they'll say representative Vaught you're recognized to present house bill one up one thousand and one that's when you come to the whales then you say thank you madam Speaker and then you proceed you always thank them for allowing you to come to the well and speak. we talked about when you finish with your bill when you're finished you say I would appreciate a good vote if you're speaking against the bill I would appreciate a nine vote. I'm. When using the voting machines. The green is the yes the Reds the narrow and present just means that you're not taking a vote on this bill I for the sake of today I probably wouldn't use present a lot of times we will use present if we have still have questions about a bill or if it doesn't affect our area the president that would be used but most the time that's not a button that we use a whole lot we ask the child don't have drinks or food in here in the chamber all right. Any other questions I'm going to quickly tell you again who your reps are that are in the room if you have questions please just flag us us so that we can come answer any questions that you might have we want this to be a great learning experience for you guys C. have representative Lowery. Representative Godfrey. Representative bamboo E.. Bruce. The representative Haak representative Collin I didn't see you set down there representative Crawford representative calling and I'm representative bought representative Jamie Scott all right yes ma'am. Yes you can rights yes you may issue like any other questions colleagues did I leave anything out. We want you all to have fun and we want to be a great learning experience for you guys I hope you're as excited as we are so let's have some fun. The house of representatives for Arkansas girls state will come to order. I am by the members of staff press and gas in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by the house chaplain making Lucas and to remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative it in would. If we can just come in prayer today. Our heads. Lord I want to thank you today for this opportunity that you have given us please lead all of these young women into an empowering and of the great must vote on today's bills lead them to speak with confidence and power meant to encourage to make sure that every bill is spoken on with every ounce of heart and passion I ask that you bless everyone in this room and guide us through all of all that we do today and hopefully it's runs as smooth as possible admin. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot madam Clerk. With forty three members present The chair sees a quorum. Your points the following Committee to notify the Senate that the House is organized and ready for business how is mark a livia Lindsey and Erica Johnson. The chair points the following Committee to notify the governor the houses organized and ready for business Kelly ism. Randall and Stribling and killing Garner. Will stand in recess until the committees get back. Whenever we actually gavel land for the general assembly's we do this we it's just protocol we send someone to notify the Senate that we're here and ready for business we notify somebody we send people to notify people there in the governor's office that we're ready here ready in here it's just a formal formality that we day so just so you kind of understand go ahead I'm sorry Ricky. Madams Arjuna arms for what purpose. I bet the Senate delegation. Thank you. Also be in recess until the committee's return. That also come to order. Representative Godfrey or for what purpose. Your your motion I make a motion that we should be allowed to remove our visors. The motion is your suspend the rules and remove our visors. It is not debatable. Question before house. This is the rules. And remove our visors favors all in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. The ayes have it the motion is adopted. Madam Clark please read. House Bill one thousand one. House bill one thousand one sponsored by representative a brown to provide mass public transportation for low income individuals and cities with a population between twenty thousand to sixty thousand. Representative brown you're recognized to explain your bill. Good morning representatives this is a bill in order to provide a mass public transportation for low income individuals and cities with a population between twenty thousand people and sixty thousand people for people that are low income elderly or people with disabilities that cannot provide their own personal transportation now this bill is a great idea and will greatly benefit our society because public transportation in the rural and small urban areas in Arkansas is severely lacking in relation to a large city of public transportation in many instances is no longer a profitable undertaking for private enterprise and it is often more costly and environmentally harmful then the latter. We set a public subsidy of public transportation whether privately or publicly operated is often necessary to provide needed transportation or services. And Transportation is a critical problem for low income individuals especially in cities with populations in Arkansas between twenty thousand and sixty thousand people now I'm realizing. That this is an issue it is a primarily instituted by the. This would be beneficial in order to eliminate the substantial ways that we have from our a private transportation that can come sometimes this is just like a a side note for this but. It is often more physically harmful and environmentally harmful to invest in duplicated private transportation and personal transportation and especially for those that can't afford that or don't have access to that such as the low income disabled or elderly population and. This would be beneficial for them because and also for the government itself because many people use public transportation in many of these people would use public transportation to go to a place of work or place of employment and especially in cities that would increase the tax base for people that need to provide for themselves and I would also help pay for this bill by. increasing that tax base and increasing the income tax that we can or the number of people that we have income tax on so the how this bill would be carried out it is. So within a twenty mile radius of a central business district with a population of twenty thousand to sixty thousand people and the construction of a mass transit system it would be required by this bill and it would be carried out within five years by those cities. We would really leave that up to them to but is still in force it on how to construct that and how to operate it and it is The revenue generated by the city's increasing population and employment as previously stated would help fund this mass transit system. Representative brown has explained the bill would anyone like to speak again bill. But if you would like to speak for the bill. Representative Ladyman you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I would like to speak for this bill simply for a viewpoint that was not recognized and what she'd previously stated but in larger populations popularized cities they're often high crime rates and I feel like public transportation on a mass scale would also decrease the likelihood of young women or young man being attacked when they're walking alone just trying to make it to where and those kind of points of view so I think safety is another factor that would be benefited and this bill thank you. Representative Ladyman has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representive cloudy you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I personally live in Fort Smith which is a larger city of almost ninety five thousand people this would not fit into that twenty to sixty thousand range and personally not many people in my city or myself included use public transportation I believe that I think we could do a focus more on these larger cities where there is more like pollution from greater amounts of people using individual vehicles and have a greater benefit to the whole community than just smaller cities I think there should be a focus on larger cities thank you. Representative Clowney has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Clough you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. I'm in here in favor for this bill. Public transportation and urban and rural rural areas is unacceptable and unreachable so the former representative made a statement that not many people use public transportation but that is because they can't access it and implementing mass public transportation in these areas will not only help the people with low income it will also help everyone in the community but if this bill is passed people that previously went through hardship with getting to places like jobs or their home or whatever we now have a more accessible way. So therefore funding mass transit would not only be. Therefore funding mass transit would heavily benefit cities with a population from twenty thousand to sixty thousand thank you I would appreciate a good vote. Representative clout has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Garner you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. I am hot springs which is has a population of thirty six thousand people and I know trying to walk from one place to another especially in historic downtown and Central Avenue can be a nightmare especially with traffic I feel like with masks funding of public transportation will greatly and improve our not only are driving qualities but trying to get from place to place and being on time thank you and I appreciate a good vote. Representative garner has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative or in your recognized to speak against the bill. Hello colleagues this is a great idea in theory right but I just think it's unrealistic for all the cities to pay pay for such a mass transit system she said that it was up to the cities to decide how they want to use it but get this done in five years I just believe is not feasible I think it's an awesome idea in theory but I believe we need to start smaller than just giving mass funding to cities when we don't really have any standards for what will happen thank you and I appreciate novo. Representative wouldn't has spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative vote wrote you're recognized to speak for the bill. Hello I'm a co sponsor on this bill and I would like to point out some points that the other sponsors have not made and also disprove some naysayers so this bill would be to get people into cities so it's a twenty to sixteen to twenty five mile range where people are trying to get into cities with central business districts and to the people inside the city could absolutely get to their places of people outside of the city will not have that easy of a time. I would also like to say this bill is more for low income people and so that's why we're going from twenty thousand people to sixty thousand people smaller cities with smaller income. This bill would also not be completely free so the buses they would have the city's could decide that the buses would charge people to buy them so people might have to pay to ride these buses it's not going to be completely up to the cities to pay for this thank you and I would appreciate a good vote. Representative ro has spoken for. For the bill what we would like to speak against the bill. Representative Fuhrman you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I would like to recognize that the little twenty thousand to sixty thousand does not constitute as rule whatsoever and I was at least I'm from my home town that has twenty six hundred people and there's plenty of hardship plenty poverty twenty people that also struggle to get to work and all types of transportation in this bill does not include them whatsoever. I just feel like it is not inclusive I feel like. You neither need to extend it to where it's more people that are able to access is registration or you to throw it out thank you not appreciate a no vote. I'm sorry. Yes. Representative leads for what purpose I have a question. You're recognized how much is it going to cost the state. I'm not aware of that right. So maybe the sponsor can tell you into comes back to the well. Represented Fuhrman has spoken against the bill what anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Lowery you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker many places that are lower than twenty thousand actually people have their own portable transportation to drive to work in so would really make sense to put a public transportation there and said to put it in more of a bigger population and it would just make sense to put in a bigger population and I would support it the. Reprezent Lowery spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Or the bill. Represent Brown D. yes. You're recognized to close your bill. In closing I would just like to say that everyone has had great points about the negatives and positives of this bill but overall I think it would be most beneficial for these cities that are between twenty thousand sixty thousand specifically because keeping a lower population and not lower population a lot of people do already have their own private transportation and it is going to be very difficult to find all the way down to those low populations we recognize that there's a large majority of people in that twenty thousand to sixty thousand that don't have that opportunity and while that since same thing may be applied in those smaller populations as well funding all the way down to those lower populations would be a severe fiscal problem for those cities and for those states and to address how much it would cost for the state I going to be completely honest we really don't have time to work out the fiscal impact of that yet so I can't tell you an exact number So but I don't think it would be dramatic if if that's any help to you overall and enclosing it this bill would help people with low income disabilities and elderly people that do need to support themselves financially at be able to get into the cities and be able to support themselves through this mass transportation system and not only would it be beneficial for those people and increasing the tax base and but it would also be environmentally beneficial because of the lowered emissions that come from private transportation and converting that to mass transportation thank you. Representative brown has closed for the bill. The question before the House is passage of house bill one thousand one. Prepare the machine madam Clerk. Has everyone voted. Of your small. Casts up the ballot madam Clerk. With twenty six days and twenty seven days the bill is defeated. Okay. Recognized represented by representative Vaught. Thank you madam chair so and of course we. To get a bill off of our floor would take fifty one votes we don't have a hundred of the all so we're going to act like we have one hundred of the all whenever we tally up the votes does that make sense so it'll be. We'll do the best we can with not having one hundred of the all. Just the majority of the people who are here okay so just so you kind of understand for us normally that would be fifty one yes is to get something off of our floor great debate on the first bill I think that's great debate What can you can now see how every bill affects everybody's life so I live in a rural community representative Pilkington lives in a very rural community that bill would have been great for our communities right so he and I would have probably been hard nose on it. But you can see where it would have benefited people who live in more urban areas so you kind of see how urban against rural kind of goes up here whenever it comes to bills the great debate all did a great job thank you madam Speaker. Madam Clark please read house bill one thousand two. House bill one thousand two sponsored by representative T. Tyler to authorize the Arkansas alternative energy commission to provide incentives to build solar farms and use solar panels. On new public buildings. Representative Tyler you're recognized to explain the bill. Good morning I'm representative Tyler speaking for house bill one thousand two. Scientists have a tribute greenhouse gases as the leading cause of global warming greenhouse gases are mainly caused by burning fossil fuels for energy. The US energy information administration concluded that seventy nine percent of energy consumption is led by fossil fuels the environmental damage fossil fuels has caused is leading us to a point of no return. But this can all be avoided if we choose to act. Alternative energy is one way we can stop the climate crisis this bill proposes solar farms around the state to provide to provide a safer more efficient and reliable energy source for our Kansas I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Tyler has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Garner you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I personally believe that this will not be efficient enough because we're my question is where we put the lands or would we have the land access to be able to build these farms if many people on farms here in Arkansas because Arkansas is known for being an agricultural state which we are the leading rice producers in the United States so I would appreciate a no vote. Representative garner spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. A representative Richardson you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. The morning colleagues this bill is very important. There most days they use solar power forms such as Oklahoma Louisiana and even our homes Arkansas. I know the building. Buildings in the building in use in our solar farms are very effective due to living in a small town called England I tell uses these forms an alternate way from the greenhouse and nuclear gases and most of our limited natural resources call due to it being apart from Wyoming. This is this is not the four seven may there have been less power storage use the lower electricity bills the money that man. Going into these bills are not being used to build our schools or school district a new elementary school grocery stores and many more things in me and our representative. Representative Richardson spoke for the bill but anyone like to speak against the bill. The representative Gonzalez you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I believe that we try to make solar farms big enough to actually power communities we would either be cutting down our trees which would hurt the environment or will be taking away land from private owners which they may not want I feel like it would have worse impact on our environment if we are removing trees. Thank you I. Representative Gonzalez spoke against the bill but anyway I'd like to speak for the bill. Representative Scott you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker as I would like to talk about earlier about the land problem I have seen with my own eyes that we have lots of land and Brian Arkansas and around other places that the land cannot be sold and is about to be re purposed by the government that land could be re purposed and be sold to a organization or company that allows for this bill to be passed and could be used to a great advantage. Ladyman for what purpose I have a question. Go ahead. So why is it they all decided on solar panels to be our ultimate source of energy whenever we have so many natural rivers and could possibly use other resources. That is not my ability to speak for the. Thank you. Hopefully they. Sponsor could answer that question for Americans Act the well thank you. Representative Scott spoke. For the bill would you like to speak against the bill. Representative Hudson is recognized to speak against the bill. Speaker what is a good idea in theory what about spots House because I'm from Phillips County where we are sold me a agriculture community and if we cut down R. four million to build these plants what about the people what is the cost okay what about the people who family had the lamp all these years this is what they do year after year after year what we gonna do about that. Thank you and I would appreciate a no vote. Representive Hudson spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Because. You're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker as I'm also from a small town of about two thousand people. It would be very beneficial for us because we have had a lot of issues with losing power in our chicken houses we have lots of them around Clay County and with all the recent storms a lot of them have gone out of power and a lot of people have lost lots of money because of their chickens dying over not so the solar panels would allow These houses the power even third storms where as. When generators may not work so I would appreciate a yes vote. Representative garner for what purpose I have a question. Recognized. For small cities I do understand but for larger cities where we put these farms for we have no space. I'm not sure this isn't my bill I'm just speaking for it perhaps the sponsor cancer whenever she comes back to the well thank you. Representative because spoke. For the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative when you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. I'm from the suburbs of saline county and I do agree that the solar panels wouldn't be a waste of land but they would be not a wise use of land we are quickly running out because everyone's moving from Little Rock farther and farther out and so we are quickly expanding our schools and businesses and the land is becoming very valuable in our town if we use it for solar panels we would have to expand even farther. And we would not have any room to expand all our businesses in our town it's also highly costly and unreliable source of energy if there's no sun for a week it can't power anyone it's just an unreliable source of energy. Thank you I would appreciate a no vote. Representative wing spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representive Wooten you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker hello again colleagues I think this is come down to an argument about land and I just wanted to point out that it says on new public buildings to and so it's also not about taking away private people's land it's like it's not gonna come in and steal your families land or anything like that it's not land that's already been available so I just wanted to clear that up because that's not really what the argument is about thank you I appreciate a no vote. Representative spoke. For the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representive right you're recognized to speak against the bill. Okay so I appreciate the effort to revitalize our environment I find that by providing the incentives the value of this bill declines I think we should instead use the money on something more direct that will also benefit our environment thank. Representative rice spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representive maker you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. I come from a small town as most of you know it's about two hundred and forty people but I also come from a family of farmers and my uncle he's a farmer and with the recent impact from coca nineteen he's lost thousands and thousands of dollars and no one is willing to work and no one he's he cannot buy the things he needs of five four as far because prices have increased so much and he just doesn't have the money to pay for and I think using his plan to invest in the solar farms would help him. Gain more money and. Just be a great investment for farmers like him who are losing money rapidly due to the effects of cover nineteen and with the newer cities coming in I I have seen many times where people put solar panels on their houses we in fact had almost put solar panels on our own House which would lower electricity bills and this would. This would require money to be put in in the first place but in the end game you're gaining money back. Thank you and I appreciate a yes vote. Representative make grew. Spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Lynch is recognized to speak against the bill. At this time I do not have a side I just have questions where and who does this money come from we have it heard and who will be paying for these and panels or who will be putting I will be putting the panels on these people's houses. Representative Lynch spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. But anyone like to speak against the bill. President Ferguson you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. today I would like to bring about a few points reiterate some and bring about a few new ones that are some problems that I've you with this bill number one we talked about the decrease injuries that we would have and with the solar panels are gonna be put down where would we be playing these new trees as we are losing land due to agriculture and our growing population and urbanization so will we replace these trees next we couldn't possibly put the solar panels on top of buildings considering that in Arkansas we don't have very many tearing building such as states like Louisiana and New York in Oklahoma that were brought about today in our discussion we don't have many tall towering buildings but when really be feasible for us to put the solar panels atop those also that the weather in Arkansas is very fickle as we do experience all four seasons so it wouldn't really be something that could be implemented long term because we do experience summer but we also experience winter and fall and then just in relation to the productivity compared to fossil fuels it's been predicted that solar panels will not be as efficient as possible until about twenty fifty and for thirty years I don't think that we should take that risk of implementing solar panels that's why I would like to a no vote for that I appreciate that thank you. Represent Ferguson spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Lowery you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker as we have seen a bunch of people brought up the weather in Arkansas and yes although it's not very reliable as me saying very bipolar L. on the sun and even clouds on you have a shadow scientifically the sun still shines through the shadow you still be getting that sunlight in the solar panels and we could try finding a select place to replant those trees that we have lost away from the solar panels at least get this that sunlight and allow us to have that the distances so we can get more carbon dioxide and oxygen in our on air thank you and I would like a good vote. Representive Lowery spoke for the bill what it would like to speak against the bill. Representive five what purpose immediate consideration. That's a proper motion is not debatable. Question before houses immediate consideration. Two of house bill one thousand two. All in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The question before the House is passage of house bill one thousand to prepare the machine madam Clerk. The cast of the. Has everyone voted. Now casts up the ballot ballot by the Clerk. With twenty four days in twenty seven days the bill has failed. Representive cloudy for what purpose I would like to move to reconsider bill one thousand and one. Let's hear your motion. Thank you madam Speaker okay. Would you repeat repeat your motion yes. Is a proper motion and it is debatable you're recognized to explain your motion. I thank you madam Speaker after convening with some other representatives I feel that the bill should be reconsidered after further information has been given to me thank you. Representive cloudy spoke for the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. For the motion. Representative Beatty recognized to speak for the motion. Thank you madam Speaker a good morning once again after convening with some people who oppose the original bill I have and. Made the decision that I am willing to amend the bill to not included the specific populations of twenty thousand to sixty thousand citizens but in low income cities as a generalization for those who are willing to opt into the program now this is more beneficial for people who have made the statements about low and population cities and I hear you and I understand that complaint so specific cities are specifically low income and that are willing to opt into the program is going to be more beneficial for the bill to succeed. And thank you for understanding I would appreciate a yes vote. Representative BTS spoke for the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. For the motion. Represent quality would you like to close for your motion. Thank you madam Speaker after hearing the representatives decisions to include lower populations in this bill I think that it would be more beneficial for greater population of the state and therefore to be reconsidered for voting thank you. Representative Claudia is close for the motion. The questions were for the House. Is reconsideration. Of house bill one thousand one. All in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion fails. Where the machine madam Clerk. Your vote on the motion. Has everyone voted. Because of the ballot madam Clerk. With sixteen yeas and twenty seven days the motion has failed. The Speaker has pretty good hearing. Madam Clark read house bill one thousand three. House bill one thousand three sponsored by representative a Ashley to establish the mental health improvement act. Representative Ashley you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you madam Speaker fellow colleagues I stand before you today to present to you the mental health improvement act this act will a to the continuation continuous deterioration of middle and upper level students is mental health as a little background fifteen point one percent of adolescents age twelve to seventeen have had a major depressive episode in eighteen point eight percent had seriously considered suicide these numbers need to be changed this bill will require that there be as therapist available to students for free in each Arkansas school district per one hundred and twenty five six through twelfth graders this will ensure every student in the school district will have the help and availability to help when and if needed. This bill will also require a mental health evaluation day to be administered to students in grades six through twelve every academic school year a lot can happen in the span of three hundred and sixty five days so we want to make sure any concern can be caught before it becomes a serious issue. Well met while some may be concerned with the addition of several professional therapists to the payroll we believe the effects of the mental health improvement act will be worth these additions as today's students are the future workforce in world changers this bill looks out for Arkansas students friends peers and children I would appreciate a yes vote. President of actually has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. But anyway like to speak for the bill. Representative Dalby you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker fellow delegates all this may seem very sad I actually had a friend who committed suicide in the past year and I think at this bill it would if it would have been implanted then that that could have been prevented and that could have saved of humanity from so much just grief and I think that this bill would be very good to implement into our society and so I would appreciate a good vote. Represent all be has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative image you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you ma'am I have personally seen many of my peers throughout school life lose their lives due to minutes ahead and I think that this will also provide more jobs for therapists in schools and personally I feel like the mental health evaluation would help the schools because many people who struggle with mental health miss people whose documents have don't think that they are struggling so they must have the valuation would make more people realize that they are not as okay as the scene. Thank you and I appreciate a good vote. Representive and it has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative bro you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I'm just here to ask questions that hopefully the sponsor will answer before I make my decision so who would be the one paying for this therapist as I know that therapists often charge a high hourly rate and it might put a burden on schools to have to pay for that please answer my question thank you. Representative bro has spoken against the bill but anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Watson you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you I would like to speak for the bill because a lot of things have affected students amongst Arkansas and the United States so COVID nineteen definitely hit us all we've definitely I've seen a lot of my friends that have mentally struggles and I think that free therapy would definitely help improve that it not only improved grades GPA but also Arkansas ACT scores because I know Mike's hot springs which is where I'm from our scoring is very low technically so I think that this would definitely improve like the world if we're going to rely on the fact that we are the future leaders we should establish so we have a good mental health before becoming leaders of the nation thank you. Represent Watson has spoken for the bill what if you would like to speak against the bill. Representative Perry you're recognized to speak against the bill. Madam Speaker I'm not here to be against the bill or for the bill I just had a question for the sponsor really just to clarify is this only implementing that you have a free therapist in school and that you have only one evaluation each year and is that the only two requirements of this bill. thank you. Representative Perry spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative for men you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I would actually that you're saying that I with the you cannot put a price on a child's life and no matter how much the fiscal costs of this program would be I believe that. You cannot you can't pay to bring some back to life issues to commit suicide and that People who cannot afford therapist should not go without that help that they desperately need so I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Represented Fuhrman has spoken for the bill what we would like to speak against the bill. Representative PT. You're recognized to speak against the bill. Speaker hello once again while I do believe that there is a severe mental health crisis going on and that is is very important I think it's also important that we we not ignore the problems that are going to rise from this as well there are many low income schools in this state especially in inner city areas that are not gonna have the funding to find a therapist that can work for free there and that would put a burden on the schools as previously mentioned I don't really member who said that but it would put a bill on a burden on the schools for having to pay for that therapist and. It would also put a burden on that community because a lot of this public schools are funded by taxes of people in that community and so when you're when you're talking about something that's free there's always going to be a negative repercussion to that and while mental health is very very important we have to consider every side of a thank you. Representative Hudson. For what purpose question. Recognized okay. Wondering what about the K. two five. There are students that got to have this is this is what like maybe what the stuff is well and I also want to clarification on what they're not are they saying that there needs to be a hundred twenty five cents each grant or a hundred twenty five students in total. I cannot answer that does not make the bill. Thank. Representative Beatty has spoken against the bill. We would like to speak. For the bill. Representative Cavenaugh is working to speak for the bill. I thank you madam sponsor as a colleague reading this bill I'd like to clarify just a few things but sponsor could do much better job of for the hundred twenty five students like per one hundred twenty five students there'd be required counselor so that doesn't have to be the total amount for just that counselor so even for smaller schools who can afford fund like five councillors that's why we capped it at one hundred twenty five her counselor thank you. Representative Cavenaugh spoke for the bill. President of speaks for what purpose motion. Let's hear your motion me a consideration. That's a proper motion and is not debatable the question before the House is immediate consideration. Of house bill one thousand three. All in favor say aye. Favor say. All opposed. Saying no. The ayes have it. Put on the machine madam Clerk. The question before the House is immediate consideration of house bill one thousand three. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast out the ballot madam Clerk. With thirty two yeas and seventeen days. The motion fails. Again the Speaker has good ears. That would be two thirds of our. Yes we suspend role so it would be two thirds of the majority yeah two thirds to pass something or for it to fail on a motion and that's one failed. Say that route this momentary and yes please. I know I told John majority a minute ago that's my honor confused. Thank represent about of delegates what what the motion to meet any immediately consider is is a is a for suspending the rules because the rule is that everybody has a chance to engage in debate but the body can decide to restrict that right in it but it takes a super majority vote to do so and that that's a common element and you know it both our legislative process in in Roberts rules of order that if you're going to restrict someone's rights it takes next or ordinary majority is certainly your prerogative to limit debate which is what I mainly consists of immediate consideration is and but it takes two thirds vote then was thirty two to seventeen if the vote had been thirty five to seventeen that motion would have passed. But it did so now we're back to the regular debate on the bill. Okay would anyone like to speak. Against the bill. The representative Ferguson you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. I would just like to address the one hundred twenty five students per one therapist for schools that are smaller such as our schools with graduating classes such as fifty or even a hundred this would be fine because we would have won therapist that would be cool but for our largest school such as Bentonville west which has a population of two thousand one hundred fifty eight just for the nine through twelfth grade in school such as Bryant which has a population of two thousand and twenty eight students for just a tenth through twelfth grade not including our sixth through ninth grade this is a large number of there is that we would need for the schools I'm talking over six therapist per one twenty five students just because of these large populations so this would be a large expense on. Whoever has to pay for this is the largest Spence and then also if we're talking therapist not councillors like we have at this moment therapy sessions are longer than what you take for counselors we are still have to recognize that we are in school and that we simply can't take two hours to have a their position with our students is also a place of learning and so while I'm not trying to discredit mental health it is we also do need to consider that we are in school and that is to be considered that's why I'd like to appreciate a no vote thank you. Representative Ferguson has spoken against the bill what anyone like to speak for the bill. The representative garner you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker as I come before you today I can say for sure that I was that I was diagnosed in September of twenty twenty with the generalized anxiety disorder and had I known about my school having a therapist. I would have been able to. use those. Resources a lot sooner and hopefully would have gotten as bad as it did during the pandemic. So I would appreciate a yes vote not only for not only for the students who do suffer from mental illness but for the future thank you. Representative garner spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Godfrey you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker hello colleagues I just want to clarify first that yes there is a mental health crisis in adolescence in our schools and there be in schools could be a great solution to this issue but personally I go to school where in the six through twelfth grade classes there are approximately two hundred students so if we are looking at the ratio that is proposed by this bill I would only my school would only be funding one therapist and for two hundred students in one Serra passed in one and only a nine month span in our school year how could that therapist make a connection to really help improve the student's lives if you're getting my draft so I am all in favor of this bill it but I was just wondering if we could amend it to make the ratio smaller maybe like I made maybe like one therapist for every seventy five students just come from someone coming from a small town in a small school just one therapist I believe really wouldn't cover the span of two hundred students in one school year so I would appreciate and no vote thank you. Represent golf Godfrey spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. K. Ferguson berry you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. I'm not for or against the bill but we would like to know if the sponsor would reconsider her bill and pull it and maybe work with some of us colleagues to reconstruct the bill and address some issues thank you. Representative Perry spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. What we would like to speak for the bill. Representative may call it you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker and as I said earlier I'm from a small area. And I think this bill be very beneficial because we have. A limited number of students in our school but in those number of students we have a limited number who have the resources for a therapist for to get that mental health help and so I think you'll be very beneficial if we had a therapist on campus that was free and accessible to every student because not everyone has the resources to go out and get mental health help on their own thank you. Presented by a colleague spoke for the bill what it. Presented Boyd for what purpose. I would like to go back to can. To make a motion. Let's hear your motion I would like to take this bill back to committee to re refer it. That is a proper motion and is debatable. I recognize representative boy to explain her motion. Thank you madam Speaker I would like to read it for this bill back to committee to address everyone's concerns but I do believe this bill is very important to a lot of us so I would like to work out these concerns to gain all of your support thank you. Representative Boyd is explained her motion would anyone like to speak against her motion. Representative Gonzalez you're recognized to speak against the motion. Madam Speaker this is gross state so I don't think we can really go back to our committee so I'd like to vote and then I'm also I would like to address a few things I believe that we need to start small that's why it's four hundred twenty five girls right now and also I understand that funding would be hard but getting therapy you would you know keep people from committing suicide representative Gonzalez you're only allowed to speak on the motion okay thank you. Representative Gonzalez has spoken against the motion would anyone like to speak. For the motion. Against the motion. Representative void it would you like to. She is close for the motion. The question before the House. Is referred house bill one thousand three to committee. All in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. It. Send the bill back to committee. Madam Clark please read house bill one thousand four. House bill one thousand four sponsored by representative Kay Garner. To establish a health class requirement for high school students. I recognize representative garner to explain her bill. Thank you madam Speaker. Calling. Many of us have gone through a health class but like many of us we did not get the education that we needed to prepare us for the future. Arkansas is the second leading state in teen pregnancy and the first in divorce which theoretically could be connected. With this bill the end goal is repair future high school students freshmen through senior year. Thank you and I will be taking questions. Represent very for what purpose a question. You're recognized so why do you recommend a yearlong class instead of a semester class like we already have. In personal and personal up in I feel like a semester does not give enough time to properly educate students in high school completely with every thing that we need to learn. Representative Godfrey for what purpose. You're recognized. Going to ensure that the teachers of these health classes are really pushing a good education on to their students because personally I've had a couple of health teachers in the past that are basketball coaches football coaches in a book where it kind of thing all of that sort of stuff. I feel like as like you said I had a I had a coach who was my health teacher I think it should be pushed through professional development days whenever they have training for teachers to really train them and to hire good qualified professionals for these positions thank you. Representative Ladyman. For what purpose I have a question recognized so why is it that you think we would gain more information through a semester long class rather than what they can give us an and nine assessment and a yearlong class rather than semester my that whenever a lot of the curriculum stays the same and they can't go much more in depth. I feel like there's a lot of things that were missing health class especially those who went through health class during the pandemic I was lost with a lot of information that I could have learned thank you. Representative of a group for what purpose a question you're recognized what this only pertains to like sexual health issues or that relate back to smoking tobacco usage alcohol usage and opioid addictions it would focus on those things plus second sex education organ donation awareness mental health it would just include those it would include those topics which is why we chose to bring it to a year long course. Thank you. Representive Lowery for what purpose a question you're recognized so when you say this would be better would it like go more in depth into the class and how would it benefit us why would we need it for a year long as half of us don't even want to take the class neither requirements graduate. With this bill passing it would require that high school students do take a health class to graduate I feel personally that through health class we learn about ourselves we learn a lot about the world around us thank you. Representative governor has explained her bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Slape you're recognized to speak for the bill. I'm here today to talk to you for the bill I personally believe that this is a good bill and that it will help all students in an effective measure and not everyone has access to that family members that will teach them these things so if this is implemented and within the school system then I believe that all students will get the education and health that they need thank you. Representative slate has spoken for the bill. What we would like to speak against the bill. Representive cloudy you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker well I do agree that many of these parts the curriculum are necessary and I think we should have more well trained professionals I personally just feel the year long course is too long I think you can get it as far in depth on the subjects within the semester thank you. Represent Clowney has spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Christiansen you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Matt. I just have a question for the sponsor if you can answer for me whenever you come back to the well we take this class throughout our whole high school career and learn different things or we keep learning the same thing over and over again. Representative Christiansen has spoken. For the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representive Ladyman you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I personally would like to speak against this bill because I do believe in a semester long course if we re evaluated our curriculum we could fit all of these topics and and well educate our students however I think dragging out three years students will miss out on opportunities for electives and also other activities that they would like to participate in so rather than dragging them through a class where the teacher may give up after the semester we should just re evaluate the curriculum and I would appreciate a no vote thank you. Representative cloud for what purpose of. Motion. Let's hear motion immediate consideration. That's a proper motion is not debatable the question before the House is immediate consideration of house bill one thousand four. All in favor say aye. Opposed say no. The motion fails. We're going back to back and forth debate. What we would like to speak for the bill. Representative fight. Thank you madam Speaker there's a lot of questions regarding why should be switched to a year long set of semester and if you look on the bill it actually says that be adding comprehensive sex sex education organ donation of mental health awareness and cardio pulmonary Rezek seis Tatian thank you. Representative Fite has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Milligan you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker Personally I don't think that A general health class is very light beneficial because most people who take health classes are taught from a coach he doesn't really care that much or put any effort in so I think that if they're like more specific health classes for specific lake area of health that people will be more interested in their take that class in the person who's teaching also know more about it and the more passionate about teaching it to the the people learning would be Want to learn more thank you and I appreciate and of a. Representative bill again has again against the bill what anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Mayberry you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I would like to acknowledge acknowledge that the bill states at the end of the course and exam must be passed in order to graduate. This would eliminate any teacher flexibility when it comes to course curriculum I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Mayberry has spoken for the bill. Representive cloud for what purpose motion. Let's hear your motion immediate consideration. We're not taking that motion at this time. We're going to go back to back and forth debate. What we would like to speak against the bill. Okay representative. Boyd. You're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker well I believe this bill does do good things for our schools and health classes I believe it could be amended into a way that the students still take the exam at the end of a semester long course so we know for sure that the students get the education on those important topics that were listed thank you. Representative Boyd spoke for the bill. She's okay against the bill what we would like to speak for the bill. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I'd just like to bring up the point that this bill is not talking about the teachers teaching the course I do believe that this does need to be amended where not all coaches are qualified to teach health courses like this however this is not what the bill is describing so I'd like us to just keep it within what the bill does describe that something that I feel like hasn't been mentioned often is opportunity for like organ donation awareness I feel like that's a program that not many of us know much about myself included and I would personally like to know more like this and I do think an overall more comprehensive sex education could possibly help combat our high pregnancy rate the teenage years because there is a direct correlation between lack of education and unexpected pregnancies in the teenage years I would appreciate a good vote. Representative. Cavenaugh spoke for the bill. Barker. Let's hear your motion of her immediate consideration. Eight. This is a proper motion and it is debatable. Is not available. Chin before the House is immediate consideration. Of house bill one thousand four all in favor say aye. All oppose say no. Yeah the ayes have it for sure. The question before the House. Its passage of house bill one thousand four. Prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. And cast the ballot madam Clerk. With fourteen games and thirty four Nays it failed. Recognized representative Vaught okay Hey guys I'm good with the no votes we've got to send something to the Senate. What we need to pass the bill before lunch. I like all the debate everything's going great but we have to send something down there before lunch and proverbially to if we can so they've sent us to wait at least need for them to have something to do this afternoon all right so what what. House bill one thousand and seven. Without objection madam Clerk read house bill one thousand seven. House bill one thousand seven sponsored by representative a Lindsey. To prohibit the requirement of ACT scores for admission to state supported institutions of higher education. Representative Lindsay. You're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you madam. Hello fellow representatives I come to you all to propose a bill about the ACT test scores and how they should be a requirement for college admissions and scholarships. Not everyone is a good test taker so with this bill it will make sure they colleges. We have an enhanced diversity on campuses in allowing all students to have a fair and equal opportunity for scholarships and admissions. Take my shoe for an example and all of you in this room some of you may be able to fit this you some of you will not be able to fit the issue and some of you will almost be able to fix the issue that is a comparison to how the ACT is one test and it is not fit for all students. In the light of weak predictive power of the ACT it's availability of coaching examples of test score misuse and the negative impact of tests for use on education equity. It is concluded that test score should be optional in college admissions and scholarships plus most colleges already have substantial options such as to go off of things such as high school grades GPA class rank take heed this bill does not penalize those of a certain ACT score for admissions or scholarships but yet pertains to those who are denied access for scholarship opportunities and admissions to further their education. Remember students should not be defined by a number the ACT does not determine the student success in college or for their future life. Thank you for listening to me today and I appreciate a good vote and at this time I'm willing to take any questions. Representative wing. You're recognized. What is included in state supported institutions like some examples. Can you like going to the lake. What are some state supported institutions as soon to be trying to get into. Okay so for example light. We have a written down. Okay sorry schools that take state supported money so this is this this bill does not include that ivy league schools this is just for state supported. Schools. Or or pleaded for private. Representative garner you're recognized I have a question. A for students like me who have a low GPA in high school with this affect us if we spell was not to pass or do pass. No because like I stated before the colleges would have other things to go off of such as things like your the types of classes you take your not only your grades like they can consider community service and they can enter even interview for this position for a college admission or scholarship thank you thanks for. Representative Cavenaugh for what purpose I have a question you're recognized so I'm I just want clarification like this bill attains to admission only or does it also affect scholarships and stuff of that nature. This bill pertains to college admissions and scholarship but let me remind you in the in the bill. Just because like if you have a certain score and you want to use that score for these admissions or the scholarships you are more than welcome to do so this only pertains to those that are once again like I said did not the access to have these opportunities for the scholarships and admissions. Yes. President Clinton. Representative Lindsay has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For. Representative Ferguson you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker today I would just like to go over a few objections I have with this bill my first thing that I'd like to point out is that college is a business and a C. P. eight ACT score is a part of their interview process because of trying to get the best of the best students so that they can get their college higher ranked and when the students go off to do greater things in their communities so this is a vital part of this is and isn't necessarily vital considering that a lot of colleges now are saying that a city isn't required but it is a big part of their interview process also the ACT I know it's very controversial but if it did not work then they will not be such a highly recognized this it is true that it is difficult for some and that sometimes it is more it is difficult to increase this but they do have classes and it's not impossible to raise your ACT score also it was stated that we should be defined by a number and that is ACT's number that were defined by but if we look at the college application there are a number of other things that do determinist by numbers such as our class rank our GPA the rigor of our classes or the number AP classes that we take and the higher the thing that these things are the better and so why should ACT be an exception also about the students that have a higher ACT in can put this on their application then. Already it's you would see that the sense to do choose to put this on application would be considered as just as students who take AP classes and they do pass or a recess and they choose to put these on their transcript then the students of course will be looked at and a greater manner than those who have not. and then the. This number does not define you as I said before but it does definitely make you look a little better so that's why I am against this motion at all guesses motion against this bill and I would appreciate and no vote. Representative Ferguson spoke against the bill. Representive cloud for what purpose motion. That's your motion immediate consideration. Is a proper motion. It's not debatable. Question for the houses immediate consideration of house bill one seven. All in favor say aye. Lipo se NO. Yeah I have it. The question of the House the question for the House is passage of house bill one thousand seven. Per the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. The cast out the ballot madam Clerk. With forty one days and ten days. The bill is passed. Representative garner for what purpose motion. Let's hear motion to reconsider house bill one thousand four. It's a proper motion and is debatable. Representative governor you're recognized to explain your motion. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues I see you and I hear you and I would be willing to accept amendments to make it. Have to make it a semester long course and to include in there the rigorous requirements for teachers so please. I can't. Sorry. Okay without objection madam Clerk read house bill one thousand eight. House bill one thousand eight sponsored by representative a certain to amend the school counseling improvement act of twenty nineteen. Representative Sarton you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you and Speaker. good morning today I'm here to present a bill to amend the training requirements for school counselors and require public schools to create a policy for the provision of student mental health services this bill specifies that the president provision of mental health services for public schools injures privacy in timely responses it It allows for school districts to contract with a local professional to provide mental health training and services for students now this is optional is not required for the schools it just provides them with the opportunity to be able to reach out and make contracts with these professional with these professional mental health services and counselors and provide better training for school counselors because typically school counselors are not prepared for helping students with mental health related issues this bill also requires that caught on cancers research receive training professional training in use mental health first aid every two years to make sure they're updated all policies and are able to provide for their students thank you and I appreciate a good vote. The president representative Sarton has explained her bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative rye you're recognized to speak against the bill. Hi I would like to speak against this bill because I think that by requiring all of this as counselors it will lead to a lack of counsellors they already have a lot on their plate they wrote like I go to a school that has two thousand students so they're over like five hundred six hundred. So I just think that by adding another thing to their play they're good at eventually quit and we're gonna have a shortage and councillors like we do and teachers thank you. Representative Reid has spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representive cloud you're recognized to speak for the bill. Speaker the former representative said that councillors like would be unmotivated to counsel if they have like a more rigorous. training but I feel as if you should be a counselor if you aren't willing to better yourself for the improvement of students and that's ought to say thank you. Representive cloud has spoken for the bill. Represent very for what purpose. Okay. Okay would you like to speak for the bill. Representative Allen you're recognized before the bill. I would just like to mention that she says the in the bill that this training would not be required so if the councillors feel like they don't need it we don't want to do it that they won't have to do it. Representive Allen. Vote for the bill would you like to speak against the bill. A reserve Garner you're recognized to speak against the bill. Where's. Okay for the bill. Senate Perry you're recognized to speak for the bill. Speaker I just wanted to clarify it doesn't Sam co sponsored on here but we I was in the committee that we worked on this and the point of this was to have a therapist like sign kind of like my school that I go to we are signed with a counseling services called families ink and we have people that come to our school to be a therapist for kids and. So this is not necessarily saying like the whole point of this is to not add on other responsibilities are counselors because I have two councillors myself at my school and they are rarely available they're doing a college classes they're doing our schedule changes for ninth tenth eleventh and twelfth grade and they are I mean my counselor had to organize all of this for me to be able to come here for that stuff like they have so many jobs so this is basically saying that if it was able for a school to bring in someone from a company and to be a full time therapists not to add on additional responsibilities or other counselors this is a whole separate person to for the services and it also states in the bill that is to ensure privacy because most kids get uncomfortable when they're called out of class to go for therapy services and so this will ensure privacy and this will ensure just making sure that when you walk into your counselor's office you are heard and that you have a person there because majority of the time you are going to walk in there and they're going to be too busy for you and they're not going to have time to address your concerns and issues that you have at that time so this just gives someone there right then when you need them thank you and I would appreciate a yes vote. Representative Perry spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. the Bill. Would you like to close for your bill. Thank you madam Speaker I would just like to any a reiterate the fact that councillors already have to go through training every teacher has to go through professional development it's just part of the job and this only says it would like to councils are reported every four years this only makes it every two years so more frequent and this is optional for schools to it just give them the opportunity to be able to reach out and make contracts with these professional and centers to help their students is not mandatory in the schools the funding comes from the schools and the schools to put as much as they want and is need as much as they need to depending on the size of their schools so thank you I appreciate a good vote. Representan Startin has closed for the bill. The question before the House is passage of house bill one thousand eight. Prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Unanimous with forty four cast. The ballot madam Clerk. Okay it's indivisible forty four in favor. A past. Without objection madam Clerk read house bill one thousand six. House bill one thousand six Bronson by representative a pass more to amend the income tax act of nineteen twenty nine and to enacted tax credit for qualifying expenses of foster parents. Representative past more you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you madam Speaker fellow delegates I am here today regarding our foster care families here in Arkansas I want to start first with with a tax credit is so a tax credit is a dollar for dollar reduction of the income tax you owe our state currently gives at takes credit to foster families until the child is eighteen this bill I present to you today expenses from age eighteen to twenty one this would allow for more foster children to get a higher education and a college education. A little background on why I am giving this tax credit is so important. Fifty percent of foster children only only graduate from high school and three percent go on to obtain a college degree. For those eight and I are able to enroll in higher education living expenses reliable housing technology internet access and academic help all the barriers to including a degree expanding the tax cut age to twenty one was simply allow for many of these problems to diminish making higher education more affordable we want education for everybody in Arkansas this will not only help our economy but help these foster children to become better people. although I know so may not strives to get a higher education. It is our job to encourage and to inspire these children in foster care so I would appreciate a good vote and I will be taking questions. Representative past more has explained the bill but if you would like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative how. Hello you are recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker personally I have to adopted siblings who we fostered and they have another brother who has not been adopted yet and he's older and he's been passed around multiple homes and just hasn't been able to find the right home because he has mental struggles due to trauma so by enacting this bill it will help foster children like him who may not get adopted and may turn eighteen and not ever find a family to help them it will just be beneficial and just a little more help. I would appreciate a yes. Representive Hollowell has spoken for the bill but if you would like to speak against the bill. For the bill. But representative. Past more like to close for the bill. Representative past what bill. The question before the House is passage of house bill one thousand six prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot madam Clerk. With fifty two days in one day. And three present. The bill has passed. Without objection madam Clerk read house bill one thousand five. House bill one thousand five sponsored by representative a leave to enact the backpack Act into amend the sales and use taxation of school supplies. Representative leave you're recognized to explain your bill. Madam Speaker. Hi I'm all in Lee and I'm opposing the backpack Act backpack Act aims to provide schools with the opportunity to buy more necessary school supplies for their struggling students by creating a sales tax exemption for schools on items such as chrome and textbooks. This bill will apply to Arkansas K. through twelve public private and charter schools as well as community and four year colleges. When creating this bill. It was not just a schools about their students to we hope that by exempting said schools they will use their extra money to buy more more items which benefit their students like backpacks for school supplies. By voting for this bill you will be improving education qualities for all of our students and therefore stimulating their success I would appreciate your supporting vote. And I'll take I'll take questions. Representative voted for what purpose question you're recognized so just to clarify this is for the schools buying the school supplies not the students yes it's for the schools so once they have a tax exemption bill that have extra money so they'll then use that extra money to buy other stuff for their students so it is benefits everybody I can mutual benefit okay thank you you're welcome. Representative believe has explained that the bill would anyone. Like to speak against the bill. For the bill. You have to close for the bill. Okay okay. Representative Lee has close the bill. The question before the House is passage of house bill one thousand five prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot madam Clerk. Forty seven days seven days into president. The Bill pass. But I'm Clerk read house bill one thousand nine. House bill one thousand nine sponsored by representative II Pendleton to create a program to address veteran veteran homelessness and mental health issues. Thank you madam Speaker. Hi I'm representative Pendleton and I'm from Robinson city. Today I would like my to discuss my bill to create a federal grant program to disburse funds to all local seventy five counties in order to create housing programs and mental health services to veterans experiencing homelessness or mental health issues. In Arkansas there are over two hundred thousand veterans out of these two hundred thousand. At least twenty five percent of them have injuries or illnesses that were either caused by service or expanded by service. Furthermore over twenty six thousand of these veterans live in homes with problems including but not limited to overcrowding over price or just poor quality. These disheartening statistics are all forces the cost so many veterans to battle mental health problems and may even face homelessness. Now so might some might ask why do we need to spend money to provide housing for homeless veterans when there are only a few hundred in the state I would like to emphasize that the purpose of this bill is to provide a Services deems necessary so providing housing would only be the case in extreme situations. so we would also have services including food vouchers and therapy. others may ask or not all those who are experiencing homelessness a part of the problem like are they also part of the problem something that we are aiming to fix my answer would be yes of course we would love to and homelessness however we have to make specific and attainable plans and we simply just don't have the funds to and all homelessness currently. So I would please ask you to pass this bill so that we can secure some of the same freedoms that we. All have while they have fought to secure our own thank you. Representative Pendleton has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Perry you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you madam Speaker again I'm not here to speak for or against the bill I just had a question and I was wondering if why necessarily doing housing and mental health stuff when we have things already in place such as the LA or VA things I know personally I have all kinds of VA buildings and programs in my small town of Batesville so I was just curious so whenever the sponsor closes just why. Why we need that if we already have those things in place thank you. Representative Perry has spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Scott. You're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker so to answer the question these things are clearly ineffective in the problem still occurs so that is why we are trying to get this bill passed and I've done some research on our bill and the homeless situation and Arkansas statistics stated that one hundred homeless persons were surveyed in out of that group forty percent were engaged in some type of employment the jobs for minimum wage part time or temporary did day labor this here establishes that people who are working such as veterans and other homeless people are working and they're still homeless and aren't able to properly get themselves housing. This also extends to those who are experiencing homelessness that have different barriers that cause them to not be able to get jobs even when they are trying cistus X. also support that chronic homelessness in central Arkansas is forty percent and the national average is thirty percent that is ten percent above the national average and with the amount of people that are in the U. S. and the Arkansas that is a very large amount severe mental illness is twenty six percent in central Arkansas and the national average is twenty two percent again R. Nash or average is higher than the national average and for veterans themselves this and Central Arkansas it's twenty one percent and the national average is eleven. We recognize when this bill was drafted that the state could not afford this bill so therefore it would be paid for through federal funds we are willing to extend says that since this is a pilot program. Specifying veterans we are willing to extend in the future too also other other homeless people. This extends to small towns that can't afford this program because it is federal money can't for this program so since it is federal money not state money it is easy to be passed so we recognize offer the questions on expenses for this bill and thank you please give us a good vote. Representative Scott has spoken in favor the bill would you like to speak against the bill. President Clinton you're recognized to speak against the bill. I'm with everybody else I think we can all agree that veterans need help and we should care for them the for me this bill is to general it was stated earlier that the other programs that we have in this state we're not solving the problem but what makes this bill any more efficient or capable of solving the problems I believe that the funds could be better spent to other programs are already established in the state of RT of the they already gone through there you know what they're doing or that the state the bill should be more amended to be clear what makes it more efficient and solving the problem thank you I appreciate a no vote. Representative voted against the bill would you like to speak for the bill. Representative Watson you're recognized to speak for the bill. Covert resented a lot of problems amongst Ayla a lot of programs for veterans and they went homeless because of that because we lost federal money all throughout the nation so I think that we should support the bill because of this thank you. Representative Watson is spoken for the bill would you like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Michael. You're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker as your question to answer that. The thing that makes this bill different is that we are specifically centers money out to each of the seventy five counties so that they can more. Make sure that this gets the job done and it is more specific to each county compared to as general as these other programs or. Thank you. Representative Michael spoke and for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Gonzales you're recognized speak against the bill. Speaker I feel like it would be more useful to work with programs are already established for veterans instead of making them try to choose a program to get help from and said getting funding to these programs already exist and are already established and well known that would be a lot more useful thank you I appreciate it have a. Representantes Alesis Beck and gets the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative make grew you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I can do today just to remind you how much that our veterans have put their lives their own lives through they put their own lives on hold in recess them to save everyone in this country mothers fathers grandparents and make this a safer place for us in the future so. Many of them so many of them came home and they were in mental distress in physical distress I come home to their wives and husbands being gone maybe just moving away the crazies of things could happen and. They're on the streets these people who risk their lives who almost died so you can be here today are homeless sitting on the sidewalk again the trash can. I think this will bring so many great opportunities to so many people who deserve more than the world and I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative maker has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Pendleton would you like to oppose the bill. Thank you madam Speaker I would like to clarify that like it was said earlier the money will be given to all seventy five counties the county can choose to give that money to pre existing organizations that help veterans they can also use it to create new organizations that fill in the gaps that are not being met by those existing organizations I feel like this would be a great opportunity to continue to help in the veterans in our state I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Pendleton has close the bill. The question before the House is passage of house bill one thousand nine. Prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Because of the ballot madam Clark. With forty three As twelve days and to present the bill has passed. I recognize representative fought thank you you have done an amazing job it is now time for you to go to lunch you can leave your stuff in here that you want to leave in here it'll be fine just follow your counselor so want to most do they need their visors to they need to put it back on. And then when you come back in you can take them back off. All right see all after lunch. Are we missing anyone. The House will come to order. Madam Clerk please read House Bill one thousand ten. House bill one thousand ten presented by representative asked Murray to create a program to address student hunger. Representative Ferguson you're recognized to explain the bill. According from house representatives from may twenty four twenty nineteen the summer meals for Arkansas children program was set into motion. Beginning as early as June third and ending early August the Arkansas department of Human Services summer food service program provides three meals a day throughout the time this time for children eighteen and younger. When the cover nineteen pandemic it due to the necessary caution of social distancing these programs utilize bus transportation to deliver meals to different neighborhoods within given school districts this open eyes as far as transporting food to children who are not capable of accessing the services themselves. Out of three hundred sixty five days of the year hundred seventy eight are required school days were breakfast and lunch are provided a hundred eighty seven days of those are out of school sixty one days in June and July and twenty one of these until August twenty second the first day of school for many Arkansas students on the twenty twenty to twenty twenty three school year the lease one hundred and five non school non summer days or even if food is provided somewhere not everyone has access to it. That is why I would like to present this bill today that with the help of our profundity rescue plan act that we're going to address hunger for students K. through twelve during this out of school times including weekends breaks and after hours by partnering with non profits and local school districts throughout the seventy five Arkansas counties. Leding America. Assess the citizens of Arkansas that there are four hundred ninety nine thousand nine hundred fifty R. Kansas I go hungry every year and of these hundred forty nine thousand six hundred seventy our children. They provide that child hunger it requires a combination of charity and government assistance programs that are necessary to help bridge this gap this is that opportunity. That is why today I would like for you all to support me in passing this bill of feeding children during out of school hours. Representative Ferguson has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representive Ferguson do you wish to close your bill. Representative Ferguson has because the bill. Question before the House is passage of bill one thousand ten prepare the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Asked about madam Clerk. By a vote of forty six Yeas and. The bill is passed. You're recognized. So now then with the with the House bills so we'll be going to Senate bills. somebody might want to Gander it's Senate bill one just very quickly and who can come down here and run it. A quick Gander right here we have a volunteer so representative bury will be presenting house bill one and then if I had two three more of you will catch me will do two three and four also but I just need somebody to volunteer quickly. Representative berry you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you madam Speaker so I actually got to talk with the person who created this bill she's actually my roommate at girls state so I thought I could kind of voice her opinion and how she created this bill The act is to require diaper changing accommodations in government buildings so as used in this section government buildings means a structure occupied by an agency of the state of Arkansas or a political subdivision government building includes a public institution of higher education. So another thing that she was saying was that they would include these diaper changing stations in male bathrooms for like single fathers who are taking their kids to wherever they maybe restaurants government buildings as stated An agency of the state of Arkansas or political subdivision of the state of Arkansas that is occupying government buildings shall ensure diaper changing combinations are installed in all restrooms within the government building or before five years from the effective date. Of this section. On or before. The department shall problem from Juli Gates rules to implement this section like I said this is basically a tool for fathers who are. I was on one. Yeah I'm sorry. okay so basically for just for single fathers in males who may even if they're not saying on they just have their kids out and about this would give them an opportunity to. Be able to do things at their mothers can do for the kids that when they're not there they couldn't do so I would appreciate a yes vote thank you. Representive berry has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Ladyman you're recognized. I also have had the pleasure of meeting one of the co authors on this bill and she's very passionate about what she believes and part of that believe is the for equality and us as women that is a constant fight that we face and I know you all understand that but also men have to do with the same thing so I think if we open our eyes to things like this they will be much more likely to open their eyes to our. Disadvantages as well so I think you should keep that in mind whenever cast your vote and we would appreciate a yes vote on this thank you. Representive Ladyman. Okay against the bill we want to speak for the bill. I spoke for the voter let's speak against the bill. For the. Representative very would like to close the bill. President Perry has closed the bill. The question before the House is the passage of the bill Senate bill one. And prepare the machine Madam click. The Bill madam Clerk. By a vote of forty sixty days zero nays and zero present the bill is passed. Represent Garner would you like. Your record. Madam Clerk please read Senate bill two. Senate bill two sponsored by senator you County to improve the mental health and wellness of the residents of Arkansas and to require insurance companies to cover the cost of a certain number of mental health visits. Representative Garner you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you. Well I have not had the honor to meet the senator who wrote this bill. A. It is a bill that would help require insurance companies to allow. To allow ten mental health visits. for them to be covered on their insurance but after ten they would have to be re evaluated for anymore. A. To him please my train of thought For this to. This is to be in effect mental health provider would have to be licensed by the state of Arkansas. And I hope for a yes vote thank you. Representative garner has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Garner. Do you wish to oppose the bill. President garner has close the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two. Per the machine madam Clerk. As everyone voted. Of the past up the ballot madam Clerk. By a vote of nineteen yeah he's seventeen nays and nine president. The Bill pass fail. Madam Clerk please read Senate bill. Senate bill three presented by Senator K. Turner to amend the income tax act of nineteen twenty nine and to create a tax credit for certain foster care arrangements. Represent them collect you're recognized to explain the bill. I also have not had an opportunity to meet the senator who wrote this bill. This is a bill. You give foster parents a specific tax credit and I just believe that this would be very beneficial bill or state because foster parents graciously taken different children in different situations this would give these adults more initiative to foster different children and it would give it a little better resources to upgrade the living conditions in their homes. If we did this it would be great for our children and it would be great for parents and. I would appreciate a yes vote thank you. President Michalek has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Michael do you wish to oppose the bill. Representative Michael because because the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate bill three. Prepare the machine Madam click. As everyone voted. Cast of the ballot madam Clerk. By a vote of thirty six Yeas four Nays and five present the bill has passed. Madam Clark please read for a Senate bill four. Senate bill four. Sponsored by Senator C. bos AID to create a committee to study taxing nicotine products by an appropriate measure. Representative Scott you're recognized to explain the bill. I have not had the opportunity to meet the Senator of this bill but I am happily able to. This bill is to create a code a committee to study taxing nicotine products by an appropriate measure by tacking taxing these products for correctly we can hold the amount of people who buy the taxes by the by the amount of nicotine products to be lower and have said it better safety measures for our young ones who tend to buy lots of nicotine which is very common in our school systems this bill it says it may be desirable to tax the sale of nicotine products in proportion to their nicotine content so it's saying rather we tax how much nicotine is in the product so if the nicotine has a lot of nicotine in it will get a higher tax which will lessen the amount of people who buy it which will typically less than the amount of usage of nicotine hopefully. That's all thank you. Representative Scott has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. The representative berry is recognized. Thank you madam Speaker I just have one point was that we don't do that with very many other things so why would we do this to one thing if you're basing it off of how much content isn't because I mean there's all kinds of other things like alcohol or whatever else you may consider in that spectrum that is not taxed based off of how much is in it and its contents so. I would appreciate a no vote thank you. Speaker Berri has spoke against the bill we do want to speak for the bill. I'm against the bill. President Garner you're recognized. Thank you I'd like to just bring up a point that somebody had just made of whether about about hopefully discouraging use to buy nicotine products if that's the case why don't we just outlawed altogether instead of increasing the taxes I would appreciate in a vote thank you. Represent Garner has spoken against the bill would you want to speak for the bill. President will in your recognized. the point I just made about outlawing it altogether it would like if we tax it then we get money out of it that we can use for other things and also think that just because it hasn't been done before doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong it's not like we're outlawing it altogether like people can still buy it but hopefully will set a precedent of discouraging especially younger kids and staff from using it such a dangerous product I understand about the alcohol but. I just think that I mean alcoholism or. I think it's just it's just a good idea to stop or discourage people from using it thank you I appreciate and of a Representative in aspect and for the bill would you like to speak against the bill. Representative may prove you're recognized. I kind of like to piggyback off of what they have been saying as well that if we're going to tax only nicotine to discourage kids our age using it why don't we increases tax on alcohol to because kids do that why don't we. Increase the tax on video games because kids play video games instead of doing homework which is better for them. Why don't we increase the tax on junk food because that's worse for you than healthy food is right so I would just like to make that point that a lot of things are bad for you but that doesn't if we raise the tax on one thing that's bad for someone. It's so unfair to just leave everything else as it is. I appreciate and know about. Representative maker has spoken against the bill would you like to speak for the bill. Senate Boyd you're recognized. Thank you madam Speaker I would like to note that this bill does not impose a tax on nicotine products that this bill is just to form a committee to study the tax put on the nicotine products so our state can better see whether the tax will help to for people this avoid using nicotine and to promote health of our Kansans thank you I would appreciate a yes vote. Representative Boyd has spoken for the bill would like to speak against the bill. President Godfrey you're recognized. Thank you madam parliamentarian. So I'm going to assume logically that people who are reaching out to buy nicotine products already have developed a strong addiction so I don't really see how charging a few extra sense of sales tax just solely based on nicotine content will discourage nicotine purchase in stores instead I think we should be focusing more someone implementing reasons. Why can't you not develop an addiction in the first place and I just don't really see how an increase in sales tax would accomplish that goal thank you I would appreciate any of it. Representative Godfrey has spoken against the bill would in like to speak for the bill. Representative McGrew for what purpose I would like to make a motion. I see your mission immediate consideration. That's a proper motion and is not debatable the question for the House as immediate consideration of Senate bill for all in favor say aye. All of the Senate. Question before the House is the passage of Senate bill four prepare the machine madam Clerk. Seven hundred. Cast about madam click. By a vote of. Nine yeas and thirty seven nays and one present the bill has failed. Madam Clerk please read Senate bill seven. Senate bill seven sponsored by Senator a duties to improve school safety and to improve mental health services and awareness in schools. Representative Clowney your. Are recognized to explain the bill thank you madam Speaker. So in this bill it mentions many things about requiring schools to really encourage peer to peer conversation games that improve mental health anywhere from just improving the mental health of students to also requiring teachers to have a background check before being able to have a weapon on campus and also for only the administrator to be aware that they have it overall this bill is just made to really ensure that mental health is improving in schools and that schools are safe for children I would really appreciate a good vote thank you representative Clowney has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative and that you're recognized. Thank you. Thank I don't think that requiring teachers to give guns is a good idea because teachers already have a lot to do they have to be counselors they have to worry about grazing with other students are doing and of I think that a background check is good but you never know when the teacher may snap in you know because they already in the classroom for the students and. Yes. I. Representative in that spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Ladyman you're recognized. Madam Speaker I think it's important that we all realize whether it It I am aware that it's a controversial topic but guns are not necessarily the issue my campus already has a program acted where they go through a summer training and some of our staff to have hand guns that they use in a you know. Their daily activities they carry them is what I'm trying to say my bad. So I don't think that it's an issue necessary for them to possess it as long as they go through the proper training I think this might even boost awareness so that children are not afraid of guns because the media has stimulated this image that if you see a gun that means either a bad guy and that's not necessarily the case so I think it's important that we can have a respect for that as long as it's in the hands of somebody who is knowledgeable and appropriate to have one if that makes sense so I would appreciate a yes vote thank you. Representative Ladyman has spoken for the vote would anyone like to speak against the. President of Fuhrman you're recognized. I would just like to say that I believe that a student should feel safe out of school they shouldn't be in there knowing that their teacher has a gun one of their classmates may find that joint and uses weapon against them I just feel like is a safety issue that should not even be is up for debate whatsoever. Also like to point out in its. In each school as well I feel like I'm just make the students feel that this really is in a safe place for me to learn this is the place where I'm going to police and I could potentially be shot and killed by the my classmates for my teacher with that being said out of. A prison Furman has spoken against the bill then you would like to speak for the bill. President Parker you're recognized. I. I think that is bills good because gun violence in schools is very real I mean we saw happen in Texas a few weeks ago and having teachers on campus somebody on campus with guns to protect the kids because they can't do anything as if someone comes in the school the gun there is nothing in an armed teacher can do to protect it except for hide and that not not been effective in the past and having teachers of background checks are properly trained and know how to defend kids is really important because it's not the weapon it's the person with the weapon because I got is just a gun but without someone holding and pulling the trigger then it's it's not gonna do anything it's it's always going to be issue and that and less there's good people were there to stand up for the kids they're there to fight back against someone coming in with a gun in there to defend kids and they're defenseless this their children they can't defend themselves against that. Like a yes vote on the bill thank you. Representative Parker has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President of Haak your. I just think that there's so many things that can go wrong with having a gun in the classroom like. It could get out from the. Substitute that could place the gun somewhere on accident and they can thank you. God forbid that happens also the metal detectors I almost feel like it takes away the purpose. If you go when you're getting like metal. So I just personally don't think that this. Representative Paul has spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Perry air recognized. I personally think that for a teacher to have a plan in the classroom that it's a good thing because you can always count on the security to back you up and just always be there something might happen security they might be busy with something else there might be multiple people that are coming into school so it's always good to have a backup plan and have somebody that's going to be in the classroom with you that's able to protect you and able to be there for you and I don't think that guns are always going to be bad I think that they can be a good thing and it is very controversial but I personally do think that this would be a good thing and I think you should also. Representative Perry has spoken for the bill do you want to speak against the bill. Senate president you're recognized. I went there is a good idea to have guns in the school with teachers there are so many things to possibly are. Personally in my school I did not feel anything teachers have a good faith column or on EDS tell us why you have me here I guess the task environment not every situation is bad because guns are not all that if the people with. Like other girls but. I'm. We could do anything to get any this weekend because everybody's not going to have the you want background check you can allowances you can cheat on this how can you know for sure. Just like you the snapdragon fed up so contagious. For those reasons I would appreciate a not well. Represent representative Hudson has spoken against the bill. Who would like to pay for the bill representive boy you're recognized. Thank you madam parliamentarian I would like to note that teachers have to go through many required stages in order to carry including mental health checks Senate so everyone can make sure that they are fine to carry without using the guns against anyone as a potential danger. Students may not also be aware that these guns are being carried in order to make them feel safer I know that some schools put on their window display that this is a gun zone which deters potential terrorists from harming anyone as they know that they could be served justice and be harmed back as well. the teachers also go through very intense training in order to carry these weapons for the students and then sells protection. The gun must also be on the teacher and not just in the room or in the drawer so it will be much harder to access is gone from another student or staff member or just visit her of the school. I would I would appreciate a yes vote thank you. Representative Connie what is your purpose. Russian. You're recognized I call for immediate consideration. That's a proper motion and is not debatable the question for the house is the medic immediate consideration of Senate bill seven. All in favor say aye. All opposed say no. Is have it. The question before the House is the passage of Senate bill seven. Per the machine madam Clerk. Is everyone voted. Cast up the ballot madam Clerk. By a vote of fourteen Yankees thirty two nays and zero present the bill has failed. Madam Clerk please read Senate bill. Eight okay. There being no further business I move this session of Arkansas girls stay to be adjourned sine die. All of.