House Convenes

I am by the member staff press and guests in the gallery stand to be led in prayer by the house chaplain Dr rex one retired pastor Emmanuel Baptist church in Little Rock and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance be led by representative Lane Jean. Let's pray together. Well there were thankful that you've speak so many different ways to us as a people as a group but as individuals. We know you speak through your scripture and through your sign. We know you speak through circumstances and friends and family. We also know that you speak the creation and. We're thankful for where we live and for the blessings of our state and our country we're thankful for the seasons of the year and the days that are beautiful the skies are clear and yeah that sometimes when the storms come whether in life or across our land. That we realize again how dependent we are upon you and how helpless we are and really the big things of life and eternity. Because of that we just stopped to Davis a thank you for your goodness thank you for your power. Thank you for your mercies that are new every day and thank you for your great faithfulness in Jesus name amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button. Repair the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With ninety nine members present the chair sees a quorum. There any request for leave represent Bragg for what purpose leave you're recognized leave a representative Holcomb is leave granted represent Oakland. So noted. Represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense the reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees are the Reports from standing committees reports Mister Clark Mister Speaker we are committee on education to whom was referred house bill ten ninety seven beg leave to report we've had the same under consideration here with turn same the recommendation do pass respectfully submitted Bruce Cozart chair. There any unfinished business. Are there any executive communications. All right members before we move into our calendar we have a number of guests with this today. In the north gallery we have the Hot Spring County leadership forum the guest of representative Rick McClure and representative Ken Bragg. All right east gallery. We also have with this the Arkansas optometric association's lead team. All right uh we also have with this the leadership Crawford County guests of represent Charlene Fite representative Coleman represent Deffenbaugh and representative berry representative Johnson. I feel like this is like the price is right when they scanned the audience looking for come on down. All right we also have with this leadership Fort Smith against the rivers that we just do that now no we didn't leadership Fort Smith is here representative Charlene Fite represent Boyd represent Crawford represent Richardson represent Johnson. In the gallery we also have with this the Mansfield middles. Alternative students and teachers the teachers are Laurie lamb Rhonda Bullard and nurse Meghan Elmore they're the guests of represent a few banks and represent Richmond. I'm gonna I'm gonna guess this group is in the east gallery we'll see if I'm right. sling county leadership. And there here's the guests of represent Lanny Fite representative Berman representative Brooks represent McGrew and represent Mayberry. And then we also have the Garland County leadership the guests of represent Warren represent McGrew represent Cozart represent Richmond represent a clear and represent Lanny Fite. Sorry they were here yesterday. And then finally we what we have one guest in the gallery today we want to recognize on I believe heard next to last day in the governor's office we have this Karen what Lee who will soon be judge Karen widely and so. Mr Clark please read House resolution ten nineteen House resolution ten nineteen by representative love celebrate celebrating black history month during the month of February twenty twenty two. Represent love you're recognized president resolution. Good morning. I'm bring to you House resolutions in nineteen which is to celebrate and commemorate black history. I would. In commemoration. I'm John Walker. I'm bring this resolution two U. SEC he would say not proton. Which is retroactively sand as it once. In so. When I think about John Walker I just I can see him kind of sitting where representative Hodges was saying and that's what he said to me unless I decide represent alone not proton what what is happening John what does that mean he says your president retroactively. And so that's why I bring this resolution to you all a good catch From representative feeling was when I proposes resolution he says you need to add shine to it. Because he's someone and we need to celebrate black history. And so I want to thank you representative feeling for for bringing that to me and Mister chair or Speaker if you would have the Clerk read the resolution in its entirety. Mr Clark please read the resolution in its entirety whereas throughout the history of the United States truly significant African American contributions to social growth of the economy the military the sciences and the arts of this great nation have all to been ignored and whereas in recognition of this oversight Americans began recognizing the growth history week in nineteen twenty six the predecessor to black history month which has been celebrated annually since nineteen seventy six was inspired by the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and whereas the celebration of black history month in the study of African American history is part of the legacy of Dr Carter G. Woodson and whereas the progress of African Americans in the nation and in the state of Arkansas has been marked by both the tragedy of social inequalities and the tramp of group achievements and whereas although African Americans have participated in every United States war the battle for integration and for the recognition of their accomplishments of African American soldiers has been a slow process and whereas not until war World War two the United States Armed Forces become integrated under a nineteen forty eight executive order by president Harry S. Truman and we're as black history month recognizes commonly celebrated individuals such as Dr Martin Luther king junior George Washington carver Thurgood Marshall Rosa Parks Jackie Robinson the Little Rock Nine Arkansas state representative John Walker and my Angelique just to name a few there are lesser known but equally impactful individuals who should who we should educate ourselves on such as Christmas addicts William. William Harvey Carney the Jonesborough for Constance Baker motley and a plethora of historical giants now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the house of representatives celebrate black history month during the month of February twenty twenty two and recognizing the plot the sacrifices in my right of contributions made by African American individuals throughout the history of this great state and nation. Members I appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent loves explain the rest. Would anyone like to speak for the rest. Represent Springer you're recognized speak for the resolute. Thank you Mr Speaker members good afternoon I come before you in support of this resolution and I think that representative Walker would say that this is not necessary however I'm disagreeing with you this is necessary to make sure that he's a part of our African American history for the month so with that being said I would appreciate a good vote thank you president Springer spoken for the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution we would like to speak for the resolution represent Bentley you're recognized speak for the resolution. I just wanna take a moment saying representive lover bring for this resolution I want like many of you my heart grieves when I see racism continue in our state and I look and I see if we would just teach the history of these great men and women have fought for our nation I mean the very first blood that was shed in this country to bring freedom was from crispus Attucks and listed in Boston this summer this September and with the Boston massacre occurred and that this is where we need to start right here let's teach our children that from the very beginning of this great nation our black brothers and sisters are right there beside us fighting with this for freedom will continue can do it together so takes educations I would encourage all of you that's all the door schools encourage our teachers do this not just in February all year with the teaching history to include the history because that is what's going to break down the barriers that's going to bring down the racial barriers we have here so I just wanna take a minute and stop and say we have a lot on our agenda we can stop and say let's teach our nation's history and and the racism that we have here thank you. Percent Bentley has spoken for the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Loves clothes for the resolution a question for the house is the adoption of house resolution ten nineteen all in favor say aye. Any opposed resolutions adopted. Morning hour is ended Mr Clark please read house bill ten ninety eight. House Bill ten ninety eight my representative Dotson to require fiscal impact statement for any proposed legislation imposing a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans including pharmacy benefits on an entity of this state and to declare an emergency. Percent Dotson you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members this is the first bill of the employee benefits division package that you we're we're considering here today they were broken up between the house and the Senate and then several US the work on the committee kind of got a signed these bills the representative Wardlaw before he gets down here interest me in the next minute or two when he gets to present next this is a fairly simple one of the bills out of the entire group that does too simple basic things one it requires a fiscal impact statement similar to the It actuarial studies that are done with retirement programs it requires those before a bill can with the S. State and Public School Life and Health Insurance program can be considered so and then secondarily the other thing it does it governs the introduction of such bills so they those types of bills similar to the retirement system they would have to be filed within the first fifteen days of a regular session if it's outside of that fifteen days during that regular session it would take a three fourths vote of both the house and the Senate to allow another one to be introduced and if it's during a special or a fiscal session it's a two thirds vote before of both chambers before anything can be introduced I think I've covered all the basics more have try answer any questions. In a good vote. Represent Dotson explained the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Dotson it's close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten thirty eight. Per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Voting on the bill and emergency clauses everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. With ninety six EA zero nine eight one present the bill emergency clause or passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten ninety nine. House Bill ten ninety nine representative Wardlaw to provide for legislative oversight of the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance program to establish the employee benefits division oversight subcommittee and to declare an emergency. The board all you're recognized thanks for your. So members is the bill that creates a subcommittee and council and also sets up the diabetic of study for not but management plans I'd be glad to take any questions. Thank you guys appreciate a good vote. Support laws explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Absent Wardlaw is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten ninety nine per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety eight A. zero nine zero present the bill an emergency clause are passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven hundred. House bill eleven hundred a representative Wardlaw to establish a governing body for the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance program to create and visor Commission for health benefits for state employees and public school employees to declare an emergency president Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill. Your Speaker this one since I've been governor body as I explained earlier today we kept all the promises we made here no well that we would make sure representation from each working group or was there on those boards with that I'd be happy to take any questions. Thank you president of a president Wardlaw has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Wardlaw is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill eleven hundred prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted voting on the bill in the emergency clause has everyone voted cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of nineteen ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten ninety seven house bill ten ninety seven by representative eleven to amend the public school employees health health insurance program funding and to declare an emergency. Purposive eleven you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members this is the fourth of the employee benefit Division bills that we are going to originate here in the House Zach replica of the resolution that we passed two days ago with no dissenting votes what this bill does is quite simply just establishes a new base contribution to the school districts will make into the B. D. that will be refunded back to the schools through the department and then it is stab wishes the oversight of that with the joint Education Committee that will be studied through the adequacy study each term to determine if any adjustments need to be made to that happy to answer any questions. C. not appreciate a good vote represent eleven is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representive eleven is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten ninety seven prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six Yeas zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed. We're going to we're going to go to the yellow budget calendar. It represent Jean fair warning to make his way down here. Representative Jeanne moos we place house bill ten thirty three on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection remember number one Mr Clark member number one to House Bill ten thirty three. President Jean you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Speaker. The U. N. G. auto sales tax has been going up this all this does is increase for next year with a member on the the Bill that'll increase the sales tax turned back to your cities and county government many questions. Create a good vote on amendment. Representing is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Jean is closed for the amendment question before the House. Is to place house bill ten thirty three a. Pass amendment number one to House Bill ten thirty three all in favor say aye. Imposed. The amendment is adopted. President Jane recognized. Thank you Speaker colleagues we have a. Of course we're passing over. House bill ten thirty one for the day. Let the. More lobbying going for that. Of house bill ten thirty five. Department of education. Of this is the Martin Luther king Commission just passed over yesterday for member to have time to talk to somebody in that Division I think that has been satisfied so we need to a good vote on this your one voted for the bill numbers across much bigger have rebuilt their time. Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten thirty five. the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark Biber ninety sixty eight zero nine one present. The bill is passed. Represent gene you're recognized. Okay members were gonna take up ten thirty six this is the partner transportation this is a highway. Or since very little general revenue is mainly. gasoline tax federal funds. These stuff like that. Any questions. Your one voted for the bill number two calls from a Speaker the Clerk read bill third time. Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten thirty six per machine Mr Clark. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed president Jean. Thank you Mr Speaker next bill we're going to take up this house bill ten fifty the Arkansas public employment retirement system. Of this is funded out of retirement these people's matching stuff like that any questions. Your one voted for the bill emergency clause for Speaker the Clerk read the bill for time. Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten fifty. Where the machine Mr Clark. Everyone voted. Everyone vote. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed representative gene you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker this is another one that went down yesterday but it was close and it's to the back of sensation program it's mainly from the back of settlement funds. NO G. R.. Any questions or concerns I did and nobody came up and told me what the real problem was it but anyway I can understand AT and but. Once again very little general revenue purpose have a go Russian prime what. Yes thank you have a question you're recognized it is my understanding some of this in revenue does come from other programs the state that we and enacted maybe several several sessions ago Do you know if any of that is the revenue coming in to this fund is state money to my general revenue. Well hi I'm probably too big novice so there is a a bill several sessions ago that took away some of our our tax incentives up there too reporter cities. And they they put a border city tax off and in this last legislative session tried to to address that your term out border city tobacco stores and stuff like that yes I this is from the settlement with of all the big of the big tobacco companies of all over North Carolina South this money comes from that settlement the other is just general sales tax of the dozen Office it is several different things that could go to health care but the main money for this is brought for that settlement with tobacco salt settlements twenty twenty some years ago okay so so the money coming in to that off the tobacco sales for reporter cities did not go into this fund no thank you. Any other questions. Your one voted for the bill number to call for Speaker the Clerk rebuilt their time. Please read bill for the third time house bill ten seventy seven. the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy eight yeas nine days and ten present the bill is passed represent gene you're recognized. All right. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues we're going to try to batch all but two of these reappropriation someone give time to look at a. We're we're gonna pull restarted. Ten eighty one these are all reappropriation. No more new money is money that we have budgeted for this year and they can continue to Senate finish projects beginning July first they just roll the money over no new money we're gonna started. House bill ten eighty one. And vote on the all the way on the second page to ten ninety four these are all reappropriation we are pulling two out because members have conflicts may have relative or something working for the board so we're going to pull out house bill ten eighty two for a separate vote and house bill ten eighty four and there may be others. President Wardlaw for purpose of request recognized I request that we pull out house bill ten eighty five four separate vote. Ten eighty five eighty five. President eighty four purpose request. Real house bill ten eighty six separate vote yes Sir. Ten eighty six out for a separate vote Senator Eads what purpose question you're recognized representing could you just refresh my memory with the difference between house bill ten ninety and ten thirty one. So that again ten ninety and ten thirty one this is a capital project going on it's not the operation other ops budget this is all for putting up a tower or doing something but this is This Is cap outlay. Any other any other will pull out the back. Seeing none. So we're going we're going to take up house bill ten eighty one. pulling out ten eighty to ten eighty four ten eighty five ten eighty six out of the batch will pick up at ten eighty seven and go all the way to ten ninety four. Your one vote on the batches for the bill emergency calls respect rather quickly bill third time Clark please read the bills for the third time house bill ten eighty one house bill ten eighty three helpful ten eighty seven house bill ten eighty eight helpful ten eighty nine helpful ten ninety house bill ten ninety one house bill ten ninety two house bill ten ninety three house bill ten ninety four. Per machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six yeah eight zero nine zero present the bill so passed. Then Jamie recognized all right we'll take up these for one at a time the first one is the Department of Human Services division of developmental disabilities this is a reappropriation. Any questions. We are one voted for the bill number to call for Speaker the the Bill third time. Clark please read the bill for third time house bill ten eighty two per machine. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. Of the ninety seven yeah zero nine one present the bill is passed. President Jean you're recognized. Thank your Speaker. The separate vote is house bill ten ninety for the institution of higher education reappropriation any questions. What I say. Thank you ten eighty four. I'm glad I got bear behind me. Ten eighty four institution of higher education reappropriation no questions the one vote for the bill merge calls for Speaker the Clerk reveal third time. Mr Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten eighty four. Where the machine. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety two yeas zero nay and three present the bill is past president Jean you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker this house bill ten eighty five secretary of state reappropriation any questions. One vote for the bill emergency calls for Speaker the Clerk read bill third time. Mr Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten eighty five. Sheen. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty nine yea's six nays and zero present the bill is passed representing you're recognized. And the last of the re appropriation bills or house bill ten eighty six partminer parks tourism. Reappropriation any questions. One vote for the bill Burch call for Speaker the Clerk read bill third time Clark please read the bill for the third time house bill ten eighty six. The machine. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By the ninety three ace three nights and one present the bill is passed represent gene you're recognized. Thank your Speaker calling if you remember yesterday we did the House bills. Of today we've got the Senate bills these are boards and commissions and agencies that did not have any major changes except. Small salary and the matching of increases on retirement and insurance. Of I will give you a chance to look at it I'm sure there's gonna be some one pulls up I have a batch. President rate for what purpose a request to pull bill recognized representative Jane would you please pull SP four out of the stack. Four separate vote yes Sir okay. President Wardlaw for per. President Dotson for what purpose a request you're recognized would you please pull S. B. twenty one of the. Thank you for a separate vote for seven. Twenty one. Represent Wardlaw for purpose request recognized request Senate bill forty two four separate vote. Senate bill forty two for a separate vote. Any others. You. Jeff Wardlaw for purpose. A request recognized Senate bill forty four as well for a separate vote yes sorry for that. Any other. All right members. We're going to take up Senate bill two. We're going to pull out Senate bill four Senate bill twenty one Senate bill forty two and Senate bill forty four and we're going all the way down to Senate bill sixty eight. For you guys okay. Remember your one voted for the bill emergency calls from a Speaker at the Clerk read the bill for the third time. Clark please read the bills for the third time Senate bill two Senate bill three Senate bill five Senate bill six and bill eight Senate bill nine Senate bill ten Senate bill eleven Senate bill fourteen Senate bill nineteen Senate bill twenty two Senate bill twenty five central twenty seven Senate bill twenty eight central twenty nine Senate bill thirty senate thirty one senate thirty two Senate bill thirty seven Senate bill thirty nine Senate bill fifty two Senate bill fifty five Senate bill fifty six Senate bill sixty five Senate bill sixty eight. Per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Biver ninety three A. zero nine one present the bills are passed represent gene you're recognized. We will come up one at a time Senate bill four Arkansas ethics commission. Any questions. Remember your one voted for the bill emerged Office bigger the Clerk reveal third time. Sir Clark please read the bill for the third time. Senate bill four. The machine. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. A vote of eighty nine Yeas four Nays and three present Bills pastor president Jean you're recognized. I respect your Senate bill twenty one as the Arkansas catfish promotion board. this is a tax out of the industry that the people have agreed to it doesn't cost you any more because or take it out of pocket to the producers. I like the catfish. Any questions. I appreciate a good vote. Your one vote for the bill Burch call for Speaker at the purpose built thirteen Clark please read the bill for the third time Senate bill twenty one where the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr. By a vote of eighty six yeas or nays and eight present the bill is passed representing you're recognized. Colleagues are next to last one Senate bill forty two apartment transformation shared services any questions. Seeing none you one voted for the bill emergency clause respect rather for Greenville third time. Sir Clark please read the bill for third time Senate bill forty two where the machine Mr Clark. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Ninety four Yeas zero nine one present the bill is passed represent gene you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker last bill of the day is Senate bill forty four department transformation share service Building Authority. Any questions. One vote for the bill the merger called respect at the current rate bill third time. Clark please read the bill for the third time Senate bill forty four the machine. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety two yeas three nine zero present the bill is passed. Represent Meeks for what purpose motion place to your motion after the announcmenet trading of the bills transferring the bill's place in the calendars on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until Tuesday at one o'clock. Proper motion. Not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Any announcements represent gene for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized there will be a joint budget Tuesday morning at nine AM. President waiting for purpose announcmenet. How House Management will meet upon adjournment on Tuesday. Testing one two okay we're back. we're just giving you a heads up that will meet immediately upon adjournment on Tuesday and Maccabi House Management. Okay I think we're going to represent Johnson for purposes announcmenet you're recognized so administrative rules review subcommittee will meet on Tuesday the time is still being determined I'll make sure I reach out to all the members just to let them know what time or meeting what two items on the agenda. Yes you can ask questions represent a very good question thank you. Representantes for what purpose else but you're recognized state agencies will meet next Tuesday at two thirty room one fifty one watch for it on the calendar next Tuesday at two thirty three one fifty one St age right any other announcements members Act continue to monitor the the bureau website the ark like website I think we've announced pretty much all the committees that should that are likely to meet on Tuesday but continue my of that website and obviously we'll send out if you're on the Committee you'll get email notices as well but I believe that we've covered everything because we we like we receive if you bills from the Senate I believe all those are going to state agencies and we've already heard the announcmenet for that meeting on Tuesday afternoon. All right any other announcements. I got it right here the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution the house will be adjourned until one PM on Tuesday.