State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

Bills on the agenda that we've not heard that we're going to hear those bills this morning and again we will not do and that print out baritone just like we did the others after we hear those bills and would try to get back up into session hopefully will be through with them if not we'll just have to come back later but we'll go back up at eleven o'clock and that built up over the German we I will announce at that time what time we will return to committee. It's my understanding and without objection that representative Brad does not we do not want to run your bill is that correct. Sir. Okay so representive love is not going to run his bill today And so that brings us to House bill eight nineteen eighty representative flowers. House bill nineteen eighty representative flowers. The representative fires in the room so we'll move on to the next one house bill nineteen eighty one. Representative Dotson. Representative Dotson H. have an amendment that correct. Committee members what we'll do we'll let representative Dotson President his amendment and we will vote on the amendment for the two adopted or not. And then then if you will be allowed at that time representative dot you to present your bill but that that but there will be no up or down vote. Thank you Mr chair the amendment it simply adds an emergency clause it was missed in the drafting. So. That does not make a motion to pass or to adopt the amendment okay have you had a copy of the amendment is there's been explained by representative Dotson he's made a motion of a do pass. If the disk. Any discussion on the motion. Shea none all in favor say aye. All opposed say no that has had a commitment is been adopted representative that you're now recognized to present your bill as about. Thank you Mr members the committee we're all. Probably getting used to looking at various maps and and and trying to figure out what's in them this one differs a little bit from most of what we seen before in primarily the the center of the state so what I presented in the past district number three stays the same Sebastian County split. The deviation is very tight on that I believe if it works out to zero percent but it's about twenty four people off of its act exact district number two the configuration changes in the counties that are there Cleburne County would go into the second Van Buren Conway and Perry counties would go into the first and then the fourth for care Conlan Perry counties and Lone oak. And Klasky counties would be split the the second congressional district the deviation it's ninety one people off and of exact Lian's spot on and in this particular map basically what this does is it keeps the the all the Interstate cities coming out of Little Rock going up through Cabot into White County. All together as communities of interest so Cabot and Austin ward there are a couple little towns are right along through there and it brings that population into the second district so that those those communities the state all altogether the first congressional district if you look at the south part of it Jefferson County is made whole. Lee into the fourth so the pieces that were part of the first or are now part of the force and In the first it adds Van Buren make Searcy County hold as Merion and Boone counties to the first and on the fourth side it it takes in all of Newton County which was previously split obviously Madison County goes to the third so it's no longer in the fourth and it has it takes in pope county into the force I think everything else is fairly self explanatory at by looking at the overall map won't name ever County but. Be more happy try to answer any questions. The questions from committee members. Say nine correction representative. You're recognized for a question representative Dotson are your Cities in Pulaski County hold. So on this particular map Zoom in here and look. The northern part of the county is not but the City of Little Rock along the I. thirty corridor it stays south of I. thirty as it goes through little rock and. The the portion that's on the south side of I thirty would be in the first and then the north side of I thirty as is going through there would be in the would stay in the second so it there's a few precincts along that edge that the city limits of Little Rock cross over I. thirty. Representative Johnson you're recognized for a question in you know we do not discuss Sebastian County before and and you know I have a. Reference to try to keep Sebastian County hole in specifically hole in the third but understanding the challenges that with the deviation I guess I have questions about the southern border of Sebastian County in the third and you know if if we're gonna have to do is if the will of the committee is to vote on a bill to divide Sebastian County how that gets divided I think it's important to me and to my constituents you know Greenwood school district runs up against Logan County you're trying to trying to keep it not communities whole school districts are part of the community so I just had some questions about the details of where those precincts line how that boundary looks yeah and I I'm I'm aware of the precincts you were discussing we we talked about it yesterday after this bill would already been filed so I didn't make changes but I'm willing to to make to to make sure that those precincts we discussed with the Greenwood school district apartment okay I think we can make that if this is a map that we move forward with I think that's a fairly easy change to make and keep the deviations fairly tight thank you thank you thank you any further questions from committee members. I pledge govern you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair so represent Dotson have you seen any other maps with a tighter standard deviation between congressional districts and this one. Skews me maps have been filed. I'm trying to think. At eight yes my original map that I filed was tighter in a couple of the districts it was exactly the same in the third I'm trying to remember off the top of my head I want to say the population deviation the largest one in in the first map that I filed was about seven hundred people off of of so is one tenth of a percent in this particular one it's about fifteen hundred people off in the first and so that's two one hundredths of a It's actually point to one of a percent so. Yes I filed maps that are tighter than this. Follow. Recognized for a follow up what about between a map that is not yours. I have seen it drawn tighter than this yes and filed not that's filed Goodness I I'm there's so many filed I'd I can't even answer that off the top of my head. It further questions from committee members. Saying that no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Representative dodging you're recognized closed. Thank you if if this is at this map is as kind of come about due to many conversations with various folks over the last several days and trying to accommodate the requests of of as many people as possible I know there's some other versions that we're going to here today and so as were were putting these things together I'm I'm open to making adjustments and tweaks to this at war working with anybody else to make adjustments and tweaks to theirs to try to get the best the best maps possible thank you thank you representative Dotson appreciate your presentation committee members representative love has informed me is here today he does want to present his map sole representative love you're recognized to go the other table and The house bill nineteen seventy eight committee members that's house bill one nine seven eight. I remind you every to everyone if you're here you like to speak for against the bill there's a sign up sheet located just outside the door and just sign that and it'll make its way appear will recognize you. Representative love their you I'm ready you're recognized present your bill thank you Mr chairman thank you committee for indulging me house bill seventeen nineteen seventy eight is a map in which. I want to say that it takes a lot of things into consideration But the major thing I want to do is to make sure that when we begin to draw maps we're kind of. Removing the politics and just looking at how the state in the populations are shifting in so the premise that I start off with is is Baker cities and what I mean by anchor cities of cities that are are have a population more of more than seventy five thousand or above to stabilize the population shifts that were had that would have been so with that being said if you look at the map it has four anchor cities that are above seventy five thousand or more. Of course when you look in congressional district number one you'll have you will have the Jonesborough which would service what I would consider and Chrissy one that has a population you look at the second commander congressional you have Little Rock. In the end when we came over to the third of course with the growth that we're experiencing Northwest Arkansas those are those are anchor cities in which you have the bill you have spring though this growing you have been bill this grind so that's the fastest growing part of the state and so that we can be pretty much body and and then you look at the fourth congressional district which is losing population. And so with that that's the idea I put Sebastian County as a whole within the third new we have Fort Smith I took into consideration also the economic development please. All the MSAs in this in the the region's altogether yep Fort Smith you have Texarkana they're in the in the The fourth then you have the MSA of little rock it's in the second you then you have the cricket county you have that air the MSA and then also you have the the MSA that is that is in the Washington County area and so this this map you all and if you look at the deviations the deviations are a pretty much tight you have population shifts but you have them two two we are. If you look at if you look alone because I know that in the Austin was talking about the deviations is point five four congressional district number one I think that's the one and that's pretty much over but if you look at the second congressional as point two eight. The third point zero eight and then the fourth is point one seven so it looks like the deviations a pretty tight we can't okay all County so but as I said we we. I thought about in this map not only the economic development interest but make should make sure we try to stabilize the populations of these congressional districts what that Mister chairman close and I'm up for questions. Any questions from committee members. None that one is a. Which is one signed up to speak for against the bill Committee. Anyone in the audience has signed up to speak for or against the bill. Sorry none. Representative No one signed up to our representative of a little confusion here trying to find out if anyone signed up to speak for against the bill okay no one signed up so you're recognized closed well I am close Missy Mister chair and I appreciate the committee's indulgence thank you representative love for your presentation. Committee members I think I saw representative flowers is that correct the. You're here okay she's in the room now so if you would Step stated in the table and you're recognized to present house bill nineteen eighty. Thank you Mr commit just a second I pull out my notes. You're ready you're recognized representative flowers thank you I have been before many of you and presented a bill that largely does the same thing In meeting all of four of the primary guidelines. A federal guidelines and what I did was sort of worked on the map. From before but was able to. create a map that achieved. the goal of. Not cutting any counties not cutting into any precincts. And so. What we have here now since we're still within the all one percent deviation. Is we have a map that meets all four of the criteria and I think that what makes this map especially appropriate and beneficial for the state of Arkansas. Is that I think it does a good job of capturing the traditional delta counties and so for many people who understand the significance of the delta as it relates to Arkansas's economy. Whether you're looking at agriculture whether you're looking at tourism. I think that this map achieves the opportunity for us to place more focus. On the delta and cut the existing line that divides the delta between north and south and instead incorporates all of the delta counties together especially along the eastern border of the state. And encapsulates Little Rock which is also for many reasons considered a part of the Delta given its connection to the river. So without. Repeating everything that I've already stated in my previous presentation I'd be open for any questions. Any questions from committee members. Saying that no one signed up to speak for or against the bill representative flowers you're recognized. The. yeah the only other thing that I would reiterate is that this bill along with the very few of the bills that you've heard. Very significantly and specifically addresses minority representation and I've had it opportunity to sort of reflect on some of the questions in the comments but I would remind you that even with all of the bills that you've heard or seen where there is a focus on ensuring the most optimal minority representation. I would point out that not any of those maps including this one. Creates a minority majority As it relates to voting age population. Nor do any of the maps create a plurality of any one particular group. Within that group of minority groups. So the notion that this somehow creates a district to draw around and create some plurality for one particular group is simply not true. And so would beg the question why wouldn't we optimize and maximize to meet that guideline to not do it means we're making a definitive decision to exercise the status quo in that status quo. Is to not recognize minority representation and as a matter of fact to draw around it so with that I will I'll close and ask for your consideration and thank you for your attention. Thank you representative flowers for the presentation committee members the We're gonna go ahead and start the next the bill that's house bill nineteen eighty two representative speaks you would just have saved ten the table. Steve. Thank you Mr chair. I bring to you today House Bill let's see nineteen eighty two actually this is the kind of amendment but we want to claim bill to start with so that's what we have done here and as you can see we have to a counties that we split everyone was Sebastian County and with what we've done we left two precincts Senate. In the end trying to not touch any city so all the cities are clear yeah they're all in NYC together Pulaski County was the other one and the only thing that we added to that one was it was I believe it's a couple of precincts in its down around when the bill and Hillary airport is. What this done it tightened up all of the deviations in that so I want to bring those down for you can look at him. And you can see in the first district we have a minus point three seven. Then with the second district it's a minus three three. With the third district it's it's a point three nine. And then in the fourth district it's a point three one so what we've done we just tried to tighten up because the other map that I had presented there was a couple of counties that was stemming yeah I count at districts I'm sorry that had been it just needed to be tightened that. The all of the city's in Little Rock Jacksonville and North Little Rock they are all left hold. So we did not support split any of them so if you have any questions so be happy to answer. Any questions from committee members. Representative judging you're recognized for a question yes for president speaks and you and I spoke before and I still have the same question for you is that if representative Dotson you know I see in your map you divide Sebastian County and I understand why but the details of how that is divided I think it's important my community and trying to keep communities health are you willing to work that some trying to incorporate look at the details of how those precincts are divided in that county do you think that affects the deviation in any great way to try to be at least keep communities whole if it for a for having to divide the county. Sure if that's needed I would be happy to I think that's what we did with this by the current method doesn't seem to recognize. Yeah I'm sorry the current map doesn't seem to reflect that at least the one I'm looking at again the visuals can be heart of the detail level so okay not given the apt Committee okay thank you thank you thank you thank you representative if any further questions from committee members. A deduction you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair all on your map here. In Pulaski County which communities are being split. Well I left it's the same that we had before that joins up with the first district. And those were most some more the rule going out through there I don't remember what all it took can but we kept them in precincts where there were easy for the voting and that then on the other. It was sent that point actually added this yesterday when we've done the map which took and the bill and Hillary airport. And I believe that was two precincts there. A production unit Apollo up I suppose so okay you're recognized so. If I'm looking at the precincts from your bill draft here if I've got it looks and I think I'm zoomed in on it. The bill and Hillary Clinton airport stays in the second. And does the. Communities of sure would not action bill or split along the the south side of one sixty seven is are going up. I didn't think so when we looked at the map of but the bill and Hillary went down to the fourth district. Committee members represent Dotson I hate to pause at this point but we will take but we're going to. resume right here where we left off about one person for signed up to speak against the bill so what we need to get up to session it starts at eleven o'clock so we come back representative speak shall be attended table representative Dotson you'll be recognized for your question so with that were in recess. Committee members if you would go ahead and thank you are you say what you will we'll get started here just about one minute. If you would please go ahead and take a seat we need to get started. This committee is ready combined. A laptop representative to speak shows at the end of the table if you would representatives page go ahead and. Thank you say to the end of the table thank you. Thank you Mr chair and I believe that. I believe that when we powers day representatives page I believe representative Dotson was had just ask a question and I can't member pages to ask questions of you in the process of answering the question but less so let's go back to his question and then go from there representative Dotson. Well thank you Mr I've I've had lunch and we debated bills on the floor and I don't remember exactly where we're at with this but I think was I was focused on the pieces of sure wouldn't Jacksonville that are split in this this variation the map and. And just to clarify I think I heard you say that the airport in Little Rock was I'm not sure which which one you're supposed you said it was supposed to be in but it's in the second on this map. So I just want to verify that's what you thought. That's where it's supposed to be. When it was put into the fourth district we took it in. And we were taken in the bill and Hillary airport you asked me about the other and I want to ensure that everyone I've by questions that after you'd ask me and so Pulaski can't Little Rock Jacksonville. Sure would and let's see. North Little Rock they are all whole cities we did not go into any of those and when we drew a map we drew it with the the bill and Hillary airport and it's down in the fourth district there and the others is up there which went into the this first district. Okay so I need to follow up yeah I I'm I'm a recognized for follow up thank you. I'm assuming this is because I I followed the bill not the I guess what the map that you're working off of and just put the precincts into a map and so we may just have the wrong precincts in here to do what you're wanting to do because. That's not exactly what the map. Does the bill does thank you. The questions from committee members. Representative back you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr so now my concern is is that the. If the precinct the wrong. It in the map are or whatever do we need to. Maybe give us some time to that issue that we are looking at the. Right I the numbers right on the sheet now kind. The representative back at play gets questions for the sponsor not for the chair I didn't wrap bill but just a minute and let state am I reading this right Uh because when we talked about it it was my understanding that was going to go check. There is right in here okay so I I am I'll have to say I was rolled. It so the airport and that was left in the second. District I just misunderstood as we were drawing this map. Okay representative Beck is that. Price for you you do have a follow up. Yes please tell you your the the numbers that related to as far as the the variations and stuff and the match your your. The numbers are in front of us are correct yes they are correct I just misunderstood when we were drawn on the map I thought that it went down in that other part there. Thank you Mr a committee for questions from committee members. One that. One person signed up to speak against the bill. Okay. I have a rep representative it. Image. Are you in the room I saw year over this morning you signed up to speak against the bill or you in the room. I don't see here so no one else is signed up to speak up for against the bill over representative speaks you're recognized to close with the bill. I just like to close in and when we do get to where we can voter I'd ask for a good vote thank you Mr chair okay thank you for your presentation. Committee members next item on today's agenda is house bill nineteen eighty three. Representative Payton. The debate you're recognized to President jazz bill nineteen eighty three thank you Mr colleagues I didn't expect to be present the map in this Endeavor but sitting on this committee and seeing all the maps it's been proposed in front of us kind of got my head Spinnin and we finally had the opportunity to rank those of those maps and then regardless of the ranking they've all disappeared and seem to be off the table to some extent so let your staff and then got to working with a couple people that are geniuses on their computer and on their behalf and on the tools that they have and I think I've come up with a map that. Does not have very much opposition but not very many people have seen it yet so I'll concede to that if you look at the map. In general it creates to metropolitan districts the third in the second and to basically rural districts of which would be the first in the fourth and you know we've heard a lot of discussion about What criteria we used to try to divide and and whether it be geographical or or you know by agriculture versus commerce or things like that. yeah I'd like to think that our cans and stick together a little better than that but I do. Consider the geographical of high priority and if you look in the first district Wallace still runs a huge gamut around the side Arkansas. down in that southeast corner were at and drew to stop that bottleneck into Chico. We heard a lot of about from the agriculture lobby and she going to say like an that wanted to stay in the first and I think through is a very good fit down there it helped to balance some numbers that all explain about why we needed that balance as many of you know up in the third and in the northwest area of Arkansas Sebastian does not like to be so I split County and we've tried several suggestions that would cap the whole and It's it's just not working so even as I speak of representative Johnson is working with PLR for an amendment on this. That I may propose at some point that would extend the line you're saying a little further south in Sebastian so once you understand that it keeps the third. More in a block without without running up and down if you look at the page that shows the current district lines you see how we smoothed that jagged up and down affect. But basically it only splits to counties and that's Pulaski and Sebastian. And even with the amendment that may come tweak it just a little bit of and it's supposed to be ready here in twenty thirty minutes it will still be splitting Sebastian just be further south with The Amendment. Would pull the south west corner of Conway County that is on the opposite side of the Arkansas River. So I'm telling you all this because. As a committee member I've seen these goal post moving. And the target movie and you know we hear bills being presented and normally you know somebody would sit here and described in detail an amendment that may be coming. But my commitment to this committee. It is with the amendment that is coming if we adopted. I will not move this goal post again. It can pass or fail up or down. I do have some support in the Senate I do have a Senate co sponsor I have some support on the Senate committee it's not been whipped to know exactly how much but folks. I don't want to vote and rank sponsors I want to vote in rank. The content of the bill and the policy within the bill and so. I'll be when we do come to vote in here if I have an opportunity I'll be presenting this with an amendment. The moves the line a little bit further south and Sebastian and satisfies several people in Sebastian County. It takes the southwest corner Conway County that's on the opposite side of the Arkansas River and puts it in the fourth. And the rest of this map would stay the same. So I would appreciate of any questions or I'll do my best to try to answer any questions from committee members representing the company recognized for a question thank you Mr chair yes representative Payton looking at. You know kind of a significant. A little bit more of a a shift in the second that maybe some the other maps are missing a lot of for maps really where I'm going is. Can you guide me along the line of thinking from you know starting in some rain and going through I guess basically little rock all the way to why is that one corridor or like what what what are you thinking there well I appreciate the question actually there's more than one court or there so one map that's been proposed would take of Van Buren which is a. A very rule county out of the second and put Cleburne which is a very real County in the second so I alluded to it at the beginning a little bit about metropolitan urban areas person rule areas and whether or not they mix well well I have a really good friend the represents part of Van Buren County. And it's and it hasn't worked well for the last ten years evidently having or county that rule being represented alongside Little Rock in in the second district so what we did is we we started down around insulin County Benton right down in there you've got I. thirty coming to Little Rock then you've got highway sixty seven one sixty seven going northeast all the way up through Cabot so all the way to search the McRae B. B. I've got auto auction in BB of so right up that court order but then also towards Conway on highway forty you've got a lot of urban metropolitan build up that direction so the second district has drawn here does not cut any cities in half. But it includes what I've been calling the commerce corridor which is Benton the server C. and the Conway along that Metropolitan urban area. The finances your question I thought it made sense that way project. Any further questions from committee members. Representative dodging you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair I was looking at this and from what you're describing as far as the amendment to this but you say could be added to this and if that's if it's done like what I've gotten what I think it is going to be it would make your deviations in all for these The point one two is the highest deviation in any of the the counties which is is under that ones and one of the tightest yes all of them would be under a thousand people off and one of the tightest deviations as far as any map we've seen with that is that correct that's so I'm waiting on the amendment and as long as the information I have off of this website that if that those numbers might be a large numbers then yes it's going to be under a thousand on deviation thank you all for districts at that makes this probably not one of my favorite maps thanks I appreciate that thank you. Representative back you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair just some clarification he said that on the the south west corner of Conway County that that would be that would go over into the fourth district did you say that you were using the the Arkansas River as a boundary there. It is a minor change in west the west of the river would be in in the fourth two rational needs would be the same that's my understanding yes Sir thank you thank you. Other questions from committee members. Say none no one signed up to speak for against the bill representative paid you're recognized close with the bill thank you members I just would appreciate at the proper time that of we get a chance to consider and vote up or down Preciado thank you for your presentation representative committee members this time we're going to take a ten minute recess. I've got a new management to make. Committee members if you will in take stages held the noise down. Later by to make sure they hear this announcmenet. Hold up for a minute we're picks making announcmenet in the. Well everybody's in here if you don't mind please. Committee members were going to Take a recess. and we'll be back at we need to reconvene at three thirty so this will recess until three thirty thank you committee members. Committee members if you would go ahead and thank you ladies states and we'll get ready to get started here in about one minute. Leding is committee is ready combined. This time I just like to make a few opening comments before we get started if I could. I have your attention please. You know as we started out with these meetings when we first got here the goal of this committee is to recommend one proposal. And You know when I started as set up by the What we called up the laid back you on the bill is AB or excuse me that were introduced and we had three that finished in the top three from the input. From this committee. So what I'm gonna do calendar that process. With what I originally stated. Was we're going to go it is time and we're going to go back to those three bills that received the most high school was one two and three that was representative speaks representative Dotson. And representative Gonzalez in that order. So at this time I'm going to and as representative speaks to go to the end of the table and present your original bill with the one that we amended that to committee voted on was house bill nineteen seventy one. House bill nineteen seventy one that was the original. Thank you Original Bill representatives patient that's one that garnered a motion most parents and from the Committee Shapiro just devastated into the table. You're recognized to present your original bill I know you had an amendment I wanted to do committee approved that's house bill. One nine seven one. I'm not sure that it's engrossed in here Just a minute. Some of you may not have been pro representative would have to happen. I have a motion I guess Mr chairman at the proper time for you let me of the motion I have a motion to substitute house bill substitute house bill nineteen eighty two four house bill nineteen seventy one when we left here that day we were all on their standing there to be some tweaking of that bill that we can is taking place the bill is filed and. There's actually a an amendment to nineteen eighty two to finish that we can. So I make a motion to substitute nineteen seventy one four nine to nineteen eighty two. I hope I'm not confusing. Okay that that is a of proper motion it is a debatable motion Committee opposed the motion by representative board larger the discussion on the motion. You're recognized for discussion on the motion from representative Wardlaw I'm unable to locate a map of nineteen eighty two the I'd like an overlay of eighty two and seventy one see how familiar you are how much they're not. Well if I could have a minute to dig through my back again I've already done to it. Thank you. Okay let's representative representative paid let me know when you have that in front of you and your. You're ready to go. Representative paid no you eighty three. Are you ready. Yes I got an overlay there okay thank you any further discussion problem representative Miller you're recognized for discussion on the motion the representative Wardlaw. Well I don't know if it's the proper time but I've got a substitute motion to representative Wardlaw substitute motion. Let me hear that have Mary substitute motion. Of I make a motion that we substitute of the bill number that represent Wardlaw said for. Bill number H. B. nineteen eighty three. This representative Miller. Representative Miller just make sure I've got a house bill correct that was nineteen eighty three that you're making a motion to is that correct yes Sir okay that is a proper motion. It is a debatable. Any discussion on the on the motion by representative Miller. Thank you to pay your. Represented by you're recognized for discussion on the motion by representative Miller. You Mr and thank you representative Miller I just want to assure the committee that the map as is where is with all its faults regard no representation or warranty expressed or denied is a workable map it the other small tweak that I mentioned earlier and the amendment that was being drafted earlier. Only affected two or three hundred. Of population each direction. as is the deviation is very small. And The district's makes sense as I explained earlier and I appreciate a good vote. Did you say you have an amendment to that to nineteen eighty three did I misunderstand you I had an amendment but it got tied up in confusion with be a large so it's not going to be prepared and the bill is fine as is it does not meet the amendment so we're good to go so I'm sure the motion as Britain's for house bill nineteen eighty three as is without an amendment is that correct that's why I would understand it yes is that correct representative Miller's at your motion yes Sir okay. He further discussion representative back you're recognized for discussion representative Miller's motion and and I apologize I was actually gonna jump in on a representative war laws but it fits for two years also we are now taking maps that we went we took an hour long recess and we look that we decide which ones are the best and we rated on and now we're substituting maps that are have nothing to do with those original maps they're they're modified maps so Mike I guess my point is is I have some. Concern is still the this process it's almost like we did we went through a process where we gave everything a lighted average in the numbers we're gonna throw that out the door was saying that all you really needed was just to get a of a map tile then you can substitute another map without it being waited at any point in the process and that doesn't seem like I really aligned I put in a. I truly like the way you are handling this allowing us all the way to it and to get in there and and and that help narrow it down but now it looks like we're going out out out the door just like you know who's gonna stop someone else from another motion here in just a second and substitute something else in there so I just have my concerns about the validity of this okay well I did call representative to speak to the table to run house bill and it was a proper motion by representative Wardlaw it's also a proper motion by representative Miller and they are both debatable that's what we're doing at this time so any further discussion representative Miller's motion in regards to house bill nineteen eighty three. Representative member you have a follow up. A yes Sir thank you Mister chair and representative back you you back very fair point and I don't I don't think anybody in here. Came back in here at three thirty with the anticipation of voting up or down all representative speaks Original Bill. And as far as we all took the hour and a half or whatever there were a select few that took the hour and a half and made You know we made some changes and came to some conclusions or whatever but I I don't know that speaks necessarily for the whole committee and we're just trying to follow the process we'll see what happens. Thank you Mr. It further discussion representative Miller's motion. Per se none all in favor of representative Miller's motion say aye. All opposed say no. The nose habit the motion is failed now going back to representative Wardlaw. Representative Wardlaw had a motion to For a placement on representative speaks bill of. Nineteen seventy one with House Bill. Nineteen eighty. Nineteen eighty two house bill nineteen eighty four nineteen eighty two. Any discussion on the motion representative Wardlaw you're recognized for discussion on the motion just to be clear because it was brought up in the substitute motion there is an amendment to house bill nineteen eighty two that is the same amendment that was just passed in the Senate that is that I just want to be clear it's not nineteen eighty two as its current form is nineteen eighty two with an amendment to representative speaks is ready to present so there is an amendment I just want fair open process representative Miller said it right no one came in here that I know of expected to vote on nineteen seventy one I think that was a very fair statement and thank you for for making sure that the committee's clear on that in a public clear but there is an amendment to nineteen eighty two that brings in some agreement. It further discussion representative Payton you're recognized for discussion on the motion per representative Wardlaw in regards nineteen eighty three. Thank you so I guess my eighty two I'm sorry I guess my question is when we vote on this motion then we have discussion and debate on the bill or we move straight to a vote on the bill now we will have discussion on the bill it's my understanding representative Wardlaw just mentioned I'm sure representative speaks well of. Referred to this in our in her testimony ten to the table that she has an amendment to this bill I think that's what I'm understanding is that amendment been passed out not yet because we're not to that point yet but anyways of tent your question yes thank you you're welcome any part representative back. Some of this motion ski skis me if this motion passes then as I understand it we will have the amended version of nineteen eighty two correct before as before and now this is going to present that bill as amended to us for us to vote up and down on that tried to do that will be presented to the committee and at that time will vote on the on the amendment. And if it's passes at the will of this committee then she will present her bill as amended. Any further discussion. On the motion by representative Wardlaw. Shea none all in favor say aye ACT All opposed say no. Does have it. The motion is carried. Presented to speaks at this time. Instead of presenting house bill nineteen seventy one you will represent. House bill nineteen eighty two the person will present the amendment. Sure so the committee members that I believe you have a copy of the amendment is that correct we're going to handle that in this time and I'll give you a. A couple of minutes to review that amendment. Okay the. Yes. Yes. Mister chair. Mister chair. Representative speaks. Have a comment yes I did the. Somewhere when they made the the map they've got the wrong what number up there if the map is correct but it should be nineteen eighty two and the it has nineteen eighty one but it's just in there a that got done when they were trying to get the map made. Okay. The amendment is correct is that right yes it the map is correct okay. It has to correct past bill road if the. That we should declare collateral only map is way I understand what you're saying that is correct okay and that is the correct map that's up there. Okay so we have the correct map and also remember we have the correct house bill so. That's okay. All right committee members that he needed more time to review the amendment before we move forward. She none representatives page this time you're recognized to present amendment to house bill nineteen eighty two thank you Mr chair. To make the correction we added back in to Sebastian County five precincts which will bring that the all of that will be going into the third district we have and that is the Glenwood school districts all wait so it has been put back into the green what I'm sorry Greenwood Greenwood school district bonanza state which that will be in the fourth district that's and Sebastian County we also done some clean up with the share would in Jacksonville to make sure it is home. We took some rule precincts from and Matt and took that up on that Plaskett counting up to I. thirty. And we made sure that all the infrastructure that is state and to Pulaski County. We put back Lincoln County into the first district. And after we've done all of this. All four districts will be less than point zero five. Would there be any questions. The representative you spoke has presented the amendment any any questions. The hawks you're recognized for a question a quick question sure wouldn't Jacksonville are they in the second district. Yes yes Sir the and we just made sure there was some talk about it but make sure that they are hold and second district wonderful thank you very much. Representative recognized for a question. Thank you Mr I don't know if I remember correctly or not but at one point did did did this map split North Little Rock in is that correct errors is still split north or out no my understanding it is not now that it has come up I don't think to Little Rock budgets and but the if their whole okay and I'm I have had that confused with another map there well that's my understanding thank you. The questions from committee members. The Amendment. No one signed up to speak against the amendment. No further we are signed up to speak against the bill not the amendment to be given that opportunity once a bill is presented. But not the amendment. So the minute you ready to close representative speaks I am and I I ask for a good amount of vote on the motion four on the amendment of the motion representatives pages made a motion for a yes vote on the amendment. All in favor say aye All opposed say no. The amendment is passed you're now recognized to present house bill. Nineteen eighty two as amended. So it's exactly like what we talked about before and and now we have back can we only have. The I guess it's called three splits and it's Pulaski County and they are the ones that go into the second district and there's some going into the third and some cool I mean the fourth and into the first district like I had explained earlier. With Sebastian County we've made it much better what by a button back green wood into the district and then moving Lincoln into the first district Sullivan out that that was some things that people wanted some if there is any questions on the bill that I had presented with the motion. The of of the amendment I'll be happy to answer. Representative says presented the bill as amended to a. Any discussion problem The motion of a do pass any discussion problem we had made a motion yet have you refugees page I'm sorry the discussion from committee members any questions. Say none representatives page we've got up one person signed up to speak against the bill. Message would fill you in the audience Mrs would build a pronounced that correctly. You will just have Senator to the table. Yes. Back up to make sure the child with the five U. SEC to the Committee. My name is Dr Anne Getty with bill not Mrs but I'm doctor and getting with bill and I thank you for giving me this opportunity to recognize ma'am go ahead thank. yes I'm concerned about the connect commercial districts for many different reasons as you can see at this board there's not a lot of diversity on this committee but in our state there are at least seventeen percent of African Americans in our state and disproportionately concentrated in certain areas and what I don't understand is why Little Rock would be carved out as one of the districts that would not be made whole why their specific areas in the city of little rock that would be a pulled away that are more concentrated on African Americans that are in that area pulled out of the second congressional district into the fourth I think that it shows the in equity that we see even in this committee but sadly the in equities that we've been seeing in our nation and so I would ask that you would rise above tried to separate people that are African American that you would rise above trying to can't continue to discriminate on that you would provide the entire area I don't understand why you would carve out part of the area to go into district one and then another another part to go to district for but the rest of Pulaski County and parts of Little Rock to be and the second congressional district and so I would really like to get a better understanding as to why that was done and how we can overcome because I heard earlier representive speak said that sure what is going to be made whole that another area and Pulaski County was going to be made whole why not Little Rock and so it seems like a direct target on our city and particularly on African Americans and that's that's very disheartening. The bill would you stay there for just a moment we have a questions from the committee member representative gene you're recognized for a question. The maps were thank you Mr chairman is the map drawers were wrong my understanding is City of Little Rock was left so and it was just the rule portion of the Pulaski County went up can you explain what the rule portion is because when I look at it it dips this map looks like is dipping into little or a lot I didn't draw the map I just ask the question and of. Somebody with map expertise would have to do it but but our understanding this committee was we we split no cities and that's that's what we're voting on okay and can I ask a question so what are considered to be the rule areas that are in orange or brown that would encompass the fourth congressional district can someone make that plane. What cities or towns of the. A committee member one of badger that question if not we'll move on. Any other questions from committee members. J. nine is repealed thank you for your testimony at the table today we appreciate you coming to this committee I appreciate thank you. Representatives takes are you ready to close with the. I am and I wanted to and it's there was another one that was sent divided also and with some of the reasons that we're having to dip into that too Pulaski County it's the largest city and they are the largest that county in our district so therefore we had to defend in order to make our numbers come back to what we're supposed to do and that was the reason it's in some of it we're trying to get was sent right. I was trying to get the names of those that we. The rights of all and. Of residence last sat let's ask a question report a comment in the in some type of permission to do so can't just allow people to start talking in the committee so does. Sorry about that that's okay so you saw I make a motion for a do pass and a good vote for the. The bill as amended we've got a motion for representative to speak she's close with her bill and she's made a motion of a do pass as amended Any discussion on the do pass as amended. Representative dodging you're recognized for discussion on the do pass as amended. Thank you Mr chair at just for clarification looked at the map here and it It is following The City of Little Rock. Along I thirty on the I don't know if it's north or south or east or west how are you but it angles across on the south side of I thirty is in the fourth on the north side it's in the second. So the the City of Little Rock along I. thirty is a natural but border there and then There's a precinct or so of the tip of North Little Rock goes into the first so those two are those to municipalities are in different have some split along those Wrightsville what is this wood St. Hensley landmark and sweet home are all in the fourth entirely. The representative does have on the motion of a do pass. Recognized for discussion on the motion. Thank you Mr chair so colleagues I'm going to vote against this. And I want you to understand why. Part of it is the bill there are things in this bill that I don't like in I'm not willing to vote for. But another big portion of what I'm voting against this is the process archer Tosh has done a great job of trying to. Lay out a framework and follow it to a point. But right now to vote on this bill. Up or down. Is to vote. Your approval on the process. Because when we ranked. Our top three out of eight or ten that we were looking at. The number one bill on your list got three points. There's twenty members that's a possibility of sixty points. House bill nineteen seventy one got forty four if my memory serves correct out of sixty. Now the reason that did our father is that this is because I ranked. Nineteen seventy one number one on my list. Even though I liked can't remember the numbered bottles Dotson's bill nineteen seventy thank I like this. A little bit better but. My second ranking bill moved my home county the second district. So the bottom line is if if Cleburne county's move into the second. In our ranking it today. And at so what I'm trying to point out is a major reason I ranked nineteen seventy one the head of nineteen seventy. Was because of the Cleveland County thing. Well now nineteen seventy one is moving Cleburne County to the second. So it totally changes how would rank the bills and I would assume that there are probably other reasons related or not related to some of mine that you rank your bills the way you did. But for a if we had. If we had known that we were not ranking bills but we were ranking sponsors. And trying to decide which sponsor gets to carry the Senate version. I mean I made the comment in here earlier jokingly but you know we play mother may I with the Senate all the time and then today it turns into Simon says. So are you going to prove that process. I will put the brakes on. I have reset. I don't know what might ultimately come out of this committee. If we put the brakes on have reset but even if I was for. Nineteen eighty. Two at this point. I still wouldn't vote for it because I wouldn't approve this process. And there's no way a reflection on the chair he's done his best. To try to honor the process thank you Mr. Thank you representative paying for those comments any further discussion on the motion representative thank you recognized for discussion on the motion of a do pass as amended. Thank you Mr chairman I do appreciate to process it this is the way that we started it and I will be voting on this I appreciate now this map it's as a matter of fact it's it's probably better than the original map that it was not so I do like it but I can't vote for this because the process in which we got here I think was up less than transparent but I do appreciate your work on this. Thank you representative back representative well you're recognized prescription on the motion. Thank you Mr chair of. As I normally do a little piggy back off of my good friend Payton because he's the he's the one from Claiborne county with all the intelligence of. But I want to say this because I'm just. Sick and tired. I want to know. What we all of us as a committee we all have different opinions we are different districts I get it I have nothing personal against anybody in here I'd any proposal or whatever I mean John and I are fighting for for our county your five year old I that's perfectly fine But. The original bill the representative speaks brought had pretty overwhelming support it seems like in this committee and then somewhere over the last few days you know all I keep hearing is well the Senate well the Senate will. I was give up. Given up pardon my grammar. Lederle if somebody can tell me. In this committee I will shut up. But I'll be damned I am sick and tired of caving in every single time because there's thirty five find individuals on the other side of this building that want something different. And I'm sorry but I've got this far in life. By quitting and caving down and being afraid of anybody. So for god's sakes if they have given up something somebody tell me and I'll show up go House thank you Mr thank you Mr representative Miller. Representative batching you're recognized for a discussion on the motion. Thank you Mr chair so I've been working on various versions of this for quite awhile now it seems like an. Sometimes you have to go through this process some start to blur together and I I just pulled up are up the second ranked bill H. B. nineteen seventy after represented Payton was talking about it because a. You know I drafted that and it seems to me the really. It's almost identical to what we're considering right now with very little difference thank you I think the only the one of the biggest differences is Newton and pope counties other than that. Most identical. On my original bill Newton was in the first and pope was in second and. So. But with that being said This is almost spot on with what what would come up original I'd be kind of a Derelict not supported so I appreciate a good vote on this at the proper time. Thank you representative gradually beverages questions on the motion of a do pass. J. nine. All in favor of house bill nineteen eighty two is amended say aye. All opposed say no. The bill is passed. Have C. one hand. J. two AM sorry. I represented Miller hi we have two hands for a roll call madam Clerk Colorado. Representative Meeks yes representative gene. Yes representative of love. Representative love. Representative Deffenbaugh yes yes representative Wardlaw. Yes representative Cozart. Yes representative Dotson. Yes representative Miller. No representative Whitaker. No representative Payton. No representative Ladyman yes yes representative gray. Yes representative back. No representative speaks. Yes representative Richmond yes yes representive McCollum. Representative McCollum. Representative Johnson. No representative hocks. Yes representative Gonzalez. Yes. We have a blessed day which. The bill as amended has passed committee members that here let me say one other thing. And that. For some reason the investment as it might get off the House for or does it make it through the Senate will come back in years to committee will hear the next that receives the most votes in our top ten but we uh. Representative Dotson which would be aspirin nineteen seventy okay. Thank you committee works is meeting is adjourned.