House Convenes

I'm by the members staff press and guests and galleries to stand to be led in prayer by the house chaplain Dr rex mourn retired pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church Little Rock and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Lane Jean. Let's pray. Father in a room containing this many people. Men and women from various parts of our state various responsibilities at home and responsibilities here. Surely there those today who come with parts that are full of joy and anticipation of getting back home and other responsibilities they have. Others no doubt have hearts that are anxious about different things. Our heavy because of loss. The lord we just pray that you'll bless each one in their specific needs. And help us lord help me to do what the scripture says to love you with all our heart our mind or soul all the we are. Love our neighbor as our self and soul lord today and every day we would pray that you would created me. A clean heart oh god and renew a right spirit within me and Jesus name amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your love president button prepared machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mister Clark with ninety nine members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Representative Jett for what purpose. Ferguson is leave granted for representative refers and. 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 read reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we are committee on joint budget to whom was referred house bill fifteen twenty eight house bill fifteen twenty nine house bill fifteen thirty one House of fifteen thirty three house of fifteen thirty four house bill fifty thirty five house bill fifteen thirty six house bill fifty thirty seven house bill fifteen thirty eight houseful fifteen thirty nine beg leave to report we for the same consideration here turn the same the recognition do pass respectfully submitted Lane Jean chair Mister Speaker we are committee on joint budget to whom was heard fifteen thirty two to House Bill fifteen thirty two bit would report we've had the same under consideration here within the same the recognition do pass as amended everyone respectfully submitted Lane Jean chair Mister Speaker we are committee on joint budget to whom was referred house bill eleven forty six beg leave to report we for the same under consideration here returns and the recognition do pass as amended number two respectfully submitted Lane Jean chair. Are there any Reports from standing committees reports Mister Clark Mister Speaker we are committee on public health welfare and labor to whom was referred Senate bill five forty seven beg leave to report we had the same expiration here with trying the same recognition do pass as amended everyone respectfully submitted Jack Ladyman chair this is Nick we're Committee on Public Health to whom was referred house bill ten sixty three beg leave to report or even the same under consideration your term the same the recommendation that do pass and concurrence within minutes over one two three and four respectfully submitted Jack Ladyman chair Mr Speaker we are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill ten ninety eight beg leave to report we had similar consideration here with turn same the recognition do pass and current president of the member number one respectfully submitted Carol Dalby chair Mister speak we're Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill of eighteen ninety seven beg leave to report that we have had the same under consideration here with trying the same the recognition do pass as quickly submitted Carol Dalby chair Mister Speaker we are committee on joint Judiciary to whom was referred house bill nineteen hundred beg leave to report we had the same under consideration here return the same the recognition do pass as amended number one respectfully submitted Carol Dalby chair Mister speak we're coming in public health welfare and labor labor to whom was referred house bill eleven seventy seven eighteen thirty six. Beg leave to report with the same under consideration and here with the terms and the recognition do pass thinking person amendment number one respectfully submitted Jack Ladyman chair Mr Speaker we're coming in public health welfare and labor to who was a whom was referred senate bill three ninety five Senate concurrent resolution seven house bill eleven ten Senate bill six twenty one beg leave to report we had the same under consideration here with trying the same deregulation do pass respectfully submitted Jack Ladyman chair Mr Speaker we're Committee on Public Health to whom was referred house bill eighteen nineteen Senate bill five ninety five beg leave to report we've had the same under consideration here with her the same the recommendation I do pass that was submitted Jeff Wardlaw presiding officer. Is there any unfinished business are there any Executive communications read the letter from the governor's Clark. April fourteenth twenty twenty one to the Speaker of the house dear Mister Speaker this is to inform you that on April fourteenth twenty twenty one I've reviewed and approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly house bill seventeen sixty three is that seven oh six house bill seventeen twenty three that seven of seven house bill seventeen twenty two ACT seven await possible sixteen ninety six seven and nine house bill fifty ninety three is like seventeen house bill thirteen twenty five ACT seven eleven house bill thirteen twenty one ACT seven twelve house bill thirteen thirteen ACT seven thirteen helpful sixteen thirty three was at seven fourteen house bill seventeen seventy six ACT seven fifteen houseful fifteen seventy five ACT seven sixteen house bill fourteen twenty seven ACT seven seventeen. House bill ten forty eight ACT seven eighteen house bill ten forty three ACT seven nineteen house bill seventeen fifty six ACT seven twenty sincerely Asa Hutchinson. Morning hour is indeed. Represent Gazaway recommends we concurrent Senate Amendment number one house bill eleven fifty two Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment number one Senate Amendment number one to House Bill Levin fifty two. Ferguson Gazaway you're recognized explain the amendment. Thank you Mr chairman as a friendly amendment that came from the Senate at the request Solomon graves this is the bill that allows for emergency medical transport it was previously a just police dogs Sullivan raise requested that this also apply to dogs used by the department of corrections they have search and rescue dogs they often use was a good suggestion friendly amendment and happy to answer any questions sing I appreciate a good vote thank you. Percent gas was explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. President Gazaway is closed for the amendment the question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment minimum one to House Bill eleven fifty two prepared machines to Clark. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety four U. A. zero nine zero president you concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill in fifty two. Represent Lanny Fite recommends we concurrence Senate Amendment number one to House Bill at seventeen eighty eight Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment number one Senate Amendment number one to House Bill seventeen eighty eight Fite you're recognized to explain The Amendment. Thank you Mr Mister Speaker of the what this does is broadband improvement districts can now accept the grants and apply for grants I'd be happy to enter answering questions. C. nine appreciate a good vote. Represent fight is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent fight is close for the amendment question before the House. Is the concurrence in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill seventeen eighty eight prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted of. As everyone voted cast a ballot Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety four U. A. zero nine zero president. You've concurred in Senate Amendment number one. Members are Dr the days Dr James hunt junior of Little Rock and our nurse the days miss Sheri Bernard. Mr Clark please read house joint resolution one thousand five. House joint resolution one thousand five by representative ray a constitutional amendment to be known as the constitutional moment and ballot initiative reform amendment representative ray you're recognized explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues H. J. R. one zero zero five is also known as the constitutional amendment and ballot initiative reform amendment. before I explain the amendment I'd like to thank a couple of folks I'd first like to thank representative the and bought for her strong support and help putting this amendment together. I'd like to thank the A. thirty eight other members who co sponsored this alongside me. I'd also like to thank chairman Tosh in the members of the state agencies Committee for the time that they spent betting this amendment and all the other proposed constitutional amendments. H. J. R. one thousand five I can summarize very simply it is a much needed safeguard for our initiative in constitutional amendment process. It would put in place sixty percent passage threshold rather than just a bare majority. This amendment is modeled after a similar provision that the state of Florida and adopted in two thousand six and in the years since Florida's adopted it it's serve their state and their citizens well. There's a number of reasons that we need to safeguard and strengthen our constitutional amendment and ballot initiative process. First and foremost it is entirely too easy to amend our state constitution we shouldn't amend our constitution and just some sort of willing only fashion. Our federal constitution which everybody in this chamber reveres I'm sure has only been amended twenty seven times in the history of our nation and yet our state constitution which has been in effect for significantly less time. Has been amended a hundred and two times and counting. Secondly Arkansas has some of the most lenient rules in the country when it comes to our ballot initiatives and Constitutional amendments and those rules leave us susceptible to big money an out of state interests that would want to hijack our process to push their own pet projects and hobby horse issues. Say for example you're a billionaire from California and you've got some hobby horse IDSA is universal basic income or Medicare for all and you'd like to see that enacted enacted all across the country. You might look at a state like Arkansas and be attracted to it because number one we have easy ballot access laws. So you might say oh well I can get this before the voter's pretty easily. And then you'd say well Arkansas's of small rural state with an expensive media markets so I can just put a couple of a couple million Bucks into and I can run as many television ads I want. To temporarily convince people at least fifty percent plus one. The my idea is a great idea. And we've seen some of this in recent years we've seen private companies try to put their name in our state constitution. And if we're not careful we'll end up like California a state that has become practically on governable because of its extraordinarily rude lacks initiative an amendment process in California. They're voters have to consider on average eighteen proposals every election cycle because of how out of control their system has gotten. And if we're not careful. We can we can get there as well. So this simple guard well right guard rail will prevent us from doing that a couple of additional things I want to mention about this amendment this amendment treats all issues whether they are citizen lad or legislatively referred equally the sixty percent threshold would apply to both. And so I think it's important voters know there will be an equal standard. This amendment does not subject to referendums to the sixty percent threshold we excluded those because a referendum is really a defensive measure it's a check on the legislative branch is not intended as an offense to measure like a like an initiated act or a constitutional amendment is. This amendment would safeguard our constitution it will improve our ballot initiative process and with that I'd be happy to answer any questions. C. nine appreciate a good vote. Represent raise explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. President ray is close for the resolution the question before the House. Is the passage of house joint resolution one thousand five prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy four yeas eighteen nays and one president the resolution is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eighteen hundred. House Bill eighteen hundred right by representative Lowery to amend the law concerning contractors to require registration of roofing contractors and to authorize residential contractors committee to issue roof contractor roofing contractor resident registration certificates. In Lowery recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This particular bill is really intended to protect our Kansans during a storm damage you know we we hear a lot of times of the storm chasers they come in from out of state they come in they offer a really good bargain basement price to fix your roof in this especially affects those who may not want to Go after their insurance they want to pay for it out of pocket so the the peoples of the unscrupulous people they so what I'll need a little bit of deposit and then I'll come back. They get the deposit and then never come back what this bill does is it requires not a license but registration of anyone is going to be doing roofing work work roofing repairs they also would have to carry a bond one of the things that that that I'm going to beg your indulgence on is making several amendments on the Senate in if you of privilege me with passing this bill representative Perry pointed out that the language we have in here is says performance bond of fifteen thousand dollars and he pointed out their performance bond would be fifteen thousand dollar bond per project that's not what the intention was it was instead to have assuredly bond and the cost of that bond is only a hundred and fifty dollars a year so we're trying to keep the price down but we want to have a legitimate registration process with the state of Arkansas knows and they can actually easily notify homeowners that this company is registered or they are not registered now excellent point was brought to me bad actors are going to be bad actors they're not going to follow the law so how are we really protecting while we're giving the contractors licensing board an extra weapon in being able to send out information to homeowners especially during a volatile time like after storm to say if you're approached by someone about your roof make sure that they are registered with the state of Arkansas. the other change that we will be making is the the contractors licensing board wanted to change to twenty twenty two they're implementation date because they wanted adequate time to promulgate the rules that would be necessary so I think it's it's a consumer protection bill it I've answered of one of the reasons I passed over several times is because there were questions and hopefully I I addressed most of those and so for that reason I'm I appreciate your support and I appreciated a do you. Okay I'll go ahead and answer one question yeah. Represent Dotson for what purpose gosh you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker so if if I'm understanding your bill in your explanation here. If I want to hire handyman and got a hole in my roof to come and fix that Ruth hold they would have to be registered and have the Bond. And if not they would have some sort of penalty for coming in fixing because that is just a roof repair even if. There might be some other stuff that they want to do around the house if if in their work as a handyman they also have a contractor's license the roof repair would be covered under that license so they would be able to do it under the the other license if they don't they have to get a special registration for roofing yes but it's it's a minimal process it's mainly to make sure that the those who were doing those repairs are are actually following state law thank you thank you for your question members I appreciate your similar for what purpose question you're recognized when quick enough thank you thank you represent Lowery Mr in my business in my business I have. real property we work on our own properties no stuff so let's say in my guys can do. About everything let's say that you call me and say Hey we've got a storm would you mind to send a couple your guys over here and fix my roof. Which are fully capable of if this bill passes are are you going to is this call require me to have to have some top a license or my hands in order to come do that for you as a friend. If they are in and I want to make sure I understand fully your question if they are your units of their your rental units no you can do repairs for your own rental units as far as your handyman then hiring out for another project that's outside of your ownership they would they would have to have this minimal registration just to make sure that we know who they are don't follow ups are you're recognized thank you that that's not really my question the same. You're not our friends occasionally and H.. I guess it depends on the bill right right and and you call me and say Josh would you mind to take care of this with your guys whatever I'm going to charge you no matter how good of friends we are does this mean that are my guys would then have to have this license or whatever in order to do that for you I'm not worried about my units I'll not be what I want to but for you is that what this is going to require. My understanding is that it would require the registration now we're just talking about a minimal patch I don't believe that that's the case we're really talking about you know major roofing jobs but I am sorry I tried to answer questions best possible it's a minimal process and I'm going to move quickly here thank. Representative Larry's explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. The representative Brooks you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you Mr chairman I'm not I can speak against the bill I was confirmed with my insurance professional next to me represent Perry wondered if perhaps an amendment on the Senate side you might consider addresses some concerns of what representative Miller said with some type of language related specifically to insurance claims because the primary concern seems to be and then as I know it within what I do often I think this is a problem it I often have seen customers who have dealt with with challenges of out of state full to come in after a major health storm or tornado and it's it is a consumer concern but maybe there's an opportunity tied it up related insurance claims which may mitigate the challenges over if someone has their own rental property whether handyman is working on it. Thank you. Represent Berks a spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Represent Lowery recognized to close for your bill. Representative Brooks thank you for very much for the suggestion by way of representative period represent Perry's been extremely helpful in addressing some of these things especially rated a related to bonds and yes I'm open to trying to clarify that on the Senate in it'll come back to you if you're not satisfied with the adjustment that we've made to trying to satisfy representative Miller's issue then then obviously you would have to concur but I appreciated do the good vote on this bill and send it on to the Senate thank you. Representative Lowery is close to the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen hundred prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Their own voted. I up the ballot Mr Clark. Forty seven Yates nineteen days and seven present the bill is fail Mr Clark read house bill thirteen ninety one. House bill thirteen ninety one by representative wing to amend the law concerning consumer protection a senior from predatory practices and safeguarding against financial exploitation of retirees for our teens and represent when you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. House bill thirteen ninety one is the safer Arkansas access guarding against financial exploitation of retirees it's wonderful how that acronym worked what we're addressing however is not wonderful at all thirty seven billion dollars a year is lost from our retirees savings to scammers. And so what we are doing with this bill is addressing it in two different ways and we had a large group of people that have worked for months on this product we take and best practices from other states and we've adapted to the needs of Arkansas the Attorney General's office the Arkansas bankers association the Arkansas credit union association we had input from law enforcement in the F. B. I. the Arkansas Alzheimer's association is involved as well as well as the Arkansas securities department all of this to be able to protect our seniors and their lifetime of savings what has happened is they did the right things they lived beneath their means they saved. So that when they got to their senior years they could do what they want to do when they want to do it and then in a moment of a lapse of judgment they fell for a scam. And what happens all too often is the victims of these scams. Double down on the fraudulent activity because they don't want to believe that they just got standards so they keep going down this path hoping that they really did indeed win the lottery. And so thousands and thousands of dollars can go away. In my experience with someone that I dealt with hundreds of thousands of dollars are gone. What this bill does is it allows financial institutions to raise their hand where they were not able to before and involves a law enforcement to be able to put a hold on any suspicious activity. Fifty percent of the scammers are coming that are unknown to the victim they come from out of country. Another fifty percent the other fifty percent of the scammers are care givers and so we have the Department of Human Services adult protective services is now engaged they could file a report within forty eight hours when they see suspicious activity as well this whole process allows our attorney general's office to engage sooner and stopped the fraudulent activity before mold more money gets out of the account and that is what we have found to be the key get involved sooner and that's what this bill does. With that I'm open for any questions. Represent brown for what purpose question you're recognized. Representative waiting. I think this is a great bill. And my mother was scammed not out of hundreds but a lot. my question is what is the amount of money that will trigger the financial institution to say Hey I think something is going on here that shouldn't be. Thank you for that and that and let me add that since this bill has been filed we have heard from dozens of people in the same situation they're saying this has happened to us to answer your question there is no financial amount the bankers know their customers adult protective services knows the people that they serve when something suspicious happens they're able to intervene regardless of the amount. They know their date let me let me add this they know their traditional activities and when something breaks from that they can ask a few more questions to make sure that what is happening for instance what is happening now is a lot of seniors will all of a sudden show up at a Walgreens or a CVS and by five hundred dollar gift cards that is one of the top ways that scammers are able to get this money out of the seniors because it's untraceable it doesn't come from a bank account it's considered cash they come home and then they give those credit those numbers on the back of that card to the scammers and now it's gone. Thank you I'm I'm gonna have a good faith in this bill. I appreciate that. Let me add also that the I got involved with this when someone who is very close to me became a victim of a scam and they were convinced that they had won the lottery and they were convinced that all they needed to do was pay a few thousand dollars in taxes to get that eighteen million dollars released to them. And then that led to more transactions and more transactions until four hundred and fifty thousand dollars was gone from that account. Seeing no further questions I would appreciate a good vote. Representive wing has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Or the bill. Representive wing is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen ninety one per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill thirteen eighty six. House bill thirteen eighty six No representative Gonzales to be known as the Arkansas second amendment liberties safeguards act to require state agencies and public officers to disregard unconstitutional overreaches of power and to protect the constitutional rights of our Kansans represent Gonzales you're recognized explained bill they miss Speaker. College is a good farm bill passed out of committee without support from single Democrat had to get all ten Judiciary members and committee to get this thing out got roll call twice from the get it moving I take any questions on it and I would appreciate your making this good bipartisan bill. Representative McCollum you're recognized for what purpose. Question you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr Speaker represented Gonzales are you where the United States Supreme Court has held that states cannot nullify federal law yes I am and this is in no way notification of federal law this is anti commandeering and they're also Supreme Court cases that say that we do not we we cannot be compelled to enforce the federal law so that so if the federal government size to come in the state and enforce their own laws they can do that we can't stop on and I'm not trying to do that what this says is that we will not assist them and in enforcing those laws. I appreciate a good vote. Representing thousands explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent representative Gonzalez is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen eighty six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. I guess that the ballot Mr Clark. With seventy six days nineteen days in their present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen twenty nine House Bill AT twenty nine by representative Clowney to amend the law concerning post humorously conceived children as it relates to intestate succession. Representative council recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues I had a number of ya come up to me on the floor today with the same question about this bill and it is what in the world is this so I will try to be quick explains you know what this does and posthumously conceived child means a child that's conceived after death a legislator one of our former colleagues at two sessions ago had a colleague come to him and had a problem because she had her husband had had a terminal illness wanted to reserve some of his genetic material to make sure that they could have a child together even after he had died but when he died there was no way to make sure that he was at that that the child was still entitled to the decedent's that the person who had died this state that was the decedent's intent he wanted that child to be able to be considered in air even though the child was technically conceived after his father's death so we put in codes and provisions for that over the last few years it's been apparent that there to submit there were some inconsistencies with in that section of code so I rewrote it to fix those mostly just mostly just math issues I'm happy to answer any questions I know it's a strange little niece area of the law seeing nine I appreciate a good vote thanks. Represent counties explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Clowney is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen twenty nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. The up the ballot Mr Clark. The eighty ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill nineteen oh seven house bill nineteen oh seven by representative Lowery to enable healthcare providers to make appropriate billing decisions that are in the best interest of patients and to establish the billing in the best interest of patients act. Senator Larry you're recognized explained a bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Member's house bill nineteen oh seven came through the insurance department skews me insurance and commerce committee it was brought to me by car time the Bill did pass unanimously of the committee of some very. Good testimony and to add discussion by members of the committee who have been personally affected by cancer and what the issue is is that insurance companies have been inserting themselves into the decisions of physicians working with their patients and saying that in some cases a patient who is undergoing chemo treatments should instead self administer at home with a health professional really has no say so in that their over riding that relationship between the healthcare provider the and their patients. And at at as I said the discussion in the in the. Among the members was really very poignant just talking about what a traumatic time that is when you're going through cancer treatment and then to be told that you're going to have to give yourself injections or you're going to have to do this treatment because the insurance company is not willing to pay to have you go in and a lot of times the these these doses depend on what your blood work says you have no way of being able to know that yourself if you're self administering so this is an issue of the I. I guess the only push back that we got in the committee was a discussion that members wish that we could go beyond oncology that we could also cover other issues where if insurance companies have said that they want you to self administer that we can cover that and and I would just tell you that we are in in conversations with some of the insurance carriers to allow us to do several possible amendments on the Senate in and let me just tell you what they would be one addition would be that this section shall only apply to patients who are being evaluated or treated for hepatology diagnosis or evaluated or treated for an oncology diagnoses The the it and we would also allow the in Arkansas insurance commissioner would be authorized to include additional disease states to section a using rulemaking authority and that's one of the things that we're currently negotiating or right now but again this was a very important bill brought by car time and I would appreciate your support for it and uh and I will go ahead and answer a couple questions. Represent Collins for what purpose question you're recognized I'm just wondering are you committing to some version of those two changes. Yes we are definitely going to be covering those two areas and and that is in the bill hematology oncology but we're also. Negotiating to see if we can get in there that the insurance commission would be able to promulgate rules that would allow maybe a broader perspective of health diagnoses. Thank you for the clarification members I appreciate your support for this bill. Represent Lowery is explained bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill representative Allen you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr chairman and members I can not boast of the bill that we passed on the authority I have on the floor yesterday that received sixty votes I can't vouch for the for the last bill that the fair but I can say that this is actually a good bill that will have counsel patients. Of all yesterday we went out there for you if the room is building committee I have several counsel patients called me and asked me to support it I promise Robson Lowery that I will support this bill I'll get on the floor and speak for. Jett ladies and gentleman this is actually a good bill. And I'm asking you all for a good vote thank you. Represent balance vote for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Lowery. You're recognized to close for the bill do I dare of thank you for that that vote of confidence on this good bill and I'd appreciate a good vote thank you. Representa Lowery is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill nineteen oh seven prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gassed up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety four yeas or nays and zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill ten twelve. House bill ten twelve by representative Brad to amend Arkansas law turning scrap metal dealers and to require buyers of catalytic converters to maintain records. President right you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and and and and thank you folks for let me be here with you today of the bill that I have. Is a bill concerning a big big big problem across our state of. People are our state and and I mean it's it's getting better all the time stealing Catholic converters your your your pawn shops in your scrap yards they're all for this But there's good there's a good actors okay. Westerners bad actors. A lot of folks don't realize I didn't realize it when you buy automobile. Between fifteen hundred and twenty eight hundred dollars of the prostate Kerr is for Canada murder. And people are stealing nays and there there's some hundred hundred fifty dollars just wanted to get out of them. I hear a lot of is drug related. But all it's it's it's a very very very bad problem of I was talking to someone the other day. And they said that our church about six church buses pulled in to McDonald's had buses and loads of kids. And before they could get out you know from eight in their meal all six of those church buses and lost had lost their account converters. A representative Vivian. Was in committee yesterday and she was talking about her mother and her broke down on the side of the road the other night our guests or a month or two ago. But anyway someone had pulled behind. After they had to leave the car overnight. And they had a they just told that Kelly commercial type two or three minutes but what everyone will be required to do is go to Leeds online and that's all people that that by Catholic converters and I appreciate a good vote on this to stop a bad bad problem. Percent rise explained bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative. Representative Blanche. You're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this this deal with these catalytic converters as bad problem my son on the farm as for is located for farming shops are normally located there's not a lot of people around it he said two vehicles this year. People pole and stole the catalytic converters and then the next morning when I come in startup thank thank you this call brewed up and so it's a problem it's very expensive to replace those things in and most of us don't carry insurance on a vehicle that we use on the farm so I appreciate a good vote. Representative let Lynch's spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent rise close for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill ten twelve prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark ninety one yeah zero nays and one present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill nineteen sixteen house bill nineteen sixty by representative McCollum to create Arkansas day. Represent McCollum you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues are this bill is an exciting opportunity to promote. Our statement we value it's this bill is about not being reactionary I'm gonna go ahead and get in front of a few things I know a lot of people view that well a lot of folks have shared with me their views on the flag I'll say it this bill is not about a flag for me it's about an opportunity to say who we are as a state I don't want to suggest it's clean up language but I'll get to that in a minute and I understand there's a lot of different views here on the flag which any time you talk about this particular flag there is a tension points. I would never touch any individual individual rights to keep. Displays celebrate the flag. Another concern. That's been brought to me is that this somehow. Gets in the way of individuals ability to honor soldiers from the civil war Robert E. Lee day still exist in October to memorialize those who died on either side of the civil war so the history of this bill and what I learned when sponsors of another similar bill brought this bill to me. I did a little standing I did a little looking to our past in this very chamber in nineteen fifty seven in response to Little Rock Nine and to the integration. Democratic governor off office and the Democrat led legislature created Confederate flag holiday excuse me Confederate flag day many of you have correct me on that point is now. I understand parties change over time and I just wanna make an appeal to those my Republican colleagues that. It's a good idea to correct the record it's a good idea to define who we want to be as a party moving forward now. It's also important for me to point out to all of you that. The reason we're saying this is Arkansas that because I've chatted with a number of you about different dates should we make Arkansas day the day that Arkansas was founded in related on keeping it on the same day because I understand that it's important to many constituents that you have that like to on this very day DO reenactments of the civil war and in fact we given not towards that in the description of this bill this Arkansas day shall be a day to reflect on the rich history. So by definition we are not a racing history. National treasures diverse cultures. Unmatched hospitality. And shared spirit and human resilience that makes the people of this state. I think a number of you have shared with me might have something to say about this bill so I guess at this moment I'll just. Step back and see if there's any questions. I appreciate a good vote. Represent McCollum misspoke has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Richmond you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues I would say that I had no intention of coming down here but that's been used many times and nobody believes that anymore so is no reason the to say that. So I'll talk directly about this bill. And what I will tell you. Is if I thought we were racing history. If I thought we were racing some type of dedication to those men that fell during the civil war on both sides especially on the Confederate side. Considering what we're talking about. There's no way that I would support this bill because I truly believe that when you were the race history. You're bound to start repeating that history at some point some generation will make that mistake again. So we should never a race history no matter how difficult it is to step up and realize that happened in our past. So this particular bill. Does not rape a race history. It is not about history. This particular bill is about changing something that happened for the wrong reasons. Representative McCollum talked about that. The people that were in political power. There when desegregation was occurring in our schools. Reached out and poked that population in the eye. In a way that they thought they could do. It's taken this long to come here and start addressing. What I think was delivered a tense. To do something that was incredibly wrong. Something that has divided us for a long time and it's still. Point. That is hard for everyone to get past and move on. So I'm not gonna vote for this. Because maybe we're correcting that at this time. Because I truly believe that nothing we do. Is going to fix our problems government hardly ever fixes these kind of problems the best thing we could do is government is get out the way. And let the people come together and fix most of these problems and save the extreme cases for so but what this will do. Passing this particular bill will correct an error that was made by our predecessors an error that continues to cost difficulty. That's still not the real reason why I'm going to vote for. I'll tell you now the real reason why voting for this and why supported. I do it because the men and women that I served with. From this state from other states of all colors and all backgrounds. You know I ran into our Kansans I remember one time in in Pakistan and place in Pakistan we won't talk about specifics but there was a place there and I happened to run into a guy and we got to talking he's from some little rinky **** town somewhere in Southeast Arkansas and I was from western Arkansas but we were truly brothers. You know I was an officer and he wasn't listed so you know. There is a separation because that but we looked at each other and we were marines. We share a common experience. We share a common love. And we were brothers. The reason why I'm voting for this is out of respect for that man. It in get to come home. I'm voting for this because they deserve it. Those men and women who stepped up despite. What kind of reception they may receive when they come back home. Well it was more work to or any other conflict they serve their country. A lot of change. There still needs to be some changes this is just a step in the right direction showing respect for those men. And what they gave up and what they did for us some yes and I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative Richmond has explained the bill me or spoke for the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative would occur you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker good afternoon colleagues. As a Democrat it's important. For me at least and I know some of my other colleagues have spoken to me since my comments in committee yesterday. It's important that we own our mistakes of the past. To admit that in nineteen fifty seven yes it was a democratic governor and a democratic legislature to pass this law. It was part of a failed an ill conceived effort known as massive resistance. It. Took different forms across different states the throughout the south. You may have. Seen emails from folks who say that this bill is some attempt to erase history. Or to cancel someone's culture. But the truth of the matter is the establishing of Arkansas day and if you read the text will say. Will enable us to place the these historical events in the context of the broader history of Arkansas. No one. We'll be told that they cannot take the day. To memorialize lost investors. To even glorify. The Confederate flag. Because this doesn't tell people. That they can't celebrate Arkansas in their own way. I can say these things. From humble heart I am the son of the south I I was born so four thousand George if you win and you for the B. implored. And I got my call high school and college education in Virginia. And I was blessed to come here to study law and was doubly blessed to be able to stay and be accepted among you. In district eighty five on the slopes amounts of Korea. Since the fan bill Confederate cemetery. A privately owned. Wonderful little nook in the woods. Where we honor those who fell. These are not the politicians who started that war. These are the men and women who are the victim as much victims of that is anybody on the north. And it is absolutely appropriate. To use the Arkansas day. To clean those graves and to bring flowers in honor these ancestors. Just as it would be to honor our ancestors and those folks and those events of our territorial period which is if you ever have the time to read the history you haven't. Credibly colorful part of American history. So. We cannot and do. All of the darkness. Of our past. But we can make a beginning. We can say we have. No problem with our friends who wish to commemorate the Confederate heritage. What we would also like to have a day that allowed all Arkansans no matter their color. National origin. At the city or religious beliefs to celebrate Arkansas and that's what this bill does and that's why many yes vote and I would hope you could join us thank you. Represent Whitaker spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representing in dollars you're recognized to speak for the bill. The mistake you're calling up I've been involved in fighting against bills that that I saw as a changing part of part of our history changing the meaning of the stars on the flags out of Arkansas as in Committee of been on state agencies for awhile representative Collins came to me early this session with this similar idea I don't know if it was this exact same bill or not and the question I asked was why why are we doing this most people don't even know that this is a day that that set aside to celebrate it to me it was just bringing something up to to people's attention to to call you know racism out so. When I found out that representive McCollum was running this he he approached me to ask if I can support it initially I was no I'm I'm not you know we're that's not something that I want to get involved and at all until I found out how they came about when it came out that it was a direct response to hence the state So it was it was blatant. Mmhm of racism at the time so seeing that and and how it came about I had no choice but to support change in the name of the state and I would ask that you join me in and doing that so we don't need that black eye of of racism in state anymore we appreciate a a positive vote on this thank you. Representative Gonzalez's spoke for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Scott you're recognized to speak for the bill. Calling. Let there be no doubt that this bill still does not erase history. Erasing history is impossible it simply is but even if we could I wouldn't want to I'm a student of history I want to hold everything to the light the good the bad the ugly. Especially are difficult moments which we should never forget as a country. Repealing Confederate flag day a day most of us probably didn't even know existed until recently or this session when the bill is about. It won't stop us from remembering or appreciating the civil war or the side and he or our southern history. It won't stop us let's just be honest it won't stop us from officially moved. More alive remember memorializing the confederacy soldiers and their families. They won't stop people from hanging there Confederate flags as well. Let's be very honest about that. It will only stop when it stops the celebration and glorification of a symbol this state against the United States and now stands to hurt so many I'm asking for a good vote on house bill nineteen sixteen. Represents goddess vote for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent McCollum is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill nineteen sixteen per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark the eighty eighty seven days and one present the bill is passed. Mr Clark we're gonna pass over the next bill read house bill nineteen twenty. Also in nineteen twenty one by representative ought to establish a process for review in the sense that day for the state agency rules pertaining to milk and cattle production. Represent Vaught you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. When asked to rank threats to the Arkansas cattle and Destry. Cattle producers. And dairy industry the number one. Threat is regulations and rules. That Arkansas cattlemen's association believes that because regulations by state and federal present a challenge and possible threats to the cattle production in this. Prudent time. A period of time we should review all regulations and rules in the state of Arkansas through AD EQ an act apartment this doesn't mean will be getting rid of rules that just means we'll be looking at rules that are outdated and be able to redo those again. Are there any questions seeing no questions I would appreciate a good vote. Representative bodies explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative bought clothes for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill nineteen twenty the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gas up the ballot Mr Clark ninety four yeah zero nine zero president bills pass. Mr Clark read house bill nineteen thirteen house bill nineteen thirty representative Gazaway to amend the law concerning the bid thresholds of drainage districts. Represent Gazaway recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this bill simply changes the bid threshold for drainage districts there several drainage districts that are set up along the eastern side of the state these drainage districts have been set up for decades are they no longer do new construction projects but they do have maintenance projects the require publication if the cost of the maintenance projects will exceed twenty thousand dollars twenty thousand dollars is not what it used to be and so that's why we just recently passed for public Public construction projects we increase the bid threshold from what was twenty five thousand for those to fifty thousand and so this bill would do the same thing for the drainage districts if they have an improvement project that's going to cost it's now twenty thousand would increase that threshold just like we did with Act for forty to fifty thousand Again these are the advertising costs for these districts. Are the same whether it's you know twenty thousand dollar project or five hundred thousand dollar project and so they should only have to incur those costs if it's at this point fifty thousand dollars that's what the bill does I'm happy to answer any questions. C. nine appreciate a good vote. Represent Gazaway as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Gazaway is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill nineteen thirteen prepared machine Mr Clerk. So everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety days to nays zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen seventy seven House Bill eighteen seventy seven by representative Pilkington concerning critical incident debriefing for firefighters representative Pilkington you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker I'm sure as many of you recall our distinguished colleague. Representative Richardson ran a bill some of this with the police and mine after we pass that the representative Scott and a few others thought that it be important that we do the same thing for the firefighters so that's essentially what this bill is always a big thank you so representive Collins to lily got as a co sponsor and because I was not there had to run the bill in committee he he was a champion got out with unanimous support this bill is supported by the municipal league and the firefighters and I did have a question by when the representative if this applied to rule fire fire departments it doesn't so they don't have to worry about it but of course we always wish that they would make sure that when there are critical incidences that they help them get the help they need and with that I ask forget that thank you. Represent Pilkington as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Pilkington close for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen seventy seven per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. I up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen ninety four. House Bill eighteen ninety four by representative Barker to create the Blue Ribbon task force to end child abuse. Represent Barker you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. members in this month recognizing child abuse prevention I'm happy to bring you house bill eighteen ninety four. Yes it is a task force bill but is the task force bill that cost the state no money and it will. Because the state no money for several reasons first the Arkansas Commission on child abuse rape and domestic violence has agreed to staff the task force meetings mainly for recording and reporting second the members though appointed to this task force if they choose to serve the bill says they will serve in a voluntary capacity no reimbursement and then last the task force also has the opportunity and the option to participate by digital platform or soon meeting so they will have to drive to unnecessary physical location task force will meet at least six times a year can meet more at the call of the chair they will report back to the legislature their findings and the recommendations and the task force will in December thirty first twenty twenty two. I would like to make clear that this bill is coming to you. Not in any way because R. C. AC's are not doing a good job they are doing a phenomenal job in dealing with the issue of child abuse on all fronts this bill comes to you because we cannot have too many eyes ears hearts and minds com betting and working to end child abuse and with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Represent Barker's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent Barker is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen ninety four prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety three A. zero nine zero president. The bill is passed. Members without objection we're going to move to the to supplemental calendars. And then following that. we're gonna supplemental calendar relates to these to these three items all came out of committee on Tuesday and so chairman Jett had and ask about those in given the timing and trying to make sure we we move forward we may see some supplemental calendar sweet as we move ahead. Four we made to several calendar represent Ladyman for purpose motion. Let's hear your motion Mister Speaker I move we recall house bill eleven fifty six from the Senate that's a proper motion is debatable represent Ladyman you're recognized explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker calling this this bill went over to the Senate quite a few weeks ago there's been a lot of questions come up in the Senate Committee over there so I want to have that sent back and do some work on it preceded the. Represent represent Ladyman as explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Represent Ladyman is close for the motion the question before the House is the recall of house bill eleven fifty six from the Senate all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion is adopted. Represent worn for what purpose motion. What's your motion Mister Speaker I move we recall House Bill sixteen forty one from the Senate. That's a proper motion is debatable represent one you're recognized explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues after I presented this bill yesterday and a couple of colleagues that approach me and pointed out there might be a constitutional issue with this bill so what I'd like to do is get it back from the Senate and check it out and then proceed later if I find out there no issues. Percent worn is explain the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Percent worn is close for the motion the question before the House is the recall of house bill sixteen forty one from the Senate all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion carries. Mr Clark please read house bill fifteen fifty five. House fifteen fifty five by representative Jett increase the annual cap on and extend the since the date of the Arkansas historic rehabilitation income tax credit and to amend the use of fees collected under the Arkansas historic rehabilitation income tax credit ACT. Jett you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you much bigger college what happened on this bill was and remember to supplement account of today is because these bills come out of committee Tuesday with amendment but they come out after four thirty that was a cut off so next week recommend trying to lay our state on the table these agreed upon the next three bills you're going to great upon bills with the Senate and we get you are silent on the table could actually run out of time to get down to the Senate in this more amendment so as I can when I ask for indulgence today I appreciate that so this first bill is historical tax credits the historical tax credit is always been I think two years ago we raise from two million to four million dollars this year the Secretary station hers as to raise up to eight million has been testified Committee that for every dollar you put in this type of program a dollar flows better eight dollars flows back through the Connelly so this is a good bill agreed upon between us in the Senate this is on the twenty five million dollar test of cat. so this would be once things an activity passes out today in the Senate passed out it is a go for four million dollars and a million dollars tax cut for historical buildings with that I appreciate a good vote. President Jett is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen fifty five per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety two U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read House Bill fifteen ninety six. House Bill fifteen ninety six by representative Jett to allow the sales and use tax exemption for sales for resale to apply to items sold for use in training to amend the sales and use tax exemption for certain machinery and equipment. President Jett you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins again this is one of the three Bills efficient here this report of the Senate and a twenty five million dollar tax package that we have right now are sought tax printers and the purchase of equipment paper and ink and then they they test them with the state tax printers on the sales of the printer products so this is a double taxation issue there's a lot of printers that's in the states is actually going out of business thank you as big a printer operation in Fort Smith one here in central Arkansas northeast Arkansas this section struggling under this sow this is a tax fairness issue that was agreed upon with us in the Senate so two point six million dollar here to general revenues with that appreciate a good with your vote. President Jett is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House the passage of house bill fifteen ninety six per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty eight yeas to nays and to present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read. House bill thirteen fourteen. House thirteen fourteen by representative Hillman to amend the water resource conservation develop incentives act. President Hillman you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I this is a tax credit bill they will help conserve groundwater in Arkansas to be preserved for the use by future generations of our cans and I would appreciate a good vote thank you represent Hillman is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Hillman is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen fourteen per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety sixty eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Representatives for what purpose. What's your motion Mister Speaker I move we suspend for the duration of the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly those portions of House rule forty seven that establish a four thirty PM deadline for bills appearing on members own bill and own amendment calendar. Okay that's a proper motion is not debatable members as a matter of parliamentary inquiry. The what this motion would do is suspend for the duration General Assembly the four thirty deadline for bills appearing on the member's own calendar. As probably most of you are aware by now if you amended a bill to committee your bill in committee that it has to go on to the member's own calendar there is been this for thirty deadline that is exist in the rules obviously because we're having to have split Committee schedules we many times are committees do not get through until after four thirty this will give us some flexibility so that we can hopefully get more amendments on the members own that will cut down the amount of time that we have to be here so here with the last two weeks or less of session this would help particularly these are that's the benefit for the benefit of the sponsor it shortens the time from what would otherwise take two days after committee or what what what would take three days actually after committee this allows it to occur within two days and so that's the point of the motion but just so everybody understands what the what the effect of that motion would be. Again it's not debatable the motion is to suspend the portion of a house rule forty seven that establishes a four thirty PM deadline for bills appearing on the member's own bill own amendment calendar all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion passed. Represent. Represent gene you're recognized. Removes the budget calendar represent gene you're recognized. I'm a Speaker. Colleagues. Staffers told me that the house bill twelve oh six the some correction done so we're going pass over it for the day. Of. Our next center Senate bill Senate bill fifty one. Senate bill one oh eight Senate bill two twenty one without a colleague asked pool Senate bill sixty seven out for separate votes will honor that. Of this be the department of Veterans Affairs. Which is Senate bill fifty one the department of health classes and regulation board Senate bill one away. And Senate bill two twenty one University of Arkansas this is a division of ag budget. Any questions about the three that are in the back. Neat pulling these other three. Thank you not remember your one vote. Is for the bill in the mercy calls respect record the bill for third time. Mr Clark please read the bill for the third time Senate bill fifty one Senate bill one O. eight seven OO to twenty one. The machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Going on the bills and the emergency clauses. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. Bobbled ninety three A. zero nine zero present the bills emergency clauses are passed. Representing you're recognized. Thank you colleagues Senate bills Senate six sixty seven of property commerce's workforce services. It the only has one half million dollars general revenue. The main bulk of it is one point five billion dollars in federal revenue. Any questions. Your one vote is for the bill number two calls the Speaker of the court read the bill third time please read the bill for the third time Senate bill sixty seven. Jean is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Jean is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill sixty seven per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Voting on the bill in the emergency clauses everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty seven yeas seven a zero present the bill emergency clauses pass representing you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker. Senate bill fifty five. Medicaid bill many questions. I hope you're not gonna pass a question ari. Hi. Create a good vote remember your one voted for the bill mercy claustrophobic or the Clerk read bill third at. Sir Clark please read the bill for the third time Senate bill fifty five. President Jean is explained building would like to speak against the bill represent Payton you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues it's a beautiful day to be a member of the Arkansas house of representatives I appreciate a no vote. Representive Payton has spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. President Jean is closed for the bill questions for the house's passage of Senate bill. Fifty five we do have a pair on the desk representative Deborah Ferguson votes yes represent Justin Gonzales boats no witness by representative Jett resume Gonzales is the president member are there any procedural objections to this pair. Please do not vote either of these two voting machines prepared machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of sixty four yeas twenty three days and three present Bills failed. Members we're gonna go back to the red calendar Mr Clark please read senate bill four sixty three. The bill for sixty three by representative Fuhrman to amend the laws regarding abortion reporting and inspections of abortion facilities and to require certain documentation to be presented before performing an abortion when the pregnancy is the result of a rape or incest. Represent Penzo you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Senate bill four sixty three clarifies abortion reporting requirements between the Arkansas health department in the CDC the Bill cleans up language in Arkansas Code regarding abortion facility inspections. The clarifies inspections must be done without prior warning and that is a crime to notify the facility or remove information that would be relevant to the inspection from the facility. Senate bill four sixty three also clarifies that when abortion is performed due to rape or incest the crime must be reported to law enforcement and documented it is not already been reported I appreciate a good vote. President Penzo has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Arsenical you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. We were talking about real women with complicated lives this bill would require victims of rape or incest to report the crime before they were allowed access to safe and legal abortions in this state this requirement disregards victims personal needs and desires and an especially vulnerable time and could subject victims to additional trauma these requirements would be especially challenging for victims of domestic violence for whom reporting the violence to law enforcement could put them at an even greater risk or harm a woman who is experiencing intimate partner violence is more likely to be killed by her abuser when she's pregnant or trying to leave the use of relationship forcing women who experience IPV and may have been raped or coerced into pregnancy to report their partners to the police before being able to access care directly endangers women's lives forcing women who have already been through. Of the trauma or rape or incest under the process of police investigation with no regard to their health safety well being or personal situations is reprehensible and I ask you for no vote. Person because spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Penzo it's close for the bill the question before the House the passage of Senate bill for sixty three per machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by those sixty nine yeas fifteen nays and zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one forty. Senate bill one forty by representative Scott to require school district board of directors to include a student discipline policies that require the schools conduct in its conduct as an assessment of the students adverse childhood experiences before disciplining a student. Represent Scott you're recognized. Thank you colleagues today I bring to you Senate bill one forty which if passed would increase positive outcomes for our most at risk youth this bill requires our school to take more time when two kids when they consider circumstances surrounding a child's bad behavior when considering placing a student in an alternative learning environments or when considering suspension for more than ten days or expulsion it also creates a positive behavioral support model the Division of elementary and secondary education would develop a model a positive behavior support and resources to be used in our public schools and I shall this bill allows children who need the attention of most to receive it requires school to consider traumatic experiences we making consequential this disciplinary decisions Senate bill one forty that's not take away the disciplinary options from our teachers and our principals they will still be able to use any manner of discipline that they feel is appropriate this bill has the support of the Arkansas department of education and with that I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Scott is explained bill. Would anyone like to speak for against the bill. Representante you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues. This is a bill. And I'm just going to ask you a few questions and let you come to your own conclusions. This bill in this bill you're considering the question do you believe a student from an adverse background should receive a lesser punishment than a student from a good home life. In theory. This is good. In reality this causes a lot of headache for school administrators. In this bill on page two. Winds nineteen twenty and twenty one it says that it is a requirement that a public school administrator or his or her dancing the make a reasonable request for information related to adverse childhood experiences or childhood trauma they may have manifested in the behavior exhibited so let me give you a real life scenario that I've had to deal with as a public school administrator you have to students they get in a fight. During this fight is discovered that one student had a pocket knife the other student had a pair of brass knuckles because of this this leads to a ten day out of school suspension for both of the students. And daily recommendation for expulsion under this law a school administrator would be required. To conduct an assessment of both students. Home office. The first thing that this bill would require as a school administrator for me to do. As I would have to go to the parent. In a heated situation after a heated situation go to that parent and say I need to ask you information about your child's life. Have they had any. Adverse experiences the next would be the student themselves the next would be any. Records available that the public school may have the next would be a public school district employees any employee in that district that had any kind of contact with that child and then I would have to take it to a step for further and go to an employee of the Department of Human Services if that child had been in their care. So I ask you the question as a school administrator do you want me dating in your child's life or the life of your families. You know in this scenario. If it is determined that one child had no adverse experiences in their background they must receive the full punishment however if it's determined that the other child had adverse experiences that school could. Give that student a lesser punishment. Is that fair. What issues do you see this causing a school. I mean seriously we're already accused that we don't administer. This one fairly. And if it's your child and your child comes from home a good background and they receive the full punishment but we take a child who comes from adverse thing both of your children. Commit the same offence and one receives a lesser punishment and everyone receives the full punishment just because they come from a home life can you see where that may cause a school administrator or problem. In an explosion case we're under the gun we have ten days. Usually this puts lawyers in place you know how hard it is is a superintendent or school administrator to get I am a lawyer involved to get all the facts of the incident and be prepared to defend that an expulsion hearing but now I have to conduct and ask questions from all those entities and the opposing attorney is going to bring this up. Let me ask you this are you comfortable with your child attending. School next a child who receive that less punishment. And if we were running a bill to do this for adults for judges to consider the adverse experiences. Before they sentence criminals would you be Fort. We try this social experience experiment once before where every kid got a trophy. How did that work out for us. What you allow in school. Will eventually become your adult population. And for that reason I ask you to vote no. Represent Tollett has spoken against the bill would anybody like to speak for or represent Cozart you're recognized before. I'm here to speak for this bill what I've really just here to tell you a little bit of what I know about what I talked to last night when the principal from like Hamilton met with him about a. All we're doing is we're building a house and we got to talking about this bill you ask is on on some bills and questions that I was talking to about this one and he says you know he said I really thought that was a bad bill until a really. Understood and he said I understand it because of the situation is going on with the teachers or school that are dealing with kids like this actually has one and as a hazard situation happening so the situation you never know what the home life is in these kids and what what can be happening there and it could be anything but the outburst from kids sometimes come from what's happening most always comes from what's happening at their home life and a lot of them have a really bad home life and some of them from perfect homes still have a bad home life so when they when they burst out and do things and you know this bill is not about fighting is about to be about anything it could be just what happens a school between two kids are between how they just react to things so. I think I think we need to really do assess the kids I think the kids could be assessed before the summer happens to know that there is something happened in a and when they do react you know if we if we just continue to put kids out of school. Where they go where they go into like a prison so let's try to help our kids and I'm not saying this is a great bill I think it's a start I appreciate a good vote. Represent Cozart has spoken for the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill represent begins you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr stink you Mr Speaker. I am I know the heart is good here. But I know the hard is good if the teachers the principals administrators the board members the parents the people are right there on the front line of these kids you know when we grab control here in Little Rock and that's what we're doing with this bill. We're grabbing it from somebody. Are reaching into your district my district this district that district all over the state and saying we're going to tell you how to do it we don't know those kids personally. They do. What's going to affect if we happen with this adverse child hood experience study and that is it concerning the very first first round of this bill did have is doing a study on everybody. I don't want that happening to my kid. But what's going to happen. Who was ever going to be expelled. Are we incentivizing kids it has to be put the policy. The school board must put in policy we're going to do this before we expel anybody. Any kid brother and worth their salt is going to figure out how do I get I being expelled I'm going to come up with some problems no family life is perfect in Dallas a little bit. Even parents are going to feel pressure to be complicit to help of with their kids. Getting a punishment they very well likely deserve. And what do school boards do once they've gotten this information. How many you're going to feel comfortable. Going ahead and going with that expulsion especially if it is a fight we're going to make the judgment call we get all these efforts to everyone's going to say they have one I really think most kids will don't Q.. What a problem. We are causing for our schools and I want to talk a little bit about this positive behavior supports. When I was doing to student education it's always a good thing to do catch them being good. That is always a very effective tool for a teacher. But there are to be balance when you read this bill do you see anything. But positive behavior support models. Kids need both kids can't even begin to appreciate mercy and grace if they don't get some discipline and consequences we're not doing any favors we are really tying the hands of these teachers what an unfair and you know this one teacher said to me that wasn't even in my district to set read the bill and said you know one. There's no one in Little Rock even trust us to have any good sense we know our kids we know their families we we try to use good judgment yes there may be about this course there's gonna be a bad situation school here and there because it's all being done by people like us. But one bad experience were school maybe doesn't make the right call doesn't mean we switchman from little rock and say we'll handle it. Cross the board. Childhood experience studies. Adverse childhood experience studies please. Please vote against this bill. For teachers for administrators for school boards for parents and for our kids they need balance. I need a balanced approach we cannot just go all one side. Positive behavior supports and if there's something going on in your life no consequences for you we need balance thank you. Representative can see has spoken against the bill would anybody like to speak for the bill. Represent brown you're recognized before the bill. Thank you Mr chair when this bill was brought to us in committee. Senator Dismang brought with them. a gentleman from Facility and Sir see that helps deal with children I don't remember the name his name of the organization name. But the thing that have brought this to their attention was a third grader that I don't know what that child dead because. They could not speak in specifics in committee. But this child apparently had come from a very horrible home life. And he did something. Probably. You know very. Very bad I don't know what that bad thing was but this third grader was expelled for an entire year. And was going to have to just do online. Education. When they found out what. The child's background was. A child already been expelled. And. And that child's behavior. According to Senator Dismang and the gentleman who runs the agency said that the behavior was totally in line with that child's background. I would hate to see a third grader. Expelled from school for an entire year that just doesn't seem. It's just doesn't seem right it seems like that child needs more than just being expelled and then returned back to a home life that is horrible. The example I'm arriving committee was set we have a lot of homes where you just have a mom in the home and no dad and he had teenagers and they get out of hand and so they might be expelled so when those six expulsion days total ten or more that would trigger this. The modifications in this bill. I think this is a good bill I think. Children need somebody else that they can talk to somebody else who can understand and somebody if you might be able to put them back on the right track because sending a child home when the single mom works can't be there that's really not a good situation either we have so many children who are graduating. I think this bill can help a lot of young people and keep them on the right track and I would really appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent brown has spoken for the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill representative Crawford you're recognized to speak against the bill. Hello thank you Mr Speaker here's where I come from I have a fourth great grandson who's being bullied. By a child who comes from a bad home. I called the principal this week after my son had already been there and I said is there anything I can do to help. And he said representative Crawford you legislators have tied our hands. We can not it gives me we cannot keep a child from recess we cannot do much of anything with them what do you expect me to do. And I said I had no idea. But I will come work with you during the interim and I will listen to you I will listen to the teachers I will listen to the parents and we will come back with some legislation to help teachers to help students that need help because I need counseling they don't just need to get away with. Doing what's wrong and have no consequences they have to have can that have to happen so I would ask you to vote against this bill let's go back to our constituents let's talk to one let's do something that works instead of putting a bandaid on it were police have to deal with that further down I'm not we can do this together I truly believe we can thank you. Represent Crawford has spoken against the bill anybody like to speak for the bill represent Ferguson you're recognized before the bill. I'm sorry representative flowers. Thank you colleagues I was just looking over a few things that I thought I have. Read in the bill and I think it's important for us to make a distinction because obviously I don't think anybody in this room wants to tie the hands of our administrators both of my school districts are under state control and the issues that our educators and our administrators have to confront we know our bass so if you'll indulge me. If you'll an account member the page number but. If you'll notice. This verily very clearly states that if an adverse childhood experiences determined to have a direct and substantial causal relationship to the behavior of the public school's student the public school district in which the student is enrolled I'm reading the wrong part of this I'm sorry. The point is that is permissive. It's that there there has to be this direct causal component and then the bottom line is it's permissive they may take this into consideration in determining the punishment and the other thing that I would ask you to think about you know I I grew up with parents who believe very deeply and corporal punishment so when my brother and I have one brother and we be acting up of course I would be doing anything wrong. But my brother would and he would taught me and I would especially remember being in the backseat. And he would be taunting me and they were turned around us if you all stop we go with both of you and I. Right. But sometimes in situations when you have the facts and you know the information for many of you have more than one child you have to treat those situations differently but you just have to have the information and I think that's all this bill seeks to do is make sure that you know are school officials kind of stop and say Hey. We have students in our in our school who might be homeless who might have just lost the parent who might have been sexually abused who might have parents were incarcerated and that doesn't mean that we say that if this kid does the same thing that this kid is doing that kid gets off Scot free what that means is if after the kids have been sent to through suspension we know that that kid needs help and if we want them to succeed we say Hey why don't we give them some counseling. Or that it might be really really sick. And have to take medicine every day Hey why don't we make sure that if we have a school nurse that the school nurse to make sure that that kid is doing well and is able to study and read into the things they're supposed to do so let's not tie the hands of our ministry is in our schools let's give them the tools they need to win and not allow us to stop and pay attention to our kids and be creative about how we can help them but also be fair in making sure that those who are adversely affected by all con all manner of things that a lot of us don't think about that we will stop and help them before it gets to the police and get through expulsion thank you. Representative flowers of a representative flowers a spoken for the bill against the bill. Representatives you're recognized before the bill. You Mr Speaker colleagues this bill doesn't change punishment I think we need to remember that their kids that suffer all type of abuse at home we're talking about sexual abuse mental abuse physical abuse these kids get raped they have needle stuck in their arms or the content for the drugs and then sent to school. Yes think about that for a second. This bill only affects kids who get expelled for ten days we're just asking the superintendents and the school administrator to take a stop for a second find out what's going on back home because when you expel these kids for ten days at the ten day period you're sending them right back into the home they just left the abuse. These are the people these kids going in up in prison. It's going to affect the quality of life all we're saying is just hang on take a step look what's happening in these homes if it's foster kids get with DHS take a look at what's going on see if there's a reason the child's acting that way the punishment can still exist. There's another part of the bill we not talked about. There's a section in the bill that allows a cares Act funding the second round of the cares Act funding to be used to develop a behavioral support model the money was specifically set aside for that very purpose. To deal with this issue union and non union educators are in favor this because they don't know what to do with these kids. Republican governors association is pushing this idea of a behavioral support model across the country now. I'm asking you to think about the kids let's do something and I appreciate a good vote. Represent these has spoken for the bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. Representative Lowery you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker yeah I know sometimes we feel like in our jobs that That it's kind of thankless work but I know among our members we have some were former school board members and you talk about thankless work being on a school board is certainly that and I and I have first hand experience with that because my mother was on last county special school district board for over ten years and she experienced a number of these hearings that would last until four AM or five AM because frankly legislation like this regulations like this are a lawyer's dream. When you talk about directed substantial okay the that's bill you talk about a loophole right there a law you can really hang you up and this is not just an issue representative says we wanted Mr take a second you heard representative told let superintendent told that describe this the significant process that you have to go through the interviews that you have to go through most of which if a lawyer or a legal defense attorney got involved in it everyone of those notes would be discoverable. Not just the final report each of the notes of those interviews this is a substantial process it would not just be taken second put a pause hit the pause button it would be something that is really going to create a significant conflict especially in the case where you have two children involved in the same incident and yet one of them is going to be suspended because they don't have this direct and substantial adverse situation. They're going to be able to be released from this but the other ones can be punished one now you're definitely have the lawyers involved the family who actually is engaged in their child's life and they get punished but the other child involved in it does not that's when those will those school board meetings are going to go well into the night. Defending that other child I of many of you know No representative speaks knows that I don't really like us always leaning on local control that that's the mantra you know but boy this is the ultimate violation of local control right is a violation of local control because we're putting in a mandate that you would have to not just pause with that you would have to go through a substantive investigative process in trying to determine whether this child should be punished or whether they should because they're others extenuating mitigating circumstances are diminished Strader are able to be able to take that into consideration and I think we ought to give them that flexibility I ask that you vote no on this bill. Represent Lowery has voted against the bill would anybody like to speak for the bill against the bill. Represent fine for what purpose. Share your motion please remitted media consideration. That is a proper motion not debatable. The question before the House immediate consideration is Senate bill one forty all in favor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes have it. The question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one forty prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast of the ballot Mr Clark. With thirty eight yeas fifty nays and zero present the bill has failed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill five thirty two. Senate bill five thirty two by representative Deffenbaugh to require all newly constructed public schools existing public schools undergoing additions and toward or total renovations to provide for water bottle filling stations. Representative of all you're recognized presenter bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This won't take long it's a simple bill that actually does some. I did this is an act concerning water bottle filling stations all right which is a new spirit a new concept if you want to see it if you want to see one there there's one down to the cafeteria. and it is to require all newly constructed public schools an existing public schools under garnet additions or total renovations to provide for a water bottle filling stations and for other purposes so it's either for brand new schools are are some I'm going to tell renovation okay all schools not included in this. More sanitary out obviously you know one question might be or you have to a water bottle when you need one however when they put in the filling station they also put in a water fountain so nobody's gonna go thirsty get. the American heart association supports this We believe the bill feels important but overlooked need drinking water I'm sorry adequate drinking intake positively impacts children's cognitive performance. Include your term memory drinking water can also improve children's visual attention fine motor skills we all know we're going to have water this is just a little cleaner are required to be clean. water filling stations are important component that helps Public Health ask for good vote. President Deffenbaugh has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. President Deffenbaugh is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill five thirty two per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of eight three eight five nays and one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please reasonable to fifty one. Bill two fifty one by representative Lowery to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning school district waivers a to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning public charter school charters enrollment authorization and facility funding represent Lowery you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This bill it came from Senator English it is in many many regards just to clean up bill but it does have some significant provisions your relates to charter schools in the the first section talks about the L. the issue where public schools are able to apply for the same waivers that charter schools have this is based on law that representative Murdock right to assemble terms back it changes that the public school it just says that they do not have to include in their petition a copy of the waivers that were granted to the open enrollment public charter school they just need to list the waivers that they would like to request it also clarifies that the Division of elementary secondary education has to give notice of whether they are granting or denying in whole or in part to petition for waivers within ninety days it also clarifies in many Kate in several cases where you have employees general business manager it clarifies the general payment business manager for school district would be an employee of the public school district or contract to perform financial services he clarifies with a classified employee would be in employee of the public school district or is contracted to but the really important section of this is it review it talks about if a charter schools waiver or their charter has been revoked by the state for whatever reason if it's malfeasance in there have been some cases locally in little rock where charter schools have really there have been some financial improprieties and if the authorizing panel revoked the charter there is there is an accountability process here with the charter school has to turn over all finances anything that basically was given to them by the state has to turn that. Back to the department of education thank you they keep in receivership until either another entity comes forward that says they want to run the charter school if that doesn't happen then those public dollars that he'd gone to the charter school would revert back to the states so it's an accountability piece that I think is a very important part if this whole picture of charter schools so that's a good bill and I'd appreciate your support for it thank you. President Larry's explain the bill would anyone likes to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Lowery is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two fifty one prepared machines Mr Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety two yeas one a and one president. The bill is passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill fifty nine. Senate bill fifty nine by representative Gonzales to be known as the inner interstate firearms protection act and to prevent the United States government from regulating the manufacture assembly and trade of fire arms and ammunition within the borders of Arkansas reserve can intaas you're recognized explain the bill. A misdemeanor this just says of its made in Arkansas stays in Arkansas is regulated by Arkansas. Any questions. I appreciate a good vote. Represent Gonzales is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Arsenical you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I know the specific issue in this bills about firearms but I do believe this issue is larger this bill and others that seek to override federal law I'm proud of our state and I believe that we have certain rights granted us by the U. S. constitution in the Arkansas constitution I'm also proud of our federal system of government no matter who or what party is in control. I don't follow either blindly but our pledge does say one nation under god indivisible and we do saying the national anthem are great system of government state and federal has worked for nearly two hundred forty five years so I'll be voting against what I believe to be an unconstitutional bill and perhaps and I'm unpatriotic Bill thank you. Person to call us beginning instability would like to speak for the bill. We would like to speak against the bill. Represent Gonzales close for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill fifty nine prepared machines Clark. Everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy four yeas eighteen A. zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill two ninety eight. Senate bill two ninety eight by representative Brandt Smith to be known as the Arkansas sovereignty active twenty twenty one concerning the right to bear arms in the state of Arkansas concerning other constitutional rights. Represent Smith you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues Senate bill two ninety eight is all about. Your personal rights and privileges as citizens not only of this great state. But also as a citizen of the United States it is known as. The Arkansas sovereignty act that will protect you. From infringement an over reach from a federal government that is out of control. It will also protect law enforcement that. Needs a mechanism to push back for unlawful executive orders coming out of Washington DC and I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Smith has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President Hudson you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. By my count I think we've got three of the sovereignty bills right now and I'm not sure how many we need and I'm also pretty convinced that some of them contradict each other. That said one of the things I've asked in committee and still don't have a good answer to is who's going to be the final arbiter in the state for what's constitutional or not the bill is silent to it Senator Stubblefield talked a little bit about maybe the Attorney General or maybe the sheriff's could do that but as we know law enforcement is not the final arbiter of what's constitutional or not we entrust our courts for that so does this bill require that we wait until something is challenged in the courts and say. Does this bill allow for people in different counties to make different decisions over what's constitutional. Don't know I use the example in committee of the and regulation to eighty seven G. which is the federal regulation that empowers state law enforcement to pick up illegal aliens. If the sheriff in one county decides not to enforce federal law because he believes it's a violation of Arkansas is due process guarantees that he will not pick up illegal immigrants in his county. If the sheriff in another county decides that he will enforce federal law and believes that two eighty seven G. is not an infringement of due process rights then he will assist the federal government but we cannot keep acting as though federal regulations are a buffet that we can choose from and we cannot continue to tell our constituents there were going to put them in a situation in which they're going to have uneven application of federal law depending on what county they go into. We can't tell somebody that if you're in Pulaski County you must obey these federal laws but if you go in to Boone County or if you go into Washington County or you go into Claiborne county you will be required to follow other federal laws. This bill is silence on how we enforce this this bill is silent on how we decide which federal laws for going to operate under. I would urge you to vote no I understand the concerns about overreach I do. But this is not the solution we will end up with a patchwork of seventy five different schemes on how to enforce federal laws and for that reason I'll be voting now thank you. Represent Hudson spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. We would like to speak against the bill. President Smith is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill two ninety eight per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy six Yeas eighteen A. zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill five seventy nine. Senate bill five seventy nine by representative mark berry to amend the law concerning the process by which the State Highway Commission may sell or dispose of surplus property Simsbury you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues five seventy nine just the clean up bill streamlines the process for are not to dispose of surplus property had no opposition in the Senate either committees and is Senator Ballinger is bill I don't have any I can answer any technical questions but I think represent Dotson probably cancers he knows just about everything so I appreciate a good vote thank you. Person very has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent very is closed for the bill the question before the House is passive Senate bill five seventy nine the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill five thirty seven. That all five thirty seven by representative Eubanks to amend the law concerning penalties for a violation of the mandatory seat belt use low. President gray you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I'm running this for a representative Eubanks C. had to leave and so pretty simple all this does is says that the maximum fine or penalties that can be imposed for seat belt violations is forty five dollars. Any questions see no not appreciate a good vote thank you. Representive gray has explained the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent grades close for the bill the question before the House the passage of Senate bill five thirty seven prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of a eighty five Yeas four Nays and to present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill five thirty six AM to five thirty six representative Fortner to establish the buffalo river conservation committee. President Fortner you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr chairman this bill is simply to codify a committee that has been functioning for two years to allow the stake holders of the buffalo river watershed to have input in the use of the river and the area you may remember. The problem we had with the hog farm and all that went on with that. Well this committee was formed to allow everyone to have input in the decisions that are being made there are no new funds we've had approximately two million dollars a million which came from the governor's rainy day fund two years ago and another million that have been donated by conservation groups and now we've had matching funds and we've done a very good job of getting along and getting together would like to have this codified and I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Porter's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. What would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Ladyman you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins of the real quick but just I know some some of my colleagues I don't like new committees and commissions of the like I want to talk about this in a in and make sure by understands but centerman I had meetings up in the buffalo river area with the constituents there when this committee was formed and representatives is correct as they've done really good work so this needs to be done so pretty good vote. Ferguson Ladyman spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Fortner is close close for the bill the question before the House is passive Senate bill five thirty six prepared machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark by a vote of ninety three A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill six thirty two. Until six thirty two by representative ha to greet the electric vehicle infrastructure grant program to establish the electric vehicle infrastructure fund and to declare an emergency absent hockey recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is an exciting opportunity when I first went to my mares and ask what do we need to help you with asylum springs mayor said they were working to secure a grant for a fast changing charging station as you come into silence springs from Oklahoma at the welcome center I also heard from our county judge that they were looking to put in some charging stations into parking lots in downtown Bentonville what they were trying to get work grant funds from the Volkswagen. settlement funds that went into our state budget and then into eighty eight Q. to provide those grants for electric charging stations what we did realized is we didn't have a comprehensive plan for how to lay out a network of charging stations for Arkansas and that's what this bill does it creates the electric. Vehicle. To get the title right infrastructure fund. We want to be able to capture federal funds that will promote private and public partnerships in the deployment of electrical vehicle charging facilities but we're also talking about manufacturing opportunities assembly of and parts opportunities down the line we know that electric vehicles are going to increase by individuals in our state we're also going to increase in usage for of tourists coming into our state we're also going to have the large fleets be using electric vehicles for their delivery and manufacturing so we want to. We are currently last in the country for the availability of electric charging stations and we want to be able to have those people come through Arkansas and not go to Joplin Springfield Tulsa Okla Dallas and so on so they have to be re routed around Arkansas this bill would create a fund to capture federal dollars so that we can increase when the opportunity comes. The availability to have those charging stations and the availability for jobs we are here to represent our communities like silent springs and Bentonville that are trying to adopt this technology and not quite sure how to go about that. We would all love to see our communities grow and prosper in our districts for our children and future generations to have opportunities for the future with that I'll take any questions. Represent Cavenaugh for purpose question you're recognized representative Hart whenever you're presenting this bill you talk about federal funds are coming in for this in federal funds but the bill actually says that it will consist of general revenue. So just like the Volkswagen settlement funds came into general revenue that was set aside out of the general revenue into a D. E. Q. funds if we are able to receive private funds and of federal funds they come first to the state budget and then they are put into this special fund follow up Mister Speaker recognized but it doesn't say that it says general revenues yes I believe that wide open for general revenues to go toward this. Is that not correct. I'm I'm I can imagine that that opportunity exists just like it would be if we wanted to put into including our infrastructure and broadband or any other infrastructure that we need to provide in our state the Senate voted on this bill came out of Joint Energy the Senate voted on it thirty three to one in favor of providing these future job opportunities for districts any other questions represent Wooten for what purpose of the question. Represent Haak left the well. Representative Hawkins explained the building would like to speak against the bill. Again represent what you're recognized speak against the bill. Well. Let me share with you this is a free enterprise. Should. Let the market place take care of itself my question was going to be fixing to build or may build a two million dollar convenience store with gasoline diesel and motor all wheel the state give me any money for that under this bill. No. They never have they never did and I'll tell you something else I didn't expect him to. I did not expect him to. That was a choice I made to be in business to have an Exxon distributorship. Own my own business create my own profit or my own laws which of the. Yes the federal government or state government for that. To run my business. It's still only to If it failed I was the one who suffered my employees suffered. I hear all this talk about this doing this in Arkansas being last. I don't know what difference is it make where we are what difference is it makes they do no other in. I'm not well to change that I've got a couple of bills to their vote. One of the most important we we how many of you that are in business you don't have to raise your high. How many of you that have been in business have received any assistance from the federal government broadband is a whole different issue. Broadband is for all of us. It's for all of us. Not everybody today owns electric car approve the Gaza shall never. I mean they will drive faster those they will get you here fast enough. The guys ladies and gentleman that is free market take care of it sales representative Lauer's for what purpose. Question you're recognized for a question. Resentful number here. Thank you of it. So for a lot of what you said I do agree but you mentioned that you know in I don't know if it was hypothetical or real scenario where you would be investing in building you know a convenience store with a gas station for example but isn't it true that over the years and even today you have governmental support through subsidies and tax credits as well as job creation investments and even job training for specific feels like the oil industry and even like this for example. This. If you're talking about the depletion allowance and that that's all been taken one. We all companies have never asked for anything I'm are going off in big all I'm talking about a private independent businessman like my sale in Arkansas will have to stand up and compete against. Government facilities have been built to install. You're about the Mirasol inspirations is he right and legislation I am here for us. We're we're old enough and smart enough to figure out of so if it's good for this state and I'll tell you this is not something that's good for the state if individuals will invest and build them and create a yes it is is a good investment if they want to do that if they're real the realistic capital. But this is not a decision that we need to make it fun this legislation thank you and also it's the general fund is in there like representative Cavenaugh pointed out. Is this one more time we'll make this clear this is a Biden administration bill. You will fall under that category vote for. Representative wouldn't has spoke against the bill when you would like to speak for the bill representative Pilkington you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you. Speaker Cavenaugh I don't plan on coming to speak today but there's a few things that been said that I want to clear up you know we talk about assistance from the federal government I think so many businesses here to PPP loans houses from the federal government I think a lot of us are owned businesses were able to take those in that you know I don't think anyone's calling them. Socialists are not a true capitalist and I believe in the free market they took advantage of those because it would be foolish not to take advantage of those this is kind of a similar situation these were not asking for these funds we don't have our hand out of the federal government pleading for this these are funds they're making available and we would be foolish not to take advantage of that is a good policy. I don't think with the federal government is doing is good policy but you have to play the hand that was dealt you and for Arkansas to utilize this to create a way for us to expand solar Chargers owner electronic charging station for vehicles is a good idea and good policy so why you know you think you will ever accuse me of being a supporter of the pine administration but I will say what's good for Arkansas is playing the hand you've been dealt from the federal government in the most effective way to make us competitive in the market place and we are so far behind when it comes electric charging stations we've got to do something to kick it up a notch listen those funds are going somewhere and I don't want Arkansas get left behind thank you. Representative bill can has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill representative Ladyman you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you madam Speaker. And I had come up to speak against representative Wooten he's absolutely right about the free market. I agree with what he started out with we do need to have free market we need to take the risk and we need to put in businesses but let me and I think this is a little bit different and the reason I think it's different is if you get into a new business or a new industry that's just brand new we the you go to the bank. I started up a little business that the bankers did not understand and then I would talk to me because it was new there was no history on that kind of a business I think this falls into that category is it's new what I mean by that the market for electric car charging is not out there if I went and spent millions of thousands of dollars and put in these charging stations in Jonesborough I'd lose money for a long time because the as you said we don't all only electric cars right now. That that market is not there yet it will be there. A representative with you whether you have only electric car not I probably never will either but the market will eventually be there that's the world we live in today. And is represented Pilkington said we have to play the hand that we're dealt. The world will change whether we want to or not. And let the cars are coming to make one more comment even if none of us in Arkansas home electric car the people that drive through Arkansas do. And the people that come here in the summer time to go to our lakes in our lives is due I've gotten calls from people from out of state and say why don't you have charging stations in Jonesborough we came we stayed at the embassy suites we want to go to an ASP ballgame I got electric car I can't charge may not doing a good place to because my car so those people driving through our state need that service. Which you're not going to make a profit right now. So we need to have that and remember hospitality is the number two industry in the state of Arkansas right behind agriculture so for our state we need to do this I don't like to take federal handouts either but representative building is absolutely right the money is out there we didn't make that decision but we don't take that money somebody else will so I appreciate a good vote. Representive Ladyman is spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative brown you're recognized to speak for the bill. Colleagues there's not a whole lot for me to add to what everybody else is said you know I'm I'm totally free market but. We have to. Play the hand we're dealt and. Arkansas is last in these charging stations and anybody who plugged into a charging station they're gonna be paying for that electricity so even though we take the federal money and build some stations the people the plucky and I will be. Paying for that service and I mean I have a friend and I know we have people in the house and Senate that have passed laws. When I plug in there down in Dallas and they. Whatever plug into their GPS in the they want to get directions to someplace else they routed around Arkansas because we don't have adequate charging stations so. With that I'd ask for a good vote thank you. Represent Brown has already left the will. You are left well. Representative brown has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill representative hawk would you like to close for your bill. Yes thank you madam Speaker my husband and I moved to northwest Arkansas on forty seven acres and we brought fifty four heifer calves that we had raised from the I was a waitress and he was working at a lumber yard and we save twenty five dollars and bought those baby calves raised him up for two and a half years so they were ready to be shipped mailed House. mortgage those to buy forty seven acres in the land of opportunity of northwest Arkansas and we we came here in nineteen seventy nine in Benton county there were four hundred dairy farms Justin Benton County alone today there are nine dairy farms left we are one of them and there's only thirty dairy farms left in the whole state and we have helped in this body to create fairness to try and keep milk production in our state I just would like to ask for the future for my children for your my grandchildren for your children your constituents we're not just talking charging stations here which are important we're also talking about the future of technology we're talking about manufacturing capabilities and parks in assembly we have a workforce we have people that are looking for good jobs this is a growing industry in our country and Mister Ladyman pointed out agriculture is still number one tourism is number two but we want to create jobs for the future and this is a growing area where we have an opportunity to improve our districts and our state and with that I would ask for a good vote to create this bond for electronic vehicle in spurs infrastructure thank you. Representive Haak has close for her bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six thirty to prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. You're voting on the bill and the Emergency Clause prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with seventy three days thirteen nays and one present the bill has passed and the emergency clause. Mr Clark please read SP five to eight. Senate bill five twenty eight by representative Warren to provide for that is closer limited information on certain credits and rebates of sales and use tax to implemented local entities to impact and local governments. Representative Warren you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you madam Speaker colleagues city and county officials work in conjunction with the FNA to draft this bill gives needed clarity to the credits and rebates being granted to the cities and counties. All parties involved with this or good with what's been drafted I would ask for a good vote. Represent a warrant has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Are you close for your bill representative Warren is close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of SB five twenty eight prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Has everyone voted cast up the ballot Mr Clark. With eighty six yeas to nays and one present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read the estate two six two. Senate bill two sixty two by representative east amend the licensing operators of solid waste management facilities to amend the licensing committee to allow for my annual license renewal and to address reciprocal reciprocity in Arkansas. Representative Dave you're recognized for senate bill. Thank you members of I'll be real quick this is a bill brought to us by eighty Q. it just allows an apprentice to keep working as an apprentice until they pass their test as a journeyman currently after two years they have to quit if they can't pass the test it also allows them to pay for the license for two years instead of annually with that I appreciate a good vote. Representative these has explained the bill would be a one like to speak against the bill. For the bill. The question before the House representive aims very close for your bill the question before the House is the passage of SB two sixty to prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark within ninety one days zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed. Please read SP four sixty six Mister Clark Senate bill four sixty six representative Charlene Fite to clarify the regulations psychiatric residential treatment facilities you're recognized to present the bill represent a five. Thank you Mr Speaker this is to clarify the regulation of psychiatric treatment facilities this bill the several things record requires all newly licensed psychiatric residential treatment facilities to obtain a permit from the health services permit agency under the department of health and this is for whether they serve in or out of state clients it would also require existing licensees to obtain a permit from the health services permit agency to increase their capacity. It allows the child welfare agency review board to close or terminate a license that is not been operational for the past twelve months there are currently twelve facilities across the state with a capacity of six hundred and twelve many of the children and youth served our foster children and I appreciate a good vote. Represent the fight has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Are you close for your bill represent a fine the question before the House is the passage of H. S. B. for the sixty six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with eighty ninety eight zero nine eight and three present the bill has passed. Please read SB two ninety five Mr Clerk Senate bill two ninety five a representative Lundstrum to promote integrity and welfare programs into Amendment hit eligibility verification systems your rex recognized representative luncheons present the bill. Thank you colleagues this section does exactly what it says it promotes integrity in the welfare programs. And it's a way to provide the truly needy with the benefits that they need. And I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Lundstrum has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill are you close for the bill Richardson Thompson representative Lundstrum has closed for the bill the question before the House is a passage of SB two ninety five prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Please cast up the ballot Mister Clark with seventy six days seventeen days and everyone present the bill has passed. Please read Mr Clarkson S. B. six oh seven Senate bill six or seven by representative Wardlaw to modify the requirements for a peer support specialist in the Arkansas Medicaid program and to remove a reference to the Arkansas substance abuse certification board represent Wardlaw you're recognized present the bill thank you madam chair. It's one sentence and takes out the fact that the substance abuse board can only be approved by the Department and lets it go to free world market and lets it be an accredited company so with that appreciate a good vote and represent Smith needs to stop. Representative Wardlaw has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB six oh seven prepare the machine Mr Clark. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mister Clark with ninety two yeah zero nine eight and zero present the bill has passed. Represent wing for what purpose. Mister Speaker I move we suspend the applicable emergency rules of the house to allow removal of the plexiglass barriers now employed on the chamber floor of the house of representatives. That's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion is adopted. However members. This is not like the Berlin Wall do not take the plexiglass with you do not please do not remove it let the staff remove it we've spent a lot of money in this chamber and so I think they've got time over the well tomorrow and hopefully by the time we come back on Monday it will be gone and hopefully we won't have to put it back up but I would appreciate your cooperation with that. All right. Representive eleven. For what purpose. Motion. Let's hear your motion. The Speaker at the announcements reading of bills transferring the bill plays the counters on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their bills finalizing resolutions reading communications any ready committee reports I move we adjourn until one PM on Monday that's a proper motion is not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion is adopted. Any announcements. Well actually before we get to that members over the next. Week to two weeks things are going to be moving very quickly. schedules could change so I would just continue to monitor your email monitor the a bill our website for scheduling and just know that it could be we could have some late. Some early work in some light work both in committees on the floor so I just want to remind everybody of that. Resent Fortner for purpose announcmenet you're recognized a representative chairman Jett has already gone down to put treats in the seat so a revenue tax will be down there in four at four o'clock today represent gene for what purpose. You're recognized we will have a rough draft for all the members to look at Mundy and QCT and we're trying to get a room coordinate with the committee's it'll be after we get off the floor the house will money to defend by to come in hand out the this is not the official putting it on the death this just give members time to look at it and ask questions so money to that we're going to hand out a rough draft of the RSA. Represent Ladyman for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized public health meeting ten minutes maxi represent Charlene Fite for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized aging children youth military will meet on Monday morning at ten o'clock Monday morning we just have one bill representative Lowery for purpose. You announcmenet you're recognized. House insurance and commerce will meet Monday morning taking up some Senate bills and following a representative fights lead we will meet at ten AM rather than nine thirty conference room C. represent wing for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized House Management will meet Monday at eleven thirty and mac the Monday eleven thirty back be represent Dalby for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized judiciary will meet in ten minutes mackinlay. The other announcements. Represent Crawford for what purpose personal privilege please. You're recognized for point personal privilege members we are free. Any other announcements. That's cool man open is needed for the reading of bills and upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house will be adjourned until one PM Monday.