House Convenes

Two three four five six seven eight nine ten. And by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer. By Taylor Garron youth pastor First Baptist Church in Minton and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by representative Lane Jean. You so much for the privilege of serving you today let's pray together. Or Jesus we thank you so much for this day and this opportunity and an opportunity to serve the people of this state and what I believe this that there's no one in this room that doesn't understand the responsibility and the weight of this job and also the doesn't understand joy in the privilege of getting to serve getting to represent getting to love the people of this state well so I pray a special blessing on this room today in the individuals in this room I pray for your wisdom for your clarity your vision your guidance and your boldness as they make decisions that will affect lives would you use them and sustain them in these moments. I pray lord maybe for one or two maybe more in the room the day that though they are physically present maybe their heart is elsewhere simply because of so much that's going on in life right now a situation or circumstance that may be outside of their control maybe something in the that needs met lord in your great mercy in your favor in your love would you be very near to that person's day you are the god of all peace would you grant peace you're the great physician and the great comforter would you be very real in these moments for that individual that need to deeply for and I pray for the families represented in this room are not naive to think that why we are in this space that that things back home were just put on pause no life goes on I pray for spouses I pray for children I pray for good health especially as we continue to walk through the pandemic I pray for health I pray for special blessing on the family in this room for husbands for wise for the men and women that make up this body. Thank you so much lower for these men and women again a special blessing on them lord I pray this in Christ's name amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepared machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With one hundred members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Obviously not represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense with the reading the previous day's Journal note without objection so ordered. Other Reports from select committees are the Reports from standing committees reports Mr Clark. Mister Speaker Committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill thirteen six seven big return for the refer the same to consideration here to turn the same the recommendation that do pass as amended number four basically submitted by Tosh chair Mister Speaker we're Committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill or Senate bill five thirty five day to report the refer the same to consideration of the time the same with the recognition that do pass as amended number one research facility why Tosh chair for Speaker rear Committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill nineteen sixteen house joint resolution to a five Senate bill four ninety eight Senate bill five forty nine for the both of these about five to seven big return for their the same into consideration I'm here to turn the same or third. The with the recognition that do pass or sickly Senate White Tosh chair. Mr Speaker we're Committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred house bill ten twelve House Bill nineteen a seven day two point three for the same under consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that do pass or sectors but it John Maddox vice chair Mister Speaker we're Committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred house bill seventeen fourteen house bill eighty eighty one Senate bill thirty one beg leave to further event have the same consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that do pass as amended number one sickly skinny John Maddox vice chair Mister Speaker we are committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill five sixty one Senate bill one seventy one beg leave to report that we have the same under the consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that do pass as amended respectfully conservative Carol Dalby share Mr Speaker we're Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill fifteen fifty four beg leave to report that we have the same committee consideration here to try to save the recommendation that do pass as amended number three respect the Senate Calabi chair. Mr Speaker we're Committee on Public Health to whom was referred house bill fifteen forty seven house for eighteen forty seven house bill eighteen fifty two hassle eighteen eighty seven Senate bill two six two Senate bill two ninety five Senate bill forty six of a five eighty five Senate bill six or seven beg leave to report that we are the Senate consideration here to turn the same recommendation that do pass some respect this mini Jack Ladyman chair Mr Speaker we're Committee on Public Health too was referred house bill ten sixty eight sixteen seventy six house bill seventeen forty six south eighteen fifty five eighty two point over the Senate consideration here they're trying to say with the recognition that do pass concurrence Senate member number one sickness when a Jack Ladyman chair Mister Speaker Committee on Public Health who was referred house bill fourteen forty beg leave to report that we were the same consideration here to turn the same with the recommendation that do pass as amended number three respect this with a Jack Ladyman chair. Mr Speaker we are a committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred house bill thirteen fourteen big return for that if it the Senate consideration I'm here to try the same with recognition that a do pass as amended or one in over two sixtieth minute Joe Jett chairman Mister Speaker we are committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred house bill fifty fifty five house bill fifty ninety six beg leave to for the for the seventy consideration here they're trying to say with recognition that do pass as amended number one sickly skinny Jack Fortner vice chair Speaker we're committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred house bill ten fifty four house building fifty seven house bill of ninety six house bill fifty nine of the fifteen thirteen has a sixty forty one house bill sixty ninety eight zero five twenty a big return for their vote seventy consideration here they're trying to say with recognition to do pass thank you senator Joe Jett chair. Six ninety eight of the thirteen hundred as ACT six ninety one of the sixteen thirty six as ACT six ninety two hustle fifteen ninety eight this act six ninety three house bill sixteen sixty six ACT six ninety four houses in the third one is extended five house bill seventeen thirty six six ninety six as well between the two of Act six ninety seven it sincerely Asa Hutchinson. Abel thirteen twenty one to the Speaker of the house your Speaker this is to inform you that on April thirteenth twenty one are you the and approved the as to form the following measures from the regular session the ninety third General Assembly of carrot resolution to sixteen sincerely Asa Hutchinson. Mr Clark please read house concurrent resolution ten nineteen. Hi Senator resolution to nineteen representative Eubanks to encourage United States Congress to review issues related to dairy products and make changes to improve federal milk marketing orders in order to better support dairy farmers represent the banks you're recognized explain explain resolution thank you Mr Speaker. Members of farm bureau asks us Senator Stubblefield and I'd run this concurrent resolution ask Congress to review the federal milk marketing order and the pricing of milk across the United States as you may remember we passed the bill earlier this session dealing specifically with some issues here in the state but there are the other parts of the country that are are having issues as well there is a male deficit in the entire southeast. Region of this country just. Since nineteen ninety Arkansas's lost ninety six percent of its berries and there's only I think currently thirty one there is left I think if you want to get into the particulars They both operate areas I I think this is something Congress needs to take a look at and I would appreciate a good vote. Receive Eubanks explained resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Representive Eubanks close for the resolution the question before the House is the adoption of house concurrent resolution ten nineteen all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The resolution is adopted. Morning hour is indeed represent makes recommends we concurrence Senate Amendment number one to House Bill fifteen fourteen Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment number one to the member number one house bill five fifteen fourteen. Person make sure recognized explained The Amendment thank you Mr Speaker colleagues out of respect for a long day today my bill my amendment and I appreciate a good vote. President makes has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Percent Meeks is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the. Concurrence with cinema number one to House Bill fifteen fourteen prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety eight zero nine zero president you've concurred in Senate mineral one. President Bryant recommends we concurrence Senate Amendment over one to House Bill thirteen twenty seven Mister Clark please read Senate amendment or one. Senate member no one number one to House Bill thirteen twenty seven. President right you're recognized to explain the amendment thank you Mr Speaker. Calling this a amendments is additional language of the statute that the Senate requested so we get better clarity on where judges can carry in normally otherwise prohibited places a good vote. Representative Brian S. explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment. Represented by its close for the amendment. Question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment number one to House Bill thirteen twenty seven. Per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gas about Mister Clark with eighty four yeas or nays zero present with concurred in Senate. To an amendment one to House Bill thirteen twenty seven. Representative mark berry recommends we can current Senate amendment one to House Bill thirteen sixty Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one number one seven number one to House Bill thirteen sixty representative berry you're recognized explain the amendment. Thank you Mr chairman and Mister Speaker and our colleagues in this bill quite simply just adds representative Cameron Cooper to a great bill I'll take any questions that you might have been. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote. Represent berries explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment. Represent berries close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with Senate amendment one to House Bill thirteen sixty prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Yes about Mr Clark. Ninety four yeah zero Naseer present with concurred in amendment one to House Bill thirteen sixty. Represent Shepherd recommends we concurrence Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen seventy one Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment one Senate member number one to House Bill sixteen seventy one. Speaker Shepherd you're recognized explained the amendment. Thank you Mr chairman this amendment simply adds co sponsors thank you. Speaker Shepherd is explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment Speaker separates close for the amendment question before the House is concurrence with the Senate amendment one to House Bill sixteen seventy one per machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. With ninety five Yeas zero nations are present we've concurred in amendment one to House Bill sixteen seventy one. Representative Pilkington recommends that we concurrence Senate amendment one to House bills ten sixty eight Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one. Senate member number one to House Bill ten sixty eight representative Pilkington you're recognized explain the amendment thank you Mr Speaker I this amendment that came from DHS on the Senate side we just wanna make sure that it's only for eighteen and up and with that I ask for a good vote so thank you. Representative Pilkington as explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment representative Pilkington close for the amendment the question before the House is concurrence the Senate amendment one house bill ten sixty eight prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety five Yeas zero nine zero president you've concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten sixty eight. Members for a pass over house bill eighteen hundred Mr Clark please read house bill eighteen twenty six. Thank you twenty six representative Mayberry to require school nurses to participate nursing professional development to require the development of an education program for school nurses and to require the public schools of to participate in a health services survey. President Mayberry recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you members first of all the prevalence of chronic health conditions in the State of Arkansas with our students is that thirty four percent. That's surpasses the national average of twenty five percent. In twenty thirteen this legislative body pass to a law that allowed a group together called the public school health services advisory committee to look at what we can do to improve the health of our students on the campus and not just students but also faculty. Most notably since the passage of that group gathering to gather information. Over this time period we have increased the number of school nurses and twenty thirteen from just under seven hundred and fifty school nurses statewide to now one thousand and eighteen school nurses statewide. That was done on a local level. By the local school districts recognizing because they were being given more information to make the choices locally controlled not mandated but they've said yes we do need more nurses they've never been given more money they sought as a higher priority and now we have three hundred more school nurses on our campuses are we grateful. Who knew COVID was going to hit. That's a good thing. One of the things when this committee no longer met because the Lawson said It is that we were asking. The school nurse who gathers this information or the District. Answering the survey sending it to the state department of education so they can look at the state as a whole we asked them to also share that with the local school board. They no longer are required to do that because that that bill sun said It. So one of the things in this bill is we are asking that the information that the school nurse already gathers or the district gathers making sure that the school board is also given that information that they are supplying to the department of education so that that school district can understand for example how many students on that campus receive mental health services how many are sent to the ER and why how many are receiving life saving medication on the campus how many students are pregnant I believe those are really important things for a local school district and school board together. So that's one element also there is a requirement that the school nurses take some professional development now let me tell you this is not new all nurses whether you work in a hospital a nursing home I clinic where ever you work you must complete fifteen hours of professional development within a two year period that's already law they have to do that. All we're saying is that if you were a school nurse that once a year one our end from that campus or from that school districts must attend. Professional development being offered by the department of education. Now let me tell you. This is a great benefit to the nurse and to the school district this is actually going to save the money because normally they have to pay for that professional development now they won't have to pay for that professional development it must be offered and approved by the name. The American the American nurses credentialing centers commission of accreditation. So they're getting some training for free no cost to the school district no cost to the school nurse that's a good thing and they are gathering information that they need to know to be able to do their job better. Another thing that this bill does is I've I've been asked was I trying to pull a tricky thing in my bill now. On line twenty of page two it does at or is feasible one school nurse on each public school campus. Right now there's a one seven fifty ratio. All we're saying by this is that when you are also evaluating that one in seven fifty ratio school district can you try to make sure that there is a school nurse on every campus it does not say shall. It says if feasible. If I was trying to pull a fast one the line I would have admitted. Is line thirty four on page two where it says the provisions of this section shall be effective only upon the availability of state funds. That's the key to this. This really ends up being a recommendation not a requirement. I'm not trying to pull any fast track on anybody here. This is a good bill it's supported by the Arkansas school nurses association it is supported by the department of education I've worked with them closely on this bill. And it's also supported by the eighty eight the superintendents association. If they thought I was trying to pull a fast one they would not have voted to support this bill. I'll be happy to take any questions. I appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Mayberry's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President Mayberry is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen twenty six prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of fifty six Yeas fourteen Nays eleven present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill sixteen eighty five. Personal sixty five a representative great to amend the Arkansas health care decisions act represent great you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. All right guys I know that you have probably received hundreds of emails. About House bills nineteen sixteen eighty five in sixteen eighty six I can tell you first thing what I'm not trying to be I'm not trying to euthanize anybody I'm not trying to kill anybody I'm not trying to in somebody's life sooner as I know that was some of what was put out at least in the beginning and. I was starting with eighty four sixteen eighty five have amended this bill a couple of times and. What the bill does is it allows so right now. If you if you're in a long term care facility or you're in a hospital you you can make decisions for yourself whether those all healthcare decisions end of life decisions whatever those are. You could have a guardian you can have a power of attorney or you can have a surrogate normally a surrogate is appointed by your healthcare provider when there is no one else available or you haven't named anyone yet and there's a list of circuits you go down the list spouse child peerage kind of thing that you go down and if there is no one on that list is available to you your health care provider can has sensually nominate and put someone in that place for you. So in the past if you wanted to if you're already in your agent your power of attorney or your surrogate wanted to make a change to your end of life wishes that included nutrition and hydration that was different than what you had previously said you had to have a it had to be requested by the person that's in charge of your health care decisions. That the healthcare provider that was taking care of you had to agree with that decision then they had to get a second independent decision by a physician. So the issues that we have run into with this is that finding a second independent physician to you even want to discuss it has been an issue because of the liability concerns they don't know the patient and it's just been very difficult to find that second person so my intention with the bill was to say it leaves that in place you can still use a second independent physician or you can use an ethics council and a lot of healthcare institutions such as hospitals have ethics councils that are comprised mostly of attorneys and physicians are healthcare providers so it just gives that second option. And. One of the things I will say with this bill and I'm. Going to amended on the Senate side. In a klutz appear amend on the Senate side is Page four line thirty five. I actually received a call from the Catholic diocese of Little Rock on Monday and they did an amazing job articulating me what I had inadvertently done and I'm sure that others have tried that and I just wasn't understanding what they were trying to say. But one of the things that I'm sure you've got an email about was that I making it easier for circuits to kill people making it easier to in life. Without the amendment that would be correct an. I we struck my intent was to strike the language about artificial are about to have artificial nutrition and hydration we struck it from one section of the bill and added it to another section the problem is this section headings one was for surrogates and one was for advance directives I know this is complicated but what I did in that process is I allowed Sir gets to make all health care decisions even in the life decisions without that second opinion right so I'm on striking that language and adding that back in I don't want to be any easier for circuits to make that decision I want to remain the same as it was just add an ethics counsel in place of the second position you can still use a second position but also in place of and the only other thing that I added to the bill at the very end. was saying right now a proceeding under this section shall be expedited on the courts civil dockets and I added that says within three business days after service of process on all necessary parties is complete is that binding no but it's essentially guidance but the issue that we're running into is it may take one to three weeks to get something like this on the docket all the while the the surrogate or the person who's in charge of healthcare decisions has passed to withhold the nutrition and hydration and I've got a patient who is suffering for weeks at a time so all we're doing is asking that this be put on a docket within three days to trying to expedite that for the patient and their families. I think I'm sure there are questions I'll be glad to take any questions on this. President love for what purpose. You're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker so. I'm I'm listening to your explanation listens as bill but what was the issue that the system stated this bill. So the issue was that second independent opinion so let's say that you're taking care of someone and you want to you decide that you know. The end is near you want to not with you want to do you want to withhold nutrition and hydration did not prolong the death so you make that decision. The end that the physician of your loved one has to agree with you and then an independent physician someone who doesn't work for the hospital or the nursing home someone who's never taking care of your loved one has to come in and agree with you in order for that to be done what I'm saying is instead of the independent physician that you can use an ethics council instead. So there's a mechanism in place but because it's so hard to find that second position it's not being utilized much at all so we're simply adding that ethics counsel so that this statute this provision in statute could be utilized more often if necessary okay thank you represent Bentley. For what purpose I'm going to speak for the bill in a minute thank you Speaker. All right see no other questions separation good vote I'm sure I'll be back thank you. President gray's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Bentley you're recognized speak for the bill. Collins I know that you like you may have received a number of emails concerning this bill on a first start to say that I want to thank representative gray because I did have some concerns about the bill and she made every moment that I asked her to make on this bill to make sure that we were doing good for our constituents at the end of the day I think are consistent we better served by this bill I think that they will receive more opportunities to get the care that they need at the end of the day it's important that their decisions are held up and I don't think we want to inhibit that so I think that this will get are in the end of the day those people that are the end of life receive better care because of this bill that represent grace putting forth unfortunately was a person there that of custom unnecessary delays and have worked for that honor and I greatly respect the amendments that she's made and with that I would appreciate a good vote. President Bentley is spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Ferguson Gazaway you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues. Let me begin by saying this is not something that I take lightly to speak against the bill is the first time all session that I've been down here to speak against the bill you won't ever hardly see me in the well speak against somebody's bill I will say that I talked to representative gray beforehand and I think she's aware that I was going to speak against the bill part of that reason is and I'll just tell you based on the information that was most recently presented to me as a just little little about an hour ago. Is that there's several groups who are interested in these issues who are still opposed to this bill even with the amendments made and let me be clear there to bills that are involved here sixteen eighty five in sixteen ninety six and so my understanding is this applies to both those groups are the national right to life Arkansas right to life euthanasia prevention coalition USA family council Northwest Arkansas respect life in Arkansas advocates for nursing home residents. These are groups that my understanding are even with the changes are still oppose the bill again this is based on information was provided to me recently. I think the concern is this under current law as representative great explained you have independent physicians who come in and give these things a second review. And representative gray has referred to an ethics council that will be involved in the problem with that is is that it keeps these types of issues involving patients in house. And when you have a patient in a facility who may have been the victim of abuse or neglect. If you keep those decisions in house and you don't have an outside independent third person who can come in and review these things that it would be easier to cover up the abuse or neglect and let me just say right to life is interested in these issues no right to life opposes abortion but just as important as protecting our children in the womb are protecting. Our citizens who are the elderly the age to the infirm many of whom are in the nursing home it's about protecting life from the womb to the grave. And that's why those groups are interested in this bill at the end of the day this bill makes it easier for patients to make decisions when they're at the very end of their life at outside of the advanced directive process that's currently in place. So one of the issues that always comes up with these these types of decisions are competency and this makes it easier to give those end of life decisions to a surrogate who my understanding is works for the facility itself and when you do that for someone who's in that position then as opposed to an advance directive which may have been done years before in an independent setting outside the presence of the people who were supposed to be taking care of you that causes some pretty serious cause for concern I'll just say this you know so someone said well nursing homes have no incentive to kill their patients that's how they make money I want to make one distinction not all nursing home patients are created equal. Some nursing home patients are paralyzed. They had a soil themselves they have to be turned every two hours they have to be given baths they have to be cleaned. Those are the problem patients those are the patients that would be real easy to say let's just get rid of them and move somebody in whose ambulatory and I'm not I'm not trying to impose you know negative motives on anybody but I'm just saying there are bad actors out there I don't I'm not saying that all nursing homes are bad actors but for the ones who are. That's a serious concern if you can move the problem patient out and moved that easy patient in. Quicker and easier that's to their benefit and if you don't have to consult an outside third party physician and you can do it through an in house ethics council it makes it a lot easier to do that. I'll just also when you have the third party doctors who have to come in and review again it's easier to hide the abuse or neglect if there's been abuse or neglect but no third party has to come in and look at it then you can just sweep it all under the rug. And that's why the groups that I said earlier my understanding is that they oppose this bill I would urge you to also oppose this bill the elderly and the aged and the infirm are just as important as that unborn child in the womb and that little baby that we care so much about that's why I oppose this bill that's why I urge you to oppose it as well thank you president bok for purpose. Gazaway spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Anyone like to speak against the bill. President gray you're recognized close for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I am Anne you have all of you I don't know if you look what you did receive a letter today I did not although I did get one from another representative that that listed who always against this bill and you know euthanasia prevention like you've got to be kidding me at this point Arkansas right to life there is no amendment I could make that would make this bill better the only thing they will except as may not running a bill Ainge family council with my amendment on the other side I will have addressed all but one of their issues with this bill and and that issue is it substantive to the bill itself and and I do respect represented Gazaway in him what he had to say and for him letting me know he was going to speak against the bill in the beginning for him to say that in ethics council which is provide. Come from our is said it's got physicians and attorneys on it all who hold licenses and take owes to say that they are going to cover something up to trying in somebody's life sooner. I mean it's kind of insulting to be honest with you and I know nursing homes there's not a nursing home in the State of Arkansas that has its own ethics council or committee there are some hospitals that Dave but there's not a single nursing home in the state that has when I want to make that very clear so there will be no cover up here this is simply to help with the patients families wishes at the end of life actually come to fruition if that's what they want right if that's what they so choose so essentially with that I just want to think again the Catholic diocese for catching the drafting air because with that drafting air in there I wouldn't voted for the bill myself so I just want to thank them again for that and then I appreciate a good vote thank you. Person gray is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill sixteen eighty five prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of thirty one yeas fifty five nays and three present the bill is failed. Mr Clark please read house bill sixteen eighty six. Sixty eighty six representative great to amend the Arkansas physician order for life sustaining treatment at present great you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker so this one is again with the same list of people that doesn't like it What we're doing with this one right now there's something called the polls form physician order for life sustaining treatment what we what I'm doing in this bill is saying that not only can a physician sign it which is what currently happens but also of a mid level a nurse practitioner or PA can sign the form as well and what this form does you've got your advance directive which Normally the patient feels that out at some point during their life and then we have this form there to completely different forms they do accomplish some of the same things This polls form some of the arguments I've heard as well a nurse practitioner that's outside their scope they shouldn't sign this form we know everything that's in the form is within their scope and they can actually do right quarters for the form is just a communication tool so if I'm in a nursing home and I want to go to that I'm always in the hospital that form is transported it goes with me to the hospital and tells what my wishes are or if I'm incapacitated with the wishes of my agent or guardian or. So it allows me levels essentially to sign that form current practice right now it was more evident in during the pandemic when not many people were allowed in nursing homes is what you would see is it might be two months before a position came to side so I've got someone who needs a poles form and that it is not just we don't want life saving measures it's a full full code full everything then there's a medium category here in Arkansas this is I want some but not all then there's a third category this is I don't want any life saving measures so it's not just that they're so sending a form within this is I don't want anything to be sending a form within that says I want full code I want everything and so if I've got a physician who's not coming into a facility but once every sixty days that I can't get that form signed in a timely manner and that kind of the model right now is we have mid levels that are in facilities on a weekly or sometimes daily basis there overseeing the care of that resident or that patients on a much more micro level then the physician does anyhow so it just allows them to sign that form. And. Sure I think that was the biggest part of it. And then there was one other part though there's a very last section I've said I will amend this to you I believe it takes care of dear one of Jerry Cox's issues very last page on page five if a conflict exists between the most recently executed document an advance directive the most recent document shall take precedence. That I was going to leave that wording out we don't need that that would be the case just with the strike throughs that I've had so what we'll find is someone did advance directive twenty years ago they wanted full everything. NO six months ago they end up they've got a cancer diagnosis they tell their wife. I've changed my mind you know I only once Abyan see. Well they can fill out a pole swarming get everything right but right now unless they go back and change that advance directive from twenty years ago that's what stands so. If there's a conflict what I'm saying is the last executed document even if they have a pulse form and they executed advance directive after the polls then the advance directive takes precedence whichever one is executed last and that way we're not just sitting here looking at documents that are ten five ten twenty years old. But that will be a Senate amendments is essentially to it's not even striking it's just taking out the last paragraph of the bill not be glad to take any questions. ACSI not appreciate a good vote thank you. Percent grey's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. President Gazaway you're recognized to speak against the. Thank Mister Speaker colleagues can I take no pleasure in this same groups that were opposed the last bill opposed to this bill for many of the same reasons it takes the healthcare decisions more squarely out of the hands of the patients and their families to put some more and with the provider who's providing care at that time that's not what's best for patients if you did make an advance directive twenty years ago it's still ought to stand unless there's a good reason not to you made it twenty years ago when you were competent you find yourself in an incompetent position later that should be able to override what you've done when you were very clearly competent there are serious concerns about this that's why those groups are opposed at their amendments to be made they can be made now let's clear it up now before we pass it out here and send it to the Senate and so for the same reasons I would ask you to please vote no thank you Ferguson Gazaway spoken against the bill we would like to speak for the bill represent Bentley you're recognized speak for the bill. Collins. This is a very good bill all this bill does allow trained certified nurse practitioners that it received geriatric training the ability to sign this form these comments that we just made about this bill are completely inaccurate I hate to say it but they're completely an anchor all of the lands as a nurse practitioner who has a jury after training the ability to sign this form if you don't vote for this bill are you do is hurting your constituents because they'll be less post out there in a post is a very good form also allows for a patient who's transferring from one facility to another to have the wishes that they desire to be followed through this to the next facility I just had a. A family member in my district that. On Saturday I get a phone call in him on his phone can you come check her out so I get there to take care of and Helen because on the local EMS of somebody needs me I go there and she's in her nineties she's had a stroke and EMS Kaiser come to see your and is it a dance form which is do not resuscitate DNR form is not there nobody has it but if she had a post in place and filled out the doctor's offices been in her medical records and then her wishes would have been followed all it does is allow your your constituents wishes to be followed through I'm I'm saddened that the groups that were there just think that somehow nurses and have the same ethical competency as a position because I can tell you the train nurses have the same competency and ethical competency as a position but that's what they're saying and right now you'll find out the most the time the nurse practitioners are feeling it all out and the position comes behind and signs it but the but the nurse is taking the time to sit with the family and see what their wishes are it's a good communication tool is a great tool and by by passing this will get more polls out there and more patients being able to be taken care of president Ferguson for what purpose did you you're recognized for a question of representative Bentley at I know you were involved in the process of writing these polls forms and coming to consensus about that for almost two or three years I think everybody's concerned that needs to be addressed is we just need to be assured that in these very important end of life decisions that there's not coercion that the patients not be encouraged in one way or the other do you feel comfortable that the apiary ends in the circuits in the situations will be able to do this without coercion. I think that in the end of the day and I appreciate the question represent first I really do at the end of the day if you guys will send visit with your parents I have elderly parents right now I want to hear from my mom is is that the appearance set down and visit with me and explained all my medications a parents sit down a visit to make sure what my wishes were our physicians are over stressed our positions are so busy they don't have the time and sit and talk with this patient and see what they really want an answer it's not allowed to fill up the polls is an A. P. APRN or physician's assistant so those people that really actually have time to sit with you constituents and hear what they want to do on the end of life care I know that they're receiving geriatric care they're receiving training and at the end of the day I really believe this will be better for patients we'll have more from getting a pulse and more will get what they want the end of their life and a hundred percent support this bill. President Bentley spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. President gray you're recognized close for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and I just want to reiterate that the form has three categories full life saving treatments a moderate level and then no lifesaving treatment it also just that polls form can go with the patient with full life saving treatment they're not all filled out with no life saving treatment and that is just simply a communication tool and I think the representative Ferguson's question on the cochairs and I mean your nurse practitioners in your PJ's their licenses on the line they're taking care of these patients on a daily basis and this is a voluntary forms so it's not something that is that one side or the other can you can you know essentially for someone to days of the completely voluntary form thing with that I will be done I appreciate a good vote thank you. President gray has closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill sixteen eighty six per machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark. By a vote of thirty eight yeas forty eight nays and to present the bill is failed Mr Clark please read house bill eighteen eighty four. Also eighty eighty four by representative eaves to amend the law governing counties obligations regarding the production of electronic public records invoke on request represent each you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker of members house bill eighteen eighty four just is a bill to create uniformity and fairness really regarding request a public records so if you think back now. Real estate and public records are no longer stored on ledgers and plat books today we use readily available records on online platforms the real estate market in Arkansas is booming and title companies rely on fast accurate access to public records for closing. buyer sellers bankers and title companies also rely on information that's provided to them the a public record access to the most up to date records are important in this process so by simply clarifying the format in which the data can be requested and sent this bill ensures that software providers who are already equipped will will equip public officials with the ability to easily retrieve the data into usable format that's all the bill does And with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Representatives explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representatives close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen eighty four prepared machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty eight zero nine three present the bill is passed. Clark please read house bill fifteen forty six. Has a fifty forty six a representative Lanny Fite to face up with something soft drink tax and to provide the additional amounts to be distributed to offset the revenue reduction resulting from the phase of the soft drink the tax. Invite you're recognized explain the bill all right. Thank you Mr Speaker I'm back. I'll be very brief when I we have a long agenda today the Medicaid is the eight billion dollar industry. And we have one industry in this state and one single industry that is tax for that that does not benefit from an. And this bill right here will give tax relief to that industry and also for the public and also it'll give a to the restaurants and hospitality. Industry. You know I have been in government for a long time and I know when you have growth you you either grow government or you can cut taxes this bill right here does this over a long period of time I set long period three years. And with that it would be. Without growth the tax will not cut I'd be happy to answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote president fight is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent fight is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill fifteen forty six per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark. By a vote of sixty one yeas twenty seven days and five present the bill has failed. Represent represent Mayberry is moving the clincher. Mayberry has moved the clincher all in favor say aye. Those opposed. The nose haven't. The five hands. Where the machine Mr Clark. You're voting on the clincher motion prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cass about Mr Clark. By a vote of thirty eight fifty two nays and to present the motion is failed Mr Clark please read house bill seventeen eighty three. Also seventy two the representative talent to allow us students in certain grades in school access to vending machines or offering food and beverages that meet the nutrition. Nutrition standards of the Federal smarts Tax and school programs. Represent Brooks you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues I'm glad to present this on behalf of our my colleague representative to let this is a good proof that if you and I can be on the same side of a an education bill anything's possible right. House bill seventeen eighty three is just a good simple limited government Kerney Arkansas is the only state United States requires our schools to power down with their vending machines we all know that all the machines in schools have to have healthy snacks per federal regulation past several years ago and this simply allows us to not have to have from food safety quality issues right now as it is schools must power down of any machines thirty minutes after school starts and they cannot power the back up until thirty minutes after lunch so that presents food quality issues and again since there's not concerns related to the food that is in the vending machines per federal statute this is removed some I needed regulation I'm glad take any questions. President McKenzie for what purpose question you're recognized for a question I'm does this require them then to have them on it is not no it's permissive so fallen tree recognized not just so I understand this correctly this removes any regulation what so ever on vending machine use it does not rule regulation it'd are you speaking about specific to the food that's in the system specific to the schools having vending machines on a available are not schools may still make any choices they want to related any machines they can have them they don't have to have them this is strictly related to the powering of those machines if they choose to have them in their school. Thank represent Crawford for what purpose question you're recognized for a question do you think the price would go down for students if we were to pass that Sir no Sir tax. I hate to comment on legislation that's still potentially and in consideration. I see no further questions I appreciate a good vote. President Brooks has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Brooks is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill seventeen eighty three prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. That's about Mr Clark. Ninety two yeah zero nays and to present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen ninety one. Thank you ninety one a representative Dotson to create a network of certified academic language therapist to provide a specialized dyslexia instructional program for public school students with dyslexia related reading and written language difficulties represent Dotson recognize explained bill thank you Mr Speaker house bill eighteen ninety one further builds on the foundation set by previous dyslexia legislation the purpose of this legislation is to help educators who want to deepen their knowledge and skills to provide dyslexia therapy the certifications received for two as the certified academic language therapists and it's recognized as a rigorous in depth professional learning opportunity in certification process the state has identified this is a priority to address possible learning loss in reading for all grade levels. The goal of this is to create a robust network of five hundred. Certified academic language therapists over the next two years they can provide services throughout all corners of the state there are currently about a hundred of these in the state this legislation lays the framework for such a network and the expectations of the State moving forward. This lets us let this legislation does not require anything of districts it does not change the legislative requirement for dyslexia services or programs that are outlined in previous legislation more than happy to answer any questions representative wing for what purpose. I'm sorry. J. good vote. Representative Dotson is explained a bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Dotson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighty eight ninety one. Paris machine Mr Clerk. And everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark. Ninety one yeas or nays and zero presents the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen seventy nine. House lady thirty nine representative Cooper to a lot of different the pendency of certain veterans to receive tuition waivers to private nonprofit institutions of higher education in this state and to and to cap the amount of the tuition waiver for the dependents of certain veterans representative Cooper you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members today I present to you house bill eighteen seventy nine this bill is constituent revenue want to give full credit to the Robertson family back home in White County that brought this idea to me. This bill make an amendment to the military dependent scholarship just a little background on the scholarship it was created by the state legislature in nineteen seventy three it provides financial aid for undergraduate students seeking a bachelor's degree or certificate of completion of any public college university or technical school in Arkansas. The students must qualify as a spouse or dependent child of an Arkansas veteran has been declared be missing in action killed in action a prisoner of war or killed an ordinance delivery. In two thousand five then senator Shane Broadway amid the amended the bill also include dependents of veterans who've been declared to be one hundred percent totally and permanently disabled as a result of active military service. Scholarships currently limited usage of public universities this is specified in the original nineteen seventy three bill this is likely because of the generally higher cost of private institutions. The Amendment I am proposing does two things first allows a scholarship to also be utilized at private nonprofit institutions such as lying college Philander Smith John Brown sent central Baptist and others. This will make it consistent with other current Arkansas scholarship programs. Secondly the Indian amendment also caps the award for student choosing to attend a private institution to match the match maximum that the department of higher education awards to students attending a public university. Whether a student chooses to attend a public or private institution there will be a quality and awards. This year that amount was approximately nine thousand dollars per semester and department of higher education what would determine those amounts each academic year. I visited the doctor Markham about this idea and she was very helpful in crafting good language to ensure there would be no harmful effects on the program or any unintended consequences. All also visited with Shane Broadway since the amended the bill in two thousand five he was supportive of the idea. Arkansas independent colleges and universities in Arkansas learns of also come out in support of the bill. This bill simply increases opportunities for students with no additional spending or additional funding required at this time. It's important to note that we aren't enlarging the pool of students who qualify those qualifiers are already set out in the original nineteen seventy three bill and the two thousand five amendments. All we're doing is adding opportunity for students who already qualify for the scholarship. The question was asked in committee yesterday how many students utilize a scholarship we didn't have those numbers yesterday but Dr Martin got those to me this morning the past three academic years there have been one hundred nine students one hundred and seven students and ninety four students have utilized a scholarship. That concludes my presentation I'd be glad to answer any questions. Thank you members I would really appreciate a good vote. Representative Cooper as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill representative Cooper's close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen seventy nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety one Yeas one nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen ninety five. Ninety five a representative Lowery to forever prohibit faculty members and staff members of educational institutions from knowingly engaging and encouraging casing. Represent Larry you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. The idea for this bill was brought to me by a friend of mine someone who identified himself when when he came before the the Education Committee as a friend but also someone that he we both the knowledge couldn't be further apart on the political spectrum is very liberal. good guy. But as he is been following some of the discussions of previous bills that I filed one related to critical race theory one of the issues that he was also most concerned about is that you can teach theory. You can talk about different perspectives even for instance the sixteen nineteen project for you can do that without demeaning students. We have a and so the idea he brought to me is that Arkansas already has statute it was motivated by some concerns that it happened in the early two thousands where fraternities were and they've been hazing for a long time but it really got out of control when one fraternity actually of their actions contributed to the death of a student and a fraternity at the U. of a campus losing its charter. The principles here or the objectives the definition of hazing though goes beyond any kind of physical abuse. In the bill it describes hazing as a willful act on or off the property of any school college university or other educational institution in Arkansas by one student and all we've done is add in here. Something that if if we believe it is wrong for a student to demeanor ostracized Hayes another student that how Morse how much more so those who we give authority faculty and staff we've not changed the definition of hazing we have just included that bar to of acceptable behavior to faculty and staff and let me just going further that the definition of hazing is. Any action this done for the purpose of intimidating the student. By threatening him or her with social or other ostracism or submitting such students to ignominy shame or disgrace among his or her fellow students and acts calculated to produce such results. I know some of you started receiving emails from university saying well this is going to infringe upon academic freedom S. the very reason why this professor Fran K. brought this idea to me he said I disagree with you mark on any of your bills that would prohibit the teaching of certain subjects be somewhere I agree is when the teaching through exercises or other activities within the class really. Elevates to bringing shame upon students and I'll I'll give you an example many of you know and representative Gazaway chaired meetings J. P. archer joint performance review meetings where we did investigations into what was going on in the Arkansas school for math and science one of the activities that they use what's called the privilege walk where they ask questions or make statements and if this statement applies to the student there to move forward a step if it applies in other cases you go backwards a step is simple questions. Statements like do you did you grow up with two parents in your family. Is your family on their home do you own more than one car and you step forward. Maybe other questions would be have you been awakened that night by the sounds of gunshots take one step backward and at the end of the process you have a line of students there well out in front of the others. Now if the exercise ended at telling the students turn around and look and. Help I understand that some students start at a disadvantage review that's fine. Where the exercise goes too far is when the students that are out in front are labeled. Or call privilege or called oppressors. And the other students are called marginalized. One faculty member wrote. In a national publication that he used to do the privilege walk. Any city stopped it because he realized that it was demeaning to both groups of students not just the ones that are labeled as privileged these activities are going on in our schools. Now to say and I've read some of the emails that it's going to threaten a credit ation that if the nursing program at such and such school that they can't teach certain subjects are you kidding me. You can't teach subjects without holding up students to ridicule. Ostracizing them. We in the State of Arkansas do not allow students to do that to other students. Why should we not also want to stand up today and say people who we have given authority to faculty and staff that they also ought to be hold held to the same standard. Of correct behavior. In working with one another three difficult subjects there are difficult subjects that are being discussed and were not infringing upon that we're not at all restricting that. But we're saying it should be done in a way where you respect the dignity of those who have been assigned your class they signed up for your class we think that they should respect that and so members I would to I ask for favorable favorable vote vote but I'm also open for questions. Representative McCollum for what purpose. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker. So representative Lowery with this bill would be hazing to miss agenda or call a student by name that they do not want to be called with that not because that student disgrace and shame. If the if you'd call them by the name that they preferred. I guess that would be up to that student to decide if that would be a shame or not and it is something that the school can act upon in if they decide not to act upon all this bill does is give the the student an extra level of records. Where they could go ahead and and file a complaint and it would be a misdemeanor. If it if it was found guilty follow up please you're recognized thank you. So do they follow up with them I mean is there who who makes the decisions about this well as I said the for the first line of of redress you would hope would be if it's a high school going to the principal maybe taking superintendent if they just kind of laughed it off and didn't respond upon about wanted this bill gives the authority gives the right to that student to be able to go to the local prosecutor and filed charges. Representative Deffenbaugh for what purpose is gin you're recognized for a question thank you Maybe a crazy question but by don't you think teachers have sense enough to know not to be engaged in this records in this. Without a lot without our law. You know coach you would hope that that be the case and I know you warning committee when this was presented because I was prepared. For you to ask some tough questions about you know if the if the coach wants to discipline the student on his team and makes him run extra laps or makes a run the bleachers or worse yet the whole team has to run and the coach says you're running because of John because of what John did. I say that's hazing. And I would say that with this law hopefully coaches would maybe be of more sensitive because you know and I know that that is going on. Not not allowing students to you know we've heard cases where coaches did not allow students to get the proper water and hydration that they needed as punishment that would be hazing. All up you're recognized okay So I didn't hear what you said on your last answer to it Who had enforce that I don't understand that how are who who defines hazing for like to talk about a coach right now all players in this statue would define hazing it's it's in there if you're holding up the student's chamber ignominy or disgrace among their fellow peers the enforcement would be would be the court would be would be a if you did not feel like you were getting redress from the school if they wanted to step in and do it if not the student has as an extra level of protection which would be this this principle you know we thought it was important enough for fraternities not to Hayes each other. Why not faculty and staff that's that's all I'm saying okay thanks represent brown for what purpose. Question you're recognized it in representative Lowery you may just have sort of answered this but but I want to clarify something did you not say in committee that students are not allowed to do these types of things and we're just and so this your legislation simply means that that the. Faculty teachers cannot change the student is. Yes thank you for your question it currently is a law that students cannot do this to one another we're not making up something out of thin air we're already using statute that from my understanding is been around for over fifteen years it was a reaction to some very harmful incidents where students were demeaning were hazing remaining other students we've the legislature we weren't here then but that legislature felt it was important enough to pass a law today we're recognizing I hope the faculty and staff are to be held to the same standard thank you very much representative Eads for what purpose question you're recognized president Lowery will I understand we're trying to do but what would happen if a student is not getting the grade that he thought he deserved or having an issue with the teacher what would prevent that student from accusing a faculty member of hazing one that might not have been the case in the following complaint against that particular a faculty member I will typically grades are something that's between the faculty member and the student and is not something where they're held up to shame among their classmates now it's different if the teacher said okay Boyd Johnson you know he failed this test he's really stupid. You know we're gonna hold him back if he does that in front of the others that faculty member doesn't from the other students yeah that faculty member ought to be liable for that kind of behavior by law you're recognized I understand what you're saying there but my point is really if if the student didn't deserve a grade the teachers not harassing about that great but the the student is just making up something about the faculty member to say that he was hazing and because he didn't get the great all I see if their wretched radiant students from okay acting teachers about the right way because this will hire to be able to prove to be able to prove that there would still be the same same standard of proof that you would have to have in a court you still have to have evidence you'd have to have witnesses that said that they actually witnessed that kind of behavior it couldn't just be one person saying some represent Wooten for what purpose. Question you're recognized. Lowery would you consider. Football to be a team sport. What foot is football a team sport yes it is okay does not mean that each player has to rely on the other player in all eleven have to work together yes so if one member of that team. One member of that team. All up. You're recognized this is one member of that team he is important to the other eleven. And your did you say that if a coach has to team run because the other player messes up or doesn't do some rights are continually repeats the same action if that code so as your running because of job that's hazing I would say that it is specially if you're seeing singling out a student for ridicule. Pointing out that this is not just conditioning this is punishment and it's all because of John then yes that would that would could be could could be considered hazing under this staff all the. Thank you word here's punishment punishment is different than the hazing in here include coaches in this because of the way they function within teams yeah I'm sorry reps I having a hard time I understand that there's a line between conditioning proper condition again eight and I you don't thank you for your questions I'm a step out of the well because I know there's some of you just itching to speak against it so I'll let you do that. have Lowry's explained Bill would anyone like to speak against the bill representative Wardlaw you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Hazen was always designed to criminalize the fact between student on student never designed for the for the faculty members there's a way to report these faculty members effect meaning any student right now state or federal code. These folks don't make a lot of money people they just don't. And the last thing we want to do is make it or we can't hire anybody in our universities in Arkansas because we criminalize. So with that I would ask you to be of no vote on this bill. Represent Wardlaw spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Represent Lowery. Would you like to close for a bill. Discuss contract closed briefly. Yeah we already crypt we already criminalize bad behavior. Between students we think it's wrong. We pass all kinds of legislation against bullying we we talk all the time about how bullying leads to teen suicide and we should do everything that we can prevent can can do to prevent that. And so we put this into code in the statute to make sure that students were not. Ostracizing demeaning pushing students bullying them hazing them whatever you want to call it. Well the truth is a lot of times that intimidation comes from authority figures. And it would be criminal I think on our part. You say we we're not going to protect students give the students the same protection that they have for one another. We're gonna lead a faculty member do that to them. If we think it's wrong to criminalize it then someone needs to file a bill to get rid of this whole coat about hazing. But we should we need it there we need to protect our students. From whoever is doing. The ostracizing the intimidating. The singling out for ridicule. We should stand up and take that stand and I wish you would today with the due with a good vote thank you. Represent Lowery is close to the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill eighteen ninety five per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gas ballot Mr Clark. Sixteen yeas fifty eight nays and three present the bill is failed. Mr Clark read house bill seventeen ninety two. House bill seventy ninety two a representative Slape concerning the collection of fines ordered to be paid by a person convicted of a felony. Represents like you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins it's my pleasure to bring this seventeen ninety two to you a very good bill excellent bill such a good bill and even representative Collins wanted on board. What this this address is voted to appear and failure to pay warrant said to or issued one a. When a detainee is in Arkansas Department correction he may not have been able to pay these fines because is incarcerated at the time normally the circuit court will issue a warrant for him to appear in the court he is of the orders issued for the sheriff to pick up the the detainee at the department of corrections take it back to court and he says judges in jail in prison I could make a pot fund payments they say oh okay taken back to prison show up when you get out of prison this removes that removes shares from have to go pick them up for no reason and bring them back it also allows for the detainee to get a hold of the circuit court six months before they are released is a ninety days that they can either temporary reducer well payments any longer than ninety days have to go in front of the court and see what they should be temporarily reduced it's a win for both sides on this and we're now I will take a any questions on how wonderful this bill is. Seeing none appreciate a good vote. Representative Slape has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Slape is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill seventeen ninety two where the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Cast a ballot Mr Clark. Ninety eight yeas or nays zero president bills pass. Mr Clark read house bill sixteen ninety three. Also sixty ninety three by representative Maddox to enact a uniform fiduciary income and principal act and to repeal the uniform principal and income act. Representative Matix you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is really a fairly simple bill it's fairly long but most of the language or a lot of the languages stricken language this is a uniform bill brought to me by the uniform law commission so that's a group of law professors lawyers who specialize in the field they make recommendations and they're instituted all over the states this would basically make it more beneficial for state planners an estate planning it'll be more beneficial for beneficiaries of trusts bus revoke herbal anti revoke herbal trust to be beneficial for them it does allow for what we call total return investing total return investing is basically it does not matter regardless whether it's income growth or principal so just does some good things like that the bar associations for it bankers association chamber commerce everyone's good with it past and instead of committee and I've heard of no one who's posing to be glad to take any questions. Saying not appreciate a good vote. Represent Maddox is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Maddox is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill sixteen ninety three per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Yes about Mister Clerk. Ninety six J. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen ninety eight. Also eighty ninety a representative Wardlaw to define vehicle as an extension of a person's home and to define the term journey across all applicable applicable laws. President Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker so last Wednesday night I was on the way home from appeared I got a call from a constituent and they said how come we just can't carry a weapon in our vehicle like they new Mississippi and Mississippi that define a vehicle as a home so you can have anything in your vehicle that you can have at home. So it's a good idea off all that tomorrow so I filed on Thursday and ran it through House judiciary which has become my favorite Committee because some reason I've ended up living in there the session let this bill came out a house Judiciary without a dissenting vote and that's what it does it defines the car as a whole there is some concerns about search and seizure of those vehicles going forward I don't think that I believe that same concern but we go sit down to the Senate and we'll keep having those discussions and see what they what they thank but the other thing it does it does change the definition a journey the definition a journey to date is two things bill does And definition journey today as when you cross county line. With this bill going forward it's every time you get in your car so you no longer have to cross county lines of those people that work within accounting they live within the county they hardly ever leave they can now be perceived as on a journey when they go to work so with that I'd be happy to answer any questions and create a good vote. Thank you. Represent Wardlaw as explained a bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Wardlaw is closed for the bill question before the House is passage of house bill eighteen ninety eight per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. I guess it the ballot Mister Clerk. With eighty eight one nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen forty nine. Thank you for not a representative Collins to amend the law concerning when a vehicle may be driven upon the left lane of a multi lane highway president Colin you're recognized explained the bill thank you Mr Speaker so this bill says that the left lane of a multi lane highway will be with a few exceptions for passing only the current law says that you can't obstruct traffic by driving continuously in the left lane so this is a change in the driver's seat to keep right and less they're passing there's two reasons that this approach is better first it's safer for everyone on the roads if people are not hanging out in the left lane left lane driving means more lane changes is faster drivers go back and forth between cars to pass which is actually more dangerous than speeding more passing on the right and more road rage all of which lead to more crashes the second big reason that this bill helps is efficiency of traffic whether you want to drive at the speed limit under or a little over nobody wants to drive slower than what they're trying to drive at and everyone benefits for more efficient roads efficient roads is good for economic development because it helps cargo will get where it needs to go when it needs to get there which is good for business and it just makes for a better driving experience the state police came to committee spoke positively about how this bill will help safety and clarify the rules for drivers and police they're officially neutral highway department has in the past been opposed to this idea but they are also now neutral other states have adopted it with good success trucking association likewise no position no fiscal impact to the state just an estimated hundred thousand for new signs that can be clear that the highway department will absorb into its budget. Final point there are exceptions in here where you can drive in the left lane those are taken from elsewhere in code there for passing is mention one other lanes are closed when the other ones are on drivable or otherwise and safe when you're preparing to exit on the last or most importantly when other lands are in disrepair because we all know that there are some monthly right lands in the state and if that's the case you're absolutely fine to go left this is a bill that helps other the House drivers mostly and it's something that will make it more safe and efficient that I appreciate a good vote. Represent Collins has explained bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Collins is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen forty nine per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gas up the ballot Mr Clark fifty five Yeas twenty seven days and three present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill seventeen sixty seven. Puzzle seventy six summer representative Johnson to allow the operation of a personal delivery delivery to the vice production areas and certain streets and roads represent Johnson you're recognized explained bill Mr thank you Mr Speaker colleagues so this bill is the framework for a new delivery model that some companies are starting to use now to deliver packages to your doorway it's it's an interesting model they're using the small devices they're about the size of a clothes hamper maybe half the size in hot this podium they're designed to deliver to deliver autonomously but they use of a driver like a drone would they go at low speeds they go on side streets and sidewalks in their design to try to take an opportunity to deliver you a package on your schedule so the the protocol is you put in the time you're going to be on your ports they've got these hubs they set up in neighborhoods and then they put the packaging the device the device goes out to your house stop some from your house you get a signal you walk out the hamper lid raises up you pick up your package it drives on and then you go back about your business again this is a model is being used in some states this sets the regulations in place to make sure it's you safely if it were to be used in the State of Arkansas the import thing to recognize about this piece of legislation as it does have opt out language in it so it preserves local control which an is important all of us and it allows communities that if they don't want this model being used in their neighborhoods are in their cities they just have to pass orders say we don't want it but if there are communities that are looking to embrace this model the way it works for them in certain neighborhoods this would provide that framework and for that to happen some people are concerned about you know this is going to take away the UPS driver the fed ex driver this is not intended to replace that person but some but but to augment that delivery style so they they're still gonna be folks behind these devices driving them loading the packages And then also your service in the packages and and leasing the space for the devices to stay and I'll be happy to try to answer any questions. Saying that I appreciated that thank you president Johnson is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Johnson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill seventeen sixty seven per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mister Clark with eighty nine Yeas one day and present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill eighteen fifty eight. Also eighteen fifty ever representative Richardson to me the law concerning the operation of the automated enforcement device by municipality or department of state government operating within the boundaries of a municipality. Representative Richardson you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker of. House Bill eighteen fifty eight does a couple of different things what it does well before I tell you what it does let me tell you why I'm running the bill specifically in the area that I live in and enforcement specifically downtown we have a huge issue of people just running red lights and in several occasions me and my family specifically my son. Have been in jeopardy of almost getting hit by people running red lights. This is a problem not just in Fort Smith but I've actually had the same things happen here in Little Rock Arkansas or Clarksville and and other places that I've traveled so what this bill does is that it gives municipalities the ability to add a device to regulate speed and to cite people for red lights so if they run a red light there cited of the takes a picture of the vehicle and the license plate not the person inside the vehicle that's not necessary in order for the the citation to take place and it does not impact the driving record so there won't be any points that will be removed off of your driving record this is that's what the bill does and I appreciate a good vote. Representative Richardson is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. United anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Barry you are recognized to speak for the bill. I told my colleague got thank you Mr Speaker. Until my colleagues that I was gonna support this bill and I said in the transportation committee and I listen to the bill and I heard absolutely no opposition to the bill. And I came to little rock to pass good bills and I believe a representative Richardson has a good when you're there's no privacy concerns with this ladies in German they do this all over the country if you're ever in the national capital region tell you what makes you think twice about running a red light it's a great deterrent but not only that they're not saying that everybody has to do it municipal governments can choose to do it or they don't have to choose to do it is totally their private but the bottom line is a great deterrent saves lives is a good bill and I'm going to support the of the bill just like the the entire transportation committee did thank you Mr Speaker. Representatives berry has spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill represent Wardlaw you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you Mr I don't want to speak against this bill but. Years ago this bill came up and we put some agreed upon language in it that if an officer was present they could issue a citation this bill strikes that language and that language was very carefully thought out and written and it was only a a small loophole written in that language at that time it was written for the state line weight stations so that they can read those license plates as those trucks came on to those scales so they would have all that print out ready I see Danny Watson on his head so he knows what I'm talking about and he was down there in a district that was on the US count a state line but I just think for the safety of our citizens we still need to have those officers present if we're going to issue any citations and we need to keep sure make sure we keep that integrity in our system with an officer present thank you. Represent Wardlaw spoken against building like to speak for the bill. In like to speak against the bill. A representative but you're recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues I just wanna make you aware of a situation it. I've run into we've we've got an auto auction in Jonesborough and Memphis evidently has something very similar to this so what we first became aware of was A dealer that sold an automobile through our auction to another dealer that lived in the of had a business in the Memphis area. Got a ticket. For vehicle running a red light. And come to find out. The. Company that chases down the violators for Memphis I guess it's a third party they mail these tickets to on and I have a form this is if I if this is not your vehicle fill out this form so the person filled out said I traded it in on that such and such car dealership on such and such date. So that company sent a second ticket to the car dealer in the car dealer said well I filled out the form as if we sold it at the auto auction which was my option on such and such date. And so we're the third in line and they send us a ticket. And we check our records and we sold it to this dealer in Memphis on such and such date prior to the violation and so we've. Well I conformance and it back in the third party vendor that servicing this for the city of Memphis. Contact us and says we only allow two people in the chain to fill out a form you'll have to appear in court. And so I have to send an employee. To Memphis on a court date. To show the records that the car sold through our auction prior to the violation that's just too much harassment to be going on if you have a officer present an issue a citation I mean it's obvious who's in the car and who violated the law. But it's so complicated with trying to chase down the violators off of a camera that they have to hire an employee a third party vendor to chase them down and I'm sure they get a percentage of every ticket so they're probably happy to to do the leg work but we don't need our cans is being harassed and that way I appreciate you voted down. Representative Payton is spoken against building like to speak for the bill. And I'm anyone like to speak against the bill. Representive Richmond you're recognized close for your bill R. Richardson sorry. Me and Richmond look just alike I think. Of no I I I it in closing I don't I don't see this as harassment I see this is a safety deal and I appreciate a good vote thanks. Representative Richardson has close for his bill the question before the House is the passage of H. B. eighteen fifty eight. Prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voting. Asked about. The vote of thirty days forty five days and seven present the bill is filed. Mr Clark please read bill house bill eleven fifty seven. Hello fifty seven I represent representative tell it to increase the amount of income tax of the income tax deduction for teachers qualified classroom investment expense. President elect you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker thank you colleagues it is an honor to bring to you this bill as you know our teachers have worked extremely hard they continue working extremely hard this bill simply doubles there the current tax deduction and takes it from two hundred fifty dollars to five hundred dollars per teacher or four and five hundred to a thousand dollars per household this money is spent on it goes directly to the books school supplies computer equipment and software Athletic equipment Food for the teacher's students and clothing for the teacher's students are teachers take care these babies every year this gives not only our teachers a tax deduction but it also benefits the students whose lives are greatly impacted in a positive way because of it. With that I'll be glad to take any questions that you may have. C. N. nine I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative to let has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like it would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative to let is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of H. B. eleven fifty seven prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Cast about Mister Clerk. The vote of ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill ten fifty four. The former representative back to me the law concerning sales tax requirements for special events and to allow the sales tax exemption for athletic fields to apply at special events. Representative back you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Collins said that bring house bill ten fifty four this is a simple bill in the state of Arkansas. There's a thing called isolated sales isolated cells reply to individuals selling something. On my farm to someone else I restore old cars as a hobby I can sell a part that I. An extra part to have for no car use part or whatever and I would not charge sales tax for that because it's considered to be an isolated sale. If I went to a special event like a car show or swap me that sale that would have been perfectly legal yesterday the have charge no sales tax I would have to charge a sales tax at the at the event so all this bill does is just removes that exemption solid allow isolated sales for the current special events another good example would be. At of I think Benton has a big model train a special event so individuals hobby is just local individuals the department of finance and administration has well defined what isolated sales are vendor sales would still go through they would still have to pay sales tax or vendor sells because those people are in the in the business of selling those good so with that saying no questions I would appreciate a good vote. Representative back is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. But I would like to speak for the bill. Representative back as close to the bill. Question before the House is the passage of H. B. ten fifty four. Prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. With a vote of ninety four Yeas zero nays and zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read House Bill fifteen oh nine. You know number representative brown to amend the Arkansas tax deferred tuition savings program act to adopt recent changes contained in the Internal Revenue Code and to change the name of the program. Representative brown you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues House Bill fifteen oh nine is primarily a bill that brings Arkansas tax code in line with federal tax code with regard to the call the five to nine plans college savings plans as what they used to be called now they cover just about any kind of post secondary education in recent in recent years you can actually use the money in these plans to pay for K. through twelve education what's additionally nice about this year's change is that you can use the funds in these plans to pay off existing student loans. And you can also use them to pay your cost for an apprenticeship program. The only part about this that is uniquely Arkansas is that we are changing the name of the plan from the Arkansas tax deferred tuition savings program act to something a little more glamorous recalling if the Arkansas brighter future plan and the reason that significant is that research shows that if a student has money in a savings plan even if it's as little as five hundred dollars they are more likely to attend post secondary program. So we think this gives people a brighter future so. I would appreciate a good vote any questions or. I'm. Putting my foot. Thank you I appreciate a good vote represented brown is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill minimum like to speak for the bill. Representative brown is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage but H. B. fifteen oh nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. The vote of ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Clerk please read house bill eleven ninety six. Eleven ninety six representative Christian Christiansen to provide a sales and use tax exemption for water used by Paul a poultry farm and to require the adoption of related rules. Represent Christiansen you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker. Calling this is a very straightforward bill. It's something that we like to do is to help the people of the State of Arkansas it provides a sales and use tax exemption for water use by a poultry farm does not affect processors where they use copious amounts of water this is specifically for the producers and the growers we exempt water for pork beef producers other other situations corn rice you name it go down the line we do not for poultry law was passed back in twenty thirteen that included poultry water but for some reason it is not been implemented in our statutes this law will correct that problem and it will allow the sales and use tax to be exempted only for the water used in the production of poultry for the broader houses in the growers those are small farmers they need your assistance we have an opportunity to give them some assistance and I ask for a good vote. Seeing no questions. Please vote to help our poultry farmers. Represent Christiansen has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representative Christiansen is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of H. B. eleven ninety six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about. Mr Clark. The vote of ninety five Yeas zero nays and three present the bill has passed. Mr Clark please read House Bill fifteen thirteen. Also fifteen thirteen representative Eubanks to create income tax credit for retired law enforcement officers who were called cases with the division of Arkansas state police. Representive Eubanks you're recognized to explain the bill. Member thank you Mr Speaker of members this this bill creates an income tax credit for retired police officers to work cold cases for the Arkansas state police the mat maximum fiscal impact to the State of would be twenty five thousand dollars the state police have indicated they don't intend to hire that many officers to or. Bring them on to work these cold cases the maximum Tax credit in an officer could get would be thirty five hundred dollars they would have to work a thousand hours on cold cases in order to receive the maximum out and it's program that they work five hundred hours on a case it only get seventeen fifty if they. It can only be used to the extent of the income tax that the of the State. And that if they don't use at all they can be carried forward two years so State police like I said only indicated that they're going to. Hires three so I appreciate a good vote represented Clowney for what purpose. Representive Eubanks is left so well. Representive Eubanks is explain the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative wing no. When you might like to speak for the bill. Representative Eubanks is closed for the bill question before the House passage of H. B. fifteen thirteen prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Has everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. The vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill sixteen forty one. Sixty forty one by representative warned to write a sales and use tax exemption for sales to the young men's Christian association and to declare an emergency. Represent warn you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues there too why am cities YMCAs left in the State of Arkansas now once in hot springs and the other one is in Warren they're both five oh one see three organizations but they do not have a tax exempt status when it comes to purchases we try to find out why that didn't happen at the beginning we really have no explanation that's all this bill is doing is trying to fix that adding the ability to make purchases with the tax exempt status we're talking organizations or mud made up mostly of children and elderly people so I would just ask you to help us with this tax exemption I would appreciate a good vote. Represented Warner's explain the bill would you like to speak against the bill. Would you like to speak for the bill. Representive worn is closed for the bill question before the House is passage of H. B. sixteen forty one per the machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill and emergency clause. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. The voted ninety one Yeas one a and three present the bill and the emergency clause has passed. Mr Clark please read house bill sixteen ninety eight. Hustle sixty ninety a representative Jett twelve delinquent property taxes to be set off against state tax refunds in whole or in part to amend the law concerning the fee charged for setting off the debts against state tax refunds. Scented jet you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins this is association the council bill this bill allows local property taxes be set off against state tax returns hole impart an amend the law concerning the fee charged setting off debts again state tax refunds the fees will go from ten percent to for up to five percent for the forty thousand dollar hit to Central Services. Read upon bills far. It's been a couple months as far as I know they've been no opposition to some kind of appreciate a good vote. Representative Jett is planned building like to speak against the bill. When one like to speak for the bill. Representative Jett is close for the bill. Before the house passage of H. B. sixteen ninety eight. Read the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clerk. The voter ninety four Yeas one et and to present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill eighteen forty seven. Oscillating forty seven by representative Mayberry to amend the eligibility for a long term care Medicaid assistance to ensure that beneficiaries of the low income disabled working person category of Medicaid can transition to other categories in the Arkansas Medicaid program. A representative Mayberry you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you members I have a friend who came to me at the beginning of the session with a problem and I said well let's see if we can fix that. Her name is Shannon long she is a C. for complete quadriplegic. She is in on the Medicaid buy in program thanks to a bill that representative Miller passed a few sessions ago. This allows her to earn and also save money without income restrictions or resource limits I'm like so many other programs and she does. Still qualify for the home and community based waiver program. She has a very fulfilling job she says a fantastic employer a four O. three B. retirement plan and savings for the future. She graduated in two thousand and nine with a bachelor's degree degree and in twenty fourteen received her masters in rehab counseling she's amazing. She is a contributing member to our society despite her disability prying to being a part of the Medicaid buy in program she worked herself off of SS I and S. S. D. R. E. and she reached financial independence under this Medicaid buy in program. However she's discovered that when she retires and keep in mind she's only thirty four now so this is way on down the road but she's forward thinking. When she retires she still gonna need Medicaid waiver services but in order to keep those Medicaid waiver services she will be subject to the same monthly income limitations and resource limitations of just two thousand dollars meaning she's going to lose her saving she's going to lose her retirement she's gonna lose everything that she has worked hard for in order to stay on that program that she so desperately needs in order to live an independent life she does not want to be in a nursing home. And it's just not the right message to send to those who have overcome enough work so hard so H. B. eighteen forty seven will allow her to enjoy the fruits of her labor and retirement while also being able to live independently according to DHS there are a hundred and ninety four individuals on the Medicaid buy in program right now and they're only five who were enrolled in the home and community based waiver service program this passage of this bill will affect a very small number of people however the significance of it to those people just really cannot be overstated. Supporting this bill will send a very consistent message to people with significant disabilities physical disabilities especially by allowing them to reach their full working goals I hope that you can support by voting yes on this bill. Thank you. Represent Mayberry's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Mayberry is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen forty seven per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety four U. A. zero nine one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill fifteen forty seven. House of fifteen forty forty seven by representative Lundstrum to hurt prohibit the state from maintaining a vaccine or immune is the immunization for credit virus twenty nineteen to govern different permits for vaccine and immunization for credit rise twenty nineteen into the plan which the president wants from you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker. This this bill has traveled a long way to get here and taking a few twists and turns it has shrunk quite a bit now it is down to one thing. This is government controlling government I want to be very clear this is government controlling government. The governor said wisely that we as a state will non meant not to mandate the vaccine to our employees the state agencies that we are over I think this sets a good example the bill does not tell private businesses. That they cannot mandate or that they can or cannot mandate it is still under an emergency use authorization I think that is a very important thing to remember it is still under an emergency use authorization that doesn't mean the vaccines better good I think vaccines are wonderful but this is still under an emergency use authorization meeting. Still have to be we're on this Petri dish of life together it's got its place the vaccine's gonna have a lot of things twists and turns that's part of life we do need to remember some things on the vaccines to save lives we also need to remember that if somebody doesn't want to take the vaccine there are three exemptions religious philosophical and health reasons. There are some escape valves in this and I think a very important. If I have an abundance of caution. If a state agency comes to. Public health house and Senate and says there is an issue with schools for example of one of the viruses should mutate. And we have an issue they have to come to the Senate in public health and tell us why so that the public can weigh in and I think that's very important so the governor and the Department secretary of health would issue a letter to house and Senate public health and within two weeks they would meet. So the. Public we the people can weigh in I think that's very important to have those release valves. Finally. I'm so thankful that we have to live in a society where we can make those choices with the vaccine and that we have good science and I think science and time were coming together and hopefully we can save some lives and give people some of those options with that I would appreciate a good vote. President flowers for purpose. Represent Lundstrum has explained the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent flowers you're recognized speak for the bill against. All right you're recognized speak against. It is not I'm not really speak against the bill I hope that on enclosing resent luncheon can answer questions I had these questions early on about the mandate and my only concern would be at our health care facilities I was an employee at UAMS for ten years and we had to get the flu vaccine of course it wasn't under the emergency order and and I believe under the emergency order we can't mandate it but once it's not and it can be mandated what about those agencies like the department of health and UAMS How this how would this bill effect that thank you. Representative. Lauersen's spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative once from you're recognized close for. Thank you and out of respect for representative flowers and that is a good question and needs to be answered that escape valve that's in there. We you I am asking easily come to the Senate house of public health and. They are welcome to the to do that because they may see the need for having the vaccine and out of respect for them that would be included in here. President Lundstrum is closed for the bill the question before the House the passage of house bill fifteen forty seven prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted voting on the bill and the emergency clause has everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of seventy eight yeas one day in April present the bill emergency clause or pass Mr Clark please read house bill eighteen eighty. That's what eighteen any representative Johnson to many behavioral health crisis intervention protocol upset twenty seventeen represent Johnson you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues colleagues this bill cleans are some language in the act was passed two sessions ago to create across the stabilization units it aligns statue with current practice these crosses stabilization use or not designed or intended to be detainee facilities or to hold people in custody they're designed to treat people with psychiatric illnesses in a under a voluntary capacity so this bill just cleans up that language to clarify that issue again to line up without current practices happening then we have to try to answer questions on this bill. Seeing not appreciate a good vote thank you represent Johnson explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Johnson is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of house bill eighteen eighty prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eighteen fifty two. House bill eighteen fifty two representative great to set standards for prescriptions delivery. President great you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker will see if I can do better this time around and this is a fairly simple bill that is simply gives the state board of pharmacy the right to promulgate rules around us initially prohibition on mandating mail order prescriptions we already have that statute under insurance code not really enforceable at this time so what we're doing is adding this to the state board of pharmacy so they can promulgate the rules I'll be glad to take any questions. C. nine I'd appreciate a good vote thank you president grade six plane the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. President gray is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eighteen fifty two per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six yeah zero nine eight one present the bill is passed members removed the yellow budget calendar represent gene you're recognized. President Jeanne moos replace house bill twelve oh six on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection read a member number three Mr Clark. number three to House Bill troubles that. Singeing recognized explain the amendment. I miss Baker colleagues house bill twelve oh six former corrections. This deletes the language of the river side vocational school inside the prison the part of education is going to take the school over so it will not be needed to the Department corrections anymore any questions. Richard good vote on amendment. Represent Jean has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. President Jean is closed for the amendment the question before the House. Question before the House is the adoption of a member number three to house bill twelve oh six all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The amendments adopted represent Jamison place house bill twelve a seven on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection remember members five Mister Clark. Number five the twelve apostles O. seven. Jean you're recognized explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker this house bill twelve oh seven. Part of energy environment what this is is a Amendment. By US senator mark Johnson. Leding increases the fueling systems across the state the funding from five to fifty million of right now there's no general revenue. I guess you have to look for grants or federal revenue but that's what this amendment does any questions. President makes for what purpose. Recognized for a question my question is fifty million dollars that sounds like an awful lot of charging stations do we have any ideas or plans on where these charging stations will be going who'd be funding them who would be paying for the electricity coming from these charging stations. That was not brought up in joint budget of the and I I he really doesn't have any idea where the funding is coming from within I guess hope you get federal dollars. President Wardlaw for purpose question recognized. So do we give any funds are appropriating funds for all and gas on cars. No. Follow recognized for follow up so this is strictly for alternative methods for vehicles yes so. In I haven't finished my follow up so I don't want to be counted against me and you're done or answer me. So well this is just a F. one question at a time. What. So this follows the white house's push for alternative fuel fuel for cars right correct thank you president Ferguson for what purpose Beston recognized I thought I was told that because of we're you know and the auto industry's moving more toward more electric cars that if the federal infrastructure bill passes that there would be money coming to the state that could be used there there could possibly be but but when we ask him committee was really funny that we knew of now there's nothing set in stone right now right but there's no state may just possible correct structure correct thank you represent Haak for what purpose question you're recognized but we would need a appropriation buckets for those federal funds and. Been money got have appropriation but follow up so our vote today would be to make available that so that we could receive federal funds should they become available correct thank you. President Fortner for purpose question you're recognized. Would you agree that this ask is for the seventeen hundred electric cars that are registered in the state which is point all one percent each of the four million cars registered Mister Fortner I did not know how many electric cars or the state would if you say all right I'll agree with it thank you. President McKenzie for what purpose question you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker still trying to learn with this appropriation process to us. This Legislative Council have the authority to. Increase decrease increase really appropriations. Can Legislative Council increase yes they can follow up. So made this rhetorical question so is there any then to give these large scale Appropriations there's really not funding that amount of funding in the line for yet. Well I don't know what the intent of the member is but I just I just he's asking from five it was a five million dollar procreation and he's bumping it up the fifty million dollar procreation of what I think yeah I can get is that is mine. Any other questions represent brown for what purpose question you're recognized representative Jean I believe it's true that if you are driving a Tesla or something and you put in in your go Google maps to go somewhere but if you're in Texas and you want to go to Illinois it will route you around Arkansas because there are no charging station so if that is true with this not help increase tourism through Arkansas well it would help if we get the funding I guess to have more stations thank. Any other questions. Preciado good vote on the amendment president Jean has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. President make sure recognized to speak against the amendment. I'm only speaking against this because I think there's some unanswered questions related to how this program would work in the kind of relates to our representative Wardlaw said we don't as a state put filling stations at state entity Saudi no formal for talking about state entities or for allowing for grants for public businesses all state entities would be installing the stations for the state so are we as a state creating a new liability for ourselves because we're certainly gonna be providing fuel for these and is so are the citizens of the taxpayers in the state of Arkansas now I'm going to become responsible for paying the electric bill to charge for these cars and I think those are questions that need to be answered before we look at investing these huge sums of money and potentially creating new liabilities and creating new issues for state government so with that I'm gonna vote no and maybe someday we'll get to the place the rail see what we can vote yes. President makes is spoken against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Ferguson. Amendment represent person you're recognized speak for the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker there is there's precedence for this Oklahoma had a similar program to put electric Chargers throughout the state it won't charge the state anything that you when you plug your car in it charges you automatically it's not electric charge to the state but it we I mean you have to face what's the reality all the car dealers are moving to these electric cars and more and more of us are going to be driving electric cars in this bill is not any state money is just putting an appropriation out there so if the federal infrastructure bill passes they're going there's going to be a lot of money available for states to do this so I would encourage you to have some foresight and vote for it. President Ferguson spoken for the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. And what are you are you for represent Wooten representative Wooten are you for or against against okay you're recognized speak against the amendment. Thank you Mr chairman. I find it rather strange and I'm I'm is this a German genes in the J. B. C. that must have one time when I had a heart attack from up here talking about private schools but. I don't remember. The federal government ever help me. the petroleum companies to put the service stations in we used to call filling stations I don't ever remember us funding any convenience stores that were put an end to serve gasoline diesel powered vehicles. Now this is a bad bill. What what we will refer the lectern stations. It's private enterprise responsibility. G. illness and others eleven bill those electric cars. But what are you gonna do if we go all solar and the sun doesn't shine for three or four days in this country. I mean this is just you know it's just a well this is it this way it's a great very helpful of what the governor say out the stretch of governments are. fifteen seventy that's what this is. In my opinion so I encourage you to vote no thank you president wouldn't spoken against building by like to speak for the bill represent hockey recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I'll be very brief I'm in favor of this bill Oklahoma right now currently has the most charging stations in the nation and Arkansas is a black hole we do not have charging stations and as was pointed out earlier people go to Joplin or Springfield or Dallas or Tulsa to get around Arkansas because they need to charge their vehicles we're talking the fast charging stations that visitors that are going through our state or coming to our state are using usually if you own an electric vehicle you can charge your car overnight and you're paying the bill at your home or your hotel for your charging station this doesn't have to do with state funding it has to do with the ability to accept if there are which I don't. I necessarily think we have to have to pay taxpayer dollars for this but if federal funds are available I would like for Arkansas to be able to receive those funds to put in those charging stations the customers pay for the electricity but we have cities in my district like silence springs that has their own electric station so they will be selling electricity they want to sell more electricity Bentonville has its own electricity they want to sell more electricity so I would just encourage a vote in favor of being able to have an appropriation pocket in order to receive federal funds to partner with private enterprise to put in more charging stations in Arkansas thank you representive ray for purpose in person pockets left the well percent pocket spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill representive Eubanks you're recognized speak for the bill. Members I don't have an electric car don't plan on getting one but it just a few years ago we were trying to find a fine state funding to put in compressed natural gas stations across the state so I think you want to be consistent in your logic I thank and this is only appropriation I just don't know what the big deal is I appreciate a good vote. President Eubanks is spoken for the M. Amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment representative fees. You're recognized speak for the amendment. Representive Eubanks kinda stole my thunder in my district we actually did put a State or federal funded CNG station so that's a that's a big deal and I I mean I get tired of Arkansas being last in everything ma'am let's think ahead and be prepared for some of the stuff that we don't get the federal money nothing's going to happen is just an appropriation I appreciate a good vote. Percent even spoken for the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Jean is close for the amendment the question. Before the House. The adoption of amendment. Number five to house bill twelve oh seven all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The noes have it. I don't see. President Jean you're recognized. Thanks for colleagues we're just going to take up this first bill by itself members after having pulled out a badge then we'll batch ten seventy two through twelve twenty one that will vote on Senate bill fifty five by itself. Of first up this house bill ten seventy one department transformation we talked about this yesterday any questions. Remember you one voted for the bill Mercer calls much bigger the Clerk read the bill third time. Please read the bill for the third time house bill ten seventy one. Percent genes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Jean is closed for the bill the question before the House the passage of house bill ten seventy one prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Voting on the bill emergency clauses everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of eighty three a six nation for president the bill an emergency clause are passed representing you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker. Calling it image look at house house bill ten seventy two. This is the department finance this overseas the tobacco and alcohol boards. House bill eleven oh five forty finances the shared services house bill twelve nineteen labor licensing this is no general revenue just cash funds. Of house bill twelve twenty Department of Parks and heritage of twenty million dollars G. R. but it is flat. What was in there last year and then house bill twelve twenty one this is the highway department public transportation. Do I need to take any of these other batch. Do you have any questions on any of these. All right remember your one vote is for each one of the bills emergency clause. Mister Speaker the Clerk read the back for the third time. Mr Clark please read bills for a third time also ten thirty two house bill eleven oh five house bill twelve nineteen hospital twenty house bill twelve twenty one. The machine. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses. As everyone voted. As everyone voted cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety yeas to nays and for president the bills emergency clauses are passed representing. Represent Miller for what purpose. To your motion. Mister Speaker I move we place Senate bill fifty five back on second reading for the purpose of amendment the proper motion is debatable represent Miller you're recognized explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker. Of. This represents the same motion represent Payton made yesterday I do believe there was uh. A good reason to believe that has to be brought back up today for years we have been promised since two thousand thirteen that the Medicaid expansion program for the want to call it from private option Arkansas Works Arkan all I don't I mean I can't say about Arkansas home now but but for years we've been promised that we could have a separate vote on this so that people would feel like we can debate and hash out. Simply. The merits of the Medicaid expansion program any changes that may need to be made. To that and have that separated out from the entire DHS budget that's all we want to do. my license will vote for let's just have a separate vote that's what the amendment does and I'm I would ask for a good vote. President Miller's explain The motion. Would anyone like to speak against the motion represent great you're recognized speak against the motion. Thank you Mr Speaker M. and I didn't say anything or come down here and speak when the motion was first brought up I believe it was yesterday trying to pull out that portion of the Medicaid budget I know it's been tried like every year since I've been here the issue that we have if you were to pull that out he is there's a certain percentage of those people that are actually going to transition back to traditional Medicaid they don't all lose coverage and so then we would actually have to go back and adjust the rest of the DHS budget as well so pulling it out it's not just as simple as we can pull it out and vote on it separately we have to pull it out vote on it separately change the other DHS appropriation so it's it's not just as simple as what it seems to be so anyhow I feel like we voted on the policy already that's past it's over and done I know we're just talking about the amendment not the bill itself but I'd appreciate a. No vote on this motion thank you. Some great spoken against. Against the motion would anyone like to speak for the motion. Would anyone like to speak against the. Representive Miller. You're recognized to close for the motion. Thank you Mr Speaker A couple things number one nobody's gonna lose coverage none of this stuff happens today. What what we're talking about is let's just have a a a separate vote on this funding the legislation did pass pass with the the threshold required to fund it and there are plenty of folks I believe in this body that do want to have that discussion to do want to have that debate there's also other options out there that we can also do and in a timely matter a timely fashion and take our selves home real soon hopefully so with that I would ask that you vote for this motion thank you similar has close for the motion. The question before the House. Is to place Senate bill fifty five back on second reading for the purpose of amendment all in favor say aye. Those opposed. The nose had. Representative January. Members. Senate bill fifty five American belabor the point but I'll here to answer any questions got any questions. C. nine remember you one vote for the bill number two calls Mister Speaker the Clerk read bill third time. Representing is explained the Bill. Sir Clark read the bill for the third time Senate bill thirty five would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative gene is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate bill fifty five prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. A vote of sixty sixty eight twenty four Nays and three present the bill has failed. Members we're gonna go to the Senate calendar We were passing over Senate bill four sixty three we're gonna take up we're gonna take up one Senate bill today because of a scheduling issue. Mr Clark please read Senate bill five twenty six. Civil five twenty six by representative Meeks to me the law concerning the data entry through the transparency panel and to increase department participation on the data and transparency panel person makes you're recognized to explain the bill thanks for calling this is pretty simple law does that updates the membership of the data transparency panel to reflect the changes we made during transformation and now with that I appreciate a good vote. President makes is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent makes is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill five twenty six per machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero president. The bill is passed. Okay members slight correction we're checking on a issue that we may need to address so I'm going to continue. Down the Senate calendar until we get resolution at issue which should just be a minute or two Mr Clark please read Senate bill one thirty nine. Mr Clark please read Senate bill six fourteen. Senate bill six fourteen representative gray to amend Arkansas law concerning Page campuses to amend the law concerning the compensation of pay campus that canvassers and declared emergency percent great you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I know you are so tired of me today and this bill deals with paid canvassers in a way that's meant to protect the integrity of a ballot initiative process I tell you what kind of the bill the bullet points of what it does hate requires a paid canvassers to be U. S. citizens and also residents of the state of Arkansas it prohibits paid canvassers on a person that you're basis you can still pay them but is not a person that you're basis. It ensures that those with the criminal history I can not have or do not have a criminal background a record. It ensures that can the canvassing process survives legal challenges by amending the background check provision which by the way was a bill I read and I think in two thousand seventeen that it's had some court court challenges and it aligns with other states in regards to residency it also follows the eighth circuit court president hand these provisions that are the same as they are in other states have already survived legal challenges there's a severability clause so if any parts found to not to not be constitutional the remainder of the bill stays in effect be glad to take any questions. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote thank you represent gray's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent gray is close for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill six fourteen prepared machine Mr Clark. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of seventy two yeas eighteen days and to present the bill emergency clause or past. Mister Clark let's go back to Senate bill one thirty nine. Two one third I'm a representative eleven to allow a student applying for the Arkansas governor's scholars program or the critical needs minority teacher scholarship program to use his or her ACT supersport ACT supersport. Representive eleven you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members representative Scott came to me right before we gaveled in today asking if I would run this for her today on behalf of Senator Dismang as she was called out to a meeting very simple very quick back during last session we amended a lot of the of the requirements that went into a lot of these guys scholarships that are offered to the state to for the ability for the students to use their super scores from the ACT or SAT these two Regis and Everton left out it is the Arkansas governor's scholar program and the critical needs minority teacher scholarship program this just allows them to use or super score on the ACT for qualifying for these scholarships. So you know questions appreciate a good vote. Percent eleven explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent eleven is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed to Senate bill one thirty nine the machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted cast about Mr Clark. Other ninety five Yeas zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill eighty nine. Similarly number was in the heavens to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning the six six accede scholarship program president eleven you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members to another update to some scholarship requirements the succeed scholarship currently provides four hundred eighty five scholarships across our state the amendments to this is just to kind of see can ease the burden on parents and schools to provide the documentation necessary for this this is brought from the department's they're asking for these these amendments what it does is instead of a public school district having to develop an I EP or an I. S. P. it would just only be necessary for the district to identify that the student is eligible under I. D. E. A. which they already have to do most of the students that are have the scholarships and never attended public school so they don't have an I EP or an ISP those are only offered through the public school the second thing is is that clarifies it only Arkansas schools are eligible to participate in the program recently the Department record had some requests from out of state schools are to be eligible for these scholarships are funded through state tax dollars so we want to close that loophole so that only Arkansas schools are eligible for that and then the third thing is is that the other been several parents have contacted the department and just kind of expressing concerns that the way that the department has been issuing the scholarships out have been on a first come first serve in the application process starts a specific time in the morning when you've got some of these lower income families mom and dad both work they're not available to to get online necessarily specific time like eight o'clock and and fill out this application so what the process would do is it would create a window that would be promulgated of the rules from the state board it would provide a one to two week application process and then the scholarships will be awarded to a lottery draw just makes it more fair across the board to give everybody the opportunity to get in line to get in for the scholarships it doesn't create any additional scholarships or north. Thanks to the program is to streamline the process make it more fair for parents. Questions I appreciate a good vote represent eleven explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent eleven is closed for the bill the question before the House is a passive Senate bill eighty nine per machines Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety three yeas and zero nine zero present the bill is passed representative Jett. For what purpose motion let's hear your motion Mr chairman make a motion to expunge house bill of fifteen zero nine on vote. That's a proper motion it's it is debatable represent Jett you're recognized explain The motion. Okay member's house bill fifteen zero nine is represented brown's bill the five twenty nine bill that we just voted on I think that person if you vote what happened was you brought the bill to represent Tax Committee probably not a month ago in an amended the bill and then we held a bill because the bill had a fiscal impact I think around fifty thousand dollars not a lot of money but also it was a fiscal impact committee was holding the bill so yesterday when we took back up the bill will not let the bill out as adopted so what we need to do here is expunged as vote and we do that what we like to do is make a motion to refer the bill back to committee lettuces the Committee will adopt the bill with the member not in the get back out and to bring back to the house floor is a good bill nothing was wrong with the bill other than just a procedure that we follow so that's on me and I appreciate a good vote for this. Represent Jett has explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Absent Jett is close for the motion questions for the house is the expansion of the vote by which house bill fifteen oh nine passed all in favor say aye say aye. Any opposed. Motion carries. Re referral represent Jett moved that we re referred house bill fifteen oh nine to committee that's proper motion represent Jett you're recognized explain The motion members as part of the sale ago like to take the bill back to committee well documented bring it back to the house floor to vote on again appreciate a good vote absent judges explain The motion when he would like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Jett is close for the motion the question before the House is the re referral house bill fifteen NO ninety committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion passes representative makes for what purpose. Hi motion place. After the announcmenet trading or the bills transferring the bill's place on the counters on the desk members amending their own bills their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. That's a proper motion. I'm debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion is carried any announcements representing for purpose announcmenet you're recognized joint budget will meet tomorrow morning at eight thirty big mac a. Fight for what purpose announcmenet you're recognized city county local will meet in fifteen minutes in big maxi represent fight for what purpose announcmenet recognized aging children youth military will meet at four o'clock in mac a person back for what purpose. You're recognized Joint Energy will meet tomorrow in back Hey at twelve fifteen for a brief meeting represent Vaught for what purpose announcmenet recognized ag forestry economic development will meet at four o'clock today. President Ferguson for what purpose. You're recognized. Public health will meet in the morning at nine thirty and again after adjournment any other announcements. Desk remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house be