Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development - Senate

I'll skip over let's go to the representative Lundstrum. We live in house bill fourteen twenty six. If both of you would please introduce yourself for the record you're recognized. Robin Lundstrum state representative district eighty seven. Mark Johnson State centre District fifty. You're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman centers of this is a great bill that came out of representative Leicester's District it basically says that the food delivery services that don't create food they just pick it up from a restaurant deliver it to your home must have an agreement with the restaurant that they're delivering their food for use in cases where they. That just did it without the permission or knowledge of the restaurant and there's quality control issues not to mention reputation issues if if if you have a restaurant in somebody's picking that we think it's a normal consumer carry out and if somebody is gonna drive around for forty five minutes before they actually get it delivered and people will say well you know Caldwell's cafe doesn't have great food because I gotta deliver for and it was not for H. and that way you've got control over it the one thing we we did agree with the some some of the delivery service's that we would delay the effective date of this until January first twenty twenty two that would give everyone an opportunity to know what the rules were and to comply with it it would not to create an undue burden or a short time line on that so any questions are probably defer to represent Lundstrum but that's the long and short of the bill. Members to anyone have questions. If. Representative for plus we don't on this the. Only S. whenever in order is places a place directly with the restaurant or the place with the delivery service. No Sir it's placed with the delivery service and that's the problem you don't know who you're placing the delivery service with and a lot of these delivery services they're not asking the restaurant they're simply going into lettings awesome pizza and they're scanning them in the menu but they're not asking the pizza owner if we can scan your menu and what they don't realize is the restaurant's prices may have fluctuated they may not have they may not have that item anymore and the menu maybe a month or two old and those specials may not be on there and the prices may have changed so then they up charge which of course they would be there in business I don't have a problem with that but the menu isn't updated and that items no longer there so what happens is then the customer's upset and frustrated they call the the pizza owner and say where's my food and they don't even realize that the orders men placed their frustrated The delivery service hasn't responded so you can imagine how frustrating that is when you own a business in somebody else is out representing your business without your permission all the restaurant owners are asking is my business I would love to do business with you but can we you could you ask first and let's get together and make some money but please don't represent my business without my permission thank you. Any other questions. No one signed up to speak for against this bill. Your clothes for your bill yes close motion. Centerville second presenter durch all in favor say aye All opposed. Congratulations. Thank you for what you here let's go into half bill fifteen twenty five. Okay. And on behalf of my husband since I'm not all that great cuck I appreciate that. this next bill is a agreed upon bill with the marijuana industry and law enforcement. if you're looking at your docket it's fifteen twenty five. And what this does. Is it provides clarification. It simply ask that when officers find a violation that they're able to one fine it also allows for folks that do provide go into a marijuana distributor and they pick up their marijuana that they can actually take it with them we never made that clear qualification that they can carry five ounces home with them that's very important. We passed medical marijuana law will only allow medical marijuana it's legal this doesn't go into that process what we didn't do was make some clarifications on smoking when you smoke in public that's not allowed we didn't allow law enforcement away to ticket that we also it with a cultivation facilities. They need some help this allows them to say no you can't smoke in that facility. I think that pretty much covers it also it they one of the thing it also make sure that when somebody pull somebody over from out of state which we in my area when you have someone coming in from Oklahoma you're not supposed to be bringing out of state marijuana and and then hold up the medical marijuana card and say Hey this is medical marijuana now if you have to buy from an Arkansas dispensary. And I've also brought a guest with me if you have any questions I think that can help may I bring to the table. You're welcome room table if they have something to service I'm Roger Smith with the fraternal order of police. Please introduce yourself for the record you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman my name is Roger Smith and I represent the. Fraternal order of police. Thank you. The when Amendment ninety eight passed public. Prove the establishment of medical marijuana in the state had good regulations and as far as how dispensaries were licenses were. We're done and and growing licenses etcetera there's a laundry list of things in the amendment as to where you're not allowed to use the product or simply wasn't any language to establish what law enforcement should do if they found people using of where they were supposed to so all the bill does is it just establishes that the maximum penalty that could be assessed here is a Class C. misdemeanor the very lowest level of all it establishes that people can have as much as five ounces in their vehicle thing only by two and a half at a time every fourteen days but sometimes they don't use all that at the time they go in to by again and it makes it inappropriate illegal basically bring it across the state line northwest Arkansas is particularly has problems with people bringing product in from Missouri and Oklahoma by the way the oceans we are residents of those states are our Kansans going over there buying it because our laws are fairly. Blacks in. How much they can buy and they bring it back here basically for the purpose of reselling it and that is a prohibited act that's all the bill does I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have. Members you want to a question which. If not the only signed up to speak for against this bill represent lotion would you like to close for your bill I have thank you for your time and I know law enforcement and the distributors would appreciate it thank you later the Committee do pass second all in favor say aye All opposed congratulations thank you colleagues thank you for your time. Representative fight. We're looking at house bill seventeen forty three. Mr chairman may I bring my witness to the table with me. The card may I bring my witness to establish the. I'm Charlene Fite state representative district eighty. Hi my name's Nicole Gillam I'm with capital advisors group here in Little Rock and I'm also an attorney who can help with any technical questions on this bill thank you you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair over the past several years Arkansas has seen success and the film and television productions shot within our state why is this it's because we have beautiful state with diverse geographical landscapes which make for attractive film backgrounds these productions not only bring a positive tourism component to the state but also substantial increase in economic development film productions employed mainly in state workers and provide particular economic stimulus to the hospitality industry one example is the filming of true detective Senator Leding part of this was in your District correct and in my district season three spanned across eight counties so many of you may have had some of that in your district it created over one thousand jobs and had an estimated financial impact of well over one hundred million dollars for our state these were painting jobs for painters set builders carpenters Bill caterers T. shirt makers painters and a myriad of other jobs. God is not dead two was shot here in our state capital that any of you have a walk on in that if you were around the days that the. Scenes were shot here in the capital some of you may have that former Speaker Jeremy Gillam had a scene in that as well. Riot act was recently found in Van Buren in my area lots of locals got many good jobs from the filming of that low budget them house bill seventeen forty three seeks to amend the state's current film tax incentive to allow productions the choice to apply for either a tax rebate or transferable tax credit which will make Arkansas very attractive for this type of project this change gives the state flexibility and the type of incentives we can offer to attract new investments into Arkansas and allows us to attract more productions to Arkansas because of our jewel incentive offerings this bill passed the amount of tax credits the state can you four million per year which is the historical average annual amount provided that the FNA but the film incentive program. The substance that the incentive remains and change the amount of incentive a qualified production can earn is still the same but we've added new ways for productions to improve their incentive for those who may not know that current rebate allows for a twenty percent incentive on qualified expenditures and up to thirty percent incentive for hiring in state workers we are expanding the ways to earn the thirty percent productions can hire military veterans for. Members of the National Guard. Four make expenditures to majority on veteran businesses and are in that thirty percent this bill was crafted with the valuable assistance of D. F. and that a and e's EDC and I want to thank them for their help in constructing this bill along with the Arkansas cinema society who has shared their experiences as well as industry feedback with them productions in this state and help on the overall concept for this piece of legislation. With the improvements that this bill makes we can continue to build on our success with these types of projects by creating jobs marketing Arkansas and bringing back retaining homegrown talent in in your packet before you you have a letter from a wonderful young woman who also happens to be my daughter. So I thank you for looking at that. Question. Many. What. Page Page thirteen lines three through eight. It pretty much says we're not capped a four million dollars your tax code is that correct. One thirty Page thirteen line eight three through eight three through eight the director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Of this actually can request from the secretary of commerce secretary department finance to approve supplemental credits issued in. To be issued in excess of the four million dollars. That's correct. So there's no cap on the number the amount of tax credits can be issued in a single year or sold. So there is a four million dollar cap and I think the F. and I might be able to answer this a little better but I'm currently it's the governor's rainy day fund that can find unlimited all of the rebates that are in the current statute so this would just be. An extension of that to where if you wanted to fund it with his rainy day he could that's the option or if there was a grant to the state or eighty you'll see in the next section where it provides for a new trust fund for these kind of supplemental credits to where it's I believe it says any kind of. Whatever the the governor's rainy day or if there was a donation to the state made by I think any individual he wanted to give to the supplemental fund if they were to ever go over that. So the bills creating a trust fund. The mechanism to sell tax credits. And the mechanism to far exceed four million dollars a year of tax credits correct. Only if they were to receive a grant or the governor chose to get with his rainy day funds that would be the only way you get that supplemental. Referred to do do we have a fiscal impact statement. Yes you should have that one member. Thank you didn't have one reported a misplaced. One understand I'm I'm trying to get my mind Senator sample both serving tax revenues and will not let anything out of tax revenue home new this is negligible impact on general revenue not on understand however we have four million dollars or more in. Tax Richard Shelby of comment on it. What the major drivers try to get my hand of printed to understand. The major change that this would offer is a choice at the that that the tax credit or the rebate currently we have the rebate that's already in place but the credit would be something different that we can offer. I Mark but question there would be if if it's either all or. and they they tax take the taxpayer's money she will be there for additional rebate I don't we're just trying to balance here that you like they would have someone from D. F. and I cleared the table in with D. F. and a year. The guru. Please enter the ship for the record where carrying you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair Paul Goehring department of finance and administration. Joe look at the department of finance and administration you're recognized thank you Mr chair members of the committee house bill fifty seventeen forty three we currently have a rebate program under this particular incentive there was a desire to also have the ability for the incentive to be furnished in the form of a tax credit that could be transferable. I certainly we have right now the incentives that are provided in the form of a rebate can fluctuate over the years but certainly there is it an average amount that is issued depending upon the number of projects that come to the state of Arkansas as represent a fight mention there is sometimes a large projects such as the true detective project that if that was going to be in excess of the four million dollar Kappa that's provided within this bill there would be the mechanism that the department of commerce and the Department finance administration would be able to discuss that project they would have to be a positive cost benefit analysis performed for that project in order for there to be additional credits over and above the four million dollars that was provided within this bill. Okay. Check back. Okay trying to walk through this in my head so bear with me and and correct me if I'm wrong here currently. The company comes in and spends. Twelve million dollars they can get all four million dollar rebate correct. It's about potentially potentially thirty percent of their qualified expenditures but those expenditures have to take place in the state of Arkansas is that accurate that's correct. With the way that this is written with that company be able to make those expenditures outside of the state as long as our filming in the state and then sell that tax credit. The rebate that if the tax credit is issued to that production company it is a transferable tax credit that can be sold to another Arkansas taxpayer that would be able to redeem the credit okay father returned. Senator the same qualifying purchases have to happen for either the credit or rebate so it's the exact same standards they're going to have to meet for the incentive that they would meet for the rebate but I I understand that but the the issue is currently it gives an incentive for them to stay in state. To spend more money in state if you going forward in order to carry that that rebate for three years I think we're well five years right with the rebate is a direct checked straight to them so there's no okay carry forward whatsoever that's just they finish their records are sent from that film office to the department of finance and administration after those are confirmed they get a check for that rebate amount flat out and then this and sent the tax incentive would then be able to be used as a tax credit that could be transferred if need. But one question I think you have to follow you and give a direct answer to is for this company to earn the rebate or the incentive that money has to be spent in Arkansas they cannot spend it Coleman ship materials into Arkansas still claim that tax rate is that correct all of the eligible production costs are going to go through eighty seeing and the general requirement is for them to be spent in Arkansas whether there ever times where there would be an exception is something that ETC would address but it is built around Arkansas expenditures and you see that with the enhancement for employing Arkansas residents in the film industry gives that additional ten percent. Any other questions. We have some people signed up to speak for this Josh Miller. Sir if you would introduce yourself for the record you're recognized yeah my name is Graham Cordy screenwriter originally from Arkansas live in Arkansas now I'm I'm I'm get a couple looks and he signed up also across all back I'm sorry did I find yes back back they they set him up so we're going to go ahead with the comments yes Sir I'm a screen writer and producer for television shows like rectify Cory in the most recent season of true detective as well as for the local independent film antiquities I was born and raised Conway my wife and two kids and I now make their home in North Little Rock. I'm here to speak in favor of this bill for one very important reason sought out of a desire for Hollywood to come to Arkansas it's for creating and sustaining Arkansas jobs film and television productions create incredible revenue for the state our current rebates set up has brought great projects to the state but not consistent once also the governor's quick action funds are not necessarily reliable for continuous productions and financial returns but adding this tax credit can help us set up for study productions that will consistently employ our cans into the way the rebate alone never cut right now our state is full of kids and young adults who aspire to make films to direct to write and produce but our state is also full of kids and young adults and grownups who want to be carpenters electricians painters and builders hair stylist and photographers are status for small business owners who have restaurants and catering services who own hotels apartment complexes and Airbnb is to house and feed cast and crew that's the beauty of film and television production not only is it a collaborative art it helps employee potentially hundreds of people from every walk of life with good wages on every production in other words this isn't about giving Arkansas money to outside projects this is about employing or cans and with money from outside of our state. A few years ago I helped write it was a producer on season three of two true detective the creator of the show next as a Lotto got his MFA from the university of Arkansas and set the season in northwest Arkansas we were in the writers room working on the season and he said that while the season was set in Arkansas they were planning to shoot in Georgia because that's where the tax credit as I said if you would rather shoot an Arkansas let me make a few calls before you do that I immediately called our film commissioner Christopher crane. And through his tireless efforts along with advocacy of Mike Preston the ADC and many others in a local film community we met with the governor and got the production here through a rebate and the governor's discretionary fund. The result was a sixty million dollar production in over a hundred million dollars and quantifiable economic impact for our state employing hundreds of Arkansans that was a tremendous achievement three years later we haven't had a print another production of that size but this bill is an opportunity to change that when we met with the governor regarding getting the show to Arkansas I said we don't need to become Georgia which had more film starts in California over the past several years we simply need ongoing productions throughout the year here maybe that's a couple of TV series and a film or two or one TV series on four five films but it gives us the opportunity to keep our talent at home while I selfishly would love to shoot all of my projects in Arkansas the reason I'm here today is and for me it's for every kid in Arkansas who is like I was growing up it's for every mass communication and film student who's graduated from UC A. like I did you have a S. A. U. UALR AS you etcetera for every student who is about to graduate from those programs if you go through those programs and you have to move to Los Angeles George in New Orleans or elsewhere to make a living as an example we did our production of our independent film antiquities in the state and had production assistants and interns from area colleges working for us shortly after that true detective came to the state in those same young people all around you know twenty one twenty two years old. were hired and eventually move to higher status and higher paying positions on the true detective correct that's two production city in a single year that's how we start to build a crew base here which begets more productions here and if we were able to maintain that those crew people wouldn't have had to move to other states to continue work in their field and again this isn't just about inspiring filmmakers for every writer like me there are dozens of carpenters hired to build the sets elektrische install light painters to paint and CDL driver strive all the trucks equipment trailers cast and crew they hire make up artists caterers chefs and even accounts they provide internships to students which lead to jobs in the future this is not about the arts this is about an industry that can have a material impact on our economy and jobs in our state I I love our state I have a chip on my shoulder when people condescend about if you get it wrong and any time and I show someone who's never been Arkansas picture of Arkansas they always seem to say that that's Arkansas. Kind of stunned film and television could be a much bigger drivers of branding and tourism in any multi million dollar advertising campaign ever could from the delta to the Ozarks the washer toss the Arkansas River valley to our lakes and rivers and farms I would challenge anyone to find me a state in our union with more natural beauty and geographical diversity to put on file we are currently leaving money and job opportunities on the table this legislation can be a tremendous opportunity and help protect us against losing our greatest resource other states and toward establishing Arkansas is open for business. Thank you for. In the name of Michael lash again questions from the committee. Not Senator sample I talked to I wanna make a motion it to call for the fiscal. Impacted if you I'll first ask if you all want to do pass and vote on that. Two eight and referred to tax revenue we've got to make sure that we have a balanced budget right now we're upside down. Again this is negligible we want to verify that we've done it before check back to me of questions. Could the sponsor pulled withdrawal and resides loop. We have preferred to do that the father that okay we'll let. Sturch. Senator Cormann could I asked if they one more question before we move ever closer you'll ask all the fine. Thank you Paul guarantee if I thank you Mr upon just one asked the the way we currently have the fund set up is four million dollars the current amount that we dedicate to this each year the average amount of the rebates that are issued will. Is in that area it just depends on the number of projects that the film office will attract and and haven't state of Arkansas so certainly it will go up and down but the four million dollar cap was designed to match that same average number depending upon the the number of projects that get authorized for that rebate is that then why it's negligible impact is because since two thousand nine for me and has been about where we've kept it all this time that's exactly correct and and to allow for the ability for DFA and commerce if there is a project such as a a very large project that's going to be in the tens or almost a hundred million dollar impact that a cost benefit analysis could be made of that project and there could be an allowance for more credits to be authorized but only if there was a positive cost benefit analysis for that particular project okay let me but I ask about the thing is it's just going to make a profit haven't cash flow of if you ever run a business you understand that you can show a profit on a week to week or month to month basis and and and can't cash or check and so that's what you're sample I've been looking at again we've even pulled bill downhill bills wanna back and relate to is the silver and gold coin exchange which is just of of a little over a hundred fifty thousand dollars and then we feel that just book calls we're not sure we've got the money to do it so we if you were getting out here I'm. And yet I'm not opposed to this as long as we've got the money to cash flow and and do this but are are you saying that we could offer a large incentive and it could it could justify the incentive in any could drop in to this year's fiscal budget and we may not have the cash there to actually pay for it I know we ran into this problem a few years back with big river steel in the factors will take their critics over fourteen years in reality there won't take them in one year and we're going to be two hundred and fifty four million dollars upside down come March of that particular fiscal year and we were all have the money and and that's what I'm trying to avoid here I've I've I've voted for big river steel and and help sponsor it but but again because the way the bill was written we thought it was written one way and and and you know it's it's the other day full capacity and higher lot people shared Wallace just tickled to death to have been is district but by the same token had they not gone back in we've had another agency by those tax credits. We would have been upside down two hundred fifty four million dollars and and now I'm trying to avoid that on this end and say one thing that we can use the calls justification to issue the tax rate as we can what if they don't those tax credits in a fiscal year where we don't have a. Looted cash flow then we're gonna be upside down and that's one reason I like to see it go back to tax revenue to where the we're trying to balance the budget in and see that I'm again. Review fight I'm I'm very Budget favor the bill that we just we've got to make sure we don't pass something out of here and ensure safe and food at same time of course Mr chairman and currently as the incentive is structured under the current law it is a rebate that is once the the expenditures are are verified it is a it's a direct payment out of the the funds to the production company this changes the mechanism so that the as a part of the incentive agreement that it could be in the form of a credit file that I guess what we're of this understanding or not understanding is is the four million dollar cap and but then if someone else comes along with a big project we're going make exceptions to. And and that's where I have heartburn issues not the four million dollar cap that's already built in in this four million dollar cap is already built in our budget in my correct on it we we currently don't have a specified cap come on a job but we survive as specified cap on the rebate it's it's a function of. How much money is available in that particular fund. Joe that the FAA part it let me ask a question on ask you district so it depends on how much money is in that phone. In in so you can't give any additional tax credit for rebates beyond what's in that phone is that what I'm understanding. For the existing the existing program or the supplemental program in the bill so I'm just looking at the bank account how much money were taken out of it I don't care which program it is I just wanna make sure that we're not. Forecasting in the budget excimer dollars and then someone comes along with a big project you were going give Y. number of dollars the way this bill is structured for these incentives matches how some of the issues with the rebate work to be able to give more than those four million dollar cap in credits not only do the secretaries of the FAA and commerce have to agree and see a positive result they also have to have money put into that trust fund that is set up in the last section of this bill which then is swept into this state apportionment fund into general revenue so the only way to go over four million dollars is to have the money that is able to absorb those credits being taken being replaced into that but and so there is a a transparency about what is or is not available going over four million built in. Senate bill do you have a question. What are some of our surrounding states do and as compared with this. Every state's motion picture and television incentive is a little bit different for the most part you have about half of the states that are out there and and kind of the growing number doing rebates there are still a number that do this kind of tax credit and then there are. Kind of unique to each industry or each state's version Louisiana just put a cap on that there is they were also a tax credit the state and they just had to put a cap on it because they were having the issues that senator Caldwell was kind of pointing out that that we kind of structured this to avoid and so it's a similar structure to what you see nationwide. As far as the rebate program as far as the incentives in the eligible costs coming from in state purchases. Mr. Thank you Mr so I wanna make sure Joe that I'm getting this right before right now the way it works now before we issue a rebate we've already had the investment made they have to show the expenditures made so whether it's ten million dollars a hundred million dollars whatever their vouching for we've already spent this money and here's how and then we turn around and give them a check yes after DFA audits those records to ensure they did make those expenditures and that they were done appropriately then they would get the check and under this bill that same timeline happens before the credit is issued as well they can that we have the money already they didn't spend yeah yes Sir they've already made the expenditures they've already reported it we've audited it and if it was going to go over four million then that that process was engaged where there is a positive economic return determined by eighty C. with DFA money is put into a separate trust fund that is swept into general revenue to replace those supplemental tax credits over four million thank you that doesn't scare me as much now. User okay welcome. To clarify on his own search search Islamic question. The check isn't issued until after they pay their tax liability in full the existing rebate credits based on after they had made the expenditures so they paid the sales tax they've made the purchases they've gone through that process and we have a record of what employees are and are not our Kansans to ensure that we're giving the appropriate benefits and credits for the employing our Kansans we have to make sure that it is reported so all of that has happened before they get the rebate check for before they would get the tax credit under this bill. okay search local. Yes thank you. Paul is this currently in our forecast is there anything in the forecast for this. I have to verify that Senator sample of course there is the the current funding mechanism for the role for the rebate that we have currently as an incentive but I would be happy to verify that there what is being provided in the forecast for this particular incentive as it is right now that would make a big difference from okay we'll certainly check that moved for back to the community Richard. Your question. Let me. H. the samples. I would move that we. Senator Michael. Thank goodness I'm not sure if you know your. I would prefer that were you review referred this to. Revenue and Tax so that we can tell you can look at this little bit more closely. The two proper motion the second the second all in favor say aye. I'll close okay. President fight we will refer this revenue tax and with the would you like create it was a of with a favorable do pass both of. Senate down to revenue tax yes it is passed out of the okay. Okay. Fite you're recognized. Mister chair my concern is that we're so late in the session I do want do not want to see this get gummed up and not make it out by sending it to revenue tax how much will that slow down the process posted samples chair of the committee Ali the image of the. Thank you will be able here. Next week we made it we made on Monday and Wednesday and I'm quite sure that we do work today and or agenda for the one of those two days and I will give. If the yeah it's already passed out of the house and so we're not we're not amending or deleting anything with this we we we for sure got a balanced budget since we we're we're not amending anything and if so will the take it down there and if you would soon Senator samples of the technicians will try to get put only for Monday. Thank you an incredible amount of work has gone into this and I don't want to see it lost with the session just thank you okay thank you. You should. Senate bill you can picture. Senator column please please a. Tell us who your for the record thank you for the record Rockall of center district twenty three blijkt first president to Senate bill six fifty nine. And what to Senate bill six fifty nine does is Puts the Northeast Arkansas economic development district under the supervision of the delta center of economic development at Arkansas state university it makes no changes whatsoever into the board their authority their mission statement of changes nothing at all no employees or change will benefit your changed is just to. all it does is to put some under. The The delta center which would be very similar to we we had a bill to install medical marijuana use that we're we of the medical marijuana was stabbed by law and then the legislature came in and establish an oversight committee and it's basically all it does is give some oversight to the Economic development district. The lead answer any questions. You have any questions the committee. Seeing none we do have someone here to speak against the bill. read the manual in. Please recognize yourself for the for the committee yes I resting McNeil in Greene County judge. I'm not. Thank you senator Caldwell for a give me a phone call this morning we had a little discussion on this but I do have some comments not officially representing the board of directors but we did send a letter to senator Caldwell and and others from the board either early this morning or late last night so the east Arkansas planning and development district board of directors is opposed to this bill and that is referenced in that letter signed by judge John Thomason Lawrence County judge. We the county judges and mayors have great confidence in the employees of our district has seen time and again the office fission see with which they conduct business if there are any projects grants programs or other of which this committee has been made aware we the board request that these problems are alleged or factual base omitted to us for review with our director and staff guidance voting authority and oversight is the responsibility of the county judges and mayors throughout the district we understand that there are times maybe something falls through the cracks as it were but we would like to have an opportunity to address those if such does exist we currently who are overseeing in the district almost fifteen million dollars in grants that have been awarded and that we have a listing of that as well available if you would like to have that. East Arkansas planning and development districts executive director Melissa rivers and her staff provide the board with exhaustive information so that we can make informed decisions at our board meetings Melissa and her staff have quality control measures in place to promote efficiency and performance win or if an error is made these quality control measures are reviewed against the error so as to correct it and prevent it from happening again extra sets of eyes are not necessarily a bad thing but we the board have not been made aware of any agree just err on our staffs park concerning their responsibility our annual audits have not exposed any mismanagement of funds we believe in local control in this bill begins to remove that local control passage of this bill would set a precedent to begin moving planning and development districts throughout the state under the control of another development district my friends and colleagues throughout the state speak highly of their districts. I'm confident that they would speak against a bill like this if it were to single out there district thank you. Thank you Sir is any questions do we have any questions or. The center center Senate president COVID wavy for for Mister Randall is here Senator Sturch. Mr judge I wanted to ask your unique in your region because you do have the death to center so what what can you tell us is the current relationship that you have with the delta center for economic development As You. I write I would be able to speak real conclusively at the day to day operations but as as far as our approach our mission statement and our responsibility to the district as a whole I think there's a good record working relationship but not one in which we feel that there would be oversight on our programs it is just that I guess what I would like to see or what I would like not to see is that we have duplication of services going on at the same time so you know what from you know reading this I don't read it that way that it's you know taking over control or changing up board may gives whatever but maybe what I'd like to see as you well together you know and and conjunction with each other not necessarily that one controls the other Blake said your unique in that it's there and not as far west as Izard county or you know shall county or independence live anywhere that that would be my only thing is that I'd like to know more about the relationship that you currently have and and if there is you know any duplication of services or if the that's something that we can work on yes thank you. Thank you senator to any other questions. Only comment we share. The judgment will are good friends I mean I'm not in he's on my district I'm not is Senator but well he made statements that were not correct in fact it nothing in this bill takes over there it's already nothing takes over their money of all this this particular set eyes on we're getting to or not getting done the the the the Board retains a hundred percent of authority that they. Have today they will have in the future nothing of that has changed at all not. Intentionally or unintentionally just and say that all the but but the the issue there is that we've had the members complaints of own certain things of getting done getting done at the last minute some have not gotten done and and although he speaks for the board you didn't speak for all the county judges in in the district alone won't it be no. Thanks any other questions. Is there anyone else here to speak for or against the bill. That's not signed apology. Seeing none Senator Caldwell I would appreciate it of the a good vote honestly the gin takes nothing away from playing District text of going from employees there it takes nothing away from the judges or the mayor's their their authority in the future the same as it has been in past and I appreciate a good vote with that I've I move too fast live do pass got a second. All in favor. Not all opposed same sign. I've had a real pain Sir thank you Mister Nicks I'd like to present Senate bill six seventy that ask getting fish director Pat fish come the table with employees. Yes. Thirty three for five. I will. Both of you would please recognize your cell phone thank you Mr roll call will Senate district twenty three Senate bill six seventy is compromised promote language at the record Wardlaw admitted brought earlier in the year that we never did run where they had to. One time. Authority to raise the of hunting fictionalized since the game fishes not have a a increase in fixed license since nineteen eighty four they've not had increase in hunting license since nineteen ninety and of what this would do is let him use the present No cost funding fishing license as a baseline they could have a of of sixty five percent baseline increase the now and then five years from now they could have an additional point four percent in ten years from now okay have additional twenty four percent it is based on the maximum based on what we got right now in the the also would include the commission of making semiannual report to the gamefish of state police subcommittee of the Legislative Council so we would have additional reporting from game fish so I will take any questions. Sent back. One point of clarification and this bill you sentence the parent of president cost the bill represent of references present value and and as specifically says what the value is today as if we continue to follow CPI from the last time it was increase that's a massive difference and and. Numbers. If you include. Yes path fits Director of Arkansas game and fish and Senator Beckham I want to be clear on your question are you asking that the CPI is set from the original time that the that the price was set on the license. That is correct what the what the bill says is allow an adjustment for an increase or decrease in the amount of the maximum fees also based on maximum. in accordance with the following each just a maximum fee also known as the Justin Maxon shall not exceed sixty five percent of the present value. And if you go down to the bottom of the bill it says present value means the amount calculated by multiplying the baseline maximum by a fraction whose numerator is the consumer price index for the month of the proposed adjustment whose denominator is the consumer price index for the month when the based on maximum was established or last adjusted so ninety four and eighty seven eighty four and nineteen ninety that is correct so we're going to go from that point. Ten dollars at that point. Is worth what now. And then sixty five percent of the differentials what we're going to increase the licensing yes so an example would be ten fifty was the fishing license in nineteen eighty four it would move that value up six dollars and seventy four cents that would be sixty five percent of that. And twenty twenty six was a go to it would. In twenty twenty six it would increase by four dollars and thirty two cents that would be in writing. We're we're double that point correct yes zein twenty thirty one it would increase another five dollars and thirty eight cents and that would catch it up to current day inflation but it would not catch it up to the inflation ten years from now. So we're going from ten dollars ten fifty to twenty five. Twenty six ninety four would be the authority seven okay so seventeen dollar increase on a ten dollar license is there a reason within just put the numbers in here this is the reason the the bills intentionally complex and break. No Sir. Because of I've had several people look at this bill since it was filed yesterday. And it's it's a very difficult bill to figure out exactly what you're trying to accomplish and how much money you're trying to take from the licensee's. That's that's the the concern that's across the board. What's the What's the money going to use for the money even would be used for infrastructure to reinvest in the things that we have across the state and as a very old agency a hundred six years old we have a lot of stuff we own fifty lakes which includes vote access is peers curtesy dogs water control structures boating lines six cetera we own five hatcheries across the state that produced ten million fish annually to stock our lakes and also support a world class trout fishery and also to supplemental stock community and family fishing programs that are hosted all over the state in urban areas we own sixty one wildlife management areas which can and encompasses three hundred and eighty thousand acres. Fifty thousand of this is green tree reservoirs which provide are hunters with an opportunity that most states don't have and it supports a world class duck hunting area we are the largest permitted down owner in the state of Arkansas we own forty eight dams forty of those are permitted those permits are based on a maximum flood event and those permits are twenty five years in duration and twenty five years ago our precipitation rates were not what they are today so the expectations all or when these dams permits become due. There will be an increase and has a rate on these and that will come at a very large cost I'm one of these projects are going to be done if this doesn't pass we're we're going to do these projects as our funding allows and I'll we'll and if you allow me to continue here in just a second all what this encompasses as far as infrastructure I'm I'm specific to the the monies raised I think it's around four million. Is what you're you're asking for your right and an increase on the license fees well if you'll indulge me just a second I'd like to talk about the different components of that in addition to these dams that are coming we have three hundred fifty miles of levees. We own eight hundred miles of water control ditches six hundred miles of roads twenty road bridges a hundred two fishing piers and docks and four hundred access areas that provide access to the special places across the state. These things are starting to fail and what's adding to these failures are the increased precipitation rates. We saw it with lake Poinsett this was historically the largest renovation that we've had to do because of a critical failure this was a multi year project that that came in about three and a half million dollars there was more work for us to do on this project but we had to draw the line to make room for other projects Lakeville Dale in Washington County. A I had to spill way damage from a from a very large rain event that not only threaten our damn but threatened a nearby home and an existing public road that paralleled that the spill way it was price tag was right at a million dollars. Lake Wilhelmina is experiencing in Polk County a critical failure it will have to be addressed to maintain that like I talk about our Greentree reservoirs I want to put this in perspective for you we're very lucky to have them. They bring a lot of people to our state to hunt. In Arkansas we enjoy that and sometimes we're a little spoiled by The fifty thousand acres of some of the largest tracks of bottomland hardwood that still exist in the Mississippi River flyaway. And what we're saying is a lot large scale timber dials on these areas now these are systems that will if not repaired will leave. They can't be replaced at least not in our lifetime. Currently we're seeing forty two percent of the desired oaks that are in the systems are stress for water being a little too long we cannot move the water. We have lost on one management area alone four hundred acres or day in another thousands dying because that isn't on the George Dunklin by me to no Sir reentry resonate no Sir it's not it's on hurricane. All no it's all in Henry gray hurricane wildlife management area in White County. Late Conway Dayem is another high priority for for our agency this is the largest lake we own. What we saw in the two thousand nineteen flood historic Arkansas River flood. show does that we have to get some relief on that lake we we won against all water plan and we started to evacuate that lake prior to the flood coming started dumping as much water as we could and once the river and the lake stabilize water levels we shut the gate obviously to keep the river I help. What we witnessed. Was that river over top that Dale no this dam is not earth day on this damn is concrete and metal in the river ran backwards over into that into the lake never before have seen anything like this our infrastructure challenges or infrastructure issues or being paralleled by environmental challenges. Our wildlife disease with CWD and elk and white tailed deer we spend about a million dollars a year there. And that's that's growing as the disease spreads trying to manage that. Invasive species feral hogs I'm sure that's not anything that's on common to your ears that takes a lot of money to trap these holds on these public areas and help our neighbors. Are you are you still performing helicopter shoots for all paralogs we do we do that with the USDA that is at no cost to the agency. Aquatic species invasive species would include Asian carp. If these Asian call or like are now in like Chico which is at eight thousand acre lake in Southeast Arkansas that many people enjoyed boating and skiing on it is negatively impact that like you cannot hardly do that anymore because it's very dangerous these fish or or jumping fish or like missiles vegetation such as giant salvinia and water hyacinth is emerging in becoming in south Arkansas a tremendous threat and it's very expensive and the public expects us to treat these things in and. Just trying to get back on topic here all these projects everyone of me just list of things that increasing the license fee will be residential hunting and fishing licenses and stamps will be used for. To answer your or is that just what you spend your annual budget on yes so the the increase in resident license fee would be earmarked and directed IT infrastructure so to answer your original question about what projects will or won't we do right now we have our list of projects that are coming to us and we're going to continue to fix those things as the budget allows but our calculations right now says it will take seventy years to deal with the list as it comes. This center Gilmore. Driffield thanks for being here thanks for just fine so just act I kind of want to add on to what center back of saying talking about you know what placed over the Grand Prix reservoirs so you know science for a long time is said get water off the roots how long have you all known that the this is been issue is in in my area Felsenthal started working on this I would say decades back the federal government has been working on that so I see a major push now from you all to say this is an issue as I like bio media and other places so I guess the the question I have is if this is such a dire issue why are we just now addressing it why are we just now pushing and saying we need the funds to address this when this is been something that sign said we need to do for decades yes so comparing our GTRs to Felsenthal Felsenthal is an open river system that is relies heavily on a navigational tool well I and I I just mentioned Felsenthal because they recently it addressed it I say recently they dressed in almost ten years ago with the new habitat management plan so it just in general terms the AS far AS so this Yard signs for us had started about five years ago some of this is that infrastructure that was built thirty years ago to manage water on these areas was built for the data of that time which was not nearly the precipitation rates that were incurring right now what we're seeing now is the infrastructure that was put in place then frankly is just not adequate to take on these heavy rains and and move the water off. All of. Yes and in speaking to that I mean is there a plan in place to. Because I've got a lot of folks that hunt by Amita for my area so I mean do you have a a plan in place I know we've visited about this a week or so ago talking about maybe what the plan is to address by Amita and the issues there relating to water management so is there a plan to get water you know to to handle that the irrigation and to to relieve the water and and and what is that looking like yes there's a couple of paralleling points that you just made one is the by me to irrigation project which is a private endeavor that that deals with three and a half miles of little by made of from our management area back to the Arkansas River that's looking for funding from the court to do that project I will say that will be helpful moving water off the area we do not think it would be the in doll for the amount of water we have on that area so we have on going work engineering and design work that's literally going on right now to give us a better handle on today's precipitation rates. All. The ballpark price tag. I think it's early to say that and and here's the reason why you engineering and design work has to be late and then you don't really have a firm handle on what the calls what the actual cost is to you bid that project out and it's a reliant on the the construction prices today. Hold on just a second this interview one other Senator Wallace then we'll circle back around. Thank you Mr Director fight I want to thank you for all the work that you all have done only one set I I. When the project started out for three or four years ago at I had grave concerns and. I told you about those who you worked with me work with my people in Poinsett County in in you have given us a. A project that would be proud of any state. I am from listen to yeah I'm gathering that what you've done with Poinsett County is issued intent to do with the other place other projects if you receive the extra money it absolutely is of the money will be directed the new funding will be directed completely towards infrastructure and we plan to report that semi annually to be held accountable for that thank you Sir. Senator Sturch. Thank you Mr. Direct hits at I want to ask I kind of need some background information you you may have already mentioned it and I may have just missed it but the current fishing and hunting license fees where do they go are is all that dedicated to one fund or they is it spread across multiple funds right now the ten dollars twenty five dollars residential fees where they go they go into the game protection fund and that's what we operate our our agency on we have three revenue strange one is forty five percent of the conservation sales tax we get the second is license sales and the third is our federal apportionment which is revenues derived from federal excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment and it's appropriated back to the state based on license holders and geographic size of the state so then what other moneys go towards infrastructure is there dedicated source revenue for infrastructure are you don't have that no there there is not so what what how we operate now just to drill it down we have a ballot of. Nine million dollars about ten percent of our budget is left for construction and capital equipment of so you have about seven million dollars to deal with infrastructure and that that's considering that we tend to break the record pretty often all in on the size of the the the projects that were facing and senator Wallace under points it holds the record right now but I think it will go down pretty quick that list is running away from us we cannot get we cannot catch it with the current funding so currently at seven million dollars annually yes you're going to give to infrastructure so if this bill is to go through that the increase in license fees from the license fees and within your budget you would take that portion or the percentage portion and give it to infrastructure as well that at least that's what you're intent is yes Sir that is absolutely are ten and are planned should we be successful here and getting that authority is to ask our commissioners to plant the to pass amended orders that that memorializes that and his or commission goes moves on and off the board it will it will help holding the agency accountable and also the semi annual reporting I believe is a good measure for us to stay where we said we were going to be. Okay thanks let me ask them about the bill itself because that I'm assuming honestly it the only be I haven't made my life was AP calculus. So there. At. You mean one of those ones. So the way I read it I may be totally off but when I look at page two and I'm going lines three through fourteen that spell out the sixty five twenty five twenty five the the way I read it is you're saying that the increase can only be up to sixty five percent of what the baseline currently is received as a like for example if it's ten dollars right now for a fishing license when I did my calculation for CPI from nineteen eighty four two thousand twenty one that would mean that it would go up to twenty six seventy six one hundred percent but if it's sixty five percent you're only proposing to raise it up to seventeen dollars is that right or seventeen that is exactly right seventeen twenty four would be the left and I believe I don't want to speak for agency at that decision level but that would probably be rounded off to seventeen dollars just to make it easier on the consumer he's a math and so the same for hunting I suppose twenty five dollars now and CPI would be fifty dollars and sixty seven odd sense but sixty five percent of that is thirty two ninety three I had a thirty two seventy seven okay I told tax my only be. So then. My I guess my the way it's written it's just not to exceed that do you know has there been any discussions and as far as commission on the wider AS that goes far as is that in one fell swoop are you want to do it over multiple years I mean from ten to seventeen or twenty five to thirty two I mean in the long run I understand seven dollars but you don't have how is that going to be implemented is at one fell swoop for overtime what this the way the bill is structured is to spread that out over time over ten years so the sixty five percent would be done on the if we gain that authority immediately of the next twenty five percent of that price would be done in five years from now and then another twenty five ten years from now with all of that money being dedicated towards infrastructure. But then to senator becomes point the twenty five twenty five it's a constant moving target the longer it goes on right because of the years it's not twenty twenty one six years CPI it move on to twenty twenty six or twenty three one being that it could increase someone that twenty five percent jump would be of that first number right so you would set aside for fishing license would be seventeen dollars and twenty four cents in twenty twenty six you would have the authority to adjust that twenty five percent of that number of that and then the same in in twenty thirty one with all of those new revenues being dedicated entirely to infrastructure. Renovation Mr dean modifies senator Caldwell question of fast can become potable center column I know the Senator beckons white so it would be a more write it down so you don't forget it mun's real quick question for drug fits. Amended order is not binding. It can be changed at the next commission meeting is that accurate that is accurate the intention of the amended order is to more efficient understands to keep it on history as a commissioner moves off and maybe a new commissioner moves on without the knowledge of knowing what we did here. Senator you're more. Yeah just going to circle back so what will this race for you all that ten period ten year period and then what is your plan two I think the goal here is to raise. Two hundred fifty million over ten years. That is what our needs currently is that is and estimate that is a very concerning target it is a funding I understand that so and I and I do want to say this I think everyone appreciates the work that you in the commission and and you your folks over there to the obviously game one zero and taxable jobs we appreciate that obviously we have to ask a lot of questions for our constituents and so getting back to the question what will this increase rates for you all. Obviously ballpark considering that. You know when this happens it's going to be you know changes again it's a moving target so we understand that and then what is the plan to raise the additional funds within your agency so I think there's talk of raising out of state there's talk of rate increasing lifetime if you would walk us through that place okay so the the increase in revenue would be about thirteen million dollars on the resident side in three moves. the the intention here is not to. To keep a nonresident lift and and our commission has the authority to do that but certainly keep it consistent or a little bit more than what we're trying to do with the residents keeping in mind that nonresident hunting license has been lifted seven times since the resident license has a non resident fishing license has been raised five times since we raised resident fishing license we certainly do not want to blow up all or tourism it plays an important role in local economies around these areas. So you have that component my suggestion in proposal to our commissioners would be as you make an adjustment on residents to do something equal or maybe a little bit more on the nonresident side we are also we vigorously work with our partners do you as one of our partners they certainly have a huge interest in R. Greentree reservoirs and what they mean for the Mississippi River fly away they have committed to two million dollars a year and grant dollars for the next ten years so twenty million to go towards these projects we're also in the in the right now trying to hire for the first time ever for agency a competitive grant writer to go out and find private and public grants that can offset some of these license dollars for current programming and then lastly we're working with the department of transportation on a marine fuel tax program that's been in place since nineteen sixty six or sixty seven this will not be a new tax this is current revenues that are being collected from motor fuel and it just frankly need some modern numbers plugged into it if you've been on a lake anytime the last few years you realize there's a lot of boats out there and burning a lot of gas so we feel like to be a left there and that money is earmarked for specific infrastructure not all infrastructure booked some. And so all of these components together will direct towards these projects. Senator Sturch. Thank you Mr circle I wanted to ask when the bill was first drafted the way it was drafted I guess it was it to kind of give us some concern or some questions were raised about you know what authority was what could we do and based on Constitutional I miss the past and so forth is there anything in here then that gives you pause or concern as far as us as the legislature being able to give them the notion Sturch really issues a bill are drafted language more complicated what should be to Beckham for credit it is and we worked on it this this was not just an overnight bill we've worked on is saying Senator give more back love met with the Director fish several times trying to get the. Language that that would allow them to try to have of some increase would not go overboard in in the and and I questioned this language myself it'd have to be so complicated because would not make it to more simple and and you know you would you start of not flight and circulating but we short talking to lawyers you always lose conversation but that that's what the language is complicated and but but I think Director features laid out what he wants to do sixty five percent now five years from now appoint another additional twenty five percent and in ten years in additional twenty five percent and you know you start looking at that and look at it to earlier of a look it up and and CP I the only one website I just pulled up was two point five seven which means if we just kept up with inflation no increases just kept up with inflation a ten dollar fifty cent fictionalized would be twenty six dollars ninety nine cents today we're not asking for that twenty seven dollars until ten years from now so we're way behind inflation. But nothing that you say that would put us in a bind constitutionally or anything like that no for the event they're required to come to the legislature to ask for permission to raise rates indoor a in state unless and and that's why we're here today because are required to do the test thank you Mr. Senator sample. Thank you Mr. Director Richard Womack covering it it's apparent that the commission. Has seen the need to raise the prices of out of state license. Why haven't they come forward because I mean in my opinion you you waited so long that you've almost created and possibility here. Warren why have you not come. To us before now on when you phrase you said what are you race out of state license I think five times since we that would arise densify what's what's permit they didn't want to come to the legislature Senator sample it would be difficult for me to speak for those that came before me honestly can't and if I had to speculate and I'm a little afraid to do this but we don't like raising fees either I mean honestly we don't and I think that the last time that we raised resident license has shown that I think one thing that makes the need as it comes on is. Is the change in precipitation rates that that compounding some of our projects out there certainly we see it and the clock is ticking on are to be amazing or green tree reservoir is is we're losing the species of trees of this is happening right now certainly as FEMA projects appear that's one thing we've not talked about that's it instant impact to our budget is trying to respond to these things and they tear up a lot of things that the public frankly the land to be fixed right the and that you may not have budgeted and that's not to consider that our enforcement team services as part of the state's emergency action plan on search and rescue I know our guys spent over five thousand hours during the flood of two thousand nineteen just not working fish and wildlife stuff boating into people's houses and helping those impacted citizens up and down the river and so all of these things take a bite out of your budget I think it would put us on a very sustainable path of dealing with this infrastructure list that we have that I've said is running away from us with with construction cost this would put us on a sustainable path to re invest these dollars back into the places frankly that make Arkansas pretty special. Thank you Mr thank you Sir search Beckham. You alluded to your partnership with ducks unlimited earlier. How much money do we give them other gamefish budget a year currently. We give them dollars we invest like forty three other states ducks or migratory bird was the dollar amount I think this year maybe two hundred fifty thousand dollars as what we what we've done the bill or pull the numbers and you sent me an email I have it here yes it's six hundred thousand annually is with in your writing says yeah that's what the last payment before this fiscal year was and what is we reduce that down to two hundred fifty making adjustments to our budget. And and we are helping to build don't have a tad out of state with this money is that accurate. Is or can you assure us that every dollar we give them is spent in the state of Arkansas no Sir at that I'm not trying to say that at all what I'm saying is migratory birds are not born and raised here in the state of Arkansas we make an investment towards the breeding ground of migratory birds and we do not get a dollar payment on our investment how we get paid is is ducks coming back to the state and we get paid back through our economy people who are enjoying of world class bill Cunningham we kill more mallards in the State of Arkansas than any other state. Wanted one thing to that and I'm not saying the fiscal impact around the state other than in the the Arkansas county area that normally during duck season the cunning contributes of million dollars a day to the economy. So you know you you you may not agree with that spending money out to help bring money back but no in Raskin for constituent of pay more money to. Can can you give me the actual cost. That I would pay today. For a combination sportsman license with the state duck stamp and trial still let me do some calculating can you ask questions in the Speaker sent back. The calls that I would pay today for the combination sportsman license with a trout stamp in the the ducks down if I wanted to access all yes of Arkansas's natural resource because so you're saying a combination licenses state duck stamp and a Senate trial stand that would be thirty five fifty four the hunting license the combination license seven dollars which would bring you to forty to fifty on the state duck stamp and then ten dollars on a. Ten dollars on your trout stamp. What would go to in twenty thirty one. I would have to get my phone out to do some calculating that that's reason why as this is a very complicated bill for the layman. Well we're not and I'll have to rely on the the the calculations like I said I think we would probably Just a second to get my calculator of. For clarification center back when you're asking for the what about what we are currently if this passes right what this committee is being asked to approve for the. The average or cans and to pay for access to our natural resources in this coming hunting season twenty thirty one twenty twenty thirty one okay I'm is what we're getting what we're we're committing to okay. And and it was three items it was the combination license it was a state duck stamp. And the staff okay Lafe got it at ninety seven oh six would be the authority. The trial stamp will not move it or stay at ten dollars it's not part of this we we went through that process During the last session there's no intention to move that. Just jump over to center Gilmore is that the best. No I'm actually not but I I wanted to I got a quick question but I want to point out Senate search don't feel too bad I had to get an economist last night to break this down for me so the the thing that I do want to point out that was it does include it says in the bill license permit or stamp. So would that not include duck stamp board. This is a permissive statement is not mandatory. Okay so we're giving them authority to do that the tension okay yeah okay. Thank you senator Biden. Any other questions. Senator Sturch. I want to know about where the director got his ninety seven dollars. When I did that I got sixty nine dollars and sixteen cents well we're or going on twenty thirty one numbers. Twenty thirty one yes to. because he the question was how much yes it intent on or what what I'll be saying okay I'm I apologize that the first the first little bumpier the sixty five percent would only be about seventy yes yeah okay center back on. To clarify this does not include the. Increase in the trout stamp that you do have the authority to raise under this bill correct. We don't we don't have plans to move that. But you have the authority with this bill to raise the yes Sir you estimate how much it would cost. But there's no there's no plan to increase that. Any other questions. Seeing none. Thank you Mr fitz. I didn't know that we have Paul Calvert here to speak against the bill. Our please enter yourself for the record. Thank you me as Paul Calvert. I. With all due respect I I would like to see government shrinking and I think this is an area that government should be strictly I would like to see the game and fish have their jurisdiction reduced. The chairman objectives here speak on the bill not not another subject matter. I agree with you on that survey the state with the bill I tried bill bill and so if if we increase our funding it will it will give them the ability to to Continue to broaden their scope and and to To have more power I would like to reduce their power as as it currently stands and so I think if we increase their funding I think that's that's that is counter productive to that goal One of the reasons I think that it's it's kind of a little bit more hitting home with me is that so my little brother quit a pretty lucrative job several years ago because he wanted to work with this family. And so what he's doing his rate raisin salad greens he it and he was having a pretty severe problem with deer eating a salad greens and so he had it he was it tends to get a deprivation permit. And then I had to and because the city wasn't big enough and if they're gonna have this kind of power don't give any more money please I think they need to be reduced not increased and we need to shrink government and this is just not the way to do it by giving them more access to chairman Jeff again he's not speaking on the bill or the effect it has on consumers he is talking about the game fish in the waters or they have and don't have the I agree with this let's stay with the particular building had not no part of his game featured thing in the state with the I understand so so the the issue though is that we need to be cutting their funding not raising it and I think this raises the funding obviously and it's just not appropriate this time they're they're not an agency that needs to be increased in size by giving them more money I thank you to committee. A question for Mr Calvert. Seeing none thank you Sir thank you. No one else is signed up to speak for against the bill if president want to do not signed up please let us know now. Seeing none Senator Caldwell thank you chairman committed like close the for the bill again the Senator jim I'm sure you did make Canadian calculus and I'm sorry that the language is complicated we've we've tried not to make it complicated bills with the but but in the very essence of it is is a the game fish commissions asking to raise hunting license sixty five percent now. Additional twenty five percent five years from now an additional twenty five percent ten years from now that gives it was already did not today would have to but I would expect to do that now and not trying to hide the. Tell you store the other day I know sure give more check back my I've worked them several weeks trying to get some language that could be approval on it and recently we had a testimony and Education Committee. I had witnesses from my district to come up and testify. The one was disabled veteran the other rooms food was disabled and one was a farmer there that is fairly well to do. And after they testified that we were just final pantry which has nothing to do this bill at all. Their test final poetry center Beckham fault amount of the whole screen court rumination he should what you all think about the bill's going W. hunt elections. In the portion for termination he said forward he said my hunting licenses is cheapest thing that I can buy he said I can't go to the movie for what I've by the The of unless forced by movement movies just for Spencer in in in and to be honest we don't think it caught both of us off guard defected he would be in favor of rationing on life but in reality when you look at you can go hunting and fishing three hundred sixty five days on the either private grant or public ground that it's a bargain if you look at the prices we have to around our surrounding states what they pay of Arkansas still bargain. And I know that you get some push back from back home would you be surprised at how much the. support there is for this bill after that we continue to the. The support are getting fish fishing keep or wildlife management areas open and with that I would to ask for a good vote in a move to pass. I have a motion to pass a second bill senator Senator Wallace. All in favor say aye All opposed same sign. Please call the roll. Senator sample all right senator Wallace. All right Senator Leding. All right Senator Sturch hi Senator Beckham. Nate Senator Gilmore. No. Senator hill no no. And senator Caldwell hi. What was that thank you Committee three. Five to three the Bill pass is. Saying nothing else on the agenda today this meeting is adjourned. Regulations are.