Senate Convenes

Senate will come to order madam secretary please call the roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Everyone please stand including those in the gallery. Dr. Senate sh one reason work prayer. Senate is recognized. Or have only father be among us give us good counsel help us understand your will be done help us understand what is being put in front of us to do the best we can for the citizens of this great state your name we pray amen. I pledge allegiance. The United States. Which is one. Under. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The announcmenet. Senator Rapert. Senator Rapert is recognized thank you Mr president members like to recognized today our doctor of the day Dr Jeffrey Kersh to learn knowledge just had neck surgery from Conway thank you for being here Sir. You know so thanks to Sherri Benard thank you. Any other announcements I hear there's a basketball game tonight so I'm gonna try to be as expeditious as possible. Senator Irvin. Wish to be recognized. Any items at the desk. Yes. I do Mr President this is to inform you that on March twenty three twenty twenty one I reviewed and approved the following measures regular session the ninety third General Assembly Senate bill one O. seven now ACT four one four. Sincerely Asa Hutchinson governor well. Dear Mr president This is to inform you that on March twenty four twenty twenty one I've reviewed and approved the following measures for the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly Senate bill one to twelve ACT four thirty Senate bill four sixty four ACT four thirty one Senate bill four fifty four ACT four thirty two Senate bill three fifty seven ACT four thirty three Senate bill four sixty five ACT four thirty four Senate bill four fifty six ACT four thirty five symbol for forty eight ACT four thirty six Senate bill four nineteen ACT four thirty seven Senate bill four sixteen ACT four thirty eight Senate bill three forty four ACT four thirty nine Senate bill three oh five ACT four forty Senate bill two forty ACT four forty one Senate bill two forty nine ACT four forty two Senate bill two thirty two ACT four forty three Senate bill one eighty nine ACT four forty four Senate bill twenty two at four forty five senate three seventy six at four forty six sincerely Asa Hutchinson governor. You Mr President this is to inform you that on March twenty five twenty twenty one I reviewed and approved the following measures the regular session ninety third General Assembly. Senate bill three fifty four ACT four sixty one Senate bill two eighty nine ACT two ACT four sixty two said before twenty one ACT four sixty three Senate bill for twenty two ACT four sixty four Senate bill for twenty five ACT four sixty five said bill for twenty four ACT four sixty six Senate bill for twenty five ACT four sixty seven Senate for twenty six ACT four sixty eight Senate bill four twenty seven ACT four sixty nine simmer for twenty eight ACT four seventy Senate bill for twenty nine ACT four seventy one single for thirty ACT four seventy two Senate bill four thirty one ACT four seventy three Senate bill four thirty two ACT four seventy four Senate bill thirty four thirty three ACT four seventy five Senate bill four thirty four ACT four seventy six Senate bill four thirty five ACT four seventy seven Senate bill four thirty six ACT four seventy eight Senator for thirty seven ACT four seventy nine zero four thirty eight ACT four eighty cent before thirty nine ACT four eighty one Senate bill for forty ACT four eighty two simmer for forty one ACT four eighty three senate for forty two ACT four eighty four Senate bill four ninety three ACT four eighty five senate one fifty six ACT four eighty six Senate bill four hundred ACT nine a at four eighty one Senate bill for a one ACT four eighty eight Senate bill sixty two ACT four eighty nine Senate bill one forty seven ACT four ninety Senate bill one eighty four ACT four ninety one Senate bill one eighty five ACT four ninety two Senate bill two sixty four ACT four ninety three Senate bill two eighty one ACT four ninety four Senate bill three thirteen ACT four ninety nine Senate bill three forty five ACT four ninety six send up to six I sixty five ACT four ninety seven sincerely Asa Hutchinson governor all. Where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill of five forty five by senator garner compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed related to your committee on grass Bills to whom was referred Senate bill five fifty three by Senator Mark Johnson compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly state agencies where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill five sixty four by Senator Eliot compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed Education Committee on west Bills to whom was referred senate five sixty seven by Senator Bledsoe compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed city county local Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill five eighty eight by Senator Ballenger compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed insurance commerce committee on grass Bills to whom was referred Senate bill five ninety four by Senator Dismang compared the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed Richard collars Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred house bill eleven fifty two by representative Gazaway compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed our culture Committee on west Bills to whom was referred house bill fourteen twenty six by representative Lundstrum compared the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed our culture Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred house bill fifteen seventeen by representative board compared the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed state agencies. Senate concurrent memorial resolution one return from houses concurred in. And while they're all of. Senate bill thirty eight of by joint budget returned from the house as passed. Roll Senate bill forty one by joint budget returned from the houses past role Senate bill forty five by joint budget return from houses passed. Senate bill fifty six by joint budget return from the houses past role Senate bill fifty seven return by joint budget returned from the house as passed. Senate bill ninety seven by joint budget return from houses past control center for O. nine by Senator Irvin returned from the house's pastoral. Senate bill five ninety six by Senator English to allow the secretary of the department of finance administration to designated Director of Arkansas racing commission Senate bill five ninety six state agencies signified ninety seven by Senator English to allow the secretary of the department of finance ministrations employee a Director of Arkansas tobacco control Senate bill five ninety seven city county local to about five ninety eight by Senator Bledsoe to amend the definitions within the telemedicine act to authorize additional insurance reimbursement for telemedicine to prohibit health benefit plan financial incentives and declare an emergency Senate bill five ninety eight public health Senate bill five ninety nine by Senator Irvin. To establish the Arkansas financial Education Commission Senate bill five ninety nine education center six hundred by Senator Leding to establish the right to know and get your pay act Senate bill six hundred public health Simcoe six now one by Senator Dismang to repel the small business a. An entity I tax pass through act and to establish the uniform omitted liability company accidental six oh one sure Commerce. Senate bill six SO two by Senator Irvin to modify the law concerning coverage for craniofacial and normally reconstruction surgery. To establish a when the lines are interfacial law into an emergency senate six oh two sure Commerce symbol six three by Senator Irvin to clarify the law concerning a health care researchers contracting with a temporary hospital facility and regulate healthcare contracts require good faith corporation civil six oh three insurance commerce center six oh four by Senator Ballinger to amend Arkansas law to impose penalties on state and county election officials who fail to perform statutory duties and allow investigation of election law violations by the division of Arkansas State Police symbol six so for state agencies. House bill ten hours ten eighty eight by joint budget. I thank the Department of Human Services division of county operations preparation for twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal years at four ten eighty eight calendar house bill ten ninety nine by joint budget an act for the Department of Human Services division of provider services and qual quality assurance appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year house bill ten eighty nine counted house bill eleven seventy nine by joint I by representative Gonzalez to add an additional permanent disqualifying offense criminal background checks for professions of professions and occupations a house bill eleven seventy nine use your house for twelve eighty one by representative warned Senator sample to amend the law concerning the duration of participation in the Arkansas public employees retirement system deferred retirement option plan house bill twelve eighty one shelter house bill twelve eighty two by Senator morning Senator sample to amend the definitions of non state employees and participating public employer as the host of definitions applied to the Arkansas public employees retirement system and defined border municipal airport authority House Bill eleven eighty two dollar. House Bill twelve eighty three by representative Warren. And Senator sample to amend the law concerning the membership of the board of trustees of the Arkansas public employees retirement system house bill twelve eighty three. Judiciary. Haspel fourteen ninety nine by representative finds Senator Dismang to amend the law concerning the Arkansas child abuse rape domestic violence commission concerning notice of severe maltreatment reports and concerning certain annual report submitted by the administrative office of courts house bill fourteen ninety nine fourteen ninety nine Judiciary to clarify twelve eighty three was counted. Do you. Fifteen fifty nine by representative Graham Senator Sturch to modify the audits and duties of the internal audit section to grant the internal audit section subpoena power and require unit pharmacy and all alternates connected and then in the executive branch houseful fifteen fifty nine. State agencies also sixteen fifty three by representative McCollum concerning the requirements that need to be met before sex offender can have his or her obligation to Richard terminated houseful sixteen fifty three Judiciary hassle sixteen seventy nine by representative Hillman to amend laws related to plant industries regarding pesticide control fertilizer registration in line vendor licensing asal sixteen seventy nine. Agriculture castle seventeen twenty two a representative Johnson to amend the law concerning corners investigation house bill seventeen twenty two. City County and local hassle seventeen thirty one by representative under wouldn't Senator Hester concerning the sentencing procedure during a capital murder murder trial in the event of error occurring during the sentencing phase of the trial house bill seventeen thirty one Judiciary Council seventeen sixty six by representative Wardlaw to increase the state contribution to the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance program house bill seventeen sixty six state agency house bill seventeen seventy three by representative Hillman to the trial to conform to federal law concerning agricultural water resource conservation and development measures into amend the time period for compare competing projects and the water resource conservation and development incentives act house bill seventeen seventy three agriculture senator samples recognized hold okay just need to go to the Clark any announcements before moving on to the business agenda. Senator Leding is up next then Senator Tucker Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Senator Leding. House concurrent resolution. A resolution of thousand nine by representative garner in central leading to congratulate I have a public schools for one hundred and fifty years excellent public education. Senator Leding. Collins I'll be brief you might have noticed last Saturday the University of Arkansas celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth birthday which might not of notice that there's an institution of education that actually predates the university by one week the fable public school district and today here in the west gallery we have the superintendent of the district Dr John L. Colbert along with miss Holly Johnson who is the executive director of communications and public relations and the president of the label school board need to wait seven and so I know we have a long agenda but because we do have guests here today I beg your indulgence as we read this very brief resolution whereas stable schools are number one watch in county Arkansas also known as the district was the first public school district in the state of Arkansas in eighteen seventy one and whereas the first meeting of a fable Board education was held on March twenty eighth eighteen seventy one and whereas about the one hundred fifty year history federal public schools the district is consistently set high standards for excellent collusion innovation and whereas in nineteen twenty one limit on the recycling fatal became the first call on Arkansas to become a member of the National Congress of the month at mother's later known as the national the a. Whereas addition to the longstanding commitment to equity and equality for all including the fatal school board's decision on may twenty first nineteen fifty four to voluntarily begin integrating schools schools just four days after the landmark opinion of brown V. board of education was issued by the United States Supreme Court and whereas the district opened up town school in nineteen seventy two to serve students who are in danger of dropping out of school it was the longest continually operating alternative school in Arkansas and where a stable public school district or iria Holcomb and state representative you can came let the push for kindergarten in Arkansas public schools during the nineteen seventy five legislative session and we're as a group of teachers in the district wrote in Arkansas history curriculum for students in grade four nineteen eighty four cents in Arkansas history curriculum did not exist at the time and school districts around the state requested copies the Arkansas is the curriculum and where as established in nineteen eighty three that they will public schools get that intelligent education program became the standard for gifted and talented programs in Arkansas it's been recognizes state's top gifted and talented program in a record seven times and we're as the district opened fable virtual academy in two thousand sixteen with the first district charter conversion online public school in Arkansas and where is it is it continues to live up to its mission to personalized learning exceed expectations every day in an inclusive and safe environment and whereas addition to pull Division to be the trusted leader in Arkansas public education ensuring every student sheep his or her full potential now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the nineteen at the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas the Senate concurring there and that the ninety third General Assembly congratulate they will public schools for achieving one hundred and fifty years of excellence in public education well that senator you should look into all TV commercials we read the legal disclaimer. Although also recognized. Okay. Hi. Is haven't resolutions. Thank. Senator Tucker for. Amendment December for seventy nine Sir Clark. My bill my amendment. All the favor say aye. I have it members adopted largely because of the doctors Senator Blake Johnson and then Senator Mark Johnson center Blake Johnson Amendment one Senate bill five forty eight my bill my amendment. All those of favour say aye. Close as adopted senator grossing senator Mark Johnson Amendment one Senate bill five fifty four. My bill my amendment appreciate about all those of favour say aye. This Is have it members adopted senators and Senate bill for third reading Senator B. Davis. Davis. Senate bill one twenty by Senator Davis concerning rulemaking authority under the school counseling improvement act of twenty nineteen. Senator Hester is no Sir Davis thank you all this bill does is gives the state board of education the ability to promulgate rules we passed a bill last session and in regards to counselors and how much time and they needed to spend directly with students but we did not give rulemaking authority and state board of ed with that I'll take any questions. Questions are always speak against four Senator which is close from closing centers closing objection on the vote. The rule of Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace any anyone wish to change their vote. Cast a ballot thirty five yeah zero days. The bill is passed transmitted to the house Senator Hester. One three by Senator Hester realtor Hester just for ten to require high cost education be taught in all public schools Services recognize the service of the field. Thank you members this is a very important bill as we all understand the atrocities from the Holocaust in this bill just make sure that we're going to teach it in our grades fifth through twelfth education so that we can you know like the old saying goes if you if you don't remember history you're doomed to repeat it it's this make sure that our students in Arkansas are not doomed to repeat the history of happy to any questions any questions anymore speak against and for service for a closed centers close injection on the vote the role. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you know was injured vote. The ballot thirty five Yeas zero nice bill is passed transmit to the House Senator Stubblefield then served as master Stubblefield senate two ninety six by Senator Stubblefield to prohibit videotaping or sharing photographs or video of residents of long term care facilities without their consent to the internet. Thank you governor Senate bill two ninety six let me just start by saying this has nothing to do with the collect or abuse of any nursing facility I would encourage anyone who witnesses that to take a photo of it this bill simply. And language to an existing code that already protects our prohibits photograph made taken it simply adds videos and posting that on social media sites I would appreciate a good vote. Any questions they always speak against and for Senators closers closing gesture on the bottom. Please please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace in which change of a. The ballot thirty five eight zero nine the bill is passed transmitted the House Senator Dismang this bill house emergency call center redact Senate bill three hundred by Senator Dismang prohibiting Perot of a person convicted of the offence of possession of a firearm by certain persons under certain circumstances and declaring emergency certified thank you governor members current Arkansas currently ranks forty seventh in violent crime and and I I didn't realize that that's not a statistic that any of us should be proud of in fact I think it demonstrates a need that we change our direction as relates to a repeat violent offenders SP three hundred is much needed pool that is supported by all levels of law enforcement including the sheriff's association chiefs association our state prosecutors and this isn't a new unproven concept of the bill is modeled after the successful project safe neighborhoods federal program that seeks to remove the most dangerous felons from our communities by keeping them behind bars this bill simply changes the sentencing requirements of existing possession by certain persons statutes and more specifically the bill eliminates early parole for those convicted of a Class B. felony in possession current parole or current requirements are too lax for reference and ended if an individual is convicted of a ten year sentence or with a ten year sentence they only serve fourteen months to two years of their actual sentence and I want to be clear on who this bill will impact not to be charged with a class B. felony possession these repeat criminals have to fall into one of three buckets so the first bucket is have a previous a violent felony conviction the second bucket is have a previous felon in possession conviction so just to spell that out means you're a felon your call as a felony possession you're caught again as a felon in possession in the third bucket is have a previous felony conviction and use the firearm could to commission a new crime these are individuals that have demonstrated a. Propensity to commit violent acts against our state citizens these are the very folks that we need to be removed from our streets we need to act our constituents need us to act the standard has been that we should be focusing on folks that we are scared of not those that we are mad at and that is something that I agree with and we've done a whole lot of things to focus on those that were mad at. These repeat violent offenders are exactly who we should focus on we should be scared of we need to close the revolving door we need to give law enforcement the tools they need and I would appreciate a good vote anyone got any questions your speak against anyone wish to speak for centers closed center has close reminders as emergency clause Secretary injection on the boat please call the vote. Senator Irvin will be next in Senator Rapert after this. Please all of. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace anyone was injured vote. Cast of about thirty five Yeas zero nation bill is passed protocols Dr transmitted House Senator Irvin then Rapert then you Senator Solomon. Senate bill three thirty two by Senator Irvin to establish public health re reading this act. Centerman thank you governor members you have on your desk and a group of individuals that I worked closely with on this bill and which are healthcare engineers from Baptist health from Conway regional health system from an C. H. ice Saint Vincent and for Marie these are all certified health care safety professionals and and engineers and what this bill does is it allows for allows for these medical facilities to be able to fix our equipment in order to ensure patient safety in two thousand and eighteen the FDA this was pre covid I have declared and and found through their reports that the availability of third party entities to service and repair medical devices is critical to the functioning of the US health care system particularly during the pandemic you had people that we're not able to travel here from the state from other states are the company's not allow them which left our healthcare professionals in our health care engineers kind of dead in the water and in order to respond to patient safety and patient critical care and one particular individual who is the director of clinical engineering with Conway regional health system he served over twenty years in the military where he was trained as a as a as an engineer and his testimony was critical about how they needed to be have the ability to repair and fix our equipment in order to ensure patient safety to keep them alive during the pandemic when it came to ventilators that were needed desperately and to transition into ICU beds and really that is the reason behind this bill and I'm I'll be happy to answer any questions not appreciate a good vote. You wish to speak against anyone wish to speak for centers close. Just wanna thank you centers for your vote. All the Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace any wish anyone wish to change their vote over your first Senator Blake Johnson is president Senator Pitsch is no Senator Sturch is present. Senator Davis is now Senator Elliot is no anyone else over here. Senator Hendren is not. Anyone else over here. Senate bill as president Senator Teague is null Senator English is not voting present not voting. President. President Senator president Senator health president. Senator Rice as president. Anyone else. Cast up the ballot. Twenty one ACT seven days the bill of seven present the bill is passed transmitted to the house Senator Rapert than Senator Solomon Senator English Senate bill three forty six by Senator Rapert concerning the use of audio. Media visual media and audio visual media by law enforcement agencies dispatch centers. Public safety announcing points jails and detention centers. Senator Rapert thank you Mr president members this bill is supported by the Arkansas association of counties also the sheriff's association president this bill it's been a few days ago now and the Judiciary Committee and want to make clear on this the Arkansas press association doesn't have any problem with the bill that doesn't mean that others out there may not have a problem but the bottom line is is that many of our law enforcement agencies you know already strapped for cash trying to have funding to be able to even have officers on the street and in some cases and I would advise this hasn't been the case from the press but in some cases they've had people making requests that are overly burdensome and they've had to literally taken input a deputy in charge an officer in charge of just sitting going through hours and hours and hours of videotape and many times is really doing nothing in the end once the submission is received so what they're trying to do here is to put what they hope will be some good parameters around this and so if a person goes in and requests under the four year for videotape it says that they require if it requires excuse me unless the request or other questions entity is made a request under this and immediately preceding thirty days the criers three hours of personal equipment time they actually give you three hours free after that it's fifteen dollars per hour in there just trying to come up with some way to reasonably handle these kind of requests without undue burden on their forces we have an answer any questions any questions Senator Rapert Senator Solomon. Sullivan. Recruitment if you're a cap on how much they can charge fifteen dollars is what states the bill or they can't charge more than fifteen what you're talking about is there a cap on how many hours that it would be for I'm not aware of that so quick one might make for different requests in order to stay under the cap and still be our. It request a certain amount of video. And then they can make a second request third request. Well not prohibited I would say the problem the spirit of legislation if you made a request three hours that's for free but if it's a request that to fifteen hours of research to get you the information that you requested it stated they would charge the fifteen whatever the cost is fifteen dollars per hour. I'm sorry. Fifteen dollars per hour for fifteen dollars an hour but does it also include other. add on costs for doing other kinds of researchers at just a flat rate of ten dollars is what it what it states in the bill okay all right thank you yeah. What. Thank you Mr president Senator Rapert is a fifteen dollars an hour of the hour of the time of the employee that is gathering this together four hours of video. That's actually the labor time for fifteen dollars what that has gathered nine one of the gentleman from the nine one one board came and testified and they in if I'm again This Is memory here so it might not be exact be said you could spend three or four hours of researching going through film to produce thirty minutes of the requested data because they're trying to make sure they're responding accurately to the request and I'll just tell you you know I absolutely appreciate for you in the access of the public to be able to check and see what's going on what what they're seeing is some people have found that they can abuse these request and so they came an announcmenet coming to make overly broad requests that ended it ends up with them just literally being stifled in hat sometimes have to put a person it might make sixty seventy thousand dollars a year is a law enforcement officer sidelined over here just going through hours and hours a day and night so is everybody gonna be happy probably with this bill no but they're trying to come up with something and I've advised everybody involved you come up with anything else that we can do maybe we can amended the House of if they lack to but at this point we just need to move it through and if we get an amendment in the House Committee that's fine with me okay thank you thank you. Recognized. Thank you Senator Rapert I don't mean this in the way it's probably going to sound like you accusatory fashion but is there any kind of are there any kind of controls that somebody is making sure the time they said that it took to do the research and all that that's actually an accurate reporting of time I see your point Senator Elliot what you're what you're asking me to do is it say is law enforcement being honest in their time charges shall wait for four seconds yes Is I practice my remarks with I know it's going to come out sounding as if it's accusatory I don't mean it that way I'm really asking about how was it being done I don't think you will that's what I meant is that we really have to depend on hopefully that the law enforcement agencies involved are being honest in in their assessment of how much time they're spending so I'm sure they've got to keep a record log of that I think that is how they even came up with the burden anyway and what it was costing them in so long as again you're getting to a point your question is it's one of those deals is just like a teacher or a law enforcement officer. We have to assume that they're being honest unless the somebody finds it holds me accountable that they've done something wrong well I I thought about it in terms of since this is so new and I understand some of the problems that you're talking about I just waited to like maybe one to lower your reports you know they're out there billable hours or something like that is there somebody else who is verifying inside we don't have that we don't have it I'm just I'm just curious about it because that's a little bit of a concern this is one of these bills were hopefully that all the parties can do what's reasonable from each perspective I was asked to carry the bill on behalf of the entities involved have been happy to do that but I've also been insistent that they continue to listen to people if there's anything that needs to be done to make it better hopefully we can do that and I'll be happy form is amended if they find some way but right now this is where we're at as of today and again the press association is the only one at this point outside of those other entities that is there a okay within okay thank you. Anyone wish to speak against for. Closer to close the close you centers close any objection on the vote you get anybody object. Please role you do okay. Please call the roll. Ballinger Beckham. Let. Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads. Please call the roll yeah he Sullivan. You didn't okay just once a registrant out. Okay. Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. DISMANG. DISMANG. Eads Elliott. English. Lepo. Let Flowers. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hendren. Hester Hickey. Hickey Hill. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Leding. Pitsch Rapert. Rice. All sample. Stubblefield. That is not. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. T.. Tucker Hey. Wallace. Wallace. You wish to vote or change their vote. Flowers. Required by. Senator hill is on. Senator Leding is no. So Caldwell is not. Senator Dismang is on. Senator Clark. Is. Anybody else. The cast of the ballot twenty seven days seven days one not voting the bill is passed transmit to the House senator before we go Senator Solomon Senator Ballinger wants to make a quick housekeeping motion. Thank you Mr president I moved to re refer Senate bill five eighty eight from insurance and commerce to the joint energy committee it's a topic an issue we've been dealing with the Joint Energy we have a couple other substantive peace legislation that will be dealing with probably Thursday at eleven o'clock because little looks like and so just wanted to to let you know this is actually I'm sure this bill with the with the other share of joint energy and happy to answer any questions in search of the bill. Yes may I understand why the bill was sent to the previous committee rather than to energy I'm so sorry I'd like to know why it was sent to the other committee read that interview and I can tell you that that nine seven ten any substantive legislation dealing with energy we'll go to insurance and commerce most the time the Joint Energy is not doesn't bills of legislation usually a couple times a session chaired entity I think what you say right on the assessment yes so you understand that okay so I'm trying to find out through that year to to Steve why he felt that should go to insurance and commerce and I know we did not to get involved in it but it would help me make a decision for sure. The senator has stated that a law. Motion. Senate legislation on in relating to energy goes to energy insurance and commerce. It store clean in the tree and it saves you chair Joint Energy understand that's what it is. Recognized. We rarely sign bills used by voice to energy and usually the chairman of energy will come to tell me that we look at this during the interim and this is unique to our committee most all those bills go to insurance and commerce because a man title twenty three but specifically something that's been addressed by the energy committee I'm not surprised that you should check with me not with and that's always usually up to three Bills a session and this is one of those bills and that would be the proper assignment to energy thank you. Any other questions. All the favor say aye. I have it the motion is carried. Re referred the insurance commerce building Joint Energy. Senator Sullivan that emotion or read Senator Solomon as before so the father said bill for seventy five by Senator Sullivan to amend the law governing board of directors of the Arkansas development finance authority and to modify the manner in which the authority distributes certain tax credits and higher certain persons. Sir so thank you Mr president members I've talked to many you about this is our comes down through ad for a at the has a number of projects that they do this bill really speaks to three of them one is a nine percent tax credit that's fairly competitive very competitive in some instances a four percent tax credit and low interest loan I started working on this about ten months ago the bottom line is the money is not really distributed equitably by geographic area that's not the fault of those of you that are getting mode a lot of money that's the fault of people like in my district who are not doing the work that we need to to make sure we get our equal distribution. Also it does three things first of all distributes the money in an equitable manner by congressional district and if there is a district that doesn't apply doesn't qualify that money rules over immediately to other districts secondly it re constitutes the app for board hi this is not about performance it reconstituted the board based it gives the Senate for appointments the House for appointments and the governor for appointments so it it just gives us our body more input into who serves on that board and there's nothing that precludes a current member from being reappointed to the board so again this isn't to try to get rid of board members are punish them they can be reappointed if they want. and lastly as I said it it makes for equal representation from all of us across the board across the legislature I've talked with Mr pressed a number of times talk with Mr Scroggins a number of times going back several months I told him I did not want to run legislation but it became apparent that they were going to change the way the money was distributed at least recognizing some geographic distribution of money that's what the bill does I'll be happy to answer any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Solomon. Seeing no questions with any member like to speak for or against this bill. Seeing none Senator Solomon would you like to close for your bill senator saw that indicates he's close for the bill is there any objection to rolling Love. Seeing none madam secretary please roll the Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. With any Senator wish to change their vote I see senator Reid's is Anybody else over here. On the side any change of the vote the chair would like to be no to present. Okay Madam Secretary please cast up the ballot. With thirty three eighty one day one present. Senate bill four seventy five has passed. Return her to. Transmit the House. Let's do senate bill four ninety one Senator English. Semaphore ninety one by Senator English to amend certain laws regarding print to ships and training programs and related duties to amend an established prince ship committees and to amend the use of the Arkansas construction industry craft training trust fund. Senator English nice thank you very much this basically just changes some Burbage in the apprenticeship training programs with the office of skills development it expands the appreciate steering committee add more folks from industry and make some other changes. Are there any questions for Senator English. Would anybody like to speak for or against this bill. Seeing none are Senator English as indicated she's close for her bill are there any objections to rolling the. Seeing none madam secretary please roll the. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. DO any senators wish to change or cast a vote. Seeing none Madam Secretary casts up the ballot with thirty five U. S. A. N. zero nine eight your bill has passed let us move on to Senator Irvin we have an emergency transmitter House Senate bill five oh four we have an emergency clause on this bill Senate bill five O. four by Senator Irvin two men provisions of the code concerning state foundation funding I need to create the teacher salary equalisation fund and declare an emergency. but you're recognized. Thank you members in its Lakeview relaying the Arkansas Supreme Court identified teacher salaries not compatible to surrounding states and disparities in teacher salaries within the state as two of the ten historical deficiencies and of education funding according to the national education association data Arkansas the average teacher salary in FY twenty was forty nine thousand eight hundred twenty two dollars this is an increase of three hundred eighty four dollars from fiscal year nineteen when you comparison other states Arkansas is in the lowest quartile of the S. R. ET the state for average teacher salary we have a disparity in twenty nineteen the gap between the highest average salary and the lowest average salary was twenty one thousand three hundred eighty five dollars I'm in the surveys of the principals and superintendents be all are reported difficulty in offering competitive salaries at the most significant issue or barrier to teacher recruitment and retention this continues to be the case in spite of increases in the minimum teacher salaries each year since two thousand and fifteen. At this proposal before you is prioritizes teacher salaries as a matter of state policy without interfering with the local flexibility for spending foundation funding what this bill does is it creates a teacher salary act will equalization categorical funds like other category oracle finds it distributes funding on a per a DM basis to eligible schools for fiscal year twenty two this amount is a hundred ninety five dollars per ATM eight a department of education will review salary data each year and districts and charter schools he's average teacher salaries falls below the target average salary and and are eligible for teacher salary equalisation categorical funding and like other categorical funds it places restrictions on how the funds can be used and in this case the uses for specifically teacher salaries. Am I like the educator compensation reform funding from twenty nineteen the teacher's salary equalization funding is going to be on going the estimated costs for fiscal year twenty two is approximately twenty five million dollars this is funded by fifteen million dollars from the enhanced salary funds which was proposed in the fall of twenty twenty by the Education Committee and send million dollars of additional state education funding that comes from their trust funds I'll answer any questions are there any questions Senator Garner you are recognized thank you so make sure I understood correct that ten million dollars is coming from this trust fund it's already set up is not pulling off of any of the trackpoint that is part of education yes thank you for the question yes Sir. Senator Hendren recognized. Thank you thank you Mr president so. Senator and I I see what we're doing here but when you have average teacher salary said in the bill is fifty one eight eighty two. So is there a state Sir cliff in there that if it's in the school district is paying stages fifty one thousand five hundred they're gonna get a hundred eighty five dollars per per ADM windfall. Then somebody's paying. One dollar more than the what we have here I mean there is going to be as set up yeah there has to be a discrepancy so that you can help those schools reach to that average teacher salary I'm in order for them to help meet the average teacher salary. Yes my concern I understand the concern so if the school knows that they're going to bump above the average. They can hire another coach keep himself below the average and get this extra money. I I don't again I think it's set up in a formula if you look at the fiscal impact statements that's attached to the bill on the calendar on our website you can see the formula that they put out a specific to your questions there has to come in there has to be a threshold that has to be met in order for those schools to be able to qualify for that categorical funds so I mean to to answer your question there has to be a criteria set for that fund to be utilized and tapped into by schools that have not matched that average teacher salary in the state department's okay with all this the education department. Yes this this came from the governors recommendation it's it's based on his recommendation however the department works with those of us on Education Committee both in the house and the Senate to finalize where the funding mechanism would come into place in the annual you say ten million what's the annual hundred eighty five what we expect that to be so it's twenty five million dollars total for fiscal year twenty two and fifteen million comes from the enhanced teacher salary finds that was set at that was recommended by the twenty twenty out of the recommendation from the Education Committee and then the additional ten million as from the the educate that department of education's Trust Fund and now okay thank you. Question. Center center this is going is going to be an ongoing issue or just give me a one time injected twenty five million or twenty five million every year. This is this is an ongoing issue and this is to make sure that you we meet that and raise up the areas in the state of Arkansas where they're not able to meet that average teacher salary the good news with this bill is that it creates a new categorical fund so that it's being specific that you cannot use this money other than for teacher salaries the problem before when you have that worked into the foundation funding you're giving the schools the money however you're not guaranteed that they're always going to use that money for teacher salaries because it's baked into the foundation funding so when you set up a categorical funds you're basically saying this is what we're trying to reach and this is what you can spend this money on and so you know that that money is set aside and this is going to be and. It is going to be an ongoing the teacher salary equalization funding is going to be on going with me I'm going every year for half how long I mean what when we anticipate and having that number called up to be with more competitive. I don't have the dates on how long that I mean I don't have that date I think what you know the the question and the problem is your your when you try to raise the minimum you're always chasing the minimum and you still have the problem created in a lot of your rule schools where they're they're competing not only with out of state interests in teacher salaries that are higher from the rate surrounding states but you're also competing against school districts within your own state of Arkansas so it's hard to recruit teachers to some of the areas of a state of Arkansas and so being able to have a fund that helps those schools get to that average salary is really going to give those opportunities for those rule schools particularly the opportunity to recruit and retain their teachers and not let have their teachers go you know to another school district within the state where they can perhaps make more money and that affects our curriculum and in fact what you can offer the curriculum courses your AP courses you're different course curriculum thank you. Senator Senator Teague you're recognized for a question. Senator Teague. He's not. Recognized for a question we will. Senator Irvin yeah go to for the. Yes. Yes yes I do yes. Yes thank you senator mark Johnson. Thank you. Service I want to clarify what you said we have a lot to do with a vote for the bill or not. There's no way this super dense could use it for anything except teacher salaries is that correct that's right it's a categorical categorical funds that set up specifically for teacher salaries okay so you're confident that that a yes okay yeah and if you look like I said if you look at the fiscal impact statement you'll see that it out per student of a hundred ninety five dollars per per student for those that are eligible for the additional funding and that's the formula that and how you get to the twenty five million Senator Irvin this This Is Your twice has an emergency clause since this is affecting the next school year correct yes so what is it have made an emergency call I don't I don't think I can answer yes thank you for your honesty thank you Mr president Senator Ingram you're recognized. All this legislation it certainly needed desperately in rural Arkansas the one thing that I noticed if you look at page three of the bill on line starting at line twenty two it's the only place in this bill that benefits or mention the every other places teacher salary equalization funding and it says shall be expended only for teacher salaries and benefits and that's the only place in this bill that I see. Benefits tags salaries and as we all know we've had a real problem with some districts substituting. Insurance benefits in lieu of salary increases and I don't want to head down that road again yeah now I I I will take that to the department and I appreciate that I I don't disagree with you thank you. Are there any other questions for senator. Seeing none would anybody like to speak for or against this bill. Senator Sturch would like to speak on the bill. I you Mr president colleagues that religion I need to just make this disclosure of course I am a salary teachers so it's not that I'm against the bill but because of that reason I I don't feel like I should vote on the bill so I appreciate. So noted. Anybody else like to speak for or against this bill. Seeing none Senator Irvin would you like to close for your bill. Yes members thank you for the questions I do appreciate them and I do appreciate your attention to the details on this bill I think it's so important to recognize just the realities around what the school districts are struggling with when it comes to teacher recruitment and retention and I think this is a great policy that will really help us in that arena in a lot of your smaller schools in your rule school districts where they struggle in this this area and I just want to say that I appreciate those that are teachers and I appreciate the efforts that we are working on for behalf on behalf of our teachers in order to raise our teacher salaries to meet that average so that were in line with the rest of our surrounding states thank you I appreciate a good vote Senator Irvin has closed for her bill is there any objection to rolling the vote. Seeing no objection madam secretary please roll the. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. DO any senators wish to change your vote Senator Eads president. Nobody else want to change their vote. Seeing none Madam Secretary these casts up the ballot. With thirty three eighths and one no vote your bill has passed the Emergency Clause this past as well. Transmitted. To the to the house we'll get there later. One. Okay. Senate bill five twenty four Senator Sturch center five twenty four by Senator Sturch to to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning minority teacher and minority ministration recruitment plans and to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning the equity assistance center. Senator Sturch you're recognized thank you Mr president Kallis's says is a small change that I'd like to propose to what we currently do with our teacher recruitment plans what I like to do is expand that focus to include all diverse races and ethnicities when we're going to recruit but also retain I'd like to expand it to wear when they're doing these plants at the school district level they're also focusing on retaining those teachers not just recruiting and. Right now we require all districts to submit a plan have five percent minority student population or more what I'd like to do is expand that all schools doing it that only be about twenty five schools are so who are currently not doing it it's in every ten year plan what I'd like to do is shift that to every three years that aligns with all these other plans that we just passed this session as well as last session words every three years to get everybody up on par so so you'll see in the bill some new language that allows the department of higher education to work with teacher prep programs but this is also encouraged I appreciate a good vote I'll be willing to answer any questions are there any questions for Senator Sturch. Seeing none would anybody like to speak for or against this bill. Seeing none Senator Sturch is indicated that he's close for the bill is there any objection to rolling of a. Seeing none madam secretary please role though Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Are there any senators who wish to change their vote. Lauer's NO. Flowers Senator flowers is a no. Anybody on this side know about over here. He changed he changed it Senator centre Hester was a yes he went back to a yes on this the. Seeing no one else Madam Secretary cast a ballot. With thirty four EA and one day Senate bill five twenty four is passed Senate bill five thirty and I remind people that transmitted to the house Senate bill five thirty with twenty four votes required to pass. Senate bill five thirty by Senator Wallace to amend certain provisions of the workers compensation law that resulted from initiated act number four of nineteen forty eight revised third party liability and workers compensation law and to modify the process for requesting a hearing. Senator Wallace you're recognized thank you Mr president. Members when an employee is injured on the job the employer because a work comp policy has requirement to make that to cover all the medical bills and the compensating the injured worker was lost wages they they do that they're selfinsured they do through their insurance company. In every scenario impacted by this legislation will involve situation where the benefits are being recovered over and above that which is entitled to an injured worker under the workers compensation laws of Arkansas. When a third party. The causes an injury. And a great example of that is you have an employee driving down the road. in your company van. In the vehicle hits you from behind or they have a rich and it's the third parties fault. There's two victims here. The first victim is employed with all and knowledge that the other victim is that small business. That might only have four five employees basically mom and pop or any size employer. Labor cost. Either they they end up paying for the employees. Medical bills and the wages are more likely with they have workers comp insurance there go that route but even if they do the next year. That employer who had no fault in any of this his workers comp their workers comp rates will go sky high. As much as double what it was before so there really are two injured parties here the employee which will knowledge which we want to make sure is is all right. But the small business. Is equally effective. The Arkansas law already provides the employer's obligation right against any recovery for the negligence claim against the third party. If the work recovers lost wages. And medical bills may third party. The mass at the employer has already paid in. Is it paid to the employee or paid the paid his medical bills the employer has the right to subjugate against our share in that recovery that's in the law now. However. Because of our liberal court subdivisions and strip for the employers with respect workers compensation with the liberal application of the made whole Dr. With this bill. We're not place an employer before the workers are other workers with employers we're doing a dollar for dollar we're simply saying that when this situation occurs. The employer should share the recovery dollar for dollar still those two things. In the search. More clearly the employee's right to intervene in place a lien on the net proceeds. But it also reduces the portion of the pool order from two thirds to one half and with that I'm prepared to take your questions. Are there any questions for senator Wallace center Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you sincere senator Wallace was made whole first the employee or the employer it's one dollar for dollar for example if it was a two dollar returned the employer or would get a dollar the employee would get a dollar that goes all the way up to if it's one dollar or two dollars or a hundred thousand dollars so we are we are not making sure that the person who is injured is is made whole first. But we're saying well if you get may hold and I've got to be made two is that what you're saying we're we're saying that this done equally we're saying that the employee would get the first calendar the employer might get second calendar what is an absolute dealing. An absolute means simply means that they have a lean and they have a hold on those proceeds well there are liens and then you have been here and absolutely a little we know as a lien on the property but it absolutely is different from a lean could you explain the difference no I cannot thank you. Senator Elliot you're recognized for a question. Thank you senator could you help me understand what you said with their liberal chords where are these liberal courts and what do you mean by these are live records what I mean that in the case of workers comp there's already a law in place that allows or subjugation but because of liberal judgments are little rules by the court. The employers have not been able to recover any of the in the money in the fashion of it in more sole it's been made worse by recent rulings because. In some cases when employer gets ready to to. To claim this money in their involved in a a court proceedings with the employees. A representation. If they lose they actually have to pay for the cost of the court plus the cost of the opposing attorney. But what is from what I know about this but they are not making those judgments in a vacuum don't they have a hearing and determine based on all the evidence of which way the judgment is going to go well they do in time after time after time repeatedly they if they've gone with the concept of calls may be made whole and that's not allow the employer the ability to reclaim it is the money that they've already paid out so we we're going to also will substitute what we think is best of the let legislature as a legislator or instead of the court to make and that decisions of the way they do now we will clarify our law we would do what clarifier law without changing the forty of anybody I didn't hear you without changing the court's authority at all we're going to change the law without changing the court the authority of the court no that was to also have the ability to rule on their I mean they they make the rule on the law. What we are not changing any authority of the courts then why would we do this we obviously must be changing something that they do right now we're not changing the order of the court would changing what we change in the law. And and that's not the same thing is change in something that they can actually do right now no they have the right they have the ability to enter the law the way they want to okay all right thank you senator. Are there any other questions for senator Wallace Senator Hendren you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman I I just wanna make sure that we're clear that when we talk about made a hole in getting in front of any of the dollar for dollar matching is after the injured employee is made whole with physical and and and lost pay wages correct Senator just as every centered under work number normal workers comp claim he's going to be made whole regardless and then this is talking about on top of that is made he is to answer questions he's made whole medically the. Employee is compensated by workers comp at sixty seven percent now that's tax free so that comes up to about seventy five percent so to make him holders will have to be a portion of that I will call a pool of money that they will receive and they'll do that dollar for dollar with the employer. Correct but not until the employer will begin to get that until the medical bills and the other things are are paid correct thank you. Are there any other questions Senator Wallace. Si number someone like to speak for this. Against this bill Senator Tucker you're recognized. Thank you Mr Collings I'll be brief but I want to address what was just being discussed right now. Employers do have a right to recover if the employee is more than a whole so the the the property right now in Arkansas laws exist is with the worker once the workers fully compensated for their medical care the pain and everything else they go through at that point the employer is entitled to recover everything over and above that if this bill were to pass the employ the worker will get what they get from the employer to the workers comp and the insurance carriers for the workers comp after that is split fifty fifty there is no provision for the worker to get anything out separate before the fifty fifty split comes into play so I once the workers comp claim is made. When you make the second claim just to be clear. yes senator Wallace a good job what if an apar worker is injured through a third party the workers to claims one of the workers comp claim and then one is a is also a civil lawsuit against the wrong so the workers comp is kind of in its own category this applies to the civil claim against the wrong door and that's fifty fifty no matter what is left in the claim under the bill is my understanding and it it may be a rare case for the employer to recover anything after the employees made all but the reason for that is because the employee is very really made home because you only get a fraction of what your injury is through the workers comp system that's part of a negotiated agreement about that I'll talk about that more in just a moment. but then when you go through the civil litigation process and I can attest to this one to pay your lawyers and your experts and everything you only get a fraction of what you're entitled to recover from that as well so between those two claims the injured worker really has a shot of being made whole and not much more than that and so it's not I wouldn't think that it's liberal judges and the judges to make these determinations are not circuit judges their administrative law judges who make these workers comp determinations. there's a the Supreme Court justice justice weapon used to be an administrative law judges give you example of the type of judgment ministers claims and so anyway the other points that I wanted to make our. Just to step back for a moment you know in Arkansas it's it buries year by year but consistently we have one of the top three in the lowest workers comp insurance premiums paid in the country and we're also among the third lowest workers comp claims paid and so you can't just really look at one piece of this and change it without taking a look at the whole and from a big picture taking a step back in nineteen forty is when we created the workers comp such system in Arkansas the one that happened there was an agreement a compromise reached between workers and employers. The workers gave up the right to sue. In order to create this system which would be more efficient and in exchange what they got was they didn't have to prove liability and they got a certain amount of benefits in exchange for giving up their right to sue well since that time since nineteen forty. the bargain made on one side giving up the right to sue has not changed one bit. The bargain made on the other side seems like it changes every single legislative session down and so one side is intact and the other side is death by a thousand cuts over the course of the last eighty years after we want to go have a commission or task force in the interim to look at the whole thing from a big picture perspective I think everybody would be open to that possibility but one one side remains unchanged for eighty years the other side is death by a thousand cuts wanted time the the people who suffer from this are the workers the working women and men of Arkansas and so for that reason I would encourage you to vote against the bill the the way we have it right now where the worker comes first they they get to be made whole for all of their injury and then everything over above that goes back to the employer that's the way that it should be if we're gonna set this system up. Then really the worker and the employer ought to get their premiums back right is the is the insurance Kerry going to refund the premiums I don't think that that that would happen if this law were to pass so really it's a double recovery for the insurance company at that point because they get their insurance premium and then they get the tort claim fifty percent or claim back anyway the with the priorities that we have it set up right now where the workers comp yes to be made whole first consistent at least somewhat with the original bargain made in nineteen forty is the way that are to be my opinion for that reason occurred everybody I don't know. You're recognized for a question Senator Sturch. Thank you Mr president thank you senator I I just want to ask then what has changed so if they're still way that the employer could go get above and beyond I guess the the workman's comp Commission when what is then that the court case has changed or are that senator Wallace was referring to what what powers is changed to change can you answer that for me as far as that goes I don't know that I understand your question fully what what I'm referring to which changes that. We passed a number of laws down here in terms of what portion of your Hey you're entitled to recover through workers comp the number of weeks of paid a you're entitled to recover through workers comp claim every session there's a bill to cut back on those benefits to some extent and so that's what I'm referring to when I say that that has changed over the years and what the employer got out of the original bargain that the employee giving up the right to sue that has never changed since workers compensation so that's what I'm referring to I'm not sure if that answers your question. So it was what I was understanding from senator Wallace that something has recently changed in the courts where someone's right to go back and re claim this money has either been diminished or it's not there anymore so that was my question is do you know then what's going on in the courts right now or what has changed in that they cannot recoup the extra money. I'll let Senator Wallace and give his shot answer that I don't there has been no legal change what I think he's referring to again I would speak for himself is that. He's he's his impression is that not very many of the administrative administrative law judges are granting the employer the ability to record have a subrogation claim there's been no legal changes really just the practice of the administrative law judges which you're part of the executive branch former administrative law judge who ruled on these types of claims is is justice Barbara Webb it's not in the circuit court these claims rule on by the ministry of watches there's been no legal change my point on that is that I think it's probably a rare case where the worker gets more than a hundred percent of their injury that's the reason for the judicial decisions but if in fact the judge does decide that worker has got more than a hundred percent of the recovered for injuries at that point a hundred percent goes back to the employer where it should go there's no risk of a double recovered for the work. Thank you. Would anybody like Senator Ballinger you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr president one thing I want to point out that has changed is that the court has has created this concept of the may hold Oct right that wasn't in the code that wasn't in the original bargain but essentially they have along with six other states that that have you have either created through statute or through the court system have created this this act the strange little creature of the manhole Dr it really special for the for the the trial bar they appreciate it but is very unusual and and that that concept what it means is if if the the insurer pays out all the medical expenses. And then the individual recovers all the medical expenses but doesn't recover pain and suffering doesn't cover all those other things they don't have to pay back all the medical expenses that was a part of the regional market regional bargain was if they recover the medical expenses they have the ability to collect on those and so Senator Wallace would be run this bill but for the fact that this court created Anomaly of the metal detector so I appreciate a good vote. Would anybody like to speak against the bill. Senator Johnson you're recognized speak against the bill. Mr president. I'll save a lot of time because Senator Tucker made much of my speech for me a although Senator Tucker I think you said nineteen forty appearances nineteen forty eight but you did pretty well so your price that about nine nine nine on that When we use this was set up when we committee member this is initiated act people did this. And it was kind of a compromise. we we said that you workers give up your right to go into court and soon report situation but so we're going to set the system up to protect you. And that's a threat with this bill of. We heard this bill insurance and commerce in twenty nineteen and I spent quite a long time kind of doing my research on it and it's basically same bill if it's a different I can figure out where. We have to be real careful when we and the reason is we we have as a extraordinary majority when we started it may if amending and administer up initiated act something the people voted on and we we should have a higher bar. A this might whole concept even though it may be relatively new is aye Senator Ballinger spoke of the conceptually it's always been there is to give up the right to this. Of. Port liability crapshoot where you can get a lawyer they'll take someone a fee contingent basis and go into or maybe you'll be a millionaire maybe you'll probably lose probably have a settlement people gave that up to have something stable. And of. Senator. Tucker mentioned to us just as we have at the time two years ago spoke to me that she was the ministry Law judge it workers comp and remember these are these are not liberal judges these are in this case of our well but I only point this out to remind everybody that when we create these special situations for individual people then we shouldn't **** nilly Sturch. Moving the needle one side or the other it was set that way for a reason and while I have you know reasonable people can disagree about where that needle should be but we we need to be very very careful when we start to move it because the people voted this and they did it to take this type of issue away from from constant litigation and put it where it was truly clear and and I think conceptually I have to come down the side that the individual worker he gave up all these rights to sue should be made whole and so I would appreciate a no vote on this and and I I have no problem with the sponsors are my friends and good people but but I just think this is a poorly thought out legislation thank you Mr president. You may like to speak for the bill. To have anybody would like to speak against Senator Stubblefield you're recognized needed in some bill. You're recognized president. You know there's a lot of a lot of unintended consequences with this bill many of you know mom many if not most our Kansans of. Only by a minimum of car insurance I mean that they don't but they don't buy a bigger counsel someone gets hurt in the third party's insurance policy as a twenty five thousand dollars yeah but the medical bills and lost wages for more than that do you really think the insurance company should step in front. and get half of what they pay out. In this case you're absolutely sure that the third party will not be made whole. This is not gonna happen I don't know how to reconcile this bill to the to the many middle and lower class and lower or lower class people interstate. Income people interstate you just can't do it Just to put it simply. This is giving money this is a basically getting something that doesn't belong to you that's what is insurance companies are to so I would I would to for that reason I'll be voting no. But anyway like to speak for this bill. Against this bill. Senator Wallace you like to close for your bill. You know there was law talk about. Insurance companies. This to victims in this when a third party is involved. His employee but it's also that small business. That works hard to keep the doors open to keep people employed. did nothing wrong and yet their workers comp. Policy their rates will go up sometimes double the following year. SP five thirty does just a few things it corrects the court's inappropriate application the made whole doctrine just as forty four other states in the union have already done. Forty four. It ensures that the employer. As a chance to recover. His damages as well as employee. It's still allows an employee to recover for injuries but not joy when for. In the caps the employers reimbursement rate at only fifty percent and with that I am closed. Senator Wallace is closed are there any objections to rolling the vote. I see objections to rolling the vote Madam Secretary please call the roll. Ballinger. Beckham. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Eads. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers no. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page hi Rapert. Right. Rice. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. Tucker. Wallace. All right let's see what any Senator like to change their vote or cast a vote let's start over here Senator back home with the yes anyone else changing or voting. Let's go to this side of the room anybody here changing or voting. Okay Senator Irvin as a senator rice is a day. Anybody else. Okay Madam Secretary cast up the ballot. With nineteen year. Twelve. For non voting the bill has failed. But not as proper motion all in favor please say aye. Same sign opposed. Let's move on then Senate bill. But what. The vote is expunged so let's move on the Senate bill five thirty two. Senator English you are recognized Senate bill five thirty two by Senator English require all newly constructed public schools an existing public schools undergoing additions or total innovations provide full water bottle filling stations. Thank you this bill basically requires that where there's new couldn't new school construction or total renovations that will be a water bottle filling stations will be included in the new construction or the renovation. Are there any questions for Senator English. Are you taking questions Senator English are you I'm well. Senate is manual recognizing apologize I didn't realize this was on the floor it's going to be a little bit of background on the bill or buy remained a. The water filling stations kind of what what is the the background on the bill basically and I'm I think because we don't have water fountains anymore. Sheckley after COVID we don't have water fountains anymore but water is really really important to kids and adults to be able to be fully hydrated all the time and so what we end up with this people trying to use in into a sink or something like that but water into a bottle so what this does is basically set up water filled water bottle filling stations throughout school in place of water fountains. The. Are there any other questions Senator English with anybody like to speak for this bill. Against this bill. Senator English as a claim that she is closed are there any objections strolling the vote. Seeing none madam secretary please roll the vote Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Would any Senator like to change their vote I've got a bunch to stay with me the first thing I saw was Senator. Garner is in the Senator Clark is a president Senator Solomon indicated the president. Going too fast. I got. But no the only change to know okay right here senator hill is the No Senator Hickey is a no senator Johnson is the No Senator Stubblefield no Senator sample is unknown will slow down. Got all those. Senator Flippo as of now I think we get senator mark Johnson is the No already. Eleven remote else let's go to this side so when you senator Chesterfield as a president Senator Hendren as a no Senate Gilmore's NO center Beckham is a no no Senator Hammer is a no Senator Johnson is the president. Did we get everybody Senator Solomon I think I got you as a no president. Senator Pitsch is a president. Anybody else ever Rice as a present. Nobody else. We got. Senator Pitsch is the president. Nobody else. Madam secretary please cast up the ballot. With seventeen Yeas thirteen days zero no votes. Your bill has failed. Could you turn the microphone on police for Senator English. Yes. Finds the vote that is a proper motion all in favor say aye the sign opposed the vote is expunged. We will move on. Senator garner we're going to House bills. House third percent of Maddox concerning and ensure persons in the use of a public defender. You're recognized senator garner they represent this bill is about better defining indigent more clearly and making judges looking to have someone actually qualifies for assistance we make sure the system is an abuse of the system is solving a bail for those who truly do need the help with the requirement for substantial financial hardship and at a definition of what that means we also put a requirement for the court to review the person certification of indigency. And if they are found not to meet that certification the court can still qualify them based on the list of factors you can find on page three but that'll take any questions. Are there any questions for senator garner center Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I'm looking senator garner and line twenty eight on page one. The indigent person means a person who at the time of his or her need is determined is without sufficient funds or assets asset to employ an attorney due to substantial financial hardship. So you're saying ma'am. That the public defender's office. What happened in that role for that person is without without. The way basically work is the court be able to review their financial documents and see that they don't have the assets to be able to afford an attorney the cells and what we found is that some people who could afford attorney other pocket or using the public defenders as their defense depend on what the case is if they don't get that certification the court is to look at it determined based on a number of factors if they can still get that public defender but the reality is if you have two million dollars in assets in the bank you probably should have a public defender that's put a substantial hardship on our counties that's why county judge from Baxter County spoke in favor of this bill but until that is settled in the these individuals cannot get the food stamps I can't get anything else. No ma'am I can get that stuff yes you can get it yes ma'am it receives a public assistance such as food stamps temporary assistance for needy families if they're in jail those let's qualification it automatically get those qualifications authority on food stamps they automatically qualifies for substantial financial hardship they don't have to go through the process of proving that they or but if the court does not find the person indigent after preliminary review the court shall then evaluated the person qualifies as an indigent following engine and. Easy for me to say. Using the following factors. So ultimately what you're trying to do is what. Let me I'm trying to what ma'am. What's the ultimate goal. There are cases where someone could afford an attorney because they have substantial assets do it they're choosing not to use in a public defender as they're turning when they should be paying for that themselves what is doing is putting a strain on those who truly need a public defender and we wanna make sure that solvent moving forward especially with the counties have to pay a substantial amount of that money. Are there any other questions for senator garner. Seeing none would anybody like to speak for this bill. Against this bill. None like clothes for your bill senator does thank you senator garner indicates he's close for the bill all ask again are there any objections to rolling the vote. Madam secretary please rule of the. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch. Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Are there any senators who would like to change their vote or casting the. Seeing none Madam Secretary cast up the ballot with thirty five yeah eight your bill has passed return to the House. House bill twelve forty six Senator Wall Hester twelve forty six by representative Johnson and senator Wallace to allow pharmacists to treat certain health conditions to modify physician dispensing and allow the obligation of physician dispensing center Wallace you're recognized thank you Mr president. This is unusual scope of practice bill because this unusual B. because the two parties have kind of agree with each other when I first. Senate sponsors bill thought was to be one of the tougher ones that at this. And it looks like hopefully that it's it's not going to be. I want to take this moment to acknowledge all the great work that representative Lee Johnson Dr Lee Johnson did on the other end to. Get the pharmacists in the doctor's to meet somewhere in the middle that result in the ninety two zip vote in the house they did a good job down there under house bill twelve forty six. We're going to allow the pharmacist to do up civil things one they will be able to treat patients with prescription medication full for the flu strep throat and other conditions that can be determined using the CLIA waived test. Forces will also be able to prescribe over the counter medication devices and equipment. It forces will be able to substitute medications within the therapeutic category category if it is a lore. Cost to the patient. Physicians are now going to be able to dispense several classes medication for acute care of fourteen days a list such as antibiotics anti inflammatory medications in its analysis leads. The real winner this is gonna be the. Arkansas considered that we'll both will take care of. And it's weird to read to have agreed upon school bill but I think we've got one here and with that I'll stand by for your questions any questions. If you wish to speak against. For. Centers closed closed any objection on the vote. Brought please. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish to change your vote. Senate hills NO. Senator Irvin is no. Anyone else that. About. Thirty three eighty two days bills pass returned to the house you senator Bledsoe. Then Senator Blake Johnson senator Bledsoe house bill thirteen seventy three by representative Collins and Senator Bledsoe tellin to amend the law to require that personnel of public safety answering points or dispatch center centers that offer pre arrival instructions from emergency medical conditions be trying to and telephone CPR. Sir Bledsoe. Thank you Mr president house Bill thirteen seventy three would ensure that we are training all nine one one operators who offer pre arrival instructions to callers in telephone CPR R. T. CPR. Here's what happens you telephone of. You have a heart attack you call nine one one and then while you're waiting for the ambulance you need CPR the nine one one operator walks your friend through the steps to administer CPR and possibly save your life. And if you would look at Page one line thirty one of research so chose if CPR begins before the ambulance gets there you have a two to three times higher chance of survival for every minute without intervention the chances of a person's survival out of out of a witnessed cardiac arrest decreases by about ten percent telephone CPR is being done in some places in Arkansas right now but none are consistently doing it up because the problem is that some of the nine one one operators don't have the training that's the gap that we're trying to fix with this bill there's no fiscal impact statement this is there are free quality training modules out there that the department of public safety can use in implementing the training the department of public safety has indicated that they also plan on developing their own in house course which they will make available on their website there's also no call no calls to the public safety answering point or the dispatcher for taking the course there is a provision in the bill on page two line twenty eight that says if a private company wants to use the training that the department has gotten up and has has a certified the Department can charges calls back to the private private companies which is standard language for training. And then all the agencies and groups or foreign bonds in supporting this bill include the department of public safety the nine one one board the department of emergency management and the association of counties and of course the Arkansas the American heart association this is been adopted in several southern states including Kentucky West Virginia Alabama Louisiana and they're continuing to emerge in other states I'm glad to answer any questions any court senator garner recognizable thank you so we're mandating that they take this course or they can work at a call center is that correct. Well you can walk at work at a call center but if you don't have the training then you wouldn't be able to do the you know the nine one one CPR. I'm sure they'll have some people there that aren't aren't turning but they'd like to see the most current. There's no mandate in here this is just what they're working on Mavis read I thought that in order to work in a call center can or they shall get this training at the point where they're doing so everybody there who would have potentially take calls shall require the strain on my for my three three now well if if they are taking the calls yes but they'll be they'll be some that probably won't be trying to do the nine one one. Telephone CPR but if they're taking those calls so we'll. Thank you. Any other questions. You always speak again for Senate. Follows in any objection on the vote. Please call vote. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Is. Garner. Anyone else over here. Over here. Thirty three eight zero Nays to present the bill is passed return it to the house Senator Blake Johnson. Here's the Bill Murray. Fourteen oh two by representative Bob Barker in center Johnson to amend the abortion inducing drugs safety at Sir. Members this bill. It updates Arkansas lark Law concerning chemical board chemical abortions drugs like are you for eighty six that was passed in two thousand and fifteen and it reference the FDA protocols in two thousand sixteen those protocols were we're relaxed and the this this bill outlines requirements and abortionist must follow administer and in ministering abortion inducing drugs it also prohibits abortion drugs from being mailed in Arkansas due to a Supreme Court ruling it updates current law and ensures doctor perform chemical abortions are Creek credentialed and to handle abortion complications and can transferred the woman to a hospital she experiences complication appreciate a good vote. Anyone wish to speak against. For. Search close anyone general in the vote. We have an objection please call the roll. Ballinger. I come. But. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Eads. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flippo. Flowers no. Garner. Garner yes. Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram no. Irvine. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Okay Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert aye. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. Tucker. Wallace. It would change their vote. No one was injured vote cast a ballot. Twenty six days six nine days the the Bill pass is. Return to the House Senator Ballinger. Ballinger senator Hammer. Other Bledsoe Senator Ballinger HD forty fifty eight House Bill fourteen fifty eight by Senator Rapert representative pens on Senator Ballenger to clarify the law concerning the withdrawal of consent to adopt by a minor. He was president this bill really is is clean up the came up as we're doing some reforms on adoption and the child trafficking and there's a bigger bill is this coming but this in particular changes a a date for a child to withdraw or basically to to waive the withdrawal of consent time frame from from ten to twelve which is actually been changed another code section so I appreciate you have to answer questions present good vote. Thank you again. Four Senator closed as evidenced by from the well. Any objection role in the vote. Legal. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace was injured by. Bill well cast a ballot thirty five yeah zero Meg bills passed from the house. Senator Hammer the senator Bledsoe then Senator Hester has for fifteen hours seven by representative waiting concerning sex offenders ability reside with minor. Senator Hammer thank you Mr president what this bill simply does is aligned with those that are prohibited that have been convicted from being able to reside with a minor and adds probation to its to help clear up some confusion in the court when trying to bring parity between the two it also allows for court to maintain some discretion glad to answer any questions or require a good vote for senator Luther ported in close any objection on the vote please roll the vote. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish to change their vote. Cast a ballot thirty five eight zero nine the bill is passed return to the House Senator Bledsoe centre Hester answer to. Castle fifteen eleven by representative Wardlaw you senator Bledsoe concerning victim impact panel attendance required required for persons who commit alcohol related offenses. Senator Bledsoe. Thank you Mr president the person whose driving it. This bill addresses the victims in packs impact panel so if you're driving around in you are cited for driving under the influence of alcohol or maybe you have a minor possession of a sense and what happens is you have to attend a victim's impact panel to get your driver's license renewed after having them taken away from me during that time and today in House fifteen eleven we are addressing the victim's impact panel and a new fee which is paid by the person going through this program in other words it is paid for by the person who's been cited for the D. W. and the D. U. I. or minor position last year we had a group that took care of this they conducted the victim's impact panel what they found last year that these people had raised the ten dollar fee to sixty five dollars per person without legislative authority they paid the money back and left the state this was a big void in the things that we had wanted to accomplish with the victim's impact panel one of emergency arrangements were made by DHS and the alcohol and drug coordinating council to approve the current contractor providers that provide drug alcohol safety education program in our state of the art he had the infrastructure in place and so they took this over and they're doing a very good job but the problem is they could not continue the program with just a ten dollar fee so they checked around to see what other states were paying and most of the other states were paying forty dollars and so that included Oklahoma Louisiana and Missouri and so that is what we're asking for today that they would that we would to be able to raise that that fee to continue the victim's impact panel and I'll bet. Glad to answer any questions. And then senator garner only recognized. Thank you bye. I need to get a clarification I think is not so much of a question of fact as opposed but did you say that the group that did not have the authority raised it to sixty five dollars and you were moving it back through this bill too well what it is it's a different group in fact I didn't want to mention the name but I think most people read okay okay from my question I just want to know it was sixty five dollars this is moving it back to forty five forty I'm sorry yeah okay date the group limited to sixty five with that legislative authority and so now after this other group has come in and taken over the program so that the people charged with the do you line all that can get their license we need we're going to do forty dollars okay and for all of the other states around us that you mentioned do you know if they gradually moved into forty dollars and wasn't all it up once and only once did you no I'm sorry I didn't hear that let me try. For the states surrounding us yeah engine that is forty dollars right do you know if they change that gradually or did they. Yes I can hear you don't know it is forty dollars now in the states surrounding Oklahoma Louisiana Missouri. Mississippi does fifty yeah okay this is just such a large job and I was wondering if they did it you know on a with by your basis or something it was what they tried to do it at the lower cost and just couldn't in fact last fiscal year we had three thousand seven hundred and twenty four our Kansans go through the program. Okay all right thank you. Garner. Thank you so this money is going to be approved by private company it's going to the provider the people that do actually do that planning to do the of. The war right to my insurance what is who's providing the service okay the service is the of drug alcohol safety education program. Okay is that government Breanne programmers at a prominent to bloody says emergency appointment arrangements were made by DHS and the alcohol drug coordinating council to approve the current contracted providers that provide drug alcohol safety education programs in our state to facilitate this immediate need to stop the backlog that set up already has an infrastructure by designed to cover all the counties in the state that set providers graciously agreed to help resolve this issue. Okay thank. If you wish to speak against. You wish to speak for. Senator close centers close anyone object to run the vote. Please roll sector. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker. R. Wallace you always change your vote. Cast up the ballot. Thirty forty eight one nine bill is pastor of the House Senator Hester than senator Dismang and senator Hammer server has for fifteen nineteen by representative eighties to amend the petroleum storage tank trust fund backed into increase the balance of the petroleum storage tank trust fund requiring a reduction in the petroleum environmental assurance fee. Service thank you governor members is from two thousand seventeen General Assembly an active policy with Medicaid we started these passes this bill just says that one company can own more than one pass just policy policy position by the legislature happy to answer any questions. That. Johnson. Recognized I believe that our secretary read the wrong bill years about Medicaid this call is to call the what are called okay thank you thank you medical fifteen fifteen by representative board Senator Hester to amend the Medicaid provider led organized care act and to prohibit ownership and interest in more than one risk based provider organization. That same explanation happy to answer any questions. Thank you Mr chairman thank you Senator Hester for taking my question why would one limited to one. Well the the goals competition right as we want more ownership more companies owned by different companies for for competitiveness to keep prices and process down in health care healthcare costs down competition up but if the person who owns two can provide the services the last how is that helping us as a state. I think that's the way we continue to have this is ultimately a policy discussion for the legislature and I believe that the more players in the field better competition the better outcomes will have in the lower cost. Follow up question have we seen where you have more than two people I don't want one person owning to have we seen that that doesn't work well is that what the genesis of this state is. I would not say that is not working well I think it's probably working well in Arkansas I think this is concerning the the future moving forward to this process thank you. What will this impact anything that's happening at this point in time right now we have this instance or what what are we trying to correct anything this is all just forward looking out this this will impact a company in Arkansas so I'll tell you we have three passes in Arkansas one Centene anthem and beacon the same company owns two of those and the moans has ownership so the ownership structure that owns part of beacon as well so this will get to the end of before next session so January twenty twenty three for them to divested one of those positions. It. Senate then senator. Thank you if they do not divest this bill will make them to invest in suppose no one steps into that void what happens in. Well I've I've been assured that there are plenty of suitors interested in purchasing a company that's functioning well Arkansas. Senator Irvin. She she got anybody else any other questions. They always speak against. For. Centers close. You want director on the vote. Please call the roll madam secretary Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. DISMANG. Eads. Elliott. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flippo. Flowers. I. Garner. Gilmore hammer. Hendren. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Heikki. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. No Blake Johnson. I Mark Johnson. Leding. Leding. Page. Page. Rapert. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. T.. Tucker. Tucker. Wallace. Wish to vote or change their vote Senator Bledsoe as anybody else over here. Senate is hi Senator Hendren is no. Senator Hickey is hi. Senator Flippo is no Senator Stubblefield is by. They give everybody Senator Tucker is I. Senator. Is hi. Senator Leding is I Senator Clark is no. Anybody else. Make sure it looks the way you want it. Cass up the ballot. Twenty five Yeas days two not voting the Bill pass is returned to the house Senator Dismang Senator hammer Senate Ballinger Senate is mine's bill. Haspel fifteen nineteen represented eighties to amend the petroleum storage tank trust fund act inter increase the balance of the trial you Mr storage trust fund of requiring a reduction in the petroleum environmental assurance say. Certified thank you governor this bill changes the cap of the trust fund from fifteen million to thirty million the cap hasn't changed since nineteen eighty nine so inflation in it with this fun is no longer it is no longer actuarially sound the appreciating questions Senator Garner has a question. Thank you so that you can click and double the fees from the people who are paying this fee correct click double the fees yeah it the so because right now I read ten million the caps out at fifteen million this adopt the axiom but now will be thirty million is repealed bakery static to be with you to pay paid by that the correct that's correct. Any other questions. It was speak against you wish to speak for centers are closed. Search close interjection wrong vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner. Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace senator garner is no Senator Garner is no Senator Ballinger is no. Senator Beckham is not voting. Senator Rapert is no. Senator Rice is present. Senator Stubblefield is no. Senator Flippo is now Senator Hickey is not all. Senator Solomon is no anyone senator hill is no. Sir Gilmore is present. Anyone else. The president Senator Dismang president. Senator Hammer. Is no. Sir Caldwell is no. Senator Mark Johnson is no. Senator are. Government all. The ballot. Eighteen twelve days one not voting for president the Bill pass is returned to. The House. Senator hammer the Senator Ballenger center any. Fifteen forty eight by representative on Senator Hammer. To create the personal care Medicaid reimbursement act and ensuring appropriate reimbursement rate for personal care services in the Arkansas Medicaid program. Senator Hammer. Thank you Mr president this bill does two things is intended to address the difference in payment rates between personal care attendant care and respite care services all three going to the home the servicers are sensually same in other words person comes into the home fide non skilled assistance to a client currently those services are paid at different rates even though they're sensually the same service this bill would bring the payment rate into parity with personal care rate and it's important to know that DHS has been working on this is part of the R. choice waiver and this bill would simply codify this process the second thing it does it would protect the industry gives potential change in the minimum wage by triggering a new rate review study only if a new minimum wage is higher than existing Arkansas minimum wage DHS provided language on the timing of the rate review and we've inserted language that would make the rate retroactive but only to the extent allowed by federal law this bill brings parity to personal care attendant care respite care rates and provides a mechanism for new rate review if and only if the minimum wage goes by the Arkansas minimum wage and I stand with the federal minimum wage would be glad to answer questions. Allen has a question. Thank you senator Hammer. I have done it to the requirements of each of these three that we are trying to achieve parity with to know that once required actually merits Harrity. I can that I can go on the bases you know the DHS brought this and and I'm just gonna go from personal experience as far as being in the homes where these services are provided and sitting through all the various public health that for all practical purposes yes they do and they're trying to make sure that there's consistency or parity in that really one of the big things that this bill does is that if the federal minimum wage goes up to fifteen dollars an hour which is being discussed at the federal level that this will be a place holder so that they can go ahead and incorporated into you know what would be an adjustment to the waiver so as not to create a disparity on a Saudi three is is hospice care one in hospice care personal care and what was the third one. Three there involved yes personal care attendant care and respite care can yes of those three which one is the lowest right now I cannot answer that question I'm sorry I don't I don't know. but. What is so. We're going to reduce it to vote do we know we're going to we're going to change the one that's west we're going from the bottom to the top to bring them all to the level yeah we're not we're not I'm sorry. And if we are. If the minimum wage goes higher than going to move that minimum wage and polite is that what you said if the federal minimum wage goes but right now we're going to move it to a place as a place holder waiting to see if we go to that higher wages is that correct at the federal level yes as I said nobody's going to lose any income we're not going to take people from fourteen down twelve might take some effort twelve up to fourteen but we won't go but the big intent of the bill is that if the federal minimum wage goes up and that they would have the ability to to as mentioned bring parity to the to the three level so that they are consistent with each other on the basis of the argument they all pretty well do the same thing And. Okay well I will I will make this public request and not from you but from somebody at the DHS ideas to please get with me and explain to me what the requirements are on each of those levels that I could so that I can understand that reaching parity is really something we ought to do because we are assuming they're all pretty much the same but they have these three different names and so that's what I because if not we need to just give it one big name and get over it I guess so that's not for you that's for the folks I know who are listening all right thank you. Any other questions for Senator Hammer. Anyone wish to speak again. For. Secretary close close thank you they want a projector on the vote. Simply raise your hand or speak out. Please rollover. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace which injured vote Senator Irvin. Server present anyone else cast the ballot thirty forty eight zero nine one present the bill is passed return to the House Senator Ballenger center needs center rod Senator Ballinger house bill fifteen eighty eight by representative Gazaway to mend the fences of battery in the second degree and domestic battering in the second degree Sir Roger. Thank you Mr president this bill just basically mirrors what the Arkansas Code is for for second degree battery to what is first rates on first reading it would be I have no way of knowing mental state and second degree it would have a reckless mental state and then adds to that the if you seriously injure a child who is under four years of age so I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions they always speak against for Senators closed a deduction on the vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace member what what changes. Cast a ballot thirty five U. eight zero nice bills passed from the house Senator Eads then rights than Ballenger Senator Eads. House bill fifteen ninety four by representative Baldwin center aids to amend the laws concerning teaching license sorry. Thank you Mr president colleagues this is very similar to a bill we ran last session they give the opportunity for students that are part of the deferred action for childhood arrivals choose to get certification and licensing to be able to be a a nurse in the state of Arkansas this is a very similar bill in that would add the same kind of an allowance for those that have completed our stage cation system got their higher integration a B. license to be a teacher here in Arkansas currently we're losing talent for people that want to stay in our state and be able to help out with their they can get certified in Oklahoma Texas and Louisiana currently we are not allowed for them to be licensed as a teacher in Arkansas they love to be able to stay and help on this bill adds that ability to those that are part of this program they have to have all meet all the requirements that the other person wouldn't setting for teacher license also they have to have a non expired daca Exemption as well as a current and valid employment authorization document so they're completely legal in every aspect and this also then we've we've many studies show that kids often do better when they have teachers that look like them in this gives those people that want to participate and create a difference for the students in Arkansas to be able to to do that and and be a welcome part of our society so I'd be happy to answer any questions any questions for the senator. They always speak against. For. Search close this gestural The vote. With all the. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace senator garner is no anyone else Senator Solomon know any other changes Senator Rapert president. Surfactants NO. Sir Gilmore's president anybody else cast a ballot. Thirty eight three days to present the bill is passed returned to the house Senator Rice then Senator Ballenger the last to House bills for now we'll move on to Senate bills. I am too so sixteen nineteen by representative board concerning the scheduling of a schedule of six controlled substance and to provide for the deletion of a controlled substance in schedules. I have a. Senator Rice the rich present calling this is representative board. Bill that was non controversial to the house and Senate Committee schedule six is a controlled medication category which does not exist federally. It is unique to Arkansas in this bill ensures that a FDA approved prescription. medication does not fall into schedule six unless the secretary of health believes it should this ensures access to an FDA approved beneficial prescription medications by avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape. I would try to take any questions if you have any questions for Senator Rice. Anyone would. Not. Good Senator has close any objection roaming the vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace was injured vote. Cast up the ballot. Thirty five Yeas zero nine is a bill is passed from House Senator Ballinger then we'll get senator dismantle skip over Flippo Senator Flippo go to Senator Ballinger again Senator Ballinger hassle sixteen forty eight member center McKenzie to amend the law concerning the rights of an incapacitated person's concerning temporary garden guardianship incapacity hearings capacity to terminations and repeal the law concerning the rights of relatives. Thank you Mr president all right what this bill does this deals with or without wards at individuals who been declared incapacitated who are adults not children so individual with the disabilities dementia so forth and and it really is a I think of of a good reform to the system it codified best practices for the rights of the ward's it strengthens the the hand of the guardian to protect the the ward from people who may actually be taken advantage of looking for opportunities to be is so I'm happy to get in the details and answer any questions if people haven't. Thank you Mr chair and and I appreciate what you're trying to do because one of my concerns is always a concern is the welfare of those individuals but I'm looking at section two on page three. All the rights of relative seems to have been replicated. It would Rights of relatives because they are guardians and take advantage of people of relatives coming and try to help but you have. Ameliorated yet so a lot of the same things of your if you look in the bill they're on their including other sections but one thing I would say is that has modified the Rights of relatives to be subject to the to the the rights of garden the problem is that a lot of times people who are taking advantage of and who are hurting these individuals are people who in one form or another is a family member now family member can always in this so it's about a a tool mechanism for them to always petition a court and it it doesn't mean that they have to open up a new case of the guardianship cases left open because there's annual reporting and so they can make a make a petition with the court in that case where they have like the guardian is what is that in the bill because I am aware of relatives and I had him in my own family with taking horrible advantage of seniors and so I get that I don't I'm not here saying that all relatives need to be in charge because some of them were terrible guardians I just wanna make sure that there is some place in here that say aye. That person is being taken advantage of that the family member then would have the right to challenge and I did not find it in the bill so if you could point me to what I would appreciate it right okay and and let me it may take just a minute but I'm happy to do that Would you like to prevent any finance and bring it back well so I'm I'm happy to I do know it's in here so I'm happy to pass over to bring it back but it but it you know I I was was prepared with that in in committee but of course don't have right now but I'm happy to point it out well I'll tell you what I'm gonna do it does provide that mechanism in even if it's specifically wasn't in here the case is kept open for for a long time so individual always have that ability to do that although I I do know it specifically provides that that flexibility in here so that you you you have a pass over not come back and thank you thank you Ballinger action Senator Dismang moved on to Senate bills. Log in to. So does my. Senate bill five forty two by Senator Dismang to amend the law concerning the duties of the State Highway Commission. Certified thank governor members this bill is when the recommendations that came out of the highway commission review an advisory subcommittee final report it requires the reporting of the progress of the final recommendations to the subcommittee and all will also require submit a submission of contracts that are needed for the implementation of the study or the the final report in excess of fifty thousand dollars in the last thing that it does it allows for the public to participate in the discussion as the highway department is working to the rules promulgated rules any the processes that need to be adopted in order to comply with the final reporter or meet the findings of final report. You be had no for if you in the room that are not in support of this bill so if you're wondering. Any questions or wish to speak senator. Okay anyone would speak against four senators oppose any reduction for the vote. Lease role. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace anyone wishing to change their vote cast up the ballot thirty five year eight zero knows bills passed transmit to the House was given over Senator Flippo. And we're moving on the Senator Ballinger is not bill. Senate bill five seventy nine by Senator Ballenger to amend the law concerning the process by which the State Highway Commission may sell or dispose of surplus property. Senator Ballinger then senator mark Johnson then senator Hammer. Senator Ballinger Senate bill five seventy nine you're you're not ready to go back to age the sixteen. I don't have the the okay with me sir Dr SP five seventy nine. One second. Most read you read the. Okay thank you Mr president okay this bill is fine because it helps to fix the problem that I created in back in two thousand fifteen so eight AM in that I created and and because we had a to directly to me so so what what happened in two thousand fifteen I carry legislation work without the department transportation that time I would apartment in order to create a mechanism to better dispose of more easily dispose of surplus property one of the things somehow in that process we actually put in a requirement for three appraisals by license appraisers it seems reasonable at the time but then you know fast forward to about two years ago I bought a piece of property at the front part of that property had had it was X. how would apartment property that are declared surplus and I plan on purchasing that delayed leased lines since then I saw that property is not my property more have no interest but in the process of acquiring the property I realize for an acre property this problem with two thousand dollars I was faced with the possibility of getting three three appraisals at two thousand dollars apiece for this property it did make sense financially to acquire them and so what this does is reduces it from three separate appraisals to one if the property is under fifty thousand dollars in value the department transportation has its own appraiser and they do the evaluation the property so they course you know that that's not consistent with that they don't have to sell the property and and so this is going to process. You know something unintended consequences that I created in the law way back when. The questions. We speak against present a vote for the president is closed injection on the vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish injured vote. Flowers president. Senator flowers present thank you Senator flowers Senator flowers present. Anyone else cast up the ballot thirty forty eight zero Nays one present the bill is passed transmitted the House mark Johnson. Five eighty one by Senator Johnson to amend the law concerning mayors as persons who made solemnized up Thank you Mr president this is about a simple bills it can get it extends the ability to solemnize marriages to any individual who is served at least five years in the past as the mayor of a city of the first class receives the second class this is obviously a encouragement of marriage bill so I would ask all of you to please encourage marriage with a good vote of five. Any questions anyone wish to speak speak against six center to have a question aset Ballinger they set about changing my anywhere speak for centers closed I'm close to anybody object or all of the vote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you always change your vote. Our. Thirty five Yeas and Nays bill was passed resident to the House. We're gonna move on to the House Bills volume two Senator Hammer. House fifteen O. one by representative finds Senator Hammer to amend the source of funding that may be used to manage maintain and operate a multi district vocational center under certain circumstances. Senator Hammer thank you Mr president what this bill would do is allow for okay tional Center aid funding from the Division of current technology cation public school fund account to be used for management maintenance operation of the center in the event that Senator should be physically dispatched from a local school districts property of the glad to answer any questions. Any questions they always speak against four centers closed closed section right to vote. Please roll. Ballinger. Chief jacked about thing centering. Voting let me just say this if you object. Make you senator garner make yourself known if you don't make yourself known. We're going to keep going I mean microphone no she was not object issues voting no please continue on the vote Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. You wish to change their vote senator hill is now Senator Sturch is no anybody else. Several hours present thank you senator flowers. The ballot thirty age four days one present the bill is passed return marks the return to the House Senator Sturch this bill has emergency clause house bill fifteen forty by representative Cozart and centrist urge to amend timing requirements concerning the election of school board members and school districts that have ten percent or greater minority population and disclosure and margins. Senator Sturch. Thank you Mr president colleagues many of you know the difficulties we're facing with the late census data this bill is simply trying to clean up some technical issues with regard school board elections that we have right now first the bill aligns the timeline with the petition's changes that we made a couple sessions go if you recall that used to be thirty days we moved it to ninety days so you see a couple of changes in this bill where it puts that back in ninety days for people to get their search there to circulate the petitions the one change as you will see is it gives it a hundred twenty days for those new district lines to be published so that people know which zones they're running for school board election before they actually have to file a petition to run and that's essentially what the bill does I appreciate a good vote any questions. Senate. Always on the phone please don't speak on the phone in the in in the chamber please. You. If you're on the phone please don't do that and shall. the center is closed. Are you would want to vote. Lease role. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace anyone wish to change their vote. The cast of the ballot thirty five yeah zero days bills password to call the doctor of the house Senator Clark. Senator Ballinger center Chesterfield Sir Clark house for fifteen seventy by a representative Lundstrum the Senator Clark to create the Arkansas safe adolescents for experimentation safer ACT. Sir Clark. Thank you governor. You're you're recognized. Thank you. Colleagues. House Bill fifteen seventy. I want to say first of all the my heart goes out to those who is suffering with gender dysphoria. And to. Of their parents. It is not an easy thing. To deal with. This bill. Sets out to protect. Children. In an area where they were in much the protection. House Bill fifteen survey prohibit sex change procedures on children. The bill protects children in Arkansas from general reassignment procedures including puberty blocking drugs cross sex hormones and sex reassignment surgeries. It prevents health benefit plans from paying for these procedures on minors and it prohibits public funding of gender transition procedures. Arkansas law currently does not prevent gender reassignment procedures on minors. Current law does not prohibit health benefit plans from paying for these procedures on minors state law does not prevent the use of public funds to pay for gender transition procedures. What house bill fifteen seven fifteen seventy does is prohibits gender transition procedures on children prohibits health benefit plans from paying for gender princes procedure for minors it prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to pay for gender transition procedures. It contains penalties for anyone who performs a sex change procedure on the child it gives legal recourse to minors if a gender reassignment procedure is performed in them in violation of state law. Gender reassignment surgeries permanently scar and alter a child's body. Scientists do not know the long term risk associated with giving puberty blocking drugs and other home all hormones to children. Some of the known risk associated with cross sex hormones include breast cancer coronary artery disease several robust killer disease including strokes and your reversible for infertility. Gender gender reassignment surgeries generally are not recommended for children but evidence indicates children increasingly are. Referred to have such surgeries. This bill will protect children being subjected to gender transition procedures that are at best experimental and at worst to serve your support to a child welfare. Want to share with you. Cemex service the United kingdom's High Court very few people are aware of this rule December twelfth and bill versus Tavistock that puberty blockers and cross sex hormones the. Cross sex hormone using gender dysphoric miners was experimental and should not in most cases be given to children under sixteen without court order. Adding that such petition was also advisable for sixteen to seventeen year olds. They said also so that they did not see any case were thirteen or fourteen year old would be able to make such a decision. This is a direct quote from their decision there is no age appropriate way to explain to many of these children what losing their fertility or full sexual function may mean to them in later years. Also director called the that a desk adolescents find it difficult to contemplate or comprehend what their life will be like as adults and that they do not always consider the long term consequences their actions is perhaps a statement of the obvious. Continuing to quote the evidence shows that the vast majority of children who take puberty blockers move on to take cross sex hormones. The stage stages one and two are two stages of one clinical pathway and once on that pathway it is extremely were rare for a child to get off of it. They asserted indeed the statistical correlation between the use of puberty blockers and cross sex hormone supports the case that it is appropriate to view puberty blockers as a stepping stone to cross sex hormones. The discontinuation rate for transition after initiating but law purity Barker says law one point four percent per one study. The legal challenge against the National Health Services Tavistock and Portman NHS trust this was the. Clinic that was doing. Of. The providing these hormones for these adolescents the only general gender identity development service providers in the U. K. was filed jointly by Sioux Evans a former G. I. DS nurse along with anonymous mother of a Tavistock patient. Mr Evans resigned from Tavistock over a decade prior due to her concerns that gender dysphoric youth were not receiving adequate psychological assessment and intervention. Here a bill a former patient and one of two claimants. As stated to the BBC. Direct quote I should have been challenged on the proposals or the claims that I was making for myself. The BBC article states she received a year of PP blockers then testosterone and three years ago under what met. A message. Double mastectomy much to her current regret. There is ample background to the British have a stock G. ideas center controversy in two thousand eighteen the U. K. equalities minister penny Mordaunt ordered an inquiry regarding what the number of girls seeking generous reassignment skyrocketed four thousand percent in under a decade citing figures of forty such girls in two thousand nine two thousand ten that one two eight nine hundred and six and two thousand seventeen to two thousand eighteen. Over a three year period thirty five psychologists had resigned from Tavistock and Portman claiming excessive diagnosing of gender dysphoria and monitors along with the rush to medical lies them this idea that we can just trust the doctors is not true. At least according. To the UK. Into their High Court. There is a significant lack. From the Royal College of general practitioners issue to two thousand nineteen position statement there's a significant lack a robust comprehensive evidence around the outcomes side effects and unintended consequences of such treatments for people with gender dysphoria particularly children and young people. From another medical journal there British entrance chief of the British medical journal Carl Heneghan wrote they are significant problems with how the evidence for general forming cross sex hormone has been collected and analyzed it prevents definitive conclusions to be drawn he concluded the current evidence does not support informed decision making and safe practice in children. Oxford professor Michael Biggs review the findings included on published data from from what was at the time the only paper of come out of the Tavistock and Portman G. I. DS purity Barker trawl for gender dysphoric teenagers he might this is out of this clinic. The only one there professor banks found that after a year on the G. N. R. H. A. B. blockers children reported greater self harm this is from their study. From the clinic starting the chill reported greater self harming that girls experience more behavioral and emotional problems and experience greater dissatisfaction with their body. So puberty blockers exacerbated gender dysphoria. Well the result of another Tavistock G. idea study were reportedly accepted by peer review journal on the same day as a High Court judgement. Total short term outcomes of. Burgled suppression in the selected cohort a twelve to fifteen year old young people were persistent gender dysphoria in the U. K. it took nine years for you produce should it only had forty four participants no control group and forty three of the forty four went on to cross sex hormones that's gonna be important ninety eight percent. This is more evidence of puberty blockers are gateway drugs a stepping stone to cross six AM. That hormones and that people occurs and says cross six oh more hormones are two stages of one clinical pathway as the High Court had written. The study looked at in rules of twelve twenty four thirty six months of bone mineral density bone mineral content and the total to scores and self harming diss of child behavior checklist and you self reports. Results showed as anticipated. Burl suppression reduced growth that was dependent on puberty hormones I E. hi. And body mass. This is permanent. There was no change from baseline and spine BMD at a but body mass at twelve months nor hip. at twelve twenty six at twenty four thirty six months but at twenty four months lumbar spine. B. M. C. a B. M. B. were higher than at baseline this means suppression of growth and this should be precisely when the surge of a lifetime should have occurred. It is not an encouraging finding. As for mental health assessment this is from their study we found no evidence of change in psychological function which in our H. A. treatment as indicated by a parent report or self report that's the adolescence of overall problems internalizing or externalizing problems or self harm. Translation fifty blockers did not help psychological the psychological distress or self harm based on survey instruments compared to patients vote that's then. Great Britain. John Hopkins. I had a train just clinic in the sixties. They did a study in the early seventies. They found that the outcomes for those who had sex change operations and had transitioned were no better. And those who had done nothing. And they discontinue their client. However in Europe they continued with this adjuster with you about this recent Supreme Court decision in Great Britain. ARE Sweden is notable as being one the most liberal. In Sweden in two thousand eleven or two thousand twelve I think they did the study in two thousand eleven resist of room or release the results in the two thousand eleven two thousand twelve. But they studied ever single patient. That had transitioned in Sweden. They have nineteen times the completed suicides. Of the normal of the regular population and two point eight times psychiatric hospitalization factoring out everything else. The American academy of child and adolescent positions tell us. That adult that those who. As children have gender dysphoria and either as a boy. But the want to be a girl or think they're a girl or a girl who wants to be a boy US for that ninety percent. By the time that they are young adults generally nineteen but by the time they are young adults the. Of the trend the side that they are not. The opposite sex. The lowest number is eighty percent. The. Another study out of Sweden Sweden eighty four adolescents with just look to Great Britain. Of on a similar study eighty four adolescents who took the puberty blockers then the cross sex hormones one hundred percent transition. Now keep in mind that in Sweden not letting go into all the other results but of the adult of those who transition nineteen times of completed suicides two point eight times soccer after hospitalization lots of other negative results. Ninety percent of children by the time they become young adults decide that they're not the opposite sex those who suffer from gender dysphoria but those who we treat with puberty blockers and cross sex hormones one hundred percent transition. So the results from those things are not worse or not better but worse. We are told. By the other side. That no one operates no one does surgery on minors. The only survey that's been done. Arkansas jim to do. A. The transition surgery. Over fifty percent of the surgeons who did gender transition surgery had done so on minors. In the two thousand eighteen study almost half of those who had chest surgery. That's a mistake to me. For under two thousand were under eighteen one quarter were under sixteen and two were only thirteen. I think there is abundant evidence. Why. We need to protect children. I understand those who sucks for different under this Fauria generally suffer from depression and other all kinds of other things of the I know that their parents are looking for any kind of answer. And again my heart truly goes out to them this is a not an easy thing it is a very difficult thing. But this is certainly not the answer it is not the answer today this is not stopping anyone at eighteen from doing whatever they want to do but it does protect children from making mistakes that they that they will have a very difficult time coming back from although many do we had a a man testified in the House Committee of who had transition to be a woman who is now a a husband and father in about what a mistake it had been and and how he had been let down that pathway I'll be happy to take any questions. Thank you thank you Mr chairman thank you senator. Could you tell me what we're taking it out of the hands of parents to make these decisions. Yes Senator Chesterfield the. Of we take. We we know the evidence we know what's going on the we we do not allow parents to transporter children with caught a car seats or seat belts of to supply their children with alcohol cigarettes through illicit drugs of any again I mean there's a reason why snorkel sales. There's a reason why all kinds of of things out on the market so people because people are desperate and I understand why people are desperate of but that doesn't that doesn't mean that these are decisions that ought to be made event on your child or my child and of this is a decision that that that that that individual ought to bill may cause there's no coming back from of and that's what that's what we take this decision as we take many decisions of the hands of parents. It's a medical decision that only that person should be making. Any other questions. They always speak against. Senator Leding wishes to speak against. And. leading is recognized thank you Mr president. Collins I'll be brief I do appreciate the work that Senator Clark and his presentation always in the back room working for quite some time we've been out here of. There was a lot of information all I will say is that I represent no part of the United Kingdom my district is solely in the state of Arkansas and I've been hearing more Kansans in opposition to this bill and I have a letter from one of the present mission to share today interest of time only gonna read part of it but I just felt it was important to share is there Senator Leding on the very day that the transgender bills are being passed out of house and Senate I was in search of their best for my daughter who has been struggling for years with gender dysphoria and is just now ready to seek professional guidance. Nightly I guess my kids what we would choose to live in a state that has become little else besides home for intolerance and cruelty just for the sake of cruelty I'm really running out of answers. My brother in law and my daughter's uncle moved away from Arkansas years ago. He grew up in a small town in Arkansas and came out as gay an early age for most is for the most part is family accepted in any fared better than most who often don't have the support of the families in similar situations he stayed in Arkansas for several years and made a career here but eventually he chose to move across the country where he didn't feel the constant if subtle bigotry that was part of everyday life here. He was happy to find some relief from the judgment that he missed his family and suffer from this connection to them in Arkansas my daughter's birth was a real spark for him and he'd begun to discuss moving back to get to know her the pain of the old bigotry that awaited him was too much to go back to. Depression and anxiety still we took their toll and in two thousand ten he took his own life lonely and unable to return in good conscience to be near his new niece in the family in a place he didn't feel welcome. My daughter lost her biggest supporter next to her mother and me she could really use them in a corner right now. At the moment our biggest concern is whether my daughter can have or even want surgery at this stage she just wants help and guidance but our legislators don't want her to have even access to that our biggest concern is that she Chuci not choose to hurt herself because the extreme abuses that exists not only from others in society but now from her government. Our biggest concern is that not only white B. be robbed of our daughter but the world will not get to experience the beautiful talented person she already is and who we know her to be. If someone you knew ask you for help for their child and it cost you nothing when you do it. What are these bills going to cost you for just the cost of the loss of your neighbor's child is it worth that much to you and if so there's really nothing I can say to you. We know we've heard from experts in committee I if you done any research you know that children with gender dysphoria have a suicide rate that is four times that of the general population we know that Arkansas just among the general population has one of the highest suicide rates in the country we heard from experts who said that since these bills have been introduced the session they have seen an increase the number of suicide attempts we have heard experts say that there will be children who attend to take their lives some of who will take their life when these some of these pieces of legislation become law and so we just ask is if the if the intent is to protect children which is the good and right thing to do. What is the rush today why don't we take more time instead of a couple of committee hearings and we take the time to listen to these children and their families and the medical community I know. Our opinions on doctors can be somewhat selective depending on the piece of legislation were running but I know that anybody in this room if you needed medical care no matter how much you might distress doctors I don't think anyone in this room would turn to anybody else in this room to provide that healthcare we turn to doctors and right now the consensus is is that children need to have the the flexibility to receive counseling nobody is getting so the surgeries at these very young ages that we're talking about we're talking about is being able to provide counseling to these children and some of the most critical and vulnerable points and their life in these decisions need to be made by them their parents and their doctors and so I would just say today let's let's just wait and let's talk to more these children and more their families and more people in the health committee before we make a decision today that could lead to more children to attempt to take their own lives in Arkansas thank you. We can favor against senators Cory closed so sorry senator against. Just to make sure no one wants to speak in favor correct okay. Senator Tucker. Senator Tucker against. Thank you governor. I'll be brief but I want to start by making that made the for sale may get tired of hearing it but I don't think I'm doing my job if I don't make the point in the record and that is that bills like this have already been struck down in courts for violating the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States constitution and for violating the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex and both title seven of the the federal Civil Rights Act and the affordable Care Act so I think we're walking down a path there create litigation that Arkansas will be on the losing side of one more time I also just want to make a couple of other points. I don't think we should be replacing the judgment of doctors with with our own judgment we may have a difference of opinion on that but I couldn't help but consider the fact that we have already passed piece of legislation this session that's been signed into law that allows a doctor to refuse care if violates their conscience what I've heard from a lot of doctors and we've heard from doctors in committee who tell us it would violate their conscience not to provide this type of care to teenagers in Arkansas and if we pass this bill then we're ordering those doctors to violate their conscience we're sending a message that we will only let you follow your conscience when we agree with what your conscience tells you. And I guess you know also just want to say that my heart. Really. Goes out to the kids in the state and I know you're. I absolutely have full faith in your intense senator Clark to protect kids in this state but I think we have to be aware of the message that is sent when we pass a piece of legislation like this note to everywhere else in the country regardless of what what the intent is. It comes office for trade elsewhere in the country as a message of discrimination. And I think our potential is a state is unlimited and when we pass bills like this that in my judgment. rollable kids understand we have a difference of opinion on that but that are vulnerable kids and per tray. This message of discrimination it really hurts our potential as a state but again to go back to where I would just want to finish my heart goes goes out to these kids more than anybody because. I want them to see a message from their state capital that they are welcomed and supported and loved in this state and we've heard from a number of them that that's not the message they're receiving from this bill we've already heard from Senator Leding who said that because of suicidal patients have gone up after the introduction of this legislation and I had a constituent who reached out to me also said that their child was threatening suicide and the only thing that prevented the at least an attempt of suicide was to see care at children's hospital and I just want to consider those impacts before going to pass this bill for those reasons that encourage number thank you. Thank you Sir Senator Rapert further. Thank you Mr president I won't speak for this bill because it's common sense. I wasn't going to speak on the bill I sit here and listen to this finally I am going to speak on the bill because you know what would it be good public policy in this state if we have doctors and nurses and health professionals that would be honest with their children. I spoke on the last bill like this. The head of the Johns Hopkins University psychiatric unit said that it is impossible to change the sex of anybody. It's impossible. You can create a nationalized female or feminized male but it's impossible and you know I do feel for these kids you know reason probably why the suicide rates are as high as they are amongst the children. It's because they're not getting help and they're staying confused if they would have somebody that would mentor for them the reality of the fact that except for very very very small percentage of people your sex is determined when you're born. You can't change the chromosomes and people. And I just after sitting here listening this Senator Clark it's amazing to me to have people get up there and expound on the fourteenth amendment when it happens to be the same individuals that come up here and tell us that a baby's life is not worth saving. But they will get a peer and tried to make us feel guilty for simply stating the obvious stating what science knows. I think the best thing for us to do is to do what we know is right in stop playing this game that is truly the reason for these kids confusions and for their turmoil within themselves where to vote for this bill and shall the somebody's telling of common sense. So I would get senator Elliott against. This. Okay. The one. I got this I got several vote against nobody gets my vote for I want to. Okay. You make a motion you have to make it from the floor senator Elliots been recognized. Several steps up. The impression I don't. Okay several recognized to speak against. Thank you Mr president I I think there are probably. There's probably something that makes you feel worse than being erased the probably is but not much. And I can't even begin to think about how these kids and these parents. Tell you who they are. Where the truth this. And then have a raised as if I know better than they know. I thank you. Everybody whose name is on this bill. I think every single one of you and I and I think Senator Clark could just presented. I think you have the best interests of people at heart. I think it's just misguided. And the fact that I'm standing here speaking for. Could also mean I'm misguided. But what I do know for sure. I am not the one. Who is being raised right now. That is why I think it's important that we listen to the parents and listen to the kids. Some of you got the same letter I got this morning and in the mail and our email. From a woman who talked about her background who grew up in a very conservative church and its conservative community. How she did not know did not understand this issue. And she had a situation happened with her when she was confronted with what had seemed so simple all this time. A person she met with and with whom she has become friends. Is an intersex person. Which of course means that that person was born. With both the organs of a man and a woman and it happens. And we don't understand things like this. But it happens. What the parents and the kids are telling us in this case. Are things that we don't understand but we have our opinions we have our thoughts. And sometimes is a really good reason to back out of something because you don't know enough to be in it. I think this is one of these cases. What these parents and these kids. Are suffering in the world that we have created. Because we think we know best. Do we. Is there anybody in this chamber. Who needed somebody to tell them whether or not they were male or female person. And I'm not talking about your genital organs. Because that is not the bank that's defining people most of the time that's the thing we used to but I'll bet you nobody in here had to be told. You just knew you just knew that you were. You just know who you are. Is it possible. That these kids. Just know who they are. We better position to define for them who they are. Then the kids. It does not mean that somebody would nobody's as saying that if we against the bill that there are to be transition surgery right away. But there surely should be canceling. There surely should be ways that folks can get health care just like you and I can. Because this kid we're talking about. If somebody's kid sitting right here in this chamber. It is your next door neighbor. Or it will be your grandchild. Ninety one the legislature setting policy for that I think not. Let's not race people. That's a harsh harsh thing to do. And the last thing I want to take a look at it just from this bill. This is how it reads. Only a small percentage of the American population experiences distress and identifying their biological sex that's from the bill. Well if it's your child. Do you small percentages. Because it is a huge percentage it is a part of your flesh and who you are. So we can't just say because a few people it doesn't matter it does matter. The only race. Don't these as if these parents don't matter because you know you don't want people like me like the rest of us in this chamber telling you what to do with your child. When your child is hurting especially. Can we come together another recognized there is a note here that not a single one of us knows to leave it alone. Don't add to the suffering. Just leave it alone. I often reference having taught school long time and I taught kids who were transition work by transgender. And I don't know what they finally did except that one person I knew. The best one of my students. I wanted to transition. I don't know whatever happened to him. Because he was drummed out of a public school education because of the bigotry. And the failure of adults to stand up to defend him in a public school where he had a right to be. Just like my kid and anybody else. I don't know what happened to him. But I do know the last time I saw him. We were both out too late at night stop at a at a six at a at a red light it was about I don't know per B. one thirty or so in the morning nobody else is on the street but US at the time I pulled the red light and I look over and I see there's a there's somebody else you know in the car that I I couldn't see very well. And that person rolled down his window and the light was red and my first thought was to take off and get out of here but he said. Where you know nobody calls me Miceli but one of my former students. Yes. But I didn't recognize him because he looked very distinctly like a woman. I guess from that he might a transition I don't know. And I just said you know. It's so great to see you you bet he said I know you've been worried about me but I'm okay in fact Miceli and I'm happy. What I'm happy I have never seen him again. But the fact that he's living apparently his authentic life and he's happy made me happy. I would like us to make a lot of parents happy today by not voting for this bill and getting out of their business and just let them try to live it's hard enough as it is you want I know that and presumably we're not talking about our kids. Have an. Even the issue of being a transgender kids and we know how hard that is. Thank you for listening and I do want those kids to know and those parents and now we care you loved. And we do the best we can for you. Thank you for. Again Senator Ingram searches for your okay Senator Ingram against. Do you want to come down the recognized for the motion. I recognize Senator Ingram the state. You would reach me or. It. Thank you governor. Centering recognized. A couple things and I'll be brief I know that hours late. You know I think we do have doctors in the state that are willing to tell the truth and they are telling the truth but if we pass this legislation they will be Basel they won't be able to tell the truth to their. Clients when we talk about common sense. What's more common sense than families making decisions that are life decisions. I want to read a couple things that the Arkansas psychological association I think most you'll probably got this letter up but they sent it was just two three points that I wanted to make that you know these are medical professionals. They stayed in their letter that the premise of the bill is that providing gender affirming care to adolescents constitutes experimentation. This is false there is a body of research that establishes evidence based gender affirming treatment. I think this is so very important we believe that this bill would cause harm to Arkansas children's and adolescents. Access to gender affirming care and adolescents actually. Decreases the risk of suicide and there's a study into fifty thousand fifteen that backs it up. We believe that treatment decision should be left up to competent treatment providers in collaboration with the clients and their families. Now Sir Clark is mentioned a couple times about puberty blockers and I think the. We need to understand that this is not a new medication puberty blockers have probably been used for fifty years up safely in order to treat young girls who have reached puberty at a young age a friend of mine had a daughter that was seven years old and that was the treatment course of treatment that that that the she was of a given so puberty blockers are are safe in being used for many many years. Most professional organizations including the American psychological association and the American academy of child and adolescent psychiatry that you need you quoted have publicly opposed this type of legislation. Just last year and early this year they put out a statement that said the American academy of child and adolescent psychiatry supports the use of current evidence based clinical care with minors. A. A. C. A. P. strongly opposes any efforts legal legislative or otherwise to block access to these recognized interventions blocking access to timely care has been shown to increase use risk for suicidal ideation and other negative mental health outcomes. I ask you. To vote against this legislation to show compassion to allow doctors to practice what they're taught thank you. Your nose. Senator is recognized senator rand to speak for. Senator is recognized I'm just going to speak on the bill actually and. I don't know if any of you have ever met somebody who had female genitalia mutilation done on them I've had I have I met a young lady who grew up in Africa and her tribal custom was to have female circumcision done on the young ladies and I met that young lady and it was. Remarkable and unbelievable to hear her story and there are human rights organizations in the world that see that as a human rights violation to actually mutilate female genitalia and female circumcision. So I I think we need to be real clear about the language in this bill and about the procedures that were talking about and so for that I think your bill on page eight particularly makes all of that very clear I've also spoken to somebody who has a child to you has been born with Variations and their genitalia and so that was very specific that I requested representative Lundstrum to work with that family to make sure that families not child continues to receive the treatment that that child needs and so I do believe that this is a responsibly written piece of legislation so I wanted to share the story of this young lady because I don't think many of us have ever met somebody that has actually gone through and experienced that and I did And so I'm speaking on behalf of this remarkable beautiful young lady that went to my my college Randolph Macon women's college that I had the pleasure in honor of meeting it's a real thing and I don't want to see it happen here thank you. Anyone else wish to speak for the center closes centers closing Sir recognize the close. Senator Stubblefield said he indicated that he was good Senator Clark thank you governor. Colleagues. This is a very serious matter that we're taking very seriously. Senator Leding was correct. These young people do need counseling and should have counseling. Of. And there is nothing in this bill that prevents counseling. in fact. The that's very much encouraged. We can't act lock. These studies don't matter. It is easy to sample box. With an individual. It's easy for your heart to go out to an individual. John Hopkins did not take the actions that they took lightly. Great Britain. This decision that they're High Court made is the opposite of what they've been practicing for years they've been allowing adolescents to do just this this was a reversal of their policy. And the as this one young lady who brought the suit who had us. The most secta me as a minor. Double mastectomy of I have to remind you those kids matter to. If you want to talk about anecdotal stories those kids matter to. Forever changed because as a teenager they made a decision that they were not equipped to make those three dozen Sokol psychiatrist that I told you about that left that clinic. Because. They did not believe that keep in mind they knew what clinic they were going to work at it's not like they were against what was happening there. But once they got there and just wanted to practice medicine they left because they were accused of being home of folks if they did not. for gender dysphoria when it was not. There's a lot more going on here that it's easy just to say all I care I care but tearing as a father caring as a youth pastor Kerry as a state senator sometimes means saying I love you. But this is not the right thing. Not for minors. We. Study worry you know people talk about studies in the in the study the centering him I could go what study after study. But Sweden most exhaustive study that's been done every single person who had a sex change operation in Sweden. And they're not against it. Nineteen times the suicide rate. The American. Academy. Of child adolescent psychiatrist says. That ninety percent of those suffering. From a of children suffering from select from. Gender dysphoria. By the time this is science by the time they are a young adult change their mind. And we say what what what we need to listen to the teenager yes always always sit down I'll sit down with teenager after teenager and listen that's that's extremely important council support and listen to what they think now but what they think now. And what they think five six seven years from now can be and it is according to the ACAP. Entirely different thanks. And we should give them that time we should they should get all the counseling they need all the treatment that they need because there's often all kinds of other things going on. We should not allow anybody to steer them when we know the numbers are so hot. That this mistakes are so many we should not allow anyone to steer them as minors in such a serious direction. When at eighteen. If they still feel that way they can do anything that they want I would appreciate a good vote. Ballinger. Beckham. Beckham. Bledsoe. But. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. Davis. DISMANG. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. No. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert. Rice. A sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. T.. Tucker. Wallace. Looks like you are to get service line. let's just confirming that anyone wish to vote or change their vote Senator Teague aye aye Sir Davis is fine. Senator Bledsoe I. The body over here Senator Beckham aye hi. Anyone else. Ballot. Twenty eight seven names of the bill is passed return to the House Senator Ballenger we're gonna go back to your. The one that you pull temporarily house bill sixteen. Forty eight sixteen forty eight by representative McKenzie to amend the law concerning the rights of and can incapacitated persons concerning temporary guardianships incapacitated incapacity hearings incapacity terminations and to repeal the law concerning the not Rights of relatives Senator Ballinger yes thank you Mr president I apologize I didn't have this answer earlier so if you look on page two starting in on the end line thirty one it's in that section where it says that a and and this is this in this code section it is it's where it actually requires the the the guardian to provide with the person requesting the opportunity to have the contacts and so forth provide them with that information and it says specifically here that person may petition the court immediately to to remove the limitation prohibition imposed by the guardian so there's no case they just have to file a petition with that with the court. Happy to answer any other questions with the guardianship bill and any questions Senator you have a question. Senator Ballinger in the last couple hours I've received a lot of emails and texts asking me to vote against this. you have any idea why that would be it not not at all like I have not heard any opposition to this at all times seems to be that is not good for nursing home. For what I'm sorry consensus seems to be that is not good for nursing home page yeah I have a hard time seeing how that would be the case so you know it it strengthens the the guardian and Abel's them to better protect the ward I I really just don't know why that would be the case but I've actually went because of the Senator English you see that said that you heard something about the bill that didn't really have any of the did have the bill didn't have anything to do with that as I went in search my emails you sometimes I miss emails I've not heard any opposition from this at all so don't know what's going on as far as that goes but it's made it all the way through the process of that in in let me say this represent McKenzie did a great job on the front end to actually bring some real reform bringing all the different stakeholders the you know attorneys and and judges together to get something that I think is the great upon frankly great bill. Thank you. Other any other questions or wish to speak. The senator Chesterfield wishes to speak against. Thank you Mr chairman allow me first to say thank you to Senator Ballinger is graciousness and in trying to find the answer I still don't have it but on page three the Rights of relatives is specifically excluded in this bill. It is specifically excluded in this bill because the entirety of the section dealing with the Rights of relatives has been deleted. I don't get me wrong I had some horrible relatives who live treated. Senior members of my family in a horrific way. And it is truly broken my heart and we did everything we could because they were taking advantage of because they were relatives but at the same time there are some individuals who are guardians who are culpable to. And so what troubles me that we even nominate the totality of this section that deals with the rights of relatives. All of that's going. It's not it's not amended it's amended by deletion completely. Not bad. Not my substitution but total deletion and maybe that's a good thing and maybe it is somewhere. But if the war. Important enough to be in the law in the first place. Why is there no place in the bill that deals specifically with the rights of relatives and that's what troubles me about the bill. I know that is an attempt to make things better but the whole section three dealing with visitation how the courts may impose reasonable restrictions all of that is gone from the bill. All of it. And it gives me great angst. And I might be one of the no maybe one of those times when I'm about to get run over by the caboose but I would ask you to look at it it's not there. No where in this bill that's why I'm opposed to it thank you thank you senator when we speak in favor of the bill against the. Recognized. Thank you Mr president I'm I'm frustrated here because I did pull this bill down in order to find what I knew was in this bill and I found. Any individual in this case anybody has been prohibited from all of these rights that they have have the ability to petition the court in an open court case that's already going on in there's no way to do that and and provide that oversight in order to to take and and protect the individual the ward from the abusive family member that happens on on the occasion I I mean I don't know what's going on as far as like I hate it when kind of you know things last minute happen we sat down with all of the stakeholders work through this in order to put together I think a great bill to provide for the ability of people who can take and protect individuals who really are are going to don't have the capacity to take care of themselves and be able to provide that protection. I'm a you know I I appreciate it I think it's a great bill I'm I'm really appreciate represent McKenzie all overworked that she put into doing this and that and I hope that I'll be able to deliver with a good vote for today. Surgeons rodeo director on the vote. You don't objection the voter's anyone object on the vote. Then role please ma'am sector we're rolling the vote because there is no yes. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. You know was injured vote Senator flowers no. Senator flowers is no thank you senator flowers Sir Chesterfield is no. Anyone else. Well thirty three ACT two days the bill is passed return to the House Senator Ballinger H. B. fifteen eighty nine. Fifteen eighty nine by representative grow and Senator Ballinger to prohibit taxpayer resource transactions for abortions. Ballinger recognized thank you Mr president I know I know the bill amended council stirred up a bit and so passionate about what anyway so what this bill does is it provides essentially mechanism probation if you look at the actual look at the bill go the very very last page what top of the very last page in section where deals with that were basis for the state of Arkansas will not contract with spend state resources on any organization that engages in abortion so this will basically say we're not going to contract with Planned Parenthood or any other force you provider to perform other state services have an answer any questions any questions for the senator. Against. For. Surjection wrote. Please roll. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan. Teague Tucker Wallace in which. Senate no. Senator flowers thank you senator flowers Senate Chesterfield's NO. Sir Elliott is no. So Tucker is no. Senator Leding is no. Anybody else. Centering is not cast the ballot twenty nine yeas. Six nice of the bill passes returning to the house Senate Chesterfield. Senator is mine and then we'll move to the budget calendar with Senator Dismang so he'll have a House bill in the budget Senate Chesterfield sixteen twenty nine band representative and it consent to Chesterfield to amend the law concerning warehouse facilities and municipal port authorities. Thank you Mr ladies and gentleman the Senate first allow me to extend my thanks to Senator Ballinger pulling the bill down his previous bill down for me to look at it is unfortunate that we couldn't come to agreement on it that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate what he has done so I think that's important to say aye so I'm get a little perturbed I've not seen that per turbine this from the senator before so we're going to move on with the bill that we have before us here today this is basically a bill that says if you want to warehouse and if you decide you want to build on that warehouse and lease it to a third party does not have to go with. Be happy to answer any questions it was. Senator bill. Sir just will not apologize I tried to get to you earlier today yeah I know you to answer I'm sorry online twenty three of your bill it takes out the word operation. And then it pretty much add back the third party lesser or lease see importer operation and my concern is a lot of our warehousing is owned and operated by the owner but I can't find in statute where we're dealing on line twenty three it says proposals for lease or operation and the bill takes away for operation so can you help me find what we're trying to do in this bill what we're trying to do in this bill is saying very simply that if you own the warehouse itself. You may lease that warehouse. To someone else the public use without having to go through the bidding process. For instance in Little Rock at the warehouse at the port we have warehouses there there are companies who would like to come in and leased those warehouses. But we with current law if the least those warehouses they're gonna have to go through a bidding process that we thought would preclude us from being able to do business it's basically a little right bill and that's basically what it does. It does not preclude you from operating all warehouse what it does allow is that the the port it owns the warehouse would be able then to lease it to a company that would like to do business that's the basis of it and if you need other information I'm happy to pull it down and get you the information. Committee. Hang on a second please J. O. to someone else. Question. So I'm a little confused why would you have to get three bids. Our warehouse and somebody wants to lease it why would you have to get three bids and who with those bits B. from. I'm sorry I did not understand you. A. This is not required three the it's a pardon this is not required three B. it's. It up I thought you said it had to have three bed no no no I did not say that hello I'm sorry say that in all I thought that was the issue okay no it is not. You're recognized follow up question and maybe Senator Ingram helped me. Elsewhere in statute and that was my problem. It this talks about port strictly in Little Rock area because he found in his poor in others parts of the statute where the part about operation is taken care of is that your understanding of this is because in Fort Smith we've got ports you we know. Bring to us and to own them is a big issue and but it is in your understanding elsewhere in statute yes it is Sir thank you any other questions for the senator Senator Mark Johnson which is recognized. Thank you Mr president. Search your next job presenting this bill on city county local I just wanna make sure that I remembered it correctly. What this would do is let's say Little Rock for thirty duster park has an empty building and that prospect comes to tenants is we're really big on little rock we will come here but I factor in that building this would keep them from having to go through a bit procedure it would allow them to negotiate with that prospect and go into that building about doing like they were going to do it they were going to sell the surplus property is kind of what it does you are so good that is exactly the teachings Committee and then I was questioning myself I just want to clarify but sent along today Sir. Senate broke. No question no one wish to speak against four Senator has walked away indicating she is close any objection rolling the vote. Lease role. Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish to change their vote. Senator Pitsch is not voting. Not voting anyone else was injured by a. She casts up the ballot thirty forty eight zero nays the bill is passed return to the House the body knows the the basketball tournament I Senator design is recognized thank you governor. Sixteen ninety nine The representative walks in the Senator Dismang to amend the Arkansas highway revenue distribution law or to amend the law concerning distribution of highway revenue to county and city funds. Senate. Thank you have members so you know lots of times we have an idea that would like to see report and then occasionally no one ever takes the time to look at those reports is an example of that at one point we had said that anything over two million dollars that was being spent by the cities or counties in relation to their their state funding for transportation projects we're going to report that we give reviewed my understand this not been looked at up talk shares it's not been looked at in additionally in the time since this was put into place all cities that would fall underneath this in all counties with phony this have their budgets online so it is available for the public C.. Any questions Senator Hill. I'll take your questions major Dismang will you please disclose your vote before you leave the will. About this I'll be support of this bill number. Of any other questions Senator is what I think when we speak against our core center has Senator is recognized to close in which he is closing objection or the vote I don't. You're one four C. one please hold while Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace anyone wish to change their vote. Cast a ballot thirty five Yeas zero nice bill is passed return to the House Senate bills may is recognized on the budget. Amendment one Senate bill one seventy eight. Thank you this is the claims amendment the total is two point three million dollars in the amounts we pay with existing funds from entities budgets. The question. All of the members. Those guys have it members adopted. Senator Ingram. Amendment one Senate bill four forty seven. Thank you this amendment is the universe University of Arkansas division of our agricultural agriculture stand preparation billed at sixteen point five million cash preparation for the construction renovation maintenance equipment personal services and operating expenses of the Division of act additionally it adds special language section which prohibits the sale Pinetree research station to a private entity it allows to sell the land to for public use of funding is cash funds the questions all those of favour say aye. Those guys have it members adopted center groups and. Going on moving to the bills Senate bill four forty nine by joint budget an act for the department of commerce Arkansas development finance authority the preparation for the twenty twenty one fiscal twenty one twenty two fiscal year. Senate bill fifty four by joint budget act for the department of commerce State Insurance Department of preparation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year Senate bill fifty five by joint budget an act for the Department of Human Services division of Medical Services preparation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year Senate bill one twenty two by joint budget an act for the auditor of state deputy prosecuting attorneys the preparation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Sir Clark. You may like to any other batch. Senator garner recognized. Please pull out SP five five please. Senate bill fifty five or wishes to extract SP fifty five from the batch close. It's a batch extraction. All right. so we're going to vote on the three and then go back okay. What. If Junction rolling to vote please wrong let Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore Hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace in which change of a. Well thirty five yeah zero days old three the bills passed. And we need to transmit those down to the. March to close it up. With the stress out of the house sure the weight on Senator Dismang you want to take up the code as the extraction SP fifty five. Sir. Recognized. Thank you does this appropriation have to do anything with the new Arkansas homes Medicaid expansion we passed yeah that this is the this is the bill that the or the preparation the houses private option Arkansas Works now or soon to be A. R. that's correct thank you. Any other questions and always speak again. Sir garner is going to speak against. Senator garner is recognized. He was president of. No it's a tricky thing whenever you vote against an appropriation numbers a program or part of you do not like. I greatly understand that this affects a lot of different people in the state of Arkansas we have a very real health and other needs that this money goes to and goes to a well fashion. I wasn't here for the fights that happened in the past they became real contentious but I will say that. Browse understand that the amount of money we could be saving. Additional fee for service or traditional Medicaid. Would be expensive. I think that approving this preparation knowing that is fiscally responsible and something I cannot do without I'll be voting no for this preparation thank you. Right to close. You senator. Senate service I have a call center has closed any objection role in the vote he object please call the roll upon secretary Ballinger. Ballinger. Back on. Beckham. Bledsoe. She Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. DISMANG. Eads. Elliott. English. Flippo flowers I. Garner. Gilmore. Gilmore. Hammer. Yeah. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page R. Rapert. Rice. A sample. Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. Teague. Tucker. Wallace. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote Senator Hester is no Senator Mark Johnson hi Senator Stubblefield snow. Anybody else Sir Beckham is no cast a ballot. Twenty eight five days two not voting the bill passes. Transmitted to the house. Mercy closed up of mad sector you need to read something before we adjourn or can that be part of something that. Notice of return of Senate bill three oh one from the House having failed to override the governor's veto. Okay we're about general someone has something to say Senator are you. Full service call.