Senate Convenes

Yeah. What. It is. Yeah Rapert. Five thirty two. Okay let's do it. Member center 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. Right now. Senator Bledsoe recognized. Actually for Senator Hendren everyone please stand including those the balcony for the prayer center walls. Is gonna lead us in prayer. Thank you for this day thank you for the blessings you've given us. Thanks thank you for the friendship that we have within this chamber lord give us the strength the knowledge so with some. To do that I will. And to take care of our constituents. Lord let thy will be done All Things. Jesus name amen. I pledge. In. Any announcements any now we begin. Any items at the desk. Yesterday Mister depressing Hickey Speaker Shepherd and members of the General Assembly pursuant to article six section fifteen of the Arkansas constitution I inform you today I have vetoed Senate bill one. The bill is infringement on the executive's power to enforce the law and it is an online as an unconstitutional president present for the future if the rationale of Senate bill three oh one is accepted then is the court of want to giving the General Assembly veto power over the executive. Over the executive branch and the faithful execution of the law. The General Assembly defines the law and penalties but the legislative branch is not constitutionally empowered to change after the fact how law enforcement is carried out. During the covered nineteen pandemic the Arkansas department of health adopted and enforced directives to mitigate and prevent the spread of contagious and deadly disease the Department acted within the authority granted by it to it by the General Assembly shall call beverage control took enforcement actions based on decades of would health and safety law and policy actions by the department of health and alcoholic beverage control were consistent with legislative authorization and thus far have withstood two legal challenges brought by members of the General Assembly in permittee's of the Arkansas of the alcohol beverage control. Additionally every person or business assessed with a fine had the opportunity to avail themselves of administrative and judicial appeal without payment of fate or hiring an attorney the only message sent by this bill is that the rule of law does not matter it is an affront to those citizens who diligently followed health and safety directives to protect themselves and their fellow Arkansans during this legislative session two bills have gone into the law that fill that field in response to executive action taken during the pandemic Senate bill two fifty for altering the methods by which the department of health and alcohol beverage control may enforce directives and went into law without signature. It is. All. This system don't get me started. I find Senate bill. Three seventy nine a bill that makes sweeping changes to the implementation of the emergency services act during a public health emergency while I may disagree with aspects of this bill by on an appropriate exercise of legislative power this is in contrast to Senate bill three oh one which directs a refund of penalties assessed and violates the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branch of government I look forward to continuing to work with the legislative branch as we navigate this and president time thank you sincerely Asa Hutchinson. Dear Mr president we your committee on Rhode Bills to whom was referred the following Senate bill eighty five by Senator Bledsoe Senate bill two sixty five by Senator Irvin symbol three fifty four by Senator Irvin Senate bill three fifty seven by Senator Ballinger Senate bill three seventy eight by Senator hammer Senate bill for twenty one by Senator Ballinger Senate bill for twenty two by Senator Ballinger said before twenty three by Senator Ballenger Senate bill for twenty four by Senator Ballinger said before twenty five by Senator Ballinger said before twenty six by Senator Ballinger symbol for twenty seven by Senator Ballinger said bill for twenty eight by Senator Ballenger symbol for twenty nine by Senator Ballenger said before thirty by Senator Ballenger zero four thirty one by Senator Ballinger said before thirty two by Senator Ballinger symbol for thirty four thirty three by Senator Ballinger Senate bill four thirty four by Senator Ballinger said bill for thirty five by Senator Ballinger single for thirty six by Senator Ballinger symbol for thirty seven by Senator Ballinger said before thirty eight by Senator Ballenger center for thirty nine by Senator Ballenger said bill for forty by Senator Ballinger Senate before forty one by Senator Ballinger symbol for forty two by Senator Ballenger Senate bill four fifty four by Senator Mark Johnson Senate before sixty four by Senator Rice Senate bill four ninety three by Senator Ballenger zero copies of the original and find the same correctly enrolled at nine fifty AM delivered to the governor for his approval. Well what. Where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill one forty by Senator di this man for the rest copper three John Feinstein correctly engrossed Education Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred to thirty one by Senator Mark Johnson compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed retirement where your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill three eighty eight by Senator Sullivan compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed socal Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred senate bill four fifty five by Senator Clark compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed Judiciary Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred senate bill four sixty six by Senator Hester compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed public health committee on grass Bills to whom was referred senate five fifty by Senator Clark compared the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed state agencies Committee on some of the gross bills to whom is referred senate five sixty one by Senator art compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed Judiciary Committee on west Bills to whom was referred senate joint resolution thirteen by Senator Rapert compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed state agencies Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred to senate joint resolution fourteen by Senator Rapert compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed state agencies Committee on engrossed bills to whom is referred senate joint resolution eighteen by Senator Clark compared the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed state agencies Committee on west Bills to whom was referred house bill thirteen twenty seven by representative Frank compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed city county local. Where you made your where your committee on acari ten was referred house bill sixteen fifty eight five representatives are winning recommend due pass counted. Committee on act right to whom was referred house bill seventeen twenty nine by representative Bentley recommend due pass counted. The Committee on it right to whom was referred house bill sixteen thirty six by representative VOL recommend due pass counted. Re referred to committee. Sixteen thirty six re referred to committee. Where your committee on city county local to whom was referred Senate bill five eighty one by Senator Johnson recommend due pass counted Committee on city county local to whom was referred Senate bill Four seventy nine by Senator Tucker recommend to pass as amended number Terry counted. Committee on on city county local to whom was referred Senate bill five forty eight by Senator Blake Johnson recommend to pass as amended number. One. Calendar committee on city county local to whom was referred senate five fifty four by Senator Mark Johnson recommend to pass as amended number one calendar committee on city county local to whom was referred house bill sixteen twenty nine The representative represent recommend due pass counted Committee on city county local to whom was referred house bill sixteen ninety nine by representative Watson recommend due pass counted. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred senate bill four forty nine by Senator Eliot recommend to pass. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred senate bill four forty seven by Senator col recommend to pass as amended number one. Counted. Committee on transportation to whom was referred Senate bill five forty two by Senator Dismang recommend due pass counted Committee on transportation to whom was referred Senate bill five seventy nine by Senator Ballinger recommend due pass counted. Okay. Notice passage of Senate bill three eighty six as amended one and two. Referred to city county local. Your first. Yeah I have a. The five ninety five by Senator Wallace to clarify the Department of Human Services as the agency that regulates long term care facilities and to remove references to the office of long term care Senate bill five ninety five public health Sir Clark recognized. Thank you governor I just want to recognize today's doctor of the day we have doctor Thomas Graf the third these doctor of osteopathy and currently practices at the Little Rock Air Force base and we have the nurse today Brenda you thank you for. You have any other items at the desk. Sullivan. Reconsider passage of Senate bill one I was standing to be toward the government's. You need to be on the calendar just wanna be clear for those of you who may not of heard this is a motion to reconsider. The passage of Senate bill number three oh one notwithstanding the veto of the governor we have to. Votes on this. We're gonna have a voice vote. On the motion to reconsider the passage which takes a majority if that passes will then deal with the record basically the vote to override so first of all voice motion on the motion to reconsider. All those in favor say aye. Those. The eyes have it the motion is carried with a majority of those voting. Now we. Where is the center whether it sent. Now we will hear discussion. On the the. The bill to override the veto Senator Solomon you have anything that moved a little bit closer you move that over to you won't look like someone. you have you will speak on this weekly okay go right ahead thank you. Members it's a it's never something everyone looks forward to and speak to override a veto I'm the governor and I met yesterday along with it representative Smith who also co sponsored the bill with a very good conversation the governor and I agree that this is an issue of a separate but equal government he believes that he has acted in a manner that allows. The governor to to act in that manner. I would ask you to ask yourself if you believe you have been a co equal partner during this time of the covid. What we disagree on. if that we as a Senate have acted as co equal partners in this and this is a critical question in response to this vote could set a precedent for what happens in years to come. The governor I disagree on two points one I believe the house in the Senate have not been coequal branches while the governor believes otherwise I believe there were many opportunities for the executive branch to engage the legislature in a much more significant manner the governor believes otherwise and whether intentional or unintentional I believe our small businesses were targeted by the government and the governor believes otherwise I continue to believe the evidence data and outcomes of those inspections speak for themselves for those reasons I ask you please to override the veto thank you. Anyone wish to speak against. Anyone wishes. Speak for us anyway. If I wish to speak at all. Okay no one wish to speak you're done. I'm secretary call. Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. DISMANG. Eight. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. No. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Leding. Page of. Right. Rice. A sample. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sturch. Sullivan. T.. T.. Tucker. Wallace. Anyone who didn't vote wish to vote no one was injured vote Senator Leding is no anybody else over here. Anyone over here. Cast a ballot. Ninety days thirteen days two not voting zero present one leave the override is successful transmit the bill to the house. We go to the senator Dicky House concurrent resolution thirty in concurrent takes your ten fifteen. Current resolution ten fifteen. I to provide for an extension of the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly and to provide for an extended recess of the General Assembly Senator Hickey. Okay members if you don't mind listing this was a little bit different than what we normally do what this does is it provides a an extension for the centurion the active sessions what I will refer to it to be no later than April thirtieth however after that what is going to happen is we're going to an extended recess so that we can write about what upon the delay data of the supposed to be coming in from the fans on the redistricting. The resolution is also written to accommodate the bills that have passed so that they'll still going to always usual. It also allows for leg Council Legislative Council to meet during this extended recess time and then the way it also as it doesn't have a sign he died date it says that we will add that we will sign he dies soon as practicable after. we get through with the redistricting now there is one other thing in there that we could designee dive we needed to at any time the reason for that would be if there was some emergency or something that came up we had to have another special session so that we could somehow work work that in so. With that I'll try to answer any questions anybody has any any questions for Senator Hickey Senator Mark Johnson. Thank you Mr president Mr president pro tem there is a Senate rule has to do with fundraising for people there. Running for office that has a trigger date of thirty days after adjourn this this resolution how would it be affected in other words are we waiting thirty days after the signing die after the redistricting and I've heard as late as September October no Sir I'm glad you asked six questions I've talked to the bureau also Mr cook. And the thing is is I rules are actually written the correct way now so actually what you're B. thirty you will not be able to fundraise for thirty days after. The the extended recess starts but then you will be able to fundraise the only thing is is whatever we do come back down here for the for the time that we're in session for the redistricting the date that we come in the date that we leave you would not need to do any fund raising during that time so it would track what we do during fiscal session you can't fundraise during fiscal session but that thirty day before after doesn't apply so therefore it would allow someone that were say running for another office to except for when there we are in session here you could not that's your interpretation restrictions it's just I'm having a hard time hearing you but it's exactly the way I explained it again. April thirtieth. thirty if you would not be able to fundraise for thirty days then you would be able and thirty days you'd probably be able to do it on the thirty first day we'd have to get the exact dates you would be able to start up. We're supposed to get the supposed to get the data. By September thirtieth which means we would probably be down here sometime in October so if you know if it was October first through the seventh you would not be able to do it from the first to the seventh but then on the eighth you would be able to start up thank you senator Ricky that's great explanation thank you thank you Sir. You bales. I appreciate a good vote. This requires twenty seven votes madam secretary call the roll. Ballinger. Ballinger. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers no. Garner yeah. Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Yeah. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page R.. Rapert. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. T.. Tucker. Wallace. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote. Senator Teague aye aye anyone else over here anyone over here. Cast a ballot twenty ninety eighty four Nays House resolution is adopted returned to the house. Resolutions for a third reading and adoption center Gilmore. Senator I'm sorry Senator Stubblefield you wish to be recognized yeah. Senator is recognized. Thank you governor I just I'm just like to recognize leadership group from Franklin Logan County up in the west gallery if you just give them a hand I appreciate thank. Senate resolution fourteen by Senator Gilmore to approve and confirm the appointment of Chris Lampkin to the board of directors of the Arkansas role in down. Thank you under members for brevity I'm not going to read the resolution although the title does it says exactly what this does is just affirming someone in my district to the rule down fund. The question is all the members say aye. Is haven't resolutions adopted senator Chesterfield Senate resolution fifteen by Senator Chesterfield to command alpha Kappa alpha sorority Inc FOR ITS contributions to the community and to fix and I March twenty four twenty twenty one is alpha Kappa alpha day so Chesterfield thank you Mr chair. Where is alpha Kappa alpha sorority founded on January fifteenth nineteen oh eight on the campus of Howard University in Washington DC is America's first Greek letter organization for black women. And where's the sorority was conceived by Ethel Hegeman Lyle and fifteen other visionaries resolve that their college experience should be meaningful and productive and more as a small group grew to a membership of more than three hundred thousand college educated women from around the world with an active membership of over seventy five thousand women who represent a diverse group and we're as its membership includes educators heads of state politicians lawyers medical professionals media personalities decision makers in major corporations in the current vice president of the United States Kamilla Harris were as well known honorary members of alpha Kappa alpha include Marian Anderson my eyes your low Arkansas delegates Gerald may Jamison correta Scott king and judge const Constance Baker motley and local and statewide members including judge Andre raw former senator Irma hunter brown former representative Nancy brown former representative Wilhelmina Llewellyn representative Jamie Scott representative joy Springer and yours truly. And whereas there are twenty chapters of alpha Kappa alpha throughout the state consisting of eight undergraduate chapters and twelve graduate chapters and each chapter is proud of its community efforts in the areas of education the arts economic development and healthcare the resolved and might I add that the deputy secretary of the Senate this will make missile. Sabrina lu Ellen is also a member of the resolved by the Senate on the on the ninety third date of the general assent that the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the Senate Committee and alpha Kappa alpha sorority incorporated Ford service work and contributions to its communities and celebrates March twenty four twenty twenty one is alpha Kappa alpha day at the Arkansas state capitol in be happy that you don't have to wear a pink and green tie or anything else is pink and green I would appreciate a good vote thank you so very much all those in favor say aye. Well Is have the resolution is adopted Senator Rapert. Senate resolution sixteen by Senator Rapert to proclaim education and sharing day on March twenty four twenty twenty one. Senator Rapert thank you governor members if you would if you would lift your eyes to the east gallery we have with us today on behalf of the Arkansas Jewish community rabbi Yosef Kramer please make him welcome. Members today you have on your desks Ann Arbor which stands for acts of random kindness but the Jewish community would like for you to think that is routine kindness is so you have a little card here and I want to read this resolution in honor of rabbi Menachem Schneerson and for Senator Elliot center Chesterfield as teachers in the room I learned something in reading this obviously you know I love Israel but when I read this you'll notice the name rebbe in addition to rabbi which is really a moral teacher and that's very interesting so I hope that you enjoy this proclamation and we're honored to do this for the community today rabbi whereas excellence in education and ethical values are vital to the success of our nation and our state in the state seeks the betterment of our citizens and seeks to instill a quality education and understanding of good ethics in our children and adolescents and we're as we're preparing our students for the responsibilities and opportunities of the future education develops the an intellect through lessons in literacy math and science and whereas the rebbe rabbi Menachem Schneerson global spiritual leader who dedicated his life to the betterment of mankind was a tireless advocate for use around the world emphasize the importance of education and good character and instill hope for a brighter future into the lives of countless people in this country and across the globe and whereas the rebbe taught that education should include the acquisition of knowledge in preparation for a career to make a better living for oneself as well as for the society as a whole and that the educational system must therefore pay more attention to the building of character with emphasis on moral and ethical values and we're as in recognition of the rebel is outstanding and lasting contributions toward improvements in world education morality and acts of charity he has been awarded the congressional gold medal and the United States Congress has established his birth date as a national day to raise awareness and strength. In the education of our children and we're as the president of the United States is paid recognition to the rebels vision by proclaiming Education sharing day in this country each year now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the Senate proclaims March twenty four twenty twenty one is education and sharing day in Arkansas and encourages everyone in the state to reach out to young people and work to create a better brighter and more hopeful future thank you Mr president appreciate a good vote. This is a incorrect. We're having some technical difficulties we're gonna vote anyway all those in favor say aye. Follows. I just resolution is adopted. Just wanna personal. Senate bill eleven. So great with this I would leave it there thank you so much. For at. Your per se this subdivision one anyway. We're going to We'll recess for a few minutes. In place for like and what you say stand right where you are. Keep it down all the all of the hello. Roar. Okay I have your attention. So. Apparently things up so we have a computer issue things have worked as are supposed to work there's a little fire in the server room. The server is made because I run hot there may if something is to borrow a term from the made to put it out. Transferred to date all that stuff so it worked as it's supposed to but the bottom line is. The server outside this building had a meltdown it's going to take awhile for the backup server she start working. We're not exactly sure how long but we can't do anything in terms of the computers which all that also affects the committees. Because. It all depends on the system so I'm gonna recognize the wall will recognize Senator Hickey If you all don't mind just give me a second less and less this body objects as a whole I would say that what we need to do is just go ahead and leave not have a committee meetings and we'll just transfer everything to the calendars whenever we come back for Monday. Please. Now you do any of. Senate.