Senate Convenes

Senate will come to order madam secretary please call. 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. One please standing holding those in the gallery. Senator. Senator Teague is gonna lead us in prayer. The French we pray with me our father we're here today. Hopefully we're going about your work we love you we praise you we ask you to October's give us wisdom give us patience. Take care of our families on our loved ones take care of our country got our leaders are both there and here in the state. Lord. These are interesting times we trust secretary are in charge and that you've got us where we should be we pray this in Jesus Christ Holy may a man. I pledge allegiance. Just wanna. All rights. Any announcmenet. The announcmenet any items given out center Beckham and then senator mark Johnson center Beckham is in the well Sir Malcolm we have a three members of Columbia County able service here. caroling Calvin got the Arkansas all star life today. Thank you senator welcome senator Johnson. Thank you Mr president I want to recognize our doctor the day when my constituents is doctor Ralph river it's an alert colleges rural thank you for coming. Nurse today's needs Brinda Hugh it. And she's thank you all. Senate. Recognized. I'd like to welcome my knees still blind that's in the west gallery she is Stacy us certain she is from orange beach Gulf shores got a fabulous restaurant and there for you all go down to Gulf shores be sure to go back and say you Stacey glade you're not. Senator Ingram what's the name of the restaurant. Allen you re in that's a tongue twister but I got it out in Ireland epicurious. All right. Any items to be anymore announcements any items to be read across this weight on my hand. When your when your committee on Enron Bills to whom are. Was referred Senate bill forty bass joint budget Senate bill forty four by Senator Irvin one fourteen by Senator Irvin said bill to nineteen by joint budget Senate bill two fifty eight Senator Bledsoe to seventy eight by joint budget senate two eighty by joint budget Senate bill two ninety four by Senator Flippo said bill three oh two by Senator Ingram Senate bill three thirty one by Senator Rapert said bill three ninety two by Senator Chesterfield three ninety six by Senator Irvin here they wrote hobbies with the original find same correctly enrolled and delivered the governor at eleven sixteen this morning. For your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill one fifty three by Senator Gilmour compare the engrossed copy with the original find same correctly engrossed public health. Are you Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill two O. four by Senator Hendren. I recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill two fifty six by Senator Irving recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred senate bill four sixty four by Senator writes recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill one sixty six by Senator Clark recommend to pass as amended number one. Counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred senate bill three O. six by Senator Clark recommend to pass as amended number one calendar Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred senate bill four seventeen by Senator Hammer recommend to pass as amended number one calendar. Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill eleven hundred by representative Evans recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill twelve fifty six by representative board recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill thirteen seventeen by representative Johnson recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill fourteen fifty five a representative Collins recommend due pass counted Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred house bill fifteen oh six by representative Shepherd recommend due pass counted. Committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred senate bill four sixty five by Senator Dismang recommend due pass counted. On Revenue and Tax to whom was referred house bill twelve one nine by representative Jett recommend due pass counted. Senate bill five fifteen by Senator Leding trend Christy man of the income tax deduction for teachers qualified classroom classroom investment expenses and declare an emergency it's about five fifteen reference Senate bill five sixteen by Senator relating to amend Arkansas law concerning criminal background checks for patient came canvassers and despair an emergency symbol five sixteen state agencies see about five seventeen by Senator Ballinger to transfer oversight of certain duties of regional solid waste management district Intermin the required expertise of members of the Arkansas pollution control and ecology Commission said bill five seventeen. Public health Simcoe five eighteen ma'am Senator Ballinger to amend solid waste management recycling fund act into transferring ministration of certain funds and duties for the division of environmental quality to the department of finance ministration Senate bill five eighteen public health center five nineteen by Senator Davis to amend the sex discrimination by abortion prohibition act Senate bill five nineteen. Public health. The resolution is the. Sort twelve. Senate resolution twelve by Senator. Thank you bye senator to to that's the right stars of the life estate interest amount the accomplishments of certain medical emergency medical professions thirty. Members if you look if you look up here in the. West gallery there. Various people from our end services or starlight for CBS we give them a big hand. Yeah real quick short resolution where's the emergency medical services are a vital public service and where is the members of emergency medical service teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need twenty four hours a day seven days a week and where is the members of a large issue medical service teams whether career volunteer often go beyond the call of duty carried out life saving measures and to promote the cause of the ambulance industry. And where is the members of emergency medical services teams have served on the front line caring for critical patients during the crown of ours two thousand nineteen COVID nineteen pandemic and where is it is appropriate to recognize the value of the accomplishments of selected individuals who a pantomime as the spirit of emergency medical services be it resolved by the Senate of the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas the to Senate pro claims March ten two thousand twenty one as far as a black day in recognizes individuals who are being awarded as Arkansas in it and the as Arkansas EMS stars a lot be it further resolved upon adoption of this resolution an appropriate copy shall be the people shall be provided to each Arkansas in mist are blocked by the Secretary of the Senate fifty one more hand placed. Thank you Mr president. For the resolution all those of favour say aye. Those eyes resolutions adopted Senator Rapert as C. R. eighty Senate concurrent resolution eight by Senator Rapert resolution to request the United States Congress and the president and president Biden to direct the United States bureau of the census to provide timely redistricting poppy population data center. Mr president thank you members you saying the resolution I'm not going to read the entire resolution other than the bottom portion of that this has to do with the fact that the United States Census bureau after earlier announcing that they were going to release information shortly after the first of the year suddenly they announced that they would not do so and it stated that it would be the end of September that's causing great frustration not only here in Arkansas but in states around the country representative Tosh that chair state agencies in the houses join me in this resolution and it's simply ask Congress and the president to do what they can to urge the census bureau to do the one job that they have and to provide that data back to the states so that we can complete our redistricting SRB happy to answer questions and present a good vote. Any questions for the senator. See you for the resolution. All those of favour say aye. Oppose ayes have it resolutions adopted. Right okay. This transmit to the House transmit Senator Pitsch house bill with Senate amendments amendment one to House Bill twelve thirty nine. Simple amendment putting me as a sponsor my bill my amendment. Is have it members adopted integration. Senator Ingram. Amendment one Senate bill one eighty three. I thank the governor my bill by amendment. All right we're concurrent I'm sorry this is a content concurrence with the house amendment that they clarified some language of the two of the two of. To clarify the language. Any questions of by anyone. Okay. All those of favour say aye. I think I heard I. Follows. Is have it members adopted. Senate bill one eighty three by Senator Ingram to amend campaign finance law to prohibit the use of campaign funds or carryover funds to pay for ethics violation in German provisions of law resulting from initiator Act one of nineteen ninety and initiated act one of nineteen ninety six per share good vote. Voting on the other line any objection ruling the vote. English Speaker please role 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 age Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace anyone wish to change their vote. Well thirty five BA zero nine is the bill is passed. In general. Senator sample. Senate bill five by Senator sample to amend the law concerning reciprocal service credit benefit rights and deferred retirement under the Arkansas Arkansas local police and fire read retirement system and declare an emergency. Sir seven. Members are this is just to take in clean up some legislation and also to the fire and the final average play for the lock the system it one time it had to quarterly Ordinate we took that out because it is because so much problems but I'll answer questions any questions for the senator if you wish to speak against or for center closed closed any objection rolling the vote. Please rolled out 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. Flowers president. Senator flowers president anyone else. Cast the ballot thirty four Yeas zero days one present the bill is passed emergency clause is adopted transmit the bill to the house Senator Ballinger SB sixty five. We'll see Senator Ballinger supermoon the senator garner. C. sar garner is a baby was sent about is Senator Ballinger Barker. Okay. We're going we're going to you will come back to center about our recipe one sixty one Senate bill one sixty one by Senator Garner to allow public school or public school district to operate hunting safety courses as part of its curriculum southern miss present one of the most critical industries we have here in the state of Arkansas one of our most cherished pastimes is our hunting fishing and other industries that we take part in it's something I grew up doing and did all the time and when the requirements do that as you take a hunter safety course in order to get your license from the state of Arkansas actually took mine at the school I grew up in after hours what is a do allow school districts if they so choose to use of physical education credit in order to provide that training up to the Arkansas game and fish's requirements it's a great program to do that and also if that school requires and they put the necessary SO P. in place they can bring a operative are or which is defined in the code you don't have to there's no obligation they can use a dummy or call a rubber Ducky in the military to do that but if they do so choose they're allowed to do that without take any questions. Against for. Search would like to speak for. Thank you miss your ladies and gentlemen of the Senate at I hear the what what. What. Coming from each and every one of you but I grew up in southwest Arkansas and hope Arkansas. And my grandfather was a great hunter. I think it's imperative that our young people know how to do it and do it well. They don't necessarily hunt now for food as we did in those days but I do think if they're going to do what they need to know how to do it properly for that reason I support the bill. Politics. Is you need. In that it does not mean that we disagree on one thing we disagree on everything and I think as we go forward we need to remember that thank you. Thank you senator anyone wish to speak against or for Senator rated close. After search fields were absolutely. Good. Any objection role 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 anyone wish to change their vote. Flowers no showers. Anyone else. Cast a ballot thirty four year age one nine. The bill is passed transmitted deal. To the house Senator Ballinger back in here no Senator English Senate bill one sixty three by Senator English to create Arkansas military affairs council act to establish the military affairs program and to declare an emergency. Centering on the House floor centering thank you very much we sort of pass through this before but we needed to make an amendment to change the pine bluff arsenal from white hall two pine bluffs. Any questions for the senator you will wish to speak against. For. Senate close. Any objection or the vote. Ritual Ballinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang Eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey Hill Ingram Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish to change their vote. The ballot. Thirty five Yeas zero nine is the bill is passed emergency clause adopters made to the House senator. Ballinger still not here senator garner. Hey. Senator. Senate bill two fifty two by Senator Garner to prohibit the Arkansas Economic Development Commission from establishing or maintaining an office in China. Senator thanks present one of the biggest geopolitical threats we face in this nation is the communist Chinese party and what China's going to leash on us in the twenty first century if you look at there are foreign record. Owned minority communities within their borders in the concentration camps to set up if you look at the I. P. an electoral property theft they are doing across the world you look at the social. Unrest that they do with their own citizens if you look at the military aggressive action if they're going to take his United States from building islands in the middle of the ocean to establish. Land bases that they can use to one day attack America this is a real geopolitical threat unlike anything we face in the coming years in fact there's a statistical analysis out there the shows within a few decades they will have the number one economy in the world outpacing even our own. With this small. But substantial step. We're gonna send a very small but substantial message. The state of Arkansas for Justin change our policy becomes a John let's talk about this bill doesn't do. This bill is a stop one industry in Arkansas from selling one widget to China or to buy one which is in China it is zero impact on the economic realities that Arkansas faces. It doesn't stop them from even entered into negotiations with the menacing stop taxpayer dollars from going to China which I wish we could and may likely have a bill in the future it is a stop economic development from even getting the ball whenever we have time to talk to John from the commission for the local people. The only thing this bill does And this is key I want your list. Is to do. What we're already doing. The governor last year after we had a big debate in the fiscal session about having office in China shut down that all the censure. Only thing this does is put in the code that very small policy to make sure we send that first step. To address in this huge generational problem the state of Arkansas with that I'll take any questions any questions for the senator. Anyone wish to speak against. For. Centers close close. Any objection on the vote. Please call the roll man sector Ballinger. Ballinger. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Eight. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. No. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Page. Rapert. Rice. Sample. Sample. Stubblefield. Step. Sturch. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. E.. Tucker. Wallace. Wallace. Wish to vote or change their vote go here first Senator Pitsch is president. Senator Wallace U. SEC president Senator Wallace your body else over here. Well. I'm sorry I'm not. What ages do back there Senator. Senate president. Nobody. Senator Hammer size Senator Bledsoe as a lot of Senator Bledsoe as president that would. Little Miss someone. Okay. Everybody was on board. About. Ninety eight eight days for not voting for president zero leave. The bill is passed transmitted on Senator Irvin Ballinger back this go to use them with us. Senate bill sixty five by Senator Ballinger to amend the Arkansas law regarding stated mission plans for fossil fuel fired electric generating. Senator Ballinger. Thank you Mr president this bill all it does is it actually re enacts a law that we put the place back at two fifty two thousand fifteen the Franklin two thousand nineteen we're we're working with and figure the easiest thing to do is remove it what's was a mistake we put it back to the and the into the legislation essentially work with all of the stakeholders work with AD EQ work with the public service commission all to try to put together piece legislation gives us some review process when it comes to a federal plan if if we're going to require the required to comply with the new federal regulation when it comes to to energy it gives a legislative review process happening answer any questions any questions for Senator Ballinger. A good vote you always speak against four centers closed any direction on the vote. These robots 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. Leding Pitsch Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you wish to change their vote. Flowers president. Senator flowers thank you senator flowers Senator flowers is present anyone else cast about thirty forty eight zero nine eight one present the bill is passed. Transmit the bill to the house Senator Irvin first of three percent Senate bill three thirteen by Senator Irvin to transfer of the great River Road Division into the tourism Division of the Department parks heritage and tourism center or. Thank you members the bill does exactly what the title says it just transfers and the great River Road Division into the tourism division under the department of parks heritage and tourism it changes nothing with the commission or what is happening with the commission it's just moving it. You wish to speak again or for the centers closed any objection rolling the vote please roll the vote madam secretary 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. Yes. Our hours. Senator flowers. Give all race because for we have video. Senator flowers present cast of about. Thirty forty eight zero nine one present the bill is passed transmit to the House servant. Three fifty two by Senator Irvin to amend the law concerning the capital zoning district commission and concerning the appeal process of the capital's learning district commissioner action server. Correct so thank you members and what this does is and it's created within the Division of the Arkansas heritage of the Department of Parks tourism and heritage the capital's sending district commission I'm under the administrative procedure acts and it will be followed this is repealing and read and taking out a step that of the appeal process because those already already will go to the circuit court and so it's really just an unnecessary step for it to go before the secretary because it's always challenged anyway so this is really just trying to streamline that and and that that's it's for the Department of Parks here judge insurance The question. Thank you Mr president Senator Irvin I've had experience in dealing with the issues with capital district zoning commission and not in leased one case I found it to be. Setting situation simply because they had a rule that if they didn't have enough people show up anyway few lost if you lost your request for rezoning approval of the project and they didn't say they don't know the number that but let's say there's seven members of the commission and only five show up and you get to three votes if everyone shall not be my to get the fourth one but you lose then you had the white I think it was a year before you could really go back and ask for that again does this leave that in place and not course you've always could go to circuit court which means often you have to hire a lawyer and all this but the experience I had was a business that was trying to follow every rule and it was an arbitrary capricious decision in my opinion by the remaining members that actually showed up the commission this is change that or maybe reform that at all. I mean it's so it's so if you just look at the bill it says that a person aggrieved by a rule or decision and I'm or order of the capital's owning Commission may appeal the action to the Pulaski County circuit court under Arkansas administrative procedure act eliminates the step that the secretary shall overturn the decision of the commission because generally those are already going to be challenged and so really that going to the Secretary is and that necessary steps so this is just streamlining that opportunity. I'm not sure that I agree that it's unnecessary I know you probably didn't spend many many hours studying this in depth and I certainly will against you but well but it is a of a keeps of someone who was wrong the Secretary basically secretary could say now that one right will throw that out as opposed to having to go hire a lawyer go to circuit court I'm I'm just asking that now I do understand it this was brought by Secretary Hearst because of her experience and and it was her recommendation so I'm I'm following her recommendation she's the one that's going to know that more intimately obviously in her position then I will. Thank you senator thank you. One wish to speak against. Senate Chesterfield's gonna speak against. And senator mark Johnson has expressed an interest in speaking against center Chesterfield. Thank you Mr chair ladies and gentleman the Senate. First of all there are two senators who represent the capital zoning district. Senator Clark in me. Neither of us was given the curtesy of even being being a part of the discussion around that this into something else. We are put together so much stuff. Under transformation everything's being left on the one thing And left under another thing And we get lost in that whole process. The capital zoning district is designed specifically to deal with the area around the governor's mansion in the capital. The least the secretary could have done was to come to us and say what are your concerns about this we were never given that curtesy and I think it's high time we stop just putting things into place that have been working not perfectly but this certainly is not a solution to the concerned that my colleague representative Johnson hands because it's difficult enough to get a quorum. Under the capital zoning district as an entity unto itself imagine it being a part of this huge of parks and tourism division. We're never going to get any answers and so for that reason I would ask that you vote no on the bill thank you. Anyone would speak in favor. Senator Mark Johnson recognized against. Thank you Mr president I won't belabor this because offered my questions Senator Irvin. Of. I question the jurisdiction of this commission it was originally start started back governor bumpers to protect the area around the capital from improper development it's a great idea and I'm glad he did it they later added the area around the governor's mansion and like a lot of good ideas they just kind of grow in the this is become sort of a central Little Rock extra step of development a few years ago one of my friends who just happen to be a circuit judge had repaired some steps at his mother's home in the Quapaw quarter and someone complaint and the commission required him to tear them all out although it was not even a substantial change to that of. It is noteworthy that agains Center Chesterfield are on the same side because we've seen it up close and personal of. If the secretary or even someone else in her department that she could turn to and say check this out and tell me what I need to do could solve a problem that was done by either an overzealous or or improper act of an appointed a commission member or something that almost like a like a pardon by the governor for the CEO or president when they see an injustice I think it's a good step but I think cutting that step out will cause people to. Be hurt because the alternative is that gonna hire a lawyer and go to circuit court to to defend their position up I've. Seriously question and much of this jurisdiction where that shouldn't be handled by Little Rock planning and by the city board but this is a the again the original intent and the original area it serves as a great idea and I still support it but this is one that needs to maybe be seriously scale back and look at that so I appreciate a no vote on this thank you. Anyone wish to speak in favor. Again Sir I read was. Sir could close. Okay members let me just to go over exactly the details of this bill it moves the capital's owning district commission within the division of Arkansas heritage why is that important so it's moving an independent state agency as a unit within the division of Arkansas heritage I'm Arkansas historic preservation program section that does provide greater access is to historic preservation expertise and programming by aligning under a single agency within the department it also creates a more streamlined opportunity for additional financial support from the other divisions of Arkansas heritage with their resources the modification of the appeals process of the capital zoning district commission action is the reason why it does change the current process that an appeal of the capital's owning district commission goes to the cabinet secretary of the department it eliminates the secretary's review from the process and provide appeals may be made directly to the plastic county circuit court and the reason why is because currently the secretary's review is very very limited and it results in most of those appeals ending up in circuit court anyway. the appeals will follow the provisions set forth the administrative procedures act so two AGN reemphasize what secretary Hearst provided in testimony to state agencies Committee was that this review process is in place but that she as a secretary has very limited capacity to really do anything M. with with that ability because it's very limited and the appeals end up in circuit court anyway so that is the reason behind the bill and I would just appreciate your consideration and a good vote thank you. Please call the roll. Ballinger. Ballinger. Beckham. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. DISMANG. D.. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. Garner. Garner. Gilmore. Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Right. Right. Rice. Rice. Sample. Sample. Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Sullivan. Teague. Tucker. Wallace. Wallace. Your wish to vote or change their vote Senator Garner is hi Sir Beckham is online Senator Gilmore design. Senator Wallace design you want Senator Hammer is anybody else over here. Senator Rapert is. Sure Stubblefield all right Sir well hi Sir Sullivan president. Sir Clark. Anybody else. You will. Yes of the ballot. Twenty three age five days five not voting to present. The bill is passed. Transmitted by Senator Irvin three of three. Six three fifty four by Senator Irvin to create the furnace in women's sports act. Senator Irvin. Thank you members of the Senate today I I respectfully present this bill to you. Senate bill three fifty four is a bill that's designed to create fairness and women's sports title nine was designed to stop discrimination against females and to create equal athletic opportunities for women this bill will ensure that girls and women in Arkansas will be able to compete on a level playing field by giving them and schools a private cause of action they should have the same opportunity as a man to pursue their dreams and reach their goals women's and girls opportunities to break records to win titles to win championships and earned spots on the podiums should not be undermined by an unfair advantage of male competitors before title nine there were no women athletic scholarships today these opportunities are so important for women's ability to continue and higher ed and to pursue their dreams Aman's believe for feelings about his agenda does not a race is biological and physiological advantages over female athletes laws are based on facts not feelings rules of eligibility must maintain a standard of evidence to enter fair play sex age weight are all factors of eligibility. To ensure fair competition in collegiate and professional sports bands on performance enhancement drugs and steroids exist to prevent athletes from altering their biological make up in order to gain an advantage over others there is no difference here when a biological man is allowed to compete in biological women's sports there are clear differences in body composition strength and endurance muscular and skeletal design the U. S. supreme courts and other courts have recognized that there are in here is we spent one second. Centerman has the floor to order here thanks or. The U. S. supreme court and other courts have recognized that there are inherent to differences between men and women this bill is clear and it's direct it gives an individual and section II and a school and section after a private cause of action federal law under the title nine addresses sexual discrimination which addresses section D. and Connecticut to mail track athletes consistently ranked in the two to three hundred in men's track within a couple of weeks they identified their gender as females and dominated girls track winning fifteen titles in the previous year those fifteen titles were held by nine different girls girls who had trained and worked all their lives to have school have shaved seconds off their times he set a goal to break the state records had their dreams shattered because about a logical mail decided to identify the girl and still any chance they had to reach their goal is this happening in Arkansas the question should be why would we want this to happen to the women and girls in Arkansas why would we want to destroy nearly fifty years of gains in equal athletic opportunities for women under title nine why would we want to deny young girls and women the opportunities they deserve with fair competition and the ability to earn scholarships for college the Arkansas state teachers association pulled this bill amongst its members and an eighty seven percent supported this bill I want to personally thank them for their support on my desk I have a soccer ball from a personal position and a personal point of view I worked really really hard to get a girls soccer team into the Mountain View school districts I was so proud of those young ladies because they work hard they fought hard they raise money for their uniforms all they wanted was the ability to compete and they wanted the ability to play the sport that they loved and that they grew up playing. And we work hard to get that in place and I was. I was honored and blessed to be their coach I was a volunteer coach and on my desk as a soccer ball that they all sign for me and on that are messages of thank you thank you for investing the time in me thank you for giving me a team to play on thank you for giving me the opportunity to play a sport that I wanted to play thank you for letting me earn a scholarship to college that's a cool thing in the world to be able to have that type of impact on a young person as a soccer coach and to see those young ladies come together in a team as a team on the field and off the field one of the players on my team she lost her mom high in the middle of our senior season her mom died unexpectedly and the coolest thing in the world was to see that team of young ladies come together at her mom's funeral and to stand with her and be her family through that that event. Senate members I'm going to respectfully ask you to read the bill and to consider this bill and to vote for this bill because today we have a real opportunity to protect girls and women's sports we know there's differences and I just would appreciate your vote. Any questions for the senator Senator Hammer got a question. Thank you senator referring the bill I would just was not able to be in the committee would you explain how this is going to have an impact among the NC double a and as far as the teams being able to compete at a national level with this being a state law please. Thank you for the question so this bill was passed in Idaho a year ago and there have been no issues with the NC double a and their abilities to play games or or do anything and and that matter or thank you. Any other questions. Senator Mark Johnson has a question thank you Mr president Senator Irvin you're familiar with assistant commissioner Stacy Smith of the department cation your service cases so you know Stacey. Did you know that she came to Arkansas on a soccer scholarship to play for the University of Arkansas at little rock did you know that she is now. In the U. L. R. sports hall of fame. Not to mention all the things she does to help our students around the state I just want to thank you for bringing this bill and help with the next Stacy Smith come forward rather than letting you know some land that. Add some hormones take away that opportunity for these like and what is the future thank you for that would you very I would and I would just note that ninety six percent of the female CEOs in our country where female athletes and so being that having that opportunity competes as an athlete's grows your and he grows your your successes for women and so thank you for the question. Any other questions any other questions for the senator okay when I go into the speaking out Senator Elliot. Is going to speak against I've guy Senator wedding as against anyone else will speak on the Sir Chesterfield against Senator Tucker again Senator Elliot is recognized. Please. You're here to serve. Thank you governor. I know I think all of us got the letter from a person who did not get an opportunity to speak and the committees so I said to her that I would shared just about for short paragraphs of what she had to say because I think it's really informative to our discussion today. She writes my name is Stephanie gray. And I'm a resident of Conway. My day job is working as an educator and trainer on gender sexuality class and disability while also serving as the president of the Faulkner County coalition of justice. I'm also speaking today as a former collegiate level and nationally ranked tennis player and coach. I have over the decade of extra have over a decade of experience working in schools and summer camps or I have specifically built relations relationships with queer and trans youth. I want to make something clear. There is no research that has directly and consistently found that transgender guy of people have an athletic advantage and sports none. This bill is making an issue where there is none. The triple a and the NC double eight nearly all national and global sports federations allow transgender women to play and women's divisions. This bill is not only not necessary it is actively harmful. Transgender youth have significantly increased rates of depression and suicide where one in three will try to commit suicide in their lifetime. This is a vulnerable population population I've seen first hand the benefits and participating in sports to mental wellbeing of these young people. I have this basketball with me today because it means something to this discussion and it means something to me. I've been through what it means to be shunned when it comes to athletics. I have two kids who are transgender. I saw what it meant to them how they were treated how they were discarded by the students. But those same students. Or discarded in many cases by teachers that I'm low to date what they did to those kids because they have a right and they had a right and a public school to get an education and to be able to support a participate like anyone else. So. This is a story I want to share with you. In high school. In the ninth grade I was a basketball player I was a very good basketball player. And that's not broken I just want us. So I made the varsity team in the ninth grade. I was a very good student that's not broken I just worked at it so I was really really proud that I was a good student and that I was a good athlete really proud because everybody in my family pretty much as athletes. When I was in grade after haven't had that great year being on the varsity team in ninth grade when I was in the tenth grade that's when I was a part of forced integration. I went to an all white school my family and a few others and the want to things I wish you a. They're going to like me because I was a good student but they're gonna like me even more because that was a great basketball player I was just going to be just in the in crowd I really thought that how innocent I was I was dead wrong. When the coach though finally got up the nerve to tell me I was not going to make the team. I didn't take it well I must say. And I ask quantity and he said to me. Because we don't have a uniform that will fit you. We don't have a uniform that will fit you I was fifteen. Usually not now they with adults. But I said to him. Even I could have thought of a better excuse than that because you know that's code. You know that's code for your black I was not needed I was not wanted on that team in other words I was shunned. Just like these kids are going to be shunned there's no reason for me not to get to play. There is nothing in the science. Thank you because these girls not to play transgender carols are girls. They are was. And we keep calling them biological boys because that's convenient I can tell you all day you're sixteen but if you're if you're five four U. five four. So I'm only sharing this because this was something precious to me. And it has stayed with me after all these decades what it meant to be shunned by adults who were supposed to have my interest at heart and who did not decades later it's a wound that won't close but what I realized. You probably want someone that's open all the time what I realized. It's a good thing is open because it reminds me every single day. Don't treat people this way. Always be the adult who was stand up for kids. To find a place for them not to exclude them. I get to play basketball for one year that's what's one year. We are trying to exclude these kids. For ever. I ask you not to do this because we are better than shunning kids. Let's be the adults to stand up for them and find a way to let them play that's all I ask of you and we vote for this bill. We're not letting them do the most natural thing in the world and that's to play thank you. This was weekend fiber. Again Senator Leding and then we're gonna go on boring someone in favor we're gonna get senator Chesterfield Serletic. Thank you. Colleagues and we're trying to protect kids the transputer kids transferral girls trans boys boys and if our daughter grows up to playing team sports the only things that her mother not going to care about it so she's treating her teammates coaches and opponents with respect and she's having a good time also this idea that trans girls are automatically or naturally. more capable is also just wrong I ran track in high school the girls teams in boys teams competed at their practice the same facility for a lot of girls are out running a lot of us guys on the team again I know that our goal here is to protect kids in that is the good and right thing to do but by taking this approach we're gonna be making the lives of some kids much more difficult and I would just ask that we really think about that before we go today thank you anyone wishing bacon for Senator Ballinger in favor Senator Chesterfield. Service. Thank you Mr president I just want you know I think back at one time my high school was really competitive in powerlifting and and I pilot and everyone state champs of my high school that all the time so but we had a one of our the state champs apparel to meets we're we're in there competing we had a state champion for for that I was in a call with the time that the state champion for Oklahoma among the women who is competing on a national level came and did an exhibition. I am in in my mind I I didn't really didn't really imagine what the differences were but she came out I think if I remember right it was like two hundred fifty pounds and she deadlift. And I remember thinking back then there was not one weight class with that would win in the state change if not the not one weight class so this is a grown woman who's competing in state level won the state championship and those smallest weight classes going to deadlift amongst the the the boys more than two hundred fifty pounds and it's not because she's appears busting her but she deserves to be put on exhibition for people to look at it and say you know what she accomplished great things she sees was really powerful. For a woman and I I I'd for trans kids who are struggling with that situation clearly it's a it's a difficult and confusing situation all the way around but the reality is there's a lot of women like that woman did their who competed very hard for a long time spent a lot of time in the weight room in order to be able to to go out and compete amongst people who are who are at least her equal when it comes to the biological gender and so that even if you set aside everything else there is a reality there to fax the men's muscle mass is dense or that they have more on larger bonus that they are physically. The superior when it comes to strengthen hiked and all that kind of stuff not severe because a lot of things when wearable lacking in clearly I am and I'll own it but when it comes to that type of thing you're really just yanking the rug out from a lot of women a lot of young girls has been busted there there there but for a long time to be able to compete at a high level. It always speak against center Chesterfield then for us but if no one move on Senator Tucker next Chesterfield. Thank you miss your ladies and gentlemen of the Senate I can count and I've counted the number are in favor of this bill and I know that it will pass. But I would be remiss if I did not say my piece on this particular issue. This is an unabashed attack on transgender kids. Because they are the U. S. other. Doing people is there in this country cares a great deal of pain but the folks who built the state. Being located in black boys and little black girls from competing against little white boys and white girls out of fear that the other was some household physiologically different they got one. In our. Their white counterparts in the segregated. Football and basketball teams permeated the south for years. Being the man it was okay to ban little black boys and little black girls swimming in the city pulled. Because there would clog up the drains in their bodies would contaminate the water. Other mental was a little black girls couldn't try on clothing in the stores moms and dads use string to wrap around their feet to try to get shoes that were invariably yield it. Ill fitting in I have been on the indignity of the other label for great deal of my life I know how it feels. Also as a classroom teacher for some thirty years and I have talked any number of transgender children. Too often even adults thought it was okay to denigrate those children. One young man's case came rushing back to me when I saw this legislation. You like to be referred to is better and I respected my children's right to be called by the name with which they were most comfortable because parents know their kids up with some doozies of some nine. But was transgender. He had found him being himself apple right. Your order referred to him as a thing a thing it was so hard to hear any was in the eighth grade. Our girls are not red flowers will wilt from competition that the kids are committed suicide in any other group our children to. They have. Thank you thanks and they have the means and the note that this bill means a state of Arkansas use them as an urgent. Senator Rapert in favor and then we'll go to Senator Tucker. Thank you president first of all. I think all of us can have sympathy and empathy with anyone that is dealing with some situation that causes them distress or depression and I hate that I wanted to actually relate to you what a gentleman by the name of doctor me Q. who's a former psychiatrist in chief at Johns Hopkins hospital had to say about this very issue. Two quotes one is direct the policy makers and one is the end result of really what the situation is about he states from an article he wrote in the Wall Street journal yes policy makers and the media are doing no favors either to the public or the transgendered by treating their confusions as a ride in need of defending rather than as a mental disorder that deserves understanding treatment and prevention this intensely felt sense of being transgendered constitutes a mental disorder in two respects the first is that the idea of sex misalignment is simply mistaken it does not correspond with physical reality the second is that it can lead to Graham psychological outcomes he closes his article by State stating at the heart of the problem is confusion over the nature of the trans gendered. Six change this doctor says is biologically M. possible. People who undergo sex reassignment surgery do not change for men to women or vice versa rather they become feminized men or masculine lysed women claiming that this is Civil Rights Matt is a civil rights matter in encouraging surgical intervention is a reality to collaborate with and promote a mental disorder that's not my words. That's the former chief of the Johns Hopkins University Department. And it's important for this state in our policy makers and I applaud Senator Irvin and every single person that is spoken up on this is that we do a disservice to the people of our state and even this country when we support things that are not based in science just like this doctor said thank you Mr president. Recognized to speak against. He's allowed to speak unless someone else gets my attention Senator. Thank you governor I appreciate it colleagues I don't want to repeat points that have already been made I do want to make a couple of other points one is that I do believe this law if it's passed will be a legal you can make an argument about the equal protection clause but I think it's pretty clear under title nine that this this law will violate title nine and that's based on an opinion written by Neil Gorsuch last year in that opinion. They ruled that the Civil Rights Act the federal Civil Rights Act said that it is impossible to discriminate against someone based on their gender identity or their sexual orientation without discriminating against them on the basis of sex so that word sex and the Federal Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity the same language in the federal Civil Rights Act is used in title not it prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex so you can apply Neil Gorsuch appointed by president trump to the Supreme Court his same analysis to title mine which will say that it is impossible to discriminate against someone on the basis of their gender identity without discriminating on the basis of sex which is prohibited by title not so I do think will be on the losing side of another lawsuit if this bill passes the second point. and I appreciate the notion. You senator that this is about fairness and I I I I agree with that the Olympics past the policy in two thousand five for. To ensure fairness in competition with transgender athletes the NCAA did ten years ago and in fact the triple a right here in Arkansas past the policy in two thousand fourteen unanimously that the triple a will accept a change birth certificate which is allowed under state law. These are policies of inclusion that ensure fairness rather than a policy of exclusion which is what this is on the final two points that I will make quickly our first I think the No and I think it's important. For a I'm Amanda to say this I think the notion that young girls need our protection but not young boys is demeaning to women and I I I disagree with with that approach and then the last point and that this is just really echoes what Senators Elliott and leading in Chesterfield have said is that these kids. You know they're they're going through a very difficult time one in three attempts suicide as was said that kids are shown for all sorts of reasons some for race because of maybe a speech impediment or because of how much money their family has whatever the reason this kids are shot all the time but at this bill targets kids who we know are having a very hard time in high school and this will only make their lives harder it's going to put Arkansas on the wrong side of history one more time and really send a message on the transgender people are not welcome in this state I think that's the wrong approach for our state to take and I'll be voting against it for that reason and the request all the same thank you very much. Anyone else thank you for. Senator Ingram against. Thank you governor speaking behind Senator Tucker he he sort of takes everything that you're going to say and says it of better sports play such a outsize role in our society this is a great time of the year we get ready to have March madness and in baseball's get ready started and it just reiterates what it means to all of us of. And one of the things I think if you talk to educators and schools they know that a lot of times there are kids that are barely hanging on for whatever reason. But sports keep some in school we don't have to look very far back to taxes when taxes pass the no pass no play rule there they're dropout rates so for that was the only thing. There was hold in those kids in schools and they quickly change that. S. Senator Tucker said the NCAA is adopted that the rules regarding this. The NCAA as well as the Olympics and I would bet that there's a lot here that don't know that the triple a has a rule that deals with this. The most important thing we can do is keep kids engage engaged in school. I gotta say this wasn't on my radar I don't know about yours when this session starting. Why this became a crisis at this point that need to be dealt with yesterday or day before in Education Committee. Of their war. Not a student not a person that Act soul that was from the state of Arkansas an athlete. That came down to speak about this supposed injustice the only person that I saw speak was. A woman that was a weightlifter from Wisconsin that I think is probably above colleges. So what I'm asking is please consider what we're doing here on the surface I know. it It if you don't look below the surface as to how this affects our state. Then you're not looking into. We're not looking into the depths of the issue the problem. The don't let the headline dictate your vote here. Please resist the headline in and. Take care the most vulnerable kids that we have you know when we look back to high school. Back some of us like bill sample back to the dark ages you know this is a Class we saw all his class was a in Roman numerals when he graduated but think about how vulnerable we were when we were trying to of a great all poured we worries teenagers how we were trying to fit again is teenagers and think about the inter terminal that would be added if you were trying to identify your gender so I ask you please today don't pass this legislation protect our vulnerable. Your wish to speak in favor. Yes Silivri closed. Service because. Thank you I've I appreciate that Senator Elliot brought her basketball up so I'm gonna bring the soccer ball up. There's been a lot of talk about transgenders and that's appropriate but there's no talk and there's no headlines about girls there's been no talk about women. My brother you know tell me a story he said when he was in elementary school girls basketball three had to stay on the side of the court three have to stay on that side of the court and they had to play half court in the past the ball back to each other why because they didn't believe girls could run the whole distance of a basketball court. There's talk about girls. Women there's no headlines about women there's no headlines about why it's unfair. Two women and two girls as what's happening I don't see men's sports being torn to pieces I don't the men's athletic opportunities to be torn to pieces I see the attack on girls I see the attack on women. I don't think that's right. This is a common sense bill. We have scientific medical evidence for your H. four year weight for your height and yes for your sex. I would love to identify as a hundred and ten pound six foot four blind supermodel. I think Senator Dismang in his you know athletic prowess perhaps you'd like to identify as a six foot seven three hundred pound linemen for the you know Arkansas Razorbacks. With an opportunity to go and play for the NFL. But let's not talk about identity and what your feelings are. We have to have rules of eligibility rules of eligibility about where you live in the district at which division you play in as to which school you play an. There's rules. Our laws are based on rules so when we go down this path of talking about leaving people out. Rules do you know how many have reached out to me personally girls that are on this soccer ball that stunned the soccer ball do you know how many have reached out to me and saying thank you for standing up for me thank you for being my voice because I am tired of being bullied. To be silent. Girls and women are tired of being bullied to be silent. I guarantee you there's not gonna be a change to the NBA. To the NFL. Some her a person's feelings. Should not override another person's rights. And this bill is common sense it is appropriate it's the right thing to do for the girls and the women in this state I would appreciate a good vote. Hello. Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis hi. Dismaying. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. No. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Hello. Ingram. Service. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. T.. Tucker. Wallace. I wish to change their vote Senator Chesterfield is now. Senator Teague is hi anyone else over here. Anyone over here. About twenty eight seven nines the bill is passed transmit to the house Senator Teague. S. the three fifty five three fifty five by Senator Teague to allow lottery winners to remain confidential. Service members for the first time that what day we have a real bill a really high quality you're gonna be amazed at the amount of dollar I've given to this subject. so I think it was two years ago I I tried to do this and of the House members got involved and I just dropped it but I was taken again last month or month for last when the. the lady somewhere one billion dollars if you want a million dollars you would have to have guards on your grandkids and kids immediately so somebody didn't come Steelman and the. Take him all this bill simply gives you the right to have your name concealed for the first three years. legislators politicians They get six months. I'll answer any questions Richard good vote. The question centering or has questions. Not interested in questions any. Any object anyone would speak against. Senator Ingram is going to speak against the bill. The. Senator Ingram is recognized thank you governor will we get this lottery fixed where it's raising money at all time records and first thing we want to do is take wants to change Joyce Elliott senator Leahy was chairman of lottery I was chairman lottery the one thing that they impress upon you is marketing the marketing in order to continue to sell tickets you have to publicize winners and that is one of the key though that that's one of the key things on any lottery in this country you've been to. Any of the conferences they they talk about do not do not do put Senator Teague is trying to doing so I would ask you for the sake of the college students an R. lottery scholarship fund that we finally have gotten straightened out don't do this. Senator Ingram do you wish to question does look like you will take questions anybody wants to speak fiber Senator Garner will speak in favor. Thanks for this real quick I'm going to ask questions of forming of a a statement really but. It's a stop any answer happen anybody can sign on to this they won't to anybody can agree to put on social media you do anything you want to I got a couple million dollars I will be all over the place I think people will do that the only thing is not going to do is forced to do it if they want to remain confidential I imagine it's a very small minority but if they do want to do that it to assess permit for I for three years not happening so all these ads I think will stop everything like that this can continue just like it is not gonna be any problem I think this is a smart bill for those very near a few people who want to bring confidential other questions Senator Johnson I'm sure we'll. Thank you Mr president. Senator garner would use C. thing in this bill that would stop the lottery from having a picture with you know this massacre all. Clark from Ferndale just want some money. For you to remember right of was a winner and then add your face blurred out with with this. Why we have to violate someone's privacy just because they can add to our education system and got look at that just don't see that would your I agree with that I mean it's amazing because I think they run radio ads and we put your face on there so I think you governor get that figured out thank you thank you your Speaker against. Four Senator you ready close. He's already closed secretary on. Centering on the object on the vote. Please role put him as the No. 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 so once. Thank you senator flowers flowers known center Chesterfield Senator Elliot numb. Got Senator Tucker now yeah anybody else. Senate is mine no anybody else. Senator Rapert. Senator Hendren. Senator Leding no anybody else. Still. At. I don't know what. Okay. Senator Flippo is not voting in senator samples yes. Yeah. I don't know. Yes. Gross. Cast the ballot twenty six days nine days. The bill is passed transmit to the House Senate bills to move on to the second. Several bottom of the first page Flippo the three Flippo Bills. Before we do that Senator Hickey said someone has left the phone in his office. And you made some. Get it is it yours. We will pass over Flippo for now. We will go to you senator Wallace. Senate bill four eleven by Senator Wallace. Concerning the better state veterans cemetery system into clarifies the allowable fee and procedure for interment disinterment in the state veteran's cemetery System Senator Wallace. Thank you Mr president. Members we all know we have a beautiful state cemeteries for our veterans. We have a problem with for their budget is being drained. And what are Arkansas BA would like for us to do is to support a twofold proposal one is a fee increase for veterans veterans dependents there intern at the Arkansas state university. Currently that said that three hundred dollars. And they like to raise it to a seven eight hundred seven dollars. We also have some disinterment. We don't charge anything for those and then also like to reset to. From zero to a hundred seven dollars and they're just doing this to keep from losing money. And with that I'll stand by for questions any questions anyone wish to speak against a or speak for Senator rated close. Is closed any objection one vote Senator Wallace is bill please rolled. 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 their vote. Casts up the ballot thirty five Yeas zero nation the bill is past present to the House senator Beckham of Columbia County MacNeille of the. Specific symbol for fifteen by Senator Beckham to amend the law concerning relocation assistance Hyson I'm. Senate. The agency bill from are not. What it's doing is just referencing in federal code what they're already referenced and they're they're just putting the code section and I look at code up has changed since nineteen eighty seven. And this standard practice with are doing just make it easier to find. A question. When we speak against for. Senate closed search close direction with vote leave or what. 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 of about thirty five Yeas your nation the bill is passed. Transmitted to the house Senator Dismang. Senate bill four eighteen by Senator Dismang to amend the authority of the state parks recreation and travel commission related things for services and authorize the State Parks Division to utilize dynamic pricing for advance services and I were not accommodations so does everyone think governor in in first off I played inside linebacker not it's settled for a deed to offer so. I don't know why she it would line line that came to mind I know that you see in but so Senate bill fourteen in Paris Arkansas state parks to utilize dynamic pricing a fervent Services and overnight accommodations right now those those prices those prices are set a year in advance and there's only on accommodations that they have the the ability to move that is by twenty percent this would allow them fluctuate prices up or down from fifty percent to account for occupancy location demand of visitation rates the season the year and other types of impacting factors the goal really here is to get our parks as full as possible as much as possible year round hopefully having a benefit on those industries as cottage community industries that well you know operate in benefit from having attendance at state parks in also will allow us to you know we don't want the state of Arkansas directly competing by being the low price leader with private industries in here one example would be a boat rentals the other boat rentals by Arkansas parks they do not have the ability to adjust prices and so on peak weekends a. You know a private or a private entity it is looking to make hi res were actually holding them down are artificially because of us competing with that industry so would allow them to just take into account market conditions and also hopefully drive up attendance and participation our state parks on year round basis we haven't take any questions any questions. Senator Solomon. Thank you president. so raising prices is the way to fill a place as a. It actually is without lesson to go fifty percent either direction I think the emphasis for them is going to be going down because we have please times during the year that are the accommodations or you know barely in it that's not to say the times you know especially the holidays they won't raise rates some degree but it's also just about what they would do that again because there's a competition issue that I don't think we want to have a clay. Any other questions Senator Clark anyone wish to speak against for centers closed centers close The objection when 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 their vote Senator Solomon is no two hours. Senator flowers is no thank you Senator flowers Senator flowers notices so that is not anybody else. Senator Trent Garner is no. Anybody else. Cast the ballot thirty two eighty three days the bill is passed transmit to the House real quickly Senator Flippo had three bills and we're going to pass over all three of those and move them to the calendar tomorrow Senate senator. His. Senate bill four nineteen by Senator Dismang to mend the laws concerning the collection deposit in use of gas fees that estimate certain gases is general revenue and declare an emergency Senate is one I thank you. Just to one person provision that prior bill as I should have said this all that's going to come back for us as they promulgate rules and so we're going to be able to see it again and make sure that we kind of give our stamp on what that process can look like right now what's in place for the twenty percent upper down the have is very antiquated and needs to be reworked again so it's going to come back at us for approval at some point the future thank you for that all right and Senate bill four nineteen this actually just transfers one point eight million so what the estimated dollar impact would be and it's the first four and one half mills of each gas assessment levied for the fiscal year ending in twenty twenty three. The question is. You were speaking against or for service closing your Jackson one vote. 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. Anyone wishing to change their vote. Cast about thirty five Yeas you're nice bill is passed the Emergency Clause is adopted transmitted House senator mark Johnson affirmed Senate bill four fifty four by Senator Johnson to amend the law concerning municipal sewer systems. John. Thank you Mr president of. This bill is real simple it raises the threshold above which a municipal sewer committee must put contracts out to bid their procurement it's currently at twenty thousand it will raise it to the same figure that's arranged for other municipal entities which is to find and code section twenty two dash nine dash two oh three and currently that figure is at thirty five thousand so this is to make it consistent for other municipal entity to this man is plan for the the sewer or as we say in Little Rock the water reclamation authority to have the same procurement rules that you would have for the others in the city I'm glad to try to answer any questions any questions Senator Johnson and what wish to speak against for centers closed closed thank you for checking for. Droll 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 their vote. Cast a ballot thirty five Yeas zero nine. Bill as passed transmit to the House Senator Stubblefield Senate bill four fifty six by Senator Stubblefield to amend the law concerning competitive bidding and purchasing procedures for counties and municipalities so so thank you Mr president. This bill simply does it really does two main things it raises threshold for competitive bidding from twenty to thirty five thousand it also beginning January first two thousand twenty five in each January the first after that it subsequent five year intervals will allow the amount to be adjusted to reflect the percentage of increase in the consumer price index so that will we will have to visit this again should this pass. The last time this was the last time this was raised was in two thousand seven and I pulled up some figures two thousand seventy two thousand seven three quarter ton pickup to twenty three thousand today that same pick up this thirty five thousand. Concrete culvert two thousand seven. Of this the CPI consumer price index number was one nineteen today it's one ninety five in other words thirty seven percent increase gravel to twenty five today's three seventy three thirty six percent increase in the inflation adjusted percentage one county judge told me I talked to the other day he said he tried to buy water both fuel and they would not he could not book it because fuel prices were changing so quickly that they wouldn't sell it to them let aligned to book it in the future so. Other words saying one up so much that the twenty thousand it was set back in two thousand seven is fourteen years ago really need to be adjusted as other states have done. Be glad take any questions any questions here we're speak against four centers closed. Without objection 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 you know was injured vote. Cast a ballot. She was Senator Breanne Davis was indicating present my bad. Cast a ballot thirty three ACT one night one present the bill is passed transmitted on Senator Hammer moved on to the house bill ten oh eight hours into Wardlaw to amend the law concerning additional allocations for certain underfunded plans of the plate of the policemen's pension and relief fund and fireman's relief and she's Fund. Sorry thank you Mr president this bill will provide additional monies to severely under funded less than fifty percent funded volunteer local fire plants that have assigned administration of their local planned to Lotfi about sixty current local plans would be eligible for this funding which is estimated to be roughly a hundred thirteen thousand total monies would be divided among local plans based on their underfunded condition the source funding comes from the premium tax but there is no increase in it as reason these particular local plans were defied for this funding is our location that is our city or department now remits the full actuary determined employer contribution each month Salafi as a standalone local plan state law now required for you to remit to eighty six ADC mostly small local plans have very limited ability to raise additional funding for their local plans for this added source revenue from this bill will be very helpful to them and be glad to answer any questions. Are there any questions. Three nine speak for against the bill. The number you call center close role if you thank you very object rolling Love three nine ma'am 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 you centers desire to change their vote. Seeing none madam secretary please cast up the ballot. With. Thirty five yeah eight zero nine a your bill houses let's move on to I guess Trent return to the House. Senator Davis. One thirty seven by representative all. To prohibit the performance of a public dissemination of an unconscious or an exercise patient without the prior consent of the patient Senator Davis you are recognized to explain your bill thank you Mr president this bill is I'm a pretty simple bill it just prohibits pelvic examinations on patients who are unconscious so and it just as a health care professional cannot perform a public examination unless they obtain written consent and there's a court order and needing it for collection of evidence and the performance of the examination is within the scope of what's being done and then of course if there's a medical emergency and this also applies to students or trainees in a clinical setting so this has actually been happening in Arkansas and and the nets to patients before you know when they're put to sleep they'll wake AT and maybe with freezing or soreness they've had a public examination done on them that they did not know was part of the procedure what was gonna happen to them and there are specific instances that other members of had constituents share with them so this bill just says that cannot happen and twenty others twenty five other states that have passed similar legislation and there's no opposition to this bill I will take any questions are there any questions for Senator Davis. You no questions would anybody like to speak for against this bill. Saying that are you closing your bill please thank you Davis in the cage is closed for the bill are there any objections to rolling the vote. C. nine 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 during the senator's desire to change their vote. Seeing none Madam Secretary cast a ballot. With thirty five Yeas zero nee house bill eleven thirty seven this past and let's move on the house bill twelve oh five senator Wallace. Well five by representation senator Wallace to amend the law concerning the reemployment of certain retired members of the Arkansas local police and fire retirement system. The House. Senator Wallace you're recognized for playing your bill thank you Mr president members last session we passed a bill that restricted or a law enforcement officer should be able to come back to their old departments we have found out since it that has as herders in is restricted number of also so we can have coming back all this bill does. Is if the officer that has **** was to come back to his department. He'd come back in at. Entry level range. Or if you cause back in at the chief of police you can be re hard as the chief of police so it's one or the other the most impossible comeback an entry level so allows us to continue to have certified police officers going back in for our law enforcement agencies. And with that I'm close by posted by questions rather are there any questions for senator Wallace. Seeing no questions we may like to speak for against the bill. Seeing none are you close for your bill senator Wallace indicates he's close first bill but anybody object to rolling a vote. Seeing none 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. During the senator's desire to change their vote. Seeing none. With thirty five Yeas zero nays house bill twelve oh five has passed please send back to the house returned to the house I think Senator Irvin. Twelve twenty six for representative Crawford and Senator Irvin to modify the cemetery Act for perpetually maintain cemeteries Intermin the insolvent cemetery grant fund act. Senator Rapert you're recognized to explain your bill thank you members of representative Cindy Crawford did a really great job working with the Arkansas insurance department on this piece of legislation and I just wanna say there's so many divisions within our state agencies that sometimes get overlooks for the hard work in the good work that they do and so she works with the Arkansas Insurance Department Mr Akers and he was in charge of and this division that deals with our cemeteries are funeral directors and embalmers and except for a so what this bill does is allows for those perpetually maintain separate cemeteries to be able to do a one time withdrawal every decade from their permanent mates and maintenance fund in order to repair drainage issues mausoleum repairs and road issues as well as purchase of durable equipment so that they can open and close grace right now all they're only allowed to use the interests that they're earning for those types of things and their interest is not enough revenue in order for them to fix our problems and to do their work so this is narrowly focused it has to be approved by the board and which is in section four and at the state board of embalmers funeral directors cemeteries and burial services so yeah there's a lot of constituents that came to represent of Crawford who were concerned about and the the cemeteries and the maintenance issues that they were incurring so she sought out as a solution to the problem and this is a good piece of legislation I think she brought forth on behalf of her constituents any questions. You always speak against for for. Close. Any objection one vote. Please hold up. 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 change about. About thirty five Yeas zero nice bill is passed return to the House Senator Pitsch. House bill twelve thirty eight I represent all. The representative Lowery. To an active state insurance departments Journal ominous. Page thank you Mr president colleagues this is the general omnibus bill from the insurance Arkansas insurance department a ID as in the typical past process is it pretty much contains changes throughout the codification of how they exist it is passed unanimous ninety one yeas their own days it's passed out of both members in order to pay respect to the process I can read each of the twenty four sections to you but it's been reviewed and and discussed at great length and for that I guess I'd be open for any questions any questions for the senator. Senate are recognized for a question thank you for the on page eleven within the protections against a saucy can you explain a little bit more cut it out I don't understand it also. Cuts on section I don't know what the impact of that is. Section twenty to the amendment seeks to repeal or repeal skews me Arkansas Code that you referenced H. M. O.'s for brought under the state guarantee fund in twenty nineteen so no longer is this section needed to spend time and resources developing a plan for insolvency. Any other questions. Your question regarding. And when we speak against for. Shares closed. Any objection when the vote is robot. 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. Cast a ballot thirty five Yeas zero nays bills passed turn to the House center page second three has four twelve forty one per cent flowering Senator page to amend the definition of climate agency is used in the statute concerning the collection of delinquent taxes. Sir but thank you Mr president colleagues there are three bills that kind of fall along the lines of a general omnibus bill there changes to insurance statute in code this will be the first one the next one is second we amended the third one you'll hear it tomorrow house bill twelve forty one is known as the state tax intercept bill the state tax intercept bill seeks to add the Arkansas insurance department and the governmental bonding board to the statutory definition of claim and agencies. Use me the list in the statute exclusive and after July of two thousand three no agency was to be added to this list unless it had an outstanding debt of two hundred thousand A. I. D. financials clearly show that they qualify for that there's a definition of death there's also a definition of debtor and the reason for this is that the insurance department has monies owed to it for various reasons including fines penalties restitution for wrongdoing judgments an overdue fees this legislation would provide a tool to obtain both entities individuals who meet the definition of debtor without an open question any questions or wish to. We speak again for for. In center close attention on the vote is over. 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. The cast of the ballot thirty five Yeas zero nice bill is passed return the bill to the house Senator Pitsch three three house bill twelve forty two by representative Lowery center Pitsch require certain long term care insurers to file market a conduct annual statements senator. Thank you Mr president Senate bill twelve forty two is called the long term care insurers porting requirements we have found ourselves different than the other forty nine states in America all states require insurers reporting fifty thousand dollars or more in granule annual gross premiums within certain lines of business the following market conduct annual statement known as an M. Cass however because long term care insurance is crucially important to all of our population all states but Arkansas have eliminated this premium threshold of fifty thousand dollars requiring this M. cast to be reported Arkansas is the only state that does not require long term insurers to report this and this bill will fix that. Open for any questions create a good vote any questions. More speak against for four cents closed injection on the boat these rules. 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 injured vote. Well. Thirty five yeah zero nice bill is passed turn the bill to the house. Passing over the next one going down Senator Hammer. Thirteen forty seven by representative Warren concerning the redetermination of benefits under the Arkansas public employees retirement system. Thank you Mr president house bill thirteen forty seven would change the code for future members of a person's bill would change it to the lower three percent or CPI versus current three percent this change would apply the new hires only this changes similar to the changes enacted by Asher's last year and will help strengthen the system it came out a public retirement with no opposition a question. Thank you again for Senators closed the objection rowing a boat please rolled over. 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 nine is the bill is passed return to the House senator Hammer two two. House bill thirteen forty eight members present to warn concerning member contributions under the Arkansas public employees retirement system. Thank you Mr president house bill thirteen forty eight would gradually increase apers member contribution rate it would increase rate from five percent to seven percent over a period of eight years a point two five percent increments this change will apply to all active contributing contributor members and future hires changes similar to the changes enacted by both A. T. R. S. and Asher's and this will definitely help strengthen the a person system be glad to answer questions question. Or speak against for search close any objection one vote. Roll. Actor. 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 tangible. Cast a ballot thirty five year is your nice bills passed return to the House senator Bledsoe this bill requires twenty four X. thirteen fifty three by representative talking Senator Bledsoe to amend the prohibitions of advertising uses certain symbols regarding medical marijuana. Thank you Mr president ladies and gentlemen of the Senate this is an amendment to a bill that we passed last session and it just says these prohibitions on advertising and uses a certain symbols regarding medical marijuana is amended to add an additional subdivision that reads as following a cultivation facility or dispensary or both shall not use any of the following images within an advertisement including without limitation a cross of any color of a caduceus or any other symbol that is commonly associated with the practice of medicine or the practice of pharmacy and I'd be glad to answer any questions any questions for the senator. Anyone would speak again for for. Centers close close any objection rolling 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 know was injured vote. Lauer's NO Senator flowers no anyone else. Cast up the ballot thirty forty eight one nine the bill is passed return the bill to the house of last bill on the calendar Senator Sturch last but not least. Fourteen seventy one by representative Hillman to amend the abandoned call for pesticide disposal and to clarify the responsibilities in the department of agriculture in the State Plant Board Intermin the amount of the abandoned press pesticide disposal state research. Senator Sturch. House bill four Senator Sturch thank you Mr president colleagues said the bill before you today house bill fourteen seventy one by representative Hillman just an update to the current code on this practice that we have we we charge the producer of a pesticide a hundred dollar registration fee to distribute that within state of Arkansas actually goes into a fund to dispose of it later when a farmer may have unused pesticides they can dispose of it safely this hasn't been changed in about twenty years so the first part of the bill you see just gives them the latitude to go up on that see as far as within a hundred dollars right now it's fifty and then the second part just clarifies who's actually running the program and taking care of the unused pesticides that's that's gonna be the department of agriculture so I appreciate a good vote. Any questions for the senator no more speak against the Ford center of walkway indicating that he's close any objection to roll in 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 Senator Davis is no Senator Davis is no. Senator hill is now. Senator Chesterfield president Senator Dismang is now. Senator Gilmore. As president. Said service is now. Anybody else over here. Anybody over here. Senator Hester is no. Anybody else Senator Stubblefield as no. Anyone else. The. The Hammer is loses not. Senate bill Morneau. Centerville's by cat. Sullivan is now. Cast a ballot. Twenty five Yeas. Nine days one present. The bill is passed return to the House. There any items at the desk now going down we're going to read a few items cross this Madam Secretary on that when you Committee on arrival in on engrossed bills to whom was referred house bill twelve thirty nine by representative Lowery compare the engrossed copy with the original and find same correctly engrossed. Senate bill five twenty by Senator Hester to create the fair compensation act Senate bill five twenty public health center five twenty one by Senator Davis to mandate the Arkansas Medicaid program. Continuous glucose monitor for the for individual with that be dissent bill five twenty one. Health center five twenty two by Senator Garner to reduce all individual income tax rates to zero percent Senate bill five twenty two. Senate twenty three by Senator Caldwell to authorize the Arkansas state game and fish commission to promulgate rules allowing a one time fee adjustment to hunting and fishing license residents based on certain criteria and three hours of reporting by the commission said bill five twenty three. Go to. Did you get twenty. You get twenty people killed. Okay. Right. NO. This. Senate bill one o'clock tomorrow. So.