House Convenes

And by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by Dr rex mourn retired pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church Little Rock remained standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's pray. Bother today we come with. Thanksgiving and gratitude for another day that we can live and serve. We thank you lord in this year that you've granted us health enough. Desire enough ability enough together in this beautiful capital of our state. Were mindful today of those who help keep things going with thank you for the House staff behind me that the service throughout the year we thank you for the volunteers throughout this building. For those who keep the place securing those who keep the clean. For the citizens across our state that these women and men to they represent and serve and and try to make life better we thank you for lord thank you for. Frenship thank you for the ability to stop and just think how blessed and privileged we are to have the opportunity to serve I thank you for the privilege of praying for these people day by day and we ask lord that you just be with us today give us an awareness both of the small things in the large things and a heart of gratitude that we can be a part of the work taking place in this day our time upon this earth in Jesus name amen. Embers please indicate your presence. By pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With ninety nine members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. McCollum for what purpose. Request leave for represent Pilkington is look ready for represent Pilkington. So noted. Represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal without objection so ordered are there any Reports from select committees read the reports Mr Clark. This Speaker we're Committee on joint budget to whom was referred house bill ten eighty four beg leave to report that we've had the same under consideration in here they're turning the same a committee recommendation that do pass respectfully submitted Lane Jean chair. The report some standing committees read reports Mr Clark. The Speaker we are Committee on Education to whom was referred house bill eleven eighty six beg leave to report that we had the same under consideration here they're trying to the same recommendation that you pass exactly Senator Bruce Cozart chair Mister Speaker we're. Committee we Committee on Education whom was referred house bill fourteen thirty three fourteen thirty two fourteen ninety six Senate bill two is expected to report that we have the same consideration I'm here they're trying to say we're going to assume that a do pass perfectly submitted Brian S. Evans vice chair. Mr Speaker we are Committee on Public Transportation to whom was referred house bill twelve thirty five big return for that we've had the same to consideration here if the term of the statement recommendation that a do pass or simply submitted Mike Holcomb chair. Any unfinished business in the Executive communications read the letter from the government Clark. March first twenty twenty one to the Speaker of the house do Mr Speaker this is to inform you that on March first twenty twenty one argued and approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly possible eleven ninety seven this act to eighteen sincere sincerely is a hundred and. Represent Rameau's we place Senate bill two eighty three back on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection re Amendment number one Mr Clark. I remember one that Senate Bill two eighty three. Represent rye you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you. Right you're recognized. Okay Sir the folks this is just an amendment to a bill that we voted on earlier is issue this session it's a dealing with music appreciation day and we won't always a at our earliest because there's a lot of folks statewide that we need to honor and this list wanted to include a Jimmy driftwood which is from around Mountain View James Edward brown also known as you may bring on yeah I didn't know this until we started but you know everyone specially for my Page colder no see um and brown and the I didn't know he was from Arkansas and there's a James Colin. Ellis Civeo Davis there's a lot about a black musicians here in this list of Louis Jordan that played with Count Basie. and and this points right here shall you bring Denise Jones late. Kapple capelin NO Jerry Jones heather Payne. These folks are all members of point of grace if you all heard of that group one ratio so we just need honor them today and now the Speaker appreciation and I appreciate a good vote. Receive rise explain the amendment would you would like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent rise close for the amendment the question before the House the adoption. Member number one to House to sit Senate bill two sixty three all in favor say aye. Any opposed the amendments adopted. Mr Clark please read House resolution ten twelve. House resolution ten twelve or Representative Hodges to recognize the need to designate the museum located on the farm former Eaker Air Force base the national Cold War center of cenvat as you're recognized explain resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker and colleagues House resolution ten twelve is to recognize the need to designate the museum located on the former acre Air Force base the national Cold War museum and I appreciate the aging children youth military affairs committee for a do pass on yesterday in being so kind to me The if you'd told me for a moment to read a little bit about it. The national call for center a project in in this early stage of development have has as its mission to provide an immersive and influential experience in informing interpreting and honoring the legacy of the Cold War. It will encompass the entire nuclear triad provided a comprehensive exposed exposition of the of the significant historical era of the Cold War. Other airspace in military museums around the nation include Cold War stories but no one location is solely dedicated to the entire story of the American military efforts. Any cost of about eight trillion dollars that that protected the nation and the world from the nuclear comp conflict the Cold War the eve eve the worthy of its own official museum for interpretation and learning. Thus the national Cold War Senate will educate and expand knowledge about a critical and comprehensive time in American history and one with far reaching consequences and long term impact even at the twenty first century progresses. The location of the national Cold War center in itself. an artifact of Cold War history to formal the former Blytheville Air Force base served as the headquarters for the Strategic Air Command from nineteen forty five to nineteen ninety two. Throughout the entirety of the Cold War. Newly classified documents confirm that doing this curious time global airforce base in Arkansas with among the highest priority targets identified by the Soviet Union. At one of the nation's ready alert site forces from bobble Air Force base were on the frontline of the American war to contain Russian nuclear threats the center will feature unique authenticity authenticity including the actual alert compound used used by the command nuclear storage unit original runaways and Representative aircraft as you as used by the United States airforce they give you look at history about it the former acre Air Force base is actually in Mississippi County in my district and we all know that that that when we have recreational type facilities like this it not only draws people to our state but if the it puts money in our coffers so we're excited about this project and and all at Review and what what Senate action committee about about a time line. I did find find out the time on it It had on yesterday but you're looking at have it up and going hopeful about twenty twenty five but they are already doing the fun rave in all those things right now and placed it to start the project we should have a B. fifty two installed and next year and so so things on on on on on the way of a a getting started when the early phase right now so what I appreciate a do pass for this resolution thank you. Percent Hodges explained resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Representative Hodges close for the resolution the question before the House is the passage of house resolution ten twelve all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The resolution passes. Morning hour is amended. Members are doctor the day is Dr Jean Shelby of hot springs and our nurses days miss Sheri Bernard. Also failed to mention Dr Shelby is also a former member of the house of representatives. Represent under would recommends we concurrence Senate Amendment number one to House Bill Levin eighty three Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment number one. Senate Amendment number one to House eleven eighty three. Person under what you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker calling this is a bill that we passed by the house earlier this session they just allow the recorder's office to accept electronic payments the Senate may two small changes they changed the words assisted the word individuals for the work persons and then they also Previously a cross reference the code the the bill cross referenced another code section and that section cross referenced a bunch of other code sections that had the lean amounts and so what they did was they just cut out the middle man and they went straight to the code sections that actually had the winning numbers so with that I'd have to take any questions. Thing I appreciate about thanks for Representative Underwood has six explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent under what is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence and Senate Amendment number one to House Bill Levin eighty three prepare the machines to Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety three eight zero nine zero present the Amendment number one is concurred in. Clark please read House Bill. Ten sixty one. House within sixty one by Representative may very to create the new patient let alone act concerning visitation rights of patients and to declare an emergency represent Mayberry you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members. We are nine days shy of the one year anniversary of the very first case of Covin in Arkansas. Kovin nineteen has changed the way we do so many things and is really shown as first hand not just what this disease can do but what isolation can do as loved ones were denied access to visit with patients and hospitals physicians offices long term care facilities and even in hospice H. B. ten sixty one seeks to assure that no patient is left alone we believe that this strikes a balance between caution. And common sense compassionate care. We've worked with DHS and with the health department to make sure that this bill still fits within federal guidelines we've reached out to other organizations with vested interest in this bill such as the hospital association and health care association and disability rights Arkansas as well as many other organizations I know of no opposition to this bill and I think all those who helped work on this bill everyone was very cooperative and really wanted to make this work. As you know the governor on Friday lifted directives and turn them into guidelines and so I've had discussions with all interested parties as early as eight thirty this morning to see how that affects this bill and to make sure that we're not doing anything that would make things more restrictive with this bill and everyone agrees that were still on go with this is what needs to be done that this bill sets the minimums so that we don't go back to the way that it was before. And to make sure that if we have some other increasing code nineteen or some other disease X. Y. Z. and twenty twenty five that we don't see the isolation that we saw this past year. I want to point out so that you can feel secure with this on Page ten line twenty six it says the requirements under this subchapter subchapter shall be established as a minimum for visitation and a healthcare facility but does not limit visitation at a healthcare facility to only visitation outlined in this subchapter. Visitation is already opening up around the state in nursing homes especially in assisted living facility is this weekend as a matter of fact I've been told that one of the assisted living facilities that they actually had the opportunity some of the residents to leave and to go to church on Sunday. That's all really good news and we will continue to see more of that. I wish that we had had the opportunity to have these discussions much earlier in the pandemic to set these minimum standards much earlier. That is a discussion for another day but I'm glad to know that if we passed this we won't go back to the way it was I'd be happy to answer any questions there's a lot in this bill I'm sorry I did want to point out one other thing that sometimes gets overlooked in the bill because there's a whole bunch in there but this also allows clergy to visit which I think is a really important part of this bill because they too have been left out of visiting loved ones their their own members of their church and we wanna make sure that they're included as well any questions. Seeing none. I appreciate a good vote. Mayberrys explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill represent Ladyman you're recognized speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. A represented Mayberry I want to thank you for this bill. Well. Any committee are there was a lot of discussion she actually pulled the bill then we had an hour and a half to discussion in the committee she pulled it down when I worked with people for about two weeks before she brought it back in which he brought it back there was very little discussion so there was a lot of work behind the scenes on this she worked very hard on this and it's a very good bill it's not perfect bill but we very seldom have a perfect bill but the people in the hospital and in long term care facilities you know they needed visitors we needed to figure out a way to do this and and this is one way that in the future if this happens again we'll be able to do that and one reason I came up here I got a question about the human development centers in this bill and I wanted to say and let me just tell you. My son was in human development center in in the. I don't know when it was around may middle of may maybe my wife and I want to pick him up. Not go visit we couldn't visit. so we want to take him out. And they allowed us to do that. But we had to pick him up on the sidewalk with his furniture with nobody else there but him that was the only way that we could do that. Thank god we could do it but that just tells you that the human development centers need something like this as well so it's great bill on a procedural and ask for good but. Assemblyman's spoken for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Mayberry is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten sixty one per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety one U. A. zero nine a and for present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill thirteen twenty six. Of the thirteen twenty six a Representative warned to make technical corrections to total twenty four of the Arkansas code concerning the Arkansas teacher retirement system and to declare an emergency. Pers on house bill ten sixty one the bill and the emergency clause for past represent warned you're recognized to explain house bill thirteen twenty six. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is Arkan told Arkansas teacher retirements bill and is mostly a technical corrections bill that they've been compiling since our last general session it streamlines teacher retirement laws eliminates obsolete language and codifies existing practices in the board's intent this bill has no effect on the benefits or operations of teacher retirement there's minimal cost to the system big lead answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote. Percent worn is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Warren is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen twenty six per machine Mr Clark. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety six yeas one nine zero present the bill emergency clause or passed Mr Clark please read house bill thirteen fifty two. As for thirty fifty of a Representative warned concerning the collection of debts in overpayments by the Arkansas public employees retirement system to mend the definition of claim agency and that and to declare an emergency. Represent warrant you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker house bill thirteen fifty two would allow a person to make claims against state tax refund in cases where it is necessary to recoup an over payment and over payment is a payment to a member in excess of what is allowed by law overpayments Brinkley occur when the death of a retiree is not reported to the system in a timely manner less frequently an overpayment is result of an error by the agency. This has been an issue. With legislative audit this would greatly help in fixing that so I would appreciate a good vote. Percent worn as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent worn is closed for the bill the question before the House is a passed house bill thirteen fifty two prepared machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by voted ninety sixty eight zero nine eight one present the bill emergency clause passed Mr Clark please re house bill thirteen fifty. Houseful thirteen fifty Representative warned concerning the eligibility of a member to participate in the Arkansas state police officers to to deferred retirement option plan and to declare emergency represent warn you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker house bill thirteen fifty would clean up the law related to tear to draw to align with the administrative practices of the agency the agency interpretation of the current law allows tier two members to use reciprocal service to enter the tear to drop this bill cleans up the language of the existing statute to eliminate confusion and make this clear in the law this was a big issue when we took the retirement systems across the state everywhere we went we met with state troopers in the tier two guys were constantly saying look we entered into these jobs thinking that we got to count a reciprocal service toward being able to enter drop and that was not the case after they got their. This is basically later they found out it papers that they had that in there minutes they started doing it this puts it into law so I would appreciate a good vote. Represent warns explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Warren is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen fifty prepare the machine Mr Clark. As everyone voted you voting on the bill in the emergency clause has everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark mother ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed Mr Clark please read house bill fifteen forty four. Also fifteen forty four by Representative under would to affirm the right of municipality to declare the municipality and pro life city. Rebsamen would you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members in twenty nineteen Springdale city in my district to clear themselves Arkansas's first pro life city and since that time several cities and public officials have wanted to take similar actions but it had hesitation about appropriate way to do that. Now The Arkansas has the distinguished title is America's most pro life city we have the opportunity to provide support and guidance for cities to declare themselves pro life as well if they choose to do so so quickly just three things that this bill does have the title states this bill firms the city's ability to declare themselves as a pro life city. By resolution two it provides a framework for that city's resolution which was vetted by like a constitutional attorney who drafted amendment sixty eight to Arkansas constitution and finally it provides ways in which the the city may promote their pro life status. I want to mention a couple things are a few things that the bill does not do. Bills permissive so it does not require any city to make this designation. If the city chooses to pursue this resolution does not require them to rigidly stick to the same language as that it provides a general guide so they can have flexibility on the resolution. And the bill the bill also does not authorize any restrictions on abortion. Cities have made similar doesn't it is not designations themselves for example that capital it is in stock are the Waterman capital watermelon capital is and hope. But while the cities have the ability to do this many in city government have become unnecessarily easy on easy when it comes the issue of protecting life and so this bill simply firms their ability to pass a resolution and to allow the city to do so on a more firm legal standing I appreciate a good vote thank you. Representative under what is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent of under what is closed for the bill the question before the House is a pastor house bill fifteen forty four prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy six CA sixteen nays and one present the bill is passed. A pass over house bill fourteen sixty three Mr Clark please read Senate bill twenty. Senate bill twenty by Representative Tosh to me the law concerning vacancy suspension and removal procedures for county elective county quorum court district and township office officers. Representantes you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker college this bill here just set forth provisions for the quorum court to appoint a replacement when the county elected official has been suspended from office by a court for stealing funds wall serving in that office and this is kind of a sister bill as you for the one that I ran about four five weeks ago when I was here based on the issues describe to you there in about the. You know the problems we had in Craighead county with the Clerk there and so this is something else we realize that we need to put into law to make sure that if we have someone that is doing that and they refused to leave office that we can we can use the quorum court can just appoint someone so I will be glad take any questions at this time. Seeing none thank you and I appreciate a good vote. Represented Tosh is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representantes is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill twenty prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one sixty nine. Senate bill one sixty nine Representative for a concerning outdoor sales non alcoholic beverages by minors. Percent rate you're recognized explained bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I this calling the Senate bill one sixty nine also known as the lemonade stand bill this bill would allow children to sell non alcoholic beverages outdoors on occasion without a license fee or permit. Why. Because a lemonade stand is an iconic American tradition. It is a right of passage for many children that is is that is as American as baseball or apple pie. It encourages kids to dip their toes into the world of business allows them to learn the value of hard work and promotes youth entrepreneurship. But around the country we've seen a wave of instances where local governments believe it or not are cracking down on these pint sized entrepreneurs. If you don't believe me I would encourage you when you have a moment to Google the phrase government crackdown on lemonade stands you will be met with a bevy of stories more than I'm sure you have time to read in one sitting. Because in state after state after state children are being told that they must have a business license peddler's permit or liability insurance simply to operate a lemonade stand. Thankfully I'm not aware of any instances that we run into with this problem here in Arkansas I'll chalk that up to us having more common sense than a lot of places but from California to New York Oregon to Colorado even states like Georgia and Iowa we've seen high profile instances of just the type of behavior I'm describing. In fact it's become so common and in some areas that the lemonade company country time has set up a legal defense fund to pay the fines of children who've been fine for operating a lemonade stand without a permit. Just last week I heard a story from NPR from the about a group of children in Bethesda Maryland they were caught operating a lemonade stand without a permit and the county inspector wrote a five hundred dollar fine to the grandparents of one of the children. I don't know about you but that just tells me that common sense may not be quite so common anymore so that's why I'm bringing this bill and would encourage a good vote thank you. Ladyman for what purpose question. You're recognized Representative is there a minimum age that they can participate in this activity. There's none although from the stories I've read there was actually an instance in Colorado where a child as young as four and eliminate stand that was shut down by the local city so evidently the use entrepreneurism get started pretty early. Thank you colleagues. Represent raise explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent ray is closed for the bill the question before the House is past of Senate bill one sixty nine per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety four U. A. zero nine zero present. The bill is passed represent makes for purpose. Motion place you're recognized after the announcement trading with the bills transferring the bill's place in the calendars on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee report I move that we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. That's a proper motion is not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed motion carries any announcements. Absent Lowery for purpose announcement you're recognized House insurance and commerce will meet at nine thirty in conference room C. tomorrow morning represent Ladyman for what purpose announcement you're recognized a public health will meet at two o'clock in maxi represents Smith for what purpose announcement recognized House judiciary meets and big mac a at two o'clock present Fortner for purpose that's what you're recognized revenue tax will meet at two o'clock in room one fifty one represent wing for what purpose announcement you're recognized House Management will meet tomorrow at twelve thirty in the fourth floor conference room twelve thirty fourth floor. Representatives for purpose announcement recognized House rules meet tomorrow at twelve noon big mac be present Tosh what purpose else but you're recognized state agencies nine thirty in the morning in room one fifty one any other announcements. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills upon completion The Addams named to the generous Lucien the house would be adjourned until one PM tomorrow.