Senate Convenes

Come to order. Please call the roll Ballenger back I'm glad. Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. Everyone please stand including those in the gallery Senator Hill. Senator hill. I don't see Senator Hill. So I will leave this in one for please virens generally follow thank you for the opportunity to gather here thank you for the opportunity to live in this country please guide the actions of this body in of our government forgiveness of our sins in Jesus name I'm at. I pledge allegiance to the flag the United States of America to which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. You know this. To be read across the desk. Yes Sir will your committee on aero Bills to whom was first Senate bill two twenty seven by Senator Rapert Senate bill one oh four by Senator sample Senate bill one oh six by Senator sample Senate bill one seventy two by Senator leading Senate bill two twenty eight by Senator Rapert zero copies with the original at ten forty two AM delivered to the governor for his approval. When your committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill one of seven by Senator English compare the engrossed copy with the original and same correctly engrossed. Education. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill one twenty seven by Senator English per the gross cop with Rachel Bronson correctly engrossed. She got a. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill one fifty two by Senator hammer compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Public Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill one seventy by Senator Garner compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Judiciary Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill two oh eight by Senator Solomon compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed state agencies committee on west Bills to whom was first Senate bill two thirty five by Senator English compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Education Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill two fifty six by Senator Irving compare the engrossed copy with the original correctly engrossed. Judiciary Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill two sixty three by Senator hammer compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed city county local. Committee on grass Bills to whom was first Senate bill two sixty five by Senator Irving compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed Education Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill three oh four by Senator Rapert compare the engrossed copy with the original and find correctly engrossed Revenue and Tax Committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate joint resolution fifteen by Senator Kerr compare the engrossed copy with rich on financing correctly engrossed State age committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill sixteen by Senator Senate joint resolution sixteen by Senator Clark engrossed copy with the original bouncing correctly engrossed stated. The on engrossed bills to whom was referred house bill eleven eighteen by represented Johnson compare the engrossed copy with the original and find same correctly engrossed. Health. When your committee on that ground whom was referred house bill twelve forty eight by represented Bentley recommend to pass. Dollar tree on a brand to whom was referred house bill twelve forty nine The Representative Bentley recommend to pass calendar Committee on that route of whom was referred house bill twelve fifty by represented family recommend getting past calendar. All right grant whom was referred house bill twelve fifty one by represented Bentley recommend to pass as amended number one John. Committee on city county local to whom was first Senate bill thirty two by Senator English recommend to pass to concur on house amendment number one. Caller. Committee on city county local to whom was referred house bill eight eleven ninety seven by Representative Valerie recommend to pass calendar. Committee on city county local to whom was referred house bill twelve sixty nine represented patent recommend to pass Calar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three sixteen by joint budget recommend to pass out of committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three seventeen by joint budget recommend to pass dollars. The on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three eighteen by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three nineteen by joint budget recommend to pass. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three twenty by joint budget recommend to pass Calar Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three twenty one by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three twenty two by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three twenty three by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three twenty four by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three twenty five by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three twenty six by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three twenty seven by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three twenty eight by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate bill three twenty nine by joint budget recommend to pass dollars Committee on joint budget to whom was first Senate bill three thirty by joint budget recommend to pass calendar committee on transportation. To whom was referred house bill twelve forty four by represented hop recommend to pass John. Senate bill three fifty four by Senator Irvin to create the fairness and women's sports act Senate bill three fifty for education Senate bill three fifty five by senator Cheney to allow a lottery wine or winter to remain confidential Senate bill three fifty five state agencies Senate bill three fifty six by Senator Wallace to amend the law governing the income tax credit for waste reduction reuse or recycling equipment and to amend the definition of qualified security specialty steel products manufacturing facilities Senate bill three fifty six revenues from Wallace. Senator want to be recognized for what reason yes Sir I need to pull that bill down. make some changes. Okay Senate bill three fifty six by Senator Wallace is being withdrawn. Thank you Senate bill three fifty seven by Senator Ballenger repealing statute prohibiting the possession of a firearm in certain locations and to make technical corrections zero three fifty seven the city county local any announcements before we move into the business agenda Senator Elliot. Is recognized for the House. Thank you governor members I'd like to introduce to you today the doctor of the day Dr Teresa battle I hope I'm saying that correctly for you she. Well. She is the practice of course along with current is not our nurse bring humans always because it taken care of thank you so much. Senator Hester or. Senate bill the Senate amendments. Amendment to the Senate bill two eighty seven. Senator Hester is recognized please. Your agent center has members I'm gonna I'm gonna do this amendment and I'm going to ask to suspend the rules to add this bill into the into the Senate agenda day that's because it builds the governor's scholarship which the last date to apply is March first which is Monday we lost we were trying to do this a week ago and so we've got to be able to get it down to the House of men so that's the reason I'm trying to pick up a day here by assisting this rule in Saugus and presentiment the amendment which is cost me extra day is the removal of any language involving the lottery scholarship I think the Senate has agreed we're gonna do kind of a bill at the end of session we understand the funding more on that so that the amendment the is removing any language with the lottery scholarship. The questions all those in favor say aye. Follows eyes have it then was adopted some senators and now you're gonna make a motion to make a motion to suspend the rules to move S. B. two eighty seven to the end of the Senate calendar today and to be heard at that time there is an emergency clause any questions all those in favor say aye. Close eyes have it the motion carries it is placed at the end of the Senate calendar Senator Hester Senator eads one to Senate concurrent resolution five. Senator is recognized. Okay this my bill my amendment. Any questions per se I. This is not the Senate agreed saying center Dismang Senate bills. To get current house amendments. Senate bill two thirty six Amendment one. Senate this thing government members this bill this amendment in this is the you are bill and all it did was add y'all as co sponsors to the bill appreciate a good vote. All those in favor say aye opposed ties have been adopted no or we're gonna roll it and have. The re roll call it because of this amendment that objection. The any objectionable a vote. Role. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang any Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you know we should change service saying that cast a ballot thirty five yeas zero days the bill is passed mercy Clause is adopted transmit to the house Senator Irvin. Enrollment. Senator Irvin. Amendment one to House Bill twelve twelve. Thank you members this is an amendment to put on this bill and that the House requested so we accommodated that amendments. As for good vote only meant a question on the road that follows a favor say aye. Is haven't members adopted Integro saying Senator Irvin yes the members and this bill because it affects those statements that are about to go out we need I need to make a motion to suspend the rules to place this bill at the end of the House calendar because we're up against the emergency deadline and we want to make sure that those businesses second quarter unemployment rates are not calculated into their twenty twenty one is what the bill does that there is a time line on when we have to get those formulas calculated in those statements out the door and and we have to beat the Emergency deadline and which is. Very very saying like at the end of this week I think so we've got to work some magic to get this thing back to the house to get it concurred in in a committee and then back to the floor and get it to the governor's desk so I would appreciate a good vote on that motion this is a motion to suspend the rules to put the bill on the calendar at the end of the House bills today three zero C. calls motion to suspend all those in favor say aye. The eyes have it the motion is carried the bill is put at the bottom of the House calendar after Senator Hester is HB thirteen sixty three Senator then the first of the Senate bill's third reading passage Senate bill sixty by Senator Irvin to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning mandated vision screenings for public school students. Service. At members this is a mental that does exactly what the title says and I can take any questions any questions percent urban. You would speak on the bill posed for centers closed yes thank you any objection on the vote. Please call the. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace in which the change of a. Loures president. Okay Jennifer flowers getters present thank you senator flowers cast of the ballot thirty forty eight zero nine zero not voting one present. The Bill pass is. And transmitted to the house Senator Irvin as B. sixty three Senate bill sixty three by Senator Irving to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning the attendance of the commissioner and the secretary of education and board or commission meetings centers recognized numbers I have to say I really appreciate minds in Education Committee actually I'm running the still for me yesterday and but this bill does what the title says that allows for and the Commissioner into appointed as agni to appear M. on behalf of the Commissioner the meeting or board or commission of which the commissioner is a member or have in his or her official capacity as commissioner and that does doesn't need to to be able to vote and the secretaries well I'll answer any questions any questions or Senator Irvin senator garner and in center dialysis center garner's recognized for a question thank you Mr president. So this would allow. A commissioner for the board of education. Who's been appointed by the governor to appoint somebody else to serve in an official capacity motorboat on education issues My misreading that. What is it that I thought would does. Seven. That if you look at the language of the bill again this was at the apartment requested bill M. and that allows for that appointment to occur and that doesn't need to be able to attend those meetings. Senator garner you can hear back there no it the volume on the the microphone. Certain service speak a little louder from senator garner police we're all sharing in this it's the designees have the secretary and the designation of the Commissioner and and again it's to amend the provisions of the code making just to wear that concerns the attendance of their commissioner in the section of education of board or commission meetings. So so to be clear. And it's clear in the language so my was already appointed by the governor. Could pick somebody else that we're going to vote on official. Education issues on the board of education this is the Commissioner of Elon elementary and secondary Education okay thank you ma'am. Senate Ballenger you start to question no it is not a question any other questions you have a question Senator flowers recognized for a question yes. So does allow the designated to go in the place of the Commissioner. when the board is addressing a school and state takeover for which he serves as a board the school board. Okay said this language is modeled on an existing codes which provides the authority to the secretary of the department of finance and administration and this gives and increased flexibility if the secretary or commissioner is not available for a scheduled meeting and also allows for the appointment of a designation as more in depth knowledge of the subject matter being considered at the board meeting or commission meeting. So that means there's the secretary of education. Is in the State last control of a district under state control can send somebody else to represent him on behalf of the is a position as. The school board of that district that he is. Control over and. And it is correct would you say yes that's correct. Again Senator flowers I mean looking at the language of the bill the amendment would authorize the secretary of education and Commissioner of Education to appoint a designated here on his or her behalf and voted meetings of any board or commission of which the secretary or commission there is a member of him and his or her official capacity it's modeled after existing code which has I'm is in provided that gives that same authority to the secretary of the department of finance and administration. Well the secretary of the department of finance and administration is not a person who assumes up. role of the school board and taking over so it's not the same now I stand. I understand that. Well you could say that. Any other questions. You wish to speak against. Want to speak for. Any objection on the vote. Yes please enter please call the roll. Ballenger. Ballenger. Beckham. Back. But. But. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. This mine. DISMANG. Eight. Eight. Alliot. English. Flowers no. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leading. Page. Right. Right. Rice. Rice. Sample. Sample Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. T.. Tucker. Wallace. You wish to vote did not vote for change about Senator Clark will be over here first Sir Clark I the budget also here so somebody else. Put their hand up the currently. Senator hammer is no. Centre back on is not a. Senator Davis Davis is known. You may also hear. Senator Chesterfield. As president. Senator Hickey as a hi. Anybody else here Senator Rapert is hi Senator sample is hi. We get. That's a technical term. The ballot. Twenty two days nine days three not voting one present the bill is passed. Transmit the House into Bledsoe's bill were passing over. We're gonna move on the Senator Blake Johnson and SB two. The center of a. Senate bill two fifty seven by Senator Johnson to amend the law concerning the timing completing an investigation of suspected child maltreatment or long term care facility resident now treatment. Senator Blake Johnson got the for toward the hearing. Resists this bill there's no push back from a long term care facilities it gives DHS an extra thirty days in a in a matter of minutes of exploitation because exploitation cases can take a little bit longer so this gives them an extra thirty days on that right now it's sixty days across the board whether it's maltreatment or or exploitation and it gives the additional forty five days to investigate and get the recording otherwise appreciate a good vote any question for senator Johnson anyone wish to speak against or for the center question I have a question about that Senate flowers you have a question. Yes Senate. Senator Johnson The nature of this in so much as it deals with. Elderly or disabled persons that are residing in a nursing home one other protections are in place during the pendency of the an investigation that you want to extend the time for. Well you know I I I I I mean this is brought by DHS and. I want to make sure those investigations are fully especially under exploitation where they can possibly be financial exploitation of that individual during this time however it's hard to go in and have that that contact with those individuals in a nursing home and long term care facilities so the this is definitely needed now for for those good investigations because of the lack of ability to go into those facilities and and it just allows for I think a better it better investigation in the long run so right now it's just sixty days they got to get the investigation done and have the reporting and so I understand that can you tell me where they put a hold on the accounts if it's a financial account of the resident I mean what's the point of any further damage being done to them to the residents are to the other opposition such is the financial accounts all right I can't tell you that Senator flowers you have to get with the DHS to see what means they have to protect those individuals accounts and things and it probably has to do with powers of attorneys and and and things like of that nature also. Well how many people is DHS have investigating those type of cases do you know and and also do they elicit the sub the help of the local prosecutor's office I have no idea Senator flowers. Thank you. Okay any other questions hammer you have a question. Thank you Mr president. Just by because we're extending it forty five days doesn't do anything that if they determine that a patient. Is a victim they still are able to step in. And provide to the security of patient this is just giving them more time to make sure that the investigation is complete and thorough especially whenever it involves maybe misdirection of money that that the nursing home may have or the other facility may have is that correct yes station thank exploitation is a lot more difficult in regular mail which would be abuse or you know I mean you can see all the physical abuse can be investigated a lot quicker than exploitation of the funds and staff in this this is just an extension not you know not the old time frame that all of them can be done in this is they can do in a shorter time frame. R. thank you think that's pretty any other questions anyone wishes Senator Alan recognized for a question yes okay generally recognized not senator because ninety days for exportation exportation and then sixty days otherwise. Good what definition or is there some particular definition for exploitation that would help me understand what the difference in the days well I mean the the financial exploitation if they don't have a care giver are you going to meet somebody outside that facility if there funds are taking care of a. You know. Carver Turney are or some something like that they this would allow the DHS if the investigation is is requested to to be able to investigate that and do it fully so I mean this is the time frame is is especially now we are with with the Culverden and and limited access in those facilities. Give that give that time frame. Do you happen to know if they need the timing line because they have a right up against some specific examples where they needed more time for the H. R. or they just assuming I need from what time I don't have a specific example but whenever whenever they first brought me this bill they were you know they had to the ninety days on the exploitation and the sixty days were like it always is on the maltreatment that they had they had ninety days so I said you know I I you can't ask for more extension then you've got on your regional you know sixty so that's I request you to go back to forty five days so I said you know if if that you know you need to get with your people to see you know if there's been a problem where they this investigation is going on forty five days extension so that's that and they came back and said the forty five days was acceptable so I understand the exploitation of the exportation House Johnson with finances is that how much I understand I mean. I'm sure there's other exploitation of individual decides you know maltreatment would be more physical abuse but I mean. The there's could be possibly sexual exploitation or or your your financial exploitation of the individual so both of those are a lot more difficult to investigate improve so I don't mind giving on that additional time to some question there are they're going to have to determine what exploitation is. According to what's alleged we don't have it up front definition of exploitation. I don't you can probably talk with mark in those DHS and get really would like to know that if you don't mind if you don't mind just was delayed this a bit let's find out because if you can if you can get with mark and and find that out if partnership mark white. I'll be glad to do that if you don't mind delayed it for today I'm calling myself and the report myself all right you have a problem with going ahead and voting or disease. Well I do yes okay I'm asking do you mind as well I'll wait till tomorrow if if if the thank you okay the senator Paul about yeah okay without objection. We're gonna move on Senator Bledsoe. Is B. two five nine. And Senator Hester your bill has not I don't think it's come back yet so if it's not going to move on to the House Bill. Circle back at the appropriate Jobcentre Bledsoe Senate bill two fifty nine by Senator Bledsoe. Authorized the licensure of state and local government heating ventilation and air conditioning refrigeration inspectors and a current references to the appropriate cabinet level department. All right thank you so much Mr president ladies and gentleman this is just clean up language this is about the heating ventilation and air conditioning and refrigeration board and of doing transfer a transformation secretary general Bassett found that this was being done without legislative authority so he has fixed that with this bill it came out of the public health committee thank unanimous vote and I'm glad to answer your questions. In a course. Has a question. Senator. I don't have my hearing aid thing inside areas was up I want to so far we We're just authorizing another. License check. That what we're doing what we're doing is we're giving legislative authority to the H. back board that's been doing the same thing since two thousand and three so that when we had transformation it was found that they were under another authority but it wasn't legislative authority and that's what we're doing today is just clean up language okay thank you ma'am thank you cetera's. Thank you. President of the community center Bledsoe barely but can can can speak any louder let me get their local. You can send out of the center to your to hear what people are sit down. Is this bill giving them authority. He said giving them legislative authority is well understood you to say. Is is giving that board authority to change rules to without coming before. No well put it says is the current board in the department of labor licensing seek to correct the deficiency when they were operating without legislative authority and obtain specific legislative authority to this is just clean up language that's what they found when they took over and so this just makes it right that didn't change anything that they're doing it just a. Make sure that they have legislative authority they had had authority under of the general power to establish. H. back code inspection programs Arkansas Code seventeen dash thirty three days to to us there's no specific statutory authority to issue this class of license or do charge a fee in that but this gives them that it didn't change their feet it doesn't change what they were doing it just gives them legislative authority and and that are concerned and I I know it's misdirected but a couple of sessions to go the ability to. Senator Hutchison at that time is running some legislation for the board. And it was going to change. Some things I'll failed unnecessary in the eventually was full If we're giving them again you said legislative authority again I have some concerns would you mind I'm sorry I'm in a deficit or not knowledge on this right now would you hold it over a day let me see if I can get my things at you well I will say this they're not doing anything that they haven't been doing since two thousand and four but I'd be glad to hold thank you okay thank you Senator pulled out S. B. two five nine down without objection it we're going back to S. the two five seven. Senator Blake Johnson Senator Elliott was satisfied with the she got the information needed. So we're moving back to the center Johnson. Senate bill two fifty seven by Senator Blake Johnson to amend the law concerning the time for completing an investigation of suspected adult male treatment for long term care facility resident maltreatment so Johnson will pick up where we left off that's okay any questions Senator Hickey. With this I don't I don't mind the ninety days for the exploitation. Then it says that there's gonna be sixty days or any other type of maltreatment which I know that's what it was but then we're extending that forty five days for forty five days additional yes so it's the forty five days goes along with both the yes. Are we sure we want to do that I mean is it called. Is it because they're short of staff and is not for sure that the eight point the exploitation is by definition it's financial exploitation those investigations can can take longer and like I said in in in the process that they wanted ninety days and this was paired back to forty five days so this is half of the time that they wanted to extend it so right now I'm not. Meriting. I'm not I understand the importance by with that I'm I'm more concerned where we have this other type of a deal the sixty to be sixty plus forty five yes so on that they could actually go up to a hundred and five days well it would be sixty days plus forty five so it would be yeah ninety. Ninety five yeah be it be almost the same as the same as exploitation under under the under the regular mail truck so. If we need to go into this but I was told that type of you know for adults maltreatment allegations of I feel like we need to do that quicker of I mean to give their under staffed this might be one of those things where we need to get with them and see if there's another option the. There should be two ways of doing it there we could either extend the time and give them more time to do it or maybe if they're understaffed we should this might be one of those cases that you know if it's our elderly and this is happening maybe we need to approach it from a different angle that's if if you want to work with them or whatever but not appreciated Love. This is Senate bill so you know we here in the House we may work on that okay thank you. Well of the House center. Okay that's all the questions senator anyone we speak against and for. Senator has closed. Any objection role in the vote. I am I don't have an objection but I'm vote on this bill okay thank you Sir for Chevrolet also rule of the cell towers as a no and please rolled over. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang eads Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Fite Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace. You know wish to change the vote cast of the ballot thirty four days one nine of the bill is passed transmitted to the house then move to centre Hester bill that has arrived it has emergency clause fifty two eight seven when your committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill two eighty seven by Senator Hester for the most copy the original and find the same correctly engrossed Senator Hester is recognized Senate bill two eighty seven by Senator Hester to amend the scholarship requirements to allow certain individuals to be eligible for certain scholarships and to declare an emergency Senator Hester members this is a changing who is eligible for the governor scholarship not based off of criteria we know that one of the most difficult criteria the governor's distinguished fellowship is to get a thirty two in your ACT. This does if you are if you aren't lawfully present in Arkansas you have legal status the you are eligible to receive a scholarship so this would include students that are like an H. for so if your parents are here on a work a work visa then you'd be eligible for the current docket student anybody that's legally here has gone to school here there's some. Girls in my in my district that have gone to Bentonville schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade the qualifying they've worked hard and earned a scholarship and I sure hope we uh see if it to allow them to receive. Any any questions of senator brown your bill senator mark Johnson Senate Ballenger's recognized for a question. We use the language lawfully present would be rather confusing should we find that. I was going to see if you caught that. Legal status. Senator Mark Johnson. Thank you for. Senator Hester I received an email from a young lady I think in your district I'm not here she is a thirty four hundred ACT center bothers me here since she was in kindergarten this is a bill she would have been making reference to this is a student at yes made made me aware of the situation thank you to my kindergarten first and second. And I think it's a great bill on the court voted thank you. Anyone would speak again for centers close there is a reduction. Okay no objection to the voter roll vote senator garner is a no. Please roll. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace anyone wish to change the. Cast a ballot thirty three eight one nine. One present the Bill pass is emergency clause opted transmit to the House moving to senator start which. House eleven oh one by the represented Evans incentive for Sturch to America and to the amount of signatures required to petitions district board of directors to me. So start names thank you colleagues said both of these bills are from school boards association partner legislative package this first one deals with the calling a school board meeting by petition to recall their four or five ways the school board is called to a meeting the one you already know they meet monthly ten day public notice and so forth but the president school board can call a meeting the secretary of the school board and call a meeting and three members of the school board in Kearney and then you have this petition process this statute hasn't been updated since the nineteen thirties and it originally said that only with fifty signatures that could be called into a special meeting the only elected entity in Arkansas that can actually be forced into a meeting by petition and so what they're asking us to do is to update this to be proportional to the school size now As so if you'll recall in the nineteen thirties fifty people was a large majority of the school district now we've got school districts with tens of thousands of kids so they're just asking to be one percent of the electorate up to two hundred not to exceed two hundred on a petition so that's what this bill does and I appreciate a good vote. We're correcting in the the bill appeared on second any any questions Senator questions senator start Senate mark Johnson then Centerville Cinemark Johnson. Thank you Sir Senator Sturch the way I read your bill correct me if I'm wrong. Is that fifty is the number now and with this bill it would be become one percent of the qualified electors in that district but no less than. Two two hundred which would be quadrupling the fifty numbers that correct not to exceed two hundred correct so I have to be between your district is two hundred patrons signing a petition could cause a meeting to be held proportion yes to the to the floor obviously a lot more one percent or two hundred is less than one gram two hundred being the the the minimum in a in a big district for one percent whichever is is that the smaller number correct okay I have a lot of like this. Yeah I think it's fine if we would talk all day about local control but local control means the voters not school board but I guess I'm okay with this thank you. Senate and there's. Senator Sturch we we discuss this you this is the school the school board calling school board meeting and stuff we're talking about one percent of the electorate in that area correct Senate against the one percent of the Victoria in that area correct in the school district okay why don't we basis thing all of the people who voted a school board or one percent of that. To me it looks like the school board is trying to say we want the people disenfranchised we don't want to involve as what we're doing at this is this to me is one the most ridiculous thing I've heard is trying to cut the people out of it thank you. Senator Davis. Thank you Mr President I'm I'm wondering if that school board association and knows how many districts this will impact what that will be needed over fifty signatures. I'm I'm sorry senator how many to school districts it would cover over the so if right now that current number is fifty across the board for everyone and that it's changing it to a one percent not to exceed two hundred signatures saved did the school board association knows how many school districts would be between fifty one and two hundred signatures. That would actually raise the number of signatures they needed. I think if the school district got if the school district was bigger than the percentage would be even smaller if we kept it at two hundred so like fifty in a twenty thousand would be a quarter of a percent you know so I think that's why they kept a Max was between fifteen two hundred yeah I was just wondering how many districts with impact by raising the number of signatures to two hundred I don't know that answer center I I know that representatives worked with them of course this bill was amended on the house side so from what I gathered it was compromised language and passed the house with ninety one votes and you know how many and times happen like if the school board association and districts across the state having a problem with citizens calling school board meetings when I asked that question it had happened a couple of times within the last previous years that's what brought it to their attention that it hadn't been changed and so like I said they were trying to make a proportional to school district size is now since it had been changed the last ninety years okay we'll thank you yep just and serving as a wrestle school board member for nine years and being subjected to you with that training of the Arkansas school board association and the way that they run their organization I'm I'm not surprised that they are trying to make it more difficult for the public to have access to the closest form of government to them which is a school board and if you want to you and anger someone quicker than anything else you mess with their kids and their education so this is disheartening I think to see that the school board association has decided to take it up in their legislative package to make it harder for people to have a voice to request a meeting and we necessary on an issue important to parents and the kids in that school district that and the superintendents and school boards and are regulating and so I just I have concerns about that and I don't think fifty is a big deal and for people to get and I don't I don't understand why the school versus issue would see the need to raise. That thank you. Financer that question well. Yeah I'm not sure that was a question but senator garner asked question and then the people will to speak to they can speak to it let's keep our questions questions or comments comment Sir Garner. Senate so I'm assuming like a regular school board meeting they have kind of a set schedule correct. Since Google once a month correct so that the car like a regular election and this will make it harder holds a like a special election for school boards and wanting a separate time for only a few people know about is that correct no not this not dealing with the Lexus. For. Let him answer. I guess I'm confused as to your question one one thing I'd like to make clear is that the public has already a voice to come to any school board meeting on the regular monthly meetings they can even get on the agenda by asking the superintendent of the present of the sector as I mentioned before this is just one out of the five ways that the public can ask for a meeting to be held a specially called meeting. Sir is there something that you want to say in response to a question that you want to get off just before I let people speak for against of course you will have the ability to say whatever you won't during closing. I understand that all right who will speak against the bill Senator Mark Johnson against the bill. Thank you Mr president Preciado what Senator Davis says say I think we we've got to to look at the situation of everyone's talking about local control we've all been victims of that in some cases where we get beat up on something we're trying to down here's everyone says we're gonna her local control I'm. I can't think of a more local control than parents. And a fifty parents fifty people fifty you know qualified electors sign a petition I think maybe school board on me now if they're meeting every month that might be a problem but if they're trying to time their meetings to avoid being confronted on something then you know I think I got a problem with that I I just wanna make sure that we're not disenfranchise and our parents who may have a legitimate concern I don't think there's too many people out there cybereditions every week to get school board come into three times a week I think that's silly but taking away this this safeguard that allows parents to to basically be the last word in in when these boards may and and and the fact that they could appear and and petition the government for a redress of grievance I I just don't think that's a wise idea and I would appreciate a no vote on it thank you Mr Mr per anyone with thank you senator anymore speak in favor of the bill. You will wish to speak against the bill. On the bill in any way shape or form center right to close please make sure you take the time to address whatever concerns you had about the earlier comment what a Minnesota Clark Is races and Senator Clark Is. Other question okay you have a question. The sister store for local center Davis's of questions I didn't think I heard the action has this a school board association said how many times. The school board meetings have. Been called by this method in the last year I mean I've never seen. In my lifetime dealing with schools and representing a bunch of schools for the last eight years so do you know that answer I don't know the specific number Senator I when I of space and like I said they mention one school in particular they didn't even tell me the school they just said the area that it happened several times last year this is what brought it to their attention but I think it's used very infrequently like I said it's only one of the five ways for the public to be able to come to a meeting so if they want something on the agenda they were using the most time using the other for ways thank you okay Sir close. Colleagues like Sen higher agree to carry this Representative and sign I've I believe in all good faith that he did his best to find common ground language with all the parties involved in like I said I if I really believe that it was disenfranchised people I wouldn't be running it like I said it's just one of the five ways to keep a proportional to the size of the school district fifty people could live on one street in little rock and is that really proportional to the entire school district to force a special committee called board meeting so like I said I don't think it disenfranchises the public to come to monthly meetings or get something on the agenda by requesting it by the president of the Secretary of three board members or even the superintendent so I appreciate a good vote I'm sector please call the roll. Ballenger. Ballenger. Back. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. This mine. Dismang. Eighty. Elliott. Allen. English. Flippo. Flippo. Flowers no. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. I Mark Johnson. Leading. Page. Riper. Right. Price. Sample. Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Solomon. T.. T.. Tucker. Wallace. One wish to vote or change over. Senator Teague is no anybody else over here. No one else over here Senator Ballinger is now. Senate is mine is mine. Senator Flippo is present. Anybody. Anybody else. Senator Rapert is a high. About. Seventy eighth twelve Danish three not voting three present the bill fails. Senator Sturch. Eleven oh two by represented evinced interest charge require additional training on school safety is student discipline for board members to standardize the training requirements report and increase the time of which a board member Mike your training our deficiency. Senator Sturch is recognized thank you Mr president. That's a new feeling for me. I'm not I'm not sure I really want to run this on that day. House Bill Evans two deals with the training of school board members we're not adding any additional hours to that we're just specifying two topics that we want to included in the training for school board members as you know they have so many hours of continuing education each year if you look on page two lines nine and ten those two topics of school safety and student discipline. Right now schools are required to keep records and reports of their student discipline throughout the year we're just wanting training on for school board members on how to read those reports and keep up with I appreciate a good vote any questions for the center anyone wish to speak against or for senator You rate close center has closed any objection over the vote. Please hold. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner. Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill. Arvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace Sir Davis is present anyone wish to change their vote. Cast the ballot. Thirty forty eight. Zero nine bill one present the bill is passed to transmit to return to the House Senator Flippo of which is to be recognized real quickly president I just told for leave Senator Stubblefield. The. Starch. Thank members of counties can I ask to expunge the vote by which house bill and no one failed rather not have that on my permit legislative record. I would advise center of all this is taken online for viewing at any time. You for the motion all those in favor say aye. Follows Is motions carried Senator Hester H. B. thirteen sixty three thirteen sixty three about House Management an act for the Arkansas house of representatives staff appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Members of the House. Members this is the houses appropriation fund them for the session I don't care if you vote for it or not. Any questions or speak against and for. Centers close in any any objection role in the. Please roll. Ballenger back Tom Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren. Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan to the Tucker Wallace. Cast a ballot thirty five U. A. zero nine is the bill is passed emergency clause is adopted returned to the house Senator Clark before we recognize senator urban for her but. When the personal privilege gone I'll make Senator Sturch feel better of. Some of you will remember this lap and a lot of new members don't know about it. But I ran a bill in two thousand thirteen that I told constituents and asked me to run the bill would never get out of the very tough Judiciary Committee it passed to the shura committee unanimously. it it failed on the floor twenty seven to one. And that was not an initiation that was the real vote is expunged so it's not on the record but just so you know that was not a bad loss. Okay we're not we're still on the calendar center Senate budget you wish you're recognized. Okay. Will you go to that wall servers coming down I'll be fine. Service bills Max HP twelve twelve. Several recognize. Okay service recognized. When your committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred house bill twelve twelve by represented the main question. Compare the engrossed copy with the original fastened correctly engrossed. They're a house bill twelve twelve by represented Ladyman and senator Irving. Two men the division of workforce services law concerning the non charge of employer contributions for certain unemployment insurance claims and declare an emergency. Service got the floor thank you members again you know if you were at a hearing present during the fall public health committee meetings we had a lot of small businesses that receive their statements on their unemployment rates and how they were going to be negatively impacted due to that second quarter of unemployment figures where the government's order them to shut down and so what this bill does is allows for that director for the director of division of workforce services to modify those rates for twenty twenty one so that the second quarter and numbers don't calculate into their new rates are going to be paying starting this year so those statements have to go out like next week and so that's why we wanted to put this bill on the calendar today you've got to concur in the amendment tomorrow in the House Committee and then try to get it off the floor into the governor before the declaration of the emergency and is over so which is I think very fast so the Emergency Clause outlines is very well and so that you understand why this is necessary to vote this today and I can answer any questions but this is really going to be a huge impact on particularly our hair salons are barbers are restaurants and small businesses that the government ordered to shut down so we want to make sure that their rates that they're going to be paying are not going to be penalized for our actions as a government and what we had to do during that public health an emergency I'll be happy to answer any questions. It always Senator Blake Johnson. Senator rule will this disproportionately charge those essential businesses if you're not charge in those that were. No no. Thank you. They always speak against four centers close yes thank you and says I would just say this is so really important to some of these so many of the small businesses they're just not going to have the money to be able to pay these huge unemployment rate any directional a vote. Please rollover sector Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang E. Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Fite Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace you wish to change their vote. Cast a ballot thirty five days zero days the bill is passed. Emergency Clause was adopted return it to the house. Okay go right ahead then we get the budget calendar okay. For your committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate concurrent resolution five by Senator eats compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed calendar. Senator Davis. Which is to be recognized thank you Mr president was going to go to the Budget center Davis Senate bill three forty five and is the higher ed class and con bill it was accidentally referred to Senate education and it was supposed to go to budget Joint Budget so I'd like to make a motion to re refer it to the Joint Budget. Any questions. Three or three forty five all those in favor say aye. I thank you motions carried. Senator the Senate is mine have someone fill an informal Senator Wallace Budget bills yes Sir okay. Senator Wallace we have a number of Senate bills house bills there or merge the clauses that all required twenty seven votes my understanding is you want to back to Senate bills and invites the House Bills that correct yes Sir. If anybody moves to hold some out just let us know now will hold those out. Senate bill two hundred IM Act for the Arkansas State University Three Rivers appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Similar to thirteen oh nine for the University of Arkansas at Monticello appropriation of twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Send up to fifteen an act for the university of central Arkansas corporation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year similar to sixteen an act for the southeast Arkansas college appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year Senate bill two twenty and at the university of Arkansas Fayetteville appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Similar to twenty four and that for the S. S. A. U. tak procreation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Senate bill two sixty six that Act for the Department of Human Services division of county operations reappropriation symbol to sixty seven an act to the department of finance administration disbursing officer reappropriation. Several two sixty eight an act to the department of agriculture reappropriation. Zero to sixty nine an act for the Department transformation insured services Building Authority Division reappropriation. Similar to seventy an act for the department of finance administration reappropriation Senate bill two seventy one an act for the department of transportation and shared services Arkansas geographic information systems office reappropriation Senate bill two seventy two an act to the Department of Education Division of elementary and secondary education reappropriation. Senator two seventy three for the Arkansas public defender commission reappropriation. Senator two seventy four an act for the department of commerce state insurance department for your procreation similar to seventy five for the department of health reappropriation similar to seventy six for the department of education educational television division reappropriation similar to seventy seven ACT for the department of the military reappropriation. Similar to seventy eight ACT for the department of commerce Arkansas Economic Development Commission reappropriation center to seventy nine an act of the department of energy and environment Arkansas jail Geological Survey reappropriation said bill to eighty an act to the department of commerce reappropriation server to eighty five. Are reaching the services Division of Youth Services reappropriation saber two eighty six that Act for the institutions of higher educational your preparation. Those are all the Senate bills they're gonna be vast anyone want to pull them out. Senator garner. Senate bill two seventy eight please. Get any others. Okay so here's the deal we're gonna vote on all the Senate bills minus Senate bill two seventy eight minus Senate bill two seventy eight. Okay then we'll do that one separately they will go on to the House bills. Any question in this. Anything you want to add. Well Sir thank you okay objects or the vote on the bachelor's role but. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang feeds Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading Page right for rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace you will wish to change your vote. Cast a ballot thirty five yeas zero days to by the Senate bill that passes. transmit verticals are down to transmit to the House Senator Wallace we're gonna now go to as the two seventy eight Senate bill two seventy eight I'm not the department of commerce Arkansas Economic Development Commission reappropriation. Any questions. Senator wishes to speak against. Senate thing was present at. Economic development in our. Relationship with China is something we need to dress in Arkansas something I've been dreaming from raptors now for a long time this is another example of the quick action fund other funds you go to serve that means that reason I'll be voting against this when I should be saying thank you. You wish to speak for. Center which closed. Senator has closed. Do you Jack we're Senator Garner D. object or the voting by object role in the vote. Please Ralph said please hold. Hi. This call the roll. Ballenger. Ballenger. Back on. Back. Bledsoe. But. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. This mine. DISMANG. Eighties. Eight. Allen. English. English. Flippo. Flippo. Flowers. Garner. Gilmore. Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hickey. Hello. Hill. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. I Mark Johnson. Leading. Page. Page. Right. Right. Rice. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. T.. Tucker. What. You wish to vote or change the vote. Start over here both were change the vote center back home is now serves. Hi Senator Gilmore is present. Nobody else living here. Senator Hill is not Senator Davis is president center page is all anybody else. Okay let me know what in C. okay cast up the ballot. Fifteen a seven nine eleven not voting to present the bill fails move into the House batch of the House bills. We got one two three four. Any of those were going to pull out of my surgery please return the same as a ten ninety one and that for the department of commerce Arkansas development finance authority appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. House eleven twenty seven on that to make an appropriation for State Farm back for counties and municipalities by the office of the treasure of State for the fiscal year ending June thirty twenty twenty ten. Haspel twelve eighty six for that for the UAMS rental center on aging Bozeman college of public health Arkansas sciences institute and the area health education center in Helena appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year house bill thirteen twelve an act for the University of Arkansas and Division of that culture Arkansas biosciences institute operation twenty twenty one twenty two twenty two fiscal year. It is available in the US. Okay Sir you got anything to add nothing that there are the House Bills are being Baxter one two three four and a reduction of rolling The vote please rolled out. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang E. Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore. Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice same Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace. The vote saying nine cast up the ballot. Thirty five days zero days the batch of the House bill passes Mercer Clause are adopted return on to the House any announcements. Okay we've got a quartet or something going on here Senator hammer okay Sir number sorry number now. Yes Sir you're you're recognized thank. Members I just want to draw some to your attention if you didn't know every Wednesday morning seven o'clock and you'll Supreme Court room we have a prayer time is short Bible study takes about twenty minutes is all give you a great start to your day on Wednesday morning and just wanna make sure you're aware of that we do that every Wednesday morning seven o'clock downstairs in the old Supreme Court room love to have you thank you. Any other announcements center sample. Revenue and Tax will meet in the morning and nine thirty Supreme Court chamber. Insurance and commerce at two o'clock in room one seventy one we'll make. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate we are having a long list of House members that would like their hit their bill to be heard in the public health committee so if you have told a House member that you would run a bill for him or her please let me know because we have the. About. About twelve ready to go thank you so much. There will meet in the morning seven thirty. Right. Thank center English is asked to re refer her bill to state agencies for an amendment for work make a motion to do the same. Senate bill thirty yes Senate bill thirty a motion to refer or yeah although the first. Close. If you say. Just say aye rubber. All of the favor say aye. Oppose it. Motion carried. Any other announcements before we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow subject to the clearing of the House the correct time one o'clock tomorrow. During the day.