House Convenes

Check one check to check one two three four five check one two three four five. Check to one two three four five. One two three four five. One two three four five six seven eight nine ten. Testing one two three. Test one two three. Test one two three four five test one two three four five test one two three four five. I'm by the member staff press and yes in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by Representative Les Warren and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Please pray with me. Termly father we thank you so much for bringing us back together today father we thank you for the break that we had we thank you for the snow. Father we thank you for the opportunity to get back and do the work of the people of Arkansas. By the way S. that you would be here in our midst that you would guide everything that we do. That we would seek to honor you and everything that we do today. By the way S. E. B. with the those across the state who are still struggling in different ways. Further we just ask that you give them the wisdom and the power to deal with the issues that they're facing. We with this now in Jesus name we pray amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing yellow present button prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With one hundred members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees read the reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we Committee on joint retirement to whom was referred house bill twelve seventy nine House Bill thirteen nineteen house bill thirteen twenty house bill thirteen thirty nine and house bill thirteen forty beg leave to report we've had the same under consideration here with trying the same the recommendation do pass respectfully submitted Les Warren chair. Other Reports from standing committees is there any unfinished business are there any Executive communications. Morning hour is ended. Members are state troopers with this today or triple Walker more fits of troop F. of Warren and trooper Brent Walker troop G. of hope. Represent Wardlaw recommends that we concurrence Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten oh nine Mister Clark please read Senate Amendment number one Senate mineralized NO one thousand nine. Jeff Wardlaw you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you Mr Speaker just as cosponsors house and Senate. Person were laws explain the amendment. Anyone like speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment percent Wardlaw is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence in Amendment number one to House Bill ten oh nine prepared machines to Clark. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by the ninety four U. A. zero nine zero present. We have concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten oh nine. Represent Wardlaw. You represent Jett recommends we can current Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten ten Mr Clark please read the Senate amendment over one Senate Amendment or one to House Bill ten ten percent Jett you're recognized explain the amendment. Thank was Speaker calling cemex these bills are the Senate just put Senate co sponsors on the bill Richard good vote. Represent Jett is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Jett is close for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence with sentiment number one to House Bill ten ten presidency Mr Clark. Everyone vote. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. I voted ninety five U. eight zero nine zero present you've concurred in Senate Amendment over one to House Bill Clinton represent Jett recommends we can current Senate amendment over one to House Bill ten thirty one miss Clark please read Senate Amendment over one Senate Amendment over one to House Bill ten thirty one represented Jett you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank the Speaker college once again this is just co sponsored for this and I guess they liked the House work so much of the co sponsor work now restrictive of. Represent Jett his explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Jett is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the is the concurrence in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten thirty one prepares machinist Clark. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark Bible ninety sixty eight zero nine zero present your concurred in Senate amendment one to House Bill ten thirty one. Represent Jett recommends that we can current Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten thirty three Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment number one Senate Amendment or one to House Bill ten thirty three represent Jett you're recognized to explain the amendment thank Mr calling once again S. as co sponsors to the bill. Represent Jett has explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment represent Jett is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence and Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten thirty three prepares machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. They're one voted. Asked about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety sixty eight zero nine zero present you've concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten thirty three represent Jett recommends we can current Senate amendment or one to House Bill two forty one Mr Clark please read Senate amendment one Senate Amendment over one to House Bill ten forty one represent Jett you're recognized to explain the amendment. College once again as cosponsors of the bill Richard good vote. Send Jett is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Jett is close for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence and Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten forty one prepare the machine Mr Clark. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety seven U. eight zero nine zero present you've concurred in Senate amendment or one to House Bill ten forty one. Person Jett recommends we can current Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten forty two Mr Clark please read Senate Amendment number one Senate Amendment over one to House Bill ten forty two. Represent Jett you're recognized to explain the amendment thank you Mr Speaker college last but not least is once again Senate co sponsors on house bill Richard a good vote. Represent Jett is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Jett is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the concurrence and Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten forty to prepare the machine Mr Clark. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark bubbled ninety eight zero nine zero present you've concurred in Senate Amendment number one to House Bill ten forty two. Mr Clark please read house bill ten sixty three. House Bill ten sixty three by represented Pilkington to amend the telemedicine act into authorize additional reimbursement for telemedicine via telephone. Represent Pilkington you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker today present to House Bill ten sixty three what we did is we took the governor's executive order on telemedicine and. Wanted to make it permanent we added one small amendment that was basically to ensure that insurance companies can mandate that you have to use telemedicine before going to your local inverse provider no opposition to that change everyone's part of it it pass of the public health committee with no. Dissenting vote so with that I ask for a good vote thank you. Represent Pilkington is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. What do you would like to speak for the bill. Represent Pilkington is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten sixty three prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present you passed house bill ten sixty three. Mr Clark please read House Bill Levin fifty four. House Bill Levin fifty former represented Ladyman to amend the and update the Arkansas Code regarding regulation ionizing radiation to comply with federal laws and regulations. Person Lehman you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is kind of a link the bill but really what it does is it updates Arkansas law concerning radiation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules it changes some of the terminology deals with the radiation waste but it basically just gets us in line with the federal nuclear laws. So pretty good vote. Represent Ladyman is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Ladyman is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven fifty four prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. 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 house bill thirteen sixty one. House bill thirteen sixty one by represented east to provide for the tax treatment of certain loans payments expenses related to coronavirus twenty nineteen relief programs and to declare an emergency person beach you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Colleagues this is the payroll protection program bill him before we get started I want to give a shout out to Representative Joe Jett for help on a Shepherd this along the way and also Representative Julie Mayberry of leaves up here somewhere we've been working on this bill from probably April may sometime in that ballpark trying to figure out what the the best way to do this I was going to be without the federal government's help when I took them awhile to get it straightened out so I just wanna give you a quick background. On the on the bill if you remember back in early twenty twenty because of the pandemic the federal government offered and much needed lifeline our small businesses this lifeline incentivized employers to keep their employees on payroll this was the pay roll protection program it would offer loan forgiveness as long as they were used exclusively for wages health care benefits family medical and sick leave employee retirement and state and local taxes paid on those wages three point three billion dollars came to Arkansas forty two thousand four hundred and thirty three small businesses receive these loans. So we have a couple of issues right now one is an issue of conformity our state's current lack of conformity to the federal tax code increases compliance costs for local businesses but there's a bigger problem if we fail to update our tax code to conform to current federal law we will wind up taxing this federal lifeline to small businesses and it's not just the PPP program we're talking about here this bill also includes the injured excuse me economic injury disaster loans emergency financial grants for students grants for shuttered venue operators subsidies on small it SBA loans and there's an agricultural programs in there as well. So with tax filing season under way thousands of business owners are discovering a painful reality that these PPP loans could carry a hefty tax bill courtesy of the state of Arkansas. This approach runs counter to the federal government's own treatment of these programs. Which again were a crucial lifeline to small businesses amid the pandemic so I am aware of the argument that there will be some businesses that may benefit more than others from that lack of taxing this this money but I contend that is likely more of a question of should they have been granted the PPP Fund to begin with as there were little to no restrictions on who would qualify for these loans. Many businesses that receive these loans had no way of knowing if they were going to need him back in the early days of the pandemic and I know there have been some questions about the revenue impact so I want to be clear about that. This is one time money. We can't budget on one time money. It's not in the forecast and it's not in the budget. There's a difference between a revenue impact in the budget impact. If we collect this tax money from our struggling small businesses. The only thing we could do with that is build a building or put it in a savings account because you cannot be a part of the budget with one time money. So let's leave this money in the hands of our small businesses let that money circulating economy for years to come we're seeing unprecedented surplus revenues in our state in spite of the pendant. Our small businesses are struggling and they need our help and they need it now. With that I'd appreciate a good vote. Represent. Ferguson for a purpose. Person B. slept well. Percent eaves explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Person believes is closed for the bill the question before the House is the pastor of House Bill thirteen sixty one per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clauses everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six yeas zero nay and to present. The Bill an emergency clause or pass. Members were gonna pass over house bill ten forty nine and take it up a little later in our calendar Mr Clark please read house bill thirteen seventeen also thirteen seventeen to represent of Johnson concerning the theft of a postal package delivered to a person's residence and left within the curtilage of the residence to make technical corrections into the clan emergency. Represent Johnson you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues I think all of us at some point out of order to package online and had it delivered to our house the delivery company's grown exponentially in the Kobe pandemic as xcelerated that growth that unfortunately with the growth of this delivery system we've also seen an increase in people stealing these packages from the premises of our houses what we're not home currently in the State of Arkansas that that from our premises on the porch of a house is a misdemeanor this is a bill that would elevate that crime to its Class D. felony this is a bill that was brought to me by the Arkansas prosecuting attorneys association and it has no no no position to be happy to answer any questions. C. nine appreciate your vote thank you. Represent Johnson is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Ferguson Johnson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen seventeen per the machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clauses everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast balanced Clerk. By a vote of ninety five EA zero name to present the bill emergency clause or passed Mr Clark please read house bill thirteen seventy two house bill thirteen seventy two of our Representative Bryant to amend Arkansas law concerning campaign finance to amend Arkansas law concerning carryover funds and to establish a minimum amount of carryover funds for an office without an annual salary represent bright you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker as we all know is the run campaigns is the funnest part is to is to raise money. Unfortunately if we raise more money that we spend we can always carry that over there's several people that run for public office that cannot carry that over and that is those that do not. Get an annual salary from their from their government base so with this bill does is if you do not have an annual salary such is a justice of the peace you get paid by meeting of city council to get paid per diem they're allowed to carry over up to three thousand dollars into the next election cycle. With that appreciate a good vote. Represent Bryant is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Bryant school clothes for the bill. The question before the House is a passive house bill thirteen seventy two per machine Mr Clerk. They're one voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. Of those ninety four yeas to nays and zero present the bill is passed. The Clerk please read House Bill thirteen seventy house bill thirteen seventy by represented Brighton amend the direction shipment of vinous liquor act to include an establishment that produces meat in the definition of small farm winery to allow me to submit directly to consumers and to tax meat in the same manner as wine. Represent bright you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker of this bill is is gore out of probably too many people being bored Senate home during this pandemic have a constituent that decided he was going to produce need as a way to supplement his income however when he thought he take the next step use he was met by the Certainty that he could not do what with me that he could do with wine now there is a rule in the FNA in section two dot seven for this as they will treat me as one but they do not classified as a small fire small farm winery so the many is liquor active two thousand seven allows them to ship wine to consumers that do not have a direct nexus to their business other words they do not need to come to their business in order to receive that one they can also shipped out of state if that receiving state except that one. So what this bill does is if you produce up to a certain amount of gallons of liquor and it does not exceed a certain percentage of alcohol content they will treat me the same way as one. So with that I appreciate a good vote. Represent Brian is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Brian is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen seventy prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy eight six nays and eight present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill thirteen sixty two. House Bill thirteen sixty two by represented wing to extend the pilot program on coverage from orbit obesity diagnosis and treatment under the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance program represent wing you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker what we're doing with house bill thirteen sixty two is extending the pilot program for bariatric surgery for our state employees and our public school teachers across the state now this was due to expire in twenty twenty one all we're doing is extending it to twenty twenty six at this point this is comes out of general revenue but that money has a kill switch on it if for any reason at any point the money for this pilot program is needed elsewhere it can be stopped immediately so it has no financial risk to the state happy to answer any questions. C. not appreciate a good vote. Represent winning is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent wing is closed for the bill the question before the House is the pastor of House bill thirteen sixty two per machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety As for nays and to present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill ten forty nine. Also ten forty number represented Jett to allow the withholding of state income tax from unemployment compensation benefits and unemployment insurance benefits represent Jett you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank respect her college the lot of us were surprised to find out the new start implement tax on employment benefits that people back home they could not deduct exempt or money from. Money just like they would like to regular salaries so the employment tax went on twenty seventeen up until now they had no mechanism to wait from the FAA to actually exempt the state and federal money so all this bill does members is give DFA the forty to put a mechanism in place to have an exemption was held out of the On the payroll so that a particular vote. Represent Jett is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House is the pastor of House Bill ten forty nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill two thirty six. Senate bill two thirty six are represented Jett to exempt unemployment compensation benefits from income tax during a certain time period and to declare an emergency or subject you're recognized explain the bill. Members this is the bill that we discussed the last couple weeks is about doing tax exemption for people who made an appointment and twenty twenty and twenty twenty one to delays or taxes some of the numbers as one give some a numbers taken from DFA who shared with us in twenty nineteen hours forty three thousand Arkansans whose unemployment in twenty twenty that number swelled to two hundred eighty one thousand. In twenty nineteen there's ninety eight million dollars with unemployment benefits that was first that the state of Arkansas in twenty twenty that number grew to two point six billion dollars so assistive can't sniffing hit so under this bill what we're proposing to do is do a tax The lack of a better way Senate tax cut for the people is on unemployment for those two years twenty twenty and twenty twenty one going forward and then twenty twenty two January first recess back to where it is right now on for fiscal year twenty one is going to fifty one million dollar hit to general revenue in fiscal year twenty to twenty twenty two is a three point one million dollar reduction to general revenue non officer my colleagues I've asked me since we started this on this question well there's been a lot of folks who abuse the system like I mean I can argue that the what I would say I would say back on my district is folks needed this on what we're doing is without passage of this bill today we're making these folks who do not have the mechanism to have withholding off through an employment all of a sudden wake up a year later if they've been on upon the first all year to find out a list not only my I'm unemployment lost my job loss of benefits I'm having to pay state taxes so if if we don't do this bill the way I see it is is a state taking a windfall from these folks the state funded we don't need the money right now we're at four million dollar surplus and schedule do we pay for it it will have to remain dollar surplus I mean I I administer the put money back into the people's hands to who hit it the hardest so with that I'll entertain any questions. The McKenzie for what purpose. Question you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker. And I I agree I understand what we did with the P. away and we did that really across the board regardless of where they fell as far as how bad it head on and then with this I understand the rationale as well as far as it wasn't held it's a big hit they weren't expecting in a lot of these people running free falling I understand all that so I agree with that and thank you would knowledge to. We've got folks that we know abused it and course we know we had folks who were able to continue to work during this and I know it's hard on them when they would have sometimes friends who say I'm making more money staying home and and and so my question is even though I agree with these things we're doing here the fairness issue is how do we say to these people what can we say to these people we're still going to take we're gonna charge you income tax but not these folks over here now rise we've got some of got surplus and we've got ideas out there but across the board on these other two we have done that so that's my question for you is there watching I think they deserve a some ideas to on them you know appreciate question I guess my answer would probably be you know at the end of the day we enacted the tax on appointment back in twenty seventeen from military terms and we never give these folks the the benefit to have any exemptions so that one is ten ninety nine start dropping which are dropping right now two hundred eighty two and eighty one thousand folks in the State of Arkansas to to to to give you some top of the example of how many folks this is was one point five million tax filers in the State of Arkansas right so we're looking close to. Math eight ninety percent of folks are are handicapped to do this they never had the luxury the opportunity to to ever have any with holding out of their taxes and all of a sudden or waking up in the year long pandemic to to to find out Hey listen I don't know we lost her job with the state charging this. I'm one of the tax would be thousand fifteen hundred whatever the on top of that so I mean I understand what you're saying I wish we could do it the when we act like myself I you know I've got a tax bill letter right now floating around doing taxes toward the bottom table you know we're we're all trying to to to find a balance if you will right now these folks are really struggling without the without the other jobs in a this is where to help and I that's probably not an issue one here with us best I can do for. Absent gray for purpose question recognized thank you Mr Speaker represented jet just a question about federal taxes are there any federal taxes due on the regular unemployment or the pandemic unemployment please not will present question represent great when we never give these folks the benefit to build to do the waiver of their federal taxes will on the taxes it's state and federal taxes so they're gonna get hit with a ten ninety nine on the federal side in nineteen ninety nine on the state side as well so we never the last bill that we just passed out of this body we'll take care of that going four for twenty twenty two going forward but we never got the folks of the bill to do that so they're going to get hit with ten ninety nine for state and federal taxes both. Represent Vaught for what purpose question you're recognized I thought that by federal they could at the beginning sign up and say that they wanted their federal tax taken out according to the fate of the Senate schedule DFA deface it is making it was not a place for that to happen follow follow at an so I have a son in law that his job completely left the state of Arkansas and he did sign up at the beginning for his taxes to be withheld so they were withheld so does that mean where did that money go when they were with Hale do you know where it went because I know the mechanism was there for him to sign up for it to be withheld I'm assuming represent about that he's paying taxes out of state because the state of Arkansas just had a conversation less than thirty minutes ago DFA clarification on this issue because this question was it was asked at ask of me there was no mechanism in place for federal or state okay thank you one thing that's another interesting thought if the this past today know that some of us have border state my word was sent on borders a lot of our CPA's they do like not my world we do my CPA's do a lot of folks in Tennessee and Missouri for example so if you have a Arkansas residents who has a job in Missouri or Tennessee or whatever state it is comes back Arkansas. This will still honor that the it makes no distinction because a set of is a federal program or the federal probe the federal workforce development workforce folks have to approve this so it is a federally approved represent rate for what purpose question you're recognized represent jet I apologize if you've already addressed this in your March but because this is a temporary waiver of the income tax for this purpose it It are surplus funds going to be used to pay for this or can you dress up will really right now may not appreciate question really I mean that's that's to be debated there's several of us as pushing that what you not like so long ago we have four million dollar surplus we could schedule day and represent Lane Jean can speak more to this than I can but we get to sit scheduling that four million dollars longer term in dollars we have to return I mean dollars extra money so what to serve several research proposing to do we get to the backside of session take that to a million dollars that we have surplus you time Representative list sees bill ago they just we just passed out of this body that's a tune thirteen million dollar hit this is a to us as a fifty fifty one million dollar had a lease what was fifty fifty four million dollar here so so we're looking at two hundred sixty million dollars is really kind of what we're looking at what we're supposed to do is take the access two hundred million dollars Senate back in long term restricted reserve fund in the end we can bankroll that money. Here's the rub the rub is DFA says that this money is baked into the budget we always go along with DFA we never sign for what the FAA says I sometimes we don't agree with the FAA now in this case we we we we don't agree with the FAA because it was never backed into the budget they did not know this pandemics common but what they're telling us is because a macro economics it is baked into the budget and it will cost two hundred some million dollars down the road well my argument in and let's speak for my colleague German Jean some of those will I will is it was never backed into the budget because you don't know the PPP the or I'm sorry the pandemic was going to hit. So what we're proposing do is take the access to a million dollars bankroll it what we can do is we can with the pastor this with past what we did with personalities we go back to our district so we cut two hundred sixty million dollars worth of taxes we put two million dollars in the bank and using that money that we put back into the bank we can take a trip our bond rating from a B. plus tonight plus is just a little bit more money because we're bankrolling it back this was when I start you take a look at our bond you know how to take a look at our bond ratings if you will. So the end of the day I mean my argument to my people back home is is we cut turns turn fifty six million dollar taxes paternity dollars back in the bank and we raise our bond rating and to me is when we understand the tax cuts and fund a lot of us wanted but at the end of the day people were struggling back home I know they are my district and I guess I don't have bookstores big box stores my district I have small shops I have I don't have I don't have low trust Oxford truckstop for big convenience stores I have mom and pop convenience stores and people are really struggling and this is a way to help these people back home. Brown what purpose question recognized Representative Jack. You probably answer this but I need some clarity are you are this legislation will prevent us. The people in the state of Arkansas for paying income tax on their unemployment. Is this to align with the federal program or would they still be paying income tax on their to the feds no Well the the the state and from the federal side this is just for the state side thank you welcome. Because I appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Jett is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill two thirty six per the machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause has everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety two yeas to nays and three present the bill an emergency clause a past Mr Clark please read Senate bill one seventy two Senate bill one seventy two by represented Hudson concerning records and photographs kept by the state crime laboratory into the clan emergency. Represent Hudson you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you for that kind welcome colleagues and this is a bill that came through the Senate from the department of corrections and what it means to do is to fix a loophole and twelve twelve three twelve which was allowing inmates to the department of corrections to obtain trophies tokens pictures of their victims from crime scenes autopsy photos and the like not for purposes of mounting an appeal or any sort of legal action but for their own personal use so what this amendment to the existing statute does is two fold one it closes that loophole so that the inmates are not allowed to obtain or keep those types of bills in their cells into it allows the attorney that the attorney general's office to also access the information that they need from the crime lab so I'll entertain any questions but would appreciate a good vote on this. All right sing nine thank you. Ferguson Hudson has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Hudson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one seventy to prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause there when voting. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety five U. A. zero nine one present the bill emergency clause are passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill two twenty seven the Bill two twenty seven by represented Tosh concerning the respective duties of the parole board the department of corrections and secretary of the department of corrections and concerning the vote requirements for the police were to act. Representantes you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and for present this bill I just a. Just like to say thank you Mr Speaker for the calls in the concerning buddy and role in those of you behind me and but I especially want to say. Thank you colleagues. The Texas the calls. The emails. You have no idea. Why would tell me Reedham to me. And. It made my day and I'm forever grateful. And The last time I stood here I was known to this podium to keep from falling. As many of you will remember. But today I stand here. Home all thanks to a great surgeon an awesome god. Now Mister Speaker we are permission now I think I'm ready to present this bill. So this may be the time and if. And it may be an opportunity that I'm going to me yes because this would probably be the perfect time to present the most controversial bill I've ever had in my life but this but this is a pretty simple bill and all this bill does is it just the and I appreciate by a state may per run it is building committee for me and thank you for that it but this bill is just to make sure that the secretary of corrections is used as a consultant to the parole board and the only reason for that he's not going to have any vote with the parole board is not going to have any say or get into their business Hey just most to make sure that if they have any issue or something he is the secretary of the department of corrections agents will come to consult with the mention the consulting status only and the that's all there is to it and with that I would appreciate a good vote. Per cent Tosh explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Representation's close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill to twenty seven per machine Mr Clark. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety eight yeah a zero day and zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill two twenty eight. Senate bill two twenty eight by represented Tosh to make technical amendments to statutes governing the administration of the Division of correction and the Division of community correction Centaurus must explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues again This Is of the bill from the department of corrections this is just a series of technical reckons of which was found throughout the code and and corrections such as changing department to division and they said drug is basically what it amounts to it also clarifies so there's there's no misunderstanding it clarifies the supervision of staff shall we will align with what's already in code in the transformation bill so it really doesn't make any huge significant changes and like I said it's a series of technical corrections and with that I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Tosh 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 two twenty eight per the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. They're one voted cast about Mr Clark by a vote of nineteen ninety eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one oh four the Bill one of four by represented more intimate the definition of average compensation as that term applies to the Arkansas State Highway and police retirement system to declare an emergency. Percent worn you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this bill revises the annuity benefit to be based on the high five year consecutive salary currently it is a high three year consecutive salary teachers retirement has already switched to the five year it also replaces using the word state high salary to our dot high salary so that they paid based on our Dutch time in the system so I would entertain any questions. 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. Represent Warren is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one oh four prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted you're voting on the bill in the emergency clause has everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by voted ninety eight U. A. zero nine eight and zero present the bill emergency clause are passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one of six. Senate bill one of six I represent of Warrington in the law concerning eligibility to receive increased benefits the Health Care offset the deferred option accounts under the Arkansas State Highway employees retirement system and to declare an emergency represent warn you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this the last of the Arkansas State Highway employee retirement bills for this session. Currently our dot employees who have entered the drop or getting the health care offset twice once in the drug program and once as an employee this will eliminate the drop health care benefit until the person retires they will always have the benefit just not twice at the same time so I would appreciate a good vote. Represent worn is 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 the passage of Senate bill one oh six per machine Mr Clark. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety six yeas one day and zero present the bill emergency clause or past represented Jean moved that we place house bill ten eighty six on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection read Amendment number one Mr Clark. And then the number one to House Bill ten eighty six represent gene you're recognized to explain the amendment. I am a Speaker all this is a clean up bill for the sector states offices deleting two sections in there any questions. Create a good vote on Amendment. Representing is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment. Represent Jean is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the adoption of amendment number one to House Bill ten eighty six all in favor say aye. Any opposed the amendments adopted represent Jeanne moos we place house bill eleven twenty five on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection read Amendment number two Mr Clark amendment two to House Bill Levin twenty five. The gene recognized explain the amendment. I miss Baker this is the of Arkansas treasurer's office it has of some increase the increases the changes we had one. Of chief financial investor we split him up now we have to chief financial investors mainly what this bill to create a good vote on Amendment. Representing is explain the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. What I would like to speak for the amendment. Question for the houses the adoption of amendment number two to House Bill Levin twenty five all in favor say aye. Any opposed the amendments adopted represent Jean. I move that we were re referred house bill thirteen ninety two to committee that's proper motion represent Jane you're recognized explain The motion. Thank your Speaker will send this back to joint budget it's got some corrections in the bill on that the staff call appreciate a good vote Senate back. Represent Jean is explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Represent Jean is closed for the motion the question before the House is the re referral of house bill thirteen ninety two to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion passes represented Jean moved that we re referred house bill twelve twenty to committee that's proper motion represent gene you're recognized explain The motion favor Speaker of senator Dismang has a bill that's going to affect this if you thousand had been filed yet we're gonna send it back Joint Budget till the the files a bill appreciate a good vote. Person Jean is explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. We would like to speak for the motion represent gene is close for the motion the question for the houses the re referral of house bill twelve twenty two committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes represent Jane you're recognized present budget calendar. Thank you Mr Speaker. Calling the first we're going to batch. House Bill ten ninety. Former commerce. House Bill twelve eighty four northwest Arkansas Community college house bill twelve eighty nine Arkansas state Mountain Home house bill thirteen oh seven universe of Arkansas Pulaski pick. And house bill thirteen oh nine thirteen oh eight excuse me Ozark a college these are appropriations for next year there in the governor's balanced budget there are no changes from the governor's balanced budget any questions do any pull any of these out of the. The bush the batch. The thing under Speaker the Clerk read the bill for third time. please read the bills for the third time also ten ninety house bill twelve eighty four house bill twelve eighty nine houseful thirteen oh seven house bill thirty No Way. Per the machines work. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bills emergency clauses are passed representing you're recognized. Your Speaker calling. We're going to start out of house bill thirteen ninety three these are all three appropriations these are mainly capital projects that are not been spent what we're doing they've already been budgeted in the current year this will give them the authority to spend this past July first of the next year please re appropriations no no additional money. Start with house bill thirteen ninety three House Bill thirteen ninety four House Bill thirteen ninety five House Bill thirteen ninety six House Bill thirteen ninety seven House Bill thirteen ninety eight House Bill thirteen ninety nine House Bill fourteen hundred House Bill Fortino one house bill fourteen team in house bill fourteen eleven House Bill fourteen twelve House Bill fourteen thirteen House Bill fourteen fourteen House Bill fourteen fifteen. Do I need to pull any of these at the back for any reason you have any questions on. Your one voted for the the Bill the merger clause will be Speaker had Clerk read the bill for third time. Mr Clark please read the bills for the third time S. the thirteen ninety three house bill thirteen ninety four house bill thirteen ninety five house bill thirteen ninety six house bill thirteen ninety seven house bill thirteen ninety eight house bill thirteen ninety nine houseful fourteen hundred houseful Fortino one. So fourteen ten house bill fourteen eleven house bill fourteen twelve house bill fourteen thirteen house bill fourteen fourteen house bill fourteen fifteen. Per the machine Mr Clark. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses as everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety seven yeas one million zero present the bills emergency clauses are passed represent gene you're recognized. Thank your Speaker house bill forty nineteen with with this amendment only if you remember the sales tax collection that is collected in our local cities and counties were just the pass through of sales taxes would increase and we do not have the authority to send it back the of appropriate money that the cities and counties have been collecting and all this does is raise up for the current year of the ability to the state by the cities and counties back sales tax if they raise any questions. Everyone voted for the bill mercy Clause we Speaker the Clerk read the bill third time. Mr Clark please read the bill for the third time House Bill fourteen nineteen permission Mr Clark. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause. As everyone voted. Has everyone voted cast Baptist Clerk Bible ninety sixty eight zero day and zero present the bill emergency clause are passed. Represent makes for what purpose. Motion place let's hear your motion after the announcement three of the bill transferring to the bill's place on the counters 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 reports 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. The motion passes. Members as we move into announcements I know we're gonna have a number of a man announcements concerning committees but I would please pay special attention to this announcement and we may have more of these as we proceed forward but effective as of Tuesday March second which is next Tuesday the House Public transportation committee will meet at nine thirty AM in a big mac room C. on the fourth floor and House public health welfare welfare labor committee will meet at two PM or upon adjournment whichever is later simply put public transportation public health are switching their meeting times they both meet in big maxi but after beginning next Tuesday and for. Period moving forward they're gonna switch meeting times so the one that's in the morning most the afternoon in the afternoon when will move to the morning and again I anticipate that there probably come a time when we'll have to flipping back and probably some other committees will have to do the same thing again just trying to accommodate the fact we have a limited number of committee rooms available due to the social distancing requirements all right so make sure you pay attention to that the other thing that I would mention is that in talking with the committee chairs I think we're we've been pretty efficient about moving things along I get the sense that this is an opportunity if you have bills in committees that or you're ready to run I know a number of committees are or are looking for bills to run so I would encourage you this is a good opportunity to try to move some of those things ahead of you as you know we have no bill filing deadline but. As you'll hear me say more and more as we get later in the session don't wait to the last minute because at some point. There's just no more time we got time right now so this is a good opportunity thank you for your attention any other announcements represent gene for what purpose announcement you're recognized Joint Budget will be tomorrow morning at eight thirty members we have around fifty eight fifty nine appropriations all but two have hold on I'm if you have a hold and you have a problem with an agency contact me or staff and will get in if you the if I need to talk to you but we need to start working through some of these hold thank you represent Cozart for what purpose management you're recognized House education makes tomorrow morning room one fifty one at nine thirty. Present Lanny Fite for what purpose announcement you're recognized city county local meeting fifteen minutes And maxi represent Ladyman for what purpose announcement recognized public health labor and welfare committee will meet tomorrow morning at nine thirty in maxi represent Charlene Fite for what purpose announcement you're recognized aging children youth military will meet within fifteen minutes pawn adjournment represent Holcomb for what purpose announcement you're recognized public transportation will meet tomorrow at two PM or after house adjourns tomorrow in maxi represent Vaught for what purpose announcement you're recognized ag committee will meet ten minutes upon adjournment today. Represent Fortner for purpose. Announcement you're recognized revenue tax will be meeting at tomorrow two o'clock one fifty one I know you were missing me. Any other announcements. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the joint resolution the house will be adjourned until one PM tomorrow.