Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (50)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB106
Act 150
· 3 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…please transmit to the House. Okay, members, we'll now hear Senate Bill 106.”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE INCREASED BENEFITS, THE HEALTHCARE OFFSET, AND DEFERRED … | B. Sample | Notification that SB106 is now Act 150 |
|
SB104
Act 149
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB104 B. Sample TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "AVERAGE COMPENSATION"…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "AVERAGE COMPENSATION" AS THE TERM APPLIES TO THE ARKANSAS STATE … | B. Sample | Notification that SB104 is now Act 149 |
|
SR6
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…1184 by Representative Dalby, recommend do pass. Calendar. Senate Resolution 6 by Senator Wallace. To recognize the need to designate the…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO DESIGNATE THE MUSEUM LOCATED ON THE FORMER EAKER AIR FORCE … | D. Wallace | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1009
Act 141
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1009 Wardlaw Beckham TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTIO…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS FOOD IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1009 is now Act 141 |
|
HB1010
Act 142
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1010 Jett M. Johnson TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FO…”
|
TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR SALES OF CERTAIN AIRCRAFT. | Jett | Notification that HB1010 is now Act 142 |
|
HB1031
Act 143
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1031 Jett M. Johnson TO REQUIRE THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF INCOME…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF INCOME TAX RETURNS BY TAX PRACTITIONERS; AND TO AMEND … | Jett | Notification that HB1031 is now Act 143 |
|
HB1033
Act 144
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1033 Jett M. Johnson TO REMOVE EXTRANEOUS REFERENCES TO DIGITAL…”
|
TO REMOVE EXTRANEOUS REFERENCES TO DIGITAL MAGAZINES IN THE SALES TAX LAWS; AND TO CLARIFY … | Jett | Notification that HB1033 is now Act 144 |
|
HB1041
Act 145
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1041 Jett M. Johnson TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMEN…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO WAIVE THE CERTIFICATE … | Jett | Notification that HB1041 is now Act 145 |
|
HB1042
Act 146
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1042 Jett M. Johnson TO REPEAL THE LONG-TERM RENTAL VEHICLE TAX.”
|
TO REPEAL THE LONG-TERM RENTAL VEHICLE TAX. | Jett | Notification that HB1042 is now Act 146 |
|
HB1099
Act 130
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1099 Vaught Leding TO AUTHORIZE THE VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINING…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD TO PROMULGATE RULES REGARDING TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE AND … | Vaught | Notification that HB1099 is now Act 130 |
|
HB1142
Act 131
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1142 Vaught Leding TO RECOGNIZE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF LIVES…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF LIVESTOCK AND ANIMALS AS A ROUTINE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICE. | Vaught | Notification that HB1142 is now Act 131 |
|
HB1184
Act 147
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…s. Calendar. Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred to House Bill 1184 by Representative Dalby, recommend do pass. Calendar. Senat…”
|
CONCERNING THE DRAWING OF A PERSON'S BLOOD WHEN A PERSON WAS OPERATING OR IN ACTUAL … | Dalby | Notification that HB1184 is now Act 147 |
|
HB1322
Act 132
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1322 Holcomb Stubblefield TO AMEND THE TIMELINE FOR EMBALMING A…”
|
TO AMEND THE TIMELINE FOR EMBALMING A DEAD BODY IN THE STATE. | Holcomb | Notification that HB1322 is now Act 132 |
|
SB103
Act 138
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ank you, Mr. Pro-Dim. Members, this is a companion bill for Senate Bill 103 that we passed yesterday. The purpose of this bill is to di…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS STATE HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES' DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN CONTRIBUTION … | B. Sample | Notification that SB103 is now Act 138 |
|
SB109
Act 100
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…te Bill 42 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 43 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 109 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 201 by Joint Budget, Senate Bi…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE BUREAU OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB109 is now Act 100 |
|
SB138
Act 254
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB138 J. Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE, CO…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE, CONTRIBUTIONS AND REPORTING; TO REENACT THE REQUIREMENT TO … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB138 is now Act 254 |
|
SB161
Act 536
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “engrossed bills to whom was for Senate bill 161 by Senator Garner compare the gross copy with the rich one…”
|
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OFFER A HUNTING SAFETY … | T. Garner | Notification that SB161 is now Act 536 |
|
SB168
Act 381
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB168 K. Hammer TO MODIFY THE EXEMPTIONS OF CERTAIN ENTITIES FROM…”
|
TO MODIFY THE EXEMPTIONS OF CERTAIN ENTITIES FROM INSURANCE REGULATION. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB168 is now Act 381 |
|
SB183
Act 324
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB183 K. Ingram TO AMEND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW; TO PROHIBIT THE US…”
|
TO AMEND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS OR CARRYOVER FUNDS … | K. Ingram | Notification that SB183 is now Act 324 |
|
SB200
Act 161
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…h. Were your committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate Bill 200 by joint budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB200 is now Act 161 |
|
SB201
Act 101
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…e Bill 43 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 109 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 201 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 209 by Joint Budget, Senate Bi…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB201 is now Act 101 |
|
SB202
Act 102
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 201 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 209 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 202 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 210 by Joint Budget, Senate Bi…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB202 is now Act 102 |
|
SB209
Act 103
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 109 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 201 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 209 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 202 by Joint Budget, Senate Bi…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - NEWPORT APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB209 is now Act 103 |
|
SB210
Act 104
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 209 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 202 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 210 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 214 by joint budget, Senate Bi…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - BEEBE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB210 is now Act 104 |
|
SB214
Act 105
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 202 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 210 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 214 by joint budget, Senate Bill 222 by joint budget, and Senat…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB214 is now Act 105 |
|
SB215
Act 163
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ss. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 215 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on j…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB215 is now Act 163 |
|
SB216
Act 164
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ss. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 216 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on j…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS COLLEGE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB216 is now Act 164 |
|
SB222
Act 106
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 210 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 214 by joint budget, Senate Bill 222 by joint budget, and Senate Bill 223 by joint budget.”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT MORRILTON APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB222 is now Act 106 |
|
SB223
Act 107
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…l 214 by joint budget, Senate Bill 222 by joint budget, and Senate Bill 223 by joint budget.”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT BATESVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB223 is now Act 107 |
|
SB224
Act 166
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ss. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 224 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on j…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE SAU-TECH APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB224 is now Act 166 |
|
SB226
Act 632
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB226 L. Chesterfield REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MEDICAL…”
|
REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE … | L. Chesterfield | Notification that SB226 is now Act 632 |
|
SB266
Act 167
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ss. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 266 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on j…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF COUNTY OPERATIONS REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB266 is now Act 167 |
|
SB267
Act 168
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 267 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB267 is now Act 168 |
|
SB268
Act 169
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 268 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB268 is now Act 169 |
|
SB269
Act 170
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 269 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSFORMATION AND SHARED SERVICES - BUILDING AUTHORITY DIVISION REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB269 is now Act 170 |
|
SB270
Act 171
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 270 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB270 is now Act 171 |
|
SB271
Act 172
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 271 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSFORMATION AND SHARED SERVICES - ARKANSAS GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB271 is now Act 172 |
|
SB277
Act 178
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 277 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MILITARY REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB277 is now Act 178 |
|
SB278
Act 333
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 278 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB278 is now Act 333 |
|
SB279
Act 179
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 279 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - ARKANSAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB279 is now Act 179 |
|
SB280
Act 332
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 280 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB280 is now Act 332 |
|
SB282
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB282 M. Johnson TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CONSOLIDATED WA…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CONSOLIDATED WATERWORKS SYSTEMS; TO AMEND THE GENERAL POWERS OF A … | M. Johnson | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
SB285
Act 180
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 285 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB285 is now Act 180 |
|
SB286
Act 181
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred to Senate Bill 286 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB286 is now Act 181 |
|
SB289
Act 462
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB289 K. Hammer TO CREATE THE MEDICAL ETHICS AND DIVERSITY ACT.”
|
TO CREATE THE MEDICAL ETHICS AND DIVERSITY ACT. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB289 is now Act 462 |
|
SB292
Act 786
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…e agency. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 292 by Senator Rayford, compared the engrossed copy with the or…”
|
ESTABLISHING THE PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT GRANT PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Rapert | Notification that SB292 is now Act 786 |
|
SB301
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…e agency. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 301 by Senator Sullivan,”
|
TO REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES TO RETURN FINES COLLECTED UNDER § 20-7-101 DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH … | D. Sullivan | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB4
Act 72
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ures from the regular session of the 93rd General Assembly. Senate Bill 4, Act 72, Senate Bill 7, Act 73, Senate Bill 21, Act 74, Sen…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISABILITY RETIREMENT, EMPLOYER ACCUMULATION ACCOUNTS, AND EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER THE … | B. Sample | Notification that SB4 is now Act 72 |
|
SB42
Act 98
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “your Committee on Enrollable Bills, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 42 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 43 by Joint Budget, Senate Bil…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE AND DISABILITY COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB42 is now Act 98 |
|
SB43
Act 99
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ls, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 42 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 43 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 109 by Joint Budget, Senate Bi…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMIC FACILITIES AND … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB43 is now Act 99 |
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Unknown speaker
0:00
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yes.
Thank you.
Alexa, turn on back to your order.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Speaker 13
4:27
order, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Ballinger,
Speaker 149
4:32
Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismang, Eads, Elliott, English,
Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendren, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stebafield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Everyone, please stand, including those in
Representative Josh Miller
Unverified
5:08
the gallery, for the prayer.
Speaker 19
5:14
Senator Bledsoe appears to be the one leading us in prayer today. Thank you, Senator Bledsoe. please
Senator Cecile Bledsoe
Unverified
5:24
for our prayer father god we just come before you today and we just thank you and praise you for for life and for our good health and for the health of those that of those that we love we ask that you would bless this body and that you would give us wisdom and understanding
and knowledge so that we might make good decisions for the people of this state And Father, we ask for a hedge of protection around our governor and those that serve under him and around our president and those that serve under him. And Father, we ask also that you would be with the military, whether at home or in foreign lands, and that you would just bless us as we go about our day.
Speaker 24
6:17
In the name of Jesus, amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
Speaker 27
6:28
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, for
Speaker 29
6:34
liberty and justice for all. The announcement, before we begin announcements, I just want to
Chair
Unverified
6:40
emphasize what I've said repeatedly, which is it's always been hard to hear in this room, always.
For six years it's been hard. It's even harder now with masks and
Speaker 19
6:53
the plexiglass, and I understand why we do that. I understand there's something you can put in your ear. That's good. I've got a JBL speaker, which I'm sure can go up to 11, like it's final time, but it's stuck at 1. I don't know why. We've spent thousands of dollars in here, and we can't turn things up. So, what's the answer? speak very clearly into the microphone as if
I can't hear because I think a lot of people can't hear and so that would be very helpful any announcements, items at the desk Senator
Chair
Unverified
7:39
some things I'm going to repeat so everybody can hear it when I think it's too low. Okay, any items at the desk?
Speaker 149
7:52
Dear Mr. President, this is to inform you that on February 9, 2021, I approve the following measures from the regular session of the 93rd General Assembly. Senate Bill 4, Act 72, Senate Bill 7, Act 73, Senate Bill 21, Act 74, Senate Bill 34, Act 75, Senate Bill 35, Act 76, Senate Bill 84, Act 77, Senate Bill 123, Act 78, Senate Bill 125, Act 79, Senate
Bill 126, Act 80, Senate Bill 130, Act 81, Senate Bill 131, Act 82, Senate Bill 154, Act 83. Sincerely, Asa Hutchison, Governor. Vote. Dear Mr. President, this is to inform you on February 9, 2021, I reviewed and approved as to form the following measure for the regular session of the 93rd General Assembly, SCR 1. Sincerely, Asa Hutchison, Governor.
Chair
Unverified
8:55
Okay, file it. Senator Tucker, Clark Tucker has an announcement. Okay. Thank you, Governor. I just
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
9:11
wanna recognize today's doctor of the day, Dr. Beth Milligan, who has a family practice here in Little Rock. Thank you for being here, doctor.
Speaker 41
9:25
Okay. One second, and I want to recognize Senator Sturge. Senator Sturge, is this your signature? Thank you for
Chair
Unverified
9:34
that. Thank you for that. There was a lot of candy spilled here long before yesterday, and I couldn't read who it was, but he picked it up. Thank you. Didn't have to do that. Anybody want to see candy, get it. Madam Secretary, anything else at the desk? Oh, sorry, Senator Hickey, you wish to be recognized now? Okay, we're going to go through
these and then we'll get to it. Thank
Speaker 35
9:58
you, Senator. Any items at the desk? Yes, sir. Mr. President, will
Speaker 149
10:03
your Committee on Enrollable Bills, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 42 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 43 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 109 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 201 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 209 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 202 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 210 by Joint Budget, Senate Bill 214 by joint budget, Senate Bill 222 by joint budget, and Senate Bill 223 by joint budget.
Compare the enrolled copies with the original and have delivered to the governor at 11.28 a.m. for his approval. Pollock. You're good
Chair
Unverified
10:38
now? Senator Hickey is recognized. Thank you, Governor. Senator, mine will
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
10:46
be a point of personal privilege for the purpose of making
a motion. Please proceed. All right. Members and I have also already talked to Senator Flowers about this. I take no joy in this.
But, however, yesterday, Senator Flowers was censured by this body for making disparaging remarks about another member. The body had such authority to discipline Senator Flowers under Senate rules in the Arkansas Constitution, which states in article 5 section 12 that each house shall have the power to determine the rules of its proceedings and punish his members for contempt or disorderly behavior in its presence in conjunction with the censure penalty i move that senator flowers be further sanctioned by
this body by forfeiting her standing committee privileges for three business days i move that Senator Flowers will not participate in any meeting conducted by the Senate Judiciary Committee or the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee on February 15th, 16th, and 17th
of 2021. And with that, that'll be my motion, sir.
Chair
Unverified
11:58
Okay, it is a debatable motion. Are there any questions for the senator?
Any questions at all? Senator Clark Tucker is recognized for a question. Thank
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
12:10
you, Governor. Senator, if I had known about this, I would have asked you elsewhere. But I honestly am curious
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
12:16
whether, if we know the answer to whether Senator Flowers knew that her microphone was on when she said that yesterday. I don't know the answer to that question. I'm curious about that. I've
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
12:29
just had discussions with Senator Flowers, and that did not come up in our
Speaker 58
12:34
discussions. any other any other questions anyone wish to speak on the motion
okay we're going to have a roll call vote on this we're going to
Speaker 19
12:52
if there are sufficient hands we have five and okay there are please
Speaker 13
13:04
call the roll Malinger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell
Speaker 60
13:11
Chesterfield Clark Clark Davis Dismang Dismang Eads Elliot
Speaker 63
13:30
Elliot? Elliot? English? Flippo? Flowers? Garner? Gilmore?
Speaker 13
13:39
Hammer? Hendron? Hester? Hester? Hickey? Hill? Ingram?
Speaker 149
13:56
Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Aye. Letting. Letting. Pitch. Aye. Riper.
Speaker 13
14:11
Aye. Rice. Aye. Sample. Aye. Stubafil. Stubafil.
Speaker 149
14:19
Aye. Sturge. Sturge. Aye. Sullivan. Teague. Aye.
Tucker. Aye. Sturge. Sullivan. Aye. Teague. Aye. Tucker. Aye.
Speaker 65
14:43
Tucker. Wallis. Aye. Anyone wish to vote or change their vote? Senator
Speaker 19
14:49
Clark is aye. Senator Blake Johnson is aye. Anybody else over here? Anyone over here to vote or change their vote?
Chair
Unverified
14:58
Senator Tucker is no. Anyone else? Senator Letting is no.
Speaker 19
15:04
Senator Ingram is aye. Anybody else? Senator Elliott is present. I was
Speaker 24
15:15
sorry. Okay. Senator Sturge is aye. Senator Hester, did you?
Chair
Unverified
15:22
No. Senator Hester is no. Okay, anybody else?
Cast up the ballot. 25 yeas, 4 nays, 2 not voting, 3 present, 1 leave. The motion is carried. Senator is recognized. The president pro temp is recognized. Okay, members. Aside and separate from
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
15:48
Senator Flowers, I'm not your boss. You all know that. You put me in this spot to try to lead this body. You are all mature adults, but we have to think through the things that we do and the things that we say, because this body and this institution deserve that.
And I have to beg each and every one of you to remember that and to try to do that so that we can operate and proceed forward and get through this. I know that COVID has put an extra strain on everybody. I know that tempers are short, and that's to be expected. but I ask beg of you to please
Speaker 19
16:36
senator for your words thank you any items at the desk yes every year committee on
Speaker 149
16:44
engrossed bills to whom was for Senate bill 161 by Senator Garner compare the gross copy with the rich one find same correctly engrossed education can be on engrossed bills to whom was first sent by 195 by Senator Sullivan compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. State agency. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 292 by Senator Rayford, compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the
Speaker 35
17:10
same correctly engrossed. State agency. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 301 by Senator Sullivan,
compared the engrossed copy with the original, find the same correctly engrossed.
Speaker 149
17:20
Public health. Were your committee on joint budget to whom was referred Senate Bill 200 by joint budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 215 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 216 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 224 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 266 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to him was referred Senate Bill 266 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar.
Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 267 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 268 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 269 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 270 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, Tumas, Furred, Senate Bill 271 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred to symbol 272 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred to symbol 273 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred to symbol 274 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred to symbol 275 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred to symbol 276 by joint budget recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on joint budget to whom was referred to symbol 276 by joint budget recommend do pass.
Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 277 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 278 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 279 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 280 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 285 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 285 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 285 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 285 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him was referred to Senate Bill 285 by joint budget. Recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to him
Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred to Senate Bill 286 by Joint Budget, recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred to House Bill 1184 by Representative Dalby, recommend do pass. Calendar. Senate Resolution 6 by Senator Wallace. To recognize the need to designate the museum
Speaker 35
19:50
located on the former Ecker Air Force Base, the National Cold War Center, Senate Resolution 6.
Chair
Unverified
19:58
Calendar. Any other announcements? No more items. We're going to move into the business agenda. The first one is being passed over the Senate Memorial Resolution. We're moving on to Senate bills. Senator Sample, SB104, with an emergency clause.
Speaker 35
20:28
Senator Sample, to amend the definition of average compensation as the term applies to the Arkansas
Speaker 149
20:36
State Highway Employees Retirement System and to declare an
Speaker 86
20:40
emergency. Senator Sample. Thank you, Mr. President. But members, the purpose of
Senator Bill Sample
Unverified
20:45
this bill is to revise the calculation for the average salary compensation used in setting the retirement annuity benefits. Currently, Ashurst uses the high 36 consecutive months of salary to calculate the annual the annuity benefits.
This bill will revise the calculation and based on the consecutive average salary using the high 60 consecutive months. The revision of this annuity benefit calculation was a result in an estimated reduction of $7.3 million of unfunded actuary accrued liabilities and approximately decrease four and a
half years in the funded period.
Speaker 19
21:34
I appreciate your vote and I answer your questions. Any questions for the senator? Anyone wish to speak against for any objection to rolling
Speaker 21
21:45
the vote? Roll it. Please roll the vote. We need
Speaker 41
21:50
them on the screen. Those who are virtual, please have, when you're voting, please have your video on. thank you. Please roll. Senator Garner.
Speaker 94
22:02
Okay. Thank you, Senator Garner. Please roll the vote.
Speaker 149
22:10
Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismaine, Eads, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stubbefield,
Speaker 16
22:37
Sturge, Sullivan, T, Tucker, Wallace. Okay, are there any members who wish to vote
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
22:44
or change their vote? Seeing none, please cast up
the ballot. By a vote of 34 yeas, 0 nays, your bill is passed, please transmit to the House. Okay, members, we'll now hear Senate Bill 106.
Speaker 35
23:11
Senate Bill 106 by Senator Sample to amend the
Speaker 149
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law concerning eligibility to receive increased benefits, the health care offset, and deferred option accounts under the Arkansas State Highway Employees Retirement System, and to declare an
Speaker 103
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emergency. Senator Sample, you're recognized.
Senator Bill Sample
Unverified
23:31
Thank you, Mr. Pro-Dim. Members, this is a companion bill for Senate Bill 103 that we passed yesterday. The purpose of this bill is to discontinue the inclusion of the health care offset
and the benefit amount deposited to the individual account for active employees participating in a deferred retirement option plan. Currently, when setting the retirement benefits for active members, active employees enrolling in the drop, the health care offset is added to the annuity benefit, which means that you're double dipping, really. The inclusion of this benefit amounts reserved in the additional annual benefit of $1,350 maximum being deposited into the individual's drop account.
Speaker 98
24:27
The removal of this health care offset. Senator Sample, we're having members that are having trouble hearing. Is
Senator Bill Sample
Unverified
24:37
that mic on? It is now. I guess I should remove my mask. Sorry, members. Should I start over?
Speaker 110
24:53
Senator T, only if you'll put yours out, sir. Senator Sample, if you'll
Chair
Unverified
24:57
just continue from where you're at, I think it'll be fine.
Senator Bill Sample
Unverified
24:59
Okay. All right. The removal of this health care offset from inclusion in the deposit made to the drop accounts would result in an estimated reduction of the unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities of $2.1 million. and the funding period would be reduced by approximately 1.3 years. And this change would apply to individuals enrolling in the drop after June 30th, 2021. I'll take questions.
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
25:30
Anybody have any questions for Senator Sample? Anyone want
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
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25:49
to speak for or against the bill? Senator, are you closed? Yes, I'm
Speaker 13
25:55
closed. He's waiting to run the bill. All
Speaker 149
25:57
right, is there any objections? Roll the vote. Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismain, Eads, Elliot, English,
Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubbefield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Does anybody wish to vote
Speaker 16
26:22
or change their vote? Anybody wish to change your
Chair
Unverified
26:38
By a vote of 34 yeas, 0 nays, the bill is passed. If you would please transmit to
Speaker 35
26:47
the House. Senator Dismain, you're recognized,
Speaker 149
26:49
sir. Senate Bill 138 by Senator Dismain. To amend the law concerning campaign finance, contributions, and reporting. To reenact the requirement to file a statement of financial interest and to amend portions of Initiated Act 1 of 1990, Initiated Act 1 of 1996. You're
Speaker 126
27:06
recognized, Senator Dismay. Thanks, sir.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
27:09
Members, so this bill is a bill that was brought to me from the Ethics Commission in a way it does some cleaning up and then just some issues that they've seen, just provides some statutes in place to help them as they move forward through different processes. So first, it eliminates the ability of a prohibited PAC from contributing to a legitimate PAC. Evidently, that's an issue, and so a prohibited PAC cannot then contribute to a legitimate PAC. Second, it removes the two-year solicitation language.
That just reflects the Supreme Court ruling that Senator Johnson, I think, was involved with on that. And then third, it requires disclosure of your bank's name and address. that will be held with the Secretary of State's office. The Ethics Commission will be able to request that information, and it is exempt from FOI, and that's due to some members' concerns about that being public. And the last would be it cleans up the financial interest filing requirements. That relates to the changing of the primary due dates.
Chair
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28:14
Would that be happy to take any questions? Anybody have any questions? Senator
Senator Joyce Elliott
Unverified
28:31
Disbang. Senator Elliott, you're recognized, ma'am. Be just a second. Senator Elliott. All right. Thank you. Senator Dismang, when we talk about
Speaker 56
28:39
prohibited PACs, why do we have prohibited PACs? What does that mean
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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28:42
exactly? I think that's a great question.
But again, evidently there were some prohibited PACs or PACs that were not legitimately set up, is what I'm assuming that means, that then we're contributing to other PACs. And so that just eliminates from that, from being a process. That's part of, this is changing the constitutional amendment, if I remember right. And so that language, that prohibited PAC was not included in that constitutional language. Because I don't
Senator Joyce Elliott
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29:11
want to disparage anybody needlessly, if I were to ask you about this privately,
do you have an example of a prohibited
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
29:18
PAC? I do not, but I'm going to bet that the Ethics Commission would. All right. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
29:25
Any other questions? Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President.
Speaker 142
29:31
Senator Dismanck, was this the bill that would have prohibited someone from moving money
Speaker 149
29:34
over from one campaign to the other? If you'd like it to be, but no, sir, it's not. But that
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
29:40
language was removed then? No, that's a completely different bill.
Speaker 149
29:46
Okay. I just wanted to make sure that's what this wasn't yet. And correct me if I'm wrong also, a prohibited PAC is one that hasn't registered and followed the Arkansas laws on existence. Is that not correct? That's what I was
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
29:59
saying. I don't think they've, you know, they're not, they haven't
Speaker 149
30:02
legitimized them. I've actually found that during my campaign. You know, you kind of got to register and be, it's kind of like someone that shows up at the polls and hasn't registered to
Speaker 151
30:12
vote. They could be a voter, but they haven't qualified yet. Right.
Chair
Unverified
30:16
Okay. Thank you for your answer. Thank you, Mr.
President. Senator Eads, you're recognized. Senator Dismayne, when would this go into effect in the next election cycle, since there's no emergency clause, or how would that work
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
30:33
as far as, it says initial report on there. Yeah, I think it's signing, no, that's a
different bill. Are you looking at the initial report? Oh, you're talking about for the filing. Correct. Secretary of State. Correct. Yeah, mine, so this would be, there's not an emergency clause on this bill,
so it would be effective, you know, after, what, July, would be my understanding, and it would be with those initial filings of the
campaign. Okay. I don't mean, the way that it's worded, it doesn't go back
Speaker 157
31:01
and catch an original campaign. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In process. Other questions? Senator Pinch, you're recognized. Senator Dismang, we have the luxury on the system of adding a known PAC, that isn't in the system. Does this in any way preclude us from still doing that? Because it references identified PACs.
So, say it again, I was just having a little- Oftentimes, members will get a campaign support from someone who is a known PAC, but it
doesn't happen to be in the Secretary of State's website software package. So, it gives you the opportunity to key them in. No, no, no, these are, my
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
31:38
understanding, It's a PAC that just isn't in compliance with the state of Arkansas. Is a, yeah, so no, that would not be. Because the current process, follow up, follow up.
Okay, I'll ask the question. My question is that there is a system that then the Secretary of State goes out after you keyed it in and verifies their acceptance. Yeah,
but I don't think that would necessarily make them
Senator Jonathan Dismang
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32:03
prohibited if they're not part of the registered system. I don't know. I don't know how that all works in the software. You may know more of that
than I do. I think that's a very good tool for our members that they cannot then have to go back through all the process of doing something. When they're already registered, they just aren't in the software.
Chair
Unverified
32:22
Okay. Any other questions? If anyone want to
speak for or against the bill, consider disobeying your clothes. All right, members, this will take
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
32:39
24 votes to pass. Are there any objections to rolling the
Speaker 13
32:47
vote? Please roll the vote. Senator Mark Johnson,
Speaker 149
32:51
roll the vote. And Senator Mark Johnson will be present. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismain, Eades,
Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stebbelfield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Okay.
Chair
Unverified
33:28
Senator Irvin, are you present?
it? Okay, so we got that correct. Anybody else want to vote or change their vote? Senator
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
33:50
Johnson, are you trying to do something? Okay. All right, please cast up the ballot. By vote of 33 yays, zero nays. The bill is passed. If you
Chair
Unverified
33:58
would please transmit to the House. Senator Hamer, you're recognized for SB 168.
Speaker 35
34:03
Symbol 168 by Senator Hamer, to modify the exemptions of certain entities from insurance regulation. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
34:11
Back in about 2017, during that
session, this bill was originally created and laid the foundation by allowing primary care providers to be able to enter into agreements with their patients so that if you wanted to operate with them directly, you could and just pay them a separate fee. And because of the success of that, this bill opens it up to, and that's why the word primary care is stricken
and the word health care is put in there, is so that it would open it up so that if you had a relationship with a specialist that you wanted to do the same thing that you're doing with your primary care provider, you would be allowed to do the same thing. And so this bill, the foundation was laid in 2017. We're expanding it so that everybody can take advantage of any specialists that they may have as well. And I'll be glad to answer any questions. Does anybody have any questions? Does Senator Hammer?
Chair
Unverified
35:01
Anybody have any questions? Does anybody want to speak for or against the bill?
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
35:10
Senator, are you closed? I'm closed. Thank you. Appreciate a
Speaker 149
35:21
objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote, Madam Chair. Madam Secretary. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismaine, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Letting, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stebafield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Does anybody wish to change their vote? Please
Speaker 16
35:50
cast up the ballot. By a vote of 33 yeas,
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
35:59
0 nays, 1 non-voting, the bill is passed. Please transmit to the House. Senator Ingram, we recognize it. Senate Bill
Speaker 35
36:12
183 by Senator Ingram, to amend campaign finance law, to prohibit the use
Speaker 149
36:19
of campaign funds or carryover funds, to pay for an ethics violation, and to amend provisions of law resulting from Initiated Act 1 of 1990 and Initiated Act 1 of 1996.
Speaker 178
36:33
You're recognized, Senator. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This legislation is pretty, pretty basic and simple with the philosophy that if we make a mistake that we own up
Speaker 179
36:45
to it. What this would do, and this has happened on both sides of the aisle, is that some fines
that have been paid have been paid with money that has come from campaign accounts and carryover accounts. And philosophically, I think that we need to hold ourselves to a little bit higher standard than that. And this would require that payment would be prohibited from a personal from a carryover account or a campaign account to pay an ethics fine.
Speaker 180
37:18
I'll be happy to take any questions. Is there any questions for
Speaker 115
37:24
Senator Ingram? Any questions for Senator
Speaker 181
37:28
Ingram. Does anyone want to speak for or against the bill? You're close, Senator Ingram. Any objection
Speaker 13
37:44
to rolling the vote? Object. Please call
Speaker 149
37:51
the roll. Ballinger? Ballinger? Beckham? Bledsoe? Bledsoe? Caldwell? Chesterfield? Clark?
Speaker 60
37:58
Clark, Clark, Davis, Dismang, Eads, Elliot,
Speaker 185
38:08
English, Flippo, Flowers, Darner, Gilmore, Aye. Hammer. Aye.
Speaker 149
38:26
Hickey. Hill. Hill. Ingram. Aye. Irvin.
Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Ledding Pitch Rapert
Speaker 13
38:43
Rapert Rice Sample Stubbafil Sturge Sullivan Teague
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
39:07
vote or change the vote?
Peaky will be aye. Senator Rayford is aye. Senator Ballinger is no. I heard something else. Is there anybody else? Please cast this vote.
Chair
Unverified
39:24
This also took 24 to pass, so please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 31
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
39:31
yeas, two nays, one non-voting, the bill is passed. Please transmit to the House. Senator Chesterfield, you're up for SB 226.
Speaker 35
39:44
Madam Secretary, if you'd read. Senate Bill 226 by Senator Chesterfield, requiring the establishment of the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee of the Legislative Council to perform oversight related to Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 98. Senator Chesterfield, you're recognized, ma'am. Thank you,
Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. This bill does exactly what it says. It sets up legislative oversight. I think the most important part is on the last page,
on the last page, during a regular fiscal or extraordinary session of the General Assembly, well, the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee is to, anything dealing with them will be submitted for review purposes only. There was some question about whether or not we were gonna take on all of the trappings of the Medical Marijuana Commission. What we're talking about is a $200 million industry that has no legislative oversight, absolutely none.
And so I thought it was important that we establish a subcommittee so that this medical marijuana industry that generates over $200 million would come under legislative review. I have visited with all of the members of the medical marijuana community. They have no problem with the bill, but I would be happy to take
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
41:09
any questions. Anybody have any questions of Senator Chesterfield? Senator Rice, you're recognized. Thank
you, Senator Chesterfield. I'm sorry I have my oversight of this and didn't continue with you.
This would be adding a committee to legislative council. Yes, sir. And we have some committees, the House Chair and I just loosely talked about if there's a couple of committees could be combined. I'm unable to hear you, sir. Would you be opposed to looking at some committees that might be combined that we have now? We've got something like 16 committees.
We're going to be adding another one. would you work with me and let's see if we can might need another piece of legislation to well I have no problems
with it sir but as I studied it I did not see one that was
appropriate I understand that but we may have two other ones we could combine and I'm just trying not to add an extra committee if we could stay with the 16 but I'm not opposing your bill but we may need to combine some other issues in a couple of committees and make one out of them.
Speaker 203
42:23
This wouldn't be a totally different number, but it would be a new committee. I'd be glad to work with
you on that. So what are you asking me to do, to pull the bill down? No, no, no. As I said, I'm not opposing this. I would
like to get with you. Oh, you're talking about in the future? That's fine. Whatever you would like to do with it in the future. If there is a way that we can have more efficiency in committee structure, you and I both know that I have been in favor of that i just did not see one that fit this but if through the learned uh body we can
find that and are able to to uh put those two together then i'm fine with that i
Speaker 205
42:58
would appreciate work with you i just let this get by and if i just say that i got
with you earlier thank you but i would ask a good vote on this bill because we
Speaker 125
43:09
do need this oversight i do believe yes good we're still in the question is there any
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
43:16
other questions Senator Irvin. Thank you, Senator Chesterfield. I appreciate this bill that you're bringing forward as well. And then I guess my question would be,
is there anything in the language that would prevent legislative council from doing what you
and Senator Rice just discussed? There is nothing in here that would preclude that from
happening. Council would have the ability to combine the committees, but the only thing I'm concerned about is that we do have legislative review. and we currently don't have it. Whatever turn it takes, it's fine with me. Okay. All right. Thank you for information. You're very welcome. Any other questions?
Chair
Unverified
43:54
Any other questions? Anyone want to speak for or against the bill? Senator Sample is recognized to speak
Senator Bill Sample
Unverified
44:07
for the bill. Senator Sample. Thank you, members. uh senator chestfield and i and senator clark there may be some more that have attended a lot of these meetings this commission definitely needs oversight and so i would plea i would ask you and plead with you please vote for this give her an affirmative vote because this commission
does need the oversight thank you appreciate it
Chair
Unverified
44:34
okay anyone want to speak against the bill Anybody want to speak for it? Senator Irvin, you're recognized to speak for
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
44:44
the bill. Senator Irvin? I just wanted to say when we set up all the medical marijuana legislation that I worked on, this was an area that we had looked at and tried to discuss, and I think it's definitely needed. And I do appreciate it very much.
I would just say, you know, as we're looking through these things, we need to make sure, you know, that the tax revenue and all those different components are included in that. So, because we wrestled with some of those issues. And so I think it's a necessary thing. And I support it based on all the work I did on the medical marijuana legislation to set it up. Thank you. Senator Irvin
Speaker 181
45:25
has spoken for the bill. Anyone else want to speak against or for?
Chair
Unverified
45:31
You're closed, Senator Chesterfield. Is
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
45:37
there any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Speaker 149
45:50
Senator Garner, will you please? There you go. Thank you, sir. Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram,
Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Pitch, Rayford, Rice, Sample, Stubbefield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Does anybody wish to
Speaker 16
46:16
change their vote? Does anybody want to change their vote?
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
46:26
By a vote of 34 yays, 0 nays, the bill is passed, please transmit to the House. Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized to present SB 282.
Speaker 35
46:41
Hold on just a second, Senator Johnson,
Speaker 149
46:48
we're going to have to read it. Bill 282 by Senator Johnson to amend Arkansas law concerning consolidated
Speaker 72
46:54
waterworks systems to amend the general power of public body and to authorize financing improvements
Chair
Unverified
47:00
with revenue bonds. Senator Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you,
Speaker 149
47:04
Mr. President. Some of you may not know, Central Arkansas Water was formed as an interlocal agreement between Little Rock and North Little Rock when they merged and combined their waterworks.
They also serve now the city of Maumelle, much of the unincorporated part of Pulaski, and they also are a wholesaler to some water authorities in Saline County, and I'm not sure how many others. I know they are truly a regional water authority, and hopefully someday I'll get their water out in my part of Ferndale. But this bill is simple. it extends the powers to the municipality that they had when they were simply a single
municipality water work to allow them to improve and to do different things with property. They have some surplus real property that the board has told the staff to turn it into something that's productive rather than non-productive assets and they want to be able to develop it in concert with some kind of a developer where you would have apartments or some other appropriate development and would redevelop what they would refer to as stranded infrastructure and economic development.
They are not planning on going out and buying land and becoming a real estate developer, but they do have assets. They have land that need to be productive. The bottom line of it is when they do this and it increases the revenue stream to central Arkansas water, then perhaps that will help lower someone's water bill, maybe someday me, but those of you in Pulaski County that are already served, it might help bend the curve down on the increasing cost of water at the meter
to people who are in their service areas. This is, I consider it a cleanup bill, but it comes along simply because we created this super two-city and multi-county area agency that doesn't have the normal governmental authority. And this extends those same authorities to them so they could turn unproductive assets into productive assets for the benefit of their rate payers. And I would be happy to take questions, but appreciate a good vote. Anybody have any questions?
Speaker 121
49:23
Senator Sullivan? Senator Sullivan, go ahead, please.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
49:30
Senator Teague, you'll be next. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator, we talked about this in committee. Yes, sir. I'm just expressing my concern that we're using government resources and finances to enter into a business venture that at some point may look advantageous, but going down the road may not be. and we have government entering into the business market. Could you just, I know you've mentioned that before, but I'm just voicing my concern and would like for you to respond.
Speaker 149
50:03
Thank you, Senator Sullivan. I'll give you the same answer I gave in committee, and that is that philosophically I'm in 100% agreement and share your skepticism on this. I believe that we should let the private sector work when the private sector can. If I were a person that had capital available and wanted to go develop some rental units, I probably wouldn't look at the, in Pulaski County, I probably would not look at the property that CAW is somewhat as a stranded asset.
I would go out the west side where there's vacant lots ready to go. I could put up the buildings and start making money right away as opposed to something that, comparatively speaking, wouldn't be a good investment. Again, and they're not doing that. They have property that is somewhat of a stranded investment, and they're trying to make, I say they're trying to, very carefully using this, they're trying to make lemonade out of lemons. And this just gives them a tool to do that. It is limited in that scope.
And again, I agree with you. I always try to put that kind of test on what should be public and what should be private. But I think that we should allow this entity to do the same thing that other public entities could do to maximize the benefit from their property. I
Speaker 110
51:26
hope that answers your question. Thank you.
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
51:32
Senator T. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator Johnson. On the second page on line two, it starts that Central Arkansas or whoever this entity would be could do plumbing services subject to the Arkansas Plumbing Code.
And really, they can do all of the plumbing services
as best I can tell. Sprinkler system maintenance, service line repair, leak detection, removal, storage testing. So, I'm always reluctant to put a government entity in competition with
Speaker 226
52:00
private business. You have thoughts on that? Yes, sir. Senator Teague, I need to kind of bring up a
Speaker 149
52:14
date on something I should have mentioned in my presentation.
We've had a situation in... Senator Johnson,
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
52:21
can you hold up? Members, we're getting a lot of
Speaker 132
52:24
feedback up here. It's getting a little loud.
Speaker 149
52:29
Thank you. Let's continue, sir. Thank you, sir. We have a situation where we have private entities. This is not about going in and becoming plumbers. And basically the water company is not going to be a plumber. But when you have situations where there's a problem with backflow preventers and other devices,
And, again, they're very, very critical to the safety of the water because if you've got an inoperable or improperly operable backflow preventer, you could have fertilizer from a sprinkler system run backwards into the system and contaminate the downstream water on that. You would also, same way with the, again, the sprinklers coming in and also for leak detection where you'd have a water problem. This is not an authority for them to go in and replace what a plumber normally does.
It's only on things directly related to the services they provide to the water customers. Much of this, of course, relates to the safety of the water system itself. And I have to trust that they're going to limit it to that because that's the only things that this would authorize. So you trust government? I thought,
I didn't know your people would trust government. You people. You people. Now, please be more specific, Senator. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist it.
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
53:57
It's okay. But on line four of that, it says including without limitation. So they can do all plumbing according to this bill. They can do any plumbing without limitation that they
Speaker 149
54:08
want to do. No, sir. Line two, it says the following plumbing services. And then
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
54:13
on line four, it says including without limitation. Well, including those listed. Without limitation. To me, that says they can do anything they
Speaker 149
54:24
want to do. Well, except for the operative, the following in line 2 of page 2.
I realize I did not draft this personally, Senator. I would agree that it's a little unclear, but I think it solves the problem you seem to be raising because it says provide the following services, plumbing services, And then they're listed in lines 5 through 15. So I
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
54:48
believe that the water service has some sort of deal for $7 a month or something. They'll
come in and fix your leak or something. I don't know if this has to do with that. I was trying to understand that.
I was hoping you were going to say that. I appreciate your time.
Speaker 149
55:06
Thank you, Mr. President. I know there is an outside service company, Senator Teague, that in Little Rock has offered to do that. and for some reason the city actually sent mailers out on behalf of that third party, which I frankly have a little problem with, but this
bill does not affect that or address that in any way. Thank you. Thank you. Any other
Speaker 99
55:25
questions? Anybody want to speak before or against the bill?
Chair
Unverified
55:32
Senator, are you closed? I'm closed. Appreciate a good vote. Is there any objection
Speaker 149
55:49
to rolling the vote? If we have an objection, please call the roll. Ballinger, Beckham,
Speaker 60
56:03
Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Clark, Clark, Clark, Davis, Dismaine,
Speaker 185
56:12
Eves, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore,
Speaker 13
56:23
Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram,
Speaker 149
56:34
Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Aye. Letting. Aye. Pitch. Aye. Rapert. Rapert.
Rice. Aye. Sample. No. Stebafil. Stebafil. Sturge. Aye. Sullivan. No. Teague. Teague. No. Tucker. Aye. All right. Are there any
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
57:18
members that wish to vote or change their vote? Hickey is
Chair
Unverified
57:24
no. Anyone else? Stubblefield is no. Senator Rayford is yes. Senator Beckham is yes.
Speaker 121
57:34
Anyone else? Please cast up the ballot. By a vote
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
57:41
of 22 yeas, 9 nays, 1 non-voting, The bill is passed. Please transmit to the House. Senator
Chair
Unverified
57:48
Hamer, you're recognized to present SB
Speaker 149
57:51
289. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Hamer to create the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act. You're recognized, sir.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
58:00
Thank you, Mr. President, members of the chamber. You have a policy brief that pretty much answers probably a lot of the questions,
but I want to address just a few that have been presented to me briefly. I'll be glad to take any questions. Arkansas is lacking in one area that this bill will help clarify, and that is that it will establish or remove the fact that there's no cause of action for things which medical professions are sometimes put in a position that they don't want to do because of their conscientious objection. When you don't have a legal remedy, you don't have a right. Right now, if a doctor or nurse is forced to perform a procedure that they feel violates their conscience, there's absolutely nothing they can do about it.
and that's why we need to change to make sure that doctors and nurses are not coerced or forced into providing a service that they don't believe in. Arkansas health care payers have no specific conscientious protections. In the case of the Little Sisters of Poor case, Catholic nuns were sued by the state and even other states to perform things that were conscientiously objecting to, but they had no course to fall back on. And what this bill does, it provides that. This bill is modeled after two other states where this legislation is in place, one of those being Illinois and one of those being Mississippi.
And when you compare those two states and their philosophical differences, political differences, they are pretty much at both ends of the extreme. But yet, for the entirety of which those laws have been in place, there was no challenge to the law. Now, there are three questions that were presented to me. First question, and these were from fellow senators, but I don't particularly care about their name unless they want to identify themselves. If a doctor who works as an employee suddenly decides that their philosophical beliefs do not allow them to prescribe certain drugs,
and they want to prescribe herbals instead, can they not be demoted or have other repercussions because of this law? And in simple answer to the question, no, there's actually a case that was taken from an Illinois lawsuit that was filed. And this is what the court said. The legislature could not have intended to require the employer to pay an employee for performing no duties at the workplace. And there might be an instance where the objecting employee is the only employee who performs that particular duty.
The legislature could not have intended that the employer effectively ceases its operation, leaving no one employed at the business. We have obliged to construe the statute in a manner that avoids such an absurd, unreasonable, or unjust result, as from the Illinois Supreme Court. The other question was, will this put individuals in a position that they could deny to offer health care to persons based on race? And the answer is no. In fact, those rights are covered under the Affordable Care Act and the Public Health Service Act,
and so that question is answered also with no. The other question that I was asked just a little while ago is regarding insurance companies. Secular insurance companies won't be able to use it to deny payment because they won't have the institutional policies in place that support conscientious definitions. This is addressed in the conscientious definition on page two. In addition, the Arkansas Hospitality Association asked for language to protect against the abuse, and this is found on page 6, lines 8 through 27.
This protective language requires payers to file their conscientious objectives annually. That way, beneficiaries know before they purchase a plan that they would not be covered with regards to those issues. Those were the three questions I was asked, and those are the responses to those questions. The one thing I want to make unmistakably clear to anybody in this room is to understand this, that in the case of an emergency situation, this does not relieve the medical professional from their obligation to perform to the level of what their scope of practice allows them to perform
in the case of an emergency. This just addresses the priorities of elective procedures where people have time to make decisions, but it will also protect the providers who are being asked to do something against their conscientious determinations. With that, I'll be glad to try to answer any questions. Any questions? Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Landing, did you? Senator Hammer, will you take a question? We have one for Senator Landing and
Chair
Unverified
1:02:24
one for Senator Tucker. Senator Landing is recognized. Please speak clearly to the microphone. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Senator
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:02:32
Hammer. I'm concerned a little bit about just perhaps the broadness of the scope of the legislation. One concern I have is we're a very rural state. We don't necessarily have health care providers in every corner of our state. So what would happen if somebody is limited? There's just only one health care provider in their community. They refuse to perform whatever this service is, and this person is simply unable to access a health care provider that will provide the service. I
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:02:59
would respond this way. Yes, we are a rural state. I don't know that there's not
a more rural state than Mississippi and that you know has been addressed down there and that has not been an issue down there in the state of Mississippi to my understanding and the other thing is that with regards to the type of procedures that perhaps you're referring to they are not under emergency conditions and so I think that an individual if they were so minded to do so could find a provider.
Speaker 19
1:03:33
Senator Tucker. Okay, we're doing the questions. Any other questions? Any other questions? No other questions? Anyone want to speak against the bill? Senator Clark Tucker of Little Rock. A great Little League coach.
Speaker 21
1:03:47
I'm going to call. I appreciate that. I'm not sure it's accurate,
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:03:58
but I appreciate it. Thank you, Governor. I just wanted to take a moment to speak on this bill. The issue that Senator Ludding spotted in
his question is my concern is how broad this bill is. And I have absolute, you know, faith and total respect for Senator Hammer and faith that he wants the bill to do what he's saying. But when I look at the language in the bill myself, that's not what I see. What I see is that any health care provider can refuse to provide any health care service for any reason at all, unless it's an emergency as defined by federal law. And so I just want to focus on the language in the bill just a moment. When I say any health care provider, that's anybody, a physician, physician's assistant,
nurse, nurse's aide, medical assistant, health care institution employee, pharmacist, pharmacy employee, a medical researcher, a student, counselor, social worker, laboratory technician, or any other professional, paraprofessional, or other individual who furnishes or assists in the provision of a health care service. So that's literally anybody who works in the health care industry, and they can refuse to provide any health care service. I think this point bears a little more emphasis than even the first one that I made. It's not just that they can object and not provide a particular
treatment based on their conscientious objection. They're also entitled under this bill to refuse to even diagnose a condition or to refer a patient to someone else. I think this goes to the point that Senator Letting was making, especially in a rural area. If you go to a hospital and the doctor just flat says, I'm not going to diagnose what you have and I'm not going to refer you to anybody else, that person may just be in a really bad situation where they can't get to another doctor to figure out what's wrong. I think we could have another debate whether it's okay to refuse an
actual service or a treatment based on your conscientious objection. But I think there's a real problem with being able to refuse a diagnosis or even a referral. A lot of patients can't even get to see a specialist without a referral from their PCP, which means they have to find a new PCP to make that referral. And I think that that language in the bill is too broad. And then the third point, you know, that you can refuse it for any reason, except the only thing that's in the bill is if it's a medical emergency is defined in federal law. And the conscience is described as
any religious, moral, ethical, or philosophical belief. In my opinion, that pretty much covers everything under the sun. I think Senator Hammer probably is right that federal law covers race, national origin, and other things. That's not in the bill. But I can see a whole lot of other reasons that are not medically related that are not covered by that federal law that would not be good reasons to refuse healthcare treatment. I'll just use, I'll pick on myself. You know, many of y'all know because I've been open about the fact that I'm a cancer survivor and what a
kind of transformative experience that was for me. I know there are other cancer survivors in here. Everyone in here has either themselves or had a family member go through a major health emergency. I'll spare you the gory details, but I was going to my doctor because I had a symptom where I knew something was bad wrong. And it was very concerning to me. Now that was not a medical emergency as that is defined by federal law. I wasn't bleeding out, but it was a very timely situation for me. And thankfully my doctor diagnosed me. I went, had surgery, got treatment, and I'm in the clear.
But if my doctor had just flat said, you know what? I don't like Democrats and I'm not going to treat you for that reason. I think the doctor would be able to do that under the language as this bill is written. I don't think that's Senator Hammer's intent, but I think that would be permissible under the bill as it's written. And I just don't think that's where we should go. I'll close with this. I mean, the country is as divided as it's been in my lifetime. And to some extent, I think that's to be expected in the political arena, although it's gone a
little overboard, I think we would all agree, especially at the national level. But it's spilling over into other parts of our society. And the way that this bill is written, I see it going into the doctor's offices where doctors can refuse treatment. Someone comes in and they have symptoms of COVID and the doctor says, did you wear your mask? If not, I'm not sure whether I want to treat you for that. And that's not what being a medical professional is about. That's not the oath that they take. So for those reasons, I'm going to vote no on the bill and I would ask
Speaker 253
1:08:35
Would Senator Tucker take question? It's not my bill,
Speaker 83
1:08:39
but I'll take a few. I'll take a few. Okay. So it looks
Speaker 256
1:08:46
like Senator Ingram was first up. Then I'll go to Senator Bledsoe
Speaker 179
1:08:51
and then I'll go to Senator Sob. The federal act that Senator Hammer referred to about covering medical trauma patients that are coming in, that's the M. Tala Act, I believe. And all that requires is the stabilization of the patient, correct? I mean, that's
That's it. It's not stabilization, treatment, getting them out of the hospital. It's just the stabilization. Is that correct?
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:09:14
That's my understanding, Senator. I'm not a total expert, but yes,
Representative Josh Miller
Unverified
1:09:19
sir, that's my understanding. Thank you.
Senator Cecile Bledsoe
Unverified
1:09:22
Senator Blatsoe, then Senator Sullivan. So, would you not agree that if a physician saw a patient in the emergency room and did not refer, that would be a good example for medical malpractice?
As an attorney, do you not agree with
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:09:42
that? So, I caught most of that, Senator. If a physician did not treat
Senator Cecile Bledsoe
Unverified
1:09:46
something in the emergency room? Not treat so much as if he didn't want to treat under this bill, to do a referral, to not do a referral would be medical malpractice, and he would be probably sued. I think that's correct, and
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:10:03
that is the one exception in the bill. If it's a medical emergency under federal law, I think there is an exception for that in the legislation.
Speaker 19
1:10:12
The way I read it, that's the only exception. Senator Sullivan
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:10:21
and then Senator Dismayne if he has a question Senator Sullivan Thank you Mr. President and I appreciate your position and it didn't sound like you were speaking totally against the bill but there should be debate over some sections of it so if you're talking about the list of providers that was too expansive which ones would
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:10:41
you strike my point there Senator you know, is that it's any medical provider providing any service for any reason. And so
I think it's consistently broad. As I mentioned, I really think the second and third categories deserve more scrutiny. For example, as I mentioned in my comments, refusing to diagnose or to refer to me is more problematic than listing out all of those health care providers. Thank you, Mr. President.
Speaker 19
1:11:09
Thank you. Any other questions for 7 o'clock? Okay. Anyone wish to speak for? No one
Chair
Unverified
1:11:16
for. Senator Hammer, it's back to you. Senator Elliott would like to speak against.
I'm sorry. Senator Elliott is now recognized. Anyone else want to speak on this for or against? I know. Okay. Senator Elliott against, and then back
Senator Joyce Elliott
Unverified
1:11:34
to Senator Hammer. Senator Elliott is recognized. Thank you, Governor. And members, including, of course, my seatmate on my row over there. We're pretty special in that little territory. It's not so much that I don't think there is a place for some of this. But I just keep thinking back to two things.
I'm not sure what would constitute an emergency so that somebody would be treated. Who gets to decide that on the spot? where if I'm in an emergency room, perhaps
that's one thing. But where I grew up continues to live deep within me, knowing this is really a
most outlier rural area in Nevada County. I can think of several situations that were important that happened in my family's life,
that if somebody wanted not to treat them, it wasn't maybe an outright emergency where I was going to lose my life, but it was something really important that was happening to me that perhaps under this law that person could use that wide berth of reasons not to treat somebody that this would be a reality and and and i'm not trying to be hyperbolic about it but this is just real if something happens to me in litterock or in central arkansas and one doctor said no
i would probably have some choices but there are so many places around this state including big time willisville or i would not have those choices and i think we need to account for that but as much as anything too i think we really ought to i would feel comfortable uh senator if when you come back to the mic it's just kind of give me an idea if there is a medical definition for what's meant by emergency because if I have an interpretation and the doctor has another that's
not going to be helpful to me unless you know he has one that is on my side and I stupidly had one that was not on my side I don't perceive that happening and lastly I got a letter from a young woman that I wanted to share with you that she has given me permission to with her name because she was concerned about the spill. She is studying to be, she is going to be a doctor and she does not want to have these kind of constraints out there. Not, she's not talking
about herself necessary, but on the medical field and what can happen to other people. And I'm using constraint here loosely because I know this does not make a doctor do anything. But here's what she says, I left the state for my training only so I may return one day with a new skill set to advance the care we provide our patients with. This bill would be a regression in patient care and negatively affect the health of the people of our wonderful state.
my name is Saad Atik and I'm a second year internal medicine resident physician at Duke University Medical Center I was born and raised in Pine Bluff and I completed medical school at UAMS I would like to express my firm opposition to the proposed Senate Bill 289. I'm eager for the opportunity to return to Arkansas after completing my training
to serve the people of our great state in any capacity that I may. This includes each and every Arkansan, regardless of religion, class, creed, sexual orientation, or any other personal belief or category of identification one might fall into. Over six years ago, I donned a white coat and gave my word to prevent disease whenever I can.
This is not a conditional statement. Whenever is not whenever it is convenient for me, nor is it whenever a patient makes lifestyle choices I agree with. It is whenever, period. This bill would set a dangerous and unacceptable precedent for physicians to be able to refuse care. For example, would it be permissible for a physician to say they would not care for a patient with ARDS secondary to COVID pneumonia
because the patient did not believe in wearing a mask or doing some other things necessary? Absolutely not. We have an obligation to provide the best possible care for any patient we see, irrespective of difference in belief or opinion. To act in any other way directly contradicts our responsibility as a physician. In our state of 3 million people, there are hundreds of thousands who live their lives governed by different faiths and edicts than the majority.
She just wants to take that into account. So before all y'all get too scared, I do not have 11 pages to read to you, so relax. But I would ask you to please take into account what she is saying and please recognize that I understand there is maybe there is something of merit to this bill, but I think we need to rethink it and provide some space for the places where there is room for this kind of
disagreement unless I get something that is going to be more specific about what's meant by an emergency and thinking about those people that don't have the luxury that some of you and I have. But if there is not an opportunity
Speaker 269
1:17:44
immediately available for us, they don't have that advantage
Speaker 83
1:17:52
of going to somebody else. Thanks. Thank you,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:18:03
Mr. President, and also members of the chamber for the dialogue today.
Let me just make a few closing comments. First of all, I want you to know that this bill was vetted by Alliance Defending Freedom. I want you to think about who they are and what they represent. I also want you to think that they are not fly-by-night attorneys, but they are an organization that is respected around the nation unless you disagree with them, and then sometimes you might call their motives or you might call their ideas into question. But I also want you to think also that this law stands in two other states. If the concerns that have been expressed here today
are as legitimate as they have been presented, which I do not call into question those who are presenting them, but I would just ask you to think about this. If the concerns that have been expressed here today in opposition to this bill have risen to the level that they have been presented, why have there not been multiple lawsuits in a liberal state like Illinois or a conservative state like Mississippi, which represent both extremes of the spectrum? I would have thought that if those concerns,
which are both rural states for the majority of it, had been present, that there would have been lawsuits and litigation that would have been brought, and it would have had some bearing upon how this bill was drafted, considering they were modeled after two states where that has not been a concern. This bill is non-discriminatory and fair, as provided by the validity of the law itself never being challenged in court. If there was something wrong with the conscious protection for doctors and nurses, the ACLU would have brought these laws to court in Mississippi
and Illinois. If you read the entire law, you will not find any provision that allows you not to serve a patient based on who they are or how they are identified, contrary to what was stated today. You just cannot be forced into providing every service a patient may demand of you. Also, in emergency situations, the bill specifically provides that you must provide all needed services in those situations. And let me just say this. I worked as a medic for several years here with MEMS in Little Rock, and I have been in situations where we were called to what was
supposed to be an emergency, and in reality, in our opinion, it was not. But it was not ours to call into question. It was ours to do what we were trained to do and transport them to a location where a higher-trained medical personnel, an ER doctor, had to make that decision. I've been in the ER before, both as myself, but also with family members and other members, and sometimes, depending on which physician was in the ER, determined whether or not they thought that was an emergency or not. This bill does nothing. This bill does nothing to interfere with that.
This is already required under federal law, as mentioned. this bill is about elective things, things you can take a time or take time to find a provider who is willing to offer the service rather than forcing a provider who doesn't believe in doing it. I want you to think about this statement because this is what the bill is really all about. If you don't have a remedy, you don't have the ability to defend yourself. And what this bill does is it provides a remedy that for those medical providers who may have conscientious
objection to being put into a situation that they would prefer not to do, that it will provide them a means to defend themselves. With regards to a couple of other things that have been said, if all, as I mentioned, if all the concerns that have been expressed today had risen to the level with which they have been expressed, I would have thought we would have had a case that would have been in court that we could have pointed to and say, this is legitimate, not perceived, and not just perception. This will
afford doctors, just like the one who was cited a while ago, the same protections that, just like the doctor a while ago would like, it will provide to those doctors who have a conscientious objection in non-emergency situations. And again, I'll close with this statement. If you don't have a remedy, you don't have the ability to defend yourself, I would just ask you to give those medical providers that would like
this the ability to defend themselves should they be taken into court, and I'd appreciate a good vote.
Chair
Unverified
1:22:37
Senator has closed. Madam Secretary, please
Speaker 149
1:22:47
Bledsoe? Caldwell? Caldwell? Chesterfield? Clark? Davis? Dismang? Eads?
Speaker 60
1:22:58
Elliot? English? English? Flippo? Flowers? No.
Speaker 13
1:23:17
Garner. Yes. Gilmore. Aye. Hammer. Aye. Hendren. Hester.
Speaker 149
1:23:38
Aye. Hickey. Hickey. Hill. Yes. Ingram. No. Irvin. Irvin Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Letting Pitch
Raypert Rice Sample Stubbeville Sturge Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace Anyone wish to vote or do not
Chair
Unverified
1:24:12
here. Senator Caldwell is aye. Anybody else over here? Anybody else? Senator Hickey is aye.
Speaker 41
1:24:19
Anybody else? On this side? Okay. Cast up the ballot. 27 yays, 6 nays. The bill passes. Transmit to the House. We're going to
Speaker 276
1:24:34
move on to House bills. Senator Beckham
Speaker 35
1:24:36
of Columbia County. House Bill 1009 by Representative Wardlaw and Senator Beckham to amend the law concerning the distribution of excess food in
Speaker 277
1:24:47
public schools. Senator Beckham. Thank you, Governor. This bill just clarifies that public schools can distribute excess food to students
to consume on campus and take home. The current law is not
Speaker 280
1:25:06
clear on that. I appreciate a good vote.
Thank you. Are there any questions for Senator Beckham? Any questions? Have you closed
for your bill? All right. Anybody wish to speak
Speaker 13
1:25:24
for or against the bill? All right. And you've
Speaker 149
1:25:27
closed for your bill. All right. Please call the roll. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismain, Eades, Elliot,
English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendren, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Is there any member
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:26:02
change their vote?
All right, cast up the ballot. The vote of 34 yea, 0 nay. The
bill passes. Congratulations. Return to the House. House Bill 1010. Senator Johnson. House Bill 1010 by
Speaker 35
1:26:25
Representative Jett and Senator Johnson
Speaker 149
1:26:28
to amend the sales and use tax exemption for sales of certain aircraft.
You're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I like saying that, Madam President. I like that hearing. I have five DF&A bills that I want to bring up. I'll
try to get through them quickly. I think they are cleanup bills, but I'll certainly try to answer any questions that may come up. First one is House Bill 1010. This amends the sales and use tax exemption for certain kind of sales of certain aircraft.
And I think the simplest way to describe it is if there is a transaction between sellers of aircraft that, say, they live in one state. and say one lives in Tennessee, one lives in Oklahoma, but they do the transaction in Arkansas, this would remove the requirement that that aircraft would be exempt. It changes the maximum takeoff weight of that aircraft to more than 9,500 pounds
because these aircraft will be based outside of Arkansas. It just might be convenient for the transaction to or the handover to be in Arkansas. So, this is seen as, there's no, nominal is the term at DFNAU's revenue impact. So, I would appreciate a good vote. I'd also be glad to answer questions to the best of
my ability. Are there any questions for
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:28:05
Senator Johnson? Senator English, you're recognized for a question? Yes. Basically, I'd
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:28:10
just like to say that we've been working on trying to get this done for 20 years.
Speaker 149
1:28:17
I'm sorry, Madam President. Could they repeat that, please? I think our question
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:28:21
was, would you agree that? Wouldn't you agree that we've been trying to get this done for 20 years? Yes, ma'am, I would. Thank you. Are there any other questions
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:28:33
on this bill? Is there anyone here who would like to speak for or against the bill?
Seeing none, have you closed for your bill? I'm closed. All right, you've closed your bill. Is there any objection to rolling the vote?
Madam Secretary, please
Speaker 149
1:28:53
roll the vote. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismain, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers Garner, Gilmore Hammer, Hendron Hester, Hickey Hill, Ingram Irvin, Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Letting, Pitch Rapert, Rice, Sample
Stubbefield, Sturge Sullivan, Teague Tucker, Wallace Alright, any members wish to
Speaker 16
1:29:24
change their vote? Seeing none, please
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:29:28
cast up the ballot with a vote of 34 yea, 0 nay. The bill passes. Please return to the House.
Speaker 149
1:29:37
Madam President, could I defer to Senator Rapert for an announcement temporarily? Yes, I would
Speaker 292
1:29:43
recognize Senator Rapert for an announcement. Members, I've
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
1:29:47
been asked to interject with an announcement because it deals with constitutional amendments
and I've consulted with Senator Hickey. The House has made a decision to not accept any filings after 5 p.m. today. And so we wanted to make sure that if you're in the process of working on one, that you go ahead, if nothing else, and get a shell bill filed. Because if you get to them after 3 o'clock, they may not have any way to get it finished for you. So thank you
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:30:16
for paying attention to that. Thank you. Thank you. If you have any questions for Senator Rayford on that, please direct those questions to him. But just to repeat, if you have a constitutional amendment, it needs to be filed by 5 o'clock today.
Is that correct? Most likely three. And if you need to, file a shell bill, then that's recommended. Thank you,
Senator Rayford. Senator Johnson, you're recognized to present House Bill 1031. House Bill 1031
Speaker 149
1:30:43
by Representative Jett and Senator Johnson to require the electronic filing of income tax returns by tax practitioners and
Speaker 35
1:30:50
to amend the law concerning tax practitioners. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
Speaker 149
1:30:58
This bill simply requires professional tax practitioners, CPAs, et cetera, to file electronically their state returns for their customers or their clients if they're also filing the federal return electronically. It doesn't affect individual taxpayers that want to handle it. For example, you could use your TurboTax on your computer and file your federal return and still file your state return by paper, if you so desired.
I don't know why you would, but it would allow that. This only applies to tax practitioners, and I would be happy to try to
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:31:42
answer questions and appreciate a good vote. Are there any questions
for Senator Johnson on this bill? Any questions? All right. Seeing none, anyone wish to
speak for or against the bill? All right, you have closed for your bill? I'm closed.
Speaker 149
1:31:59
You have closed. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? No objection. Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismain, Eads, Elliott, English,
Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Raypert, Rice, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Sullivan, T, Tucker, Wallace. Is there anyone
Speaker 16
1:32:25
that would wish to change their vote? Seeing none, cast up
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:32:32
the ballot with a vote of 34 yays, 0 nays. The bill passes. Please return
to the House. Senator Johnson, House Bill 1041.
Speaker 35
1:32:46
House Bill 1033 by Representative... Representative Jett and Senator Johnson to me to remove extraneous references to digital magazines and the sales tax laws and to clarify the exemption of a car washer operators sale of a car wash. Senator Johnson you're recognized.
Speaker 149
1:33:07
Thank you madam president again this is the DF&A bill it it's cleanup language it
removes extraneous references to digital magazines in the that was passed the issue that was passed in act 822 of 2019 and it clarifies the sales use tax exemption for car washes by car wash operators and won't get too far in the weeds on that but y'all know this is handled through the water bill and it also provides a definition for a self-service bay for purposes of that exemption and it will take effect the first day of the calendar quarter
following the effective date of the act, and the revenue impact is none. I'd
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:33:53
be happy to answer questions, but we appreciate a good vote. Are there any questions? Seeing none, anyone wish
Speaker 13
1:34:05
to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, is there an
Speaker 149
1:34:10
objection to rolling the vote? No objection? Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismayne, Eades, Elliott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Letting, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubberfield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace.
Speaker 16
1:34:33
Is there anyone that would like to change their vote?
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:34:44
Seeing none, please cast out the ballot. The vote of 32
yeas, 0 a's. The bill passes. Please return to the House. Senator Johnson. House Bill 1041
Speaker 149
1:34:59
by Representative Jett and Senator Johnson
to authorize the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration to waive the Certificate of Indebtedness Filing Fees in Certain Circumstances.
Senator Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This bill simply authorizes the Secretary of DF&A to waive interest or penalty in certain circumstances. It's one, the taxpayer's failure to pay the tax was satisfactorily explained to the secretary.
The failure results from a mistake by the taxpayer of either the law or the facts subjecting him to such tax or the inability to pay interest or penalty results from the insolvency or bankruptcy of the taxpayer. DF&A currently has more restrictions on these fees. This has to do with the actual filing fee for those certificates of indebtedness and doesn't actually change the indebtedness itself. And also, if ultimately a taxpayer found out that they didn't ultimately owe it,
they still wouldn't charge the fee. So this cleans that up. The revenue impact is undetermined because it would be based on the number of filing fees that might be potentially waived because of this. But it's a cleanup language that authorizes this lien fee to be discretionary by the secretary based on the individual issues in a particular case. So I'd be happy to try to answer questions, but we'd appreciate a good vote.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:36:41
Are there any questions on this bill? No questions? Anyone wish to speak for or against the bill? Have you closed for
your bill? I'm closed, ma'am. Okay. Any objection to rolling the vote? I see no objection. Please roll the vote.
Speaker 149
1:37:20
Pitch, Draper, Rice, Sample, Stubbuffield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Is there
Speaker 16
1:37:25
anyone that would like to change their vote? Seeing none,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:37:30
please cast up the ballot with a vote of 34 yeas, 0 nays. If the bill passes, please return to
Speaker 292
1:37:40
the House. House Bill 1042. House Bill
Speaker 149
1:37:47
1042 by Representative Jett and Senator Johnson.
to repeal the long-term rental vehicle tax. Senator Johnson,
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This is probably the simplest bill of all. It repeals the language in the code referring to the long-term vehicle rental tax. The tax expired on June 30, 2015, and that tax is no longer collected. And because of that, there's no revenue impact. This would just be cleanup language within the code. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:38:21
I appreciate a good vote. Are there any questions for Senator Johnson? Seeing none, is there anybody who wished to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none,
Speaker 13
1:38:54
is there an objection to rolling the vote?
Speaker 149
1:38:57
I see no objection. Please roll the vote. I'm closed. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismaine, Eades, Elliot, English,
Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Ludding, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stubbefield, Sturge, Sullivan, T, Tucker, Wallace. Is there anybody who would
Speaker 16
1:39:22
like to change their vote? Seeing none, please
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:39:28
cast up the ballot. The vote of 34 yays, 0 nays. House Bill 1042 passes. Please return to the House.
Speaker 35
1:39:39
Senator Ludding. House Bill 1099 by Representative Vaught to authorize the
Speaker 149
1:39:48
Veterinary Medical Examining Board to promulgate rules regarding telehealth and telemedicine and to issue restricted license for veterinarians. Thank you, Madam President.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:39:58
Colleagues, this bill does two main things. One, it gives the Veterinarian Medical Examining Board the authority to promulgate rules regarding telehealth and telemedicine services for veterinarians.
The other main thing it does is that it gives the board the authority to issue restricted licenses to veterinarians who have graduated but not yet completed the national exam. Senator Caldwell, you asked a question in committee yesterday about how long that restricted license was good for, and I misspoke. It's not a standard set period of time. The way it works is in order to qualify for one of these restricted licenses, you have to be able to prove that you are signed up to take the next available exam. So the restricted license is only good until the moment you get your results. If you've passed the test, you no longer need the license. If you failed, you've got to apply for the restricted license again.
Under current law, you're able to take the test five times, but under this bill, you'd only be able to get three restricted licenses. Happy to take questions. I think y'all have to save your
Speaker 297
1:40:58
questions for the next bill. Are there? Okay. Senator Dismang, you have a
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:41:03
question? Thank you, Madam Chair. So, yeah, and I was surprised to find out how well-versed you were in all this and some of your background, but I was a little bit confused because we are adding that definition. It just seems to be lacking just a little bit. Could you walk me through that
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:41:16
procedure in a little more depth? You're on the wrong bill, Senator. You're
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:41:23
jumping the gun. So it's the definition you have there under, well, definition number one. Thank you. Were you talking
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
1:41:36
about this bill? I think you're talking about the next one. Okay. Yeah. If anybody has questions about this piece of legislation. Senator Ballinger.
Speaker 291
1:41:48
Thank you, Madam President. What is the process for acquiring consent? in this situation like like do these i'm like how do you get the consent so again i think you're talking
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:41:58
about house bill 1142 which is the next bill on the agenda oh oh you know y'all are so eager to give
me a hard time over that one this is unrelated to the uh next next bill are you sure you want to
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:42:12
present the next but i'm ready senator sullivan you have a
Speaker 317
1:42:19
question i think so is this about telehealth or veterinary medicine
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:42:23
That is one component, yes. It would give the board the ability to promulgate
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:42:30
rules for telehealth and telemedicine services. Okay, so my experience is every time we allow the board to make these decisions on these telehealth issues that we don't talk about the pay issue, I'm really concerned that that's not in the bill, that we will have the same pay for an inpatient visit, that reimbursement that we do for telehealth. So if a veterinarian drives 50 miles and does a procedure, or they sit in their office and do a procedure, that the consumers build the same thing.
Speaker 262
1:43:01
And yet we're going to leave that decision up to the board, and the board has never ruled the other way for the consumer. That's a
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:43:09
fair concern. I'm not prepared to address that one right now. It's one we would need to talk with Representative Vaught. Thank
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:43:16
you. All right. Senator Beckham, did you have a question? No, Senator Hammer, you have a question? Thank you, Madam
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:43:21
President. I cannot get the bill pulled up on my laptop. I'm sorry. This is a legitimate question. About this bill. Not that the others haven't been.
But when it comes to what they are allowed to do in the way of
prescriptions, because we've been through the debate of having to check the prescription drug monitoring program, and there are certain things that veterinarians can write that are actually used for other purposes, how do you anticipate that being addressed in the rules and regs if it's going to involve no direct
Speaker 322
1:44:02
patient contact because of telemedicine?
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
1:44:05
That's a good question. I know that under the restricted license,
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:44:09
the veterinarian is required to work under a fully licensed veterinarian, so there would be that supervision in place, but I'm not sure
Speaker 322
1:44:16
I'm able to address your question. I would just
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:44:19
ask that when, as you follow this through, and it goes through the rulemaking process, that we make sure those safeguards are in place so
that that is taken care of as far as the scripts that they're able to write. Thank you.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:44:36
Okay. And he has, yes, Senator Pitsch. I need a question. Okay. Senator Pitsch, you're recognized for a question. Senator Letting, this is... Sorry, just, can you hold on
a second? Members, if you can just thank you. Senator Pitts, you're recognized for a question. This question is about this bill, but it's because I've been serving on ag most of the time I've been down here. And one of the issues we have is making sure the vet-vet tech relationship stays intact. Where are the vet techs on this bill?
Because I'm seeing a lot of vet in the text, the additional language. I want to make sure the vet techs are involved in this and that their scope of practices aren't violated by what we're doing with
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
1:45:21
telehealth. I'm unable to answer that question at
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:45:28
the moment. Okay. All right. Are there any other questions? All right. Anybody wish to speak for or against the bill?
All right. Seeing none, any closure for your bill?
Okay. We are voting on House
Speaker 149
1:45:54
objection to rolling the vote? Okay, roll the vote, please. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismaine, Eads, Elliot, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer, Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson,
Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Rapert, Bryce, Sample, Stubblefield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague,
Speaker 16
1:46:21
Tucker, Wallace. Okay, so this is going to
be present, okay? This is present, not that. This is present. Okay,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:46:35
so I have Senator Johnson is present. Senator Pitch is present. Senator Clark is not voting.
Are you a yes? Anybody else? Senator, that's clincher. You can't use that sign. It's this. This is going to be present. That'll be fine. Senator Sullivan is present. Senator Irvin is present. Anybody else like to change their vote? All right. Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. For the vote of 30 yays, zero nays, the bill passes.
Please return to the House. Senator Ludding, are you sure you don't want Senator Bledsoe blood so to
Speaker 330
1:47:28
present this bill for you if there's
Speaker 35
1:47:31
a taker i'm happy to pass it off but council 1142 by representative vault and senator letting to recognize artificial insemination of livestock and animals as a routine animal husbandry practice senator letting you
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:47:43
are recognized to present this bill all right this is probably the
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:47:47
most fun i'm going to have all
session. So all this bill does is it recognizes artificial insemination
as a standard animal husbandry practice here in Arkansas. Happy to take some questions. Senator Dismay, you're recognized. I
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:48:02
think I did a good job asking
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:48:04
my question the first time. I didn't catch all the questions. Oh, you didn't catch all. So it's my understanding you're pretty well rounded in this husbandry type issue here. So if you could, because there's a definition, I think that definition is important.
I think maybe lacking a little bit. Could you walk us through the full
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:48:24
process? Walk you through the process, absolutely. Absolutely, because process is important here. There's three key components to a successful AI operation. Obviously, it's insemination technique, semen handling, and then herd management. You're going to need a reliable source for your bull semen, or whatever semen you're using for whatever livestock it is. You're going to have to have the proper equipment to keep it stored properly. you're going to need to keep it at about minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can store it for quite a long time if you're able to keep it at that temperature, and then you're going to need
the necessary equipment to actually carry out the insemination process, but no matter how good your technique or what kind of equipment you have, if you can't get the timing right, it's off or not. So that's where the reproductive management comes into play here. So a cow's only fertile when it's released an egg, and that happens about once every 18 to 24 days after a period called estrus or standing heat. That egg is released at about 10 to 14 hours after standing heat ends, but because the sperm's going to need to spend some time inside the reproductive tract before it's able
to fertilize the egg, you're really aiming for a window of about 10 to 18 hours after standing heat begins. I can't keep going here. So obviously you got to know like when is the cow in standing heat. One of the clearest signs is a willingness to let other animals mount it. Seems pretty obvious. Sometimes you might be able to see if there's mud on top of the cow as a sign that an animal has mounted it. But unfortunately, the most common time period for this kind of behavior to be carried out is between midnight and 6 a.m. So there's a good chance you're not going to see it.
They do recommend you observe your herd for about two half-hour intervals throughout the day. But again, there's just going to be some times where you might not see the activity you're looking for. So what a lot of farmers do is they use tail chalk, some kind of pressure pack device or heat sensitive device that they put on top of the tail that pressure would trigger. And so they'll come back, they'll observe the herd, and they'll see that that particular device, the chalk, whatever, has been messed up. And that that's a sign that the cow has engaged in some activity that's a clear sign that they are in estrus. Now, I can go further, but if you want me to take the next step, I'm going to want to take off my jacket and roll up my sleeves.
But otherwise. Do you have a follow-up question, Senator Desmang? Yields. Senator Desmang yields. Senator
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:50:45
Ballinger. Senator Caldwell, you're recognized for a question. Senator Caldwell, did you have a question?
Senator Garner had a question. Senator Garner, you're recognized for a question. I've
Chair
Unverified
1:51:04
got a question. um one of the definitions on there is under livestock is an asses um so is that something that you do is food consumption because on later on it says that the animals that are done for food consumption are on there so have you ever had experience with people eating that type animal i think i only caught the
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
1:51:29
first part of that question if you could restate the last sentence
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:51:32
or so. I think I'll pull out of that question all the way. Thank you very much. Are there any other questions from the members
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:51:47
of the Senate? Senator Clark, you're recognized for a
question. Senator Letting, I was most impressed by your knowledge, but should we be concerned by your eagerness to discuss the subject? Always
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:51:57
eager to help my friend, Representative Vaught, at the other end of the chamber, but a lot of people have asked, what's letting, doing, running
this bill? My friend Bradley Phillips pointed out that Representative Vought was carrying this bill and mentioned that this was something that a friend of ours, some of you even served with him, former State Representative Jim House had tried to do when he was back in the legislature. Didn't get it done, but in my first two terms in the House, I served in the House Ag, and I saw Jim down here at the Capitol lot still trying to advance some of these issues. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple years ago, so when I found out that Representative Vought was working on this, I reached out to her and asked her to help out. So I just wanted to take this opportunity to say his name.
Speaker 210
1:52:34
Aren't you sweet? Okay, thank you. Any
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:52:40
other questions? No questions. All right, anyone who wants to speak
Speaker 13
1:52:59
for or against the bill? All right, seeing none, is there an
Speaker 149
1:53:07
objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Speaker 35
1:53:23
No. No. No. Thank you.
Sample, Stubbefield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Is
there anybody that would wish to change their
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:53:34
vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. With a vote of 34 yays, 0 nays, the bill
Speaker 13
1:53:48
passes. House Bill 1322 by Representatives Holcomb and
Speaker 35
1:53:51
Senator Stubbefield to amend the timeline for embalming a dead body in the state.
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:53:59
Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Stubblefield, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a bill that was brought to me. Really, the bill came about as a result of the death of one of our former colleagues. It was in the House, Sheila Lampkin, who did not want to be embalmed. And whenever the information was pulled up about how to be buried without being embalmed, If you want to be cremated under Arkansas law, you have to wait 48 hours without embalming
or cooling. But if you die and you don't want to be embalmed, it's 24 hours. So this bill simply gives you an extra 24 hours to get together a service, maybe a graveside service that gives the family more time. And that's basically all it does. I'd be happy to answer any questions. By the way, there's no opposition from the health department or the coroners or the physicians. In fact, when Representative Holcomb called the funeral directors, the cemeteries, the burial services,
they said they were getting ready to make some major rule changes. And this would probably be one of them, but they insisted that it would be better to take
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:55:21
care of it with a piece of legislation. I would appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Are there any questions for Senator Stubblefield? Seeing none, and anyone who wishes to speak for
Speaker 13
1:55:33
or against the bill? Seeing none, he is closed
Speaker 149
1:55:36
for his bills and an objection to rolling the vote. There is no objection. Please roll the vote. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Davis, Dismang, Eades, Ellicott, English, Flippo, Flowers, Garner, Gilmore, Hammer,
Hendron, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Ingram, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Letting, Pitch, Rapert, Rice, Sample, Stebbelfield, Sturge, Sullivan, Teague, Tucker, Wallace. Is there any member
Speaker 16
1:56:00
that would like to change their vote? Senator Davis is
present. All right. Anybody else like to change their vote? Seeing
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:56:13
none, please cast up the ballot with a vote of 33 yeas, 0 nays.
The bill passes. Return the bill to the
House. Members, we have announcements. Senator Hickey wanted me to announce we are not coming in tomorrow. We are not coming in tomorrow. So we will be back in the chamber at 1 o'clock
on Monday. So Monday at 1 is when we will be back in the chamber.
Speaker 323
1:56:58
Thank you. Thank you. You may do that. Whatever you want. Do
you need that? Madam President. Oh, no. Yes, ma'am. Sorry. Senator Chesterfield, you're recognized. Yes. Are we going to try to meet in education this
evening? Yes, we do have education today at 2 o'clock. I was just wondering because
Speaker 358
1:57:23
I had heard that the roads were getting pretty bad in your area,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:57:29
so I just wondered. Thank you, Senator Chesterfield. Let me, to be determined, let me check on my home.
Speaker 19
1:57:34
Thank you, Senator Chesterfield. There is a notice that the Little Rock schools will be closed tomorrow, so a lot of the locations north of Little Rock are probably going to have it worse,
Speaker 65
1:57:52
so just be aware of that. That was why I asked, Mr. Chair, because... Senator Chesterfield is speaking. We have not adjourned. Senator Chesterfield.
Well, it was my concern because it's already 3 o'clock, and by the time some of the individuals get on the road, then it's going to be dark. You make a lot of sense. Yeah, so that's
Speaker 361
1:58:17
why I asked my kids. First time I ever said that. And that's because you have been remiss.
I'm playing with you. Senator Irving. Thank you. So, no, I appreciate Senator Chesterfield's concern for me and others who live far away. And that would affect not only myself, but Senator Eades, Senator Sturge, and others.
So, with due respect to my members of the Education Committee, we will move that committee to Monday at 2 o'clock. And anything on the agenda for today will be on Monday's agenda. Thank you. Now,
Chair
Unverified
1:58:50
I want to point out a lot of the state is not just expecting snow. They're expecting an inch or so of ice. And so it's an ice storm more than anything else. So just be aware on the streets, and as we say in the Army, safety fires. Anybody else got an announcement?
Senate is adjourned. Subject to the clearing of the desk. Thank you, Senator Urban, Senator Hickey, for filling in.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Announcements
SENATE MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING AND ADOPTION
SMR1 M. Johnson TO REMEMBER STEVE STEPHENS AND TO HONOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
SENATE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE
SB104 B. Sample TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "AVERAGE COMPENSATION" AS THE TERM APPLIES TO THE ARKANSAS STATE HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB106 B. Sample TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE INCREASED BENEFITS, THE HEALTHCARE OFFSET, AND DEFERRED OPTION ACCOUNTS UNDER THE ARKANSAS STATE HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB138 J. Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE, CONTRIBUTIONS AND REPORTING; TO REENACT THE REQUIREMENT TO FILE A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTEREST; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990 AND INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.
SB168 K. Hammer TO MODIFY THE EXEMPTIONS OF CERTAIN ENTITIES FROM INSURANCE REGULATION.
SB183 K. Ingram TO AMEND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS OR CARRYOVER FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ETHICS VIOLATION; AND TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF LAW RESULTING FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990 AND INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.
SB226 L. Chesterfield REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO PERFORM OVERSIGHT RELATED TO ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 98.
SB282 M. Johnson TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CONSOLIDATED WATERWORKS SYSTEMS; TO AMEND THE GENERAL POWERS OF A PUBLIC BODY; AND TO AUTHORIZE FINANCING IMPROVEMENTS WITH REVENUE BONDS.
SB289 K. Hammer TO CREATE THE MEDICAL ETHICS AND DIVERSITY ACT.
HOUSE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE
HB1009 Wardlaw Beckham TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS FOOD IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HB1010 Jett M. Johnson TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR SALES OF CERTAIN AIRCRAFT.
HB1031 Jett M. Johnson TO REQUIRE THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF INCOME TAX RETURNS BY TAX PRACTITIONERS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING TAX PRACTITIONERS.
HB1033 Jett M. Johnson TO REMOVE EXTRANEOUS REFERENCES TO DIGITAL MAGAZINES IN THE SALES TAX LAWS; AND TO CLARIFY THE EXEMPTION OF A CAR WASH OPERATOR'S SALE OF A CAR WASH.
HB1041 Jett M. Johnson TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO WAIVE THE CERTIFICATE OF INDEBTEDNESS FILING FEES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HB1042 Jett M. Johnson TO REPEAL THE LONG-TERM RENTAL VEHICLE TAX.
HB1099 Vaught Leding TO AUTHORIZE THE VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD TO PROMULGATE RULES REGARDING TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE AND TO ISSUE RESTRICTED LICENSES FOR VETERINARIANS.
HB1142 Vaught Leding TO RECOGNIZE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF LIVESTOCK AND ANIMALS AS A ROUTINE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICE.
HB1322 Holcomb Stubblefield TO AMEND THE TIMELINE FOR EMBALMING A DEAD BODY IN THE STATE.
Announcements
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Speaker 7
Speaker 13
Speaker 149
Representative Josh Miller
Unverified
Speaker 19
Senator Cecile Bledsoe
Unverified
Speaker 24
Speaker 27
Speaker 29
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 32
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
Speaker 41
Speaker 35
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Speaker 58
Speaker 60
Speaker 63
Speaker 65
Speaker 69
Speaker 86
Senator Bill Sample
Unverified
Speaker 21
Speaker 94
Speaker 16
Chair (Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr)
Unverified
Speaker 103
Speaker 98
Speaker 110
Speaker 99
Speaker 121
Speaker 126
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Senator Joyce Elliott
Unverified
Speaker 56
Speaker 142
Speaker 151
Senator Lance Eads Chair
Unverified
Speaker 157
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 178
Speaker 179
Speaker 180
Speaker 115
Speaker 181
Speaker 185
Senator Linda Chesterfield Chair
Unverified
Speaker 203
Speaker 205
Speaker 125
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 72
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Senator Larry Teague
Unverified
Speaker 226
Speaker 132
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
Speaker 253
Speaker 83
Speaker 256
Speaker 269
Speaker 276
Speaker 277
Speaker 280
Senator Jane English
Unverified
Speaker 292
Senator Jason Rapert
Unverified
Speaker 297
Senator Trent Garner
Unverified
Speaker 291
Speaker 317
Speaker 262
Speaker 322
Senator Mathew Pitsch
Unverified
Speaker 330
Speaker 210
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
Speaker 323
Speaker 358
Speaker 361