House Convenes

Check one two three four five check one two three four five. Check one two three one two three. I'm by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by the house chaplain Dr rex Horne retired pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church Little Rock and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's pray please. Bother thank you for bringing these women and men back from the four corners of our state. Thank you for the service that they render on behalf of the citizens of Arkansas I pray that you'll bless them with a productive week that you'll be with their families back home that you'll deal with them and their their committee work in their work as a body as well as lord just in their personal concerns about different matters of life. Reminder the day of the scripture that says if any of us like wisdom a let's ask of the father who will give to all of us generously and that without rebuking US so lord we know there are times we need extra guidance and extra wisdom and so operator blessing upon this body today thank you lord for life itself in another week and another day that we can get out and do the things that you've given us an opportunity to do in Jesus name amen. Thank members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With ninety eight members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave represented Jett for what purpose leave you're recognized the only for a Representative for Ferguson is leave granted for RepresentativeHendren Ferguson. So noted. Represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense the reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are the Reports from select committees are the Reports from standing committees read the reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we are committee on transportation to whom was referred house bill thirteen fifty five Bentley report we've had the same under consideration here with trying to sing the recognition do pass respectfully submitted Mike Holcomb chair Mister Speaker your committee on public transportation to whom was referred house bill twelve sixty five beg leave to report we had the same under consideration here with trying to sing the recognition do pass as amended number one respectfully submitted Mike Holcomb chair Mister Speaker we are Committee on state agencies and governmental affairs to whom was referred house bill ten seventeen beg leave to report we've had the same under consideration here with trying to sing the recognition to do pass respectfully submitted Justin Gonzales vice chair. Is there any unfinished business are there any Executive communications. Mr Clark please read House resolution ten ten. House resolution ten ten by represented Crawford commend Suzanne opposed for being selected as a twenty twenty one Arkansas teacher of the year. Represent Crawford you're recognized explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker hello colleagues I have a very important announcement today and this could be controversy over because we all of our teachers. But I have the best one in my district this year and her name is Suzanne outposts Tuesday no entryway she is teacher of the year for Arkansas. Thank you. Arkansas is blessed without steam outstanding educators who devote themselves to providing the highest quality education for Arkansas students. In my district. Mrs post. Teaches at bill point alternative school and we were having lunch today and she mentioned to me how hard it was on her first day. But she made it to the first day in the first week and then she won the hearts of the students who then made it possible for for her to be and be able to empower students to rise above all barriers she stands with them when they were. Down and out these aren't your just regular perfect school kids we have perfect ones right. But their kids who come from troubled homes or she even said this is probably the third generation with some coming through that school and her students are the ones who elected her. To the teacher of the year because of what she puts in them she started a coding club created and ACT preparatory program facilitated a literacy intervention group serve on the district's secondary math curriculum development team and incorporates community relationships into problem based and project based lessons so we want to say thank you again Mizzou's pose for coming today and for taking care of our kids thank you. Represent Crawford is explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Represent Crawford is close for the resolution the question before the House is the adoption of house resolution house resolution ten ten all in favor say aye. Any opposed the resolution is adopted. Clark please read Senate concurrent resolution for second current resolution four by represented love celebrating black history month during the month of February twenty twenty one. Represents love you're recognized to explain the resolution. Good afternoon colleagues I rise position six Senate concurrent resolution number four. Which is a celebration of black history month for the month of December coming December that's my birthday February twenty twenty one. As you know in your let me come in we bring you the resolution for black history month just to celebrate all the accomplishments and achievements that African Americans have made contributions to this great nation as well as this great state. You say just a little fast fact this is the forty fifth year. Nationally that will be celebrating black history but however is the ninety fifth year because we begin celebrating Negro history week in nineteen twenty six was the ninety fifth you that we have some semblance of black history month so with that being said Mister Speaker I would pass in the if the Clerk to redevelop resolution I would appreciate a good vote thank you all. Mr Clark please read the resolution whereas throughout the history of the United States truly significant African American contributions to social growth the economy the military in the sciences and the arts of this great nation have often to have all too often been ignored and whereas in recognition of this oversight Americans began in nineteen twenty six to recognize Negro history week the predecessor to black history month which has been celebrated annually since nineteen seventy six and was inspired by the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Frederick Douglass and we're as a celebration of black history month in the study of African American history are part of the legacy of Dr Carter G. Woodson and we're as the progress of African American African Americans in the nation and in the state of Arkansas has been marked with the tragedy of social inequities entrance of group achievements and whereas although African Americans have participated in every United States war the battle for integration a recognition of the accomplishments of African American soldiers has been a slow process and whereas not until after World War two to the United States Armed Forces become integrated under the nineteen forty eight executive order by president Harry S. Truman and we're as black history month distinguishes more commonly celebrity celebrated individuals such as Dr Martin Luther king junior George Washington carver Thurgood Marshall Rosa Parks Jackie Robinson The Little Rock Nine and mines loop just to name a few but they are less well known yet equally impactful individual. I whom we should all educate ourselves on such as crispus Attucks William Harvey Carney the general for Constance Baker motley and a plethora of other historical African American giants now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the ninety third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas the house of representatives concerning their in that the Senate celebrates black history month during the month of February twenty twenty one I recognize and applaud the sacrifices in my reduction musicians made by African American individuals throughout the history of this great state and nation. Represents love is explain resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent Bentley you're recognized to speak for the resolution. Calling again this month I started sharing my Facebook page my state repression Page different stories about great black Americans at which true heroes we have so many of them that are charter school children and we know absolutely nothing about and so my constituents that represented Bentley why do we have like instrument why are you doing this on your site and I want to share with you I just a couple stores that share their tell you why we need to do this I want to share with you about prince Esther Burke who along with some other black Americans and white Americans shed their blood on the Lexington green the very first battle of our great revolution we had so many black Americans that fought in the revolutionary war that we actually know nothing about that their blood was shed along with the white folks that were there that day there's a general by the name of Jackson and I encourage you if you like to know great site to go and see some of these great here is I'll be happy to share with you so you can share with your constituents because we need to make every effort that our schools are teaching about these black heroes that we have in our nation because to me if we share the true history of our nation and the blood that was shed the great here is that we have that's was going to bring us together with the true history there's so many out there that we I knew nothing about so if I knew nothing about it I'm for sure for centuries people have not heard about these great men that fought the gentleman by the name of Jack's this and he was during the revolutionary war part of one of when this force will call the first special forces and he along with twenty black Americans and twenty white Americans went with great I mean it was a suicide mission that went and got one of the chief of. Generals on the other side of the Briton size they could do it Page prisoner of war trade and get their general back it was a I mean they put their lives in danger is actually impossible but because of Jackson's great effort his great strength and agility were able to succeed in that mission without him we would been a much longer even getting down with the war if we would've ever so I think it's very important that we together as Americans understand how poor these heroes are I can go on and on with even more than in writing all down but I want to tell the reason why we need to do this when you make sure that our schools are teaching this black history because unfortunately we have people that get in there and do revisions to history and in nineteen oh two Woodrow Wilson put out of history series called the history of America and he removed every black American hero out of his books all the stories all the heroes from the revolutionary war all the way through here moved every name of the history books so we weren't taught our kids weren't taught even our teachers were taught it's so dangerous to have a region's history so I want to encourage you to not let a racist Amendment Woodrow Wilson who took their history at our history books don't let it happen are school kids make sure they were on the truth so it's going to take us to make an effort if each of us will get a hold of our schools make sure please bring out some by Karros this month please let them know that the men fighting over since the beginning of this nation to make an effort to make it happen I think if we work together we could really make a difference in our state not appreciate you guys doing that thank you. The bed like speak against resolution. Speaking for the resolution. Represents love are you close for the resolution. Represent love is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is passage of the resolution all those in favor resolution indicate by voting yea. Any against. Resolution has passed. Represent Wayne you're now recognized for presentation. Thank you Mr Speaker. Amendment seventy to the Arkansas constitution authorizes members of the General Assembly to be reimbursed for certain expenses related to the performance of their duties these reimbursements are made within the limitations provided by law to guarantee compliance with the Arkansas constitution and Internal Revenue Service guidelines the Arkansas house of representatives of each new General Assembly adopts an accountable plan for the purpose of reimbursing members for those expenses incurred in the performance of their duties we have distributed on your desk. The accountable plan for the ninety third General Assembly it has been reviewed and approved by our tax counsel with that Mister Speaker the proper time I request recognition for motion from the house of representatives to adopt the accountable plan for the ninety third General Assembly. Represent wing is explained. The plan in front of us is there any discussion of the motion. Hearing none the question before the House is adoption of the accountable plan all those in favor say aye. Any opposed. The plan has been adopted. Morning hours ended. Represented Barker you're recognized. Go ahead. Representative you are noticed. There we go sorry now it's loud notice of reconsideration. On what bill. Mr Speaker having voted on the prevailing side in consideration of house bill thirteen sixty eight I hereby give notice of reconsideration. How did you vote no. Enter the notice into the General. Mr Clark read house bill thirteen thirty two. House thirteen thirty two by represented boy ten mental action law to amend publication requirements and to amend school election law interment election notice requirements. Represent Boyd you are recognized present your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker thank you House members for listen this today House Bill thirteen thirty two is a bill supported by the Secretary of State the association of counties and our election commissioners it provides a product that does several things and it starts with providing a process for uncontested school board elections and harmonizes ballot draws for school board of board elections with other elections it harmonizes the number of days for requiring public notice to eight days for elections moved directions for filing a written objection to the service of in an election official from section five to section three it removes city Clerk from list of unopposed candidates whose name must appear on ballots. It ensures nominating petitions for municipal election shall be filed with the county Clerk and last but not least it changes city Clerk votes to mayor votes for number of signatures needed for a municipal petition with that said I appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Boyd has presented his bill would anybody like to speak against the bill. Represent would you are recognized speak against the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Again. Arise unfortunately is speaking against this bill it is a. A constitutional amendment seventy four again gives a systems and schools of choice to bowl. At their free will. And also limiting school elections to two times a year will lead to a bond market being flooded and his Representative Devin mom pointed out last week that would lead to higher interest rates which will lead to increased calls to school districts. There's always been of favorable rates because I've been able to select their elections for their bonds it's always been a local decision by those school boards boards are elected by the community they serve in my opinion this bypass is the will of the people of both constitutional and local boards to make local decisions. The school boards. Which I'm speaking today are the closest to the people. They have the opportunity and should have the right to name and call for their elections whenever they wanted on and not be mandated from down here in Little Rock appreciate your vote again against this bill thank you Mr chairman thank you colleagues. Represent Wooten has spoken against the bill would anybody like to speak for the bill. Represent Boyd are you ready to close for your bill. Thank you Mr Speaker I just want to clarify this bill does not change school board elections thank we changed in the last session to twice a year or twice in a in a primary and general election that's already been done this is harmonizes something so that it matches up and there's less confusion and so that the election commissioners you know know when to post a notice and do those things so this is just a good clean up bill it does not change when those elections a car that has already been done in previous law that said I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Boyd has closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen thirty to prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. A vote of eighty five yeas for nays and for present the bill is passed. Members represent Mayberry it votes yea by proxy. Person Mayberry's voting by proxy today those votes are being. Automatically made into the machine. Members. The doctor the day is Dr Gloria and Rashard Davis of Little Rock in the nurse of the day is misprinted Hewitt. Mr Clark please read house bill eleven seventy five House Bill Evans seventy five a representable we to amend the candidate filing requirements for positions on school boards and local boards of community colleges. Percent board you're recognized explained the bill. Mr Speaker colleagues thank you for the opportunity to present this bill again House Bill Evans seventy five is supported by the sector status association counties in election commissioners and again up to this point has been a non controversial bill that has no fiscal impact for K. through twelve schools it does two things number one it harmonizes school board election filing period for school board elections occurring with the general election doesn't do anything regarding school board elections that would occur during the primary second it removes language about a three dollar fee which is only been collected once in created confusion people didn't know what to what to do with that when it was collected so with that said I'd appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Boyd is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Boyd is closed for the bill the question before the House is a pastor house bill eleven seventy five prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety five U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven ninety three. House Bill Levin any three by represented Warren to amend the law concerning the appointment of an individual to a vacancy on a school district board of directors. Represent one you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members. This bill would increase the amount of time the school board has to fill a vacancy in its board from thirty days to sixty days only when the reason for the vacancy is the death of a school board member. A spouse sometimes feels the term when a death occurs I've been on the school board. School board dates are set so what happens is if your school board meeting is like five days after the death occurs you don't want to go talk to them what they're planning the funeral so what this does is it gives sixty days so you're not right at the time of funeral or something asking them if they want to fill the vacancy of their spouse so only time you'll extended to sixty days in case of a death I would ask for a good vote. Percent worn is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent worn is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven ninety three prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six EA zero nine one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven ninety four. House Bill let any formal represented Warren to allow the Commissioner of elementary and secondary education to around the percentage change between the purchase price of a commodity in the consumer price index for all urban consumers to the nearest one hundred dollars represent warn you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members one more this bill relates to the build threshold increase for commodities purchases that school districts have to make. The proposal would amend the annual bit purchase threshold increase process to provide the current bid purchase threshold is multiplied by the increase if any to the urban consumer price index it allows the Commissioner of it elementary and secondary education to round the increase of the bit purchase threshold up to the nearest one hundred dollars so last computation they did the calculation came to twenty one thousand two hundred eighty four dollars so it would be rounded to twenty one thousand three hundred this is just to help bookkeepers have a round figure to basically do all the computations I would appreciate a good vote. Percent worn is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Warren is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven ninety four prepared machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Five out of ninety four U. a zero day and to present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven ninety eight. Skews me eleven eighty eight. House eleven eighty eight a Representative mix concerning exemptions to the private security agency private investigator in school security licensing and credentialing Act. Represent makes you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker Collins is chair of the technology committee I thought a fitting I should bring my electronic device down here see how this goes so hopefully we'll start a good trend here House eleven eighty eight is a industry bill that they brought to me right now under current law if you're going to install simple security devices in someone's home it requires a much tighter or higher security clearance if you will in order to be able to do that what this bill allows as if a technician is coming in your house to say install your internet install a router work on your computer they give that individual the authority to also install. In internet of things device that you would be able to install yourself so for example a smart doorbell camera things that you're going to monitor in and out yourself so if I can go to a big box store purchase the device installed myself this just allows these technicians who have the proper background check and proper training to be able to install these devices without having to meet that much higher threshold or licensure of someone who's installing a full blown security system that's gonna be monitored by an outside entity there is one amendment that's coming the health. Mitty knows about this but that we receive that today what that amendment to the bill will do is they will tighten down the language to further clarify the types of devices that we're talking about here we don't want to open this up for someone to come in your home and install a you know far suppression system we're just talking about the simple devices you would buy for yourself at a big box store also that I am open to any questions. Thanks saying not appreciate a good vote. Representative makes as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represented makes is close for the bill. Question before the House is passage of house bill eleven eighty eight per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety eight A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill thirteen sixty three. House bill thirteen sixty three by House Management an act for the Arkansas house of representatives staff appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Speaker Shepherd you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr chair members this is the house appropriation bill FOR FY twenty two and it is very similar to what's been passed the last several years one thing that I I would highlight is going back to two years ago many many of your recall that in the House staff appropriation that was presented in the nineteen session that we proposed a appropriation is fifteen percent less than the previous year and then we followed it up this past year in the fiscal session by again reducing this time by ten percent and the bill that you have in front of you today further reduces the appropriation by ten percent over our last appropriation we still. Consistent with with what I've tried to do is during my time Speaker try to make sure running efficiently they were being good stewards of the taxpayers resources that have been entrusted us we've I think we can continue to function at a level that we can be proud of but at the same time I think it's important to show that we're doing our part to reduce to reduce our appropriations where we can and we've done this again this will be the third year in a row that we've done so and just in case anybody may ask ask staff to look at actual expenditures and when you look at FY seventeen and FY eighteen and you compared to FY nineteen FY twenty roughly are spending was down nine percent between those two so not only are we reducing appropriation but we're also reducing actual spending which I think is a positive thing I think it's something that we need to demonstrate across state government that we want to do more with less and with that I'd be glad to answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote. Shepherd explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Because Shepherd is close for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of H. B. thirteen sixty three per the machine Mr Clerk. You voting on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. Gas ballot Mr Clark. Ninety eight A. zero nine zero present the bill and the emergency clauses pass. Mr Clark please read house bill thirteen fifty five. House bill thirteen fifty five a represent of Dawson to remove licensing requirements for a motor vehicle sales person in a recreational vehicle sales persons and to create the automotive technologist education grant program and find. Some Dotson recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker members house bill thirteen fifty five does two simple things first thing it does is it creates and the automotive technologist education grants program this is specifically. Tailored to the training in automotive technology field it would create on the the books for the all education department's career and technical education field this grant fund that grants could be awarded across the entire state to provide training in the field of automotive repair and technology secondly the bill eliminates the sales person's license for automotive car sales as well as ATV sales recreational vehicle sales and that is what the bill does. We're happy take any questions. We should get a. Represent Dotson is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent Dotson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen fifty five repair the machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted cast about Mr Clark. By a vote ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven fifty nine. House bill one fifty nine by represented makes excusing members of the General Assembly from participating on a jury under certain circumstances and a permit certain older or Kansans to decline jury service person makes you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this bill like the previous one does two things first off this helps address the situation that occurred to me back during the twenty fifteen session I was summoned for jury duty while we were in the middle of a a general session thankfully the judge allowed me to not serve so I can complete my legislative duties but it did bring up the question of what would happen if you ran into jobs through through personal reasons or political reasons or just because he wanted to be. And also difficult but forced you to try to serve on a jury at the same time you're required to do your legislative duties it correct potential conflict of interest between us being able to do our duties as representatives and also bill do our civic duty as a juror us so the first part of what this bill does is it says that from thirty days prior to session to thirty days after signing die that if we get summoned for jury duty during that time period it allows us to do for that service until after we finished with our legislative duties this is not a get out of jury duty card it is a opportunity to defer it so that we're not being forced into one or the other the second piece of this bill does is it allows anybody over the age of eighty to opt out of jury duty if they feel it's going to be a undue burden on them to be able to attend so that's the two things that this bill does some of that I'm open any questions. Represent spring or for what purpose. You're recognized. I can't start with the. Okay they are I would just like to know your statistics on persons over the age eighty and over who have indicated a desire not to have to vote because I know a number of persons who are eighty and older who won a gold voters surely. Per reservation at this bill also actually put in line with the duties of the. Of the ethics subcommittee yeah actually does. But that I appreciate a good vote. Represent balls explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Cenvat is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill seventy one prepare them Seamus Clarke. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill ninety nine. Senate bill ninety nine The Representative ought to regulate step therapy protocols. Cenvat you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker I stepped therapy is known as by all fires so you have to fail in medicine and before you can go to the next medicine and and the medication is chosen by the insurer instead of the doctor himself for the or the patient these policies can be a burden to patients often causing delays of weeks and even months before getting access to the treatments that they actually made the legislation will not ban the use of stepped therapy but instead require reasonable timelines for exceptions request and appeals it will ensure that when implemented step therapy requirements will be based on medical and clinical guidelines and not require patients to try and fail on medications they have already taken or that are not in their best medical interest I will say that Representative Deborah Ferguson and I have spoke all weekend this does not include Arkansas Works but she and I will work on a piece of legislation that can can fix that. Are there any questions. Seeing no questions I appreciate a good vote represent Vaught is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Oops involved is closed for the bill the question before the House is a past of Senate bill ninety nine prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety six yeas and zero day and zero present the bill is passed. Represent makes for what purpose. Represent spring or for what purpose. Clarification of the record please okay let's hear clarification with respect to House Bill eleven fifty nine I indicated the right to vote of eighty year olds I've met the right to serve on the jury if a jury duty so the record should be recorded with respect to that I was speaking with respect to their service as a juror or rather than voting. Represent makes what purpose motion place that's your motion after the announcements reading of the bills transferring the bill's place on the calendars on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalized resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow afternoon that's a proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion carries are there any announcements. Represent Cozart for what purpose but you're recognized House educational meet tomorrow morning at nine thirty in room one fifty one represent Gonzales for purpose. You're recognized constitutional amendments have to be filed by close of business Wednesday. Represent fight for what purpose management you're recognized city county local will meet in fifteen minutes and maxi represent Ladyman for what purpose announcement you're recognized public health will meet in the morning at nine thirty maxi represent fight for what purpose announcement you're recognized aging children youth military will need to have fifteen minutes and maquillaje. Represent Holcomb for what purpose announcement you're recognized public transportation will meet tomorrow at two o'clock in maxi or ten minutes after Germany if we adjourned after two o'clock. Any other announcements. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills. Members hold up just a second. Mr Clark read the letter from the governor. February fourth twenty twenty one to the Speaker of the house do Mr Speaker this is to inform you that on February fourth twenty twenty one I reviewed and approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly House Bill ten thirteen fifty nine house will ten twenty five ACT sixty house bill ten fifty one is X. sixty one possible level seven Zach sixty to House Bill Levin seventy four thank sixty three house bill twelve sixteen Zacks sixty four house bill twelve seventeen Zach sixty five sincerely exit Hutchinson. The desk remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named in the adjourn resolution the house would be adjourned until one PM tomorrow.