House Convenes

I am by the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by doctor can Shattuck senior pastor park hill Baptist church in North Little Rock and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let us pray. Heavenly father we pause in the midst of this data thank you for the incredible gift of life. Multitude of blessings that we enjoy and how grateful we are to live in this beautiful state of Arkansas. Grant those who serve in this house wisdom integrity and heart of compassion for the citizens of our state. In these days of uncertainty and numerous challenges we can knowledge are need of you. Where there is hate help us to love where there is C. N. help us to strive for righteousness where there is despair help us to be quick to offer the gifts of kindness and encouragement. Just as Christ practiced and demonstrated service remind us again lord of the power of a life unselfish service remind us of the responsibility and joy of helping another human being. May these representatives serve well may you bless their homes and families you watch over their health and well being use them to be positive difference makers from fable to Lake Village from Texarkana to Jones Burrel from Mountain Home to elder radio. What's done here in this place may be a blessing to all ages and stages of our Kansans in Jesus name we pray amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With ninety nine members present chairs is a quorum are there any recall request for leave. Resent Gazaway for what purpose leave Representative Mayberry is leave granted for represent Mayberry. So noted. Represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense the reading of previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees read the reports Mister Clark Mister Speaker we are committee on house rules to whom was referred house bill twelve twenty eight house concurrent resolution one thousand eight beg leave to report we had the same under consideration here with the terms and the recognition do pass respectfully submitted less these chair Mister Speaker your committee on house rules to whom was referred Senate bill thirty two beg leave to report we had the same under consideration here with turns and direct me to do pass as amended number one respectfully submitted less eves chair Mister Speaker we Committee on joint budget to whom was referred house bill ten seventy six house eleven forty four House Bill twelve seventy one house bill twelve seventy two house bill twelve eighty five house bill twelve eighty seven houseful twelve eighty eight helpful twelve ninety house bill twelve ninety two House will twelve ninety three possible twelve ninety four house bill twelve ninety five helpful twelve ninety six house bill twelve ninety seven house bill thirteen oh nine house bill thirteen eleven that would report we've had the same in a consideration here with the turn the same with recognition do pass respect was omitted Lane Jean chair. Are there any Reports from standing committees reports Mr Clark as we are Committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill twelve thirty six house bill twelve thirteen thirty six house bill thirteen fifty six house bill thirteen sixty eight beg leave to report we find the same under consideration here with the terms same the recognition do pass respectfully submitted Justin Gonzales vice chair Mister Speaker we are Committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill thirteen thirty two beg leave to report that we have the same under consideration here with the terms and the recognition do pass as amended number one respectfully submitted Justin Gonzales vice chair Mister Speaker we are Committee on insurance and commerce to whom was referred house bill twelve twenty six house bill twelve forty two and Senate bill eighty four beg leave to report we for the same under consideration here with trying to sing the recommendation that a do pass respect with the minute Mark Lowery chair. There any unfinished business are there any Executive communications. Read the letter from the government Clerk. The board second twenty twenty one to the Speaker of the house Mr Speaker this is to inform you that on February second twenty twenty one I approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety third General Assembly House Bill Levin seventy eight is that thirty nine house eleven sixty six ACT forty house bill eleven fifties Act forty one house bill eleven forty nine is that forty two House eleven forty sevens Act forty three House eleven forty five ACT forty fourth house eleven forty threes Act forty five house eleven thirty two ACT forty six house eleven thirty six forty seven house bill eleven twenty nine ACT forty eight house eleven twenty eight is ACT forty nine House Bill ten ninety six X. fifty house bill two ninety fours ACT fifty one house bill two ninety three is like fifty to House Bill ten ninety two was like fifty three House pertaining to is ACT fifty four house eleven eighty five ACT fifty five House Bill ten fifty six ACT fifty six house bill ten fifty seven is like fifty seven house bill ten fifty nine ACT fifty eight sincerely a sentence and. Represent Ladyman for what purpose. I'm on point of personal privilege you're recognized. Like to approach the well. Thank you Mr Speaker. A. We'll have an announcement that I wanted to present to the House this morning some of my thunder was stolen because of the news release mid morning some we all probably know this already we try to coordinate this and it didn't work so so we all know this already but I'm going to give my speech anyway. Yes. Of. Colleagues I rise to bring good news. With the challenges that we face today we need a distraction. We need some good news and I have a distraction. As I speak in this chamber. To discuss a draft resolution that I have an identical draft resolution is being presented by Senator Gary Stubblefield on the floor of the Senate. Also at ten AM this morning a news release was sent out to state wide media to announce the contents of this resolution. With all of these activities taking place simultaneously you know why is this happening. Because I have a very important announcement to make. Today. The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. An Arkansas state university in Jonesborough is announcing that they will have they have that they have signed a contract to play a football game at war Memorial Stadium in little rock in twenty twenty five. The university will also play you a P. B. two games at war Memorial Stadium part of the contract. This football game. This football game between the U. A. N. A. issue has been discussed and promoted by some people for over fifty years I'm old enough to know that. These two universities have never met on the football field. Many reasons have been put forward for not playing this game. I want to give you some reasons why this game should be played. This game will be a financial boost for war Memorial Stadium. Little Rock Central Arkansas in the entire state of Arkansas. The University of Arkansas frequently pays to bring teams in from out of state to play warm up games. This intrastate competition will maximize these financial resources and keep on here in Arkansas. Also ticket sales for this game will bring a lot of money to Central Arkansas. And I don't believe there be any problem. In filling one or more stadium for this game. This game will promote the University of Arkansas. An Arkansas state university throughout the state. It will generate a lot of interest in football and in both universities. This game will generate more athletic opportunities. For student athletes in Arkansas. This announcement has been a long time coming. I thought I would never see this game in my lifetime. Senator Kim hammer and I have been working with both the university boards and presidents and athletic directors since twenty fifteen to make this game happen we had a couple of bills that we pull down resolution we pull them also Representative Andy Mayberry and represented Harel Copenhaver ran a bill to require this game in two thousand and nine which failed. Way back in the nineteen seventies and nineteen eighties governor David Pryor the governor Bill Clinton. Or ask why this game was not being played even back then. There is already there has been some discussion among fans about a rivalry trophy this is not the university's. Similar to what takes place in other states such as the HMO in Mississippi the iron bowl in Alabama or even the old oaken bucket bow in Indiana. We could have. Just a suggestion the Arkansas Nyman bowl right here in Little Rock. We'll have to wait and see what happens on that. I will be presenting this concurrent resolution to you in the near future we want to keep this quiet that's why the resolution was not prepared for the day if you want to sign on as a co sponsor I have a sign up sheet at my desk so feel free to come by and sign up I want to thank the athletic directors hunter Yurachek at the university of Arkansas Terry Mohajir at Arkansas state university for working hard to make this game happen it would not have happened without these two individuals I think they have done a great service for their universities and for the state of Arkansas. This may not be a big deal in some parts of the state where you live but I guarantee and apart of state rally at this is a big deal. So I'm looking forward to attending this game getting a front row seat. Because this is history being made. Only got one more thing to say. Whooping civilian wars up. Represent Pilkington for what purpose point of personal privilege you're recognized mappers the well yes you may. I notice I really brought the new down. As many of you know. We were planning on making a motion of extract minerals Senate bill twenty four today. I've said decided not to make that motion new information has come out with the gun owners of America actually coming out in support of this bill as well as a few others and of course I've heard people to say that they felt like this wasn't dealt with in an open manner with an honest dialogue people say they feel threatened to vote for it they said they felt threatened to vote against. That's not the way we need to operate and so with that in being faithful partners to one another and showing respect for all of us what I am doing is having a meeting with legislators that have concerns about S. B. twenty four to meet with me in the conference room on the fourth floor on a on a German so that we can discuss issues and concerns with this bill so that we can find a broader coalition to move forward so I just wanna I know there's a lot of confusion a lot of press and so I wanted to make that announcement clear so that everyone knew what was going on so that we can operate in an open manner thank you. Morning hours ended Mr Clark please read house bill ten fifty three. House Bill ten fifty three by represented Dotson to allow the secretary of the department of finance and administration to appoint the director of the assessment coordination division and to state that the appointee meets the legal qualifications for the position. Represent Dotson you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mister chair Mister Speaker and members. Senate bill I mean goodness let me start over. House Bill ten fifty three this is a really short bill and in seven lines in the code and it does one simple thing it moves the the director of the assessment coordinating division who is currently appointed by the governor to being appointed or are hired by the secretary of the department of finance administration currently during transformation we moved the Cessna coring Division coordinating division under the department of finance administration a couple years ago but the Secretary even though they're over that division. They don't hire or fire the head of that division it's it's kind of on an equal playing field with governor so this is just realigning the the the authority structure they're more happy try to answer any questions. Created a. Person Dotson is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent. Dotson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten fifty three prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Five of ninety six yeas zero nine zero present. The bill is passed. Members the doctor the day is Dr Tim see Payton of Mountain Home and the nurse the date is miss Brenda humid. Mr Clark please read house bill eleven no one else will let no one by represented Evans too many amount of signatures required to petition a school district board of directors to me. Seventy recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. What is it about the house of rain today two U. house bill eleven oh one to build concerning the number of signatures required on a petition to hold a special so called school board meeting under current statute public school boards are required by law to hold a regular monthly meeting and to publish the notice of that meeting no less than ten days in advance showing the date the time in the place of the meeting. Also if the meeting has any personnel matters are personal actions are going to be taken that meeting cannot be held before five PM to allow the working public to attend. So depending upon the day of the week of the meeting and where the weekend would fall in that ten day window the notice of the meeting in the end of the previous meeting could be no less than two weeks apart. Current statute states that the petition to call a special public meeting must have a minimum of fifty signatures. With the expansion of population growth in many of our districts across the state fifty does not proportionally represent the full voting population and representation of the district. Therefore to make sure that we have equal representation we are asking to change the statute from a minimum of fifty keep that as is but also include that it would be one percent of the qualified electors in the school district with a cap on the petition of two hundred I believe that all questions and concerns were previously answered in house Education Committee in a currently know of no opposition to the bill we have to take any questions. Thank you appreciate a good vote. Represent evinces explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Evans is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven a one prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark my vote ninety one yeas to nays and for present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read House Bill Levin two also owner to buy represent of evidence to require additional training on school safety and student discipline for board members to standardize the training requirements reporting to increase the time by which a board member may carry training our deficiency or seven you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this bill house bill eleven oh two can concerns school board member training quite simply this does three things number one back in the ninety second General Assembly represented Dotson ran a bill is passed by this chamber to include audit training into the first nine hours that school board members are required to receive within the first twelve months of being elected office later on during the session it was a lot of emphasis put about the committee in in this house in discussions of school safety most especially in student discipline and in terms of bullying fellow students in within their districts. So with that the the school board association is developing training for school board members to be able to read interpret the report superintendents are now required to give annually to their board showing all of the data that involves what they're doing to prohibit bullying and provide better school safety for students within their districts secondly it is the responsibility of the school district to report annually to the board members the amount of accumulated hours of training the board members have to have every board member has to have nine hours in their first twelve months followed by six hours each year afterwards of their term the reporting of that it's been somewhat inconsistent so the association has developed a very simple format that the districts can use the needs to be adopted by the legislature and thirdly sometimes due to military duty due to sickness the it's difficult for a board member to get the number of hours per year that they are required to take and depending upon when the board meeting falls in January it It shrinks that window of the twelve months and so the association is asking for a thirty day window to allow our military anyone that my fault too to an illness to be able to cure up for the previous year the hours that they may have missed I'll be happy to answer any questions. Percent very for what purpose you're recognized Mr Evans what if a book board member refuses to take the training. What happens with long range. Result of the if they refused to to get that refused to take any of the training if they're bored new board member Dave refused taking the training is there any. Result from that yes Sir I believe that that by a vote of that board they would be removed from there see if they do not get their hours do we know that for sure or is it no Sir but I can get that answer for you. Thank you yes I'm not aware of that ever happening the association makes it readily available to get those hours I'm not aware of anyone who's not taking the training we kinda look. We come to live in New World right now over the of the bill yes what would be available in who would want to go to that training yes could go to that I'll be happy to get that information for you. Create a good vote. Represent evinces explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Evans is closed for the bill the question before the House is the pastor of House Bill let know to prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six U. A. zero nine one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill twelve twelve. House Bill twelve twelve by represented Ladyman to amend the division of workforce services law and concerning the non charge of employer contributions for certain unemployment is. Inch insurance issue insurance claims and to declare emergency. Represent Ladyman you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. We're calling this a. I've got a bunch of information here but I will read that but let me just try to explain it in the layman's terms what can back in twenty twenty the second quarter of twenty twenty many small businesses in Arkansas we're required to lay off a lot of people in a public health we had to hair salon owners come before us and they had just received a bill one in Jonesborough four thirty five thousand dollars one in Little Rock for a hundred thirty thousand dollars for unemployment costs to those businesses. And they didn't do this on their own they were required because the pandemic to lay these folks all in in the hairdressing industry maybe don't know this but they very seldom pay on employment these were bills that they were not used to paying the lady in Jonesborough said it really might affect your business it might even cause to close so Senator Irvin eyes so this is a big problem we started checking into this and come find out there are many many businesses. limited there were twenty six thousand employers in Arkansas that fell into the same basket and their unemployment fees would go up. Next month in March by thirty six percent. What we also found out was that manufacturing was the segment most affected by this because they might have hundreds of people in this category of medical the medical business was like the third or fourth most affected so it was affecting a lot of people. So what we started working on was how can we fix this problem and commerce department came up with an idea thank the amount was sixty million dollars that we had to come up with and so they try to come up with that money had difficulty doing that they finally did but working with carriers Committee but and so the we're gonna be able to cover that but we need to make changes in the code for the future and also for this particular incident so that's what this bill does it allows the commerce department to not. To to forego that cost if it's due to an emergency. So it allows them to do that and with this bill it would allow me to do that the for this bill they could not do that. This is the G. R. is neutral on this of. The bill would avoid an increase in the taxes. Right now the the fund. is it a hunt is seven hundred ninety eight million dollars the trust fund for unemployment so this would not negatively affect that fun and is totally capable of covering. In costs might be associated with this so I'd be happy to take any questions it's complicated process but we need to do this to protect our small businesses and make sure that they don't go out of business. So I take any questions. Seeing none I appreciate a good vote represent Ladyman as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent lady minutes close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve twelve the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. You're voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Yes ballot Mr Clark. Ninety eight A. zero nine zero present the bill and the emergency clause has passed. Mr Clark read house bill thirteen twenty two. House Bill thirteen twenty two by Representative Holcomb to amend the timeline for involving a dead body in the state. Represent Holcomb your record recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker and colleagues what I bring to you today is a very shortly probably one the shores you will have in this session a lot of you may not know that currently under the rule a dead body that is not buried within twenty four hours after death but these are either B. and bomb the refrigerated and go right down into the very next line this is a dead body that is being cremated embalming and refrigeration is not required for forty eight hours so all I'm asking is for the same thing for burial with the bill says forty eight and boasts lots of dead body forty eight hours cremation forty eight hours I have checked with the health department from their standpoint from the medical waste perspective. the because the funeral establishments are actually subject to the eighty H. medical waste rules they found that in bombing did not actually change or impede their medical waste rules also contact the office for State Board of embalming funeral directors cemeteries burial services to get the insurance perspective and was informed that they were on the verge of making some rule changes I ask you this rule change could be made and was informed that it would be easier if we made the rules change ourselves now what brought this to light to me was when one of our own state Representative Sheila Lampkin died she did more being bombed her husband knew that he was going to lose or and still even knowing that it was very difficult for him to be able to get her in the grave in twenty four hours so NO nine as unexpected death. It's just gonna be almost impossible to get that done especially if they die in the winter months in the A. M. hours we have short days it's just almost impossible so I checked with the health department check through the corners it would affect anything they do actually give them a little more time for investigation positions you see doctor Johnson is signed up also on the bill have found no opposition it also give families a lot more time to attend a a a graveside funeral law small funeral homes do not have a to facility so this will help them if the for me myself I don't wanna be a mom not I want to go through viewing for my family I don't want to go through the visitation and funeral home I don't want to have a funeral for viewing I want to go straight to a graveside and try to find a decent picture and put on there and just have a great time for my family so simply that's it in a nutshell pretty simple bill no opposition I'm aware of no one's called me a contact me I'll take any questions if you have any. Thank you I appreciate a good vote. Represented Holcomb as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Holcomb is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill thirteen twenty two where the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety eight EA zero nays and zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill ten sixty eight. House Bill ten sixty eight by represented coking tend to clarify the telemedicine act to specify that the home of a patient may be originating site for telemedicine and that group meetings may be performed via telemedicine answer click and to clarify reimbursement for to help of telemedicine services. Senate Bill Clinton you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker is a very simple bill Some paper health providers were worried that they're not able to do group therapy via telemedicine because it's not specifically stated in the law this just specifically stated not tied to payments or anything like that it is the losses they can do it as opposed to they're just being an ambiguous gray area that's it thanks. Thank you for your vote. Represented Posey tennis explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represented Pilkington is close for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill ten sixty eight per the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Yes it the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety seven U. A. zero Naseer present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read house bill twelve sixty nine house bill twelve sixty nine The Representative Payton to allow a county to authorize the operation of golf carts on certain county roads by ordinance to declare an emergency. Senate Peyton you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker calling this is a pretty simple bill we passed legislation a few years back the allowed cities to pass an ordinance if they wanted to because I have a golf course or golf community and they can allow golf carts on city streets this broadens it to where it County could do that a lot of times the golf courses are not in the city limits they're out in the county you they cannot pass an ordinance that allows it on US highways or state highways it has to be county roads so it's just permissive language done for some to do it but they can pass an ordinance to allow the golf carts on county roads and they also have the power to pass regulations like requiring that they have turn signals and brake lights if they want to include that in the ordinance so I don't know of any opposition I appreciate a good vote. Represent Payton as explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent Payton is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve sixty nine where the machine Mr Clerk. The voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety eight yeas or nays and zero present the bill an emergency clause this past. Mr Clark read house bill twelve forty four. House bill twelve forty four by represented hop to authorize the issuance of a driver's license or identification card without a photograph in certain circumstances present represented talk you're recognized explained bill. Thank you good afternoon I am from district ninety one in Northwest Arkansas undertake fast growing district with a lot of people don't realize is also a growing population of Amish and Mennonites US citizens and they have brought forward a need for a photo no photo driver's license and identification card. the city attorney of gentry and silent spring said in many instances they have to be chauffeured around they also need it for a library card and and other services in the community so this does affect them on a daily basis they have a religious objection to having a image taken of themselves so that's their purpose against a driver's license with with the photo ID currently we have a law that says if you have an objection or not present to get a driver's photo on your driver's license that's okay but the question came to me and I wanted to to share with you because their religious objection it didn't fit that exemption so they didn't want to take advantage of an exemption that didn't fit their actual objection there's a positive impact for them but also for the community these people provide many many services and we're very glad that they are our neighbors this would if they wanted to vote which most of them don't participate but if they wanted to vote they would still need to have a photo of a photo ID to vote they would also need for the federal identification card to have a photo taken for the federal ID card said station so chooses to exercise that right of this state police director came and testified yesterday along with myself the verification that this is a sincerely held religious objection is signed by an affidavit where they would come to little rock and signed that affidavit we study thirteen other states that have this provision there's a very low fraud that's an issue of the state police chiefs have no opposition to this bill we also call the alcohol beverage control director and they have no objections to the. The Bill. So if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer any questions. Represent Collins for what purpose question you're recognized for a question thank you and represented hock we we spoke a little about this but just to be clear the existing language does allow for religious belief to be one of the grounds for the no further doesn't state that as a an exemption under a current exemption it says if you're not available for a photo ID. Follow up. Recognized I just in a again I think it says on the grounds this is existing language on the grounds of religious belief or the licensee is unavailable to take the photograph so this adds the religious objection as an ex as a reason. But but religious beliefs is in there already it was not in there already my understanding was that was not. For a photo no photo ID and driver's license. The other questions. How. Represented falcons explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represented talk is closed for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve forty four where the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. That's a ballot Mr Clerk. Eighty three eighty four nays and to present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read S. B. one thirty one. Senate bill one thirty one by represented Stu Smith to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning eligibility for the Arkansas concurrent challenge scholarship programs. Represented Smith you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker S. the thirty one was a bill that passed the Senate on sponsored by Senator Sturch. This amendment will change the continuing eligibility for the concurrent challenge. Scholarship from a letter grade of city to a grade point average of two point five and the reason for this is the two point five grade point average will be consistent with the academic challenge requirements or the lottery scholarship. Seagraves as of now might result in a loss of eligibility for academic challenge as a GPA could fall below two point five with all cities. This amendment also clarifies languages for Roman provisions of the student fall below two point five grade point average and that would be that they would be eligible to take an additional class one class the following semester. And if that class. Grade wound up being a beer better than they would be eligible to fall in line with where they were in the beginning. the mobile for any questions on that. Seeing none I ask for a good vote. Represent Smith has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Smith is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB one thirty one prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. I guess it the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety one yeah eight zero nays and three present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read SP thirty five also thirty five a Representative very to amend the law concerning tuition benefits for soldiers and airmen of the Arkansas National Guard and to allow a temporary waiver of the completion of the initial active duty training requirements. Represent very recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker point of personal privilege. You're recognized of Mister Speaker I like to recognize colonel Jeff would up in the the galley he's was my former staff judge advocate in the current staff judge advocate for general for the Arkansas National Guard nothing really he's here to keep an eye on his bill he's a three term Representative from the house and his father Doug Smith was a twenty year legislator and for the state of Arkansas thank you. Thank you. Mr Speaker Senate bill thirty five the is a pretty easy piece of legislation what it allows is soldiers and airmen who have a delay in training because of no fault of their own where they can go ahead and use their educational benefits currently sometimes our soldiers and airmen they wait up to a year to get a top secret security clearance and maybe another eight or nine months to get a school day so during that time frame this temporary waiver will allow them to use their educational benefits I'll be happy to take any questions. I was appreciate your consideration for good vote. Represent various explained bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represent berries close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB thirty five prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Gas up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety six J. zero nays are present the Bill pass. Mr Clark read SP thirty four. Senate bill thirty four Representative fight to amend a law concerning compensation for teachers in the National Guard youth challenge program. Represent fight you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this bill addresses annual leave and sick leave for teachers employed in the Arkansas National Guard youth challenge program. You challenge teachers currently accrued leave like any other state employee however this is difficult in a school situation. There are no current laws they give the department of the military the authorization to deduct the excess of cruel that these teachers get now as a state employee that was earned by not working and there's no special status of leave for teachers that are state employees to be to the the end during their seventy days off of the year so they're asking for you to challenge teachers that were maxed out in late for any given year that they would still not be able to cover forty eight days that they're often work is dictated by current law because of the differences in semesters and school year than regular teachers the youth challenge teacher semesters or nineteen weeks twice a year. And so they are asking for this change in the way that they accrue leave that they be put on the same basis as teachers and other Arkansas state schools. Seeing no questions I'd appreciate a good vote. Represented by his. Fite has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representa fight is closed for the bill question before the House is the passage of SB thirty four per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. S. the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety five BA zero Nasr presents the bill is passed. Mr Clark read SB one twenty five the Bill one twenty five by represented Johnson to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning higher education. Represent Johnson you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you colleagues this bill removes redundant language with regard to how the Department higher a collect some data all the data is still being collected is still resides in the Department south it just takes out this redundant language if you have any questions we have to try to answer. C. nine percent to get about. Representative Johnson is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Representative Johnson is closed for the bill question before the House is the passage of SB one twenty six one twenty five skews me prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Casts up the ballot Mr Clark. Ninety seven yeas or nays and zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark read SP one twenty six. Also one twenty six I represented Johnson to amend provisions of the Arkansas code concerning the applicability and additional eligibility requirements of the Arkansas academic challenge scholarship program part two. Represent Johnson you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you colleagues this is another higher education bill that allows for a person to can currently hold both the governor seeking to seeking distinguish caller seven also the argument Arkansas academic challenge scholarships are trying to get my words twisted the reason for that is the criteria or are different and so if one were to lose the governor's scholarship that could potentially still carry the Arkansas academic challenge scholarships it doesn't change the amount of money that's a lot of additionally removes some language regarding grade point requirements that are no longer a requirement for eligibility then also cleans up some language regarding data data for reporting purposes responsive to me current eligibility criteria I don't have to try to answer any questions. C. not appreciate a good vote. Represented Johnson as explained a bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Represented Johnson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of SB one twenty six prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Everyone voted cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety seven yet yes yeas. Zero nays and zero present the bill is passed. This court please read Senate bill one thirty Senate bill one thirty by represented Johnson to repeal the Arkansas academic challenge scholarship program part one. Senate Johnson you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker Sir when we created the Arkansas lottery scholarship program there was a there was a scholarship in place called the Arkansas academic challenge scholarships then when we created the new scholarship program at the powers that be decided to also name that the Arkansas academic challenge scholarships so there to the scholarships in existence the old one has run its course all the people that are qualified in receiving funding through the old scholarship have now graduated and moved on so what this does is it removes the language that created the old scholarship to do scholarship but with the same name is still intact so be happy Easter questions on that front. C. nine appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent Johnson is explained bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Johnson's close for the bill the question for the house's passage of Senate bill one thirty. Where the machine's Clark. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. About ninety five U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill twenty one. Senate bill twenty one by represent of rye to exclude mill scale and slag from the definition of solid waste in the Arkansas solid waste management act and solid waste management and recycling fund act into and the definition for mill scale and slag. Percent rock you're recognized explain your bill. Thank you so much We are very very fortunate in Arkansas and also in Mississippi County two of Jonah the biggest steel mills and the entire United States this bill today is dealing with shavings in other words is called. It is called lag that is a part of what is left over. Now for the last thirty years. They have been using this of this flag this off of the steel fara construction of roads. And make sure that is considered a beneficial product to a by product in the bill actually itself is just actually defining what it is I'll read this for you real quick it says mill scale and slag means by products that are a result of the steel manufacturing process that are managed as items of value in a controlled manner and use in a manner of beneficial re use and it does not include buy products that are results of the steel manufacturing process that would otherwise qualify. As a hazardous waste or the that are determined to be discarded materials this bill actually was written in portion by the ADQ they're there for this bill one hundred percent it makes the slag of considered a beneficial use by definition by product and not a hazardous waste product counties in northeast Arkansas an Arkansas highway department can continue using steel slag for road radius strive production supports hundreds of jobs in northeast Arkansas and it's it's a fine thing and and now the words were not only producing great steel in Mississippi County we have a a by product here this actually being used for roads that are saving money and and and Mississippi and county center posted Mississippi County so I think it's a good bill and I appreciate a good vote thank you very much. Percent rise explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. Percent rise close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill twenty one prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. I have a ninety eight yeas zero nine A. zero presence bills pass. It makes for what purpose. Motion place you're recognized after the announcement reading of the bills transferring the bill's place on the counters on the desk members amending their own bills their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions ready communications and any remaining committee reports I move we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. That's proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion carries. Are there any announcements represent gene for what purpose announcement you're recognized Joint Budget will meet tomorrow morning eight thirty big mac a. Represent Pilkington for what purpose announcement you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker we will not be meeting the fourth floor conference room instead we will be meeting at the RPA Republican Party of Arkansas headquarters at on adjournment for the discussion about S. B. twenty four thank you. Represent fight for what purpose announcement you're recognized city county local will lead in big maxi in fifteen minutes. Represent Ladyman for purpose announcement you're recognized public health will meet tomorrow morning at nine thirty maxi. The fight for purpose you're recognized aging children youth military will be meeting on the stairs as soon as we adjourned for our picture and then after I picture we will go on over to mac a for our meeting that's assent as we adjourned picture percent Holcomb what purpose Smith you're recognized public transportation will meet tomorrow at two o'clock or ten minutes after Germany three German after two o'clock in maxi and we will take a photo tomorrow immediately following German on the House floor so where you good clothes. Represent Bentley what purpose announcement you're recognized for those of you who have a schedule like mine it doesn't allow you to get here early enough on Wednesday morning to pray or have an alternate pizza in prayer I Capitol Hill at five thirty if anybody like to join us you are welcome represent wing for what purpose announcement you're recognized House Management will meet tomorrow at noon in mac be tomorrow noon mac B. represent Vaught for what purpose announcement you're recognized acclimate ten minutes upon adjournment. Evince for what purpose. Announcement you're recognized House education meet tomorrow morning nine thirty room one fifty one. Cemex what purpose I now spend you're recognized advanced communication information technology will meet tomorrow at eleven thirty big mac B.. Any other announcements. Desk for main open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion The Addams named in the joint resolution the house to be adjourned until one PM tomorrow.