Senate Convenes

Madam secretary. Please call the roll. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe. Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang ate Elliott. English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace. Senator Ingram gonna say the prayer everyone please rise including those in the gallery centering our. Thank you very much of please stand. Of. Since we left. This body in April 24. Last year for the fiscal session. Over 4500 our Kansans have passed away from COPD fires I would ask that. We have one moment of silence for all the families that have had to endure and suffered this terrible pandemic. Thank. Dear lord please bless this body. Give us the wisdom. And the courage. To make a difference in the lives of our cans. Let us always remember that the most important people are the citizens of the State of Arkansas they transcend politics. Give this body the string to make those tough decisions I mean. And then I pledge allegiance to the flag. The United States of America. For which it stands one under. Indeed. Liberty. The announcement. In accounts minus any items to be read across the desk madam secretary. No announcements no announcements today items at this. Yes Sir will your committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill 11 by Senator Solomon compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed insurance covers rear committee on engrossed bills to whom was first Senate bill 136 by Senator Irving compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed insurance. Committee on engrossed bills to whom was referred Senate bill 137 by Senator Irving compare the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed insurance company. Your committee on transportation to whom was referred house bill 1230 by represented Richmond recommend to pass out of. Senate bill 253 bass center back come to amend the sales tax treatment of utilities used for certain qualifying agriculture search structures and to define the term agriculture Senate bill 253 revenue Senate bill 254 by Senator hammer. To ensure that businesses are not penalized by the department of health for the behavior of their patrons or or customers during the are covered 2519 public health emergency and Claire an emergency said bill to 54 public health. Similar to 55 by senator Irving to start to establish recovery of damages for necessary medical care treatment or services rendered Senate bill 255 Judiciary similar to 56 percent Irving concerning the use of an administrative subpoena by the division of Arkansas state police investigation concerning an internet crime against a minor Senate bill 256. Judiciary. They having to the morning hour. To wrestle 2 resolutions center T. E. S. C. R. one. S. C. R. one followed by Senator Chesterfield with S. C. R. for. Senate concurrent resolution one by Senator Teague request of the Arkansas state social security administration administrator hold a referendum to determine whether a majority of the members of the General Assembly desire full social security coverage Sir David. Thank you Mr president. Members. David Branscum trying to run a bill similar this 4 years ago in really getting where so we got this out of committee and I appreciate all you know I had to beg for a second. To get it out the. As you know we don't pay social security tax on our checks. In my mind it's not right for us to pay not pay social security taxes for our constituents to. This would just this resolution is called her vote. In which all 35 of us would both. To reverse a decision that was made in 1940 something. It's about 326 I don't remember the exact number I gave you all my paper but not through $26000 fiscal impact. And the. There was concerned it might affect our per diem accountability and joy letter gave us of. A statement that she did not believe that the. So I'll answer any questions. There are any. If not I appreciate a good vote any questions for senator starches questions Sir take. Thank members sitting and just wanted to ask just by voting for the resolution necessarily we're not all opting into just allowing the option to be given are we would then all be required if the resolution for the resolution just would allow us to have a vote at some point the show's Committee ministrations got to be involved in going to set it all up this would just allow us to do that at some point okay thank you Sir thank. Senator Rapert is recognized yes thank you I was there we made the presentation of the day but I wanted to ask because. There is no detriment to the taxpayers of Arkansas that they opted out of that. No longer 1940 whenever they did that I just wanna make sure because you know when it was stated that. It's not fair that were not paying it that I believe that with. You certainly don't have to write because because frankly by not paying it that means the members are not getting any credit for their service that would impact their social security and retirement correction judges when I was asking the question I didn't know if you wanted that to happen did not find out there not been a detriment to taxpayers it actually is a detriment to the member because they're not getting any credit for for social security correct yeah but the taxpayer's standpoint we're not that's where I'm coming from so that but it doesn't matter who's must have a lot of firefighters because I've dealt with them they don't participate all of them in the social security as well and that so they're handled separately and I think railroad members also we rode down I know they know the same like this I just wanna make sure we are though because I don't feel like that for some reason we've been get some sort of benefit that was to the detriment of of taxpayers are not thank you Senator Mark Johnson. How will this affect those of us that are already drawing so security because there's per year she'd see a thing on your tax form that requires you will not have any excuse me limit let me I'm sorry that would mentions something about. If you have more than one employer then there is a you would find yourself in some cases over paid for through your maximum annual contribution would be and I don't I'm I know I want to solve the fair to young people who are trying to accumulate get your pension up on the other hand user ID break or the difference between those of us that are already drawn so security and those of us that are. Not quite there yet. I think that you can get your cut you would place a security but I don't know the answer that mark I'm not sure if you're the expert. Okay I'm all for study and check it out so long ago yeah any other questions anyone wish to speak against or for. I appreciate a good vote this bill voice vote most of C. 5 hands all those in favor say aye. Follows. It does clearly have it the resolution is adopted. Senator Chesterfield Senate concurrent resolution 4 by Senator Chesterfield Elliott and flowers. Thank you all writing black history month during the month of February twenty twenty one center Chesterfield thank you Mister chair and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate this is the annual resolution that we passed declaring February black history month in the state of Arkansas I'd be happy to answer any questions and I appreciate a good vote any questions or wish to speak against or for all those in favor say aye. Is haven't resolution is adopted moving. Yes voting trends. Moving out of the business agenda center sample as before. Senate bill 4 by Senator sample to amend the law concerning disability retirement employee accumulation accounts and employer contributions and the Arkansas local fire police and fire retirement system and declare an emergency. For example. Emergency calls. Thank you Mr president members this is asked me for not SP 5 because a lot of you contact me about SP 5 and so on make sure that everybody understands this is not the one to contact me about and we're working on that one. It's speed. SP 4 is from the lottery board of trustees it's a proposal that is meant to alter the increasing number of disability retirements in the cost of the changes from some or summarizes following. And bear with me because this is the big one section one will allow the law to border tristes ran an additional amount of load to the employer's contribution right for an employer with excess disabilities higher rates. With that they have a higher a higher rate or number of disabilities premium tax cannot be used to fund the calls and the board will finalize the details of the rollout of during the 2021 year. Section 2 delete subsection of code for temporary disabilities walking rights benefits for total and permanent disability is not temporary and LaFee does not show the use of this section of code for at least the past 2 days 2 decades possibly longer so it's really obsolete section 3 moves the presumptive disability. Due diligence building cancer section from the non duty section of the code to be corrected due to disability section code and that's in section 6 section 4 and 5 strikes were probably from an area of the non duty and an area of the duty section code Lotfi disabilities require total and permanent determination not him you. Of not a problem position section 6 is to present to duty disability cancer tax from section 3 being relocated this is the area code the covers due to this buildings sections. 7 introduces the designation of duty disability retirement and the benefit of calculations for each meaning catastrophic which is rarely used tires reduce which is used in the number of limited cases ordinary which is is the most frequently used section I provides more opportunities for a lot to do with review and approve disabilities once a person is in a group Carmen and before attaining the age of 55 which isn't to normal age of retirement for FOR Lotfi this section also reduces the time that the disability can refused to submit to be re examined before his or hers this building. Benefit is revoked section 10 restricts of former retired person who resumes covered employment from being able to apply for disability retirement provides restrictions to the type of work and allowed employment which person is moved into this building were terminates and the insurers workmen's compensation provisions are not used to determine eligibility for law benefits and section 11 contains the Emergency Clause I will try to take questions. A question for the senator. Hello again for 4000000 closed centers close injection on the vote. Role of a please. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang dedes Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace you know wish to change their vote saying none cast up the ballot 35 yeas 0 days SP 4 is past the merchants you call is adopted transmit the bill to the house center sample SP 7 Senate bill 7 by Senator sample to amend the law concerning deferred retirement option plans and Internal Revenue Code qualified plans firemen's relief and pension funds and policemen's pension and relief funds and it's clear and emergency Senator sample. Thank you members. Given this is a fire police pension review board to pick your technical change bill and I will summarize it section 12 and 3:00 AM insists 3 areas of the local plan code concerning the H. for we're told required distribution. In that speech so that we can they can comply with the secure which means sending every community up for retirement enhancement in that was on the active was of sentence alone 2019 the current listed ages 71 half required distribution and that needs to be since the age of 72 section 4 is the emergency clause for that would take effect he per 12021. Questions. The question. You always speak against for any objectionable in the vote. No objection centers close please roll vote madam secretary. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace. You wish to change their vote saying 9 cast of about 35 yeas you're recognized bill is passed the Emergency Clause is adopted transmitted house Senator T. S. B. 189 with an emergency clause Senate bill 199 by Senator T. to amend the assessment fee and program on medical transportation providers within the Arkansas Medicaid programs and clear emergency Senator Teague thank you Mr president for commemoration removed 4 years ago we passed this legislation that allows the and wishes to do like the hospital do with their with their tax match the money to the maximum limit the upper payment limits what U. P. L. means and draw down the money to help them I don't think any of us have had a. Rate increases since. For 19 years maybe 20 years so this just changes a couple words together the. Where gauges for content with an entry questions laws are easy and I appreciate a good vote any easy question center back on. Miller did not know whether or not take his question could we find somebody else. What's the what's the difference in. Back on the floor what's the. Charge difference between emergency non emergency transport is there a percentage modifier or I'm sure there is. This doesn't affect the right. This has to do with the payment service paying the extra money into DHS so that they reach the maximum limit that the federal pie and then defense matched that the Senate anything to do with the rights that damages are charging or any that I don't know what emergency or non emergency okay this is a concern with wooden I don't. Okay. Any other questions in order. Senator flowers's recognize virtually. Thank you Senator Teague for taking my question. 5. So will be the. Increased cost. We realize our charge to. Patience is that. Are transported. By say area agency on aging. Our other contracts similar to that. To medical doctors 4 doctors visits the. I think those gauges contracts are exempt in this legislation and so I think the answer is no. Okay I saw it DHS contracts are exempt but. I would also use is not an emergency medical transportation you know it seems to me like seniors would use that and if they are not under Medicaid are. You know what are they going to get some it increased cost. I understand they will not. And. So. Something maybe it was the testimony as. That and the lands or the transporter agency would pay the amount to get the maximum. From the I mean can you explain that. DO medical transportation providers. Not. And that those those are medical kind. Transportation provider. In a bottle I'm just if we're talking about the same issue. What what is give me an example I'm not an emergency medical transport. I'm not sure exactly what a nonemergency medical orders. What would you. You'll let me passes out overnight and get you an answer. Thank you thank you. You get up you say you get a pass over the bill you know we run it and I'll hold it on a full out withholding here. Okay. Any other questions you wish to speak against for. Centers closed. Which a good vote any objection rolling and. Section the role in that I'll present. All the vote please. Several hours present. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield A. Clark Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hello. Ingram Irvin Johnson mark Johnson leading. Page reipert rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace. Anyone wishing to change their vote just occur present Senator Clark present anybody else anybody else. Sturch Sullivan president. Blake I Senator Blake Johnson is present. Anybody else cast up the ballot 30 days 0 days the bill is passed the Emergency Clause was adopted transmitted to the house Senator hammer for. You want to one second Senator hammer Senator Teague you wanna make a motion to hold it here. You make a motion without objection. God. Several. Senator hammer from Salim County Senate bill 212 by Senator hammering sent Irving to amend the Arkansas pains pandas Advisory Council and declare an emergency center hammer thank you Mr president during the last session we actually established the Advisory Council and it had a sun set of December 31 of 2020 that's for anybody new code was coming along as a result of the we were unable to me for the majority of the time actually that this of insert that the council was set up let me there's a handout on your desk that tells you a little bit about the disease of which this council was working toward helping bring resolution to but I want to tell you about some of the work that the council has done during the last 2 years in spite of code would first of all we can affiliated with Page foundation if you take your hand out and look on the backside of it under the second paragraph you'll see that they are noted in this publication as being a nonprofit that is a leader in the development of research and also education and treatment for what is known as panda pandas the second thing is we have established at you at the children's hospital in conjunction with UAMS a center for excellence in treating pain and pandas we are part of a consortium of other research institutions that a world known such as UCLA university Wisconsin Arizona Stanford Hartford and now you M. S. working in conjunction with children's hospital in fact if you look on the backside of the hand down the second paragraph you'll see that we have been recognized in this publication as being 1 of the leaders in the research toward the US the other thing that is noteworthy that the committee is done is established flyers that are being sent out to all the providers so that they can become better educated and the other thing that I also want to know is that because we are recognized as a center of excellence through UAMS in children's hospital. They were able to receive a donation a covered one year staffing costs for a nurse that works with 2 doctors that are dedicated to the center of excellence at children's hospital children will be considered and this is probably one of the greater achievements as a result of the effort we are now part of the octapharma is the pharmacy group that has launched a phase 3 study that will take children between the ages of 6 to 17 there will be a total of 92 patients that will be in enrolled in this and they will be able to be treated for panda panda xuseen IVI G. treatment then this is about a $30000000 estimated cost to octapharma in order to be do able to do this and now we're at the seat at the table because of the work of this council and so what I'm asking through this piece of legislation is to re establishes Advisory Council so we can continue to do the work because are some things time sensitive related to the octapharma phase 3 study and we need to be involved and continue to push forward on this there's an emergency clause on it I'd like to know let you know why the emergency clauses on it is because it is time sensitive as far as when the phase 3 is being conducted and also we need to continue to push for education in this area working with you M. S. at children's hospital I'll be glad to answer any questions any question for senator hammer anyone wish to oppose speak in favor are center closed closed thank you. And to rolling the vote please roll the vote Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark did Davis Dismang aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hello Ingram Irvin bike Johnson mark Johnson leading Page riper. Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T.. R. State Tucker Wallace. You always change your vote saying 9 cast of the ballot 35 year U. 0 nice the bill is passed emergency clauses adopted transmit to the house Senator Wallace movie are the House Bills H. B. 1013 has 13 been represented right to amend the Arkansas music appreciation by. General thank you Mr president members last session we established a. An act that established the Arkansas music appreciation day which is the first day of September. In this amendment adds 3 new members to that I'll call the hall of fame. James make room that most of us know is Jim dandy Mangrum buckle Arkansas buddy Jewell who is from Lepanto Arkansas by the way Jean Denis from black oak Arkansas he has moved that black oak Arkansas. March. Levon Helms who rolling stones has put it in their hall of fame as a 91 of 100. Of this singers and 22 of the number number number 22 of 100 of this drummers. So stream in that deserved to be in there and with that all. Stenography questions. Senator Ingram was question. Le'veon Helms you use the unit where the other 2 were from do you know where le'veon Helms hails from in Arkansas he is from the line Arkansas no Sir he's not. He is from scratch Arkansas this. Which is a suburb of Marvel and rondo in more or sort of the tri city area in Phillips County but he is a as you describe one of the great musicians of our time and though we we love being that he's from Arkansas in his beard Woodstock. Turkey scratch. Any other questions centerman. Thank you. Carrying on and do you know how many others are involved on this day or and. There were quite a few I know the Glen Campbell is I know that Johnny Cash is I I don't know the others. Okay so the process of adding them is just by running the bill yes. Okay well I would okay I would ask do you know if Jimmy driftwood is is included I don't know what the bill that in. We can set out so. I would love to be able to do that thank you Senator Sturch I think wants to answer a question with a question so start. Senate Wallace do you recall 2 years ago when we pass this bill that Jimmy driftwood from Mountain View Arkansas is actually on this list. I haven't gotten that. Thanks thank you any other questions Sir Malcolm you have a question is that okay anyone wish to oppose this speak in favor of the US centers close. I'm closed he's close any objection rowing the boat these rolled over Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis this mine aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin like Johnson mark Johnson leading Page right correct rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace you wish to change your vote. Cast of about 35 yeas 09 is the bill is passed returned to the house Senator Bledsoe 1174 by represented by wooden center but that to eliminate the nursing home consultant pharmacists permit and a disease state management prudential center but. Thank you Mr president members of the Senate I have house bill 11 of 72 men's the prescription drug monitoring program at. A it gives the the P. D. M. P. the authority or the commission to review program information that appears to indicate that a prescriber or dispenser a is acting in a manner that might represent misuse or abuse of controlled substance. That's the the physician or the pharmacists in in this bill 1107 is. Would you spend for a second this is the weather summary let's. Yes on the sheet a report parcels of land. What. Thank you to start of water on this. I can do the other one I can you me to do the. What 1174 ACT all right please proceed. 1174. All right ladies and gentlemen this is just to clean up bill from the state board of pharmacy lined up Page 1 line 29 it removes the term disease management from prudential requirements of the disease state management has already been done for years in pharmacy and the credentials for this is not needed and then Line 130 for the fee for issuance of the reinstatement of a nursing home consultant is being removed because the rest of the bill remains the nursing home consultant permits they said that only 100 25 pharmacists do this in that state and they felt like it was an unnecessary barrier and cost for pharmacists wishing to practice pharmacy in this state I'd be glad to take any questions any questions anyone wish to speak against or for center closed yes it's close any objection on the vote. Please roll. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Dismang Davis aids Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Blake Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace you know wish to change the vote. Gas is present. Senator flowers like to be counted as present thank you Center flowers anyone else. The cast of the ballot 30480 days the bill is passed returned to the house for gonna go back up to HB 11 of 7 Senator Bledsoe. 7 of 7 members centreboard Senator Bledsoe to amend the prescription drug monitoring program. Senate all right thank you Mr president a as I said before this PD M. P. act it just gives the prescription drug monitoring program commission to review the programs when there looks like there might be an issue with either the prescriber which would be a physician or the dispenser who would be the pharmacist and if they are up prescribing or dispensing in a manner that represents misuse or abuse then there would be a of a controlled substance there would be a review of that information and then it requires the prescribers and dispensers to provide physical copies of written or electronic prescriptions upon request to validate the data. And done I will say this one thing in committee we heard some very bad knees but it it will help this bill will help this needs we have in committee we heard that Arkansas has the second highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation at 93.2 opioid prescriptions for every 100 R. can sense and I'd appreciate to answering questions or a good vote. Senator Stubblefield. Senator Stubblefield question yes Sir. Thank you governor of Senator books. I'll bring bills I was told about this take out any of the options for individuals I can't hear a word I'm sorry. Any of the options of buying generic medications no no this is about the law this is opioids remember this is about opioids this is all about opioids just you know the. Which the program. Centerman. Thank you center but those so it so what I understand is that would be required only if it's requested by the department of health is not correct. It may be required by the the. A prescription drug monitoring program this is when they have been you know physicians go and check the list and and you put in you prescribe and then pharmacists dispense and so if there are any problems if they feel like maybe the prescription a number so high they might go in and just ask for some information this is already right when it says the department may the Department recurring in that section is the department of health right I think that's correct yes okay and only if it's requested that Toronto is not that they had they don't have to produce that all the time. In fact the board of pharmacy already does that and they're going work hand in hand so that the request will not you know overlap and state medical board also have the ability to request that. The state medical board also have the ability to request those written prescription for the pharmacy board of pharmacy and the state medical board. Mentoring if the state medical board has the ability to. I'm not sure but okay thank you thank you have a question there were speaking against for any objection or on the boat. We drove a. Ballenger Beckham Bledsoe Caldwell Chesterfield Clark Davis Dismang aid's Elliott English Flippo flowers Garner Gilmore hammer Hendren Hester Hickey hill Ingram Irvin Johnson mark Johnson leading page Rapert Rice sample Stubblefield Sturch Sullivan T. Tucker Wallace you wish to change your vote. Senator Rice present. He said present. Need to come up with a different sign presence in the not voting. DO not present. So who else anybody else anybody else. We're going to cast the ballot 33 yeah 809. The bill is passed return to the House. Any announcement before we. Senator Rapert center Hendren served as mayor you in okay Senator Rapert is going Hendren and then sat. Service members if you would please look up words and we want to recognize Dr Patrick Fraley to layer knowledges from Conway glad to have you as a doctor the day and also may Sherri designers. Senate is. The governor of the Joint Budget meet tomorrow at 830. Senator Hendren. Insurance and Commerce will not meet again. Today. Service sample or you you're good okay anymore announcements. Senate bill Rundle are. Your last. Thank you Mr I would just ask. That we remember for a moment the family of officer Brian signature who died and he is lying in state today the first officer to do so and so I would just ask that we take a moment to remember him and his family. Thank you Mr chairman thank you ladies and gentleman of this thank you anyone else. Senate to German 1:00 tomorrow subject to the clearing of the Dennis.