House Convenes

I'm by the member staff press and guests in the gallery so stand to be led in prayer. By Dr John McCallum senior pastor First Baptist Church hot springs and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's pray together. We praise you father because you are a great god. Arkansas exists in these legislators are senators and governor represent our state because you should be so. Thank you for each one for the sacrifices they and their families make so that they can serve our state well. With the high ideals that move them to seek office be their beacon while they're in office. Because these are tough times Covin racial tensions political polarization economic stress for many just to the General Sir earlier this toward those with whom we disagree. They they need power be on themselves or they need you. Would you please give them strength to serve others rather than themselves would you help them rise above personal ambition in party politics and seek the common good is this they understand. Would you please give them common sense and desire to work with others even those with whom they disagree especially with those with whom they disagree for we are one people and their one legislators in here by the citizens in their districts to do right by all Arkansans would you bless them with the courage to see things as they are. Division to see things as they could be. And the wisdom to bridge the gap. And please board give them a desire to listen more than speak to think of others before self to be a voice for those who have no voice. To do justice love mercy and walk humbly with you in one another we pray these things to the end that we may have a better stronger kinder Arkansas when they're session and then we had when they began in Jesus name a. 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 the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Represent Gazaway for what purpose. Leave a recognized leader Representative Mayberry is leave granted represent Mayberry. So noted. Represent Fredrick Love moves we dispense the reading the previous day's Journal without objection so ordered are they Reports from select committees are the Reports from standing committees read reports Mister Clark Mister Speaker your committee on education to whom was referred house bill Levin a one house bill eleven to Senate bill thirty four Senate bill thirty five Senate bill one twenty five cent bill one twenty six Senate bill one thirty Senate bill one thirty one beg to report we've had the same under consideration and here with the terms and the recognition do pass respect with the numbers Cozart chair Mister Speaker you Committee on Public Health to to whom was referred house bill ten sixty eight house bill twelve twelve house bill thirteen twenty two Senate bill twenty one Bentley to report we've had the same under consideration I'm here with the terms and the recognition to do pass especially submitted Jack Ladyman chair. Is there any unfinished business are there any Executive communications. Mr Clark please read house resolution one thousand seven House resolution one thousand record one thousand seven bye Representative Charlene Fite to commit at least make it better. The fight you're recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker. Colleagues beginning last spring the governor has done daily and then regular press conferences informing the public about kind of the nineteen. I want you all to tell the truth. Tell the truth you did not watch the governor you watched Eddie right. What we want to commend any today for everything that he has done edition I can backer has done more to popularize American Sign Language than anyone in the history of this state with his expressive language his energy his smile his colorful ties he has become an icon he has sparked interest in the learning the beautiful language of American Sign Language and Eddie. Is in the balcony today with his wife and son here's what I want you to do I want you to form and I. And L. and then O. Y. this is the sign for I love you and I want us to stand up and tell Andy how much we love him. Thank you. Person fight is explain the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Person fight is close for the resolution. Question for the House the adoption of house resolution one thousand seven all in favor say aye. Any opposed the resolution is adopted. Members the doctor the day is Dr Patrick Fraley of Conway and the nurse the days miss Sheri Bernard. The morning hour is ended Mr Clark please read house bill eleven eighty four House eleven eighty four by represent of Dalby concerning the drawing of a person's blood when a person was operating or in actual physical control of a motorboat or motor vehicle while intoxicated. Person Dalby you're recognized to explain the resolution sorry the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members all this bill is house bill eleven eighty four it just. Codifies into statute with United States Supreme Court and the Arkansas Supreme Court said that when you're taking a blood draw from somebody that you either do it by warrant or you do it by express consent and it just clarifies that that's all there is I'd appreciate a good vote. Percent Dalby has explained the building would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Per sim Dalby is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven eighty four prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety five U. A. zero nine one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven eighty. House eleven eighty by represented Gonzales to specify process of review of rules regarding scope of practice of health care professionals. Person involved you're recognized to explain the bill they were Speaker Kelly this bill just simply codifies a process that we already use of certain health care of rules that come out from boards go through public health committee before they make it all the way through the rule making process. The representatives also explain the building would like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Gonzales is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven eighty prepared machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by a vote of eighty eight yeas three nays and zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten twenty two. House Bill ten twenty two by represent Charlene Fite to amend the law concerning when lighted lamps are required on certain types of vehicles and vessels. Person fight you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker current Arkansas law allows drivers to operate in normal conditions up to thirty minutes after sunset and thirty minutes after sunrise with no lights this is extremely dangerous this bill was brought to me by a policeman in Prairie Grove with the consent of his police department and he has asked that this be clarified in Arkansas law. Head lights and tail lamps or a safety device and not just for the use of the driver to have this ability of the roadway in the dark similar to turn signals headlights and tail lights act as a warning device for other vehicles it can be argued that on clear days a driver may not necessarily need headlights to see the roadway ten minutes after sunset or before sunrise however the lights act as a warning device so that other drivers can clearly see that vehicle approaching. Otherwise that vehicle is a danger to himself herself or others. The Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police had no issues with this bill the state police is not in opposition to this bill and I would appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Represent wing for what purpose. Represent fight has left the well. Fite is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent fight is closed for the bill the question before the House is the pastor of House Bill ten twenty two per machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Everyone voted cast ballot Mr Clark. Five or fifty five yeas nineteen eighties And three present the bill is passed. Person void. Represent Boyd moves that we re referred house bill twelve sixty five to committee that's proper motion represent Boyd you're recognized explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker this is a really good bill regarding school buses and stopping and safety that we need to refer back to the committee to make it even better so I appreciate a good vote thank you. Person board is explained the motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Represent Boyd is close for the motion the question before the House is the re referral house bill twelve sixty five to committee all in favor say aye. Any opposed the motion passes Mr Clark please read house bill eleven twelve. House eleven twelve a represented Lowery to amend the law concerning voter identification to amend the law concerning verification of provisional ballot sentiment Amendment fifty one of the Arkansas constitution. Exemplary you're recognized explain the bill. Members this is a bill that you many of you have previously voted on back in two thousand sixteen we adopted voter ID laws. The Arkansas House originally voted for a bill that I presented that required of photo ID and it in it lists a number of Allowable IDC can be used and seventy for the voter was seventy four to nothing twenty one on the way to the Senator proposal was brought to me this was more I think related to people who show up at the polls that don't have their ID I was asked if I would consider this signed sworn statement in substitution of the ID. I thought about it I did put it in over the Senate in and then it came to the house for amendment. This year we've had considerable problems when it relates to specially two absentee ballots on the requirement of whether to include an ID or a sworn statement. And what has occurred and it's it didn't just occur in Arkansas occurred all over the country is that we found that there was no uniform standard of signature verification. The Washington Times is our skews me the Los Angeles Times wrote an article where they interviewed some specialist in the area of forensic handwriting and once specialist said that you know it takes him several hours to be able to verify with confidence that a signature is a valid signature that it matches the previous signature and yet we're asking our election workers many of whom are not trained in signature verification to do that act in seconds. So for those reasons I you know all the arguments are still the same that we adopted voter ID because there was an erosion of in. Confidence in the integrity of the ballot I never referenced one time and testimony in committee or in the house that this was an issue about fraud and about trying having to prove numerous examples of fraud but that it was something the election integrity study that pointed out that Arkansas is ranked twenty six out of fifty six fifty states in terms of voters being confident the integrity of the ballot the Gallup poll in two thousand sixteen said that eighty percent of Americans favor voter ID. Now that's an important numbers specially when we look at the voting results in two thousand eighteen when we added the constitutional amendment. Represent of Lundstrum brought to us went before the voters end of support for it was seventy nine point five percent click very closely mirrored the eighty percent found in the Gallup poll. But let's look closer dig deeper into the numbers the Gallup poll found. That. On support of photo ID ninety five percent of Republicans favorite sixty three percent of Democrats in eighty three percent of independents and you dig even deeper that non white voters who were polled by the Gallup poll seventy seven percent favored voter ID. So none of these groups felt like that it would disenfranchise by large numbers so all we're doing is we are returning by today's vote to the purer version of voter ID that the Arkansas house adopted in two thousand sixteen one that is an absolute standard we don't have to question whether there is a uniform standard or not of being able to identify that you are who you say you are by your ID matter fact I I watch with interest the claims commission ruling or the hearing looking into the the Hudson Sorvillo race and miss Hudson's attorneys made very strong arguments about some ballots that had been excluded. In her the arguments were based on being able to look at a ninety. Not a signature. There were thousands of provisional ballots that were set aside because of signature and then again workers were expected to be able to verify within seconds. Or at least minutes and it took several weeks as you will know to be able to go through all of these most of them tied to absentee ballots so I just ask that you would do would vote yes on this bill that you would return us to the purer aspect of voter ID which was requiring a photo voter ID rather than a replacement of US of a impure or eat any exact a science of trying to prove signatures so I'll be open for a few questions represent spring or for what purpose question you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker Representative Lori I was elected in house district thirty four and I'm very familiar with at a provisional ballots isn't it true that provisional ballots and I decided by a poll worker that those ballots school directly to the Election Commission of commission of three persons and those persons on the persons that decide whether or not a provisional ballot is counted isn't that correct with many of those cases especially in plaster county there the election commissioners were not able to review every one of those signatures that it was done by staff and the staff was directed to to not be under the supervision of the election commissioners and we are trying to correct some of that with other legislation I'm only speaking with respect to a race that was the and they had a number of ballots or I had provisional ballots I had five races and there were a provisional ballots and every one of those races and those persons of worry elected officials in order to determine whether or not the signatures on that date rather than requiring a person to come down to the Election Commission office to verify the ballot isn't that correct are you aware of that I'm in the I'm not familiar with that particular situation. Represent McAuliffe what purpose. You're recognized thank you Mr Speaker my questions more just a real general things This vote voting rights or one of the most important rights that we have I would argue it's a very foundation of our democracy and it seems like that the bills that come out about voting rights seem to be making it continuing to make it harder and I know you bring up that there's an erosion of confidence and my concern is what are the real problems in if election workers have to spend some time you know going through and making sure every voter's ballot is counted I think that's important to do so I'm more worried about what the real problems are instead of maybe but the sentiment is out in public. Well I guess the best way I can answer is that is that eighty percent of Americans eighty percent of our Kansans do not feel that presentation of a photo ID is cumbersome or is it disenfranchise ing and that this particular provision really gets us back to what the voters voted on in two thousand eighteen the provision the constitutional amendment that went before the voters said nothing about a signature but because there was not language in that they would repeal what we have done in two thousand sixteen then. That still is in place so really what we're doing is we're meeting the will of the voters who in two thousand eighteen said by eighty percent we want a purer photo voter ID bill and that's what we're doing is we're responding to that. Thank you personal color for what purpose a quick follow up you're recognized thank you Mr Speaker Reprezent Lowery may I ask you that the citation maybe for what who did this pole here in Arkansas what who who was the. What is how come from the this was not a poll two thousand eighteen it was the election results. For the eighty percent that eighty percent said that they favored voter ID they voted at the end to the constitution we had already voted to the end by a super majority vote in the house of the house and Senate and the governor signed it but on top of that represent of Lundstrum brought a proposal that went before the voters it was one of the referred amendments that the House presented or the legislature presents an eighty percent supported so I appreciate your support. Represent Lowry's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Lowery is closed for the bill question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven twelve prepare the machine Mr Clark. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy five yeas twenty nays and zero present bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill twelve fourteen. House Bill twelve fourteen to represent Wardlaw to amend the Arkansas Emergency Services Act of nineteen seventy three concerning funding. Percival Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill. Your Speaker members I'll tell you this bill right here's what you call good sauces Macon. We are we got down to committee I explain the bill and found out that the agency had not answered questions for member on the floor. We table this bill that member got his questions answered we came back around this bill and here we are today what this bill actually does is it increases the mitigation funds for cities and counties so when we have a big rainstorm we have a hurricane come from the coast and we wash out all of our county roads or city streets. We have a fun for that and we fix it but what mitigation does are Laos's us to fix those streets right so that when those storms come we don't have those big wash outs in those neighborhoods can't get out or can't get to school the next day from school bus so would increase the net fund by three million dollars and it was at the request of the agency with that I'd appreciate a good vote. Purpose of Wardlaw has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Wardlaw is closed for the bill the question before the House the pastor house bill twelve fourteen prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast bout Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill twelve ten. House Bill told him a Representative Hillman to amend the membership of the State Plant Board into accord require organizations to submit names of potential members to the governor for point men. Represent Hillman you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker of this bill cleans up a problem that we have. discovered through litigation the State Plant Board has nine members who are currently appointed or elected by non government agencies such AS the. Arkansas paceman's Association the The horticulture society of plant food society things like that. What this bill does it gives the governor the authority to appoint those members to the State Plant Board rather than the private. I organizations to this will fix the problem that we have discovered with the way the plant board has been organized and now these people all of the they were these orders will submit two names to the governor and he will choose between those two names of who he or she wants to serve on the plant board of one other thing I might point out to the those of you that might have. Wondered who the Arkansas green industry is that's the shrubs and plants and things like that of the the. Make your party any questions represent would occur for what purpose. You're recognized all represented just curious of the new scheme would allow them to present two names to the governor and I guess it says he would pick one it would the government be free to pick a third person of his own choosing not according to this bill thank you okay. Thank you. Absent Hillman is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Hillman is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill twelve T. and prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted cast about Mr Clark. By voting ninety seventy eight zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven ninety seven. House eleven ninety seven by represented Dalby concerning law enforcement agency organization staffing and personnel matters. Absent Dalby recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members house bill eleven ninety seven is the bill that has come out of the governor's task force that was appointed on law enforcement back. early summer in June July and out of this task force this is where this bill comes from there are three distinct parts to it all of them are parts that will strengthen our law enforcement I'm proud to say in Arkansas we do have great law enforcement we have great law enforcement training with this bill does is to ensure that that the people who were out on the streets protecting us each and every day have the appropriate training and have the training that will protect the citizens of Arkansas and at the same time to the citizens of Arkansas comfort in knowing that we are doing the right thing in our state. I do want to point out in section three they are making some separate data points for a class the commission on law enforcement standards and training to be able to keep up when someone is separated from a law enforcement agency those being excessive force and untruthfulness and it'll be a way that they'll be able to keep up with that particular data it's an excellent bill I'm proud to present it to you today and I would ask for a good vote. Represent all these explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Person Dalby is closed for the bill the question before the House the passage of house bill eleven ninety seven prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark by voted ninety seven yeah zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill one twenty eight. Senate bill one twenty eight by represented Dotson to amend the powers and duties of the division of emergency management the delegate the administration of the Arkansas continuity of operations program. Person Dotson you're recognized to explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker members Senate bill one twenty eight. By Senator English does one very simple thing it puts the division of emergency management over the Arkansas continuity of operations program basically to help assist state departments boards and commissions to develop emergency plans to develop emergency operation plans maintain their emergency operation plans and testimony in the operation plans it also allows them to Coordinate with the Department information services information systems in reviewing technology related to emergency operations more happy trying to answer any questions. Create a good vote. Represent Dotson explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Dotson is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one twenty eight prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. I have a ninety six C. A. zero nine eight zero present. The bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one forty five. Senate bill one forty five a Representative Beatty to amend the Arkansas emergency management assistance compact to comply with changes to the national standard person baby you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members of the House is my first bill to present before you I want to thank you and wanted and say what an honor it is to be part of this distinguished body and I appreciate the assistance and support and and and hill there's been offered and provided to me since arriving here on the eleventh Senate bill one forty five a simple bill does exactly what the title states is to me in the Arkansas Emergency management assistance compact to comply with language changes in the national standard with that I'll entertain any questions. Thank you I appreciate a good vote. Represent Beatty has. Splaine the Bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Ms Ann Beattie is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one forty five per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Bubbled ninety sixty eight zero nine eight zero present. The bill is passed represent makes for what purpose motion place let's hear your motion after the announcement trading or the bills transferring the bills placing the counters on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions ready communications and any remaining committee report 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 motion carries any announcements represented gene for what purpose announcement you're recognized the Joint Budget will meet at eight thirty in the morning a big mac a. Represent Fortner for what purpose now you're recognized revenue tax will meet at two o'clock one fifty one. M. Gonzalez for purpose but you're recognized state agencies will meet in the morning nine thirty room one fifty one. Per cent Smith what purpose announcement you're recognized house judiciary will meet at two PM and big mac eight today. Absent Lowery for purpose announcement you're recognized House insurance and commerce will meet tomorrow morning at nine thirty in conference room C. I am asking Emily to send out a notice to you I believe we were all we are also having pictures taken tomorrow on the steps outside the house chamber but you'll have to confirm that represent Holcomb for what purpose announcement you're recognized public transportation to meet today And maxi at two o'clock. Represent back for what purpose now you're recognized Joint Energy will meet tomorrow at twelve noon in mac a. YVHS what purpose now Smith you're recognized house rules committee will meet tomorrow at twelve noon big mac B.. Represent Bob what purpose announcement recognized preko office in the morning seven AM. Any other announcements. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills upon the completion The Addams named in the joint resolution house to be adjourned until one PM tomorrow.