City, County & Local Affairs Committee - Senate
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Bills discussed (5)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1025
Act 60
· 5 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1025 Watson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRAINING OF CORONERS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRAINING OF CORONERS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Watson | Notification that HB1025 is now Act 60 |
|
SB20
Act 255
· 4 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “AGENDA (Revised 1/27/21 @ 3:19 pm) Added HB1025 & SB20 to Regular Agenda Senate Committee on City, County, and Loc…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VACANCY, SUSPENSION, AND REMOVAL PROCEDURES FOR COUNTY ELECTIVE, COUNTY QUORUM … | D. Wallace | Notification that SB20 is now Act 255 |
|
SB123
Act 78
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB123 L. Eads TO MODIFY THE LAW CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC RECORDI…”
|
TO MODIFY THE LAW CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC RECORDING COMMISSION. | L. Eads | Notification that SB123 is now Act 78 |
|
SB179
Act 382
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB179 B. Johnson TO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRI…”
|
TO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT INFORMATION FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE 911 … | B. Johnson | Notification that SB179 is now Act 382 |
|
SB59
Act 872
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB59 B. Ballinger THE ARKANSAS SECOND AMENDMENT LIBERTIES SAFEGU…”
|
TO BE KNOWN AS THE "INTRASTATE FIREARMS PROTECTION ACT"; AND TO PREVENT THE UNITED STATES … | B. Ballinger | Notification that SB59 is now Act 872 |
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Unknown speaker
0:00
Senator Flowers, are you online? Senator Flowers, can you hear me? We'll wait another minute.
Speaker 10
0:30
Is this the only bill we got? Somebody else can... Senator Eades is here. Wallace is here. Okay.
I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order. Senator Flowers, if you log on, let us know. We're going to go
Speaker 1
1:46
ahead and get started with House Bill 1025 by Representative Watson.
Representative Watson, you recognize to present House Bill 1025.
Representative Danny Watson
Unverified
2:06
Thank you, Mr. Chair. House Bill 1025, to amend the law concerning the training of coroners and to declare an emergency. Section 2 reads, Emergency Clause. It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that due to COVID-19 pandemic, coroners have devoted an extraordinary amount of time and effort to prepare and respond to the
pandemic. That ability of a coroner to complete the training required under current law is severely hampered due to pandemic-related time constraints and cancellations of trainings, and that this act is immediately necessary because of an extension of time will allow coroners to complete required training. That's the reason asking for emergency declaration. Committee members, Mr. Chair, coroners are in a bind. They need help. I hope and pray the pandemic is over with tomorrow.
As soon as the pandemic is over with, naturally, emergency clause will be over with. 75 counties, Pulaski County, many, many deputy coroners, and Washington County also. My little House District, Hempstead County, we have three or four deputy coroners. They need help bad. And that's what this is, Mr. Chair, to allow them to complete their duties, their job assignments of what's going on. All right, committee members, you've
heard an explanation of the bill.
Representative Solomon, you're recognized for a question.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:45
thank you mr chair and i certainly sympathize with what's going on and you may not have the information but as if they're not being trained and it's and it's related to covid we have had so many deaths that we are reported as covid deaths not covid related just covid deaths and now i'm hearing they're not sufficiently trained uh again i'm not blaming them on them
And I know they're in a bind and all of those things. But it sounds like if they're not sufficiently trained, that maybe those numbers that we're seeing as directly related to COVID are COVID-related
Speaker 23
4:22
may not be accurate. Do you know? I do not
Representative Danny Watson
Unverified
4:26
exactly know. I will say this, Senator, that is a good question. I do know this. A big part of this, Senator, is directed to the deputy coroners. I'm very well aware of that. As far as the exact specifics, I'm not going to try to bluff anybody.
I could not guide you on that. But then again, many coroners are able to get it, especially the chief coroner, the number one coroner of a county. They have their office environment, and I understand that things are still going on as normal. But I do know a significant part of this legislation is intended to try to assist the deputy coroner. Some of them, as everybody knows, if you've ever been in emergency situations, sometimes they may take one call a month, may not have any.
And then again, they may be snowballed. But I'm just trying my best to try to answer. I'm
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
5:18
supportive of the legislation. I'm supportive of the legislation. I just had some questions. Maybe there's somebody here from the coroner's association. they could meet with me after the meeting, and I'd have a few questions. But I appreciate the bill, and thank you for
Representative Danny Watson
Unverified
5:32
bringing it. And also, thank you for the question. And I would be more than happy, and you probably know him also, I'd be more than happy to direct you to Kevin Cleghorn at a time.
Great. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
5:47
Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. I have a question, Mr. Chair. All right. Senator
Flowers, you're recognized for a question. Thank you for the bill. Well, as that's listed in COVID-19 related deaths, I would think most of those causes of death are recorded by health providers, doctors that are treating the individual.
Would you agree with that? I mean, I think your bill goes more to the fact that because of this pandemic that we're in, the coroner's deputies can't put the training sessions together. Maybe they have been in-person trainings in the past. I don't know how available virtual training is to them, but in regards to the cause of death and whether it's accurately reported the number of deaths in the state of Arkansas due to COVID-19,
I would think that that is recorded on a death certificate by doctors or health providers that treat the individual that passed. Would you
Representative Danny Watson
Unverified
7:17
agree? Senator Flowers, that seems very likely how it is to be,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
7:27
yes. Because, you know, as far
as I've experienced, coroners are not involved in cause of death or even with deaths in general, unless they're called.
And generally that's in the event of a homicide or some other suspicious reason for the person passing. Would you agree? From not having a medical background, it very much seems
Representative Danny Watson
Unverified
7:55
reasonable. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Senator
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
8:02
Flowers. Any other questions by members? Is there anyone in the audience
that would like to speak for or against this bill?
If not, the chair would entertain a motion. We have a motion do pass by Senator Rice, SECOND BY SENATOR FLIPPO. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
Speaker 4
8:27
ALL OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. SENATOR EADS, YOU HAVE A BILL?
Speaker 39
8:50
thank you mr chair committee this this bill is a
Senator Lance Eads
Unverified
9:01
fairly short it's for the electronic recording commission this is one of the association counties changes that they've requested a piece of statute here states that a member of the commission must be an active state legislature
if you remember when amendment 95 was passed that moved many of our elected offices at the county level to four-year terms in that in that amendment they precluded active legislators from actually being part of this so this is one piece of code that still had that listed in there and this just updates that strikes there must be an active state legislator and an ads line that says shall be from the banking title or real estate industry so that they have another position that can be appointed by the governor a little bit easier to find somebody and then it changes the date to say
that these that are currently in the recording commission their membership will expire on December 20 or December 31st of 2021 and these new positions will go forward from there so fairly simple bill and I would appreciate a good vote and be happy
Speaker 21
10:08
to answer any questions. All right Committee, you heard an explanation of the
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
10:16
bill. Are there any questions? Senator Flowers, you're recognized. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator Eads, I appreciate the bill. To me, as I read it, I understand the need to have those officials, banking officials, title people dealing with real estate,
because a lot of the electronic recording has to do with liens and other things related to banking or real estate. Is that correct? Is that the motivation for your bill? Yes, ma'am. Thank you for that question.
That's a good reason for adding those people. It's
Senator Lance Eads
Unverified
10:48
a really excellent fit to the recording commission. Great. Thank you. Motion at the
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
10:53
proper time, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Flowers. Any more questions from committee? Anyone in the audience
that wish to speak for or against this bill?
If not, we have a motion for Senator Flowers. A motion do pass. We have a motion do pass for Senator Flowers. We have a second from Senator Filippo. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye.
Opposed? Congratulations, Mr. Eads. Senator Eads, your bill passed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee.
SENATOR WALLACE, YOU RECOGNIZE OR PRESENT SENATE BILL 20.
Senator David Wallace
Unverified
11:47
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR LET ME BRING THIS BILL
BACK IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE. MEMBERS, THIS BILL, WHILE IT HAS FIVE PAGES, REALLY MOST OF THE CHANGES that we're talking about are only on the last page and essentially this senate bill 20 merely sets forth the provision for a county quorum court to appoint a replacement county elected official when the office holder has already been suspended by the office by court from stealing funds in
office and the quorum court will appoint that replacement to fill the remainder of the term And that's in accordance with Amendment 55. And page 5, line 4 is where most of that starts out. And with that, Mr. Chair, I'm prepared for questions. All right, committee, you've heard the, in fact, you've heard
Speaker 21
12:41
this bill twice. Any questions from committee? I have a motion at the proper time.
Anyone in the audience that would like to speak for or against the bill? All right, we have a motion from Senator Flowers. Do pass. Do pass. Second from Senator Flippo. All
those in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Senator Wallace. Your bill passed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Members, thank
you all. Is there anyone else here today that has a bill they would like to present? All right, having seen none, we are adjourned.
Agenda
Call to Order
SB123 L. Eads TO MODIFY THE LAW CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC RECORDING COMMISSION.
SB179 B. Johnson TO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT INFORMATION FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE 911 EMERGENCY SERVICE SYSTEM.
HB1025 Watson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRAINING OF CORONERS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB20 D. Wallace TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VACANCY, SUSPENSION, AND REMOVAL PROCEDURES FOR COUNTY ELECTIVE, COUNTY QUORUM COURT DISTRICT, AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
SB59 B. Ballinger THE ARKANSAS SECOND AMENDMENT LIBERTIES SAFEGUARDS ACT.
Adjournment
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE, Jan 28, 2021 | Agenda | 1 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Speaker 10
Senator Gary Stubblefield Chair
Unverified
Speaker 1
Representative Danny Watson
Unverified
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Speaker 23
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
Speaker 4
Speaker 39
Senator Lance Eads
Unverified
Speaker 21
Senator David Wallace
Unverified