House Convenes

Mike check one two three four five check one two three. Four five. Check one two. Three four five. One two three four. Five. Advait the member staff press and guests in the galleries to stand to be led in prayer by the house chaplain Dr rex Horne retired pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church Little Rock and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's pray. A father today we thank you for your Providence and the fact that we are living in a great great nation. And specifically we thank you that together we live this day in the state of Arkansas I think today of these who represent people from all over our state those here in the capital city and close by and those to the far reaches of the four corners of our state. Communities and towns made up of good people. Folks who work hard who love their families. Most to love you and your work. We thank you for the beauty of the land in which we live here in Arkansas and the opportunities that we have. And lord I thank you for people committed to public service and is they think of their friends and families and and their neighbors they're here to make a difference. And I pray that will be able to do that for all of our citizens of the State of Arkansas and I radio guy and a good Speaker representatives of men and women here today bless them as they serve here and bless those at home in Jesus name amen. All. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast up the ballot Mr Clark. With ninety six members present The chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Person next for what purpose. Lane you're recognized represented Lanny Fite is leave granted for Representative Lanny Fite. So noted. Represents got for what purpose. Leave you're recognized Representative Jay Richardson is is leave granted for RepresentativeHouse Richardson. So noted. Absent Fredrick Love moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day's Journal without objections so ordered are there Reports from select committees. Are there Reports from standing committees. Read the reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we your committee on Insurance commerce to whom was referred house bill eleven fifty six and house bill twelve oh one Bagley report had same under consideration here with return the same recommendation that they do pass respectfully submitted represented Mark Lowery chair. Mr Speaker will your committee on state agencies and governmental affairs to whom was referred house bill eleven twenty one House Bill. Twelve eleven. And house bill twelve twenty nine beg leave report we had the same under consideration you're with return the same recommendation that they do pass respectfully submit a Representative Justin Gonzales vice chair. There any unfinished business. Are there any Executive communications. The morning hour is ended. Represent Collins for what purpose. Motion you're recognized. this is just to add sponsor states B. twelve R. two. Okay. Collins up take your motion as a motion to place house bill twelve two on second reading for purpose of amendment. That's a proper motion it's debatable percent Collins you're recognized to explain your motion. Thank you Mr Speaker this is to add additional sponsors to HB twelve oh two thank you. Represent Collins is explained his motion would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion. Absent Collins is close for his motion the question before the House is to place house bill twelve a two on second reading for purpose of amendment all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion passes. Mr Clark read a member number two. Amendment number two. Represent Collins you're recognized to explain your amendment. This is the amendment to add sponsors to this bill it's B. twelve R. two Tadas advancers thanks. Absent Collins explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. We would like to speak for the amendment. Question for the houses the adoption of amendment. Okay. Question for the houses the adoption of amendment number two to House Bill twelve oh two all in favor say aye. Any opposed the ayes have it and the amendment is adopted. In the bill too engrossing. Mr Clark. Please read house bill eleven fifty five. House Bill M. fifty five represented relating to remove barriers to the release of data in the Arkansas central cancer cancer registry to qualified cancer researchers. Represent Ladyman you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mister Mister Speaker. Of. This bill. A. I think Senator porting bill for the cancer registry. I've got a lot of facts are that one over in committee and I was going to read those books. but basically what this bill does thank you give me a couple of bullets from here every year six thousand five hundred. Our Kansans. Die from cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Arkansas Arkansas leads in cancer mortality ranking fifth in the nation among states with the highest cancer mortality rates. You know. Some of us in this chamber have had cancer. Some of us fought it the last session two of us and the of And you know if you've ever had cancer. Speed is very important. And that's what this bill deals with. Speed. A I haven't asked Representative Tosh I don't believe he would mind if I say this I hope not he's listening but represented Tosh and I had the same cancer. He had it when he was a teenager the recovery rate. When he had it was below twenty percent. Many many years ago I'm not into a whole The what do ideas but you can. Estimate. I had the same cancer last year the recovery rate was over ninety percent. That's amazing. Do you know why that has improved so much. Because of things like this bill. making data available You know my background is somewhat scientific and you know when I and when I got cancer I wanted to know how to cure it obviously and that's what the doctors want to do but I always look at what cost. What's the cost was the root cause of this kind of thing well that's what these researchers do. And in order to do that is to link the process there's eight steps that they have to go through. Today to get the data we can make that data to be able to run their they're testing their processes and develop treatment methods that raises that number from ninety percent up to maybe a hundred percent right so they need that data there's in Arkansas there's eight steps they have to go through to get that data what this simply what this bill does is IT reduces those eight steps the five. So they get that data quicker they can do that research quicker they can come up with those treatments quicker. That's what the bill does not you know I've got questions there are some things that well it doesn't really define who researcher is no personal data is released this this bill doesn't change that at all it it doesn't it can't be released today it won't be released tomorrow after this bill passes. None of that changes it just changes that process reduces the permit steps to five the data's out there quicker the research is quicker and hopefully the treatment is out and available to people quicker so that's what it does I'll be will take any questions. Represent Payton for what purpose. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker Ladyman I think it's a great deal I think it's a great objective the data is very valuable to those researchers. But there was a lot of concern when this database was created that it would be commercialized and I ask a question a committee about what barriers were left and and we're eliminating the only barrier in code. And we're the only barriers left are and rules that are promulgated. So I'd like to formally ask you. Two. Put an amendment on your bill that defines. The qualified cancer researcher. Just for this section of code. Not we would have a new barrier but that we would codify the definition that they use for who is entitled to this data I'd hate to see it commercialized and I just request that you put an amendment on there for that. Will represent paid I appreciate what you're suggesting and I think it's a valid point. What I would like to do that. You know I've talked I. We we disagree on the statement that. That really doesn't change here I know you think it changes significantly I don't think it changes significantly I would be happy to work on another bill to correct that issue that you just brought up I don't think this bill changes that significantly that's my opinion so what I would like to do is to pass this bill because it's significant in cancer research to do this speed is important the quicker we do this the better and then we come back with a bill to correct your concern. You're recognized follow up thank you Mr Speaker I appreciate that and we'll have sufficient time between now and the Senate in two to find out the answers I found out ten minutes ago that the answer I was given in committee was wrong I've spoken to lower issue in the last five minutes and I think we can get the answer insufficient time to address it on the Senate and or with another bill I appreciate that thank you Mister you have to work on the sanity and to amend that thank. I see no. More questions. S. for good vote. Represent les minutes explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent les minutes close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven fifty five prepare the machine Mr Clark. Members we do have one proxy vote represented Tosh votes yes. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety five U. a zero day and zero present the bill is passed. Members before we proceed onward I would like to recognize our doctor the day Dr Bala Simon of little rock and our nurses date miss Sheri Bernard a bit. Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand three. House bill one thousand three Representative Charlene Fite to amend and update laws regarding individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to ensure respectful language issues regarding individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and remove the term hearing impaired. The fight you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this is part of a package of bills that was brought to me by the Arkansas association of the deaf the Arkansas association of the deaf is our leading organization in the state working with individuals who are to happen hard of hearing they have asked that Arkansas Code be corrected to reflect person centered language. Using the terms death with a capital D. which reflects people who identify culturally as part of the deaf community death with a small D. indicating people who have lost their hearing but perhaps do not use an American Sign Language are another communication means and people who are hard of hearing. These terms are being used across the United States this will bring Arkansas in line with our neighboring states and others throughout the nation. Senior questions I asked for a good vote. The fight is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent fight is close for the bill we do have one proxy votes represent Tosh votes yes. Per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety four yeas one day and one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill one thousand nine. House bill one thousand nine represented Wardlaw to amend the law concerning the distribution of excess food in public schools represent Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr chairman this kind out of minority members I've been staying in my cubby hole of. Because you know we all run bills that we're proud of is the first bill I can tell you that I am super super proud of all the schools in the past have always basically thrown away their excess food and their excuse is always been with the law doesn't tell us we can't give it away. This law this bill would tell them they can give it away to those hungry kids and I'll tell you that in the time of pandemic we should I have this on the books way before now and with that I'll be glad to take any questions but I would tell you we hope to feed some hungry kids with this bill. Thank you guys appreciate a good vote represent Wardlaw as 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 we do have one proxy votes representantes votes yes. The machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. I voted ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven oh three. House Bill Evans three Representative Evans to amend provisions the Arkansas code concerning Arkansas public school academic facilities and transportation. Absent Bevins you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House when you when you look through house bill eleven oh three I I can certainly understand how the language in the bill is a little longer has a little confusing because what we're dealing with is a lot of changes in code in simplicity this bill primarily addresses three things one is student safety in regards to bus transportation. Efficiency in planning of the maintenance of the facilities of the school district. Established as a cost savings due to changing from having to the Department of having to send certified mail to every school district in the state when it is not necessary that can all be done through list serve violate chronic mail. I want to dress the safety issue first we're talking about the transportation of kids on our school buses under previous code it It prohibited yeah driver from being certified to drive a school bus. If they had been charged with anything over the past three years of reckless driving what it did not include in would allow with the driver be certified to drive a bus if they had received a charge of do you for alcohol or drugs and with this bill we're trying to clean that up. Secondly as we talk about planning in the and of the maintenance and facilities every year in the past it has been mandated through law that every school district in our state had to plan and come to little rock to sit down and do a consultation with the director over maintenance and facilities and transportation to establish their master facilities plan what the department is asking is that if there is no need to update those plans if that console does not need to happen between the administrator is for us to allow the and for them to not be mandated to come to have a meeting when a meeting is not necessary also the status establish an online computerized system where districts can go in an update for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for their facilities and equipment that's being provided at the cost of the districts at no charge and that will provide better efficiencies and recordkeeping for the department. The questions. The no questions I appreciate a good vote. Evans's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent evidence is closed for the bill. We do have one proxy votes representantes votes yes. Question before the House is the passage of house bill of no three prepared machine as part. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Babble ninety six yes A. zero name one present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven oh four. House Bill Evans former Representative Evans to amend provisions Arkansas code concerning special school elections. Seventy recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues very sent will be eligible to cleanup language the department has requested under current code if a school district wants to hold a special election we have to do three things number one they have to have the approval of their local school board secondly then they have to establish that date and have it approved by the county Election Commission and then the way that the code is written now they have to submit a request to have that election on a special date to the Commissioner of the department however in that code there is no basis for what the approval of the date that has been requested so since there is no basis to deny them we feel that the approval is not necessary and so what we're asking to do is taking out line thirty and thirty one that bill that the Commissioner availed of elementary and secondary education would approve the date of the election. You know questions I would 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 of no for we do have one proxy represent talks votes yes prepared machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. Babble ninety four yeah a zero day and to present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven fifty one. House Bill M. fifty one Representative Evans to suspend the public school rating system for the twenty twenty twenty twenty one school year under code six dash fifteen dash twenty one oh five. seventy recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. Colleagues I believe that you would all agree that the spread of the corona virus covert nineteen has resulted in the destruction of the education of students attending kindergarten through grade twelve in our state beginning in two thousand and nineteen and continues to extend on through today. Due to the impossibility public schools did not receive a rating under the Public School rating system for the two thousand nineteen two thousand twenty school year because statewide assessments were not conducted during the spring of two thousand nineteen and two thousand twenty let me pause there and explain that those statewide assessments hold a large variable in the rating system depending upon the grade whether it's K. three six seven three nine ten through twelve the state assessments that are given in the spring or an integral part in the database to be able to compute that rating system. A suspension of public school rating system under code six fifteen twenty one oh five was warranted is also warranted then under the twenty twenty one school year due to the continuing destruction that we have an education and due to the uncertainty of whether spring assessments will be given this year to you may ask why we need to do this because law currently states that the department has to establish that a through F. rated and so we would have to pass this bill as a temporary halt in that to allow the Department then to collect a full set of data to be able to apply that data to give an accurate reading on the schools that's the legal side of it let me talk about what I believe is our our. More personal side that. Everyone of you know what our teachers. Our janitorial services our cafeteria workers are bus drivers are faculty members have had to deal with since March of two thousand and twenty. A complete unnecessary and undue burden has been put on the on to try to keep safe and educate our kids parents every day turn their kids over these institutions of learning. As they believe that is a safe place for them to go. Our teachers have had to adapt that improvise they've had to overcome and I will say is I represent my district. They have been champions in that I consider them somewhat superheroes for what they've done is they've walked into those rooms every day taking care of our kids. But I believe it would be a complete injustice and understand the sensitivity of what they've had to go through to allow data. Which is skewed ambiguous on complete according to the formulation of the a through F. grade I would be believe that it would be an injustice on our part to allow the system to be put in place. You may argue that that system of a through F. is all about transparency. I believe in transparency. Only problem that I have with that we're talking about our school districts and and what they're trying to do during this band if it is I'll quite often when we talk about transparency is that's the opposite action of trying to hide something. I would find it very hard to believe that any of you in this room today and stand and say that you believe that our districts are trying to hide something and not be transparent in what they're doing with our kids I believe they deserve to have this a through F. rating system that is put upon them year after year temporarily halted. Let's get a new benchmark let's get a refresh on the data and make sure that we're going forward in a transparent and accurate manner. No questions per person McKenzie. Evinces left well represent evidence as explained ability would like to speak against the bill. Percent Lowery recognized speak against the bill. Thank thank you Mr Speaker I spoke against the bill in committee and be disingenuous thank to sit there and. Say that the that I'm confident in this one of the reasons we added the H. F. rating it was not anything Brandt brand new that we had. Records and reports of House the school was doing but what we did in adding the a through F. was to be able to make it easier for parents to be able to figure out how their school was doing previous to that you would have to rifle through maybe a fifteen or twenty page assessment of what's going on in the school and then try and understand all of those data points. And so what I asked for and others asked for something that would be put on the first page. Of that report that says what the letter grade is for that school now I understand what Representative Evans is presenting is that we have difficulty in being able to assign that grade. Because we did not have assessment testing. In the spring. When I presented the bill to the legislature for us to transition away from the park test to what we now use the ACT and the ACT aspire test I learned more about this S. been testing than I ever wanted to. I found out that there are a lot of moving pieces and one of the elements that was brought to me is that we were already in a difficult situation because we were going to be looking at three different benchmarks in three years and those of you who are teachers you understand how difficult that was we had the original benchmark test. Then we were going to have the park test and then if we made the change which we did we were going to have the ACT test so you're going to have in the and in looking at assessment you have to have three data points to be able to show progress. Well you can't have three data points if you have three different tests. So we already went through that transition of saying well we're going to need to suspend the letter grade because we really don't have the correct data points. Representative Evans pointed out very fairly. That he says that the testing the assessment test is a large variable. Okay. But just by that word that phrase it tells you that there are other variables. There are other variables that can be looked at in the assessment testing. The ACT aspire which we have really embraced because it better prepares our elementary and middle school students to do better when they get to taking the ACT test in their junior year. The ACT aspire test have what is called a summative test at the end of the year and then periodic assessments throughout the year and the importance of those periodic assessments is that it gives teachers in real time information they can use to help identify how can I help the student. How can I help them to improve by the time they get to that summit to test at the end of the term. Though we suspended the summative test in the spring. All of our all of our grades underneath that eleventh grade ACT test have have had the periodic assessments. They had assessments through the school term there is data. I understand the argument that you cannot show if you didn't have the summative test how can you show growth from one term to the next. But there is testing data and I I just really troll I I'm troubled by us removing a tool and it is a tool. For parents to better understand how their local school is doing. One of the things that our parents need to known of course this would not have been included in an assessment tested back in the spring but it would be I think. Indicative an indicator to our parents is how is the school district how is their school coping with the difficult pandemic. Are they equal to the task in terms of their online teaching. In a parent deserves to know that as well. They deserve to know for their child whether that is the case one so that they can petition the school board if they are concerned about a hybrid example. Two days on two days off. So being able for that parent to know. In this in an assessment tool a through F. whatever. How their school is doing then they have a voice they have information they have data. They don't have to have an education degree or advanced degree in statistics to understand that for whatever reason my school is not doing well so for those reasons I really have a great concern in us even if it is just a temporary halt putting that home to on the ATF we're not trying to hide anything and I think it maybe sends a wrong message that we may be doing that. Representa Kinsey for what purpose. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker it is hard to navigate these chairs not pushing back and get up in time I have a question that maybe you can answer for me I noticed that during represent Evans presentation of the bill doesn't mention it but I during his explanation he referenced that is undetermined yet if we're going to have those assessment tests in the spring so can you shed light on this or perhaps represent and who makes that decision of whether or not we'll have assessment tests for the kids the individual test for the kids to spring for this spring correct to make that decision. I'm I believe that decision that determination would be made by the department of education but I've certainly would be welcome to be corrected on that but I I don't think it would be a school district by school district decision you know all this issues of a assessments there are contracts that are made with A. C. T. on when the testing is done in when they're delivered and when when of the results going to come back and all of that and those things that are those are things that are negotiated from a central point a centralized point which I would assume would be eighty. Follow up. Thank you that's and perhaps you can demonstrate represent Evans counsel this address that's I think it's concerning some folks perhaps is if we can find out if those tests or where the will they be able to give input. If that decision is going to be made and that kind of it affects how we look at this if we're going to spend this one year as opposed to more if we can get that data so I'd appreciate information from either one of you on that thank you sure and I think that's an important element I we're talking about suspending the a through F. for twenty twenty one which would rely on testing data from the spring of twenty that didn't take place but we don't even know now whether there will be tested in the spring of twenty one so that. We may have to incomplete years at least some active testing I would assume that the periodic assessments or are being done I don't know but even if you have periodic assessments that's at least some necessary tool that some tool that parents have to know whether their their students are being Besser so for all these reasons I ask that you would vote no on this bill. Represent Lowery spoke against the bill would anyone like to speak for the bill represents Smith you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues. First of all I'm like representable our I believe in accountability but I also believe in fairness and. As someone who taught in the public schools during this last semester and someone who actually contacted Covidien. At the isolated due to that I've been on the trenches and saying what is like in the schools right now You know you in the mornings teachers getting quarantine students getting quarantine not a substitute teacher to be found emergency lesson plans being pulled out every day not knowing from one day to the next what students are gonna be there what teachers are going to be there students sitting out in the Commons area because they can't find a teacher to come. When this was a planned the night before. I think. That this is all come down if we do great it's just going to come down to who happened to be fortunate enough not to have as many teachers quarantine there's many students quarantine during this time period So what I'd like to say is that I believe in the grading of our schools in the importance but I just don't believe that it's a fair assessment during this current pandemic from a person that's been on the inside of the set up was my opinion on it thank you. Represent Smith the spoken for the building when I speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Evans you're recognized to close for the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker not just try to address a couple of questions that was asked represent McKenzie to ask a question has been Committee on make sure that we're that we're very clear on that number one is we're not stopping the collection of the data. Many of the pieces of that rating system will still be there the department is going to continue to collect that data. Those data points that are tangible accurate accountable that information will still be available will be available to the public it will be available to school districts it will be available to the legislature for us to look at. And I will make certain as I speak to the department under this record to to address represent begins and we make sure that that's not just a a button that's tucked away on on a on the department website we will make sure that all that information is available and transparent is represented by our spoke of secondly he is correct there are some of the pieces that are going to be they are intangible however one of the pieces that makes up part of the rating system of the schools is the percentage of hours spent by students doing community service. I would ask you to ask yourself how much community service do you believe our students have done over the last couple years I think we all know what that answer is. The last thing is just talking about that benchmark and so you all have heard the statement we probably all used at some point that during this pandemic there's not been a playbook. We've never been through this before in our generations we're doing here is we are creating that playbook. What we want to look at is I agree we need to establish a benchmark in this so when we look at the assessments of how the schools have done during this pandemic we're going to now have a data point it's just that that data point doesn't include all of those things that the districts have not been able to do. It's that sampling of an a through F.. In going forward we will be able to see if we have some type of pandemic again or some type of national emergency or some type of bad situation here district we will have a data point and to go back and look at and see how did our districts do during a time of chaos and turmoil. Again I think this is all about fairness is represented Smith said. Let's not put an a through F. label on our teachers who have not had the opportunity to perform under the normality that they do year after year taking care of our kids thank you I appreciate a good vote. Approved represent Evans is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven fifty one we do have one proxy vote represented Tosh votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. I voted ninety one yeas for nays and to present the bill is passed members without objection we're gonna move to the yellow but it calendar represent Jean moved that we place house bill eleven eighty seven on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection read Amendment number one Mr Clark. Amendment number one. Represent Jean you're recognized to explain a member number one. Thank you Mr Speaker colleagues this amendment. To secretary of state and right now there's two cash items the gift shop in the five hundred restaurant all this does is make it. One cash Adam but a line item in the budget that's all this amendment does appreciate a good vote on Amendment. Represent Jean is explained the amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Person Wardlaw for what purpose question you're recognized for a question thank you Mr Speaker represented gene this morning and budget told staff I want to hold this for a special language amendment does passing this amendment send it to the floor we still able to hold it for fun we can still send a put the amendment we can send it back to the of committee thank you yeah. I will do that. We would like to speak against the amendment. For the amendment. Person Jane is closed for the amendment the question before the House is the adoption of amendment number one to House Bill eleven eighty seven all in favor say aye. The opposed. The amendment is adopted. Clarkson the Bill doing grossing and then back to committee. Percent gene you're recognized to present the budget calendar. Thank your Speaker calling the member asked that we're going to pull. House Bill ten seventy eight ACT in out and we'll take it up tomorrow. And also. I was hoping that. The humor and the respect in this body was going continue but. We're now putting voter data batches so. Of. We've got request to pull out. House Bill ten eighty to vote on a separate. House Bill ten ninety six vote on it separate. House Bill Levin thirty to vote on it separate. House Bill Levin forty three will vote on it separate. And house bill eleven forty five who to give you a minute to look at what races on the calendar. Of my temp just a bunch but today I'll give you a description of what we're going to do it but if you see anything else you want to pull out of the but backed. In ninety six let me know. All right again in a minute ninety. Your body good. Okay members will vote on the the batch of bills and they will be. House Bill ten ninety two department of commerce this has no general revenue in it. House Bill ten ninety three. Pardon of commerce this the state securities of was a state banking once again no general revenue in this either. Of the department of commerce the Arkansas waterways Commission it has about two hundred thousand in general revenue but it's flat no changes. House Bill Levin twenty eight of the treasure state is the general obligation bonds it comes off the top the State Central Services. House Bill Levin twenty nine also state treasurer system local law enforcement of emergencies once again it's off the top of no general revenue. House Bill Levin thirty. The treasure of the State of Arkansas this is the property of seventy four Amendment seventy four this is the homestead exemption money the three hundred fifty five dollars that comes back to pay for help the deferred the cost of your local property tax. Once again that that money off the top not general revenue. Of skipping down the house bill eleven forty seven the Arkansas court of appeals no general revenue. House Bill Levin forty six to the Department of military. it does have general revenue seven point seven million but there is no increase. Of. House Bill Levin fifty. Are the lake audit. Of it's off the top no general revenue. And on the second page House Bill Evans sixty six department of public safety department emergency management of a does have general revenue but it is flat. And also the house bill eleven seventy eight Department of agonist got about six point one million dollars in revenue but it's flat from last year. Any questions on any of the big bills are in the batch. Do I need to pull any of these bills that. Remember your one voted for the bill the mercy calls appreciate a good vote. Miss Baker had the Clerk read the bill for the third time Mr Clark please read the bills for the third time. House Bill ten ninety two House Bill ten ninety three House Bill ten ninety four house bill Levin twenty eight House Bill Evans twenty nine house bill eleven thirty House Bill M. forty seven house bill eleven forty nine House Bill M. fifty House Bill Evans sixty six in house bill eleven seventy eight. Do you have one proxy vote represents Tosh Vaught yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety four U. A. zero nay and to present the bills emergency clauses have passed. Mr. Mr Clark please read house bill ten eighty two. House Bill ten eighty two an act for the Arkansas state claims commission appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Represent gene you're recognized explained bill members this is the Arkansas state claims this is what we have claims against the state of a review on that also will send it to a claims committee hello of Legislative Council this is how they operate the the money to operate with the first male also have money to pay claims any question is off the top instructional revenue. One voted for the bill and the birds because your Speaker have the Clerk read the bill for the third time. Clark please read the bill for the third time. House Bill ten ninety two. We do have one proxy vote representantes votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. You're voting on the bill. And the emergency clause. Asked about Mr Clark. I voted seventy eight yeas. The Bill pass. Mr Clark please read house bill ten ninety six. House Bill ten ninety six an act to the department of health the tobacco prevention and cessation programs procreation for the fiscal year. Singeing you're recognized explain the bill. Calling house built in ninety six is the back of sensation a program this is money came out of the back of settlement from years ago there's no general revenue you know everybody sees Act the campaign's ads and all that and the the money that goes into different health programs the question. Q. one voted for the bill the merger clause bespeak or have the Clerk read the bill for third time Clark please read the bill House Bill ten ninety six we do have one proxy vote representantes votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety As to nays and for present the bill and emergency clause to pass Mr Clark please read house bill eleven thirty two. House Bill Levin thirty two an act of the offices treasurer state The City County tourist meeting and entertainment sales is a system appropriation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. singeing you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you for calling this is the entertainment for the local cities and counties of this this bill has no general revenue is off the top it usually runs a little under nine hundred thousand dollars a year any questions. You want voted for the bill emerge calls misspeak or have the Clerk read the bill for the third time Mr Clark please read the bill. House Bill Evans thirty two we do have one proxy vote representantes votes yes prepared machines to Clark. As everyone voted. As everyone voted. Voting on the bill in the Emergency Clause cast about Mr Clark. Biver ninety one yet yeas one day and three present the bill emergency clause or past. Clerk please read house bill eleven forty three. House Bill M. forty three an act of the Office of Attorney General procreation for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Represent gene you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker calling this is the Attorney General's budget. Or to come to the constitutional officer phone which is off the top. It does have a slight increase of forty three thousand dollars which is mainly tied to a grant for Medicaid fraud investigation that is this is a matter matching state park to get the federal grant. Any questions about this. You want voted for the bill number to call for Speaker the Clerk read the bill for the third time. Clark please read the bill house bill eleven forty three. DO have one proxy vote represent talks votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of seventy sixty eight three days and sixteen present the bill emergency clause have passed Mr Clark please read House eleven forty five. House Bill M. forty five an act for the department of education Arkansas State Library appropriation the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Represent gene you're recognized explain the bill Alex House Bill Levin forty fives Arkansas State Library. It's by three point seven million dollars off the general revenue it's flat for our prior year. Of this money goes back to our libraries any question. Create a good vote on the bill emergency clause much bigger the Clerk read the bill the third time. Please read the bill. House Bill M. forty five. We do have one proxy vote Representative Tosh votes yes. the machine Mr Clark. Voting on the bill in the emergency clause. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine eight one present the bill emergency clause or past. That objection were moved house bill twelve twenty two. Person Dalby recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker house bill twelve twenty two of this coming from those of you who are in a L. C. earlier this summer there was a dispute as to the pay of appeals court clerks in Supreme Court clerk's Senator Hickey and I along with other members of the Senate and the house of met with those two bodies the court of appeals in the Supreme Court have worked out an agreement as to how that particular statute should be amended to take care of the situation so we are no longer in a position to have to mediate hello salaries are paid I had one question because you will see in the bill saying the court of appeals instead of one law Clerk it's to they've had to law clerks probably for thirty years we've approved it all these years they have to law clerks this is not adding anybody this is breaking the law compliant to wood has been going on of the other key upon a component of this bill is we're striking out the language referring to all the other employees. Of the courts because since the court of appeals came into being the state has gone to a compensation plan for all employees those employees will be treated like all other employees but this bill does take care of the issues that we had to address earlier this year with that I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Dalby is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Dalby is closed for the bill just some housekeeping Mr Clark please read the bill. House Bill twelve twenty two Representative down the concern the positions and sours the support of the Supreme Court law clerks and court of appeal law clerks. Right we do have one proxy vote represent tossed boats yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill eleven seventeen. House bill eleven seventeen by represented Wardlaw concerning the division of corrections inmate farm fund percent Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is not the probation bill just won the teller by not probation bill. This bill in the past a department of corrections is always been take loans out for all their farm stuff through the rebel State rebels of. Mine's not working return revenue stabilization trust fund all this does is given credit for the food from those farms going to community correction of. Prisons we've always fed on but we've never got credit back for that loan for those foods so all this does is bring that in line with the department of corrections be happy to answer any questions. Thank you person board laws explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent Wardlaw is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill eleven seventeen we do have one proxy vote represent talks that's yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Has everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine eight and zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten twenty six. House Bill ten twenty six represented Cavenaugh to clarify that certain appearance fees are not compensation for the purpose of determining eligibility for the sales and use tax exemption for fire protection equipment and emergency equipment person Cavenaugh you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is a simple bill that will allow volunteer firefighters to pay up to fifty dollars for appearance fees for their firefighters and still be able to keep their tax exempt status that's simply all that it does there is no physical impact and I would appreciate a good vote thank you for. Purpose of Kavanagh's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Cavenaugh is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten twenty six we do have one proxy vote represents Tosh votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clark. Is everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero day and zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten thirty two. House Bill ten thirty to represent object to amend the income tax act of nineteen twenty nine to allow taxpayer receiving military retirement or survivor benefits to receive the full amount the income tax exemption for retirement benefits. Represent Jett you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you for your call exist bill has nothing to do with military term that we passed this last session search for last those folks still completely harmless for tax liabilities but what we found is what the enemy back up this is a DFA building if I brought this to the revenue tax so what what do you fails found is the every other taxpayer has a six thousand dollar cap for retirement benefits law up to their income tax exemption. There's some military retirees a recognized list of six thousand dollars so they have that they have the option to take for the four oh one K. or the military term if you will they don't have the option to take both of so we're really what this does is this affects seven hundred military retirees in the state it gives these folks the option to take the four one K. and the military term so that's all this bill does is a good bill the if they would prefer to give a. Absent judges explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten thirty two we do have one proxy vote represent Tosh votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clark. As everyone voted. Everyone voted cast about missed Clark by a vote of ninety seven yeah a zero day and zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten thirty three. House Bill ten thirty three represented Jett to remove the X. rainiest references to digital magazines in the sales tax laws and to clarify the exemption of a car wash operators sale of a car wash. Represent Jett you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker in college this bill The car was bills can keep coming back The digital magazines first of all. Whatever reason they put in the. The if they put in the code digital magazines. Arkansas state Arkansas the state of Arkansas does not tax digital magazines whatsoever but the words digital magazine popped up in code so basically all this is removing the words digital magazines that were not taxing it was digital digital magazines out there Saurimo zero the second part of this bill has to do with the car wash and there was a drafting area drafting error in the bill. People here last session that the car was that was pretty contentious to say the least and but long story short all this bill does is to clean up the drafting of the mistake that was put in the code is not anything to do with substance issues or of change in the tax law whatsoever with the bill. So with that I appreciate a good vote if I would also. Percent jazz explain the bill would anyone like speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill ten thirty three we do have one proxy vote representantes but CS prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. I have a ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill ten forty one. House Bill ten forty one represented Jett authorized secretary of the department of finance administration to waive the certificate of indebtedness filing fees in certain circumstances. Represent Jett you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker colleges in a death different a bill was quite different they have the ability to waive interest and penalties under certain circumstances the business goes out of business somebody goes out of business officer will have the money to pay to pay penalties and all that but the DFA does not have the ability to waive a filing fee so long thing they're asking to do is clean the books up that comes out for somebody goes out of business or they can wave interest penalties and filing fees as well so there's one where the filing fees with that I appreciate a good vote. Represent Jett is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Jett is closed for the bill the question for the houses passed house bill ten forty one we do have one proxy vote represents Tosh votes yes prepared machines to Clark. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by a vote of ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill ten forty two. House Bill ten forty to be represented Jett to repeal the long term rental vehicle tax. Represent Jett you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Collins last and least this is long term Journal rental vehicle tax. Back in twenty there's a back up there is a rental vehicle rental tax on the books twenty fifth I think it's twenty fifteen Lexus on Senate so this is real or not serve Arkansas not Nicolas collecting a tax on rental vehicles in the last five six years this is cleaning code of just taken completely out of code. With that if I would appreciate a good vote. Represent Jett is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Jett is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed house bill ten forty two we do have one proxy vote represent Tosh votes yes prepared machine Mr Clerk. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety six C. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read Senate bill one seventy five. Senate bill one seventy five Senate efficiency committee an act the Arkansas Senate appropriations for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two fiscal year. Resembling you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker calling Senate bill one seventy five it's just their appropriation for the upcoming fiscal year they pass our house appropriations as it's only polite that we do the same for that would appreciate a good vote. Represent. Jim **** is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent wing is closed for the bill the question before the House is passed Senate bill one seventy five we do have one proxy vote represents Tosh but yes per the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. You voting on the bill the Emergency Clause. Asked about Mr Clark. Bavo ninety seven yeah A. zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause or past. Clark please read Senate bill one fifteen. Senate bill one fifteen the Representative or senator Clark to substitute Arkansas state university Three Rivers for college of the wash does in the Arkansas Code. simpler you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker good afternoon hopefully this will be a little bit simple for everyone. Is this part of the rookie initiation. A little bit of history behind the bill. The college of the washer calls board of trustees which I was a part of voted in February of twenty nineteen to align with the Arkansas state university system. Then in September of twenty nineteen voted to change the name of the college to Arkansas state university Three Rivers. The higher learning commission which is very very thoroughly reviewed the merger and gave its approval to the A. issue Three Rivers to join the A. issue system on January first of twenty twenty. Since the legislature was not in the regular session and twenty twenty the bill this bill simply just goes to the code changes any references to college of the washer toss and changes it to Arkansas state university Three Rivers then the leads some of the out dated language that goes back to the two year colleges all the way back to nineteen ninety one that's no longer relevant so it's very very simple and I would appreciate a good vote thank you. Symcor is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Represent a clear is closed for the bill the question before the House is passage of Senate bill one fifteen we do have one proxy vote represent Tosh roads yes. Where the machine Mr Clark. As everyone voted. Is everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill one sixteen. Senate bill one sixteen by Senator Clark to amend the name of the board of trustees the Arkansas State University to abolish the board of trustees at Henderson state university to amend the border of Arkansas state university members and to declare an emergency. Person Womack you're recognized explain the bill thank you Mr Speaker members this bill will eliminate the Henderson board of trustees consolidates those duties with a issue board and renames that board the Arkansas state university system board of trustees this bill also expands the board to seven members from five with one person up for appointments each year. this is the final step in the stage of Henderson's merger into the issue system it's been approved by the higher learning commission and this bill also. cleans up and delete some very old and irrelevant code sections and there's no known opposition so I would appreciate a good vote. Womack is explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Absen Womack is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of Senate bill one sixteen we have one proxy vote representantes votes yes prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Asked about Mr Clark bubble ninety sixty eight zero nine one present the Bill emergency clause are passed. Mr Clark please read Senate bill one sixty two. Senate bill one sixty two by Senator sample to amend the law concerning the termination period required for retirement under the Arkansas public employees retirement system and to declare an emergency. Purpose of Wardlaw you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Miss Speaker I I don't think I'd ever get a bill out of committee and I got them all out at one time. Members this bill all it does is allows the House Senate in the bureau to hire help during the session only and it will not penalize that help against their retirement are against their waiting period since they retired of the Senate has an employee and the bureau has an employee the House to my knowledge does not have one be happy to take any questions. Thank you present a good vote. Person were laws explain 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 is the passage of Senate bill one sixty two we have one proxy vote represent Tosh votes yes per the machine Mr Clerk. Turning on the bill and the emergency clause. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark Bible ninety seven U. A. zero nine zero present the bill emergency clause are passed. A person makes for what purpose. Motion place recognized after the announcement three of the bills transferring the bill's place in the calendars on the desk members amending their own bills with their own amendments members withdrawing their own bills finalizing resolutions reading communications and any remaining committee reports I move that we adjourn until one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. That's proper motion it's not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion carries. Are there any announcements. Represent Cavenaugh for purpose now Smith you're recognized special language made seven thirty tomorrow morning big mac I represent Fortner for purpose. You're recognized revenue tax meets tomorrow one fifty one at two o'clock. Person next what purpose announcements you're recognized sitting county will meet immediately after joining the also in maxi and also sitting kennel mate I will take pictures on Monday after on the steps and from the chamber after John. Percent Ladyman what purpose announcement you're recognized public health welfare and labor will meet tomorrow morning at nine thirty AM mac C.. we will be taking pictures at nine fifteen in the second floor rotunda. Senate fight for what purpose Senate you're recognized aging children youth military will need to immediately after announcement and mediate Lee after adjournment represent Watson for what purpose announcement you're recognized transportation will meet tomorrow at two PM or ten minutes upon adjournment whatever occurs first big maxi. Represent. Representative Warren for what purpose announcement you're recognized reminder Friday is the last day to file a retirement bill. Per cent wing for what purpose two announcements you're recognized all right offices have all been assigned so you should have an email if you don't have it in your email box right now will be coming soon today to tell you about your office your keys will be coated in accordingly for those of you who are in the same office you don't need to do anything different to your keys for those who are shifting offices we will have those in your new office opened for you and you can go make your move and take care of everything you have any questions please give me a call secondly we have two birthdays today Representative DN Vaught. And our parliamentarian Mr Buddy Johnson. Represent Vaught for what purpose. You're recognized thank you will have a committee immediately upon adjournment. Senate evince for purpose. Announcement you're recognized as education will meet tomorrow morning nine thirty room one fifty one. Any other announcements. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the joint resolution the house would be adjourned until one PM tomorrow.