House Convenes

I am by the member staff press and guests in the gallery 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. Father we come today and pause at the beginning of the session thank you for the men and women who are here who serve that you've placed in their heart and a part of there being a desire to serve the public and their friends their constituents throughout the state. We thank you that we can pause with for the freedom we have to pray we thank you that our house takes this moment each day. Where we can just pray simply. Bless us. Protect this. Guidice. Help us. Be with our family. Be with our colleagues who are sick or have special needs and thank you for your presence always in Jesus name amen. Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Cast about Mr Clark. With 92 members present the chair sees a quorum are there any request for leave. Represent McNair for what purpose request for leave Representative Hillman is leave granted for RepresentativeHendren. So noted represent worn for what purpose. Westerly. You're recognized leave a Representative Lanny Fite leave granted for represented whammy fight. Noted. Person Murdock for what purpose. You're recognized. Nicks is leave grant representing Nicks. So noted represent Murdock for purpose leave you're recognized leave a Representative love leave granted for represented love. So noted Representative Brandt Smith with purpose. You're recognized for a Representative Mark Berry is leave granted for represented Mark Berry. Noted. Represent Perry for purpose leave you're recognized leave for Representative Stan Berry is leave granted for represented Stan Berry. So noted represent Perry for what purpose leave you're recognized represent at least for represented Keith Slape it's leave granted for RepresentativeHouse late. So noted. Representative Reginald Murdock moves we dispense with the reading of previous day's Journal without objection so ordered are there Reports from select committees read the reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we're Committee on joint budget committee to whom was referred house bill 10701073107410751079109611261133. Beg leave to report that we had the same under consideration herewith return the same with recommendation that a do pass respectfully submitted Lane Jean chair. Are there Reports from standing committees read the reports Mr Clark. Mr Speaker we are Committee on state agencies to whom was referred house bill to 56 house bill 10 to 1216 beg leave to report that we've had the same that we've had the same under consideration herewith return the same recommendation that a do pass respectfully submitted Dwight Tosh chair Mister Speaker we are committee on city agencies to whom was referred house bill 1217 beg leave to report that we have had the same under consideration here through trying to do with recognition that it do pass as amended exactly submitted to why Tosh chair. Is there any unfinished business are there any executive medications. Read letter from the governor Mr Clark. State of Arkansas governor January fourteenth twenty twenty one to the Speaker of the house do you Mr Speaker this is to inform you that on January fourteenth twenty twenty one I approved the following measures from the regular session at the 90 third General Assembly House Bill 1085 ACT 1 hospital to no 1 has that too sincerely it's 100 and. Governor. Can we 142021 to the Speaker of the house your Speaker this is to inform you that on January fourteenth twenty one I approved the following measures from that regular session and 90 third General Assembly house concurrent resolution to a 6 sincerely interested. Mr Clark please read house concurrent resolution. 1007. House resolution 1007 bye Representative Fulton to recognize January 22 at the day of tears in Arkansas. Represent what you're recognized explain the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker. Before I start. I just like to take this opportunity to share with each of you what a great honor and privilege it is in my life to have the opportunity to serve with each one of you has been. The oldest member I think now in the in the in the legislature since we lost a my good friend John Walker with the it is indeed a privilege to be here. Tomar. Will mark the 40 eighth anniversary. Of the row versus Wade decision. By the United States Supreme Court. Since that fateful decision. 61000000 babies have lost their lives. That perished because of bars. Send everyday. When I think of this loss of life in a so called civil society. I'm also send. When I think of the mothers of these children. Who for some reason felt compelled to have their child aboard. I can promise you that not one day. Goes by. These mothers hearts DO not those DO not hard for their loss of their child. When I ponder what we have done as a society. Leading 61000000 children die in the morning. I wonder. I wonder if we lost a doctor. The scientist. Who could have greatly lessened. The effects the horror and the Horton of the pandemic they were experiencing today in the world. Did we lose a president. Who could have. Hello there. Our democracy through perilous times in times of this unity. Did we lose a Senate. Perhaps could have proposed Shepherd. Introduced laws they would have some of. The lack of justice and equality. You could have shepherd the bill through to where we would have justice the equality for all. Did did we lose a state Representative. You could have served. His constituency. And how many. God of the fathers and mothers. Did we lose that 61000000. And then in the time. They were living in today in our own country. Did we lose the ability right now. Who through faith. Could have let us. To a time. Of healing. And. Then we hear daily about our economy. Thank of the contribution. This 61000000 people could have made to the economic well being of Arkansas and in the nation. We'll never know. Because we lost a. But there's one factor. This is prominent above all else in those 61000000. Are in the arms of a loving. Here in Ghana. So every day. We need to remember. The 61000000 babies. S. the question. One. Have we done. What. Have we done. This is bill resolution is entitled the days of tears. To be able to remember. 060 1000000 babies. I was blessed and we were blessed to receive a letter. The support from our governor and I just wanna read a couple of 3 excerpts from that. Arkansas. Our Kansans have a long history of value and valuing the lives of the unborn is well as the mothers. Thanks to owning circumstances over the course of my administration I have been extremely aggressive. Of stairs our state is taken. To save lives and then he says. As we. Continue in the good faith. To protect the mostly central. And fundamental. Of Gonski. That. If you permit me now already the. Proclamation. By the way this was a co sponsored and I want to thank you Representative all for her tremendous help of the issue is really work to yeoman's task we have about 60 of our house members signed the order in about 18 over in the Senate. House concurrent resolution. On January. 20 second 1973 where is on January twenty second nineteen seventy three the majority of the members of the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion was the rights. Secure the United States constitution. Over 61000000 children. Have been. Have perished. Since the thank you for the. Now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives of the 90 first General Assembly of the State of Arkansas the Senate concurrent there in. That the house of representatives of the 90 first General Assembly. Hereby. This is resolution. For days of tears in Arkansas and the services of the state the courage to lower their flags to half staff. To remember and to mark. The innocent unborn children who have lost their lives to abortion thank you Mr Mr Speaker and thank you membership and appreciate a good vote thank you. Represent a color for purpose. You're recognized for a question based. Thank you thank you Mr Speaker Representative Wooten thank you for your kind words about all of us and especially about our. Colleague Representative Walker that's much appreciated I have great respect for you and your firm beliefs and how you advocate for them so thank you very much for that first of all obviously we can disagree on laws but my concern is also for for these women and so my question to you is could this resolutions affect be to shame women who have a constitutional right under federal state and constitutional law. I am. I fully understand how you could ask the question coach. The but here's where I am. The baby is a baby a tile and 9 I tried and one of my concerns with that prepared this resolution. One of my concerns and Hartsfield was about the mothers. And and it has not tried to stated in my statement. Whatever compelling reason and the governor whatever circumstances the governors addressed in his letter of heart for the use of the it's my ability the abortion is wrong. Follow up Mr Speaker you're recognized thank you for that also just want some clarification on this since this is a resolution and not a bill it just it doesn't affect state buildings or their flags in any way and I'd know also the word perpetuities used in this is not binding on future general assemblies in my correct is well it will all we're doing here is encouraging that those flags. The I haven't discussed that with the governor he would have to order that all we're doing is encouraging people that would like to. To lower their flags to half staff. And remember. Person wouldn't is explain the resolution would and would like to speak against resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution represent Crawford you're recognized to speak for the resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker and members. I to mourn for the women. I've worked with those women for 30 years. In our local area in Fort Smith. A few years ago we put crosses on the lawn at the church that I went to. And some of that thing and that was to represent the baby's. That have been lost. And some of the things that happened from the. Word that. The women which I've heard personal testimonies. The women who saw those crosses them begin to seek out help. Mental health. That they needed it's called post abortion counseling. To where they can get the help that they needed to get through this. You can not. Take the life of a baby. And not have mental health issues you. The ones that do. Maybe there are a few. But from my working with women they're kinda hiding. Behind that. People who have abortions continually. Not just once because it was saying aye. A mistake. But I know a gal who's had 7 she uses it as birth control. So the next thing we need to look at. It's when young women see crosses or they see a flag that's half mast that they would go you know. I'm going to give life to My Baby. I see what you're saying I understand what you're doing. It's not against anyone. But if we remain silent 61000000 more babies will not be on the earth to fulfill. What god had intended them to fulfill thank you. Percent Crawford has spoken for the resolution when he won like speaking it's resolution. Red represent Murdock recognized speak against resolution. Thank you Mr Speaker to the sponsor I did not have no in the indication I would rise to do this today but. The way that the in this women are being depicted many innocent women have been depicted by what we describe. It's not fair. And there there's legal and health related in other legitimate reasons why things happen. None of us in this chamber represent god we're not gonna. It would not to make those final judgments. None of us want to see abortion use in a matter obviously this predatory or for birth control S. represent Crawford mentioned that's that's not the reason that it should be we agree with you on that. But there are many reasons. And those reasonably after those individuals and this is been adjudicated many times but I had arrived just to say to speak for those. They have the right and currently still have that right. Under the law and that we not just depicted as C.. Bad people that have made decisions for and maybe reason that you disagree with initial right to disagree with those reasons that is your right. But that's not the judge and god in this chamber S. the decisions that people make for their lives. Because sometimes those decisions are made for those reasons we're not in the room with him and the doctor so. I do think I understand I've talked to many of you over the years about just sentiment on this subject matter and not being disrespectful of that because that's your choice but please let's be careful there are passion does not. Of the 5 others for theirs and their choices thank. Represent Murdock has spoken against the resolution would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Anyone like speak against resolution. Person wooden. Do you like to close for the resolution. I will make it very clear. This is not intended. To be judgmental. We're not judging anymore I tried my best. To make that clear in my statement and also in the resolution. I will not judge anybody. Because. A center. Well as. I'm just sharing with you a heartfelt concern. For 61000000 but. Thank you thank you Mr Speaker. Reserve would has closed for the resolution. Question for the house is the adoption of house concurrent resolution 1007 all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Resolution is adopted. The end of the morning hour. Mr Clark please read house bill 1057. 870 Representative Dalby concerning the registration of an out of state sex offender. You're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker members this bill is really a cleanup bill let me give you just a quick background of what happened an individual's found guilty of a crime in which he was required to register as a sex offender in the state of Kansas he doesn't register in Kansas he moved to Missouri he registers in Missouri he moves to Arkansas Arkansas crime information find sees that he is one who needs to register he has to register his argument to the court was well I didn't register in the state in which I was found guilty so therefore I don't have to register in Arkansas in a strict reading of the law that is correct and so all this bill does is clean that up and adds the language that you will have to register in the state of Arkansas if you're found guilty in another state required to register or in any other state in which he or she has been ordered by the other court that that other state to register as a sex offender and that brings a law in line to which is been the general practice for years and years so with that I'd be happy to answer any questions. If not I appreciate a good vote. Represent all these explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Dalby is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1057 prepared machines Clark. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of 89 U. A. 090 present the bill is passed let the record reflect that represent Mayberry voted yes. We're having a little bit of a technical issue. Mr Clark please read house bill 1059. A possible to 59 to represent all the concerning the interstate transfer of a specialty court program participant to another specialty court program to create of veterans treatment specialty court program and to create a D. W. I. B. W. I. specialty court program. Dalby you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker members specialty court programs have been in Arkansas for a good long time with this bill does there's really a very significant part of what this bill does is it allows for someone who is participating in a specialty court program say a drug specialty court and alcohol specialty court that if they live in one jurisdiction and they want to move to another jurisdiction this bill allows them to do that and to continue their program under the current law what would happen so you live in Miller county where I'm from you want to go to Baxter County we're representing speaks is from. If I didn't I would have to come back and forth all the way from Mountain Home to Texarkana to participate in a specialty court program that I was assigned this bill also is setting for some additional guidelines for veterans quarters we have a veteran specialty court in Arkansas they're not as prominent as we hope for them to be this bill will set those guidelines the other which is for B. to B. I. N. D. W. I. specialty court's in a significant part of this bill that I'm very proud of it I think represent the fight and I've talked about this a good business this is going to set up a domestic violence specialty court we're very pleased with the Supreme Court on that any other background you may want to know there is a special court advisory committee the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court sits on that committee as well as a number of judges throughout the state in at the speaker's appointment I have been on that committee for the last 4 years this bill has been through all the circuit judges the District Court judges it is their recommendation is my recommendation that this is good for Arkansas will help keep the prison population down it gives people an opportunity to go through specialty court's keep a job get the help that they need and keeps amount others of out of our prison system and with that I would be happy to entertain any questions. That I would appreciate 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. Represent all these clothes for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1059 prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of 89 U. A. 090 present the bill is passed. Clark please read house bill 1107. 11 a 7 by represent avoid it to amend the prescription drug monitoring program act. Boyd you're recognized explained the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker Arkansas has what's known as a prescription drug monitoring program that was created well before I was in the legislature with this in so pharmacies OR dispensers of controlled substances have to enter those records into our prescription drug monitoring program. They're in or if you have a prescription mailed in from out of state from out of state pharmacy I they also have to report so the right now there's not a way to audit that information so like if I prescriber isn't going through there and they're like oh this in right there's really not a way for the department of health who has responsibility for that to go in and verify that or look for out liars or look for fraud and so this gives the insurers the department of health has the ability to to request that information the the actual prescription records from pharmacies there's not any opposition that I know of to this so with that said I'm home opened any questions. Represent Boyd is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Percent Boyd is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1107 prepare the machines to Clark. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark by voted 91 U. A. 090 present bill is passed. Clark please read house bill 1174. Possible 1134 by Representative void it to eliminate the nursing home pharmacist permit and the disease state management credential. Represent Boyd you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker this is a board of pharmacy bill eliminates to the credentials right now they're about 2333 people I think have the nursing home credential it does not eliminate the need for nursing homes to have a consultant pharmacist that is still there but what it does is it removes the need for education and the fee and such required with that credential this is the disease state management credential I'd almost forgotten I was in there but that's something that was created back when I was in pharmacy school by the legislature I don't know of anybody who really has a credential anymore so for my view this is just cleaning it up and and relieving some of the bureaucracy in that with that said I'm happy to answer any questions. Represent Boyd has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent board is closed for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1174 prepare the machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. A vote of 91 yeas 098 and 0 present the bill is passed. Mr Clark please read house bill 1119. House will live in 19 by Representative Lundstrum concerning the first and second districts of the state District Court system and to declare an emergency. Lundstrum you're recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. On August eleventh twenty twenty Springdale Arkansas welcomed into the fold Bethel Heights with an election. Basically husband and wife are living in matrimony they set up House gaming we've had water sewer everything's turned on in the House everything's going really well except for the court system. Bethel Heights courts. Have been dissolved but they've not been folded into Springdale that's where we come in we have to dissolve that and allow for them to continue housekeeping so with that I would ask for good vote and I'll accept any questions. Thank you colleagues. Resemblance from is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. We would like to speak for the bill. Percent less from as close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1119 prepare the machine Mr Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Is everyone voted. As everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of 98098 and 0 present the bill is passed and the emergency clause. Mr Clark please read House 1185. House 1185 a Representative Dalby concerning the judicial or administrative transfer of an inmate to the Division of Community. Represent Dalby recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. As I think all of you know the the department of corrections also operates a community correction centers throughout the state when an individual is committed for a criminal offense or committed to the prison system to the cook correctional system and with this bill will allow is what someone is in the prison system if they qualify for the community correction facility then the administrative they were this will allow for an administrative transfer. In the Committee correction facilities they are licensed drug and alcohol counsellors often times there permitted some relief work release they go out and work in the community they really do good work in a lot of times they don't need to be in the prison system itself because they may not be able to get the counseling and the rehab that they can get in the community corrections this does not. Lessen their sentence it doesn't change with the court has decided on all it does is it allows for not only a judge to transfer but that there be administrative transfer within the prison system with that I'll be happy to answer any questions. But that appreciate a good vote. Represent all be has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Dalby is close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1185 per machine Mr Clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast about Mr Clark. By a vote of 91 yeas 0 day and 0 present the bill is passed Mr Clark please read house bill. 1028. Housel 1020 have a Representative Cavenaugh to amend the law to extend the time period authorized for the registration of a motor vehicle and to amend the law concerning temporary preprinted paper buyer's tax. Person Cavenaugh recognized explain the bill. Thank you Mr Speaker. This is a simple bill what it does expand the amount of time that someone has to license a vehicle from 30 days to 60 days and that's really all that it does some of you may have been contacted and said that it was going to be a negative impact to revenue I just want to clarify during testimony yesterday during the committee meeting the F. and I didn't say that is not an impact that it is neutral because there is no change in the tax rate so there is no loss of revenue there may be a timing issue and that's what they're speaking about so during one fiscal session it may not be collected but in the very next month that will be collected it's just a shifting of the revenue. Thank you. Percent Lowery for purpose question you're recognized. The. At 1.my understanding at least from licensing my vehicles would be that the proof of liability insurance is not required until you get the permanent tag is that correct I mean would they be driving for 60 days without a liability insurance No liability insurance is required when you purchased the vehicle okay so it is upon purchase yes Sir okay thank you. Thank you I appreciate a good vote. Represent Kavanagh's explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Represent Cavenaugh as close for the bill the question before the House is the passage of house bill 1028 prepared machine Mr Clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Asked about Mr Clark. By a vote of 88 U. A. 0981 present. The bill is passed. A person makes for what purpose motion place you're recognized after the announcements reading of the bills transferring of 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 we adjourn until 1:00 on Monday afternoon. That's a proper motion is not debatable all in favor say aye. Any opposed. The motion carries. Any announcements. Representative Brandt Smith what purpose. You're recognized house judiciary will meet Tuesday at 2:00 PM or 10 minutes upon adjournment are after the picture I'm sorry. Represent Charlene Fite for purpose announcement you're recognized aging children youth military will meet today 10 minutes after German. Represent Lowery for purpose. Announcement you're recognized I just a reminder to insurance and commerce members that as previously announced we will not be meeting on Mondays until our agenda starts getting full so we are not meeting Monday at 930 we will be meeting next on Wednesday at 930. Represent Arkansas is for what purpose. Announcement you're recognized state agencies will meet Monday at 930 and if you have bills have been referred to the Committee please get with me so we can get him on the active agenda. Percent worn for what purpose. You're recognized. Public retirement will have our first meeting Monday morning at 830 in big mac a also need to let the membership note that the final day to file retirement bills will be next Friday January 29 last day to file retirement bills Friday January 29. Holcomb for what purpose announcement you're recognized city county local meet at 2:00 today and maxi. Purpose of all for what purpose 2 announcements you're recognized at a committee will meet at 10 minutes upon adjournment and next Wednesday in the old Supreme Court rain will have our first per caucus meeting we will be following social distancing and wearing masks we will not be invited in agencies this year to come but we want to welcome everybody else to come 7:00 AM next Wednesday morning. Any other announcements. Desk remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the joint resolution house would be adjourned until 1:00 PM Monday.