Senate Organizational Meeting

We don't the. Have any more issues with the spread them we have. Alright members to order call the meeting to order find quick call the roll Ballenger. Back I'm here but. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. This mine. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren Hester. Hickey. Hill. Ingram. Irvine. Like Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leading. Page. Right for. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch Sullivan. Take. He will be working from proxy. Our Tucker. Wallace. Okay so we're missing Senator Davis I think maybe she'll be here shortly we're gonna go ahead call meeting to order if you all took a couple couple housekeeping things first off as you can see there's been a lot effort go in for staff and from folks plan in this to try to make this organizational meeting is covert free as possible. So help us on that keep your mass on where correctly space out every other seat or more so that we can do everything we can to keep ourselves our families and staff say. again this is an organizational meeting the actions that we take are are are really for the purpose of organizing but it's a little bit different than when we have a committee of the whole or senator or official action but nevertheless this is how we will organize for the ninety third General Assembly so the first thing that I'd like us to do is if you go past have one everybody should have a book with their name on it you're going to see a temporary or temporary operating procedure that we've asked after put together so that right now senator Teague can participate basically remotely. Or anybody else to could not have been able to make it so I think it's very similar to what we used in fiscal session we have the property from senator Teague and he's it basically follows the procedures here but in order for that to be permissible I would to ask for a motion to adopt this temporary temporary operating procedure again clarifying this is just for today's meeting is not a rules change the Senate rules or anything else just for today's meeting I got a motion and a second all favor say aye. Motions adopted okay next item on the agenda if you look in the section two let me also before we do this welcome to our new members we welcomed you all last night but again welcome to the first someone official meeting of the state Senate were glad to have you and I'm sure you'll be hearing more and see a lot more later don't hesitate to ask one of the member sit next to you have a question about what's going on don't feel rushed take your time and we'll get through these things okay so tied into the next item yes. Yes of there there's nothing in obviously in your book for this next item which is election of the president pro tem for the ninety third General Assembly so this time I'd open the floor for nominations for pro tem ninety third gentle somebody. Got a motion nomination of sustained second. Any other darker not motion nomination season. Okay got a motion to seize nominations and elect by acclamation all in favor say aye. New pose congradulations Senator Hickey. You are. So I don't so I don't forget center Hendren just reminded us all not to lean on this podium because of the So we're trying to do with code of members I'm not going to prolong this it at all what I want to do is just say thank you of course for the last a year I've been doing the we've been talking about the pro tem race I feel like you all baptized me but basically putting your of food on my head and hold me under water but that's okay because it's made me stronger. What I want to say to you although is this is I work for you all at this point always have but my goal is that I make each in one of use successful to the best of my abilities to do that but. Especially as a senator the whole. Also want to tell you this I'm going to make mistakes and what I want to do today is go ahead and apologized to you all for the mistakes that I'm going to make and ask that you forgive me. But. Or in addition to that I had a man tell me a long time ago the only people that are not making mistakes are the ones that are not doing anything and it is my intention that we as the Senate body. DO stuff. And with that I'm also going to go ahead and congratulate you on your accomplishments accomplishments that we're going to have because I look for those to be many. In closing I want to say this. As we have discussed with each one of you all as iron sharpens iron. As iron sharpens iron one man sharpens another and I want to tell you today just because I'm saying that I'm not saying that it is fun to sharpen iron I'm not saying that it's easy to sharpen iron what I am saying to you is this that the outcome of that. Is usually an increase of your assets are even also sometimes a saving of a live. And that's what we do for the constituents of the state of Arkansas I've told you all this before and I made is not just to stay in I love each and ever each and everyone of you and with that I'd say that we go with that we get to sharpening aren't thank you. Okay members with that we are going to go to the next item on the agenda agenda which is going to be the discussion adoption of Senate rules for the ninety third assembly. As a rule that they want to present if you do that by raising your hand. Okay the. Center Hester I'll start with you Sir if you want to come down you can do that at the podium. The podium I believe your to well. Members I emailed out last night but the. A my proposed rule changes to amend Senate rule seven point oh one B. six. A bill just a second if you don't mind Senator Hester we're gonna tell them where that's at within their packet. Senate lease we may have something your packet so we may not. He. Or. Thirty. Attempt to. Page three. I'm sorry Senator Hester. So this basically says only a member of the mint majority party can share committees within the Senate all committees. Happy to answer any questions. Okay you've heard the what senator pastor is proposed is there any discussions in regard to this. Members it's kind of hard to see center flowers. Could we please turn around. Thank you A I wanted to express my concern about this rule I think it ignores talents that we all bring no matter what party wearing an and the experiences that we have. And I would just encourage you to consider that. I don't see myself representing just Democrats in my district. Or even just Democrats in the state of Arkansas. I'm here for all the people in my district. Democrats and Republicans and independents and even those that don't vote. I care about them. And I care about. Leadership. And I care about fairness. And if we make a rule such as this. And we say that. Only people of a certain stripe can be a leader. And then discount. Other people that are from our state of Arkansas that have been elected to serve in the Senate. And they elect people that have certain skills we all bring certain skills and some of us have experience we have institutional knowledge even some of us. That are not necessarily in the majority party so I would ask you to consider that. As you vote on this rule. Thank you senator flowers the next head I believe on on my list was senator Elliott. Okay I'm sorry about your hold your hand up so I will state senator Chesterfield after that we'll have Senator Rapert alright thank you just a point of information senator Hester right now only members of the majority party may each year a BC and AB and C. committees. And then we have always allowed members of minority party to serve if possible as tears of select and joint committee so you are talking about we serve in no capacity. Of leadership in this body is that what you're rule to sign. As as as a chairman chair woman that's correct was this is a leadership position. So you're saying that we are not to serve as members of any. Any leadership position in the chamber that is your that is your motion. Not you certainly can service member but not it not as a cast in a leadership position you know exactly what I'm saying so the. If you all don't mind you've got to give me this we're going to keep this cordial and the if you'll come three million out directed. No ma'am I was does any work. Are you finished. Yep one one thing and you just some clarification under the current rules also the minority party can the if I remember correctly and I did verify that with the council here J. P. or is one of those committees that the minority party can also not currently cheer. So just make sure that we all have the correct senator RAPERT. Yes Sir thank you Mister chairman and got a question for up phrases to uniform of a question but you know I was here ten years ago. When it was just seven Republican to get elected TNA came on and there were many many years where there was no Republicans allowed to be a chair cheers and so elections have consequences and I believe that the people of this state spoke strongly when they elected a super majority and do you not think Senator that this body should reflect the will of the people to have Republicans leadership of the Senate committee chairs. Yes thank you. Thanks Senator Rapert anybody else and here's the thing members it's hard for me to see so you don't have to help me Senator Ingram Europe Sir. Request on your mac. Thank you of. How does this make us better me in our objective in this state in this body two of not really be Republicans Democrats but be or what's best for our state come together I think that the I would. Submit to each and everyone of you in here that you to cry Washington politics we all hate what goes owner had devices that it is in Washington and we're just bringing that more and more this is just another step with that toward this in in this state but my question is how ignoring that it is the skill set that individuals might have that would be of use to this body. You would preclude that with this rule. How does that make us better. centering on that that's a great question this makes us better because as we all know in politics personnel is policy. And the whoever's chair committee typically drives that committee and steers policy and I think it is very clear that the people of Arkansas are interested in conservative Republican policies not my district. I understand that the majority. Well you might do this and you've got the numbers to pass it but you're setting a terrible precedent your your of the ability to take advantage of all the skill sets that these individuals are elected and utilize those are very important and to be mild peak to have one voice without considering others of the set in our state up for failure. Thank you senator Ingram. Members. Senator Elliot yes ma'am thank you Mr chair I of the senator Hester I just like you I think this is an unfortunate move obviously out but I just respond to a you know something that was said that. The member submitted under minority party were not allowed to be our chairs of some of the committees that are listed here. That is this patently not true I remember when I came here in the house house surprised I was that in the Senate the Senate almost just to deliberately make sure for example a Republican almost all we share the the budget committee A and I can name you names of people who did that and they and they did this on purpose and so and but let's just say even if they didn't. Can we think of a few things that people did a long time ago that you don't want to repeat. What if on a in my lived experiences decided that I wanted to just do what ever people had done to me through my life I would even be fit to be here and try to serve with people if I did that and this is what it is reminiscent of to me. Do we want to repeat even if it were true which is not. We want to repeat the worst of us. Would I be right if I just decided that will this was done to me that was done to me and I'm going to the same thing to everybody else we were never moved forward with that kind of attitude so I just really encourage else you not to do this they're Senate Democrats and hear me really what kind of threat all we really other than this is this just appears to be a big fort moved to suggest something is of that. Is not going to be helpful to us I respectfully suggest senator so I I I hope we don't pass this rule. Thank you Mr chair yes senator thank you I had to Senator hammer up next and then after that is going to be Senator Clark. Senator hammer you're up Sir thank you Mr question to the presenter from Mary only come to the chair no Sir I said that as long as we're just back and forth without running over each other I'm good all right Senator let me ask you does this repeat history as far as this having been done before utilized before in the history of the Senate. That's what I've heard but I I don't know okay and the secondly this does not preclude anyone that has a good solid legitimate piece of legislation from being able to run that piece of legislation in the committee is that correct that's correct thank you thank you Mr. Thank you Senator hammer Senator Clark. The ugh since everyone doesn't know the history. In a. rarely and upon the popular sought. But when the things I'm proud of. I'm thankful for. Is that we have won the most equal. Legislative bodies in the country and the Arkansas state Senate. And that wasn't always true. But there was a group called the brotherhood. Made up of the minority. Republicans and the disaffected Democrats. Who came together who made us this way. And like I said I know many of us don't know that history. but I'm as independent as I am I'm very thankful for that. And I think that we're going too far. Thank Senator Clark. Senator Rapert you're with two men recognize you again Sir yes Sir Europe yes I appreciate that I'll opposes in former question as well to the senator but you too much to senator Hester Sir at it okay thank you in that is that given some of the comments that were here I remember what it was like when I got here. Don't let anybody think that they didn't all the staff. And and before the brotherhood. There was dominance that never let go. And I think it is actually an up front an offense to the people of the state of Arkansas. We work hard to let the people that whole these twenty eight Republican seats. To put in possession any situation where one of our Republican elected senators cannot serve in leadership of committee in a committee. Because we have seven Democrats that take those those positions. I think that is wrong and I think we have an obligation. As the majority party of Republicans in this state Senate. That we make sure Republicans lead policy in the Senate that does not mean that there's not a voice. But we are obligated to honor the wishes of the people of the state of Arkansas who resoundingly elected twenty eight Republicans over a period of time to the Senate and I would hope that this body would pass this rule do you not agree Senator. And do. present Hickey I guess I'm close yes Sir okay. Okay the. Senator Hester we're gonna call this our well down here today of course we're in this different setting so Senator Hester is a left the that the well You propose the rules is there any other comments. Discussion on. Senator Hester are you. Are you closing as a motion Sir okay so we have a motion. We have a motion to have a second. Okay I have a motion the second is there any discussion on that motion. Case. Yes ma'am. Do. Let's not forget this is. Hearing. The. It is this year. These rules. Party here in. Or the. Try to. I will be here here. For here. Thank you for your point of. Verification the center Chesterfield anybody else since of allowed that. Okay there is the everybody understands we got a motion the second set. Center and you have something. What's your number. Seventy five is that correct. Get your own ma'am I think and full disclosure I just wanted to state also that when I was elected in twenty ten I was part of the minority party and that I was able to chair children and youth commit select committee. As a freshman Republican and the and the minority and so just after senator Chesterfield makes her point of clarification I felt like that was necessary for this body to also understand that that occurred with me I was I was fortunate enough to chair children use as a member of the minority party. Thank you senator Irvin okay mode members we have a motion and a second. We're going to vote in favor say aye. Any opposed. I have a rule Jett. It does have it. I need okay I've already discussed is I need to see five hands in regards to that. C. five hands of madam secretary would you mind calling the roll. Ballenger. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. Dismang. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. Already built me no place. Yes. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hell. Ingram. Irvine. Thank Johnson. I mark Johnson. Leading. Page. Right for. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Seven. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague voted no. Tucker. Wallace. Okay members of the. The motion did pass twenty fourth eleven Senator Hester you have passed your your new rule change okay with that members of who has another rule. Senator Hendren. Europe Sir. So this is what I would call a week to our ethics rules to to clarify what I think there may be some misunderstanding about. Let me just start by thanking the members of the Senate issue Alcock require recall two years ago when I took over as pro tem we've gone through a period with all all kinds of issues that need to be dealt with and that was my number one priority was to try to change the culture of what I call the culture of corruption and restore the ethics to an unquestionable level I want to thank senator Irvin for her work on the ethics committee which we created we change the rules we've increased penalties we've done a lot of things and is in the two year period as things have progressed I think the new rules of work pretty well but what we have here is a situation that's kinda come up a couple different times that I felt needed some additional clarification to the rule. And I it's been brought to me by members and other folks that are that are and associated with what's going on here that to and I what I feel like I've done here is made this is narrow as it possibly can be so let me tell you basically what the rule says I think all of us know we have offices we have an incredible Senate staff that is is willing to help us with almost anything we ask We have the did all the things that to being part of the Senate provides but those are for being a center the Senator those are not for running our personal business or doing things that to have nothing to do or at least we have a profit motive other than good policy so what is real doesn't and again Sabrina's help me draft this because what I wanted to be clear is there are still a lot of things that you can and should do with your office in this makes that clear you can use it for official business of the Senate your official capacity what you can't do is conduct meetings and Senate offices are Senate facilities with the nature of the meeting involve state or federal dollars and involves impacting coercing soliciting of activities or influence that could be potentially result in private or professional game or profits and it also makes that same prohibition for family members so the purpose of this is is is pretty narrow it has to do with again we all know that people come in. Make their case to us about the appropriate use of state dollars or federal dollars that are matched with state dollars and how those dollars flow and that's perfectly part of our official business where they get to be a problem is when you were a member of your family has Senate financial incentive in the decision that is made there and so. I think probably most of us would agree that you need to be careful about doing that anywhere the what you certainly need to be careful about is doing that in in the Senate offices using Senate resources. So this rule again applies very narrowly it just makes prohibition that is if you want to use the office and he's be for official business and it prohibits just one type of conduct which is in involving solicitation of funds that we as policy makers have a roll over and you might have a conflict because of the potential financial interest so that's the real I'd be happy to answer questions thank you senator Hendren I've seen Senator hammer first and then I think Senator Pitsch is going to be next. Senator hammer thank you. Could you just a I'm looking through rules what's the what's the penalty or what's the punishment or what's the process if we stumble into somebody doing this Sir explain to me where we go we have a section in the rules it talks about any member can report of a violation of our rules to the ethics committee and then they can determine the appropriate course of action in that list in their an entire range of things that could be done. In the end this may be a little extreme but does this involve phone conversations that may be occurring in our offices are here on Capitol property if we are conducting business and that business does involve the usage of state or federal funds it does that apply in this scenario or can you give me some of our start talking specifically about meetings nine one could argue whether a phone meeting but us also talking about not just the solicitation OR fate state or federal funds but that solicitation when you have a personal financial. interest in the outcome. Thank you Mr thank you Senator hammer center page. Return to what's your number ten zero okay first of all thank you Mr chairman we'll call that we need this thank you for bringing it forward my question centered around anybody doing that there needs to be a deterrent your answer that it does go to ethics for deterrent I also know that ethics has kind of a gradient scale is it appropriate for us to put that there should be a maximum deterrent I mean at some level this is as bad as it gets using the capital rounds in the capitol office for personal gain is just beside me. I would agree that I'm disappointed it did come to the point of having a rule I think this could maybe be more broadly interpreted with some of the concepts that we have in our ethics rules but never the less I feel is necessary to attend to nail it down with regard to this the range of penalties as I recall when we work on Senator Irvin in the staff to draft ethics rule changes the range of family goes all the way up to expulsion from the Senate but obviously there's a difference between a of. In a one time whoops I forgot about it and did some stupid versus an intentional effort so we give the ethics committee a broad range of. Responses. Thanks center page. Senator flowers. Ma'am. I just like to a add to that in terms of the compliance with the law. Section twenty four oh three a on page seventy nine of the parliamentary manual of the Senate also prescribes not only that senator shall comply with all constitutional and statutory provisions related to elective office violation of any constitutional or statutory provision shall be grounds for administering penalties as provided in the code of ethics. It goes further any penalty imposed by the Senate shall not bar any other civil or criminal proceedings so it it's beyond just the ethics violations thank you. Thank you good point Senator flowers. Senator Clark. And then Senator mark Johnson I'll come to you Senator Clark Europe Sir. The center Hendren I want to be sure I know it has good intent I want to be sure that We don't have any unintended consequences. Of. And the. Discussion that we've had recently about cares funding and unemployment. Of. You are a. In our office in a conference room talking about the need for. Of. Air funding for the water would call in the unemployment fund and we both. Pay into the unemployment. One. It looks to me like this could be construed. I know that's not your intent. But if somebody's getting taking it looks like it could be construed as personal profit or were actually just conducting business and and I know that's not where you're what you're intending it for at all but the old alarms me none the less can you address that. Well I think that's that's probably one of the most liberal interpretations of what we have here that a person could take because I think it's pretty clear potentially result in private or professional game to me that means specific and unique to me not to every business that pays any unemployment insurance trust fund so I I don't think that just as we don't have conflicts when we vote for bills that increased or decreased taxes because we're all taxpayers we have a conflict is when we vote for something that specifically influences impacts me personally or professionally and that's what the spouse out thank you. Thank Senator Clark is Senator mark Johnson. Sixty one his number. You're not only at. I thank thank you Mr president yes Sir The intent of this. Is generally good it's very poorly crafted in a let me point out some several things about this a. When it says. Involved impacting coursing soliciting OR activities influence that could potentially result in private a professional gain or profit I I couldn't help but think of a meeting that actually Senator hammer and I had with the CEO of central Arkansas water in my office and it was to affecting in extending service of that agency that public agency to areas of our districts. And under this that would obviously resulted in professional private or professional gain or profit there was going to be a engineer involved in A whoever's the contractor to do something like that clearly that be public purpose but my only point this out to say that it goes so far is just about anything you would do officially in your office your facilities to to help a constituent that had a legitimate issue but the could potentially Profit from that I think we have to do that now and to be candid center Hendren has spoken to me of verbally and through correspondence he's concerned about some issues that relate to me and I made it very clear that neither I nor any member of my family or anyone that gave up their first amendment rights to petition their government or anybody else that's my constituent gave those rights up when I became elected to the Senate. And I certainly am very proud of the fact that in one instance that he seem to disagree with my actions had to do with the when I worked with the house member. And His his spouse was also interested in that to try to gain funding to help pay for. the expenses of. minority students who were warning go back and teach in the delta and frankly DYS didn't have the cash money to go up pay for all the certifications are we now require of of new teachers in the state of Arkansas. I was the store called on the carpet about that because I actually went to a state agency and and in a peripheral sort of what I certainly not directly there might have been some benefit in there the point I'm getting at is we're citizen legislator and I absolutely agree with senator Hendren that we should not use Senate facilities Senate staff or anything else that affects our business or any other thing that puts money in our pockets but things that are on the fringes that you get is some very dangerous territory when you start saying you can't help a constituent are you can't help young people get certified and get that money paid to like go back to to Marianna or or Barton lex or somewhere like that it teach because lord knows we have enough trouble trying to get people there I am very much opposed to this if it were redrafted and crafted in a manner that that actually did the the intent and I think Senator Hendren that the the broad intent is good I think the narrow intent is is very slippery slope think of all the situations where you been contacted by a constituent and they have a need and yes if it's successful and they might make some money are they also might do the state a whole lot of good so I I ask that the senators consider voting against this not that it is in the broad sense bad policy it's actually brought in Jim is a very good policy I think in in in some ways but the it needs to be much more carefully crafted and make sure that it doesn't have unintended consequences of those of you been here while no. Ninety percent what we deal with and what we have to be here for three four months uh is session is because we come up a good idea and we learned about the unintended consequences and have to to earn that out so I would appreciate a vote against this and would pledge to help come up with language that would Do the brought intent without a creating some narrow problem thank you Mr thank you for service part of that yes Sir center enters going to respond couple things first off you say it's overly broad if it were up to me would be broader to me this is if anything to restrict. Because I think the very and you keep conflating this with the idea that we can't serve our constituents it has nothing to do with that. Where it becomes a problem is when it has something to do with my. My family's checkbook personally or professionally that's what the rule says and it just limited to inside Senate facilities and Senate offices again if it were up to me it. I would prefer that this be broader because I think that very activity talk about first amendment right yeah you don't give up your first amendment rights but there's some things that we say and meetings that we can have that are inappropriate and that's why I think the rules necessary. I thank you senator Hendren. Anybody else have any. Yes we do passing center Ballenger back there first and then we'll go to senator let so the centre Ballinger Europe. Thank you Mr that senator not you're not I think that the like everyone else keeps and they agree with prince one and I do and I think I'm I'm I think I'm okay even okay with the language but the one thing that I would want want clarification before we move forward so that later on they won't be use like this is that the way the language is drafted I could see a situation where a school teacher is talking about teacher races right is involved in that conversation and to be a violation of ethics or realtor is in a conversation about continuing education requirements and that and I know that that's not the intent like I I I realize that isn't the intent but the language itself I think leaves room for that now I think by you saying like that's absolutely not the intent I don't know we're talking about a Senate rule yeah I think the colleagues here would probably all agree I'm not I'm not even advocating FOR OR against the rule I'm just saying that what I would want is clarification that you know if you work for an economic development district and what the you're negotiating with something that could increase funding for economic development does that does that it in theory it would give them some you know private or professional benefit but that's not really what you're talking about right now and again I have to say you know as all Senate rules this was drafted by our Senate staff and I have incredible confidence in their ability to draft legislation and and and regulation which is what we have here or rule I have no objection to adding a a word or two potentially result in private a professional game this kind of goes back to the question that we talked about previously that this is talking about unique to you as opposed to every taxpayer every school teacher every whatever and if we need to say you know is there's language we need to clarify that again I don't think anybody wants to inhibit constituent service and really this just applies when the potential gain is not for the constituent or for the economic developed. District it's for me or my family personally professionally and I think that's very clear I got no objection to a change here to to clarify that but the other thing I would say that is a safety and that is again it just like any rule if it's misused the only thing that happens here is it goes to the ethics committee and I would have confidence that our ethics committee would say not only is this not what we're after we need to clean up the rule a little bit but again. As you know any piece of legislation a rule we can do to one Senate any consequences to the death I think we've got to do so the centre bell do you have already service follow up yes Sir and I think I think the real way that those be ruled of used to someone's going to find that the complaint and it'll be used politically to beat him up want to point out of like that's one likely out I would be used and the question is you know if we can clarify it and I think when we talk about a school teacher negotiating and talking about teacher were praises I don't think that it they're not doing the night negotiation in order to get the raise but that would I think could squarely be interpreted as falling under that now I think that if you said that would that rather than it it apply to a whole field or or a or hold profession but would apply to Justin personally that would you know I I think that would satisfy that but but I do think that kind of tweak either either we just make it really clear that it doesn't apply in those situations but that still seems kind of dangerous because later on it could be used as a club against somebody yeah and let me just point out one other thing that to. We have a lot of discussion about when we drafted our initial change the ethics rules and there was a lot of criticism for this but I think it was probably the right path which was this can't be used by somebody outside the Senate for an ethics complaint violation of Senate rules have to be reported by a member of the Senate to the ethics committee so what in order for this to be abused somebody who's here today would have to clearly be going contrary to what we've all I thank shaking her head and said this is what the intent is. But again I'm not I want to get it done today because I got rule books to print we got to get done that if there's a word or two we need to put in there to clarify that this is gain unique to you versus in general I'm I'm fine with that because that certainly I think it says that and that's what I asked staff to draft but it's need some clarification I got a problem okay members but course you've all heard center in and say you you'll do the clarification on that as it relates to that I'm going to continue to do the questions just to make sure there's nothing that varies outside of what we've already discussed so that we could you also get that in there that's okay Senator engine so center lex Sullivan I believe Europe Sir. Thank you Mr art centre Ballinger kind of got my point not appreciate clarification agree with all of that so you're the media nine media meetings so we're including soon calls teleconferences phone conference calls we're including all of those in that definition of meeting. I'm out okay we'll just of the resources you know if you're using the Senate equipment and so on to conduct a meeting to solicit funds from the state or the federal government from which you tend to personally benefit that's where the problem comes in after yeah if you're doing is the meeting and as we can see senator Teague send his official capacity now that you know we're sitting in our office and one is the meeting it showing our office that would be that would fall under this definition I got it that's right just like I don't think it's appropriate for me to sit up and do business for my plastics manufacturing company using Senate resources yeah I agree with you I'm just saying there's going to be clear that's the intent I think that's correct thank you. Get members everybody helped me one at a time Senator Clark Europe Sir. All center court I made a mistake senator DISMANG Europe I'm Paula just Sir Senator Clark I'll come to you senator DISMANG. Thank you Mr president. I really really want to hesitate on adding the language you just mention your that that would create a loophole so large because in theory we can't do anything that doesn't benefit the state as a whole. And so that in in essence if we have that language we will have nothing in place. Because everyone even when they're gaining personally you're going to benefit I see no harm in one probably should be doing it anyway off campus on campus doesn't really matter what this is saying if you do it on campus. You're gonna get in trouble for it if you're trying to personally gain or does personally again you but there is no appropriation there is no anything that doesn't contribute to the public good I hope that we pastor that were engaged in. Yes that language in we've got nothing we all understand what this is saying. I think it's pretty clear. And there is a vast difference in unemployment in and that sort of thing as opposed to a foundation this trying to get state funds or whatever the history of this that I I don't I don't know I'm just trying to follow along with the Senate Johnson's comments but I mean if your spouse also worked for that foundation you don't need to be having meetings on campus about those activities any except your own ethical judgment if you have them period. But I caution when you put this loophole in place we might as well not pass it and I believe we need it I think you're all saying we needed and we all have good judgment we have an ethics committee. That's going to utilize good judgment is not gonna be gotcha politics because. You you are a business owner have unemployment taxes that you pay. So let's be reasonable not try to pick something a part that's going to benefit in the greater good so that we can create a local that blast everyone to continue to do what they're doing or may continue the this is even more in appropriately in the future thank you thank you senator DISMANG good points members this is the correct form for this this is why we do this will NIT pick it to death and we'll come out with something good so Senator Clark Europe Sir Senate you center in reviewed and did you have a response senator DISMANG makes a valid point and as usual. These attorneys the work force drafting rules are pretty good and there's a reason why they wrote it the way they did. Thank you Senator Clark Europe Sir and yes they are good as or the one to the bill or and yet we amended we amended women of the and I would also point out that what we agree on today. Of when it comes to institutional knowledge twenty years from now. US Senate will have no idea of what we call an intended of so the words need to be riot. The. Of and while I appreciate intent and also do not necessary I don't agree with the center Dismang I have said all along that the problem with the ethics is some day I hope nobody ever falls an ethics toward on anybody because the first one will start the gotcha I guarantee it of so. I would suggest I am not a word Smith expressly when it comes to rules but I would suggest something like this at the end four and unique to the senator because the way it's worded now it definitely if you're talking to a lobbyist or anyone else who's looking for funding who might. Profit the on you couldn't do it even though we know that's not the intent that's what we change language of and we want to be clear that it's us. Of that would benefit and that it's you and as you said unique to us and other than the again I'm ages it was said I think we're in agreement in spirit but we need to get the language right. Well let me just respond again I thank There's no necessity to change it I think it's did did the example you used of us meeting with a lobbyist who has something to gain absolutely does not fall under the purview of this bill unless I'm married to a lobbyist. Now then there becomes a problem and that's that's the whole issue here is the conflict that occurs when it becomes something that benefits me personally not benefits a lobbyist not benefits to constituents not benefits the state agency but me personally I think the language is is is pretty clear. Senator Ballinger. Thank you Mr that I've I think this is clear there's some confusion back here and then and then some sense of you said added some confusion to me you said that it it would be wrong if you were use an Senate resources to deal with tension five plastic but that wouldn't fall under this rule in less what you're talking about is is contracting with the state or something right if you're if you're doing something that was going to be be of all state or federal funds then it would apply but if you were if all you were doing was doing your business because if if that was the standard then we're all anybody who has a real job would not be able to to work in the Senate right well I think it goes to senator pitches initial comment that he's appalled that we need this and I feel the same way because the fact is we don't have a rule specifically to address what you said this rule is so narrow it is drafted you're right it would not affect me if I was doing something that had nothing to do with state funds or federal funds so this this this rule is so narrow it has to do with one particular case that I think it's even worse because it's one thing to be doing something. That might benefit me personally but to be manipulating the taxpayer's check but to do that is especially egregious so that's why I think it is narrow and you're right the example I used is not covered under this rule but what it is I I hope is covered by most of our understanding of what basic ethics requirement would dictate and just follow compact but but you would have no I mean it you're not you're not saying that you would even want a rule that would require a person not to be will sit in their office and take a call about a real estate deal that they're working off that I'm not or I'm saying I had discussions with staff about how to tailor this and those conversations were had and that's why you see the rule the way it is that is targeted towards what I consider to be some confusion in a potential and actually ongoing issue and so hi well my regarding state and federal fund thank you and again members list that now let's continue let's just not talk over each other please thank you. Senator Ballinger tentative that that's correct it's only if that situation okay. Anyone else. Senator Hendren did you want to allow the I've close what I think you're by knows what we're trying to do here. We can't be an institution of starts out. Failing to do something because of fears about unintended consequences are over broad reading of of of the Senate rule that we are left to enforce I think this is necessary to send the right tone it's about what we're gonna do in the next session so I would move adoption of the rule is submitted to. Okay have a motion is there a second. I have a motion the second all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Five seven that rules passed. But I am is a five hands if you all will roll call that one. I have five hands. Ballenger. Ballenger. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. Davis. This mine. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Like Johnson. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leading. Page on. Right for. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Take. No. Tucker. Wallace. Okay members at roll call verified the call that I made on the floor of which twenty eight yeas three days so again the motion stands. Rules adopted. Rule the may have another rule center first ma'am you wanna come on down senator. Senator flowers are telling me that's actually procedure going to the rules and then I'll come back to you if that's okay. I'm sorry DIV got you out order. Senator Ingram I thank you have one Sir. During your right Sir yes Sir. We discuss this in the past year you know I think of if memory serves me correct last session we change the rule in order to sign a bill out of committee we it takes five plus you've got to notice the chairman I think that's we did that the last time so we sort of raise the bar for it to come out there and I think the thought process the is here if we did that to change extraction of a piece of legislation or bill of from committee it it would follow suit that it needed to be raised it would be raised twenty one that rather than a simple majority we discussed this before is you all know that it's it's the the the policy I think is important of the committees help us for more than how you heard this and I would like to see the bar raised on of extraction out of committee and that's what this to us. If you take any questions. Okay members fairly straight for we're open it up anybody have any questions comments center page. Thank you Mr chairman senator Ingram right here it up I'm kind of insurer won't be on this thing what's the the calls. Celeb the calls this to occur well I think in in the past the history of the body has been that for probably twenty plus years there might have been one piece of legislation that was extracted out and I think of that cane with seniority people senators it been elected in been here and understood that the committee system could work for you as well as against you and to keep the committee's system strength in the last few years have been a number of attempts to extract legislation from committees and I just think it is sound policy to raise that bar to make that extraction just a wee bit harder then a simple majority yes Sir you're recognized for follow up question then how many times as that I mean did your research tell us that this the majority requirement how many times extraction to a place because I think that the balance that's been established maybe your can tell me some statistics that say that balances out of whack what we've had I think three instances in the last maybe three in the last two sessions where extraction is been attempted and I I no one got out on I know for sure one day it up but this is something that we've talked about in the last three sessions about raising this bar. Anyone else. Senator Hester. So just to be clear if Trying to think where I'm going with this but the reality is it will make it much harder for the majority majority of the Senate if I was eighteen or nineteen and there was bills were really important to us and as we just seen through discussion it happens very rarely would make it much harder for a majority of the Senate to pass a bill that was really important to them. I think that just the definition of much three additional votes I think provides additional protection for a committee system that was where I would look at. Fair. Thanks. ET and weakness for the body. I did you have some other Senator Hester I couldn't hear that. Thank you Sir. Senator Rapert testing your hand go up and then center flowers you'll be next Senator Rapert. Senator Ingram. A stepped out for just a minute but I saw all the rule and I've heard discussion on that of. Why is it this certainly now this is something you want to do we've talked about this I think the last three sessions I don't think this is anything new Senator Rapert it's first time it's been proposed to change the no I don't think so I think we talked about doing it the did we did did we proposed in twenty fifteen it did lost but no we we've talked about this in it's strictly a policy in there they'll be people in here that of that have strong beliefs in the committee system and then they'll people that believe that you know the body should have just a simple majority to drag it out of committee I'm of the of of the the belief in the committee system and I think we can get beat it become very dangerous force if it becomes a precedent and it had been many is is we talk Senator Pitsch it's been two or three times but sometimes once that flood gates open people look at it is a way to do it but now we've had this discussion many times it's not this is not unique to to this this this session. Well I I definitely have taken positions opposing sometimes when somebody was trying to subvert a committee that we've done that our bodies handle that before and and I've I respect the committee system I just wanna make sure that the the majority of this body understands. That I don't think that this is a time that now that we have a clear majority that we will start making things harder to do business forced thank you Sir. Senator flowers. So along that line that the Senator Rapert is going down terms of now that we have a majority in. Clearly it's a. Party majority by the Republican Party of the rule that you propose. This increases the. The three fifths and three fifths equates to. How many members twenty one twenty one that's still within the frame of the majority party's numbers within the Senate that correct yes ma'am actually is less than the majority numbers. Yes ma'am. Thank you. Anyone else. Sometimes it to speak up because this plexiglass makes it hard. Senator Ballinger did you have a question. No. Are you close center. Okay. Do you have a motion as your moved to. Okay as centering on the motion we have a second. All in favor say aye. All opposed. I rule the nose and it. Okay I don't see five hands for that senator. Well let me remember doing because I want to be fair okay there's a request over on the other side of the room for a roll call I need to see five hands. Okay. I still do not see five hands so that motion the way I ruled will stand. Senator flowers you have a procedure. We your a ma'am. You're recognized start whenever you will. Thank you Mr president can I put my book on the. Voting yes yes. Of members this is a proposed up procedural change and it because of the situation that we're facing now the pandemic covert nineteen pandemic I think we're all aware of how serious this virus is. A. It can cause death you can call serious illness. It's already calls of lot a lot of a. Isolation. In our communities businesses and all. But health is important I think to all of us I know it's very important to me. when you have. Other underlying. Illnesses I'm diabetic. a person that's. Sixty seven years old. Been practicing law for thirty eight years. And I understand how important it is to have good health. This rule. And I want you to know the background this I've talked to my doctor. Note you haven't seen me a lot up here since this pandemic since March and that's because. Of the. Larry spreading. Particularly in central Arkansas. My doctor says it needs to be. Under control before we start. close any and in the end as close as we have normally been in the past. It's important he says and I understand that the CDC says. It's important to wear a mask. Socially distant. To wash our hands. things are important to me. I have a son I want to see him again and hopefully I'll see grandchildren one day and I want to see that. I don't want to be compromised with my health. I don't want to die appear for sure from some pandemic that's pre it because we fail to do simple recommended things. So what this procedural. A recommendation for your consideration is today. Clearly remains. The due to this call the. Nineteen pandemic. All the members of the Senate shall be required to wear a mask covering their nose and nostrils and mouth at all times while in the chamber. L. a I realize it doesn't put in what we did in the Legislative Council in terms of drinking are but it does deal with the part about the speaking into the Mike and I'm very willing to put in there the part about a drinking and hopefully we can do as I say all on live stream recently senator rice has now started. Sipping his drink with a straw so he slips it up under is he added there and I I appreciate seeing in that. Because it's very concerning. To see members. That take the mask all I mean we can get strolls appear and they can be in some type of a sealed the. covering the paper. Before you take it out. With this. Procedural suggestion goes on to say the senators. Are also required to wear a mask in the quiet room. In areas immediately adjacent to the Senate chamber. A senator while in the whale may remove his or her mask Los begin even if given permission from the presiding officer. And for the purposes of compliance. Because I think we need compliance we need some kind of something to say that this is serious. After the A. all seat up past the rule on the mask. Be in one at your desk. As all when I was watching online. Several members this. Didn't have a mass gonna pull it down below their G.. At at and there was no penalty in their. But this prescribes. That if any member knowingly are purposely refuses to wear a mask over his or her nose and nostrils and mouth. Such refusal shall be reported to the presiding officer. By any member receiving recognition. If the presiding officer determines that the member is in such non compliance. The presiding officer shall inform the member. That he or she shall forfeit the days per diem for the violation. Subject to approval of the Senate. For second and any additional violation a member in addition to the loss of per diem shall be excluded from the next meeting of the Senate following the violation side. I think it's important to have consequences to a non compliance with rules and procedures. We have to realize now. We will be a live stream all our proceeding to be a live stream. And when we say and try to influence. The purpose of safeguarding the health of our community our neighbors. Our children. Doctors. And the consequences that follow the healthcare profession because of somebody having contracted. This call with nineteen. When they look at us on the live stream and see us not compliant with the rules that we have in place in the procedures that we have in place and what's being prescribed. By our health officials. It just lends itself for them to say well why should we. Then all of a sudden they hear that we've got all these cases appear in the Senate or in the legislature so I'm hoping that you all will. Really consider this it's important to me. And I hope it's important to you. We never know. How this virus is going to. A tech. We don't know. What's going on we don't know how members got it appear. But it's concerning to me. But I'd ask you to support this procedural check thanks center fires Senator Rapert I see you have a question yes in center flowers I appreciate you bringing the subject there's no question and again thank members. For reaching out to me while I was dealing with this. Six days in the hospital and I'm very grateful for all of you reaching out regardless of party by the way to to encourage me I would what I'd like to ask because in flowers I'm supportive of us doing what we need to do to take care of ourselves I lost my grandfather after going to hospital and lost an extended cousin and my family just recently to go with as well and it can sometimes it attacks us an absolutely will push down unfortunately I had to more you myself. So what I was one to ask because in no way am I opposed to us trying to do what we need to do it's obvious that we've now had many members in here now the chat it up I would like you to to respectfully consider. That we there is some exceptions for somebody if they have some legitimate health exception we have seen that spoken to by rules even from the health department if there's somebody that's got to issue the somehow they they can't wear a mask all the time then we just need to make sure if there is a stated health exception there's got to be room for that I don't think that the in the first part we're all adults here and and I understand there's nobody typically in danger when somebody is standing in the well of the Senate we've already been here using masks in the well of the Senate earlier this year I don't know that we need to say if given permission by the presiding officers so that that doesn't become some kind of odd situation when you go up there thank you you're standing in the well you should be take your mask off the other thing is that in a quiet room so that again we're adults and not I would hope in a notion to flowers you wouldn't do this but goodness of somebody sitting alone in a corner with the mask off you know been talking on their phone somebody comes in snaps a picture of and tries to make some kind of weird you know attack on the integrity for summers just I just think we need to put something in there so we don't get carried away six foot rule was something is been in place you know in many places so if we could add some things that actually. Really clarifies the health directives that's out there fort I just don't want to be is vague in a couple spots the quiet room if you're sitting back there alone that's not a danger to anybody so I would just to ask you to consider that sent flowers well if I might respond to that yes ma'am. The end of the the reason I put this language I ask that it be put in here like this. This virus. Is like it's aerosol. And so as it. We really in the sciences in the health professionals. Really don't know and then you've got to consider ventilation systems how the air is trans. For. Different places. Look. It is a life or death situation to me. Actions like. And. You know. I think. Maybe we should have a role for. Allowing people and I thought we were going to have a rule I don't know or of proposed procedural change that allows for individuals to. Participate remotely. If they have a need to do it now my doctor has written a letter. And has suggested to me. That if if I think and I've been wanted online and that's the reason why I've been watching the line and not coming up here every time there's a meeting that I am a member of. Because I've been seeing things and I hate to call them out today little left out here but always sit in over there. And Flippo. He had the bottle up to with the top on it. What rank in. And that. You know this is serious stuff. We don't know how this transfers and passes through the air. I have a test last Saturday got my results Tuesday I'm negative. But it was out of concern for me around some individuals that. Had tested positive. These things are concerning to me. It. I love my family I want to see my son again. I want to see my relatives again oversee my community again. I want to see my constituents again. And I think this is important it's not for amber hopefully. Hopefully this pandemic we can get it under control but right now as my doctor has cautioned me in central Arkansas the cases have been increasing. And we gather up here. At the legislature. I mean we have to consider. People that we're going to be coming in contact with. And even though we might be spaced out six feet of beyond at different times. Still we're walking. You don't know what they're going to its knees whatever. Some people take if there is some people don't. And what I have observed. I watch in the live streaming of the meeting the peer. Clearly to me some people don't take this seriously when they have their mass down below their G. and sitting in the sink the peer. That's dangerous yes because we have these little plastic up the glass shield. Your hair your bread this deal going and circulating in this world. What we know about the ventilation system I don't know. Mister chairman is Senator I don't know if you heard me I'm I'm for what you're trying to do. I just said I wish you would be. Given with some of the other health guidelines language it I've seen of the places that's all I'm telling you so I'm trying to be for you here and by the way I do appreciate laugh I preach the funeral of my dead grandfather and I appreciate all of this we want to have good things in place. I would just appreciate though that when we do put in place that it's got the full eighty H. guidelines place for us okay so we've heard and we've been we all believe we don't understand were hit with this Senator garner. Thank Mr Mostar with a point of information if we want to speak against this procedure from the well do we wait till the questions over can be done at this time. That's just the sister to why we don't do it the session allow you to speak at the end of us okay Senator garner then I'll wait until the other questions been answered and would like to speak against that the property. Senator Ballinger. Thank you Mr center flowers M. this year will more people died from the effects of smoking or code nineteen and state of Arkansas. I don't know. Thank you. But I know that the governor has a briefing every day. I know we have a pandemic in place. I know we have been. Over a thousand dead in Arkansas due to hold it and last I heard. Hold it is the third leading calls. A death in this state. What. Okay I think he S. question you answered him so. Anybody else. I do have one if it's okay Senator the the way I read this of course we all know that the lieutenant governor that he presides over the over the Senate and I consider of course cities the president of the Senate. There's not there's nothing here that allows him to take his mask all qualities that they're presiding over it that I can tail. Because even even down here that's actually for a senator. And he says that he could give them a permission but are we gonna are we going to have something in here so that He could have some latitude. Did much the same way that I'm doing here today you know I'm I'm I don't have my mask on course work six feet apart of are we going to allow that latitude for are the ten the governor to take is off. You know if that's the will of this body. But like I said before. The unknowns about this virus. My doctor's concerned that he is conveyed to me about this virus. I take serious. A. I just. I think we should. Do everything we can. To be cautious about this we don't know as we get into the session. What's going to develop whether we gonna have more members down in. In due to this virus. You know of a I think. I mean clearly when you're in the chair with the lieutenant governor is a presiding officer sits. Eaves generally six feet wait I suppose even from up. And that the secretary's desk of so I don't have a problem necessarily with it but like I said. We're talking about this being in something that is spread in the air. And with the ventilation systems that I'm not sure about the you know you have heat and air going through out. And this virus circulates with that AIR hot air all cold. Thank you I appreciate I'd be Willin to appreciate you being open to that I know that would be at least one concert with okay address senator Irvin I believe she has a question. Just senator flowers at I also appreciate what you're doing and I read also want to thank everybody in here for their text messages and their messages of concern for me and my family as well and senator flowers would you be willing to on the first paragraph after it says a Senator wall in the well may remove his or her mask while speaking and put a period there and then add the sentence the presiding officer may remove his or her mask while speaking from the chair. Or is it that at the you know I've. Justanswer senator Hickey the the the president's. Request about the presiding officer. The end up there six feet away With the. Okay can off the mask but. The way that that Senate chambers situated. Okay the well is there we have. The employees that help us in the Senate right behind there and I guess they'll be with of. The plexiglas. All I'm saying is we don't know where this is going. We don't know how this is circulating in a room. Cried know where you got it from no I would notice center flares up that I think that the members are from what I what I think I feel I'm just trying to address consent I'm just trying to add that sentence the presiding officer may remove his or her mask while speaking from the chair at and then that you will and then the second can I agree with senator RAPERT about it might be weird for us to go to the well and asked for permission to remove the mask before we speak and I think we can all probably agree that. We we we we hear that without agreement isn't changing conditions and changes of this virus that's noted whether it's increase in in this particular body as a legislative body are in the central part of the state what we are located right I think there needs to be something in our procedural rules that say. This question is given to that presiding officer okay okay thank you that's all I'm saying and I think it's not only for our protection but the people who work for this in. Senator dismaying. Thank you Mr chairman in a in thank you senator for bringing this I do think there's some things that need to be ironed out but but I want to say this in and I would be plan on saying anything regards to this but. The common to the question of. Have more people died from smoking then coated. I have family members that have no risk of dying from smoking. And in the cuteness in that comment or whatever. That's why I'm thinking that that's why I feel compelled to support something like this. This I promise you. If I get sick from up here because someone is not acting appropriately not take it home and I get my family member sick there will be a reckoning. I expect this all to do whatever we can without being cute to protect each other. And. Those comments is what drives me to say we're going to have to have something in place because if it's not in place for. Then you do you don't get the same why do because your circumstances are different. I don't fault you because they're different I just want some respect on my side. At my request you senator flowers because I do believe there's some language in these be after social distancing I think there should be some comments if the presiding officer can present and be six feet away. Fine if that is not possible because the sector the Senate standing in in front of him or her the entire time then they should wear a mask. We shouldn't subject our staff to becoming sick. Or potentially six so if you don't mind. A Mr president if and you don't mind Senator I would love to work with you in the next few minutes and if we can circle back. And and have a final rule to present with a few minor changes again that that's if if the centers willing to do so right okay and and she will be and we've heard these comments let me let me continue on because I want to make sure that we get everything that is we need to be changed everybody's will be satisfied so we don't have to do this again and again of right now I have Senator hammer and then we'll go to come to you Senator Blake Johnson Senator hammer. You're not alone I don't think thank you Mr chair your of center flowers in ALC we adopted rules Where if we are speaking we have the ability to take down our mask and I'm thinking about that chamber and how difficult it is to hear over there even as it is before the singer put up and I'm wondering if you would give center Dismang you all can maybe consider this that whoever it is that is speaking to the bill will we have the latitude maybe to drop our masks while we are speaking of regarding asking questions because of the difficulty of hearing in the chamber that would aligned with what we do in a LC so I'm just ask you take that in consideration when you know when you all have your off time discussion. Thank you senator thank you. I'm I was fun look. This is. Oppose because we are in a pandemic. And That I don't know what else to say I mean we had a pandemic in a hundred years millions of people died. A hundred years ago. In the pandemic. We don't know where this is going. We've had members appear that have come down with this virus. To. The Senate chambers are closely. In closed. I don't feel like the shields protect me enough over the I don't feel like they protect under. I think you can hear if you speak into the microphone with your mask all. Let me go to another one if you don't mind senator of Senator Blake Johnson Europe Sir you have a question. Yes Sir You know this has a penalty of per diem our per diem is it I mean is it set by law or or proposed the procedures. Did we change per diem from time to time as a legislative body I believe. I don't know whether it's statutory. That's I tell you what will will also list that that's a great question of during his off time with senator DISMANG and others haven't seen the bill comes we will look into that Sir let me just say this when I have a suggestion we have a question for the list here we go let let me get back in control under Johnson and then I will come back to you senator flowers Johnson go ahead it's it's laudable. That the it could be if it's law all. Rather than procedure that we are given person per diem. The we can voluntarily do that to the food bank. Or give that per diem to of a good cause. If we're caught by the mask please. So this is just a thought in the process by senator DISMANG and. Senator flowers so Hey I've got that written down in a moment I will have the suggestions if that's okay just assent in just a second. Okay Senator Sturch you're a damn war against the printing and with that we're going during the off time whenever you all work and we're going to. Check on that. Senator Sturch Sir. Senate. Thank you Mr president this is just a point of order question I guess is this something that we have to adopt today or is this something that we could adopt on the first day of session. Correct. That is a good point we could adopted on the first day of the session so even if we had these changes made or whatever and it was not done I mean we've only been here two hours already where only on number three so is it something that we if they don't have time to go back today we could adopt first day's session if the senator wants to most of them to do that yes Sir thanks Sir thank you. Since. Senator garner I had said that I'd allow you to speak against but since we're not she's not closing for a bill do you want any opportunity from from your desk. See having closed so I don't think rival for against on that but that's what I was going to ask you do you want to speak from back there. Okay because it for me to have you to speak for against I think she's going to have to close close for that bill and at this point in time she's not going to close. Recognize senator garner. Senator garner Sir you're up missed present. This rule is in about. Mass. It isn't about public safety it is about health. It's about control in fear. Look at this rule this would be the most draconian restrictive a mass mandate. I've ever seen. Even the most locked down friendly. Big government. Governor's would propose something like this or if you take a drink of water. Or P. a snickers bar. What are your fill centers can go snitch to you. Or sign officer. Secondly about beer. Sir flowers I'm sorry did you have an irrational fear about this virus what I see is a room full of men and women who have been reasonably handle in this in fact the three million plus people in Arkansas. Have an operator mass mandate has multiple exceptions. Multiple different rules and how can it can't be used. And I frankly don't think that we're more special. Then the people we represent. So if we're going to draft something I suggest we go with the department of health with actual doctors who would never post up in this dramatic and we work on this a proposed on the first day of session as a committee and don't let that irrational fear drop are messed mandate this isn't a disagreement with mask I wear one when I get up when I'm sitting in this box I don't feel like it's a unsafe procedure I'm cognizant to senator DISMANG concerns I think that's fair we have older members here who need to be protected as well. But this ain't the way to do it thank you Mr so. Thank you senator garner thank you for allowing me to have you to do that from that spot. Was there anything going to be additional. I just want to briefly respond yes ma'am. One doctor. Is qualified medical doctor. He sits on the licensing board FOR. Licensing doctors in the state of Arkansas. What I'm talking about is not a rational fear is reality. The reality of a pandemic that exist. Mister president. I'd like to put this on hold. Until the first date of our open session. Okay and have time to work with senator DISMANG. A and be considered of senator rate thirds. Of request a. But something on opening day and if that's the way it's going to be it'll be the will of the body. And hopefully we'll all be safe. And that's my point. But all of us to be safe. The people that we love to be safe. We go back around them center for hours that is most definitely appropriate and we greatly appreciate you doing that this short between now and the station will come up with that of course members were going to be doing a joint rules with the house possibly that we're will have to so will combined and see how those work together Senator fires we thank you and we appreciate members all the discussion on this is a very important very important. Is there any other rules. Procedures of any sort tap the need to come before this body. Senator garner is asking me for personal provision comes back from the well which I'm going to grant that. Senator garner you're recognized. In accordance. In a call center for twenty four oh nine I Senator Trent garner A bill to radio. Have good reason believe that senator James Jim Paul Hendren of private as violate the Senate code of ethics. I am in the Senate at the committee to meet in a public forum conducted investigation. If you Senator Jim Hendren unethical behavior. The same provided provision is Jim Hendren has violated or. Twenty four point oh three doing the compliance of the law. Twenty three point oh six dash one desi with public funds. And twenty four dash oh six dash one dash E. deal with pain below fair market value. Description of the unethical behavior in part by Senator entered. Jim Hendren his role as president hinder plastics. School violated state minimum wage law for financial gain by manipulating. The labor market and scarred compliance with little. Senator Jim Hendren has a summary judgment in a court of law. Of. Presiding over the dating a and I'm going to give him he asked me for the for that if you want the same I will do it for you okay at that what I'll do it at this point Senator garner you can continue and then I will. Come to the other members same with you senator Bledsoe thank you ma'am. Thank you members I need your help right here that that this institution that we keep everything. Way that we wanted to be so we will have order in I have over in this chamber. I'm sorry you may continue thank you. There are other charges in here as well that we provided to the committee members and the committee the Senate as a whole. Finally. An ex school with the Senate at the rules the Senate making the accusation. Jill deliver a copy the petition to the accused and the secretaries Senate. Search. now the petition to Senator Jim Hendren the accused. Just give me just a minute but. The late senator garner finish she is and then I'm on a I'll come to everybody. Have you finished delivering yes Sir I just like you to come back to the well to say that you're finished. As a senator garner gets back in says he's finished I'm on a recognized for the point of information and then up possibly may have a couple other point privileges I just missed. Okay. Senator Chesterfield was that you are having a hard time hearing and see in yes it is Sir yes ma'am you said that you had a motion yes I do and what would that be ma'am I am center trying to find out Sir if we anticipate a completing the work before we adjourn are we going to adjourn for lunch how we planning on up proceedings. As the member after we get through with this right here I want to ask the members what they won't my idea is that we need to break for lunch for a bit it was never anticipated it would last this long but I want to speak with counsel on that also all right just running and I missed your thank you so much thank you ma'am. Senator Hester your desk for. Privileges that right Sir okay we got Senator Hester has requested a point of personal privilege you're recognized Sir all. The point is I hope this meeting stays in organizational topics and not such shows as we just saw. Thank you Sir. Anyone else. Senator Bledsoe. Turn yes thank you. Is it time to give some explanation to what a senator the senator has just said. And. Vilifying one of our members I have just a few at three sentences to put it in perspective ma'am I will give you the same thing. If you want to come to the well. Senate senator Bledsoe you're recognized senator. Thank you members. I've been here a long time. And this is the first time this has ever happened in my knowledge house and Senate. This is something that should never have been allowed we have the bill for a vilified one of our members without giving him a chance to explain or anything and of course this is public and I'm sure that it will make the news and it's unfair. And it's on ethical and it's very disturbing but let me just say this in Benton county we're all of this comes from that is my county and the the situation was the the the judge in Benton county who has one of the most successful drug courts add Senator Hendry to take these people that are in these drug courts and teach these young men and young women how to work and to give them a chance so that when they would when they do get to would to a court then they have something for a they have a resume they can say I worked for senator Hendren our work work to plastics Hendren plastics and I have a work record. So let her I will do that senator so let me well or. I'm not recognizing that because I didn't recognize someone else earlier so that's I'm well senator Bledsoe to continue and I will come back to you Sir because I will be fair to every member in here. Senator Bledsoe thank you yes ma'am ladies and gentleman if you've ever had people come to your business and you have to train them I mean the basics being on time and all the other things you know you lose money you don't get any money and I just want to say to you today I hope that you can disregard this. Terrible thing that has just happened now. Because it is against everything that we should believe as senators not to bring it and just slap this in the face with it thank you. So do you want to come down for another. Are you going to. This. I think this president I study the Senate ethics rule we put down in two thousand nineteen extensively and this was the process in order to start any at the complaint against a senator we discussed recently about following complaints and doing the ethical thing the only distinction I may was doing in a public forum like this right and having released only public website in other means the reason I did that is because I want to be fair and transparent to the people of Arkansas discussing the merits of the case I did not do our listed charges and accusations within the complaint now will not litigated in this form is not the proper for Senate rules the proper form is the ethics committee which will meet within ten days to have a public hearing to discuss this matter thank you. No no we're doing once of personal privilege and here's the thing I want to have some help from you all members because I'm going to allow each one of you the same leeway because I will be fair. In the RAPERT if you want to come down four point of personal privilege all well that is that what you will serve. Thank you Senator Rapert. Thank you Mr chairman yes Sir you're recognized RAPERT well I'm a member of the ethics committee our chairman this year as well and to my knowledge. We've heard nothing about this. If I'm not mistaken and I've just been reviewing the rule the rule states of a member has an allegation. They presented to the ethics committee. For ten days. In that we meet to consider whether this becomes a public issue. So are there's not any member has a right to say what they want in public that's true. But I feel. A bit ambushed is a member of the ethics committee. That we haven't had even a discussion about this. And we definitely haven't had a petition delivery may I and and even considered and and the chairman is here you can speak to that I just spoke with her and. To my knowledge none of us knew that this was about to happen. And to what senator Bledsoe said I've never seen this done. If it's a ballot allegation we're gonna we're gonna hear those things. But I'm not so sure that the rules do really require that something of this nature be presented to the ethics committee for that consideration and then ten days and so with that I don't want us to devolve into this. At all. Was handled things appropriately the way they should be handled it be fair to people that's all I would say thanks for comments Senator Rapert. Members again I need help not to continue our own not to continue rolling but I will route you got to come down we're doing points of personal privilege. Senator flowers. Yes thank you Mr president. Of. Just what I wanted to point to Rule twenty four oh nine. our rules Senate rules. As it relates to. But The governor has a come down into the way old to rant and rave about. The Senator Rapert is correct. That goes to the Senate ethics. Committee. One is initiated by petition so I would suggest that Mr president you tell senator garner. The rules. Thank you. At this point the rules at this point I'm just recognizing members. Anyone. Okay members we are going to recess for lunch for one hour so. It is now eleven thirty we will be back here at twelve thirty and then we go ahead and say Senator Irvin that can discuss this with you I would normally have done that before and we are going to skip the ethics training. At the at this point. And may put it at the end. I'm glad that you all fine and all this musing but we're going to we're going to skip that it possibly put it at the end so that we can go ahead and get all of our committees and all of that done in and we're going to figure out the rest of that I just want to members to know that that will be to schedule when we come back. Thank you. Twelve thirty. Members that's at twelve thirty I'm on extend that just a few more minutes. Then we have some that are not here but we're all going to get started I have agreed to allow sender Hendren of point of personal privilege center Hendren. Members of your employees have usually. Senator intern thank you Mr president. Well members I just wanna start especially to the new members by apologizing for the fact that this organizational meeting is turned into something that an organizational meeting is not supposed to be. And maybe I bear some of the responsibility of that I don't know I think all of us know the purpose that we gathered here today was to organize select committees so like leadership positions. And now we've got accusations about may be sent out to the media. before I'd even known about. And I will tell you those of you that have served me for awhile I thought about writing writing out a statement but you all know me I'm just going to tell you the truth. And I find out that it always works out okay if you to stick with that policy. So three years ago a. About about actually about seven or eight years ago. We were approached by the drug courts of northwest Arkansas which is Senator Bledsoe said one of the most successful program to prison diversion that we've seen I've been to the graduations I spoke at the graduations and I've heard young person after young person talk about the fact that these programs change their lives. Instead of going to prison and learn how to be professional criminals they were given rehabilitative services. And able to kick their addiction. So I was aware of the program that I was approached by the program say these programs are primarily funded by partnerships with private industry. Several companies in and this is not just unique Arkansas this this litigation the reason we're appealing literally affects all rehab programs across the country. several other companies the were sued for the exact same things of Arkansas and Oklahoma companies. I'm not gonna related Kate case because it is still currently being litigated the eighth circuit court of appeals and I feel comfortable in comp confident. We hit the the justice will prevail because that's what I consider to be is justice because the fact is here's this here's the story you can read what allegations there are you can even read what occur attorney says stipulated in court filings but here's the truth and you can either believe me as somebody that you know or not. When I was asked to help. Those kids get an opportunity at rehabilitation and learning good work force training versus prison. I conferred with the judge to make sure that comply with all fate state and federal law which I was assured that it did and I agree to participate. Because the long shore this is from a political standpoint I've seen the impact that this program has and I still believe helping those kids is better than walking a. But I also know. What we have right now without these programs is a system where that kids who can afford it kids who have financial resources to present to the court a plan that they'll be rehabilitation they have access to those services bit kids who don't. Don't. And the way that problem has been solved in many states is by partnering with private industry to allow them to help cover the cost. There's allegations made that we profited from this absolutely not the truth every hour that was worked was paid more than minimum wage including overtime hours that's an undisputed fact. the fact is. What we see here is outside of so far outside of the scope of what we should be doing today but it's been made part of this presentation this meeting which again I think is a dismal way to start our ninety third General Assembly. But I'm not gonna go out and let allegations go without feeling like I need to respond an expert at least tell my colleagues the facts and then you can do with them what you will. My advice my intention here was to help. Kids get a second chance. I don't apologize for that and regardless of how this lawsuit turns out of regardless of how this nonsense that we're doing today turns out. I'm not gonna apologize because I felt like I was doing the right thing. And again as I told you to beginning to me if you try to do the right thing you tell the truth. Sometimes you gonna make some people mad and to be honest you that may be part the reason I'm here today is because you all know me I I tell the truth and some people don't like it. but the fact is that's the truth and it's it's so out of line that it be part of what we're doing here today what my choice to to allow it or to make it part of this and again I as I said before I apologize that this incredible diversion for whatever reason. As distracted us from doing what we need today thank you. Okay I'm not accept anymore purposes Senator Wallace you were going to come forward I'd agree to allow you to do to do something. Yes Sir. Members. It saddens me that I'm here today to discuss this matter we should be talking about committees everything else but here the faxes I know them. This occurred. Three years ago. The trial was six months ago. At a minimum. With its six months. For allocation. A request for ethics investigation to come forward. Why now of all days. It is my understanding. That either eighteen. Or perhaps no more than twenty four senators. Can vote to have this. Charter request. This Mrs frivolous and I'm making that motion at this time. Okay let let let me say this. Hope. To recognize that motion senator this is what I say. I say that you hear what Senator Wallace said. I'm not going to accept that the motions coming from him I want to say that I'm making the same motion. As a pro tem of the ninety third General Assembly so that will be my motion if that's okay with you Senator Wallace yes Sir person thank you do I have a second. All in favor say aye I. Motion carries. Senator Ingram if you don't mind Sir I don't any more personal privileges right now we're about to go into to select committees. Thank you. Okay members. Let's get back to what we're supposed to be we our own. We're gonna skip over for the moment probably come back to we're going to come back to it at the end. And we're going to right now it's announcement of our majority in. Majority leaders of our Majority Leader for the ninety third General Assembly is going to be senator Flippo Senator Flippo if you'd stand up. Thank you Sir. Minority leader senator Ingram centering road you stand up. Majority whip Senator Pitsch. Minority whip Senator Teague he's on the screen so everybody would please welcome these leader for the ninety third General Assembly. Okay we also have a new members that are going to be coming in last night at our dinner we also drew for their seniority we have senator Charles back on Senator Charles Baker would you stand up Sir your number thirty two we welcome you. Senator Dan Sullivan center a leg these are currently in the house of representatives of your number thirty three Senator Clarke Tucker. Welcome. We're glad to have you your number thirty four Senator been Gilmore. Yes Sir Mr Gilmour Senator Gilmour your number thirty five. Everybody would please give the member the hand. Okay at this time members are going to go into go in for a joint budget. By joint budget meeting as you all know those Already drawn by your seniority I'm all that ms Cornwell she's going to read those. But pages that in their books. Hi Pat. Behind tab five. Ted five that you joint budget committee. First congressional district. Senator Irving senator Caldwell. Senator Ingram Senator Flippo. Senator Blake Johnson in center Wallace. Alternate. Is Senator hill. Second district Senator Elliot center Chesterfield. Senator DISMANG senator English Senator John mark Johnson Senator hammer. And senator Tucker is alternate. Third district center Hendren Senator Hester center eaves Senator Davis center Ballenger center leading and senator page is alternate. Fourth congressional district senator Teague center flowers Senator sample Senator Clark Senator Stubblefield Senator Hickey by senator rice's alternate. Okay members is what we would normally go into a back room you to do this with just those members If this is going to be contested then then we're going to do that because we'll have to do it would just the members of joint budget so at this time we're the nominations for joint budget the chair by joint budget. Okay we have both senator DISMANG has been nominated. I have a second. Any other nominations. Any other motions. I have a motion that we have a motion that nominations state ceases that second. Okay. Everybody is in favor of the Senator Jonathan Dismang better joint budget chair if you'd indicate by saying aye. Any oppose. Congratulations senator okay at this time we also have to select the vice chair of joint budget do I have nomination for that. Okay I have. I have one one nomination for Senator bart Hester. Senator Dave Wallace is another one at this point the members of the joint budget or going to go over to big mac B. and we'll figure out how we're going to do this election are there any others besides those two. Hold on just a moment. Please members. Senator Hester has withdrawal itself from that to nomination so that leaves Senator Wallace. I'm last one more time if there any other nominations for for a joint budget of the ninety third General Assembly buys. Dear I read a motion the nomination cities to have a second on that. Okay. All in favor of Senator Wallace being the vice chair of joint budget for the ninety third General Assembly studies indicate by saying aye. Any oppose hearing none congradulations Senator Wallace. Okay members at this time we are going to move to operational caucus meetings to select members of the White Legislative Council legislative joint auditing as you know we do that by congressional district. If you're in district one you need to go into the I. T. training room and I understand if you don't know where that's at we're going to have. Staff to help you district two is going to be big mac conference room district three four four meeting room district four is big mac B. before you leave. Welp we change that district one is big mac B.. I need it back in. District to is that the training room. I will have staff to point that out. District three is big macs conference room district for. Is the fourth floor meeting room. Members also want to remind everyone that as you know there ex officio members that sit on these and I would hope that if you're an ex officio member on that that you would allow that to stay open for another member someone other were and if anybody has any questions on that once they get in there thank you with the Mister Steve cook and it and it works but members please help me here as we know this is not been a very fun meeting but I need your help as I rely upon you all center for hours. I can't hear you ma'am if you'll do we have anybody here to turn the microphone. Thank you Mr. I still can't hear you. hit request. Okay thank you letters yes ma'am thank you Mr president in so much is my colleague senator Teague is in the fourth congressional district caucus and he's on his own how will he participate I will get on the phone with him because I'm also in the fourth congressional district thank you and I wanted to know what is the fourth floor meeting room again we're live staff to to to point that out okay. Any other questions before we leave. Okay we had of a RAPERT yes Sir yes thank you Mr chair and you did a great job on the circumstances I just wanna make sure we don't have you more confusion I've I don't think I heard clear bit past chairs avail see past years of audit or by virtue of that role or members voting members of all those committees correct. That well that Mr could be to this. When when you break into your caucus. Of. There there are I think ten twelve ex officio spots the driver under medically on the. as members of council. So you would not you would not. Fill in those when you turn in those four shots don't your name I want those four slots if you in fact are going to be an official member so just make sure we sometimes have some confusion about that so to make sure that sent to do it is the that in this circumstance those ex officio voting members of those absolute right and thank you for clarifying so will get in there and ask questions thank yes. Anything else Marty Garrity will direct John down to the downstairs the fourth floor meeting room thank you. I thank you ninety. First district. Irving. On this marker. Like Johnson. Like Johnson Wallace hill. Alternates are Sturch and Solomon. Second district. Elliott Chesterfield English. It's gonna be mark Johnson. All hammer and Tucker. Third district. Hester eaves Davis Ballenger. Alternates Greg leading. Fourth district flowers sample Clark rice. Please. Okay members if you if you see we've got a committee selection time I want out to so right now we're going to go down to be and we're gonna select a chair and by last year for Legislative Council for. So with that I'm open up nominations for chair of Legislative Council. Okay we have Terry rice is been nominate senator rice been nominated. Okay are there any other nominations. I have a motion to seize nominations to have a second. We have a second all in favor say aye. Any oppose. Graduation senator rice. Okay now we're going to do the vice chair for Legislative Council open up for nominations. Senator Clark you have nomination. Senator Missy Irvin Senator Missy Irvin. We have a second. Are there any other nominations. I have a motion the nominations will cease sent. So we got a motion and a second for that all in favor of a Senator Missy Irvin to be vice chair of Legislative Council say aye. Any oppose. Congratulations Senator Irvin. Okay now ms Cornwell if you would please announce the members of the legislative joint auditing. First district. Sturch Sullivan Irvine and Ingram. Alternates are Flippo. Like Johnson Wallace and he'll. Second district. Hammer Clark Elliott Chesterfield. Alternates Dismang English and mark Johnson. Okay we have a issue with which the racial district is that. We have. Congressional district one if you would please follow up center Caldwell. And Senate you all get back then we will See how your members are and. Well that's a good that's a good point yes the arrive ms Cornwell if you would please go ahead and the house the other one so if there's a mistake there or something needs to be corrected we can do that. Third district leading page Bledsoe Hendren. Alternates A Ballenger Hester eaves and date. Fourth district. Stubblefield garner Gilmore Beckham alternates Teague and flowers. Okay. The members within that district is that the way you all understood it okay okay we'll wait on the other just send Irvin. Okay that's the reason we're doing this is in no no problem. Okay ms Cornwell. First can rest and correctional district will be Caldwell Sturch Irving and Ingram. Alternates. Like Johnson Flippo Wallace and he'll. buddy okay with that selection. Senator Irvin. Correct if you if you all don't mind want to go back there to the raven this might make a hundred percent sure we have it right there's no hurry members this is a vast importance of. Okay members I believe we have land out. Ms Cornwell members if you don't mind if you take your seats. We'll try to get get rolling was to get the standing committees and epics along with a few other housekeeping items ms Cornwell first congressional district for join audit. Caldwell Sturch. Sullivan Ingram. Alternates Flippo. Like Johnson Wallace and he'll. Okay members. I think we're all good with that one at this time I'm open up nominations for chair. Of legislative joint called. Senator Irvin has nominated senator Ron Caldwell for and I have a second are there any other nominations. I have a motion from Senator Rapert the nominations with cities second from senator Flippo. All in favor senator Caldwell to be the chair of legislative audit. You say I. He opposed. Regulations and your call will. Now we're gonna see we're going to select the vice chair of legislative audit. The nation's senator. The pope. We have Senator Stubblefield to serve as vice chair of legislative audit. We have a second. Are there other nominations. Got a motion nomination cities. I have a second I have a second. All in favor that Senator Gary Stubblefield will be the vice chair of legislative votive legislative joint auditing please say aye. Any oppose. Graduation Senator Stubblefield. Okay this time members we're going to be known number eight of our agenda which is going to be the committee selection for a B. and C. and I am turning that over to. ms Cornwell in Mister cook. I'm actually going to go to mass the until I'm needed. Hi this is this is kind of a history let history lesson and that that I think that I'm that I'm very proud of the part of the the Senate since nineteen ninety one. before ninety one the Senate met behind closed doors. and We had a the chairman of the committee on committees and he told everybody what they're they're committees were and there it was in nineteen ninety one things changed and we brought this to the floor to the public to see. And made it very democratic with a little daisy and you go right down the line by seniority the motion to senior member picks first and all the way down to the to the to the leasing you member depicts number thirty five and then we start the rotation all over again. Again if you're a member of the majority party when you choose you can choose a chairmanship. If. The Democrats can have no more than three on one committee. You can't. Class would you pick the second time around if you pick up a committee the first time you've got to pick A. B. committee or the city committee the second the second time. Democrats can. The vice chairs that this. But I think that's. The reading. Hello we're gonna try to go real slow. Sure. The bridge. Also we have by senator leading will make center Teague's choices Senator Elliot will do to senator Chesterfield. And center Hendren will the senator Hester's. Did you say so but I was going to make by a bump started form. Yeah okay so we can hear you can you say the boards to the email come three then for you can say the. So you don't need leading choices now. It down okay. He's from my concern okay so. That was the worst Arkansas thank you. Seven question are. The chair of the public hill. Okay Senator Bledsoe has chosen chair of public health. Senator Elliot. Senator Elliot vice chair of education. Eight. Last year of insurance and commerce. Teague vice chair insurance and commerce. Chesterfield. Senator Chesterfield member of education. There's one exception. This. Thank you do you have the eraser. Well. The blood the blood is the mark with with the board. Didn't show up. In in Chesterfield a member. You ready I am ready selection RAPERT. RAPERT chair of state agencies. Flowers. Flowers vice chair judiciary. Irvine. Serving. A okay. Twenty. Irving chair of education. This mine. This mine vice chair revenue and tax. Sample. Sample chair of revenue and tax. Caldwell. Caldwell chair. Of Agra. Senator English. Chief. English member of state agencies. House of. Council and all. Senate committees in regard to the church so Major. Why. Hi my with all the change. Is Senator Clark. Dear Mr sent Clark chair judiciary. Ingram. Ingram member insurance and commerce. Hendren. Hendren chair insurance and commerce. Stubblefield. Stubblefield chair city county local. Hickey. ACT. Hickey member of revenue and tax. Hester. Senator Hester's. Aid agencies. Senator Hester. State state agencies. Member state agencies. Yes the chair is available. Vice chair is available. I'll take that kind. Hester vice chair of state agencies. Correct. Make sure you can be vice chair thank you house. Chair. Okay sure come here. So that's correct I just want to be a member there is going to be a member. Hester member a state agencies. Flippo. Flippo vice chair public health. Rice. Rice vice chair city county local. Like Johnson. Or. Your. Senator Blake Johnson chair transportation technology and legislative affairs. Garner. State agency. Garner vice chair state agencies. Eight. Eight member of education. Wallace. Public health. Wallace member of public health. Davis. Davis member state agencies. Hill. Come. Hale vice chair of Agra. Ballenger. Ballenger member state agencies. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson member revenue and tax. Leading. Leading member of education. Sturch. Sturch member of education. Page here transportation page vice chair transportation. Hammer. Public health. Hammer member A public health. Back on. Twenty five. Okay. Beckham member of education. Solomon. Okay. Sullivan. Member public health. Tucker. State agencies Tucker member state agencies. Gilmore. Gilmore member public health. Okay now we're going to start over in seniority if you're on a you can only take a baby or city. And if you're on a baby you can only taken a or C.. Right so. But some. Member of state agencies that it feels that state agencies. Elliott. Insurance and commerce Eliot member insurance and commerce. T. rent. Revenue and tax Taig member revenue and tax. Chesterfield. So. Thank you can choose a CD right. Well G. D. B. or C. transportation. Chesterfield member transportation. RAPERT. Section. RAPERT member revenue and tax. Flowers. Flowers member city county local. Irvine. Irvin member insurance and commerce. This mine. This mine member insurance and commerce. Sample. Sample member of Agra. Caldwell. Caldwell member revenue and tax. English. English member of education and it feels education. Clark. Clark member city county local. Ingram. Ingram member of revenue and tax. And that feels revenue and tax. Hendren. Hendren member judiciary. Stubblefield. Stubblefield member of judiciary. Hickey. Hickey member of insurance and commerce. Hester. Judiciary. Hey Gerry member of judiciary. Actually wait hello. Hey Mister layer yes Sir. As a I would take public health. Hester member of public health. Let. Flippo member city county. Rice. Rice member of the Judiciary. Like Johnson. Like Johnson member judiciary. Garner. What to do. Garner member a judiciary. Eight. Eight. Member transportation. Wallace. Wallace member of Agra. Davis. Davis member of public health and that closes public health. Hill. Hill member of transportation. Ballenger. Judiciary. Ballenger. Member a judiciary. And that closes judiciary. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson. Member city county local. Leading. A leading member of and grant. Sturch. Sturch member of Agra. Page. One left. Page insurance and commerce and now that is filled. Hammer. Hammer city county local. Back on. Beckham member A background. Sullivan. Sullivan. Member of city county local and that closes city county local. Tucker. The. Tucker member transportation. Gilmore. Gilmore member of background and that closes and grab. So the pro tem will have a two appointments both to transportation. Now we're gonna do this a joint committees and the select committees. Members. Shares of. What. Your. Sorry your select. Eighty six. Your. Is the. One hundred. We will go straight the same. Like we don't. Senator Bledsoe. Senator Bledsoe member or to our chair. Vice chair rules. Yeah on your. She's a member on rules. By members Speaker public education. Elliott. Elliott. Joint retirement. A member or vice chair. Thank you all know you can't you can't that okay Elliott member of retirement. Eight. Read as. Retirement. Teague. Retirement three member of retirement. Okay go into her. That you just you just got better Teague did retirement. Retirement. Chesterfield. Chesterfield bash chair retirement. Right RAPERT member of retirement. Flowers. Flowers member of energy. Irvine. Rob do the marks. Which is. In Irvine member of rules. This mine. Which they were. This mine member efficiency. Sample. Sample member of retirement. Caldwell. Caldwell member of rules. English. English chair of joint performance review. Okay. Clark. Clark member joint performance review. Ingram. Ingram member. Joint retirement. The bill or. That's right he would be the fourth he would be the fourth Democrat there's the rule upon the three Democrats to be on. That's and I'm standing committees. Ingram member. Retirement services carry. Hendren. We are. Hendren member J. PR. Stubblefield. Stubblefield member of rules. Hickey. Hickey member J. P. R.. Hester. Hester. Hester chair of efficiency. Flippo. Flippo vice chair J. PR. He's a member J. P. R.. Rice. Rice member J. P. R.. Like Johnson. Like Johnson member JTR. Garner. Garner member of rules. Eight. Eaves chair for rules. Wallace. Here in the. Wallace chair children and youth. Davis. Davis vice chair efficiency. Hill. Hill. Member of rules. Ballenger. Ballenger. Chair of which one. A joint energy. I mark Johnson. Mark Johnson vice chair joint energy. Leading. I can't do this. You want to be a member. Member retired member of retirement. Leading. Sturch. Sturch vice chair of rules. Page. Page member of efficiency. Hammer. There. Hammer chair of retirement services Cutie. Back on. Beckham vice chair J. P. R.. Sullivan. The. Someone member JTR. Tucker. Tucker vice chair children and youth. Gilmore. Gilmore member JP are and that is closed. Thanks. Then let fell member of the fish. She's on the. Select yeah yeah. Bledsoe member children and youth. Eliot. Elliott. Member of efficiency. Eight. Agency. T. member of efficiency. Chesterfield. Chesterfield member a fission see. Right for. The mobile. The local number join. Room RAPERT member rules. Flowers. Flowers member of rules and that closes rules. Irvine. Irving member of retirement. Dismang. This is mine member children and youth. Sample. Sample member of efficiency. Caldwell. What is. Energy. So. Caldwell member of energy. English. English member of efficiency. Clark. Clark member children and youth. Ingram. Ingram member of efficiency. Now fission sees called closed. Hendren. Hendren member children youth. Stubblefield. Seven field member of energy. Hickey. Our. Hickey member of retirement and that causes retirement. Hester. Hester member of children and youth. Flippo energy. Flippo. Member of energy. Rice. Rice member of energy. Like Johnson. Like Johnson member of energy. Garner. Garner. Member of energy. Eight. Eight. Member of energy and that causes energy. Wallace. I don't know he can. He's chairing. The bill now okay because these chairman on this is open Davis. He couldn't he's he's already chairing. Well the only thing we have opens Germany's yeah yeah because these chairing. The CI sharing. Davis. George hill. Hill passes. Ballenger. Ballenger children and youth. Mark Johnson. It's. What is your. Keep. Okay Senator Johnson passes leading. Leading children and youth. So all the committees are filled. Okay now if you will open up to tab nine. That's the Senate chamber. We've got four empty six as we go down the seniority let me know if you want to stay or made you cannot kick anyone out of the state but you can move to open one and then if flops around. Okay. We have three seats on the left side of the chamber opened in one seat on the right side right now. What you want. Twenty one. Okay alright so do you want to stay your move. Blood cell studies. Elliott. Eliot studies. Teague. Okay Teague states. Chesterfield. Chesterfield studies. Right per day. RAPERT studies. Flowers. Flowers stays. Irvine. Irvin stays. This mine. Dismang stays. Sample. Sample studies. Caldwell. Caldwell stays. English. English studies Clark. The. Clark stays Ingram. Ingram studies Hendren. Hendren studies Stubblefield. Stubblefield states. Hickey. Very Hickey studies. Hester. Hester. I thank you Stein he's by Hester studies. Flippo. Flippo stays. Rice. Rice state. Like Johnson. Blake Johnson state. Garner. Garner stays. Eight. Eight thanks. Wallace. Wallace stays Davis. Davis stays. Hill. Hill stays. Ballenger. Ballenger stays. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson studies leading. Leading stays Sturch. Sturch states page. For. Hi armed. Page. Is moving between. Like Johnson and Sturch so that opens up his seat. Cell mark his name out where he Wallace. Senate opens that see. Hammer. On the far left. Hammer is moving to the in this state on his right. If the vacancy. So now his fate is open. We've got three in a row that are open. Back on. Beckham's moving next to hammer. Sullivan mark Johnson. Kate Caldwell is moving between. Caldwell and mark Johnson. Sullivan. Tucker. Tucker will be next to senator Elliott. And that leaves Gilmore between Beckham intact and that feels the chamber. Okay. You have to go to. I have ten. These are the offices. Hickey will go on the pro tem office on your first page. Right now we have open seats. On the third page. Two seventy four F. is open. Next page two oh five eighty is open that was Malick's. On the fourth floor. We have four hundred which was Cooper's office is open for to. Hickey for for. And it's all open ones and by tradition the pro tem gets to choose where he wants to move first. Sir. Your Malick's. Yes Sir. Senator Hickey I mean center Hendren is going to move into. Two out of five eighty. That was Malagasy. Okay now we got down. And see if anyone wants to move or stay. If you all got Hickey moved pro tem office and Hendren to to five a. Okay Senator Bledsoe you mover stay. Bledsoe stays. Elliott. Eliot stay. T.. The size. Okay. Senator Teague studies is that correct shake your head okay. Chesterfield. Chesterfield stays. Right for. RAPERT stays flowers. Flowers stays Irving. Irvin stays Dismang. Dismang stays. Sample. Sample studies Caldwell. Caldwell moves to for over. For which ones Cooper's. Now we one coopers it was Hickey I'm sorry Caldwell. So now that opens all. Four oh five. English. English studies. Clark. The bill. Clark St he's. Ingram. Ingram stays. Hendren has already chosen he is. Double fail. Stubblefield. Bills moving in the four or five is that. All Stubblefield stays. Hickey is in the pro tem office Hester. And I believe he. These days some Flippo. For. Cheatham serve was some. On the second floor. And you want to go in there okay. Arkansas. Flippo is moving to two seventy four F.. And he's moving out of. Four oh seven some now it is open. Rice. Rice studies. Like Johnson. Like Johnson stays. Garner. Garner studies. Eight. Eight states Wallace Wallace stays Davis. Hard. Davis price. Hill. Hill studies Ballenger. Flowers Ballenger stays. I mark Johnson. I mark Johnson stays leading. Leading gonna move to four oh seven. And that opens up for twelve. Sturch. Sturch moves to four oh five. And that opens up for one. Page. Page status. Hammer dates hammer stays. Beckham. You can choose. Four hundred. Sullivan. No Sir. Four four one in four oh two and four twelve four open. Someone goes to four oh one. Tucker. Tucker for twelve. Gilmore you will get for to. And that should fill up all offices. Now tap eleven. It's parking. Okay. Hickey will go to the pro tem spot. That will open up his slot where he Wallace which was. Number seventeen so that one's opened also. Do you see the open once on the charts okay. BladeCenter. Bledsoe stays Elliott. Elliott state. Teague. Are we doing parking yes Sir. Do you want a twenty you had mentioned wanting to be closer to the tunnel. Sir but no one twenty is open closer to the tunnel the more you are right now you had mentioned layout. You want to move. You gonna move. Yes okay he is going into twenty. And that opens up number three. Chesterfield. Chesterfield stays RAPERT. RAPERT stays flowers. Flowers stays Irvin. Irvin stays Dismang. Dismang studies sample. Sample studies. Well. Or moves to seventeen. And that will open up. Number ten on the circle going around. English. English studies. Clark. This. Thirteen is open three is open. You want three. Three three nineteen. And twenty seven. Three is thanks to the sidewalk going at south the in. Clark moves to three. And that opens up number twelve on adults are. Ingram. Ingram stays. Hendren. Thirteen is open. Hendren thirteen. Stubblefield. Stubblefield stays thank you for the pro tem spot. Hester. And I believe he said he was staying is that correct. Hester Stang. Flippo. That it Flippo stays rice. Rice stays like Johnson. Like Johnson stays garner. Garner stays eaves. Eight stay. Wallace. Wallace stays Davis. Davis stays hill. The the. Nineteen. We find that thing again. Okay he'll most to nineteen. And that opens up twenty nine. Ballenger. All right now number twenty nine as a viable. In the outer circle in the circle. Twenty ninth available tends available. Twelve so available. Twenty seventh available. Ballenger moves to twelve. And that opens up we will see. Was Ballenger to send. Ellie is. Or. Ballinger where were you sitting I mean were you parking. Ward center. Thirty one. Looking for is ninety. Our on the side okay. Okay. Now thirty is open. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson is moving to twenty nine. And that opens up. Thirty one. Leading. Leading stays Sturch. Thirty. Thirty thirty okay a Sturch is moving to thirty. And that opens up. Thirty three. Thirty three is made out once law. Okay. Page. Of all the or. For. Our kind page will go in thirty three. And that opens at thirty four. Hammer. Hammer stays. Beckham. Which one three nine. Clark. You have thirty one. You want thirty one okay Beckham takes thirty one. Sullivan. Hi ten is open. And. To tell the members ethics. So I'm trying to leave will need but in the in kind. I want to remind you all that we will have the short ethics presentation from senator Irving centers we're just about three. Sullivan. If you were. You want thirty four Sullivan. Trying. Thirty four Sullivan. Tucker. The one. Ten is open and. Let me step in here yeah members this ethics training is whatever you all pass the statute it requires. Senate rules to me the Senate rules require you to be to do the training so I know there's members asking about that but that is something we're would finish today so everybody needs to stay around thank you. Tucker. Ten. Okay. Senate Tucker takes ten. And then Gilmore will get the last open spot. Which is what. First one so far. Fifteenth property. Twenty seven. Gilmore your in twenty seven. Okay that completes all the parking. Well Tucker. Thirteen in. Gilmore took twenty seven. Sullivan two forty four. The. The Senator Irvin still here. Real quickly we showed you the coins less not you saw how good they look you need to get your orders into a end of is quickly as possible today would be good of if you just want to order what you ordered last year don't raise your hand. Thank you. Yes. Okay I'm a call the roll and see who's here for the ethics training because we will have to have this recorded. Ballenger. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Clark. Davis. This mine. This mine. Eight. Elliott. English. Flippo flowers. Garner. Garner. Get. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey there. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Like Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leading. Leading. Is the here. He needs to come in a sum not to go get in. Leading. Page right for. Okay RAPERT on is why alcon. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sullivan. Taig. H. remote. Tucker. Wallace. Wallace is over there okay. Is he did. I don't have Hester Dismang. Senate got to access. Not that voting. Letting. Okay members if I could have your attention I'll do this as quickly as I possibly can but first off I want to thank senator Hendren for allowing me to be in this position and I want to also thank the members of the ethics committee if you are on the committee if you can raise your hands I think we just need to thank them four of the rules that we have so I just appreciate them senator bond was on that committee with me as well and I know he's not with us but I do appreciate he had a lot of input with this as well and I appreciated his legal mind that from that perspective the goal today is to briefly walk through the sections of Senate rule twenty four this is new for some of you and you haven't had time to digest this and read this but I just wanted to introduce this rule to you today and provide this course which is per hour rule requirement that we actually have a of course so if you'll turn to tab three under Senate rules and I'm gonna go through the slides they're not gonna be on your power point that if you'll just walk through there quickly First pages second page is just again about our perspective and it's people's perspective of the Senate and the core values and and this is generally the core values that you'll find in any type of ethics training whether it's in a corporation a business or the military and so a lot of this was derived from that type of an issue the second side at the goal values again that's really from and a military standard of ethics which I think is a good thing to go by is our armed services and turn the page and if you will this is what we're gonna do today we're going to review treat rule twenty four we're going to look at the forms and then have next at some questions and answers so section by section twenty four point oh one to twenty four point of five you see that there I'm not going to read it for you you can find that and there's a copy of the rule after this at least five presentation. At twenty four oh six prohibited conduct and conflicts of interest covers those a confluence of financial interest business transactions professional activity or obligations that our is substantial conflict with the proper discharge of duties in the public interest and then section twenty four point as six talks about our disclosures in the process of disclosure and Senate chambers disclosure in committee during a legislative session disclosure during the interim and we have a form for that you'll find on the next page the next page disclosures communicated verbally or in writing you have an option to either do either or and if you do it in writing the Senate disclosure report is found on the next slide at twenty four point at six in the rule turn the page next page twenty four point eight six other prohibited action A you'll see there what is part of this rule and then the next one is the Senate financial disclosure form that's also included on the next page it's due by January thirty first of each year and covers the preceding calendar year. And turn the page that's a copy of your disclosure form and next is the Senate ethics committee the stop motion and of that that allegations of violations in the process of the hearing a procedure penalties and and and and and eligibility to retain office is twenty four point ten to twenty four point twelve next sections twenty four point three to fifteen as per year as or frivolous accusations annual at the exit knowledge mint and then this legislative ethics course the following page is just a few things of trying to make you understand what the ethics training is and what the ethics rule is for and why it's in place and I provided this could verses should when making an ethical decision you should ask yourself two questions to the ethics rules permit me to take the proposed action so may I do this and and if so should I take that action with my action create an appearance I am less than fair or impartial or because a reasonable person intent to question the integrity of the state's business or of the stewardship of the office of I hold so may I and should I and again I I took this from the ethics Training from the military that straight from the military and next steps if you're in this room and that's what we call the roll then you have completed your ethics training if you're not in the room and then you'll have to do this act X. training with me at some point in the future the hard copies of the financial disclosure form can be picked up by and Sabrina on Monday November sixteenth electronic copies will also be emailed to you both in word and PDF fillable form so you can do it first online and miss Llewellyn and it's going all have the ability to do that and provided that new for us this year you'll receive reminders from them. To help ensure that all of your forms are submitted you can also contact them if you want to look at what you did last year to help guide to they have that on record you need to complete the Senate financial disclosure form by Sunday January thirty first and submit the form to Ann Cornwell or Sabrina Llewellyn And as well as the annual ethics acknowledgement form as the same and then if you turn the page there's and a bigger copy of the financial disclosure form and what that looks like so you can go through that and then the ethics acknowledgement form is also in your binder and then after the that form is the rule itself of course we will have in addition to this which was what we passed by senator Hendren and just to know there's I mean that that that is actually to amend Senate ethics rule twenty four point as six there was a type of their and to add the following new language so that will be found under the language and the new rule book. That's it. Yes question and answer time. No problem. Yes I'm if you will turn on your Senate rule twenty four point oh nine if you look at page. I'm sorry twelve twenty four point twelve and it's on page. Page twelve that's what. It's on page twelve. And There that allegations of violations is will be found on page twelve which is under twenty four point nine. Any other questions. Why am I you can I can read it to you are you can read it yourself and trying to go fast all right. Any other questions thank you thank you for let me service thanks committee chairman yes Sir. Yes thank you. Okay members any other any other business whatsoever. Be sure. The cost of one. Do not have a. Okay last employees from the wrong delivery truck will get those should we get on will notify you. And also the so the Senate colons anything else I appreciate you all members and you all try to have a good weekend we're adjourned. All the mask members a we do have. Where they get these we've got if you want to cut. Anyway remember to go by of our units brings office we they've ordered you mask of so if you would be sure to go by and pick those up. We are turned thank you. This.