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JBC-Special Language

March 18, 2025 ·9:00 AM ·Room A, MAC ·36:56
Video Transcript 3 documents

Bills discussed (16)
Bill Title Sponsor Status
HB1127 Act 543 · 3 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…tions - Division of Correction (DJC018) - Senator Hickey 7. HB1127 - Dept. of Education - Arkansas State Library - (KMW042) -…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - ARKANSAS STATE LIBRARY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1127 is now Act 543
HB1202 Act 1006 · 3 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…mendments referred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. HB1202 - Department of Finance and Administration - Disbursing Off…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1202 is now Act 1006
SB184 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…e got a big problem. As many of you know, um, I had a bill, Senate Bill 184, that would have removed the state library board and the AE…”
 TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION COMMISSION AND THE STATE … D. Sullivan Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
HB1389 Act 547 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…n of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health - Senator Payton 3. HB1389 - DHS - Division of Developmental Disabilities - Jonesboro…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES - … Ladyman Notification that HB1389 is now Act 547
HB1577 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…al Disabilities - Jonesboro HDC - Representative Ladyman 4. HB1577 - Department of Commerce - Insurance Department - Represent…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT - GRANTS FOR PERPETUAL … Crawford Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
HB1635 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…n of Elementary and Secondary Education - Senator Hammer 8. HB1635 - DFA- Disbursing Officer - Grant for Teaching Veterinarian…”
 AN ACT FOR A GRANT FOR AN ARKANSAS TEACHING VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL AT THE LITTLE ROCK … McCullough Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB106 Act 898 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…n - Disbursing Officer (JAP016) - Representative Collins 2. SB106 - Department of Agriculture (BSS023) - Senator Irvin 3. SB8…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB106 is now Act 898
SB130 Act 534 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ate Parks and Tourism Divisions (WFP019) - Senator Irvin 4. SB130 - Arkansas State University - Senator Dismang (HAR051) 5. H…”
 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB130 is now Act 534
SB201 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ent - Division of Environmental Quality - Senator Payton 2. SB201 - DHS - Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health - Se…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … J. Payton Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB354 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…overnor's Letter #13 - DFA - Disbursing Officer (JAP021) 6. SB354 - Department of Corrections - Division of Correction (DJC01…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT CAPITAL … J. Dismang Died on the Senate Budget Calendar Having Failed …
SB359 Act 613 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ommerce - Insurance Department - Representative Crawford 5. SB359 - Dept. of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OUT-OF-SCHOOL … J. Petty Notification that SB359 is now Act 613
SB360 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…on of Elementary and Secondary Education - Senator Petty 6. SB360 - Dept. of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OUT-OF-SCHOOL … J. Petty Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB362 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…on of Elementary and Secondary Education - Senator Petty 7. SB362 - Dept. of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION YOUTH … K. Hammer Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment.
SB372 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “I've got it right here on Senate Bill 372. The judge had many things that appropriateness, we need to…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SIGNAL LEGEND OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES; AND TO ALLOW … A. Clark Died on Senate Calendar at Sine Die adjournment.
SB8 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. SB8 - Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Enviro…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SUPPLEMENTAL … J. Payton Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB81 Act 897 · 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…106 - Department of Agriculture (BSS023) - Senator Irvin 3. SB81 - Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB81 is now Act 897

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October 2, 2026
Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 2:36
Yeah Morninger sees a quorum, everybody could get to their seats. We'll go ahead and get started this morning. So here I don't see him yet. Uh, members, before we get started, uh, if I could have everyone's attention, I want to remind members of the committee of, of a few things, uh, specifically around how this, how committee here works with regard to passing bills, not passing bills. It takes 8 votes. 8 yes votes to get a bill out of this committee. Uh, and so when I'm asked to call a vote, I'm not just listening for the loudness of the vote, but I'm looking for how many people vote yes. A silence on a no vote is a no. So if I hear two people say real loudly, yes, and I hear no one say no, that is not a passing bill in this committee. So I will need to hear what I think is 8 votes to get a bill out. Uh, so it's not just strictly on the sound. I'm going to be listening for that. So just reminding everyone of that process, so that if you hear A couple of people say yes and nobody say no and I say the bill's failed. Everyone understands that that means I saw more no votes by consent, then yes votes to pass. Uh, so just reminding everyone that as the process goes along, we haven't had a lot of uh special uh language meetings where that's come into play, but we got a big agenda today and it, it could potentially come into place so just remind him. Uh, first up on the agenda, uh, Senator Peyton here. I don't, I do not see him in his usual, usual place. We'll pass over, uh, items. 1 and 2, we're passing over 3, passing over 4. Passing over 56. 78, I think we're passing over everything and item C. So with that objection, we'll move on to item D, uh, Representative Collins, are you prepared to present item D1 amendment amendment to House Bill 1202. You can do it from your chair as far as I'm concerned. I think it's
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Speaker 16 4:46
the member's preference. where to go next. We're working
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 5:00
on some technical difficulties here. It looks like, it looks like I've got you on.
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Representative Andrew Collins Unverified 5:11
I got you now. OK. Thank you. um, this is just some, some cleanup language, really, um, there are two public legal aid organizations in the state. They're merging and so this just strikes the one that's going away and leaving the one that's remaining. There's no change in funding. It's, that's remaining the same. It's just getting rid of that one that's going away, um, happy to answer any questions. Members, are there
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 5:36
any questions? Yes, Senator Hickey, you are.
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 5:45
So apology here for not, one of them says 45% and the other one says 55%, so. And we're striking both of those. What, what, what exactly does that mean? Well,
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Representative Andrew Collins Unverified 5:55
so that means that that split won't happen and just the 100% will go to the remaining entity, which is Legal Aid of Arkansas. They used to have they, they split their territories in the past and currently 31 counties were for uh legal aid of Arkansas and the 44 counties were for cows and Ar Legal Services, and now both territories will be done by the same entity
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 6:18
and that that makes, that's kind of a common sense deal. We, we don't need language within this that would, would say that 100%'s gonna go to that fund or anything. We don't believe. We just think that's
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Representative Andrew Collins Unverified 6:28
automatic. I think because of the way it's going to read after this striking, it'll say that the funds shall be used for providing financial support for public legal aid organizations and distributed to Legal Aid of Arkansas. I think that implies 100%. Thank you, sir, appreciate it. Members, are there any other questions?
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 6:47
Seeing none, do we have a motion? Motion to adopt the amendment. We have a second. All those in favor say ah opposed. The mime is adopted. We move on now to, I think the next item that we're going to hear on the agenda is item 5, I think this is on page 20 and 22 of your packet. And is there someone from DFNA here that would come and present the governor's letter amending 1202. You just state your name for the committee when you get seated and recognized to present. Andy Babbitt, DFA. You recognize us. Damn. Let me find it in my packet here. If you're looking at our packet, it's page 20 to 22. So
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Speaker 34 8:03
This is, uh, simply to make a biennial report of the ARPA. Uh, report that we send currently monthly to ALC it'll go to biennial. And then it'll end 6 months after our final disbursement for ARPA. This was discussed in the Senate Revenue and Tax and uh was brought forward to this committee in special language. Members, are there any questions for Mr. Babbitt?
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 8:34
See no questions I motion to adopt the amendment. Motion we get a 2nd, 2nd, all those in favor, say ah. opposed Amendments adopted. Thank you. Uh, I think the next item on the agenda that we're going to hear is going to be, uh, item 7, Senator Sullivan, are you prepared to present item 7? Do you want to present from there or would you like to come to the table? You just state your name for the committee for
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 9:35
the record. Thank you, sir. Senator Dan Sullivan, uh, District 20. You reckon I should present your amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this amendment, uh, I think if you have it in front of you. It allows the, uh, many of our state libraries receive state funds, um, via grants and that's in the bill. This amendment to the bill would prevent any libraries who have an affiliation or membership with the American Library Association from receiving state aid. Um, folks I've met with the librarians and libraries more than I can count and gave them an opportunity to work together. We have oversight responsibilities on the libraries, especially how we distribute funds. That's what I, uh, HB 1127 says. Um, the, there are a number of states who have done this, including are very similar to disassociated, disaffiliated with the ALA, including Montana, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, uh, and uh Idaho and Tennessee, all of those already have language that does something similar to this or exactly the same with this, uh, many of them have, uh, most of those I just read. Completely disaffiliated with them. Some of the ones I read have language pending to do so, um, the American Library Association is a national organization, uh, for libraries. They are, um, as many of our national associations go, they tend to lean to the left or right, depending on where the money goes. And right now the federal level, um, previously they were leaning further towards Um, a more, more liberal. Lane they. Say that they are um represent everybody, but when you look at their website and you look at what they do, they're big fighters for climate change. They're big fighters for DEI, uh, on and on, you, there's no end to the list as to what they're promoting while they claim that they are for everybody and we're going to have books and materials for everybody. They clearly have an agenda. Last week, uh, at a board meeting for the state library. The topic came up, will the state library develop policies to protect children. Will they develop policies to protect children. One of the board members said, we already do that. Uh, and then they voted against writing those policies down, folks, we are a body of policy you can, you know how many times we fight over me and shall, our will and can and can't all the time it's what we do is develop policy in a far state library or the county libraries do not want to develop policy to protect children. That's a big deal. Um And if you already do it, why do you fight so hard against it? It just doesn't make any sense to me. Just write down what you already do, and the policy, of course, is non-binding. The state library board cannot make binding policy on county libraries. Uh, it's just, uh, again, a real quandary to me why something so simple and easy they refused to do. I guess the biggest part of the, my position against them, and I hope yours will be, um, in the library bill of rights that they say is the big First Amendment right, the Bill of Rights of the American Library Association says that we will not prevent, uh any anyone, any age or any uh mentality, we will not prevent anyone from accessing books or materials. materials means movies and such, we will not block anybody from getting that based on their age. Folks, that's a problem. Our state library board when asked if they supported that, said no unofficially. However, when it came time to vote, they refused to vote to change that policy. We've got a big conflict between whether or not the state, uh, board understands the oversight that the legislature has. And of course our oversight is distributing funds. That's what we do. And if we're going to distribute funds to libraries that have a policy that we will not withhold any information, books, materials, or other from anyone regardless of their age. And if our state library board and our state library, the county libraries and regional libraries. If they can't develop a policy that says that we've got a big problem. As many of you know, um, I had a bill, Senate Bill 184, that would have removed the state library board and the AETN board. When I met with the AETN folks, they said, yeah, we've got a little, we've got a problem and we're gonna help we're gonna work with you to resolve it, and they have, and they did, and I've stricken the removal of their board from that language. Um I was hoping that the state library board would say, yeah, we can do a little bit better. We can develop a written policy. That's who we are policy folks. We can develop a written policy and put it down in front of people so people can see how we make a decision. Recently there was a court case, federal court weighed in on, uh, Act 372, I think it was. And the court laid down guidance. Uh, we can't discriminate, one can't and shouldn't discriminate on point of view. However, one can relocate and a library can relocate sexually explicit material out of uh where children can't reach it. Now, the court didn't lay that down exactly how to do that, but they said it's appropriate to take sexually explicit material and move it out of the reach of children. Our state library board voted against that. We don't want to have policy that does that. And again, folks, we're policy people. If it's not written down, uh, then it, it is not policy. In fact, the court said that um that. Librarians are the single. Determiner of what's appropriate. Yeah, I just don't, if that's true, then write it down. Just let us see what that means at your local library. What is your local library doing to protect children, and if they're doing that, fine. Write it down. If you're not doing it, write it down. We're policy folks. I'll be glad that, oh, last thing. Well, the question was asked why am I running this in special language, um, one reason is because special language language has a year and it terminates. So at the end of I think July or June 30th, however many days June has in it. It is that this bill is gone. Uh, and it would have to come up again and be promulgated again. That's one reason, uh, the second reason is I wanted to kind of segregate this from uh another bill that'll be pending about the library board. If this bill fails today, I still have the option of running legislation that does pretty much what this does. So I appreciate the opportunity and ask for a good vote. Be glad to take any questions, Mr. Chair. Members, are there any questions for the senator, Senator Tucker, you're recognized.
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 17:50
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'm reading this for the first time, Senator. I'm just have a couple of questions. One is on, on page two, which is page 27 of the entire packet. I'm looking at page 2 of the bill, so the bill, OK, great. All right, down at 3A, about halfway through. The page I don't have that on mind. Can you read that? Tell me what it says. It says if the Arkansas State Library has budgeted, allocated, or expended any funding to a library described in subsection B of this section. The full amount of funding for the current fiscal year for the library shall be returned. To the Arkansas State Library as appropriated in this act upon notification by the Arkansas State Library. So, is that retroactive such that if, if a library has received, I'm just making a number up, $50,000 from July 1st of 2024 through today's date, then they, they have to return that $50,000 that they've collected over the last 9.5 months to the Arkansas State Library. Yes. So the reason we're doing that, they're paid quarterly, so
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 19:08
the money is distributed quarterly, and if someone develops the policy as described, and they say, I'm, I've met the, the criteria and we're no longer affiliated, and they go 6 months and they say nobody's watching, uh, we're gonna take, we're going to now affiliate back with them. We're gonna go to the national conference, uh, our regional conference. So if you do that, you're going to repay the whole. the amount of money. I think that's fair. I mean, somebody the other day I was, uh, Running a bill and I asked one of my colleagues, I think here, uh, that I gave him something to read and, and said, are you going to read it? Are you just gonna trust me? And people around him said, read the bill. I understand that's what we do. We're policy. So I expect people when they say we're going to disaffiliate, that's what they do. Keep your word. If you're going to take our money, keep
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 20:05
your word. I, I guess my, I, I understand your position. My question is a little bit different in that if this were to pass, this policy has not been on the books until today, right? And so if someone has been collecting money from the state library. From, for the last 9.5 months of this current fiscal year, even when this policy was not in
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 20:26
place, will they have to return that money? Yeah, I think the last line says these provisions shall be in effect until uh only from July 1st. So it's not effective right now. So if you're taking money, uh, I'd say get all you can get right now,
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 20:43
OK, OK, fair enough. All right. On page one. Of the bill under B2. It makes a reference to official documents. I'm just curious about what that means. Yeah, mostly it refers to policy, you know, our libraries, I think
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 21:04
all have a policy book that they operate from. And many of our libraries in the state have the American Library Association in their policy. Uh, in different forms, one saying that we'll abide by American Library Association Bill of Rights that says we'll not withhold any material from anyone regardless of their age, and when I asked librarians about that, they say, we don't do that. And my response is, OK, take it out of your policy. They don't do that either. So how can you have a policy that you don't follow? Senator, Senator Tucker, we have several people
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 21:42
in the queue. If you don't mind, I'm gonna move on to the next, next person, uh. Senator Hickey, you recognize it? Thank you, uh, Senator Tucker pretty
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 21:50
much got with the one I was going to ask about was that, uh, makes reference to American Library Association and any library policies or official documents. I, I mean, that's, that just seems so broad to me, uh, you know, if, And, and I mean I would say just, yeah, I guess. Let's just say the board, you know, tried to, tried to adopt a policy that says that, you know, We're, we're not gonna make reference to the American Library Association, then does that contradict what's in the bill, because that's an official document. It just, uh, I, I think I know what you're trying to do there, but it seems so broad to me. I'm, I'm not for sure that it
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 22:40
couldn't be counterintuitive on that, on that somehow, uh. Well, I understand. I think every, just like uh. Our body, every document that we pass as a body is an official document. So if a document goes through the local board, it becomes an official document. It wouldn't include, you know, the people sending texts to each other or talking, uh, you know, it would just include, uh, it's if it's, again, if it's official, a board has approved that. That's,
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 23:08
and that's my point. Let's just say that That one of these boards actually after, if this were to pass, where to, where to go in and say, say, we can not make reference to the American Library Association. And present that to their board. You know, because this statute is passed, then they've made a reference to the American Library Association in an official document. I mean, it's, I mean, it may sound far-fetched, but it's, it says that if they make a reference to them, And basically they're in, they're in violation. It doesn't say a Negative reference or positive reference or anything to that nature if they just make any type of reference. I see your point. And again,
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 23:56
it's not the intent. I understand, but you know if that's uh. I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Senator Silva.
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 24:06
Senator Gilmore, you are recognized for a question. Thank you,
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 24:09
Mr. Chair. Thank you, Senator. I'm just trying to work through how this will work in my mind. So I just have a couple of questions here. So, uh, because I don't know, can you, can you tell me, um, In regards to the American Library Association, what that means to a library in the sense of why, why do they have an affiliation or membership or what, what is the benefit of having a membership
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 24:32
or do you know? I think every The library would answer that differently. Um. Uh
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 24:40
The way as a policy to analyze their policy. They, you would be a member if you agree with their policy. And unfortunately we have libraries that say they disagree with the policy, but they won't remove the policy. So I've, again, just to answer your question, I guess my assumption would be they agree with the policy. Yeah, and, and I guess my question was more
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 25:00
in lines and maybe I didn't do a good job of asking it more in lines of, is there any sort of certifications or, or anything like that that goes in line with being affiliated with this national group. So, I, I know a lot of professions get certifications or, or Something related to being a part of a national affiliation, and I, I don't know, that's why I'm asking, do you, are you aware of that would jeopardize any sort of
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 25:27
anything related to libraries, you know. I have not had any library including the state librarian
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 25:34
or other librarians I talked to say there's anything at risk if they disassociate with the American Library Association.
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 25:40
OK. Thank you, Senator. Senator Clark, you recognize it again. Thank you, Doctor Lee. So on, uh, One, just one question, one other question. This is on the first page under 3A. Except as provided under subdivision B3B. Of this section makes payments or grants of any kind to the ALA. So the, and I'm assuming this is your intent. I just want to make sure I'm understanding it properly. Not only can they not spend state dollars. On an ALA membership, they can't spend any money they get from a municipality, a county or that they race privately get from a foundation, a grant, any, any, any revenue that they generate, whether it's from the state or otherwise. That's
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 26:29
correct. I mean, the, again, the purpose of that is I think the ALA as many of these national groups do. They don't align with priorities and policy of the state of Arkansas. You know, they, if you're promoting, uh, boys and girls sports or boys and girls bathrooms and The, the, all those kinds of things, if that's what you're doing, that does not align with policy of Arkansas, agree or disagree, it's not our policy. It's also a violation of federal policy now, uh, in many instances to promote DEI, which they do. You can find it clearly in many places that they support DEI. I think that violates federal law. I think it violates, again, you, when you look at the definition of state of DEI and access, for example. or other places, it clearly says what DEI is. The American Library Association says we're promoters of DEI. That's what we're gonna do. That is not a line with policy in Arkansas. And I don't think The library should be, they're under our oversight. I don't think they should be spending a nickel to promote policy that violates Arkansas policy. I just was wanting to
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 27:40
understand that this proposes to restrict more
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 27:46
than just their state funding. So thank you, yeah.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 27:56
Members, are there any other questions for Senator Sullivan? Senator Dismay, you recognize let me my briefly before, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and this is the, the term affiliation because I'm not sure what that means or how expansive it's going to be. We clean it up a little bit, uh, when you go to. Page B, so I guess an affiliation, I mean, page 2, page 2 or 1, 27, section B, where we say that I guess an affiliation isn't if you go to a conference led by the ALA, uh, so long as it's, uh, you know, conference that's not in conflict with state law. But that, I mean, I understand the membership that's easy done, you know, to decipher that's not a, that's not a hard thing to know whether or not you're paying for a membership or not. I'm not sure how you could get to go to a conference without paying for a membership, uh, as part of a group, but maybe there's a way, but that, that word affiliation, I just, I don't know if it needs to be defined or how expansive that is. For what that's going to mean when we're asking the library board and ultimately the state library to. Withhold funds or give funds. I think ultimately we're talking about $5.8 million in my whole time in this process when I'm communicating with, you know, libraries back home is, you know, if the library board were to be abolished, we're not going to jeopardize your funding if, you know, those sorts of things and now we're kind of entering into the funding discussion and creating some new parameters. That, that's my concern.
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 29:19
Yeah, um, I wish the libraries were as concerned as you. I mean, they have an obligation as if we have oversight. They have an obligation to call and work with you and work with me. I don't, they haven't taken that opportunity on this to reach out and if they're funding is, and it is at risk, then they need to reach out again when, when I look at working with the uh AETN, they did that and they, we found some common ground. Librarians have not done that. Therefore, their funding is at risk. Did I answer
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 29:57
your question? Well, my libraries have reached out and they've expressed concerns and so I'm relaying them to you, um. I don't think they're doing anything that's contrary to most of what's this bill, but they're also being, they're concerned about technicalities and being tripped up and making sure language is appropriately written so that there's not an unforeseen problem for even the libraries that you may be, you agree with on policy. So, the blanket that this is happening everywhere is, is not. You know, I've, I've watched, uh, you know, unfortunately, the 3 hours' worth of testimony last time on the state library board. I understand some of the concerns you have based on some of the things I heard during that, uh, meeting. But again, uh, we have, we do have local libraries that are concerned that maybe that the way that this is written, unintentionally could impact their share of the money that the state allocates. Understood. You know, when the court ruling came down.
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 30:54
I've got it right here on Senate Bill 372. The judge had many things that appropriateness, we need to clear that up. It had about 4 or 5 terms, he said we needed to clean up. However, when we look at state. Library policy, they use those very same terms, so you know I think it's um my experience is every time we try to define it further, people still have questions, and we never get to the bottom of what's clear to anybody.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 31:24
And I completely understand what you're saying, and on that particular issue, you and I are in a line. I don't believe that sexually explicit material should be made available to minors or readily available to minors. I, I, we agree on that. That is not what this bill does. That's cut and dry for me. I understand that issue. I don't have the in-depth knowledge of what all is utilized by layer libraries for the ALA. I mean, obviously there are some good things or we wouldn't have carved out an exception for them to be able to attend meetings that are not in conflict with state law. Um, so it is this way, this piece of legislation that has to do with the ALA and some of the terminology that I don't understand well enough. The other's easy. This is not as clearly defined to me. So it's a harder thing for me to understand and ultimately I think also a harder thing for my libraries back home that have concerns about the language and all I'm asking is, like it feels like there's a potential that some people could get tripped up unintentionally, even outside of the concerns that you have based on this language, but the sexually explicit, we're, we're on the, we're, we're rowing in the
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 32:30
same direction. But, um, I don't know that we are. If libraries have in their policy. That we adhere to the American Library Association policy. The American Library Association policy disagrees with what we've just said. So if your library has that in their policy, and I don't know, but many, many of them do, uh, and again, I don't know that we, if the, if we're hung up over the word uh what's the word affiliation. Uh, with that with affiliation means. Yeah, I think it's pretty straightforward, and I had just about, uh, I don't know that's the case, but I think that's likely a uh referred to in other legislation. Is that what you're asking me to do is clear up with affiliation means. I'm saying that I think to me, even a reading. I think, I
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 33:23
mean I don't think any member could read this language and understand what the outcome is ultimately. I, I, I may be wrong, um, but I don't think anyone just could just straightforwardly, uh, straightforward and just understand what the implications of this legislation are. I am saying that because of, I mean, that gives me concern. Right, I mean, you may have libraries doing everything the way that you think they should be doing it. That could be tripped up by the way that is written and you lose their state funding. Again, I
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 34:00
We, well, I, I'll let me respond this way. I've not had any libraries reach out to me. Saying this language is too vague and we're going to lose our state funding based on ABC. They've not done that. The AETN did that. They sat down with their bylaws. We said this is what it means. They've not done it with me. Members, are there any other questions for Senator Sullivan?
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 34:31
Seeing no other questions, do we have a motion to adopt the amendment. Motion, do we have a second? Second, all those in favor say aye, opposed? Your, your motion, your amendment has failed. Thank you, Mr. Senator. So, I appreciate you. Uh, Representative Garner, you're up next. This is item D8 on pages 301 to 33 of your packet. And you are. Recog to present, uh, your amendment. Thank
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Representative Denise Garner Unverified 35:04
you, Mr. Chair. Um, colleagues, this came out of the um uh maternal health working group, and we are, um, sending money to, um, uh, the pregnancy resources that are not, um, are not regulated, so we don't really know what they're doing and many of them do lots of good things and we want, I just would like to know what they're using, the grant money that they're, they're getting from the state. For so that we can figure out where the gaps are in the rest of the state. Many of the rural areas, we've got 50% of our counties that don't have, um, don't have maternal health care and so these some of these, uh, may fill the gap for some of the resources needed for these women, and I'm just trying to figure out, um, What they're using the money for and how we can fill those gaps if, if, uh, the communities have them. Yeah Members, are there any questions for Representative Garner? See now we have a motion to adopt the amendment.
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 36:03
motion. Do we have a second? I, all those in favor say aye. Opposed It's passed. Thank you. I remember seeing no other business? We're gonna, uh, before we adjourn, we're gonna release, let's see, at the, at the request of the uh members we're gonna release House bill, the amendment, item number 3, C3, House Bill 1389. Uh house Bill 1577 item number 4, the amendment by Representative Crawford and House Bill 1635, the amendment by Representative McCullough. We're gonna release all of those back to joint budget. Is there any other business for the committee? Seeing none, this meeting is adjourned.
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Agenda

A. Call to Order.

2:40
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B. Comments by Co-Chairs.

2:42
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C. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee:

D. Amendments referred to the Special Language Subcommittee:

4:23
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E. Other Business.

36:12
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F. Adjournment.

Speakers

Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified
22 segments
Speaker 16
1 segment
Representative Andrew Collins Unverified
6 segments
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified
9 segments
Speaker 34
1 segment
Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified
40 segments
Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified
15 segments
Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified
3 segments
Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified
10 segments
Representative Denise Garner Unverified
2 segments