State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

professionally, a little bit about your background, how long you've served in the house and uh thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, well, this is my 3rd time that I this is one of the funnest committees. The, the topics are very interesting and important we cover a lot of very important, a great job of keeping us focused on all the new members you're gonna be with and the breadth of the topics that we cover in this committee, but we're going to have a lot of fun and get a lot of things done. I'm encouraged by his optimism that we're going to have a lot of fun. I hope that that. I hope that that is true. um. And so at this time I want to introduce the staff, uh, Carly Cooper is our committee analyst Christy Hutchinson is the is the committee attorney, um, as Representative Beck said, this committee handles a lot of specifically constitutional amendments comeislation that you'll see in this committee include FOIA legislative topic that is escaping me right now that comes through this committee actually just the the general that this committee reviews matters pertaining to state government and state agencies except where the subject. Matter relates more appropriately to another committee proposed amendments to the Constitution of the state of Arkansas or the federal government, election laws and procedures and interstate relations, similar legislation and resolutions germane to the subject matter of this committee. And so, uh, as I discussed earlier, we're gonna go each member and give you the opportunity to introduce yourselves. Let me begin by saying, Representative Jimmy Gazaway, this is my 5th term. In the Arkansas House, my 3rd time to serve on this committee and so of course I look forward to that, uh, also serve on the judiciary Committee. I represent District 31, which is geographically a very small district in northeast Arkansas, which is essentially just the city of Perigold. City of Perigold has 30,000 people, and as you know, each district has approximately 30,000 people. And so when they drew my district, they just traced the city limits of the city of Perigolduld, so. That is my district, uh, professionally. I'm a practicing attorney. I've been practicing law for 18 years. I practiced with a private law firm in Jonesboro, Snow Grove, Langley, Culpeper, Williams, and Mulally, as I've said many times during my service in the state legislature, uh, formerly served as a deputy prosecutor for 9 years before I was elected and uh again have been fortunate now to serve 4 terms and this is my 5th, so it's a little about me. I look forward to chairing this committee, and I would be remiss if I did not say that we'll miss Chairman Tosh, who has chaired this committee for the last 3 sessions and done an excellent job uh chairing this committee and uh did fine work and again we'll miss having him here big shoes for me to fill, so with that Representative Meeks, I think you're the senior member, so you're recognized, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So again, representatives Steven Meeks are representing District 42, which is uh Greenbrier up. uh, Fairfield Bay. Uh, this is also my 3rd time, uh, serving on this committee and look forward to uh all the great things we're going to do, uh, professionally. I'm an astronomy educator on the side, I traveled to schools all over Arkansas and our surrounding states trying to inspire the next generation in STEM education and uh uh uh at my 8th term uh that I'm entering in, which makes me a lame duck so I can get in all sorts of trouble this go around, right? I'm Stan Berry, um, my home is Dover, Arkansas, of course, and uh um I'm serving uh this will be my 7th term to uh to serve, uh, District 44, which basically uh is from the interstate Russellville goes north and a little bit of Van Buren County. And I've never served on this committee, and I'm looking forward to it and excited about it. But uh I guess that's about all I'm, uh, I guess you could call me retired. I've retired about 3 different times, but it seems like something else, another door opens, but uh, but I'm happy to be here and happy to serve my constituents. Hi there, Cindy Crawford. I'm from Fort Smith. I cover the south and east part of Fort Smith. Which I think is the better part. I know my counterparts would Argue with that. We do have the F-16 F-35 mission coming into Fort Smith, that's my district, foreign sales mission. We're excited about that. We'll bring in over 800 families, so Fayetteville, watch out. You took over 2nd largest city. We're taking it back. So here we go. Um, I am in my 4th term. This is the 2nd time for me to serve on state agencies and I thoroughly enjoyed the debate that we have here and look forward to this year. I'm Andrew Collins. I represent District 73, which is mostly here in Little Rock, the north and northwest parts of the city. Uh, it's my 4th term and my 2nd term on state agencies, um, it's been a while. It was my first term in 2019 and now I'm back. And uh yeah, look forward to uh serving with you all. Good morning committee. I'm State Representative Denise Sennett. I represent District 80 here in Pulaski County. I have parts of downtown Little Rock and Plaske County. Um, this is my 3rd term and this is my first term on this committee, so I'm really excited to be serving with serving with all you. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. My name is David Ray. I'm state representative for District 69, which is Northern Pulaski County and southern Faulkner County. I live in Malmeel. Um, this is my 3rd term in the house. This is my 1st term on state agencies, uh, some of you remarked that you thought I was already on this committee, but that's just because I've run bills in here before, um, excited to be here and work with all of you this session. Thank you. So I'm John Carr, a state representative of House District 15, which is Central Rogers. Northwest Arkansas. I'm in my 3rd term, uh, enjoying serving my people. So I definitely enjoy this committee, great debate, great people. Uh, what I do professionally is I'm a substitute teacher and I also work concerts at the Walmart amp. going long represent District 39, which is parts of uh White County, Jackson County, and Independence County, uh, this is my second term, 1st, 1st term to be on this committee. I'm really excited about it because I hear it's a really fun committee. Ryan Rose, District 48, Van Buren, Fort Smith. It's my 2nd term, uh, first on state agencies. I'm looking forward to all the fun. Representative Beck said we're gonna have in here. State Representative Julie Mayberry District 92, um, this is my 5th term, but the very first term on state agencies looking forward to being here, um, been around kind of since 2011, um, many may remember my husband Andy served before me. We've kind of gone back and forth and tag teamed a few times, um, I have 4 children. They are now all uh college age and up now, so, um. Um, I, my background, what brought me to Arkansas back in 1996 was to work at Channel 7 doing their morning show, started with journalism, met my husband, decided to make Arkansas home. I choose to live here, um, beautiful state, very happy to be serving. Thank you. This is my first time using this mic. OK, um, I'm Nicole Clowney. I represent District 21, which is Fayetteville, uh, the middle of Fayetteville, uh, that's part of Fayetteville go hogs. Um, this is my 4th term, my 3rd time on this committee and um it is a lot of fun. I look forward to, um, a lot of the debates that we have in here are super passionate and not necessarily along party lines, which are my favorite in both ways. So anyway, looking forward to serving with y'all. Representative Brian Evans, District 68, have all of the city of Cabot and just a little bit of Lone Oak County, uh, going into my 4th term, uh, first time on state agencies, uh, the past 3 terms I've been on insurance and commerce, but was uh just looking to do something a little different this time and um I'm really interested in a lot of the subject matter that's gonna come through this committee and looking forward to serving under the guidance of Chairman Gazaway and Vice Chairman Beck. Happy to be here. Minor detail, minor detail. I'm Representative Mark McIlroy of District 62, and I, I, I'm uh a little different from the rest of them. I've the only one that, uh, so far they know they have served as a Democrat, independent, and a Republican. And I told him I was gonna be a libertarian and vegetarian before I left here. This is my 6th term and uh I represent parts of the hay County, parts of Arkansas County. Parts of Monroe County, parts of Saint Francis County, all of Lee County, all of Phillips County and part of Bolivar County, Mississippi, I think. But I learned an important lesson. Do not vote against the governor's budget just before redistricting, all right. Looking forward to working with you. Representative Howard Beatty, I represent District 95, which is all of Ashley and Shico County in southeast Arkansas, uh, 3rd term in the House, uh, first time on this committee, although I spent a lot of time in here in Rev and Tax, so I kind of feel at home in this room. Um, looking forward to serving, uh, with all of you on, on state agencies, um, Fund's been mentioned by a lot of folks, so I hope that um that we, we can uh deal with issues and, and still make it entertaining, um, uh, and deal with some serious uh subject matter here for the state, um, so looking forward to serving part time outside of the legislature, the bank consulting and working in economic development in Southeast Arkansas. Kendon Underwood, uh, this is my 3rd term in the house, my 2nd term on this committee. I represent a portion of Benton County, mostly Cave Springs Highful, a portion of Rogers and Lowell, um, outside of the legislature, um, an attorney I work at JB Hunt, which also sits in my district and then I own a small business as well. Look forward to working with you guys. Representative RJ Hawk, District 81, which is Saline County, um, 95% Bryant, um, Benton, got a small portion of that, Alexander and Mabelville. Uh, this is my 2nd term in the House, first time on this, I was on ag and transportation last go around, um, professionally, I'm a real estate broker and then uh also a real estate developer, so spent 14 years much like uh Representative Mayberry spent 14 years on the radio, uh, here in Central Arkansas, so I'm glad to be here. Good morning Jeremy Wooldridge District one, starting my second term, my first term on state agencies, uh, happy to serve on this committee with all my friends and under the leadership of Representative Gasaway who uh border a district with, um, we split part of Greene County. I have all of clay and then split part of Randolph County also and just uh happy to be here. All right, thank you. Next on the agenda that At least I have, I have to recognize various agencies and organizations that are here that typically have business before this committee. I haven't. Spoken to anyone, but I see a number of you out here that I know represent again various organizations, state agencies, and other uh entities that will have regular business for this committee, so I want to give you the opportunity if you'd like to go to the end of the table, introduce yourselves, uh, talk about the type of Work that you do and typically the issues that you have before this committee, I'm looking first at the Association of Counties, which I See here to my left, so I'd like to start with you guys and then. We'll go from there. The first one of the session. I may be the last one of the session too, I hope not. Um, my name is Lindsay French and I work for the Association of Arkansas Counties. Specifically, I represent uh the county clerks Association, um, which will have a lot of business before you regarding elections, um, also representing counties were very um interested in any legislation that would affect the freedom of information Act, um, so we'll, we'll be here for that as well. Um, this is my my law clerk. This is the Association's law clerk, and I'll let her introduce herself. Hello, this is my first time using the microphone. Um, my name is Caroline Cole. I am a law clerk, um, for AC and I just started last week. So I'm learning the ropes. Um, I'm from Hot Springs and I'm in law school and I will graduate in a year. I'm just happy to be here and soak it all in. I do also represent assessors and circuit clerks and JPs. So anything you have that would affect them, please reach out to us. Uh we love to work on bills ahead of time before they get to committee, so looking forward to working with you all. Thank you. We're gonna keep going down to my left here, I see, uh, is there anyone here in the 2nd group of Sets who would like to address the committee. Everybody shy today, all right. Here we go. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm Kenny Hall with the State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas. I was just counting it up. This is my 14th session and I'm kind of tired, um, we represent, uh, businesses of all shapes and sizes all over the state, and we work very closely with all the local chambers and many, many business associations. Uh, we have primary interest in this committee on the proposals for constitutional amendments and then other things we'll be watching. So thank you very much for the opportunity. All right, um, we're gonna keep going, sir, you're recognized. Hi, good morning. Uh, I know many of you, I'm Tom Bullenstein with Arkansas State Audit. So we work for you guys. I've been with Audit for about 30 years and I'm the deputy over state agencies, so that's we're interested in all the subject matter in this committee. Thank you very much. Hi, good morning. I'm Ben Beaumont with the University of Arkansas System. Uh, as you know, we have 2 campuses, divisions and units across the state, many of which touch your districts. We have a number of issues that are of interest in this committee and we'll be here if you need anything, please feel free to reach out. Thank you. Good morning. Dorley Chandler. I'm with the Attorney General's office. I am the deputy attorney General over the state agencies division. I have with me today two of our state agency attorneys that will also be in this committee. Every time you all meet, if you have any questions, that's my senior assistant Michael Lewis and assistant Sarah Dubusk. So feel free to ask us any questions if you need anything you get out of here without introducing yourself and you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Greg Parish, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, uh, I'll be between here and judiciary also attending will be attorneys with my office, Tina Lee, David Ralp. Charlotte Bogan or Brent Gasper, uh, look forward to an enjoyable session with each of you. Thank you very much. Hey, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity for introduction. Laurie McDonald, deputy, or excuse me, chief of staff with DHS Newro, uh, been with DHS for, uh, a, a little bit, uh, it's been an honor and a privilege working with most of you, uh, and, and good morning. I'm Tiffany Wright and I'm the director for the division of Children and Family Services. Yeah, we look forward to working with you through the session. I'm Catherine Hunsley. I'm here representing the governor's office and excited to work with. Morning, Chairman members Luke McCoy with Family council. I think everyone here know freshman legislators, but uh Jerry had to step out, take a phone call, but I think all of you are familiar with most of our staff, Shari Stein, Aaron Hogan, and two other people, Kaylee Hogan there and sister and Kay Daniels will be up here a little bit with us, um, excited about this committee, uh, looking to get some good things done, looking forward to working with you all, appreciate it. everyone. Marty Ryle. I'm the director of Let'slative Affairs for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Harris and Tourism. I'm also the director of the Heritage Division, Coast Tourism is the #2 industry in the state behind agriculture, uh, parks, we have 52 state parks around the state that I think, uh, either, you know, in a lot of your districts or touch them or near them, uh, and then the division of Heritage we have 8 divisions there that's uh our agencies there. We have 4 museums, historic Arkansas Museum, Old State House Museum, uh, Mosaic Templer's Cultural Center. in the Delta Cultural Center over in Martin McIlroy's district. Uh, then we have the Arkansas State Archives, Arkansas Arts Council, the Natural Heritage Commission and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program are all in the Heritage division. So we have a, we have a lot of uh activity in, in our department. I think I've worked with all of you at some point or another and look forward to working with you on another legislative session and please reach out to me if I can ever be of assistance. Thanks so much. Hey, good morning committee. Jim Hudson, Secretary of DFA. First of all, congratulations on your elections and congratulations on getting appointed to this committee. It's a great committee. Uh, you'll see DFA in here from time to time, uh, anything that, you know, touches state agencies don't touch the budget. So you'll see a DFA providing support here. We'll be in JBC as well, obviously, uh, Rev tax too, so uh the whole team will be available to you to help you and assist you in having a successful session session, so let me know personally what I can do to help you as well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm Bob McMahon. I'm the prosecutor coordinator. I will be representing my office, which is a state agency, the prosecutor coordinator's office on various issues out here before you. I also am the executive director of the Arkansas prosecuting Attorneys Association, uh, we do most of our work in the judiciary Committee, but there are a handful of bills where we will appear before this committee as well. My, my deputy, um, I will introduce her. I think she stepped out for a phone call is Laurie Campuris. Um, she's a deputy prosecutor coordinator. She'll be representing us a lot over here, and she informed me a few minutes ago this was my 19th. legislative session, so I did not have gray hair or need reading glasses when I started, but both of those are not true anymore. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Committee. My name is Daniel Shu. I'm the elected prosecuting attorney for Sebastian County, the 12th Judicial District. I am also the legislative chairman for the Arkansas prosecuting Attorneys Association. This is my 5th session to serve in that capacity. Uh, I'm also this term I'm president of the Arkansas prosecuting attorneys Association, uh, my father, I, I will never forget his words to me. He said, Dan, the world's divided between uh big wheels and slobs. Just try to be a helpful slob, so I'll, I'll try to be a helpful slob. Morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I'm uh Will Jones, prosecuting attorney for the 6th Judicial District, which is Pulaski and Perry County. Thank you. Morning committee. My name is Andy Davis. I'm with the University of Arkansas of Medical Sciences and uh not sure I'm a state agency or not, but Representative Bryant, uh, the voice of Bryant told me that I needed to come up here and make sure you knew who I was and if you need anything at all, we'll be here to help. It's good, we good. Good morning. I'm Sharon Strong and I'm the executive director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. Um, this will be my first session in this role, so I'm excited to work with you all and meet you all. I know some of you, but not all of you. The Arkansas scholarship lottery is, um, a part of the of DFA but we also have um issues that touch and affect um ADHD, higher ed, obviously, so, um, if you all have any questions or need anything from me, I'll be in these meetings. Thank you. All right, thank you all so much. That looks like everyone that's here in attendance today, although I know there were Or several other organizations and governmental entities that typically will appear before this committee whether that state police, game and fish, many others that uh may not be here today but that everyone needs to know and I'm sure we'll have some contact with over the course of the session. Have some announcements that I want to make before we adjourn. First is that during the session this committee is scheduled to meet in this room 151 on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and on Fridays at 10 a.m. Or at the call of the chair. So those are our regularly scheduled meetings now I expect and I don't know I haven't talked to Speaker Evans about this, but in previous sessions we've adjourned on. Thursday afternoons and and not met on Fridays. I will say as a session progresses depending on the workload that this committee has, uh, we may have to meet on a Friday, we may have to meet on a Wednesday afternoon. Uh, I expect that this committee will have a pretty heavy workload and I'm committed to doing the work. I don't want to rush through anything. I've been on those committees where we rush through things and and have. Uh, you know, meetings that uh We've not maybe had the full opportunity to have a real discussion about very important issues, and I don't want that to be the case here, so as far as I'm concerned, uh, we're going to meet, uh, as may be required, which may include some Fridays occasionally, uh, so that we can do the work that dovet all the issues that will be before this committee thoroughly and um And fully consider all the legislation that's before this committee. Next is, of course, Quorum must be present to start each meeting. 11 committee members constitute a quorum, and it's important that members be on time to meetings. So that the chairman can see a quarrel and start the meeting and I want to say that that applies just as equally to me as it does anyone else. the next uh agendas are prepared in advance according with House rules and the agendas are prepared 2 days in advance, sponsor notifications will be sent to members who have bills on the agenda 2 days before the committee meeting sponsor notices are sent by email. Uh, that is important so that as a committee we know what is on the agenda for us to be considering so that we can be prepared in advance of the meeting. Uh, and we'll try to make sure everybody knows uh what they need to be, what they need to read and what they need to prepare for in advance of the meeting. Next, after a bill or resolution has appeared on the committee agenda and has been called for consideration and the sponsor is not present. The item will be placed at the bottom of the active agenda. If a bill or resolution has been called up for consideration 3 times. It will automatically drop to the deferred list unless the sponsor notifies staff. Request to move bills from the deferred list of the active agenda must be made by 2:30 p.m. two days prior to the scheduled committee meeting. And I just want to say, uh, you know, to the extent that that I have some discretion and some leeway there. I will work with you. Having presented many bills and many different committees before. I know how busy it can get sometimes you're still working on a bill. Sometimes you know that there's gonna be amendments to the bill. You want it to remain on the agenda, you're just not ready to present it at at the moment and so I don't uh. You know, I understand if you're not ready to go on a particular day, but you want that item to remain on the active agenda. I'm sure we can work on that, um, and then if the bill does go to the deferred list, but it needs to come off the deferred list because it wasn't ready, but now it's ready for presentation. Again, I'll work with you on that certainly. Um, but I don't hopefully I don't anticipate any problems there. Next, amendments should always be in writing. Please let staff know before the meeting if you have an amendment. We don't have any freshmen on this committee, so I think you all know how that works. If you got an amendment to your bill, BLR will send that over typically needs to be in writing. We need to know that in advance of the meeting, be passed out to the members the last minute amendments which I've probably done myself at various times, these things happen. This is part of the legislative process, but to the extent That that can be avoided and people can Have their amendments in advance, that is, of course, always helpful. Special orders of business. This is said at the call of the chair and done when the sponsor of the bill requests a special meeting date or time for the committee to hear this bill and this we may do this from time to time. If we have a particularly important issue that we know is going to require uh extra attention we may set that as a special order of business and all of you, I'm sure have are familiar with that concept. This is used when there's a controversial bill and not necessarily controversial but one that deserves, uh, again, time and attention to this committee that will have a lot of people testifying either for or against or when sponsor has people coming from out of town to speak on his or her bill, so. Just be aware that we will have special orders of business likely from time to time. Uh, I, I will just say in terms of conducting the meeting as was talked about uh yesterday in our chair's meeting. In the past there has been this kind of policy of you ask a question and then you request permission for a follow up. I've never been a fan of that model because allowing two questions is not practical in my mind. When you are dealing with an issue that may require a line of questioning and to think that you only get two questions and then have to pass it off. That doesn't make for a productive. Discussion and really limit your ability to kind of flesh out the issues and so what I will say to you is you recognized for questions on a particular Bill, I'm gonna give you some leeway and the opportunity to ask as many questions as you feel necessary within reason. If at some point it appears that it's this, it's going on a little too long. We've got other members in the queue that need to ask questions, then I may ask, tell you that. going to have to limit that for the moment, can come back to you, but we got other members in the queue, uh, and so I guess what I would say to you is just don't, don't abuse that, and I thank all of you here have been here long enough to Know when you're maybe abusing it and going too long and when you're not, so, but if that happens, we'll uh we'll deal with that as it occurs, so that's all I have, uh, Representative Beck, do you have anything else? All right. Well, with that this meeting is adjourned. Thank you so much.