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House floor
March 3, 2022
Shepherd I invite the members, staff, press and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by the House chaplain Dr. Rex Horne, retired Pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean.
Horne Let’s pray. Father, in scripture we read that we really are at our best when we look not to our own interests, but to the interests of others. And so we pray today for those that we are mindful of, who even today and in recent hours have suffered great loss in their family. We pray that your presence and spirit will administer comfort and hope to them. For others who serve here in the Capitol, who are having health issues and other matters, we would lift them to you today as well. Lord, as we look at our own life, we recognize that we seem to hear your voice more clearly in the stillness of the night or in the early morning. But even conversations here today remind us of the change that comes even in what we anticipate would be an ordinary day. So make us mindful in the busy busyness of the day and the tasks to be performed that you’re here, that you’re at work. And as we bow our heads and our hearts to you today, we also commit our days and our ways to you. In Jesus name, amen.
[Pledge of Allegiance]
Shepherd Members, please indicate your presence by pushing the yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. With 98 members present, the chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave? Representative Maddox, for what purpose? You’re recognized.
Maddox Leave for Representative Johnson.
Shepherd Is leave granted for Representative Johnson? So noted. Representative– any other? Representative Frederick Love moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day’s journal. Without objection, so ordered. Are there reports from select committees? Read the reports, Mr. Clerk.
Clerk Mr. Speaker, we your Committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred to House Bill 1059, House Bill 1017 and House Bill 1079 beg leave to report we’ve had the same under consideration and herewith return the same with the recommendation they do pass. Respectfully submitted, Lane Jean, chair. Mr. Speaker, your committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred House Bill 1034 beg leave to report that we’ve had the same under consideration and herewith return of the same with a recommendation do pass as amended number 3. Respectfully submitted, Lane Jean, chair.
Shepherd Are there reports from standing committees? Are there any– is there any unfinished business? Any executive communications? Mr. Clerk, please read House Resolution 1031.
Clerk House Resolution 1031 by Representative Tosh to congratulate and recognize the West Side High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps on its many achievements and acts of service. Rep. Tosh, you’re recognized to explain the resolution.
Tosh Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I’d like to ask Representative Cavenaugh and Representative Ladyman, if it’s ok, to join me here at the well. Colleagues, thank you again today for allowing me this opportunity to recognize another outstanding school from my area. It’s the West Side, the West Side High School. And what we’re recognizing them today for is not about a sporting event or even anything of that nature, but it’s more about their commitment to the Air Force Junior ROTC program. And I’ll get into that just a little more in detail. But what brought this about was about a month ago, I had the opportunity to attend a West Side basketball game. And as I sat there and I watched them as they presented the colors and the ROTC, they came out. I mean, it was so impressive and being someone that when I was in college, I was a member of the Arkansas State University drill team. So I really watch for these things and they were perfectly aligned. And, and even, you know, when they made their pivots, their arms came to their side. They knew exactly how to cut their hands, and it was just so sharp, so much precision. And it was so impressive. And I thought, wow, for a high school, you know, group to be able to do this– so afterwards, I knew– the superintendent and I are good friends, and I visited with him, and he enlightened me about the accomplishments of this program there at West Side High School. So some of the things that this group– and they’re in the balcony up here, and I’ll recognize them in just a minute with their, with their commander and also the principal. But before I do that, I just want to say that this group of 20 plus students that we have here today, they are representing the West Side High School. They are members of the Air Force Junior ROTC program. And here’s just some of their accomplishments, colleagues. There are 12 Air Force ROTC units in the state of Arkansas. In 2019, the Arkansas chapter of the Air Force Association started awarding the most outstanding Air Force ROTC Unit of the Year award. They review each of the 12 programs and make the award to the most outstanding program in the state for their school year. The West Side High School Air Force ROTC program has been selected to receive the award all three years that it has been presented. What an accomplishment. The cadets have completed– not only that, they’re involved in their communities– they have completed over 7,000 hours of community service in the last five school years. The majority of the community service that they have been involved in was with the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, where cadets have packed almost a half a million meals for those in need in our area. Thanks. The 20 cadets in attendance today have a combined GPA of 3.85, and overall half of them have a perfect 4.0. Wow, that’s pretty impressive. So good job. West Side High School Air Force ROTC is the only program in the state to have at least one cadet selected to the Air Force Academy in each of the last three graduating classes. Those cadets will be commissioned as Air Force officers in the next few years, and scholarships that have been awarded to the Air Force Academy are valued– from the Air Force Academy have been valued at over $450,000. So congratulations. And let me just recognize at this time– the commander of this unit is Major Scott Norman. Major, would you stand up and just hold your– and also accompanying the major is Sergeant Peter Mamilu. Thank you. And also is the West Side principal, Mr. Chris George. Thank you all for being here. And at this time, Representative Ladyman, do you have anything you want to say? Representative Cavenaugh, did you have anything you wanted to say?
Cavenaugh I want to say thank you all for being here. This is kind of special for me because we’ve had a grandson in this ROTC program. And I just want to thank you for developing our future leaders of America. Thank you.
Ladyman I don’t want to be the only one up here that don’t talk. I’ll be quick. I promise. No, I just had an opportunity to meet some of the cadets this morning and talk to them. And, and there’s some great young people up there. And I met one young man who’s going on to the Air Force and talked to him a little bit. So, you know, it’s really nice to know that we have young people that are going into these programs to protect our freedoms here in the United States. So, glad that y’all could make it.
Tosh Colleagues, at this time, I would like to present to you our future military leaders. Thank you for your willingness to do what you’re willing to do. Our future looks bright because of you. God bless you on your journey’s travel, and good luck in the military as those years are ahead of you. Thank you for your service and what you’re willing to do. At this time, I would like for my colleagues here to recognize the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC. Y’all stand. Mr. Speaker, if you would just have the Clerk read the bill in its entirety. Thank you.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the resolution in its entirety.
Clerk Whereas the Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC has had many recent successes and engaged in many acts of service. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force’s Junior ROTC has been named the Arkansas Air Force Association’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit of the Year for the last three years. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets have completed over 7,000 hours of community service in the last five school years, including packing over 500,000 meals at a food bank in Northeast Arkansas. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets participated in a mentoring program matching them with kindergarten and first grade students at West Side Elementary, who had been identified by their school counselor as needing a Big Brother or Big Sister. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC hosted an annual Bataan Death March memorial hike, which includes a 14 mile march in honor to honor the World War II veterans to participate American and Filipino victims of the Baton Death March. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC Train Corps planned and organized and conducts a school wide ceremony annually on September 11th to honor the memory of those who lost their lives on the terror attacks in 2001. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force’s Junior ROTC recognizes Veterans Day by placing the United States flags on the graves of over 500 military veterans at cemeteries. And whereas the Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC hosts an annual flag retirement ceremony in which they collect hundreds of no longer serviceable United States flags from around their community and provide them with proper, respectful retirement. And whereas the Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadet drill and color guard teams broke the program record by earning over 30 awards and trophies competing in drill competitions throughout the state. And whereas the Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC hosted an annual physical fitness competition for other Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri, and has raised over $12,000 over the last five years to help support the West Side High School Air Force Junior Reserves Officer Training Corp. community service efforts. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC is the only such program in the state to have at least one cadet selected from to attend the Air Force Junior Reserve Training Corps Flight Academy in three straight years. Whereas the Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC currently has three former cadets enrolled in the United States Air Force Academy, where they will earn their degree and commissions as officers in the United States Air Force. And whereas in the 2019-2020 school year, Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC Cadet Tippy was recognized as the most outstanding cadet in all of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Course, which includes over 900 locations and over 120,000 cadets around the world. And whereas the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC has been supported by these many successes by Major Scott Norman, Technical Sergeant Peter Manula and other staff. Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 93rd General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House of Representatives congratulate and recognize the West Side High School Air Force Junior ROTC for its many recent accomplished accomplishments and acts of service.
Shepherd Rep. Tosh has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? Would anyone like to speak for the resolution? Representative Tosh is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the adoption of House Resolution 1031. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. Resolution is adopted. Mr. Clerk, please read House Resolution 1039.
Clerk House Resolution 1039 by Representative Charlene Fite, a resolution recognizing the first week of May 2022 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in Arkansas.
Shepherd Rep. Boyd, you’re recognized to explain the resolution.
Boyd Mr. Speaker, colleagues, thank you. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The goal of this resolution is to bring awareness and attention to tardive dyskinesia, given its direct impact on the mental health community in Arkansas. 49 states and the District of Columbia are issuing resolutions and or governor proclamations. Our governor has again proclaimed the first week of May as Tardive Dyskinesia week. With that said, I’d appreciate a good vote.
Shepherd Representative Boyd has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? Would anyone like to speak for the resolution? Representative Boyd is closed to the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House Resolution 1039. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. Resolution is passed. Members, we’re going to, in addition to passing over House Resolution 1038, we’re going to pass over, for the time being, House Resolution 1040. And then additionally, we’re going to pass over House Resolution 1041. Morning hour is ended. Representative Jean moves we place House Bill 1055 on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, read Amendment Number 1, Mr. Clerk.
Clerk Amendment Number 1 to House Bill 1055.
Shepherd Representative Jean, you’re recognized to explain the amendment.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is what we passed over yesterday for Representative Stan Berry. He’s got his answers answered. So all this does is change language where Arkansas Tech’s board of trustees cannot be picked by select counties. It could be picked statewide. Any questions? Appreciate a good vote on the amendment.
Shepherd Representative Jean has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? Would anyone like to speak for the amendment? Representative Jean has closed for the amendment. The question before the House is the adoption of amendment Number 1 to House Bill 1055. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. The amendment is adopted. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These first two House Bills– well, there’s a House Bill and a Senate bill. We’ll just do the House Bill first. These both have emergency clauses on them. This is the Department of Finance and Administration, their regulatory division, their ops budget. Any questions on House Bill 1028? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill a third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.
Clerk House Bill 1028.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. You’re voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk? By a vote of 89 yea, 0 nay, and 7 present, the bill and emergency clause have passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, the Senate Bill 66 is the claims– this is what, when the claims commission and the claims committee Okays claims against the state, this is the pot we pay the claims out of. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill a third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.
Clerk Senate Bill 66.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Emergency clause Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 96 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill and emergency clause are passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, we’re going to take a batch. These are all bills, House Bills, that do not have emergency clauses for the next fiscal year. Department of Corrections, House Bill 1010. Energy and Environment 1018. Department of Public Safety, 1026. 1056, Secretary of State’s Office Appropriation. 1058, DFA Appropriation. 1060, Parks and Tourism. 1064, Human Services Division of County Operations. House Bill 1070– 67, excuse me, Division of Career Technical Education. House Bill 1074– losing my voice– Division of Provider Services. And House Bill 1080, which is School of the Blind. Do I need to pull any of these out of the batch? Do we have any questions on any of these bills? Seeing none, your one vote is for all the bills. Mr. Speaker, have the clerk read the bill a third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bills for the third time.
Clerk House Bill 1010, House Bill 1018, House Bill 1026, House Bill 1056, House Bill 1058, House Bill 1060, Household 1064, House Bill 1067, House Bill 1074, House Bill 1018.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 96 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bills have passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to take up the regular Senate bills for next fiscal year. We’re going to start as Senate Bill 7, and we’re going to go down to Senate Bill 62. A lot of these are universities. We’ve passed the House packet the other day that had the universities in it. No major changes on any of these bills. Any questions?
Shepherd Rep. Clowney, for what purpose?
Clowney Request.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Clowney Rep. Jean, would you pull out SB 59 for a conflict, please?
Jean For a separate vote?
Clowney Separate vote.
Jean Today. OK, any others? All right, members, we’re going to start with Senate Bill 7, go all the way to Senate Bill 62, and we’re pulling out Senate Bill 59 for a separate vote. Once again, these do not have the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the clerk read the bills for the third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bills for the third time.
Clerk Senate Bill 7, Senate Bill 13, Senate Bill 15, Senate Bill 16, Senate Bill 17, Senate Bill 18, Senate Bill 20, Senate bill 24, Senate bill 26, Senate bill 33, Senate Bill 35, Senate Bill 38, Senate Bill 43, Senate Bill 46, Senate Bill 47, Senate Bill 48, Senate Bill 49, Senate Bill 60, Senate Bill 61, Senate Bill 62.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 96 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bills have passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, we’re going to take up Senate Bill 59, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency– not the emergency clause– there’s not one on this, just the bill. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill a third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.
Clerk Senate Bill 59.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 88 yeas, 4 nays and 1 present, the bill is passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have four bills, Senate bills, with the emergency clause. And Senate bill 102, Department of Finance. Senate Bill 103, Department of Finance. Senate Bill 104, Department of Veterans Affairs. And Senate Bill 105, the military appropriation. Any questions?
Shepherd Rep. Garner, for what purpose?
Garner Request.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Garner Would you pull out Senate Bill 102, please?
Jean For a separate vote?
Garner Separate vote, separate vote today. Thank you.
Jean Any questions? Any other requests? OK, so members we’re going to take up 103, 104, and 105. Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill the third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bills for the third time.
Clerk Senate bill 103, Senate bill 104, Senate Bill 105.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 93 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bills have passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ll take up Senate Bill 102, Department of Finance Administration. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. OK, not a question. Your one bill is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill for the third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.
Clerk Senate Bill 102.
Shepherd Representative Jean has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Rep. McKenzie, you’re recognized to speak against the bill.
McKenzie I’m really going to try to be sweet today. Sometimes it’s a challenge. I’m, I’m speaking against this bill and I’m voting against this bill, and I realize that might seem awkward and I’m probably not going to change any minds here. I’m 100 percent pro-life, but I’m going to vote against this bill. When I think back to the Rules Committee, when the Texas heartbeat bill was presented there, and I was allowed to ask a question, even though I’m not a member of the Rules Committee, and I really appreciated that. One of the members of the pregnancy resource centers was there testifying in support of the Texas heartbeat bill. And I asked her, you know, there’s been a lot of discussion, a lot of speculation about this other bill, this other funding, is there a deal, is there not a deal, what is your position. I don’t know if folks had a chance to watch that meeting, but her position was we didn’t ask for this money, we don’t want this money, we’re not going to take this money. I remember her saying, this is a ministry. We understand with taxpayer dollars comes strings. We don’t want those strings. And there not as a legislator, but as somebody whose church supports one of those centers, I was so thankful to hear them say that that they treat it as a ministry. I’ve got some ministries I care deeply about that I’m involved in. I don’t want taxpayer funding for them. I understand that people will say they don’t have to take this money. I recognize that. But as I reflect on different appropriation bills, different times when people have come up here and asked for funding. And I thought specifically about 2019, when I arrived here in revenue and tax still learning things. I’d never heard about a DD waiver list. I learned real quickly in revenue and tax one day when Representative Mayberry brought in a bunch of people. The visual was powerful. The testimony was powerful. We were funding them, but we weren’t funding them adequately enough. We learned how people were waiting on that waiver list for decades. Many of those people that I looked at at revenue and tax, they were, they were still looking at a long wait. If I recall correctly, we did not get them any additional funding in 2019. They came, they asked for that funding. They asked for it in one accord. Not one of them came up to the microphone and said, You know, I don’t support this funding. But with this funding right here, this million dollar funding, the only testimony that I’m aware of, and I’ve tried to follow it all, that’s on the record came from the very people that we’re seeking to fund, and they said, we didn’t ask for it. We don’t want it. What we do want– and they were so respectful– we just want your consideration. Because we recognize there’s two, two valuable opinions on both sides of this Texas heart bill. We’re just asking for it to be heard. That’s what they came to testify for. But when asked about the funding, they were unequivocal. I followed up with them again the last couple of weeks, the ones in my district. They’re still unequivocal about it. We don’t want it. We didn’t ask for it. There’s a cloud, in my opinion, over this whole process on this. I just don’t recall appropriation that sailed through so easily when many of the recipients are saying, we don’t want it. I realize a vote against this may not look good in the paper tomorrow for my pro-life record. I realize a vote against this might not look good on a campaign mailout. They’ll have to be fast because I’ll be talking about it anyway, because people just deserve to know about the process and make up their own minds. When I spoke to one of those pregnancy resource center leaders, you know what she said to me? Use my name, please. I’m not going to do that today. She said, We feel like we’ve been silenced, like we don’t have a voice. When do we ever give appropriation funding and the recipients tell us we don’t want it and we don’t feel like we have a voice? If this bill were stripped away from all the other things that seem to be associated with it, I don’t know if I’d still support it. Maybe I would. I would, I would not want to support a ministry anymore that had the taxpayer funds associated with it. I know I’d want to part company probably with that ministry. Still wish them well. But I support them as a ministry. But that’s my own personal belief. But this bill right here with everything associated with it, with the recipients, many of them telling me they don’t want it, I cannot in good conscience vote for a bill that I believe there may be a possibility that this bill labeled as a pro-life bill, perhaps might have been a tool to thwart the success of another important pro-life bill. Thank you.
Shepherd Rep. McKenzie has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Lundstrum, you’re recognized to speak for the bill.
Lundstrum Colleagues, I think we need to separate out. These are two separate issues. There is an abortion bill that was the Texas bill. And now we are the most pro-life state in the Union. So we have to answer that call. If we’re going to be the most pro-life state in the Union, we have to be prepared when those mothers come to a facility and they need help. Let me address that. These are– this is a list of the facilities in this state that say, Yes, we want help. We need help. Let me list where they are. Benton, Harrison, Hope, Texarkana, Malvern, Mountain Home, Hot Springs, Blytheville, Pine Bluff, Stuttgart, West Memphis, North Little Rock, Little Rock, Mena, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Paragould. All of these pregnancy resource centers have said, yes, we can use that one time funding to help new mothers with diapers, resources, and these are people all over the state. So if we’re going to be pro-life, we’re going to have to be there on the other side of that life helping them. So there are two sides to this. Yes, there are some that will choose not to, and that is their choice. Nobody’s forcing anybody. But we need to be there on the other side with the help and a hand. And I would ask for a good vote.
Shepherd Representative Flowers, for what purpose?
Flowers Question.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Flowers Thank you so much. Just a– I’m just wondering– as you spoke, Representative Lundstrum, if this is one time money, how would these crisis centers be supported moving forward?
Lundstrum Well, we’ll try it and see what happens. I mean, if they are successful, they may choose to come back. Many of these have survived on a dime and made a dollar. So let’s see what they do. They are going to have to work with the funds that they’re given and see how they do. It’s a process.
Flowers Follow up. So is this money to establish them or is this money–
Lundstrum No, these are well-established programs.
Flowers And they already have funding?
Lundstrum They already have local funding. This is to accentuate that local funding.
Flowers Thank you.
Shepherd Representative Lundstrum has spoken for the bill? Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Wooten, you’re recognized to speak against the bill.
Wooten Colleagues, I’m approaching this from a totally different perspective. If we start funding them this session– and I’m totally pro-life. We’ve killed 62 million babies in this nation. That’s a tragedy. We need to ask ourselves what are we doing? But if we fund this, here’s what’s going to happen. We’re not always going to be here. I’m sure not. If I’m here next year, I’ll be praising God for that. I may get sued for saying God, but it’s the truth. But let me share with you. We’re not always going to be here. And money– I promise you, at some point, strings will be attached to this money. I’m going to– this is a ministry. This is an outreach. My wife that I lost in 2008 spent 20 years supporting Our Option Pregnancy in Beebe and Cabot. 20 years. I saw her strap on her construction belt. She built homes and she went down to build and help remodel the first building for a pregnancy options center. About 10 years ago, and I’m not saying this now to raise praise for me, but about seven or eight years ago, they had to leave that facility, and I had a home that I had moved out of and had been using for my office. And I let them use that facility in my community so they could have a ministry and an outreach. But we do not need to fund this request. Because ultimately, it’s going to come back, another group, another set of legislators, will be here. And they’ll say, you’re going to have to do this or you are going to have to do that in order to get this money. Because this is just the beginning. This, this is– this will be a progression. And Representative Lundstrum, I hate, I hate to stand up here against something, but I have to agree with Representative McKenzie. We do not need to do this. And I, and I met with them, several of them, about 35 of them, and then I met with them when we came into session. And they told me that we do not want that money. We do not want it. At that point in time, I was told there was only one– there may be more now. But please do not approve this. Vote against it. Thank you.
Shepherd Rep. Wooten has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Crawford, you’re recognized to speak for the bill.
Crawford Hello, friends. This is kind of a tough place because I understand all of it. I was a pregnancy center director for seven years. I ran a home for pregnant and troubled young women for 23 years. I also have a nonprofit that wrote state and federal grants, and we separated them. We separated what we could do under the grant, and we separated what we could do under individual personal donations. It can be done. And I realize one of my good friends doesn’t want the money who’s running a pregnancy center, but then there are others who do. What if, just think of this, what if they got this money for one year and they were able to buy an ultrasound machine to show them the life of that baby? Or if they could take care of their facility that needed some dressing? What if one year of funding helped save babies? I wish I could bring something to the well, but I would get called out. But those pregnancy centers ladies, ladies brought to us a bag. And it had 10– it had nine babies. No, it had 10 babies and a quarter of a baby, if you can imagine that. How many babies get killed a day in Arkansas due to abortion? What if we saved part of those by an ultrasound machine that these people could get? Will they come back for funding? Doesn’t everyone? I mean, just saying. If at some point Roe v. Wade is overturned, we are going to have to step up and fund places like these centers to be able to reach out to all those women who are now going, I need help. Are you going to help me? So I understand both sides, but I understand it all. But I want you to just go inside yourself, your conscience. And say, hmm, how many babies can we save in a year? I ask you to vote for this. Thank you.
Shepherd Rep. Crawford has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Jean is recognized to close for the bill.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Get a little clarity on some of the things that have been said. I heard some concern about the DDS waiver list. Inside the Medicaid budget, there is additional $37.6 million to clear that out, to help, to help clear that out. So that has nothing to do with this. And this appropriation Monday will be in our one time appropriation, not in our RSA, so it’s not ongoing. So for members to know that. And if you want any of this money for these centers, you have to apply for it. And at the end of the fiscal year, if all the money is not used, it doesn’t stay there and start building up a balance. It will come back to the general revenue, and we’ll be in control of it. I wanted to clear that up. Thank you.
Shepherd Rep. Jean has closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 102. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. You’re voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 75 yeas, 19 nays and 1 present, the bill and emergency clause have passed. Members, we’re going to move back to the red calendar. Mr. Clerk, please read House Resolution 1040.
Clerk House Resolution 1040 by Representative Brooks to congratulate the Harding Academy Wildcats football team on winning the 2021 Class 3A State Championship.
Shepherd Representative Brooks, you’re recognized to explain the resolution.
Brooks Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I’d like to invite Representative Eaves to join me in the well, please. And colleagues, I want to thank you for exhibiting, demonstrating to a bunch of good young men what respectful political discourse looks like. I think oftentimes in, in our society today, that’s missed. And so there’s a whole group of young men who, who can see what it looks like back and forth, and people can be respectful about how we approach issues that are very important to us. So thank you. So I was very excited to, to present this resolution until yesterday when Representative Tosh reminded us about how good Valley View was. And basically, they’re the king of all things from what I understood. But I still think we’ve got some some value in this resolution today. So we have the opportunity to honor the Harding Academy Wildcats and I appreciate Representative Eaves indulging me to do this, since he represents Searcy and that area, even though I’m a graduate of it. He was gracious enough to let me run this resolution. So we’re honoring the Harding Academy Wildcats today on their third straight football state championship. Three straight puts them in a very unique club in the state of Arkansas, joining such teams as Little Rock Central Tigers, Pine Bluff Zebras, the El Dorado Wildcats, Bryant Hornets and even the Barton Bears for three straight state championships in a row. So they join a very unique club. So the gentlemen are sitting up here in the gallery. And later on we’ll get the chance to honor them after we read the resolution. But a couple of things specific about this team. Again, this is their third straight state championship. There were several young men, a part of this team who, who won all state honors, Andrew Miller, Eli Wallace, Cooper Welsh and Cade Smith. I’m proud to say that three out of four of those I went to school with their parents. Honoring coach Evans, Clevenger, Smith, Wallace. Coach Bill Francis, Alex, Alex Francis and Kenny Fester, their athletic trainer. So one really unique thing about this team, besides the fact that they are an outstanding football team and that more than half of them have been playing together since the third grade, is that they’re good young men. They’re young men who are learning the value of not just athletics, but the value of how to live life in service to others and treat people as they want to be treated. So Representative Eaves, do you want to share anything?
Eaves Don’t know that I can add much more to that, but just to say, I’m very proud and congratulations to all the coaches, staff and the players. Very proud of you. Congratulations.
Brooks And Mr. Speaker, please have the Clerk read the resolution. One other thing I would ask that any parents that might be with them, if you knew me when I was a teenager, please leave quickly, so that none of these folks have the chance to ask you any questions.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the resolution in its entirety.
Clerk Whereas the 2021 Harding Academy Wildcats football team claimed the Class 3A State Championship trophy after defeating the Prescott High School Curly Wolves with a 47 to 25 victory at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. And whereas the 2021 Harding Academy Wildcats football team’s victory gave the school its third consecutive Class 3A state championship. And whereas the 2021 Harding Academy Wildcats football teams’ victory was particularly special for the school and community as over half the team has played together since they were in elementary school. And whereas the 2021 Harding Academy Wildcats football team was well led by head coach Neal Evans. And whereas the 2021 Harding Academy Wildcats football team were also supported by additional coaches, staff and other members of Harding Academy and their community. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 93rd General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the House of Representatives congratulate the Harding Academy Wildcats football team on winning the 2021 Class 3A State Championship.
Shepherd Representative Brooks has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? Would anyone like to speak for the resolution? Representative Brooks is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House Resolution 1040. All in favor say Aye. Any opposed. The resolution is passed. Members, we’re going to move to the supplemental budget calendar. Representative Jean moves that we place House Bill 1034 on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, read amendment number 3, Mr. Clerk.
Clerk Amendment number 3 to House Bill 1034.
Shepherd Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is some– make sure– look at all three pages. What this, what this amendment does mainly is to add the $5,000 one time stipend for the death of the correctional officer that happened in Maumelle, I guess, earlier this week. So that’s what this amendment does. I didn’t want people to think it did something it didn’t. But anyway, I appreciate a good vote on the amendment.
Shepherd Rep. Jean has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? Would anyone like to speak for the amendment? Rep. Wardlaw, you’re recognized to speak for the amendment.
Wardkaw’ Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It actually goes a little bit further than that. Representative Jean did a good job of laying out the footwork of it. But when that officer was killed, they recognized that they could not move that forward to anybody that wasn’t a certified law enforcement officer. A lot of our correction officers are not certified law enforcement officers. This sets up a mechanism for the director and the Board of Corrections to be able to award that death benefit to anybody going forward that is not a certified law enforcement officer. So this is kind of– it woke us up, opened our eyes to a problem. The officer who was killed in Maumelle actually did qualify for the benefit, but we saw the need. We were able to put the language in there and offer that opportunity to any of our correction officers across the state. With that, I’d appreciate a good vote.
Shepherd Rep. Wardlaw has spoken for the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? Would anyone like to speak for the amendment? Representative Jean has closed for the amendment. The question before the House is the adoption of amendment number 3 to House Bill 1034. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. The amendment is adopted. Rep. Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, we’ll take up House Bill 1017. This is the Department of Finance Distribution officer for fiscal year 22-23. Ops budget. Got any questions? This one does have the emergency clause, so your one vote for the bill and the emergency clause. Seeing no questions, Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill the third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.
Clerk House Bill 1070.
Shepherd Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. You’re voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 94 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill and emergency clause are passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.
Jean Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, these last two bills are House Bills. This is the Medicaid Tobacco Settlement Program. And also House Bill 1078, the Department of Health appropriation for 22-23. What did I say? 1079. Be 1059 and 1079. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill. Mr. Speaker, have the clerk read the bill a third time.
Shepherd Mr. Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.
Clerk House Bill 1059, House Bill 1079.
Shepherd Prepare the machine. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 91 yeas, 0 nay, and 2 present, the bills have passed. Rep. Meeks, for what purpose?
Meeks Motion, please.
Shepherd Let’s hear your motion. After the announcements, reading of the bills, transferring the bills, placing the calendars on the desk, members amending their own bills with their own amendments, members withdrawing their own bills, finalizing resolutions, reading communications and any remaining committee reports, I move that we adjourn until noon on Monday.
Shepherd That’s a proper motion. It’s not debatable. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. Motion passes. Before we go to announcements, and Representative Jean can can chime in if I say– misstate anything. We anticipate having RSA put on the desk tomorrow, or at least by tomorrow. When that happens, we’ll also email out copies of both the RSA and the one time schedule that kind of gives an overview of the one time money, which I think both caucuses have access to right now. But we’ll make sure to email that out. Then our plan is to come back on Monday. I’m not sure about budget meeting, but Representative Jean can tell us about that. But we will convene at noon and then we will hopefully conclude our work on Tuesday. I’m not sure as we sit here today what time we’ll convene on Tuesday. Assuming we get our work done on Tuesday, then we will look to recess until some point probably the following week to come back for sine die adjournment. And that way we can handle if there’s, if there were any vetoes or any errors in any of the bills that need to be corrected. That would give us time to work through that. Representative Jean, for what purpose?
Jean Announcements.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Jean After we adjourn here– is it 130 or 131? One of the rooms, Mr. Speaker and I, whoever wants to come, we’ll be happy to sit down to discuss anything on the one time schedule or the RSA. Joint Budget will meet Monday at 10 a.m., not 9 a.m. 10 a.m. And we’ll pass out the RSA, the one time schedule at that time and get them on the House calendar for Monday at 12.
Shepherd Rep. Wardlaw, for a purpose?
Wardlaw Announcement.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Wardlaw ALC Executive Committee will meet at 11 o’clock on Monday. 11 o’clock on Monday.
Shepherd Representative Warren, for what purpose?
Warren Point of personal privilege.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Warren We’ve got a member in our midst that will never toot his own horn, but I’m going to. Last night I went to the state tournament, basketball tournament in Sheridan, and unfortunately my Lakeside Rams lost. One of the main reasons that they lost was because of my fellow Representative Milton Nicks’ grandson. Milton Nicks’ grandson, Number 1 on Marion’s basketball team, was the high point man with 20 points. A very quick, talented young man. I went and met him after the game. I told Milton, I said, You didn’t tell me you had the stud on your team. But the the young man is a very fine young man. He said, Well, where are you going to go after this year? And he goes, Well, I’m just a Junior. The whole team is made up of Juniors and this guy– afterwards, Milton said, and he has a 4.0 GPA.
Shepherd Representative Beck, for what purpose?
Beck Announcement.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Beck Joint Energy will convene in Big Mac A upon adjournment, directly after adjournment here.
Shepherd Representative Vaught, for what purpose?
Vaught Announcement.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
Vaught Agriculture, Forestry, Economic Development will meet upon adjournment for a quick resolution.
Shepherd Representative McElroy, for what purpose?
McElroy Announcement.
Shepherd You’re recognized.
McElroy Today’s my anniversary for 44 years with the same woman, and she is one lucky woman. Give her a round of applause, please.
Shepherd Any other announcements? If not, the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourned resolution, the House will be adjourned until noon on Monday.