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Arkansas Legislative Council
May 20, 2022
Wardlaw [00:01:49] Members, if you’ll grab your seat we’ll go ahead and get started. Senator Irvin, would you lead us in prayer?
Irvin [00:02:27] If everybody will please stand and join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this amazing day. We thank you for the ability to serve the people of the state of Arkansas. We thank you for the many, many blessings that you give us individually, personally, and as a state. Lord, we just ask that you would be with us as we deliberate. We ask that you would be with those people around the world that are suffering and extend your grace and your love and your mercy. And Lord, always speak through us and always be in our minds and in our hearts so that we can illuminate your love and your grace and your mercy through our words and through our actions. In your precious name we pray, amen.
Wardlaw [00:03:13] Thank you, Senator. Need a motion for the minutes? A motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll move on to the revenue report. Mr. Anderson.
Anderson [00:03:38] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Kevin Anderson, Bureau of Legislative Research. The Arkansas Revenue Report for April, it’s item D in your packet. Gross general revenue collections year to date at 7.2 billion have increased 794 million or 12% above last fiscal year for the month of April. Net general revenues increased 345.7 million over last April, and the April collections above the forecast were 531.9 million, majority of that through income tax collections. On page two, Mr. Chairman, you’ll see that we have, above forecasts, when we look at collections compared to forecasts, we are 987.9 million above forecast with two months remaining. And I’ll stop there and try to answer any questions.
Wardlaw [00:04:37] Seeing no questions from members, thank you for your presentation. Oh, I do have questions. Representative Meeks.
Meeks [00:04:43] Thank you, sir. Do we know what’s driving that– do we know what’s driving the surplus?
Anderson [00:04:50] Well, Arkansas, collections are pretty easy. Sales tax and income tax make up 93% of our income and income of our collections. And income taxes and sales tax are both up. So income tax carried us this month pretty heavy.
Meeks [00:05:04] All right. Thank you.
Wardlaw [00:05:08] Thank you. Seeing no further questions, thank you for your report. With that, I’ll go to co-chair Senator Rice for the executive subcommittee report.
Rice [00:05:17] Thank you, Mr. Chair. The executive subcommittee met on Tuesday, May 17, reviewed and approved an emergency rule for the Department of Public Safety. Approval of emergency rule was reported to all members of ALC. I move adoption of the report.
Wardlaw [00:05:32] That’s a proper motion. Do I have a second? Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll go to the Administrative Rules Committee. Senator Hammer, you’re recognized.
Hammer [00:05:48] Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met on Wednesday, May 18. The subcommittee reviewed and filed the quarterly reports that were submitted by the Department of Corrections Parole Board. The subcommittee filed the May monthly written agencies update pursuant to Act 595 of 2021. The subcommittee also reviewed an agency rules recommending an expedited process for occupational licensure pursuant to Act 135 of 2021. At the agency’s request, one rule by the Department of Agricultural State Plant Board was pulled from consideration prior to the meeting. One rule by the Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Medical Examining Board concerning the veterinary telehealth and telemedicine was held for consideration by the full ALC. However, the agency has informed us that they want the rule pulled and we’ll bring it back to the Rules Subcommittee at a later date. All other rules were reviewed and approved, with Senator Jimmy Hickey noting his objection to the rules of the Milk Stabilization Board. And I would move for adoption of the report, Mr. Chairman.
Wardlaw [00:06:54] That’s a proper motion. Do I have a second? I have a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. So with that we’ll go to the Higher Ed subcommittee. Representative Whitaker.
Whitaker [00:07:11] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Higher Education Subcommittee met on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The subcommittee heard testimony from the Arkansas State University system regarding the following items: engineering biomolecules and plant cells for biomedical and industrial applications; use of waste materials in highway construction challenges and economic opportunities– these waste materials include car tires and rice hull ash; collaborative opportunities for material manufacturing and research. Submitted on behalf of myself and Senator English, I move adoption.
Wardlaw [00:07:46] That’s a proper motion. Do I have a second? I have a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll go to Peer Subcommittee. Senator Dismang, you’re recognized .
Dismang [00:08:02] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Peer Subcommittee met on Tuesday, May 17. The subcommittee received reports, reviewed requests and approved requests for the following items: various temporary appropriation, American Rescue Plan appropriation, infrastructure appropriation and rainy day fund transfer. I move adoption of the report. Happy to take any questions.
Wardlaw [00:08:19] That’s a proper motion. Do I have a second? I have a second. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll go on to Representative Bragg with the Review subcommittee.
Bragg [00:08:32] Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Review subcommittee met on Tuesday and reviewed methods of finance, discretionary grants and services contracts. No items were held. I move adoption of the report.
Wardlaw [00:08:41] That’s a proper motion. Do I have a second? Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll go to the Personnel Subcommittee. Senator Wallace.
Wallace [00:08:59] Good morning, Mr. Chairman. The personnel committee met Wednesday, the 18th of May, in room A of Mac building. The committee reviewed and approved items 1 through 10, with the exception of Item 7, which was held in the subcommittee for further review following the JPR review committee in June. I would be happy to entertain any questions and move to adopt the report at the proper time.
Wardlaw [00:09:22] That’s a proper motion. I do have a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll move on to the Lottery Oversight. Representative Deffenbaugh.
Deffenbaugh [00:09:35] Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Lottery Oversight Subcommittee met Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 3 p.m. in Room Mac B. The subcommittee held testimony and reviewed the following items: Department of Finance and Administration Office of the Arkansas Lottery Director Report Proposed FY 2023 annual budget and term contract. Move for adoption.
Wardlaw [00:10:02] That’s a proper motion. Do I have a second? Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we’ll move on to the Occupational License report. Senator Bledsoe, you’re recognized.
Bledsoe [00:10:15] Yes, the Occupational License Review Subcommittee met on Thursday, May 19, 2022, to receive reports on occupational authorizations from the Arkansas Securities Department, Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, Arkansas Real Estate Commission, Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality. With that, I move that we adopt this report.
Wardlaw [00:10:41] It’s a proper motion. I do have a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. Members, we don’t have any action to take on any of the agency reports, so we’ll move down to J, interim studies. Do I have a motion for the chair to put these interim studies in place? I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say aye. All opposed. Ayes have it. With that, we have no further business. We stand adjourned.