House Aging, Children and Youth Committee 

February 15, 2023

Rep Barker: Okay, Chair sees a quorum. We are going to get started. Not a long agenda today but we’re going to go ahead and get started since it is 10 AM. Going to start members with House Bill 1153, which may give you deja vu, but we do have an amendment, so Representative Vaught, you’re recognized. We’ll just give a moment for committee members to get the amendment.

Rep Vaught: It’s mine. And the only reason I know is because of that.

Rep Barker: Okay, you’re recognized.

Rep Vaught: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Committee. I presented this bill with a young lady last week and whenever I was in here I told you that the ad– 

Rep Barker: Ad litem.

Rep Vaught: Thank you, ma’am. For some odd reason that word gives me trouble. And the judges needed me to go back and put ‘in the best interest of.’ And I promised if y’all would let it out, I would send it back to Committee and ask for that amendment. And that’s what you have before you today.

Rep Barker: Are there any questions by Committee on the amendment? Representative Springer? Okay. No questions? Okay, Representative Springer. We have a motion do pass on the amendment. All in favor, say aye. Opposed no. Okay, you’re recognized.

Rep Vaught: Thank you, Madam Chair. And again the bill is exactly what we talked about the other day. We’re wanting to give a voice back to some of the kids that we feel like they’re old enough to make that decision whether they want to go back to their home where they’re not safe, dry, and fed. And this will actually be able to help them the ad–  

Rep Barker: Ad litem.

Rep Vaught: Ad litem. I’m almost going to give up on the word.

Rep Barker: You know, light them up, okay? 

Rep Vaught: I’m going to light them up, there you go. Maybe I can remember it that way. This will actually give the judge the opportunity to actually get to hear the child’s voice in this case also. And I would appreciate a good vote.

Rep Barker: Thank you. Are there questions by Committee? No questions? Is there anyone here to speak for the bill, against the bill? Okay, what’s the will of the Committee? Oh, I’m sorry. Would you like to close?

Rep Vaught: I’m closed, and I’d appreciate a good vote.

Rep Barker: Representative McKenzie, you’re recognized. We have a motion do pass as amended. Yeah, I thought you said that. Okay. All in favor, say aye. Opposed no. Congratulations.

Rep Vaught: Thank you, Madam Chair.

Rep Barker: Your bill is passed again.

Rep Vaught: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, committee.

Rep Barker: Okay, now we’re going to House Resolution 1015, which is Representative Lundstrum’s, but Representative Steimel is going to present today. And you’re recognized.

Rep Steimel: Thank you, Madam Chair. Here on behalf of Representative Lundstrum. Here to recognize the 77th Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Government Southern Office. So what this is, this is just bringing to light 76 years that this Council has been with its roots in Hot Springs. This is going to be held at Charleston, South Carolina, from the 8th to the 12th. And one of the things I will speak to, and I am already signed up to go to this conference, is because it is very kid-friendly. So I really encourage the folks out here to go take advantage of this if they have small kids because I look forward to going to the conference. And the conference is July 8th through the 12th in 2023. So appreciate any questions.

Rep Barker: Thank you. Are there any questions by Committee? Is there anyone here to speak for the resolution? Against the resolution? Would you like to close for your resolution?

Rep Steimel: I’m closed.

Rep Barker: Representative Carr, you’re recognized.

Rep Carr: Motion do pass.

Rep Barker: We have a motion do pass. All in favor say aye. Opposed no. Congratulations, you’ve passed your resolution.

Rep Steimel: Thank you, Madam Chair.

Rep Barker: And without objection, today we are going to skip over House Resolution 1016 by Representative Haak at her request. And Representative Fite, would you mind doing something you’re very well at in chairing this committee?

Rep C Fite: Representative Barker, you are recognized to present House Resolution 1017.

Rep Barker: Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee, I just wanted to see what it looked like from this end. I’m just kidding. This is actually Speaker Shepherd’s resolution to recognize the cheer team from Parkers Chapel High School. Parkers Chapel is not in my district but a couple of the members and some of the teachers live in my district that go there. So I’m equally as proud of them. When they won the cheer competition for the 1 and 2A that was combined this past year in 2022, that made them 3-peaters, they won 2020, 2021 and 2022. I know they have an awful lot of community support not just for the cheer team but for their entire school. And I will just name their head coach is Torri Jacobs, and the assistant coach is Cara Midyett. I’m not going to read all of the names, you can do that from the floor, especially if they are going to come and be in the gallery. And with that, I would take any questions.

Rep C Fite: Are there any questions? Representative Barker, would you like to close for your resolution?

Rep Barker: I am closed and would make a motion do pass.

Rep C Fit:e We have a motion do pass, all in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. Congratulations, your resolution passes.

Rep Barker: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Committee.

Rep C Fite: I’m not seeing any further business before us but I will leave that to Madam Chairman to adjourn us.

Rep Barker: Members, do you have any other business, anything we have not? Okay, then with nothing before us, we are adjourned.