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Senate
Feb. 8, 2023
Sen Irvin The Senate will be called to order at this time. Are there any request for leave at this time? All right, Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clarke. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Sen Irvin  All right, Everyone in the chamber and in the galleries, if you will, please rise and remain standing for the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Senate will be led in prayer by Senator Tucker, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sen Tucker (Prayer)
Members (Pledge of Allegiance)
Sen Irvin Thank you, ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to the Arkansas Senate. It is our expectations each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today’s proceedings. Without objection, the rules will be suspended and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal. Are there any announcements that need to be made? Senator Flowers, you’re recognized.
Sen Flowers Well, it’s an announcement, but also a request to welcome three students and their professor from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. They’re part of the science, technology, engineering and math department. They’re here today with their project up on the second floor. Professor Habib if you stand. Keelen Camp. And Sheree, I believe I don’t see Professor Habib. But please welcome them.
Sen Irvin Thank you. Senator Sullivan, you’re recognized.
Sen Sullivan I have a group here from Bono, Arkansas. Jonesboro is a suburb of Bono. We appreciate them being here at Jeremy, Amanda Eskew and their five kids. Stand up, please. They are, that family has a Lighthouse Educational Cooperative. They have 60 children in the Bono and Jonesboro area in Pocahontas. And they specialize in children with autism and special needs. They came to me when they had about six or eight kids in their program, maybe ten, and began serving these children as the word spread that the great success that they were having with kids with special needs. The word spread. And we even have public schools now that are referring children and doctors in the area. Referring children to their cooperative, is expanded greatly and the announcement that was made today was specifically to help these kinds of programs. So if you would, help me welcome them to the Arkansas Senate. Thank you.
Sen Irvin Senator Bryant. You’re recognized for announcement.
Sen Bryant Members I’d like to recognize again our nurse of the day, Ms.Sheri Bernard, as well as our Doctor of the Day from Rogers, Arkansas, in Benton County, Dr. Cheryl Hull.
Sen Irvin Senator Leding, you’re recognized for announcement.
Sen Bryant Thank you, colleagues. I just want to welcome my first page of the session. This is Josh Weatherby from Fayetteville. He’s 13 years old and it’s in seventh grade at Haas Hall Academy back in Fayetteville. He enjoys acting. He’s a member of the quiz ball team. The only thing that I have a little bit of a problem with it says here you’re a fan of the Houston Rockets and is somebody who’s cheered for the San Antonio Spurs since he was your age. I have a little bit that we’re going to talk about that this afternoon. All right. Anyway, please welcome Josh.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Mark Johnson. You’re recognized.
Sen M Johnson Thank you, Madam President. For those of you who don’t know a Wompus cat is, a large blue black cat with six legs, four for running at the speed of light and two for fighting with all its might. Just in case you didn’t know that. And I’m honored to be here with two Wompus cats in addition to myself. Kaylie Criswell is, she’s not only a Wompus cat, she is one of the editors of the Wompus Campus Cat newspaper, which is now, of course, all electronic from the old days. She plans to major in creative writing and journalism. She is on the Conway House School online magazine Mirrors and is part of the Quill One Scrolls Honor Society, and I bring down our friend Carol Ann Mack–Carol Ann McAdams, who was Carol Ann Connor years ago when I first knew her and in her many, many honors and being a teacher, she was my journalism teacher at Conway High School. So to have a journalism student from Conway, I had to bring Carol Ann and Randy in to recognize her. So please welcome Kaylee, who, by the way, if you’ve ever been to Toad Suck Bucks, but she works there, so she’s on top of all that she also has a job and does well. So please welcome Kaylee is my first page and of course, our friend Carol Ann.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any other announcements at this time? Madam Secretary, other items at the desk?
Madam Secretary Yes, Madam President. We your Committee on Engrossed Bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 145 by Joint Budget report that we have carefully compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Engrossed Bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 194 by Senator Hester report that we have carefully compared the engrossed copy with the original and we find the same correctly engrossed.
Lt Gov Rutledge State Agencies.
Madam Secretary Madam President, we your Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred House Bill 1098 by Representative Mayberry, recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Judiciary to whom was referred House Bill 1144 by Representative Dalby recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor to whom was referred Senate Bill 187 by Senator Irvin recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred Senate Bill 189 by Senator Irvin recommend do pass as amended number one.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred Senate Bill 188 by Senator Irvin recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred Senate Bill 193 by Senator Hill recommend do pass as amended number one.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health To whom was referred House Bill 1108 by Representative Lundstrum recommended do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred House Bill 1127 by Representative Johnson recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred House Bill 1155 by Representative Bentley recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred House Bill 1250 by Representative Johnson recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred House Bill 1251 by Representative Johnson recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Public Health to whom was referred House Bill 1267 by Representative Mayberry recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Revenue and Tax to whom was referred HCR 1001 by Representative Ray recommend do pass.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary We your Committee on Revenue Tax to whom was referred House Bill 1026 by Representative Ray recommend do pass.
Calendar. Senate Resolution six by Senator Dees to recognize Miss Arkansas 2022 Ebony Mitchell, Senate Resolution six.
Lt Gov Rutledge Calendar.
Madam Secretary Senate Joint Resolution five by Senator Tucker. An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to authorize a county, city, town or other municipal corporation to fund and administer a water system, Customer Assistance Program. Senate Joint Resolution five.
Lt Gov Rutledge State Agencies.
Madam Secretary Senate Joint Resolution six by Senator Clark. A constitutional amendment permitting the state of Arkansas to be sued as a defendant in state court to enforce constitutional rights or as otherwise provided by law. Senate Joint Resolution Six.
Lt Gov Rutledge State Agencies.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 215 by Senator Irvin. To provide a sales and use tax exemption for working horses and fencing used in commercial agricultural production. Senate Bill 215.
Lt Gov Rutledge Revenue and Tax.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 216 By Senator Tucker. To amend the law concerning the waiting time to vote, to amend the law concerning election procedures and to allow a citizen complaint concerning the waiting time to vote. Senate Bill 216.
Lt Gov Rutledge State Agency.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 217 by Senators Boyd, et al. To amend the Charitable Bingo and Raffles Enabling Act and to authorize electronic raffles. Senate Bill 217.
Lt Gov Rutledge Insurance and Commerce.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 218 by Joint Budget. An Act for the Department of Education Division of Higher Education Northwest Technical Institute Re Appropriation. Senate Bill 218.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 219 By Joint Budget and Act for the Department of Human Services Division of County Operations Re Appropriation Senate Bill 219.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 220 by Joint Budget and Act with the Department of Military Re Appropriation Senate Bill 220.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 221 By Joint Budget and Act for the Department of Agriculture Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 221.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 222 By Joint Budget. An Act for the Arkansas Public Defender Commission Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 222.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 223 By Joint Budget. An Act for the Institutions of Higher Education Re Appropriation Senate Bill 223.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 224 By Joint Budget. An Act for the Department of Education. Arkansas School for the Blind and Arkansas School for the Deaf Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 224.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 225 by Joint Budget. An Act for the Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 225.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 226 By Joint Budget. An Act with the Department of Commerce State Insurance Department Re Appropriation Senate Bill 226.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 227 By Joint Budget. An Act for the Department of Commerce. Arkansas Economic Development Commission Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 227.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 228. By Joint Budget. An Act for the Department of Health Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 228.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 229 by Joint Budget. An Act for the Department of Transformation and Shared Services Building Authority Division Re Appropriation, Senate Bill 229.
Lt Gov Rutledge Joint Budget. Anything else, Madam Secretary? If not, then the morning hour has expired. We will now start the business agenda. SB 72.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 72 by Senator Hickey. To amend the law concerning reimbursement of county costs for holding state inmates, probationers and parolees and to declare an emergency.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Hickey, you’re recognized.
Sen Hickey Thank you, Madam Governor. Members, this involves our county jail reimbursement. What this will do is send more money to the county jails on an annual basis. Just to kind of let you know what’s been going on, if the Division of Correction receives a sentencing order after 22 days, which is sent to them by the prosecutor, then they’re not paying the county jails until they receive that or the reimbursement does not start at that time. What this bill does is require that once a person is sentenced to the division of Correction, that the accrual will start at that at that particular point in time. That doesn’t mean that the division of correction is going to pay them until they receive the correct sentencing order, but the accrual will start. So basically, you know, the county jails have been losing out on, you know, 20 something days probably of what we would pay the state, which or what we would pay for in the state, if I remember correct, don’t hold me this, I think so like $40 a day is what that would do. Now, this came through City, County, Local and of course, you know, I don’t know that we normally do a fiscal impact through there, but I did have that run. The cost of this is right under $4.7 million a year. So there is a cost to do this. So I’ll attempt to answer any questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Hickey. Senator King.
Sen King So how much is it going to cost a year? Four point something million a year?
Sen Hickey It’s $4,667,000 per year is what the Division of Correction estimated in state GR.
Sen King This is going to come out of general revenue, there’s no.
Sen Hickey Yes, sir the way that it’s actually set up, as you know, that once somebody’s sentenced, they’re actually the responsibility of the state if they’re going to go the Division of Correction. The way all this is currently set up, those moneys come out of what’s called a county jail reimbursement account.
Sen King Yeah, I’m familiar with that.
Sen Hickey And that account really doesn’t have enough money in because we usually do a supplement on it through ALC every year anyway.
Sen King So we’re putting this into law, which, I mean, what kind of support, I think it’s a fair thing for counties to. So you’re putting this in the law like, I mean, I know everybody’s, like I said, special language. I mean, what if we have a shortfall or something like that and general revenue doesn’t come in? I mean, I remember the days when we did have that. But can this not be done without a law like can the governor change that policy without doing it, without having to put in the law? My thing is, if you put it in law, well, then you have to pay it. And if we ever get in financial trouble, the federal government just doesn’t keep bailing everything out. Then eventually you’re gonna have to figure out how to pay for this stuff.
Sen Hickey Well, that’s–so to answer your first question, no, because we currently have a statute that dictates the other way. So the governor or somebody could not do it. And that’s the reason that I went ahead and did the fiscal impact, because whenever we do RSA towards the end, that number will have to be inclusive of those cost increases.
Sen King My thing is everything we’re doing is just increases baseline spending. And like I said, if the federal government just doesn’t keep bailing everything out, then I don’t know what this place would do. But I mean, I understand with the fairness issue to the counties, but so I just had those questions.
Sen Hickey Thank you, sir.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any other questions? Senator Mark Johnson. You’re recognized.
Sen M Johnson Thank you, Madam President. Senator Hickey. We’ve tended to be a little behind the eight ball as far as reimbursing the counties in a fair manner for the cost per day of housing an inmate who at that moment is the state’s responsibility. Is that correct?
Sen Hickey Well, I guess there’s varying opinions on it. I feel that way. And I definitely know the sheriffs in the counties feel that way. So, yes sir.
Sen M Johnson So I guess what we’re doing is basically paying the counties for things we’re responsible for and making sure that we put that into law. Is that kind of a good interpretation?
Sen Hickey It’s perfect for this one, because actually, once someone is sentenced, I mean, you just have to look at it at that particular point in time. If they’re sentenced to the division or to the Division of Correction now, that’s exactly right. They are, I hate to say the ownership of the state, but they are the responsibility. Yes. Yes, sir.
Sen M Johnson Thank you, sir.
Sen Hickey Yes, sir.
Sen M Johnson Thank you, ma’am.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any other questions for Senator Hickey? Seeing none, anyone wish to speak against or for? Seeing none, Senator Hickey, you’re welcome to close.
Sen Hickey I’m closed. Thank you, ma’am.
Lt Gov Rutledge Thank you. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? This vote will require 24. It does have an emergency clause. The bill itself is 18, emergency clause will take 24. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Anyone wishing to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea and zero nay, bill passes with emergency clause and emergency clause passes. Please transmit to the House. SB 191.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 191by Senator Wallace. To amend the method of how board members are selected to the State Plant Board and to declare an emergency.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Wallace, you’re recognized.
Sen Wallace Thank you, Governor. Members, this bill reforms the Plant Board, the selection process, and it conforms with a recent Supreme Court ruling that happened the past summer. In years past, the governor had the option and he could choose from a multitude of farmers or timbermen or cattlemen. However, there were some groups, nine, where those groups picked people. For a long time it was one and it finally became two. And the governor could only pick from those two folks. Supreme Court decided that was wrong, that elected officials should have that right to do that. They made that ruling in this bill puts it in law. And I stand by for your questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Wallace? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Caldwell, you’re recognized to speak for or against. For?
Sen Caldwell For. Thank you, Madam President. Again, I want to reiterate what Senator Wallace said. We fought this problem last for five years. It’s a good bill, meets court orders that we need and we would appreciate a good vote from everyone.
Lt Gov Rutledge Anyone else wish to speak for–rather against or for? Seeing none, Senator Wallace? Senator Wallace is closed. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? The bill will require 18, the emergency clause 24. With that, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant, Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any Senator’s wish to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea, zero nay, the bill passes and the emergency clause passes with the necessary 24 plus votes. SB 192.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 192 by Senator Boyd. To amend the law concerning coverage of biosimilar medical products under step therapy protocols and to amend exceptions to step therapy protocols.
Lt Gov Rutledge And please transmit SB 191 to the House. Senator Boyd, you’re recognized for SB 192.
Sen Boyd Thank you, Madam President. Currently, the Step Therapy Act that we’ve passed previously contains an unnecessary legal barrier to cost saving access to biosimilar medications. Biosimilars can be thought of similarly to, but not exactly like a brand and a generic drug. So what you have is a biologic and a biosimilar. And so these are FDA approved drugs that have gone through the safety and efficacy studies and are believed to have the same– not have any clinically meaning difference in therapeutics between a biologic and its biosimilar. This bill amends the Step Therapy Act to facilitate access to cost saving medications, which are FDA approved and expect to be of no clinically significant difference than the originating biologic. The bill preserves the right of the patient and physician or nurse practitioner, physician assistant to limit the medication prescribed. This is again akin to a generic medication being substituted for a brand medication. Happy to try to answer any questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Boyd? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Boyd, you’re recognized to close.
Sen Boyd I’d appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any Senator who has not voted who wished to votes or who wish to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote 34 yea, zero nay and one present bill passes. Please transmit to the House. HB 1042.
Madam Secretary House Bill 1042 by Representatives Allen et al, to enhanced coverage of prostate cancer screenings by health benefit plans.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Wallace, you’re recognized.
Sen Wallace Thank you, Governor. Members, a real good bill that came out of the House. It simply amends a current law to make sure that it meets the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. What it does is it requires our Insurance Commissioner to require our insurance companies, Medicaid, Medicare, to allow for one screening of prostate cancer for men over the age of 40. It’s a good bill, it will save lives. With that, I stand by to answer your questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Wallace? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator?
Sen Wallace Closed.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator is closed. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Is there any Senator who wishes to change his or her vote? Please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea and zero nay bill passes. Please train, rather return to the House. HB 1164.
Madam Secretary House Bill 1164 by Representative Bentley. To amend the law concerning the correction of errors arising from the erroneous sale of lands and the State of Arkansas, and to him in the law concerning the duties of the Commissioner of State Lands.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Stubblefield, you’re recognized.
Sen Stubblefield Thank you, Madam President. 1164, colleagues, a simple bill. Simply amends a law concerning correction of errors. In section one amends Arkansas Code of 22-6-102. Takes out a lot of obsolete language, makes some grammatical clarifications, and basically just cleaned it up language they no longer use. Its Commissioner of State Lands. Be glad to take any questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Stubblefield? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Stubblefield has closed. Is there any opposition to roling the vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Flippo. You’re recognized.
Sen Flippo Thank you, Governor. Just point of order, I noticed that our clock, I think is off because I’m seeing that it says that it’s 1:40. However, according to the agenda, it is Hammer time. (Laughter)
Lt Gov Rutledge Before we move on to such an exciting time in our agenda, it’s imperative that we get past HB 1164. Anyone wish to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 34 yea, zero nay, HB 1164 passes. Please return to the House. Now, Madam Secretary, it is Hammer time.
Madam Secretary House Bill 1183 by Representative Maddock and Senator Hammer. To amend the update provisions for outsourcing under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and to declare an emergency.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Hammer, you’re recognized.
Sen Hammer Thank you, Madam Governor. And there ought to be a law against that, but. House Bill 1183, there’s a handout that has been provided by the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. These are all basically clean up bills that just align with current practices. There are no, there’s no material financial impact on this bill or any of the others. On Senate, on House Bill, excuse me 1183. This bill clarifies the ATRS law related to the collections of a surcharge of the salary of outsourced positions in school districts like cafeteria and janitorial services by removing obsolete and unneeded language. As I mentioned, there is no material financial impact to the system. This is brought to you by the board and it has cleared the committee without opposition. Be glad to try to take any questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Hammer? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Hammer you wish to close?
Sen Hammer Closed for the bill. Appreciate a good vote.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any Senators wish to change his or her vote? Please cast up the ballot. By a vote 35 yea and zero nay, HB 1183 passes. Return to the House. It does pass with an emergency clause intact. HB 1184.
Madam Secretary House Bill 1184 by Representative Maddox and Senator Hammer. To amend the law concerning membership status of certain members of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and to declare an emergency.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Hammer, you’re recognized.
Sen Hammer Thank you, Madam Governor. Bill allows ATRS to treat all full time employees equally in regard to their contribution status, regardless of their date of hire within the year. And again, there is no material financial impact. What this basically does is if somebody is hired on after the beginning of the year, it allows them to go in and prorate so that they can get involved in the retirement system sooner than later. I’d be glad to answer any questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing none, anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Hammer, you’re free to close.
Sen Hammer I’m closes for the bill. Appreciate a good vote.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any objection to rolling the vote? This vote does, this bill does have an emergency clause and will require 24 votes. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any Senators who wish to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea and zero nay HB 1184 passes with an emergency clause. Please return to the House. HB 1199.
Madam Secretary House Bill 1199 by Representative Perry. To permit a refund of unused purchased service credit under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and to declare an emergency.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Hammer, you’re recognized.
Sen Hammer Thank you, Madam Governor. House Bill 1199. This bill is codifying the existing practice of refunding payments for purchase service in all cases of purchase service credit. At the member’s request payment for the service credit refunded if the service credit is not used for the benefit calculation. And again, this also had no material financial impact to ATRS. Be glad to answer any questions.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing none, does anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Hammer, you’re free to close.
Sen Hammer Thank you. Closed for the bill. Appreciate a good vote.
Lt Gov Rutledge Is there any objection to rolling the vote? The emergency clause will require a vote, a 24 vote. Please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Are there any Senators who wish to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea, zero nay, HB 1199 passes with an emergency clause. Return to the House.
Sen Hammer Madam Governor?
Lt Gov Rutledge Yes?
Sen Hammer May I please. I was just asked to honor a request to hold this bill so that an issue that was brought to a member could be addressed. I would prefer to pull this bill down from today. I would ask that it be added to tomorrow’s calendar so that I can address the issue and be able to come back and minimize any questioning.
Lt Gov Rutledge And for clarification, you’re pulling, requesting to pull down HB 1200?
Sen Hammer Yes, ma’am. Pulling down HB 1200. I’d request it to be added to tomorrow’s calendar, please.
Lt Gov Rutledge HB 1200, is pulled down, will be added to tomorrow.
Sen Hammer Thank you.
Lt Gov Rutledge HB 1202.
Madam Secretary House Bill 1202 by Representative Warren. To amend the law concerning the multiplier used to calculate a life annuity under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and to declare an emergency.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Hammer.
Sen Hammer Thank you, Madam Chair. 1202 This bill removes redundant language and clarifies the existing practice of applying a low lower multiplier for members with less than ten years of ATRS service credit has no material impact. Again, it’s a bill that was brought by the board and also cleared committee without any questions or objections.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any questions for Senator Hammer? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Hammer you’re free to close.
Sen Hammer Closed. Appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Lt Gov Rutledge This bill does have an emergency clause, will require 24 votes. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any Senators who wish to change his or her vote? Please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea and zero nay, HB 1202 passes with an emergency clause. Please return to the House. Recognized, Senator Dismang.
Sen Dismang Alright members, we’ve got four bills today on preparation. I’m gonna read through those real quickly before you all read them across. And if someone would like to pull one out for a separate vote, let me know. So that’s going to be SB 2 or SB 25. Should they have listed at their desk, right? So if you can pull your calendar, I’ll give you a chance to do that real quick. You got it. All right. So SB 25, 27, 65. Or 84. Seeing none,.
Madam Secretary Senate Bill 25, an ad for the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office appropriation for the 2023 2024 fiscal Year. Senate Bill 27. An act for the Auditor of State Continuing Education of Local Officials appropriation for the 2023 2024 fiscal year. Senate Bill 65. An Act for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. appropriation for the 2023 2024 fiscal year. Senate Bill 84. An act for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Capitol Zoning District Commission appropriation for the 2023 2024 fiscal year.
Lt Gov Rutledge Senator Dismang, you’re recognized.
Sen Dismang Members, appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Lt Gov Rutledge Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Seeing none, please roll the vote.
Madam Secretary Boyd. Bryant. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Crowell. Davis. Dees. Dismang. Dotson. English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester. Hickey. Hill. Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Leding. Love. McKee. Murdock. Payton. Penzo. Petty. Rice. Stone. Stubblefield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace.
Lt Gov Rutledge Any Senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing none, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea and zero nay, the batch of SB 25. SB 27. SB 65. SB 84 passed with an emergency clause. Madam Secretary, are there any items at the desk?
Madam Secretary Yes, Madam President. Senate Joint Resolution seven by Senator Dotson. A constitutional amendment to provide that the State Highway Commission shall be governed in the same manner as all other state agencies. Senate Joint Resolution seven.
Lt Gov Rutledge State agencies.
Madam Secretary Senate Joint Resolution eight by Senator Dotson. An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to create the Arkansas Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Senate Joint Resolution eight.
Lt Gov Rutledge State Agencies. Are there any other announcements? Any other announcements at this time? Senator Dismang.
Sen Dismang Joint Budget will make tomorrow morning at 9. It is members own day. Thank you.
Lt Gov Rutledge If there are no further announcements at this time the Senate will stand in adjournment subject to the clearing of the desk until 11 a.m. February 9th.