Capitol Notebook: Bill To Allow Non-profit Control Of Distressed Schools Deferred

A stalemate between supporters and opponents of an education bill led to the bill’s sponsor yanking the bill from consideration this session.

However, the bill’s sponsor said he plans to reintroduce the bill during the 2017 session.

Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs, who chairs the House Education Committee, said he placed House Bill 1733 on the committee’s deferred list for the remainder of the session.

The state education commissioner would be able to directly operate or contract the operation of a school, under academic distress, with one or more non-profit groups in an Achievement School District, according to the bill.

Under the bill, the commissioner would be able to waive certain rules and laws including the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act and other personnel policy regulations.

Cozart said he worked with opponents in an attempt to amend the bill to address concerns but to no avail.

“There was a stalemate on it,” Cozart said of the negotiations.

Cozart said he is hopeful that the next 18 months or so will give the issue a complete airing, plus allow for time on the debate involving the Little Rock School District.

The Arkansas State Board of Education voted in January to place the district under state control, citing academic issues at six of the district’s schools.

However, Cozart said he believes something must be done.

‘REHOMING’
Tuesday was also committee day in the legislature, as a pair of bills seeking to make “rehoming” a crime in the state of Arkansas cleared a key hurdle in the House.

Meanwhile, Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters that he is seeking an independent review of the state’s child welfare services program.

The review would be led from the governor’s office, with the focus on a “broad array of programs,” Hutchinson said from the Capitol.

The House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 1676, sponsored by Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, during a hearing Tuesday morning and House Bill 1648, sponsored by Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayettevile, during an afternoon session.

Meeks told committee members that his bill would seek to address issues involving rehoming, which involves having adoptive parents transfer custody of their adopted children to another person. Meeks’ bill, based on a Louisiana bill, would also work to strengthen the state’s abandonment law and help adoptive parents with family services.

The bill from Leding would ban rehoming, except to relatives. An amended bill from Leding would also make clear the terms of a subsidy agreement between the adopted parent and the state, as well as requiring a home study by state officials. The agreement would be binding until the child turns 18 or if the parents no longer qualified for subsidies under the current rules for adoptions.

“The adoptive parents shall immediately notify the Department of Human Services when the adoptive child is no longer under the care of the adoptive parents,” the bill noted. “The subsidy agreement is terminated as a matter of law when the adoptive child no longer remains under the care of the adoptive parents.”

As for the home study, it would include a state of residence criminal background check, if available, as well as an FBI fingerprint background check, and a written home study by a licensed social worker.

Both bills now head to the full House floor where Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, whose “rehoming” of an adopted girl led to her subsequent rape will have a chance to vote for or against it. Harris has said previously that he supports the bill that would have make his actions a felony for any future offenders.

The Harris’ have not been arrested or charged in connection with anything related to the case, but the West Fork Republican resigned his committee leadership posts Monday.

COMMITTEES
The House Education Committee approved Tuesday a pair of workforce education bills, while Gov. Asa Hutchinson stressed his support for several bills on the topic.

The committee approved Senate Bills 368 and 371, sponsored by Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock.

Senate Bill 368 would create a Career Education and Workforce Development board to build a plan for workforce education, while Senate Bill 371 will allow school districts to work with the state’s colleges, universities and technical institutes to offer concurrent classes among other things.

Senators overwhelmingly approved both bills, which now go to the House for approval, on Monday afternoon.

LIKENESS BILL CLEARS COMMITTEE
The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Tuesday that supporters say will help people protect their likeness being used against their will.

The bill, Senate Bill 79 sponsored by Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, would protect the property rights of a person to the use of their name, voice, signature and likeness.

Joe Briggs, an official with the NFL Players Association, told the committee the bill would add protections for the nearly 100 or so current and former NFL players who are from Arkansas.

However, attorney Graham Catlett, who spoke against the bill, said it would have a “chilling impact” on media companies, ranging from news photographs to highlights being shown on sports networks like ESPN and Fox Sports.

The bill, which has received the support of former Arkansas football coach and athletic director Frank Broyles, now heads to the House.

FLOOR ACTION
The House voted 51-13, with five voting present, to allow local governments to levy taxes on alcoholic beverages.

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, who sponsored the bill, said the bill would give the quorum courts in Saline and Monroe counties a local option for voters to decide on the tax. Saline and Monroe counties are the only counties in the state without a countywide sales tax, Mayberry said.

Voters in Saline County approved a ballot measure last November to allow for alcohol to be sold in the county. Mayberry said any funding for a proposed tax could help counties that face increased costs due to enforcing laws involving alcohol.

The bill heads to the Senate.

The House also voted 89-0, with one present, to approve House Bill 1240, sponsored by Rep. Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro. Tosh said his bill would provide civil immunity for anyone who uses deadly force when protecting themselves or a third party.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

A bill that would revise the qualifications for the state’s education commissioner was also approved by the House Tuesday. The House voted 61-7, with eight present to approve Senate Bill 681, sponsored by Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale.

The bill would revise state law by requiring that either a director or deputy director must have a master’s degree, have at least 10 years’ experience as a teacher, with five years in an administrative or supervisory role.

Opponents to the bill have said the change would take away the experience aspect of the law, while supporters have said the bill would take into account real world and professional experience.

Former State Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, who served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee, was recently appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to serve in the post. The appointment is subject to the approval of the state education board.

The House voted 85-1 Tuesday to approve a grain reform bill.

The bill, Senate Bill 555, sponsored by Sen. Ronald Caldwell, R-Wynne, would require grain dealers to be licensed with the state plant board yearly, post a surety bond based on the size and volume of the company’s size and give officials the authority to suspend a dealer’s license on a temporary basis.

Rep. Michael Gray, D-Augusta, who co-sponsored the bill, told the House it was in response to issues involving Turner Grain Merchandizing of Brinkley. According to published reports, farmers may have lost up to $50 million due to allegations of not being paid for their crops.

The bill now heads back to the Senate.

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
The following are a list of committee and caucus meetings set for Wednesday in the Arkansas General Assembly:

House Committees
9:00 a.m. – City, County and Local Affairs, Room B, MAC.
9:30 a.m. – State Agencies & Governmental Affairs, Room 151.
10:00 a.m. – Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs, Room 130.
10:00 a.m. – Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development, Room 138.
10:00 a.m. – Insurance and Commerce, Room 149.
12:00 p.m. – Rules, Room B, MAC.

Senate Committees
10:00 a.m. – Education, Room 207.
10:00 a.m. – Judiciary, Room 171.
10:00 a.m. – Public Health, Welfare and Labor, Room 272.
10:00 a.m. – Revenue and Taxation, OSC.
Upon adjournment – Judiciary, Room 171.
10 Minutes upon Adjournment – Insurance and Commerce, Room B, MAC.
10 Minutes upon Adjournment – Public Health, Welfare and Labor, Room 272.
10 Minutes upon Adjournment – Transportation, Technology and Legislative Affairs, Room 309.

The House and Senate will convene at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.