Capitol Notebook: Rep. Harris Quits Committee Leadership Post

A House legislator facing questions in an adoption scandal resigned his committee leadership post Monday afternoon, while several education bills including two on workforce training sailed through the state Senate.

Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, who has admitted “rehoming” two of his adopted daughters, quit his posts as vice chairman of the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committee as well as a seat on the Joint Performance Committee, content partner KUAR reported.

Cecillea Pond-Mayo, who serves as communications director for the House of Representatives, said the resignations are effective immediately.

“The Speaker (Jeremy Gillam) will be meeting with Chairman (George) McGill (D-Fort Smith of Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs) to discuss appointing a new vice chairman,” Pond-Mayo said. “He (Harris) will remain on the committee.”

Harris has faced questions on the issue since a report in the Arkansas Times detailed issues with an adoption that Harris and his wife, Marsha, were involved in 2013.

The children, according to an Arkansas State Police investigation, were given to another couple – Eric and Stacy Francis. Eric Francis was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting one of the girls and is now serving a 40-year prison sentence in connection with the case. The Harris’ have not been arrested or charged with anything in connection with the situation.

Lawmakers have been busy in recent weeks, filing bills in connection with the issue. Two of the bills, House Bills 1648 and 1676, are on the agenda Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 1648, sponsored by Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, would ban “rehoming,” the practice of privately transferring adopted children to new homes, except to relatives. House Bill 1676, sponsored by Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, would also ban rehoming in Arkansas.

Under both bills, the practice would be a felony in the state and Harris has said he would support the measures.

WORKFORCE BILLS APPROVED
A state senator said Monday she was ecstatic that bills to overhaul the state’s workforce development system are one step closer to becoming law.

The Senate voted 34-0 to approve Senate Bill 368 and 33-1 to approve Senate Bill 371, sponsored by Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock.

Under Senate Bill 368, a Career Education and Workforce Development Board would be created. The board, made up of industry and education officials, would “develop and monitor” a plan for vocational–technical education in the state.

Also, a skills development fund would be created to help pay for different programs.

Under Senate Bill 371, school districts could be able to work with colleges, universities and technical institutes around the state to offer concurrent classes or different options.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced late Monday he will be holding a press conference at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the governor’s conference room to discuss the issue.

Also, the bills were referred late Monday to the House Education Committee. The committee could take up the legislation as early as Tuesday.

ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOL BILL APPROVED
Senators voted 33-0 Monday to approve a bill to create adult education charter schools.

The bill, Senate Bill 154 which is sponsored by Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, would create the schools around the state.

According to the bill, the enrollment for the school would be capped at 150 students. A student must be at least 19 years old, not have earned a high school diploma or GED, or failed to complete graduation requirements.

The schools would be funded through public or private money, including from a group running the school but not through the state’s Public School fund. The bill now goes to the House.

DRUG TESTING BILL CLEARS SENATE
Senators also approved a bill to create a two-year pilot program of suspicion-based drug screening and testing of applicants for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The 24-3 vote was on Senate Bill 600, sponsored by Sen. Blake Johnson, R-Corning.

According to Johnson’s bill, the program “shall include a minimum of 10% of the program population statewide to be determined by the department, and all applicants and all recipients in the counties bordering Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and any other state bordering Arkansas with a drug screening or testing program.”

A child under 18 would be exempt from the testing, unless the person is a parent who is also an applicant for the program, as well as a positive test for any prescription or over the counter drug with a current and valid prescription, Johnson’s bill noted.

“An applicant or recipient shall undergo a confirmation test using the same urine sample from the initial positive test prior to receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program benefits,” the bill noted. “The results of the confirmation test shall be used to determine final eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits.”

The bill now heads to the House.

HOUSE APPROVES SCHOOL SAFETY BILL
A bill to create a panic button system for schools in case of an emergency received overwhelming support Monday. The House voted 91-0 to approve House Bill 1653, sponsored by Rep. Scott Baltz, D-Pocahontas.

Baltz told lawmakers that he has received wide support for the proposal.

Under the system, a 911 operator would get a call within two seconds if an emergency were to happen. The system would then send a text message to teachers and principals, as well as police and school resource officers.

Officials are working with Rave Panic Button, which is located in Massachusetts, on the project. Baltz said last week it would cost nearly $950,000 the first year; and $850,000 on a yearly basis after to implement the program.

Baltz told House members that officials are still looking for a way to fund the project and that officials would not do the project unless funding is there.

“I don’t believe in unfunded mandates,” Baltz said.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

The House also voted 84-4, with four present, to approve a bill funding school funding and enhanced transportation needs through the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

The bill, House Bill 1663, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs, had small increases in foundation funding, alternative learning, school lunches, while keeping professional development level.

The numbers include:

Foundation Funding:
2015-2016 – $6,584.
2016-2017 – $6,646.

Alternative Learning:
2015-2016 – $4,471.
2016-2017 – $4,560.

School Lunch (90% or higher of student enrollment):
2015-2016 – $1,562.
2016-2017 – $1,576.

School Lunch (70 to 90% of student enrollment): 
2015-2016 – $1,042.
2016-2017 – $1,051.

School Lunch (less than 70% of student enrollment): 
2015-2016 – $522.
2016-2017 – $526.

Professional Development:
$32.40 per student in the next two years.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

TUESDAY SCHEDULE
The following committee and caucus meetings are scheduled for Tuesday in the Arkansas General Assembly:

Joint Committees
7:30 a.m. – Joint Budget-Special Language, Room B, MAC.
9:00 a.m. – Joint Budget Committee, Room A, MAC.
Upon adjournment of both chambers – Health Reform Legislative Task Force, Room 171.

House Committees
10:00 a.m. – Education, Room 138.
10:00 a.m. – Judiciary, Room 149.
10:00 a.m. – Public Health, Welfare and Labor, Room 130.
10:00 a.m. – Public Transportation, Room B, MAC.
10:00 a.m. – Revenue and Taxation, Room 151.
15 Minutes upon Adjournment – Education, Room 138.

Senate Committees
10:00 a.m. – Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development, Room 309.
10:00 a.m. – Insurance and Commerce, Room 171.
10:00 a.m. – State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, OSC.
Upon adjournment – Judiciary, Room B, MAC.

Caucus Meetings
8:00 a.m. – House Freshmen Caucus, Room 138.
12:00 p.m. – Arkansas Conservative Caucus, Room 272.

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