Capitol Notebook: Workforce Training, Rehoming Bills Pass House

It was a near marathon session Friday in the House, as lawmakers passed several key bills and turned down others.

The House overwhelmingly voted to approve a workforce development bill, while approving two other bills dealing with the adoption issue of “rehoming.”

The 86-1, with one present, vote on Senate Bill 368 ended a long day in the House. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, would create a 10-member board to help direct policy on workforce education.

English, who has sponsored several other bills related to the issue, has said the bills will overhaul and streamline the workforce training system in the state.

Under the bill, the board, made up of business, industry and education officials, will be able to supervise all vocational, technical and occupational education programs in the state. The board would also have control over adult education funding.

The bill now heads back to the Senate.

MLK/ROBERT E. LEE BILL VOTE POSTPONED
A bill that would have eliminated the dual status of a holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate general Robert E. Lee was also heard Friday. However, no action was taken due to a lack of a quorum in committee.

Rep. Fred Love, D-Little Rock, who sponsored House Bill 1119, said his bill would create a memorial day on the second Friday in January in honor of Lee.

Love said the focus of the bill was “not to re-plow old ground” but to plant a seed of goodwill.

After hearing from some witnesses, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee adjourned after Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Melbourne, noticed there was not a quorum in the committee room.

Committee chairman Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena, then said there were only eight committee members in the room – short of the 11 needed to conduct business. The meeting then ended.

Love said he plans to bring up the bill again on Monday.

‘REHOMING’
The House approved two bills Friday that supporters say would deal with the issue called “rehoming.”

Under the practice, an adoptive parent can transfer custody of their adopted children to another person. There are no laws currently banning the practice in the state.

The House voted 88-0 each to approve House Bills 1676 and 1648. If approved, both bills would seek to end the practice.

According to House Bill 1676, sponsored by Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, parents would be forbidden from transferring custody to anyone except family. Under House Bill 1648, sponsored by Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, post-adoptive services would be provided to adopted parents to prevent the practice from happening.

The issue has been at the forefront of some debate in Little Rock after reports about an adoption involving Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork and his wife, Marsha, emerged. The Arkansas Times reported earlier this month about allegations involving the Harris’ and the adoption of three children in 2013 from the Department of Human Services.

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

Rep. Harris voted yes on both bills.

ALCOHOL, TIME BILLS FAIL
The House voted against House Bill 1792, which would allow city councils or quorum courts in a “dry territory” to deny private club licenses in their city or county.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Payton, R-Wilburn, failed with 25 in favor, 40 against with one voting present.

Payton told representatives the bill would put the power back into the hands of local officials, who may face issues with decisions made by the Arkansas Beverage Control board. However, several lawmakers said the bill would strip away the power from the Little Rock-based board.

The House overwhelmingly turned down a bill to eliminate daylight savings time in the state. The 69-11, with one present, vote on House Bill 1947 came after some debate.

Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, who sponsored the bill, said he heard both pros and cons about making the change. Meeks also said the bill would not have taken effect unless a surrounding state made the change as well.

FALSE TESTIMONY BILL PASSES
A bill that would make giving false testimony to the Arkansas General Assembly a crime was also approved Friday.

The House voted 59-6 to approve House Bill 1985, sponsored by Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena. Under the bill, a person “who knowingly gives or offers false material testimony to a committee of the General Assembly upon conviction is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.”

The bill now moves to the Senate.

GOLD STAR HIGHWAY
The House voted 90-0 to honor families of service members who are killed in battle, naming a stretch of highway in northeast Arkansas after them.

The bill, House Bill 1816, sponsored by Rep. Dave Wallace, R-Leachville, would make Arkansas 163 near the new Arkansas Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye in Cross County after Gold Star Families.

If approved by the legislature and signed into law, the highway will be called “Gold Star Highway.”

The bill now goes to the Senate.

FOI BILL APPROVED
The House voted 86-0 to approve a bill, creating an exemption under the state’s open records law.

The bill, House Bill 1284, was sponsored by Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville. Under the bill, the “date of birth, home address, email address, phone number and other contact information from county or municipal parks and recreation department records” for people under 18 would be exempt.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

JUDGE SUSPENSION BILL PASSES
The House voted 89-0 to approve a bill allowing for an automatic suspension with pay for judges accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Under the bill, House Bill 1456, sponsored by Rep. John Baine, D-El Dorado, a judge “shall be suspended from office with pay by the Supreme Court if an indictment or information charges the judge in any court in the United States with a crime punishable as a felony under the laws of Arkansas or the United states or with any other offense that involves moral turpitude.”

The bill also includes a section where the automatic suspension can happen if the judge is found guilty of a felony or any other offense involving moral turpitude.

Baine told lawmakers that there would also be an appeals process for judges to use under the bill.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

MONDAY SCHEDULE
The following committee meetings are scheduled for Monday in the Arkansas General Assembly:

Joint Committees
10:00 a.m. – Joint Energy, Room 171.
10:00 a.m. – Joint Budget Committee-Peer Review, Room A, MAC.
10:00 a.m. – Health Reform Legislative Task Force, Room 130.
Upon adjournment of both chambers – State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Task Force, Room 171.

House Committees
9:30 a.m. – Insurance and Commerce, Room 149.
Upon adjournment of House – State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, Room 151.

Senate Committees
Upon adjournment – City, County and Local Affairs, Room 207.
Upon adjournment – Education, Room 207.
Upon adjournment – State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, OSC.

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