Five Constitutional Amendment Proposals Clear Committee Hurdle

A House committee narrowed down its picks for constitutional amendments, while the House approved an education bill that supporters say will narrow the gap between public and charter schools.

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee met Friday morning to pare down the list of proposed constitutional amendments.

The committee and its Senate counterpart received nearly 40 proposed amendments this year.

Typically, the committees will review the amendments and forward them to the Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendments for their selections.

There are usually three amendments selected from each side, with only three being selected for voters to decide during the 2016 general election.

The House committee approved five proposed amendments to send to the joint committee.

They include House Joint Resolution 1005, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado. The resolution, if approved by voters, would create a selection and retention system for the state’s Supreme Court justices.

A 15-member commission would also be set up to choose justices, using a merit based selection system.

Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro, sponsored House Joint Resolution 1027, which was also selected. Ladyman’s bill would create four-year terms for countywide officials – county judge, county clerk, circuit clerk, sheriff, collector, assessor, coroner and surveyor – around the state.

Another resolution approved by the committee, House Joint Resolution 1006, sponsored by Rep. David Branscum, R-Marshall, would try to define the phrase, “infamous crimes”, in state law.

A fourth resolution, House Joint Resolution 1007 by Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, would put voter ID requirements in the state Constitution. House Joint Resolution 1012 by Rep. Bell would allow for certification of unopposed candidates for office to not have to appear on the ballot.

NEXT STEP
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot, who chairs the Senate committee, said late Friday that House and Senate committee members will meet March 23 after session to discuss the amendments.

Williams said his committee accepted all of the amendments that were not considered shell bills for discussion.

The amendments that are headed to the Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendments are:

HJR1005 (Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING A JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT; AND AMENDING PROVISIONS CONCERNING SERVICE ON THE SUPREME COURT.

HJR1006 (Rep. David Branscum, R-Marshall) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO DEFINE THE TERM “INFAMOUS CRIME” AS USED IN ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 5, SECTION 9.

HJR1007 (Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION REQUIRING THE PRESENTATION OF CERTAIN IDENTIFICATION WHEN CASTING A BALLOT.

HJR1027 (Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro) – PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS.

HJR1012 (Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena) – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT LAWS GOVERNING ELECTIONS IN WHICH THERE IS ONLY ONE CANDIDATE FOR AN OFFICE.

SJR1 (Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING CIVIL CLAIMS AND COURT PROCEDURES.

SJR2 (Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SJR3 (Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO RETAIN HIS OR HER POWERS AND DUTIES WHEN ABSENT FROM THE STATE.

SJR4 (Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs) – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING THAT AMENDMENT 33, SECTION 2, DOES NOT APPLY TO A BOARD OR COMMISSION CHARGED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OF A STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

SJR5 (Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest) – PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS.

SJR6 (Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale) – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW LOTTERY PROCEEDS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

SJR7 (Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING VOTER IDENTIFICATION WHEN CASTING A BALLOT IN PERSON.

SJR8 (Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING COURT PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO CIVIL LITIGATION.

SJR9 (Sen. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis) – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN SESSION; AND REPEALING THE FISCAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SJR10 (Sen. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING RETIREMENT SALARY AND PENSION FUNDS FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS AND MUNICIPAL FIREFIGHTERS.

SJR11 (Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest) – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE SELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS STATE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION.

SJR12 (Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING THE POWER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT CERTAIN LAWS PERTAINING TO THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT.

SJR13 (Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION PROVIDING THAT PERSONS ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF SHALL SERVE A TERM OF FOUR (4) YEARS.

SJR14 (Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Benton) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING LIMITATIONS ON THE AWARD OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CIVIL CASES.

SJR15 (Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock) – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING COURT PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO CIVIL CLAIMS.

SJR16 (Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale) – AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

FLOOR ACTION
The House approved a bill to allow school districts to be granted the same waivers that are given to an open-enrolled charter school in the state.

The 58-18 vote, with three voting present, on House Bill 1377 capped an interesting debate between supporters and opponents.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, said he filed the bill to give districts an opportunity to compete.

“It is about trying to level the playing field by giving people in the battlefield a fighting chance,” Murdock said, noting difficulties of schools in his district to compete against the KIPP school in Helena.

Rep. John Walker, D-Little Rock, spoke against the bill saying that it would have an impact on teachers and could cause the state to face more legal troubles after the Lake View school funding case.

“Wherever you are, the standards have to be the same,” Walker said.

However, Murdock countered the jobs of teachers would not be impacted due to the bill.

“With classroom teachers, it does not open the flood gates to treat teachers badly. There are three levels and a state law to protect them,” Murdock said.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

The House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development committee approved a bill to help grain farmers who may face issues with getting paid.

The bill, Senate Bill 555, would require grain dealers to be licensed annually by the Arkansas State Plant board, post a surety bond based on the size and volume of their operation and allow state officials to temporarily suspend a dealer’s license in some circumstances.

The bill will go to the House Monday.

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. – Public Retirement and Social Security Programs, Room 130.
12:30 p.m. – State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Task Force, Room 171.

Caucus Meetings
11:00 a.m. – Legislative Black Caucus, Room 149.

Senate Committees
Upon adjournment – Education, Room 207.
Five minutes upon adjournment – Revenue and Taxation, OSC.

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