Capitol Notebook: Private Option Moves On, Hutchinson Computer Coding Bill Advances

The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee approved a bill dealing with the Private Option and set up a possible debate on the issue Wednesday.

The health care panel approved Senate Bill 96 during a committee meeting Tuesday morning at the capitol. During the nearly hour long meeting, the committee heard from Rep. Kelley Linck, R-Flippin and Rep. Joe Farrer, R-Austin, about the measure.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, would end the Private Option as of Dec. 31, 2016 as well as set up a 16-member task force to study the healthcare issue.

Several of the questions brought up at the hearing included the task force and funding issue as well as the Dec. 31, 2016 deadline.

Rep. Richard Womack, R-Arkadelphia, asked Farrer about moving the Dec. 31, 2016 deadline “back any at all.”

Farrer countered that if the state were to end the program before the Dec. 31, 2016 deadline, the state could face a lengthy appeals process with the federal government.

“You still have to continue the insurance,” Farrer said, noting the appeals process could last up to two years.

Linck said the task force could have three decisions to make – doing nothing, create some sort of hybrid program or outright Medicaid expansion.

“I hope for innovative ideas,” Linck said of the task force’s mission. “Forty nine other states have not solved it … and I hope the task force can solve it.”

The bill is expected to go to the House floor as early as Wednesday or Thursday. Another bill, Senate Bill 101, which would fund the private option, is expected to go to the House floor Thursday, officials have said.

COMMITTEES
The House Education Committee approved a bill Tuesday that is one of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s top education policies.

The bill, House Bill 1183, would require each public high school and charter school in the state to offer a class in computer science.

The committee voted to send House Bill 1183, sponsored by Rep. Bill Gossage, R-Ozark, to the full House.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Gossage, R-Ozark, sets the class at the high school level, starting with the 2015-2016 school year.

“It must be of high quality, meet or exceed the curriculum standards and requirements established by the State Board of Education and be made available in a traditional classroom setting, blended learning environment, online-based or other technology-based format that is tailored to meet the needs of each participating student,” according to the bill.

A 15-member task force would also be created to research and recommend computer science and technology standards, recommend changes to current standards and study the needs of computer science, the bill noted.

NEW BILLS
A bill that would expand the rights of an individual who may have to use deadly force was filed Tuesday.

Rep. Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro filed House Bill 1240, or a “Stand Your Ground law” Tuesday afternoon. Tosh said the bill would expand current law to protect people inside their homes.

The current law covers several different areas.

“A person is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person if the person reasonably believes that the other person is (1) committing or about to commit a felony involving force or violence; (2) using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force; or (3) imminently endangering the person’s life or imminently about to victimize the person as described in 9-15-103 from the continuation of a pattern of domestic abuse,” the current law reads.

Tosh said the bill would also protect people who could face civil litigation in connection with protecting themselves.

“It will expand the Second Amendment and protect people. Just think. A person trying to defend themselves, the last thing they need is a lawsuit,” Tosh said.

The bill has not been referred to a committee as of yet.

The Joint Budget Committee also introduced House Bill 1238, an appropriations bill for Mid-South Community College; and Senate Bill 209, which would fund the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for fiscal year 2016.

House Bill 1238 would fund the operations of Mid-South Community College from July 1, 2015 until June 30, 2016. The $77.9 million budget will fund 316 employees, about $9 million in capital improvements and $2,045,000 for the state ADTEC program.

The program – made up of MSCC, Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas State University-Newport, Black River Technical College and East Arkansas Community College – stresses workforce training and support for industry needs in eastern Arkansas.

The budget is expected to be the last one for the West Memphis college. The MSCC Board of Trustees voted earlier this year to merge with the Arkansas State University system.

The merger will take effect July 1, pending a vote by a regional education board.

Senate Bill 209 is a roughly $22 million budget that would fund 788 employees who work at the state’s parks and help with tourism.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A House committee is expected to take up a bill that would eliminate the dual status of a state holiday honoring both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee may hear House Bill 1119, sponsored by Rep. Fred Love, D-Little Rock.

Love sponsored a bill after media coverage of a sign posted at state offices showed offices would be closed Jan. 19 in honor of both men.

A similar bill, filed by Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena, failed in the same committee Jan. 27. Since that vote, the Legislative Black Caucus has voted to support the measure.

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
The following are a list of meetings scheduled Wednesday in the Arkansas General Assembly:

Joint Committees

• 7:30 a.m. – Joint Budget Committee-Personnel, Room B, MAC.
• 9:00 a.m. – Joint Budget Committee, Room A, MAC.

House Committees

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

Senate Committees

• 10 a.m. – Education, Room 207.
• 10 a.m. – Judiciary, Room 171.
• 10 a.m. – Public Health, Welfare and Labor, Room 272.
• 10 a.m. – Revenue and Taxation, OSC.

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