Arkansas Legislative Update – 3/13/2009

Posted on March 13th, 2009

Date: March 13, 2009
Contact: House Information Office, 501-682-7771
For Immediate Release

      LITTLE ROCK – Expanding the state’s health insurance program for children capped the Arkansas House of Representatives’ ninth week of work, and lawmakers are nearing a vote on bills establishing the structure of the state lottery and the scholarship program that will be funded by lottery revenues.

      The expansion of the ArKids First insurance program will bring coverage to 8,000 more children from low-income families. Some 70,000 Arkansas children have no insurance. House Bill 1700, by Rep. Robert S. Moore Jr. of Arkansas City, increases the income eligibility limit from the current 200 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of four ($44,100) to 250 percent ($55,125) of that poverty level. (The median family income in Arkansas for a family of four is just over $52,000).

      The recent tax increase on tobacco will pay for the expansion. Subject to federal approval, the program also will be eligible for a 3-to-1 match in federal funds, official say. The bill goes to the Senate.

      The House and Senate, meanwhile, have identical bills setting up the lottery and scholarships, and passage in both chambers will happen quickly. Leaders have been working on the legislation almost since voters approved a lottery last November. The bills are HB 1002, by Speaker of the House Robbie Wills of Conway, and Senate Bill 26, by Sen. Terry Smith of Hot Springs. Wills said lottery tickets could be on sale before the end of the year and the first scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2010.

      The House also approved legislation restricting “Toughman” contests and similar fights in Arkansas, such as requiring adequate medical staff and setting up class-and-weight divisions for fighters. The bill stems from the death a couple of years ago of a “Toughman” contestant following a bout in Texarkana. Rep. Steve Harrelson of Texarkana, who sponsored the bill, said he worked with organizers of the bouts in drawing up the legislation and offered it as an alternative to banning the fights altogether, as some states have done. The bill goes to the Senate.

      The House also approved HB 1326, by Rep. Lindsley Smith of Fayetteville, allowing citizens to have their attorneys’ fees paid in successful lawsuits against a government body in the most egregious violations of the state Freedom of Information Act.

      Also during the week:

• The governor signed into law a package of bills, now Acts 321 and 323, requiring more transparency and accountability at the state’s public colleges and universities on the salaries and benefits paid to top administrators and setting a cap on merit scholarships awarded to students solely at the discretion of college presidents. Rep. Bill Abernathy of Mena presented those bills in the House. A related bill, HB 1589, by Rep. Johnnie Roebuck of Arkadelphia, says all reports required of colleges and universities by the Department of Higher Education shall be posted online by the department, easily accessible by citizens. That bill has cleared both chambers and is now with the governor.
• Final preparations are being made for votes on two significant tax cuts. One would lop off another 1 percent in the state sales tax on groceries, from the current 3 percent to 2 percent. The other cuts the state sales tax on energy consumed by manufacturers by three-fourths of a percent. The energy cut is aimed at saving jobs. Lawmakers two years ago cut the tax from 6 percent to the current 4 percent. State finance officials say the tax cut for manufacturers will reduce state general revenues by $9.6 million a year. The tax cut on groceries will cost about $30 million in state general revenues.
• The House approved HB 1846 and HB 1847, both by Arkansas City’s Moore, to use revenue received by the state Game and Fish Commission for natural gas leases for a pilot program and grants for the development of wildlife observation trails and wildlife recreation facilities. The maximum for a single grant would be $100,000. The Game and Fish Commission recently signed leases with natural gas companies operating in the Fayetteville shale. The bills go to the Senate.
• The House approved HB 1837, by Rep. J R Rogers of Walnut Ridge, to name a stretch of U.S. 67 – from Newport to Walnut Ridge – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway 67,” in tribute to the area’s place in history during the early days of rock ‘n roll when Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and other legends-to-be frequented clubs along the highway. The bill is aimed at boosting economic development and tourism as much as recognizing history. The bill goes to the Senate.
• The deadline to file bills has passed. The House and Senate this year filed a combined 2,285 bills. Members filed 2,816 in 2007 and 3,176 in 2005, according to the Bureau of Legislative Research.
• A ban on the sale of “novelty” lighters is now Act 329 of 2009. Many of those lighters are built to resemble cartoon characters, animals and even fire trucks and attract the attention of children. The legislation was prompted by a fatal house fire started by children playing with novelty lighters. Rep. George Overbey Jr. of Lamar presented the bill in the House.
• The House approved HB 1939, by Rep. R.D. “Rick” Saunders of Hot Springs, to give film production companies a 15-percent rebate on production and post-production costs for films made in the state. Companies also would get a 10-percent rebate for hiring “below-the-line” employees (including casting assistants, costume designers, gaffers, grips, production assistants, set construction and design staff) who are full-time Arkansas residents. Movie makers would have to spend more than $50,000 within six months to qualify. If the bill is approved in the Senate and signed into law, it would leave Delaware as the only state in the union without an incentive package for film production companies.
• The House approved HB 1806, by Rep. Larry Cowling of Foreman, to make the pecan the state’s official nut and HB 2193, by Rep. Beverly Pyle of Cedarville, to make the Cynthiana grape the state’s official grape.

Tags: legislative update
Filed under Uncategorized |

One Response to “Arkansas Legislative Update – 3/13/2009”

1. Sarah Says:
   March 14th, 2009 at 5:37 am

   I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

   Sarah

   http://www.lyricsdigs.com