A small group of lawmakers expressed skepticism Tuesday at an idea to form a subcommittee to study race relations but ultimately held off making a final decision.
State Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, pitched the idea of creating such a panel under the Arkansas Legislative Council, the body tasked with handling business and conducting research when the Legislature is not in session.
Under Elliott's proposal, the Race Relations Subcommittee would conduct a study "with the goal of providing recommendations on ways to address historic and current divisions within the state."
The subcommittee would dissolve at the end of 2018, before the General Assembly meets for its next regular session in 2019.
But Legislative Council members at Tuesday's executive subcommittee meeting -- half were present through a conference call -- said they hadn't had time to review the proposal.
House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, questioned why the study could not be done by an existing committee or an informal group of lawmakers. Sen. Terry Rice, R-Waldron, said he wanted to see how much it would cost to assemble an additional subcommittee.
Elliott said assigning the work outside a specially formed subcommittee "doesn't have the same gravitas or importance to the people of this state."
Her co-sponsor on the proposal, Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Gravette, did not attend Tuesday's meeting.
Metro on 06/07/2017