Senate OKs flexibility on school-distress list
The Senate voted 34-0 to approve a bill that would give the state Board of Education more flexibility to return school districts in academic distress to local control.
Senate Bill 274 by Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, would allow the board to return a school or district in academic distress to local control if the state Department of Education certifies and the board determines that the school or district has made sufficient progress on the issues that caused the classification of academic distress.
It also would allow the board to return a school or district in academic distress to local control if the department certifies and the board determines that it's in the best interest of the school or district.
State law allows the board to return a district that was in academic distress to local control if the department certifies and the board determines that the school or school district has corrected all issues that caused the classification of academic distress and no public school within the district is classified as being in academic distress.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Panel endorses shift on court post hiring
A Senate committee endorsed legislation that would no longer require the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to possess the same qualifications as district judges and instead allow the job's qualifications to be determined by the state Supreme Court.
The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee recommended approval of Senate Bill 584 by Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot.
Supreme Court Justice Shawn Womack, a former Republican lawmaker from Mountain Home, told the Senate committee that the state's high court plans to conduct a national search to seek a replacement for departing office Director J.D. Gingerich and wants to consider applicants beyond licensed attorneys in Arkansas.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Distilleries' selling of drinks is backed
A Senate committee endorsed legislation that would allow distilleries, such as Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock, to sell alcohol by the drink.
Senate Bill 508 by Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, "would primarily allow us to sell by the drink at our facility," Phil Brandon, owner of Rock Town Distillery, told the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. "Today, we can give somebody a small sample, but we can't actually sell them a drink."
About 6,000 people tour the facility each year from all over the world and "learn about whiskey and bourbon and that sort of thing," he said. "It's just become a huge need that we are able to stay on the level playing field with the breweries and be able to sell your drink."
-- Michael R. Wickline
Committee favors' dry' county permits
A Senate committee endorsed a bill that would require the governing body of a county or city to approve an application for a permit to operate as a private club in a "dry" county before the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division may issue a permit for the club.
Senate Bill 623 by Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot, cleared the Senate State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee. Williams is a former mayor of Cabot, which is in a "dry" county that doesn't allow alcohol sales except in private clubs.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Senate panel clears three-board merger
A Senate committee recommended approval of legislation that would merge three boards into the state Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries and Burial Services.
Senate Bill 624 by Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot, would abolish the Cemetery Board; the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors; and the Burial Association Board.
Williams told the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee that he hopes his bill will eliminate "the silos, the turf protection" among the boards.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Lawmakers team up to oust welfare curb
Public-assistance legislation endorsed Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee is a union of firsts, joked its sponsor, Rep. John Walker, D-Little Rock.
Walker is teamed up with Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, on legislation that would have Arkansas opt out of a federal law preventing people with felony drug offenses from receiving welfare or food-stamp benefits.
It's the first time the two lawmakers have co-sponsored legislation, Walker told the committee, which sent House Bill 1251 to the full House.
Despite his general belief that assistance benefits do not work well, Ballinger said it was unfair that federal law allows people with convictions for murder or rape to receive food stamps, while people driven by poverty to sell drugs are booted from the programs. His work with addicts has shaped his views, he told the committee Thursday.
A lawyer with Walker's firm, Omavi Shukur, helped present HB1251, and pointed out 11 members of the audience who he said would be affected by the bill.
-- John Moritz
Grandparents-rights bill heads to Senate
The House approved a bill Thursday expanding the rights of grandparents who want to visit their grandchildren when a parent objects.
Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs, said House Bill 1773 is aimed at preventing emotional distress for a child who has grown attached to a grandparent.
The measure expands the rights of grandparents to take a parent to court in order to visit a grandchild. It passed 69-10 and heads to the Senate for further consideration.
Reps. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, and John Walker, D-Little Rock, said they objected to the bill because it erodes the rights of parents.
HB1773 shifts the burden of proof so parents would need to show that a grandparent does not have a "significant and viable relationship" and that visitation "is not in the best interest of a child." Current law gives parents the benefit of the doubt.
-- Brian Fanney
Resolution supports Bible as state book
The House voted Thursday in support of making the Bible the official state book.
House Resolution 1047, by Rep. Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro, was approved in a voice vote without dissent.
At a committee meeting Wednesday, Rep. LeAnne Burch, D-Monticello, asked why lawmakers should insert the Bible into a political discussion.
Tosh replied that the resolution is not binding, which should help avoid some of the controversy.
-- Brian Fanney
Calendar
The calendar of public events of the 91st General Assembly for today, the 61st day of the 2017 regular session.
COMMITTEES
9 a.m. Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, Room 272.
HOUSE
House does not meet.
SENATE
Senate does not meet.
A Section on 03/10/2017