Gillam sets sights on 20-day session

House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, said he doesn't intend for the Arkansas General Assembly to meet for more than 30 calendar days during this year's fiscal session, though the House and the Senate on Monday approved a resolution that would extend the fiscal session until noon March 28.

Under the Arkansas Constitution, the fiscal session is limited to 30 days, which is March 13 this year, and can be extended one time by up to 15 days with the approval of three-fourths of the House and the Senate.

"I would like to be done before 20 [days] if I could," Gillam said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said, "I don't want to put a specific time frame on us, but I do want us to work quickly and get through the business that the people here sent us to deal with appropriation issues and the Revenue Stabilization [Act that distributes general revenue to state agencies] ... and we need to limit the session to that."

House Concurrent Resolution 1002 by Gillam requires the fiscal session to recess at the close of business in each chamber on March 22 or at an earlier time as may be agreed upon by the two chambers. HCR1002 allows the speaker and president pro tempore to reconvene the General Assembly at any time before noon March 28 to consider vetoes, correct any errors or oversights, or adjourn the fiscal session at any time before noon March 28 if they determine it is not necessary to reconvene.

It also allows the House and Senate to recess for periods of four days or longer by the declaration of the speaker and president pro tempore.

-- Michael R. Wickline



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A Section on 02/14/2018

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