Victim-panel fees' rise is voted down

A bill that would increase from $10 to $20 the fee to attend a victim-impact panel for convicted drunken drivers failed in the House on Tuesday.

Concerns had been raised in both the House and Senate about the group receiving the fees, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The group conducts victim-impact panels across the state, which are required under current law for people whose licenses are suspended for driving while intoxicated.

The lead sponsor of Senate Bill 14, Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, said increasing the fee by $10 will give the group more resources to conduct victim-impact panels.

[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]

Several Republicans, however, have expressed concerns about sending more money from state-imposed fees to a private group. On the House floor Tuesday, SB14 failed by a vote of 48-32. It needed 51 votes to pass.

The bill had previously passed in the Senate. After voting against the bill, Rep. Doug House, R-North Little Rock, moved to expunge the vote, saying he wanted to give the bill a second chance to address concerns about how the fees are directed. The bill was re-referred to committee.

-- John Moritz

Upcoming Events