Arkansas House passes several bills before recessing for the week

The Arkansas General Assembly will be in recess for the remainder of this week.

The House approved a resolution that will provide for an extended recess of the 2021 Regular Session. It would allow the General Assembly to recess on April 30 and return when census data becomes available to complete congressional redistricting. Currently, census data is expected to be released in September.

Before adjourning for the week, the House passed several bills, including the following:

HB 1766 – Increases the monthly state contribution to state and public school life and health insurance from $450 to $550 per employee.

HB1499 – Addresses services and response time for child abuse cases in the state. It states that a child safety center shall receive, review, and track reporting from the Department of Human Services relating to the alleged abuse or neglect of a child in order to ensure a consistent and comprehensive approach to providing services to a child and the family of a child who is the victim of alleged abuse or neglect. The child safety center is also directed to work with participating agencies relating to the delivery of services to a child and the family of a child who is the alleged victim of abuse or neglect.

HB1731 – States that upon the declaration of a mistrial during the sentencing proceeding in a capital murder trial, the prosecuting attorney may move the trial court to impose a sentence of life without parole or impanel a new sentencing jury. It also states that a mistrial during the sentencing proceeding shall not result in the invalidation of the finding of guilt for a capital felony.

HB1678 – Allows the State Board of Education to issue a teaching license to a university professor or an assistant professor.

HB1313 – Addresses damage, destruction, or vandalism to buildings and objects on the State Capitol Grounds and at the Governor’s Mansion. It states damage to public buildings or objects of respect is a Class A misdemeanor if the damage is under $500. It becomes a Class D felony if the value of the damage exceeds $500.

HB1505 – Makes leaving the scene of an accident with injuries a Class D felony. If there are serious physical injuries or death of a person, the offender would be charged with a Class B felony.

SB339 – States restaurants holding a valid alcoholic beverage permit may sell alcoholic beverages in a sealed container to be consumed off-premises. This is currently allowed under an executive order due to the health emergency. SB339 would allow the practice to continue after the emergency.

SB341 – Prohibits collective bargaining by public employees. The bill states public employees do not include law enforcement officers, firefighters, or public transit system employees.

SB354 – States that interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a school shall be expressly designated as one of the following based on biological sex:
(1) “Male”, “men’s”, or “boys;
(2)”Female”, “women’s”, or “girls”
It also states a student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers harm as a result of a violation of this law can seek injunctive relief and monetary damages.

The House will convene again on Monday at 1 p.m.

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