Date: February 13, 2009
Contact: House Information
Office, 501-682-7771
Cell
phone restrictions, tobacco tax clear both chambers
LITTLE ROCK - Two bills restricting the use of cell
phones while driving will soon be signed into law, along with a tax on
cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to pay for a wide-ranging healthcare plan.
House Bill 1119, by Rep. Allen Kerr of Little Rock,
prohibits drivers under 18 from using a cell phone and requires drivers who are
18 to 20 to use only hands-free cell phone devices. A first offense would
attract a warning, while a second and subsequent violations would bring a fine
of up to $50.
House Bill 1013, by Rep. Ray Kidd of
Jonesboro, prohibits all text messages while driving. It will be called "Paul's
Law," in memory of a Jonesboro man killed last year in a head-on collision
caused by another driver who was trying to send a text message. A first offense
would bring a warning. A second offense would bring a fine of up to $100.
Also in the governor's hands:
House Bill 1204, by Rep. Gregg Reep of Warren, to raise tobacco taxes. It will generate
about $87 million a year, plus about the same amount in federal Medicaid
matching funds, to pay for a variety of healthcare items, including the
development of a trauma network among hospital emergency rooms across the state
and opening a second medical school, in Northwest Arkansas.
During the General Assembly's fifth week
in session, the House also approved
HB 1237, by Rep. Beverly Pyle of
Cedarville, to remove churches and other places of worship from the list of
places where people with permits are not allowed to carry guns. The bill goes
to the Senate.
The state's concealed weapons law was enacted
in 1997. Government buildings, schools, churches and bars were listed as places
where concealed weapons are banned. HB 1237 says individual churches can decide
whether to ban weapons and that such notice could be posted on a sign,
announced from the pulpit or mentioned in a church bulletin or program.
In other business, the House approved:
- HB 1046, by Rep. Roy Ragland of Marshall. Called
"The Freedom to Farm Act," the bill says Arkansas animal owners aren't
required to register or enroll in an animal electronic identification
program, except for the federal program mandated by Congress.
- HB 1382, by Rep. Barry Hyde of North Little Rock, to increase
fines for misdemeanor offenses and allow cities and counties to collect an
additional $20 fine from a defendant upon conviction. The extra revenue
will go to county jails struggling financially from housing state inmates.
The bill goes to the Senate.
- HB 1113, by Rep Dawn Creekmore of East End, to ban late-term
abortions that have come to be known as "partial birth" abortions. The
bill mirrors a federal law upheld as constitutional in 2005 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill goes
to the Senate.
- HB 1058, also by Creekmore, to remove the statute of limitations
on rape when DNA evidence is present. The current limit on those cases is
15 years. Murder is the only crime now without time limit on the filing of
charges.
- HB 1338, by Rep. Bobby Pierce of Sheridan, to prohibit convicted
felons, illegal immigrants, drug addicts and people who have been
committed to an institution because of mental illness from possessing
explosive materials. The bill goes to the Senate.
- HB 1357, by Rep. Mike Burris of Malvern, to make it easier and
less expensive for students who have completed associate degree programs
at two-year colleges to transfer to four-year colleges in Arkansas. The
bill goes to the Senate.
The week
also saw the passing of a deadline for members to file proposed constitutional
amendments. The General Assembly can refer up to three "general issue" measures
to voters each general election. Lawmakers this year filed 23 proposed
amendments. The State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committees of each
chamber will winnow the list and send its recommendations to the full House and
Senate.
