Wright Lindsey Jennings
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Week 7 of the general assembly saw some action on labor and employment related bills. The new state employee pay plan bill (SB289), sponsored by Sen. Bart Hester and initiated by Governor Hutchinson, was passed by the Senate on Thursday and then passed by the House on Friday, February 24th. This bill substantially revises and updates the pay plan for nearly all state employees (independent agencies are excluded), and adds new pay scales for information technology and professional health care positions. It will now go to the Governor to be signed.
HB1460, by Rep. Carlton Wing, addresses some employment issues raised by the prospect of the legalized use of medical marijuana. It will be considered by the House Rules committee in the coming weeks. HB1405 by Rep. Lundstrum would reduce the wage base for unemployment insurance from $12,000 to $10,000, reduces weekly benefits and restricts benefits under some circumstances. It has been passed by the House and currently under consideration in the Senate Public Health committee. HB1551, by Rep. Womack, was the subject of some controversy in the House Public Health committee this week. This bill would establish a right for an individual to engage in a lawful occupation without regulations that impose a substantial burden on the individual, are not substantially related to protecting public health and safety and are more restrictive than necessary to protect the public. In committee, the bill passed on a voice vote but then failed on a subsequent roll call vote. The bill can be presented to the committee again for its consideration. – Erika Gee
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AR – SB289 TO REVISE THE COMPENSATION PLAN UNDER THE UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION ACT AND TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING EMPLOYEES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND STATE EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
Last Action: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR. (February 23, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Senator Bart Hester (R)
Amendments: Amendment S1: Sponsored by Hester
Amendment S2: Sponsored by Hester
Amendment S3: Sponsored by Hester
AR – HB1126 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF “EMPLOYER” AND THE HATE OFFENSE AND RETALIATION PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1993.
Last Action: Notification that HB1126 is now Act 191 (February 17, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Representative Charlie Collins (R)AR – HB1460 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMENDMENT OF 2016 REGARDING EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS AND EMPLOYEE SAFETY.
Notes: Expands definition of who is a caregiver; adds definitions related to employers who have employees using medical marijuanaLast Action: REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED (February 16, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Representative Carlton Wing (R)
Amendments: Amendment H1: Sponsored by Wing AR – HB1405 TO AMEND LAWS RELEVANT TO UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND UNEMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY.
Last Action: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor (February 15, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Representative Robin Lundstrum (R)
Amendments: Amendment H1: Sponsored by Lundstrum
Amendment S1: Sponsored by J. Hendren
Amendment S2: Sponsored by J. Hendren
AR – HB1551 TO STIMULATE JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE PRESERVING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Last Action: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE (February 15, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Representative Richard Womack (R)AR – HB1262 TO REMOVE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FROM THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAM FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACES ADMINISTERED BY THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION.
Last Action: Notification that HB1262 is now Act 154 (February 10, 2017)Primary Sponsor: Representative Justin Boyd (R)AR – SB33 TO ALLOW A CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSEE TO KEEP A HANDGUN IN HIS OR HER LOCKED PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE ON HIS OR HER EMPLOYER’S PARKING LOT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Last Action: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary (January 9, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr (R)AR – SB37 PERMITTING A CONCEALED CARRY LICENSEE TO POSSESS A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN HIS OR HER EMPLOYER’S PARKING LOT.
Last Action: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary (January 9, 2017)
Primary Sponsor: Senator Alan Clark (R)