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A Senate panel on Tuesday rejected a one-year moratorium on lobbying by the state's top public servants after their terms expire, but backed a ban on so-called "absentee lobbying" and other ethics restrictions.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel had pushed both bills as ways to overhaul the state's ethics laws.
The proposed moratorium on lobbying for former constitutional officers, lawmakers and state agency heads failed before the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on a 3-3 vote.
But, on a voice vote, the panel endorsed an ethics bill that included a ban on lobbyists paying for drinks or meals at places where the lobbyist is not present. It would not apply to special events.
Hours after the vote, McDaniel said he was stripping from that proposal a provision that would double the amount of carry-over funds that elected officials can keep in their campaign coffers after an election. Currently, carryover funds cannot exceed the annual salary set by state law for the office.
Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, who voted against the measure, said he believed that doubling the amount of surplus campaign funds would give an unfair advantage to incumbents.
"I have a real problem with that because it does not invite newcomers into politics," Hendren said.
McDaniel later told reporters that he will ask to have that provision removed from the bill, along with another provision that would have expanded what elected officials could use carryover funds for.
"We believe that will bring comfort to those supporting the bill and also reassure those who raised concerns," McDaniel said.
Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, who had asked to be removed as a co-sponsor because of the carryover provision, told reporters he would support the amended version.
The lobbying moratorium, which also would have applied to chiefs of staff, failed after lawmakers questioned whether the prohibition was too strict by starting the moratorium when an elected official's term expires, rather when that person leaves office.
"We need as a state to know that our public officials are doing the business that we sent them there to do, rather than using the position that we have entrusted to them to secure future employment," McDaniel told the committee.
McDaniel at first said he read the proposal as placing the moratorium after an elected official leaves office, but later said it would take effect after that official's term ended.
Sen. Bill Pritchard, who voted against the measure, noted that the restriction would mean a lawmaker who leaves office before his term ends would have to wait until the rest of their term plus one year to take a job as a lobbyist.
"It's putting an undue restriction on them for choosing public service," said Pritchard, R-Elkins.
Sen. Gilbert Baker, who had sponsored the lobbying moratorium legislation, said after the vote that it may be possible to amend the bill to address the concerns raised by opponents. McDaniel said he would like the restriction to come up before the panel again.
Later Tuesday, the Senate backed a proposal to create an incentive fund to encourage companies to develop new technologies. By a 34-0 vote, senators passed a proposal to create a "Technology Acceleration Fund" that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Science and Technology Authority and the Development Finance Authority could use to create, attract or retain businesses in Arkansas.
Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant said he hoped to use $30 million from the state's surplus or from federal stimulus money to fund the incentives. Broadway compared the fund to the Quick Action Closing Fund, a $50 million incentive program the state created in 2007 to attract new companies.
Gov. Mike Beebe's office has said he supports the proposal, but finding another $50 million the Quick Action Closing Fund is a higher priority.
The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee also advanced a proposal to move the state's primaries to the first Tuesday in June, just a few weeks after the date the elections are currently held. The state had held its presidential primary in February last year, but Beebe signed legislation to move the contest back with the other primaries in May.
Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, said his proposal is needed to make sure that annual legislative sessions don't interfere with primary season campaigning.
The panel also advanced a proposal to use fines collected from people who don't wear their seat belts to help police agencies around the state buy video cameras for their vehicles. The proposal by Sen. Hank Wilkins IV is an amended version of a bill he had originaly filed to require some police departments to collect data on the race of drivers pulled over for seat belt violations.
Wilkins, D-Pine Bluff, sponsored a bill that was signed into law that make seat belt violations a primary offense, meaning police can pull over drivers for violations.
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development committee advanced a proposal Tuesday to create a 15 percent rebate on expenditures in Arkansas for producers who shoot their films, television shows or commercials in the state. The measure now heads to the Senate.
Under the measure, the incentives would be offered through June 2019. Backers said the bill would cost little beyond initial startup costs, because it involves the refund of money that wouldn't have been spent in the state otherwise.
Also Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill that would make it a felony for someone to use false identification to get a job.
The bill by Rep. Butch Wilkins, D-Bono, adds the crime under the state's laws governing identity fraud.
Backers of the bill say it's needed because of an increase in stolen identity cards used by people trying to get jobs. Currently, that crime is prosecuted as criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor.
The bill now heads to the House floor.
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Associated Press Writer Jill Zeman contributed to this report
A Senate panel on Tuesday rejected a one-year moratorium on lobbying by the state's top public servants after their terms expire, but backed a ban on so-called "absentee lobbying" and other ethics restrictions.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel had pushed both bills as ways to overhaul the state's ethics laws.
The proposed moratorium on lobbying for former constitutional officers, lawmakers and state agency heads failed before the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on a 3-3 vote.
But, on a voice vote, the panel endorsed an ethics bill that included a ban on lobbyists paying for drinks or meals at places where the lobbyist is not present. It would not apply to special events.
Hours after the vote, McDaniel said he was stripping from that proposal a provision that would double the amount of carry-over funds that elected officials can keep in their campaign coffers after an election. Currently, carryover funds cannot exceed the annual salary set by state law for the office.
Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, who voted against the measure, said he believed that doubling the amount of surplus campaign funds would give an unfair advantage to incumbents.
"I have a real problem with that because it does not invite newcomers into politics," Hendren said.
McDaniel later told reporters that he will ask to have that provision removed from the bill, along with another provision that would have expanded what elected officials could use carryover funds for.
"We believe that will bring comfort to those supporting the bill and also reassure those who raised concerns," McDaniel said.
Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, who had asked to be removed as a co-sponsor because of the carryover provision, told reporters he would support the amended version.
The lobbying moratorium, which also would have applied to chiefs of staff, failed after lawmakers questioned whether the prohibition was too strict by starting the moratorium when an elected official's term expires, rather when that person leaves office.
"We need as a state to know that our public officials are doing the business that we sent them there to do, rather than using the position that we have entrusted to them to secure future employment," McDaniel told the committee.
McDaniel at first said he read the proposal as placing the moratorium after an elected official leaves office, but later said it would take effect after that official's term ended.
Sen. Bill Pritchard, who voted against the measure, noted that the restriction would mean a lawmaker who leaves office before his term ends would have to wait until the rest of their term plus one year to take a job as a lobbyist.
"It's putting an undue restriction on them for choosing public service," said Pritchard, R-Elkins.
Sen. Gilbert Baker, who had sponsored the lobbying moratorium legislation, said after the vote that it may be possible to amend the bill to address the concerns raised by opponents. McDaniel said he would like the restriction to come up before the panel again.
Later Tuesday, the Senate backed a proposal to create an incentive fund to encourage companies to develop new technologies. By a 34-0 vote, senators passed a proposal to create a "Technology Acceleration Fund" that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Science and Technology Authority and the Development Finance Authority could use to create, attract or retain businesses in Arkansas.
Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant said he hoped to use $30 million from the state's surplus or from federal stimulus money to fund the incentives. Broadway compared the fund to the Quick Action Closing Fund, a $50 million incentive program the state created in 2007 to attract new companies.
Gov. Mike Beebe's office has said he supports the proposal, but finding another $50 million the Quick Action Closing Fund is a higher priority.
The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee also advanced a proposal to move the state's primaries to the first Tuesday in June, just a few weeks after the date the elections are currently held. The state had held its presidential primary in February last year, but Beebe signed legislation to move the contest back with the other primaries in May.
Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, said his proposal is needed to make sure that annual legislative sessions don't interfere with primary season campaigning.
The panel also advanced a proposal to use fines collected from people who don't wear their seat belts to help police agencies around the state buy video cameras for their vehicles. The proposal by Sen. Hank Wilkins IV is an amended version of a bill he had originaly filed to require some police departments to collect data on the race of drivers pulled over for seat belt violations.
Wilkins, D-Pine Bluff, sponsored a bill that was signed into law that make seat belt violations a primary offense, meaning police can pull over drivers for violations.
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development committee advanced a proposal Tuesday to create a 15 percent rebate on expenditures in Arkansas for producers who shoot their films, television shows or commercials in the state. The measure now heads to the Senate.
Under the measure, the incentives would be offered through June 2019. Backers said the bill would cost little beyond initial startup costs, because it involves the refund of money that wouldn't have been spent in the state otherwise.
Also Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill that would make it a felony for someone to use false identification to get a job.
The bill by Rep. Butch Wilkins, D-Bono, adds the crime under the state's laws governing identity fraud.
Backers of the bill say it's needed because of an increase in stolen identity cards used by people trying to get jobs. Currently, that crime is prosecuted as criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor.
The bill now heads to the House floor.
___
Associated Press Writer Jill Zeman contributed to this report
