AAC
FEATURE
Fiscal Session bills affect county jails, CSUs, more
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ore than 200 appropriation bills were filed prior to the 2018 Fiscal Session, which began Feb. 12. As of week three, Gov. Asa Hutchinson had signed 196 budget bills into law. As week four approached, legislators were preparing to address Arkansas Works. The program uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor. It was crafted as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal health law. The fiscal session was slated to end March 12, with a special session to follow. Several bills of interest to counties have been passed. Among them was House Bill 1128 (now Act 196) to provide an additional $1.4 million for state’s four crisis stabilization units (CSUs). The initial $5 million in funding for CSUs in Craighead, Pulaski, Sebastian and Washington was passed in the 2017 regular session. The goal of the CSUs is to reduce jail overcrowding by offering mental and behavioral health treatment. The Sebastian County unit opened Feb. 28 (see Page 23). HB1134 (now Act 210) approved an appropriation of $4.5 million for the Department of Correction to reimburse county jails for holding inmates when there is insufficient space in state prisons. Senate Bill 115 (now Act 125) provides nearly $485,000 for the Assessment Coordination Department for assessor, assessor employee, and Equalization Board member training. The 2018 Fiscal Session is the fifth fiscal session to be held in Arkansas since the passage of Amendment 86. In November 2008, 69 percent of Arkansas voters passed the amendment requiring the General Assembly to meet in a fiscal session during even-numbered years. During a fiscal session, legislators can consider only appropriation bills. And the session cannot exceed 30 days, unless 3/4 of both the House and Senate vote to extend the session. An extension can last no longer than 15 days. 40
Top left: State Rep. Carlton Wing and Rep. David Fielding have a discussion while waiting for the Arkansas House of Representatives to convene on Feb. 12, 2018. First-term Rep. Wing’s District 38 includes part of North Little Rock and Pulaski County. Rep. Fielding, who is serving is fourth term, is a former Columbia County justice of the peace. His District 5 includes parts of Columbia, Ouachita, Lafayette, and Nevada counties. Top right: Members of the state Senate join state Representatives in the House Chamber to hear the State of the State address on the first day of the fiscal session. In this photo, Rep. John Walker welcomes Sen. Cecile Bledsoe and other senators. Above: President Pro Tempore Sen. Jonathan Dismang (right) consults with Speaker of the House Rep. Jeremy Gillam (left) prior to the beginning of the Governor’s address. Gillam, whose District 45 encompasses part of White County, is only the fifth person to serve two terms as Speaker. Dismang represents Senate District 28 — Prairie County and parts of Arkansas, Lonoke, Monroe, White and Woodruff counties. He has been elected twice by his peers as the Senate President Pro Tempore. At 36, he was the youngest to hold the post in the state’s history and is currently the youngest serving Senate President in the nation. COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2018
