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House bill to let municipal port authorities form police forces pulled for geographic-limits amendment
Summary
State Representative Steve Unger, District 19, told the House City, County & Local Affairs Committee that House Bill 1711 would let municipal port authorities create police forces funded by port fees.
State Representative Steve Unger, District 19, told the House City, County & Local Affairs Committee that House Bill 1711 would give municipal port authorities the explicit authority to establish a police force and to fund it with fees collected by the port.
"If you haven't been out there, I would really encourage you to go because I gotta tell you, it's a crown jewel of the region," Unger said, describing the Port of Little Rock as about 5,000 acres that supports about 10,000 jobs. He said the measure was intended to let ports provide security similar to protections at major seaports and to help recruit industry.
The bill drew sustained questioning from committee members over the scope of authority and oversight. Representative…
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