Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee says bills needing fiscal-impact statements cannot be scheduled; sponsors urged to respond

At a Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee organizational meeting, members said they will not run bills that require a fiscal-impact statement until the committee receives that document and asked sponsors to respond to a scheduling email sent last week.

The requirement affects which bills can be heard: Representative Fred Allen, who represents District 77, asked, “In the true we can't run a bill until we get the fiscal impact statement?” The committee chair replied, “On certain bills, yes.” The chair clarified that bills without a fiscal impact can be scheduled without that document.

Committee members said the panel emailed sponsors last week to gather availability and determine whether there would be enough business to call meetings. “We sent an email out last week and asked you to very efficient committee,” the chair said, adding that few sponsors had replied. The chair asked sponsors to check their inboxes and respond so the committee can set future meeting dates.

Representative Fred Allen said his bill does require a fiscal-impact statement and that he did not yet have it. The chair told Allen, “We need the official fiscal impact back first. Alright.” No formal votes or bills were taken at the meeting.

Several members introduced themselves and their backgrounds at the start of the session. Representative Lee Johnson said he represents District 47 in Sebastian County and that he is a practicing emergency medicine physician. Representative Mary Bentley, who represents District 54, said she is a registered nurse and business owner and that this is her tenth year on the committee. Representative Aaron Pilkington, District 45, said he was “just excited to learn.” Representative McGee said he is a physician representing District 56 in Conway. Zach Graham, who said he represents District 50 in central Fort Smith, identified himself as a public middle school teacher.

The committee did not set a date for its next meeting. “Right now I can't tell you when our next committee meeting is. I don't have enough responses to do that, but be watching for the announcements on the floor, and we'll be responding out to emails to the committee,” the chair said.

Absent a fiscal-impact statement for bills that require one, the committee indicated it will not schedule those items until the document is received and sponsors respond to the scheduling request. The chair and members encouraged sponsors to reply so the committee can determine whether there is sufficient business to convene future meetings.