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Date: March 11, 2005 
Contact: House Information Office, 501-682-7771
For Release Immediately
Prison crowding and saving teachers' insurance plans gain House approval
LITTLE ROCK - The state House of Representatives approved a seven-part legislative package to help the state Department of Correction deal with prison crowding and another bill to shore up school employees' health insurance plans.

Also during the ninth week of the 85th General Assembly, lawmakers saw the eclipse of the 60th day of the session, the length of time set by the state's 1874 constitution for legislative sessions. The Arkansas General Assembly last had a 60-day session in 1965, and that year featured three special sessions. Lawmakers of every regular session since then have routinely passed extensions with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. The House on Monday, March 7, approved an extension setting April 15 for recess and May 13 for formal adjournment. The Senate approved that extension three days later.

With inmate populations and costs of running prisons exploding over the past 15 years, lawmakers fashioned a seven-bill package seeking to deal with both. Rep. Will Bond of Jacksonville presented the bills in the House, and the governor's office is the next stop for all seven.

Senate Bill 387 repeals a 1997 law requiring those convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine, among other crimes, to serve at least 70 percent of their sentence. Approved by a unanimous vote in the Senate and by a 56-32 vote in the House, SB 387 allows those inmates to serve half of their sentence if they've earned "good time" for good behavior.

The change affects only people convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in the future. Also, people convicted and sentenced to up to 10 additional years in prison for making the drug near a school or daycare must serve all of that "enhanced sentence" before becoming eligible for release after completing half of their regular sentence.

The six other bills are:
  • SB 383 changes the name of the Post Prison Transfer Board to simply the state Parole Board.

  • SB 384 authorizes the Board of Correction to set up rules and regulations to license and monitor halfway houses.

  • SB 385 allows the Post Prison Transfer Board to place certain offenders in halfway houses up to a year before their parole-eligibility dates.

  • SB 386 allows inmates who are terminally ill and likely to die within 12 months to be placed in a halfway house or to serve out their sentences under home detention.

  • SB 388 allows for the early release of well-behaved inmates once they've completed certain treatment programs and earned their general equivalency degrees.

  • SB 389 allows the Post Prison Transfer Board to release inmates to the Department of Community Correction after they've completed a therapeutic rehabilitation program.
The House also approved HB 1559, by Rep. Denny Sumpter of West Memphis, to increase the state's contribution to the insurance plan for teachers and other classified school personnel. The state failed to increase its contributions to the plan from 1997 to 2003. During those six years, premiums increased dramatically, and many teachers abandoned the plan for less expensive ones. The bill calls for up to $35 million to be placed into the fund.

Saving the plan eventually will make it solvent and will entice up to 8,000 teachers and other school employees to enroll in the plan, supporters say.

The infusion of money will mean that a teacher with a family plan would see a reduction in monthly premiums from $656 to $538. Single teachers with no dependents will see a savings as well - from $152 a month in premiums to $76.

The state once paid 100 percent of the premiums, but its share has since dropped to 42 percent - a factor in the state's ability to attract and retain quality teachers. The bill now goes to the Senate.

The House also approved HB 1768, by Rep. Johnny Key of Mountain Home, to stiffen the penalty for being a minor in possession of alcohol. Current law provides for a fine ranging from $100 to $500. HB 1768 would allow the immediate suspension of the offender's driver's license. A first offense would bring a 60-day suspension; a second offense, 120 days; and a third or subsequent offense, a year. The bill now goes to the Senate.

The House also approved a bill allowing school districts to begin each school year on the first Monday following the second Saturday in August. Current law sets opening day at no earlier than August 19 and no later than August 26. HB 2506, by Rep. Dwight Fite of Benton, now goes to the Senate.

Also during the week:
  • The Senate approved HB 1495, by Rep. Nathan George of Dardanelle, to clarify that the state Department of Environmental Quality has the power to suspend or revoke the license of operators of a wastewater treatment facility. The bill goes to the governor.

  • The Senate passed HB 1279, by Rep. Linda Chesterfield of Little Rock, to authorize the state Department of Human Services to design a pilot program to reward state employees for healthy activities such as regular exercise and good nutrition. Employees could get up to three extra days off for completing the program once it is designed. The bill goes to the governor.

  • The House approved HB 2549, by Rep. Lindsley Smith of Fayetteville, to change how tow-truck operators can tow illegally parked cars. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, requires tow operators to obtain a written statement from the owner of the property from which a vehicle is to be towed. The bill also prohibits any payment or referral fee between the towing operator and the person requesting that an illegally parked vehicle be towed. Tow operators also have to notify police within two hours of taking the vehicle, and then the police would keep a log listing vehicles that have been towed. The police also could write citations against towing operators. Operators who violate the law face up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

  • The House approved HB 2879 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum of Little Rock to extend the state's early-voting hours on Saturdays. Currently, courthouses are open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays of the two-week early-voting period. HB 2879 will have the polls open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bill goes to the Senate.

  • The House approved HB 1395, by Rep. Mike Burris of Malvern, to allow teachers to get professional development credit for any college courses they take. The bill goes to the Senate.

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