Bill Seeks To Dissolve Lottery Committee

ENATE OKS BILL ALLOWING IMMEDIATE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF OUT-OF-STATE SEX OFFENDERS

— The legislative committee that oversees the state lottery program would be dissolved under a bill filed Monday.

Also Monday, the Senate approved a bill to allow law enforcement agencies to notify the public immediately when a sex offender from out of state moves into an Arkansas neighborhood and the House rejected a Senate bill to create a commission to study women's issues.

Senate Bill 365 by Sen. Larry Teague, D-Nashville, would repeal language in the state lottery law that created a 12-member legislative oversight committee on the lottery.

Teague's bill would require the Arkansas Lottery Commission to submit contracts, rules, reports and other information to the Legislative Council for review. The Joint Auditing Committee, the House and Senate committees on education and the Personnel Subcommittee of the Legislative Council would review lottery matters relevant to those committees.

Teague said he decided to file the bill after a 2010 audit of the lottery found numerous problems with internal controls.

"I want the Legislature to have more oversight," he said Monday.

Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, who recently was appointed co-chairman of the oversight committee, said he had not read the bill, but he had known Teague planned to file it because of "some concerns he had."

"It's certainly not anything directed at me or the committee," Key said. "It's just the process. I'll read it and see what he is trying to accomplish."

The Senate on Monday approved House Bill 1009 by Rep. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, which would allow, but not require, law enforcement agencies to notify people when a sex offender moves from another state into their neighborhood even if Arkansas has not completed a sex offender assessment of the person.

Sen. David Rapert, R-Bigelow, who presented the bill in the Senate, said the measure is supported by the state Department of Correction, the Arkansas Crime Information Center and several sheriffs across the state.

The bill, which passed 35-0, now goes to the governor.

The House on Monday rejected Senate Bill 119 by Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, which would create a nine-member commission to study the status of women in Arkansas. The bill failed in a 27-58 vote after passing previously in the Senate.

Rep. Tracy Steele, D-North Little Rock, presented the bill on the House floor. He said the committee would have to pay any expenses it incurred without using state funds, and members would not receive stipends or per diem payments.

Several House members, all women, spoke against the bill, saying the committee's focus was too broad and arguing that creating the commission would go against a resolution the House approved earlier calling for a moratorium on creation of state task forces.

The House voted 89-4 to approve House Bill 1384 by Rep. Fred Allen, D-Little Rock, which would allow operators of storage units to notify people by first-class mail when their property is about to be sold because of missed payments. Current law requires notification by certified mail.

Rep. John Walker, D-Little Rock, one of the four members who voted against the bill, said the measure would make it harder for low-income people who move frequently to protect their property.

The bill goes to the Senate.

The House also passed, 86-0, House Bill 1276 by Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, to authorize Arkansas' private colleges and universities to organize campus police offices. The bill would extend authority currently granted to state colleges and universities. It goes to the Senate.

The Senate also passed House Bill 1255 by Rep. Lane Jean, R-Magnolia, which would change the date property taxes are due from Oct. 10 to Oct. 15.

The bill passed 35-0 and goes to the governor.

The Senate also passed, 23-9, House Bill 1115 by Rep. Betty Overbey, D-Lamar, which would allow mayors of first class cities to designate an "absentee mayor" in case the mayor knows he is going to be incapacitated or otherwise unable to do the job as mayor.

Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, spoke against the bill, saying it would take away power from the city council.

The bill now goes to the governor.

Upcoming Events