LITTLE ROCK — University faculty and staff would be able to carry concealed weapons in most areas of campus under a bill approved by the House Education Committee on Tuesday.

Also on the 30th day of the Legislative session, lawmakers considered allowing pregnant women to defend their fetuses with deadly force and increasing human trafficking penalties.

House Bill 1243 would allow faculty and staff who hold concealed-carry permits to carry their weapon on the campus where they work. State Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, amended the bill to allow public colleges and universities to annually opt out of the law. The bill already extended that option to private institutions. Students and guests would not be allowed to carry.

“We have a significant problem in America, and the problem I’m talking about is the number of crazies and killers that select our college campuses to murder our loved ones,” Collins said.

Committee members approved the bill by a voice vote after hearing from students and professors.

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville student Joe Youngblood said banning concealed weapons doesn’t keep criminals from bringing them on campus.

“An individual who already intends to commit a crime is not deterred by signs saying firearms are banned,” Youngblood said.

A high school student from the Hot Springs area who was on a building tour was the only person to speak against the bill.

Greyson Teague, who said he will be studying in Fayetteville next year, said he would be intimidated knowing faculty might be carrying a weapon.

“The idea of one of my professors whom I do not know on the first day having a gun kind of scares me,” Teague said. “It might make me fear my professors.”

With the amendment, public universities and colleges are not opposing the bill, Department of Higher Education Interim Director Shane Broadway said.

“While I understand that there are strong concerns among our colleges and universities regarding guns on campus, it is my understanding that as amended to allow for local decision making, our institutions are not opposing the bill,” Broadway said after the committee voted.

Gov. Mike Beebe said theamendment made him more comfortable with the bill, but he wants to speak with Broadway before deciding whether to support it.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Arkansas and 20 other states ban carrying a concealed weapon on a college campus. In 23 states, each college and university can decide whether to ban or allow concealed weapons. Utah is the only state with a law specifically stating that colleges and universities cannot ban people from carrying concealed weapons.

Currently a concealed weapon cannot be carried in a campus building, except for an authorized firearm-related activity. Arkansas law also makes it a crime to carry a weapon into most government buildings, police stations, schools, polling places or athletic events.

On Monday, Gov. Mike Beebe signed a bill allowing congregations to determine who - if anyone - may carry a concealed handgun into their place of worship.

FETAL HEARTBEAT

The sponsors of a bill to prohibit abortion 12 weeks after conception said Tuesday they will amend the legislation to allow abortion in situations where the fetus may not survive past birth.

The State Medical Board would be responsible for determining which conditions fit that situation.

The amendment would also leave it up to the State Medical Board to punish doctors who perform abortions past 12 weeks, instead of making it a class D felony.

Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, said the changes to Senate Bill 134 will make it easier for opponents to support it.

“There’s been a lot of intensity with this bill,” Rapert said. The amendment “accommodates some concerns that are there which make it easier on everyone.”

The bill had stalled once over concerns that a woman seeking an abortion would have to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, where a wandlike probe would be inserted into the vagina to detect a heartbeat as early as six weeks from conception. The amended bill calls for an abdominal ultrasound - the kind of procedure familiar to most pregnant women.

The bill will come before the House for the latest amendment and be sent back to the committee. Rapert said the bill could go before the House as early as Monday.

ENDING DATE

The House voted 90-0 to extend the end date for the legislative session.

House Concurrent Resolution 1003 by House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, states the session will recess at noon May 17.

Under the resolution, the chambers would recess on April 19. The House speaker and Senate president pro tempore can bring lawmakers back to consider vetoes, correct errors and consider superprojects allowed under Amendment 82 such as the Big River Steel Mill.

The last regular session in 2011 lasted 95 days. The chambers recessed April 1 and adjourned April 27.

DEADLY FORCE

The Senate unanimously approved SB170, which would allow a pregnant woman to use deadly force to protect her fetus if she reasonably believed the fetus was threatened.

Sen. Gary Stubblefield, RBranch, told the Senate that a woman already has the right to protect herself, but nothing in the law provides for defending a fetus.

“We have a void [in the law] and this will fill that void,” Stubblefield said.

WITHOUT A LICENSE

The Senate approved and sent to the governor SB55, proposed by Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, which would give a judge the discretion toimpose both a fine and a jail sentence for driving without a driver’s license.

Under the current law, judges may impose either a sentence of up to 90 days or a fine of up to $500.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The House Judiciary Committee passed SB242, proposed by Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, which would increase penalties for human trafficking and provide defenses for victims who are charged with prostitution.

SB242 is a companion bill to HB1203, which was approved by the committee Feb. 5.

The committee also voted down HB1026, proposed by Rep. Butch Wilkins, D-Bono, which would increase the penalties for aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault against law enforcement officers, medical personnel and other public servants.

The committee voted against the bill after members questioned how the bill would deter criminals and whether increased penalties would result in higher costs of imprisonment.

Front Section, Pages 5 on 02/13/2013