Legislation that attempts to link the identification of noncitizens in jury rolls and among registered voters drew a rebuke from House Minority Leader Charles Blake, D-Little Rock, who accused Republicans of using a double standard with regards to fiscal accountability.
Blake said his issue lay in the fact that House Bill 1388, by Rep. Justin Gonzales, R-Okolona, was presented to the House without a fiscal impact statement on the state's cost.
Gonzales' bill would require that circuit clerks notify a county elections registrar whenever they identify someone in a jury pool who is a noncitizen.
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Blake said he has been required to provide a fiscal impact statement whenever he files a bill on elections administration.
Legislative records show that Blake filed a bill to set up automatic voter registration in 2017, with an estimated cost of $42,000.
Blake asked on the House floor why HB1388 had no such statement. Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, moved to suspend the rules requiring a statement.
The House voted 69-21 to suspend the rules and 73-16 to pass HB1388.
Blake noted that noncitizens are already barred from voting and serving on juries, and called the decision to move forward without a fiscal impact statement "mind-boggling."
"It's a bill that does nothing, that may cost money," Blake said.
-- John Moritz