The Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday referred to a subcommittee an amendment to the state Department of Education’s budget that would increase from two years to five the time the department can maintain control over fiscally distressed school districts taken over by the state. The panel referred Senate Bill 52 to its Special Language Subcommittee after some lawmakers expressed concern the proposal would weaken local control.
“This gives me pause,” said Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, noting that the proposal would give the Education Department too much authority.
“I think we should be very thoughtful about the precedent we’re about to set,” added Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock.
The subcommittee is scheduled to meet Wednesday. Last month, state Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell told the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee the state needs more time to correct the financial problems of a school district over which it takes control.
Kimbrell’s comments came as the committee was reviewing an audit of the Helena-West Helena School District, which for the second time since 2005 is under state control because of fiscal distress.
Lawmakers reject funds for lignite study
The Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday rejected a lawmaker’s request to use $2.5 million from the state’s surplus to fund a study on the feasibility of using lignite from South Arkansas to make liquefied petroleum.
Rep. Garry Smith, D-Camden, said the study could be used to entice companies to Arkansas to mine the lignite, a low-grade coal.
“What this amounts to is a feasibility (study) to reveal how well this mineral, lignite, will actually convert to liquid crude oil,” he said, adding the study also would allow property owners to know how much lignite they have under their land.
“Other states are doing coal-to-lignite technology and we can attract more companies to come into Arkansas if we venture into this statement of economic development,” Smith said.
Rep. Buddy Lovell, D-Marked Tree, questioned using tax dollars to entice lignite prospects.
“The Legislature didn’t have to spend tax dollars to get the Fayetteville Shale started,” Lovell said.
Richard Weiss, director of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, said the governor opposed the idea.
Senate OKs two supplemental funding bills
The state Senate on Tuesday approved two bills to supplement state agency funding for the current fiscal year. By identical 34-0 votes, the Senate passed Senate Bill 126 to add $2.7 million to the state Forestry Commission’s budget and SB127 to add $35,000 to the state Parole Board budget.
The Forestry Commission supplement would boost agency funding through June 30 and pay back federal grant funds the agency improperly borrowed for ongoing expenses.
The bills go to the House.
Panel endorses $125,000 settlement in choking case
The Claims Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday accepted a $125,000 negotiated settlement between the state and the family of a 25-year-old mentally retarded man who died in 2010 after choking on a sandwich at the Booneville Human Development Center. The Arkansas Claims Commission approved the settlement last week.
Michael Fornell died in May 2010 after choking on a sandwich he had found in the kitchen of the human development center.
Fornell had a documented history of choking on food and a doctor had ordered that his food be chopped into small pieces and that he always be supervised.
The employee who had been responsible for keeping track of Fornell’s whereabouts was later fired.
Former legislator remembered
The House speaker paid tribute Tuesday to a former state legislator who died Monday.
“Our former colleague here in the House of Representatives, Myra Jones, passed away yesterday,” Rep. Robert S. Moore Jr., D-Arkansas City, told House members. “Myra was a founding member of the legislative Women’s Caucus. She graciously hosted the Women’s Caucus in her home in the past and was preparing to do that again. Those of us who knew her will certainly miss her.”
Jones was elected to the House in 1984 and served there for 14 years.
Before serving in the Legislature, Jones was the first woman elected to a full term on the Little Rock Board of Directors. She died at the age of 75.
A memorial services is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock.