Bill Introduced by Armeen Neshat, and Blake Tierney, Senate
Bill number____201______
Bill introduced by Armeen Neshat, and Blake Tierney, Senate
Representing Hendrix College
Assigned to Committee______
Name of Chairperson______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL RECOMMENDING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ARKANSAS THAT THE A FUND DESIGNED TO INVEST IN MASS TRANSIT PROGRAMS STATEWIDE BE CREATED.
Whereas the populations of Arkansas’ metropolitan areas are expected to grow significantly over the next few years and;
Whereas the average gasoline consumption per family in the state of Arkansas is almost 800 gallons per year.
Section I: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS THAT
2. A program to fund the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor and mass transportation projects 3. throughout the state of Arkansas shall be created,
Section II: Passenger vehicles shall receive right-of-way on all infrastructure projects that receive funding from 2. This program.
Section III:An automatic boom gate shall be placed at all railroad crossings within the state of Arkansas prior to 2. December 31, 2012.
Section IV: The program shall be created by January 1, 2012 by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation 2. Department, and the Department shall administer all actions related to the program.
Section V:The program shall be funded through a tax of ten cents per gallon placed on gasoline sales and a new 2. fee of twenty dollars to be charged to all passengers traveling through an airport located within the 3. state of Arkansas, both of which shall be implemented on January 1, 2012
Action of Originating House Passed______Failed______
Time______Signature of Clerk______
Action of Second House Passed______Failed______
Time______Signature of Clerk______
Bill Number______202 ______
Bill Introduced By _Brittany Webb, and Daniel Durbin, Senate _
Representing _Hendrix College__ __
Assigned to Committee______
Name of Chairperson______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL RECOMMENDING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS THAT HYDRAULIC FRACTURING TRADE SECRET FORM 37 BE RESCINDED.
Whereas,The process for hydraulic fracturing, most notably the injection of a chemical and water solution into an uncontained ground well, has been proven to spread chemicals into groundwater reserves due to the in-situ nature of the wells, and;
Whereas,Hydraulic fracturing is conducted by nine non-Arkansan companies that are registered with Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, and;
Whereas,All of the afore mentioned registered companies are to provide the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission with a comprehensive list of all chemicals that are utilized in hydraulic fracturing under General Rule B-9, and;
Whereas, The registered companies can then proceed file the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Claim of Entitlement to Withhold the Identity of a Chemical Constituent as a Trade Secret OR Request for Trade Secret Exemption Form 37, which withholds certain chemicals the companies wish to remain unidentified.
Whereas,Eight of the nine registered companies have filed for the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Claim of Entitlement to Withhold the Identity of a Chemical Constituent as a Trade Secret OR Request for Trade Secret Exemption Form 37, leading to several unknown chemicals still being injected into the ground and potential Arkansas aquifers.
Section I:BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE 2011 STUDENT CONGRESS THAT
2.The Arkansas General Assembly rescind the option of the Arkansas Oil and Gas 3.Commission Claim of Entitlement to Withhold the Identity of a Chemical Constituent 4.as a Trade Secret OR Request for Trade Secret Exemption Form 37
Section II:This act will be effective upon January 1st, 2012.
Section III: All current and pending forms filed will be nevoid after December 31, 2011.
Action of Originating HousePassed______Failed______
Time______Signature of Clerk______
Action of Second HousePassed______Failed______
Time______Signature of Clerk______
Bill number_____203______
Bill introduced by Claire Hyatt, and Patrick Fields, Senate
Representing Hendrix College
Assigned to Committee______
Name of Chairperson______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL RECOMMENDING TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES THAT THE UNITED STATES LEGALIZE THE GROWING AND CULTIVATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP.
Whereas hemp has a long history of cultivation in the United States during times of crisis and;
Whereas hemp has thousands of uses, including as ingredients in plastics, construction material, paper products, fabrics, agriculture, animal care, biomass, and several others and;
Whereas it is currently not illegal to use or manufacture items made from industrial hemp, causing all industrial hemp to be imported from foreign countries, and;
Whereas it is impossible to become inebriated after ingesting or smoking industrial hemp.
Section1: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES THAT
2. In the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Chapter 13 Subchapter I Part 3.B § 812 Section C Subsection C Line 17, the phrase “over the content of 4.3percent” be added after the word “Tetrahydrocannabinols.”
Section2: This law shall effectively remove any federal ban on the growing or cultivation of 2. industrial hemp, and shall take effect upon adoption.
Section3: Individual states shall determine whether to legalize the growing and cultivation 2. Of industrial hemp within their legal jurisdictions.
Section4: This legalization shall only apply to industrial hemp, and not for cannabis to be 2. used as a recreational drug, nor any plant that contain a Tetrahydrocannabinol 3. level above .3%.
Action of Originating HousePassed______Failed______
Time______Signature of Clerk______
Action of Second HousePassed______Failed______
Time______Signature of Clerk______
Bill Number _____204______
Bill Introduced by Patrick Cherry, and Zack Hausle, Senate
Representing Hendrix College
Assigned to Committee______
Time Approved by Committee______
Name of Chairperson______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL RECOMMENDING TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS THAT THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTER NETWORK NEUTRALITY BE ADOPTED.
Whereas,previous influential corporate advocates (e.g. Google, Inc.) of “net neutrality” have backed out of the initiative to mandate a free and open internet;
Whereas,major internet service providers have abused the network management technologies so as to limit the free speech of American subscribers;
Whereas,the Federal Communications Commission has failed to hold Telecommunication companies to century-old common carrier requirements by categorizing broadband internet access as an information service and not a telecommunications service;
Whereas,major internet service providers have implemented unfair traffic-shaping tactics so as to discriminate against vendors of devices and services in direct competition with their own devices and services;
Whereas,the Federal Communications Commission did not base its open Internet non-discrimination regulations on Title II common carrier rules;
Section I: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE 2011 STUDENT CONGRESS 2. that any abridgement of the following four end-user rights be made illegal:
3. to access the lawful Internet content of their choice;
4. to run applications and services of their choice, subject to the needs of law
5. enforcement;
6. to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network; and
7. to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and
8. content providers.
Section II:Enforcement of this act will go into effect on January 1, 2014.
Section III:This act will be overseen and enforced by the Federal Communications Commission.
Action of Originating HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Action of Second HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Bill Number ____205______
Bill Introduced By Joe Kieklak and Mark Cameron
Representing University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Assigned to Committee ______
Time Approved by Committee ______Name of Chairperson ______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS STATE CONSTITUTION VIA REFERENDUM BY VOTERS ON THE ISSUE OF MERIT SELECTION OF JUDGES TO THE SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS.
WHERE AS, Merit systems have a long history of serving the judicial interests of American states beginning in their present form in Missouri in 1940 and are the most common judicial selection technique among the states; and
WHERE AS,Judicial elections can be very costly, in 2010 candidates for the Arkansas Supreme Court raised and spent $1.9 million; and
WHERE AS,Study of non-partisan judicial election systems has found an inability on the part of voters to weigh candidate differences due to the research burden required; and
WHERE AS, In a study of Oregon’s non-partisan judicial elections voters could not accurately discern the difference between real candidates seeking appointment to the state’s Supreme Court and those names which were generated by researchers, in many cases non-real candidates were elected by polled likely voters; and
WHERE AS,Merit selection is the preferred method for judicial selection by the American Bar Association; and
WHERE AS,The Arkansas Constitution provides an existing mechanism for the alteration of the judicial selection mechanism by a vote of the people following an approval of that vote by the General Assembly; and
SECTION I: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE 2011 STUDENT CONGRESS ON HUMAN 2. RELATIONS, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 3. ARKANSAS: should, following the provisions laid down by Amendment 80 Section 4. 18 of the Arkansas Constitution, refer to a vote of the people the alteration of the 5. judicial selection mechanism to that of a merit selection system. The vote of the people 6. shall be conducted during the next general election.
SECTION II: Upon the conference of the power to do so by a vote of the people the General Assembly of 2. the State of Arkansas shall convene for the purpose of the creation of a judicial 3. selection committee.
Action of Originating HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Action of Second HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Bill Number ___206______
Bill Introduced By Rachel Dishner and Ruth Bradley
Representing University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Assigned to Committee ______
Time Approved by Committee ______Name of Chairperson ______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL PROPOSING TO THE ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT EVERY RESTAURANT IN THE STATE BE REQUIRED TO HAVE NUTRITION INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE CUSTOMERS AT THE FRONT OF THEIR DINING ESTABLISHMENT.
WHERE AS,In 2007, American’s spent $555.7 billion on meals away from home; and
WHERE AS, Obesity is the number two cause of preventable death in the United States; and
WHERE AS,Obesity in the United States now carries a price tag of $147 billion per year in direct medical costs, just over 9 percent of all medical spending; and
WHERE AS,Excessive caloric intake is a key factor contributing to the alarming increase in obesity in the United States; and
WHERE AS, Consumer Reports in 2011 stated that 9 out of 10 people think they are eating a healthier meal then they actually are; and
WHERE AS,A Study conducted by Ohio State showed that high calorie meal sales dropped whenever nutrition information was given to the consumer; and
WHERE AS,In a study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, when nutrition information was offered at a restaurant 79 percent of women and 42 percent of men used the offered guides; and
SECTION I: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE 2011 STUDENT CONGRESS ON HUMAN 2. RELATIONS, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 3. ARKANSAS: should, require all restaurants within the state of Arkansas to place 4.nutritional information in the front of all restaurants or with the menus in order to better 5.inform the customers on what exactly is going into their bodies and of the caloric 6.content of menu items.
SECTION II. THIS ACT WILL GO INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY WITH ALL RESTAURANTS IN 2.compliance by December 2012. It shall be enforced by the Arkansas Department of 3.Health.
SECTION III. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BE NEEDED AS ENFORCEMENT WILL BE A 2.part of regular scheduled Health Department checks and individual restaurants will be 3.responsible for providing their own materials.
Action of Originating HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Action of Second HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Bill Number ___207______
Bill Introduced By Matthew Seubert and Mason Sams
Representing University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Assigned to Committee ______
Time Approved by Committee ______
Name of Chairperson ______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL PROPOSING THE CREATION OF A SERVICEMEN’S EXEMPT RATE AND VETERANS SUPPORT (SERVS) TAX WITHIN THE CURRENT FICA TAX TO FUND ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH VETERANS CARE AND BENEFITS
WHERE AS, As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan end over 1.25 million service-members will/have returned to the United States and are placing claims on the Veterans Affairs system; and
WHERE AS,According to a Harvard study additional liabilities accrued from Iraq and Afghanistan amount to between $600 billion and $1 trillion over the next 30 to 40 years for veterans care and benefits; and
WHERE AS,Additional funds will be necessary to cover these obligations; and
WHERE AS,The United States faces significant budgetary shortfalls which will require large changes in funding allocations, including the Department of Veterans of Affairs, which administrates most of these services and benefits; and
WHERE AS, The United States and its citizens have made a solemn promise to those who have served in the defense of liberty and must make good on this promise; and
SECTION I: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE 2011 STUDENT CONGRESS ON HUMAN 2. RELATIONS, THAT THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 3. shall institute an additional Serviceman’s Exempt Rate and Veterans Support (SERVS) 4. tax rate to the current Federal Insurance Contribution Act at a rate of .75% on 5. individuals and .25% on employers. Service-members and their employers shall be 6. exempt from the SERVS rate as an additional incentive for employers to hire and 7. retain veterans and as an additional benefit of service.
SECTION II: All current limits, practices, and regulations governing the collection of the FICA tax shall 2. remain in effect to govern collection and administration of the SERVS rate. Revenues 3. will be disbursed through the Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain services and 4. commitments.
SECTION III: Funds gathered through the SERVS shall solely be used for the care and benefit of 2. veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Funds not distributed under current 3. benefit requirements shall be placed in a rolling trust fund to be disbursed as need 4. grows.
Action of Originating HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Action of Second HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Bill Number ___208______
Bill Introduced By Brooke Hines & Edward Norman
Representing University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Assigned to Committee ______
Time Approved by Committee ______
Name of Chairperson ______
SHORT TITLE: A BILL RECCOMENDING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL EDUCATION VOUCHER PROGRAM TO IMPROVE EDUCATOINAL ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED STUDENTS.
WHEREAS: 51,603 students in the state of Arkansas are currently receiving special education services; and
WHEREAS: Parents should have more options for their child’s education if they feel that their assigned school district cannot provide adequate accommodations; and
WHEREAS: Parents currently seeking alternative options must deal with an expensive, drawn out, and difficult process to win lawsuits in order to attain state support for funding their child’s education, leaving parents to accept whatever services are offered, even if the services fall short of those required by law; and
WHEREAS, Every child, no matter how disabled, has a right to a free and appropriate education, which can take place in either a public or private setting; and
WHEREAS, Special education voucher programs have been around for more than a decade and have a proven track record of success; and
Section 1: BE IT RESOLVED; BY THE 2011 STUDENT CONGRESS ON HUMAN 2. RELATIONS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 3. ARKANSAS: shall create a voucher program to enable a student with a 4. disability, as defined by the Department of Education to attend a school of their 5. parent or legal guardian’s choosing to improve their academic success. The 6. Arkansas Department of Education shall issue a voucher to eligible students so 7. that they may choose a public or private school which best meets his/her 8. academic and developmental needs.
Section 2: The voucher shall be redeemable by the selected school at the cost of tuition or the 2. amount the originating school district would otherwise pay to educate that child 3. whichever is less.
Section 3: Enactment shall be upon ratification and beginning with the 2012-2013 school year 2. vouchers shall be made available to student. Districts refusing to accept 3. students and vouchers shall lose all eligibility for state financial support.
Action of Originating HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______
Action of Second HousePassed ______Failed ______
Time: ______Signature of Clerk: ______