Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

 State of Arkansas
 93rd General Assembly
 Regular Session, 2021                                                          HR 1005
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 By: Representative Shepherd
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                                  HOUSE RESOLUTION
                TO ADOPT EMERGENCY RULES FOR THE HOUSE OF
                REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                FOR THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER
                DURING THE 2021 REGULAR SESSION.
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                                             Subtitle
                         TO ADOPT EMERGENCY RULES FOR THE HOUSE OF
                         REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD
                         GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
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        WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the Governor declared and has since
 extended a state of emergency due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
 pandemic; and
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        WHEREAS, in order to provide for the continuity of government and the
 carrying out of the General Assemblys constitutional responsibilities
 related to the regular legislative session, it is necessary to adopt certain
 protocols and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for
 members, staff, and public participation in the legislative process,
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 NOW THEREFORE,
 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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        Section 1. Intent and Duration.
        (a)    Upon affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the House of
 Representatives, these emergency procedures shall become effective and
 applicable to the proceedings of the House of Representatives and its
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                                                                               HR1005
 committees for the duration of the 2021 Regular Session of the Ninety-Third
 General Assembly.
      (b)   If the procedures set forth herein conflict with the Rules of the
 House of Representatives, these procedures shall supersede the Rules of the
 House of Representatives.
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      Section 2. Health and Safety of the House.
      (a)   To comply with Department of Health recommendations and to protect
 the health and safety of representatives, staff, and others who access House
 properties, a mask or other cloth face covering over the mouth and nose shall
 be worn with exceptions for participants in recognized debate or under
 special circumstances as authorized by the Speaker.
      (b)   To comply with Department of Health recommendations and to protect
 the health and safety of representatives, staff, and others who access House
 properties, appropriate physical distancing shall be maintained among
 individuals unless transparent barriers are in place.
      (c)   All representatives, staff, and others prior to entering House
 properties shall submit to and pass a temperature check and health screening
 if such screenings are being conducted.
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      Section 3. Voting.
      (a)   The Electronic Voting System shall have the same force and effect
 as a Roll Call. (House Rule 102).
      (b)   Any representative who will be absent from the House may pair his
 or her vote with a representative who shall be present. (House Rule 99)
      (c)   In addition to votes cast using the Electronic Voting System and
 pair votes, representatives may cast votes using:
            (1)(A)     The Electronic Voting Systems Virtual Voting Console
 operational on electronic devices assigned to individual representatives and
 operational outside the House Chamber but within the communications network
 maintained for the General Assembly.
                     (B)   In the event of a sounding of the ballot (House Rule
 100), votes cast remotely through the virtual voting console shall be
 confirmed by the physical presence of the representative at the time the
 ballot is sounded; or
            (2)(A)     Limited-Directed Proxy:
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                                                                               HR1005
                   (B)   A representative may submit in writing to the Speaker
 of the House a request to vote by proxy.   For purposes of these procedures,
 in writing includes submission of the request by electronic means.
                   (C)   The Speaker of the House shall direct an approved
 request to vote by proxy to the requesting representatives respective
 Majority or Minority caucus leader, or his or her designee, who will be
 physically present to vote as proxy for the absent representative. A caucus
 leader or his or her designee may vote by proxy for more than one (1) absent
 representative.
                   (D)   All votes by proxy shall be indicated in writing by
 the absent representative no later than one (1) hour before the House session
 begins. The Speaker of the House may waive the deadline in order to
 accommodate extraordinary circumstances.
                   (E)   A representative authorized to vote by proxy shall be
 counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum of the House but
 shall not be eligible for daily expense reimbursements.
                   (F)   The physical presence of a representative who
 requested authorization to vote by proxy shall invalidate the authority to
 vote by proxy.
                   (G)   Copies of all proxy votes cast shall be provided to
 the Chief Clerk of the House, who shall record proxy assignments and voting
 preferences in the House Journal.
                   (H)   A quorum established through the use of proxies and
 sessions held involving votes cast by proxy shall satisfy the requirement
 that the General Assembly meet at the seat of government every year, as set
 forth in Arkansas Constitution, Article 5,  5.
                   (I)   In the event of a sounding of the ballot (House Rule
 100), votes cast by proxy shall not be stricken.
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