On Monday, the House passed HB1523. This bill states a correctional or detention facility shall not place an inmate known to be pregnant, in labor, or in post-partum recovery in restraints unless the facility makes a determination that the inmate presents a substantial flight risk.
The House passed HB1689. This bill increases the penalties for passing an authorized vehicle stopped on a highway. It increases the maximum fine from $500 to $1,000.
The House passed HB1647. This bill amends the eligibility requirements for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship to include the applicant’s superscore on the ACT. “Superscore” means the final composite score that is calculated according to a combination of the highest individual section scores across all of the ACT tests taken by an individual.
And with a vote of 90-0, and 4 members voting present, the House passed HB1552. This bill allows for licensing of DACA recipients for nursing licenses. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It is a national immigration policy that allows some individuals who are brought to the United States illegally as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation. A recipient cannot have a criminal record of felonies or serious misdemeanors.
Committees will meet at 9am on Tuesday. The full House reconvenes at 1:30pm.