The House began its second week of the Regular Session on Tuesday.

The House Public Transportation Committee advanced HB1028. This bill changes the length of time a consumer has to license their vehicle. Current law gives car buyers 30 days to pay the sales tax and register a vehicle. HB 1028 would extend it to 60 days.

The House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee advanced HB1107. This bill amends the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to allow the Arkansas Department of Health to request physical or electronic copies of prescriptions from prescribers or dispensers when checking for accuracy.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced HB1185, which allows the Department of Correction to make an administrative transfer of an inmate to the Division of Community Correction. This would not impact the length of a sentence but rather allow the department to transfer an inmate if he or she is in need of behavioral or substance abuse treatment.

The House passed HB1058. This bill allows a juror to donate their per diem compensation and mileage reimbursement to an eligible nonprofit entity. The administrative office of the courts will be tasked with compiling a list of eligible nonprofits.

An eligible nonprofit should offer services in multiple counties and have as one of its primary goals the providing of:
Crime victim assistance or counseling
Services for abused or neglected children
Shelter for victims of domestic violence
Services for veterans
Legal education for students seeking a Juris Doctor degree

House Rules require the House to recess on January 20 of any year in which the inauguration of an individual to the office of President of the United States is scheduled to occur. House committees will also not be meeting tomorrow. The House “B” standing committees will meet on Thursday, and the full House will reconvene on Thursday at 1 pm.