Page 745 – Family Council

Senate Passes Bill Establishing Day of Prayer for Arkansas’ Students

Apr 15, 2021Jerry CoxReligious FreedomArkansas Legislature, Religious Liberty

*Sen. Hill presents S.B. 622 in the Arkansas Senate.*

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate unanimously passed S.B. 662.

This good bill by Sen. Ricky Hill (R – Cabot), Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View), and Rep. Cameron Cooper (R – Romance) establishes a Day of Prayer for Arkansas Students.

S.B. 662 calls on the citizens to “pray, meditate, or otherwise reflect upon” students, teachers, school administrators, and schools” on the last Wednesday of September every year.

The bill is similar to a Kentucky law.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Read S.B. 662 Here.

Arkansas Passes Measure to Mark Anniversary of Roe v. Wade as “Day of Tears”

Apr 15, 2021Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life

*Sen. Rapert presents H.C.R. 1007 in the Arkansas Senate.*

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate passed pro-life resolution H.C.R. 1007. The resolution previously passed the Arkansas House of Representatives.

This good resolution by Rep. Jim Wooten (R – Beebe) and Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) recognizes January 22 — the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade abortion decision — as “The Day of Tears” in Arkansas.

The resolution also acknowledges the 61 million unborn babies killed in abortion in America over the past five decades, and it encourages Arkansans to lower their flags to half-staff on January 22 to mourn the innocent children who have lost their lives.

Alabama passed a similar resolution last month.

This is a good resolution that will forever mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade in Arkansas — and remember the destruction that abortion has caused in our country.

Arkansas House Rejects Bad End-of-Life Legislation

Apr 14, 2021Jerry CoxBioethicsBioethics, End-of-Life

*Rep. Gazaway testifies against H.B. 1685 on the floor of the House.*

On Wednesday the Arkansas House Representatives rejected two bad pieces of end-of-life legislation.

The first was H.B. 1685.

This bad bill lets healthcare workers who are not physicians work through end-of-life decisions with patients and family members. It does not require healthcare workers making these decisions to have appropriate training in end-of-life care. It makes it easier to deny a dying person food or water. Read H.B. 1685 Here.

H.B. 1685 received 31 votes. Fifty-five representatives voted against it.

The second was H.B. 1686.

This bad bill lets healthcare workers who are not physicians complete Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms. It removes an important provision in state law that says a POLST form is not intended to replace an advance directive. It inadvertently prevents consulting physicians — such as palliative care physicians — from completing POLST forms with patients. Read H.B. 1686 Here.

H.B. 1686 received 38 votes. Forty-eight representatives voted against it.

Both bills were opposed by several different groups, including:

National Right to Life
Arkansas Right to Life
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition USA
Family Council
Northwest Arkansas Respect Life
Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents

Below is a breakdown of the vote on H.B. 1685 and H.B. 1686.

Voted FOR H.B. 1685

F. Allen
Barker
Bentley
Cavenaugh
Clowney
Coleman
Dalby
M. Davis
Eubanks
Evans
K. Ferguson
D. Ferguson
Fielding
V. Flowers
D. Garner
Godfrey
M. Gray
M. Hodges
Hollowell
Ladyman
McCullough
Miller
Murdock
Payton
Perry
Richmond
S. Smith
Wardlaw
Warren
D. Whitaker
Wing

Voted AGAINST H.B. 1685

Beatty Jr.
S. Berry
M. Berry
Boyd
Breaux
Brooks
Brown
Bryant
Carr
Christiansen
Cloud
A. Collins
C. Cooper
Cozart
Crawford
Deffenbaugh
Dotson
Ennett
C. Fite
L. Fite
Fortner
Gazaway
Haak
Holcomb
Hudson
Jean
Jett
L. Johnson
Lowery
Lundstrum
Lynch
Maddox
J. Mayberry
McClure
McCollum
M. McElroy
McGrew
McKenzie
McNair
S. Meeks
Milligan
Penzo
Ray
Richardson
Rye
Scott
Slape
B. Smith
Speaks
Springer
Tosh
Underwood
Watson
Womack
Wooten

Voted “Present” on H.B. 1685

Bragg
Furman
Hillman

Did Not Vote On H.B. 1685

Beck
Eaves
Gonzales
Hawks
Love
Magie
Nicks
Pilkington
Shepherd
Tollett
Vaught

Voted FOR H.B. 1686

F. Allen
Barker
Beck
Bentley
Brown
Cavenaugh
Clowney
Coleman
Dalby
M. Davis
Eaves
Eubanks
Evans
K. Ferguson
D. Ferguson
Fielding
V. Flowers
D. Garner
Godfrey
Gonzales
M. Gray
Hillman
M. Hodges
Hollowell
Hudson
Ladyman
McClure
McCullough
S. Meeks
Miller
Murdock
Nicks
Payton
Perry
S. Smith
Wardlaw
Warren
D. Whitaker

Voted AGAINST H.B. 1686

Beatty Jr.
S. Berry
M. Berry
Boyd
Bragg
Breaux
Brooks
Bryant
Carr
Christiansen
Cloud
A. Collins
C. Cooper
Crawford
Deffenbaugh
Dotson
Ennett
C. Fite
L. Fite
Gazaway
Haak
Hawks
Holcomb
L. Johnson
Lowery
Lundstrum
Lynch
Maddox
J. Mayberry
McCollum
M. McElroy
McGrew
McKenzie
Milligan
Penzo
Pilkington
Ray
Rye
Scott
Slape
B. Smith
Speaks
Springer
Tosh
Underwood
Watson
Womack
Wooten

Voted “Present” On H.B. 1686

Furman
Vaught

Did Not Vote on H.B. 1686

Cozart
Fortner
Jean
Jett
Love
Magie
McNair
Richardson
Richmond
Shepherd
Tollett
Wing