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HB1303

To Amend The Law To Clarify Which Municipalities May Establish Retirement Benefits For Municipal Governing Bodies.

Passed

Last Action (April 4, 2023): Notification that HB1303 is now Act 437

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

House Bill 1303 amends Arkansas Code § 14-42-116 to clarify the authority of municipalities regarding the establishment of retirement benefits for their governing bodies. The bill maintains the existing prohibition against municipalities establishing new retirement systems for members of the governing body, while preserving the rights of those that had such plans in place prior to July 3, 1989. It explicitly grants cities of the first class that already possessed a grandfathered retirement plan the authority to amend, repeal, or reinstate that system by ordinance. The legislation is intended to streamline the language regarding which entities may maintain these benefits. Essentially, it clarifies that while no new plans can be created, existing eligible systems have flexibility regarding their operational status.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries are cities of the first class that currently have grandfathered retirement plans for their governing bodies, as the bill explicitly codifies their authority to manage, amend, or reinstate those systems. Additionally, municipal legal departments and governing body members in these specific cities benefit from clearer legal guidance regarding their existing pension rights.

Who Might Suffer?

Municipalities that do not currently have a retirement system for their governing bodies established prior to July 3, 1989, remain ineligible to create such programs. Consequently, elected officials in these jurisdictions are negatively impacted in that they continue to be barred from establishing new taxpayer-funded retirement benefits for themselves.

Vote Records

Third Reading

March 30, 2023
Yea: 35 Nay: 0 NV: 0 Absent: 0 Passed
View individual votes (35)
Legislator Party Chamber Vote
Jane English Republican Senate Yea
Linda Chesterfield Democrat Senate Yea
Jonathan Dismang Republican Senate Yea
Greg Leding Democrat Senate Yea
Missy Irvin Republican Senate Yea
Bryan King Republican Senate Yea
Kim Hammer Republican Senate Yea
Stephanie Flowers Democrat Senate Yea
Frederick Love Democrat Senate Yea
Terry Rice Republican Senate Yea
Reginald Murdock Democrat Senate Yea
Gary Stubblefield Republican Senate Yea
Jim Dotson Republican Senate Yea
John Payton Republican Senate Yea
Alan Clark Republican Senate Yea
Ronald Caldwell Republican Senate Yea
Bart Hester Republican Senate Yea
Jimmy Hickey Republican Senate Yea
Dan Sullivan Republican Senate Yea
David Wallace Republican Senate Yea
Blake Johnson Republican Senate Yea
Justin Boyd Republican Senate Yea
Clarke Tucker Democrat Senate Yea
Scott Flippo Republican Senate Yea
Clint Penzo Republican Senate Yea
Mark Johnson Republican Senate Yea
Ricky Hill Republican Senate Yea
Breanne Davis Republican Senate Yea
Ben Gilmore Republican Senate Yea
Joshua Bryant Republican Senate Yea
Matt McKee Republican Senate Yea
Jim Petty Republican Senate Yea
Steve Crowell Republican Senate Yea
Tyler Dees Republican Senate Yea
Matt Stone Republican Senate Yea

Third Reading

March 29, 2023
Yea: 89 Nay: 1 NV: 10 Absent: 0 Passed
View individual votes (100)
Legislator Party Chamber Vote
Fred Allen Democrat House Yea
Lane Jean Republican House Yea
Stephen Meeks Republican House Yea
Mark Perry Democrat House Yea
Jon Eubanks Republican House Yea
Matthew Shepherd Republican House NV
Jeff Wardlaw Republican House NV
Bruce Cozart Republican House Yea
David Whitaker Democrat House Yea
Deborah Ferguson Democrat House Yea
Charlene Fite Republican House Yea
Mike Holcomb Republican House Yea
Stephen Magie Democrat House Yea
Mark McElroy Republican House Yea
Josh Miller Republican House Yea
Richard Womack Republican House NV
Jack Ladyman Republican House NV
Robin Lundstrum Republican House Yea
Dwight Tosh Republican House NV
Lanny Fite Republican House Yea
Grant Hodges Republican House Yea
Rick Beck Republican House Yea
Mary Bentley Republican House NV
Les Eaves Republican House Yea
Justin Gonzales Republican House Yea
Julie Mayberry Republican House Yea
Ken Ferguson Democrat House NV
Ron Mcnair Republican House Yea
Milton Nicks Democrat House NV
Marcus Richmond Republican House Yea
Vivian Flowers Democrat House Yea
Deann Vaught Republican House Yea
Karilyn Brown Republican House Yea
Sonia Eubanks Barker Republican House Yea
Frances Cavenaugh Republican House Yea
Jack Fortner Republican House Yea
Jimmie Gazaway Republican House Yea
Roger Lynch Republican House Yea
John Maddox Republican House Yea
Aaron Pilkington Republican House Yea
Johnny Rye Republican House Yea
Les Warren Republican House Yea
Danny Watson Republican House Yea
Carlton Wing Republican House Yea
Austin Mccollum Republican House Yea
Carol Dalby Republican House NV
Steve Hollowell Republican House Yea
Brian Evans Republican House Yea
Lee Johnson Republican House Yea
Andrew Collins Democrat House Yea
Stan Berry Republican House Yea
Harlan Breaux Republican House Yea
Cameron Cooper Republican House Yea
Nicole Clowney Democrat House Yea
Cindy Crawford Republican House Yea
Denise Garner Democrat House Yea
Tippi McCullough Democrat House Yea
Jay Richardson Democrat House Yea
Jamie Scott Democrat House Yea
Jim Wooten Republican House Yea
Denise Ennett Democrat House Yea
Richard McGrew Republican House Yea
Joy Springer Democrat House Yea
Howard Beaty Republican House NV
Tony Furman Republican House Yea
Kendon Underwood Republican House Yea
David Ray Republican House Yea
Mark Berry Republican House Yea
John Carr Republican House Yea
Rick McClure Republican House Yea
Keith Brooks Republican House Yea
Delia Haak Republican House Yea
Ashley Hudson Democrat House Yea
Jon Milligan Republican House Yea
RJ Hawk Republican House Yea
Wade Andrews Republican House Yea
Rebecca Burkes Republican House Yea
DeAnna Hodges Republican House Yea
Hope Duke Republican House Nay
Zack Gramlich Republican House Yea
Mindy McAlindon Republican House Yea
Matt Duffield Republican House Yea
Stetson Painter Republican House Yea
Steve Unger Republican House Yea
Wayne Long Republican House Yea
Scott Richardson Republican House Yea
Brandon Achor Republican House Yea
Jeremiah Moore Republican House Yea
Joey Carr Republican House Yea
Matt Brown Republican House Yea
Shad Pearce Republican House Yea
Chad Puryear Republican House Yea
Ryan Rose Republican House Yea
Bart Schulz Republican House Yea
Trey Steimel Republican House Yea
Tara Shephard Democrat House Yea
Jeremy Wooldridge Republican House Yea
Kendra Moore Republican House Yea
Brit McKenzie Republican House Yea
Steven Walker Republican House Yea
Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us