House committee approves Senate Bill 3

LITTLE ROCK — It was a spirited debate Wednesday as a House committee gave their approval to a bill that supporters say would prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment by the state of Arkansas.

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee approved SB3 after a nearly three hour hearing at the state Capitol.

The bill, sponsored by Sen.

Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) and Rep. Mary Bentley (RPerryville), now heads to the House for a floor vote Thursday.

Supporters and opponents spoke about the bill during the hearing. Supporters have said the bill would help reach a color blind, merit based society while opponents said during the hearing they believe it would harm existing programs.

In discussing the bill Wednesday, Rep. Bentley said she believed it was necessary due to a U.S. Supreme Court

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ruling, in effect, banning affirmative action in higher education as well as a recent executive order from President Donald Trump on the issue.

Under the bill, the state “shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, an individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in matters of state employment, public education or state procurement.

Also, the state would cover a city, a county, an institution of higher education, a public school district, a public special school district or a “political subdivision or governmental instrumentality” of the state.

Rep. Bentley said the bill would also look at critical needs, instead of race or other factors, noting veterans are also protected under the bill.

Several lawmakers, including Reps. Denise Ennett (D-Little Rock), Andrew Collins (DLittle Rock) and Nicole Clowney (D-Fayetteville), stated their opposition to the bill during the hearing.

Rep. Clowney asked Rep.

Bentley about the bill and a possible impact on programs that help women and girls, while Rep. Collins asked about the impact on programs that help women in engineering.

Rep. Bentley countered the state and country has made strides to help women, citing increases in dental students as well as more women in business.

Rep. Bentley also said women mentoring young girls has also made a difference and that government “doesn’t have all the answers” on the issue.

At least a dozen people spoke for or against the bill Wednesday.

Several who spoke, including Haley Shoffner of Jackson County, said they believed the bill would have unintended consequences. For instance, Shoffner said she believed the bill would hurt programs helping young farmers. However, Rep. Bentley said she has worked to help farmers and would do nothing to hurt them.

There was also opposition from people at the meeting who said they believed it would hurt diversity of ownership in liquor stores through ABC rules.

However, supporters of the bill countered ABC would look toward “the benefit of competition to consumers” on the issue.

Law professor Robert Steinbuch also spoke in support of the bill Wednesday.

Steinbuch said he believes the country, like technology, has made strides in the 60 years in the US with the current affirmative action system not designed as it was conceived with an overwhelming benefit now, solely based on race.

Steinbuch said at least 10 states, including California, have approved similar laws and that “none of them have fallen into the ocean.”

Committee Chairman Rep.

Jimmy Gazaway (RParagould) said after the meeting that the committee and audience were attentive during the debate over the hot-button issue and that both sides asked informative questions.

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Marked Tree man charged with murder of Gilmore man in Jonesboro

JONESBORO – Police have arrested one suspect and are looking for another in Friday night’s murder at a local apartment complex, Sally Smith, public information specialist for the Jonesboro Police Department, said Tuesday.

Terry Rashard Wofford, 24, of Marked Tree was arrested Monday afternoon without incident on suspicion of firstdegree murder.

Officers with the US Marshals Eastern Arkansas Fugitive Task Force, Trumann Police Department, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police conducted a traffic stop in the Trumann area, Smith said.

Police have not identified the second suspect believed to have participated in the shooting death of Derrick Johnson.

Officers responded to a report of an unresponsive person at 111 Daybreak Drive shortly after 10 p.m. Friday.

Derrick Johnson, 24, of Gilmore, is believed to have died from an apparent gunshot wound.

Wofford is expected to appear before a judge Thursday morning for a probable cause hearing.