Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Committees Ready With 3 Ballot Issues (cont)

ative available to save the life of the mother. The State Medical Board would review cases before charges could be brought under the law.

Rep. Judy Smith of Camden managed the legislation approved by the House to add the burning of church property along with public buildings to the list of property covered under the state's arson law. The bill also would authorize the governor to offer state-funded rewards of up to $50,000 for the arrest and convictions of those who commit arson crimes.

Rep. James Dietz of North Little Rock was lead sponsor of the bill to regulate the sale and distribution of tobacco products, especially those involving anyone under 18. The legislation would require clerks to check photo identification before making sales to young people, and it would designate fines for violating provisions of the law.

Reps. Jimmy Don McKissack of Pine Bluff and Wayne Wagner of Manila were lead sponsors of a bill creating a state Tobacco Control Board to regulate the sale and distribution of tobacco products, to establish new fees for wholeslae and retail sales permits and to authorize the revocation of licenses of any holder who provides tobacco products to minors.

Other bills approved by the House would:

• Provide a sales tax credit for Arkansans who purchase an automobile that within 180 days is destroyed in a catastophic event, such as a tornado or flood. Rep. Jack Critcher of Grubbs was lead sponsor of the bill.

• Ensure the privacy and confidentiality of information secured through genetic testing. Exceptions would be made for criminal prosecutions and maternity actions. Rep. Scott Ferguson of West Memphis sponsored the bill.

• Provide tax incentives to promote the development of bio-technology industries in Arkansas. Rep. Tom Courtway of Conway managed the bill in the House.

• Protect pension benefits received by the surviving spouse of a police officer killed in the line of duty, even if the surviving spouse remarries. Rep. Courtway managed the bill in the House.

• Steer additional revenues to the state Aeronautics Fund to finance maintenance of local airports across the state. The legislation would provide that sales and use taxes collected on aircraft and aircraft parts go into the fund managed by the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics. Rep. Bob Johnson of Bigelow managed the bill in the House.

• Increase penalties for drug offenses within a 1,000 feet of a day care center or a church. The additional penalty of up to 10 years in prison now applies to drug offenses near schools and parks. Rep. Becky Lynn of Heber Springs managed the bill in the House.

• Increase the penalty for the willful making of false allegations of child abuse. Rep. Greg Wren of Conway sponsored the bill.

• Require state prison inmates under 35 who lack a basic education to participate in educational programs before being eligible to accumulate good behavior time that could reduce their prison stay. Rep. Ben McGee of Marion was lead sponsor of the bill and Rep. Martha Shoffner of Newport presented it to the House.

• Allow taxpayers to deduct post-secondary education tuition costs. Rep. Tom Baker of Clover Bend managed the bill.