Sen. Jamie Scott

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1709 proposes to amend the existing Human Services Workers in the Schools Program by formally including mental health counselors. This expansion aims to enhance support for children and families within Arkansas school districts through a collaborative program among state agencies. The bill outlines services provided by these professionals, such as crisis intervention, home visits, and parent training, requiring specific bachelor's or master's degrees for both roles. Funding for these positions would be prioritized for schools where at least 80% of students are eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and parents or students retain the option to refuse services.

Maddy summaryHB 1755 mandates that all public schools in Arkansas administer the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey annually, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. This survey, targeting students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, aims to gather data on issues such as substance use, mental health, and violence to help schools and communities improve student well-being. The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will maintain the survey and provide technical assistance to schools. Parents and legal guardians must be notified before the survey is administered and have the option to opt their child out. The requirement for schools to administer the survey is contingent on the availability of federal funding.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1723 amends the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act to establish a new grant program for school-based health centers. This program, administered by the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, will allocate $500,000 annually from existing tobacco settlement funds. The grants are specifically intended to fund school-based health centers exclusively in "minority-majority school districts," defined as districts where racial or ethnic minorities constitute the majority population. The bill directs the commission to establish rules and distribution methods similar to existing state school-based health center grant programs.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1528 proposes to amend Arkansas law regarding student report cards. This bill would require public school districts to include a statement about a student's current reading grade level on their report card. This change directly affects public school students and their parents by providing additional information on academic progress. The goal is to ensure that families receive clear communication regarding a student's reading proficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 1436 proposes to establish location restrictions for certain food processing plants operating a slaughterhouse on the same property. The bill stipulates that such plants, if located within a city of the first class, cannot operate within two miles of a church, a public school, or a densely populated residential area. This measure would apply to new or relocating food processing plants that include a slaughterhouse in these specific urban areas. However, it would not affect plants already operating on the effective date of the act.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution honors the Arkansas Minority Health Commission during American Heart Month in February. It recognizes the Commission's efforts to address heart disease specifically among minority populations in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHB 1984 creates a new designation on driver's licenses and identification cards for certain registered sex offenders in Arkansas. It directly affects individuals applying for these cards who are required to register as sex offenders and are classified as Level 3 or Level 4. Before issuing a license or ID, the Office of Driver Services will determine if an applicant meets these criteria. If so, a designation will be placed on their card, allowing law enforcement officers to identify them as a registered sex offender. The office is also authorized to determine the design and placement of this designation and create administrative rules.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 241 amends the Uniform Attendance and Leave Policy Act to provide paid leave for public employees. It allows for up to forty hours of catastrophic leave with pay each calendar year in the event of the death of an immediate family member. The bill broadly defines "immediate family member" to include various relatives, in-laws, and individuals acting as a parent or guardian. It also clarifies "child" to encompass biological, unborn, step, adoptive, and foster children. This leave is available to employees if the administrator of their catastrophic leave program elects to provide it.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 371 establishes a new, standardized system in Arkansas to aid in the search for missing children. This system is specifically designed for cases where a child does not meet the criteria for activating an Arkansas Amber Alert. While the provided text does not detail the specific mechanisms of this new system, its aim is to provide additional resources for locating children in these particular situations.

Maddy summarySB 530 is a procedural bill that added 21 senators and 37 representatives as cosponsors to the original bill. It did not change the tax credit policy itself, as the title references an existing Arkansas Wood Energy Products and Forest Maintenance Income Tax Credit. The bill's purpose was solely to expand the list of legislators supporting the tax credit legislation. The bill was passed and became Act 701 on April 18, 2025. No substantive policy changes to the tax credit were made by this amendment.