Family Legislation In Arkansas 2005 Legislative Session

Votes Cast by Name of legislator on Family Issues

For a comparison of Voting Records for the Lt. Governor Candidates  Click Here

              Below you will find legislation introduced or passed in the 2005 Arkansas Legislative Session that deals  with family issues.  First there is a list of  the bills under a subject and the bill's sponsor/sponsors.  Following is the voting record on all these different bills by all legislators  in the Senate and the House (bills that didn't pass may have been voted on in only one House.) AFA does not advocate the election or defeat of any candidate, and does not endorse any political party.  The Scorecard is for informational purposes for citizens who do not have the time or the resources to research this information.  The votes do not fall along party lines, and the information is helpful both for those who agree or disagree with AFA's evaluation. 

(For a summary of the  per cent ranking of  Senators on these bills, Click Here )

(For a summary of the  percent ranking of all Representatives on these bills Click Here)

For a comparison of Voting Record for the Lt. Governor Candidates  Click Here

For individual scores sheets for each legislator and the way each voted on the issues, see these links:

Score Sheet for All Senators 

Score Sheet for Representatives with last names A-GE

Score Sheet for Representatives with last names GL-Pa

Score Sheet for Representatives with last names PE-WY

            A list of all legislators and e-mail addresses can also  be found at    http://www.wpaag.org/AddressesGovernmentOfficials.htm. or arkleg.state.ar.us

            (Note:   The blue ribbon line separates each different bill.  The turquoise line separates the House and Senate vote on the same bill.)

Abortion & Pro-Life Bills

1. HB 1033  by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson & Sen. Critcher  of Little Rock:  Requires parental consent before performing an abortion on a minor. - PASSED

2. HB2782 by Rep. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock:  Would have forced doctors, hospitals and all health clinics to inform and provide the "morning-after pill," a drug that in some cases works as an  abortifacient to women who have been raped.  The bill provided no conscience clause to opt out. DID NOT PASS

3. SB74 by Sen. Shawn Womack of Mountain Home:  Before performing an abortion past the 20th week, doctors must advise the mother that unborn babies feel pain. PASSED

4. SJR 17   by Sen. Sue Madison of Fayetteville:  Would have made Arkansas the 36^th state to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment.  DID NOT PASS

5. HB1119  by Rep Adams and Senator Holt.  Would have prevented  unmarried couples (including homosexuals) from adopting children or being foster parents.  DID NOT PASS

6. HB1136  by Rep Ragland.  Would have required  marriage in all Arkansas Textbooks to be defined

as being between male and female. DID NOT PASS

7. HR 1005  by Rep. Blair:  Purportedly reaffirmed the concept of separation of church and state. DID NOT PASS

8. HB1488  by Rep. Glidewell:   Authorized the "IN God We Trust" License Plate.  PASSED

9.  HB2971 by Rep. Pritchard: Would have prohibited interference with student-led and student-initiated prayers at public school functions within the state of Arkansas.  DID NOT PASS

Consolidation

[Family issue because many children would have to have longer bus rides -up to 4 1/2 hour round trips.  Students in at least 36 schools in Arkansas ride at least 3 hours a day and several ride longer than that.  Parents would have to start their days earlier in the morning, and some students already catch the bus in the dark and get off in the dark.  Students would not be able to participate in extracurricular activities and parents would not be able to attend events at the school, and there would be a lot less involvement of parents in decision making.]

13.  SB 132 by Senator Ruth Whitaker:  Would have created countywide school districts.  DID NOT PASS

14. HB1289 by Rep. Thompson:  Allowed a school district to close an isolated school area following an annexation or consolidation. (Rep. Ragland told the House that the closure of one financially troubled school in his district would require students to be bused 62 miles to another school.)  PASSED

Alcohol

15. HB 1768 by Rep Key:   Allows the detention and arrest of minors who try to purchase alcohol with a false I.D.  PASSED Now Act 1535

16. SB1174 by Senator Terry Smith and Rep. Ledbetter - Would have allowed public drinking  of alcohol in entertainment districts. DID NOT PASS - It passed but was vetoed by the Governor

(1)

Senate and House Vote

Senate Vote - HB1033

PASSED

(2)

House Vote Only -  Didn't get out of Senate Committee so only House Vote is recorded  - by Rep. Joyce Elliott