AAC


GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS Ballot Issues: What are you voting on?


State Agencies committee. In 2017, the Senate filed 14 senate joint resolutions (SJR); the House filed 22 house joint resolutions (HJR). Te joint committee, then both chambers of the legisla- ture, approved HJR1016 and SJR8. Tese resolutions are on the ballot for the 2018 general election as Issues 1 and 2. Issues 3, 4 and 5 — all proposed constitutional amendments — qualified to be on the ballot via a petition process that re- quires citizens to gather signatures from a minimum of 10 per- cent of those who cast a vote for governor in the last election. At press time, all of these issues are being challenged in court. Te University Of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture, Re-


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search and Extension, Public Policy Center has released its 2018 voter guide, “Arkansas Ballot Issues.” Te guide (found at www.uaex.edu/ballot) is the most comprehensive resource in the state for a neutral analysis of ballot issues. Te following descriptions of the issues come from the guide.


Issue 1


“An amendment concerning civil lawsuits and the powers of the general assembly and Supreme Court to adopt court rules.” Tis amendment proposes four changes to the Constitution. • It would add a section regarding contingency fees to Article


7 (Judicial Department). Attorneys could not collect a contin- gency fee more than 1/3 of the net amount of money a client receives in a civil lawsuit, and the 92nd General Assembly would have to pass laws implementing the section, such as establishing penalties for collecting fees higher than allowed. • There would be several changes to Section 32 (Work-


men’s Compensation Laws — Actions for Personal Injuries). It would define “non-economic damages” and “punitive dam- ages”; establish a maximum amount of money (the greater of $500,000 or three times the compensatory damages awarded) a person receives as punitive damages in a lawsuit related to injuries resulting in death, or injuries to person or property; establish a $500,000 maximum an injured person or his/her beneficiaries combined can receive as non-economic damages in a lawsuit related to injuries resulting in death, or injuries to person or property; allow legislators to increase maximum amounts for non-economic and punitive damages in the fu- ture with a 2/3 vote of each house; and require the state legis- lature in 2019 to create a procedure to adjust the punitive and noneconomic limits in future years for inflation or deflation. • The proposal also would change Section 3 (Rules of Plead-


ing, Practice, and Procedure) of Amendment 80 (Qualifica- tions of Justice and Judges). Te legislature could amend or


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he Arkansas Constitution allows the General As- sembly to propose up to three constitutional amend- ments for Arkansas voters to decide. In resolution form, these are vetted in the Joint House and Senate


repeal a rule of pleading, practice, or procedure established by the Su- preme Court with a vote of 3/5 of each chamber. Te legislature also could create a rule of pleading, prac- tice or procedure with a vote of 3/5 of each chamber. • The proposal would change Sec- tion 9 (Annulment of Amendment of Rules) of Amendment 80 (Quali- fications of Justice and Judges) by lowering the number of votes needed by legislators from 2/3 to 3/5 to abolish or change rules estab- lished by the Supreme Court related to Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts and “referees, masters and magistrates.”


Josh Curtis


Governmental Affairs Director


Issue 2


“A constitutional amendment adding as a qualifica- tion to vote that a voter present certain valid photographic identification when casting a ballot in person or casting an absentee ballot.”


Issue 2 is a simple question of whether you believe a voter should show photo identification before voting. A “for” vote means you are in favor of changing the Constitution to include the presentation of photo ID as a qualification to vote in Ar- kansas. Te state would provide voters with qualifying photo- graphic ID cards at no charge if they do not have one that meets requirements. An “against” vote means the exact opposite.


Issue 3 “Arkansas term limits amendment.”


Tis proposal would reduce the number of terms legislators could serve and prohibit legislators from proposing constitutional amendments to change term limits for the General Assembly.


Issue 4


“An amendment to require four licenses to be is- sued for casino gaming at Casinos, one each in Crittenden (to Southland Racing Corporation),


Garland (to Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc.), Pope, and Jefferson Counties.”


A “for” vote means you are in favor of authorizing four casinos in the above-mentioned locations. Fifty-five percent of revenues would go to the state general revenue fund. Te governor and legislature would decide how to spend these dollars.


Issue 5


“An act to increase the Arkansas minimum wage.” Tis is a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2021.


COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2018


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