TO CREATE THE WORKFORCE EXPANSION ACT OF 2021.
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SB 153 — TO CREATE THE WORKFORCE EXPANSION ACT OF 2021.
Last action — Notification that SB153 is now Act 725
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 19, 2021. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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24 sponsors
2 primary, 22 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
- SB 153 Current pdf
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
The bill establishes a fee waiver for certain individuals seeking business formation or licensing in Arkansas.
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4-25-110
Fee waiver for certain individuals. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the initial filing fees, permit fees, and licensing fees associated with the formation of a business in this state shall be waived for applicants who meet the requirements in the Workforce Expansion Act of 2021, § 17-4-101 et seq. (b) Appropriate state entities shall: (1) Publish notice of the fee waiver on: (A) The website maintained by the appropriate state entity; and (B) Any relevant forms that an applicant is required to complete; and (2) Promulgate any necessary rules to implement this section.
This adds a new section allowing a waiver of initial fees for business formation for eligible individuals.
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17-4-101
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Workforce Expansion Act of 2021".
This establishes the title of a new chapter focused on workforce expansion.
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17-4-102
Legislative findings — Purpose. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Entrepreneurs and workers must pay various fees in order to work in a government-regulated profession or occupation or to start a small business in Arkansas; (2) Families trying to break the cycle of government dependency should not have to pay the state to earn a living; and (3) Arkansas should waive initial fees associated with occupational and professional regulations and the formation of a business for low-income individuals. (b) It is the purpose of this chapter to increase access to professional and occupational licenses that would otherwise be cost prohibitive for certain individuals.
This introduces legislative findings that support the purpose of waiving fees for low-income individuals.
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17-4-103
Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or rule that is required for an individual to engage in a particular occupation or profession; (2)(A) "Licensing entity" means an office, board, commission, department, council, bureau, or other agency of state government having authority to license, certify, register, permit, or otherwise authorize an individual to engage in a particular occupation or profession. (B) "Licensing entity" does not include a political subdivision of the state or any other local or regional governmental entity, including without limitation a city of the first class, a city of the second class, an incorporated town, or a county.
This section defines key terms used in the Workforce Expansion Act.
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17-4-104
Fee waiver. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a licensing entity shall not require an initial fee for individuals who are seeking to receive a license in this state if the applicant: (1) Is receiving assistance through the Arkansas Medicaid Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, or the Lifeline Assistance Program; (2) Was approved for unemployment within the last twelve (12) months; or (3) Has an income that does not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty income guidelines. (b) The waiver of the initial fee does not include fees for: (1) A criminal background check; (2) An examination or a test; or (3) A medical or drug test. (c) The Department of Human Services and the Division of Workforce Services shall collaborate with a licensing entity concerning verification of eligibility for public benefits for applicants, which may include obtaining a signed consent form from the applicant.
This stipulates eligibility criteria for fee waivers for licensing applicants.
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17-4-105
Licensing entity duties. A licensing entity shall: (1) Publish notice of the fee waiver on: (A) The website maintained by the licensing entity; and (B) Any relevant forms that an applicant is required to complete; and (2) Promulgate any necessary rules to implement this chapter.
This outlines the responsibilities of licensing entities regarding the fee waiver.
Amendments
1 amendment- Amendment S1 March 09, 2021 Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
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Notification that SB153 is now Act 725
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DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
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Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
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ORDERED ENROLLED
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Returned from the House as passed.
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Returned To the Senate as passed.
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Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
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Returned by the Committee Do Pass
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Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
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RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
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Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.
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Read the third time and passed.
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Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
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Re-referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
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REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
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Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
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Withdrawn from Committee for purpose of amendment # 1
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Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
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Filed
Sponsors
- Justin Boyd · Cosponsor
- Brooks · Cosponsor
- Karilyn Brown · Cosponsor
- Furman · Cosponsor
- Haak · Cosponsor
- Austin McCollum · Cosponsor
- Kendon Underwood · Cosponsor
- Jeff Wardlaw · Cosponsor
- Beckham · Cosponsor
- Bledsoe · Cosponsor
- Breanne Davis · Cosponsor
- Scott Flippo · Cosponsor
- Kim Hammer · Cosponsor
- Bart Hester · Cosponsor
- Blake Johnson · Cosponsor
- Dan Sullivan · Cosponsor
- Dave Wallace · Cosponsor
- Ben Gilmore · Primary
- David Ray · Primary
- Jr. Howard M. Beaty · Cosponsor
- Clarke Tucker · Cosponsor
- T. Garner · Cosponsor
- B. Ballinger · Cosponsor
- M. Berry · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 22 co-sponsors · 114 not signed on · 4 voted No
Sponsors (2)
Co-sponsors (22)
Not signed on (114)
114 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 114 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 98 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 98 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 2% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (100)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 94% | 6% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (35)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Beckham | — | Yea |
| Bledsoe | — | Yea |
| Elliott | — | Yea |
| Rapert | — | Yea |
| Teague | — | Yea |
| Alan Clark | — | Yea |
| B. Ballinger | — | Yea |
| B. Sample | — | Yea |
| Bart Hester | — | Yea |
| Ben Gilmore | — | Yea |
| Blake Johnson | — | Yea |
| Breanne Davis | — | Yea |
| C. Tucker | — | Yea |
| Dan Sullivan | — | Yea |
| Dave Wallace | — | Yea |
| G. Stubblefield | — | Yea |
| Greg Leding | — | Yea |
| J. Hendren | — | Yea |
| J. Sturch | — | Yea |
| Jane English | — | Yea |
| Jimmy Hickey, Jr | — | Yea |
| Jonathan Dismang | — | Nay |
| K. Ingram | — | Yea |
| Kim Hammer | — | Yea |
| L. Chesterfield | — | Yea |
| L. Eads | — | Yea |
| M. Pitsch | — | Yea |
| Mark Johnson | — | Yea |
| Missy Irvin | — | Nay |
| Ricky Hill | — | Yea |
| Ronald Caldwell | — | Yea |
| S. Flowers | — | Yea |
| Scott Flippo | — | Yea |
| T. Garner | — | Yea |
| Terry Rice | — | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 153?
- SB 153 is sponsored by Justin Boyd, Brooks, Karilyn Brown, Furman, Haak, Austin McCollum, Kendon Underwood, Jeff Wardlaw, Beckham, Bledsoe, Breanne Davis, Scott Flippo, Kim Hammer, Bart Hester, Blake Johnson, Dan Sullivan, Dave Wallace, Ben Gilmore, David Ray, Howard M. Beaty, Jr., Clarke Tucker, T. Garner, B. Ballinger, and M. Berry.
- What is the current status of SB 153?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 19, 2021. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 153?
- Track SB 153 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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