Arkansas Senate Ethics Committee finds lawmakers violated reimbursement rules

Two Arkansas state senators are being really helpful for self-discipline by the Senate Ethics Committee after it reviewed a petition filed by Senate Professional Tem Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana.

After assembly for a number of hours behind closed doorways on Monday, the committee unanimously voted to suggest penalties be imposed towards Sen. Mark Johnson of Little Rock and Sen. Alan Clark of Lonsdale – each Republicans.

Johnson is alleged to have signed Clark’s identify on a listing of lawmakers participating in a Boys State assembly earlier this month regardless that Clark was not there. Sen. Matt Pitsch of Fort Smith mentioned the committee had Clark testify orally and in writing.

“He [Clark] admitted he didn’t attend the Boys State assembly on June 3, 2022. He knowingly sought reimbursement for public funds by requesting one other senator signal his identify on the sign-in sheet for the assembly,” Pitsch mentioned.

In keeping with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures, Arkansas reimburses lawmakers 56 cents per mile once they need to journey to the Capitol. Lonsdale, the place Clark resides, is about 38 miles from the Capitol.

Johnson, who signed into the assembly for Clark, admitted to the committee that he signed in realizing Clark wasn’t there.

The committee doesn’t have the authority to penalize the lawmakers. Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton and the chair of the committee, mentioned the suggestions agreed upon shall be thought-about by the total Senate.

“Underneath rule 24.10, we now have 20 calendar days to arrange a written report for the president professional tem of the Senate [Jimmy Hickey]. My intention is to finish the report as shortly as potential,” Hammer mentioned.

In keeping with a doc supplied by the committee, the penalties for Clark and Johnson embody:

• a letter of reprimand
• elimination as committee chair or co-chair for the rest of the remainder of the 93rd Basic Meeting
• shedding eligibility for per diem and mileage for the rest of the 93rd Basic Meeting
• shedding future contemplating to serve on the Boys State, Women State and Senate Ethics Committee

At present, Johnson is vice-chair of the Joint Price range Committees, Arkansas Legislative Council-Charitable, Penal, And Correctional Establishments and Joint Power Committee, in response to the Arkansas Senate’s web site.

Clark is the chair of the Little one Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He’s the co-chair of the ALC- Occupational Licensing Evaluation Subcommittee and the vice-chair of ALC-Evaluation.

Clark and Johnson didn’t instantly reply to emails and calls by this station.

The committee will meet once more to provide a written report that may must be despatched to Hickey inside 20 days. After receiving the report, Hickey could have inside 10 days to name the total Senate to determine whether or not to undertake the suggestions.