The Arkansas Senate Ethics Committee has launched a report with findings from an investigation of two lawmakers who had been alleged to have violated state reimbursement legal guidelines. Subsequent week, the total Senate is anticipated to think about whether or not to penalize senators Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, and Mark Johnson, R-Ferndale.

In June, Senate President Professional Tem Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, filed a criticism in opposition to the 2 for Johnson signing Clark’s title on an indication in at a Boys State assembly Clark didn’t attend. That might enable Clark to be reimbursed per diem and mileage.

The 62-page report consists of textual content messages despatched to Johnson from Clark telling him to signal his title on the assembly which he says he wasn’t capable of attend because of having a fever. In his testimony, Clark questioned whether or not this was worthy of an ethics violation as a result of he was sick and wanted the reimbursement since he had stayed in a single day.

Committee members responded that Clark was on the Capitol the day earlier than for a separate assembly the place he was paid per diem and mileage and that ought to have lined these prices. The committee additionally stated sickness is a private motive and never legislative.

In an interview with KUAR Information, Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, stated this case would be the first main criticism thought of by the Senate Ethics Committee. He was Senate president professional tem when the committee was created in 2019. He stated it was a precedence after a number of members of the Home and Senate had been criminally indicted.

“It was a direct response to simply watching our colleagues time and time once more make poor selections that mirrored poorly on the peoples’ legislators and those who’re speculated to be serving the folks as an alternative of themselves,” Hendren stated.

Earlier than the creation of the committee, senators had the flexibility to take motion in opposition to their colleagues, however there wasn’t any procedures or course of to conduct investigations.

“I’ve been within the legislature for 16 years and I’ve by no means seen what’s happening right this moment, which is the Senate taking steps to take care of potential missteps of its personal physique,” Hendren stated. “Previous to that it was just about left as much as the president of the Senate or the speaker of the Home to take actions as they deemed applicable. There was no methodology or committee to analyze or decide whether or not it was a sound accusation or whether or not it was simply any person enjoying politics or attempting to get some political benefit.”

Hendren stated he used a mannequin on the federal stage and one used within the army to assist craft the foundations and procedures of the committee. He added that having a committee helps maintain members in line when there’s a course of in place that’s honest to each the accused and the Senate itself.

When the Senate Ethics Committee was created, Hendren stated there was some criticism about its effectiveness since lawmakers could be policing themselves. Some critics thought the foundations wouldn’t be used and members wouldn’t maintain one another accountable. He added the latest actions present the committee is able to holding lawmakers accountable.

“I knew we had sufficient members of integrity within the Senate that after we noticed a few of our colleagues doing issues that introduced dishonor to your entire establishment to take care of that,” Hendren stated. “We care about one another, however I hope there are extra of us who care extra concerning the integrity of the establishment to do this.”

Hendren stated he restricted complaints being thought of by the committee to these originating by members of the Senate to keep away from turning it right into a “political stage” anybody might use for partisan benefit.

“We tried to strike a steadiness and I feel now we have finished that,” Hendren stated.

Particulars of committee report

As a part of the investigation, the committee, which is chaired by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, interviewed members of the Senate employees. Johnson is a part of the Ethics Committee and was eliminated for this case and changed by Sen. Dave Wallace, R-Leachville.

Constituent Advisor Leigh Ann Golden-Smith, in a memo to Director of the Arkansas Senate Ann Cornwell stated that Johnson requested her for the sign-in sheet for the Boys State assembly on June 3, which was not accessible because the assembly ended. Golden-Smith wrote that she seen Johnson’s title listed earlier and requested him about that. Johnson advised her he was signing in on behalf of Clark who wasn’t on the Capitol. Because the sign-in sheets had been taken up, Golden-Smith advised Johnson to talk with Sabrina Lewellen, deputy director of the Arkansas Senate, and Golden-Smith stated she overheard Johnson inform Lewellen he wished to register for Clark.

Within the report, the entire Senate employees stated they didn’t see Clark on the Boys State assembly on June 3. Cornwell stated she approached Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, and Senate professional tem elect, about Johnson signing in for Clark.

Hester known as Clark concerning the incident and Clark advised Hester he was sick and didn’t attend the assembly. Hickey was made conscious of the incident by Hester. Textual content messages between Hester and Hickey present each agreed to direct Cornwell to not pay Clark per diem and mileage. Paperwork offered by the Arkansas Senate present that Clark wasn’t paid per diem for the assembly.

Throughout his testimony, Clark stated the committee couldn’t present any legal guidelines that he broke. Within the report, the committee cited Arkansas Code 10-2-212 as one of many legal guidelines Clark broke.

“A member of the Common Meeting shall not file with the Home of Representatives or Senate claims of per diem or mileage reimbursement in extra of the quantity prescribed by the regulation,” the committee wrote.

The Senate Ethics Committee additionally stated Clark violated Senate Rule 24.06, which prohibits members from monetary conflicts of curiosity.

Subsequent week, the total Senate is anticipated to vote whether or not to penalize Johnson and Clark.

Penalties for the lawmakers embrace:

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

When requested after the June 27 assembly by reporters if there have been every other ethics violations being investigated, Hammer stated there weren’t.