An Arkansas Senate Committee voted on Wednesday to advance a bill that would require state agencies to return fines collected from businesses that violated "rules, orders or directives to mitigate or prevent the spread" of COVID-19.
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee passed Senate Bill 301 by a voice vote. According to the proposed legislation, the health directives and orders issued under the public health emergency that Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared in March of 2020 "failed to provide alternative compliance opportunities for businesses."
In presenting the bill, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, called the bill a "statement" on the lack of legislative participation and input over decisions the state made concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this bill would hinder the executive branch’s ability to enforce the law, "without legislative participation."
"Someone asked me if this would handcuff the executive branch, and I’d say yes. But they have the handcuffs. They put them on. They have the key and they can take them off. Just think about the decisions that you’ve not been a part of," Sullivan said.
Representatives from state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division and the Department of Health spoke against the bill. Doralee Chandler, director of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, said this bill would send a message to businesses that did follow the guidelines that their effort didn’t matter.
"If you all elect to immunize the fines, you’re setting a precedent that if you don’t like the rules, contrary to the hard work you all put in place to create these rules, that they don’t have to be followed," Chandler said
The bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote from all members.
