Latest news with #SenateBill182
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jefferson County judge seeking ‘legal relief' against seven justices of the peace
PINE BLUFF, Ark.- Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson announced in a letter to the justices of the peace that he is seeking 'legal relief' by asking the court to step in and find a legal solution. This comes after the ongoing budget gridlock between him and seven of the justices of the peace. 'We (he and the finance committee) have come to the table several times, as you know, and we have made concessions at least three to four times,' Robinson said. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs Jefferson County budget correction bill, goes into immediate effect The letter addresses ongoing budgetary and procedural violations within the Jefferson County Quorum Court. The judge's letter highlights the reintroduction of a rejected 2025 budget, violations of Arkansas law, and the improper calling of special meetings without the County Judge's consent. 'Seven have went along with and creating these irregularities in the budget and are consistent on these irregularities continuing,' Robinson said. He said these actions led to the enactment of invalid legislation. The letter criticizes unauthorized salary increases, improper positions added, nepotism violations, and defiance of court rulings, particularly regarding the employment of Morgan Tillman, the daughter of the County Assessor. 'My opinion is total corruption on their part, corruption on the part of elected officials that have created these irregularities in the budget,' Robinson said. READ THE FULL LETTER It also notes the Quorum Court's failure to pass a legally compliant budget, which led to state intervention through Senate Bill 182. 'It created a stir to where the state had to step in and that we could at least get the employees paid,' Robinson said. 'The bill that was created holds the county judge and the quorum court responsible with nonpayment or without being paid, therefore I am the only constitutional officer that is not getting paid and the 13 justices are not receiving their per diem.' Lastly, the letter addresses that the quorum court held another invalid meeting on March 21st, where they tried to pass a procedural ordinance without the judge's consent. He stated he has since vetoed the ordinance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measure updating Adult Protective Services glides through committee
Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, talks about his Family and Social Services Administration agency bill in committee on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Improvements are on the way for Indiana's Adult Protective Services — the initiative protecting abused, exploited and neglected adults — after a 12-0 committee vote Monday morning. Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, told committee members that the 'clean-up' bill removes 'antiquated' language and offers the Family and Social Services Administration more flexibility in drawing up contracts for Adult Protective Services. Senate Bill 182 would specify that the entire chunk of Indiana Code dedicated to Adult Protective Services would apply to reports of suspected abuse, neglect and exploitation that are made by phone or online. To report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an endangered adult, call Indiana's toll-free hotline at 800-992-6978 or fill out an online form. It would remove 'habitual drunkenness' and 'excessive drug use' from the list of conditions that might render adults incapable of taking care of themselves or their belongings — and at risk of harm. Left in the definition of an 'endangered' adult would be dementia, intellectual disability, mental illness and other incapacities. 'It's not something that requires an investigation of law enforcement as far as, are they being exploited financially or being harmed in some way by another individual? It's more considered self-harm,' Crider told the Capital Chronicle. He said his bill's information-sharing provisions would make sure Hoosiers with substance abuse disorders are 'appropriately referred over to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction,' instead of the Division of Aging. FSSA houses both. Others provisions would introduce a record-keeping minimum, let the Adult Protective Services unit restrict records releases 'to the extent that information … is needed to coordinate or implement services,' and require only an alleged victim's consent for release. Crider said the proposal arose from previous, successful legislation letting FSSA contract out to other entities when county prosecutors didn't want to renew their contracts. 'A few issues came up as FSSA began to try to develop the contract language,' he said. The bill removes language requiring the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council to concur on standards of practice and exceptions that currently allow for an Adult Protective Services unit or staffer to be appointed as the representative or guardian for an endangered adult. It also tweaks how cases are reported to law enforcement and others. Crider said less than 2% of cases are referred for prosecution, and even fewer are prosecuted. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jefferson County employees say they feel relief as governor signs bill requiring county to use 2024 budget until 2025 budget passes
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has now signed a bill that will require Jefferson County to pay its over 300 county employees using its 2024 budget. Senate Bill 182 requires all cities and counties that do not pass a budget by the set deadline of Feb. 7 to continue to operate under the previous year's budget until a new budget is adopted. 'I think it's fantastic, long overdue,' Jefferson County employee John Bean said. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs Jefferson County budget correction bill, goes into immediate effect Johnathan Powell said, like many, supporting a family during this time has been difficult. 'It's been very hard not getting paid for over a month now,' Jefferson County Employee Powell said. He also shared how the community has come together, something he never thought imaginable. 'We had no idea that we would get that much community involvement that has come to us and it's just it's amazing,' Powell said. Arkansas State Police supporting Jefferson County emergency services amid budget impasse Events have been held all over Jefferson County to help county employees make ends meet or fulfill their basic needs. However, for some, accepting help can be difficult when they are used to being able to provide for themselves. 'Myself included, it takes a lot to ask for that help and to be able to, not be able to pay your bills, you know, when you're used to being able to take care of things,' Jefferson County Employee Dennis Kendall said. Kendall said he is happy with the news and was happy to share it with his fellow employees. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces plan to restore Jefferson County operations Many county employees describe the events that have led to this as a roller coaster of a journey from meeting after meeting with what they once thought was no end in sight. 'It's frustrating to see where our leaders had the ability and the opportunity for this not to happen,' Bean said. While the bill has been signed, the quorum court and county judge must still work together to pass a 2025 budget. 'The county judge is also not being paid until they get one so hopefully that will be a good motivator for him to do the right thing and get us a budget passed,' Powell said. Three Arkansas congressmen representing Jefferson County introduce legislation to avoid budget defaults Bean said seeing everyone continue to show up to work and help each other has strengthened them. 'Even though it's been a huge trial for a month and a half, we have actually come out better,' Bean said. Earlier Monday, Judge Gerald Robinson told KARK 4 News that county employees could see a paycheck as early as Tuesday or the latest, on Wednesday. Robinson also shared that he plans to call a meeting this week, but as of this time, there is still no date set for the next meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs Jefferson County budget correction bill, goes into immediate effect
Related video: Feb. 8 quorum court meetings ends without Jefferson County ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation into law on Monday afternoon that would prevent counties from shutting down due to a lack of budget. The act includes an emergency clause, putting it into immediate effect. The governor signed it shortly after it came to her desk. Jefferson County no-pay lawsuit updated after employees miss a second paycheck The bill states that a local government that does not pass a budget bill for its coming year should operate under the previous year's budget until it can pass one. The bill would directly impact the current situation in Jefferson County, as its quorum court has not been able to pass a budget for 2025 despite multiple meetings, reflecting ongoing disagreements between the county judge and members of the quorum court. Senate Bill 182 does place some restrictions on re-using a budget, including not paying a county judge their salary and not paying per dieum to the judge or justices of the peace. It does, however, state that county employees will be paid at the previous year's rate until a new budget is passed. Jefferson County employees have not been paid since Jan. 1 due to its quorum court impasse. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces plan to restore Jefferson County operations At a recent Jefferson County quorum court meeting, the county attorney expressed concern that the 2024 budget may be invalid. The legislation signed by the governor includes a clause that the county must operate under the previous year's budget regardless of its validity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jefferson County government shutdown continues as legislative action begins to step in
PINE BLUFF, Ark.- For over a month, Jefferson County has been experiencing a government shutdown because the quorum court has not been able to pass a 2025 budget. The shutdown continues after Tuesday night's meeting. Before the full Jefferson County quorum court met, the budget and finance committee had two ordinances for budgets on the agenda. The first budget ordinance was the secondary budget created by many justices of the peace and department heads that the county clerk's office presented. Jefferson County employee pay remains at an impasse after Thursday court hearing Following a vote, the budget and finance committee tabled the secondary budget indefinitely, meaning it would not go on to the full quorum court. Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson's revised budget presented by his office was passed on to the full quorum court by the committee. However, despite the budget being rejected by the quorum court previously, it was the only budget read to the full quorum court at tonight's meeting. 'There is no way we can get anything through those committees because those people commonly agree with the judge,' Justice of the Peace for District Three Reginald Johnson said. Emergency bill presented at Jefferson County Quorum Court meeting aims to solve budget stalemate Johnson says the committees are stacked with odds against the majority of the justices, but he still tried to get something done by bringing a different motion to the floor during the meeting. 'I bring a motion to replace the budget you are proposing with the budget from 2024 with all amendments in total,' Johnson said. The county judge responded, saying he wants to deal with what is on the agenda tonight. 'It's not on the floor, if you want to bring that forward, you can do that in a special meeting,' Robinson said. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces plan to restore Jefferson County operations Following the comment, legislation at the State Capitol was then brought into the conversation. 'The budget that I'm talking about is the budget we operated off of last year, same one they are going to enact in a few days,' Johnson said. Senate Bill 182, if passed, would require cities and counties to pass their annual budget by Feb. 7th of each year. If it fails to do so, it will revert to using the previously approved budget to make sure all employees are paid and county services are provided. The Jefferson County Attorney, Terry Wynne, made remarks on the legislation during the meeting, stating the legislation raises a question because the 2024 budget may not be valid. Three Arkansas congressmen representing Jefferson County introduce legislation to avoid budget defaults 'What does that exactly mean because I don't know that this body ever actually approved a budget,' Wynne said. Heated conversations began between the county judge and many of the justices of the peace, including Alfred Carroll for District One. That's when the county judge decided to call for a vote. The vote failed the budget that was presented by the county judge's office once again. Jefferson County judge back in court over not paying employees as budget crisis continues Many people in the crowd asked for the justices of the peace not to leave as they only needed seven to hold a quorum court meeting and nine to hold a vote. However, only seven stayed, and no further action was taken. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
