Many CFC Priorities enacted by the legislature!

Dear Friend,

The 88th General Assembly recessed on Friday, April 1st, after concluding all of their business except for congressional redistricting, which continues this week. Many of the CFC's Priorities were enacted during the 2011 session!

We are working on our Community Guide to the Arkansas Legislature, where you can see how your legislators voted on all of the bills the CFC worked on this session. The guide will have more information on all of our priority bills, as well as broad platform issues and a scorecard on the legislators. We will let you know as soon as the guide is finished!

Until then, here is a summary of how our Ten Priorities for a Better Arkansas fared in the 2011 Arkansas Legislature:

Improve opportunities to learn for all students.

After-school and summer program expansion: SB138, now Act 166

Improved remediation: HB2032, now Act 899 - and HB2050, which passed as well.

Ensure that "poverty funding" is spent on the students it is intended for and on effective programs: HB1910 passed!

Create an interim study on cultural competence: SB958, now Act 1162

Evaluate the effectiveness of school district parental involvement plans: SB740, now Act 1002

Expand the ARKids First health insurance program.

SB65 to cut the red tape in the ARKids enrollment process is now Act 771!

Require the oil and gas industry to follow best management practices.

The package of seven bills to enforce responsible natural gas drilling in Arkansas was sent to interim study, where we will work with legislators, oversight agencies and industry leaders to improve gas development practices.

Oppose state-level immigration reform.

We opposed 8 different anti-immigrant bills. HB2007 to  require driver's exams be given in English only failed on the House floor. None of the others made it out of committee!

Support fair tax reform.

HB1056, a tax exemption for low-income families with children is now Act 736! SB276, to reduce the sales tax on groceries by a half percent, is now Act 755. Many of the irresponsible tax cuts we opposed were stopped as well.

Implement fair energy policies.

SB721, to promote the development of the state's renewable energy resources, was sent to interim study.

SB516, to encourage investment in energy conservation improvements in homes and businesses, passed the Senate, but failed in the House by three votes.

Develop a new state water plan.

HB1903, to promote the efficient use of water for the people and wildlife of Arkansas, is now Act 749!

Support the DREAM Act.

It was not feasible to create the Arkansas DREAM Act this session, but we successfully opposed HB1008, the anti-DREAM Act, to limit in-state tuition accessibility for some AR students.

Increase penalties for wage theft.

Unfortunately, HB1881 failed to pass the House.

Reform prison sentencing practices.

SB750, the Governor's prison reform bill, is now Act 570!

The Citizens First Congress is a grassroots coalition of 49 community groups from across Arkansas that works on progressive reform at the Arkansas Legislature.

• Improve opportunities to learn for all students.
• Expand the ARKids First health insurance program.
• Require the oil and gas industry to follow best management practices.
• Oppose state-level immigration reform.
• Support fair tax reform.
• Implement fair energy policies.
• Develop a new state water plan.
• Support the DREAM Act.
• Increase penalties for wage theft.
• Reform prison sentencing practices.

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