Tennessee House of Representatives 112th House Local Government Committee, 9 Mar 2021

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From YouTube: House Cities & Counties Subcommittee - March 9, 2021

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House Cities & Counties Subcommittee - March 9, 2021 - House Hearing Room 3

A

It's nine o'clock and welcome to the citizen county subcommittee of local government. uh The committee will come into order clerk. Take the role please vice chairman calfi.

B

Representative chisholm chairman crawford wieder, gam chairman helton representative miller,.

A

Vice chairman, right, as excuse he's being inoculated, chairman moon president, mr chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you we'll go ahead and start this morning. Our first bill is 1097 by representative bond. Do I have a motion on tonight? We have motion a second representative bomb, you're recognized.

B

Thank you, chairman moon, and I do believe we have an amendment on this one. There's.

A

Our motion on the amendment bar code, four, two, seven six. We have a motion we have. Second, we have motion and second representative bond, you recognize on amendment 4276, the amendment.

B

Clarifies that for a county to implement the terms of this bill, it would require a two-thirds majority, not a just a simple majority.

A

Any questions on the amendment from the members hearing none we're voting on without objection, we're voting on amendment 4276, all in favor, say aye opposed, say. No. The amendment carries we're back on the bill. Mr sponsor.

B

This is a bill that would allow counties to self-insure their public officials originally in the state of tennessee counties were required to carry surety bonds in order to that would guarantee that public officials lawfully perform their job duties in a legal manner after a period of time. The state of tennessee, four or five years ago decided to also allow counties to take out insurance policies under essentially the exact same terms.

B

This is a bill that would allow counties to have a third option if those counties are already ensuring self-insuring their liability under the tennessee government. Tort claims act if a county is already self-insuring liability under that act, this bill would allow them to also self-insure their public officials, and I probably should take a moment to say exactly who we're referring to. When I say public officials. These are constitutional officers. These are elected officials.

B

These are fee officers, it's anyone who handles money for a county and what this is self-insurance for is the mishandling or mistakes with money or dishonesty or a crime invol involving money. So this would provide counties with a third option. Counties don't have to exercise the option, but if they choose to then again, according to the amendment, it would take a two-thirds uh vote majority by that body. Members.

A

Have any question of the sponsor seeing knows their objections, the question hearing, no objection, we're voting on house bill, 1097, all in favor, say aye, both say no house bill. 1097 moves the next available calendar of local government. Thank you. Thank you. All next bill is 665 by chairman halford. The chair does have an original resolution of the gibson county school district requesting this action. Is there a motion on house bill, 665.

A

There's a motion: is there a second, a second chairman halford? Do you recognize on house bill 665.

C

Thank you, mr chairman, and and for the motion. uh As most everybody knows, I have most all the special school districts in in the state. uh Lucky me, I guess, but this is one of them. Gibson county special school district is, is asking permission to issue and sell bonds for the not to exceed five million dollars. uh Interest rates are pretty low right now, so they feel like it's a good time to do this.

C

uh This, of course, is for um work that they need to do, whether it be acquisitions of property or or or maintenance, or things like that. So, basically, that's it they're just asking permission to to to issue and sell those bonds. Mr chairman members.

A

Have any question to the sponsor questions being called? Is there objections questions here? No objection, we're voting on house bill 665, all in favor, say aye opposed, say no motion carries this moves on to the next available calendar local government.

A

The next bill is 1019 by chairman halford. Is their motion on house bill 1019 with motion? We have a second. We have a motion. The second chairman, halford you're, recognized on house bill 1019 and thank you again.

C

Mr chairman, and uh I was a little bit, uh uh I guess surprise- the bilge that mr baum just had is very very similar to this one. uh It does basically the same thing um several years ago. It was realized that a lot of people, particularly county mayors and things like that already had a surety bond. uh So what this does working with the comptrollers?

C

That's a uh uh an issue where they they don't have to have that surety bond anymore if they already have one and uh but it does allow them to buy an insurance policy. It's not self-insured, but this allows them to buy insurance policy to do the same thing. So basically, we have a similar.

A

This is for human resource agencies. That's correct,.

C

Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't mention that. That's what it's.

A

For there are questions of the sponsor by the members question call on the bill, so objection to question hearing no objection, we're voting on house bill, 1019, all in favor, say aye, both say no. The ass prevail house bill 1019 moves the next available calendar local government. Thank you. Thank you, mr chairman and committee members.

A

The next bill is house bill. 652 by chair lee hazelwood. To have a motion. I have a motion to have a second there's motion in a second chair, lady hazelwood. You recognize on house bill 652.

D

And this legislation comes from the comptroller's office and it's just an effort to bring consistency to the code. We have in different places in code. Different entities that are very similar have different rules, so this would just make all of those consistent, for instance, budgeting and utility finance laws.

D

Currently, utility districts have to submit cash cash basis budgets to the comptroller's office for review, but these are cash basis. That's the only thing they're produced for is just to go to the comptroller's office, because now everyone has to use accrual accounting, so this would eliminate the need for providing those cash-based budgets and again it. What we're doing with this bill is just making a consistent operations for all of the utility districts across the state and providing comptrol comptroller approval of those budgets to help them keep from getting in trouble.

A

Any members have any questions of the sponsor.

A

I have a question on bills: their objection to the question hearing, no objection, we're voting on house bill, 6-5-2, all in favor, say aye aye posts say no eyes prevail.

A

House bill 652 moves to the next available calendar on local government. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

A

Next bill is uh house bill 612 by leader, gant leader gant is uh presenting two bills in insurance right now, we'll roll that to the hills, objection we'll roll that to the hill.

A

So the next bill is house bill. 1365 by chairman carter, there's been a request to roll this bill one week. Is there objection to rolling this one week? Hearing no objection house bill. 1365 is rolled one week.

A

The next bill is house bill 719 by chairman kiesling. Is there a motion on house bill, 719, there's motion and second on house bill? 719 chairman keasley, you are recognized on house bill 719. thank.

E

Mr chairman and committee, we do have an amendment, mr chairman, and that tracking code, if you'll check your numbers there, it's four four seven, three.

A

Is there a motion on amendments there's a motion on amendment 7, 7, 4, 3 and there's the second chairman keysley. You are recognized on amendment 4473.

E

Thank you. uh Thank you. The amendment actually uh firms up the bill. uh It's up to you, mr chairman, if you wanna, uh if we can entertain a motion to get to adopt this amendment, then I'll explain.

A

E

A

To you, sir, the motion's been made on amendment and second and you are recognizing.

E

Am I okay, my apology uh house bill 719? Does it it? Actually, it's designating ambulance services as an essential service. Now we know that every county provides this, this critical service, of course, but there's no such requirement services, no requirement that such services be provided this bill.

E

Members would give the essential service, and that's in quotations designation to ambulance services like it's given to police and fire again. Police and fire. Has that designation, representative miller you're very familiar with that? Of course, the uh the amendment was written. It's actually written to address the concerns of our county mayor associations that that's present here today, as well as the county service association both are within the committee this morning. This morning the amendment clarifies that the bill does not direct the method for providing these services now further.

E

It states that this service can be provided by public, private or non-profit through enter interlock agreement, agreement with hospital or health care facility, or for that matter, any other structure suitable to provide at least one license ambulance service. It also reiterates that a county is not, I repeat, not required to appropriate county revenue for this service. If it can be provided by other means, and lastly, the amendment codifies the existing relationship between counties and municipalities in regards to their ability to provide this service with the approval of their governing bodies.

E

Mr chairman, and with that, that concludes my um my talking points and I'll be glad to entertain any questions. Sir members.

A

Have any question on the amendment or is there objection the question on the amendment hear no objection, we're voting on amendment 4473, all in favor, say aye opposed, say. No amendment passes we're back on the bill. I'll renew.

E

A

Renewal motion is there any other questions? uh One person? Yes, uh chairman crawford,.

C

Thank you, mr chairman, uh thank you chairman keisling, for uh being here today and bringing this bill. I just want to ask a few questions to get on record and to make sure that we're understanding this correctly, this bill in no way is creating a franchise for any kind of counties or anything that.

E

Is absolutely correct, sir, and.

C

Also, it does not restrict that if we have a public service that is running with a county service or a county funded service, it does not restrict them. They can have three four or five services, if that, if that's what it takes to cover that county and provide the correct service correct chairman.

E

Thank you, thank you, mr chairman, and that is my understanding as well. Thank you, sir.

C

I just want to get that on the record. Thank you.

A

Any other questions by the members is there objection to the question hearing, no objection. We are voting on house bill, 719, all in favor, say aye, aye, aye opposed, say no eyes prevail. Moves the next available calendar of local government. Thank.

E

You, mr chairman and committee members, and again I turn to you chairman crawford. Thank you for those those two uh questions that clarifies this. Thank you very.

A

Much the next bill on the counter is house bill. 1529 by chairman powers, chairman powers has asked for a one-week roll. Is there objection to rolling this bill? One week, hearing no objection house bill. 1529 is rolled one week.

A

The next bill on the calendar is house bill 154 by chairman heisten. Is there a motion on the bill? There's a motion. Second, on the bill, um chairman hasten you're, recognized on house bill 154 thank.

C

You, mr chairman, this was brought to me by the chester county county mayor and the county commissioners. Their solid waste department has been funded for years from rent from the nursing home when their nursing homes sold. They lost that funding.

C

This bill would simply allow for a solid waste disposal fee to be collected to fund their solid waste department.

A

With that I'll be glad to answer your questions, the chair does have a resolution properly executed by the chip by chester county. Are there questions from the members?

A

Is there objection to the question hearing? No objection, we're voting on house bill 154, all in favor, say aye aye, both say no eyes prevail. Moves the next available calendar of local government. Thank you. Next bill is house bill 35 by representative ogles. We have received word. He would like to roll this bill one week. Is there objection to the rolling of this bill for one week? Hearing no objection. This bill is rolled one week next bill on the counter is house bill 634 by representative hakeem. Is there a motion on house bill 634?

A

We have a motion in a second.

A

Representative hakeem you're recognizing house bill 634.

F

A little context on this bill in the city of chattanooga, we had a lieutenant in our fire department who posted online a picture of a clip of bullets, and it had names on the bullets, and this included a city council person myself, and some citizens, and both the fire department and the administration of the city had knowledge of this and did not inform any of us as to what you know. This was taking place now as an individual.

F

I have interaction with police and fire, and all that kind of thing- and you know, could this put elected officials in particular, and citizens in general, in jeopardy if they have no knowledge of someone who has a mindset of this nature, what this legislation does is ask the city to have on put on their website uh the guidelines that you know this type of activity is not uh accepted or appreciated, and that this reasonably in a reasonable manner.

F

It be it by email or personal uh uh uh talking with persons who are identifying this nature to let them know of something of this nature, and uh it's not a requirement that the city uh develop a community, develop a a new website or anything this nature, so we're asking uh if we could uh move this forward. Mr chairman, okay,.

A

Just a moment, um thank you. We do have a request before we take questions from the members. We have a request from david connors to testify. Okay, if he'll come forward going out of session, if mr connor's come forward, introduce himself we're out of session.

A

You can go well, mr connors is fine.

G

Yes, david connor with the tennessee county services association.

G

um The the reason why.

A

I wanted to three minutes.

G

Mrs okay, thank you, um obviously the circumstance that the representative hakeem is described as deplorable and and shouldn't be condoned in any way. The reason I requested an opportunity to speak is just the difficulty we see with how the legislation will be enforceable.

G

As I understand the language, it requires either a city or county government to constantly monitor the social media feeds of all their employees and and to identify whether these threats are out there and notify. Folks, I just in the day and age when somebody can pull out a smartphone and create a social media account in about 30 seconds and counties and cities sometimes have hundreds or thousands of employees. I don't know how. Realistically we could do that. So there's some concern.

G

If we create a requirement for them to monitor those social media feeds and notify the public, it could create liability for the city or county. Obviously, the situation he described is horrible and should never occur and should be disciplined, but I don't know how we could practically enforce.

G

The legislation has written.

A

Any questions for the person testifying.

A

This uh representative miller, you recognize thank you, mr.

C

F

Representative akeem did say that, well, as I remember it, the city knew about this incident, but the city did not contact anyone that their names were on the the bullets.

F

Would you have an issue with if the city knows about an incident like this, then they reach out to the individuals that are involved or how.

C

Would something like that would work? Mr cotter's.

G

I've thought through that type of a scenario, if they're, if they clearly have notice of the fact that it exists that'd, be simple. We have to kind of look at the details as to how something's set up- and I said, if there's a serious threat out there. Obviously people should be protected. It's more a matter of the monitoring aspects of the legislation that raise concern for us. Okay,.

A

Representative miller, thank you, mr chairman, he's answered any other questions. uh Chairman crawford you're, recognizing.

C

I'd rather be speaking.

A

Right anyone else: okay, we'll go back into session, we're back on house bill, 634, representative, keem,.

A

Okay: first I'll go to chairman crawford.

C

Thank you, mr chairman. Thank you, representative akeem for being here. I just have a few questions once is, if let's say this went into effect and the city or county, whoever was monitoring, this missed, uh missed a post that was made or a statement that was made.

C

Would that liability fall back on the that city at this time, representative keane. Thank you, mr chairman,.

F

uh If I may, firstly, if we look on the page where the physical note is- and we deal with the assumptions it, it says that the city is not required to monitor the face. I mean the social media platforms, but when an instance happens, then they're asked to notify people of uh of the of the concern and also it says that it's not necessary for the city to establish a new website. Anything in this nature and um by reasonable measures.

F

You know like calling the individual or uh you know the normal things, a method of contacting people we're not asking anything out of the ordinary. I apologize. If I didn't.

C

Have senator crawford? uh Thank you, mr chairman. I think I'm I may need to ask legal that question and see if they could give me an answer to that. Okay,.

A

We'll go out of session and we'll if.

C

The city misses it then. Is there a liability, we're.

A

Out of session represent uh gary with legal services. Thank.

C

You, mr chairman, doug garrett, with the office of legal services,.

G

If the city did miss something like that, I think it's arguable that there could be if they knew of it and and did not report it. It was an obvious affirmative sort of act.

G

The language in the bill does say that.

E

That the local governmental entity, when practicable, shall notify.

G

Any person about whom an employee of the local government has acted in such a manner. Yes, sir, that's not to discount the fact or the possibility.

C

uh As as chairman, crawford was saying that, if they, if they knew of it,.

E

um And didn't report it then that could be problematic. Chairman.

A

Crawford does that answer your question all right, we're back in session on the bill. 634 chairman crawford.

C

A

C

Mr chairman, and I guess my second question would be you spoke of social media and, and there was no place there- that they were going to actually monitor that correct. But if this bill passes would they be able to go and monitor social media if somebody posted something on their own media, not what they are given to given by the county or their county email address or whatever? If they did this on their personal, would they be? Would the city have the ability to then prosecute, or I guess go after that individual punish them?

C

If they did this on their own personal, uh personal, social media? Would that not affect their first amendment right for.

A

Representative keem thank.

F

You, sir, uh to we'll, probably have to defer to the attorney, but the city is not required.

F

uh Government is not required to, we say, monitor the social media, the instance that we're talking about in the instance that we're dealing with is is where this individual did put it on this social media and so forth, uh and it came out uh the the media is what brought it to the attention of of those of us who were on there and uh so to my. If I understand you correctly this, this does not permit or the city to start monitoring everyone's social media. This was an instance where uh it was done.

F

It was in a sense made public and at the department and the administration knew about it. Now I can be wrong on what I'm saying, but I have may have to defer to the attorney.

C

Chairman crawford sorry, mr chairman, if you this, this will be my last question. Well, it really brings concern to me because, basically, from that statement, you're basically telling me that it was not monitored. The city did not see this on social media and you're going by something that was printed in the newspaper or come from the media.

F

No sir, it was known, it was known within the fire department and it was known in the administration. I talked with both and I usually one want to put it off on the other as to why we were not informed, but they knew about it. Both the the city administration and the within the department.

F

C

Chairman crawford um that that brings real concern to me. um I I do not condone this action in any way um and and don't want anybody to think so. But this really concerns me. The avenue that's going, there's surely got to be a better way that this could be handled, but it does concern me. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Yes, sir. Thank you, mr chairman.

A

Next on the list is representative calfi you're recognized on house bill 634. Thank you, mr chairman, uh representative. Hakeem. Are you carrying this bill for the city of chattanooga, representative keane? No.

F

No sir, as a result of what transpired in my own involvement in it, and uh you know just citizens, uh I guess you could say I'm carrying it for the citizens and myself.

A

So is this state wide or is it just for chattanooga representative hakeem.

F

Now I did this in the interests of uh chattanooga, but you know if it's the will of the body to go beyond that. You know I don't have a problem representative.

A

Calf, he just went, I believe the bill is statewide bill stay. Well, it's a statewide bill, representative calf. You recognize my last question and uh what disciplinary action was taken. You said both this guy was a city fireman and both the fire department, administration and the city administration knew about it and you're sure that they knew about it. Representative became going and what correct? What was the corrective action they took was their disciplinary action or what did they do? Representative kim.

F

This happened, I guess we said right at the beginning of the covet uh epidemic and he was put on leave, saw, gave him medical treatment and it was determined within the fire department, not from a medical person but from within the fire department that you know he's okay,.

A

Representative calfi, okay! Well! Thank you, sir. Thank you, mr chairman representative, chisholm you're recognized. Thank you chairman.

C

um For representative hakeem, uh I'm looking I'm looking here at uh some of the assumptions in the bill. Yes, sir, so the assumption is that they that a local government post policies on their website not create a new one but put policies in on the website. Yes, sir, okay and uh it does not require that they search employees, social media, right, correct representatives, so pretty much. This bill just ensures that a a government entity puts their policies on on the website.

C

That talks about the a a situation like this and the and the ramifications for doing so, representative.

A

Keem, are you, are you sure that that's part of the bill.

F

That is, you mean putting it on the website. The.

A

F

Putting it putting it on the website that uh you know how we say here, the government provides to put the policies to their website and provide a copy of the policy to all employees.

A

Okay, representative chism.

C

No further question: that's all next.

A

On the list is leader gantt leader, gant you're, recognized on house bill 634.

G

Thank you, mr chairman, um all right, I'm I'm confused now um and it doesn't take a whole lot to do that. To begin with. So with your indulgence, give me a quick summary of what the bill is doing one more time. I know you've explained it and I'm sorry to ask you to do this again, but help me understand it. Just a quick summary representative.

A

Keem you're recognizing thank.

F

You, sir, uh for the entity, the governmental entity to put on their website the policy in regards to. uh I guess essentially saying this is behavior that is not acceptable and to notify persons who are identified as potential targets to be notified using where practical, using general methods. You know phone email, something like that, and uh this is not to monitor their uh website uh online posts or anything of that nature. uh But when an event of this nature happens, then you know there should be some intervention on the part of the uh governmental entity.

F

You know we're seeing disciplinary items if need be, and essentially notifying citizens.

A

G

I'm not sure who could answer this question, but don't our municipalities and government organizations already have these policies in place that address issues like this.

A

Representative for kim.

F

Not in our community, I checked on this beforehand for our community and we don't have anything like that.

A

Later again so.

G

I'm thinking about the cities that I represent, how would they take this on as far as monitoring all the social media that goes on out there, because lord knows that I've- probably gotten 30 notifications, just in the last five minutes of somebody tweeted this or said that so does this create or make a municipality or organization create a position just strictly to monitor everybody's social media.

A

Representative hakeem, let.

F

Me say again: this bill does not uh ask a request that the governmental entity surf the social media of anyone, but if, if a person puts it on their social media and it's known by their department and by the city and by the government, then that person in my mind, should be informed of that you're not going out looking for these things, but when it happens, or as I said in this instance, the only way we knew about it was that the media got a hold of it and it brought it forward.

G

Leader again, so how would this be different than we're in the hallway and or at the grocery store? And you know somebody heard a person say something very similar to what was being said on social media. How would that be different other than this? Just on social media.

A

Representative.

F

Okay, I don't know if my example would be different, but what happened? Was this individual put on his social media? What appeared to be? uh It was an ar-15 clip of bullets and had people's names on there and you know with it threatening people, and uh I mean I think that makes it different from what you say and what you see in the grocery store.

A

G

G

I'm just trying to rationalize this. I mean we've all if you stay up here in the position that we're in sooner or later, we're all going to have a death threat or or something upon one of us, but uh I I guess, is what the legislation asking the local uh city municipality to do is. If this is brought to them, or is it? Are you asking them to post something on their policy and procedures?

G

Is, I guess, I'm representative for keem.

F

Okay, when we say post something we're saying to post on the website, essentially this act. Action of this nature does not tolerate it, something that nature and that, if you know about it, governmental entity that you notify people who have been identified and as you say, you know if, uh if you're in government or not in this instance, it was not just elected officials, but citizens also- and uh you know, when you deal with the death threats, you know, I know about that- all my life, okay, all right. Yes, sir.

C

G

Okay, so- and I don't know the situation that you're referring to I'm just getting second hand knowledge of what you're referring to. So, if something like this happens, I mean, would not law enforcement be brought into a situation like this representative.

A

Kakeem now.

F

Law enforcement at some point was made aware, but I'm going to use the term again. You had primarily the fire department and the city administration orchestrating what took place and so law enforcement had very limited input. It was handled so to speak from within the fire department.

F

Now, when I talk to both entities, you know the the fire department says: you know, we told administration administration said they didn't know about it: okay, but it was. It gets essentially what I'm getting at it was held within the department and it could have been dangerous to citizens as well as elected officials,.

A

G

Gab, it sounds like something that needs to be handled internally there with uh the municipality that you're referring to and not really through this channel. I see what you're doing and I respect what you're doing. I I think it's going to create more of a bureaucratic response to it than if internally, that municipality or deal with it in a different manner, but uh but you know thank you, I didn't mean to put you in the spot. No, no thank you.

A

Chairman crawford's asked.

C

Yeah uh leader gant basically touched on what my question was going to be is, instead of us legislating from the state. This seems to me that this could be put in your policies and procedures in your local government, because what your bill does is it takes it statewide. I think this needs to be addressed in your community and not pushed so much statewide, because I see some real issues here.

C

As far as you say, it does not give them the authority to go out and monitor social media and these kind of things, but yeah, that's basically what the bill does. Is it's giving them the right to go? Do that if they find something on there and come back and punish that person? For that, so I think this could probably be handled a little better from your local standpoint, representative.

A

Representative keem.

F

Based on what I'm hearing, mr chairman, uh I'm inclined to withdraw the bill.

A

So you're asking take the bill off notice. Yes, sir, without objection, hearing no objection house bill, 635 634 is off notice.

C

A

You this takes us to the heel of the calendar leader gant as the bill 612. Is there a motion on the bill? Second, we have a motion. A second on house bill, 612 leader grant gant. You are recognized first.

G

Let me apologize to you, mr chairman. I was in um insurance committee and let me apologize to our treasurer for my tardiness as I was presenting two bills in there. So I apologize to the committee as well what this bill does is it authorizes the state treasurer to inquire with local governments and volunteer fire departments about establishing a length of service award program, which is also known as low sap, pursuant to section 457 of the internal revenue code, based on the results of the inquiry, the treasurer is authorized to establish a low sap program.

G

A low sap is a type of retirement plan for volunteers, providing firefighting and prevention services, emergency medical services and ambulance services to be eligible to receive benefits from the low sap. An individual must be a bona fide volunteer who receives no compensation for the services and instead of instead receives only reimbursement for reasonable expenses or reasonable benefits and nominal fees, customarily paid in connection with the performance of such services.

G

Lowsapps may be defined. Contribution plan similar to a 401k or defined benefit plan like a pension plan, a low sap is a funded, is funded by contributions from local governments and or non-profit entities that utilize the services of eligible volunteers. The volunteers themselves would not contribute and the state would not bear the cost of the program. Volunteers would have to meet eligibility criteria established under the terms of the low sap plan to receive benefits.

G

Any low sap plan established pursuant to the bill would be administered by the treasury department and the local government's or non-profits participation in the plan is optional.

G

The plan's trustees would be identical to the trustees for the state's 401 com 401k plan and, of course, this bill would take effect upon becoming law and also have our treasurer treasured treasurer here with us to answer any questions that I may not be able to answer.

A

G

A

Did not get timely, timely notification of testimony so that won't that won't be available, but leader gant go back to the first words. This authorizes the treasurer to go across the state and present.

G

This program, that's.

A

That's the crux it gives- and this is an initiative of our treasure as I understand, is that correct leader, correct okay, so.

A

Okay, the members of the committee, do you have questions for leader, gant, representative miller, you're recognized thank.

C

You, mr chairman,.

F

I just like to sign on to the bill sounds like it's a great bill and I thought.

A

F

A

F

Our our state treasurer he's always coming up with these almost ingenious ideas, progressive ideas, and we appreciate him for.

C

That uh question, mr chairman, just for verifications, local governments.

F

Will fund this is that leader.

A

Gant, that is correct. Okay! Okay, thank you. Thank you. Any other questions from the committee got a question. Mr objection to the question. Hearing. No objection, we're voting on house bill, 612, all in favor, say aye aye opposed, say no eyes prevail. Thank you.

G

A

Moves on the next next available calendar in local government. This completes our calendar. For today the chair would like to express gratitude for the staff for preparing for the day's meeting. We've been short one, valuable team member, and that is chairman crawford's la and assistant and she's. A valuable part of this team she's had a lot of adversity, but I want to say thank you to everyone that has stepped up and filled and filled that gap. So thank you very much.

A

Also I'd like to recognize probably the best treasure in the united states of america, david lillard, and I have a question if I won't be ruled out of order, do we have back to back number one ratings from the u.s news and world report? Mr treasurer.

C

They have not yet published it this year, but we expect to be in that same category this year, thanks to the leadership of our general assembly, who makes that possible.

A

Through responsible budgeting and finance, thank you treasurer lillard and any other announcements by the committee.

A

That's that'll be uh looked at and considered uh without objection. We'll stand adjourned, hearing, no objection. We are adjourned good job jeffree.