Arkansas judge tosses lawsuit over worker abortion accommodations

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

An Arkansas judge put a stop to a court challenge over workplace abortion accommodations on Friday. U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. said plaintiffs in a lawsuit over new protections for employees seeking abortions did not have standing, meaning they did not establish that the protections for workers would actually cause them harm.

In 2022, The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was passed with bipartisan support in Congress. The law required employers to accommodate pregnancy and childbirth-related medical conditions. On April 19, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission expanded the law to include accommodations that come from seeking an abortion. They passed the rule change by a vote of 3-2. The new rules will go into effect on Tuesday.

In April, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced his plan to bring a lawsuit against the law's expansion.

Arkansas judge tosses lawsuit over worker abortion accommodations

Michael Hibblen/Little Rock Public Radio

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say expansions to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would cause them harm; the judge disagreed.

Griffin: ‘Private businesses raising rates to match market demand does not constitute price gouging’

LITTLE ROCK – With the start of Consumer Protection Week and the April 8 solar eclipse’s path of totality set to encompass a large portion of Arkansas, Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following alert to consumers about expected price hikes, particularly for overnight lodging, around the eclipse:

“With the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse passing through Arkansas, many businesses are eager to capitalize on the boost in tourism that Arkansas will receive. In many cases that will mean temporary increases in prices, especially for lodging. Private businesses raising rates to match market demand does not constitute price gouging. That does not, however, mean that companies can back out of existing agreements to take advantage of rates brought about by higher demand.

“If you have existing reservations for hotels, event venues or short-term rentals on the day of the eclipse, the business may not cancel the reservation without cause in the hopes of selling the room at a higher rate, nor can they raise the rate after you have confirmed the reservation. Even if the business refunds the deposit, the cancellation may violate consumer protection laws, and the Attorney General may pursue claims for violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, including fines of up to $10,000. Additionally, businesses working together to raise prices may be violating the Arkansas Unfair Practices Act.

“The eclipse will be a unique opportunity for many Arkansas businesses to benefit from a large influx of tourists coming to our state, but businesses still have to operate within the law.”

Here are some helpful tips to help you enjoy the eclipse to the fullest:

• Carefully read the terms of reservation agreements you sign; these are binding contracts.
• Know the cancellation policy of your reservation—who can cancel, for what reason(s), and what notice is required?
• Be sure to take note of all fees associated with the reservation.
• Keep all documents associated with the transaction, including contracts, receipts, the written cancellation policy, and other documentation.

For more information or to file a Consumer Complaint, please visit the Office of Attorney General website www.ArkansasAG.gov or call (800) 482-8982.

Arkansas group collecting signatures to roll back abortion ban

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A group in Arkansas has less than 150 days to collect enough signatures to put abortion on the ballot in 2024.

For AR People is a nonprofit advocacy group organizing the effort to pass the Arkansas Abortion Amendment. This law would legalize abortion for up to 18 weeks of pregnancy or in cases of rape or incest.

Abortion became illegal in June of 2022, after Roe v. Wade was overturned. At that time, a trigger law went into effect which banned all abortions in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.

The amendment was originally put forth by the group Arkansans for Limited Government, a ballot question committee formed by For AR People. After several failed attempts, Attorney General Tim Griffin approved the ballot title in January. For AR People is required to collect over 90,000 signatures from across the state in under 150 days to place it on the November ballot.

Arkansas group collecting signatures to roll back abortion ban

Meg Kelly/NPR

Arkansans for Limited Government has until July 5 to collect all the needed signatures to place an amendment rolling back the state's abortion restrictions on the November ballot.

Arkansas marijuana, patient group resubmits ballot proposal to increase access to medical cannabis

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A marijuana industry and patient group has resubmitted language to the attorney general for a ballot measure to expand access to medical cannabis in Arkansas.

Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected the first version of the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024 due to improper formatting and ambiguities about how the measure would affect existing state laws and rules.

Arkansans for Patient Access on Monday submitted new versions of the proposed constitutional amendment, ballot title and popular name with mostly technical changes, but the new version would also preclude the state Legislature from making changes to constitutional amendments.

Arkansas marijuana, patient group resubmits ballot proposal to increase access to medical cannabis

Group submits fourth proposed Arkansas FOIA change to AG after third rejection

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A government transparency group sent a fourth draft of proposed changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act on Thursday after Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected its third proposal.

In his opinion, Griffin cited a “misleading provision” of the text of the proposed act and ballot title. Previous submissions contained the same problem that “was unidentified previously and is the only remaining issue standing in the way of certification,” Griffin wrote.

“If you resolve this issue and resubmit with no other changes, I will expedite the response,” he wrote.

Group submits fourth proposed Arkansas FOIA change to AG after third rejection

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Gov. Sarah Sanders shares a laugh with Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, a Republican from Cave Springs on Sept. 14, 2023, after signing a number of bills at the end of a special legislative session, including one that hides from the public certain information about security for her and other state officials.

Ruling favors Board of Corrections, blocks Gov. Sanders’ move to add prison beds

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Recent legislation used by Gov. Sarah Sanders in her attempt to take control of prisons from the Arkansas Board of Corrections (BOC) has been blocked in a ruling handed down Friday (Jan. 19) by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Patricia James.

Sanders and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin say that Acts 185 and 659, passed in the 2023 Legislative Session, give the governor direct authority over leadership at the Department of Corrections. The BOC on Dec. 14 filed lawsuits in Pulaski County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of sections of Acts 185 and 659. The BOC claims that Amendment 33, ratified in 1942, does not allow a governor to take direct control of the state’s prison system.

Judge James on Dec. 2 granted a temporary restraining order preventing Sanders and Griffin from exercising authority under Acts 185 and 659. A hearing on the lawsuit was held Jan. 4.

Ruling favors Board of Corrections, blocks Gov. Sanders’ move to add prison beds

Arkansas Board of Corrections fires prisons chief in escalating dispute with governor

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas AdvocateFrom the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas’ prison oversight board on Wednesday fired Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri — a week after a judge ruled that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ cabinet appointee served at the pleasure of the board for now.

Attorney General Tim Griffin has pledged to appeal that ruling, so it isn’t clear if Profiri, who came to Arkansas from Arizona a year ago with Sanders when she took office, will be permanently ousted.

Shortly after the ouster, Sanders announced that she would hire Profiri as a senior advisor, calling his termination a political stunt.

Profiri has had a strained relationship with the Board of Corrections since Sanders gave him a $40,000-a-year pay raise shortly after taking office and without the board’s approval. He was paid an annual salary of $210,000.

Arkansas Board of Corrections fires prisons chief in escalating dispute with governor

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Former Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections Joe Profiri, left, listens as Gov.Sarah Huckabee Sanders talks about criminal justice legislation during a news conference at the State Capitol on March 28, 2023.

Judge orders TRO in Corrections Board lawsuit, AG sues panel over FOIA violations

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

A tension-filled week of accusations, legal wranglings and political drama between Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, Attorney General Tim Griffin and the state Board of Corrections ended with more acrimony and theater on Friday (Dec. 15).

For weeks, Gov. Sanders and the board have fought over plans to expand prison beds. Sanders has asked for additional space, while the seven-member corrections oversight panel has called for more details on funding and personnel to protect the prisoner expansion requests. Because the state Constitution gives autonomy to the board, the decision-making hasn’t been a purely executive decision for the governor. It led to Secretary of Corrections Joe Profiri being suspended with pay on Thursday, while a corrections board lawsuit was filed the same day to halt a new state law that it claims undermines its authority. Read more here.

All of this boiled to a new level of political turmoil on Friday as AG Griffin filed a lawsuit against the Board of Corrections for failing to comply with the state’s Freedom of Information Act, while a Pulaski County judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) in favor of the board in its lawsuit.

Judge orders TRO in Corrections Board lawsuit, AG sues panel over FOIA violations

Gov. Sanders blasts Board of Corrections for partially rejecting request for more beds

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders wants to create 500 new beds in the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) system and she is calling on the Board of Corrections to do so. A department spokesperson said the agency doesn’t have the staff to accommodate the bed request.

She was joined by Attorney General Tim Griffin, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Director of Arkansas State Police Mike Hagar, Secretary of Corrections Joe Profiri among others on Friday (Nov. 17) to make the request public.

“As governor, my top priority is the safety and security of our citizens. I will not sit by while we enact the same broken policies that got us here in the first place because nobody ever called them out. Unfortunately, some in those positions of leadership are still playing games that put Arkansans in harm’s way. Last week, the Arkansas State Board of Corrections refused to approve Secretary Profiri’s thoughtful, informed and desperately – needed request to open up hundreds of additional prison beds. This is simply unacceptable. I’m calling on the Board to convene an emergency meeting without delay to approve the 500 additional beds that they denied last week,” said Sanders.

Gov. Sanders blasts Board of Corrections for partially rejecting request for more beds

AG Griffin says FOIA law needs to modernize

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Pointing to a need for privacy in sensitive situations, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said Sunday (July 2) the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) needs to change to adapt to modern times.

“One thing I want to mention that really is driving a lot of my interest here was the ransomware issue with Little Rock School District. The Little Rock School District was a victim of a ransomware [attack]. And the way the FOIA law is currently written, they have to discuss their strategy on dealing with ransomware in public. That’s ridiculous,” Griffin said. “That’s like asking the U.S. Army to strategize and plan a battle in public… We’ve got to change that.”

Griffin, who announced last month he was forming a working group of legislators and FOIA stakeholders to advise him privately, appeared on this week’s Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics programs. He said there was a legislative commission report from the year 2000 that contemplated technological changes that would require amending the FOIA law.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/07/ag-griffin-says-foia-law-needs-to-modernize/

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.