Governor signs Social Host Law

Waldron Police Chief testified on behalf of House Bill Pushed forward by Scott County Health & Education Coalition

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe signs House Bill 1586 into law recently, which came about due to efforts of City of Waldron and Scott County Health & Education Coalition.  The City earlier this year passed the first local Social Ordinance of its kind, setting an example in the campaign against underage drinking.  SCHEC coordinator, Melissa Gasaway; City of Waldron mayor Randy Butler; City fof Waldron Treasurer/Clerk, Sherry Johnston; School Resource Officer, Gary Clepper; and SCHEC member, Gretta Millard, State Representative Terry Rice are all pictured with Governor Beebe in Little Rock.

The City of Waldron, Waldron Police Department, and Scott County Health and Education Coalition (SCHEC) coordinator and members had the opportunity to be a part of the bill signing for House Bill 1586.

On Tuesday, April 17 Governor Mike Beebe signed the bill into law making it Act 976 of 2009. The new law will provide criminal liability for a social host who knowingly serves alcohol to persons under the age of twenty-one; who knowingly allows minors to consume alcohol on his or her property; and for other purposes. The goal of the social host law is to change the norms and laws favorable to underage drinking, parental attitudes, and social availability.

On October 2007, SCHEC received a grant for 3 years and 9 months. Each year, SCHEC receives $150,000 to use to reduce underage drinking in Scott County.  The grant requires coalitions to use the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to choose its strategies to reduce underage drinking. The framework consists of assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, evaluation, sustainability, and cultural competency. During year 01 last spring, SCHEC found through their assessment that youth in Scott County were drinking due to favorable laws and norms towards alcohol use, social availability, favorable peer attitudes, and favorable parental attitudes towards underage drinking.

SCHEC found training for local law enforcement to attend to begin looking at environmental strategies to change these conditions in Scott County.

It was during this time that SCHEC and David Millard, Waldron Police Chief began working together to educate the community about the need for a Social Host Law in our county. Chief Millard educated the community at various meetings that included Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Town Hall Meeting. The City of Waldron Mayor and other elected officials also were educated and saw the need to create this new law in the city. On January 12, 2009, the City of Waldron passed the Social Host Ordinance for the city. This ordinance was the first in the state to be passed. Soon after, the Arkansas Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention (created by Legislative Act 629 of 2007) was able to get a House Bill number on a state social host law. Chief Millard was asked to testify for the bill at the House Rules Committee. While at the Capitol, the Chief was successful in educating many of the legislators about the dangers of underage drinking. The House Bill was amended many times through the process, but was voted in as a law at the end of March 2009.

SCHEC coordinator, Melissa Gasaway; City of Waldron mayor, Randy Butler; City of Waldron Treasurer/Clerk, Sherry Johnston; School Resource Officer, Gary Clepper, and SCHEC member, Gretta Millard were able to travel to Little Rock during the different meetings to see this bill through. State Representative, Terry Rice also played a huge part in the Social host Law success. As a SCHEC member, Rice was able to educate fellow colleagues about the importance of the law and was instrumental in the successful passage of the bill.