Can't use string ("1") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" 

##</code><code>##

use strict;
use DBI;

my @record = qw(adam baker code dog);
@record = validate_record_length({record => \@record, recl => '18'});

sub validate_record_length {
    my $args = @_;
    my @record = $args->{record};
    my $recl = $args->{recl};
    
    my $record_size = @record;
    for (my $i = $record_size; $i < $recl; $i++){
        $record[$i] = '';
    }
    return @record;    
}