Education Committee - Senate

We have a very long list today but we are only going to take up Senate bills today so they can go to the House tomorrow. We're taking up House bills on Wednesday so they can go to Senate. So that's our plan for the day so Center Mickey you have a Amendment concurring in Amendment. I certainly. this is America. This is for mayor Frank Scaglione with setting up a family assistance center at three fifteen Shackleford road at the manual Baptist churches city center at ten eight AM this morning police and volunteers and resources there we also have a donation center for water and non perishable items only at seven thousand Murray street Little Rock training center in southwest little rock so all of you who are interested in this we would appreciate very much if you and I will send you the information should you desire it but we do need your assistance and we appreciate your prayers thank. Thank you maintenance okay Center Mickey if you identify yourself to be recognized thank you madam chair sanity District six Senate bill three sixty one as this committee unanimously met with triple a and the administrators Association they requested some language be amended in the House Committee we agreed to that language House committee adopted the past the house so I would just appreciate if this committee could concur with that amend. Yes can cut it to because concurrence. Senator Chesterfield is moved to pass senator Dotson has seconded all in favor. All those thank you very much thank you okay so Senator flowers. And as I mentioned earlier we're going to be leaving here at eleven thirty so we're going to try and get through as many bills as we possibly can give everybody an opportunity so brevity. Today is important. You identify yourself you'll be recognized. Thank you madam chair Stephanie flowers Senate district eight I was waiting on Senator Hammer I explain my bill Senate bill three sixty seven week before last I believe and I understand he's still in a retirement. A so if I could step aside until he comes back on he he has assured me that he would support my bill thank you that would be fine thank you. Okay let's see Senator Irvin. She shall. Okay. Yes. Yes Senate bill five ten. Bill identify yourself you'll be recognized thank you madam chair members of the committee on Senator Missy Irvin from district twenty four. reshaped. Senate bill I have with me Mr Newton to introduce your renewed with Arkansas learns. Thank you. Senate bill five. But Senate bill five ten of requires all districts have theirs and state codes that requires all districts to have a written policy based upon objective criteria what Senate bill five ten does is that aligns with the learns Act the learn socked in section six requires district ref policies to be based on performance effectiveness and qualifications seniority and tenure may not be primary criterion so performance and effectiveness are not necessarily objective most districts use the AS BA Arkansas school board association model policies interpretation which hardly waits for seniority and education level and SB five ten will still allow for seniority and education level to be a factor that requires it be given less than fifty percent weight five bit of Senate bill five ten encourages the district to make their employment decisions based on merit attendance performance effectiveness and ability which again lines with Arkansas learns ACT so the goal is to try to drive districts incorporate their test and leads performance evaluations into their referee rubrics M. and we'll be happy to answer any questions Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair and thank you Senator Irvin to taking my question. I worry about subjectivity. We start talking about determining whether or not people will be able to keep their jobs in one of the most subjective views thank goodness because you do not define what it means. Could you tell me what effectiveness means so that is a classic if I will ever go back in the classroom and after this session I can assure you I never would please tell me what effectiveness means. An attorney representing. As it is to find out would be through the test evaluations the leads performance evaluations and who are you. I've carried it with Arkansas Works. We were we were asked about. these issues by a school board president and agreed to help them in advancing these bills I see tell me. When you talk about ability what does it mean. If I'm a teacher and I am I am at my job what do I need to do to say that I have the ability to teach defined it for me. Well the I think that has the little leads performance evaluations is what we're talking about when we're discussing effectiveness and ability so there are evaluations that they do undergo and so give me a lot of work for utilizing the testing leads performance evaluations that are part of data that's being collected whether it be through the test scores whether it be through reports and reviews that you again if you're an employee of a school district. Under the superintendence purview. I guess I'm I'm I'm. I'm B. maybe we're not communicating is that I think we should. So. In order for me to be effective my kids have to do well on tests is that what you're saying thank. I mean from from being no here so what is tell me what what will determine that for me. I think it's important for children and students to excel in their education process. Okay what is means clearly if a child is failing at every subject they're not excelling. So with so we I'm not here to to reinvent. A grade level we have a B. C. D. and F.. Those I guess you could argue would be you know subjective but but to me of a student earns an a or you are doesn't earn at and and receives an F. those aren't subjective those are based on. Classroom work we have a we have various children with various levels. If a child. Has a learning disability he's in my classroom. And of course I always went out of my way to make sure I worked with the special needs program so that we could use but he may not ever do well on standardized test. Am I an effective teacher. I mean that all of those all of those are taken into consideration I mean if a child has a learning disability then that's going to be documented by their plan and so there there are all of those are are already built into. These refs policies I mean as a stand senator the. This is simply sinking the language with Arkansas learns in regard to hiring and firing practices and compensation consideration what I have the same questions. Under learns exactly because I do believe that we need to make sure. That we have an objective criteria. So that Sally who might be the principal's daughter is not rated effective and I who am not would be rated less than effective that is my concern that has been my concern all along because I think most of this is still subjective and I know that you probably have the the votes to get it out I guess I'm not will be to do it orders but I do believe that you just have a right to know how are you defining effective how are you defining a marriage. So that we know those of us who care about classrooms those individuals want to go into those classrooms what have an objective criteria so that I know if I am able to do this this and this I am rated and if it. And what a secretarial we would tell me was that there will be seventy five if there are seventy five school did seventy however many school districts each one of those superintendents can come up with is a own definition of effective so if I move from different one and is this that I move the district to is this I don't have any idea. That is my major concern with with these and I get what you're trying to do. And I'm glad that you did keep at least something in here that say aye I seniority matters that my length of service matters that my professional development hours matter and that if I am an educator and I want to get more education so I can better educate my children at least that's there thank you madam chair I will beat it to death. Thank you very much. Are there any other questions from the committee. Closed. Thank you I thank you for the comments and concerns I think this is an effort just to line the language so that it simplified and they're going by one standards now The Arkansas learns is passed and is now state policy is there anybody in the audience to speak for against the bill or for the bill. What is the will of the committee. Anything else. Interliant. Yes. Seconded all in favor. Also known. Hi seven thank you. Okay moving right along to Senate bill five twelve okay if I could do five fourteen real quick ninety five forty five Ortiz yes sorry right. This. Thank you Senate bill at five fourteen all districts have a personal policy committees and so that members of those committees are your management's which are three maximum and non management which is five minimum and defining the non management categories in law doesn't make sense so many districts outsource food service or transportation and so this gives them a little bit more flexibility when it comes to who they can select to be on their personal policy committees every district is different like I said some people outsource their food service and their transportation and so what this does is allows for more flexibility for those people to serve on those committees but also have transparency in accounting and accountability on their elections so that everybody's familiar with when the election is and when they can run for those at positions and I think it's important that at district's local boards can best manage their their labor relations and so that's what this does is it puts that PPC rulemaking into the same process of other policies so each district can adjust them to make to that fit their own situations. just. Thank you madam chair and thank you for taking my questions Senator. There is a reason that these areas are clearly delineated. And the reason that they're clearly delineated yes because the various entities that make up education support professionals by different. And their voices were meant to be heard. For instance if you go this way. We could elect all bus drivers for the personnel policy committee because they make up the bulk of education support professionals. But then they might not know what is going on with cafeteria workers they have no idea of what a teacher's aide is dealing with. And even though you outsource sometimes your food services and your bus service it and some people happy outsource those but this is to say that if they are they're they're voices need to be we are making decisions for the district and it may seem to you extraneous you do it that way. But I think it's important that everyone of those entities to make up what we call when I called education support professionals have a voice. If we have it the way you're going to have it there's gonna be one group that is going to have every access total access to this and I don't think that's what we meant to do we put it in we went we wanted to make sure that the cafeteria worker had a voice that maintenance terrible is that food service had a police As impairment patients at a police that's why we put it this way so that we would not have one group of education support professionals dominating all of the decisions that are made that's why it was done this way can I would appreciate it if you would not change it so that those voices can still be heard. Thank you yeah. Do you want us to respond or is that a question certainly sorry please respond okay. Well I mean I understand and that's why you still have five non management classified representatives as the majority of this personnel at classified personnel policy committee and so you only have three that's a management side and five that would be non management class of a person's representative I do understand delineating them however you know you're also kind of tie in their hands because or subscribing to them exactly who needs to be on there what we're doing here is trying to this open this up so that and if you do outsource this ad transportation and food service then you could actually have an extra secretary or Clerk on there you can have an extra eight or pair professional on their or maintenance operation can study and that could speak for transportation so you know I understand I understand the concern just trying to provide flexibility for the school district so that they can have the right group and mix of people on there to make these determinations and decisions that are incredibly critical I mean I think for most schools it may or may not affect them I mean your lawyer rule schools probably don't out outsourced transportation or food service but to me it makes sense as we're changing due to technology due to other things that are just making more sense outsourcing them that we would give school districts that flexibility that they need and we've made the elections to where everybody knows about them so that they can run for those positions if they feel strongly about that it's also a fully permissive in that it simply doesn't now prescribe exactly what a district must do one size fits all every district Arkansas it gives every district the option if they want to have if they want to choose to have specific categories they may but it gives the district the control over their personnel rather than the state dictates. you know it it amazes me that sometimes we want to give local control and sometimes we don't. Yes you can't have it both ways. This is been in place for a long time and has worked very well. This is not coming from superintendent. It's not coming fiscal bill is coming from school board. Which school board last account. Not mine yes ma'am. Which one did you have a vote in Pulaski County notified or not of a Jacksonville when you have a vote there you because there's not been a vote in Little Rock there's not been a voting Pulaski County there's not been a vote in Jacksonville so the president of the school board association or school board for the Pulaski County special school district is who we worked with on these bills but that person did not bring it to a vote by the school district so that we keep giving all this stuff but there is a reason for everything now we can do whatever we want I because I don't have control over this but this is working very very well over the last several years in the president's School board Lasky county just got the. Just got there. Well this allows these members to vote for folks and that every entity is represented I think it's fair that we eighties well I'm not going to continue to argue about it but thank you so much but there has not been a vote of the school districts in Pulaski County about this thank you I ask I would just respond I appreciate the comments however there are schools that have asked for flexibility and they would like that flexibility and they're also members of school districts that work in the school districts that I am familiar with that have asked for flexibility so no it's not a one size fits all it's not that's why the reason for the bill is to give the flexibility if they want to keep doing it the way they're doing it that's great if they don't that's great and I do think that there's room for both and. Local control and state role that's what we do every day in education. any other questions from the committee. Comments. Thirty buddy here in the audience to speak against the bill or for the bill. To close your bill thank you I really do appreciate the comments what we're trying to aim for really is just flexibility for the schools and they're doing it this way they can continue to do it this way if they want to do it a different way this bill gives them that flexibility. I'm closed what is the will of the committee. Motion by Senator stone do pass. Second. Second by Senator Dawson. All in favor. all those. The I. seven. Senator Davis. Senator Leding. No Senator Hammer. Yes Senator Breanne. Senator Breanne. Senator stone. Yes Senator Dotson yes Senate Chesterville NO. Bill I'm so I'd bill has not passed okay. Okay. So Senator been you have The bill for may Senate bill five fifty four yes. You'll. But yourself to be recognized. Okay from the five twelve or is it different. Fifty four. Senate bill five fifty four yeah okay Senator English. And Senate bill five fifty four is to amend the fire prevention act I'm running this for Senator English and what this as is. Allows for the exterior school doors to be closed and locked and. All public and private schools and educational institutions shall keep all their exterior doors close a lot during school hours with the exemption exceptional transition times and then allows for egress but it's important to understand and they should not be impeded I have from the building egress so that were in compliance with Arkansas fire code prevention our our prevention code but the this bill really is about school safety and making sure that our doors are are locked in. I do pass by Senator Chesterfield I have a second. Thank you bye senator Davis. On favor. All those. Thank you very much okay okay and there are two bills on your agenda that I'm gonna move to interim study right and and just just quickly one of them is a a reading program and then the other one is a task force on education funding and just maybe not to interim study but I know that this committee will dig in and to the funding formula I just wanted to speak about that real quick I think the one recommendation from every single association an organization during during our Senate adequacy study the past two years was that it's an antiquated and everybody agreed on this one point that the education funding formula needs to have a closer review so I'm I'm glad to put that an interim study and I know you will do all your due diligence work on that thank you. At five fifty. On favorite. Thank you so much thank you. Okay hold up. You've got let's see for you one for me. I needed another one three Senate bill five seventy. Yeah that. Thank you. Hi seventy. Bills. No no no felony Weiner. This is basically about scientific reading about science reading. Okay. Senate bill five seventy yeah. I think. Okay. Senator Chesterfield is moved do pass I have a second. Dotson centre Dotson is on paper hi all posed. By running the. Yes. By Pat Chesterfield. Votes do pass on five seventy two five seventy one. I have a second. Second center Dawson all favor. All opposed thank you okay. Five seventy two. Five seventy two Senator Standridge has revealed the House center Dotson said I think it's important that if the superintendents finds probable cause that an employee is engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor in the superintendent or his or it shall not provide a favorable recommendation. Hi yes seventy two seventy two all favor all opposed. Okay five seventy three seventy three. I move do pass. I have read. Could this. Senate bill do pass do pass. Dotson seconds all favor. All those. Thank you very much. Thank anybody else that you want me to run thank you very much happy to do it thanks it would help if I had internet. Okay let's see senator Penzo in here. Good it would be quickly do yours. Yes he was coming to the K. he's at the table okay senator flowers go ahead. Do pass. Senate bill three six. Would you like to identify yourself you're recognized that the flowers state senator for district eight in your bill number is Senate bill three six seven okay all right thank you. You senator flowers has presented her bill I think everyone knows what is in it and the call. I have a second. Thank you senator Hammer seconds go ahead I'm just moving. Is there anybody in the audience to speak against the bill. Question questions from the committee. They're Dotson. I'm sure members committee Scott Smith with the obstacles school resource center I wanna think Senator flowers for considering our comments of the other day we did request opportunity an amendment whether on this bill also want to know that there been many charter schools have shown up with these committee needs for many weeks in concern for this bill they would be here today but obviously the tragedy that happened last week as them away with student issues and things of that nature we are opposed to this bill as bad policy for the state of Arkansas for several reasons first of all it's our position that the bill promotes an illegal exaction of giving taxpayer property away at no cost to municipalities we feel like that's not proper lawful also we believe the bill is unconstitutional in violation of article fourteen section two which states that no money or school property belong to the public school fund or to the state for the purpose of use shall ever be used for any other than respective purposes to which it belongs. Furthermore this bill was passed in cooperation of the way the law stands right now between the charter schools the school districts in the state of Arkansas with a very elaborate process it spells out when property can be transferred from a school district to a charter school and that fair market value must be received by the school district from the charter school that process is governed by the state is not between the two parties and should the charter school ever not use the property again then the school district retains a right of first refusal to receive that property back from the charter school so it's public school resources to continue to always be use for public schools between the two parties out there no I heard last time there was testimony that there was concern for the taxpayer's but one of the concerns about this bill as it doesn't require and fair market value from the municipality for that reason I don't think this is Mister Association supports the bill as well and so for these purposes in these reasons we use post passage of this bill we would be willing to consider amendment exist but we've made that sign on to the Senate. Questions from the committee. Thank you very much. Johnson. I'm sorry did you come back. Thank you madam chair this is this is more of a general question didn't get to answer asked the the bill sponsor or but I've I think I know the answer I just wanna make sure since this bill was around the first time has anything changed with. You would think. Nothing in the bill has been changed however I have information now that I think the committee question before concerning illegal exaction and fair market value I think I addressed that before but as it stands now. Their market value Has not been Considered by school districts under the definition that has been provided for by the division of transportation an academic at academic facilities and transportation under their definition which school districts have to abide by fair market value means the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller. Hi there being under any compulsion to buy our to sail and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts it has nothing to do with the the market value. And that is a great point of contention I believe in terms of illegal exaction and whether or not a school building and properties can be used for other purposes other than education as it stands under existing law those properties can be sold to third parties and not used for education purposes so the constitution provides for millage for each county are the political subdivision that has school building our school age twenty five. Mills that's still in place that never goes away that was a point of contention before. The only mill which that goes away is that that has been added to the twenty five meals that sunset it at some point center that that wasn't my question I mean I haven't changed my built cannot change the bill that's the only question I had arsons I mean my concerns remain from the first time around because the bill I have changed and those didn't have anything to do with legal exaction or anything like that it was it was purely based on the the The the first right of refusal. Going away from a educational purpose IT AT charter school having opportunity added in and secondly if the buildings are ever sold by the municipality if they if they acquire them that at least. Right of if not most of the proceeds go back to the district that the tax paid for it but those are the two concerns that I had and and I'm. Thank you for answering questions which they've been addressed per share thank you. Manager from a that there was one of the questions was last time about whether this is being used at all and there have been some properties that have been transferred kipp has received property from the Helena West on school district of this and there's been a transfer of the garland facility from the little rock school district to the friendship and from the and the Mitchell of the civility also was an came through this process with regards to property being allowed to be used by other parties that's true but there is a pecking order that public schools have to exhausted their interest in the property before it could be transferred to some third party out there so the intent of article fourteen section two I think is of held in that process. Chesterfield thank you madam chair a Scott how much did get paid for the schools in L.. I don't remember Senator we know it was a minuscule amount it wasn't fair market value. You and I both know that I think it was set at fair market value center but I'd have to go back and check that are you saying that they paid a hundred thousand dollars of the building they did not well if I remember right thank you member correctly there were trees growing up through the building and they spent an inordinate amount of money renovating that building I'm in and let me say this also the state was involved in making those determinations I understand that I was around when it happened and maybe in the only one who was around when it happened other than you know me and you were together when I was there but I submit to you that a number of these buildings will basically just given away because the laws if they are being used the charter school can have them but you also know that the bill does not apply retroactively does it. I'm sorry what was that the bill does not apply retroactively to. Does not apply retroactively that's a good question I haven't read for that the bill does not apply because you brought up can't you brought up another school that's already water under the bridge is in a. We'll the current law has a right of first refusal for the school districts of the charter ever gets through the facility the school district retains a right of first refusal so I don't know if the bill it impacts that are not to be honest that ship now owns the school the buildings. This bill does not say that we're gonna go back and take those buildings await the two examples that you gave with things that have happened in the past that's my concern As you talk about it these are things that have happened in the past. Give got the schools who was the other one that you mention Garland and Mitchell and they got the schools they have those schools already there is nothing in this bill that applies retroactively that would preclude that from happening so I'm wondering what your points were as well as that was concerned. The rest of our concerns obviously these facilities are you talking that prospectively not well except for the school districts there right of first refusal may be impacted by this bill thank you thank you Mr I would add this for the first two garland Mitchell as the senator knows those were some of the largest investments in those communities that have been made in many years as a result of that and they're certainly viewed being viewed as an asset to the communities that they're an officer. I don't have a very far from them. Okay. This is that that is is that our thank you so much. Are there any committee. Close the bill the. I'd ask for good. I have a second. I'm sorry I think you failed to thank you. I'm sorry I'm sorry I didn't see you. Senator Leding is the the second. What is that do I hear right yes or nay he often paper hi. All opposed no. Sounds like the ayes have it. Call for a roll call. Davis. Yes center Leding yes Senator Hammer. Yes Brandt. Senator Breanne. Senator stone yes Dotson. The center Chesterfield Clark yes. Thank you very much committee thank you. Okay. Yes. What is your number. Senate bill five forty two. Okay. Five forty two at five thirty to five thirty to five thirty two thank you identify yourself you'll be recognized. it's a school board election bill instead of amending it I decided just to follow new bill it was cleaner I I took out the partisan of Election component initially then the term limits seem to be the issue with several several members on the floor so what we did was it still four year staggered terms so every two year during the. The but with the to the primaries you know we were talking on the floor Senator Chesterfield you'd mentioned something about primaries and I got to thinking about it and it probably makes more sense to do it during the primary and then if there's a run off it can be held during the general election that way we have strong turn out those are the two best times to have elections and it sets it up like to judicial non partisan races and every other non partisan race in the state so just aligns with others so like I said to get the sixteen year term limit has nothing to do with partisanship it makes it a truly non partisan school board elections bill it just instead of every year during random times it aligns with like the judicial races and. I think it's good bill I'd be happy to answer any questions appeal I have a. Questions from the committee. Mike masters. Arkansas I'm sorry here speak against the bill. Did you have a question Senator Chesterfield. It identify yourself to be recognized. Thank you madam chair and members of the committee Mike Martin's I'm with the I AEA typically you see doctor Hernandez down here but he that of teacher retirement board this morning First I would like to say that I appreciate senator Penzo making Of the changes in this the there were in some of the previous bill especially that is it is applying for part of the ship also it room remove the cap on on service for board members we do have a concern though what we so we think it's very important that to go Board testability they have to take a number of professional development hours it part of their job we thank basically the possibility of boards changing over half of the Board changing over every two years if the concern. And also the this this current bill it does allow for a separate filing period from every other elected official and we think that the would be confusing so. Those are my comments I'd be glad to answer any questions. Questions from the committee. Thank you very much thank you. The body else speak Dan Jordan done in Jordan. You identify yourself. Good morning America chairman and members committee then Jordan Arkansas school board association we we are speaking against the bill about Lucas who is our model policy director and he's does all the the legal language and so forth for questions at the center Penzo and the House sponsor did amend the bill to take up to amend several different things that which share with them that we're concerned with there still is a couple of concerns that we want to report of Mister Marcus just mentioned wanting in terms of the separate filing period all the other candidates Bafana the party filing deadline and this was totally separate and we think will cause confusion all applicants explain that then there's some specific things about the This section twelve in the bill but additional to that we're concerned that Just the possibility of that the total majority change on the board every two years I would take away and decreased focus on students and turn the focus to being elected and the election itself we don't think that's good for the education system or for students how will make the short skip a bunch we uh we've got districts that have a history of having successful long tenured superintendents we think this bill will. Basically possibly alleviate that because of the the the politics involved with that and and dishes that remain stable for many many years might lose that opportunity that the possible frequent simultaneous turnover which I referenced Would make it difficult we think to recruit candidates both to run for the board as well as the fact that the the turnover every couple years could prevent quality candidates in terms of superintendents to go to those boards for interview for to be considered for the position. very quickly Again or what we believe the quality candidates and and retention of superintendents will be harmed. Another thing about this is we're not sure it will adequately affect all school districts this legislation does does affect or alter traditional public schools however there are several charter schools most large majority of charter schools that do not have elected boards of these charter schools circumvent the board election requirement with the state board approved waiver which is obviously available proponents this bill it repeatedly stated that bills such as seventeen seventy one skews me five thirty two which were referencing today are drafted to increase voter turnout however we're not sure if that's the case with charter schools funded with taxpayer dollars in thousands of students go totally unrepresented by elections of the citizenry to serve on the board we think taxpayer boundaries could be sat for these elections so that taxpayers would have a board selecting their own board members for all those in charter schools and once again we're having conversations about increasing representation which is a reason for the bill we understand of the voting populace elected members when many of our public funded schools have no input from our voters lastly as I've mentioned just if I'm not on that we believe the tenets of this bill would would cause hesitancy for quality candidates employment superintendent candidates to file a. And to to obviously apply for jobs we also think it would it would limit candidates school board candidates and many hard to feel a jobs where they don't. One two it's hard to get them to run the first place and with that I will allow Lucas to answer any questions about the the two concerns that were raised the specific. This. It is harder school boards association to provide some specifics the party filing period due to the amendment from Senate bill two seventy seven for the twenty twenty four election would run from November sixth through through November fourteenth but based on the language and Senate bill five thirty two which requires that school board members have a one week filing care that ends ninety days prior to the election school board members would instead file from November's twenty seventh through December fourth. On top of that the deadline and draw for positions on the ballot is on the eighty ninth day prior to the election which would make it for a very short turnaround for the county clerks in the county election commissions to communicate following the deadline for the filing filing period. Thank. Any questions to the committee. The center Chesterfield. Thank you Penzo what is the genesis of the bill. The genesis of the bill. coming fiscal which is not going to ministry to so I guess I need to know what's the genesis of the bill will this bill. It is nothing like the original bill so I mean the the the genesis of SP five thirty two is is input from everybody amended solicitation counties had issue with the original bill I know that we all had a lot of issues with the motion that. Everything was going along fine the school board says I know them. I believe I would change the elections have a primary season or at a general election because we said we wanted to increase the voter turnout and instead of having three hundred people elect somebody we now have factor makes about. Thank you talking about ballot fatigue and I truly believe that that's true so if everything is going along okay. Where did you come up with this bill. The of I found the of. The draft legislation that we worked off of it was the FDA bill of SFTS foundation for government accountability. so use as a template for the original legislation you know I didn't I I ran a partisan a municipal election bill last time that the made it optional for cities to vote out you know it's it's everybody says that judicial races are non partisan but everybody knows who the conservative candidate who the liberal candidate is I mean that I mean that's just common knowledge when it gets to school boards nobody knows who anybody is I'll get it. I would disagree because my constituents every election cycle I get dozens and dozens of calls want to know which which candidate the municipal race which candidate the school board race is the conservative in which one syllable so I mean that's that's the the genesis for it is because it's this is a transparency issue we're talking about partisan but we're getting we're getting off the rails here because I took that out okay the it's not just wondered what you while the second did you just think about what I think we need to change the way we're doing school board elections in a manner they're held at random times I was driving to church this weekend and I looked over and saw a school board sign in Phil and I was well cool thanks for coming up in a off year in its first sign of scene in fed a bit on the side of. Thank bill hadn't or west side of a boat wouldn't sink but anyway. Senator Hammer. Thank you ma'am chair I just slow walking through for me okay are you trying to get it to where it aligns similar to what we do as elected legislators trying to. You know like four years and two years and rotate so just slow walking yeah because currently they can have between three and five year term there's not really a standardized way to do this state so if there's you know our number terms or any however they do it they're they're happen every year so I was trying to align it initially with the gubernatorial and presidential general elections but then I got thinking after senator Chesterfield made her comments I'd be creating if there was a run off the after. The general in the low turnout situation as well so we moved it to the primary and then if there is a run off it'll happen or the general okay and as it relates to where we are right now with the other bills that we have passed if this bill passes how is that going to affect the next school board election. as far as when it would be held and who would have to run that are currently school board members now. No photo if I'm not be able to bring up the Gary Newton he could probably answer that question a little better than I could. That's okay with the chair. Senator Hammer thank you for that that was a the concern raised before and rather than leaving it just in a in a general draw for lots it was it was very well prescribed in this bill there are there will already be elections held this primary for school board so in the bill it prescribes that those elected in the and may twenty three their terms will run until twenty six and those that are would be elected in November of twenty three I think there are five or six districts that have November elections their race would not be until twenty twenty four. Mayor December it would be may affect the preferential primary because at we would take into consideration those that have the election in may treat those so they don't have to run again until twenty twenty six and then does that would not be in November school board election this year there would be in twenty twenty four so those expiring in twenty twenty three November would move to twenty twenty four and then it's prescribed there after so that there's a and even if. Possibility the number of races up each two year cycle and if they're still on balance the board has discretion to take the minimum necessary to to rebalance those. Okay so does that kind of go to what Luke was talk about a while ago about the being elected in November having to turn around and run again in may is that what that was that's what that I don't know what his intention was but all right but eventually what it'll do is end up being staggered to some of the server the to some of the server the four because my my concern is we're gonna have a whole brand new school board at some point history somewhere Arkansas we would have a whole brand new school board that potentially could be elected out institutional knowledge to help carry forward but it you did you say you thought there were two year and four year yeah that's what these are the four year old four year. So does it set up the potential that. That you could have a school board somewhere it sets a two we're if. If every member that was up for election lost you still would have it. Half the board. It has at least a minimum of two years experience. I mean that's if every candidate lost still have fifty percent with at least a minimum of two years and so these people in on school boards for eighteen twenty years so I don't think of any institutional knowledge of the lost and the total number years able to serve in this bills we took out all the term limits okay there is an issue a lot of people had so okay all right thank you thank you. A more questions from the committee. Steve. You identify yourself to be reckoned. Year ended with Arkansas learns I wanted to the account or some of the things said by those opposed to the bill it was raised about stability of the boards this in fact and creates more stability and that no currently there are elections every year so the board has potential to turn member or members over every year this would ensure two years of stability on every school board in Arkansas it's also interesting that the the groups were opposed to the filing period in the previous bill because it aligned with the other candidates this bill actually preserves the existing filing period of procedures of current school board races the other issue was raised about quality of candidates by moving elections to win people actually vote that actually raises the profile of candidates of our largest and richest local school districts and the was also mentioned about charter schools that is a completely separate and irrelevant issue in this matter the school districts are government taxing authorities that's why they're governed by elections. Thank you for your consideration. Any questions from the committee. You oppose the bill I'm close than the rest for good the. What is the will of the committee. Motion by Senator Johnson do pass under stone seconds. All in favor. All opposed no. So that the ayes have it. Senator Davis. Yes center leading. No Senator Hammer. Yes senator Bryant. Senator Breanne. Senator stone. Yes center Dotson. Yes center Chesterfield. No. Thank you Committee. Okay let's see. Senator Davis you want to do Senate bill. Five sixty eight yes. What comes. Davis would you identify yourself for the record. Yes madam chair Breanne Davis state Senate district twenty five the gentleman at the table. My name is Ron experienced CEO for Easter seals Arkansas all right and may we have the bill number please as Senate bill five sixty eight five sixty eight does everyone have. Senator recognized. Thank you madam chair and this bill is pretty simple it would allow and students who qualify as disabled and have and I disability and as identified or the child identified under the individuals with disabilities Education Act as required by learns and the student's family to have and an income no greater than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level and it would allow those students to qualify or rather use and both funds from the philanthropic investment in Arkansas kids program and also the education freedom account funds and students who qualify under those very limited specific and circumstances would be able to use funds and not to exceed what they need to cover their qualifying expenses for school but it would let them use both of those funds as needed and to the extent they needed to qualify for. Private or private school. Would you hear anything Sir. Yes some we run a school for children R. K. through twelve specifically with special needs the cost us more our tuition is higher than either the sixty program that's being replaced by the learns Act or either of these two funds and so for families we have currently a hundred and fifty families on a waitlist who want to come to our school low income families may not be able to attend if they're not able to access additional funds because of the gap intuition between what it costs to provide services providing services for children with special needs it is much higher than children with typically developing needs are classroom ratios are five to one in terms of student and teacher assistants are to students and so the expense of running our schools is more than what some low income families could afford and this bill would allow them to access on a needs basis the philanthropic investment in Arkansas kids funding How much do you charge a currently our tuition is right under eleven thousand dollars. And you're going to get help and Senator how much money would be going that way ninety percent of the seven thousand whatever it is right ninety percent of the whatever the prior year student funding at is and then they can also match it with this funding and at two the amount of tuition and and quite honestly I think this helps lift the burden off and and send public schools which is what we heard there a lot of testimony and that it's hard to find special and education teachers and it's it is more expensive as we know to educate students with special needs and and with the federal funding that public schools get and they're stretching those dollars and so with the need and like you said there's a hundred fifty students on a waiting list at Easter seals alone and they're all students that have special needs and need to learn in a different environment and so I think that this is a positive and to allow the students to find a place to educate them in the way that they need to be educated but also helped lift the burden off as public schools as we heard from so much public school testimony. For it or other other questions for the senator. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to speak for against the bill. What is the will of the committee. I make a motion to pass by Senator Davis is there a second second by Senator Dotson discussion on the motion saying none all those in favor please say aye aye opposed no your motion carries congratulations and thank you. Okay. Yeah. Okay see. Yes center and the. Yes I have a second. Was the bill you have to questions about. Yes. Thank. Okay. Do I have a second. Senator stone of second motion all in favor. All those thank you okay we'll wait for the amendment all right where are we now hear. Let's see. Senator. Five fifty one. Certainly there. yes senator Davis can you wait one second let since we're to go. March. Okay Senate I'm the representative Scott if you like to go into your bill we were gonna do anything House ones but I think this will be I. We think we're gonna let you do this. Since you live in my area. Sometimes it pays to have. Yes if you identify yourself you'll be right. Okay. There. Good morning colleagues thank morning representative thirty thirty seven Jamie Scott. The C.. Fifteen yes. House Bill fifteen seventy six yes ma'am yes proceed please how links I'm proud to present the crown Act a bill to codify protections for individuals with natural protective a culture here south in our public schools this bill this bill is about freedom freedom of people to wear their natural hair or their natural hair color asked representative Cameron Cooper always wants me to remind people with his rate here this is a very simple bill it prevents discrimination based on protect of our culture here south which includes afros braids locks into with race like I have today not plant Senator Chesterfield this also asked the definition in the Civil Rights Act of nineteen ninety three it makes it to the school districts in our colleges and universities can't discriminate against students based off their natural hair color this was our. Okay. The question I did get was is this a real issue in Arkansas there was the issue at the university of Portsmouth what athlete his name was Tyler Williams and he was being discriminated against because of history it's I felt the school handle that situation in a good way but I also know that since I found the bill there's been several people who reached out to me who are dealing with these situations so I just want to create a state where people who look like me are able to wear our hair in a natural state and that is the. Yes yes yes. So this bill has passed in nineteen states including our neighboring states Tennessee and Louisiana and that's good I've been working on it for the past two to four years and Walmart has also helped me with some of the policy language. There is no known opposition to this bill. Okay. Do pass by Senator Chesterfield second by Senator Dotson. Any other questions all in favor all those thank you pastor Bill Murray all right so we thank you colleagues along here to Senate bill five if you want. Thank you go ahead. Okay. You identify yourself you'll be recognized. As senator jim Dotson Senate district thirty four thank you madam chair members of committee this is Senate bill five five one. Five fifty one. And this changes the Throughout the code the. The director the Division of higher education. It changes them to the title to be a commissioner of the division of higher education. Second. I do pass voting a senator Chesterfield in second by Senator Dotson on favor all those thank you very much okay moving right along. For the next one. I have another one I don't do. Second. Five eight six I have five fifty six and. I can also run senate bill four hundred for four hundred had run out you got a hundred my my understanding of it Senator Clark worked with triple a and this is an agreed to bill insuring a student who transfers to a nonresident district as a for certain opportunities and rights to make sure that they're not denied participation in extracurricular activities. I thank there. I got thumbs up back here so I as far as I know there's no controversy with it at this point The. I think if there agreed to build them. Yes yes. Okay I'll. Senator Chesterfield do pass senate in second all they were all closed thank you very much thank you okay. Twenty five five six yes that's the five five six. Of so Senate bill five six five six is to create the religious viewpoint anti discrimination act this bill was based off of a a Texas law that was passed several years ago This ensures that a a students voluntary expression. If they have a monetary expression with regards to religious viewpoint that a school district or a a teacher if there you know presenting something in the classroom that has a a viewpoint that. downgraded or rewarded for that view point so ensuring that whatever their religious viewpoint if it's or religious in nature ensures that the student is give a proper It in there they're not. You're not rewarded or punished for that the. It's a question. Thank you thank you ma'am here thank you senator Dotson and being a religious person I truly appreciate the idea that we should have the right to express ourselves however I don't think we have the right to indoctrinate other children as to our religious beliefs I'm trying to figure out here what are the guardrails you because I don't want proselytising absolutely in the public schools I would agree and protecting the student's religious viewpoint I think is extremely important this is. I believe pretty much practice however in the rare instances in which it might not be practice this requires the school district to adopt a policy to ensure that the students religious viewpoint is protected Obviously that policy if you look on page two ensures that if if someone comes in and to speak there there you say there in speech and debate thank you at school district and adopt policies that are not that prohibits them from having obscene vulgar offensively lewd or indecent language in their course work but if it's religious in nature just for the sake of being religious they can't prohibit them from saying I think an example I was given was if a student was given an assignment to draw there there he wrote and they decided to depict Jesus Christ. They couldn't be prohibited from that just based purely on the fact that it was religious depiction of a hero in nature unless of course it was lewd offensive vulgar or indecent drawing of that religious figure is there something to preclude that from happening. well there there has been one instance No representative makes mention that this is a bill that that might. In. Two years ago when passed through the house we ran out of time at the end of the session to to have it fully here heard in the Senate but in committee representative makes a couple years ago gave an example of personal example of that happening when he was a child and being prohibited from from actually doing that so I thought that was rolled an example as one of the things that I fear. It's when we talk about religion we only think of our own. And so if the child decides that he or she wants to have a drawing of Muhammad. And you say well that's okay but is not okay according to their religious beliefs. Because there is just believe says you cannot make depictions. If I remember of Muhammad any could set off a firestorm. And because the school then to be the victim of that which they did not know. Did not happen am I making any sense because we always think of Christianity one with thank you these things I don't know what we want when they start talking about prayer in school they said we have we ought impaired school we start having kids fraying to the east. we decide that they're going to do the Hindu prayer when not so generous with that anymore so I'm just real concerned about this bill it will probably pass but please know that when you open this up you're not talking about just your face. It is everybody state and this is a multi religious entity here in the United States and in the state of Arkansas so let us be careful as we go forward because it's not as innocuous as it may seem and I want to put that on for the record so with that I'd be quiet thank you madam chair thank you. Other other questions from the committee. Or. There anybody in the audience who would like to speak for against the bill or for the. Hearing none what are you closing I'm close I make a motion to pass. Under Dotson motion asked I have a second. Second center stone all in favor hi All opposed. The ayes have it. The roll call. Senator Davis you want to take Senate bill five thirty eight. Yeah I think. Okay see your office with that. All right so let me see here what we have the senator Bryan. Senator Tucker where are you okay. What what. Four seventy one. Senate bill four seventy one Senator Tucker. You identify yourself you'll be recognized Clarke Tucker state senator district fourteen here in Little Rock. Thank you this is really a very simple bill all it says is that if you're eligible to receive funding for your child in an education freedom account then you could use a home school or on a private school or if you can afford to do those on your own then you take the designated money for your child and your education freedom account and you send it back to the public school that your purse. Known for that's really all it does everything else in the bill is language that's copied and paid out of the learns Act four quarterly payments per year you know five percent for the entity that's managing the money all of that is just lifted out of learns an identical the only policy changes. If it's money in your education for an account instead of sending it to your kid's school whether if they go to a private school they get to send it to the public school of their choice I mean I know that there's on for that there's a yeah Senator Dotson. Senator Tucker I I read this on a when you whenever you file that week or two ago and the. I'm trying to recall all the questions I had on and just but. It. It kind of seems rather what why would anyone do this like this kind of seems rather pointless if they're going to go to the public school wanted just enroll in the public school and that this public school there's even a hundred percent of the funds this would be if your child goes to private school. So for jim and let me give you another example. Other states have passed legislation similar to learns they found that about seventy five to ninety percent of the of the families who use the vouchers there shall never attended public school in the first place and so you might have a bunch of families who can already afford public I mean they're the for their kids go to private school they're already paying money I can afford my kids private school tuition so instead of taking this money from the state to spend it on my kids tuition at the private school I'm zone for school a I'm just gonna send that money back to school what. So. That brings up a second question on is this not kind of like can't they do what they want to do with their own money and send it to the school themselves anyway. Well they could come up with seven thousand of their own dollars and donated to a school what I suppose but after with one saying if they're exercising an education for an account and it's going to pay for the tuition they would have the availability of additional money can't I mean there's nothing that I'm aware of prohibiting them from being a booster the school in. Contributing their own money directly to the school if they so choose to do so they can do that I guess this bill would just cut down on that red tape small government bill. So then I this question and so what we're saying is is that. A parent who is already has their child in a. Private school. I would send I mean you have to apply for the dollars. To be the. To be able to take part in that that that system you have to apply they don't just in about the so if what you're saying is is that the. Parent would apply on the for their child and they're already in a private school and instead of taking that money what they would do is they would give it to the public school right that's right I guess my question is why would anybody do that what concentrates the money for your local school that that you want to help and support if you don't do that the money just kind of stays with the state department or whatever the case. and this way if you're if you're zone for school. And you want to make sure school a makes it. And your concern about school a because the public school for your neighborhood the salmon apply for the for the education freedom account money and I'm going to direct my designated portion of that money to my local public schools I. Okay. Is there anybody in the audience would like to speak against or for the bill. Any other questions from the committee. Senate Chesterfield's new do pass Senator Leding is second On paper hi All opposed. The notice. Thank you manager thank you members thank you very much. Thank you try. Okay so where are we now we're in pretty good shape I didn't think we were going to be what we're in pretty good shape did you have another one. Senator Dotson. And Brian has one but I don't know House. With fifteen minutes so we don't have we told House people that we were going to do any today but. If without so that somebody would like to do for them. No it hasn't come yet. Okay so Senator lands I mean. cream I'm sorry Kim Hammer Senator Hammer go ahead what is that bill. You had one we have one five forty three Senate bill five forty three. Ma'am chair like five forty three I have a couple guests join me at the table help explain the bill please and I'm Kim Hammer state senator district sixteen. You identify yourself you'll be recognized in your gas we'll be right identified recognized to. Yes I'm insured with Arkansas school board association. this is Parker school boards association. Senator Hammer thank you madam chair of realize the time is short precious so get to the point of work with school boards association on this bill of I think they may give testimony one of the challenges is that they receive complaints on frequent basin as far as conduct a school board members and then it raises questions of how to deal with them and what I'd like to do is to for to Jordan and look to us to talk about the highlight of the bill six of them will be open questions manager. That the. One. Not. But okay we will will hit the highlights of the bill manager found a plan that go ahead okay first I we understand that the. There are that obviously school members should work within the parameters of the established laws and policies obviously is that there I swear to and Obviously we have school board members that sometimes stray file of those losses that they swear to uphold and so in this particular case we're not familiar with any board member for that matter that is ever been dealt with in a legal process B. because the obvious that at this time the law requires any of those situations to go to the local prosecuting attorney this bill. Very loud outside so if you could just speak up and speak up that much I am sorry I'm sorry yes I'll be out okay I'll I'll just set up with that and not shall we we understand that there's a school board members that sometimes strafe out of the actual laws and I policies and so forth that they are elected and they lift their hand to support and we understand that we know that there's not there's been zero to our knowledge any word members that I had any consequences for those outcomes and so forth I'll pause right now and that Lucas share what the bill actually does not have a very quick I close. The primary portions of the bill are that we are adjusting the the mental culpability that must be required for an individual to be found guilty of having violated the ethics from known to known or should have known in particular between the amount of training that we provide and the fact that we also are requiring that once a board member takes the oath of office they required to receive copies of the laws pertaining to the ethical guidelines so that hopefully. One it should cut down on who is being. On either unintentionally or intentionally violating the law but it also lowers it makes it much more easy to define that that person should have been aware that they were in violation of the code. We are authorizing the ethics commission to receive complaints and handle complaints and and either to address fines or to submit to the prosecuting attorney for their review and for criminal we are making it so that if the individual should have known that they were in violation that it is a misdemeanor and regardless of of known or should have known if they are convicted of having violated it they are removed from office. M. J. will go straight to questions Senator box has a question. Senator Chesterfield come right thank you madam chair so I've I've looked through this bill and. I'm trying to find I I. Just write a roll down a couple of questions want one Just with regards to changing the oath of office so now this will be a different oath of office in the bill it in a city shaking your head but if it is in so far as we do also include that they are green to uphold the specific ethical guidelines that are set out in statute so that that is in there. And we are also fixing so that the county Clerk has to make sure that they have provided that and that the person. Office so that it can meet the should have known that that was. Right to uphold. It'll be a different oath of office than any other public officials taking that is correct okay and that in that so that that was the first thing I had in here and then secondly adding the ethics commission I thought the ethics commission as elected officials school board members already have elect ethics commission they have to abide by the ETC at affix already do not it did not it's a different set of statutes so we're authorizing the at this commission to review the statutes as well for school board members. That seems to be. I guess a little different issue but I'm. I don't know this is a twelve page bill that was in the mix of whole bunch of other bills when I was reading it last night so But I think that's my primary concern is just the changing the oath of office and then. Increasing. A burden which it seems almost like. These folks should already have this standard that they're they're complying with. I'm not. Had have you talked to a bunch of school board members is there a big issue or problem that we're seeing in or running into. Speak to the. I'll be happy to yes we we get obviously we are not a we have no regulatory authority at the Arkansas school which session on custom. we get calls monthly for sure a weekly sometimes more often than that of school board members and to include citizenry thanks that I school member has done something either broken the law or something on ethical so forth swimmers RT I swear to the ethical guidelines the reasons bills coming forward is there's never been any go forward to a prosecuting attorney and a prosecutor any to our knowledge in the entire history has never prosecutors and follow through with the ward at a member so this is a group which like teachers have professional license standards board and this would get the review to someone that could actually do something about ethically either through fine or fee through letter a through it was obviously something of criminal nature good for the prosecuting attorney. I know that this just seems like a kind of a a big change. With out a specific necessity to do it I'm. I'll just leave it that thank you the manager like to respond one of the issues are one of the questions and correct me if I'm wrong loop and what I'm about to say but with regards to the swearing in what we are doing is serving notice to them when they get sworn in as far as what the ethical expectations are and I think that's better to do the front end when you're being sworn in them to find out on the back end when maybe they didn't know they were violating ethic rule that it would give them that opportunity on the front end is that is that accurate was can dance so I mean to me I think we're doing a service by telling them when they get sworn in here's your here's your set of ethics that you're expected knowing what you're expected to do. So you wouldn't be asking this question I mean would should people know this when they're running for office. Thank you would you would hope they would But I think given as this Jordan has shared the number of complaints that they have received in that have come in I think that's part of the slip what the bill is trying to bring as part of the solution is it will hopefully minimize some of that because they will know when they're like it's almost if I may make a personal reference under understand what. I understand what ethics are when I you know got elected into office but for anything specific it sure would've been nice as far as may be details that I assumed if I could a resent could remove some of the assumption out by saying here's what you need to know similar to what we have in the way of an ethics manual up in the Senate chamber. Chesterfield thank you madam chair and it is a long meal it does seem to be making some changes that people might not understand of but recently one of the school board members in my area decided that that school board member could go to the school and of going to a classroom visit with people and hear what they had totally incorrect totally incorrect and I'm not sure that the school board training has the sufficiency right now to deal with that issue. And we have so many people. We don't even know civics at all let alone at the local level where we have to have governmental treatment so even though it's a long I do believe there right now. With people deciding that my position gives me the the authority to do all kinds of things that really school but members should not do we should not be going in there and telling the principal what to do as individual school board members I'm seeing that more and more maybe because I'm paying a little bit more tension as a former school board member but I am very very much worried if we don't do something we're going to continue to go down a slippery slope and I think that would be unfortunate so that's why I'm supporting the bill. In the end senator of Chesterfield one thing. Would. We don't want anybody. On those on the other side we don't want anybody being we do anybody having a complaint called in upon. And if it's legitimate not have the mechanisms to do it because and they think it's okay to do it and that just keeps happening happening by the same token we don't want anybody who's maybe doing something innocently to have to maybe get over a rogue prosecutor wants to make an example of somebody I'd rather go through the ethics committee and and and be able to be filtered out there then for to get to a situation where and correct me again if I'm wrong you know where prosecutor could just make. I don't target somebody that they wanted to and and put him through that. And on top mass support thank you thank you also I'd like to point out and correct me if I'm wrong on page seven on page seven the commission may promulgate rules that it deems necessary for its duties under this section so there is some latitude as far as the development of the rules that would allow for some public input I right on that. Okay that's on page seven line up. Thank you twenty. Any other questions from the committee. There anybody in the audience to speak against the bill. What the bill. What is the will of the committee I want to pass it Chesterfield do pass a second manager thank you senator Hammer all favor hi all pose. I have it thank you senator Linda mmhm okay. Fifteens. The Senate bill. House Jean. House Bill fifteen sixteen is what we're dealing with. So as Senator Jane English district thirteen you're recognized manager thank you very much so this bill basically is a and allowance for A person with experience background sometimes. We of a of a company who would come in and do the educational training for a school district we had an instance up in gentry where the School had developed the diesel technology program and they Mickey banking loan to aid an employee to the to the school to teach the diesel technology and they absorb that cost what this would do is give the the industry who donates five a person to an income tax credit so would be up to ten thousand dollars for for a person fifty dollars an hour and at a maximum they could could claim twenty thousand dollars on their state income tax tax credit. The compact but one of the things that we're finding is is very difficult to find absolutely of folks who absolutely have those skills in our education system sometimes it physically career education find somebody knew that so much nicer if we can find somebody who actually does this every day for a living and can pass that information on and help the students learn up to date technology. Questions Senator English. Is there anyone in the audience who wish to speak for against the bill. Senator we close we build up close for the bill what is the pleasure of the Committee do pass entering this move do pass senator Dotson seconds discussion on the motion. Then nine replace the question all those in favor please say aye aye opposed no congratulations senator your bill is passed. He. Numbers uninsurable. What what numbers you build. Allen Davis. But the first one is that correct. Thank you. Message to small your seems to. Which one is. Tell me that number again. All. A. What's the number. Thank you didn't. Five hundred okay. Identify yourself to be recognized thank you no chair just have a sinister thirty two. Senate bill five hundred. Yes is that the student data vendor security act. so that this bill will provide increased security transparency in the sharing a use of student data with third party vendors so I believe Senator Leding had a bill with schools dealing with students of data integrity this extends that into vendor integrity because our schools use a lot of vendors that require access to a lot of our students information so as we partner with that information what this bill does is sets rules and guidelines that this that the district should follow to ensure the vendors are following to protect and and destroy when not used any data that they get for school system we set this through the terminals office for edits and comments they issued a letter full support of this bill discuss briefly Senator Leding it doesn't do anything with the with the previous legislation you pass it just complements it into the vendor world. The do I questions from the committee. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair on page two I know I make a boards all the time down here what is the identified data. Page two line six. Here. Is this the same as the classified as okay. Yeah it's it's well I just the data cannot be reasonably linked to identified or identifiable natural person it's it's it's a Roni is a random data just go ahead and destroy your read of it may have applied previously to somewhere in the in the ones and zeros but now no longer does something that most of notice this is not we're not pushing this on saying it's a it's a mandate right now it is. So submitted to effective June first of twenty twenty four make sure schools have plenty of time and there's no statutory penalties for noncompliance district which is have to have the obligation to comply and those who chose not to would be at increased risk in the event of a vendor misuse student data. Okay what are we trying to fix because I'm I'm trying I've I tried to read it Without comprehension. So and I'm trying to copy and what you're trying to do so as we partner with anybody outside schools are schools are you one of my school district I recently partnered with pursuit partner partner with as a school for guidance counselors or partner for supplies or things things of that nature where they have to access our data okay it's requires them to not only keep it in a box in a basket that would destroy appropriately that way they're not using it and selling it to other okay okay gotcha. And and and and slowly but surely catching up with something. If you. The other questions. The Committee. Thirty body here to speak against the bill or for the bill. What. What is the will of the committee. The Bill pass this bill it was second by Senator Bryant. All favor all opposed could you pass the bill publish your second house bill sixteen nineteen sixteen nineteen that's what I just did. So. Okay. Okay Senate would you like to do. Sixty nine sixty ninetieth manager thank you. If you identify yourself you'll be recognized a judge who runs the Senate district thirty two. This this bill applies to our community colleges. To be able to establish additional zones under certain circumstances so our community college in our area it was initially started with zones within certain cities. As the cities have grown the last twenty years we have a lots of identified users from other cities that we would like to encapsulate into new zone so those cities can have not only a seat at the table but also reduced pricing like the cities that started the college so what this does is allow by two thirds vote to establish a new zone or zones. And then send that to the voters for approval to to elect a new a new board member to that community college. Chesterfield. Thank you at. Senate right what precludes this. From spilling over into another. Community colleges on what what do you have been here since we have so many of them. Since we have a number of community colleges what would preclude them from overlapping in case they're very very close are any of them so close as to overlap should you expand the numbers on it it just make sure that all populations remain similar in size so they can't they just wanna draw draw small populace of his own will have to re work zones to ensure that the populace. It's similar size to existing them of what they have to be careful not to two. To go into another community colleges on. As they make sense to so would not so it would not it would preclude there's something there that should three close them for instance from going from those zones being expansive enough that they with them impose themselves on another community colleges don't what is that how to what are the guard rails for that keeping that from happening are these community colleges colleges so separated in distance that even if you expanded and increase the number of zones then you wouldn't be a. Going into somebody else's area yeah I I I don't know of any to you because the eats at both apples in proximity okay but I would say that the the the the board in the and others maybe it is another thing that says not to do that it will yeah it it wouldn't encroaching great to okay that's all right thank you thank you very much. Their questions. Committee there anybody in the audience to speak against or for the bill. So what is the will of the committee motion to pass Senator Rapert do pass second by Senator Hammer. All in favor. Photos thank you pass your bill okay. Yeah. We have Senator Irvin you want to do that Amendment. Yeah is it. Senator Missy Irvin district twenty four so and just based on the conversations at I agree with senator Chesterfield and so I actually like that they're it built much better now. And because it does continue to keep those in there but allows for the flexibility that we discussed at which that is what the amendment does. Senate bill moves to the passage senator Dotson second. Amendment yes of the amendment okay any any of the questions of the committee. Anybody in the audience. All in favor. All those. Thank you senator Chesterfield both sender Dotson seconded. Senator would you have in the Commons close all in favor of you thank you very much better bill thank you that's okay. And I do have one last offer got to run I'm sorry I got caught up in all your bills Senator English forgot about well I'm. Senator Missy Irvin district twenty four Senate bill five twelve. One. I can't remember. We'll. Well you can't. Just wanna. Okay. So Senate bill five twelve is just as being able to to really talks about elections but making sure that those elections announcements and results are placed on the website of the school district and identify the people that are serving on the committees and also gives the PPC power over mid year policy changes which I think is a good addition and really it's just all one hundred percent permissive eliminates that copy the need for sending hard copies in first class letters at just to streamline we're just trying to create some efficiencies and then just released some transparency with the elections but then also give them veto power of your policy changes. Are there any questions from the committee. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you ma'am here senator is is not a problem. I'm sorry has been a problem I guess I've worked with these personal policy committees for a very long time and that's one of the reasons that obviously I am concerned yeah because. I travel to probably at least sixty of the seventy five school districts we have dealt with a lot of these issues so I'm trying to figure out what you're trying to fix okay no problem I mean so we're just trying to fix is just to make sure that we have from transparency on the election process in the policy process so that everybody's really clear as to when the elections occur and to who serves on this so that they know who to go to to get information for or if they want to run for those in that it really gives them some flexibility as well it again it's one hundred percent permissive the school that can do this if they chose to do so if not they don't have to but just allowing for just some transparency making sure that the minutes are on the school doors all of these have to be announced right now. School what has to do all of this right now that's why I'm trying to figure out of the over fixing that the announcmenet of the election has to be sent out to all members. They have to be given the opportunity to vote and they have a specific time period within which to vote are the election is conducted by those individuals or impacted. And so. And the results are posted on the website. And we have the specificity of October fifteenth as to when that election must take place so I'm trying to figure out what the problem is because it has been working for over twenty years I think when this went into place so tell me what's wrong I mean I I think for me it's really making sure that districts and teachers have recourse if their election and irregularities and so what this bill does is trying to make sure that districts and teachers have recourse in case there election irregularities and so I think it's important that we be as transparent as possible include this language in state statute if they're already doing this then that's great then they can continue to do it but it actually empowers you or personnel and committee. And more than what's existing and current law and because it does give them veto power over in mid year policy change. Senator Hammer. I make a motion we get new Mike's manager of the eight. So the way I read this bill and. Knowing people have served on this committee before. If I have schools that are doing this now they're doing this isn't for the schools are doing it now doing it right this is for the schools that may be sliding not doing it right maybe unintentional maybe not who knows but at least brings a statewide set the standards and expectations for those All committees to know this is what and then if somebody's not doing it then they can point to this and say this is what the law that's where I'm interpreting what this bill yes is in my in my right that's correct that shows like on page five we're just placing these the minutes of the school district on the personnel policies meetings they that they would be and placed on the left side of the school districts and parents would also be from you know know what's happening in these committees and have the part that policy on the website for the public to be able to read it is that the other thing I circled was on page three the audio recorded are the are those currently. Is that the latitude of each district to make that decision whether to do that and put it on the website is that the letter to each district make that decision and without this piece of legislation they can choose not to do it. Or do you know and I mean it it you know it that is a shall I think again for transparency purposes I each meeting of the committee on personnel policies shall be audio recorded in a publicly available to ensure transparency so that is a shall And again we're just trying to get to some transparency in a calendar transparency here but also I do think that the fact that these committees have to have a veto power on a mid year policy changes significant because they enter into a school year thinking one thing and then that might change mid year so to me that is that is the significance and that that to me is significant in the bill as well as exactly what you stated senator Hammer okay in one and one last thing and I just don't know so I want to know you know the school board setting they can go into executive session and that's the only conflict does does this put this is committed personnel policy committee do they have the mechanism to go into what would be compared to an executive session or everything has to be done out the open they can't they can't do any kind of executive session thank that's committee went yet they don't go into executive session that would only okay for the school board themselves okay okay there main function I'm I'm actually I was I actually came on as a volunteer on one of my committees at one mosque at my school districts I served as a volunteer capacity in certain areas when it came to policy and the superintendent asked me to participate in and we worked with all types of classified personnel and and in teachers that and okay we just wanna make sure that. This the public is aware of what's happening okay and then give them that power over mid year policy change thank you the manager. Anybody in the audience to speak against the bill. For the bill. Close I'm I'm close. I have a motion. Motion senator Dotson do pass second center stone on favor. All opposed. You guys have it thank you very much thank you. Okay. We would do one thing and that is to senator Hammer has ability was to get off the deferred list we have to vote for that. house bill thirteen thirty seven. Let's take that off of the deferred list I make a motion pull pull a House bill thirteen thirty seven off the deferred list I'm not sure I will run it but like to at least get off the deferred list in case I'd choose to do so when we come in Wednesday. It deals with funding first. All. Right yeah for a preschool and for safe rooms. Do I have a second. Second Senator Leding on favor. All those okay thank you very much thank. We are going to adjourn for the day and we will be back here at. The same. Apart. Of the Joint Budget on Wednesday.