Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development - Senate

Just come back Thursday. Who else when I said we got three legal pages full and share it may be four thirty five o'clock. All or say by the bill because of fiction adjourned. Senator. Centerman whom president to Senate bill four seventy six on behalf of Centerville. If you would introduce yourself to the record you're recognized yes thank you for seventy six yes. M. as Senator Hill aye at Charing insurance and commerce committee right now so I am on the runner. So and just wanted to and the Senate I'm Missy Irvin district twenty four thank you members committee Mister chair Senate bill four seventy six is an act to create the rule veterinary student scholarship program and and to put this over into the department of agriculture and if you look at the way that we have constructed this I think it's it's important to note that there's been a lot of legislation in regards to rule that Merion care this this This section and and yeah I think what this does is really create some alignments there under the Department of accurate I have the ability to reach out into the industry and have industry support this type of an efforts we've seen this tool work as in regards to rule medicine the rule medicine loan program my husband was actually recipient of it and so it it really is what brought us to Mountain View Arkansas also we we may not have an olive garden or a Texas roadhouse in Mountain View but and that was a really good tool for somebody like my husband who grew up relatively poor in and was able to to qualify for a rule scholarship program and then go and serve in real health care in the state of Arkansas so these are effective tools I think we have the we have these in medicine we have these in pharmacy I think it's really important we also have these in agriculture so if you look at that it also broadens it for agriculture related as well so I know there's the folks with the Department of AG that works really closely with us on this and I really appreciate Senator Hill and has worked on this and represent a Vaught as well and so they can speak I think more to the points of the bill if you have questions as far as clarification but but really it's aim to try to bring a veterinary medicine into moral parts of the state of Arkansas this is a very effective tools proven effective in pass with other policy areas of the state. Not be happy to answer any questions. Questions from the committee. Their duties. Thank you senator. Is there is there anything about a length of ten year pay back required on on term limits Folkestone secretary Sir yeah I think that's a great question and we wanted to make sure that it was constructed in such a way that you would have a one for one I'll let them speak because of you know a lot of your military service is constructed that way as well so somebody really good that can speak from both sides of the military I'll in the. Yes Mister west for from a part of our culture it and and there is I believe that I believe that the way it's written as a two year. A back requirement. Connect the attorney there make sure that's correct but but I will I will add to that it also has aye aye Senator Irvin explain the bill you know what we do we do have a rule making process to help flesh out some of the details as well but but but there is a pay back Sir should within concerning. And if I can just also say that once people go and practice in rule Arkansas they realize real quick you've got a great public schools you've got a lower cost of living it's a great place to raise a family and they stay that's why it's effective so you know that's why rule residencies are effective that's why rule practicals are effective that's why these types of programs are effective because they get a taste of it and they're like Hey this is great we don't have all the traffic we have this beautiful quality of life and we want to raise our kids in a small town in the state of Arkansas and there's no better place in my opinion that enroll Arkansas so I think it's really important but also on the rulemaking process we wanted to make sure that we were responsible looking at the amount of funding available and then try to make that determination so it's not set in the statute because I felt like that was the better fiscally responsible way to to approach this and not set the amount and statute but let us kind of work through that as we look at the funding that comes in and then also try to attract funding from the industry as well to support this because I think it's important that we have a public private partnership in these types of efforts because industry expression or culture industry really needs that Merion since some of those rule parts of the state of Arkansas as well so we have a plan for instance in Batesville Arkansas in semi rule veterinarian that lives across the street from me was also a veterinarian for the poultry factory in Batesville because they just couldn't find anybody so he was just literally run in a full time practice and doing that as well just because they needed to have a veterinarian there for the poultry industry programs like this will bring us more Missy Irvin is into the to the world though right what I heard I have you've maybe if saying that might kill the bills that. And any other questions. Hendren Love. Thank you Mr no senator you would turn it off get to committee of senator Evan on the bottom page seven I yes I was trying to think about the funding in an and it says is. That it would be funded come to thirty thousand dollars per year how many scholarships are we looking to give out. And only. That's a that's an excellent question Sir and as soon over mention it we we want to make sure that we're not tying our hands or we create minister difficulties with the funding itself to I with that language as you see there the bottom of page seven that up to thirty thousand from the from met veteran medical licensing fees so it would be a case by case basis every year I think we we've got some due diligence that we've got to do to look at just across the country if you know we're both you know scholarship you know how much other states maybe doing a scholarship as well student debt for some of these programs and the trying to table that is to the best serve the needs the best we can so so that that is part of what we anticipate doing this part of the rule making process but it didn't want to overly tire hands as part of the the bill itself where we were stuck with a particular deal couldn't couldn't change it okay so so I would say on average. How many do you think we've been able to give out what thirty thousand dollars. Many issue coming on I'm just asking that you want to make a significant what I mean so. That I would the others would know this better than I do but you know I I think that the consumer nurse I have national average for an annual that school tuitions over fifty thousand for in state in more than eighty thousand for out of state so we know it wouldn't completely Fund a full ride for a student but you know maybe we can do it if it's up to thirty thousand a year maybe we can split that define to to recipients for that year but it but I think once we once we get into it Nessun Irvin mention your I think that's just one part of funding we're hoping that we can develop it were industry and others might be willing to pitch in other funds where we can grow that that balance be able to fund more scholarships or so we we would start certainly very conservatively on the front and not to over obligate herself and then then as it developed over time what hopefully grow and serve more students do you know the number of students thank all out of state currently the well you can you might know that god has. I'd have to get back to you I don't have it right in front of me but I could I could probably get that number for yes as far as Arkansas current residence that end up going to an out of state that's going up obviously there is no in state at school but right so currently one hundred percent of our Kansans go to a veterinarian school outside of the State of Arkansas so there's a limits and the number of slots that are available that we actually do fund at Ellis you and we have like one maybe at Texas thing them in Oklahoma state in Missouri that are only like one or two so it's very very limited so I mean if you look at like the total I think we might be at nine ten eleven twelve maybe twelve total Arkansas students get those slots but there are tons of kids that are in veterinarian schools all across the country because it's very very difficult to get into a veterinarian school and so I am Cody is a great example Kodi works with doctor Nixon there in Mountain View he worked a long time was not able to get into veterinarian school in the state of Arkansas it was not able to get in so he worked and he gained up his experience and then he did not qualify for one of the spot because he was a little bit older and you know what those are determinations not made by us as a state we fund them but those institutions make those decisions not us and so he ended up getting a fabulous spot I believe that and one of the top veterinarian schools in the state of Arkansas I think it was Purdue but he's a perfect person that would be a candidate for this type of a a scholarship program because he worked in real Arkansas worth with large animal with towels and and horses could not get in and he continued to re apply and and he gained office experience there with a veterinarian and then got into one of the top that Merion schools so that's the type of person that we want to attract back into the state of Arkansas and help him with off setting a little bit of his out of state tuition costs which is. more than eighty thousand dollars a year. Okay we do have one person signed up to speak for the bill thank Maynard. You would come to the table please. Turn your microphone. Introduce yourself and you're recognized. Thank you. good morning Senators and thank you for allowing me to speak with you today my name is faith Maynard I'm senior at sylvan hills high school in sure what and I was born and raised in Arkansas and I plan on going to an Arkansas college to major in biology from a veterinarian and I want to be veterinarian since elementary school I've dreamed working with animals all my life and I'm extremely excited to make that a reality but one of those obstacles is college tuition is paying for that and even as even with like a five thirty one ACT I have thirty two concurrent credit college hours I have a three point nine six GPA and I had barely managed to even get enough scholarship offers to cover half of my undergraduate tuition so it is that's in a private private or public institution I've tried everywhere and with scholarships being this difficult to get an undergraduate level with my qualifications I can barely imagine how difficult it's going to be covered graduate degrees when there are so few scholarships available to for graduates and I've looked up the average debt for that students about a hundred fifty thousand with tuition being an average of two hundred thousand for four years and that means that the vast majority of these financial that financial burden is on the students which is likely contributing factor to Arkansas's but shortage and even though I believe aligned college is opening about school in twenty twenty four in Little Rock that does provide like cheaper in state tuition rates but they're still that massive gap between scholarships and tuition for about students and I'm hoping that you guys will be willing to support SB four seventy six to help students like me eliminate that that shortage and achieve our dreams and I would love to answer any questions thank you for talking with you. Thank you very much I appreciate what you do. Thank. No one else was signed up to speak for against Senator Irvin. I think she delivered like the best closing what a fabulous young ladies so I hope that to the future recipients. Will be. Motion to pass second all in favor say aye All opposed congratulations okay while you're there you'll run your Geological Survey bill. Are you yes I believe that there are folks here from Senate bill four thirty three thank. Thank you. So and. So at Senate bill four thirty three is we it's an act to abolish the Arkansas Geological Survey and to create the office of the state geologist in and to transfer the authority into eight duties of the Arkansas Geological Survey to the office of the state geologist and so I think the title does explain exactly what the bill does And the bill outlines the logistics of how all that needs to occur so you'll see in their language striking and the Arkansas Geological Survey and then new language establishing the state geologist Office and this is at a bill that I worked on with our agency folks and so they're here also to discuss the bill. Any questions from committee. It in opposition to this I have not on this bill but on another one yes but not here. If the open is a write in this letter. Okay. I believe that they've really tightened up for to speak for against this bill the love you have a question. Thank you Mr and not I just want to ask like what. Why are why are we doing this basically that I think that's a good question for the agency to answer yeah. Turner Michael please introduce yourself. Yes it doesn't bend. I kept trying to break in Florence Bangalow director The on gas commission rose a service chief minister for the energy programs at energy and environment. Primarily what this bill does it eliminates the seven. Member commission that advises this all state geologist of the staff in the state judges will still exist but the Geological Survey really referred to seven member previously recall commissioners but seven member board members are appointed by the governor the primarily justices service advice to the state you all just on programs that they may undertake that board being Advisory. just dot the necessary to provide that then that can be provided by secretary of energy myself and Of the for the department. Thank want. Close review okay I'm closed yes I'm close thank you I appreciate the work with the agency which will committee. Motion to pass second all in favor say aye All opposed resolution thank you thank you members of the. Hester you're holding your hand up over the. No you go to this thing places to go. Thank you members of the Senate bill four sixty four. Senate bill four sixty four. You would please the you have a microphone introduce yourself for the record you're recognized bart Hester state senator. The members that we already have the Arkansas tourism development act which in encourages in prize tax incentives for certain developments we're we're expanding that into projects for you know construction operating intending to operate a tourism attraction project for the state of Arkansas we know that the clearly the governor and first man are are focused on that issue and all the great things we have in Arkansas to attract tourism and we just feel like this is another addition to that I'm going to ask of Mr Hudson here he would expand on a little bit. More committee agenda since you've staff Parma commerce I think the center said it very well this is a pilot project for us to be able to have some opportunities owns tied to state parks really give a little bit of relief to small business for small business and entrepreneurship focused reduce the capital requirements a little bit and then also give some flexibility on the type of businesses that can go in there and receive the the the benefit of the tax credit tax credit yourself financing one issue in this is a positive you know cost benefit for the state so we think it's an opportunity to showcase a tremendous economic development asset for the state in our state parks that I'm happy take any questions. Questions from the committee of got a whole list of general run off you said that tax credits for sale financing the explain it because I don't agree with you if we give a tax credit when we gave tax credits be referred still we gave them two hundred seventy six million dollars that that was full of funded out of state budget of about two the twenty. Eight twenty nine million dollars a year this would be a public. Okay so it's a definitely different scale than the big river steel no no doubt about that they're two components this particular incentive program for Spiro component we get an income tax credit so you know you don't get paid unless you actually have performance and then on the sales tax credit itself we won't issue a tax credit unless in the modeling that we do on that we know the benefit to the state actually exceeds the value the tax rate that's written statute already for all the other tourism development of projects and this will fall along the same lines what no difference on this. Sure you can I have gone through this trying to determine where the money come from of the. Basically how much would this program called the main what were you all allocating towards. This. Optional program yes Sir so in terms of mission program we think we can do it existing staff mean adding staff to add anything to the budget and again the actual cost the credit itself we think it the benefits that are generated through the economic development project will actually pay for the credits so no fiscal impact on this particular benefit definitely give that I'm not sure how if they have a. I request I requested fiscal impact in which which you know tradition what we're doing in tax revenue not passing anything out we're not even here in the bills without fiscal impact on it and and you know it'd be unfair these folks in here if they have a bill they will run down there that have fiscal impact the to to not have one in here of and I just. You know as a circle just want one thing for different for economic development say there's no fiscal impact they that's kinda like queen of the governor Hutcheon of or reorganize state government city say fifty five million dollars year and the we had let going to look at it and they all it said that the law six million dollars a year or shooter. They made the save six hundred thousand year what they spent six million dollars your moving expenses to say and and so that's why a yup I think of difference allies need to look at it would go ahead with your comment well so I I I assume that one of my questions to an R. I. Rick I requested fiscal impact was told there was none so if you'd like to see that and you know official letter from deaf an a I could probably provide that to you or if you not or how often this committee's meeting but I can say you know I will run it on the floor until I until I have a letter provided to you and this body will accommodate that I you know I got this last night and and started read in it And so we're all. The pushup of this wall to I will make a commitment to this committee that I will not run at all floor to operate out of fiscal impact you know which we believe is zero from the F. A. I. provide that a and officials that that's that's a reasonable rule is billed as in effect are actually in any manner no it does not is not. If I may add that to Senator you know the the language that's currently in the statute and if I can confirm this it is standard language that we use on tax credit bills that conditions the issuance the tax credit on a positive CVA and I guess my experience with the FNA is they routinely say that language means no fiscal impact we can have them confirm that but that's what we're keying off of what what about the maximum grant tell me about the grant do show one place in there that it had minimal two hundred fifty thousand owned one size county in a minimum five hundred thousand other size candy but didn't mention anything about the maximum amount of the grant it's not a grant server so that those those numbers you're referring to is the capital investment that would be required in order to be qualified to have a project so it's five hundred thousand dollars in this bill for a normal unemployment rate County you've got to have a project that has at least five hundred thousand dollars in cap ex to qualify if it is in a high and unemployment County which today based on our current unemployment rates about five percent then that capital investments reduced down to two hundred fifty thousand dollars. You want of course Sir do you have questions on the roof. I thank you both for the I'm looking at Page five insights about promoting Page five line five. It talks about promoting both Arkansas growing outdoor recreation industry and economic impact about or infrastructure and talk about recruiting. businesses and and opportunities here. it to me that that speaks to a positive impact you know if there is an impact it would you agree with that statement yes Sir I do and that's really just kind of principal economic development anyway she want to incentivize new activity I honestly incentivize existing activity so we do think that this would stimulate particularly small business tied to our state parks or outdoor economy that is an asset for the state. It's so if if if any if there were any minor. At the FNA come back of impact would you would you agree that everything you're trying to accomplish would be offset by the growth impact on rural spirit and growth of small business is the growth in the county will pay for the benefits or confer. To the issue however the the Division future given up front. The report he's asking and I'm trying to get clarification that because the way this compact conversation just went home that they would pay for the benefit and that's what I'm asking there there's no grant money on the front in the search okay. Also Sir Cole I think ultimately the question would be like if somebody has payroll taxes and they and they get those we're maybe they don't have to pay all the payroll taxes that there could be an assumption that well the state would have received those payroll taxes but this bill saying that business would never existed I would not have this credit and so there's really no impact committed to provide clarification on because of you know when you sit down and read we all rode within so you should understand it when we read it cold. You don't understand yes Sir and and and it's the that's the one thing we've been looking at. The members I also you know this is a program that already existed and you know like I just speak to my area a little bit and there's different. for different areas but you know if if people are coming into town they're gonna rob mailbox for the weekend if we have a new store that opens up that's going to service math box and fix them and fix tires and and maybe even have of you know some sort of a a restaurant out way off like maybe at Hobbs state park which the closest restaurants twenty two minutes away this would be this is exactly what we're trying to track down there and the more people are willing to go spend the day if there is a restaurant or if there is a by problem to get it fixed then I guess part of my question. On issues of thinking on front and that it would be the grant money on on the on the front in in in in a paid that much like the with the in again big river steel is a little different because it had bowed it had lost millions of dollars on the front end from the state plus these other pay back yes in fits for sure those are tax credits these are tax incentives I think that's the difference it in particular on the sales tax I which is usually what the part to get use the most you know they are doing a capital investment they're paying sales tax on the capital investment and this is a credit on the backside after that investors are to recruit or sales tax that's correct it's offset against their sales tax liability report to the FNA. Your question. There W. bush. Let me love you. All right so so conceptually I'm thinking it thank you what you're doing but. So the director I'll send the director is in charge of that same. the opportunity zones creating opportunities on certain designating opportunity zones I guess that's a better question certain. Okay and so in in the bill it says that State Park can mean designated and then this is a cultural historic site or a cultural or educational center. Give me give me an example of what what type of educational center we're talking about I mean what I mean because I'm I'm just trying to. The museum that that is not not a state park but it certainly is a tourist attraction meaning people are coming to it action from all over the state but also from out of state and again that's currently a category that is covered by the tourism development incentive act so it's not a new category order saying that if you've got one that we may be able to designate that as an opportunity zone as well. Okay contained in Northwest Arkansas is one Springhill game and fish built a big facility for students to come on no school buses and learn about arsenal game physician you know they have you know we're making some marksmanship stuff like that so I think that would be an educational site that would also be terrorist yes. I thank you. You want to. No one signed up to speak for against your clothes Review. member again This Is up an existing program that we're just looking to expand and I mean we got different tourism things all all of the state of Arkansas I think can be helpful I appreciate your support. We'll committee. Motion to pass second fall in favor say aye opposed congratulations. One of your service representative all anyone here forever involved. There you go. I think it's a clean up we will be to our own we will give you a break right now. Not near or you only if we're going to. House Bill fifteen sixty six. Five all right. Your worker. This will not here only a fifteen. Sixty six are you all in agreement with the bill or not. Okay if you will president was. Fifteen sixty. This is the one page cleanup bill from some legislation should run earlier. In tort in the session we don't move to for long enough we only box of. If the if you were changed only to turn your Michael mentorship Matt stone state Senate district to Page hitting poor represent about this morning. I didn't read this bill it looks like it's just a cleanup language in regards to the the that tech you know how they're paid and I just got to be paid directly by the bit that they're working for so I understand it to my side and then they're so she's not opposed to I think a lot is good with that. Yeah if you wanted to committee have a question we'll bring it back for your cleaning to. If not you're closely bill I'm close to the bill we had a good vote do pass second all in favor say aye read really you'll run your bill now. Your phone will run senate bill four fifteen. Ring the big gun to the table within the I've got the big guy with the van if both of you please turn your microphone introduce yourself. Masto state state Senate district to. I just announcmenet turning the right lens in Jennings and I'm here today on behalf of the Arkansas forestry association to help Senator answer any questions the committee may have about this bill. You're recognized chairman members we're looking at Senate bill four fifteen today Senate bill four fifteen just help foresters have a tool the Senator tool chest Babel to better utilize its call prescribed burning. For sure use prescribed burning for Cypriot for release of stands to reduce vegetation a bill for wildlife improvement of the challenge in Arkansas zip prescribed burns are being under utilized cop calls pertaining insurance for general liability sure to become a problem. Senate bill four fifteen will clear up them and begin ambiguity in the in the burning in the current Marty Lau and make it easier for for prescriber to be done to the state is set forth other several requirements for conducting a barn burner such as utilizing qualified burner prepared a Bernie prescription with details of the barn and the prescriber order to be present the entire time the birds going on. Is the belief of the industry that this this will last what will allow clarity for us to have more prescriber to the state. I know that the Arkansas forestry association is good with the bill was also worked with the porch Commission it crafted the bill and also the game if it's Commission not opened up any questions. Okay. Media questions. You're sure to love. Thank you Mr and I think a part this to your attention and I'm looking at the civil liability piece. on page three beginning in twenty two. In regards to the the land owner and. I guess in this absolving him from any civil liability can you can you actually touch on that this section be online twenty six departed. Mr Allen please so yes senator the the intent here is to clear up and acuity as to what the standard is in terms of civil liability to a prescribed burn is the senator said in his presentation we've kind of got a patchwork of antiquated laws on the books right now that may or may not be applicable to a prescribed burn and even there's a argument that could be made that the liability for a prescribed burn District liability such that a book burner landowner could be held responsible even if they did everything correct and that created the problem the Senator reference which is an inability to get insurance without insurance were not doing these barns that need to be done so what this is doing is clarifying that the state for a prescribed burn in Arkansas is negligence like just about every other damages claims that you could bring self proclaimed under the prescribed under does something wrong and damages a third party they're going to be responsible for it and they can responsible for the actual damages and I was looking back after we discussed earlier in other states in the south this will bring us in line with just about every other timber state in the south in fact Oklahoma and Florida refresh my memory have a gross negligence standard meaning that the land under the bar would have to really done something wrong just gone way beyond and that's something that we discussed among the industry and decided that's not where we wanted to go that the regular negligence standard is the appropriate one so if a prescribed burns done incorrectly if they deviate from the prescribed burn from the statute from the smoke management guidelines in a third party is damaged as a result there have to pay for that. Their duties. just a quick question for my education on the qualified prescribed burner who has to successfully complete a prescribed burning burner training program. How long how intense is the burning training program what what's involved with that I will defer to the estate Forster if he's still with us here in the room but will also tell use of your note at the end of the bill we did amendment recently to make clear that the the the agency is going to promulgate rules to provide a little more build out of what that process is going to be in terms of becoming a qualified prescribe under but there it is and has been a process in place that is fox can speak to. **** you would it introduce separate record Joe fox state forester forestry division Arkansas department of agriculture you're recognized thank you so to answer the question. A certified prescribed burn would be maybe of the course would maybe be three days with at least one burned out side but some of the courses I've got a list here somewhere. The what we call S. one ninety which is a beginner fire training Yeah there's that qualifications from the. National wildfire Council group coordinating group Corning NWC G. and they do the standards for for burning for wildland firefighters as well as prescribed fire for the entire country Looking for a note that after. I have placed on the wrong part of this but basically it would be How to write a fire plan prescribed burn planned it would be how to check the weather it would be firewall it would be learning to notify neighbours being able to draw a map of things like that practical things like that to put fire on the ground so so as a follow up in in maybe clarity for my own peace of mind after one is completed the training mmhm and is a qualified prescribed burner right it's your it's your opinions your testimony that that this is that this would remove any negligence and would would help all culture any required needed to the safety of the communities around them given that I certified burner follows the chair to the train and in there what is there yes correct thank you. Love. Thank you Mr now do you have to be a prescribed burn. For this. Yes it is there is an exception for one land owner of that just because I thought that I thought there was a and exemptions for for a smaller amount of property there is an exception one hundred acres or less but the lan and owner can do it his or herself if it's a hundred acres or less if they're not prescribe under but they have to have a prescribed burn to provide them with the prescription of how to conducted but anything over a hundred acres is going to have to have a qualified prescribe under there for the entirety of the time and meet all these requirements okay and then the second thing is. I didn't see them in this in this space but what about firemen's does this supersede Birmingham so if we have a burn ban on then could you know if the county judges do burn bans we have no authority to supersede burn bans The governor can can wait hold on hold on okay is a county judges prescribed burn being no no no they will they do prescribed burn bans they don't do prescribed fire okay maybe used the wrong term so does it supersede a northern bands notice of apartments issued in. Then you cannot apply prescribed fire okay in is that on if you did your negligent that's that's right now you can get a waiver from the county judge that's possible but the county judge has to give the waiver okay all right thank you. No one signed up to speak for against this Senator stony ridge closely bill I ready to close for the bill I appreciate a good vote closed for. Can't read writing here. I do have someone to speak against the bill. And I'll I'll close in just a minute. Waldridge. If. You come to believe. The owner of the two of the. The bill if you would to your bike is on please introduce yourself for the record yes Sir my name is Thomas Baldridge you're recognized thank you for your time I appreciate each and everyone of you and I appreciate your efforts in drafting this bill I had to pick a side obviously to be able to speak today but I'm not against the bill in its entirety I'm against a couple terminologies which I've spoke to one or two of the senators about you may receive a text message from me this morning I'm just to give you a little background so I've spent my career in the fire service and I'm now retired I have a bachelor's degree in fire science I was a certified fire investigator an explosion this Gator I have spent countless hours in the public and the private sector with attorneys litigating of fire and and subrogation and a lot of a lot of other things so now I'm I'm Rick semi retired and I have a form in White County my wife and I and then of course my parents also join us so we on about two hundred fifty acres and then adjacent to us we have timber company ground Green Bay packaging Graham. That we also lease for recreational activity some of the things in this bill that that were alarming to me one is of the number of acres that are listed and I realize that nature Conservancy and some others have have at least might help make some changes to that from fifty acres two hundred acres of talk to the senator this morning and he he is made attempts to explain why they they pick that number I do think that number is arbitrary and I don't think that there is a a reason really logical reason an explanation that changes of the threshold of safety negligence or any of those things from ninety nine two hundred and one acres I don't really see the need to restrict a private landowner like myself to a day number or a morning or afternoon number or weekly number I do think we should meet standards I do think we should do this in a safe manner I think it's important to do that I'm all for training the other thing that I'm I am concerned about is current the current training that is in place so I have I have spoke with a lot of different individuals that are in the industry I partnered with multiple different agencies and organizations on my form to do various projects including in our CS autobahn Arkansas game and fish commission US fish and Wildlife I've had more biologist enforcers at my place and you can shake a stick at so and and if the game officials even give me award last year which I was I was pleased to get for my efforts so I am very passionate about this and currently training is is available but there's a to a diverse nature of the training that's available gamefish puts on a learned burn one and learn to burn. Two workshop which given the bill's current of verbiage I'm not sure if that would even qualify me to be a qualified burner US fish and wildlife OR is forestry US address bill puts on classes but a lot of their classes also have pre requisites even the forestry commission class I talked to my district Forster on the way here this morning I was not prepared to be in a suit and tie and even call my here today I usually do that on Sunday morning only and so I canceled my schedule and and it took me a long time to drive here this morning took me even longer to find a place to park and I hope they've not told my trip. But so on the training aspects some of these classes require pre requisites and I do realize there is slight variances in the verbiage for private landowner but I'm concerned that if we for one this this particular class with the forestry commission is a five day class and costs five hundred dollars according to my district Forster at the forestry commission whom I talked to this morning I think that's burdensome on a landowner and while there is an exemption there for for them it would be their due diligence I would think to try and raise to at least that standard of the the other part of it is you have choices to make as a private landowner am I going to go get the education or my going to confine myself to only do a hundred acres today it the way the weather has been it you know a lot of this is weather dependent and you have to strike while the iron's hot so to speak and when you already or juggling a lot of other things your opportunity unless you are retired or full time is very restricted from a private landowner to go do these things I think there is training available I'm just concerned with the variance of the training that that is here and what what will access what access to private land or will have to that how many days is that going to require them to have if you take a private landowner that is already strapped financially and they're trying to do work on their farmer recreational property and then you want them to attend a three to five day class that could be burdensome if it's costly it could be additional burdens to them and from an investigative standpoint you know I have testified a multiple times in origin and calls and one of the things that that I would look at if an attorney called me and had me investigate this wildfire that is now out and harm someone or at least they think they've. Been armed I would simply look at this and say well Hey look I took my GPS and measured the burn unit that they said they were going to burn and I measured as a hundred and one point one acres there in violation so I just think some of the verbiage there is is not good also there's some verbiage in here on the fire actually escaping the burning area and there are times that that can even happen on your own land under the best conditions with the best fire breaks and the best burn pre you have and in that case you would be violating this bill or this law and so sometimes there are there are variances in fire and what can happen so the main things that that I would love to see amended I guess would be the actual number of acreage I would like to nail down this training thing and not let it be is ambiguous as it is in the bill and then also possibly look at what the barn plan says with this verbiage in escaping the fire area and you know as well as I do I'm not here to pick on anyone who wrote this bill I want to see just like the bill starts out saying I want to see more fire on the ground it's ecologically important but what happens is sometimes when we get laws just like in the Christian faith we have we have an interpretation of that and that's where we all wound up being baptized different so I want to make sure that we can do our due diligence in protecting private landowners and also commercial forestry and and all of those different people and and big business I want to see that but at the same time I just don't want to limit or reduce the potential of fire on the ground from a landowner's perspective and the training and number of acres and then even the escaping thing or things that are concerning to me. Thank you questions from the committee. Being on thank you for yes Sir thank you I appreciate your time. You're welcome thank you for your comments about to training and culture training and the. The. If this bill ever becomes law the U. promulgate rules of I think we need to address that. Yes go ahead well the pharmacy division does intended to promulgate rules to offer rules to be promulgated they would follow the standard prescribed fire mantra of safety of many things that I could go on for days on you don't want me to the the training reference to its does not cost five hundred dollars fact we have a federal grant to cover the cost of the training when we do it for professional a prescribed burners it is four and a half days but I think we could do one for in three days and I think could be federal grants there there would be grant money to cover the cost of that I think we have other agencies doing prescribed burns it it needs to complement what you're trying to do yes sure stone you'll close your bill yes I'd like to close I'd like to address one comment that was made just for clarification you know the average non industrial private landowner in the state owned a hundred fifty one acres that's the average you know I've been the timber business for forty three years and we by procure timber from non industrial private landowners emotional landowners we deal with twenty forties eighties hundreds maybe hundred twenty somewhere in that range that's why we allow the exemption up to a hundred acres that will cast a vote of non industrial private landowners in the state where they can not Robert their property rights to do what they want to on their property we recognize that and made an exemption if someone does have over a hundred acres all they have to do is just burned maybe a hundred today they have two hundred with that buyers containing gone out they can come back another day they still have to have a prescription written and follow that prescription but without the a training without like instead of level burn hundred acre to seizure control said trying to burn two or three hundred acres it one time so we we. No we tried to address that and address to coverage but with that I would like to close and I make a motion to pass. Motion to pass second all in favor say aye. All opposed regulation bill passed thank you Mr chairman. Okay. Do we have senator Johnson we do. Of the bill we're going to have to Vote to suspend rules it's not on the agenda of Senate bill four three been working on but there's reason a lot of people here today they've known about it have a motion to suspend rules here Senate bill three of the four three. Motion to have so. All in favor say aye opposed okay rules are suspended. If we can get. I have a graphic that goes along with the amendments B. R. I.. You. One is a bill one the amendment. Johnson if you would in picture ward induce yourself for the record. Senator Blake Johnson district twenty one. Westport Arkansas department. Thank you members of. This. Secretary ward and has worked with the stakeholders during the spring break and we're trying to attract craft amendment to to help us satisfy the concerns the. Any time you have this kind of a substantial change in organization and boards and commissions. It's it's due process for the boards and commissions to be able to be heard in and appreciate that those boards and commissions for working with secretary ward in that time frame Should have probably done that earlier while we were working on the working on the bill and and I'm I make that apology today but the. Go through the amendment first it clarifies the funds in an expanded balances shall continue to be used for the purpose for purposes for which they were does that design. under the Red River it clarifies the the funding the designated for the Red River navigation feasibility study study shall continue the red river commission is a stab list and as a subcommittee to the natural resources commission contained contains a sunset provision of July first twenty twenty six which we can come back and address and twenty twenty five if that study is going to need to be continued. the mobile we will it provides for six cotton growers to be on on the board it changes the number of cotton growers from five to at five to at least five or no more than seven appointed by the governor replaces the department of agriculture representative on the boat we were ratification foundation board with a cotton grower member of from the State Plant Board reinsertion the promotional representation language re and search the proportional representation language changes for your term to a five year term the for the but we will the changes the date for a vote but we will zones to twenty twenty three changes a. The northeast well we've already cations owned to the northeast delta bowl we've or education zone and includes skews me includes correction for remittance to certified cotton growers associations to the departments to the Department. Under the veterinarian changes in the it it says it changes it shall create a subcommittee of livestock and pro poultry Commission for veterinary licensing sector it clarifies that to veterinarians on the commission shall serve on the subcommittee and choirs chairman to designate two additional small animal veterinarians to serve let let me sir a proctor and would we get lots of pages are going to ask questions on it and of this of subcommittee they have authority. what's already do they have a guess is. Victor ward you. Yes Sir so so we would be and it would be very similar to how the the plant board historically has operated point boards always had us separate subcommittees to to be more specific and to get more it basically the license that the truck for the purposes of licensing yes or the. Of the promulgate rules to answer this survey could draft rules and then it would be the overall commission that would that would be responsible for proving it but yes or no. Going. The the water well that's another one the change representation on natural resource commission from one to a minimum of two members shall be water well contractors changes it same same way it shall create the subcommittee and our natural resources for water relicensing it clarifies water well contract position will be chair of the subcommittee allows chairman designate additional water well contractors serve on a subcommittee on ad hoc basis. The foresters it adds a nonvoting member from the university of Monticello I think that's for a the testing. And the at least three members from forestry commission shall be registered foresters. And so that equates to five registered foresters on the forestry commission considering the state forester position is required to be registered forester and Services ex ex officio on a member of the board it changes mmhm may create the sub is does the same thing that they shall create a subcommittee of forestry commission for registered foresters it clarifies it registered foresters will serve on a subcommittee allows a chairman to designate additional registered foresters to serve on the subcommittee on ad hoc basis. The under livestock and poultry I think this is a little bit of clarification that we left out in the non codified language the the existing members of the commission will serve the remainder of the original appointment terms. Consistent with natural resources and forestry it also we added the Language for the. Per the authorizing a stab Richmond of advisory committees by the department of agriculture in a as needed. The owner of questions on the amendment down retirement trying to hurry through this. To reduce. This may be a thank you Mr chairman this may be a question for the bill first of the amendment but I would ask it either way When there is a vacancy. When a when a member does not finish out a term. The I'm I'm just looking at some of the language here in on the last page of the amendments. Referencing livestock and poultry commission. And can you have mentioned what happens what the process is to fill that vacancy. Go ahead. Yes Sir us it would be similar to any other governor appointed position you know they would often current process now there there go on online apply there's a vetting process that the governor uses but it would be a governor appointed position some. These appointments to be confirmed by the Senate is that in the bill the Yes yes. The it also corrects eight potential constitutional challenges the the build so. Committee. Okay. The motion to adopt the amendment second love you'll segment in a. Sir does this thank you. All in favor say aye. All opposed all right your bill that officer Josh you're recognized present your bill. Thank you members of the this bill is substantial and it narrows down those sixteen boards and commission responsibilities under four main categories those four main categories strict categories are Arkansas forestry commission the livestock and poultry commission the natural resources commission in the state State Plant Board. Under those for we have created five sub sub committees and those five said committees the registrant Forster subcommittee and the in the under livestock and poultry as a veterinary licensing subcommittee and under natural resources we've created the water well licensing subcommittee and the Red River subcommittee. Under the State Plant Board we have the the mobile we've already cations subcommittee. The. I mean I had west. Just very quickly Sir I'm and that's one percent accurate I will just add that you know over over the course this past week we we spent a lot of time working with the interested stakeholders trying to address concerns and to to fix the issues I think that's representative in the amendment but I did want to point out an additional point especially on the on the graphic Senator Johnson pointed out I think I think one of the main points is that there were as we saw in dealing with the State Plant Board or constitutional issues that needed to be addressed and so when you look at the overall make up of the department of agriculture there's sixteen different boards and committees and commissions eighty eight of those had constitutional issues answer this this helps to correct that avoid legal challenges there and then the the other point that I would make sense since we were last here in committee talking about this your we did do a little deeper dive into the actual cost savings in personnel our savings and so much more so reflective of of the change to appointments conservation districts but that actually increase that number by about double so now it's just short of a hundred thousand dollars in cost savings and over eighteen hundred hours and personnel hours associated with with these changes but did they want to point those out but that's all for mines or. Love. Thank you Mr chair so it. You mention. I guess the last Sullivan and I knew there was gonna be some discussions grant that you all did take the time to to meet with the other interested stakeholders So. In that vein House everybody now I mean is is everybody fully agreement is there still some that are just saying Hey you know what we would like this of me talk to me about. Purchaser may take a moment Sir about that. zero problem in the state we will have to. Officers. Yes Sir here I I I would say you know we've we've answered most of the concerns I think there are there are probably two areas that are that have still expressed. That they would like to be like for to be different one of those is the Red River and so you know this this amendment how it's written tries to address their concerns as best as possible mostly because there is that commission eight member commission has been involved in the Red River navigation feasibility study not understand their concerns you know they're they're certainly not to that and there's also the Red River valley Association there's also the Red River federal compact's others multipoint disease kind of doing the same thing but but I understand the importance and the support of of of that feasibility study continuing so the amendment tries to address their concerns is as best as possible to not be destructive to their efforts the the other one I think it's probably reflective of of those in the room of Forster's is is the is the other one we've had numerous conversations about that one or state for sure is here he's had a lot of conversations about that as well and don't know that makes everybody happy all I know that does make everybody happy but we if we tried to address the concerns as best as we can and I think that's that's reflective of of adding the University of Arkansas Monticello position to the to the board a centre Johnson mentioned that will help with the the licensing registered foresters making sure that there's always three register Forster's on the on the Commission that's a third of the membership by voting members but but overall that Senator Johnson mentioned gives really as exist now five register Forster's on the commission so so we've we've tried to address concerns as best as we can but those would be the two that I would point out that You I think would still like to be completely separate and independent okay and then the second thing is no I'm in doing this What what constitutional issues where we face and in. Speak to me on that yes Sir so that that ties back to you to the make up of the State Plant Board and and how it was written I know there were several legislators that were involved in the cleanup language for a for the for that but I think it's ACT one thirty five now but it hello how that was written and that it had associations that made basically viewpoint so governor approve so she since made the nominations and the governor just have the the sole discretion to approve it so it that that under the plan were language went up to all where the Supreme Court and was in was struck down and service there eight other boards and commissions within the department had similar language of what the plant board had and so this corrects there's issues as well to avoid constitutional challenges. Thank you. In the committee members. signed up to speak against the. Okay. Your own food introduce yourself please for the record. Thank you. And thank you to the senators for a getting the time today to address my concerns with regard to the Senate bill four three. Greg Hey I'm a consulting forester registered for sure in the state of Arkansas certified Forster nationally by society of American foresters and a member of the Arkansas chapter of the association consulting foresters. And I'm here today to speak to specifically to. The aspect and portions of the bill addressing the abolishment of the formal regulatory licensing board of registration for foresters. And I'm going to ask. Senator Johnson and westward to correct me I'm a bit of a disadvantage here I am not sure if I've got the amendments that have been added this morning correctly. but as I understand it correct me if I'm wrong Senator Johnson are you added one nonvoting member from the University of Arkansas Monticello is that correct. And you've clarified by stating that at least three members of the Arkansas forestry commission will be registered foresters. And you've clarified that the Force two commission members that are registered foresters will serve on the subcommittee yes. Can you clarify that the force to Commission shelf instead of may create a subcommittee to abolish to accomplish the duties of the registration of Forster's yes. And at the. You will allow the chairman of the fourth two commission to designate additional registered foresters to serve on the subcommittee on an ad hoc basis that correct this. I'm going to take these point by point if you allow me to Respond to those proposed amendments. The first being adding a non voting you A. M. member. I think that's a pro. I'd like to have a member of the board to represent the University of Arkansas at Monticello. However When a position is given to the board to provide input regarding board decisions I think it's important enough to value the opinion of that member enough to cast his vote. secondly the. The University of Arkansas offers a wide variety of degrees and certificates across the board I think it should be proposed that the membership on the board it is limited to someone from the University of Arkansas college of forestry agricultural natural resources. So that we have a Forster from the college of forestry. Representing us. My suggestion alternative on this. is that the. Two. You would senator I think five. What you're talking about okay so that has been changed it's The Amendment. Great it's it has been changed to read Faculty or staff of the college of forestry so that that are this is taken care of thank you Sir. Please continue. Okay. moving on to a. Increasing the Forster's from two to three or from one to three on the commission. And I got to step in the right direction However if the. Formal regulatory licensing board registration for Forster's it's going to be abolished. And those responsibilities are going to be delegated to a subcommittee. Of the Arkansas forestry commission then I would certainly like to see that the majority of the members of the force the commission be registered foresters at least five. it is possible that the department of agriculture we'll try to feel. One of these spots with the above appointment But it need to be clear that these positions are in addition to the above appointments otherwise the recommended increase would include the non voting position mentioned in the first suggestion suggested reference those above. Of. To the lack of specificity on the force resource experience level of Commission members it is imperative that at least five members of the commission. The Arkansas registered forfeitures. The forestry Commission will be given total oversight over the livelihood to professional foresters however as it is currently stated only one GB. Only three individuals who are Arkansas registered foresters would be served on the Arkansas forestry commission registered foresters are professionals and professional careers should be overseen by at least a majority of individuals who hold that license red designation. After all we look. And other professional licenses registrations many are overseen by individuals in their own professions doctors lawyers surveyors. Why should registration of and licensing Forster's. Be treated differently simply because they are in need of the division of agriculture. Looking at the mission mission of the force to commission it does not make sense to set such a low minimum on the number of Forster's on the commission Richard Fortus can provide valuable input regarding forced resources of the state. An experience based opinions to help better steer the commission this is especially true if the commission is not only guide in forestry. But also provide all direction decisions of a registered forces in the state. Professional licenses should be overseen by those knowledgeable about that bill allowing a political body with only one or two or three redshirt Forster's to oversee all professional registered foresters in the state would diminish the credibility of Forster's in Arkansas. Professional licensing and registration wars use license registration holders have an education deeply rooted in scientific knowledge and field experience logically should be overseen by political entities with bill to know professional knowledge of the field. There is no experience requirement for the current Forster slot. The slots. An amount of experience between a newly registered Forster and one with twelve years of experience dramatic experience forces can provide much more insight into the field due to the variety of experiences he or she obtained during the period of time. So our suggested alternative motion just alternative would be to read for a five minimum. One ma'am one. Of which each member shall be assessing isolation registered voter. And a resident of the State of Arkansas who have been engaged in forestry for at least twelve years from Russia One member shall be appointed by the governor who actively engaged in forest products sector to represent. This sector of one member shall be appointed by the governor to who is employed by the college of forestry agriculture natural resources at the university of Arkansas One member shall be appointed by the governor who is a member of the Arkansas division washed off the site of American forces to represent professional forestry one member shall be appointed by the governor who is a member of the association of consulting foresters. Represent private for for consultants and one member shall be appointed by the governor who is employed or retired from either federal or state forestry to represent government foresters at least one member shall be appointed by the governor who is a graduate of a college of forestry agriculture natural resources University of Arkansas at Monticello. In items three and four. Clarify that the Arkansas forestry commission members that are richer portion will serve on the subcommittee or forced resignation or forced registration and that forced the commission shall create a subcommittee to accomplish the duties of registered Forster's. The in this bill the department of agriculture is going to rely on a subcommittee to conduct the work of licensing registration boards that's page thirty nine lines twenty seven to twenty nine the grants permission to the force the commission to form a subcommittee to make recommendations of the Commission regarding rulemaking disciplinary issues that the complaints and evaluation applicants regarding forced Forster licensure. We are so I'm supported of this clarification however we would like to see more specificity about the duties of the subcommittee and membership in the subcommittee. Specifically lacking in the subcommittee duties or example ation. Which power will be moved to the forestry commission. And evaluation of the required continuing forestry education hours which power will be moved to the force commission in addition there are consideration that this is a subcommittee. And they make recommendations the fourth commission which is proposed which as proposed would contain a minimum of only one register but she million three redshirt Forster's. Leding decisions such as these with a wholly political commission will scientific knowledge of the force field force resources in Arkansas is troubling. There's no experience requirement for the subcommittee members will requirement that they be licensed under. seventeen thirty one one a one. The amount of experience between a new direction for sure and one with at least twelve years of experience again as dramatic. Our suggestion of alternative would be a line twenty two page forty eight remove the recommended text and add text following that would of state something to the effect the scope of the examination and methods of the procedure shall be determined by a subcommittee of richer Forster's. Licensed under subsections under such section each having been engaged in forestry for at least twelve years. Allowing the Commission allowing the chair of the force commission to designate additional reserve forces to serve on the subcommittee on an ad hoc basis I think that could provide additional specific expertise. CPAS in specially built up for free as needed there lot of specially built in forestry and they have grown whether that be appraisal with that be real estate drones etcetera a lot goes into the fourth two today. However this would not be necessary should a variety of professionals holding registered for for licenses the members of the forestry commission. This bill as written has far reaching impacts on a number of fronts to the come quickly to mind. One is reciprocity with other formal regulatory licensing boards of registration for foresters from other states many forces in Arkansas hold licenses in other states and enjoy reciprocity with them intern Forster's another state hold an Arkansas for register for for licensed large real estate investment trusts REITs and timber investment management of organizations team most have Forster's that work. their landholdings across multiple states. If our formal regulatory board of registration for foresters is abolished and its responsibilities delegated to a subcommittee of a politically appointed administrative commission the integrity of the Arkansas licensor. Is corrupted. In our reciprocity with other states who have formal regulatory licensing boards of registration for foresters they will be in jeopardy. Secondly the for certification programs like forced to chip Council Justin will force the initiative. The American tree farms System. may be impacted negatively. And that could have. Any impact on the certification of Arkansas would for products used in today's market here in the state and abroad. I believe this bill has a serious serious reconstruction the best course of action from my perspective is to delete the abolishment of the board of registration for foresters from this bill level board to continue functioning as a normal. Formal regulatory licensing board. And if that's not possible Then excise it from the bill and allow it to be reconstructed with stakeholder input from all stakeholders to a get something that's more amenable thank you for your time you will have questions to. Journal of. Okay so. One of the previous testimony. Secretary ward said that there were there was input and engagement. And so you just made that statement so talk to me about. It were you not engaged in the process I mean but in the process look like for you in prior to the preparation of the bill or during the preparation of the bill itself I know of no Input was solicited. from the standpoint of consulting foresters in state or from the standpoint of professional sports are represented by the society of American foresters washed out of state society Wichita state society Arkansas and Oklahoma. Okay so then how how did you learn of of the the changes I learned because of this bill under the changes due to secretary ward following up with us graciously when the Arkansas chapter of the association consulting foresters and the Arkansas division of the society of American foresters sent about a three page A letter to the Bill sponsors Senator Blake Johnson the involved and Senator Ronald Caldwell share this subcommittee to express their concerns about it and uh. Secretary ward rapidly responded and may these suggested amendments as a result of that but it was during this period so we didn't have a lot of time to be engaged in a more thoughtful manner other than what I read right here to you all and that's just kind of a double point summation of some issues that we have some concerns that we have okay all right thank you. Any other questions from the committee. If not we say thank you for coming per share thank you for your time the nation's very clout. Your microphone if you introduce yourself for the record you're recognized. I'm Mary clap I am in the consulting forester in south Arkansas we on the business of Stevens forestry service that was started by my father in nineteen fifty and my son is also here as a register for sure and he works with me in my business and hopefully I can pass it to the third generation. Thank you for having me here today that I could speak with you. I have served on the board of registration for foresters I have also been the chairman of that board and. It was very disheartening to me to say that it was going to be put under the forestry commission because I think we need to be separated because we register we register those Forster's that work for the forestry commission M. it could cause I believe this is ethically incorrect to have it to the The board and the commission together. It could cause factors within the commission stuck changing the standards of what's required for register Forster in Arkansas that we would lose our reciprocity with the other states that we are members of the board. Of the southern issue southeastern border registration for Forster's set we have reciprocity across state lines and work a sum fortunes Arkansas might get transferred to Georgia South Carolina Alabama they would not because of that in our reciprocity they're not really required to retake the exam and vice versa and I would just not like to see. The board under the commission I think we should step back and and take some time re evaluate this and and Cheney and pull out the border registration Forster's and at a further date. So that all entities can get together on and work out a comparable solution or maybe even means the for registration of Forster's under a different entity within the state government that it can run autonomous is a self the self sufficient self supporting I should say Board. we are always under budget is run by the by the registration fees that we get every year. M. and the song I have same committee to love you have with. Thank you and thank you for comment so you. We started testimony by saying this would be ethically incorrect yes what do you mean month because when you're. When you're registering for search and we have to look at everything or if we get a complaint if it's a for sure that works for the forestry commission and we're under the forestry commission that could add If you change the rules are we either eat. The members of the foresters within that commission. Could possibly say no we want these foresters we want these people that do not have the required. Our credentials to be a professional forester we want to see them registered whether they have taken all the courses they should take when we come in at. Attaining their forestry degree only saying that before we've had applications with that before is it as when I was some on the chair that people are applying to become a register for sure that did not meet our standards and we do not want to reduce the standards for professional organization. And I believe doctor Pelkey. Can I explain that probably better than I can about what the requirements are to be a graduate Forster when we have made some changes they feel wildlife degree but if you have so many courses of forestry that you can also be registered and have so many years working under Forster. Okay all right thank you. Thank you Richey Richmond. one last to witness the Matt help you. You you will don't plows mammogram will play out in because of an ad. Yes we we we we've got session chambers coming up and we have been lunches. I understand I've often been the last Speaker before lunch at many conferences so my name is doctor Matthew Pelkey I have a PhD in forestry I am here as Arkansas registered forester number nine twenty seven although many of you do know that I have employed have been employed by the university of Arkansas at Monticello in the college of forestry agriculture natural resources for now twenty two years. I have several concerns with the bill many of them were stated very eloquently by Mr gray Hey. one of my first is that the. The subcommittee that would and it's and I believe center you can correct me it will be administering the exam. So as a professor. There's a difference between writing and administer an exam. I write exams for my students and I often times as my graduate students or staff member to administer them. But that's but but administration does not mean that they get any control over what's written in the exam. I have a hard time professionally accepting that anyone would write an exam and then expect me to stay at my level of proven on by just administering it. I would not permit someone who is not qualified at the universe of Arkansas Monticello to write my exams and tell me I had to administer fortunately under of the rules of tenure I have that protection the I am only responsible to my professional society my ethics and the rules and policies of the University of Arkansas System but I have to behave correctly and do what is appropriate of course I am also monitored by other scientists and faculty members to make sure that that's appropriate when within good standards so I have a real concerned that there's a lack of autonomy. I also have some experience in economics or of having thirty five years of work as a forester a past my doctor working in for a second I'm missing management from the university of Minnesota. I'll be very quick here these. I want to just add that. What's going to happen for Arkansas in terms of its competitiveness in terms of seeking new forest industries is likely to be diminished it certainly will not be enhanced by this bill. we have many foreign investors and I can assure you that that having an independent licensed forester. Is important to them in terms of ensuring the security of the forest resources but they're going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars building or facility they need to know that is sustainable and like certification I also see this as a potential negative in terms of attracting investment what I do know absolutely that's my opinion all three that that's my opinion what I do know is that I've already had discussions with other forest industries that they have so and other states and said well that will be wonderful because we'll be able to tell everybody that we're recruiting that Arkansas's got weaker standards for its forces than we do. That's gonna be a disadvantage force and without a doubt in my testimony and accept any questions of the board may have. We have a question. No. Thank you very much. Johnson. Close your bill thank you members I'm going to take section on that last thing he said. The making assumption to stand you're going to be weaker. These may make an a lot of assumptions on the industry being weaker due to this consolidation there's nothing in this bill in this that would disallow the governor they had the commission has to come from all corners of the State. That would disallow the governor from appointing a forester for those for two or three or four of those positions nothing. There's nothing in here that says that she has to. That was some of the constitutional issues that that we've had to deal with with other boards and commissions throughout. And I completely agree that we need to keep our forest industry strong just like I do our row crop industry strong and it is not my intent to to weekend. The forest industry or our our Mager culture industry that I work and make a living and I don't make a living down here. And I'll tell you guys. If it does we can something it will change in twenty twenty five. If it if if this thing goes completely awry I will give you that commitment. And I don't work off assumptions and I think just you know this makes our streamlines this boards and commissions in the in agriculture and appreciate a good vote. It will committee. S. move do pass eleven as amended their laws. The. All in favor of the bill as amended say aye aye All opposed you know. The resolution a bill passed thank you we're Jr. Victor ward on see you.