Education Committee- House

Meet a lot of requests that we've had for folks that need to go to other committees to run bills and folks and other committees need to come here and so we're going to bounce around without objection seeing none Representative Meeks you've got a concurrent Senate Amendment. He let go and work on that. Or. You're recognized to present The current sentiment on house bill ten thirty thanks chairman pops actually my bill my amendment. It's a wonderful amendment any questions ability to answer those we have full agenda so. Now here's what all does that moves the the the time from for notice from two weeks out to three weeks just give the schools a little more time sought to us all right members you've heard of the presentation the amendment any questions seeing none anyone here to speak for against the amendment seeing none motion to concur in the amendment I have a motion by representative makes concurrence sentimental house bill ten thirty discussion on the motion not all those in favor say aye opposed nay graduates you pass your Senate Amendment occurrences an amendment. representative Wooten I do not see him here for twelve oh five will go to House Bill sixteen nineteen representative Hodges. You're recognized yourself for the record. Present your bill thank you Mr chair Grant Hodges representative for house district fourteen. Okay members I'll try to keep this brief as possible so this bill that's a little bit of it in the weeds at community college a deal I'll try to explain it is Simply as I can but and I I can use Northwest Arkansas community college as an example because that's what I'm most familiar with so the issue is we have community college districts like the one at that in whack which in our case covers Rogers and Bentonville school districts and so the college was established under the current laws the voters in those districts voted to approve the college and approved a millage and so those of his own that we've had for thirty years there's also in our law we have an existing statute that deals with reconstituting a district so if you ever wanted to Attempts to add other areas into your college district that's already in statute as well you can see in the bill it's it refers to reconstituting districts under six six one five eighteen so I'm not changing anything about establishing community college districts I'm not changing anything about even reconstituting community college districts to my knowledge every set to bill Stovall I'm not sure if he's here today but I'd ask of any college had reconstituted since it was formed under this current law he was not aware of any that have had pursued that so I don't think any colleges has done this yet no decisions have been made in an ad in whack about reconstituting or any final decisions but as we look at the law we kind of realize that if a district wanted to pursue reconstituting. If you go to a new area you have an election the voters in that area I approved joining the district it's unclear what happens to the board in that case so at at the college we have a an elected board of trustees we have nine trustees but if we go through reconstituting we add territory into the the college district there's really just nothing in the law that tells us what to do at that point with the board and so what this bill does is allows the existing board to votes to add new members to the board again I know that's a little bit confusing I was trying to give you an easy example case if I could and again this is all just hypothetical we're not pursuing this or anything but if say in whack had no election that we wanted to reconstitute our districts again that's already in the law all you silent springs as an example because it's an easy one for this. We'll follow the process is in law we got asylum springs the voters in silence springs would have an election to decide whether or not to join the District. If they approved that election and it was successful and they joined at the college district right now the losses we have to have nine trustees and we have to continue to have nine trustees so in this case the board could by a majority vote just add a trustee to represent that new area to the board that makes sense so because our board members represent roughly say eighteen thousand people if we added in silence springs into the district instead of having to dissolve the board start all over again with nine new trustees the vote the board could vote by a majority vote just add a trustee to represent the silo Springs territory if that makes sense and because that area is as you can see in the bill says that the zones have to be substantially equal in population which they are we just went through redistricting same as we did the legislature because the census that new district in this hypothetical for sound springs would be roughly equal enough in population we could just add a tenth trustee to represent that territory. The representative makes you're recognized for a question. Mr. I think I'm supportive order going here the the one question I have is can that border they want to add is on can they add. Where somebody else or the House of another college already has that district. Good in the state in your example and whack also add that community in their districts or is it one per area. That makes sense. You're saying could it could to colleges claim the same area. I've I've guessed so um I that that would be the case whether or not this bill passes that really wouldn't change anything about about the I'm not aware of that ever happening or calls you generally part of our without has become an issue but to my knowledge of the voters in that area approved for whatever reason having two colleges they could do that. The questions that will work sorry I just quickly. There are currently from my understanding object Arkansas community college's Association I believe there only for colleges community colleges that have an elected board at this point which is into the ACC north Arkansas college in Harrison national park college in hot springs I believe Black River technical college's somebody concurrently that I'm correct me if I'm wrong but so this is likely only apply in those four cases because they have the only one to have elected boards and you'll also see in the legislation this is Mrs may language so the board is not required to follow this process if they want to use a different process. Representative. Thank you Mr chair so although I understand this. Bill is. It just did addressing the board and its make up but part of what precipitates that is if there's a potential change the makeup of the district as why we're doing this so for clarification if the if the community of the city whether cause you'll have right now but bill Rogers correct school district's school district there in it so the school district areas it wants to include which that could be Crabbet that could be silo Decatur gentry. Springdale Fayetteville FOR any of those they have to have an election in that election are there two separate ones for the millage that also attach is if you would become part of the committee college or is it are they two separate ones or that one combined a millage election and a I want to join or are they separate so the original vote to establish the college was approved back in nineteen eighty nine this is again only in wax example I can't speak to the others but because it's already been established approves it would it would just be to join the militants District essentially which has its own benefits for the students who live inside the district. Follow up recognized so that so would be election together to join in and to take on that Millidge peace if you choose to become a part of that community colleges or otherwise your kids pay higher tuition correct it or not it's about a thirty percent discount to Brent live inside the district so of yeah obviously been up there some of the with that and I'll just jump back in the Medicaid some looking for other questions from committee. Representative Dick you're back in. Thank you and so. Trying to look here again I was expect to be back in quite so quickly so the need for this. Can you collaborate a little more on why the need for this right now what started as yes so you know at at in whack as we kind of looked at their vendors in talks over the years about potentially expanding the college district both inside and county as been talks about P. ridge over the years other communities that surround Rogers and Bentonville yeah that decision was made thirty years ago so the reasons that they chose Rogers and Bentonville only yes. People change ideas have changed over time so we get those questions pretty often and we also have gotten questions over the years about expanding into Springdale and Washington County we have a location in Washington County we have our main campus and then the bill but then a large location Springdale as well and so again we haven't finalized any plans but just looking through the law again because it only applies to so few community colleges we kinda knew nobody else is really looking at this but as we looked at law look to the process okay if we if we want to reconstitute our district. What's the path to getting there we can realize this is a gap in the law that we felt needs to be addressed because there's just not a good option for us under the current statute to make this decision and then have a board of trustees that we believe can govern best for the college. Recognized. Thank you for any other callers wanted to follow the process as well so is there any opposition to this bill Phil and we've spoken with the other colleges and that could potentially affect as well and none of them reported having an near term interest in reconstituting but they didn't oppose the bill either so. I see no other questions from committee we have no one signed up to speak for or against the bill. Senate Hodge's ready clothes for your bill I appreciate your time committee thank you for the question and I'll move to pass a motion to pass by representative Hodges a discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor say aye opposed nay translations you pastor bill. Representative Richmond. House Bill sixteen oh two. If you're ready Sir all right good morning of just wanna be sure I'm recognized good morning committee appreciate your time this morning House Bill sixteen oh two. It's three pages that could have been said probably in three sentences all it does is that allows a school district. To go ahead with that has it like a Katie through twelfth four day school week. Go ahead adjuster schedule ever how it is needed to be adjusted adding days at the end of the year adding hours so that the preschool can also have a four day school week the reason why this bill come across is that uh there was a there's a school in my district. K. through twelve is four days. The preschool ABC preschool they had to change and go the five days in order to make the the hours that they needed. And to do that again what happened is that on Fridays you have parents that have kids that are at home and you have parents you know and and also saying parents have kids in preschool a lot of times those kids just don't go to preschool on this is so they were looking for change department education they're not against the bill I can't say they're enthusiastic about the bill I don't know if there's anybody here today talk one way the other about the bill if they are you know again they'll come up and sit and speak about it but they know about the bill I first thing I did was go to them but again what it does is simply allow the school district. To go ahead and make that decision either you can extend the school year or you can extend the hours of the school day they don't have to do it is strictly up to them to adjust their calendar so that they could accommodate a four day school week for pre K. as well. Read questions I'm ready for questions members any questions for representative Richmond. Say no questions a committee no one signed up to speak for or against president of Richmond ready clothes for your bill I'm close for a bill and I would appreciate a good vote represented Vaught you're recognized. I have a motion do pass by representative vote on house bill sixteen oh to any discussion on the motion represented Duke you're recognized it's moving so fast it thank you Mr chairs moving so fast today I I miss my windows I just want to say I'm not a fan of forty school weeks and I've got understand what you're doing so I'm going to vote no it's not a hard enthusiastic nope it's just kind of a principal no for me on how I my philosophy on school so I just wanted to say that I don't like I said at that or not but I would pledge perfect time to say it that's okay vote no on your stuff to. Any other additional discussion on the motion. Seeing none all those in favor of the motion say aye. Those may the eyes have it graduates do pass sheet that enthusiastic vote thank you. Of the representative Walker ready run fifteen ninety. President Walker you're recognized present your bill Sabin Walker district twenty seven so does my first one so take it easy on me I I in my opinion it's an easy one I've not had anybody reach out with opposition I've taken it to department of ed and and some other of the association's and nobody's tell me that they were against it it should be an easy bill it is in my opinion all it does is we've got a traditional school calendar where the schools go by days in an alternate school calendar where schools can go about ours And they choose which one they want to participate in right now by law that excludes the alternate school calendar from using a on my days alternative instruction all this bill does is strike that one line out of law allows I on my days with the alternate school calendar if a school chooses to go that route right now department at promulgate the rules on how the schools will participate in the online bill and it does not change any of that so that's pretty much all it is but I'm open for questions if you guys have any members any questions for representative Walker representative make you're recognized for a question thank you Mr could lead to get by without least one operation right I know would get lucky. Did did you know why that that was put in there to begin with to restrict that but the bulls yeah before I had this bill drafted that was the question I went around with and so far I've not been able to figure out why that was even added to the legislature backed and they departed note they were doing or for any doctor from what I was taught is that said visor department of ed and that's why when I first had the bill drafted I want to commissioner leave and asked him what his opinion was he told me he was neutral on it it doesn't take anything away from them on promulgating the rules and Sally tell me is neutral against it and cell I think if anybody was going to oppose it would be the on so that's why I went to them first about that was a slight against me because I was on the committee when we voter do this. Thank you. Thank you for your makes. Makes the. Any other questions from committee hi. We'll learn that any other questions from committee saying none if no one signed up to speak for or against house bill fifteen ninety represent walkie ready clothes for your bill I would at the appropriate time I'd like to make a motion to pass this is the appropriate time okay that are a motion to pass by representative Walker is a member of the committee discussion on the motion representative Dick you're recognized thank you hello again so I talked to represent Walker before this kind of thing cutting is a bass bill I don't care for a my days and became more passion about my opposition to a my days experiencing walking with this school districts that during COVID so again I'm not looking to be on or about okay didn't explanation on that one so I will because voting no. The other discussion on the motion. Seeing none all those in favor the motion say aye opposed nay. The ayes have it graduation you pastor bill. Representive Lundstrum House Bill fifteen sixteen. I believe there is a Amendment. Coming around on that. Members you'll also see their the fiscal impact statement from the FNA. And. Your packet for this bill. Representative Lundstrum if you would like to present your amendment we'll get that adopted potentially possibly. Thank you chairman Evan that's simply to and include a couple spoke co sponsors. Per the amendment presented by. Representative Lundstrum on House bill fifteen to add co sponsors. Representative bought motion to pass on the amendment any discussion on the motion. The not always in favor say aye opposed nay your motion excuse me motion passes your amendment on house bill fifty has been adopted you may now present House Bill fifteen sixteen as amended. Thank you this is an exciting bill for schools as some of you may be aware that schools have a shortage and subject matter experts it's very difficult if you're teaching a class and you need a subject matter expert and say welding or trucking and you as an instructor would like to reach out and ask someone but you don't have that knowledge you can now with this bill if we pass this you'll be able to call for example Tyson's or Jones or skews me day behind or even a local hospital and say could you send over subject matter expert in X. Y. and Z. for a couple of weeks instead of a school having to hire someone that's two hundred thousand dollars a year which would next to be impossible you could have somebody come for two weeks or four weeks and be that subject matter expert in the classroom. This would allow that it would give a tax credit to the business so the business would occur the cost of the expert their insurance their retirement it keeps that business in the classroom but it also allows the subject matter expert to be in the classroom they would have to have a background check. And it gives that exposure to the kids. In the classroom pretty much solves a lot of problems and give the school access to a lot of different. Areas of knowledge. With that I would entertain any questions any questions representative Dick you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair are there situations in where this is already in place to some degree or were you already have companies that are and schools that are you know they're going to implement this or have an idea how this is going to work we've had companies expressed interest quite a bit of interest there's been a few hospitals that have reached out and said this would help us and bind to specially when we have for example it Tyson school of innovation they have a beginning LPN program but they don't have enough instructors not even close to enough instructors and they can't hire the instructors if you're at nurse right now you're at a hospital and you're making a whole lot more than you would make in a school this gives the hospital a chance to expose of those kids to an LPN program and get those LPNs expose that hospitals good PR for the hospital is a chance for them to check out the students that's good chance for the hospital to talk about their abilities and exposes kids to a variety of different subjects. Any other questions for representative Lundstrum. Seeing none we have no one signed up to speak for or against representative Lundstrum recce to close for your bill. I think this gives every school in the state of Arkansas a chance to get subject matter class in the into the classroom without the cost of the school which I think right now is extremely important it also gives business a chance to participate. With that I would ask for a good vote. Representative garner you're recognized I have a motion to pass by representative Garner as amended on house bill fifteen sixteen any discussion on the motion representative fight you're recognized. Other than my bills this may be the best bill of the session. Thank you I really like it excited to vote for it thank you. The additional discussion seeing none all those in favor of the motion by representative garner is amended on a House bill fifteen sixteen say aye opposed nay guys have graduation pastor bill thank you colleagues thank you for your time. Representative McElroy. You're ready to run house bill fifteen oh four. You're recognized yourself in your may present your bill I am a representative Mark McElroy District sixty two. I was honored to serve on this committee for three terms and far as I know I'm the only serving member that spent three years in the third grade. I've got a record. I'm bringing this bill and the do a little explanation. We've got a school tomorrow will this in my district I don't know if you've been to Marvell but is beautiful little town school right only the highway as you go through well in the delta we're having a population leaving left and right as reason my district goes from Arkansas city to thirty four miles from Memphis so. What's happened over the years schools of consolidated Mar will Elaine schools already consolidated one time and I don't know if you're familiar with that area but snowflake is almost in excess but we go down along the river. Those kids down it slow late went to the line and then Elaine went to had to move up to Marvell and now Mar was in the process the board wants to close tomorrow school. And the. At the end there under level five and then this bill is is if they fall under three hundred fifty students. They don't have a voluntary consolidation plan in place. And there under level five which is serious support intensive support and the child has to rise over forty miles one way to get to the the school then the state takes control and fires a superintendent. And runs a school until one of those things changes and then they can consolidate but the problem we're having over there all schools in the bill to Helena's honor level five which within so if they go there and and hello really don't alarm because they're on a level five and you're going to take all three hundred other level five is not fair to the students. Barton I think it's a level four and they they don't. They don't want because they don't really have the facilities there form. The one that alarm or would take on would be Brinkley and from from snow like to break please probably sixty five miles one way. And the. At the end of my and and their level four and then Marianna's a level five they said they would take him but that's almost another sixty five a month you know you can only consolidate so long till it gives almost is not feasible to make those kids read that bus that far in all I'm asking you know do is give us a chance in I voted for the DO learn program as many of you did and if it is a cure all for education of will be the great the greatest place to be a test test school in this delta and I was on a tentative school it got consolidated and I built a house over when I got mad because that community I don't know if you've ever seen what happens to community when a school leave their. And is this building they got good facilities there I'm just asking you to to to give these folks a chance and with that I'll take any questions representative Cozart you're recognized for a question. Risen McElroy do do I understand that you're County warning the school to just be put under state authority forever. If it will educate the kids. Thank you to my level five no we don't we don't want it under state control for ever but we would like the chance you know what we got to lose NO date given another two or three years and if that with this added money that we had for teachers a lot of the problem in the doubt that we have a lot of teachers and not certified because we can't afford the money you know to pay in these ways so maybe the you know this learn program will draw some teachers even and from out of state government. Follow up you're recognized for follow up you know this seems to be a repeated thing for a lot of schools in our state that we get taken over by the state at some point I believe we're going to have to have legislation is going to put some of the schools under state control completely and I hate to say that that's just a hard hard course to go but it seems like they just is just a roller coaster ride for a lot of himself just just was concerns that's what you're asking. Any additional questions by committee. Representative painter you're recognized for a question just a thank you Mr chairman just a motion at the proper time recognized for that motion property on. No additional questions by committee we do have one person signed up to speak for the bill Martin Rawls mark your record to go into the table identify yourself for the record and then you may give your testimony. Martin road I'm on the Phillips county quorum court thank you for your time this morning I want to speak for this bill as a member of the quorum court I represent Marvell and it's a dire situation as representative macro expressed a lot of the parents are concerned their children having to wake up in the morning it be dark outside to go to school bus and come back home and it's still dark. And that excludes pretty much any after school activities because they never get home even later and with the new alliance program we hope that if this happens if this does pass that this would be a laboratory for the lines program to be used as kind of a tool for the feel. And change the lives of our children as the lines program is supposed to do and lastly as we said the southern portion of Phillips County were in line it's no like you as I would probably argue is the most rule region in the state of Arkansas. So thank you for your time on this. This thank you Mr rose for testimony or we take questions we have a member's any questions for Mr roles guardian's testimony. Seeing none thank you for being here today and and provided that insight to this bill. There's no one else signed up to speak for or against anyone in the audience that would like to speak for against the bill. Seeing none Ferguson McElroy Richey clothes for your bill. Committee I'm not too proud to beg thank you for. Clause The vote. Represented by you're recognized for your motion. I have a motion do pass by representative painter on house bill fifteen oh for any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor motion say aye opposed nay as have a graduation passed bill. Representative Barker few ready to run sixteen oh four. Let them to fight yourself record then you may present your bill thank you Sonia Barker house district ninety six and in the interest of time may I go ahead and escort me sells for to join me at the table. Absolutely Mister Board thank you. Court a solace for chief of staff for the department of education thank you. The Barker thank you Mr chair committee the purpose main purpose of house bill sixteen oh four is to give a voice to parents in the transfer petition process but it also creates uniformity clarity and transparency in that transfer petition process we're just going to hit the five main things the bill does And let Courtney at anything or feeling any gaping holes I might have left The first thing that the bill insurers is that transfer petitions will be heard in a timely manner as they received and right now in the bill it states well let me read it to you like it says it says that when a transfer petition is received it shall be placed on the agenda of the next regular monthly meeting of the board however after talking with representative Duke yesterday she asked what what if our school wanted to have a special meeting just to take up an address transfer petitions which is a great idea so we're going to amend on the Senate and so that schools will have a choice that will also say four it will be placed on the agenda of a special meeting held before the next regular monthly board meeting if your board meeting regular meeting is already jam packed and going to be lengthy it would be a logistical possibly nightmare to get those in on that board meeting school will have that option so the first thing is the timely manner of addressing them rather than having parents and students wait months possibly for that December or July time period which is kind of a common practice right now second thing it does is that it ensures that written explanation of reasons for denial will be given if it superintendent recommends denial then they'll give those reasons in writing to the board and to the parent. Third says that transfer petitions will be taken up individually heard individually and they'll be voted on separately by the board. Forth in this is probably the most important at least in my opinion it says that parents will be given at least five minutes to state their students case before the board as to their particular reasons for their petition to transfer their student you can give more than that if you want but no fewer than than five minutes and then last the parent has the option to appeal if the board votes to deny that transfer petition the parent under this bill has the option to take that appeal to the state board should they choose to do so. That's the basic five things that the board that the bill does. Would like to add anything. I'll just ask for clarification and this is applicable to district transfers which is not the traditional school choice which has its own requirements and so whether to accept or deny it would still be at the discretion of the board this just enables parents to have that opportunity to be heard and as representative Barker said in a timely manner instead of waiting until is semester or possibly the end of the school year. All ready for questions certainly right representative make sure recognized. Thank you Mr chairman my my I'd like by like we're going with this bill my only question or concern is how this merry's up with the learns Act we just passed because within the learns Act of one of the provisions was to allow for school choice does this Mallory with that because this one's coming in second so I want to make sure that this one is going to be beneficial to what that's doing and that we're not. This one would take priority I don't want to undo something that we did in the large actors that makes sense yes absolutely and no this very much aligns with them not only the language and learns with the intent of ensuring parents have those options of choosing what's best for their students and so instead of again waiting till later on at the time that they want to petition they have the opportunity to be heard and got to be considered for a transfer at that time perfect thank you. Representative Vaught you're recognized thank you Mr chair so is this kind of a way to circumvent the school choice timeline it's already in place no not at all add district transfers are an existing option The way that school choice works is the there is a time line in place anyone who applies under school choice has to be approved unless the district is it denying them because of the capacity reason district transfers are an option separate and apart from school choice there is no deadline so that they can be considered throughout the year they don't have the automatic approval without the capacity exception though these are completely at the district's discretion follow up place the recognized so and why are we getting the state board involved in this why is now the state board going to be involved in. I don't know that I understand that whole thing is it something that they deal with already or are we now giving them this new thing that they're gonna be responsible for so that would make this like the school choice program and that now if a student is denied to they can appeal to the state board so this is just giving that same right to students under district transfers. This for when you're referencing district transfers is that what we can do used referred to as a board Board transferred yes yes Sir where the receiving board has to agree to accept if the if the residents board agrees to release her same principle okay thank okay representative Walker you're recognized for a question. So. So my worry is it'll create a lot of wasted time for schools of the superintendents having to make a trip to the state board every time an appeal is made so my question is does anything in your bill address expulsion from a neighboring school district. Or will they have to go to the state board two five back to Cape a kid out that got expelled from a neighboring school district. Well. I mean that's a that's a reason that's a legitimate reason that you would give and I I can't imagine a state board overturning a local district and make forcing them I don't know what that is is happening already so I can't imagine why they would they would do that the quantum you're fine I just want to point out that yeah I mean as school district is not required by law to accepting students expelled from another school district and so if that student has been expelled chooses does the board Board transfer request and the receiving board denies them that would be a valid legal reasons so even if they filed an appeal to the state board the state board can't overturn something that's done rightfully by law follow a recognized the the point I'm getting at though is I don't know if we need to have an exception in this or what but I don't think if the kids expelled that they're able to appeal to the state board of a neighboring school district denies them because what is going to do is just create unnecessary work on the schools and to go and have to fight that appeal process at the state board my school districts are about two and a half to three hours away from Little Rock and so every time there's an appeal process whether it's monthly or whatever they're having delays five hour round trip plus the time that they're setting at the state board to pretty much the entire day to fight something that should be simple enough to where they it's just wasted time and I don't know if we need to have an exception in there but I don't think if a kid gets expelled from a neighboring school districts at the superintendent should have to go to the State Board and thought that that appeal. Yes that that is the if the representative wanted to amend the bill to add that language as an exception certainly we would be open to that I have to be honest I was trying to see if this gave us rulemaking authority that would be something we could clarifying rules but I don't see an explicit rulemaking authority so if you feel more comfortable amending it we're we're fine with that. Thank you. And I'll just add we're already going to amend on the Senate and so we can include that exception as well. Good with that represent Walker all right representative Charlene Fite you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair I'm concerned that discussing in a board meeting having a public discussion of students reasons our parents reasons for wanting to to transfer would be violating that could you address that. We're just plain. I'm sorry well I was just going to say the very limited knowledge I know is that since it's not a personnel issue it really is supposed to be dealt with in the public however since there will be the exception of your choosing one or the other maybe that would be the time to call a special meeting and only take up transfers especially if you don't have ten transfers to deal with it would be a little more I would think. Privately handled but it it is in my understanding is supposed to be handled in public because it's not a personal issue. I agree because it's the the student and the parent or making that request it and you want to hear the discussion that the board has and their reasoning if there was any disciplinary action involved for whatever reason that could be held in a closed meeting the student and parent could request that the discipline or personnel matters are not involve the law requires open meetings but and again that's the practice now. Representative Dick you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I know that the on this appeal party it mentions that the school choice part has an appeal to the state already what is the time frame in which the state gives a response because that's happening what is it June or July first that what the time frame for your response to get back to the school district on what's going on. So the deadline to apply is may first I don't have the rules in front of me but I believe it's either thirty I think it's thirty days. I think the parent has maybe ten days to apply and then we have thirty days to hold a meeting for the appeals to and to hear them we usually have a special meeting in June because we do get a large amount of them so are typical practices special meeting in G. and then if by chance we still have a few that didn't make it in that time frame and then we will do that in July. You're recognized for follow up so the intent is to do similar but these board because our ours local school boards particular notice Arkansas the board or transfers most of them every month and so already but we're handling it on the local level and so now to her to represent Walker's point if you get a denial and you're in the middle of the school year then if that process is in play that's a significant time even for the parent child that are applying. Delay getting answers to that process with that process in place you see what I'm saying right we wouldn't wait till June or July on the sale but that time frame even the clock ticking it off so that's a long tech for an answer when you're the middle school year trying to figure out whether we are schools going or at school district is trying to manage that back home waiting for those clocks to tech so that if your goal if this passes and that goes into playing for the school districts are currently doing that. That is a long time to wait on responses I mean and let's say they don't call special meeting that application gets denied in that right at the end of the week of the meeting they just had then you're waiting another month. And then you could be waiting another month potentially going through that process I just think maybe one look at. Shorten that time frame on the state level this goes you know accordingly that's a long time yeah I don't typically expected to go as long as two months we would always hold it at the next available meeting by law we have to give them sufficient notice and which is usually two weeks fourteen days but a parent could waive that if they were open to having a sooner meeting but if you would like something stated more specifically again that be up to the representative governed by this date for right right not not necessarily. Potentially. Any other questions from committee representative Vaught. Thank you Mr chair and. So my worry is. Parents will get mad at teachers coaches whatever it might be and I'm not up and leave and go to a different school. And have we thought about how they can be jumping back and forth back and forth back and forth on. On this kind of. The way that it's written right now are we worried about. How many times they could be going to afford an asking for a board to and if they get denied due to the fact that it's just because they're disgruntled with their past school they are they go and. Appeal I mean that's a lot of moving pieces right there well they can do that now I know they can get mad and leave again that well the problem is now some of getting matter because they don't get a reason they don't get they don't get to be heard and they don't get any kind of reason it's more of a well because we said so as far as the parent and the student making the petition so it really doesn't change the process except to allow more communication and them another step if they really feel they have been unjustly denied. Thank you for any other questions from committee. Seeing none. I don't believe we have anyone signed up to speak for or against his or anyone the audience will speak for against this bill. The nine. Representative Barker you ready clothes for your bill. Thank you Mr chairman thank you committee again and I know we talk about local control but you can't get any more local than the parent and the student who for whatever reason maybe I don't think we have a lot that will jump around because they're just mad and go to all that trouble I'm not saying they can't but you have foster and adoptive families that have a child come in at a time they cannot control of military families that movie of people that move with jobs that miss the may first deadline so I just really think this just gives them a reasonable due process voice and I would appreciate a good vote and make a motion to pass I have a motion do pass by representative Barker is a member of the committee on house bill sixteen oh four he discussion on the motion. Representative Vaught at thank you again Mister chair so I just think there's so many unanswered things and. That I would I truly do worry about I mean we're asking school boards to do more they don't get paid for Askin supers and I'll come to a board meeting here in Little Rock if they've of if they've actually did not somebody and I'm to me it's like cumbersome I understand the power and power your parent thing I get it but I also have to think about those people at home who have to drive two hours and forty five minutes here two hours and forty five minutes back and and I do worry about that and I don't even know how many kids have actually been expelled denied or denied that we're even having to do this for like is that the overwhelming thing that happens in our state we have all these people who get the night all the time and because they get denied we have to run this legislation or was it a couple of people so those kind of things kind of worry me and it I mean to a representative Walker I mean I totally get what he's saying and I agree with what he's saying so due to those few things I think I'm gonna have to vote no. Representative Dick. Thank you Mr chair I'm having a hard time with this bill because the elements of it are pretty much in practice in most schools in northwest Arkansas to my knowledge and so I I agree with the elements all of it my biggest issues are and that's where my struggle is is the local school districts being able to do that and it's like a tug of war because the parental part I think it is very unfortunate their school districts across the state that are not giving those voices the opportunity to be heard and giving reasons and doing things I think in a professional manner and so I don't I don't know where I am on this bill at this point and that I those are the and it is about a lot of us are having is that local control piece verses the parent peace and is not I I if the issue is Those groups that you talked about whether it's military foster parents and those situations I don't know if maybe. Tightening that piece up might be it to where they get that movement. might be helpful I don't know I think it's a there's a lot of elements I like about this bill so. I'm struggling because there's a few pieces that can concern me so that's a very we entering Discussion for members. Represented by the apple here not but I know always been really agreeable on looking at this stuff and and the obvious you're looking at two different amendments on the other side already and I'm assuming that as some these conversations happen maybe we can continue to see how we can make it more agreeable to the other folks too because I think we all understand the merit in it but I had even thought about the that's a three three a half hour drive for some of the other persistent or might be some ways to make it a little less and cumbersome on people if it has to go to the state level we're about the Little workable there's lot options It's jumping back and forth maybe for athletics will the triple a already has rules in place that prohibit that kind of jumping back and forth just because you know my coach made me mad so now I'm going to move over to this other school or this other schools trying to recruit the best players the And very likely worth the drive to them even if they can't zoom or have that that capacity and yet we know that our schools and our superintendents or administrators they can so would appreciate a good vote. Thank you for all the discussion we have a motion by representative Barker house bill sixteen oh four of those in favor say aye. Opposed no. The ayes have it graduation to pastor bill thank you Mr chairman thank you Committee. Senator McCain your ready. Members will go to Senate bill three sixty one. And members I believe there's an amendment coming around on this. Yeah. Given just a second Senator to just review the amendment. Right Senator Ricky represent Cooper here was going to present if you want to present the amendment will. We'll take that up for consideration. Thank you Mr chair a committee the Arkansas activities association and the association of educational administrators had some concerns on this bill so we had a very productive meeting with them yesterday and develop this amendment this is agreed upon language with both of those workers and organizations. Okay any questions on the amendment. Representative Cozart. Server key so I see that your member looks like it kind of takes it back to some of the old language that we had that you do have to have at least one class of that school this correct. Thank you a representative Cozart yes that this just clarifies the school's ability to attach that student for purposes of funding and programs thank you yes thank you thank you Mr if any other questions. In none representative makes you're recognized. I have a motion by representative makes to adopt the amendment on Senate bill three sixty one a discussion on the motion. None all those in favor of adopting that amendment say aye opposed nay graduation remembers been adopted you're now recognized president Senate bill three sixty one as amended. So committee you're you're familiar with what's called the Tim TiVo law that's been in effect for many years of it requires a three hundred and sixty five day wait for a home schooled student to participate in public school sports. So what what we seen is there's some any qualities here I have a home school student has never participated in public school sports has never set foot in a public school they're still required to wait one year to participate in sports so what we're asking for in this bill is to do away with that one year wait now for a if a home school student has been participating in public school sports or has been taking a class in the public school that when your weight would still remain in effect if they have never stepped foot in a public school never played public school sports than that one your weight would would be taken away and they could start participating medially that's one of the major things This bill does the other addresses the Having to go before the the superintendent of the public school so right now if if public school a does not offer golf. The school be does the home school student has to get permission from the superintendent of public school a if they live in that school district and the permission of public schools superintendent public school B. to play golf and public school B.. So this will take away that requirement to go to the superintendent of the public school district they live in and ask for permission if that public school does not offer that sport it doesn't really make sense to go to your superintendent in the district you live and ask permission to play a sport that that district does not offer. God described that pretty will any anything you need to add on that I think you know I think representative Cooper's done a very good job Basically we just want to clarify some things number one that we're we're not treating home school students differently and then we treat students that moved here from out of state if you moved here from out of state you can Go to a public school in place play sports or do any kind of interscholastic activity immediately home school students even if they've lived in the district their whole lives many times are being told they have to sit out a year before they can play that doesn't make any sense but also if their home school district doesn't offer that activity As representative Cooper said there's really no reason for them to get the permission of their home superintendent when another school district in their area offers that sport or activity and being able to get the permission of that school to participate in those activities we just see is very fair and I want kids to have the opportunity to participate in activities in the same way the public school kids do and this also requires them to meet all the other requirements that public school students have to meet in order to participate in those activities and would be happy to answer any questions. Members any questions for representative Cooper senator Mickey. Representative Vaught you're recognized for a question I think that I think I understand and. They couldn't have been plate they can be home school played a different school on the US fourteen and then. Ghost played another school for a different sport is that what you're saying. Without. The year wait. So if I want to find a home schooled student and I go to grab it and I'm play softball correct if you've been involved in a varsity sport in a varsity sport at one school you have to wait a year before participating in another varsity sport at a different school okay she can't just jump around. Can I ask a follow up please you may thank you what about by hand will ban be covered under this also don't believe band should be looked at as a varsity sport under the same way as football or baseball or basketball thank you. The other questions representative Walker you're recognized. The one six funding I say where it says it they had a state foundation so with the new learns bill the home school students will now start receiving receiving funding So. If the one six funding is coming out of the state foundation funding instead of what the home schooled student is receiving when they're not bear fiscal impact or something there that would affect our state. We we received a fiscal impact and it says No fiscal impact what my bill is is. If making sure them the way that the state funds will be there I don't really know how to ask a question. If I may represent Walker I think that's a good question and first off. If I can just real quick comment on the quality of your chairs. Exquisite chairs down and. Sorry I apologize I meant to say thank you senator week we've been down to the Senate committees we completely understand yes thank you it's it's kind of nice if one comes up missing you'll know where. I think that's an excellent question representative Walker and if if I know anything about schools they they find a way to get their their funding and that was the purpose of our amendment I don't know if that will come down rules promulgation or what but I know that that'll be worked out. The representative long. Your question or motion part time representative Dick. Thank you Mr chair I need some clarification on how this works so I'm a fan of the Tim TiVo we have lots of school children who participate in sports in our area. It's been great and but what I'm not sure I understand is if they first of all the first question is does this sit out a year however works if is that comparable to what if you're living in the school district and you move to a different school district what you have to do yes okay so it's exactly the exact same thing and you can't be in a public school and decide you want to home school for the purpose of jumping to another school to play sport. That makes sense yeah what we have is that this law okay this is it's in the bill so my follow up my additional question on this one was If your school in the district that you reside in Haskell or does doesn't have all and so you want to go to the other school district to do golf where are you for the other sports. If you if this child also does baseball or this child also does basketball what school district are they playing those sports and that's going to be up to those school districts and superintendents obviously if they're home school district offers an activity they would still have to go to their superintendent to get permission to go to the other school district to play in that activity so the in in the case where the school offers the activity they wish to participate in they would have to get permission of all school districts this is this really only touches those instances where a school district does not offer the activity they wish to participate in so I guess my concern with this is I I think there needs to be more clarity on that one the sports world has changed dramatically is changing dramatically in this than the lower schools and and and I and I don't think it's changing for the better in the way things have are growing but my concern is the sport hopping that not to so by children who are wanting to do things for the right reasons but there's lots of people that are going to they're they're going to look for ways for hot in the local school districts. Going back to now what are they having to navigate now in addition to things they did have to have a before so that is specifically addressed here and like we said if if you participated in a varsity sport you cannot jump to another school. Without waiting three and sixty five days to participate in different parts of the sport. Give me one more. So if they. If they what I'm concerned is gonna have a kid who's going to want to I want to thank all taxes what is on offer here. So I go over there and I get my foot in the door over there. And then well my kids over there anyway they know the kids and they will play baseball or how do you make sure that they actually do go play golf where is the accountability piece is on that so I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the jobs that superintendents do and I think that they. I don't think that that would be an issue for them I think that they they feel very comfortable telling students no we offer that sport you can see here. or you don't get a plate and that's reasonable that's reasonable from schools it's reasonable for kids upon a public school now. As we're seeing in Arkansas education is changing right portability is becoming the norm choice is becoming the norm the ability for parents to choose what's best for their kids is becoming the norm we can all look at all the nightmare scenarios of. Parents and students leaping from one school to another I think our our public schools probably have more faith in themselves and that. And now I'm I know that parents can be and reasonable I think every any teacher in the room would agree with that students can be unreasonable but I've great deal faith that that are superintendents will be able to manage that situation and handle those issues when they arise and I think I think the other concerns are addressed in the bill. Representative Charlene Fite you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman will home schooled students under this bill be treated any differently than students can transferring from a private school or from another public school any difference at all I don't believe so obviously. The one of the basic appeals of home schooling is flexibility right but. This says if you come in from a public school if you come in from a private school if you come in from home school and you've been involved in the sport you have to sit out there and sixty five days if you come in and you haven't been we're going to treat you like somebody to moved here from out of state you don't have to sit out that time so I don't I don't believe that treats in many different. Representative to. Thank you Mr chair can public school students do the same thing if they don't have their school they want to go play at the other another school district do they have that ability to do that that would be probably address and other places it's not addressed in this. But as far as you know they are not I don't I don't know. Seeing no other questions we do have one person signed up to speak for the bill Jerry ****. Mister chair I. Thank you Sir for for that. Sir anyone else wants to speak for or against Senate bill three sixty one. Seeing none Gericke ready reserve Cooper close for your bill. I believe were closed for the bill of like I said this amendment address the concerns that triple a and a a E. a had so we know of no opposition at this time. Representative make sure recognized. We have a motion by representative Meeks the motion do pass as amended on Senate bill three sixty one you discussion on the motion. No discussion all those in favor say aye. Pose no. The ayes have it graduations your pastor bill. As amended. Representive wouldn't be ready to run house bill twelve oh five. Thank you Mr chairman chair more destructive of this is a. Zip code is good bill if you will. This bill permits or requires that a private school. Provide transportation it doesn't say whether it's a bus or by and it just says transportation for students. This accept state funding. And live within thirty five miles of the campus but of her lawful law from the governor and from Mr livida regarding the big able to escape from a Cisco and this will provide them a way to do that a lot of the young people that are going to be able to take advantage. Of the larger act. Will have adequate transportation. To be transported to a private school. And that's just simply affords them the opportunity and the school has to provide the transportation for the very clear because the very concise to the point please of legislation and of certainly would be happy to answer any questions. Thank you Sir representative Cozart you're recognized for a question thank you Mr president Wooten does this require the state to provide transportation funding to those private schools to be able to do this. Two no it does not so they would not get funding like all the other schools do for transportation to to move students around so that would not follow the student from that school the may be transferring from to that private school the correct that what you're saying does it does not okay thank you thank you Mr. The other questions representative Vaught. Thank you Mr chair And this may be a question for the chair I don't I don't know do we mandate that public schools is it mandated that a public school provide transportation no valid registration by the school district is not mandate to it is funded by the state but it is not mandated to privilege that is a privilege not a right. But without a whole new ballgame this is all the. We want to help the homeless and we will help them Troughton down against the al the foster care at all those children and they don't have a method to get to work we provided. In public education. Representative Barker. Thank you Mr chair my question was pretty much what representative Vaught passed except that since we don't required by law would we not be asking private. Schools to do something that we don't even ask public schools to do required by law. We do. We provide transportation. The last thing that we don't do that's the point but we don't required by law. That's correct and this would required by law yes it will thank you representative Cozart you're recognized. Represent without I do believe she has a valid point if we if we require this by law to a private school that would mean we would have to turn around required by law to all of our public schools which then puts it in a new different ballgame that you would have to fund that totally different that we fund it now we fund it pretty close I mean I think we're pretty close with are out of. supplemental funding but that means it goes back into a different type of funding set up so I think you're opening up a can of worms that could really cost the state a lot of money I'd I don't dislike your bill I just like that I just dislike the possibilities of what it could calls I think I mentioned that to you yes thank you Mr the. Representative Hodges you're recognized thank you stir representative vote not just curious you've got thirty five miles in the bill could you just explain where you came up with that number. The Senate reasonable. The other questions from committee. Seeing no other questions anyone who in the audience who would like to speak for or against the bill. Seeing none representative Wooten ready clothes for your bill. I just love it. We've we've had a lot of discussion about the state be required to state not the required we're doing all things different education personnel manager private schools. At the present time we pay and transport those students to. Public schools. Now they have an opportunity to go to a private school. So they should have the opportunity to have transportation provided for. It's equal treatment. On the school Stempel. But I'm no fool all recognize where we are and. But here here again of thank of roster wrong's wrong and I think we're. Perpetrating our own here against people that are not only able to the for themselves of the private schools if we can get there. Thank you Mr the clothes for your bill thank you Committee yes what is will the committee. Representative Duke you're recognized. I have a motion do pass by representative Duke on house bill twelve oh five the discussion on the motion representative. thank you Mr chair I appreciate your bring in this bill and I understand the point that you're making I I think you deserve a motion so I'll give you a motion I can't support the bill right now what is the point that I've been make in in these conversations because I know in our area a lot of kids who might be able for themselves school choice are not gonna be able to transport themselves and their families are going to be as well and that super unfortunate and it's a conversation that we're going to need to have and I hope these private entities will have as well because. They they need to be given that opportunity to but that they're they're not going to be able to and so I appreciate you bringing you know that issue to the front and hopefully we'll see those entities step up and and meet that on their own but I I'm not I can't vote for the bill but I I want I want to give you a motion for the opportunity for us to discuss it and. Represent Cozart you're recognized hello that. I've got to say please give over the bill I like your I like your idea but I think it's going to really cause some problems that we've got a work out before we actually run a bill I think it's something we could probably put an interim study and work on this bill but I think if we if we passed we will pass this bill I can just about guarantee it but I can't say that I'm not just one vote but I will be of no vote because I believe it does have a lot of consequences. Any other discussion. C. nine we have a motion by representative do motion do pass on house bill twelve oh five all those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Nays have it sorry representative will your bill has failed. Thank you. The members we've got a couple more we need to try to get today sent a message representative Payton is across the hall waiting to see if I get him over here. He's across the hall and see Judiciary Committee of getting are no yes it is a national issue across all. The number of Thursday. Thank you just visiting. Senator English nice to have you here with us today. Thank you. And according and according to senator Mickey we have very nice chairs to. U. S. as chair of Senate you might wanna work on that. Coming. Okay Senator Payton is tied up on the bill. We have Senate bill three sixty nine senator Dotson. In back. And we also have Senate bill three sixty five Senator Irvin she was ready. Members thank you for your patience with us as we draw down towards the end of session we're trying to get as many things through the committee process as possible. Members just to give you a heads up also. So we will plan we will be meeting Thursday at nine thirty we as you see from the agenda we have several bills to try to get through I know there's some additional bills that were filed yesterday that were not on the agenda today so they are those will be going on the agenda today for Thursday and we also could have Senate bills coming down from that it's not on the agenda today so we are going to plan to meet Thursday at nine thirty we're gonna knock out everything we can knock out if we can't get through everything that we will need to come back upon adjournment Thursday afternoon and finish those up I would like to have everything out of committee by the end of business on Thursday that way everybody has a fair opportunity for the bill to work through the process specially but house bill is going to have to go down to the Senate next week we want to make sure everything has the opportunity to go through. Senator Dotson. Thank you Mr chair I am. Ran right over here. I found out about. The my name called I'm assuming we're talking about Senate bill three sixty nine just. There. I believe there's an amendment there is an amendment being passed around okay excellent. All I will Briefly. Just talk about the amendment changes section four only in the bill actually change the title to to align the the title of the bill with section four. But it changes some of the references in regards to the computer science language in section four and more than happy to try to Discuss it more in depth in detail once the amendment is adopted if. If anybody would like to. Ask questions about the amendment of the members shall be just a moment to look over the amendment. Thank you. This is amendment number. This first amend this is the first house amendments referred house amendment. Members. Sir does any any other comments you want to make all the amendment just regarding the amendment this amendment once adopted will make the bill match SP four seventy so if you want to see the bill as it would be engrossed you can look up SB four seventy and and the the two bills will be identical language. Once amendments adopted okay members representative makes a leave you have a question on the amendment. Thank you senator good to see on this and other object so on on the The Amendment are you say that the Division of career technical education they shall establish the minimum criteria by which a computer science course shall be set up are they the kind of the. Experts on. Creating that criteria are or why them versus like the department of education or somebody else's carriers well they're they're part of the overall department of education so but they are the experts as you say on the current technical education aspects of Of the current technical education so so yeah it it it. Made sense to make that housed within that and working with the various stakeholders to make this bill is implementable as possible conversations with them I mean this language was developed also with department of education it administrator CT coordinators various folks to try to make sure that this language worked and then could be implemented as as smoothly as possible all right thank you. Representative Cozart your question. Senator Dotson said so you've amended this bill to put this language and he sent out merits for seventies I mean you will abandon for seventy yeah if we pass this out there's no need to pursue force and effect you that was your questions well any other questions on the amendment. Seeing none anyone want to speak for or against the amendment. C. nine. President of Dotson close for the amendment because for the moment appreciate a good vote. Represent Cozart motion do pass on the amendment all those in favor say aye opposed no regulations or amendment has passed. Yeah may present Senate bill three sixty nine as amended. Thank you thank you members of the committee Senate bill three sixty it does several things and I'll get section for in the amended part a little bit more in depth in detail when we get there but this bill has really the result of conversations with constituents regarding workforce education and some of the barriers are students who are facing when choosing to take career technical education pathways really at the end the day this bills about options and opportunities for students the goal with the bill is to ensure that our career and technical education students achievements are deems just as significant as are college bound students so. The the three main things number one this bill requires the Division of career and technical education in section two to review new and existing career technical pathways for weighted credit so the requirements for students who have previously been approved for with a credit in CTE courses prior to this bill will still receive would credit where the where the form is already been approved that that language is that in section five at the very end of the bill just to make sure since there's going to be a little bit of a modification on how the weighted credit. Currently is to how will be would be credited afterwards the section five of the bill just make sure that they maintain any weighted credit they've already earned number two this requires the in section three of the bill requires the credentialed. The credentials received from ACT work keys the in C. R. C. examination which is platinum gold silver bronze to be used by an institution of higher education as transcriber will credit towards gaining postsecondary technical degrees and then finally in section four. This allows for flexibility within the computer science requirement to allow career and technical education pathways the opportunity to fill fulfill the credit by taking a computer science related course really expanding on that computer science requirement and making sure that the computer science requirement if the students not taking a pathway that still requirement but if they are taking a pathway to make sure that the computer science requirement fits within their career and technical education pathway I believe I'll stop there and just take questions and. Representative makes recognized for a question Mr. So I obviously I think all of us around the the table here understand the importance of computer and computer and computer literacy and in our modern life and death or changing some of the requirements here on the current code so just to make sure I'm wrapping my head around or trying to do here so a student for example that was going to go on architecture would maybe say take courses on computer aided drafting related to their field versus learning how to code Java script or a Nurse nurses nursing student would learn how to do coating on medical transcription for example versus learning how to do coding or so what we're what we're doing is we're just tailoring it towards. What their specialization S. correct okay all right that's what I needed thank you. Representative back you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr so the development of these computer related courses those would be done by the department of education and approved by the department of education yeah the specifically Division of career and technical education thank you Department. The representative. Thank you Mr chair so I need some clarity on if they do not take a career tech class where that spilled into but my understanding is is not adding an additional standards for them in that class if they don't take one of those then they are still required to take a computer science class is that still mandated or is that not mandated so the requirement as it's expanded if if you look at the amendment it's probably easiest to look at if you don't have the SP four seven in front of you if you look at the new language in there where it says the requirement to take a high school computer science the new language says or computer related career and technical education course so the requirement is for the CTE course computer science fulfills that requirement but so does any other pathway as long as it has the computer related aspect within that which the that related aspects will be defined by the Division of current technical education. Representative when. Thank you Mr chair Arkansas has made a huge leap here recently with all of our computer classes and jump in the number one in the nation with all of that we've seen a lot of benefits from that my concern would be is what are we doing to make sure that any new courses don't drop us or or I don't they water down but let's just say water down the he of and take us backward because we've we've made so many great strides here recently and really have a solid foundation built what a syringe is do we have that any of these new courses would not take us in a different direction and hold a moment of but I think. Just in a broader sense what is the goal of education and in my mind the goal of education is insure we have students that are being well equipped for life and. Particularly with regards to CT for the work force and so as students are going through their career and technical education pathway if they don't have a I mean we we have throughout our K. through eight standards right now correct computer science and bedded within the courses so exposure to these types of courses in Arkansas schools is. Is extremely high. Now once they get into high school making sure they're trying to decide what pathway there on and making sure that that pathway they can have time to take their do their credentials get get their certifications in whatever industry they are and that their education pathway aligns with what they're going to be doing later on that's the goal of this bill is to ensure that that someone who is you know if they're on a computer science pathway to do coding and and things like that then of course and they're not just gonna stop with one class they're going to have that throughout multiple classes all the way throughout but if they're not necessarily going for that particular realm they need to have computer science because technology is in everything we do they need to have that as part of their specific pathway whether it be nursing or whether it's welding or some other pathway they might not be. Geared toward coding or Java script or whatever it happens to be as far as their their career long term but they are going to be using some type of computer the digital literacy component is going to be important for them throughout so that's the goal of this is to make sure that those students that are not necessarily going on that pathway to become a computer engineer they they have Still. General digital literacy component of their education but they're also getting the certifications they need in order to be successful in life once they graduate. Representative Charlene Fite you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair senator Johnson you may have said this and I just missed it was this brought to you by an organization or a teacher or a school our yeah this is the. Local constituents in schools around northwest Arkansas that are very involved in career and technical education and some of the barriers that they have faced with some of the requirements we've put on them the mandates that we put on them in getting their students actually through with the certifications that they need. The the two components of the bill the weighted credit was very important to them but then also making sure that the the computer science requirement blended in with the career and technical education pathway that students were on and and the workforce training and they were trying to accomplish. No other questions from committee we do have slike five signed up to speak against the bill. We will start with Alison Nicholas. You will introduce yourself for the record and then you may begin your testimony well. A good morning everyone my name is Alison Nicholas I'm director of recruiting and the Toba I want to give you look at my history because my remarks reflect on my background and experience here in Arkansas my experience with recruiting technology to help began in nineteen ninety five when I became director or misli manager of college recruiting it also corporation the letter team of the recruiters from Jacksonville Florida to Pennsylvania and I also then transition to acting corporation where I lead culture creating for axing for many years and I nineteen nothing two thousand fifteen hi to everyone first Ryan as director of recruiting and I curly horse course hold hold hold the role of director of recruiting the Toba. I have had the opportunity to see Arkansas talent for many many years I have served on committees both with computer science and CT. I have spent time with the east initiative a project lead the way developing academic curriculum of for ours for our communities throughout the state of Arkansas so I know of the effort that the state has made to make the computer science initiative and technology related telling initiatives very very important high priority I think a lot of pride in being number one as as a state when it comes to computer science and I recognize the hard work that our state is made all of you all of us in this room I'm I'm advocating that you continue to support the requirement for computer science course for all students. I have nothing against city and what they do in the great work they do but I do advocate significantly more in this for this purpose to retain that course. I remember times before this requirement from that that the computer science students were in a different honors programs in the State of Arkansas or they were in high schools where they were industry directly influencing the curriculum of those high schools. And And they were very difficult to find and so the leadership of the companies I work for create initiatives that reach into public schools for pipeline talent of the east initiative project lead the way another initiatives I was a part of the high school programming contest the statewide collegiate programming contest and today I'm heading on a set of Friday and Saturday to the hackathon at the university of Arkansas sample I spent my time thinking about computer science is one thing that I'm very passionate about I encourage you And I plead to you not to make this decision to drop computer science from the curriculum and give every pocket Arkansas students the opportunity to take a class I guarantee that they are not necessarily going to be coders. I've seen the students in every aspect of my experience they become makers they become artists they become doctors and lawyers but they do have a much stronger foundation understanding what computer science is and they have the opportunity to see what it looks like what the opportunities are check to be T. to tell you that are sensitive using A. I. and all kinds of tools resource in the future. We will be using it very quickly and their homes and in the public school systems So I encourage you think about that **** drastic change their taking place in our state important to our families or individuals are teachers are employers all work together to to create a common bond and move forward to help our part our state be challenger event the pipeline is so critical my competitors Arkansas employers but more specifically they are nationwide in their international the region to our state all the time to review our talents. virtually I work from home in Conway everyday which I'm very grateful for to be able to be home based on working in a toga but met because of cold and because of the opportunity that are committee employees have the reaching to our communities and our talent some of which will stay in their homes and make great money as we all do. but they will also take our town away from us. I have the opportunity to work for work through the common chamber of commerce the Arkansas Economic Development Commission I've helped recruit employers to our state the moment when I said in Conway listen to these employers talk about Arkansas and the computer science talent they asked me how could axiom. Bill the cost of building organization and Conway and do this so successfully suppressed so many years and I was very easily be able to say we have a leadership it out for him who believed and gave resource and time the more specifically we recruited and create pipeline will use Arkansas schools to make universities to make that happen. It's happening today Taison Walmart and manufacturing farming and cry they're all benefiting from computer science in the state. I just have a hard time understanding why one course requirement would create this challenge I ask you to consider and reconsider adding and requiring the opportunity for all Arkansas students to have access to computer science I thank you for your time appreciate all you do we support this initiative thank you thank you Mr close any questions from committee. See now thank you for your testimony today next wishes to speak against is Lee Watson. You'll identify yourself for the record and you may begin your testimony. We Watson CEO forge Institute. Thank you Mr chairman and members of the committee for the opportunity to address you this morning on the importance of keeping computer science as a one credit graduation requirements and ensuring the requirement meet the computer science standards I want to thank the committee for all of the work you're doing to advance access to and improve education across Arkansas. I served on the computer science task force a very proud to have been invited by the administration to do that I've also started or invested in dozens of businesses in the state all of them rely upon computer science skills and is miss Nicholas mention it's not just those individuals that write the code. The bill presumes the computer science is just another career pathway walk holding skills might lead to specific software development jobs computer science is much broader. Computer science skills are critical thinking logical reasoning problem solving data analysis and so much more it is not as representative makes it may have been a learning to just about learning how to use the CAD software. It's about equipping future citizens with the basic literacy to interact in a world where everything from the cars we drive to the machines that harvest crops or manufacture widgets everything is a computer. Keeping the one credit CS requirement is fundamental to ensuring that every student has been provided access to this basic education on how the machines work this is critical to equipping a workforce that understands how the machine's use data and how to protect that data. A core component of data privacy and protection and cyber security also a subdomain of computer science. There are over seven hundred thousand open jobs in the US and that number's growing to three point four million just in cyber security. We do not have the talent pipeline or the tech literate workforce needed to combat the growing risks posed by cyber criminals and nation state adversaries who seek to disrupt degrade and damage our critical infrastructure that we rely on and steal the intellectual property the drives our economy. Computer science is driving the most significant technological advancement in decades on par with the invention of the computer and the internet I'm talking about artificial intelligence or a are. Advancements in A. I. powered by advanced computational algorithms is expected to impact. Eighty percent. Of jobs in the United States. Every sector of our economy from agriculture to manufacturing small business and start ups along main street will be disrupted in one way or the other. And we can't even begin to and to protect the kinds of new jobs that tomorrow is going to require. Our national security and national economic security are intrinsically tied to our ability to forge a work force with basic literacy in computer science. By the time the graduation requirements set in this year over ninety four percent of schools figured out how to meet the requirements. Sixty eight percent of our schools have at least one certified teacher. Forty three percent. Of the students enrolled this year our girls. This is incredible. The schools are figuring it out. If a school or to has challenges implementing this mandate I believe the department of education would be happy to work with to identify all of the options that are at their disposal. Computer science is not a career pathway. It's part of every single aspect of our world how can we let a student graduate high school without access to this basic education. If we do we're not preparing them for the world which they are entering. Thank you Mr chairman. Watson any questions for. Watson. Seeing none thank you for your testimony Sir thank you. next is Sandra liderman barman. You'll identify yourself for the record you may begin your testimony I'm standard item in. thank you Mr chairman for allowing me to be here today I am a licensed K. twelve teacher and cyber security educator in Little Rock I have a bachelor's degree in middle school math and science education a masters in digital teaching and learning and I'm a dissertation defense away from a PhD in mathematics education I am here today read to respectfully ask that you vote no on SB three sixty nine. Your designs as part of every industry in Arkansas and is the number one source of all new wages in the US numerous studies show that computer science students do better at reading and math the Arkansas computer science initiative has been successful here in the state and as a model for other states just over fifty percent of all high schools offer a basic computer science course nationwide but ninety four percent of Arkansas high schools offer this computer science course. This ranks Arkansas third in percentage of high schools offering computer science behind Maryland and South Carolina only computer science I think it has a the stigma and People don't fully understand it's not just a coding class were in it we we don't take this class just to learn how to write a program or learn Java script it's it teaches problem solving it teaches how digital technologies work it teaches cyber security skills at a greater understanding of how big data should be used properly. The sponsors of this bill a state that these bills provide more flexibility for students to engage in other CTE pathways well under Arkansas's current graduation requirements flexibility is not a problem. A computer science concurrently me to students fourth math requirement their third science requirement or one of six already required required career focus credits there's plenty of opportunity within the C. T. E. courses and pathways for computer science. Well the bills do still include an option for computer science as a CT io course the problem is that it is not available in every school that is not an option for every student the only way to ensure every school does what it should which is to provide these opportunities for their students is to require that the school ensures every student has a computer science credit before graduation taught by a licensed computer science teacher I do understand that some schools claim it's difficult to hire and keep a computer science teacher well at two state to that I say so is finding a calculus instructor so do we drop calculus from high school to I mean in the same mindset is this bill not everybody needs calculus either and I say that as I'm about to get my PhD in mathematics education set. if either of these bills are passed it takes away opportunities for students in smaller rural communities which are some of the very students that need more opportunities not less. Many federal agencies have invested money into the Arkansas computer science and cybersecurity education including the National Security Agency the department of defense department of homeland security department of energy and the department of workforce development recently the state of Arkansas invested nearly a million dollars an increase in the number of high school teachers enrolled in the national cyber security teaching academy the NCTA is a two point four million dollar multistate multi year program designed to increase the number of high school cyber security teachers nationwide under the national programme only three Arkansas teachers were selected but with the additional state funding there are currently thirty seven Arkansas teachers enrolled in the program. Cyber security is an essential part of computer science as our world becomes increasingly digital and connected the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated from personal identity theft of corporate data breaches the threats we face are real and ever present by offering cyber security within the computer science courses Arkansas can be well placed to help prepare students for the challenges they will face in the twenty first century workforce computer science and cybersecurity courses will provide students with the foundation in the principles and skills including threat analysis risk assessment and network security the also learn the practical skills such as identifying preventing malware protecting personal information and securing networks introducing students early in this field may inspire them to pursue careers in cyber security or related fields this can help address the current shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals and prepare students for success in a dynamic and fast changing industry we should be doing more to prepare to fill this is shortage of qualified computer science professionals not less Arkansas is one of seven states that requires computer science the graduate twenty seven more are required to offer it just last week North Dakota became the first state in the nation to require cyber security and how. I fear that with the removal of the computer science requirement many schools will ought to eliminate the program to save money eliminating computer science in our high schools is disadvantageous to the future Arkansas workforce and the economy the lack of cyber security professionals has become a matter of national security and eliminating the computer science mandate will be detrimental to Arkansas and our nation as a whole. Thank you. Thank you Mr liderman any questions from the committee. Seeing none we appreciate your testimony today thank you. Next to speak against the bill. Anthony one. Stubblefield identify yourself for the record and you may begin your testimony. Thank you chairman at eleven and committee my name is Anthony one semi automated recognized me I didn't have this much here last time addresses committee the governor wasn't governor Hutchinson wasn't a big fan of the beard so I great after I went on to other pursuits I did serve as Arkansans computer science director for under governor Hutchinson for the past eight years so I did build this initiative I'm very familiar with that and intimately familiar with all the ins and outs of it someone to try to stay out the weeds but I'm happy to answer questions I now represent co dot org as a senior director of state government affairs and also the president of the national computer science advocacy coalition. So I've been sent back there taking some notes I had prepared remarks but I'm going to just kinda answer some of the questions and go through some high points because the the eggs testifies before me hit a lot of the data that I was going to I do want to just reiterate before I start that has been said each time computer science is not just programming it is so much more we are currently one of seven states that have a graduation requirement in place for computer science and nineteen more are considering it so representative representative wing I think asked a question about it being watered down us losing our position this will definitely make us lose our position as leading the nation in this area so. And as was mentioned North Dakota was the most recent one just last week signing that into effect the Senate bill three sixty nine in the amendments adopted by the Senate would does say that it's a computer science related course however it does not define what that means and as I brought up was Senator Dotson your state who's been so gracious to sit down with us and discuss this I just we're not going to see eye to eye on this because we see it as a reduction in computer science education cross Arkansas what I mention him your stay is under this current wording a typing class could be computer science related. If the C. T. self so decided also I want to point out because I know we have a lot of rule representatives on this committee this bill actually makes it harder for students in CTE courses to get waited credit than non CTE courses by requiring the students to take and pass an industry certification online to that pathway that is not required on the non C. T. side and further my question is this bill does not mandate that the schools has to pay for those industry certifications so what this bill is going to do is going to create it a disproportionate impact of poor students and poor school districts not being able to access the weighted credit for CTE courses because they can't afford industry certifications online we're you're richer districts are going to be paying for that and a representative Dotson mentioned Northwest Arkansas I'm new with this bill came from because a lot of the arguments made in that were made before I left. There were certain schools up there that did not like that we had adopted nine over nine courses for weighted credit and CS in that other city areas didn't have that many options my response was going to argue form make the courses more rigorous make the courses more relevant and you can bring it before committee there is already a system in place to get waited credit we did it for over nine courses and CS this bill will undo that work it will take and what I think the real purpose of that is is to put C. S. back on equal lower footing with other C. T. areas because certain schools want to recruit students into their premier programs that have other weighted credit approvals. So if you have more questions about that I'll I'll get into that but I'll just leave it there for now. CS has many options in Arkansas there are over fifty five courses that Arkansas has that already counts for the computer science graduation requirements everything from programming of course but to artificial intelligence and machine learning to robotics to networking to computer engineering there are many options for students to take already Senator mentioned and I want to reiterate that this is not a flexibility issue. Arkansas allows a CS credit to stand in place of the fourth match requirement that's already in place the third science requirement and we as a state have six work call career focus requirements but in jazz are in in reality they are actually just elective credits that students can do whatever they want to with so this the existing requirement can replace any of those three students still have an opportunity to complete CT pathways of three credits that's basically what a city pathway is three courses under existing structure and leave the computer science requirement in place. I want to share with you you all should have this I believe was handed out. if this is an opposition letter joint opposition letter and you have the signatures and on page three you have the organizations that are opposing this now more details at the back but I will add since this meeting has begun that both the state chamber of commerce which Mr look I think it's here to testify against this bill also has come out in opposition they have not been added to this but will be and then I receive confirmation via email that excel in excel an ad who was the pusher of are behind in a large aspects supporter in large aspect of the Arkansas learns Act is in opposition to this bill and nobody is more about school choice I think that Exelon had so and so and opportunities for students so the the idea that this expands opportunity is is not correct this is going to actually reduce the amount of C. S. in Arkansas it's going to reduce the amount of opportunities for students to take C. as in Arkansas because it will not require schools to provide these opportunities as I said once before just because I'm items listed on a menu at a restaurant doesn't mean anything if there's not ingredients are chef to cook it we're taking away the ingredients on the shelf. I also want to state that we have come far multiple times with governor Huckabee Sanders office that their office is neutral on this bill. So that said I think I'll just stop there because I think the other testimony testimony was compelling and welcome any questions. Thank you Mr in any questions for the witness. C. nine thank you for being here today on your testimony last one signed up to speak against the bill a Randy Zook. Although you need no introduction if you would bless yourself for the record twenty seven Arkansas state chamber of commerce. The the previous test fires have all been eloquent in their expressions of how critical this bill really is. I just wanna make a point from the standpoint of employers and who are desperate for talent in nearly every sector of the economy. We are constrained today by the lack of talent in this would be a terrible. misdirection of efforts to create talented prepared competitive employees for every business in the state we need to. Step on the gas if anything in the area of computer science to prepare our young people for competitive opportunities in a global economy that is only going to become or is becoming more complex by the day if not by the hour it would be a vote just a a real loss of momentum to back away from our current requirement. Many of time for kids to get all the credits in the world that they need whether they're CT or conventional classes we as an organization or. More than neck deep in efforts to improve the amount and quality of career and technical it provided by the K. twelve and postsecondary systems it's critical to our members to be able to survive much less compete and thrive to have a talent pipeline that is full and robust and effective so with that I just urge you to vote against the bill it is a step backwards on something that we are. proudly and appropriately recognized as is being cutting edge and this would dull the knife the blade to say the least so with that I'd be happy to take any questions I appreciate your time appreciate the attention to the issue it's a very important issue and you're done some really important things all the I was I was thriving I'll take I'll take a moment to per privileges and I was thrilled to see representative Lundstrum bill passed earlier the these are some terrific things that you're addressing and and helping us become even more competitive than we are today so thank you very much for all your efforts on this have a take any questions representative flowers you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman Mr cirque I took a class a computer class when discourse floppy. I can give the the decade but other people to say it was a decades ago I remember card you senator flowers there you go thank sacks of decks there you go and so when we did pass this requirement I think that it was an and did it first in the nation obviously it's something that we've heard today that put us forward economically and academically but I'm wondering if you could give us obviously you don't you didn't come with a lot of data but you have your finger on the pulse in terms of the economy and jobs can you give us some idea as as to what Industry hiring in and out of the state our pool has looked like since since we passed that. And maybe even what kind of feedback you get about the state what I don't have any data on on the number of graduates or anything along that line I have heard in a please don't hold me to this but I understand we've got over nearly eight hundred teachers that have been certified as computer science teachers across the state and more. Getting that that certification each year and we've got thousands of students who are taking or have taken computer science classes who certainly wouldn't have five six eight ten years ago so the pipe of the point is the pipeline is filling up. It's impossible to say anything about a particular sector that's not dependent on. Paluma computer fluent computer competent employees it is everything from healthcare to agriculture to manufacturing to transportation to construction to government to log to the it It surrounds us and everyone of us is carrying more computer power around today than than we put on the moon when we first made the moon shot so. That's not going to slow down if anything it's going to xcelerated with artificial intelligence coming in and all these cybersecurity challenges. I don't know how many of you have heard about ransomware but but it's it's incredibly. Threatening to every organization of any kind and and society today I mean people can literally take over your business and we've had businesses have to pay a seven figure ransoms to get. Their data back in to get their business back after it's been been pirated or stolen by some guy and you know who's back expand or some god awful place. who is able to you know. Just just blow up a business One of our wholesale liquor dealers missile you talk about a climate crisis. When a wholesale liquor dealer has to shut down deliveries because they can't they can't operate their their systems we had people really uncomfortable after just about three or four five days of that businesses failure to deliver product. With good calls Anyone just a quick follow up what what are met and it's just and I know that our students are still in the pipeline in terms of getting out but it and I'm I'm just wondering. As you recruit and if you engage in businesses as as members of the chamber. Have you seen or heard how this is impacted our economy how this is impacted jobs business starts and that kind of thing once we pass that that's what I meant I'm so I think the only really obvious ones or the is the group the only obvious one is the growth of of really computer centered businesses like apogee and and First Orion and axiom and the whole cluster of businesses up in northwest and northeast as well but the the whole idea of of people being able to work from distance based on internet access and computer capability is is a is a as I'm. As a director is is a thing that's going on and remit incredible speed and is and making it more and more possible for people to to live in Melbourne and and they are you know of some kind of work team in Seattle that happens today that happens all over the state happens all over the country I don't like it but it's happening you know I have I have I have half my team works remotely and I keep saying what do you mean you work remotely. You got to be in the office but that's just an overview so anyone representative Charlene Fite you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair this is the queue mentioned representative Lundstrum the bill do you see that it might have an impact on this that we could if we're having a problem getting a teacher for a short period of time with the specific computer skill we can hire someone or bring someone from a local business to provide that service there's no question about that ten thousand dollar tax credit or twenty thousand for a company in a limited a year it's of is a very that's a rifle shot that's exactly what we need. Our. But it's not just a computer people is diesel technology instructors trying to hire a diesel tech to come to school for fifty thousand dollars a year. if if if a diesel tax not making six figures he's staying at home a lot or she is but the law business academy greenway equipment company is putting their top diesel instructor in that facility half days to train kids to come out a twenty four at a time and that's that's high tech strategic. Really well directed legislation. Recognized thank you thank you just follow up with that I was just thinking in relation to the problems that we're having that were mentioned earlier about some areas not being able to get the instruction that they need in this in the specific skills with computer at do you feel it would help with that. Absolutely will remain I can't imagine as many competent computer experts as there are in Northwest Arkansas that are gravidarum gentry or whoever couldn't get somebody on a part time basis or zoom it is virtually. Mr thank you very much for thank you very much I appreciate by one state was represented Beck yes Sir. Thank you Mr chairman of. Just maybe some clarification points of. I am very pro computer science with her testimony today that. Boasting actually that we've now have fifty five different courses in our schools. But yet. We're all offering computer related courses for so there is that you're dead I'm I'm sure you want to recruit people to and and you need people hiring them we're trying to set that career path or saying he can take his computer related courses and by the way if you want to take the this one these other fifty five you can certainly do that too if it's available in your school. But yet you made a statement that this would be watering down and telling the blade where is the data that you're that you're using to come up with that is that just a personal opinion it's just a personal opinion okay thank you. I see no other questions the commission check my testimony. That's all that is signed up to speak for or against representatives to give me Senator Dotson. Reddy close for your bill. Yes Sir Mr members committee thank you very much I just want to make a couple of points just wrap up here one thing that I forgot to mention before the current CS requirement that is in state law. Because of it being the written the way it is it it's a state requirement so it does not qualify for any type of federal funding. where most current technical education courses do so by making this available there's something called Perkins funding that would allow for More flexibility for districts to help pay for discourse requirement at once this word to pass Correct K. through eight there's a lot of exposure for computer science. They're embedded throughout so kids hopefully by the time they get to the eighth grade if they're choosing a career pathway CTE pathway then and they're going for computer science are gonna be heavily focused on that but if they're if they're not and they're focused on some other career pathway then it still needs to be I I I totally agree it needs to be part of their their educational experience throughout their career and technical education time in school and their certifications because they're gonna be using computers throughout but it doesn't have to be a specific career at computer science course you need to be related and that digital literacy component and then. It it it was mentioned that computer science is kind of like a menu you know if you have a menu will you have lots of. Options an opportunity on a committee on what you want to eat but when we mandate something that's like making sure that everybody eats pizza before they eat anything else on the menu no I love pizza I love Creek computer science I mean I'd. I've got lots of technology devices but it's not necessarily going to be applicables to every single meal. Every single day for every single person not everybody always likes it that's kinda demonstrated by the fact that ninety three percent of students after they take one computer science class they don't continue on that later on they they're not doing a career pathway and that. If it's mandated they do this they have to do it but if you have a ninety three percent interest rate they don't necessarily have the aptitude to continue on in that Basically wrap up this bill better equip students in their chosen pathway to develop the computer or digital literacy pertaining to the careers that they want students still have abundant opportunities to participate in computer science. But this bill doesn't change that it does allow though for the flexibility. To learn computer skills and relevant to their specific pathway and with that I'm closed appreciate a good vote. Thank you senator Dotson. He per the testimony Will committee. Representative back you're recognized motion to pass motion do pass by representative back any discussion on the motion. Representative Wayne I just wanted maybe somebody can help me with this but as we have listened to the debate and a lot of comments made I I I recognize that. Arkansas is number one in computer science education I I like being number one an adult I don't want to do anything to to jeopardize that I love career technical education I think what we're doing CT is also very important fundamental to our next generation I just want to see it come at the expense of our computer science courses and and and the amazing headway anytime Arkansas does something educationally that takes us to the top of the heap of the nation I think that's something we want to protect with everything that we can and so those are some of the concerns I have I love the the opportunity of and an additional options for C. T. E. Avenue gosh I'd I'd love it if we had a the course that mandated basic auto and home repair and certainly income taxes as well but but I. But I do think that what we've got going with computer science has been and has seen market results in our state so I just I worry about that the direction we might be going if we allow some of these courses to be drop down to as little as fifty percent. The other discussion on the motion. Representative back. Thank you Mr. We've heard that there's time right you know the which they can do their career paths and they could take the computer science classes hello we'll several people testified that that's that's true. So. We're not closing anything down here thank you there's to pass here or they could they could do the computer science and they can do this career path on what we're what we are doing is putting a computer think of it as we're looking at is like it's either this or this and that's just not the case I want both right I can take a computer science class and I could take a computer science related class that is. Related to the path that I have chosen this is why choose I want both both of our good we could do both that's what this thing does all right now. The we've heard people say that well this could be nothing more than a keyboarding class or something I'm I'm I'm I'm a little bit off on that but but what who set up the so to computer science classes. So the same group will be helping with the eggs that set this up so that we're not watering anything down here we're taking something amber pinpointing as a computer science major. I've taken a lot of questions by the way I did cards also. And the but it is a computer science major I took lots of different languages some the language were related to business Sullivan related to more technical fields and so more compiler type options. I've programmed in schools I'm asking you have programmed in my field for robotics I written large programs re written large programs that written by major corporations as far as from a robotic sample I've done I've done these things in the these are different skills these are different task and to be able to allow someone to take those additional classes that are more related to the feel that they want when I was in school I took more compiler construction type classes because I was interested in the robotics aspects of things so why not have one I have it were student could have both if you shut this down if we if we if we if we vote this down right now what's going to happen is they those other classes will not be available for those and and see T. he complete course because we'll never be developed so I'm saying passes out here I I as I mentioned work with I'll will work with the Department and and. Anyone as far as making sure these are good classes related to the path and that there there addition to what other other classes I think that's the way that we should go about this Again because I'll I'll decide because we have both sides is that when someone says chooses or chooses I want both we can do both we can do about this one is not taking away from the other anyway. Tom I appreciate and I'll be voting yes. Any further discussion from committee. I have a motion a representative flowers. I would just like to piggy back on what representatives wing and represent Beck said I I mentioned earlier that I had a computer class a long long time ago I also had shop classes and I'm pretty handy because of that I also had a typing class which led to me getting a lot of jobs that I needed to get through school and support myself while I was in school the and I would say I'm I'm real clear about what those opportunities from school lead to because I'm not a plumber but I sure can't find one in my city and in my region and and we need that so to representative backs point I would say I want all of it to And I don't think that getting all of it is mutually exclusive however we have heard from experts who have told us. Very emphatically including the person who started our computer science curriculum and program in this state that this will water it down that it will take us away from our position is number one and I'll just Coleman eight robin my remarks by saying we also heard from Randy Zook who told us emphatically what that will do to our standing and our our pool and you know when Randy's work and I can be an excited agreement then you better believe that it's good for the state and we ought to go in that direction so with that I would say at this time I would vote no and hope that we can get legislation that addresses the opportunities separate and apart from the course that a requirement that exists right now thank you. Members any other discussion. Seeing none I have a motion on the floor by representative back. motion do pass as amended on Senate bill three sixty nine all those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Days have it are your bill is not passed. Hi members hang with me we've got two more that we need to do here today got Senator Payton in the room Sir Irvine in the room and we need to get their bills heard so Senator Payton procedure patients. You'll introduce yourself although you need no introduction Pylades yourself for the record. Thank you Mr members the committee John Payton senate district twenty two Senate bill two sixty two. As far as I know still has no opposition it's come to the Senate but many of you that will remember the winner school district case of many years ago there was a number have debt of three hundred and fifty students and and the idea was that if the school had less than three hundred and fifty students I couldn't operate efficiently we closed a lot of rules schools in Arkansas Malmo motor being one of them my district is riddled with empty school houses where it was closed because they had less than three hundred and fifty students and Many of those schools were academically and fiscally sound when they were closed of I like to tell people that when they closed Wilbur school it was the only school in the county that was operating in the black. And had academically achieving students of course those of us that were here during the winter case we know that that school was was very high academically so the bottom line is this bill seeks to eliminate that three hundred and fifty students arbitrary number I don't think consolidation has made education any cheaper or better of if anybody has that that I'd be willing to look at it but I haven't seen education get cheaper better with consolidation we don't have any schools currently under three hundred and fifty so the fiscal impact zero but I do have a lot of superintendents and and people's school administrators in my district where they only have three seventy five four hundred students and they have a real concern about school choice. Dipping into their Dipping into their enrollment and putting them under the three fifty number so this bill does preserve the right for school district to voluntarily consolidate if there under three fifty but it does take away the board's ability to consolidate them and the list that they would be on for being under three hundred and fifty course we still have reasons maybe at to take over for academic or fiscal problems and that has nothing to do with the size of the school but anyway I'd appreciate a good vote and be happy to answer any questions a I am fighting though a little bit of a sinus infection and I have a bill on the auction block next door so. Represent Cozart you're recognized for a question. Senator Biden it's a good to see this bill years ago we ran a bill also that took those three hundred fifty and under to where they didn't have to consolidate if they didn't have any takes against them basically fiscal or academic or facility was and so I appreciate that because we have a lot of schools and I and I think that we have to keep them going it's just hard to consolidate and make those kids run those buses so I'm very proud this bill and thank you for thank you. Would you agree. What he did agree. Any other questions members. Seeing none there's no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Motion the proper time Senator Payton I'm closed on your clothes representative Vaught motion do pass vote by our representative Vaught the discussion on the motion. None all those in favor say aye. Was not a Is have great thank you thank you Committee. Senator Irvin. Related by yourself the record you may present your bill thank you members of the committee Senator Missy Irvin district twenty four a let me first to say thank you for passing that bill for center Payton I'm so many small rural districts in my district so that's a great bill and I was happy to co sponsor it thank you all for passing on. And members of the Senate bill three sixty five is then is the act to create the Arkansas student due process protection act and I want to thank my representative Grant Hodges for his previous work on this issue so and we've been in discussion with him I'm striking the get language that he passed in this bill because this actually goes a lot further and we were able to work with all of our institutions of higher education on this bill so I really want to thank all of the rights David current with the year of universe of Arkansas systems and all the people with a issue and and really across the state but particularly the chancellor at doctor Robinson at university of Arkansas is a stellar person if you haven't gotten to know him I'm just going to brag about him that and he he has been somebody who I have really talked within consulted with on this issue for probably the past year and a half or two years and and so I just really want to read the Legislative findings portion of this bill because it's really important to me and it's something I've worked on like I said for about a year and a half to make sure that students that are accused of anything that is of a serious offense that is going to lead to expulsion or suspension within higher education which would also include professional schools that they have the right to due process as afforded to us by the United States constitution under Amendment seven and so with these types of administrative hearings what we what has happened in the past unfortunately as things have proceeded through these types of hearings they have not been able to have an attorney present with them they have not been able to question witnesses questioned the evidence I understand the collection of evidence that's being used against them I could I could point to case after case after case and if you read the Legislative findings in this bill we do we do call back to you and and I. Everyone wanted to be this to be a big part of the bill so that you can understand this is going to the United States Supreme Court level and and so just just to I'm just going to read this one section and and though my presentation the United States Supreme Court held in golf's courses Lopez and U. S. Code that when a right is protected by the due process clause of state may not withdraw the right on grounds of misconduct absent fundamentally fair procedures to determine whether the best contact has occurred the principle of pine and upon and costs versus Lopez was re emphasized in de oversize per D. university M. as authored by United States Supreme Court associate justice Amy Coney Barrett. Noting that quotes a hearing it must be a real one not a sham or pretense unquote and that quote even in the disciplinary contacts the process do depends on a number of factors including the severity of the consequences and the level of education and quote the eighth circuit continue to opine in one occur versus to more in independent community school and that the Fendt fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner which was originally declared by the United States Supreme Court and Matthews versus Eldridge and then the eighth circuit court further opined and asserted and Esteban verses central Missouri state college and that procedural due process must be afforded by way of adequate notice definite charge and a hearing with the opportunity to present one's own side of the case in which all necessary protective measures and and so really that statement right there is what I used to create the framework of building this bill and creating this policy so that you do have a definitive process that is very clear to all parties involved that both parties are and given the opportunity to understand Arkansas state law in the process that's afforded to them and that their due process rights are protected by the statutory requirements that this bill sets in for place for all institutions of higher at in the state of Arkansas so I'll be happy to answer any questions I know you've been here a long time that I will does and decide we've had so many students that have been accused of different things and and I think it's important that both parties be fairly treated in those administrative hearings because it could literally destroy your whole career and your whole life if you are falsely accused of something and as happened. Repeatedly with cases all across the country and these lawsuits that have made it to the Supreme Court are testimony to the fact that that has happened numerous times to many many students across the country and so in Arkansas we need to make sure that this process is consistent that it's fair that is spelled out and that these parties know their rights under Arkansas constitution Arkansas law in the United States constitution. I any questions from members. Seeing none anyone in the audience that would like to speak for or against the bill. CNN Senator Irvin you're ready clothes for your bill I am closed and I just want to say I really F. thank a lot of folks that worked with me on this bill there been attorneys across the country that I have worked with on same calls monthly and it's fabulous attorneys from every state and and so it's been a great experience working on this bill with all of those of folks and organizations as well. Return is closed for the bill representative Hodges you're recognized I make a motion to pass I have a motion do pass by representative Hodges the discussion on the motion. Seeing none all those in favor say aye. As may does have a graduation to pay your bill thank you all so much thank you members thank you very much for your patience and work today we we knocked out quite a bit on our agenda we'll be back here nine thirty Thursday morning we'll try to get everything through we possibly can if we have anything still hang in we will need to reconvene after adjournment on Thursday session to finish up those bills thank you for your work today saying no other business we are adjourned.