Education Committee - Senate

And seeing a quorum we will proceed and we will meet until eleven o'clock we will come back here on Wednesday at nine o'clock normally start ten minutes go on Wednesday at nine o'clock so that we can begin to try to cover all of these this morning what I'd like to do is to run through those things which really have no opposition and noble all great big deal that a discussion. And so first off the bat Senator Caldwell has a senate bill four hundred. Pretty good. I recall well I mean Clark sorry. I got you confused. You identify yourself please you'll be recognized. I'm sure. Have you recognized me already you have been recognized. Of Alan Clark Senate district seven. Senate bill four hundred is a very simple bill it's just simple of common sense and anti discrimination it simply says that if a student of and their family. More importantly chooses us school choice of that they can't be discriminated against four using a participating in any of particular thing at the school where they've chosen to attend. And. I don't think you can get much simpler than that. Children should be punished for exercising school choice I'll be glad to take any questions. Other questions from the committee. Senator Bryant. Thank you Sir what what's the the funding we have a student leave the school and go to school choice and if the if the account goes with the with the students this going to participate. The school so as to provide. All the. C. uniforms all that are with a charge of students the the to play in the sports stir. Well the funding follows the child. There should be a funding issue I mean the kids are already. Changing schools. So so with my child goes in the home school program classical conversations to be a good one but they still want to participate in a public schools sports arena which is what this bill allows the public school has to spend money on a coach on uniforms what were they charge that that family of a small fee to cover those costs or it's gonna be built into the funding formula for the public schools okay Senator this really doesn't have anything to do with with home school. This is somebody just transferring to another school and just like if it was a band band uniform or. Or whatever the same funding. the funding follows the child. Adequacy in the and everything goes with it. There's some. Yes senator Clark do you have R. R. their documented examples where students have been discriminated against for for doing this now. Yes of we could have lots of people here testifying about bad situations that have come up because of the someone has left you know I've that someone is change schools you know this first came to my attention eight years ago of the first came to my attention as a legislator legislator of a the. The young lady in the ninth grade I decided to change schools because of academics of and coach came and sat down in her class next to her and said you realize that you will be able to play basketball next year. And there's much worse examples of but. The children are property. they don't belong to a school district that along to a team they don't belong to a coach and for whatever reason that they and their parents may decide to change schools they should be limited in their opportunities okay thank you. The limit I I need a little clarification so a student decides to move from one school district to another school district. In the first school district they were playing a sport but in the second school district they would not be able to play a sport or are you wanting them to be able to play the sport the first school that they just left. No in the The New school of where they were participating in ban science club of soccer in the first school in the first school should not matter when they come to the second school they shouldn't be denied participation in band or the science club soccer okay all right. Him or any other questions from the committee. Is there anybody here to speak for against the bill we have many. Okay let's see a lance Taylor. Thank you for speaking against the bill. Identify yourself you'll be recognized. Thank you madam chair I'm lance Taylor Hyundai executive director of the triple a and with me today I have Dr Julie Walters who's the deputy director of the triple a. And we're here to speak against the bill and. Senator Clark and I go back a long way I used to work down in one of his school district right there about two blocks from his his house so I've been down there but. Let me tell you this real quick because I think this is the most misconception out there in a public is a triple a did make rules our schools make all rules and always tell everybody that we had the most democratic process in the state of Arkansas because each year coming up in April we have nine different activity districts that are super tenets and principles in eighties come to and they can proposed new rules to change our rules each year and then it gets fifty one percent majority at that meeting it automatically comes to the governing body in the end of July we're all of our principals and superintendents get to vote on our rules. This rule is never been proposed by any member school not public not private not charter schools notable. We never had this so again way that make our rules we have transfer rules try to keep the level playing field because what you don't want to happen is if you don't want students to get on the field and thank their plan up here before they ever start you want try to have those levels the playing field you possibly can to make sure all kids at that may have to rule Irvin hi minority low minority whatever you want to thank that they have a level playing field that's what this is all about all. But our schools get to make every year so again that's kinda our process of doing that The survey. Yes. Yes they. They have a real brief as lance saluted to. Would you identify yourself please yes I'm Julie Walters said that the Director of the Arkansas activities association thank you as lance had described our member schools have never proposed a rule such as this and is a side bar right now band and choir those folks would be eligible if they can in enroll at ten this only within our rules with applied athletics but we have never had a proposal we ask the question of every year we have survey questions are board ask all principals superintendents across the state in this was one question last year we ask everyone would be if the student legally for the school choice or board or transfer would they do wait for rule filed into the eligible. And Two hundred eighty nine administrators said no thirty one said yes so it was like ninety percent of our membership as opposed to something like this. Let me we need to get you can't transfer you can transfer between six and seven seven seven eight eight and nine nineteen ten so any time you transfer of course if you school choice that's may first but if you get a board Board transfer last July first so you can transfer all those years and be eligible. So again. We we try to the former membership we try to get them to vote in the rules we we run questions by to try to do what's right but it's for kids that the and the date is to try to make sure that we have a level playing field before these kids ever start a game. Thank you very much thank you. A micromanaged. Thank you at. Good morning. five still be recognized morning my command as director of the Arkansas association educational administrators What Mr Taylor had said earlier you know the the rules that are set forth are done by the schools and I think. The the main issue that we have is with this bill is that there doesn't seem to be any protection for possibilities of recruiting and and that's what we're really over our overall concern is just making sure that there is a level playing field that there's no limit to where you know students can transfer all around and immediately be eligible for athletics I think we've done a good job in the State of trying to keep that process in place through the triple a and and we don't want to see anything move forward that does. You know a violate that or or try to change that process that we have in order to keep that level playing field amongst our districts in terms of athletic competitions. Much. Thank you very much Senator Clark. Thank you madam chair. The of. I think that Mr Taylor of. Senate bill. What we're looking for is a level playing field. And. No one should be discriminated against because I choose school choice no I was a national merit semifinalist. Of. Had I chosen to go to a school that I thought would help me more academically of I would have to give up given up football a four year innovates if that happens to be your senior year you I can tell you never forget that of. If it's your junior year you never forget that. Of the you can be the best that mention band but you can you be the best trombone player in the state you can be the best to be a player in the state you go and you go to school anywhere you want to stop and start immediately of and. The this bill is not about athletics however. Although we had to mention it specifically to be clear this bill is just about children not being punished. Of for using school choice Coaches can get a lifetime ban as far as I'm concerned superintendents can be fired as far as I'm concerned of when it comes to recruiting it shouldn't be happening. But children should never be. For exercising their right to school choice nor the their families because the families are actually punished when their kids are punished anybody who's had their kids go through things at school. Know that it's a punishment for the whole family. Also it's a very simple bill easy to understand it just says if you exercise school choice if you decide that some schools better for you for whatever reason maybe they offer ROTC maybe if you think it's better academically whatever the reasons that people are choosing. Then you can you can change and not worry about being penalized. And of. And as they said they agree on everything but athletics in the you shouldn't be penalized because you're an athlete. I appreciate a good vote. Senator Chesterfield. Senator clothes was bill and as a sponsor I'm just wondering if we can't get to come. Because I think we do need something in here that prohibits recruitment of athletes when I sign on it you know things cap come to your mind after you've signed on bills. And I'm wondering if you we could not work out something where we can amend this that says specifically. If recruitment. Is evident. And then that's how can I participate or whatever it is so that we can come to an agreement on this bill because I think you thought to be able to move about and that's one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of school choice you already know that but I don't want kids penalized because they do but I also don't want what I know it's happened as I saw it happen with some of our greatest athletes they were recruited away from the county into Little Rock School District and I'm not in college name he's one of the greatest ideas I've ever seen he was from the state so but I would ask that. That the maker of the motion is that as a sponsor thank you would work with them on trying to get an amendment in here so that would and we're going to be meeting again Wednesday that specifically addresses the recruitment issue and that would that would be something that would allow me to then vote for BLSA that was sponsoring. Yes I know you because the bill but I just wanted to say that if we can get that done then I can continue to be a supporter but I do worry about the recruitment piece because though the ones with the biggest programs are the ones who will prevail and this in small school districts I think will be heard if we don't put something in there to act as a guard rail against it thank you madam senator by. Thank you senator Chesterfield I I agree especially that we're gonna look at some name imagine imagine. Whiteness the bill is that comply provide funding for high school athletes a concealed boosters really doing to our recruitment opportunity leave a school system out of his boosters and the world. Yeah so I would I two would appreciate amendment that kind of says save your removal from a school system that doesn't have that sport into a system that does that's that's that's good that's what the bill protects but. Hopping from school to school to chase chase the dollar chase a title worries me. Senator Clark twenty upon. Thank you madam chair I'll be glad you know pop the called Mr Taylor in January. to talk about the possibility of falling this bill holding again. Of. The week before two weeks before I filed the bill and send a copy of it I'm asking to come meet with me made him on the sidewalk outside the capitol asking again come meet with me. Of and as much as I like Mr Taylor that never happened. I'm willing to put anything in here center Chesterfield. As long as it. As long as it specifies. That if there's recruiting. Then somebody's going to have to be punished other than that child because if they can prove that the child was recruited. Then they can prove who did it. What I'm saying is that and what you can do without put it in the bill because the child shouldn't be punished whatever their reasons but most of the time it's the the most the things that are happening or kids or not kids being were routed you know we had a thing in garland county and it's you know we have these rules and we can't violate these rules with we have a child who has no family. last and his brother passed away. His best friend was at another school. And. It was very understandable why he would want to go there and and he is there Mr your plate a star basketball player Mr you're playing basketball but no we can't let that happen and we have this over and over and over what you know we have kids who can't make the team. At a bigger school want to go play nobody recruited on. Nobody the the they're not even good enough to play what they want to go to a smaller school where they might be able to participate in sports I think they ought to have that right and I don't think there are to have to sit out here not and not only that I whatever superintendents and coaches may be surveyed I guarantee of parents as a group feel the same way and so I'll be glad Senator Chesterfield I would like. Appreciate a positive vote today and I'll be glad to set out hold on the floor and be glad to sit down with them if they want to come talk to me now. Of but so far there's been no conversation but it's not because I haven't reached out. Chesterfield. He. Yes thank you This is so a regular because he's close with bill and I apologize these But we did we were in we ran retirement so I I apologize totally. But I need to see a hit not that John going to sit down with you and try to work this out. Can I get a hit none. Okay all right I need to get not and will solicit of Dr Anand is a need to hit nine thank you and I would rather it be fixed here. I would be fixed here rather than getting in on the floor let's do it we're going to meet again when madam chairman Wednesday so we've got plenty of time that is if we if we can't get together to speak so that the original intent of my sponsoring it is still intact I appreciate it thank you madam chair thank you Mr thank you senator Clark center Dotson. Thank you madam chair Senator Clark just one word on Page two line one or says interest school activity you too if you're pulling this down to to work on it just look at that and see if that shouldn't be interschool instead of intra I'm not. Insurer means with in school I think that would apply to the special interest clubs or groups but inter school activity maybe with regards to sports like between schools. So you might look at that were just to make sure that it. It. Matches your intent. Thank you. So you're going to build up for right now. Yes work with senator Chesterfield and other folks. Will was watch what they do in the House of protest will. Thank you. But will. Okay thank you madam chair thank. Of the representative Richardson Scott Richardson. Has the Senate bill fifteen eleven. I think should be a quickie. Yes I did by yourself to be recognized. Thank you madam chair I'm Scott Richards and state representative district thirteen percent fifteen eleven of the committee so thanks committee for internet. This is a constituent brought bill pretty straightforward were referred it's in reference to a young man who was left a kindergartner who was left on a bus this year in September I was on the bus for four hours so long time for kindergartners just starting out to be left on the bus obviously this is something that we don't want to happen and we need to make sure we put in some safeguards this is a simple hundred and seventy five dollar cost per bus which is overall a really low amount of money associated with any purchases of new buses or existing from a maintenance perspective on a bus to put in this device this alarm system that is armed once the buses turned on and cannot be disarmed until after the bus is turned off and the individual walks to the rear of the bus completely inspecting the interior of the bus compresses the disarm button on the on the backside of the bus really quick easy way to make sure that we're helping our bus drivers remember that they do need to check their bus if they don't depress it it doesn't sound very loud alarm would alert anybody in the immediate area that there is a I chop adjusted hasn't been inspected and could be a child still there so with that I'm happy take any questions. Senate Ryan. I noticed the fiscal impacts gave no you have already addressed this in a. Distracted so there's were required schools ability on a child safety alarm on the basis but there's no yeah you noticed on that as well but this is been and rules so this is just a generally a mandate at this point to make sure that we can get this done it's something that's already there. Are you closing your bill I am close. Dotson made motion to do pass and senator Chesterfield the second all in favor all opposed thank you pastor bill so much thank you very much representative Cozart. Career that should go quickly. House bill fifty one thirty three. Which one did you say it was our house bill fifteen thirty three yes thirty three thirty four thirty five. Let us know which one. Ninety okay. All right identify yourself you'll be recognized representative Bruce Cozart district ninety one. house bill forty three fifteen thirty three is to amend the performance reporting act to excludes certain students including. Google school drop out what this does basically it takes Have a look at this in a while so forgive me if I'm cut off course. It's a concluded three your data that allow parents and guardians to compare the school performance with state national averages in all areas that include school safety licensing or. A lot of treatment assessment and sentenced to. Receive free or reduced meals average salary staff all of those things that you can look up online but for the purpose of a this section called students feel not be counted as a drop out this is the new language a student who passes the GED test our student in grades nine through twelve who transfers from public school to home school private school or parochial school that's the new language actually enters what they're doing is trying to take that out we will count against their drop out rate or the graduation rates. And that's basically the rest of it's already language in the. Law other questions from the committee. Your second. Motion by do pass by Senator Chesterfield second by Senator Dotson are you closing your bill I am closed. The. Nope there's anybody. All favor all opposed thank you very much faster on to the next. The only thirty four fifteen thirty four at fifteen thirty four is a an act to repeal the requirements placed on the school district that have ten percent or greater minority populations and bicyclist strikes language in those that bill and it allows them to have an at large or. Thank you have this does not affect really anything the city council is required to have songs and words are no city council required do that would produce a school so this bill is under that permissive the local control that the district wants to have zones and elected as long as I can but this does not require them to elect out of zones if they're minority rate is above ten percent hello that yes they would have to so that's basically What we're looking at doing This was except no school district will be required to have elections on Celeste look the voters of that district or school board decide to do that so just open some up for they do not have. Senator Chesterfield yes thank you madam chair senator Cozart one of the reasons that this ten percent was put in was because there was no minority participation on school boards because when they're elected at large the opportunity for minorities to be a part of school districts was diminished and so I think this is federal law it's as if it's above ten percent then you have to have some. I don't believe it's federal law but I've I've evidently not I thank they did tell me that when we wrote this language okay I would appreciate it if you would we check and make sure because one of the reasons for the ten percent is to guarantee the zones of drone. So that they represent various community leaders I have someone here that knows that okay we'll. Leding here that I know you know what is to come to the table no you know. Identify yourself you're recognized I'm sure members of the committee Scott Smith with them so public school resource center. Mr. Senator Chesterfield as you recall this is a state statute that was put in place prior to the two thousand census the ten percent requirement is not in federal law you do have the federal voting rights act which is out there but there is not a specific set number that is required and that's looked at on the fact by fact basis Leding go to ten percent out of the goodness of our hearts. So why do we have the ten percent that says you have if there is a minority population above ten percent you have to have some zones that are set to you can also have zones and at large positions but this was put into place to make sure that there was minority participation in school on school boards. Which we did not have for very very long time. I think that is correct senator I think we do have that to a large degree all of the state now and I think the statute has probably passed it's time as far as being necessary and often times in many communities where we now have minority majority boards you may have to resign on those boards because of the statute so we could actually have a dilatory effect in some ways in those districts. Really thank you would open it up that it would be better for the minorities to be able to just you know like the little ones out of town on the other maybe you're not in a large enough district over there you can run anywhere across town if you're in that same school district so as the only minority sitting on this committee let me say to you that I don't have any confidence in this at all okay. I guess maybe I noted but I do believe that what we have in place is working. We have get we have made sure that we draw districts. In a proportionate manner that will allow representation from all minority groups if you take this away there's no guarantee that this is going to happen that's why I have a concern with your bill thank you there there are those that disagree with you on that but that's that's your privilege to do that so there other questions from the committee. Close to be bill Clinton's there's nobody speak for against the. So what is the will of committee. Dotson motion do pass I have a second. Senator stone seconds all in favor. All opposed. Yeah I seven thank you okay. You have roll call. Senator Davis. Hi I thank Senator Leding. No Senator Hammer. Senator Hammer. Senator Bryant. I. Senator stone I Senator Dotson. Hi Senator Chesterfield. Now. Okay. The I. seven. Okay thank you may I have one little short ones if you let me do one more yes all right the House Bill fifteen thirty five it's an act concerning of monthly meetings of the school district and all they're asking for that each regular monthly meeting of the school district board of directors a report or presentation regarding student act academic data or performance shall be provided to the board of directors they do that with sports and everything else every month so we'd like to have an academic record now at each board member a meeting file Thank you questions questions from the committee. Third. Thank you madam chair at. Represent Cozart this. I don't have a problem with this necessarily it's just can't a request this themselves. I'm sorry did they request this themselves they could but this will just make it work that they do actually have to do that at each meeting the law schools don't do anything I will tell you they have no presentation and you have a board it's really not on top of things they don't ask for things so this just give a report and some people I will tell you there is a lot of times when I was on when we never got a report our academic we're doing and I think it's a great to rebuild a let him know how they're doing so very short it would take two minutes on each meetings thank you. Any other discussion. Nobody here to speak for against the bill so what is the will. I have a motion. Motion by Senator stone I have a second. Second by Senator Davis. All in favor. All opposed. If passed the bill thank you madam chair thank you Committee okay I think that looks like that's it. Senator Davis you have a. You identify yourself you'll be recognized yes Breanne Davis state senator district six at twenty five. And this bill simply changes one word from shall to may I'm sorry Senate bill three seventy eight. Yes. You may proceed thank you and this bill just says that school districts may employ a computer science teacher and I teach high school and this will help districts and continue utilizing Marshall Arkansas or some other means for a computer science course where they may not have enough students signed up is just an added expense and to mandate that schools hire a computer science teacher said this is just giving them the option and then still able to utilize other and resources to teach this course. With that I'm happy to take any questions. Senator Chesterfield. What we doing hiring somebody who's not qualified we're allowing them to hire an unqualified person for the no we're just saying that they may hire computer science teacher rather than they shall which is and then standard this would be this coming school year would be it that first year that it's mandated to hire computer science teacher and so we're basically this will just allow them to continue on as they are some schools have hired computer science teacher they have the demand for it and full classrooms and as students taking and the computer science course but and other school districts smaller school districts down and so they're utilizing things like virtual Arkansas to teach this course would data qualified teacher what are they doing to get it on just fly by night how how we doing that in other schools and in schools that don't have a computer science like their virtual Arkansas so they're doing it yeah so it's still qualified teacher there just utilizing other resources to have that class taught if you talked to the administrators association about it and are they in favor of this bill I don't know if they're in favor of the bill thank thank you can see a light I haven't heard opposition from the moment. I'd like to hear from them and I'm sure if I could. I know he loves coming up here he encourages reading the chair I now. Yeah identify yourself from that I can in this Arkansas Association educational ministers thank you Sir Chesterfield for the question so we are actually support of this one of there's several reasons for that one is we definitely support initiative computer science that was passed back in twenty twenty one but as we've done some of the roll out there are some concerns of being able to hire a certified fully certified experienced teacher in all classrooms like Senator they said there are districts of many different sizes and so the flexibility to be able to hire partnering with another district potentially hire part time person potentially using virtual Arkansas or any other means of that and there's also some of the questions at the when this bill when it was original bill was passed required that there was a computer science teacher full time there's also some promise of funding coming with that and lot of the that has been made clear yet that those are some reasons why we're clear but we do support the computer science initiative okay thank you motion property and mention. They signed up to speak against. And not taking. They signed up to speak for against this bill so what if you will be closed as thank you. Senator Chesterfield moved to pass to I have a second second senator Dotson all in favor. All opposed thank you very much faster bill okay. Let me see okay I have a small bill for the. Senator Chesterfield U. S.. Thank you. Okay. Fifty. Okay I need to get. Which identify yourself for the record yes thank you senator Jane English district thirteen and the bill okay you're recognized madam chair thank you very much so senate bill four fifty eight basically updates the military children legislation that will allow military dependents bill take part in the education freedom account. You for the presentation of the most of the bill is other questions from the committee. Is there anyone in the audience wishing to speak for against the bill. Senator be close we've been close some of them what is the will of the committee. Senate Brian moves do pass seconded by Senator Dotson discussion on the motion. Sing number place the question all those in favor please say aye. Opposed no. Congratulations you thank you very much. See anybody else. You have one. Fourteen seventy one center stone. I would take the. That fourteen seventy one. House Bill fourteen seventy one. Identify yourself you'll be recognized. Matt stone state Senate district to. madam chairman and members of this bill is is a bill to repeal Act eleven twenty of two thousand thirteen two thousand thirteen they passed a bill that required schools to document any time there was a raise give it into a to an employee over over five percent in one year period what those races are already approved by the school board is set up so what does happen sit stand every year school span yes voluminous hours collecting data who's got a raise it might be as simple as someone went from part time to full time for someone got hired as a teacher or a school worker got wire hired me to master and course next year they make more money it could just be a number of things and I spent a lot of time following a report of the Tanzanian redundant because they've already approved the raises and then it then they then this reporting is filed on the ship and it just sits there are wasting man hours and everything else so this bill is asked just to repeal this act of two thousand thirteen. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair and thank you for taking my questions sentenced on my great concern is. As we deal with fiscal distress in these districts. What we put in place to make sure. That we have the amount of information we need to make sure the school districts don't slip into fiscal distress because a lot of them give these raises they don't want option they've given on the public has a right to know some I'm wondering what safeguards are there now the and if you repeal this is a share. my Medicare like to get a fair shake later come up here and help fill that question please thank you I did the printer on the Mike. Good morning chairmanship a light on the fiscal services coordinator for the Arkansas association of educational administrators and. I can tell you that in my twenty five years in a school district and the ten years that I gather the information from this report and there were not any questions asked about my boards I was into separate districts there are in there is information on district websites the contract information from year to year so and I can assure you that the people do look at that and they will not and I will ask I have been asked by the public about a contract change for a person from one year to the next what the hell is he said the board sets the salary schedule the board approves all of the contracts that are issued every year so that. My experience is that the board is fully informed my concern is this as a long time member of audit. There have been times when races were given to superintendents and not given to school employees. You have to give a rationale Board. Yes ma'am. Was this is not a part of that. We were asked that in the House Committee as well and I do not know what the purpose of the bill was when it originated. I'm not sure you know just based on the reports again that I created and then those who been shared with me this school year a lot of it is people who have maybe added hours to a degree or gotten a degree substitutes who worked. In those two years prior he got on full time I've never seen anything anything. That was indicative of a race that someone thought it was not and approved by the board prior well I have. I hate I hate that well one of the reasons is because I wasn't on it in the so inappropriate RES is being given to individuals and I wondered if we take this away what is the safeguard that is going to be put in place to make sure that audit but no. And that's the public would know because the public really is not a we a lot of times of of races that have been given of one of the things that I thought was the most egregious as we were paying for folks to have memberships and certain things that were not appropriate. And so over the over the last twenty years I've seen a lot. and I'm wondering. If this is not here what is here at that would say to us as the public N. as members of legislative audit that we've got you of doing the right thing to preclude us from having to deal with this particular issue that I'm concerned about. Is that somewhere else in law that that tells us what is going on what what like safeguard we have. Well my and you know. Schools paid based on salary schedule other than superintendents. So that would be the only position who could be paid as a negotiated salary and if I understand correctly and Senator Davis you might be the one to answer the as part of the learns what's that superintendent contracts would go to the Commissioner of education is that correct. So you know it in my experience with legislative audit would ask me for this report or to see in the board minutes that it was presented. They just saw that it was presented they did not ever even like audit you never asked me a question about any of the information that was on the report and I have to second you know I. Think about this and again I did it for ten years with us moving starting salaries from thirty six to fifty thousand every single certified employees going to be honest report next year because that will exceed five percent of what they got those prior years well well I hope so as a former school board member I found that I was the only one who re at the financial. Okay. One seventy my superintendent had overspent his personal allowance by thirty five thousand dollars and I was the only one thank you I'll always. I'm always concerned when we start taking away safeguards that have put been put in place for the specific purpose of making sure that we're doing the right thing I appreciate your testimony thank you so much thank you madam chair for allowing me to ask questions thank you. The questions from the committee. Is there anybody in the audience speak for against. What is the will of the committee. Senator Dotson do pass. Senator Davis second. On paper. All opposed. Thank you pass the bill thank you. I have a a one. The one. But you identify yourself for the record thank you senator Jane English district thirteen and this is Senate bill four fifty one enter your recognized thank you. Basically make some technical changes to the career education workforce development board. Thank you share with us what those are it changes the have it retains some of that the Titles of positions on the board. Some of the industry people right other questions for Senator English. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to speak for against the bills. Senator you're recognized because we built I'm close that is closed what is the will of committee. That move by Senator Leding seconded by Senator Dotson. Of all those in favor say aye opposed no. Motion carries thank you senator you questioned you. Okay. All. Tucker let you go with one quick. Whichever one you think what which one do you want to do. It's going to be here now. I think they'll both be quick but I'll do three sixty four three sixty four. K.. There's an amendment. The amendments was your bill but the amendments now the entire bills okay. I just appreciate a good. Thank you. Thank. Their second. Second. By Senator Leding. Motion by Senator Chesterfield all in favor. All those. Senator Johnson. You have a question on I guess just the bill Amendment looks like there's a an amendment filed in the Senate right now on this bill. That. What is the. Not been engrossed in the bill so that's this amendment that's this amendment mmhm. Okay so it this amendment is the new bill yes so it's not going on members on it's just come in here okay I just want to. Hi this is different and make sure we're not it's the same out of order. But these discussion on the amendment. We had a but I just present a good vote on the amendment. So I think most of us do not like when we get these things in the committee and we haven't read it we don't know what it says Linda Chesterfield usually that's our main complaint is we it has been engrossed we don't know what it says so would you please explain what it is sure sure this is so essentially this will just be the conversation on the bill I was planning to getting gross I didn't realize your meeting this morning and that's why it sent to amendments that have engrossed on the floor this is really just based on the feedback I got from the Committee before we left for spring break centre Dotson you had requested to put the entire code section into the bill just so the context was there so I did that with the amendment you really the first page and a half there's no new language really no meaningful new language it's just putting the rest of that code section into the bill the other thing you had mentioned Senator Dotson is to make the language flow better from subsection C. and and that's what I did and what senator Hammer mentioned from before is that there's no timeline in the current law for the identification of the extra terrier for school district to be returned to local control after it's been taken over by the state and senator Hammer had to put that in I communicated with representative Branscum about that and the Department and basically you know the short version of this is that uh what this bill does is it puts it to your timeline for identifying exit criteria for school district the return to local control efforts been taken over by the state and then five years total first for the state control and I mean that that's basically it the former. Subsection C. senator Dotson had said after five years the district has to be consolidated and next door reconstituted and what this says is that after five years. If the X. criteria have been met it goes back to local control if the X. criteria have not been met for the state board either consented back to local control or they annex consolidated reconstituted and then whatever's left after that is sent back to local control and that's I mean that's really it. The question Chesterfield what I would try three oh three first. You look at three of three I'm not I'm not running three oh three be it B. two eighty five well whatever. let me just say this and I I am one of those who is in favor of this bill. But it's a lot to take in. If I have a ten minutes it is in the and so I would ask you come back in the committee meets again okay do it unless everybody else is more comfortable with this and I I think we all know me as the amendment adopted. We expunge that. No well you don't have to expunge the I want it so I can get in gross on okay okay I was on the motion to expunge the mood to expunge which the. Second. Thanks. Thank you senator. Thank you. May I run is B. two eighty five I think it'll be very very quickly Senate bill is is two eighty five to eighty five. Okay if you all remember this is the bill about having an excused absence for going to vote. so there's two changes here one was a suggestion from someone on the committee I don't remember who but it just it just clarifies that you can only go to vote once per election and get an excused absence of the other discussions that we had were about Yeah there's a member on this yes. Thank you thank god other amendment. Moved to adopt the amendment. Thank you bye senator Chesterfield second by Senator Dotson. On the other. All opposed. Okay the medal thank you members thank you madam chair so the discussion here which just I have one suggestion to limit it to go vote and get an excused absence once per election that's the new subsection to their the amendment the other part of the discussion we had was about you know proving that you went to the polls I visit with a lawyer you know is the drafting attorney for education bills and they're actually number of sections of the code to get an excused absence for from school for something and biggest analogy because analogy we have is that the page here you know for us at the legislature and a number of these provisions there is real accountability about you know proving that you did something when you went back to school so I kind of thought the most reasonable approach was that a little section here that says your vote you're encouraged to just where the I voted sticker when you come back to school that way he it you know it just shows and civic engagement as well as encourages you to kind of prove that you want to go vote while you while you were gone but otherwise it is limited to to once per election that's that's really it is just you know this is a providing bill just let kids get involved in the civic process when they're when they're young so they can go over with their parents or grandparents or whatever the case might be. Action from the Committee. Senate Chesterfield moved do pass as amended as amended senator Dawson seconds. On paper at all pose thank you thank you ma'am thank you ma'am appreciate your. You'll be back. All right okay let's see here. Bills. Your quest for seventy four. We yes you're right your recess. That's not the reason the other but that is this your recess. No. We deal with this. We're going to recess in ten minutes. That's quicker. Because this will take some conversation. One twenty five what is one twenty five now that's a good thing to do. Know what we're coming nine o'clock on Wednesday morning. This state. House Bill fourteen sixty three fourteen sixty three yeah House Bill fourteen sixty three should be taken relatively quickly and I'm running late representative Johnson. Sent this bill. Representative Lee Johnson district forty seven with the mission of the chair. So if you identify yourself. You will be recognized yes representative Lee Johnson district forty seven eight. Go ahead. Members this bill started out as a very simple concept is brought the one my local superintendents we had a coach that was teaching a provisional license they wanted to add an air of endorsement to free to teach driver's education because I'm a rule we represent could you slow down of the I can love it more slowly than you yes it's a cast off talk slowly and try to make sure we get in that thank you for that time and loud is good sure yes so this started out as a very simple concept there is a coach discussion on my local school districts who was coaching on a provisional license he was seeking an additional layer of endorsement to teach driver's education but the result of a rule that did did not allow for people with a provisional license to apply for additional areas of endorsement so the initial draft of this bill specifically was limited to driver's education when I filed the initial bill some superintendents administrators came to me and asked if we could expand this concept because it's a smaller school districts sometimes they have trouble finding people to teach different areas where they may be qualified so the two things this bill does one is it renews the testing requirement for people that are applying for an additional layer of indoor Smith there are some areas in the doors met where there is a test available others where there is not so this simplifies that cleans that up for desi so that they are the governor of what meets requirements for the additional area been divorced mint in that it allows for some with the provisional license to apply also for an additional layer of endorsements so it's good it's a good bill for small school districts to look at ways to try to get additional help for people that are actually qualified to teach a variety of different subjects and I'd be happy to try to answer any questions. Other questions from the committee. Nobody here to speak for or against the bill I don't think. So what is the will of the committee person do pass. Senator Dotson do pass center stone and second. On favor I'm opposed thank you for that thank you Committee. If any others manager. For about the. House Bill is. Fifteen thirty one fifteen thirty one. Sure I have left my. Red nose. no I've got the bill but my my talking points I don't have with you can we. Really well. You do a great job. Normally I do it five five read the bill in last week we're you can always come back later. Aw let me come back to that one okay yeah There is Trying to think of one that shouldn't be controversial now Senate bill one twenty five. I think we've got everything worked out on this. One twenty five. Yes. One twenty five. This this bill has been completely changed. Yes. Senate bill one twenty five there is a a different sponsor on this bill now as well as different title. And the the language of the bill I thank is now I've got everybody kind of on board with it at this point is the free speech at state supported institutions of higher education bill Senate bill one twenty five and to be to be brief this basically protects students first amendment rights to free speech and to be able to have places indoor we're indoors where they can in certain areas of the campus that there shouldn't be any type of Disruptions with in the higher education community in order to allow for Students to be able to participate in a free speech talk to folks and have organized events and things of that nature within the policies of the higher education institutions so I think I don't see anybody from higher it standing in here but. I believe there give it thumbs up that they're on board if if I don't have any issues with it any longer. Four have to try to answer any questions you Senator Chesterfield. Other. Thank you for the effort I'm just trying to I'm not saying this particular version. It of of of of the indoor thank you. So could you point out to me in the bill were you. It mitigates the efforts of individuals who could go into a building and then create havoc where is it in the bill So the district or the these institutions of higher education shall. Promulgate policies what pages as we so on. The policy is on the last page on page three the last paragraph of the bill one twenty eight it talks about this throughout the bill but The institutions of higher education shall protect the expression of the students and the ability to express. Give their viewpoints and expressions that's on page two actually one twenty five in the middle of page there the protected instructions where the institutions of higher education shall not limit or restrict expression of the member of the campus community except as permitted by the first amendment. in the end. On the top of the page three the limitations that gives. If you look through their that's on page four. Shows this is where the shall not shall not give a member of the campus community right to disrupt a previously scheduled or otherwise registered reserved activity I think that's probably the one that I'm looking for to answer your question. I hope this works thank you. The Committee questions. Thanks to. Anybody here in the audience speak for against the bill I don't. Okay. What is the will of the committee Committee ocean do pass Johnson Miller do pass the stone seconds all they were. All those. Thank you pass the bill and it is eleven o'clock and we're going to dismiss for today we will be back on Wednesday at nine o'clock. To continue one. We have an opportunity to enforce more lengthy discussions. I. Here's.