Education Committee - Senate

Searching for about a year and a half I've been attending the meetings and conferences with legislative orders and an organizations around the country on these issues and I worked really closely with ari higher ed institutions and just want to thank them very much for their collaboration on this bill I think that's why it took me awhile to fall the bill because I really wanted to have some robust collaborative dialogues in on the language and so let the residents here and at David is here. And as well as Jeremy Gillam and you see a and several others that works on this this legislation with me as well as Alex Benton with the attorney general's office so What this does is you have a little bit of a changing landscape at the federal level just due to regulations as it relates to title nine procedural hearings on campuses of higher at at what this bill does is stab wishes for the state of Arkansas and the student due process act to ensure that any student that is a part of any of the allegations whether you're the accused or the accuser or has the ability to have attorneys present with you and advise you through the process I'm in I believe that our constitutional due process should extend to to these individuals in the students and mere what they would be receiving in the June justice system in the Justice at branch so that is what the bill does And is it just establishes you have the first section that just really talks about some of the cases that have gone before the Supreme Court that have been litigated on these issues and then making sure that we have a just a consistent standard across the state of Arkansas no matter the institution of higher at and I just really want to think that the chancellor of the university of Arkansas and he and I have had a lot of discussions about this and he he has done just a really great job in my opinion of stating kind of a gold standard and he's been a at somebody who has been just a good adviser for me and and and just I appreciate the different things that he has advised me and taught me and mentored me actually in this process so so all of that is this bill as a result of all of those discussions and not collaboration with everybody and and again it just it just ensures that students that are involved in any of these hearings have the same due process rights as they would in the justice system for any of these types of allegations I'll be happy to answer any questions. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair and thank you Senator Irving I guess what strikes me as strange is that you're giving students more due process than you giving our teachers. I'm going to support your bill but it strikes me as just strange we have all this stuff in here that guarantees what I think is appropriate for our children. Would you be willing to put this in place where teachers as well and support staff. But again I was not the sponsor of the event was a co sponsor but I wasn't sponsored the other bill I can only speak to this bill and what I see is happening and I do believe that teachers need to have and the ability to and be protected and I think it was legislation and that maybe you at sponsored to make sure that teachers have protections when they face violence from students I think those are measures that we need to take to make sure our schools are safe in our campuses are safe not just for students but for teachers and administrators and this this is an issue that we find on the campuses of higher ed because of the different policies that are related to title nine and so for me I just want to ensure due process for our students there a little bit of a vulnerable situation in my opinion and it's important for them to have the ability to have attorneys present with them through this process to advise them appropriately for them to be able to look at the witnesses at questions witness look at evidence question evidence and just make sure that that due process is followed for them. I appreciated that I really wish that the folks who teach our children have the same rights that they did thank you mention thank you. Any other questions from the committee. Anybody in the audience to speak for against. The We have a against. Okay all right so great Gonzalez. You identify yourself you'll be recognized. I thank you chairman and members of the committee my name is reckons alls I'm Legislative Council for the foundation of injury of individual rights and expression also known as fire fires a national nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated defending free speech and due process rights our nation's institutions of higher education I'm here I am here today in support of SB three sixty five which is a crucial piece of legislation that will guarantee basic due process protections for students facing suspensions and expulsion at Arkansas public universities this bill would guarantee students the express presumption of innocence the right to active assistance or attorney or advisor the right to cross examination of adverse parties and witnesses by that attorney or advisor advance notice of charges continuous access to the ministry of file that must include all of the evidence in the institution possession impartiality of the education process and a cause of action allowing students to vindicate their rights these are basic protection that every American should be afforded when they face serious charges of wrongdoing. We can all agree that before student is removed from the college of their choice and possibly have their entire educational career is ruined for allegations of wrongdoing universities must follow policies and procedures to ensure that they get the ultimate decision right. As many court cases across the country have shown is common for universities as sites that many of these protections when they're not actors when they're not expressly guaranteed low. Importantly may these protections are already guaranteed through twenty twenty federal regulations in the context of title nine disciplinary cases this shows the institutions have the capability to refer to provide these protections took you students in complaints alike but may do not unless is unless the law makes them. March twenty twenty two spot led to prop I'm due process report which surveyed fifty three universities across the country show that to me institutions appear eager to off rescue due process protections as possible just to secure the campus misconduct in that study six in ten universities did not explicitly guarantees students that they will be presumed innocent until proven guilty by contrast nearly ninety five percent of schools title nine policies include a presumption of innocence as required by twenty twenty to twenty twenty regulations. Only six percent of school to allow active participation of a of an Advisory Council in all non academic disciplinary cases. portly this is not a one sided bill it also provides protections for complaints student organizations such as the right to be represented by nature you're not Terry advocate and keep and continued access the administrative file. This bill is similar legislation in Kentucky and Louisiana from last year both of which were introduced by Republican lawmakers over passed with bipartisan support or signed by democratic governors. The bill in the Senate passed the house and Senate unanimously due process is not person issue and no university should I students their rights to these protections buyers think Senator Irvin for introducing this important piece of legislation I heard this the Committee support SB three sixty five and would be happy to answer any questions. Thanks for the on the committee. Thank you very much for your presentation. It okay that's the only person speak for the bill there's no they speak against so Committee what is the will of the committee. How do I close the bill I I'm I'm closed I think his statement was perfect thank you. A motion do pass by Yes. The center stone thank you. And second by Senator Dotson thank you very much. All in favor. I'll close thank you very much thank you thank you members of the committee and again thank you for the institutions of higher at work with me thank you. Okay let me see is Julie Mayberry here. That okay. We'll go right up here to centre Dotson. Senate bill three sixty six. Sixty nine. The last working. It will be recognized. Thank you madam chair members Committee on senator Dotson Senate district thirty four Senate bill three sixty nine we we went through this last week and so on and after talking having lots of conversations on it and uh try to come up with some language that have limited some concerns regarding to areas of the bill and so I I'm just going to focus on those two areas we've already passed. Everything else if you look basically the last page of the bill Page four. Starting section four starts at the end of page three there were no changes on page three though everything was changed on page four all the changes made on each page four. I start with the section five was added in basically it's some do not codified language that ensures that anyone who would receive weighted credit under the current system of waiting credit Continues to keep that waited credit some of the requirements within the bill that that allow for waiting of credit Maybe more stringent afterwards so we wanna make sure anybody who'd already received what a credit continue to to keep the weighted credit they've already earned so that's all that section five does section FOR though and if you if you recall there was some language in there that struck through the words computer science and so we've amended that and the High school graduation requirement for the computer science course. It is expanded upon to be a computer a career and technical education course with at least fifty percent of the content being in computer science and so want to make sure that we're still having a focus on computer science but this computer science course is actually embedded in their career and technical education pathway that they're moving forward with so this this allows for the students to have more direct focus on their their career and technical education their pathway and making that computer science course requirement relevant to whatever their particular pathway is by embedding it in there and so I think those are there are three changes there on page four on lines two and three on line seven eight and also again on lines seventeen and eighteen and basically just mirrors that language for consistency. What I just described so More happy try to answer any questions with regards to those changes. Other questions from the committee. The questions from the committee is there anybody in the audience would like to speak for who we. Against I'm Anthony one. Speaking against the bill. You identify yourself you're recognized yes Senator English thank you Antonio and co dot org senior director state government affairs and president national advocacy coalition I first wanna start by thinking Senator Dotson for the continued conversations on this bill and his work to trying to reach something that we could potentially be agreeable with however at this point co dot org does remain opposed to Senate bill three sixty nine even with the proposed amendment I wanna start briefly by reminding you that CS is not just programming or app development that is part of it but it really gets understanding of how computer systems work but in beyond the traditional thoughts of what people have of what computer science is in Arkansas to areas are ever increasing importance first is the data science piece which is how big data should be treated ethically or unethically used and how bad actors can use of unethically to push false narratives we've seen that quite a bit lately second is cyber security this legislature has taken steps to ban certain platforms from school systems personally I applaud that effort however it is only a short term short term bandaid there will be another platform pop up and instead of trying to stay ahead of that by banning each new threat we should be teaching our populace our students about cyber security which will address why they should not be taking part in foreign state data collection systems it is the educating them about it that we will show them why they should not be involved in it and how to avoid specific to three sixty nine some concerns that I want to make you aware of if you are not already. Is first and Senate Dotson alluded to this is that the language in this bill will actually make it more difficult more difficult for students in CTE courses to gain weight a credit for that work than non CTE courses. The process that already exists for determining weighted credit is an eighty per seizure. It was derived internally in eighty and can be amended by the eighty without further legislation. We echo dot or believe all students should have a full credit and CS talk by ACS certified teacher. Of this provision as I mentioned last time of having ACT credit could be done under one of the six career focused credits that we already require an Arkansas. Computer science for students in Arkansas can meet their fourth match their third science or one of those six aforementioned career focus credits so this does not place that additional burden on on that is of concern the existing CS credit that is potentially under the way that is written and how statutes are interpreted this could actually require students that are in an AP course that is part of a CTP pathway taken an additional industry certification not just the AP test before they could be awarded credit. This is also going to create issues for schools and implementation because you're gonna have some students that are taking a course that potentially is for weighted credit but they're going to the schools going to have to wait to see if they pass the industry certification you have some students in that course that pass industry certification some but not so you have the same course code the same class period everything's the same but the schools then going to have to go and figure out a way to manually adjust that students waited credit status on a four point oh or five point oh scale based on passing that industry certification and windows that expire what if they pass it in June after they take the course then is the court's going to revert to weighted credit. Basically as I said the other day this comes down to some schools not wanting to go through the trouble to make CS truly available for their students if you don't believe me go look at the data for the past seven years how many schools all of a sudden this year actually started having CS enrollment that never had it prior had a very low enrollment and specifically on the Roman data I will return to the point that we can show for seven years that the gender gap on CS enrollment remained worse than seventy male and thirty percent female enrollment percentage and this year was the only time we saw real change of closing that gap it was in this year's ninth grade class where we saw forty three percent of enrollments being female in fact there are more ninth grade female girls taking computer science this year in Arkansas intent eleventh and twelfth grade girls combined. With this while this amendment would require students to get some CS we do believe that every student should have full a full credit in computer science with a computer science certified teacher with that I'm available to answer any questions here are the questions from the committee. Thank you. So I think there no questions from and have the. Against we are you closing your bill. Thank you madam chair at. I think this we we work very hard to try to come to some sort agreement on this and I think ultimately the reason brought this back to committee is amending it I think this makes this a much stronger bill much more workable work with the the department to make sure implementation would go as smoothly as possible and so all in all I think it now that this this has been engrossed in the bill and is amended in the way it is it's a. Even stronger building was before and I think it was right before so with that I'm close and make a motion to pass. It passes a second. Thank you bye senator Davis all in favor. I mean not. All in favor. All against. Thank you thank you. Okay let's see here on the list Senator Tucker. See here. US Senator Dismang. Senator flowers. Still identify yourself to be recognized. Good morning committee my name is Stephanie flowers state senator for district eight. One video represented by coca District ninety three on the House sponsors thank. We see. Yes ma'am. Senate bill three six seven. Is a bill that would change the. Priority. Four This position. Of unused and under utilized school facilities. Under the present law. The first choice. FOR sale or lease goes to charter schools open enrollment charter schools. Also requires fair market value in the current law. One of the bill not only would change the. Priority. First choice. To cities and counties. With a school. Facility is located. To give them. First option for. Donation. Of the building to that city or county with the taxpayer's Liev. That paid for the millage and the taxes for the property. Not only does my bill do that. But it also defines fair market value. So that. A property under the three sixty seven. To determine fair market value would have to be by an independent third party appraiser. Currently under the rules promulgated by the division of facilities and transportation. They're rule. Two point oh nine. Dealing with I'm used. And are under utilized public school facilities. Defines fair market value. As meaning the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer. And a willing seller. Neither being under any compulsion to buy our to sail and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. Under. Senate bill three six seven. If you look. At. Page four. And I believe it's in another. Placed in the bill as well. The fair market value. Other public school facility are other real property shall be ascertained and determined by an independent third party appraisal. I brought this bill. Because. I think. Across the state. There are many buildings. Many properties. That taxpayer funds have paid for and are continuing to pay for because of Milledge is that were passed at the locale either in the county are in the city. For these properties. Each year March first the Division of facilities and transportation puts out a list of all on use an under utilized properties of public schools I have that list that was posted March first of this year. And in fact there fifteen pages I'm pretty sure each one of you all members would find some property in your own district that is on this unused and under utilized list. Madam chair I would ask if I can have the list distributed to the members of the committee. What I have found. The particularly in my district. In Jefferson County and all the counties that I represent I have parts of six counties Arkansas county at the Shay. Part of Lincoln. Part of. One role. Part of. Pulaski even now and Jefferson. What I find is that a lot of school buildings. And school properties. Have had on use an under utilized facilities and properties. For long periods of time years if not longer. I haven't noticed. Any particular. Swale by charter schools. To exercise their first right. The refusal. To either lease are to sell these properties. Instead what I'm seeing is the selloff of these buildings to third parties. For what I believe is. Tremendously under fair market value. I haven't noticed much of any way of an appraiser. Report being presented. In any fashion I think when you read the. Division of academic facilities and transportation is ruled. It says supporting documents to figure out the value. Recently. There have been property sold in the pine bluff school district. What I consider terribly undervalued. One is situated. Less than a block from lake pine bluff. It's an elementary school campus. That I first attended. When I began public school in this six great George Washington carver elementary campus. Like I said it's less than a block from lake pine bluff. It was sold by the public school district. For fifteen thousand dollars. Now the way I figure this is undervalued. I have a property. It's not even lake front property. It's about this maybe for five blocks away from the lake front. It's just a thirty R. fifty five one hundred foot. Property. I've been offered twenty thousand dollars for that piece of property a vacant lot. The lot the property at George Washington carver school sits on has buildings on it. There were six it went from first to sixth grade. There are two rooms for each of the classes. I had a cafeteria and it all of that still standing. An area for playground. Now just two weeks ago when I passed by there. There was a sign on it. Commercial property for sale. I'm sure. The buyer. An LLC. We'll make tremendous. A profit. Above the fifteen thousand dollars that the school district so that for. I have not yet found an appraisal of how they reach that to be fair market value. Other school campuses in pine bluff large elementary school campuses have so. And all I can determine. In some of the cases is what's listed on act that a scout. Which list assessors estimated market value. Of some properties. One property L. elementary school campus and my mother taught at Forest Park elementary. It was listed online having an estimated fair value. A four hundred thousand dollars. It sold four hundred thousand dollars. Another property. A full school elementary campus. That was the deputy Cheney elementary school. There is no value estimated otherwise listed online in that so four hundred thousand. And more recently. The city of pine bluff. Purchase the southeast or south East High School which initially was a junior and senior high when it was first built. This was back in the late fifties I believe when it was built. It's a historic building. It was during the time we had segregated schools so that was all black campus. The city of pine bluff purchased it for twenty five thousand dollars. I don't think it was fair. That the city had to purchase that property. It's been cannot helter skelter. When I look at what is happened all across the state. In some instances. Properties were given back to the local community those unused and under utilized. Take for instance over in Altheimer. Arkansas which is just across the river from pine bluff. That property. Belong to the Dollaway school district after consolidation I think it was around two thousand five or two thousand six when the consolidation happened. So would fail to the Dollaway school district. For years they use that. As an elementary school. And then it was closed I believe it was some time before it had to be before twenty sixteen. In twenty sixteen but that wasn't. A high school campus it was a junior it was a the whole shebang it was from elementary school. To junior high to high school. All located on a large acreage of property there in all time in the city. That property. Once the Dollaway. once Altheimer with consolidated with with Dollaway. Was use for elementary school students in the all time area. For I guess about two or three years. That was around two thousand nine or so. When that school. Where the wild. proceeds or grants. From the American rescue in Reno read. Renovation are up under Obama stern. There can rescue and re invest ment Act. Name and new rules were put. On the building that houses the senior high school at one time. New floor in the gymnasium. Was put in place. There were. Personal items desk. Smart boards. There were new bush. But then the school district Dollaway decided. To close that facility for those elementary school children at all timer. And that's the mobile to the Dollaway in time below. I went there in twenty sixteen. And found that building to have been abandoned. It appeared to me that somebody rang the school bell for fire drill. Everybody walked out and no one returned. There were teachers bulletin boards still intact with what the teachers that prepared for the students. The new furniture the desk the chairs smart boards still in place. They were abandoned. The jail for. I was in total disarray damaged by vandals okay man sprayed. Fire hydrant us very all on the floor a new gym floor. All the HVAC systems were stolen. There were bright there were brand new books in boxes that had never been removed from the boxes. That school had a rich history. Athletically and academically. In terms of academic of of athletically. All the trophies that were in the house in a cabinet at the front of the GM. We're thrown out somewhere taken stolen the cabinet was busted. Those that they didn't want withdrawal about the floor. And walking through the building which was a large building. They handle ripped out the couple wires from the ceiling. What used to be the home economics room. That had refrigerator and stole been washing machines for purpose of educating the children in the. subject of home economics all were stolen. And in twenty sixteen I asked the then secretary of education. Thank you to come there and inspect the building it was padlocked but. Still vandals guardian. The waste management garbage can was. Phil to the bring on. Didn't appear any efforts to. To empty that. Didn't appear any efforts to have the alarm systems that were noticeable when you walked in the building. To be continued. So when Senate eleven Secretary key came and saw. I asked what we were going to do when what. Where the responsibilities of the department of ed. For these buildings for the maintenance and inspection of the building. As well as all the historical artifacts. That were noticeable. On the floor. As well student records were thrown about the floor. In the file cabinets that house these records we just taken out and put on the floor. Well I got an agreement. From senator from secretary key. That that property would be donated to the city of all timer. That was in twenty sixteen. And the governor at the time governor Hutchinson agreed. And I thought it was going to be imminent. That that building in those properties. Would be conveyed to the city of all time. Ultimately it was done. But not until the end of twenty twenty one. December twenty twenty one is when we got a date. Now. Before the D. Wallace. Transferred the property transferred by way of the. The buildings all were torn down. It is my understanding that. The district. Gave the property are sold the property I'm not sure I never got a final answer on it. To an individual who tore the building down. And sold the material for salvage. I have not had any kind of a county even though I've asked the department of education for that. Over in. Grady. They are properties that school district has been closed for more than decades. In Gillette in Arkansas county. They don't have a school anymore the last classes that were there were four elementary small children now they're all consolidated with de Witt. Now the city of. Gillette was able to get one building I thank you all some of you all may have visited there when of the **** supper happens it's a political event that takes place in January. And that's where they have that event. To raise money for scholarships for their children. But the other properties besides that one little part of the campus. Was sold. To an independent or third party. There was no charter school looking for these properties. It was sold to a third party and now I understand it's for sale by the third party even though I understand to. That the city. The views that property. I think it's only fair. That these properties that are paid for by. Taxpayer's afternoon vote for Milledge is increases of all Milledge is are asked of the citizens. To be able to use that property for the for whatever purposes the city leaders so choose so by this bill. It gives. The city or the county where the property is located. That school district public school district. To first off rate to that city or county as a donation. If the city or county doesn't want it they can waive their right. To first refusal of that nation. And then it would go. As it is presently in the law. To be offered to a charter school. FOR sale or lease. Now I understand there's opposition by charter schools. But it's my opinion that. Cities or counties. DO well to negotiate. With charter schools as well for property that's been paid for and is still being paid for by the citizens of that community. The millage doesn't go away when these properties are sold or lease the citizens are still taxed. So. It's just a matter of fairness. As I see it. I'd be glad to answer any questions. I presented that do have some things not so well I think representative flowers covered at all but I just use real quickly I I my my main concern is the properties are being sold under value there be in turn for profit without any say so from the the residents around it without a representation of our alderman of the quorum court member so that's that that's my main concern about what's happening to us in Jefferson County thank you. Bryant. Thank you madam chair Senator Clark thank you for bringing this when we when we visited real briefly in the hall and I and I co sponsored by I do understand it is a problem. it didn't have the bill with you again have a time because of the hassle session but it in reading the bill last night and then of this conversation a few concerns of mine. Really were revolving around when when that facility was acquired. And Bills with the public the public education system spent money spent that tax money to build a facility and utilize it when they're done with it they need in my opinion they they need something back for that and this bill gives the municipality the ability to acquire it at no cost with no call back so would you know if it is built minutes how do you. No there's value there. And they have the right of first refusal may take that take that property what prevents them from selling it. and making the money versus the school system not making the money be my first question and then. The I guess my. My other concern is not understanding the essence of the bill was is that school was built for the function of to be a school and so. I really like to see an Avenue for charter to have that conversation with them because of the school right now can sell or lease to a charter and make that money but this bill requires them to give it to a city in the city council or lease that charter I'm not sure that we're we're solving any problems. As far as your comment saying public education purchases building. The taxpayers in that community. Through the weight of millage. Purchase that property. So the whole state of Arkansas has not purchased that property. That is why we have Milledge is. And the local militants are used to pay for those bonds. For the. Creation and the purchase of the school buildings. So that's number one. Number two. I don't think it's exclusive to my community in pine bluff. I'm hearing this as an issue. Throughout the state. There are many properties that school districts own that are sitting idle. For decades. Nothing. There's still under the ownership. Of the public school district whether it was consolidated with another district or whatever. They're not being maintained and some of them are nuisances. Some of them it's clear they've been abandoned. And so. I think. The citizens. Benefit. I should be able to benefit. Through the donation to that city or that county. With the taxpayer's Leah. At think that that's the fairest solution it's an opportunity to give something back to the taxpayers who may still be paying taxes for this property. But also it allows them to utilize the property in whichever they walk as I indicated some of these buildings. Have historical significance to the members of the community they are used for different events sometimes the like I said over in Gillette the use that for function that draws people from all over the state of Arkansas to a political event to raise scholarships for children that would regulate now in the D. would system but it helps to move on to college. It's usable things of like being of the events round holidays we're people who are hungry are given a meal. gymnasiums. Our own some of these properties. That could be utilized for recreational purposes for health purposes for community purposes over an all timer the the goal was to get the facilities that were all these properties and be able to use the two of the. Develop works road skills we had a vision that we could partner with the division of workforce services and set up some then you for people in the community to learn skills for senior citizens to be able to use the facility for meetings and for gatherings for socialization some of these properties are in the small rural communities and the school was the life of the community. And now they have no. Place to gather. To have the vents to fellowship with their community neighbors. and like I said. I thank because the taxpayers the ones that are bearing the burden of having paid for agreed that it be used for public school purposes. It should be returned to them and they should be able to benefit that community should be able to benefit by the leadership making the decisions as to whether referred to accept the property and then what to do with it and nothing I don't think should. prohibit that community. From getting the advantage of a profit just like in a third party would I hope that answers your question it does the last statement is is what I like about the bill the Mike my concern is if if property tax or as what funds line share if not all of our public education and sales tax funds the line share all of our city government. The the the intent of the taxes for public education and charters considered public education so I want them to have that bite first and then if they refuse that bite then the city should be have the next by I'm not sure about the no cost because I think cities will take advantage of what I mean if you're gonna give me a property even if his dilapidated and it's got a you know funding issues and it's just going to be a you know your feet your feet into a cal is not given the return and I'll let you have by cal. They're gonna sell the cal and make the money so I just I that's my concern the concern with the bill is just hierarchy of its of its layers so thank you. What I'd like my co sponsored to speak to that he served as a county judge in Jefferson County and dealt with buildings that were abandoned nine properties that were on one it. Well I don't I do not see were a a municipal and I'm it may happen but it is from county judge if if a school building came open and charter school wanted it certainly would be makes sense tomato to allow them have referred to it if that's what was going on there that community educational purposes I would certainly be willing to do that I just I find it difficult for someone not be limited to that I think this bill would let them do that this bill. I would put them on right of first refusal before they roll into charter option. What. Well yes it gives the city the advantage. Of getting fair market value. If all sales occur under the law right now. The charter school has the first option that's correct sale are to lease. But the question the second issue that I have with this which is addressed in my bill. Is the establishment of what that fair market value we. And. What I'm saying is. The bill my bill our bill. Defined that fair market value should be established determined by an independent. Third party appraiser so it's the charter school. I don't see. Any difficulty that a charter school would have in negotiating with the city or county for purposes that are for educational purposes. I think it's it's I can't see a city not doing that. Our county not doing that. Are you under the senator Dotson. Thank you madam chair Senator flowers I think Senator Bryant kind of hit on the part of my concern I really have a couple and I talk to about one of them the other day and that's that's really. When you. Transfer of property to municipality the it's not being used for the educational expenses of educational benefit. Of. The purpose for which that property was paid for by taxpayers and and so I think to a certain extent. At least some of that if not all of it if the property is sold by the municipality. The the funds should go back to the educational purpose so if if if the as as you said if they go in they. They get a free cal they should share some of the meet with with the school district that that you know Bob Katter begin with for lack of a better analogy well as I could respond to that I don't think it's a freak out. Like I said. Taxpayers in that a. Geographical area where this school district is located they're still on the hook. The paying the tax. They don't get out of that. That continues on whether the district is consolidated with another district or not. Whether the district no longer exist. And it's consolidated at mixed or whatever I'm still paying taxes for Dollaway which doesn't have a school district as such. I think my my my concern here is. If that property is then sold but they're still millage it's being collected on I mean there's debt service being paid for out of that millage is going to the school district but it will be going to the school district. It will be to continue to go to the school district the the debt service will still be owed by the school district but the property will be owned by the municipality and the benefit will be going to the municipality when they sell the property for fair market value or or less however much they decide to sell the property for so I mean I think that. That sale of property should go back to school district a down that's that service so that the school district continues to have either the funds or pay off that debt service and so the millage is high now I mean it's not just the local taxpayers to pay for property otherwise we wouldn't have facilities funding that everybody in the state pays for we all contribute from the entire state to that facilities funding and so property is not just paid for by the local knowledge bears but The second concern I have though too is is related to the charter schools Currently under law it being the first right of refusal that school building which was built for educational purposes. Being able to be sold to a charter school for educational purposes to continue to to I mean a charter schools a public school publicly funded school by the state I think that they still need to continue to have first right of refusal and then if they don't exercise that in a certain period of time then it can go and have second right of refusal I guess to the municipality if the the building's not being used before it sold on the fair open market It with those of the two concerns I have with it and I know I haven't discussed with you did you you're not gonna probably agree with me on those concerns but I want to make sure you knew why I was not supporting the bill thank you for as I know charter schools don't. Collected millage. The regular public schools do. So there's a difference. Is a big difference. There is yes so if the thanks for the property then that pays off the debt service of the building or the property so that the the local. Millidge payers don't continue to have to pay that. Property tax going forward is the debt service is paid off on the building the militia doesn't end. Well. That's up to the local school district in tax or the tax voters of that that district whether they want to continue the millage after they've paid off the debt service but the debt service is no longer necessary once it's been paid off if it's paid off but I've never seen to be let in to decrease the millage maybe you have but I haven't. Well generally knowledge is a believer for certain period of time to pay off debt service then they have to be re authorized I'm not so certain about that my taxes taxes don't don't have changed and if anything their increased when they ask for more Miller. So I agree that would my point is this. That there have been few. It actually don't know of any. Charter schools. That have. Entered into an agreement for sale or lease. Of unused or under utilized properties. I can't name one maybe you can. And so I don't law in twenty seventeen. I don't know of any. And so. We have in the middle of communities across the state of Arkansas. And I believe going forward we're going to see more. Empty buildings. Making lots. The buildings that dues are standing are going to stay. Continually be in ruins. So I don't understand the reluctance. To see the benefit. Of this bill I'm I'm I just can't see it. You know if. So if you think about it. And you drive around the state. And you see these old schools. That are just sick. Abandon. Rules Goan. Dotson falling again like the one I so over it all timer back in twenty sixteen that the cause until twenty twenty one to get that property. What. It was paid for I should have been. But we were still paying for villages. But it still G. there was a sprawling campus. Twenty acres a better. Not even in use. It could have been there for. Of a track. For seniors to get exercise for kids to exercise. Could be a lot of community purposes that come about. From the bill such as this I agree with your intended what you're trying to do and I understand what you're trying to do. I don't think this is quite the way to go about it. So like I said it needs some work in my opinion but that's. Give you my feedback and also get that say this to. Thanks any strange. Thank you can have in some communities. Among some put public school districts. The gift or donation of the property to a city. That's in the law. But it happens it occurs. Altheimer got their. Property. Jillette there is. There are other places all across Arkansas. Well you see cities begging the school districts. To let them take over the property to put it to good use and not have it sitting as a nuisance in the middle of their community. In a city. That is what taxpayers that for the property certainly shouldn't have to in my opinion. For that property that they've already paid for. As I said. If there is some sort of a time limit on which a charter school good exercise that first right of refusal and then it goes on beyond that and as long as the funds if the city did sell it. Went back to the school district those are the two pieces that I'm most concerned about within this bill and so I think you're you're. The I. thank you for bringing the bill at I think you're. Your intent is good and what you're wanting to see done in the the revitalization of local communities with with the the buildings that are there and available and already paid for or largely paid for by the taxpayers locally but those are the two concerns I have if they can be fixed I could vote for the bill but if if they're not then I can't. Well I appreciate your explanation Senator Dotson. But. When I think about. The logic. The argument. When a district. Has been taken over no longer exist. Students are all over the place. The school district does not exist. So where would the money go back to. Where would that money go back to. I don't understand the logic of that would go. All of the portion that lead to wherever the students who live in that community go to school what what what would go to the local public school district whatever that public school district happen to be so if you're talking about at at a community in which the. Building was built originally under different school district there now under a school district and so we go back to the it would go to the district that actually owns the buildings currently. But if the district doesn't exist. What there is there is a district. There's a possibility that we will not have districts. In eight minutes a palette to. So what are you saying that the taxpayers then with this property it's still situated in their municipality. Should paid to a nother municipality that happens to. Have their students okay not municipality school district. What I'm saying what you have the man this is. You. Share not. Safety. I think we've had a good conversation. I think we are we have to move on. That's a valid. Motion I have a second. I mean I don't know how this process works in here but. All those in favor immediate consideration I all those opposed. Hi seven. A do pass by Senator Chesterfield and second by Senator Leding all those in favor. All those opposed no. Okay here. Senator Davis. Hey Senator Leding I Senator Hammer no senator Bryant no center stone. I Senator Dotson. Now. Senator Chesterfield I am so. I think we have. We don't have five. S. the bills. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. The seeds Senator Tucker. You are here hope you have a quick bills okay. Stated your senate bill two eighty five. Four sixty eight. For sixteen. Thank you okay four six. Okay if you would identify yourself you'll be recognized. Thank you. Second. Senate Chesterfield second. Our neighbor. All opposed. Thank you. That was the. House. She Just. This. Clause. Last. Sorry thank you thank you. Unless there's something else in place the county affiliate is responsible for a hundred percent of the cost the all the books are free of charge to the kids who participate the way that instruction in Tennessee is that the state government pays for fifty percent of the cost of the books and each county Philly has to raise a matching fifty percent dawaly never wanted to be where the state pays for more than fifty percent she wants the county to have skin in the game and I think she's right I think that's a better way to approach it she also believes that registration goes up when counties have to raise their own money and and the number one goal of the program is to have as many kids registered as possible in Arkansas the state has not provided any matching dollars but there's another organization called Arkansas imagination library which supports the affiliates in all seventy five counties and they applied for a grant from the federal government through the Arkansas department of education which lasted for over four years to provide that fifty percent match so as of right now eighty is partnering with Arkansas imagination library to provide that fifty percent match with money provided by this federal grant now that federal grant is set to expire next year so one thing I want to make clear with this bill is we're not asking for any money zero dollars okay all we're doing is creating an account where money can be deposited into at eighty to partner with Arkansas imagination library if and when money becomes available and necessary in the future and I I I'll explain that just a bit more the. No I won't centers yes I can read body language we're not asking for for any money at it but but it's a wonderful program the the the program has existed in Arkansas for long enough that we do have Arkansas specific data and I just want to relay some of that to you for kids that participate in the program there twenty four percent more likely to score ready or exceeding it science fifteen percent more likely to score ready or exceeding in math eighteen percent more likely to score ready or exceeding it and reading. Twenty four percent less likely to be held back in kindergarten twenty percent less likely to be held back in third grade so it has real impact and it just like with all early childhood education every dollar you invest you're you're saving money With that I'll be I'll be happy to take any questions. Dotson. Do you have a just a question on when when the the funding that's currently available runs out do you have an estimated cost on what it would cost on an annual basis the total cost for the state of the state provided a fifty percent match will be one point five million dollars it only other thing I was gonna say which I think is it is it is relevant for your consideration I visited with the governor about this a couple times a visit with her chief of staff a couple times but I've had the most extensive conversations with with Jake I believe and and you you I think it's fair to say I mean I don't I don't know the department has an official position so I want to misrepresent anything but I think it's fair to say he's he was very enthusiastic in the conversations that we had about it the last time we spoke about it he said I'm all in on this and he also and this is what made me think of of this in your question there was a a similar program in Florida that they had a creative way to fund so you know we haven't eight at least a year to figure that out before the fiscal session I want to pass this bill in this session because we were creating code for the account which we can only doing the general session and then we have a year to work with eighty in the Commissioner who likes the program to try to figure out. If we need more money how to raise it but but if and when we do the total cost to the state would be one point five million dollars which an education contacts is not a huge number and it's also and this is amended in my conversations this is entirely consistent with the focus on literacy you know okay second question before talking bails out of anything What why are you only getting House sponsors to this bill you haven't talked to any of the senators. Ansari amending it and would you be considerate of that some senators that might want to be added in women verbally in Education Committee now we can't you can amends after comes out of committee just this does not yeah I would love I would love to add as many peoples one co sponsored thank you senator Hammer. Thank you Richard just recorded one point five would be a state general revenue potentially job thank or it could be that what they had in Florida that the commissioner mentioned to me is that they created a box of people to check on something to do with their state income tax returns and that fully funded the program at that point and so it would that would be special revenue if we created some other way to find it like that but it could be general revenues well okay and then the second one how does that tie into the skin and the games that the county is supposed to. I try to make the connection between the one point five million ask for what would be out of state general revenue or what I'm hearing also maybe a to a potential tax credit bill or something like that which you're not running that this section right that's right okay so then how does that translate to the comment about the counties have to contribute and what's expectation to the county for their budget impact to all seventy five counties combined would have to raise one point five million on their own so matchy matchy okay so I don't know what the budget is and swing county Colorado thousand dollars the state would provide fifty thousand and then in the swing County affiliates actually called selling County machination library so swing County meditation labor has to raise fifty thousand dollars of their own to match the fifty percent provided by the state and your right to have a county government you talk about the in you talk about the nonprofit the nonprofit within the county that's right okay that's that's was trying to and a lot of counties it's it's a it's a United Way affiliate or a rotary club and some counties like insulin and Lasky there's a five oh one see three that was created solely for this program okay our thank you senator Bryant. Thank you at two I'm gonna I'm gonna go down that the other road. because I know I know there's like businesses that have made this mistake so this particular nature there's obviously concerned with our library conducts books where they're placed you've got access to them and for me it's never been a matter of the first amendment and parent parent chill child interaction but we're we're the bill says age appropriate books delivered to the home. So when a child goes out there because I I remember as a kid getting. The stuff in the mail and it was exciting specialist was re referred us bang it incited excited me Ahrendts got it cited to read with me I think it's a great program. But I think there's a difference between what the majority of people in state feels appropriate for the child versus the American library association they obviously have in those debates we've had over centers bill. Where is that line what we're going to authorized to be sent into our mailboxes so my question would be is is who has. How do we has an interference in that even though no state moneys being used we're we're but that's my question is just that process so I have two two part answers your question okay the first part and I would be very up front with you we're gonna have no discretion over what books or so State of panel of experts that And they have an early childhood determines. You know I read my kids green eggs and ham whether they were wanted for that now that may not be the right thing it might have been best when they were to I don't know but this early childhood panel of experts they know what's good for your kid when they're six months old when they're eighteen months old when they're twenty three months or whatever the case might be and so they're the ones that turning that is it's the Dollywood foundation they determine that for every book that they send all over the world the second part of the answer your question is I'm confident you and everybody on the committee would fill on a percent comfortable I can get you a list of the books I'll just tell you. There there are two exceptions to the age appropriate books the first is when you enroll no matter how old you are the first what you get is the little engine that could because that's dollars choice okay and in this the second exception is the last book that you get is I'm ready for kindergarten because it's for your fifth birthday before you start counting our the other books are Ferdinand the bull you know there are no books that had anything to do with any you know sexual reference I mean these are all there is below five years old okay I mean they're all little kids books I'm I'm confident that you would feel totally comfortable with every book that's listed in and I can get you that list thank you. Okay. I have one person I just wanna help me close for the bill real quick it only takes thirty seconds all right. All the all right. So yes I want to I want to welcome Val Holbrooke A. K. A. for today only Dolly Parton to the table just just find a week I was close for the yeah I'm I'm about Hey rock with Arkansas advocates for children and the children and families and I'm wearing this week in support of this bill obviously I just wanna share just a few statistics for a quick that by age to a child's brain as is active as in adults and by age three the brain is more than twice as active as an adult and stay that way until they're ten the number of books in a home correlate significantly with higher reading scores for children. And in middle income neighborhoods the ratio of the books per child is thirteen for each child but in low income neighborhoods it's just one age appropriate book for every three hundred children so let's get more little books in little hands and that set these babies up for success thank you very much. Questions. Are you closing your bill yes NO close will thank you I appreciate a good vote. But. Okay. As amended. Senator Chesterfield move do pass center Dotson second all favor hi all those you pass the bill thank you thank you manager thank you members. Next I'd like to do is to a five this one we should even shorter than the last. We're going to trust you. Is this one's easy. It's easy to understand whether you like it or not I think it's easy to vote for all it says that this is as other sensibility to the second page all it says is that if a parent. Takes. A child to go vote. With them then they have an excused absence what weather good weather gone voting. Are there any questions from the committee center Brian. This may may get too much into the weeds but. I can I can see there probably be a lot of absences on voting days are we gonna require any type of I voted sticker anything I can not say parents and try to do the right thing but. So we'll probably just get convinced by their students to stay home. so would you be a mask like the day off for them earlier I used to have to have a doctor's note yeah with me to get that excuse right just so would what it would if I'm I'm sincerely asking I got a note from a parent or not voted sticker we thank you. I'm not I'm not gonna vote against this because I think it's good intentions but like a selfie post you know I'm just I'm just wondering where where do we draw the line between you know that if the principal comes and says Hey legislators I I missed half my student body that day It It words catching on the election is coming up and they're automatically exercised. where do we or do we say maybe what your yeah. I understand What other feedback from the Committee at. Senate action. Thank you madam chair amend the I'm kind of in the same similar type thought process. An absent it implies the whole day but voting doesn't take all day is there I don't know if there's a way that we can saying excuse period or to by note of a parent or something like that because I mean really you're taken out of school kinda like for doctor's appointment not really absent for the whole day so I I hear you there too if you look at one twenty a they're only excused for. The time during which. The student companies the parent so. Maybe make that more specific that the the the note comes similar to that of a doctor's appointment or something like that and the other thing is I'm sitting here reading it quite frankly that I'm also thinking about an addition of the concerns you you're raising is that it should be limited parents should be a parent or guardian or custodian so that's another another thing I have in mind so I'm thinking I'm probably going to amend it but I want to hear all your concerns. While I can right now. Senator Hammer. Thank you I'm just thinking through is there a reason why. A parent would be denied going to school and checking out their parent in any other circumstance that they have to give calls to the school so would not be counted absent I mean like they go to the doctor I'm checking my kid up go the doctor checked my child to go out for whatever reason is that automatically count against him is absent I think it varies by school district you know some school districts require doctors notes some don't. And So this is just kind of setting state policy just to say Hey if you take your kid to go vote. Thank you can't be considered truant. Okay and then the other thought I'm thinking is that when we look at the numbers when we look at the dates that have the highest increase of votes Saturdays are are pretty high counts so did you give a thought to the idea that parents. And what I'm saying that parents should are going to take off work to go vote right aligned with students being checked out of school to go vote which at I'm not against the intent of the bill I'm just thinking through that if they wanted to take their child to vote that would take him on Saturday or day that there are you going to be off for a lot of people vote after they're off work and the student would be out of school unless you're tied up playing sports or something like that yeah you giving up to that I did not I think you know what the short version of my. Conclusion on that is we just kind of have to trust parents I think most parents will take after school and on Saturday if they can you know you know me well enough to know that my kids are the ballpark a dance competition all day on Saturday and I would be able to take them on Saturday anyway I can only take them on a weekend so some some people just don't have that option but if it is available you would think most parents would take advantage of that rather than to take their child out of school okay our thank you. Chesterfield. All right. A I have usually been formed civics teacher I love the bill. because one of the things that I'm finding is that people are not building we had three hundred thousand registered voters in the last election that simply didn't vote. And if kids start seeing parents. Voting. Then I think it encourages a greater precipitation greater participation of our students going forward. I am concerned about the issue that was raised by Senator Bryant I don't know how we get to where we want to be. But the emphasis is on voting. I think it's so critically important because we simply are not doing that forty nine percent of the people in this state did not vote in the last gubernatorial election we gotta do something that. We've got to do something and wraps the concerns that have been raised can be addressed you come right back and bring it or want to continue to try to run it today I don't know but I do know how important it is and so that's why I thank you for bringing the bill today would you agree I would agree thank you senator are you a meeting this afternoon that would meeting Faberge's I saw it on the counter. At a meeting this afternoon yes but only on lottery not on not on bills center Ryan. I just I'm I'm not up to date on on truancy policies and and but I can see how this would go for me is is I let my kids and I'm I'm I'm a proponent of this you you know I'd I'd use a half day to be with my job the vote to have breakfast and lunch and the return to school or they come up for lunch yeah and then use the afternoon to be with them and talk about this process or not to me I don't know if truancy or if you can do miss Happy Days is excused versus a whole day to get get that led to what I'm thinking is responses center Dotson concern too is just limited to a half day. And then also some verification that you voted whether it's from picture at the at the voting booth and I voted sticker yes. And yes exactly right. That's that's what I'm thinking. Senator Hammer. If you think you're taking all these ideas one thing think about two is. Might wanna be careful about limiting because I know you know people like them in our area people are showing up to vote and your level you may think you can walk in and do it in five minutes but depend when it is they might you might be thirty forty five minutes so I'll just throw that out there don't box yourself in too tight if your come back with the changes appoint and consider that a point thank you senator Bryant and then just just thinking out loud and excited I have not read the statute in detail the nose. R. eighty six year old prohibited from company in the parent inside the voting booth whenever they go check in about Senator. I don't think so okay. Anybody here to speak against the bill. I'll close this one down madam chair and and and break come back with an amendment. Got some good suggestions that's an excellent suggestion thank you very much. Okay senator Wallace you have the bill. you wanted that one I want to I was I was we're gonna leave here by twelve the folks in the city here a long time like Senator Wallace I want to make sure that he gets the chance to do this bill I was interested in doing I don't think we'll take a long time I'll let center once again turn I want to box amount but the others other one I was interested doing is three sixty four just about local control school districts I don't think it would take a ton of time go ahead Sir go ahead quickly that will let okay senator Wallace and and senator Penzo and senator I mean representative Meeks so we know we've got twenty minutes okay. Did I don't you've got one I'm I'll be very brief what I do have an imminent on this the the amendment only Dilys the Emergency Clause that's all it does so I appreciate a good vote on the amendment. Thank. Our favorite. All those. What thank you manager. Under current law if this if this state. A board of education the department education takes over local school district the way the law reads and and section six dash fifteen dash twenty nine seventeen in subsection C. is at the end of five years the department has to do one of three things either an axe consolidate or reconstitute the district and so I consider Senate bill three sixty four to be a clarification of existing law and just confirming that at the end of five years five years means five years and in the school district has to go back to local control at the end of the five year period I think the you know the reason for that is I think everyone would agree that it's a rather extreme measure to disempower locally democratically elected school board and for the state to take over so that's one point I think everyone is in agreement on that and then the other point is if after five years the school district is still an academic physical or facilities distress in the state in managing for five years and who's responsible for the stress at that point is that you need to get someone else to turn so for both of those reasons I think five years and that's why it's reflected in the current law that's the cap you have to an ex consolidator reconstitute after five years so this just adds one more subsection to the end of the existing section saying. At the end of five years it has to go back to local control whether it's been annexed consolidated reconstituted whatever the case might be that's it you know this was in and of course the reason I bring this up is because the the little rock school district was held in and by the state for more than six years so they the Department education went beyond the five year period and in a way in a manner that I thought was not good for for lack of a more artful term and when this bill this bill was run two years ago while the Little Rock School District still under state control that and when I asked Taylor Lloyd repair this bill for master just to copy the bill from two years ago that's what had the Emergency Clause on their there's no current conflict and in fact I've communicated with former representative Branscum about this and at this point eighty is neutral on the bill two years ago former commissioner Johnny key testified against that there's no there's no current conflict this is for future application only the Department is neutral and the only point of the bill status subsections saying five years means five years that's it. He. Send a private. This. I'm I'm not thank you in my area I've never experienced the state control yes what what prevented this state from leasing control back I know I don't go to for the week but the reason I'm asking that is. The if the state after five years said. We may not have done any better. We're gonna give somebody that hasn't shown any improvements like what's the obviously there's appeals process in which the courts all that so I'm really really get the whole thing but the short version the answer and this is a point of frustration I think for the people of little rock is the current law requires the board of education to promulgate execration. To make clear to the people of the community what we need to do with our school district in order to remove it from state control and in this case of the Little Rock School District those exit right here we're not provided by the state board of education for over four years. This is the locks which was taken over in January fifteen in those acts of criteria were not made publicly available till February of nineteen so over four years and that to me that was problematic one reason why it took so long ultimately after those expressed here you will promulgated. The state board of education authorized the election of a democratically elected school board in November of twenty twenty so that was five years and ten months after the state takeover so already over the the five year period but even after the school board was in place the state board they kept on basically. Three they had three pieces that they were still in control of that they did not relinquish control up to the to the local school board one of which was the hiring firing of a super tenet which is one of the most important jobs at the school and so that was ultimately relinquished in June of twenty twenty one six six years and five months after this that the state board took over the rock school district so what if I may so once the rules exit rules were given it really took eighteen months for them to. To get a hold of it again it was is to an after hours to an act yeah but yet but really it was really about eighteen months the only reason that that the state if I remember correctly the only reason the State Board kept control for not for like in another nine months or so was to make sure that the budget was balanced and that everything was hand with budget everything else had been accounted for but they held on for budgetary reasons for like an additional nine months. thank you madam chair ladies and gentleman the committee I've had two of the school districts with which I have worked taken over by state controlled in the all content it just continues to drag on. Enjoy. You don't know what you need to do in order to get out I pass legislation that state if you take over a school district you must tell what the school district needs to do to get out but that has not been it here too at all last county special school district was in state control for six years I guess what's frustrating for those of us with experience duties. After five years the district comes out worse than when it went in for example when the right one in there was six school in what we call academic distress when it came out there was fifteen. When we went in when little I went in there were they were not in fiscal distress. When they came out. They were in fiscal distress. So the process is not work period. But it is frustrating that it drags on beyond the five year period that is set in law to six years and it would have gone on to seven years that we not continue to advocate for it is frustrating I hope it never comes to a town near you but for Pulaski County into the little rock school district it was a nightmare and for the other school districts like pine bluff they are still in fiscal distress and they've been under state control for eight or nine years. And that's why I think a secretarial leave a and the and the governor put in place. I step in there that says you can partner with somebody who can help you get out rather than immediately putting the school district in distress as one of the better part of that bill thank you. Would you agree I would I would reset. Thank major I'm just curious if anybody from the Department is here so we could hear them say what their position is on. It's of course of a very fair question. I'm happy to. Your text message I got from former representative Branscum was we are not weighing in. Or as I like to say we are neutral. The. Branscum yes yes ma'am. And we're not weighing in directly to. Yes we actually said as as I like to tell my buddy Lane Jean we are so that's that that's the full text. Senator Johnson. Yeah so thank you ma'am sure Senator Tucker at pulled up the the previous parts of the code section and I'm I'm not entirely sure that. The the parts that you didn't including the bill. That are there you don't are you sure you don't have to strike some of those things in order to add this section. I mean just from functionality standpoint you're you're an attorney I'm not but I don't I don't think so I think the only subsection. That's really even relevant to the timeline this subsection C. the. And what it says is if the public school district has not demonstrated the state board and the Division of elementary and secondary education the public school district meets the criteria that exit level five intensive support within five years of the assumption of authority the state board shall annex consolidate or we constitute a public school district. So I the way I read subsection C. an contract with this subsection D. that I'm proposing is at the end of five years. The state board of education. They make a determination is that's not what the bill says the. Right the bill the bill says they shall be returned to full local control right so I mean it is not making a determination that's what either as an ex consolidator reconstituted under subsection C. or. As just given back some so that the first determination by the Department education is whether the public school district meets the criteria to exit level five intensive support if they do meet those criteria it just goes back. If they don't. Then it's got to be an ex consolidated or reconstituted. No matter what they do in any of those circumstances after five years. Whatever's left has to go back to local control. Is what subsection DSA. Yes I'm not saying that C. at I mean we're we're in the bills referring to see it's it's not. okay it just follow see in that section of code. and then the the second question I had in this I'm not I don't have the entire bill that we just passed no law the learns Act memorize have committed to memory I have a I don't have it memorized but if I recall for districts that have some sort of a a. You know they're going to or possibly might be in such and that the stressor whatever they can there's now in law an opportunity for them to. DO some things before they get there that's right they can enter into a contract with a charter operator is something like that for a building or for its ability to school that has a D. or F. grade they can do that instead of being taken over as is the way I remember it that's kind of my recollection as well I don't remember the details How how does this. Are there some other options there that we might should wait and see so how how those would work in practicality before we start making changes in this in this regard like you I don't have the whole learns that committed to memory but my my understanding is. This would not affect that in any way because for example the example that we decided let's say a school that has a D. or an F. grade from AT and a contract with a charter operator to come in and operate their school for a time period. This section of code is not triggered in that circumstance this section of code is only triggered when the state takes over the school district. And post versus pre which is the right part of March so there are there are other options available and it including example just cited where that would take place before the state department's cation takes over a public school district and that this only kicks and yet once that happens yeah. You're right. I think I only have one one concern I I and I do understand the intent and I I like I said not not having experienced that I understand the frustration to use an analogy if you were to. Repeatedly tell your son thank you senator cleaners room yeah it really goes in a doesn't clean his room to your standards when you give me a list. And then you should you walk in the room and say. DO this list for twenty four hours. It within twenty four hours no come out to you do. But you have no stopgap let him come out of twenty four hours a four hours it was a doors done very little. But you know what would you do next so much now do this state is the state should give them their accelis or their exit rules say do these ten things would've the schools absolutely refuses to do half of them and they just decides to wait you out. The state department still has the options under subsection C. of annexing consolidating or reconstituting the district so it's not saying you have to let your son out. If you can. It doesn't that analogy is not perfect because you can't you can't annex consolidated reconstituted child but but the date that the state still has options they don't just return the district as it is okay they have a. The only return the district as it is if the district and I'm reading subsection C. before. If they demonstrated that the public school district meets the criteria exit level five intensive support so only if your child has clean their room as you saw that do you like the free if not you have other options if this bill doesn't change that the other options being annexation consolidation reconstitution thank. Senator Hammer. So what happens if at the end is five years the school and I understand you know sports center Chesterfield speak about awhile ago the state has failed to do its job what happens if at the end of the five years. The school hasn't got to where the State Board candle can turn loose because it's still in distress and then. What they're forced to release them back either in the same condition worse condition what they got in what prohibits the state board from turning right around then and put him back under state control. So this bill doesn't really affect that one way or another I mean that there's criteria elsewhere in the code that have that have to be met in order for the state takeover of the district I don't have all those committed to memory what the process is so you know that I've and even when it when Secretary key testified about this two years ago. He said our goal is to turn it back over and not to take it back or I think that's everybody's goal and so that's why I'm five years is a long time to try to make that happen you know another thing that came up two years is should there be a transition period in my answer to that is absolutely yes within the five years you don't well and that was the second question to to get the election of the public school board. They would have to start that process about two years before the five years right it depends on just where the counter falls yeah they would have to work on that at a time okay because something about bills that were passing to do a special elections what else may be coming it would have to be may or November election or March in the case of a presidential primary year yeah but like in Little Rock for example they said in November so you can do that okay the state board is in control of the election timeline when they're when they're reconstituting the school board okay are so that I can set that whenever they want thank you. The further questions from the committee. Somebody in the audience who would like to speak for or against the bill. I have a second. you pass by Senator Chesterfield the second by Senator collect. S. as amended sorry. Thanks. Other questions on the motion. On. All opposed the. Still roll call. Senator Davis. Senator Davis. Senate. What would you say can you. Can you call that hi HM Senator Leding. I Senator Hammer. No. Senator Breanne. I center stone. Now Senator Dotson the No Senator Chesterfield hi. I'm may may I request a motion to expunge the vote by which the amendment was adopted because I'm gonna prepare another amendment in and put on the members on calendar try to address. Say. Okay all they were. All posts thank you thank you for anything okay we're going to let senator Dave I mean Wallace come in two ways here who've traveled the distance to be here. Yeah. Sponsored. You like to do what they. Hi this is a motion by Senator Leding. A second by. Opposed. Senator Wallace if you will identify yourself you will be recognized thank you committee minister senator Dave Wallace District nineteen and I have was made with the miss rose bills. Thank you. Thank there by yourself and you'll be recognized thank you madam chair morose men's executive director Arkansas right to life thank you go ahead. Madam chair members this bill is a very simple request we're asking that the. Public high schools. Will provide one year I'm sorry one hour of adoption awareness instruction each year. The benefits of this it will tell a young students the type of adoptions available. The difference between adoption and through the foster care program in our private option. Public and private resources available. In a description of child and human development in members. This bill down the road will. Help some fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen euro. Student. Who will be scared and frightened worried. This will give them some guidance. And with that I stand by for your questions. The questions from the committee. Senator dot. Thank you madam chair senator Wallace. When this says one hour. Is this. A course for one hour for the whole year of one sixty minute our within the school year. It would be. yeah I know that's not clear in my opinion would be a a classroom our sixty minutes. Total in the entire year. Yes okay thank you. Bill. Thank you thank you madam chair thank you senator Wallace hi. I'm in favor of the. For the awareness please I'm just trying to find out the logistics of how it will take place is this to be per classroom is it can be for students in second at well couldn't be because kids get pregnant now merry school now. So how do you want that done through do we have a. An assembly where we talk about it and. If they do with a less than an hour are they going to be in trouble. What what would constitute the ally I guess is zero senator Wallace something that we have second better understand the logistics yes Sir Chesterfield it says a public high school which would eliminate elementary well and I'm concerned that it would. Because the ten year old child that I read about. In the paper we have junior high keys again pregnant every day but I'm still young I person middle school now why would you just limited to the high school about the adoption you know I'm I'm not being difficult I'm just trying to figure out why because kids are getting pregnant. Much earlier than one we anticipated we run up mostly with high school is not the case anymore and I think kids need to be aware of adoption options but I'm concerned about the the rigidity of the one hour it takes thirty minutes or or is there something in place and say is this is how long it takes to make them aware of it why just the our. Or is it supposed to go over several days away the Arab with. I am aware of the committee mandate to get placed on our schools. It was my belief that one hour. Would be acceptable by our our our education but if the if the class last forty five minutes and when I was there most classes lasted forty five minutes that's why I was concerned what we do the other fifteen or is this just a suggestion is is a mandate of an hour a week if we do it within the class saying it's forty five minutes would we be in trouble with the school district being in trouble if. That didn't happen in the public you know in the public health class where was gonna take place. Senator don't last a full hour yeah it's it I understand that I believe that. The schools are heavily weighted to save as a choose on that if the goal of one classroom period I think that would suffice. Senator Hammer. Thank you senator Wallace on the bill in on lines. thirty three. Thirty two you delegate the authority to the state board of education to develop it does not develop the curriculum standards materials news relating to the adoption with the instructions come down from state board of education to the schools that might address some of the concerns it would suppress today it would Senator Hammer yes okay and then on the second part. This is requiring them to do it what would there be anything that would prohibit a school from wanted to drop it down to the lower grades if they chose to do so no no Sir okay so thank you to started in school at the nine through twelve schools would have latitude to carry it down and then if they don't you come back next time or yes Sir and at this time and that's very good point okay all right thank you senator Chesterfield you. I will work with you on this of senator Dotson which was for something to me as a second reading this I don't know what the heck you say it but it sounds if you look like you say it's a really good if but I just I'm just trying to get us to the the rigidity of the one hour and say class period or or something of that sort and I making any sense to you. So that a teacher signing off on I don't please capitalize that did it for an hour in the class but only forty five minutes there's just feel I I would say that cherry Hammer what a good point this bill will allow the state board of education to develop criteria for doing this but is not going to allow the state board to disregard your one hour this in the bill. They can't disregard what the bill says. In the. Members out for this bill that we get with our last area. I'm sorry we just do a Class I want to support to be I am in complete so that I would like to put the bill down and we'll discuss it afterwards. Thank you and thank you so much thank you senator Wallace of Senate Penzo. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yes. You'll be recognized to present Senate bill three eighty nine thank you for your committee on make this as quick as possible. so Senate bill three eighty nine does three things it establishes four year terms currently there's the option to choose between three and five year terms this would make it uniform across the state with four year terms they're staggered four year terms that we only have to board is up for election every two years US they keep some stability in the system also It moves all the elections to do gubernatorial in the presidential election generals so that way we have a more robust robust turnout for elections. And and it's. I do have an amendment I'm sorry. Okay let's backtrack a good amendment all it does is add senator Bryant and representative McKenzie. The Bill. Thank you. and then the third thing it does is establish sixteen year term limits you know the previous bill we headed eight and there are some request moved sixteen so we've moved it sixteen years. And that's. D. much with the bill does. One one I'd be curious if anybody from school board associations here to talk on this and then number two just talk me through the redistricting process and you're gone from eight years to sixteen I'm just real quick how to how would that affect in redistricting and rezoning and all that kind of stuff for. Okay that's going to carry us into the next. Next up census count okay so. So if it's kind of like what we do in the Senate I mean if you're asking about how the terms in in the Senate they would kind of draw lots like we do to determine who gets two year and four year terms. If my answer the question right so after the senses. That in here yes. Fifteen. I don't know if that was new language or it's already in use. An ocean order about how this is how this affects another issue where like under and I maybe went on this but like under eight thousand is there some is there something out there that affects. All of them having to run again if the minority status for the free or reduced lunch whatever that is that affects the rezoning where they all get you know where they'll get to taking out at one time I don't I don't know the answer to that there might be I'm not aware of any issues with that there might be somebody else that has some information on that. So from what I am up to the table. Very. Ward. Manager I need to a just out of a second clear conscience I want to make a disclaimer my wife is a member of the bench school board on put that as a public disclaimer just for clear elections nothing else thank you. You identify yourself to be recognized both of you. Thank you can you hear me yes I'm Dan Jordan director of member relations for the Arkansas school board association did bring with with me Lucas harder you can answer the legal and and so forth questions one of the questions I think this Senator hammer just raised there is a bill out that was brought forward I think this represents. Yes ma'am can you hear now I'll speak louder my understanding of the question that was just asked with regard to the rezoning and so forth others of bill resent Cozart I think it's fifteen thirty four since I'm not looking I think it's between thirty four if that happens it will repeal that ten percent and the redistricting peace that was just referenced I'm not I'm not sure what senator Penzo had said about that because I was listening back your We were talking that being said hi Lucas is the election expert and if there's a specific point questions about that before I. Get my testimony I would allow Lucas to answer your specific questions Senator Hammer. I'll. Senator Hammer a Lucas my question is. The I'm I'm just thinking about what will happen if we passes with regards to is there of talked about it you know draw for two to four year how that's addressed in this bill number one and what negative affection might be that this bill would have on on that number two is the issue was brought up that because rezoning and like I know one district in mind it took out all school board members and someone had to run at large and all that kind of stuff and I just trying to make what's the unattended consequences that may occur to that issue if this bill passes. So it's affected me to things if if fifteen thirty four when passed in the redistricting. You would not occur. Other than you would have to have everyone. Trawled lots to re stagger for who would be elected in twenty twenty four and who would be elected in twenty twenty six. if that is not specifically addressed in the bill so it either you have everyone up for election in twenty twenty four and drop after the twenty twenty four election or they would need to drop before the candidate filing period for the twenty twenty four election. And would have half of the twenty twenty four half of the twenty twenty six but that is not specifically stated in the bill as as to when that should occur. Okay because it's not specifically stated in the bill. What would be the legal ramifications if we pass this without it being specifically stated in the bill. I would say that it depends on how the district act because you could have some distance seven ACT one when some dishes I would act the other way so it could certainly cause a lot of confusion. Okay Committee chair make a comment. I know your your Senate sponsor of house bill fifteen thirty Ford we haven't cleared it out here yet okay I'd be a little bit concerned about not that I'm opposed okay I just be a little bit concerned without that issue being addressed to make sure we don't have different districts doing different things and the the fact that fifteen thirty four it's going to have some direct impact on this bill I wonder if we out of our way to get fifteen thirty four out of here. And maybe address this issue to make sure it's got clarity and there's no potential issues going down the road. A that's just my thought I'm I'm searching here so anybody wants to call me down a lot of things running together ma'am I think you're I think you're correct there are a lot of things running together that. That's all gonna say I'm just could I have the Gary Newton address that. It identify yourself. Yes chairman thank you I'm very Newton with Arkansas learns of the passage of H. B. fifteen thirty four would not impact this all fifteen thirty four does is remove the requirement to be zoned. It takes away the state's requirement it's still districts would still decided there's owned at large or a combination thereof so fifteen thirty four would not have any impact on this current zoning current zones would have their own impact the fifteen thirty four has no impact. What about the other issue I mentioned about the staggering and with the read did you know what the results are redistricting that occurs after the senses. We have a opinion or anything to weigh in on that that outside your wheelhouse no it's not necessarily outside the wheel house of you could prescribe exactly it says I believe I don't have an from the draw for lights or do the stagger so the school board association's always been very good about providing instructions about how to do those things but it could also be a technical amendment it some point to just clarifies but it doesn't it doesn't preclude anybody it's simply moving those elections to the even years and then having a stagger L. over two election cycles so that it's you as equal as possible so there's some some could argue there's merit in letting the districts decide how they're going to stagger that because in current law you could have terms of three four or five years in many districts are going to have to figure out who like in Little Rock for example they had five year terms so they treat people with two year three year four year in their stagger so all districts due to draw for staggered differently and it's per and it's based on counsel given by the it might experience a school boards association advising what districts could or should do. So that'll bring it down to the local level for them to determine. I mean they're all going to have to go back to the drawing board well they have they they will now have elections in even numbered years in the law have four year terms but like the Senate it was referenced before you determined by draw is going to get the two year term of the four year term after the decennial census the. The bear with this is it doesn't force this having staggered elections is not going to force all new elections after the senses and licenses own district that the chooses to go that route so okay yeah thank you yes Senator Davis. I'm sorry your Chesterfield agencies that's okay I'm. Invisible. thank you senator Penzo what's the problem. I think that That. You can mentioned earlier there's nobody shows the. your people show up for a different cycle but didn't misunderstand what you said yeah you did what I said less people get people even though you put all these things on the ballot people still don't bow down ballot that was my point a in but what in the discussion yesterday but I'm concerned is a former school board member what is the problem I served on the school board was president of it the two terms there was not a problem and I'm trying to figure out now while the said we need to do this we need to put term limits on folks we need you all of the staff. And nobody's crying out that there is a problem with House school which operating or so I'm trying to figure out what is this about is free with that this is probably one of the most to the. I get more calls from my constituents for a changing school board election cycles than probably any other issue that I get that that's my district not your baby but everybody that does get feedback from my district would like to have them lined up with the general election there's a more robust voter turnout it it's more of a voice is the the community on who they want we already have that. We're already in the law that the school board elections must take place in either the March of the November whatever ready is the primary election a I think Senator English were you not the sponsor of that bill because the concern was that having it ends in September with the turnout was so low is that the people of the State of of the community voting was not well represented in that certain groups would have more control over the election so we change that it's now in conjunction with regular elections that's been around for several terms in in so the made they're at school board. Here in the world presidential I mean. This is where the former president elect. Well. I mean is it what we. I say it so. What what what gets me is we have this argument that more people will vote. But there's such a thing as ballot fatigue. And when people get to voting for president vice president governors etcetera they don't go down ballot and vote. The voting though the vote in those is much less we getting naked with three thousand people we represent ninety thousand. But you don't see ninety thousand bill's being cast for us. You didn't get ninety thousand oaks I didn't get ninety thousand miles maybe we got three thousand votes. And then the further you get down the ballot. The few the fewer people vote I mean obviously you have the support for this bill but I have a real concerned that we keep missing the school board. We keep changing stuff we've changed a lot we change the number of people that can be on boarded this over twenty thousand because we thought we were going to impact Little Rock by changing it to nine people while we were still under state control spring the was the other the spring gallery at a board we tried doing that that didn't work. So I'm just trying to figure out what it is worth fixing because school boards of operated efficiently in this state for a very long period of time thank you. I will say that You said people are going to vote down ballot I will say the people that care about school board elections will vote and more those people that will show up for the presidential and gubernatorial election cycle NO a lot of people just totally missed the there's there's not the publicity about the off cycle elections so people miss some people lot of a lot of people I know don't even know that they missed so I think this kind of gets everybody up to vote. In this. Thank you I was just gonna clarify on Senator hammers question on page three section for its already existing language that talks about and and Gary Newton head on it but it's all about the. Concerning the effect of minority population on school district board of director elections that the first meeting of the new board of directors then they establish how they're going to do the terms and and I live through this I was on the rest of the school board elected in two thousand nine and and we were all at large that when we did the Census we had to Xanten so we all ran according to our needs and since two thousand twelve and then we chose five year terms which we then had to draw out so we drew numbers and of course under the one year term and how to turn around and run again in twenty thirteen so they're already they already have a system in place by which they do this this will just change it to every two years just like us where we're and switching out and we're half of us are running essentially at a time so I just want to point that out that it is. That's already currently what they do and it is in the existing language so there shouldn't be and confusion in terms of. Running going from at large to zone or zone and stains that owned. If if if I may sit Senator Davis my understanding of of senator hammers question in part was establishing the initial staggered terms following the trip or the transition to the every two year election cycle not not specific to the the redistricting following the the Census because that that yes is already in law what the bill does not set forth how districts should go about establishing their staggered terms forward to transition to the every even year only for school board member elections I understand yes thank you for clarifying not appreciate it. Other questions. The Committee. Is there anybody here would like to speak for against the bill. Yes. Thank you for go against it I'm against okay trying to go. Our state. I'm sorry I thought you said for a for or against sorry and your against the bill may I any like to speak against the bill yes ma'am the decided by yourself again we'll get to as the thank you my name is Dan Jordan and I'm director of government relations for the Arkansas school board association we oppose the bill for the following reasons basically again just a to follow up with the the three things that the bill does is it moves the board member election to only be held every two every even year in November during the general it also as mentioned earlier about the three to five year terms is what's currently available in law you would moved that to four year and I would share with you since we've already brought it up we buy most all a large large I'm I'm not gonna say all this they almost all or five member boards at this time if anyone's at three or four it's probably due to some desegregation lawsuit that they're involved in or some unusual circumstance and we're not I'm not familiar with with personally with anyone that's at three or four I am finding it limits the maximum to four consecutive terms which is sixteen years and I'll touch on that basis that when in just a moment you are concerned with the bill a first is almost half or over half of the board would be up for election every two years during the general election of mention were members of the running for election with all other elected officials which is been referenced earlier and would get lost in the numerous positions during the general election voters are usually well informed of the top positions presidential candidates governor candidates legislate orders but board members may not have the viable visible presence that the other candidates in the general election would have next currently there are only one or or at most two positions that are elected on an annual basis and this with this bill closed over fifty percent of the board running for election every two years in an encompassing general election we feel that that that. Whitaker that the focus of the present at the focus of the board at that time would be on the election process and not on the students for which they are elected to serve next board members are unpaid servant leaders. Everyone knows that here this build increase the costs for candidates to run and Evian required general election in the form of you name it flyers Yard signs we could go down a long list of the larger the district obviously the larger the cost to four candidates are to reach the populace and the multitude of candidates that with that we running for various offices. In I next there will be an increased cost to get a student first of all the number of candidates that will be up for election at one time as well as you to the candidates as I just mentioned being up for election only with all the other general election candidates I district a strategic plans which are very very essential part of student performance in academic improvement district facilities and so forth it will be harder to maintain a viable a strategic plan with the possibility of more frequent turnover of the board. I some districts in Arkansas have board members who serve well over sixteen years which is the limit in this particular bill which is longer than the term limits that this bill would establish as we talk and I just mention some districts may have had a long tenured board members that were that it is a very admirable job and that this will again that particular piece would most often become a difficulty in districts to have smaller voting populace is basically the rural areas and have less candidates with that would even wish to run for a board additional do want to mention some complications that I did send of the sponsor that would arise should the bill be enacted as it's currently written these complications will occur in section twelve which begins on page six line twenty two the bill would have all candidates for school board required to file for can see in accordance with A. C. A. seven seven two or three which is the timeline for the party filing period for the preferential primary election these times are March one for elections held in odd with the governor on the ballot in the second Monday of November the prior year. To the election when the presence on the ballot however. In section eleven at page five line twenty five twenty six the school board member elections will not be on the ballot until the general election in November. That simply means that for all school board members who are up for election in twenty four they would be required to have filed for the twenty four election by November thirteen of twenty three. And not actually appear on the ballot until November fifth. Twenty twenty four almost one year later. Our other than non partisan candidates there a skews me other the other nonpartisan candidates are not required to fall that far in advance for election where they will appear on the ballot except for municipal elections all other nonpartisan candidates file during the party filing period but then are up for election at the preferential primary election municipal candidates are not required to file until ninety days prior to the general election appear on the general ballot the last thing I'll mention. I'm sorry skews me section to only get two more section twelve also creates a conflict with the vacancies statute you're the bill not amending six thirteen six eleven to no longer prevent appointees term remaining at the next annual election a candidate required to run to fill an unexpired term on an odd year would have no filing period to do so. Our the next one next to last due to the requirement for boards to re staggered terms which is just referenced earlier so that about half of the board members will be up for election in twenty four this result in a large number of board members having to have been up for election three years in a row due to the post census redistricting that we just didn't twenty two. Having drawn a one year term after that so having to run again in twenty twenty three and then drawing a term that would require them to be up for election in twenty four that person would have had to run for years in a in a row. Our then finally the bill doesn't included delayed implementation Clause and as a result school boards that we're going to hold their election for board members in November of twenty twenty three but held a millage election earlier this year would suddenly be out of compliance with the required article fourteen section three at statute for the board to hold an annual election. Again for those reasons are in the underlying nature of the three tenants that the bill does I guess be a opposes this bill thank you very much. For questions from the committee. Senator Hammer. To provide a copy to the staff of your remarks I can I can do that I very much. Into that thank you. Any other questions from the committee members. anybody else here like C. Mike Martin's. The agents the bill. You identify yourself you'll be recognized yes I Mark Martin them with the school administrators association thank you madam chair members of the of the committee for allow me to make a comment So we are opposed to the bill and I will go over my talking point that the the school board association had already as already mentioned many of our concerns are the same that they have they have mentioned a I guess the only thing I will add and and that if the to emphasize something that school boards they added that that we have a lot of districts around the state. That are doing well financially a third their task order good and they have school board members that have invested years and there are still willing to serve their community want them this are this sixteen year limit would would not allow them to continue to serve in many of these are in areas where they may have difficulty finding people to run for the school board so again of we we are opposed to and the death my comment and I'll be glad to address a question you might have Senator Hammer thank you are you against the technicalities that were mentioned or you against the intent or you against all of the above. All of the above Sir okay and then my question you just raised and. I know you speak against but maybe you can address it. You know as if I memorize elected officials we can lay off for years and come back in the loop of things after we lay off for years I don't see that that option is in here for school board member that serves out say the full sixteen years for them to ever be able to serve again in their lifetime and my mission that or its citizens sixteen years sixteen and until. But we can lay off for years and get back in the loop as yeah I was aspiring what we did initially had an eight year term and love the ruler is reached out and asked if I could expand that to sixteen years and so I agreed to do that that was something request from you know south Arkansas rule areas the school board's reached out and asked you know because we can expand it so I mean if if there's if there's some little tweaks like that you don't like to make I'd be happy to amended on the house side and clean up some these technical corrections if that's something that I don't know if the rest of the committee is interested in and that four year layoff or not but I'd be I'd be happy to amended on the house side and clean up any technical corrections and but it does those technical corrections really change the substance of the bill amended okay so okay thank you thank you. The questions from the committee. They speak for the bill. Thank you so that would identify yourself. You're right you're right a thank chairman committee I'm very good with Arkansas learns which is the voice of consumers of education. familiar with both the A administrators and school boards association's arguments as they have been very much the same over the past several years since we moved school board elections from the third Tuesday in September to when people actually vote. As a result of moving school board elections to either currently either the primary or the general in even numbered years in odd numbered years the corresponding date every school district in Arkansas has set records for turnout for voter turnout exponentially these are the largest school districts are the largest local governments in Arkansas and we choose to govern the by elective office we would actually work with both of the organizations to champion of pay for school board I've heard it said many times the rent a public servants but Is leaders of the largest school districts are the largest local governments in Arkansas there's merit in considering how to compensate people for their time and effort of the four or the three main provisions of the bill we go from the highest turnout elections in school districts in Arkansas history to back to the lowest in odd numbered years it is unfair for colleagues and school boards to go through different style elections by doing it every single year. On the the the four year terms terms can now be from three is four or five years that adds a uniformity to districts were part of we we've heard that it causes disruption and yet shifting to four year terms would give stability of two years to each school district currently there are elections every single year this would ensure that two years of the same board between elections and when it comes to the the term limits was that accurate yes yes I'm glad that the bill is written says consecutive sixteen years most of term would exceed sixteen consecutive years in office so So as long as they laid off they could. It in the other reality is if face ID face if no one runs for a school board position the incumbent stays in office under current law. And they're provisions Dan for a point the board appointment of candidates from there so for those reasons and because it is been proven to work and the other thing by my compliments to center Penzo for drafting this bill having been having toiled in this for a decade it was very refreshing to see a bill come across that we didn't have to initiate so it's nice to be able to come in and check and Senators bill thank you. Third questions from the committee. The institute okay go ahead okay I have a constituent takes me that the off your school election the most recent was had forty six votes in their zone and during the during the of the General year they had seven hundred sixty two total vote so that's a difference of forty six and seven hundred sixty two votes between cycle you know a major election cycle on and off all the years. Are you closing your vote I mean peer bill. You are you closed closed all right we're good vote what is the will of the committee. Johnson do pass. Second as amended. As amended we always forget that and senator Bryant second yes discussion. Thank you madam chair just with regards to this bill and yeah if you do consider and if this comes out here and you're considering an amendment on the house and the the for your set up for it I think would probably be a good addition for for the The term terms so that they can potentially so if you merit more long lines what legislation the legislature has legislation. I can't speak the General Assembly. Yes as far as term limits right now where you know twelve years and you can set up for I think you probably have I don't know if you have any less opposition to it but I don't know if there be as much credibility to the opposition H. Page two line twenty four like I said less consecutive sixteen consecutive years so if they later at any time in there they just can't serve longer than sixteen so right now so it could be two years ago before years if they move to a different district have to lay out to come back sign up to run in that district that zone so I got just one make the way I read it it's already allows for that right thank you thank you senator Chesterfield. I'm always concerned when we interject ourselves in local control. Of school boards have been controlling themselves for a long period of time. In we don't like the federal government to tell us what to do but we don't have any problem with telling local government how to govern itself. This bill did not come from the school boards association. Thank you senator Penzo district I guess the off years or problem for them. But I am always concerned we continue to change what has worked for years I believe members of the school board have been diligent what they have done for this for their communities and for that reason I'll be voting on your bill. Further discussion. Senator Hammer. I'm taking on that the other phrase unless the term would exceed sixteen consecutive years in office if I'm interpreting that right so we could be off to. Come back be defeated come back the question is. It says sixteen consecutive years so there is not a limit. Of the total number years that they can serve only that they would be out if by chance they would serve sixteen consecutive years I would just ask that if he gets out of this committee that when it gets down to the house in that we work together to bring a little bit of clarity to that because I'm thinking about the smaller communities where they do have trouble getting people to run for school board and. And if they're gonna be reappointed anyway I would like to just work with you before gets to the house and to try to create that option that if if somebody service out there sixteen there in a small district nobody wants to serve. We I just like to get a commitment ID that will work on that before it gets down to the other end okay our thank you thank you. Lehrer motion hello I'm sorry yes we do our own favor all opposed. One more time. All in favor. All of those. Hi seven. Thank you thank you we are we we are supposed to be at a meeting but we're going to hear representative makes in sitting here for two and a half hours. And I know it's gonna be very fast this can be very fast and we're gonna voted yes an applicant yes non controversial yeah so I'm just give you the short version of bankers amendment The House thirty. In. Thanks. No I'm just kidding all I do I hear motion on the amendment. Senator Chesterfield moved to adopt the amendment I have a second second Senator Davis on favorite. All opposed. What are the committee so without long story short on this Arkansas law is silent on how. You're supposed to three foreign exchange students so that's what the bill not that that's what the the standards are in the office of options at the school districts have so for example the school district will have the option of whether to include a foreign exchange student scores in their standardized testing at the end of the year for rating letter or they want to include those or not they can decide whether they do or don't want to offer ESL to the students generally for exchange students for your group during his presidency so don't need those services the school district and require proof of English proficiency in the students before they come over students. What is the out thank you students at Cannes the schools can require that the students come from programs that have been certified by the council of standards of international education travel this is sort of the better business bureau of the exchange programs and then the amendment you just adopted is that uh school district may require at least three weeks notice that the student is coming prior to acceptance that's what the bill does its of all stakeholders or agreement are bugs good with that and unless anybody has any questions I will close. it passed by Senator Chesterfield second by Senator Dotson is there discussion on the motion. The. Seven all right thank you all in favor aye All opposed you pass the bill thank you colleagues as amended enjoy your lunch.