Education Committee - Senate

Representative Bentley house bill nineteen thirty one. Members as she's coming up to the table this committee meeting is really for the purpose of concurring any Senate bills that had house amendments or to hear bills that are right at the finish line so with that representative Bentley you're recognized president house bill nineteen thirty one. Thank you chairman Collins is a very very simple bill amending the board membership on the rule practice scholarship medical board just. The AG's office but they needed to do this in because of some other cases that have come up so if you look at the bill. It provides Senate confirmation for governing board appointments provides representation from rural areas of our state as board representation for members serving under represented communities and the Delta population removes a death provision from the real practice scholarship program that was removed from the county match program in twenty seventeen and with that I'll take any questions on that and the only question I have is is that this is you worked with everybody on this bill and there's the opposition I thought was right to me by you M. S. N. S. right so any questions on this bill. Anyone here to speak for against this bill. Right C. nine your clothes for your bill I'm close thank you what is the pleasure of the Committee. The motion to pass and second all those in favor say aye and oppose ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill thank you chairman committee I appreciate it Senator Eads is going to run house bill nineteen thirty two. Senator H. you're recognized to present house bill nineteen thirty two on behalf of representative Johnson who cannot be here because of work obligations. Thank you and your Lance Eads Senate district seven house bill nineteen thirty two amends provisions of graduate medical education residency expansion board and the this board was created and during the nineteen two thousand nineteen session with ACT eight fifty four by representative Johnson the goal of this bill support the expansion of residency programs for hospitals and medical providers around the state in this update was needed to help create new training opportunities for the state of Arkansas for medical school graduates it adds representation on this board for parts of medical schools residency sponsoring institutions and then opens opportunities for first participation for Roland in hospitals around the state so GBS is what is Jimmy Smith if they ask that question is supervised training after medical school that all physicians must complete to be licensed and practicing dependently so same thing another word for residency so and that's all this bill does are there any questions from members of the committee. Senator Elliot you're recognized for a question. Are you do you know if there were hospitals that were eligible for to to for residency but we were not using them or for what is the problem here I think that the main thing one of the main things that it was expense expanding opportunities for even visit if I remember correctly but for potential growth for new yeah I can answer the question probably and Marie sixty from you I am asking come up Those those how we want to make sure all hospitals across the state of Arkansas eligible to begin residency program and that's really the idea behind it because we're hoping that they're more federal dollars awaits in graduate medical education but there are some hospitals are really stepped up to do it on their own if you identify yourself for the record you may proceed thank you Medicare restricts the vice chancellor for you M. S. Senator Elliott this bill actually and what center I'm represent Johnson is working to do was to expand and state opportunities are traditionally GME are residency programs are sponsored at the federal level five Medicare is so this was a effort states rate opportunities to to expand opportunities into hospitals and locations that have not traditionally had new programs is so this is really an initiative that's driven and and state to create new opportunities for for for new programs. Of the classification I'm trying to get aye aye aye I'm. I would not been under the impression that every hospital needs of our standard or whatever for for this to be a place of residency and so what I'm asking about. If that's true and I could just been wrong in my assessment if that's true how is this helping that situation is what I'm really trying to get you and I think the the the the central point is is that the the residency slots have been capped you know for new residency programs have been cap since nineteen ninety seven and so so the the reason some of these hospitals have not been able to provide Medicare slot is because it was capped in December of twenty on twenty twenty the the cap was lifted two add an additional one thousand slots which are conventional delegation supported but the the the but this seeks to do is to find what represent Johnson seeks to do is to find private ways or if we can come up with state funding is not related to Medicare to expand some of these laws so some of the institutions in state have not had that Avenue to create their own. Six private funded or in state funded slot so this is what represent Johnson was hoping to do was to find the resources to do that that have not been available previously okay thank you. Yes senator back on. Thank you. When reading this on page two so as the we're striking has never had an adding is in the process of creating and also we're striking eligible for Medicare funding and adding expanding an existing it seems like we're not we're we're very very specific places where we're turning this money which school for which a. We're specifically is going to which the names of the facilities notice is going all over so and so so Senator the the route original law that was passed in two thousand nineteen was was pretty limited I think in the scope in the location that it was going but now The New amendment helps to expanded all over the state for it anyone the one one one so before you this is really an expense eight six standing before you was limited and if you had if a hospital like Senator Elliot had had one before it went there but now not only is it available for those who will never have one is it opens up for someone who's in the process of developing a program or even someone who who who has we had a program before so this is really going to go wide open to provide training in residency programs for hospitals across the state in all corners so this is really kind of the you know of of the best situation for all of our own training opportunities and okay so it's no longer about rule practice it's about just getting the grant funding to whoever wants. Yes yes this is this is this about rural communities of yes for sure. Thank you are there any other questions members on the committee. All right the nine at is there anyone here to speak for against this bill. Scene nine close for your bill what is the pleasure of the Committee. Motion and a second all those in favor say aye. And opposed Is haven't congratulations you passed your bill. Representative Lowery house bill seventeen sixty one. Let represent Lowery here okay yes sorry. Okay he does have an amendment to this bill. Senator with your permission I'll have with sepsis table with me. Yes please come for. And if you'll explain the amendment members I've I've had discussion with represent Lowery on the amendment the Amendment is something that he promised representive Murdock and the only concern is amending that today would you know cause complications perhaps on trying to get the bill all the way back through the the Committee I mean to the house with our limited time frame so it's really up to you members of the committee I just wanna make sure we have you know transparent information and then the center I mean I represent Lowery feel just kind of discussed that situation for us I think it's just fair for the members of the thing yes Sir man chairman. There is a a section of the bill that's specifically references that the implementation of this would only be done at the will of the local school board that they they may promulgate rules but representative Murdock came to me with language from school boards association that was even more specific and that came to me late I made the commitment to promise that I would do a present the amendment hearing Senate ed I understand the complication of being able to get it back to the house if if I'm fortunate enough to get this passed It has I spoke with Buddy Johnson this morning are parliamentarian he said there is the possibility that they could suspend the rules on the House floor tomorrow to concur with an amendment so there is an outside chance but it's up to you whether you want to proceed with the bill so members I'm just leaving it in your hands as members of the committee on how you want to proceed with the amendment. Do you wanna go ahead and adopt them in. The motion to adopt the amendment as their second second all those in favor say aye okay amendment is adopted you may present house bill seventeen sixty one as amended and just state your names for the record real quick for us thank you representative mark Lowery and my witness. Fibers in Jackson nice to have you with us. You may proceed thank you this bill that deals with the instructional materials curriculum guides that would be related to the teaching of racial and ethnic issues and in the schools and let me just make sure that everyone understands very fully that this does not at all in French upon the teaching of black history in any way of even teaching about any incident in American history related to racism slavery oppression those are all elements of of history that we need to teach as a matter of fact I've referenced before in in talking about another bill that we would be committing educational malpractice if we did not teach about especially here in Arkansas if we didn't teach about the nineteen fifty seven central high crisis if we did not teach about the LA riots if we did not teach about the contributions of people like the Little Rock Nine I even think of my my colleague John Walker of his contributions that we pass to read a bill two years ago that actually adds into our statute that we would be too we would teach about John Walker as a civil rights icon in the State of Arkansas so this bill does not do anything to infringe upon that as a matter of fact I think one of the most important sections of the bill. Says that is on page two a public school or an open enrollment charter school shall not express the picked or teach about race or ethnicity in a manner that prevents or inhibits fair and open discourse that employs reason as a guide for deliberation in the exchange of ideas and opposing points of view so even though we don't talk a lot of times about academic freedom at the K. twelve level this is the ultimate academic freedom section that says that we would not infringe upon open discourse but there are some other elements that you know any time that there is great division over issues whether it is abortion or whether it is race and ethnicity you know I always hope in the and I know Senator Sturch is an instructor you you probably take the same philosophy of if there is this descent can we are there some elements that we can agree upon can we start from that point and then move out and so I'm I'm hoping that these elements are some that can be general agreement for instance the curricular reading materials teachers guides computer programs such shall not. Express the picked or teach that any race or ethnicity is superior to any other race or ethnicity that should be a given. That we should not teach that any individual from a particular race or ethnicity is inherently racist in other words that they are born that way inherent. We should be able to agree that we should not teach that any race or ethnicity should feel guilt or shame because of their race or ethnicity. This next one obviously is a sticking point for some that we should not teach of the United States as a nation is systemically racist. And in keeping that one and and let me just tell you that this bill went through a significant collaboration with representive Murdock and others it started out as a four page bill it's now down to just a little bit over a page and a lot of that was because of elements that were cut out at the insistence that the suggestion representive Murdock this one element is one that we disagreed on and it's because I I started doing you know really a deeper dive on what is it mean. For a nation to be systemically racist when you look at. When you look at the definition of systemic it usually is referring to medical terms. That there's a difference between a localized disease and systemic disease. Racism is a disease. But does it invade every element of the organism every element of the system and I would say now are there significant localized areas where there is race racism absolutely there are. Again this statement is that we should not be teaching that America is is and will be. And so that that's the point that I really want to now pivot to to Mister Jackson and of allow him to give his perspective on this from from his background okay and before we do that I'm just gonna are there any questions for representive while we were on a very tight time schedule so I'm are there any questions from members of the committee by first. I want you with I couldn't wait until either way okay we're sick we can let him go that's fine okay I just wanted to make sure okay okay I'll make this short one. Good morning a good morning Everyone and I just my mind when I read that the Bill there and looking at the park where is teaching one race or ethnicity as superior to the other I'm a father I'm a pastor pastor now for twenty four years twenty five years in military primarily training young people and when I look at that raise my children pastoring a church training young people one is things that you that never comes up as far as this is concerned is one ethnic group I don't believe in race I believe this one human race so use the term race race is superior to another it's just totally against everything I believe the source Christianity is forced my service in military raise my children that we are all equal in the eyes of god and that we have Believe that we believe in our documents the United States so our greatest responsibility is to raise the next generation of Americans and we do that by what we teach them of what we fail to teach them and we we don't run from a history teacher at all we know that racism is real but we also know that the key or two that is training our children our next generation that everybody's equal it is what you make with your life and I don't think there's another country in the world that has ever existed that gives equal opportunity like we have in America so I would ask you to support this bill because we cannot teach racism that racism is inherent racism is taught children don't know what they are until someone tells them that they are that it has to be expressed to you that you are different than someone else so less make sure that we don't put this in our institutional training that one race is superior to another or fail to teach what what what it says because scripture says this Jesus said that if we are to be better for us to top millstone around the neck and throw myself into the sea that's misleading one of the little ones so let's protect our children and not allow any type of message to get in our school systems that one race is superior to another. Thank you I have a quick question we did have a bill previously that came before us dealing with Holocaust the Holocaust and that we should to teach about the Holocaust and we passed that bill and I believe it was signed by the governor we had a a wonderful young man come and testify for it and then over the weekend I just I watched a few documentaries you know and just I think it's so important to remind ourselves about what happened with the Jewish people and you know I've I've visited the Holocaust museum and you know it it's just unbelievably devastating what happens with with our Jewish citizens in our Jewish people and our brothers and sisters and you know and I just I did it it bothered me so much and no I supported that and I you know I see how dangerous it can become so quickly so fast when it relates relates to our our races in our culture and and targeting people because of who they are and what they look like and. Whether culturas or whether tradition is or what the religion is and so I just to me to give do you find that this bill is similar in style to what we've passed in regards to the Holocaust legislation well I believe it is because of the element that if we do not teach history we are we are prone to potentially repeated and that's why we have to also teach about some of the the awful staying of racism white oppression in some cases in America so that we don't repeat that so that we are able to move forward and You know I think there is we're focusing so much on the things that divide us and not the things that unite us and I think of the delimited you're talking about the we all universally agree that we need to teach that that the Holocaust happened and that if we don't teach it we're we're potentially going to allow other genocide to occur. At well and and there's so many stories that go and hot and I'll never forget when my little boy I his name the I can that by Irvin came home one day and he had learned about what happened with the tragedy of the young man imminent an African American man who the young boy who was killed because he gave a compliment to allow a white woman and it just he came home and just bawled and cried and he said mom I'm so glad you name me in that case like because I'll always remember that little boy you know who lost his life and it just touched me so much and you know that he carries that with him because of his name and how he has made that connection to that young man in history and and how special it was you know that's not why I named him that but I'll I was so happy that he adopted emit as his namesake and learned about that tragedy that occurred to that young man and so anyway I just wanted to share that because it was something that I was really proud of my son yes soon Senator LA you're recognized for a question. The representative Lowery I'm I couldn't agree more that we should teach about the things that have happened in our past both good and bad however we tend to do it in pieces rather than have a complete history which I think is a real failing for our educational system. And I am I also you know think that we are for good or ill we're a lot more comfortable discussing and teaching some of the ills of our society then we are others so we just leave them out. And. That takes me to number three on on well it's nine thirty two that any race ethnicity ethnicity should feel guilt or shame because of their race or ethnicity you can't teach something in a way that's going to make me feel guilt or shame this is where I think you're absolutely tying the hands of teachers and students. because. I don't even know how if I were deciding as a teacher trying to plan a lesson that I'm not going to do something I don't intend to do and teaching these this history that we have long swept under the rug because we don't want to talk about it for example I think that is a very good there's a very good reason if I'm sitting in a classroom or if I'm the teacher I might feel guilt or shame that might happen unintentionally. Because I don't know how you gauge that I as a teacher I would do everything I can to make sure that it's I whatever I'm doing is an objective way but. It is very possible and quite likely in the most a check to the delivery and discussion of something that is awful in our history it's going to make somebody feel guilt or shame or some other emotion but the larger question of that is If I do feel shame. I nobody intends for the happen does that make me grow I suppose are we supposed to not discuss or talk about something if I feel guilt or shame because I don't know how to control the act. What you are used how do you respond to making sure nobody feels guilt or shame how do you do Senator I think there's there's a large Difference between feeling guilt or shame and us it's. Systematically teaching that a race or ethnicity should feel guilt or shame I think Senator urban's example that she gave her son he didn't feel guilt or shame he chest felt his it in in. He was empathetic and he was sympathetic towards what it happened now it he could have I he could have felt guilt or shame there's nothing we can do to prevent that but what we should be for preventing is that the goal in instruction is that you feel guilt that you feel Shea what we hope that we would be teaching would be empathy and understanding and embracing a history that should never be repeated again and I think that that's what that I'm aiming for here each district again would be able to promulgate their own rules are on policies to clarify the all this is in and I've been asked the question will you have all of the shall shall not shall not shine out but then you go may the school board may well then what's the purpose of this legislation on the purpose is a road map a starting point and that was one of the things representive Murdock said from the well and I'll be perfectly Frankenheimer's with you he did not vote for the bill. But he did speak in favor of the collaboration that took place for us to have a starting point and he and he and I even talked about it this weekend that if I did not present this amendment. That that was going to take us backwards in the starting point because I really was afraid that we did not have the time to concur but and I talk with them about it so it's a starting point it is a road map for us moving forward but it this is not to say that we shouldn't feel guilt or shame I I do a lot of people don't know my story but not I grew up on Air Force bases around the country and when we moved Arkansas I didn't understand what this thing was about the problem about integration the school my school's been integrated from kindergarten on importer Rico and Georgian main. and I feel guilt or shame I felt it but it wasn't being taught to me it was just something that I on my own in my own relationship with my friends and and conversations with my parents came to understand was that there is a better way for our founders talked about forming a more perfect union what did that mean they probably thought it was perfect what they meant is that we had not achieved and we still have not achieved today hopefully we can make maybe make a big step towards that but are you saying to me though as this reads that let's just say I'm substitute teacher no teacher shall teach that any race or ethnicity should feel guilt or shame because of their race ethnicity are you are you are you saying here that this is something that teachers actually do and you don't trust teachers not to do them Senator Elliot I'm so sorry you can answer that question and moment I need to run downstairs because are running one of my bills and Judiciary Committee so I apologize I'm an attorney who is chair I'll be right back I'll let you answer this and I'll see if anybody has questions. I believe for instance in the use of and you've heard me describe it the use of the privilege walk. Where a number of statements or read the students are either to step forward or step backward in their statements like you know if you if you grew up with both parents in your household they're not divorced step forward one if you live if your parents own your home or if they are white collar step forward at the end of that process there's a group of students that because of the statements there far ahead of the others and instructors have been known to point at these groups and say you are oppressors. And this group back here you are you're disenfranchised or you are marginalized well either one of those descriptions and there's one author that talks about how he used to use the privilege walk in till he realized he was demeaning both groups of students it wasn't just the groups that were privileged I mean even calling someone privileged can cause guilt or shame. Probably is intended to cause guilt and shame the difference between what yours I believe you're saying to me is that should we do everything we can to make sure they don't feel guilt or shame now affect that's the thing that motivates some students but teachers should not be the ones that are invoking that. Well I I it seems to me that. Every time I've heard you talk about this you Senator on one thing and that's the privilege walk and. I hate to say that this is I don't hear anything else about that but we're going to have a law because of the previous one can what one teacher did seems like such an over reach I want I'm gonna just let there are other elements I've I've had one parent had contacted me said that their child had not been called upon they'd raise their hand at the same time as another student and the teacher said on I'll call on you you're privileged. Anybody else have a great Senator did you have your hand up Senate Beckham okay. Know what. Okay anybody else have a a question I got to. All right. Senator you're back with us fully yes sorry no no one else has a question I just asked and so okay anyone else okay already is there anyone else here to speak for or against this bill. Seeing none and you have signed up to speak thank you and okay with that you're recognized to close for your bill thank you very much I could I have just a bit of discussion please we. Committee discussion yeah okay I just I'll I'll make this quick because I. I think. That we we are really in a place where I think we are is not trusting teachers we are making assumptions that are based on maybe some example somewhere but when we start dictating what teachers can and cannot teach. I not have the trusting teachers of people who have dedicated their lives to making sure students are taking care want to make sure they aren't aren't taught. And train themselves to make sure we can discuss and we can teach about those things that might even make us uncomfortable. And we insert ourselves here on this day we never know what the situation is going to be in a classroom. I would just ask us to think long and hard about not concerning ourselves one more time and it's a local level situation but it goes beyond that actually into the classroom. I don't think that's our job to get into a classroom and tell and tell teachers what to teach and not to teach we have school boards at local levels to handle things like this when it goes too far but he shouldn't be here at the capitol. Not in this situation thank you. Thank you you're recognized to close for your bill thank you very much and and thank you senator Elliott for for your questions and and for your insight you know that is exactly why I fully embraced the amendment that you pass today that school districts may promulgate the rules to enforce this they are the only enforcement mechanism there's there was in the original bill an element where a school district may have to come before the state board of education if there was a violation that is been taken out that's part of the three pages that were stripped down in in their in their place was this local control the ultimate local control do we do we have instances sometimes where students are Frankly taken advantage of in the schools. Whether it is aggressive coaching or whether it is aggressive teaching yes and the school board should pass policies implement policies to oversee that and that's exactly what this bill would do in terms of the instruction of race or ethnicity and so members I appreciate your patience in in hearing my presentation and I would appreciate to do pass with the committee. Thank you motion to pass is there a second. Second is there any discussion with Senator Elliot had discussion any other discussion from members of the committee all right C. nine all those in favor say aye. And opposed. Is have it congratulations you've passed your bill thank you please call the roll. Okay. Senator Chesterfield Senator Chesterfield. Not voting Senator English. Yes yes Senator Eads. Yes Senator Leding. No Senator Sturch. No. Senator Beckham yes yes. Senator Elliot. No. Senator Irvin. I. I'm with the votes of four. I three nays and one non voting the bill fails thank you all right members is there any other business I have a Senator Eads you're recognized madam chair and like to make a motion that house bill seventeen eighty three the move off the deferred list we can hear this today it was. Okay you for the motion and House Bill what is that seventeen eighty three seventy three is so members The stealth and I was absent and at the last Education Committee meeting when you met moved all the bills to deferred list and so I communicated with representative Brooks that it would take a motion and the and the action of the committee to be able to hear any bill that comes off the deferred list because I want to respect your or your action that you to act so with that there's a motion Is there a second second all those in favor say aye aye and opposed ayes have it at a house bill seventeen eighty three. Do we have a copy of that bill. For the members. Okay we'll just have to pull it up on your phones. at your here to present yes please come in. Representative Brooks if you will state your name for the record you are recognized to present house bill seventeen eighty three thank you madam chair Keith Brooks a representative thirty one hopefully this is a fairly simple bill it's only slightly longer than one page bring it to you on behalf of my colleague representative to let who is now the unofficial be here so currently Arkansas is the only state that requires schools to power down their vending machines and this bill would simply create a little bit of simplicity there so that in grades seven through twelve the schools may power them down or leave them powered on right now the required to be power down from thirty minutes after school begins until thirty minutes after lunch creating some food safety quality issues and so the request your senate to allow students in grades seven through twelve have access to those previously the the regulation was put in place due to concerns over the health healthy nature of snacks you probably most of us grew up grabbing cokes in sticker bars at school now with the the two thousand fifteen healthy snacks initiative that's no longer a concern because all the machines are required to do that and so that is the extent of the bill would be glad to answer any questions are there any questions from members of the committee senator back on. Thanks chair will the vending machine contractors contracts be renegotiated to cover the additional address the call since they only paid with fifteen percent on that now so each school is is left of the school to negotiate contracts would have been the machines or not but just real quick related to that data average cost in Arkansas for energy usage right now it's about nine point four two cents per kilowatt hour most of the current energy efficient vending machines use about fourteen hundred fifty kilowatt hours of energy per year which wrecked which he was about a hundred thirty six dollars leaving them on for the additional five hours is going to cost about what it to cost me in chains for Mostar because when we to seven cents. He was prepared. Press. You today correct what's that yes Sir seven cents per day yes Sir. I will I will admit the center center Beckham did kind of clue that one off. I'm not quite that good okay well I was impressed you should not have yeah any other questions members of the committee okay you anyone here to speak for against this bill any other questions from members of the committee C. N. nine you've close for your bill I think with the seven since the late on the desk motion do pass from center back and is there a second second by Senator Leding all those in favor say aye and oppose ayes have it congratulations you may reject your seven cents. All right members. Excellent work thank you so much it has been an honor and a pleasure being able to work with you during the session I regret that we did not have to add that we that we never was able to do a committee dinner that I will plan to do that when we get the opportunity to do that even if I have to host it myself and pay for it all by myself I'm going to do that so with that it's just been a really great pleasure and honor Senator Sturch thank you ma'am Jasta wanted to echo you Simmons far staff as well I appreciate them so much lately and hopefully after this. Hopefully after this we can do something for them as well yes we're planning on doing that so stick around session and you'll see me for that all right anything else thank you members we are adjourns.