Education Committee - Senate

And Senate Education Committee meeting for the session and just wanted to say how much I appreciate everybody's hard work on this committee and it's been an honor to chair this I look forward to the work that we will be pursuing during the interim I oh wait. If if if we have Senate bills that have to concur with house amendments we may have a call a meeting next Monday but that will only be for Bills It only be four Bills at that would have Senate bills with house amendments that we would need to concur with and at any also members M. for the interim I'm going to do some work on subcommittees and to make sure that we have the ability to have some different subcommittees for some of the different topics that we had talked about as well so I'll be working on that with staff and because that'll be a committee rule update your committee real change says just to a point and allow for the subcommittees to occur so with that I am and needed an executive subcommittee meeting and so I am grateful that Senator Eads is going to well actually while I'm here I'm just going to go ahead and well Senator Eads can run my bills up for senator Beckham or senator let Chesterfield. Thank you that's a proper motion all those in favor say aye aye and opposed ayes have it the bill is concurred Senate bill five ninety nine. Is there and we need a motion to pass the bill we've concurred with that so it's done okay Yes senator Chesterfield. Our. All. What what what are we doing. Right now you're not too far I can present the bill that I think everybody's read the bill with the amendment gross Senate so it's my bill that if you can if you would like me to answer any questions I'm happy to answer any questions. Turn it over to you. She can run my she's running my bill basically as a proper motion. Thirty been engrossed and said that the B. passage of house bill seventeen seventy. Are there any questions. I'm all right is all in is there anyone in the audience I would like to speak for or against house bill seventeen seventy. Scene nine center Chesterfield close for the bill's main motion to pass all those in favor say aye I am opposed ayes have it bill passes. All right all right I'm gonna turn it over to Senator Elliot I have to vacate thank you senator Chesterfield. Okay I'm members I'm I I see a quorum still so we're going to carry on. We're going to carry on with business as it is Chesterfield if you what I'm going to go I have one bill on here I need to run and then I can be that your constantly after that but I'm going to do it from here and you just got preside through it but it's House Bill eighty ninety one but I'm going to run right now and I'll just do it from here senator just feel Senator Elliot you're recognized members this is a bill that representative Dotson I worked on it with the with the Department of Education but what it does is it helps to create a network of support systems for the folks of the teachers who are helping kids with dyslexia this is relatively new and they don't have that network that they need sometimes war maybe it is for a moment questions but to have a more professional way of making sure we're delivering these services to our kids and that's what it does and there there is not there is not an impact to to our budget is not something that is not something that is going to be forced on school districts because for creating the network out of the department of education so that's it madam chair you've heard an expression of the bill in there any questions. Senator Sturch. Thank you ma'am to Senate I want to ask is there a the Senate version of this bill that's identical. I know there is there was a Senate version of the bill but senses was moving on to status so I kept getting emails that cited both and they had some concerns for you know from different folks in higher ed some that were currently teaching about SLPs not being at all can you addressing those concerns yes they were addressed by the department of education and we got I got something from I think somebody who is a former dean that we just and get it in time to address it but I but it also was kind of in line with the ones that were addressed with that with desi and we really did need to amend the bill to work with that and I know that Stacy talk with everybody and they understood that I needed to do something through rules that will address those concerns later on no no no the way the bill is written there are concerns could be addressed by desi making for yeah thank you yes yeah our agents for the center. Is there anybody in the audience who wishes to speak for against the bill. Senator me clothes for your bill I'm closed what is the will of the committee. Motion to pass the. Set by Senator Beckham seconded by Senator Elliot all those in favor please say aye aye motion carries House Bill eighteen whatever it is ninety one one ninety one something is adopting in eighteen ninety one to be sure to be on the record correctly all right thank you Senator your to that you I sent it back on just in. To keep downtime can motion limit debates the way I mean people have signed up to speak on bills I I just I personally one is that right is a one person that was signed up to speak for against something is that it. Yes we can limit debate if we get into a situation where we need to I I have no issue with that but will try to just depend on people to be right to the point they're not then we can help okay so the next item on the agenda is S. B. six oh nine is anybody running that bill. I don't here is okay come on out Senator. Senate Johnson you're recognized. Thank you very much madam chair Senate bill six oh nine. Is actually agreed to fill up I induces with senator garner Rapert Stubblefield Sullivan and representive Bentley and this creates transparency in foreign investment and institutions of higher education it requires that the the The disclosure and and of gifts and to these institutions and it to. Prohibits the hosting of a of a Confucius institute or any entity that is affiliated with the people's Republic of China the Chinese Communist Party or the China people's Liberation Army the University of Arkansas expressed concern about one thing and one thing only is that they have to do this anyway under the patriot act and I had set a lower threshold of what the gift level would have to be I think I said it ten thousand dollars and they said we have to do this and the patriot act of but the level is two hundred fifty thousand dollars I know that's a lot more and I said if it's good enough for the patriot act it's good enough for the the people of Arkansas so I agree to that amendment and it's in here. It answer any other questions about the. Yes is what I read online you have to two hundred fifty and I'm sorry Sir I just said when I read it online on a had the two hundred fifty thousand that yeah it's been engrossed yes ma'am yeah so on page Page four line twenty nine I think it's also one thirty five of this one they're looking for the senator members looking for and of we just have a real quickly with whom the it's disagreed uses is an agreed to bill is it just universe of Arkansas is that the only institution well it was of the university of central Arkansas and Mr Mancinelli with the University of Arkansas came to me with that and I agreed to amend it to their satisfaction and and Mr Gillam with UCLA was okay as well as Former senator Broadway sure okay so anybody have any any questions of our senator Johnson. Okay Senator Sturch. This is the only thing that I I wanna make sure because it is somewhat Braun when you're doing an entity with an affiliation with so like for example you L. R. I remember several of my and those tunes there Ron scholarships from their nations so Lancashire longer you doubt or whatever and so is this in anyway then going to jeopardize if kids have scholarships to universities and college paid for by their government. It says the people's Republic of China. With that be prohibited no she wouldn't as a matter of fact The. Our former Speaker Gillam whose ECA now pointed out that this would that would not affect that as matter of fact he said that's actually profit center for the university of their scholarships are paid for by their their home country okay thank you I sent a Chesterfield. Senator Johnson if all this is covered in the patriot act why we need this legislation well the the level of disclosure was in the patriot act and the the patriot act doesn't talk about Confucius institute or anything like that but they do have this disclosure for for foreign gifts to entities specially higher education and and all that hired people were asking is you know don't give us this level at St disclosure in this level and federal disclosure would you bring it up to that I said I would so this was not a bill that was proposed by hiring at this is a bill that you came where did you get the Confucius is a. I've been in discussions with especially with the CIA over the last year about the Confucius institute after we've seen some situations including a problem it happened at the university of Arkansas in Fayetteville where a a. Person have been discovered to be I guess I can say this word spying for the people's Republic of China and the idea is to not allow the foreign entities that have an influence on our campuses especially in light of the fact that is we've seen the Chinese influence on campus was to recruited to bring in potential agents to DO not only a. What I would call industrial espionage but a technology espionage and so since we're all these research universities they have to protect that research is being done from being co opted by foreign powers so that was the general idea of the bill there's a similar bill was done in Tennessee and one hi read that bill I. Aside to craft ours to to follow generally what wasn't Tennessee although I did make the concession that of the. Give me a but I think you made your point okay but going to the next question is I think you okay what you might wanna answer my own questions is what this institute when you have sabotage espionage from China from Russia from other couples land this one that's which truck that's the only thing I'm I'm reading that evening while we're just talking about this one then we're recruiting the discussion about other. point entities that do the same thing I guess that's my concern thank you Sir for your questions Senator it does include the other but especially this is primarily aimed at the culprit that has been discovered in Arkansas and that's Chinese all right I'm going to try to stop right here and see if anybody else has another question of the from the Committee if not is there anybody in the audience who wants to speak for or against the bill. All right there's nobody I signed up to speak for against the what's the pleasure of the Committee. Motion to pass their second there's a second any discussion all those in favor all right those opposed no. Motion carries thank you so much as Johnson thank you all right. The next one is a fifteen ninety one representative Gazaway. Time for the number of grants so they are. I was about to say the gas ratio but it's only two bills so I take that back. you're recognized so just introduce yourself and and or how to get started please representative Jimmy Gazaway district seven thank you madam chair a House bill fifteen ninety one simply allows a school superintendent to inform a school resource officer if a teacher employed by the district has been suspended or terminated and the reasons why under certain specific circumstances I guess on again by saying that if there is a teacher who has been suspended or terminated it says that the school district of the school superintendent may inform the school resource officer at the campus where the teacher was employed of the reason for dismissal if there is if the superintendent believes in their discretion that there is a threat to student safety or campus security and right now under the teacher for dismissal lacked lots of those things or private but we know that there can be instances where let's just say you have a teacher who's having inappropriate relationship with the student and the teacher has been suspended the school resource officer may need to know specifically that if the teacher comes back on the campus is attempting to make contact with that student some of the reasons why there are provisions in the bill also that limited very narrowly that says that the superintendent shall not disclose any more details than necessary to communicate the reason for dismissal but there are circumstances where the school resource officer on the campus where the teacher was may need to know that that teacher doesn't need to be there at that teachers not supposed to be there and if there are again those specific concerns for student safety or campus security the superintendent needs to be able to reveal that but again it's purely discretionary the superintendent have to but this would allow. The superintendent to superintendent leaders necessary that's what the bill does And I'm happy to answer any questions all right members questions. Senate rates. Have you had conversations with the department on I'm sure you have initial make sure on this bill I'm not aware of any opposition I presented it to Senate I'm sorry House education and there was no opposition. so okay not any that I'm aware of thank images are just real quickly tell me so if if the person is on the campus and should not be in on the resource officer one of my supposed to do am I supposed to call quote unquote the real police a delay but I do. Well I didn't get into that part of it but I think the school school resource officer should know under their policies what they're supposed to do right you know sometimes I think a work in conjunction with the police department and many times there's memorandums of understanding between the schools and the police department and I would hope that you know they'd be informed and know how to handle the situation but they may need to know certain details and that's what this bill allows them to know that makes complete sense because I'm going to ask you about the memorandum memorandum of agreement because it there okay are there other questions from the committee if not is there anybody audience who want to speak for or against this bill. Right you may close for your bill thank you madam chair. Thank this is a good bill that will help our school districts in the event that there is a threat to student safety or campus security along power superintendents bill take the action that they need to protect students and I would appreciate a good vote. I'm close for the bill okay thank you senator Beckham that I see a motion from you all right. Motion to pass. Okay second okay moved and seconded that to all those in favor I. All those opposed no okay your bill passes thank you very much thank you manager while you're there yeah we're yeah we're going to have sixteen ten next are you gonna run that when I am okay. Thank you madam chair again representative Jimmy Gazaway district fifty seven. House Bill sixteen ten concerns the use of restraint and seclusion in our school districts currently there is guidance policy that is come from the department of education on the use of restraint and seclusion I in public schools in the state of Arkansas this is an issue that's of particular concern to certain populations within our school district primarily and it concerns all the students may be clear but we talk about the disabled students in our school districts I mean when I present the bill and house Education representative Godfrey mentioned minority populations in our school districts which seem to be disproportionately sometimes affected by the use of restraints insert and seclusion released historically in the past other some evidence that suggests that but this bill pertains to all students this is simply a codification of the guidance that's currently in place with one change Where the guidance talks about training for school districts this does not mandate any training but it says that the school district's may conduct training on the use of restraint seclusion I want to be clear I just as the guidance is now this does not prohibit the use of restraint seclusion and schools there are appropriate circumstances where restraint may need to be used or seclusion may need to be used but generally it's it's clear that school districts do not need to be strapping kids to chairs or locking kids in closets and that's that's primarily what we want to avoid and so this is simply codification of the guidance that's already in place I'm not aware of any opposition to this bill and but when I presented in house education miss solace for the attorney for eighty think she wrote the guidance so she's very familiar with that if there any you know it's very specific questions I think she can help answer though she's here today but again I'm not aware of any opposition simply codifying guidance that's already in place happy to answer any questions all right any questions members. Anybody in the audience want to speak for or against this bill. If not you may look I'm sorry senator go ahead this bill is just putting in the code what's already rules or correct correct. All right okay motion to pass their second okay all those in favor aye those opposed no motion passed saying you have cancer second bill thank you madam chair thank you Committee you're very welcome are the next bill is signed H. B. seventeen hundred. Just introduce yourself when you're recognized to what begins. Thank you chairman thank you committee I believe this is my first time to be an Senate in my career so thank you off it's. And yeah go ahead Senator for the record also to fleas Center Seville District six I thank you. Colleagues house bill seventeen hundred is a bill that I want to bring forth because I go throughout my district and I talk to students and ask them what are you gonna do when you get done with high school and too many of them tell me they have absolutely no idea and I think we have so many opportunities in our state that this is the reason I can't write for this bill so this bill will ask the department of education how a number of Lots of information one of the most in demand jobs in our state was it cost to go to college to get that career was average salary they might expect from that crucial number of different thank you can see on page two the when asked the hiring of the Department education together and collect and put on a database with Senator English as Arkansas ready for life searchable database that she's already passed this year so there's a number of things vacina put on there for students and parents to know one of the most most jobs in demand in the state in a searchable database they can find that how much would it cost them we're in the state and they go to get that that job at that point so those two things the database the second thing is that we're asking them to publish to our junior high and senior high students the most of the top jobs in Arkansas the twenty career centers that they can go to and the most in demand for your degrees two year degrees the most engine demand jobs in the state so as a tool for parents educators crew coaches principles and those folks would like to have what's going on our state to get our students excited about a career in ready to do it in a direction to go while others early in school can make those choices best for that career all right and it thank you senator Senator Stubblefield you having the need to say thank you coverage well earlier a senator senator of Beckham you're recognized. It says this should be published and distributed I'll and there's no financial impact statement how much is going to cost to do there was a zero impact when I presented in the in house. So I think Commissioner he's here on that so. The. Yeah. It's going on the website or is going to be a pamphlet published the Division of this both one is going to be in the database must be published and distributed to students in our civil is already. Sure. The part of it was were in conjunction one winced as more information to the one that was already passed earlier this year yeah we did and I think and senator Clark had something of a last session something similar to this so we should be well covered and make sure we get information out there all right any further questions from the committee. Anybody or just want to speak for or against this bill. If not then we will move on to us and it just feels motion do pass is there a second. All great any all those in favor say aye. Those opposed no. All right you faster bill. I thank chairman thank you committee I appreciate that you want to go head to seventeen oh one right now to go down the list of we cannot yeah for exactly what I intend to be good to do so so so. Thank you I have had a number of teachers in my district asked me to run this bill they really want to be able to. Give some counter of theories in their science class for debate purposes I think it's great to be able to teach both sides we've had throughout our history the use an atheist scientists and science on both sides of the issue and so they've asked me since I've been. In a it here's a legislator to run this bill so I really have a. Brought this before to our attorney general's office early in the accident for session started one makes the wording was correct in the way that he thought I should run they thought it was a. The rating was the best it should be that they could defend it in court other was important so that's the reason that they brought forth this bill I think there has been you know throughout our nation's history out of our eyes all of our I believe schools were started as Christian universities and after some great scientists on both sides even Sir Isaac Newton was a at the is that believed in god and saw the loss that we see in nature as proof of the god that he saw something we have great scientists even now with the John Lennix in Stephen Meyerson great sign to show both sides I think it's good for students to see debate I'm not asking for this to be put in Arkansas standards just an option for the teachers in my district that really wanted to have this opportunity to be able to teach from some great scientists that we have right now even so that was that was at seven on center Senate Stubblefield was added that are not. The only thing I would say it's permission bill thank you they can choose to do it or not okay all right okay thank you our committee members any questions Senator Sturch I. see you lean forward after my question if the department please okay I get that somebody from the Department who could respond to someone with a curriculum or content standard with written content knowledge. I'm sure this all of you but somebody is the hi ordered an expert. And here she comes. Thank you Smith department. Senator Sturch and to Stacey I it's not that disagree with bill it's just I'm trying to figure out why would be needed because I was under the impression it was already allowed so is my biology teacher down the hall breaking the state law because he's already age of creationism is it's not a part of the Arkansas state standards okay but I don't want to legislate state standards we've always shied away from Lansing state standards so what is currently allowed for them to do as far as teaching theories. So there any guidance at all as far as the creation everything very now we we don't have any guidance out there on the specific theory so what do the standards say I want to the standards allow teachers to. So the standards outlined the specific curriculum that is to be taught so in the area of science and evolution or different there I mean it's outlined throughout the different grades I mean I can happy to go grab my computer back in outline the different grade levels in different. You know aspects that are in the current standards. It's just. I eat lunch with the biology teacher down the hall when I'm there every day and you know I know that he doesn't believe in evolution there any yet he teaches both he teaches both creationism PA the evolution theory one right after the other states on both equally lets the kids have the discussion and that's the kids can decide on their own which is more feasible and to me that was always the right approach as this I said I'm not against this as far as that goes is is that I wanted to make sure we're not going to limit that or so we've always allowed local districts to teach more than the current standards outline you'll see that in your health standards you'll see that and sign standards you'll see it in history standards I think that a lot of that comes down to local it if you have somebody who pushes the school on teaching creation I think you're going to get into a lot of how far they went in to become at a was it done in theory or was it done in specifics to a specific religion you know there's lots of creation theories out there various religions and I think you referred to that before so are. At a local level you today address multiple or did they dress you know mainly Christian I mean so I think I think the school themselves would have to and thank you thank you manage. Thank you senator Chesterfield thank you Representative Bentley already knows that I'm I have a real problem with this bill and one of the reasons being Arkansas had a creationism bill. Right like the state of Arkansas and we made national news. And it was not good national news. I worry because if someone of Muslim faith teaches their their theory of creationism to basically Christian children. There's gonna be a problem. If the Hindu teacher teaches their version of creation is. There's gonna be a problem. Is it really worries me go down this road because the only thing we think about how we think about creationism is that god created heaven and earth and a lot of that and I as we read in genesis but that's not the only. Of creationism. And I worry that as we go down this road. If someone whose faith is different. From the predominant thing in that classroom. We're gonna have a problem. The Buddhist teacher different theory of creation and if I have a teacher who is a Buddhist thank you. And he or she teaches at. We're gonna have a problem because the majority of your kids are probably going to be Christian so when we get into this thing of creationism we can't just think about it as accurate as it relates to our particular religion. But we're not we are not we are allowing everybody's theory of creationism to be taught when we get in and that we get into local politics we get into local culture we get into local social issues that to me conglomeration and calls a great deal of consternation so that's one of the reason I'm going to be opposed to it as I've already expressed to you because I think we look at this group now only ends and I'm not sure you've thought about it if you have share your thoughts about it is it okay for everybody creationism to be taught. Thank you senator appreciate the I do I think we're a nation that we pride ourselves in being freedom of religion right that's when our first amendment freedom of religion so I think it might be interesting for students to hear from different sides I did look at that as well It letter very permissive and I think it would be up to our local school boards that's why again I love to permissible someone local school boards to do what they felt was best I know some of my teachers do feel trapped now because of what was passed here by Frank what when he was governor but that was a totally different bill were mandated that was equal time between creation and evolution that was taught school to me was totally different bill this is a very permissive I just had teachers in my district again that were wanting some freedom and to be able to teacher but I think there's great Students thank you from all types to hear from again this great scientists out there that we have you know like I said. A right now John Lennix is a mathematician remarks for this in great scientists out there that are great the est and I think it's be opportunity for students to hear from both sides so I don't have any any problem with that because our nation that prides herself on being free so okay and freedom of thought you know I think that we should have it in our schools and just build another question okay all right does anybody else have a question for retentive Bentley. Our if not is there anybody the audience you want to speak for or against the bill. But in the case that you're recognized. Somebody okay I'm sorry tell me your name please. Are you signed up already us. Okay but then you find come on come on up in. Senator Stubblefield you just keep playing musical chairs with that they are appreciated. Last Larma citizen here representing myself I'll be quick it's late I I really don't like the idea of my faith being cheap and then turned into a science. faith is a faith it's a belief in god has come to me personally to a lot of work science is not I believe in anything specific it is approved it is a direction it is a guidance on how things came to be so I disagree with the idea of trying to turn religion into science second as it's already been mentioned because there is no direction and there be no guidance that I'm hearing now we have multiple ideas or who's gonna teach what and where and frankly I don't want a public school teacher explaining how the world came into being through faith to god different than what I do because it's not science you can't run into any kind of proof there's not a process that's the beauty of faith this is not a process of scientific reasoning it's a process of prayer and understanding and and that needs to stay in my home where I can teach my kids right. That's what lessons if you have any any members have any questions. Thank you so much for coming and testifying appreciate you. All right then is there anybody else in the audience that I'm missing. if not then you're recognized to close for your bill represented that way thank you senator I would just say there's some great great scientists that would definitely disagree with that starting Sir Isaac Newton who was a. Been created to be the one to start the science revolution okay back in. What a few centuries back so he was a great the best and I believe in god I saw the laws of nature confirming god we see that the heavens declare the glory of god we can see that in the past twenty years we've seen that with the with the Hubble telescope that we've seen the cosmos is expanding it shows that there was a beginning. Of our our for our universe here wasn't just to hear for eternity which folks thought that there was a beginning in our universe which Senate with the Hubble telescope we've seen that the. DNA has three hundred billion of bundles there the pairs is finally to answer our universe is finally to nothing science actually can confirm that they're great scientists like I said like John Lennix and Stephen Meyer that are great do businesses that show their great scientific evidence out there and I would just like our teachers the opportunity they would choose to to do that we have great school boards I have great faith in my local school board to do what the citizens in their districts would like so that's what we love to permissible so with that I would to appreciate a do pass Senate representative Bentley senator you were you about to say something well all market data is. Senate senator Chesterfield and Senator Elliot now myself for about the same age. We grew up we were in school and this was taught in our schools along with other things in it I mean I'm not talking about religion but I'm talking about we grew up with a lot of faith in our schools back in nineteen sixty United States was number one in literacy in the world now we're thirty fourths something is changed in the last. For many years that is I just think this is This is permissive. Sturch is a science and I just think it's a good thing to do for schools. Interschool border still we trust our school boards and charter our faculty nursing please stand superintendents to do what's right and so I think it's good bill. All right thank you any members have any further questions it's not anybody in the or anybody else I want to that already what's what's the pleasure of the Committee. In motion to pass their second second. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed no. So I we've got three three it appears so. The bill Bills thank you thank you committee. Well you have one more. You actually have to pay Senate Jansson not your last Committee on your bill so I miss one okay so next next in seventeen forty nine House house bill seventeen forty nine representative Bentley you're recognized to present your bill. Thank you. I need to say we do have some people signed up to speak for against this bill so we will keep that in mind and we will get to you sure are all right I won't I won't be long as saying so it is a. Motion's motion when the debate. Okay to to two minutes per person yes okay all right to two minutes for Speaker will will do that all those in favor I. Those opposed no okay we will do that. You're recognized for centre Bentley thank you okay items teachers come to me very concerned during this pandemic will have students that were masked a lot of more virtual and they had students that were changing their gender identity two three times a year was causing great confusion on them concerns on this on the teachers of head teachers asking me where they can be sued for not using a proper pronoun and concerned that this was a feeling for my teachers in my district and so that's why I brought forth this bill is really just a first amendment bill saying that our teachers I have a first amendment right the dot compelled to a certain speech and so if you read the bill is very very plain and quick and I've got two minutes I'll be quick on this an employee of a public school shall not be required to use a pronoun Tyler other board to identify public school student as male or female is inconsistent with the public school students biological sex and we've recently teacher in Ohio and this has been a couple losses from fourth and so I just want to read with the six US circuit court of appeals came out and said it in a unanimous opinion written by judge they for the court said in a Bentley the two ministers for the I don't want you to know that that was for me yes I was trying to go from one to go on and on about it but that's not the okay good all right thank you about that I thought was my first heard me. Thank you thank you chairman I appreciate that okay so again of this that we have had lawsuits regarding this and I think it's important that we protect our teachers first amendment rights we want our teachers our students to share their views but we also want our teachers to be able to do as well so there was a court case in Ohio as want to read to you the opinion that was. I'm from that case in in in this opinion written by judge they pour the court said that Shawnee state had punished a professor for his speech in a hotly contested issue and did so despite the constitutional protections afforded by the first amendment so I think it's very very important thing that we can work together with our teachers and our students and to make sure that their their thoughts and their first amendment rights are are protected as well as really with this bill was based on that opinion from the six or six circuit court and as we came up with this bill so I just again. This bill does not get rid of any discrimination laws that we have out there does not give a teacher right to bully or threaten or make a student feel horrible is not the intent of the bill at all how to make sure that I brought that out that our teachers at this point do feel somewhat intimidated and I wanna be sure that their rights are protected as well as that's why brought forth this bill so with that since we have a long schedule will be to that see if there's any questions of any standing center so but once at before then. All right questions from members. Any questions Senator Sturch I'm sorry Senate you're going to see what the courts say aye aye what the teacher was teaching for yeah the teacher was you know was fired because he didn't want to use particular pronoun and so when the sixth circuit court in there put their opinion wrote in answer opinion written by the court they said the Shawnee state professor was punished for his speech on a hotly contested issue and did so despite the constitutional protection afforded by the first amendment so the filling his first amendment rights were. Not protected by the university that fired him the court said that the court said that it is in force the university to reinstate him they didn't hold allowed with his court case at that point to what they allowed him to pursue this court case at that point is still being is to be heard yes Lessing yes. Thank you okay other for the questions from the committee. If not we have a few people signed up to speak against this bill so I am going to if if you would just vacate those two seats and for now we can do is stay close I'm going to ask the first. in the sea I think everybody here is. Against so I Stacy o'brien and Janice Leman. We were guests at the two of you will just come up and just sit there and go on to yours and we'll get to more okay. And you have two minutes. And the buzzer will go with the buzzer will go off after two minutes okay all right. So please introduce yourselves and you're recognized to make your statement my name is Stacie o'brien my pronouns are she her I'm in Arkansas teacher of seventeen years my personal experience with transgender students in my classroom is one of quiet transition. One barrier to the students peace of mind is that school registration is a legal document based on birth certificates and Arkansas is not easy to obtain a legal name change and impossible for a minor to change their gender marker there for school administrators and teachers have access to the student's death names and their gender assigned at birth. The students put enormous fragile trust in their teachers that they will not be shamed outage or other twelve they try to receive their education. Misgendering them or calling them by their dead name creates fear and distrust and real physical danger for the students permitting teachers to miss agenda student is directly against standard seven of the code of ethics for teachers in Arkansas. Misgendering and dead naming a student is also at two in direct opposition to the test evaluation rubric specifically component to a and component for F.. Rather than reducing the possibility of lawsuits against teachers this bill actually opens the door to litigation under title nine of the federal Civil Rights Act extensive case law as well as guidance from the department of education and justice have determined that failing to take reasonable steps to protect the student's privacy related to their transgender status including their birth name or sex assigned at birth is an illegal limit on the student's educational rights and opportunities lawsuits under for pro will also follow any nonconsensual disclosure of personally identifiable information such as the student sex or name at birth is an unwarranted disclosure that has potential to harm a student and is there for a for a violation. Teachers do not want the so called protection I have received over one thousand responses from teachers in Arkansas stating that they do not want this bill to pass please listen to them thank you very much all right. Next. Good evening my name is Janice Lehman my pronouns are she her hers and I am in my thirty third year as an educator. There is one thing in the bill that I do agree with there are two genders a person is either cisgender or transgender cisgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex transgender is an umbrella term used to describe people whose gender identity does not correspond with their birth sex includes those who are non binary I will be honest with you I don't understand everything regarding persons who are transgender but as a follower of Christ I accept everyone as they present to me the Christ I'll follow did not ask me to be judge and jury but to love others it is not my business what's in a person's head heart or pants back to the bill what document is going to be used to determine a student's biological sex at one point it was said to be the birth certificate or legally amended birth certificate at another point was mentioned it would be the enrollment form the students and parents completed the beginning of the school year which will it be that is not specified in the bill and if it's not specified it leaves it open to interpretation this will create confusion and allow the law to not be applied consistently throughout the state a better option would be for teachers to have all students complete a little form the first day of class stating their preferred name and gender Stanley wants to be called Jason okay Walter wants to use the pronouns they them fine another wrinkle in the whole biological sex thing is that the children who were born intersex for those who don't know this term it refers to a person who was born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit the boxes a female or male or male and before you say this doesn't happen it does I have a friend who was born in or six I may have many more friends who work but I only know about this one because she's been transparent about her life lastly this bill does not give options for the students to use the pronouns they them theirs. This legislative session has beaten down transgender students and this bill is the final kick in the teeth that says we don't give a damn about you your mental health physical health and now your identity to the transgender students of Arkansas you are saying you are worthy and you are left please do not let this bill pass out of the committee today. Time thank you so any members have a question for either of these these women. Okay all right thank you so much for coming today is is it M. D. hot hunter am I reading that correctly okay and the Courtney Frierson if you both which is coming up please. This is my introduction count as my two minutes. Not just introduce yourself in a second there you go thank you my name is Courtney Frierson a mental health therapist here in Little Rock and I'm here representing common humanity my pronouns are she and her. Picture in your imagination a teen you care deeply about. See that young person full of life full of potential and full of pain and sadness they come to you their trusted adult in the open up to you about their loneliness. Fisher journal entry in here how desperate they are to stop the pain. They share secrets the thought about ways to die. Your heart breaks and you would do anything to take away their pain. You take them to the pediatrician the doctor has some hopeful news there is one thing you can do this treatment has the potential to reduce depression reduce suicidal thoughts reduce suicidal behaviors it is free does not require any health insurance or weekly therapy appointments but one thing is simply using the correct pronouns and name. But that's different from what you call them their whole life. Would you do that for the team that you love. The largest research study to date about suicidality among trans youth found that simply using that teens authentic name and pronouns in one context reduces depression symptoms reduces suicidal thoughts by one third and reduces suicidal behavior by sixty five percent. Using a person's name and title as a matter of basic courtesy and respect honorable senators. Representative Bentley at the house education meeting where she introduced this amended bill amended that there have been zero lawsuits filed in Arkansas against teachers for misgendering a student this bill protects teachers from lawsuits if they intentionally misgendered child. We should be protecting trans children and creating safety and belonging for them and addressing them with respect. Please show the kids of Arkansas that you respect them please vote no on house bill one seven four nine thank you very much right on target. Hi my name is Andy hunter just a local activist and transalpine my pronouns are he him I have been in this building so many times in the last several weeks speak against these hate bills and it's heartbreaking they were the representatives continue to attack or trans and non binary communities within numerous bills to propose and pass recently I don't understand why it's so hard to call child by what they identify as and I repeat these are children. This is a direct attack by the rope representatives on the community they don't understand and before representative Bentley says that this is not attack let's not forget she called trans individuals an abomination when H. B. fifteen seventy was in session. You represent the people and includes all people even if you don't understand them stop attacking them and and try understanding your constituents Arkansas is a state with limited resources as it is and we have representatives wasting those on bills that probably will be over town federally focus on actually helping people and our minority communities working pushing Arkansas for instantly being back we have children sleeping on the streets starving committing suicide in need of mental health and physical health care people of color being murdered severely under trained and dangerous officers Exeter Exeter road but yet we are focusing on attacking the people with several hate bills please get your priorities right or get out I want to personally thank those representatives who are here for all of their constituents. And I want to thank you guys so much and can do it and again my pronouns are he him. All right thank you very much any member have a question for these two speakers. If not thank you for coming. Thank you. We have two more Matt Boone is not here. Matt to Boone and Erin Hogan. You may go ahead and introduce yourself and start sure apologize my voice is very horse that's all right. My name is not Boone and my pronouns are he him his I'm a social worker mental health professional and Little Rock resident I'm here with a heavy heart because I count many transgender and non binary folks among my friends family and the people I serve. I assume that many in this room share common core values I assume that we all want to build communities that are fair ethical and just I also assume that many of us are people of faith as I am and that faith deeply informs the studies like to speak to that faith for a moment but in a way that I hope is inclusive of our whole community not just people share my faith background. The god I know is a god who looks after the vulnerable and offers loving arms to those were invisible and shut out. The god I know calls us to do the same but sadly the legislation on the table and much of the recent legislation has been passed terrace's away from not calling. We are created sturdy enough to Kerry and even welcome the discomfort that can arise as we encounter people who may seem at first glance to be different we are created wise enough to know that the difference is an illusion and our passing discomfort can be an invitation to be open curious and compassionate that's what we are called to do here to let go of letting fear guide us to take action. The lead to let go of the fear guide us and to take action that mirrors the light embedded in our hearts. Please reconsider this legislation and if anyone wants to have a civil conversation about these issues with me I'm happy to. All right does anybody have a question. If not thank you for your testimony you're recognized. Hi my name is Aaron how then I'm with Arkansas family council I just want to say before I go into what I have written here I'm glad that I serve a god of compassion and love and but also serve a god that says in that genesis chapter one verse twenty seven. So god created man in his own image in the image of god created he him. Male and female. AT them. I just want to come up here as a representative of family council in support of H. B. seventeen forty nine I would greatly appreciate representative Bentley and Senator Stubblefield efforts to protect educators free speech rights with this bill in other states there have been teachers who have been penalized and fired for declining to use a student's preferred pronoun in good conscience at the sixth circuit recently ruled that you can't compel a teacher to use a certain pronoun. This bill tracks with that federal case law and helps preserve the freedom and rights of the teacher. The Supreme Court also set a precedent in nineteen ninety five that said the government may not compel a Speaker to affirm I believe with which they disagree. This bill is just working to set this in state law in alignment with these case laws. H. B. seventeen forty nine will hopefully protect our schools and teachers from facing litigation and will help to provide consistency and clarity for students and teachers alike. Teachers already must keep up with the twenty to thirty students in a class and with COVID teaching a class just got a lot more difficult and so being afraid of using the wrong pronoun or trying to keep up with numerous students different preferred pronouns could cause more strain in an already challenging situation this is a good bill and that works to protect the rights and free speech for educators and so I would appreciate a good vote thank you Committee. Thank you Aaron. As our anybody hold on as if there any questions from our members. If not you excuse thank you so much for coming. that's the last you had somebody else on. Okay. Okay. Come on up. Hello I'm last live our opponents are he and him I actually really wanted to be here for this one but I thought the other was upon us so Really you've heard a lot I don't have a lot more to add to the mix up a couple things I am a former principal I have almost twenty years and education. with this bill passing those who focus and connect to kids will continue to call them the names they wish to be called by and the teachers who never did in the first place will continue to refuse to do so the bill will do nothing to change except to make it harder for the kids make it more separate for them I want to correct a couple of things one there's a statement that the six District Court ruled against you and ask that question earlier no the sixty record throughout overturned a decision to dismiss the case there hasn't been a ruling yet they just said the whole court should now hear this case so let's be clear about what actually has happened and ultimately. This is about. Saving kids lives. You heard the stats sixty five percent decrease in suicide attempts. I believe this committees for kids I've heard you are seeing that let's be for all kids especially those with the most marginalized as the uncle of a transgender woman I need. This to work and I need this bill to be gone. Thank you thank you so much any questions but not thank you again for being here. Representative Bentley you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you chairman committee for them to close for this bill I will say again that this bill does not do away without discrimination laws nor does it give a teacher the right to bully harass or intimidate the student is simply allows the freedom to use a last name if they wish to in Arkansas to compel their speech up all to first amendment rights I really didn't understand the intimidation teacher feeling until I filed this bill in the mail after filed this bill have been inundated with hateful bile emails phone calls threats my business trying to actually destroy my business is really disheartened me this bill does nothing more than to help teachers teachers that I care about in my district and help them to to navigate through this and maybe have some leeway for them to use a last name instead of having to use a pronoun that goes against their deeply held religious beliefs and with that I will close and ask for do pass thank you. You have a comment okay all right what's the pleasure of the Committee. The motion to pass is there a second. I was moved into second all those in favor I. All those opposed no. The motion fails. Thank you so much is that the most once a written. One more okay thank you senator. If it's okay with the committee I like Dr Joe Thompson to come and join me to present in this okay that that would be fine. And I appreciate you all very much. What number is this number that I Mark out is it on the backs of his house bill eighteen forty eight eighteen forty I have a right here right in the I wonder this is the Arkansas Health active school bills and I'm really really passionate about if anybody knows me they know that I'm very passionate about improving the health of our state we are unfortunately still a forty would you hold on one minute one second be sure sure Finds the bill and managers okay. Right to guard insurance under Thompson presencia of the Arkansas center for health improvement and as of three weeks ago when Troy wells transferred responsible for healthy active Arkansas that the chair of the healthy active Arkansas Board all right thank you representative Bentley the thank you all very much so second As Arkansas continues to rank fortieth in the nation overall health with higher rates of hypertension heart disease diabetes and obesity unfortunately this homered comorbidities are some of the reasons that we lost our constituents during the code pandemic we also the Arkansas has the highest rates of. Childhood obesity causing many chronic conditions to start in childhood therefore the the reason for this bill we wanted to encourage to healthy things along with all the nine planks that we haven't healthy active Arkansas to simple things that we want to encourage or healthy eating an increase in physical activity H. B. fourteen eight eighteen forty encourages schools implement the nine planks of healthy active Arkansas we have strong data to show that an increase in physical activity improves attention cognitive activity in test scores it also helps to decrease depression and we all know that we have a way to high rate of suicide in our students I think it decreases depression is a very good thing we know healthy diet can decrease obesity and early onset of diabetes and with the introduction of that doctor Thompson speaking I'll go to some of the details of the bill. Thank you represent the Committee I'll be very brief if available for questions should you have them healthy active Arkansas as a volunteer governor sponsored or organization made up of twenty plus major CEOs and agency heads across the state we're now at about R. six or seventy year trying to address the issues that that representative spoke about and and I think what we're seeing is a lot we have a volunteer army out there they're doing hard work we're mark making progress but there is an opportunity to help share those best practices have the health department education department weigh in on what they think fit into the standards fit into opportunities and I think this provides an opportunity for us to accelerate the progress that we're making so with that I'd look for your questions but thank you for your considered support. All right thank you members what questions do you have. Senate bekommt. I have several questions about this First scheduling issues. When you send the time between classes will kind of scheduling issues we're looking at for school days okay this is really is encouraging maybe students to have a bit longer walk between classes this is one of things we encouraged it is okay if I go back a step back to school with the record because I really didn't do that that are before Senate recognizes questions just real briefly go through okay we're trying to do the bill I'll make it short upon sure okay the only shall in this bill is that we're gonna ask the the eighty to work with the department of health to come up with some guidelines for schools to encourage healthy active Arkansas this and Page one line to some of the things that we're listing in here are things that they're going to develop a model for encourage schools to be able to use them if they choose to to encourage activity so we're looking at things for them to say can they increase look at their schedule to maybe have the classes will for their part to encourage walking if that's possible can they are not so can encourage activity during school hours of things that would it's kind of a model that we're gonna have them to want to work on in order to mandate it would just send it shall look at some ideas maybe to increase activity during classes if they can't encourage change their schedule or something so. And I will go to serve require the committee sent Beckham sir then the other thing we're gonna do is through the department of agriculture increase grant funding for school gardens we we know the schools do a great job of school boards but sometimes they need funding to continue that courting going for which is a great possibilities to department of ag there's also the department of ag working might nutrition directors across my district and they love the idea but it is extra headache on their part to use farm to school so we're going to allow for a grant program to the Department of active reinforced read reversal schools that do farm to school with the nutrition directors or for ten cents a meal that's the thing there I'm working with some disinterred Jean thanks with Etienne and the heart hospital different things to get some education for students is the things this is the department is going to work with the Department fell to make some opportunities for our schools a bill for them to know about Temp implement the nine planks and then the best practices like again for physical activity and the last thing that I put on there was written really trying to increase the culture of breast feeding in our state because we know there's so many huge health benefits to breast feeding it decreases stroke it decreases cancer for women there's so many great health benefits but if we don't increase our culture not gonna increase the numbers of of women that are breast feeding so everyone of young boys maybe understand that as are going to school may with the bill or supporter of the coal orders that need to go pump or the coaches that you know help their spouses to encourage them to proceed so those things are going to age appropriate videos for students throughout their to increase our education so those are things are going to do all this permissive always helping department of ed with the health department to come to some ideas for for schools to make it happen so and I'll take a question sorry. Okay to discredit repeat your question or whatever questions you have senator. Question actually change now but the. We this be more appropriate is resolution or an interim study then a bill that just says. Gal can do this if you want to do is I can do it now without. A bill and and we were getting very very specific. Very specific things in here. That are means that's what my concern would you agree with that I think there's number of if you'll probably hear from the Department there's numbers into the already doing here says adding some things that they're already doing to get. That's a model for schools that would like to pursue this so there's things that there are a number of things about work with healthy active Arkansas department of health of already been working on with the schools is S. more things the online planks covered so I think it's a great bill to move forward to get them doing some things to for so schools no more especially with the the grants because we do that I wanted to get the grants from farm to school encourage farm to school which really helps not allow farmers but helps our kids eat healthy school and healthy food so Senator sure. Nothing in here. Does any of that is just all meetings. And it it's it's a very very open bill that's what my concern when I really accomplish anything in this bill or we if we don't is a first step if we can make this step we can make the state is that and that's one of my concerns maybe this the better from home study so we can actually get something that. Does bill to law center for can give you a frontline report we've got a number of I mean literally probably hundreds of schools under the community based initiatives they're trying to make progress on this and are doing some innovative work but we need to start sharing that information and education health departments of the place if that information gets shared and that there's a little bit of framework put in place to reinforce those local champion so that their school border there superintendent has you're right now when they say what is the part of education support this it's blank. And so this is actually a legislative import to those two departments to work together to support these local initiatives. All right are there further questions. If not I. I don't have anybody signed up on this bill does anybody want to speak for against the bill. if not At. Aka motion do pass. Well since you're good. No no I didn't but but since you've got a motion to pass I suggest you take it did not stop and not have anything else to say that okay with you I don't want to take away your right to to close on on final action do pass from my friend. In a second do pass. Although all those in favor on those opposed no. Motion carries pastor bill Committee thank you so much for hear me today it's been a pleasure I appreciate you all you're welcome you had some good odds today. Great but in mine. In this committee Its own House bill eighteen twenty six who's running that one. Okay. Hello Senate. That I skipped five eighteen the I I'm just going down my list I'm just going down my list here. Yeah just to see what the bill does give everyone that you that you that's fine yeah. All right everybody has what you need. Okay all if you're ready so just introduce yourself and get started sure I'm state representative Julie Mayberry district twenty seven. I'm Rhonda Wagner and president elect of the Arkansas school nurse association welcome. Okay members many if you were here at the time and you may remember back in twenty thirteen this legislative body passed the public school health services advisory committee which allowed us to gather information on how we can improve the health services that are being delivered on the school campuses and one of the things that was in that bill eventually allowed the school nurses or someone in the district to present information data surveys to the school board. And when that bill sunset it or that accents added that little element kind of went away school nurses are still required in this districts are still required to submit information to the state board of education but many of the school districts the school nurses are still sharing this information with the school board but they're no longer required to do it why is that important because back in twenty thirteen when we started this we had under seven hundred fifty school nurses statewide and now we have a thousand and eighteen school nurses statewide we've added no funding we've had not had any requirements I truly believe it's been education when the school board hears what that school nurses doing during the day I think that they have been able to see we need more school nurses on our campuses and imagine this year of COVID with three hundred less school nurses statewide I think it is definitely worked to our benefit so that's one thing that this bill does the other thing that it does is right now every nurse in this state whether you work at a hospital and I've got my school nurses here to to to back this up on on me what do you work in a hospital or you work in a clinic or a nursing home or in the school you are required to have fifteen hours of professional development. All we're asking is that one of the R. ends at that campus complete some online professional development that deals specifically with School nursing in this is what they're doing all the time they have to complete professional development and we're just asking them that within that fifteen hours that they have to do that less than three of it probably is geared toward School nursing so it's not a new requirement of more professional development is just asking them to be a part of this professional development that's the gist of this bill electron to kind of share anything she wants to share on the importance of School nursing and why this bill is important. Hi well I just hit some highlights in the bill in case you have questions we are required every two years for a license or to have those fifteen hours which most of us complete more than that I probably complete twelve to twenty a year A school nurses. It's important to have what's current what's up to date what new law what's immunization changes and so having that training from the state come into play is very important that is not required so currently I mean you have to have professional development that you can can do whatever you want there are some districts in the state that cover there's their schools that may have an LPN they cover it with a contracted orient there are in isn't necessarily there they don't necessarily know what School nursing is about they don't know the requirements in the scope of practice so. As an association that. Really advocate for students we think it is important to have at least some knowledge of School nursing and the scope of practice in the state requirements and this is not a whole lot to get it is been told us it would be available online it'll be anywhere from two to three hours During the summer virtually and that it would be provided free of charge from the Department of Health and the Department of it It is a great service and mean it would benefit the school nurses greatly which will in turn benefit our students. Okay all right any other questions from members. No questions anybody in the audience to want to speak for or against this bill. Nobody else is fine the so what's the pleasure of the I want to let you close for your bill then. I tell you what I would I would appreciate a good vote all right was a pleasure of the Committee. The motion to pass do pass their second. moved to second all those in favor I. Passes so congratulations thank you all right. Some members that what that means I haven't run that one that takes care of everybody the signed up to speak so far and what I do have a bill you have yeah I have another bill yeah I just let it members know what we were doing here and so I can I can put that she's right suit you're recognized to you have one more bill to stay there most let's get it done yeah. Yes. Thank you set the number. Eighteen sixty three is what we have. Yes. If you just go ahead and just introduce yourself again for the record and have your guests sure I'm state representative Julie Mayberry district twenty seven thank you I am Pamela garner in this is my daughter Carissa and I'm just yours because mom today welcome thank you you may proceed thank you it's been thirty years since we've pass federally the Americans with disabilities act but when you walk around our state public schools you will see that we still have bathrooms that are not accessible we still have areas of the school were a ramp is not available for someone to get in but we still have unfortunately some parking lots that don't even have a handicapped parking spot I don't think that. Anyone has purposely ignored this and you truly believe that there are a lot of people who believe that if is it is an older building built before nineteen ninety one that they don't have to comply with the ADA and that's actually not what the law says the law actually says that you must comply however if it was built before ninety one there might be some reasons why you don't have to for instance if there's an undue financial burden or if there is an architectural reason maybe there's a beam right here where that rant needs to go and that beam is holding up the whole building or maybe there's a historical significance but it is actually up to the public entity. They have the burden of proving that compliance and so. What we're asking with this bill is to put together a committee of people who I've already talked to sat down and and they were overall agreeable on working on this with me to put together an online video that someone in the school district already working on their facility master plans or maybe even they can reach out to the coop to watch this video so they can have a greater understanding of the Americans with disabilities act so that when they come turn in their master plan and twenty twenty four so we've got lots of time when they turn in their master plan that they might have more knowledge and more information on what to look for it is already required in their master plan. it says. The facilities master plan it says identification of issues with regard to public school facility and program access to individuals with disabilities and if necessary proposed methods for improving access so that's already required all these things are already required we are just trying to give more tools so that they can make a better assessment of their school facilities and I'm gonna let him just kind of share a little bit of why this is so important. Okay first I want to say resources words she she really is not shy we we have the opportunity last week to go before the house Education Committee and then today we have the opportunity to watch the full House in session and the same thing kept ringing to me but to her over and over and she said you know these are the big issues in Arkansas schools today when I can't even get through the doors to get an education. So I want you guys to let that sink in and. Just I mean just really choice rights thirty years thirty years later. And she still can't get in some of the doors and we have a good district you know they're they're doing their best to help we're not gonna talk about districts we're not going to be specific because you guys it's a problem across every district in Arkansas if you are in doubt that it is I invite you to grab one of our wheelchairs and trying to maneuver through the school in your district and see how well that works out If we all learned anything from twenty twenty it's been the isolations hard on all of us right but we've also learned that we are quite capable of adapting in a mighty way when we need to this bill H. B. eighteen sixty three I hope so that right. Is simply asking for plan towards adapting access through reasonable accommodation. Week before last my daughter told me she felt like an inconvenience at school. What we do not desire this bill to be an inconvenience on any school or any district we also want to work together to bridge the gap between the walking and rolling worlds for removing barriers in the feeling of inconvenience and instead show inclusion to our students. As the walkers we often have a hard time seeing the need but is rollers it's apparent everywhere especially in schools across Arkansas this isn't simply about my daughter risa he's used wheels for seventeen years but it's also about here it's like miss Allen who became a wheelchair user as an adult and often finds herself and able to get into her child's school to get into that school to go to a meeting or tender program simply because she doesn't have equal access. Equal access and scary and can mean so many things to so many people I realize it's scary and I realize that it seems huge but I want what I want us to think about is that it's scary in huge to try to fit into a world built solely for walkers as well we're not asking you to require an immediate fix at all we are simply asking you for a plan an example I was given once and I want to say I walk elicit okay. Example I was given once was imagine if you had to eat a whole little thing. You can do it in one sitting right it would be overwhelming and impossible. You have to do it gradually one fight at a time. Today I'm asking you all to sit at this table and take that first fights we realize and acknowledge that money is tight for schools all across Arkansas it doesn't take one money that it simply takes creative thinking more than anything I want to give me an example my daughter school did hold on for a second yeah I don't know if you were in here when we set the there's a motion to set the so I wanted to minutes and we have exceeded that so if if you want to just take a moment and wrap up because because of time everybody had two minutes and okay I thought she was part of my presentation I'm not speaking on behalf of the now that they okay everybody other than representatives from. So you may go ahead and wrap up okay come. Okay I just have one page left I guess what I what I want you guys I know you're tired and it's been a long day my daughter's been here since twelve thirty today and I'm just trying to be fair to and I understand that and and I really appreciate it you know it at our school it simply meant and there was an assessable bathroom for her but. Was referred. We have to find a solution so we went into the bathroom and there were three stalls. The solution was to remove the middle toilet and a divider wall. And that gave us one big bathroom and still one other stall so I guess what I'm asking you guys is simply support this bill just please support this bill we're not asking for money we're just asking for program. But. It's all right I understand how you how you feel the need to we feel that because that same about our kids so you're you're not in foreign lands here believe me all right Representative maybe or this anybody else have a question they don't have a question or what's your pleasure. Okay do you need do you want to do you need to close a if there's a do pass we can get. You have a motion do pass and there's a second move the second all those in favor I hate all those opposed no see we are time the motion passes thing I have no doubt thank you all right. Not. Where are we now so that takes care of everybody well I've got some of the people have everybody that was that how to bill for somebody else was coming to speak so I'm gonna turn back over on the front page and make sure we haven't. Is anybody doing eighteen sixteen nobody running that bill. M. J.. So would you care if a house bill seventeen eighty three and house bill eighteen sixteen since there's no one here let's move them to deferred. I'm sorry did do what with that movie to the movie to the deferred list since we will not be meeting I don't want the public television perfectly fine yeah we can do we can do that without a centers and so the next one eighteen sixteen and is anybody running that bill. I'm going to go through them all. She's. Yes seventeen seventy who's running that bill. Where I did that we would not less okay and what permanency. Eighteen seventy Senator Davis what bill do you have. She is eighteen thirty seven okay all right. Senator Davis are you ready to run your bill. What senator You may go ahead and but when you get ready I Senator this introduce yourself and get started. I have I have mine yet these are very good okay let's call this meeting to order hamburgers a ninety or so you. You may proceed thank you very and they've estate and Senate district sixteen and this bills and pretty simple it just adds that sexually grooming a child is prohibited and and. This is because I think there are situations sometimes where and a teacher maybe grooming and a senior and then Senator which are you on how I'm sorry and eighteen thirty seven okay that's. Okay go ahead we just wanna be sure yes yes yes H. B. eighteen thirty seven and yes I would just so teacher can't agreement child through their high school years and then once they get out and try to circulation with them said just protects students in that way I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions from committee members. Anybody in the audience that I miss one to speak for against the bill. All right There is a motion to pass their second. Are you willing to forego your clothes yes okay. All those in favor I owe those opposed no the motion passes you pass your bill thank you senator Davis. Okay that's the next one on my list here eighteen seventy nine. Hi there be fine if you stay right there. If. Eighteen seven eighteen seventy nine. Okay you're recognized for. This just adds the manager Lance Eads Senate district seven four Senator Irvin this just adds private nonprofit institutions of higher education for dependents of of veterans to go to college to match the assistance that will be at the public institutions of higher education okay. Anybody have a question about this bill. Are you still looking for the bill. Okay. Rebodied all right out any questions. If not then I don't everybody signed up to speak for against the bill what's your pleasure motion to pass motion to pass second all those in favor I hi those opposed the Bill pass. Okay ma'am to yes I make a motion on the next bill eighteen thirty can we move it to the deferred list as well. Okay. Please let's talk so I can hear you the what what what. Eighteen thirty two are deferred list in committee I yeah I did that I thought you when I was on the conversation I don't know if I need to be hearing something but that's that's all we had eighteen thirty to the deferred committee the deferred list all right is there anybody else who has a bill we manager I'll be presenting house concurrent resolution ten twenty okay that's up next let's go. Collins this is simply a bill that I represented gray had but she would like to make a resolution that the divisions are the higher education institutions work together over the next biennium to see if this would be feasible how to be feasible come next legislative session a good vote. All right is there a motion then move to second to accept or to adopt the resolution all those in favor I. Those opposed no okay The motion passes is there any thing else.