Education Committee- House

Hey you can get back in the queue if we deem it necessary to go on that for we will continue owned by rolling it over the deal is we've been very long a lot of our bills and we have quite a few bills to finish up by thirty dollars is gonna be pretty well the day the end of our Bill running if you have something after that is probably not much of a chance is going to get the will be picking up some the Senate bills are coming back down so we're going to try to make the same goal a little faster If you object. Just let me know but I'm really not an objection to. I have a question for Richard Womack go ahead what will that apply if the person provide an answer does not answer the question directly we want you wish you'll have to all of them to answer the question directly that will still be in that same question round but I just have repeatedly questions rolled over rolled over rolled over it is just get along and we still have some questionable deals so we're going to try to move this all a little faster it is a. The call of the chair he would call on you and I'm to another trying to be mean to you I just want to try to move the same a little faster than what we don't. That said. Represent eleven is ready to present S. B. eighty nine. You're recognized thank you Mr chair members Senate bill eighty nine here presenting for Senator Hester is a bill about some amendments to the succeed scholarship program these proposed amendments the purpose of this is going to ease the burden of parents and schools providing some documentation currently under the way that the that that the law is written the public school districts have to develop an IP or an I SP the problem with that is that most of the students are utilizing the succeed scholarship. Are not in public school so what the bill does it ask the districts just identified that the student has a disability and under I. D. E. A. would be eligible for an I. S. P. or for ISP or IP just also for clarity just because a student has a disability does not mean that they necessarily have an IP the second thing that it does it clarifies that only Arkansas schools are eligible to participate in the succeed scholarship program that's to ensure that our tax dollars stay in the state recently to out of state schools have been applying to participate this just kind of Titans that up and then also the third thing is that due to some communication from parents of frustration with parents about applying for the scholarships the way this is being done is there is a I can eight o'clock time where they go online fill out an application will allow the parents to both parents work they can't necessarily. Be somewhere at a specific time to get logged on and these have been under a first come first serve type of format. What this does is it allows the department to if necessary they can establish a lottery system that would alleviate some of the issues and not unfairly deter some of the parents are participating the state board would promulgate some rules on how the system would work but but kind of the oversight of it is there would be a one to two week application window then that would be followed by random lottery selection process this just give more parents of students the opportunity in potentially receive one of these very important scholarships be happy to try to answer any questions. Any questions. Ministerial off now just. Anybody. Seeing no questions. Anybody from the audience like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Like close rebuilt close for the bill on the motion to pass a motion to pass a discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no resolution you passed your bill thank committee. Senator Dismang. S. B. one forty yes two bills SB one forty SP one thirty nine okay I'm sure you're going to go with one forty first. Twenty one forty first represent god's going to be with you to help you on that when she's a very big help. I agree I agree I like to say that I'm going to bring that kind of the meat the bill discuss what's actually the bill that she's going to give you the emotional application of growth all right and if we can also bring up Andrew Baker if you don't mind of this individual from my district and I brought out the issue to me and as we work through the bill and I think you'd like to make some comments in presentation if you want to go ahead and review when in addition self and you be able to speak at any time. Enter Baker from Searcy with spirits promise organization they're ordinary of foster care you'll you'll recognize present one forty I thank you members on election I'll kick things off kind of go through the bill real quickly in the representative follow up at the bill requires that school districts have a disciplinary have disciplinary policies in place that require an administrator or their designees to make a reasonable request for information related to the adverse childhood experiences prior to implementing a disciplined action that's in excess of ten days what I mean by that is that the child is going to be ex expelled for in excess of ten days and that's what we trigger this. eighty one on page to provide for the definition of adverse childhood experiences to be used for the implementation of the act B. three on pages two to three allies potential sources for that information C. one requires that the findings be considered in that proper behavioral supports are considered and then six dash eighteen dash five eighteen details the positive possible positive behavioral supports and also requires the Division of elementary secondary education to develop a model of positive behavioral supports and resources so one thing I really want to take from that last bit is we understand that this doesn't exist in a number of school districts some do have a process in place but many do not this will allow the Department cation that help promulgate kind of a standard to be utilized amongst all school districts for me on this bill in particular would. We should do everything we can to understand what's happening to a child lots of times that classroom and those hours in the classroom at that school that's the most positive place for that kid we don't know what's happening at home we don't know what's happening there in their past history and we need to seek to understand that so that we don't put them in a much more negative situation also to allow us to know how to help me in and helped best to help assist those children to help them work through your time is valuable and all these experiences that compound for a child and there is early years are critical and I just wanna make sure that we're doing what we can and we have a process in place to help the best we can with that I'll turn over. So just echoing some of what the senator said in Senate bill one forty this requires that our school takes more time to consider the circumstances surrounding a child's bad behavior when considering placing a student in alternative learning environment or when considering suspension for more than ten days or expulsion study show that there is a strong correlation between students who are heavily or severely discipline and people who end up going to prison so this is an outcome that we're really trying to work hard to prevent and this bill allows children who need the most attention to receive it it also requires this tool that schools consider traumatic experiences such as physical abuse domestic violence parental separation divorce when making consequential disciplinary decisions this bill does not take away the disciplinary options from our teachers and our principals and I want to make sure that that's very clear but this bill will be if they will be able to use this in a manner to discipline as they feel appropriate and I would like to turn it over if you don't have any questions so that Mr Andrew Baker can share his experiences and you know why he brought this to us. I wanna begin by first saying thank you to Senator Dismang represents Scott for bringing this bill to director Martin from DCFS who is here to the team for the department of ed for their hard work two years ago this was brought to my attention as the president of the board for spirits promise having to do with some kids who are in our care at that time I thought no we we have to do better and we begin looking out and seeing how better could happen because we were sending some kids for a long expulsions for behavior that's beyond their control if we're gonna be completely fair then in March of last year it moved into my house and with the. Basement that happened as far as you're concerned this bill is called the best B. one forty and my house into a bunch eighth graders you're watching right now the of that for a camera up there this is known as the bam bam Law and it is our referenced yes to a specific situation that we learned is actually happening more and more in our state than I ever would want to even know to be true at the end of the day a young man came to my house with issues that are beyond his control that no child would ever choose in the process of that he had an incident in school that is true. But I would done the exact same thing. The answer that we had because of a lack of resources was expulsion for a year. That doesn't work we must do better. That's the bottom line at the end of the day we must do better I am grateful the Department of that for stepping up as they have to say there are ways that we can go about training folks that it can be better it should be better but we also can't say that we're going to expel an eight year old for a year for a behavior. That was in the exact line with the situation that he is living through. When I was told by the school this is exactly what happened I said interesting because all of that we know from research that's how that child in that situation will respond. When a superintendent respondents said yes Sir but I don't have any resources but to expel him for a year. Now we must do better. So today you have before you a bill that simply says let's do better let's do better for our children let's do better by our teachers our teachers need that training they need that knowledge they need that information again I say thank you Department of that for the way they have stepped up in this process to make it better I'm gonna be honest we still got a long ways to go in this state that this is a step in the right direction I appreciate your time. Yeah referred questions. President brown you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I realize you're not being specific about what the behavior was or what he had experienced for good reason. that if whatever he did in school. The end because the superintendent to expel an eight year old for a year. With there be other options I mean would you deal with it on the school in the school setting or would you have another option something else you could do in your asking the perfect question because there were no options the best I understand for that child it was an expulsion for a year and and and told to go learn third virtually and that's an eight year old child that has had experiences that none of us in this room I hope is ever experienced and so. It would eight one what we're doing is encouraging that superintendent as opposed to saying you know what this is a really hard situation I'm gonna expel this student per year kind of wash my hands of that child thank we're just asking ask the questions find out what's going on that superintendent based on knowledge had no idea any of the background for that child when they made a decision to expel free year there are alternative learning environments and other opportunities that probably should have been pursued instead of just expulsion and one thing to keep in mind and and what I would ask if you've heard you know anything to speak of on this bill when someone says Hey you're taking away our ability to discipline I would ask how many kids are expelling for more than ten days. Because that needs to be a part of the discussion there's something happening that is broken if we're expelling large number of students for more than ten days I know we're not I'm just saying that this is Taylor I think the specific circumstances it's capped within ten days any and all we're asking is that folks just take the time to try to understand what is the situation how can we improve the outcome for this job again because it that's an eight year old kid to your point at most eight year olds aren't doing things. And they're they're it they're not doing this on purpose it's a response to something that's happened thank you senator representative Paul thank you Mr chair. I think I understand what you're trying to do but. My question is so if a child comes from a good home what you consider a good home. That acts out will get a different punishment than a child who comes from what you consider a bad home so we'll have two different disciplinary is going on this doesn't take into account financial situation of the family or anything along those lines and so all of these kids and the reason that's important have standards is that everyone is treated the same in in in some way uniform across the state of Arkansas are pre kind of what I said earlier there are districts that are doing this extremely well and there are others not to show you the emails that say this is just too hard it's too hard for us try the ask these questions and understand again so it doesn't have to do if anything of their financial situation or their background it's just before an expulsion or moving a child for more than ten days we have to ask and stop and say is there something else happening here and is there some way that we can assist. Thank you Mr. Person makes recognized. Thank you Mr chairman thank you and I definitely support the intent of the bill I have a two questions and then it may be best for this the schools but just a reminder you were here we only get one question you get back in the queue if we deem it necessary we will give you your second one all right reserved expedite everything today Sir so my my I guess my the more pertinent questions that I have is On the gathering of the information the you listed several different sources where they can gather that information from the parents the public school records maintained or available to the public school and then public school employees I'm wondering if you can expound on C. works as records maintained or made available to the public school is this going to be in office for example some of the dramatic events to have listed are sexual abuse domestic violence things like this will the public school have access to reports from say the state police or the foster care system and so forth and if the school district does have access to those reports to what extent and then are the parents going to be notified that you know we're going to the state police to gather this information. I part of that's going to be handled through the rule promulgation process for the department's cation as we set out you know we're we're we're establishing a baseline and they're going to be more nuts and bolts that go into it so in some ways I would say maybe it's a question of how to a problem are you plan to promulgate I will say that this is part of the bigger picture you know we have behavioral mental health issues that are happening right now department education they can speak to it actually in the process of soliciting funds or utilizing some the cares that money to help develop these guidelines so I don't want to step in front of their rule making process we're just trying to set out the the core basics up for what what needs to be in that it in consideration thank you representative Kensington represent Godfrey. Thank you Mr chair and I'm just trying to pick through the many questions I had and I think representative Vaught for grabbing one of them I'm frustrated on this bill and I as I'm picking here I guess when I look at it we we have a bad situation and rather than address it an option to address it locally with that school districts that school board. We're going to pass a law here that says all you school districts we know better. We're not broken apply this retail how to do it teachers we don't trust you so when I'm looking at this I guess my one question will this be picking on a minimum is going to the positive behavior supports we're gonna have a whole minute establish a whole model here for schools to follow are we can apply that to our athletes as well in order to our coaches we're going to where is it. Holding a public school student positively accountable for meeting established behavioural expectation so no more running lines or anything like that the first time we're going to positively and reinforce everything I'm disappointed that the student is not a good athletes as well is that a fair representation if that student is going to be disciplined in excess of ten date we're that's what we're talking about we're not talking about running line deal drills or other disciplinary actions we're talking about expulsions for in excess of of ten days in my opinion I I see you nodding your heads offered even elaborate a little bit more and again I'm I want to go back to on the positive behavioral supports that is something that the department education will be working through I do believe from the correspondence that I receive from superintendents both for and against and I will say the vast majority of been for. Having some type of baseline to reference because this is something that they've not been able to manage I think the Department educational on them promulgate rules and provide guidance is critical helpful and hopefully will have a positive impact on these kids which is really what the most important thing in most important point under this bill is for me. The representative got for you're recognized thank you Mr chair thank you senator Dismang and representative Scott and for your work on this bill and I'm thinking about experiences that kids may have that wouldn't necessarily meet your definition of an adverse childhood experience that could impact their behavior thing about some students in my district in particular I'm who are refugees who you know aren't necessarily you know the victims of of and experienced by the out in the bill and and and. That didn't necessarily doesn't meet the definition of adverse childhood experience but I'm wondering if maybe you considered. Expanding to other experiences that students may have that may impact their behavior at that something that could be done and rules I notice as. Include without limitation but I'm just wondering if there are things that are not sought out in the bill that would also be helpful in consideration before disciplining students. An online. Minus that. You're on five okay. So I thank you because I know me and you spoke about this the other night but it does say without limitations to sell I feel like we're setting the baseline to this and that gives these administrators the option to actually come up with policy and responses to everything a child is experiencing the whole check out we can't put every situation if that makes sense we all have different share life experiences for these kids are growing up in so many different environments we we didn't actually think of that when we crafted the bill and we try to think of everything that might make it might come in contact with but as a teacher an educator you know sometimes these kids show up with stuff like Senator Dismang said that we've never heard of or even draft of our experience and so we're just trying to give these kids a chance and we're sending them home that sometimes the worst thing we can be doing sending them to these environments and so we're just asking for them to have an opportunity for us to step up. As a state and an S. M. the Department of it to just see what else is really going on in your household you know why are you responding this way how can we help maybe there's some resources we can provide or connect your family to sometimes these kids the saving and we don't even know. That that outburst that respond to that disrespect is a cry for help from these kids and sometimes we just don't know that and so we're just trying to give educators the tools if they want to use it and we hope they want to use it to help these kids that are experiencing these situations across the state. Reserve It is eating into question. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair When I look at the bill on the positive behavioral supports it says that the Division of elementary and secondary Education shall develop a model of positive behavior supports resources to be used and it says I've lost it here for every public school student. And it's in the sense here for the prevention level strategic and or so it the positive behavior support section of this bill would would in fact deal with not just the fact that people were looking expelling for ten more than ten days it's for all the students so the athletes and everybody we're gonna we're gonna go we're gonna tell the schools well we're gonna wait and see what the Department occasion comes up with the finder stand correctly they're gonna build the mall and this model will be K. through twelve all students is that is that correct. So if there are two components this bill in a way we're we are trying to address some mental health concerns behavioral concerns that exist right now I think we all acknowledge that there's an issue in the school districts and that we're all grappling with how to handle that and how to best address it I mean I would say that in a way we we kind of hit on it if this is a model this is trying to give some guidance that the school district's can choose or choose not to follow as far as modeling in elution in my opinion inside again lots of schools are doing this will lots of schools got a good handle on it there are plenty that do not and that plenty that are wanting some guidance because they don't have the resources to develop you know what what is needed to be developed so. Are there any other questions. Regular vote needed a question please I'm sorry Mister chair. using represent mackenzie's phrase I'm trying to wrap my head around all this and so my question is because we know how. Some older students can be and they're mad at mom and dad and they report something that's actually not happening and then those packed those teachers are mandated reporters and they have to report it and we put a family through something that a child has actually lied about is there precautions for that in this bill because I can't find it that I mean I would that has the potential happen and in today's environment this bill doesn't offer that anyway again I want to go back to this bill deals with students that are to be expelled for more than ten days since the requirement of asking some basic questions and additionally it does allow the Department Kate education ability to promulgate rules guidelines my an and a model for behavioral supports but right now in the situation we're talking about let's say the child is going to be expelled for ten days and or a year in freaking out and that situation trying to figure out what to do the grasp and also for also they go they go to the you know principal and say well I'm you know whatever's happening at home that is a change mandatory reporting this bill does not change that that still has to happen I hope it happens I hope we prove whether or not it was false or true or or whatever it may be and I said that's not a part of what we're looking at doing here I mean or trying to address here. Any other. The only by Rick represent back. Thank you L. like the bill the concern I have or are that maybe you can answer this question it says committed ten days it within a year or consecutive ten days and I do I do not know Of. Suspensions how how many of those occur to begin to my question is is could you get into a situation where the student you know maybe have a bit of problems and they somehow ratcheted up six days now cycle game Monday we have a problem okay don't come back until next month now you district is in a. Really wasn't the situation. So could you address if you have a child that has repeating you know behavior that rises to the level expulsion for more than ten days yeah it's cumulative and so that would be true I mean I would I would say that that is happening something something's off something's amiss somewhere and probably again all we're doing is saying Hey before we do it for that ten today let's try to see can understand what's happening you didn't have to do that for the three day expulsion with the five day expulsion but if you do another three because again This how then would be a school for Nick you know what Levin days then we just have to say it did what did we miss something is there something happening with this kid and so yes but I think that's that's the intent there's also. Education Committee rest this but there is a reason that we utilize ten days that's it that's in some other guidelines I believe I mean that were on a personal level I would have been less than ten days but we utilize ten days because it mere some other and then again I'm I'm not education guy but some other guidelines that route there I believe. All right seeing no other questions. Is there anyone in the audience like to speak for against this bill. For this bill. Would you like clothes for your bill. Colleagues I know there is a lot of uncertainty and sometimes which is not comfortable making change but I'm asking you to consider all the kids who need us who get lost between the gap if the kid has been expelled the first semester for six days and then they're expelled maybe the next semester for four days which gives us the ten days cumulative there's something going on with that check out there might be something going on within that family and all we're trying to do is create a model to figure out how can we help these kids and in regards to bam bam bam bam was one of the the forty seven hundred kids that we're trying to help the foster care right there's a lot of kids they need us to come up with innovative creative solutions to help them meet the needs that we don't even know we don't even know as state reps because of our share life experiences we don't know what these kids are dealing with and so we're just trying to do the best that we can ya know my heart I love kids I don't have any but we're just trying to give the superintendents and administrators the tools that they need so if they are in this situation they can have some extra additional help and they don't have to use this right that's right that's that's my understanding we're not trying to take anything away from them having the ability to discipline the way that they feel necessary like for example someone came to me about of a student injuring you know I mean like an administrator or teacher that's something that's very serious that's not really our intentions right here if that makes sense but if a child has injured someone then we definitely need to figure out what is going on at this house house if that makes sense is there a violent environment that they're leaving it that they think that this act this behavior is okay and acceptable and is not so we're just trying to figure out what we can do as a state and I ask for your support. But and and just to close I mean. When the most difficult things there is to be a parent right we're we're trying to make these decisions in our own homes we're trying to give our child is our children as many positive you know experiences as possible we're trying to steer them in the right direction over and over and over again that isn't always exist. And all we're doing is asking to make sure that we're giving children as many positive experiences or reinforcement that they can have because it matters that ultimately who they're going to become it's going to be based on some of these early experiences that they have if I'm an eight year old kid I lash out because of some very traumatic experiences that I've had it you know in a in a prior life prior to going to foster care even. Thank you I think it's upon us to say how do we help improve that situation we don't cast amount for a year and say go learn virtually that's not the answer it's it's what opportunity can we present for them to better themselves so that one day. You there's productive as they can possibly in our society and with that I'm close thank you for your time this morning. But will committee. Motion to pass from representative back in discussion on the motion Robson cancer. Thank you Mr chair Yes I know I know your heart Jamie's were the best part I I I I know and I think everybody here has a heart for the kids I also think our public schools due to and our school boards and our parents and our teachers so even though the I think the hardest right here just because our heart is right doesn't mean we should answer our heart into every single decision made. I I'm a big proponent of local control I think this message this this to send a message to teachers we don't trust you we don't trust your judgement administrators school board members we need to come in from Little Rock and we'll give you a model and this as you will it's it's a model and your to follow it you may not have to follow that but it says it will be used and it does say no matter the situation of this is the punishment you're going school boards or administrator sure going to conduct this study now with regard to I believe this will be abused. We we are incentivizing kids who make about an and this is usually if you're looking at these kind of harsh remedies disciplines it using a weapons brought to school or we've got a drug problem it's not a little behavioral issue yes there may be problems there that we have I think the school board members of his administration teachers have a hard and understand there's other things going on and they they understand the need for discretion but when you when you And so any kid that's facing this kind of expulsion. Warren center rising them come up with some kind it says separation with your family come up with some kind of personal issue in your life and you may get out of this we're incentivizing kids and parents to come up with some stuff we are concerning ourselves into their lives because if you don't you may be facing harsher discipline. And for kids who are bullied one of the worst with regard to the behavioral supports the positive behavioral supports I believe in that it's really affected with young kids you lose its effectiveness with older kids but it's still a valuable we need to have balance this entire model here is about positive behavioral supports. Discipline is also a loving kids need it when you discipline kids it doesn't mean you don't love them sometimes the best thing form I don't see a balance in here and if you're a bully or your kid getting Boyd in the classroom the most safe you feel is when you have a teacher who has control of the classroom. But when we say you're going to go to prevention level first now what if we did that was speeding tickets. What if what if we went with the hot positive behavior supports and we get pulled over and get stickers when we go the right. The speed limit. I'll probably go the right speed limit most the time thank you to I don't I might get pulled over by get a reward but we we use something else instead because we know it's more effective there needs to be balance discretion and I think we're taking all of that away. I will you know what I think we should do. We love requiring reports of others. If we're going to pass all these different things that go to the local control the school boards and local districts and say you know what we know better in Little Rock the we ought to have to go to each one will show up and say and read to the school board this is why I decided you need to do this is why I decided you need to do I voter that we should have you do this. We're not at least have to give an account the people of why we decided we in Little Rock we know better. We're going to come in and micromanage these details teachers we know we week we call your professionals we know we give you all this training but we're going to come in and we're going to tell you might you know our discipline reports will look better after this because will stop calling. Bad bad all the time. And I am not against anything in this bill. When it's applied locally but to come and positive behavior support good thing with balance. Discretion with these school boards and looking at the problems going on in kids lives good things I think most of them are doing that. But we're going to come in here from Little Rock. And detail every little. We're gonna say you're going to run this report you're gonna you're gonna delve and all their information their family and. I don't know why we think that's our job. I'm I'm I'm against this. Written right you're recognized thank you Mr chair. And I hear representative. Making his concerns. But we also know that the substance abuse is an extremely big problem these days suicide Big kids dropping out of school and Ending up in jail or prison or whatever in many of us have placed that blame. For that reason or call us on the lack of fathers in the home or the break up of homes and so many single mothers. And single mothers there's something I can sympathize with because sometimes you can have a child in your home that is acting out and you're not poor eight so you'd you know but you you're not rich and and you don't know where to go to get help or advice for your child but if your child is in junior high or high school or whatever and they're getting kicked out of school on a regular basis and they've got an I EP and and nothing seems to be working it seems to me that this bill will offer some support to parents who are desperate to understand and help their child not just the child who's being physically abused by. You know. Deranged parents but the child that's come from a broken home and we have so many of those these days I would think that this bill could provide a lot of help and nip some of this stuff in the bud and I support this bill I will be voting yes. Any other debate. Seeing none. We have a motion to pass all in favor say aye. He opposed no. Relationship based your bill if you like president SP one thirty nine yes Sir thank you Committee and and I do appreciate the dialogue and SB one forty. I'm members at I think this one maybe just a little less controversial this deals with the there there my understanding and talking to be L. R. there are only two scholarship opportunities that we have left out there that don't allow for super scores that's the governor's scholarship and then also the critical needs minority teacher scholarship program this would allow super scores be utilized on both of those is short of both of those programs so the governor scholarship that's a thirty two on the ACT three point five and that's a ten thousand dollar reward each year these are the kids that we want attending our institutions here in St there is a cost that would be associated six hundred thousand per years we estimate that there's sixty kids that will qualify that do not current currently qualified and if we think through that that means sixty that are sixteen thousand first year you know one point two the second year in it all the way up to where with Max's self out at two point four suit super scores are becoming much more prevalent even I think there was an article that a friend sent me that I mean the ACT when you're taking this consumers are taking your test now automatically catches calculate your super score for you again I just I think these are are the kids that we want to stay in school here continue education here and then be good productive citizens here in the state of Arkansas with that I'll be happy to take any questions. Robson makes recognized. I should probably know this but can you delineate the difference between what is a super score and a regular store yes so the super scores when you're allowed to take the highest of each of your you know test sections and it's been a long time since I've looked at the ACT so that's for I just make it up if there's four of them at the app then you could use the highest of each one of those to train your average without a super super score you utilize the I'm sorry the highs that you test on each one of those you can take those individually now so that you can you to utilize that the other is one setting right in the average of the four scores. That makes sense any other questions. Seeing none. Three one in the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill would you like close the bill. I'm close close a motion to past representative Vaught. A discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor say aye opposed no resolution to pass your bill I thank you Mr chairman reflect of all ages are. All right reserved Brooks are you in the room there you are. This will be H. B. seventeen eighty three. A representative tall it's bill. You're recognized thank you Mr chairman Keith Brooks represent district thirty one if I had a moment of just of personal preference for for just a second I'm glad to see doctor enter Baker here testified on on Senator Dismang bill I think if you went back about twenty six twenty seven years couple freshman in college Senate gathers or C. Arkansas to think of it both be in the house said room the same time you might got some stickers for my friends so it's true it's proof that anything's possible the H. B. Seventeen eighty three by representative is a relatively simple bill Arkansas is currently one of only one of the the only state out of all fifty that requires our vending machines in schools to be powered off for time currently thirty minutes after the bell rings in the morning S. the machine must be power off all the way up to thirty minutes until after lunch so this bill simply permits that schools may leave those powered on for grades seven through twelve currently all of any machines are subject to the healthy service marks action school legislation from two thousand fourteen two thousand fifteen time frame federally so all those in a machines must have healthy snacks we know this simply just allows for consistency with food quality so those machines do not have to be powered off and without any class take any questions. Questions. I must got onto him to order. I appreciate that. Richmond makes has a motion at proper time to sleep anyone the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill. Seeing none would you like to close for you but I'm coachable yes Sir what's will motion motion do pass represent makes a discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor say aye. Any against your resolution passed your bill thank you Mr chairman committee at this time will move down to Senator Irvin as here. Yes it's B. five nine nine. Let her run that bill. We have an amendment on that bill. Passed out the amendment right now. If you go ahead and introduce yourself in your bill speaking to. A great Wallace chief deputy treasurer for treasure million it's good to have served in our classes are in our in our a. Any room today classroom in this Senator Missy Irvin District eighteen you would explain amendment yes The Amendment was requested by the banking commission and banking association and just a good catch there's some issues with that their abilities to do different types of fund raising activities so this amendment is necessary for the bill thought I would ask for motion to adopt the amendment. I have a motion to accept amendment. A discussion. All favor say aye. Graduation you've passed your members you may present the SP five ninety nine is amended thank you Mr chairman thank you for co sponsoring this bill with me as well Mister chair and this and I I want to say also just for the members of the Senate we have discussed this amendment on the Senate floor as well so and this is consistent with what I I testified on the Senate floor with the amendment so what this does I think it's really clear and important that financial literacy is Something that we just cannot ignore for our young people particularly and what this bill does is it creates a commission to really bring all those financial people together to put their heads together to really number one put some emphasis and focus on financial literacy and what the types of recommendations that would come out of this commission that we can act on as a legislature for curriculum and for and really just to emphasize the importance of what financial literacy means for our and particularly our young people but really it it it goes yeah at all ages of life but when I talked to you know even my own kids I think every person should read a Dave Ramsey book I think they should read the Dave Ramsey book whether fifteen years old so that they understand capital and they understand investments and they understand what a credit score is and how to check your credit score they also understand when you get your identity stolen from you and the steps that you need to take in order to ensure that we were just at a whole nother world of social media and online everything online that there is so much that is needed to educate people about financial literacy and what traps to avoid what things that you need to do to protect yourself and then you know how you can make the best decisions for yourself going forward as it relates to higher education career education or just maybe making a decision to stop your and put a pause on your education and work and accumulate savings and how then you use that savings in order to pay for your college tuition eccentric cetera in order to avoid that so did this bill really brings all the folks together into one Commission and and focuses and emphasizes the fact that we really need to take the. as seriously as possible and bring it to the next level integrate this all throughout our curriculum and honestly starting in elementary school all the way through higher at so that's what this bill does very simple straightforward and direct and I'll be happy to answer any questions. Question resume got for you're recognized. Thank you Mr thank you senator and I think it that a great idea and look forward to what the commission will come up with that I do wonder about and the. The requirement for the board and to have three members who have various financial backgrounds I think that's important I also appreciate you including a female in a racial minority as well can you just tell me what you mean by various financial backgrounds. Yes. Thank you for your question represented by a from a and I don't want to prejudice any kind of selection that's what we went with a broad language so whether that was somebody from banking background in investment background somebody that taught you know the economics or from a professor so they really was brought to just be able to capture anyone that had any kind of experience or knowledge or background in the finance that would be able to live and expertise to the Commission from whatever walk of life they came from so it was intentionally brought to make sure that we didn't exclude any kind of thought process and that. Represent makes a recognized. Thank you Mr chairman the huge fan of Dave Ramsey so but it's stuck in your thought there the the question I have is can you talk to can you talk to us about how this commission is going to be funded and how they're going to go about caring about their activities thank you go ahead. Thank you representative so we intentionally are not going to use state funds that's why there's the fundraising component in the bill looking for philanthropic resources private sector nonprofit sector really trying to use and and be able to raise funds to implement whatever activity whether it's specific programs that the commission wants to do throughout the state or whether there's a project that it wants to focus on we want to be able to use the private sector dollars and not rely on public sector state funds. All right legal okay then you'll have to follow up with. so my follow up and and again I like the idea here we'll this board or commission be able to force its recommendations on any school district or is this simply going to be a resource that's available to the districts on a make sure we're. Great so no they will not be able to force anything this is a citizen advisory commission very intentionally that it's advisory and that citizen led so that you know it's a great idea it bubbles up that something that we can present to you all to to work out that it this would not this commission may not be empowered to mandate or or force anything upon anyone all right thank you. Any other questions. Seeing none C. one the audience like speak against the bill. For the bill. Like close friend bill yes you know I I want to say too much what some of your kids if they take an AP and income eighty course and high school that's limited to those kids that are enrolled in those AP courses sometimes but but might my child with participated in that and in that course they had the ability to and really understand the stock market and stocks and financial advisement investment and all those kinds of things but that's really only reaching about ten percent of those kids whereas you know we really need to make sure every child understands this and I don't know if you you know as follows what happened with Robin Hood and you have day trading now online we we got to make sure that we do our job to educate our kids about what's out there because if the if if we do not they could fall into a really bad situation because of what's available to them online to participate and so we really need to step it up in my opinion and this commission really brings that advisory to us that of those advisory opinions and recommendations to us and I think then we can be better equipped to make decisions about how we want to proceed in the future and without closed. We'll committee. Have do pass as amended by representative makes. Any discussion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no resolution do pass the bill thank you members of the committee. Representative Smith Europe. Waiting on represent Lowery to get back he's has a couple of bills and one for Senator English one for himself what known the represent Cooper he is in judiciary should be back pretty quick will move seventeen eleven two thirds the represent pens of bill SP four fifty will move to to Thursday these are changes that have happened since we started the committee and then represent Dotson will be heard as soon as we finish this bill. Of the representative office of this bill number right here is Five thirty two SP five thirty two Senator English and then we'll who are eighteen ninety one representative of Smith you are recognized so you have a Some help on the end yes if you will go introduce himself that are. Thank you Mr chairman members committee Terry been with impact management group here representing the American heart association you're recognized thank you when called into pension at this morning off the bench for coach Deffenbaugh so represent this bill five thirty two it's to require all newly constructed public schools existing public schools undergoing additions or total renovations to provide for water bottle filling stations and I'm will allow Mr Benham to explain. thank you representative I'm I'm kind of pension as well as the coaches the the out of the room this morning and so I'll do my best to be extremely brief but also I've worked on this bill for several weeks and so I think I can answer most of the questions that you might have been and if I can't I'll go find the answer to back to the of this bill kind of helps create a minimum standard regarding water bottle filling station so that we can that help ensure that all kids have have access to to the water they need one of the things that came out of the pandemic is that uh water that the traditional water fountain was a little bit of a bio hazard because of all and has a representative leak and assess a late Johnson and so what a lot of schools started our school district started doing is retrofitting some of their water stations our water fountains with water bottle filling stations and so one of the lessons that came out of that is the that's a better practice it's it's backed best practice and so that's not what this bill does what this bill does is it sets a standard in in our plumbing code and and moving forward on new construction and total renovations so it if the school district is going back and and they're just you know. Given a makeover that doesn't necessarily qualify on this but if they're ripping up all the plumbing and and doing a total renovation then it would or obviously I a new construction and so but you know Arkansas is the reason that the American heart association cares about this issues because it promotes water health and if Arkansas has been towards the top of the list for obesity for many many years but this year we rank number one in childhood obesity and I can speak firsthand about you you have a lot of y'all tease me about my weight loss because a lot of that said to do with that may drinking a lot more water and as a father of a couple of school athletes the water bottle things been much better because typically when a kid goes to a water fountain they'll get a couple ounces of water versus carrying a water bottle around with them where they get this done necessarily get outside of the the realm of a local control I mean that the school district's still make the decisions on the the water bottles and you know how they want to manage all of that all this does is just creates a a best practice for new construction total renovations and with that I'll I'll stop in and see if I can answer any questions that you might have the one thing that I would like to to add is that we worked pretty diligent with the Department health department education who is been very helpful in help is there there was an amendment earlier over on the Senate in where we to some technical corrections so that the language in the bill matched what was in the current plumbing code so that that would match in there didn't have to be new definitions and so and and also with the school districts I still call it coach Jordan because I'm I'm scared it might be run the steps but but worked with him and during the process and and no there's no known opposition to the bill and I think we've solved everyone's concerns about it so with that I'll take questions. Russian McKenzie. Thank you Mr chair is it best practices is that I thought this was a requirement is that a requirement or a suggestion well yes there is a requirement but I mean no more so than than the same requirement on putting a water fountain in a new construction I mean they're still standards within the the construction code on on how you have to have water stations for every certain amount of students and all this is really a replacement of one piece of equipment with another. so if this did not pass would they still be required to install on their new builds these water filling stations well they would still be required to to install water fountains in new construction because that's that's part of the current code. Representative makes I didn't SO. That's okay the. I have a question but this is for the for the bill sponsor looking in here and it says beginning with the the new construction on or after July first of twenty twenty one this bill does not have an emergency clause on it so the early as to this law could take effect would be the end of July first of August I don't know if that creates any angst amongst anyone but the the effective date you have here's actually before this law could become effective so I don't know if that creates any legal issues but just wanna make sure you all are aware of it and I would be interested in I don't know maybe. You may bill answer but I would be interested in hearing from the Department on the management of school kids run around with water bottles all day if they feel like that something that is manageable or if that would create any issues with the learning environment kids throwing water bottles around and and losing almond and so forth. That's a hard one to answer. I can answer that because I used to teach third grade so I know how this right not by being currently teaching and actually about the last seven or eight years I taught we allowed students to bring water into classes I have not seen a problem with that Although anything's possible as we know with that age kids but so I'm never say never but a lot of schools have already been doing that a lot of times it's us up to the discretion of the teacher in the classroom whether they allow water in a lot of them only allow water and water bottle so I think already in the classrooms and a lot of schools in Arkansas. Russian backed your question. Yes thank you Mr chair of so these would replace water fountains sold there would be no more water fountains. I just so that's my understanding and and and and one of the things I didn't one of the things I didn't speak clearly about is that uh there was a financial impact statement that that's also attached to this bill it's a it's a negligible amount of of difference in the cost is just a better piece of equipment frankly and and and provides is the schools A better path forward on that thank you. Press number. So basically this is just. This is this nothing really Monumental it's just bring in code up to the current twenty first century standards and how we do things in in response to COVID it's less you're less likely to transfer germs if you're filling a water bottle then if you're drinking from a fountain is that the understanding yes ma'am thank you to the correct some cost but they what they will not be fountains. but. I. There right now there's a ratio between the two and I may have to follow up with you And representative back because I I think I have the same understanding that that the two of you have on that but I want to make sure I'm one hundred percent accurate on that but I'll I'll get back to you within but by the time you leave thank you I know that we always had water fountains and we weren't all running around sick all the time either so it well I mean sometimes if you don't have a bottle or Cup or something about what might be nice and and there's a lot of if I may Mister chairman that there's a lot of uh cooperation within the community a lot of uh communities will provide water bottles for the for the local schools and you know that's just something that provides an opportunity for community input on and and a lot of schools are already doing that with regard to retrofitting their old equipment and then getting community buy in from from their local business community correction make sure recognized again and I'll get represent that I'm the kind of goes back to representative backs question I think you're maybe already started to address it with representing around for removing water fountains from the schools. Are the school districts and then going to be required to provide water bottles to the students in order to make sure that the kids can. Access to this war. Is that going to be a requirement because if you're gonna get rid of the water fountains. So can help me think through how that would. I'm gonna have. I'm gonna have to say yes but I'm going to get you a definite answer on that now I know we did a lot of money over Israel's instrument I think Fred Love Me know the answer okay. Thank you Mr I'd just like to speak to this in because it's something that that we did actually in the capital and and kind of an effort on this a lot of students are going to water bottles in so therefore it number one just for public health matters safer but number two what was happening even here in the capitol is kids will come in and they were having to fill the water bottle in in the bathroom yeah and so this this apparatus really really helps kids in in two or three different ways but most of them already have the water bottles. These sellers stations help so this would be a big benefit because it helps kids to actually be able to have a of something that they don't have to recycling the plastic different things like that but it's also a health the safety peace right what which I understand I definitely support all that I like the idea but as we all know if the kid forgets as water bottle that day or doesn't have access to one at home is a school going to be able to provide that it is cool to be mandated to provide that. To the student so that they can get water that day. Mister chairman I have an answer on that some do and some don't it is up to the school districts and and with regard to the the other question I was a little in certain I start second guessing myself and I'm glad I did What does Dave who's with the heart association just told me was that this the it's important understand this doesn't replace. It just sets as a best practice so if the school districts want to keep water fountains in in their current schools it's not gonna replace those this is only setting a best practice for new construction or total renovations. All right let me let go but you know it just hang on represented by your next. Thank you Mr chair I know that some of the schools in my district. I know that some of the schools in my district have gotten grants from Blue Cross and from other entities to do this and that they also have available either bottled water or caps for students that may have forgotten to bring their what about a within that day so is that an option that's available as well yes ma'am and and and that that happens a lot in in a lot of the school districts around the state. represent Murdock. Okay reserve all. Thank you Mr chair I think I have an answer I can find it again most water bottle stations also have fountains so the kids to forget should still have a fountain that's with that water bottling station so just so you kind of know that thank you Mr representative back. What my concern is I've heard a lot of most and people do this in a but if you shop at a water found that doesn't have the if it doesn't have a water fountain you can't you don't have a Cup and you don't have a bottle you don't get a drink so I mean it almost all to be in this legislation that says that there's a Cup dispenser that right if if if there's not a found associated with the fill station then there should be a Cup dispenser so a person to get second get a drink of water does the apartment I have anything to add or take away from this bill. Just asking if you have anything you want to state on this. If you state your name and who you're with you're recognized. Sorry Tim Kaine director of facilities and transportation and I'd I just wanted to just clarify something that's been talked about on page two a line twenty eight it says that these proposed lot of Phyllis stations can be integrated into drinking fountains update cheese that can do a hybrid of both. That gives you both you get up peek at a filling station and a watering. That is right. That's what I'd like to also add that in this day and age when we realize the importance of hydration some schools like the one I'm at that going to block scheduling the classes are an hour and a half long. It is so much better let the child bring a water bottle in there than to have to raise your hand to go out and get a drink in the middle class not may lend to them going to the restroom more but they will be able to bring a ball in there they don't have to go out to some of us the played sports back in the old days can remember going we used to go to practice and I they wouldn't let us get it during the gold bag of ice out and I just remember taking a cotton football Jersey and second this way out of it I was so thirsty so times of change we realize the importance of hydration well sorry but desperate times bring about desperate measures but. I do remember as is Thomas passed we realize the importance of hydration as we talked about today and I think this is this a step forward sorry about that state and I and I would like I would like to mention to the Mr kind that this came up here is a former football player mine in high school and I am and he can tell you we did hydrate him very well. A Russian Murdock you're ready thank you chairman so let me let me be clear on I know this discussion so this is not a mandate going forward that it has to be the station only so. So the option to do is still at the local level or is this saying that this takes the optional weight and we have to use this bottled method. That's the question going forward. Well represented it I mean there's a lot of different equipment out there and and with with regard to the fittings and all that and and really it's up to the local school district on what type of equipment that they're going to install image whether that's a. The water bottle filling station only or or something that also integrates a water fountain with the water filling station what which is what my local school district did they they just kind of did that on their own and and so really that's up to the local school district this is not taking away from water fountains is just setting a best practice on on the topic construction we ought to do on new construction and total renovation so as but I think within five minutes in his earlier in reference to how we used to drink water and we weren't running around seek the answer with the water found or somebody mention whoever it was whoever was the mention it but my point is. Our is this legislation taking that option away from the local school board to state I want to do it we want to we're okay with this option that you've given us we will okay with exploring that but we choose to continue as we are does this legislation pre vet a local school district from continuing as they are if they so choose. Well this this legislation sets the standard on that new construction and the total renovations it doesn't require them to retrofit or any non violent movement forward on new construction it would mandate that they use better equipment so what what we mandate and and and better is because debatable as you will note because it does not a whole lot of people us to and we covid obviously this is not a bad option I'm not saying it's bad at all I will represent loaded here to cap all that's good but when we mandate something there that's a little different for me that we mandated making the option is very much. The so but may issue a. If I may yes the lease but local control. Last what what you know what I like about bill Ritter Murdock it is for for buildings and renovations is not gonna make everybody going put these in their schools the date that are already there so that is going to make a point for you know a well we when they build a new school all rent of a yes but I each dog I'll guarantee you their health department's going to come down with guidelines basically to do this in our schools anyway. And I mean that's that's fine I guess the point is the reason why you have that the relative McKinney missed it earlier as well it is the reason why you have that local control that's all I mean is not bad yes give these bottles yes Sir I what one thing I would it it's really no different than the current mandate. Of putting water fountains in new construction so if if we're building a new wing on the on the local high school and we're adding five hundred that there is a mandate currently show that that you've got to have so many water fountains per student and this is no different it's just say and instead of have a water fountain we're gonna have something that also meets that requirement of filling those water bottles because we we found that that's a better way of doing things. Representive all. You get represent back Leslie. Would you consider pulling this down you need it needs to have a requirement in there that says that if you're replacing what would be a fountain with a thing to fill water bottles did you have to either have a Cup dispenser there are you have to do something so that the child that shows up at that place can get a great because you're replacing what says in and building code right now there should be a found the ever so many people you're saying you can replace that with one of these fill stations but when a person gets there they may not be able to get water so it needs to have something in there that says that. Either you're not gonna route you're going to mandate that they have all the water fountains that they normally have in these would be in addition to those fountains or there is some mechanisms that when you replace a found with one of these things there's a Cup or some kind of a there's a down there so with the person Goodrick when they get there reserve bank I have a I think I may have an answer for you and I've just been talking to one of the superintendent of tax from my area over there and they they have most of their stations they just built a brand new building all that building has a bottle sect the bottle was cited and a fountain decided but I ask her about the bottles they have a grant she said you can write a grant and get money for those bottles to have those bottles available for any student that doesn't have a cups would not be the vital option but you could use that I mean Dixie cups we issues on the side of our orange containers of job sites yeah that would work but that's not what we really want to use just second I'm not to get. I get a call I get a question too so I guess what I'm trying to say that but I will try to ask this to the guys in the in do you think there is a option of adding a bottle or a Cup dispenser to the use is that if anybody ever seen those in the schools. That would really be I I you know I'm not familiar with that it if that piece of equipment is out there I'm not familiar with it but I mean that's really more of a local school board decision and you know what you know as far as the heart association we we just want to promote water health and we we think this is a better way of doing that and you know as far as getting specific in a quick minute and all that I mean that gets into procurement and that's just the direction you know that I'll think we're comfortable in having a position on as the heart association but it but I think that you know that's a. that's a decision for the local school boards and and how they want to do that I wish I could show you a picture of us this is too small to see from there but that water balik bottled station has a fountain right on the corner of it right there but you can get water so there's no kid gonna go thirsty they just might have to drink out of out is to fill in a bottle so I think I think the the the situation is not going to put anybody away yes Sir referred back. At the. I I I want to take exception is something you're saying you are changing the rules. The building code says for this number students I will have this many fountains you're saying I can replace of town was something that will fill a bottle but yet a student can't get a drink there could possibly not gonna drink there and I understand that there are things out there that can do that but it needs to be mandated. If you're putting a full bottle to replace a fountain then it should make sure that it also has a fountain with it if not if it's in addition that is fine but you're not that's not what it says this is replacing this is replacing a fountain so you've still got a student and all this we there may be a Cup there there people will get a grant for bottles that doesn't fix it the building code says that you have so many fountains per students and we need to address on this bill. Thank you. Would you agree. Any other questions representative Brett would either a. Thank you Mr chair I just had a question here when I was reading about us at the Where did it go a water bottle filling station installed in a public school building as required under this section shall dispense clean cooled filtered drinking water now is it just filtered light comes from the water treatment plant where is that going to require an additional filtering mechanism on the dispenser. With the water that's dispensed. I don't have an answer for that question I'd yeah I mean it's not most of those a quick minute but there I am using the word most again I might find you that answer because I don't have the answer to that but I will and I'll get it to you before before you leave commit. Any other questions. Seeing none. Go to the audience the one the audience like to speak against the bill. For the bill. If you look closely bill. Like to close for the bill and ask for do pass please. Would you like to make a do pass. I will make that motion to pass. We have a motion to do pass. I see no discussion. I'm just kidding representative make you have discussed I do and in this is going to follow up with what representative back was saying aye I like the intent of what we're going here but I think he's got a valid concern I think you could be addressed in a simple amendment the way the bill currently reads it says that the proposed water billing phase station subject to approval under this section may be integrated into a drinking fountain if that section was changed to say. Shall be integrated into a drinking fountain or drinking found shall be available nearby I think that would solve all my concerns so until that condition is met even though I I fully support what you're trying to do here I think I need to to be a no until we get that taken care of and I'm and I may be a minority and and we may still pass that that's okay but I just wanna let you know that that's why I'm a no at this point but would love to become a yes or let me just ask the sponsor and would you be willing to make an amendment on this for the Senate and bring it back Work on work on Amendment. Yes if time permits I come are affected covers a whole lot easier than coming back to this committee. Okay we'll we concur. It's same bill but I mean you still going to you're not gonna have to hear this all the scanned it is a Senate bill what is a Senate bill yes Sir I'm sorry I would think about that. Let's let's go on Senator up represented by. Thank you Mr chair I just check my emails I have not heard from one superintendent R. one maintenance person in any of my schools who are watching all of this very closely I think if they had concerns that this is going to be difficult and that this is going to be a problem I would have definitely heard from them so I'm going to be a yes. Any other debate. President back to use common. I really like this but I do like the idea of the bombs that I I've I I wish we could do that but. The rule is this yeah there's a reason that you have a certain number of water fountains per P. per student with class changing and things like that there's rule there's reasons I do that and this thing does replace those with something that every student would not necessarily have access to I think exactly what a representative makes is saying it's perfect timing just injured a slight tweak of the language says that if you're replacing a water fountain then you will have to have it I found in conjunction with the fill station which would fix all this so I have I like to build but I have to vote no on it until we can fix that thank you Russell brand. Thank you Sir and in addition. that that language about filtering are we just talking about potable water that comes from the water treatment plant or you requiring the schools to put a fancy water filter on there I mean you can require verse osmosis or you know just charcoal filter what we know you what what you gonna recall I mean this says it has to be filtered water what does that mean. Mads okay. Rosa brown I believe all water fountains have filters on. Yes. Representative Kinsey. I'll be brief this is why I think we need local control detail detail detail detail. They have minds if it's a good idea can they get to that good idea we spent so much time so much time on this which I'm a no because of local control I think they can figure this out but I. How to stop their momentum but thank you. Any other discussion. Seeing none. We have a motion do pass all in favor say aye. You oppose ayes have it. Resolutions you have finally passed this bill thank you thank you members. Thank you Mr. Rosa Dotson would you mind waiting let represent Cooper do you Cooper you need to get back to committee. Okay all represent Dotson that are telling he was that but makes all it you to decide it doesn't matter to me. The. Ladies and gentleman this will be House Bill eighteen ninety one. Thank you Mr chairman of the committee. President Cooper He told me go when I was in argue with him. You House Bill eighteen ninety one is My pleasure to bring to you for your consideration. This would set up a Basically right now. When it when it comes to dyslexia we have a shortage of folks who are specialized and trained in being able to deal with dyslexia in the State we've done a lot of work on this over the last several years. And Senator L. in I'd have co sponsored this piece of legislation to continue with that discussion and try to have and and worked with the department of education to come up with the certified academic language therapist to try to expand the number of people in the state all across the state that would be. Trained and certified to be able to beast specifically trained in the area of dyslexia to help students out in their their reading The reading challenges I've completely got off my my script here so Basically that that's what this does is it expands those folks that would be trained within that area and it's not a very long bill so I think probably the best thing to do would be let's get start with questions Robson five I know that might take a little bit of time thank you Mr chairman a representative Dotson where would teachers receive this training. Might have. Stacey questioned Smith come up and help answer that question. Good morning Stacey Smith Arkansas department of education and through educational service cooperatives funded by the state. Yeah what. Sorry represent got free. GoldLa rule that was my rule is not. You will. The only one question. To cut my area thank you Mr chair and represent Dotson or and doctors that you can maybe answer that and I've heard from send a speech language pathologist who are interested in and maybe and becoming one of the certified academic language therapist what they're training I'm qualified them to to become a certain one of the certified academic language therapist a speech language absolutely we actually already have since he's passed in the state who actually have the certification but this does not exclude anyone we want this to be an exciting place of approach thank you. Any other questions represent Vice recognizing it okay I apologize I wasn't I was running a bill in Senate didn't hear that you had Josh that we are doing this morning one question okay and now I now I kitchen my question was will there be some incentives offered to teachers and the therapist to get this additional training. That's a great question so this state is planning to use some of our set aside as refunds actually provide the certification training which is actually pretty costly that that's probably won't been one of the biggest complaints as far as in the past districts saying we really would like to have the specs but we can't afford for the training and so as far as the district's individually hiring folks with the certification that would be a local decision but as far as the state providing the support and to get the certification I think it's something that we're going to see lots of educators interested in doing. Any other questions. Seeing none anyone the audience for against against for. Just getting Rosa Dotson like close the bill I'm close and just ask for a good vote. I have a motion do pass represent ball. A discussion. Seeing none all in favor say aye opposed no resolution passed your bill thank you Mr members committee I think that's the record. For me on this for you that would be a record yes represent Cooper. We will hear a lot to bills represent Lowery after this. This microphone okay you're recognized. Thank you chair thank you members of the committee today I present to you house bill eighteen seventy nine. This bill is constituent riven that the idea for this bills brought to me by a neighbor and a friend of my family these are the kind of bills that I like the ones that are come from constituents that are asking you for help. This bill would make an amendment to the military dependent scholarship just a little background on the scholarship it was created by the state legislature in nineteen seventy three. It provides financial aid for undergraduate students seeking a bachelor's degree or certificate certificate of completion of any public college university or technical school in Arkansas. Students must qualify as a spouse or dependent child of an Arkansas veteran who's been declared to be missing in action killed in action a prisoner of war or kill an ordinance delivery. In two thousand five then senator Shane Broadway committee the bill also include dependents of veterans have been declared to be one hundred percent totally and permanently disabled as a result of active military service. The scholarships currently limited the usage of public universities. This is specified in the original nineteen seventy three bill likely due to the higher cost of private institutions. The Amendment I am proposing does two things first it allows the scholarship to also be utilized at private nonprofit institutions examples being lying college Philander Smith John Brown central Baptist and others. This make it consistent with other Arkansas scholarship programs. Secondly the amendment also caps the award for student choosing to attend the private institution to match the the maximum that the department of higher education awards to students attending a public university. Whether a student chooses to attend the public or private institution there will be a quality and awards. This year that amount was approximately nine thousand dollars per semester and the Department of our educational will determine those amounts each year. I visited with Dr Martin about this idea and she was very helpful in crafting language in ensuring that there would be no harmful effects on the program or unintended consequence consequences. Also vented visited the same Broadway since the amended the law in two thousand five and he was supportive. Arkansas independent colleges and universities come out sort of the bill and Arkansas learns usually focuses on K. through twelve education but they've also come out in support of this bill. This bill simply increases opportunities for students with no additional new money being required at this time we aren't enlarging the pool of students who qualify those qualifiers are already set out in the original nineteen seventy three bill and the two thousand five amendment. All we're doing is adding opportunity for students who already qualify for the scholarship. Let me talk about my friends at home in White County who who brought this idea to me. their oldest daughter is in the unique situation she's about to graduate. Her dad is one hundred percent disabled as a result of military service so she qualifies for the scholarship. She's a very accomplished competitor in women's wrestling. She's won titles she wishes to complete to compete at the collegiate level. While exploring college opportunities they discover that only two colleges in Arkansas offer women's wrestling and they're both private institutions. Those are lines college and. College of university of the Ozarks in Clarksville. So now she's having to look at alternatives and make a choice does she stay in state and utilize a scholarship at a public university where she will not get to compete in her chosen sport. Does she stay in state and attend one of the private university so she can compete in her sport but then not be able to utilize a scholarship. Where does she go out of state to a more affordable public university that offers women's rights women's wrestling. For able to make these proposed changes than students who qualify for the scholarship will be given greater opportunity and may have one less tough decision to make when it comes time to choose where they go to college. And that concludes our presentation be glad to answer any questions. First off I want to bring Dr Martin to the table and we'll just get Let her speak on this bill little bit and that way we may not as many Drager back and forth to questions from the committee. Good morning Mr chairman was committee Maria mark of the Director of the Division of higher education I would just like to know your thoughts on this bill real quick of as so I did work with a representative Cooper on the language of the bill We don't have a position on it but there is no fiscal impact that that pool of students is the same regardless of this it change it but as representative Cooper mentioned it just gives them the opportunity to apply this scholarship better variety of institutions so as he did cap the award of out so there's no additional cost okay reversal of okay. Representative brown you do you have anything. Does anybody every like or what you today okay let's just stay there for a minute our reserve running across my only question is when this bill goes into effect really going to affect early enough without an emergency clause for it her to be able to apply this coming school year it it would it's because I believe the the cut off for that is July first is that correct yeah that's correct she would be able to apply next year though. Represent the the Godfrey. Thank you Mr chairman thank you represent representative I'm sorry did get back to you I appreciate your email and Dr mark and maybe you can answer this but representative Cooper you touched on it in your remarks about other scholarships and other state funded scholarships that are applicable in nine and it in private colleges I know that we voted on one and you know early in the session and I do have a little bit of heartburn about an public funds going to private you universities or colleges that can you tell me about what other scholarships already are permissible for private schools said this will be the last of our scholarships that are funded three you are hard grant funds account that does not go to a private institution so we do we do not send public funds to the institution but we do support students with public funds so all of our other scholarships governor's distinguished all the lottery scholarships can also be given to students to apply at private institutions if the that there are private nonprofit we do not support and scholarships at private for profit institutions thank you at rizin fight. Yes I was going to ask you we know approximately how many students this would affect. Well we really don't because they haven't had the option so the students now to accept the award have to go to a public institution so I can't tell you how many students that it's maybe attend a private institution but would have qualified because they're not allowed to apply. So I have a question with that so we can increase the pool so it would just be that would apply for that into that pool that's correct okay. Reversal of the question. Thank you Mr because I am I am a little confused because initially you said that this the pool of applicants will be the same. But then you just said that once given the chance it can expand. Thank you clear from it I can't thank you for that question so the the number of students that take advantage of this varies year to year so there's not a cap on it at this point so we see a lot of fluctuation from year to year we can't identify students who are dependents of these these military service people until they apply for the scholarship but we this would not create new military dependent dependents that are eligible because those you know those are determined by their status as a dependent. Everybody else have a question for Phil of you're recognized okay so in the. Can you give me the average number of students to take advantage of the scholarship. I do not have that information in front of me no that we talked about that but I don't have that I can get that for you. Okay or any other questions. Resentment Lowery to get a little higher. Thank you Dr Markham even though you don't have the the number we're we're not close to depleting that fund that is available correct. That's a difficult question to answer because our ships come out of the same fund and we expands all of our funds every year so but it's. It changes from year to year depending on which scholarship has more participants in a given year okay. Any other questions. Seeing none thank you Dr Martin. Thank you. No other questions and as anyone the audience like to speak against the bill. For the bill. All right would you like close for your bill. I'm close for the bill and I appreciate your time committee to appreciate a good vote thank you represent Lowery. Motion to pass a motion to pass any discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor say aye aye opposed no resolutions passed your bill thank you Russian Lowery Lowery day in education. First off which one you want to do first. Your during which senator Senator English okay S. B. two fifty one. Do you want somebody from the department to help you on that one are you good or. Thank you Sir I don't think I'm I'm good but they can stand by all right okay you're recognized. Senator English's let me call this up here senator English's bill of. Deals with a number of things of. Waivers that school districts can apply for if and open to open school open enrollment public charter school also has waiver it changes page one that a copy of the waiver granted to the open enrollment charter is not necessary any further the state board ons on the second page state board shall grant or deny in whole or in part a petition for a waiver submitted by a public school district The. The other very important parts of this building in addition to clarifying basically let language clarifying the waivers is that there is increased accountability to public charter to the open enrollment charter schools you probably heard of reports news reports of some charter schools of going under because of fiscal the really lack of accountability issues and so there are guidelines in here that specify that That one that they would have a general business manager the charter school the the business manager will be an employee of. I'm sorry I'm reading run section and open enrollment is in section seven on page three an open enrollment public charter school shall post the most recent version of the written contract on the website of the open enrollment public charter school there are also in the next the next pages it references and this is on page five there is the information here about Accountability and a line starting with line fifteen immediately upon the state board's affirmation of a revocation assignment or transfer the open enrollment public charter schools that transfer all state and federal funds held by the open enrollment public charter school to the Division of us all mentoring secondary The division shall hold funds received under subdivision of this section in receivership in a separate fund so this is something that has really been needed in the case of some of these charter schools that have gone under and then there's been a difficulty to be able to reclaim funds that have gone to them so this is this is a good step forward and and I'm sure the department would be available to answer any questions if you have any that I can't answer. Any questions resume. Meeks. The the only one I have is if one of these charter schools their licenses revoked whatever and the looks like the School board. Is going to get control of the funds what happens if there's any funds left over at the end of getting everyone. You know made whole all that's my whole. It does specify that the money would go into receivership but I think your question goes beyond that so I'll passcode Secretary key to come clarify for that. Jon Kate part of education a person makes that it depends on what's happening with the school if there is another school or another operator that is coming in to to accept or we get transferred that charter a to that entity this language helps created an easier path for that money to follow if this take if they're taking those kids you know they they don't need to start over because there's money already appropriated by the General Assembly for for those students in the absence of someone to take over it come comes back to the state. Of any other questions. Seeing no other questions anyone the audience against. For. Like clothes I am close to make a do pass motion the motion to pass a discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor say aye. Any opposed no resolution pastor bill next bill will be HB eighteen ninety five this will be our last bill of the day. Yes thank you and with your permission Mister chair I'd like to call to the table my my witness. Have him identified so for the record. Dr Adam he assistant professor of communication University of Arkansas at Monticello though to be clear I'm not speaking on behalf of the university nor to my views that server for the university's position on the bill. Okay you are recognized to present school okay As you know I I had several bills early in the session one that was presented to the committee and one that was not though the one that was not related to critical race theory and all and a lot of the frankly a lot of the emails that were sent to you were fueled more by that bill then by the bill that would have banned the teaching of the sixteen nineteen project one of the reasons I became very involved in looking at some of the detrimental effects of the critical race theory really my first exposure to that was win joint performance review with looking into abuses at the Arkansas school for math and science and that students were being subjected to what was called the privilege walk the privilege walk if you're not familiar has the students all start in in one line and then a series of statements are are read it this statement applies to a student they are to step four divisions plies to other statements apply to students negatively they step backwards and what ends up happening is then it is simple questions like did you grow up in a family with two parents does your family own their home are your family either of your flight family white collar earners and so it at the end of this process then you have students who are well out in front some who've gone back and then they are identified as the students out front is being privileged in some cases this language has gone so far as to call those students referred to the students as oppressors and the students that are backed left behind is marginalized that has been extremely detrimental there's one article that I'd read it but it a teacher who said that he used to use the privilege we. Walk any found that it was extremely damaging to students the verbiage that which use the singling out the ostracizing that took place in in the use of the public privilege walk and there other aspects of critical race theory that have created that professor key is a long time friend of mine we used to be a debate adversaries when not we were coaching debate and sometimes competing against one another and it was always he he kept track of the win loss record I never did it was just a lot of fun and he'll probably tell you the reason I didn't is because. I want most of the time but you know that that's okay he was a great debater and he won when it counted he beat me and the semi finals of the national tournament but I had been talking to him about these bills and he the reason I've asked him to be a witness today because this bill is his idea if we were talking about the issue my concern of faculty members creating a a negative or hostile environment for students he brought to my attention that we have statute already that protects students from other students since anti hazing legislation it came into being when fraternities we were hearing a fraternity's hazing students that that was not always physical some a lot of times that was it again hostile verbal actions ostracizing singling out and if you're if you're looking at the bill you will see that hazing is to the is. The defined as a willful act on or off the property of any school college university or other educational institution Arkansas by one student and we've added in here faculty or staff member of the but the previous law said or volunteer employee of a fraternal organization if the voluntary employees acting on behalf of or in the name of the fraternal organization now so that there's not any confusion this is not just related to fraternal organizations because we've also put it in section two a student faculty or staff member Alanis or volunteer for employer fraternal organization of a school college university or other educational institution Arkansas shall not knowingly engage in hazing or encourage aid or assist any other student faculty or staff member alumnus of volunteer or employee of a fraternal organization in hazing there there's other section here that points out that this is not just about fraternal organizations this point I'm just going to go ahead and turn this over to professor key allow him to describe the intent of this. I thank you represent Lowery just be. Beget six just be clear First of all it would take at represent Lowery for inviting me here today I he and I could not be further part of most political philosophies issues but we felt that this was an important topic that we both agreed on and the massive amount of respect for him for reaching cross for for real ale if you're a reader of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette you may recognize my name from the opposite education peril of the it collided with the affording criticizing represent by ways previous bills the fact I'm here today should speak to the quality both of represent Lowery and this a bill here. DO a study by the university of Maine the first of its kind of most we're just of its kind. every year one point five billion high school students and two hundred fifty thousand at the they can identify college athletes are subject to some form facing. We all want to recognize hazing is a problem it can cause anything from permit physical mental damage all the way up to suicide with wonderful palm you are populations however one of the the things about the study was that they said forty percent of people he's in college that the adviser coach faculty member eccentric knew what was going on. But most alarmingly in twenty two percent cases over one in five the employee was actually the one administering the hazing and in Arkansas that's not against the law. It is a Class B. misdemeanor currently this great state for a student to Hayes another student but not if the person is an employee of university. This creates a. Untenable situation I'm not here to speak on behalf of the University of Arkansas at Monticello door my here to speak on behalf of the Texas a and M. institutional review board on which I sit up to board for human subjects protection for research. And if I wanted to do I don't have a study for you saying we expose students to this type of verbal abuse and this is what happened the reason I don't is federal law under this I. R. B. that's what's before me would prohibit such a study. if I as a professor went and said I want to study the effects I want to take students and I want to subject them to verbal he's in the type of which represent Lowery has discussed it would be unlawful because it violates the federal a code of federal regulations the premise of respect for persons that's required of all human subjects research. If such a research was tossed to me is a I. R. B. member I'd have to reject as a matter of course. As such. What this bill is doing is simply holding the or employees or teachers or professors our coaches to the same standard that we're holding students. Give students ought to be protected from hazing verbal physical mental emotional not just from each other. But from professors. Because at the end of the day. That's what you're in trust that the parents of this great state are trusting their children to people like me and my colleagues in when my colleagues betrayed this trust. They should be punished the same as if a student ID so all we're asking you to do here today. It's hold professors and football coaches and teachers the same standard that we hold fraternities to already. Thank you. Let me for further clarified that Adding on to what he said that fact hazing is described as intimidating the student attacked by threatening him or her with social or other ostracism or of submitting such student to ignominy should examine the shame or disgrace among his or her fellow students and acts calculated to produce such results the really important thing here as he said if we believe it is important so many times we talk about bullying the impact of that and how it leads to teen suicide this this is happens on the K. twelve level but it also happens in higher education and the state of Arkansas has already recognized that this is such an important issue to protect students from one another that we pass this legislation I didn't look at the date of when this was passed of are you familiar with the year it was I thought there were two thousand some okay early two thousands we're just expanding this to say that this would also apply as he said to faculty and staff coaches anyone Aeneid adult who is in a position of authority over students and they're probably the ones that are going to be had really be given more power to be able to to ostracize students and so that is the that's my presentation and I'll be open any questions. Questions. While all. Okay the question. Right okay good I'm just what nobody put their hands up I just allow this is different I'll ask and yes thank you Mr chair at represent letter did you say and. That hazing is that a misdemeanor. Is that in the in the code I'm just not saying yes under this that the current law it is a misdemeanor and now we're extending that misdemeanor penalty to faculty and staff that would commit these acts okay entity will. Thank you so you know it in the instance you mentioned where a student felt like he or she was being Hayes because I had to participate in a privilege walk and that we go through like that that the professor would be charged with criminal hazing or just what what would the process be if this is in the criminal code will it would get it would give the student a course of action that they if they were not satisfied in going to for instance administration to deal with that that they would have an additional course of action that they could take outside of the school district or the university of the school district university does not have to be in for it be involved in the enforcement capability would just be an additional frankly protection for students that the and and I think the thing the main thing is the of the protection is for faculty and staff to know that this is the potential that it that it is the guard rail that keeps them in acting in a and appropriate behavior in and appropriate behavior. Representative back into class thank you Mr chair and I like the intent of the bill of. And the only concern maybe what will you will you can address it has there been any my concern is. Is there any. Has there been any problem with the definition of hazing as it applies now to to to to you said fellow students where it might cause some confusion if it were applied to instructor. I'm really not familiar with that I know that there have been situations obviously what a times university step in where there is hazing they revoke charters I know unfortunately my my even though I was not active in this chapter the pi Kappa alpha chapter at the university of Arkansas I was a member of the U. L. R. their charter has been revoked I think several times and there have been other fraternities that have had their charters revoked or they've temporarily been kicked off campus of in those cases the University themselves stepped up without their having to be any kind of criminal charges but sometimes the incidences of hazing of even gone beyond the misdemeanor where there has been bodily harm to a student I think in the one of the case of pi Kappa alpha student of I think even lost his life because he was subjected to extreme alcohol intoxication and and to the point that he was poisoned. But there's not anything problematic I believe as far as on the lower end of the penalty scale. Robson brown. Thank you Mr chair if this were in a college classroom and the professor poses a question into students begin to answer it once. And the professor says to the one you need to be quiet. I need to hear from this student because you're a member of a privilege class is that hazing. I would think that if a faculty member told a student that they could not speak because they remember privilege class that yes I think that would be hazing thank you. Any other questions. Seeing none. Thank you Sir for your testimony I think we are done with this park anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Would you like to close for your bill. Thank you members for being patience specially while I had to run over to another committee and run back and running is not easy for me these days in this stormtrooper booth that I've got I I think that this is a necessary protection that we need to have our students we you know the the legislature believed of support to protect students from one another and we're just going the next logical step of making sure and I'll just repeat the phrase guardrails I think any time we have guardrails for behavior we did we never need to see the penalty actually invokes sometimes that guardrail is enough and so I ask your support your support and I make a motion to pass motion do pass any discussion on the motion. Seeing. I have a question about seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no. Resolution you passed your bill thank you committee for Working with me on the questions today that made this go a little faster we did get something back to the queue for second questions and that's the way I'd like to see that happen so it kind of made it go a little smoother we do have a fourteen bill list for Thursday so we'll see how far we get. All right thank you we are adjourned. Everybody except Becky was the only one.