Education Committee - Senate

Our committee meeting today all right members we do have and folks in the holding rooms and so we will go through these bills systematically and realize that we have people that may want to testify on a bill that might be in a holding room so we'll just need to monitor that as closely as we can all right I do have some people that have traveled some distance to be here and someone that allow for Senator Hester to go and then if he wants to bring anybody to the table with him that would be fine and I'm so worried we're going to go out of order that and then we will move down this. Systematically so this is Senate bill one sixty. Thank you thank you for the courtesy they're needing me and public health and I'm going to have a. David right now with me make a statement just a moment but What this bill does is it it just it requires that our school districts in Arkansas public schools and grades fifth through twelfth will remember and teach the Holocaust as we know from a World War two the atrocities there and and so many of the lessons learned in it spells it out in this bill that you know the the lessons from bullying and the importance of diversity and. In treating everybody equally In which want to learn lessons from that it's something that we feel like is important enough that we make sure it isn't hot that we don't. We don't have any misses on this from the from the devastating lessons learned from the past and I would ask David to pick it up from here. I am afternoon everyone I'm David on L. I'm a junior at Little Rock Central High School and I'm here representing the Holocaust education living proposal committee in support of SB one sixty. Next year my classmates and I will graduate from high school without receiving any consistent or meaningful instruction about the Holocaust. This is a terrible missed opportunity with potentially dangerous consequences SB one sixty six to correct this deficiency. Ording to the FBI there are more document extremist and anti semitic incidents in Arkansas during twenty nineteen than in the previous fifteen years combined including a police shootout with a white supremacist in pine bluff the vandalism of the hot springs Hanukkah display and a Booneville business spray painted with swastikas and other **** graffiti. Unfortunately I witness anti semitism and intolerance firsthand and I've been the target of hate speech because my religion. High cost education teaches students about the importance of standing up against injustice and acting as allies to those who are unjustly targeted. Can make students more opening to different viewpoints and create a more tolerant public. The dwindling number of Holocaust survivors and World War two veterans combined with the lack of Holocaust instruction in classrooms that's created a learning void is eagerly fill today on social media. Those who deny the very existence of the Holocaust spread misinformation online while promoting hatred and bigotry. Arkansas has a duty to teach the Holocaust of students armed with facts and knowledge to combat the flood of misinformation and the Niles online. In a recent fifty state survey of Holocaust knowledge along U. S. millennials Arkansas millennials finished dead last shockingly only seventeen percent of your cans and surveyed could answer yes to the most basic questions about the Holocaust. SP one sixty indoors by the chancellor of the university of Arkansas system. Isn't of Arkansas State University dean skip Rutherford of the Clinton school several Arkansas school superintendents in Northwest Arkansas business council and I diverse list of religious and nonprofit organizations across the state. Arkansas can be a leader in our region by passing this bill we can eliminate the Holocaust knowledge gap in Arkansas and we can slow the spread of hatred bigotry I teaching tolerance to students the lessons of the Holocaust. If younger generations like mine do not learn from the mistakes and injustices of the past history is bound to repeat itself we must never forget I respectfully urge for you to vote for SB one sixty I thank Senator Hester for his leadership thank you for. Thank you I have a couple questions you and are you willing to take questions from us yes okay because normally we have a foreign of and against section but at that we speak so I thank you for that when you say that you've not had any education at on the Holocaust in your curriculum at presently is that is that just didn't Are they just skipping over that part when they're talking about the wars so I myself have received some very small little amounts of Arkansas ducation throughout my entire life in the public school system but I've yet to receive a consistent your by your curriculum Holocaust education I've had a fourth grade teacher read me boy in the striped pajamas I learned about Holocaust education in my AP US history class and my AP world class but some of those classes are optional and I was not consistent curriculum statewide right the the book yeah the bill in the statement yeah one of my kids favorite books I mean it's it's a. Incredible story and and that was part of their advanced reading AP class so I'm not sure if that was in basic curriculum or not though. It was in the gifted and talented class I think is where they read it I'm is that similar with your experience my fourth grade teacher at Forest Park elementary school read between the stratagem as to my entire class okay so everyone just a gifted and talented gifted okay I'm just curious about that all right and then as Senator Hester when it the revenue impact in this might be a question for the department of education says it's twenty to fifty thousand dollar cost I'm just curious as to why it would cost that much money to to do this I think that's probably more of a question. For the bureau but do you have an answer to that Senator Hester is Jerry were you told a reason why that would have that revenue impact well I think just the did the general effort and cost to develop curriculums throughout the state of Arkansas that the good news is there are nonprofits that to have to develop this this for K. twelve all across the country and will will be and will be an asset in this I hope there to be very little or no cost but I think as you know. Being prudent they they assign a cost because they could yeah. One last question for you Sir I'm in the when you study these with and your curriculum did you see any videos where their videos that were sent to you or anything like that no ma'am it was just instruction per a book or during my younger ages kind of elementary school middle school it was mainly just the knowledge and the Holocaust and some of my more advanced classes and high school there were some photos included but there was never really a and that the dive into the Holocaust yeah so and I I appreciate the bill on the co sponsor on the bill do you question I know that I've visited the Holocaust museum as well in Washington DC if you haven't done that I would recommend to do that because it'll be a huge impact on your life the Holocaust museum is an incredible place and it is earth shattering I would say and I could I could just describe the health that. Some may say well this is do you know we don't want to show this video or whatever but. Do not as a teenager with your exposed to social media. I think unfortunately kids probably see things that are just as hard to see just on basic exposure to what we have right now on social media I mean would you. I mean if somebody says well we don't want to show this video because it's so horrible right to the kids I mean what would your response be. Well in my personal experience with witnessing anti semitism and facing at often times of I believe around the first time I kind of witnessed it was my sixth grade class in middle school so a lot of kids my age are starting to get on social media and meet these deniers and chat rooms and bigots and chat rooms and learn from them rather than learning from our public school system we can't wait to law yeah no I I appreciate it I think it's something that we it's a hard fact and it's a hard treats but it's something that we need to see and understand so we don't repeat it ever. are there other questions from members of the committee. Or I will go through my process thank you. is there anyone here to speak for or against this bill. All right C. nine I'll let you close for your bill. Members again thank you for hearing me first here and I think David is not a fantastic job. tribulation how important this bill is a number just ask for a good vote thank you. Motion. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for motion. Okay second Senator English all those in favor say aye. And oppose ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill thank you Mr Ranil thank you. You did an excellent job. Thank you for coming before us. You give us hope. I'm privilege before she goes I'd like to introduce bar I'm sorry just and I'm sorry just one moment first offense I'd like you're recognized for point of personal privilege may we have parts daughter introduced herself and reinstall it. Any rumors a little girl. Sorry. I just think it's important for us to see the faces of the families that sacrificed so much for us to come down here because it is a separate. And I love her she's she's a she's a person like a and I especially appreciate our young man from Central High School thank you so much public schools are doing a great job we appreciate you very much thank you thank you Mr thank you my kids actually had this friend spring break with me one year two years down here all right thank you so much we will move on to the next bill senator Davis Senate bill one twenty. Thank you madam your Reimers Committee and last session representative Bob Ney ran at bill and allowing school counselors more time with students we neglected to give rulemaking authority to the department of ed so that is all this bill does and if you have any questions of myself or Department of that then and we're here to answer those. So this is just a technical. Right so that they can write rules okay yes and we receive feedback from and school counselors across state that want to ensure that they're part of the rule making process and I've segment from that about it to make sure there's people that are actually in schools meeting with students and day after day that their input is an value to take into consideration as they make these rules okay. All right are there any questions Senator back on that I will get to that thank you anyone here to speak for or against the bill. All right scene nine U. close for your bills motion to pass second all those in favor say aye. And opposed ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill senator English. Senate bill four seventy two. Passing over that one okay senate bill four ninety one. Thank you senator Jane English district thirty four and this is amending certain laws regarding apprenticeship and training programs and I have Cody wakes with me who is the director of the office of skills development explain more. Thank you madam chair members of the committee how could he waits director for the office skills on the department of commerce Senator English mention this bill is regarding registered partnership and state of Arkansas our last four years we've seen significant expansion roughly around three thousand apprentices back in twenty fifteen to recover around seven thousand active princes today graduating hundreds of the princes every single month so positive changes are going there programs increasing from eighty two to roughly a hundred twenty I'm in that same time frame so lot of expansion activity occurring in in Arkansas around restaurant partnership what this bill does is essentially it it looks at the Arkansas partnership coordination steering committee which is a committee of eight individuals today primarily who represent for profit appreciate schools around the state now the make up of those or it within the bill or within the languages that exist today can I speak to different categories of whom they represent what we want to do with that is reduce a little bit of how the not the the for profit appreciate schools are are the sole members voting on these decisions will expand that to include employers we want to include the department of education career and technical education the Division of higher education or someone who represents postsecondary institutions around the state industry associations and someone from the division of workforce services represents the we position the department of labor when you're applying for a lot of federal discretionary grants for those dollars requires a lot of partnership in collaboration with the WS and we System and so we think it's important piece to make sure that they're on this the second thing that this does it requires a program sponsorships of to submit to us annually a list of employers for who which they serve you know we always want to talk about how we make data data driven decisions one of the things that we like right now is an actual count of the employers in which we have served in the state of Arkansas right now if an individual employer themself operator on pressure program we obviously have that data but if it's a program sponsored maybe working with multiple employers right. Now we lack that information as is not reported in the federal department of labor rapids which is their database registered apprenticeship so that's something we're gonna have them do and submit to us on an annual basis on or before I believe it September first of every fiscal year of our of every calendar year the third thing that it does is it recognizes the electrical a partition committee currently we have a a state plumbing apprenticeship committee we have a state electrical pressure Committee electrical prince of committee functions in the exact same way that the state plumbing appreciate does but they've never been recognized in law and so we want to make sure that they're recognized for the work that they're doing on on a monthly basis as well the fourth thing it does is it defines pre apprenticeship and use a partnership a lot of times that phrase pretty proficient gets thrown around somewhat loosely and so we want to make sure that no matter where you're at and state whether it's K. twelve post secondary a local workforce board over the case may be if you're leveraging that term phrase a pre apprenticeship we wanna make sure it's consistent across the state it also cleans up some language just in terms of definitions and some other things here and there that we want to make technical corrections on and the last thing that it does is it allows us to use the construction industry craft training trust fund to help support pre and use appreciate programs are secondary Christians around the state a lot of times that will the construction is to capturing Trust Fund typically today is spent on grants and awards these petitions schools provide curriculum or equipment or whatever the case may be to support of the adult population or whoever's enrolled in those appreciate programs we want to make sure that if we have other other dollars that can be funded and spent we wanna make sure that those high school programs are Christians that are aligned with. Companies are doing registered pre apprenticeship offered opportunities that we can leverage this resource as well and that that approval doesn't just come from the office skills it comes through the Arkansas partnership coordination steering committee that's all having on being happy to answer any questions. Are there any questions Senator Elliot you're recognized. Thank you madam chair Mister white I'm on page four please on page four beginning at Actually line three is for the complete sense begins what we talk about who the governor shall appoint and we Sturch on line six where we are change in two to one and so forth on down to the one until until we get to the line ten for we have two members that they all language to members One of which is representing a minority and female work force and we're changing that one to one of spike the rest seven my question is of the folks that are already a part of this group how many of them represent a minority group roughly half of them actually I mean we have a strong a strong contingency of actually women who are on that committee whether it's the chair care shares Kathy full expensing Callaway at all represent you know my word excuse me I'm sorry I'm backing up in a how about people of color no one currently that's on that committee that's something certainly you're going to be taking into account when we started looking at who this new make up is in this expansion of is looking at kind of not only are we diversifying the membership Clark from the appreciate schools themselves making decisions but also who's appointed that committee and and taking all those things into account not because I am notice for I forgot what the board at the opportunity blah blah blah something board what is it called the the. Grants board. That's a whole nother thing I'm talking about here why for the grants all right yeah the office the the grand Committee that the grand Committee yes ma'am because as we go through and make these differences and make these changes and make our career tech better in every kind of way I think that is something that we may but not intentionally. Fail to pay close attention for it too and with that committee I I you know it's it's minimal I think there are three women on that that group the granting group I think if they're three women on there may be a person of color I think so I think this is an opportunity to get something right if we're going to be changing it. Which brings me to the line ten I'm not sure I. But think it's a good idea to change the two to one. Are you open to an exception to keep into people on there so that you could be guaranteed you would at least get some. representation of minority groups yeah I mean I know it's not that or not we were trying to figure out a way to make IT twelve so we have an even number because the way it's written is that and that that kind of a line of you know session where they have the appeals process right comes back and so it comes back to the director of the office skills levels we're trying to make sure that we had an even number of members on the committee you know could we leave it to we could within you know obvious the raft at another position or take away from something else this is not an issue as to whether or not we can or can't do that do you have to take part in something else. Well something that says you can't have thirteen for example now it's just a position that we were taking okay all right because and and I find myself appointed not just to you but I find myself in this position a lot where With all good intentions. And we're doing it because of this this and this if we're not intentionally paying attention to what we're doing we end up with the group that is not representative of the folks in Arkansas for example because we've not been intentional about it and there's always a good justification for for example we will point somebody who's got this kind of business that kind of business or somebody who's in this position you're the head of career tech are you the head of blah blah blah. All of those sound like really good reasons to do it. However we generally end up with the group just the cost of on the way we've done things systemically we end up with the group not representative is what I'm getting at so there are sometimes there are reasons to do something that might not. All that might not seem like a natural. Because it's on natural sometimes be intentional to get representation that's what I'm getting at here so I would really like to speak to us to see that happen we go so far sometime this to say we will have this many ripped folks a pointed so that we can be guaranteed that week at representation that looks more like the state that's what I'm getting at like you to consider. That when the bill passes. We're we're gonna know that that's uppermost on somebody's mind rather than. Are trying to dictate to somebody who they're going to appoint because most times people appoint who they know And that usually doesn't work. Yeah I mean I think we're gonna be very intentional about who we appointed these positions are gonna be taking all those counts and all those factors into it whenever we start to do it so you know whether or not we have one or two I mean I think you're gonna see a committee that's really representative of of Arkansas and all matters whether it's industry whether it's whatever you whatever you want to put in there I think you know having one or two I think we're certainly able to you know whether or not it states we're gonna have one minority women workforce member to I think the intentionality of how we go about selecting those members I was going to be a very thoughtful process running on it well I appreciate that because I don't think I don't think it's it that I want you to think I'm advocating just to because that would enacted as well so I don't want to be record is and I want you to promise me that we're going to have at least I just two people but the other thing I want to consider we have we have blocked women over into the minority group just because of a matter of power I thank and systemically being disadvantaged but I don't want us to also known as the use women as wait only of saying this is how we have met our our intentions I thank you madam chair you have any comments about that that's fine otherwise I'd like to see it in the bill rather than going intention because we've been doing that for a long time. And okay I have a question on page. Eight of the bill in reference to the Arkansas construction craft training trust fund so what what is that fund currently funding and I know that now we're opening it up to support used to print a ship's or purse our pre apprenticeship construction trade programs and secondary vocational centres but what was the original intention of the Arkansas construction craft training trust fund and and is that original intention and creation of the funds being protected. So that it. We are just use the money that was supposed to be met for something else thank you senator I appreciate the question yeah so the fund was originally created simply to support apprenticeship programs in the construction trades for every fifty cent of every one thousand dollars of nonresidential construction permits that are pulled fifty cents because in an industry construction training craft trust fund and so those funds currently go to support registered apprenticeship programs specifically in the construction trades so and every single month schools apply for pretty should schools apply for grants for office for curriculum code books those types of things but they also can apply for equipment grants we set a budget of about eight hundred thousand dollars every single year for that fund last year in the year before that we did not spend those dollars and so we were caring for those funds special revenue every year one of the things that we would like to do is we're gonna budget those dollars for education outreach and we actually have a budget line item every single year for education outreach and we never spend that full amount and so what I would like to do is open up to be able to using that for use in registered apprenticeship programs which aligns with the original intent of that which is to construct which is to support the construction industry as anyone you know as we all talk about right we have to make sure we have pipelines of talent to be able support previews a production programs of the K. twelve level really helps employers find a pipeline of talent so you know that I I think they would be strongly support of that. So secondary vocational centres before or were not eligible but now they would be correct and we want to make sure that we put it in the law so that we we did have the flood the you know the the ability to use that and that there wasn't any interpretation for a reason not to be able to do that okay but the originally original intent was for it to be for K. through twelve. No the original intent I guess initially was to focus on registered pretty sure programs because typically registered furniture program serve an adult population right we have an education outreach component of that to which we do certain things with okay yeah I just I just wanna make sure that we're not depleting the find for what it was originally set up to be and that you know that's that's my. That would just be a concern yeah known in and we want and again these these applications essentially from the locational centers would have to flow through us the to the Arkansas partnership coordination steering committee who oversees those dollars today and make those decisions and they're going to still continue to make those decisions on how we leverage those dollars okay. All right senator Beckham. Is on page page eight as well we are creating a new. Committee and adding seven more state positions that correct the Committee exists today but they've never been recognized in law and so they've been doing these things and rules and so we wanted to allow them to have the same opportunity as a state claiming a petition committee so yes there is excitement out of rules instead of of law as well they have not been getting status okay what we would be able to what is the state apprenticeship Committee currently oversees a just plumbing. Well so you have the state plumbing apprenticeship committee which is solely over plumbing of the state electrical grids Committee which solar electricity is any of the Arkansas partnership coronation steering committee which oversees the traditional partnership funding which is one point six million dollar fund that we have to support registered partnership activities as well as the eight hundred thousand dollars that we budget annually for the construction industry crafter any trust fund and so they make awards and approved grants they set rules funding guidelines for all those things can be spent on an annual basis in coordination with the office skills build so so it in code we're making one specifically for plumbing one specifically for electrical the plumbing exists today and so we're adding electrical into the code as well to mere essentially what the plumbing already hassle they are able to receive stipends and continue doing the work they've been doing they just haven't been recognized for that work by law. The the plumbing exist today but I see from page eight two. would say probably Page eleven we've got. of probably a dozen or so changes were adding plumbing. Yeah well that's I think what you are you to referring to as well so two things number one there was confusion and clean up language earlier where in the bill or as in the law as it existed the State of permission coronation steering committee was listed as the state a petition committee and the plumbing apprenticeship committee was also listed in the same fashion so anywhere you see that's probably one of those changes but we basically mirrored the plumbing section with the electrical section okay thank you. question are there other apprenticeships as it relates to the construction industry and not falls under that third one that you sent like construction management. I'm not sure I'm not sure the question can you repeat what time please so at. So if it's not plumbing apprenticeship or elektrische an apprenticeship what if it's in concrete work what if it's in construction management yes all not have those apprenticeships and we do we do instrumental they fall they fall under well I mean they don't they're not a licensed occupations so they don't have the same kind of requirements that electricians and plumbers doing state of Arkansas now we certainly have a partnership programs for you know there's twelve hundred different principal occupations of the department of labor in Arkansas we have a number of those in the construction trades we have industrial maintenance manufacturing healthcare IT apprenticeship programs all of those have access to to the funding under the one point six million dollars but not to the construction industry Crabtree trust fund only those aged back some of those other programs that are in the construction trades have access to that eight hundred thousand dollar fine but those are not necessarily have to be oversaw over have the oversight of committee because I'm not a license occupation. Okay in the end these funds travel through your agency so that you have the audit of the ability for audit yes yep are there other questions. Senator Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair why is the department of labor not a part of any of this. The labor of labor licensing no the department of labor federal labor is supposed to deal with labor in the state of Arkansas and yet as we look at all of this there seems to be no place for the department of labor one where they not yeah the department of labor's the state department of labor doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the permission they are what they do is basically licensed the labor licenses electricians the department of health licensed plumbers and so outside of licensing they really don't have any engagement really in the appreciate space other than licensing those two occupations are the one occupation of I'm sorry we know that dealing with licensure here. This bill doesn't actually do anything license okay notice deals with apprenticeships which should lead to what licensing right for two occupations okay electricians and plumbers six let me ask you this on line seven which page on page four line seven. Two members one member representing employer organizations defining employer organization as opposed to line sixteen with three members represent employers yes I can apportionment employer organization could be the Arkansas trucking association or the state chamber of commerce or it could be the automotives you know commission it could be any of those organizations represent a number of employers when we speak to employers themselves we're talking about businesses such as a Tyson ConAgra or Lockheed Martin or high troll who are actively utilizing register depression Hey I know I mentioned a number of them in the in the manufacturing space but that could be a first run in the I. T. space or a national park Medical Center Sali memorial in the healthcare space so that's that's the difference in the state where your organization don't have our employers. For your representatives right in order of an organization represents employers yes but may not act is why is this Committee tap here the with either the employee organization of the employers and sales No of the entity on here is for basically. Representatives other than an employer organization and then three members representing employers whereas the rest are one and two at the most and then you have reduce the amount of representation for both minorities and women to just one and so I guess you could hire a two for a person who is both a woman and a minority but you reduce that to one but you have your three people who are employers why yes so partnership in its nature is employer driven right and so if you don't have employees you can operate a partnerships and without the voice of those employers at the table then it's you know what we typically do all the time as we have educators or have work force or we have agencies making decisions without the employers at the table and so what we want to do is make sure that we had those individuals are employing hundreds of thousand or thousands of people across the state of Arkansas or look you leveraging pressure pressure to have a voice at the table to tell us what these impacts and what these decisions may have on their business and how they operated we have thousands of people representative bills by minorities and women which will reduce them to one member. And that's to me that's what's troubling to me I understand the concept of it it may sell out here but it concerns me wonder to reduced you have reduced women and minorities to one entity. And yet you're saying thank you since compliance represent. Hundreds of people employed people across the state the same could be said for the number of minorities and women across this state women making up the largest part of the totality of the workforce brass so I don't understand why you would have it laid out quite this way if you wanted to get to twelve drop one of the employers as you already have an employee organization then you are putting three employers and they would dominate all of the committee because rest and only get one police I don't quite understand so so in Arkansas and and really across the country you know most the partnership councils are made up of equal members of government education and and business in Arkansas is really actually one of the only states that actually specifically states that we're gonna have a minority or women owned or women you know member on that committee and so you know again at the end of the day employers are the ones that drive a partnerships to have them as a majority stakeholder on that committee is key I think we're making some assumptions that just because we have that reduce the one that they're still not going to be those decisions are individuals that make up those other memberships meet those criteria as well. You are there any other questions members of the committee. All right C. N. nine is there anyone here to speak for against this bill. I don't see anybody listed all right you're recognized close for your bill hi close for the bill right it was a pleasure of the Committee do pass motion to pass is there a second there's a second all those in favor say aye aye and oppose ayes have it bill passes. All right Senator English you have Senate bill five thirty two are you gonna run that one as well. All right if you will stay an employer records then you may proceed thank you senator Jane English district thirty four and I am here with the bill five thirty two which has to do with water Bali bottle filling stations in schools and I have Terry bent over here with me for explain more okay you're recognized. The pressure button for me. There you go there we go thank you Terry venom with impact management group on here on behalf of the American heart association all right you're recognized to present the bill. Okay of thank you madam chairman members of the committee appreciate being here today and it's nice to be back in the Education Committee I've been in a lot of other committees so far this session so it's nice to be back with my old friends this bill it was brought to the attention of the heart association because of the value that it provides to public health and and because it's specifically focused on the school districts and part of education department the Arkansas department of health I was asked to kind of help out with that a little bit because there was a lot of conversations that needed to happen in order to make sure that it was consistent and aligned with the the plumbing code and and the partnership agreements that the the Department education and and the state health department had What the bill basically does is provides water filling stations in new construction in our public schools and then also in total renovations and that was one of the that this bill is kind of taking a long time to get done because one of the things that we had to do was make sure that the terms were consistent so that there weren't definitions already there and and we weren't adding any new definitions that had that had to be put out and so you'll see an amendment on the back and that that took care some of some of those technical corrections the others we did but before we actually filed the bill but we've visited with the department of education extensively and they've been fantastic to work with and also department of health with regard to they're they're minimal plumbing codes that they work with and that there's no opposition to the bill and I'm happy to. Answer any questions that you might have. This really is give me an opportunity for I think all of us to realize how important. water is to our system and our vice chair is but I think. Sometimes we forget how really important it is for young people and they they don't always get all the the the liquid and the water that they need I think there is this assumption so at the end this this I think is critically important and I'm not sure that our water fountains in today's world are operating so this does give all of our our students an opportunity to be able to fill their water bottles consistently and with good clean water. Thank you I have a question. The some schools actually I have some rules in place at where they can't have water bottles For various reasons and so I'm just curious as to how that might. How how that would be affected I mean I. And. I think it's different from a filling station bites there have been issues in the past with students bringing vodka to school and water bottles so yes I know that I'm just saying that you know I just I want us to make sure that the schools still have the abilities to maintain that I mean I'm not opposed to more water and water filling stations but it is the question I think when you're talking about water pot holes on the campus because it's been an issue in the past so it's fair to ask the question yes I think it's fair question what well let me let me re phrase as as a dad of a high school senior I think it's a very fair question and I. And I'm I don't think I've ever had to those issues but but I think what the teacher. Is solely. That's all left up to the to the school districts yeah this really has to do with with new construction and and really it's more about and the reason that we care about it is you know Arkansas's doing really well in in collegiate athletics right now but unfortunately we're also in the top five in in obesity and and unfortunately number one in childhood obesity and so that that's something that's very important to the the heart association and we see this as a best practice to set a minimum standard or what we need to be doing with our new construction and then our total renovations and and that for that reason we support yeah. So it's not it's not it just any school because you could have the spelling stations and I just in the school right and it's new construction going forward so that schools don't have to be retrofitted to comply with us from my understanding Senator Sturch I think soon Senator Elliot. The manager and I can wait I just wanted to see if we could bring up the academic facilities or someone from the department that can answer my question okay okay M. do you have a question for the members of the committee okay yes senator Elliott not come back to centre Sturch obviously I'm very industry about drinking my water. It was just not well time I I I think this is is is a terrific idea I just you know from knowing not to students but people just don't drink enough water might be you know something to say for us to have some stations in the capital would be good and not have so many plastic bottles but I'm I'm what I'm thinking about and I don't think I've I didn't find the bill is there something about if there could be ways that we could help students to have a water bottle you know it sounds like a small thing but that's a lot of kids wouldn't be able to have a water bottle I have several I can share but I don't have nearly enough any thoughts about that or is there anything in here about the you know the only thought Senator out that's a great question the only thoughts that I think I would have on that is there a lot of community partnerships what with public schools and I I know that you know I for one am very supportive of my public schools and try to be actively participating in things like that and so I know that when we were having the COVID nineteen issues when we first started the school year and had that many challenges a number of local business people pitched in and made sure that a lot I cried Leding programs had model waters and all that because not everybody really knew what we were dealing with how to handle it and all of that and I I think you know those types of things you know this is just my personal opinion I think there the I think we we don't want to take that ability away from the local communities to handle that you know in the way that they need to handle it because some schools will need yeah and I don't want to get away either just as some folks will know what but the main the reason when the major reasons I would be a question is to start the conversation yeah for example I don't think anybody should be able to even says an athletic program you can. Not recruit from the school mission have waterfalls in the school for everybody that kind it almost I don't mean that literally but that's something to think about state and and the same thing is true of colleges and universities in general and you know big business is like every time I go to a conference I come out with a new water law you know we can even right here in Arkansas like the Blue Cross blue shield and others I just want people to be thinking about nobody wants to try to mandated to be think about how you can be a partner in this because I think it's it's a great thing for partnerships at the local level and some places are not some local levels are not going to do it but somebody in that community can be taken about the service yes ma'am I want the twenty five people who are listening to us today to think about it so that's just a bill would say ten people. What them to hear too so thank you for that. And I think I know you know. All right and I know that I'm a lot of school districts have began to retrofit already because of it and so that's a good choice that they're making other any other questions for the members table if not I'm gonna be the centre Sturch if you will go ahead and add somebody can come up from the department to answer Senator Sturch is questions from the facilities thank you. Okay feel state your name for the record and then yes ma'am I'm Tim Kaine director facilities and transportation okay thank you Senator Sturch you're recognized thank you managerless came I just kind of wanted to get an idea right now what our current requirements are for either and drinking fountains so or you know when I read I'm looking at page two and when I read all these requirements put together it kind of gives me pause to think wow this is a lot more than what I originally you know is thinking I'm thinking in our districts are in our high school building you know ours is not that old less than ten years old but we have a water fountain the filling station together one at one side of the building one of the other in each wing so therefore be and I have a problem with see we have one of the cavity I don't have a problem with that then when I see a number a minimum of one filling station per hundred people and also in the two in my building have to go up to five or six and that's a big expense as far as plumbing goes trying to figure out where to put that in and everything else I'm not saying that I understand it's very you know it's only for renovations and new construction that can you give us an idea then of what our current standards are or have you had any idea as far as cost to push back as far as if we start adding in one hundred people you have to do something like this you senator Currently we have to follow the plumbing code. Which right now is one. water found for every hundred individuals okay and The department of health has said that they are updating the plumbing code which is also in the bill and that it will align with with the bill they've also been allowing during the pandemic for schools to substitute. bottling stations. For for water found yes okay so do you know is is that in a recent change or is that just what is moving forward has that been recently after they've changed it to where you Senator gonna have to do the cleaning goes or the per one hundred eighty eight that's been there I'm not sure when it started but it's been there for a while so this would be the same one hundred with the water fountain or program hundred for the thought of sending station there's for the part and health will have to speak to that but they've they've said I've seen communication with them said that it'll get online because that was a concern I had as well that it wouldn't be. One of one and one of the other correct thank you Sir thank you after. Thank you and and to be clear I mean you can fill up your water bottle with a water hose. Right. Yes also in a sink. Right. I mean I just I mean I don't I want us to make sure that were you know understanding that anybody's water bottle can be filled up with water hose and by the water hazard bother water sink and there's lots of those on campuses correct yes ma'am okay in order of you know we're neutral on this bill now I understand I just I understand that I mean I just you know if the water filling station is I I don't disagree with the bill I'm just saying that there's lots of areas and other places where you can fill up your water bottle outside of a water filling station that's on you know. I just don't want to I just wanna pass legislation so that schools have to go and buy something a specific you know and anyway that's just thank you ma'am thank you any other questions Senator Beckham is on a on page two. Line twenty six Twenty nine. This is specific type of water filling station referring to. That's where it talks about the filtration I mean at that now you have has to be filtered drinking water. I don't know if you wanna answer that question. I'm sorry did Mr touch those water. Filling station correct. Senate very specific one the referring to right Page. Twenty six twenty six. Two twenty nine. Okay it's talking about looks like to be integrated into drinking powered so that's the hybrid that Senator search was talking about we have a water fountain and above filling station and then the touch less is just rude is holding up was this may cost one of those. VOL four. I'm not I'm not really sure Sir. I'm sorry I need I would need you to come to the table because we have to have that answer questions on record and say you would need to. Sorry. Yes the question was estimated costs and of. Yes okay so answer ask your question again to so that we know that it's real clear the the question I asked for my question is what's the estimated cost of the tonsils water fillings stations your verses the cost of the currently require water fountains yes Sir of one we did some of the research on that and I can't tell you the exact number of the exact stations just because I don't remember but what I do remember is that uh because the model that we used was based on a new construction of five hundred new students and and the the total cost on that was around twenty three hundred dollars I believe senator and that was for the total cost of all of the different filling stations so I mean the the difference in cost was of very negligible cost and that's also reflected in the financial impact statement. Okay are there any questions other questions. All rights. Yeah I I mean I just. I don't have a problem with the bill I guess I guess my putting that portion and statute is a little. I don't know questionable for me. because you're requiring filtration and touchless and so I'm not sure if that's consistent I don't know. That's just my only question. Yes would you would you like me to address that yes please That that's part of the best practices in considering the challenge that that were all face and okay with the pandemic you know one of the things that was identified with water fountains as it relates to water filling stations is that water fountains were have have kind of turned into a bio hazard. And so the water filling stations not only promoted water health but also was a much better sanitary city environment for our kids certainly as we're dealing with this pandemic all right. Yes and as the center tries for the of a question. Okay is there anyone here to speak for or against this bill I do not see anybody signed up you're recognized to close for the bill I am close for the okay and Senators field has motion do pass as our second or second all those in favor say aye aye and opposed as have it congratulations pastor bill thank you thank you members and moving to the next bill. Is HB fifteen oh one. Represent a fight or is there somebody on behalf of represent the fights okay that senator Hammer. Yes. Yes could you give him a copy of the bill please House Bill fifteen oh one. All right you're recognized to present house bill fifteen thank you Mister that your name for the record Kim Hammer state senator district thirty three all right. Thank you ma'am share a respect to committee Simon can get to the point on this matter there are three centers that are not physically attached to locations associated with the school to my knowledge and what this would do is allow that if there's any aid funding from the Division for technical education public school fund account for the management plantation maintenance and operation of the center that they would be that they would be able to use the money for the management maintenance and operation that Senator just give specific to the point of as an example Dennis Lee County we built a career technical education center taxpayers put forty two million dollars online to try to be innovative and try to advanced to a new method of doing career technical education the six school districts that have kids that are affiliated with lane county came together and committed to utilize that approach in order to take their kids to the city center and in the event that there is any money that was left over from the center funding that would that was sent to them that it would be allowed to be used for the management maintenance and operation of the center the front end load the centers and there's a couple others in the state that are similar to this model they would be able to use that funding in order to maintain the equipment and the operations of that building that pretty much front loaded the cost with them brand new equipment in there and the extradition of funding that would be made available would be able to take care of the maintenance and operation and I'll be glad to answer any questions Senator all right thank you are there any questions. Seeing no questions I'm sorry he had a question so Senator English. I'd say this. But I can't support this. Okay. Hi. The reason I can't support it is because we have this twenty million dollars for career centers we kind of expanded the number of career centers were diluted the amount of money but the other side of it is is that while I know this is going to be a wonderful wonderful facility with great opportunities when you all came to talk about being able to be designated a career center you told everybody that the schools are going to pay for this maintenance and operation so I guess I'm I have a problem going back and well you all may end up with more money so many of our schools are career centers across the state really don't have any extra money and having a hard time making do with what they've got so I just I would have a hard time with supporting the this effort okay. May I yes fund manager. I don't know Senator question but go ahead thank you well I heard the intent of the question yes I'd be willing to amend this bill come back and say that it's available to all centers and then that way though centers could utilize anything extra that they have I don't know that the senator would be agreeable to that but I think the problem gets to me is is that the money is supposed to be used for programs pay salaries and buy equipment Ceconomy changing the focus of what the money is being used for and just like a lot of things that have the state government kind of goes off and off and off and and then we we don't have those resources that we thought we would have so you know from my standpoint this needs to be used intentionally for new equipment and salaries and that's it. A question and as senator Hammer when you're talking I mean it was so when you're talking about. Management's maintenance and operation of the center. How is that different though if we're talking so. Maintenance so maintenance issues this would be the difference between what Senator English sure okay I think the way I would to present that is for example in our case which we hope that others of the state you know follows through with this not new idea we went taxes and there are places in state do this. We front ended the of the cost to get the equipment in place and what the money that's regarding maintenance and the management would be to make sure that that equipment stays in as good of you as good of working order and modern as possible and get the longest usage out of it that was the intent or that is the idea behind what the management maintenance would be used for. Okay and Senator Sturch had a question. Thank you mentioned this may be for offices skills and development but I wanted to ask about the process with regard Senator Hammer is but then kind of the others around the state. Most the time they are going to be in partnership with either high school or a second error of a college or community college specifically and so was the six schools that you mention the ones who were entering into the agreement for the career center are you have a college is well that's also in partnership a issue Three Rivers is who we the school will function underneath okay and so this would be able to help help offset that cost and I don't know if any of them are in the room behind me have been shoved in the door by myself I'm not sure where I am. Okay if it went at the proper time can I ask and Cody weights from offices skills developed come and answer a few questions. Yes. before you go ahead and just come on up. And then Senator back you have a question go ahead. That for Senator Hammer or for okay Senator Hammer go ahead. Senator Hammer refund okay go ahead Sir Hammer what though what type of equipment are we talking about maintaining skin giving example of. Sure and and Cody may be able to help lean lean in on this too because of last session we put in the tier program tier one tier two tier three the center is centered around the top tier the tier nine so you talk about the automotive you talk about signs taken so you might be able to actually win more to that specific. Being that is associated with the top tier programs yeah I mean most the programming equipment they're gonna be putting in there's going to be pretty expensive and we're talking about on the service technology type programs with lips you're talking about advanced manufacturing with probably CNC machines industrial maintenance trainers. and the troll type trainers equipment things of that nature welding supplies welders I mean none of that's really great you. Yes hello so what we're actually asking for is. Make a new ticket gonna take machines to buy a whole new ticket machine. Reserve replacing we're just asking for me was that the record now so you can currently spend vocational center raid on equipment so equipment upgrades and purchases for things that you can currently use that money for and we encourage centers to do that so in the instance that whether you're starting a new program or your you know expanding something or you're just on a refresh cycle you can use your vocational centre Aid Fund upgrade equipment. Senator Sturch. Thank you mentioned Korea I don't mean to start with story just ask questions but what I'm worried about with this bill is is that we may have to set the rules for the same type of centers so like you know basically had played and beg and borrow just to get our center there is a C. C. B. so our skin in the game at the community college was they had no debt previous not at any concerts and then when they wanted to get the career center they took on the obligation of a million dollar building and then borrow and so that's kind of where I'm going as far as the question is if this if this phrase is used a center that's physically detached from the local school district or state supported institution I get that is not on AC three rivers campus it's on Bryant it's not a been it's just in the you know the sanity right so if we use this language for management maintenance and operation where is their skin in the game as far as the center cost itself like I think Senator English is trying to you know say that money from the state we understand it is for the equipment that's used it is for teaching the salaries it's for you know instructions and that's where the state's scanned the game is but we're with the skin the game then be for the community college of the schools if we allow them to use state money for this well I think I mean I made let's Senator answer that one but you know obviously the the the local contribution was the passage of the tax rate that they did you know I I guess if if there's funding under the bill if there's access funding available right and and if it were to pass that they could use a part of that on the maintenance and operations of the facility any that that's not going to cover full cost of it I just I don't see there's any way for that to happen number one if there was additional funding right than that in the the districts would have to make up the difference for those costs now I mean obviously as a standalone center you have costs that are going to be you know you're not gonna have the same type of set up and. Infrastructure that you would have if you're on the local school district rights you're not gonna have a school resource officer right you're not gonna have onsite nurse or or health care you know attention of something's necessary to happen so there are gonna be some some additional costs that are incurred whether that Celine or whether it's at peak in Fort Smith or you know which those are really the two that have kind of been built up in this model of an off site facility so I guess the local the local contributions going to be those pieces so does the state not having do we have a cap on what can be considered in costs versus what's used for students do we have any kind of percentage gunline anything we do not cap anything at this point in terms of you know basically what happens is based off a secondary Christians enrollment they receive funding right so you know about the tiered funding formula which was passed two years ago right that's eight thousand for tier one FT's fifty five hundred and three thousand dollars after three you know so whatever funding is is generated off those enrollments in the fall and spring semester is up to the center to pay for equipment upgrades teacher salaries professional development so forth and so on anything above and beyond that they can either carry forward for funding into additional years or they can use for summer programs some centers care those funds for an accumulated balances some spend them some don't have the dollars to to carry forward and the the host institution either asked to a dollars into or to make a whole or they they figure out some other mechanism so that thank you thank you Mr. Other questions Senator Hammer manager I don't want belabor the point I'm committees get me all the folks way but could with chair lashing Broadway who rep is with a issue just come make brief comment to and then I'll yeah because I mean I yeah I mean I think it's fair for us to be able to hear legislation that might impact certain districts and I think it's fair to be able to bring legislation forward where people are trying to help the entities within their districts so although you know it may not be that same across the state in your district you know you should give fair due diligence to those legislators here trying to help their own personal districts I guess. So thank you manager if I'll yield yes. Mr Broadway feel to state your name for the record you the manager members committee shame roadway issue system actually call her Arkansas tech university. I can just quickly speak to this link County center and my experience and and this as a whole you can somewhat blame me in center Bisbee of things we're the reason there's. Secateurs career center aid we put that slip that nothing secretary keep I'd been involved in that slip that into school funding formula back in three. To encourage districts to work together because we knew we couldn't afford equipment maintenance operations of at the time three hundred different facilities so the encouragement reason we put Senator center right in the school formula was to encourage those districts to work together I think in our case and the reason that this was brought Senator Hammer representative flight by our superintendents was the people sling council voted a tax. To build the building is going to pay for the initial equipment as well and so that is our skin in the game the people slowing county went together a a a sales tax the district's themselves will also be putting in some of the money this the center is not going to pay of whatever's left over and it will likely be years before the slimmed down the sling County center before we would have anything left over they could go to my I mean you're you're starting a brand new operation we've already got a look at the budget all the districts are going to have to pitch in and they're actually paying the salary of the director right now the we started our director in March the districts have combined their resources to pay for the Director currently and that's going to go through I think the second year so they they all have skin in the game I think this would just create since we have put our skin in the game using these dollars down the road to be able to maintain the equipment that the county bought is the flexibility I think that they were looking for and I may be state not wrong with that was monitor petition sent to the meetings is that we we have put in hours they're gonna continue to put in a set amount every year this would help supplement that because we we did go in and pass it to. Thank you madam chair and members of the committee for considering this bill and I'm here just because we were mentioned as one of the career centers that is not physically on a college campus or we actually took over the career center and the Arkansas tech career center and from the rest of the school district sometime ago and so when we did that we lease their building. And we so are in the no cost just because that question was asked would would be like a custodian because of someone on our K. you know if it's on your campus you can share those custodial services but when it's attached so that would include a custody and and like some utility cost things like that so just I'm just gonna stand up and say that I do think you know it makes sense the way that the laws right now and I do understand that you know we want to make sure that the majority and most of these funds are going toward serving students in the programs that there are some of those costs that kind of lay in the lurch and say okay who's responsible for these costs when you have a standalone center so happy to take any questions about our career center but that's why I'm sitting here. Do you know Mr Broadway there are there are detached career centers that are struggling and they will go to the wayside basically if they do not have a two year college or partnership so do you know how many of those exist across the state who it's been awhile since I look at the map Cody probably is a better map that I do. It's a. Yes please. Out yeah I need it to be replenished until the number Senator yes right now we have thirty career centers across the state twenty four of which are attached to a postsecondary institution six of those are attached to K. twelve district one of the post secondary institutions being touched in to be TI so you know how many I think your question though was was which is how many are detached right and that's you not okay to start with a little bit because I'm trying to figure out exactly what is the task mean right so if you think about a issue Mountain Home their career center is down the road from the campus you know they have a nice facility was used to be an automotive shop I think but that's one that I can think of you know Leslie Arkansas those leave Leslie Arkansas and north central right so nor central over and Leslie Marshall Arkansas right it's the tax from that that school district and so that's another good example of that detached from the school district and would be detached from any second career at is not with written with Arkansas college anymore no no it's it's a standalone center on its own now there are conversations that. Okay. I know there's others as well that are detached. Okay. All right other any other questions from the members of the committee. Senator Elliot. This might be a question for our secretary key I don't really know but I'm just wondering you know when we redefined adequacy. We We added to career tech to it and I'm just wondering if that it may be Secretary que of somebody if this has any impact as you see it on. I'll whether or not this bill passes. Johnny key part of education. Senator would you mind repeating the questions five yes when we are adequacy definitions used to just be no R. one through twelve basically it but we have to change that definition to add our career tech as a part of that adequacy definition and I was just using wondered whether or not what happens here has any impact on whether or not we are adequately Supporting career. Senator in my opinion it does not have an impact there because the the definition of adequacy did not define the delivery method we have a number of delivery methods for providing CT to to our students this is one of them but there are others that are on site in the high schools as well so I I I don't see that that would be at risk here okay thank you. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question. Okay. All right is there anybody else here to speak for against this bill. All right C. nine Senator Hammer you're recognized close for your bill manager I'm close to appreciate a good vote all right center Chesterfield recognized for motion do pass as there are seconds. Seconds all those in favor say aye. And opposed. Is habit congratulations you passed your bill. Thank you this representive Cozart a House bill fifteen forty Senator Sturch has a Senator Sturch do you mind just do you are you here for bills I want to make sure I get to instead of having you sit and wait do you mind Senator Sturch I'm sorry. Fourteen fifty one. At center certified okay if we. Okay. All right. Senate bill fourteen fifty one Jett Love Me the amendments add just adds a co sponsor of the bill is there any objection to that amendment without objection that amend it will be adopted house bill fourteen fifty one you can present this bill as amended. Thank you madam chair with your permission I'll present and jointly by Senator Tucker that's okay Committee thank you so much hassle fourteen fifty one allow school districts to adopt approved bilingual programs or dual immersion programs currently Arkansas's English only requirement for the language of instruction prohibit these types of programs this bill doesn't do away with an English only requirement for instruction it simply allows districts who are interested to adopt the model of bilingual education or dual immersion program approved by desi forty eight other states allow programs like these likely because they see that the benefits that I also see first that bilingualism is an asset whether you're language learner or a native English Speaker knowing a second language makes you more culturally competent and competitive in the work force this is why leaders in business and industry are in support of this bill another key benefit I which is why it's garnered the support of educators is that bilingual education and help students learn English better and faster while maintaining their native language bilingual education and dual immersion are similar a bilingual education utilizes the student's native language as the language of instruction and gradually phases in more and more English idol immersion program is for native speakers of English and native speakers of the target language with the goal of all students coming profession in both languages in house Education Committee we heard compelling testimony in support of this bill from students superintendent other K. twelve educators university professors parents and chamber of commerce leaders I know there are a few folks here testified today the bill also has broad bipartisan support special thank you to Senator Tucker as well as my bipartisan co sponsors and I'm happy to answer any questions. Okay. so question for you on the fiscal impact statement it says that it allows a public school district to adopt an approved bilingual program or tool immersion program is that is this a permissive it It is cast absolutely permits that if that makes sense for the district based on their interests their needs their staffing they can adoptive and certainly not mandatory okay all right thank you senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question. Okay well I do have we do have people here to testify for the bill so I know that some of them have traveled. Okay I can do that At do you want a time. I encourage are going to be very brief so I think it'll just be. I think just to folks are here to individuals well actually I have a two to that I know of. for fourteen fifty one I have Giovanni. Sarmento yes okay and then I have Trish Lopez. And I also have Bobby Hart. Is that correct do you want them just to come in and they can just say thank you I mean I like for people to be able to come and testify for sale and that were behind but if I could just have all of those individuals come before us just to give us a. Thirty seconds if you don't mind that be okay Senator Chesterfield. I mean that's what I want to remind them that they can talking Appicability yes I understand that. We don't want to talk people out of. Voting for the bill but I do want to recognize if you sat here all day that we would like to hear your voice because it's really important that the citizens of the State of Arkansas understands that we do have public testimony and we need to honor that so if you'll just state your names for the record then we can go forward I'm Church Lopez This is a project in and to the universe Arkansas. DO any sentimental on the vice president of the chamber of commerce and writers and all and I'm also represented the CEO Rogers okay thank you and do you just want us quickly state your support. I support it I used to be an educator in Springdale now doing a lot of research and then I have two children of my own dual immersion is the way to go as far as I'm concerned and I just here for it thank you and I'm turned thank you I I'm also in support of these bill and that wonderful great and great things that he does I am bilingual I am I was born in in Latin America I'm I have had a lot of opportunities in this country and I'm very very grateful for everything that I have been able to accomplish and I think a lot of that is it is because of of my I believe to speak two languages not only that but in my household we had many opportunities because my wife's also bilingual in my kids now are bilingual and on top of that my last child nine years old now she was born with down syndrome and she is binding so if you provide the right learning environment for our children in Arkansas I know that you would be successful and also learning a language which is also very much needed for the work force in the future thank you thank you I think it's appropriate for me to ask you to state what you just said in your other language. For the quest of glasses the nada. As You thing levy that a lot of those in the unless your crocus is not correct that is to come we went out but I told listed was in use a list that concepts and the local community a lot of those if you must know you have to which is a part of me that is in which a sport does this have a look at him and to me was that is that is cool what is the temple of the applicants that is a must okay okay if you meant the king was in use in the list that Constance says that I know personally that in class and those who deal must use on it and accept less gaseous. The card. Yes Gates thing with us he hasn't in the past that I what I and I'm too nervous to do it. Well that I learned in high school and college I don't have the confidence to do that and I feel like if I had started earlier probably. I thank you I just the I think it was appropriate to do that as well so am I mean I go to that is there is there one other person I believe that's here Bobby. Yes hope schools and. Tentative the whole public schools here yes and that's on fifteen ninety four I believe. Okay all right sounds good all right thank you both for being here and appreciate that very much you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you committee I appreciate it when we bought the. All right all right of center Chesterfield motion to pass their second there's a second all those in favor say aye. And it has congratulations you faster. Dentata. Okay. All right thank you for coming we very much appreciate having you thank you man man to yes Senator Sturch as senator search your and I ask if it's alright with the chair could we go on to House Bill fifteen ninety four since we still have some folks here to testify and then my bills could come later yes house Bill fifteen ninety four. Vaught for starting and running this bill in the house and for the other co sponsors as well I'm going to be fairly brief because this is something similar to what we did in two thousand and nineteen for the the dreamer students that are and gone through our school districts there and gone through our higher education system in two thousand nineteen we passed a bill to allow them to be certified or licensed so that they can get in the nursing programs for our schools here this bill is very similar to that and if they've have their documentation current to the deferred action for childhood arrivals program no expects fired a documentation then if they've completed all the other requirements you know the what about kids have been to our K. twelve systems kids have been to our higher education system those that are leaders in our schools that have an interest in getting into that education and teaching community which we have a need for many more in Arkansas this would allow them to be able to be certified to become teachers here in Arkansas so we can keep them here at home and not lose them to be to go teach in other states and I'd be happy to answer any questions okay centers has for you have a question. Yes thank you representatives needs for sponsoring the bill but I want to say thank you to senator going and started this about ten years ago. And I remember bring you to the Senate in committee and. So this state has come a long way since then but I would be remiss in her last term in office if that did not thank her. We're doing that and even though it was voted down the and it is my hope that it will be voting this time. Would you agree absolutely thank you thank you thank you. Are there other questions regarding this bill. I know you have people that are here to testify for this one's right so I'm just so there's not I mean this this is obviously a particular to teaching license but as far as licensing licensure of of other we we do have that process in place for other types of professionals that can come here and work so at the end that correct I believe so I know I know last time we added the nursing that were specific to the dreamer population in this one specific just to teaching for that same poppy I know that we have that with positions licensure we have that physicians and a lot of them I mean actually I have a very good friend who is from shall aka he was a medical physician and came and and then actually and then got his citizenship that was a wonderful day it was a long process. Yes and so that but then date their family became citizens and went through the process so it was a wonderful wonderful thing for him and his family thank you but we do have some people to speak for this bill and so I'm gonna just ask them to come up at this time if you're there are no other questions from the members of the committee. We have Bobby Hart hope school superintendents. At we have Jennifer Carmanah Garcia. We have Lara Callum's. Are the ones that I have. To speak for the bill. And we also have Tina Fletcher. As well to speak for the bill. There's number eight signed up to speak against the bill if you'll just state your names for the record and you're recognized two yes hi good afternoon my name is Jennifer come on a great kia I want to begin by thanking you guys for allowing me to speak in front of you so I am originally from one of what the minutes ago but I came here with my family when I was four years old starting school here was terrifying of without even mention and everything was new the food that you ditions just everything and it definitely didn't make it any easier that I only spoke Spanish and eventually yes I. Begin to learn English but I still struggled reading and writing. But I still kept moving forward and working hard and the now that I'm older I realize that is the Hispanic community continues to grow there is a necessity for teachers that look like or students and know the struggles that the students are going through because I I know growing up I wish I had a teacher that would help me out and gave me the skills that I need and even now since daca students can get their up. Their teachings license here in Arkansas it's sad that we lose all that talent to bordering states like Texas and Oklahoma which have no restrictions for daca students and with that being said I went to baseline elementary school Dunbar middle school and Little Rock Central High School and I'm now a sophomore at the university of Arkansas at little rock and the I'm getting a little most of it but I can definitely say that I am a product of the Arkansas educational system and. I. What better way to give back to our community then to become a teacher and just. Help out faster and I want you to I want to beg you to please vote yes this will not only change my life but many other daca students I want to become teachers the school that unfortunately couldn't be here today but. Thank you thank you for your testimony. Thank you please good afternoon madam chair members of the committee at thank you for having me I'm Laurie Callum's I represent I'm a child advocate and I represent Arkansas advocates for children and families in the work we do at to create more equitable outcomes in education for all Arkansas kids including the seventy seven thousand children of immigrants in Arkansas the short version of what I want to tell you since we're doing short versions is that we yes we have wide disparities in children's outcomes based on race and ethnicity and of Hispanic children are less likely to be reading on time was likely to be graduating on time but not because of lack of ability but because of lack of opportunity I never went to a semester of school my whole life without a teacher at some point in the semester look like me and that helps build confidence and helps children's outcomes and if we pass this bill more Hispanic kids in Arkansas will have the opportunities that I had growing up and that it brings us closer to the promise in our state constitution of equitable of equity that we promised equitable education it's a promise and a requirement in the constitution and this will get us closer to that thank you thank you. Well I also say I mean I also wanted to just as they also we we have a amid we have a lot of Asian American and or Asian descent of citizens as well that also I think come into that and same experience that you described and we have a little girl we had a little girl who is Chinese and spoke Chinese inspect any in so it was just you know just working with her she was she's a patient and anyway it was just a challenge but I think it's you know obviously something that we can work towards because it's important for those Asian descent children as well as for what you described as well so I hope to see that as being a growing population as well that could benefit from a policy like this thank you centers has for your question. Thank you I am going to go through the testimony of the people that are here did you have a question. Okay Senator Elliot you're recognized. One of the reasons I want to thank you to and and large for your highlight this really is nothing we can Widener men's about this what you're doing is helpful to students from so many countries and they're not all Latin and South America or people who speak Spanish but I think people are not quite open to understanding for example how many of these kids came from from the African continent but it's not just it is just not South America and Central America the African continent I think you will be amazed at how many daca students out there that we just traditionally don't see so thank you for opening that door for for everybody because you're so right I went through school from the time I was you know tenth grade on I never had another teacher who look like me I want the first jobs I took I took on purpose so that students could have a teacher who look like me so I just thank you so much but is the best thing you can do with your life thank you a nation builder because that's what teachers are. Thank you. And Mister Hart. No I think it's important for us to hear from you. My intention is to hear from the people that come to sign up to testify for bills and that's a process that I plan to follow this money kind of if you'll just state your bodyguard superintendent hope school district and I will be brief The thing that we sell in a public school or schools across the country is hope. And right now I can't sell a full bottle of hope to every kid in my school because there are some and we don't track on we don't know who's adopt a kid who's not it's not our place. Right now. We can't sell that hope to everybody because there are some kids who have expressed an interest in being a teacher and. We know that so we can help them to do that right now the only jobs in our school district that I can offer Was a student that this bill impacts is classified position while those are fantastic jobs are not always a path to the middle class and by fourteen then the opportunity to apply for and receive a teaching credential you're going to impact not just those students but their children and their children's children sought with thank you for your time thank you madam would you like to. State your name for the record please. Is it on yes thank you yes good afternoon my name is rose seven ask Is and I'm with the Arkansas public policy panel thank you for allowing me to speak today I want to start off by thanking you for what you did for daca recipients in the state of Arkansas two years ago you provided those that were called to become nurses the opportunity to do so and they were able to stay here in Arkansas we're losing educated and talented folks to Texas Oklahoma Louisiana because the state to allow daca recipients to provide to be professionally licensed no one knew what March twenty twenty had in store for us with pandemic in twenty three thousand daca recipients that are healthcare workers many of these folks are Kansans I took the front lines of health care immediately began to save lives and taking care of our communities you gave them the chance to do that. Here we have a shortage of teachers in Arkansas and we have a solution that addresses the shortage we have a pool of individuals that are educated skilled people that are taking the same exact courses as their peers folks that are knowledgeable in leading a classroom in wanting to stay here in the state of Arkansas but for eight years they have been unable to do so the daca program has been working in Arkansas for eight years many folks have become first time homeowners committee under banked individuals have you have had the opportunity to get a bank accounts many have gone into the workforce but because and because of their legal presence have been able to. I have health insurance many of these folks have graduated college but because Arkansas does not allow daca recipients to have professional licenses they have that have been highly skilled but they're stuck in low wage but highly rewarding positions but I do want to bring your attention to House Bill seventeen thirty five by representative Penzo this addresses this particular challenge and aims to provide daca recipients with in Arkansas with professional licensing if they meet educational and skill set requirements so I'm asking you to please provide this opportunity to to these folks to obtain is a state stability and fulfill their teacher there are higher education classrooms of in the best teachers in the classrooms I'm humbly asking you to please provide this of these folks a chance because they're wanting to stay in Arkansas people like Maria who from spring to who's highly educated highly skilled qualified teacher she's working as a pair professional let's move for to leave the classroom and watcher thrive and succeed according to the migration policy institute as of September twenty twenty there are roughly four thousand four hundred and forty individuals with daca status in about another eight thousand people that qualify on a rolling basis meaning that when they turn sixteen they can apply for this program daca safe in Dhaka works let's provide these individuals the opportunity to thrive let's watch Arkansas return potential thank you so I actually I was terribly Health two years ago when that bill came through the committee so it was an honor to be able to do that and then also be here today are there any other questions all right thank you for your testimony thank you for being here and I didn't mean for you to have to like lose your breath to go so fast lesser hard. All right thank you Senator Eads here there's nobody else here to speak for against this bill you're recognized to close for your bill thank you and chair I will bill bill believer this too much longer but I just want to say that we talk a lot about account war in a lot of different areas of our economy and this is one area that we have a chance to actually close the gap on with some calibration out of people that we can keep here in in Arkansas so I appreciate a good vote thank you I'll write the pleasure of the Committee. Motion to pass and is there a second second all those in favor say aye. And opposed Is haven't congratulations you've passed your bill. as Senate as Senate bill one forty we are not running today so if there's anybody here for Senate bill one forty were passing over that bill all right Senator Sturch you're recognized now. Mantooth they could hear me could I add a call Mr Lucas harder from school boards association come and to provide testimony yes please. I'm here is this individual may be in the holding room is that correct so we just need to get this individual from the holding room. If there's any individuals under in the holding room that need to come in we need to let them go ahead and come in this is for senate bill five twenty four. No ma'am house bill fifty thirty first Hollowell House bill fifteen forty yes okay. Well that school boards association. All right thank you could you state your name one more time sorry we if we can need to close the door so we can hear you a little bit better the doors open so it's a little noisy on the hallway look it's harder Arkansas school boards association thank you. James Sturch state senator district nineteen. Thousand fifteen forty go ahead house bill fifteen forty essentially the same three things mainly technical corrections to get our school board election code in line with some of these other bills that we passed over the last two sessions as you recall we've changed a few things with regards to filing petitions and filing signatures to be on the ballot for school boards from thirty days to ninety days some of the sections just put that ninety day requirement in there so that we know that they're having at the same time the second part of bill though I want to make sure that you realize section two is it changes the deadline for a district that is nearly determined to have a ten percent minority population if you're not aware every time we do is insist they have to redraw school board zones to make sure that they address the ten percent minority population they publish a resolution announcing how those new zones will look and so we're wanting to move that to a hundred twenty days so that candidates for office have at least thirty days to renew those new zones and then father petitions to run for office and that's essentially my understanding of the bill and there's a more technical questions I asked Lucas to chime in. Okay. The the only other thing is that there was a question regarding when this would have to take place because as it currently reads it was the second annual school board election following the census. The census actually ended prior to last year's fall school board elections so it was there's a question as to whether or not that you're counted so we're changing it to be the annual school election held on the second year after the census to make sure that regardless of whether it's a spring or fall election cycle it would be for next year's elections. Okay. Other questions. No questions from the committee all right anyone here to speak for against House Bill fifteen forty. I have nobody signed up all right you're recognized to close for your bill I'm close ma'am chair and I move to pass okay motion do pass there's a second all those in favor say aye opposed Is habit congratulations you've passed your bill senator Sturch are you doing Senate bill five twenty four okay you're recognized the Senate bill five twenty four thank you for being with us today. Thank you ma'am chairman would you mind if the miss Courtney from eighty coming up that's fine. Senator Leding believe tax senator Davis letter notes you can come and run her bill house bill ten twenty one. Senate. Okay if you say your names for the record you may proceed court a solace for to the department of education. James Sturch state senator district nineteen. Thank you mention thank you committee colleagues I want to just going to give the ten thousand foot view first that right now I'm code school districts that receive or that have more than five percent minority student population have to develop a teacher of minority teacher recruitment and retention plan with emphasis on recruiting certain aspects and I'm wanting to Braun that kind of going along with what we've already talked about today to all races and ethnicities you may ask will have a school districts is applying to right now there's only twenty four out of the two hundred and thirty some odd school districts that are not doing this plan I'm asking all schools do this plan all schools have a minority recruitment and retention teacher plan instead of every ten years then within that very few updates if any I'm asking that it be in line with what we've been doing in the past that it be a plan that is submitted every three years with updates on how they're working within their school district as well as recruiting others at teachers to come to their school districts so as we mentioned with the doctor teachers license and things what I'm wanting to make sure is the best thing that can happen to a student is to have a teacher that they can relate to and that looks like them and that they say is passion about the same things that they're passionate about and so that's essentially within the aspect of this bill is if you things that you'll see as far as set a new requirement that we work with teacher prep programs as well we give some leeway with the Department of higher education to make sure that within the teacher prep programs this is also being emphasized and like I said I'll give you that ten thousand foot unit there's any questions I'd be glad to answer them but this is essentially my way of trying to provide another remedy to address the teacher shortage in Arkansas improve recruitment and retention across our state. Okay are there any questions regarding the bill. Senator Elliot you're recognized for a question. So I have it but as I read this is the increasing the diversity period Is it I'm at that that is correct right before I go any further it's it's we're not going to I know you said we're going to expand that which I think is a good idea to just have a plan well that plan and then just necessarily show whether or not I made any of positivity him soar to make sure that I Concentrated on making and getting a diversity a diverse population there as teachers that still going to be a part of that report yes ma'am and so that's just that's in the on page two in that first part there's yes replied I'm trying and so I'd be all minority races and ethnicities that reflect the student population within that school as to what what better way for the queen to have a Hispanic teacher teaching are you know and as Northwest Arkansas what better way to have a Marshallese teacher teaching and so that would reflect all I said races and ethnicities that are reflective of the student population yeah yes I know I I I think this really good that is opened up because I think one thing that we really need to think think about as well I mentioned my decision to choose a school purposely because there was nobody there who look like me but one of the things I realized also how important it was for the kids who didn't want me to have somebody who looks like me for teacher just because that's what the real world is but I absolutely do think that you know the the biggest emphasis needs to be on that person that is but I don't everyone of that I had never thought about this in the way I should I said never thought about what it would need for those kids not to go out into the world and never have had a teacher who is of any other of any other color other than than than white so I think that's a really good thing thank you. Thank you are there other questions members of the committee. All right C. nine is there anyone here to speak for against this bill. Are you scared to speak for the bill yes ma'am please come for. That's correct sorry I see you now. The flaming yes thank you thank you Carol was gonna say I did sign up I know I apologize we have we have two different we have two different sign up sheets that are it is quite all right to the procedure that we're trying to follow her and I'm going to be very brief not even touch upon everything that's here because it is getting late into the afternoon so I am Carol Fleming I am a speech language pathologist currently serving as president of the Arkansas education association. I want to thank Senator Sturch for bringing for this bill this is a very important bill as we've even heard with Fifteen ninety four house bill fifty ninety four it's so important for our students to see educators who look like educator who look like them and also reflect their cultural diversity so many of our school districts do not have Teachers that look like they're students and have had their same life experiences and that is so important and this bill will actually open the pathway for that and hopefully also increase the pathway for our classified staff to move to become certified teachers as well as our certified teachers becoming administrators and that we will be increasing our diversity across our state and so for that reason the ATA supports this bill and we hope that you will too thank you thank you are there any questions thank you appreciate you being here in support of the bill and Senator Sturch you're recognized close for your bill and chairman I'm closed and moved to pass all right mission to pass their second second all those in favor say aye and oppose ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill all rights are there any other bills at center Davis is here and I have one last bill. Senator Davis is going to present HB ten twenty one. Thank you madam chair members of the committee. This bill it just creates a scholarship fund for first year medical students so those that finish their undergraduate degree in twenty four months and have the opportunity to receive a one time thirty thousand dollar scholarship after they complete their first year medical school and students to finish their undergrad in thirty six months have an opportunity to receive fifteen thousand dollars in scholarship one time money and it will be first come first serve basis so if there's too many people applying for the scholarship for some reason ninety first come first serve but there is a specific fund that will guide you and within the Department of higher ed and it will also allow for private contributions if people want to get that will go specifically to those med students who are moving quickly through their undergraduate process. Okay are there any questions Senator I'm sorry I Senator Chesterfield and Senator English. Thank you madam chair Senator Davis how many undergrads finishing twenty former I mean just not many they think it'll be less than five I mean and that's why we want to have an amended it to include thirty six months and seven oh seven graduated four years. So when I giving them anything. This is to help address the shortage of doctors that we have in the state and say this is just for people who want to complete their undergraduate quickly and then get into medical school so this is sort of I guess incentivizing early yet so that means going twelve months a year instead of a nine year he in order to get this done a taking someone got a number of hours well or it could include concurrent credit in high school to let it Inc cutting cleared them taking concurrent credit in high school I understand that there are so many school districts that I'm finding unfortunately that I'm not doing that I'm just trying to figure out how we do this and those kids who have to struggle alone for years what's there for them is there a scholarship available to them. I can't speak to that specifically but I do I'm sure there are maybe other medical school scholarships available this is just stepped address specifically the ones that move through quickly masco. Yes the Department fiery how many do this yes I can come forward Department of higher and he'll come forward and you can. There are not many scholarships for medical students I can assure you that Maria Markham Division of higher ed and no we we do not currently have any scholarships for medical students and state to this would be the one and only for in state students we don't collect data on house how quickly students graduate but we can tell you from our other scholarship in programs we're seeing more and more students complete during their sophomore junior year of college and the need to pro rate our other academic challenge taught scholarships because of those early completions has really started to accelerate so we we're gonna be coming to you probably this session with another small tweak to academic challenge to allow us to pro rate during the sophomore year we have kids that came in with a bunch of concurrent credit classes they went during the summer they took eighteen twenty one hours during the fall or spring and they're completing their undergraduate degree much more quickly than we've seen in the past so I don't have a you know account for you but I can tell you this happening I guess I would ask this year what the department is. The form of a I would ask that we do a better job of making sure every councillor. Is making sure our every superintendent is making sure the concurrent credits are available and I know they're supposed to be but I'm finding too many especially in the county that don't have the opportunity to take a current credit so what are we doing and I'm not opposed to bill by any means but I'm just trying to figure out what it is we are doing so that a lot of a lot more children know about concurrent credits I went and did you know how they have the legislator in the classroom thing that John within make fools of ourselves as we go and visit and I kept asking are you taking concurrent credits and they were looking at me strangely. Now something's wrong with all of the keystone on that and that's that's my major concern and I would not ask anymore it's late in the evening I just wanted to express my concern. Thank you. Thank you I mean at yeah I mean it's odd to me I guess that we're you know it's it's only for those those individuals that are completing their education their undergraduate education early because. Because there's a lot of kids that would. I have four years of I would well I would hope that we would be able to open it up to see the kids that go for four years through. Undergraduates to also be able to be eligible. it was there any I mean is there any reason behind why I still have you I'm so sorry Senator English I come to you next go ahead Senator Davis there is a reason on that last page you'll see that and people are able to contribute make private at contributions to this first year medical scholarship fund and there are and doctors and retired otherwise around the state that are very interested in seeing us and. Page two incentivize kids to graduate early so they can get out of med school and start practicing sooner and so there are people who want to make private contributions but specifically to kids who you are focused and targeted and and finishing quicker than the four years so there is a specific reason for it and that would be it okay thank you for the answer Senator English you're recognized so the dollars are coming from. Folks outside of state government or out of our scholarship things kind of like about your program contributing money to a fund that the state has set up they can so it will be a mix and I know doctor cloud representative Dr clout as work some with department of higher and doctor mark and she see if there are any one time monies available with an apartment fire and so I don't know if she can speak to that a little bit more and but there will be opportunity for that private citizens to contribute if they fight in it be specifically for those students right now there are no dollars set aside for a scholarship not right now that we're hoping more dollars will come in from outside actually if you can come back I have another question sorry that that way she can help you get the answer just. From the department of higher at. At the way that it's set up now there would be an appropriation and are hired scholarships grants fund account but there's it's not budgeted so we wouldn't have any funds to support this until there was either additional funds dedicated from general revenue or if there was a proper contributions made. Okay thank you all right Senator Sturch and then center Chesterfield. Thank you ma'am chair Dr Martin that was my question was how much money we have in the higher it grants counter what many comes into it or is it one of those things we have to prioritize which one comes in which as far as is it different multiple scholarships being painted all of our scholarships come from that fund okay okay so that with the exception of the lottery right yeah so do we have then do you have a hierarchy then is which scholarships you have to pay for services going creating trouble for you as far as. Well we don't add a new scholarship until there's a diff additional dollars so we we maintain have a maintenance level of funding for all of the and the scholarships that we find now and we we can't allow any growth in those scholarships or at any new scholarships until we have additional revenue catches so that like on page three line to it just says subject to availability of funds you shall disburse that's what you're saying is you have a hierarchy already set up which scholarships have to be paid what amounts have to be kept and if you have additional money ask for this you could pay it out of that right which we request for money every year don't get me wrong. To add an improved the the reach of the scholarships that we have now and also for these types of things whenever we see a new scholarship that has appropriation we would like to find catch and are you anticipating any grants or is there any other states that do something like this where national foundations contribute to it or anything like that or is it just something you're going to have to ask for general revenue at some point thank you it could happen either way so we have account set up where we can take contributions if if someone wanted to dedicate dollars specific to this that are with his medical schools what it yeah absolutely. Thank you Mr yeah Senator Elliot and senator Chesterfield thank you I'm so Dr Markham is that is there if I make a contribution is not a tax one for me or not if I make a contribution to the fund I'm certain it would be okay. G. the second thing we talked about if he had available funds what would you anticipate that if you have enough funds you would. Maybe contribute more to the scholarship or would you anticipate having extra funds from what source what because we're just so stingy with to hire it I'm just trying to figure out what would money be well we don't receive any additional funds in less it's part of our essay so we've had stable funding for grants and scholarships for quite some time we also get a little bit of money from ETF that flows into our grants and scholarships account and we have an account for private Kerr Education to protection fund that when it gets to a certain level the overflow starts going to agree to fund the account of but it's been very stable for the last several years we haven't seen a big you know anything that would change enough for us to add another scholarship so I'm at some point these additional scholarships to get added are going to have to have general revenue dedicated to the scholarships work an external thanks for I'm sorry pardon me with R. A. R. future. We we ended up I'm not just an extra money but there was money there there's a lot of there's quite a bit of money that we have not spent because of the demand is that correct that's something like that could possibly a possibility and the last question and maybe just a something I want us to think about no matter how good a program sounds and how great it is and I think this is very helpful because I'm looking at everything to of lands of equity and I think we stop and think about this through the lens of equity we'll find some more things to think about because it starts with the equity. State senator Chesterfield talked about you doing a good thing here at the top but if if we need to think about equity through out our systems and what the impact is at the other end so I can I can see us Maybe you the student who. You you have to work and you can't just go right through and you can't be that person who will get the scholarship because life just wasn't as equitable view was that one who's gonna get scholarship doesn't mean that person shouldn't have that. But I think equity would require us to think more deeply about how to more people get you know get some advantage of getting through school and then be then able to you know get to med school because it is prohibitive so I just always back a busted everything we did apply that lens and see if it informs us at all. All right senator Chesterfield had a question. Thank you madam chair as I look at the and I appreciate the effort that we're dealing with to try to increase the number of doctors that we have. Because all the bills that were having having individuals who are A. peons and others doing a lot of work in the case and we have a shortage but I am just wondering of of the of Senator Davis why not why would it not be thirty. Twenty fifteen or something like that so that we reward those people do go through the four years is there any thought adding that. And I know you're incentivizing the young people to finish as quickly as possible. But those who may have to work all right lord justice already you know if if if I have to work every summer in order to pay for myself to go to school then I'm not gonna get this scholarship and yet I might make a great doctor easier thought to just adding some money there for that for your person. And I think that's something I'm happy to discuss with representative cloud and he is you know put a lot of time and effort into this and to again just look at incentivising people who finish center I don't disagree with your points or center Elliots points at all I worked at least three jobs all the way through college now to take a year off and to work just to complete and pay my bills for school so I certainly understand and what you're saying where you're coming from on it and just I know the focus on this was very specific to advise people to complete as quickly as possible and I get that but I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to help some folks may not be able to do it quite as quickly but do it as well if not better yes I was just wondering if we could just change the numbers eight thirty twenty fifteen so that that fourth year person that person this really works fine in this state would be eligible for scholarship I would allow him or her to go to a school of medicine thank you thank you can I say one more thing about the bill I'm not I'm speaking on the bill I guess not for against but and when I talked to representative plowed about the intent part of it was for students to get out in two to three years they've they've gone into their pocket quite a bit for summer and additional classes that our state scholarships didn't cover so this was going to also be a way to reimburse them some of their out of pocket expenses if you go four years in your scholarship the highway you may not have had the out of pocket so I know that was part of his logic for the expedited path no I I appreciate that I mean I I do appreciate that I just and I think that's a great intention and I understand that completely I think what senator Davis just outlined about her own personal situation where you have to set a semester out or you have because you can't pay the tuition or you can't pay that bill or you have to work I wouldn't want to deny. A a kid a scholarship and if we're going to start making a scholarship for medical students then I kind of feel like it needs to be included maybe we can prioritize under his original intention but also then to also allow for that fourth year **** grows because then you would have to come back in a minute anyway if we wanted to do that right in the future so I don't know I mean I just to me and my question also to you we did have scholarships for and medical students that would go into rule Arkansas to practice medicine so can you just just we and we did away with that. But I can't really do that that that was administered through UAMS for those scholarships for students I believe it was long repayment I get really worry payment. Yes that was that not something that higher ed administered but that was something that we have on the books that it ended because of it was no it when funded is that correct. Separate that predates me I'm sorry okay. Is there anybody in the room that can answer that question. At the lower payment still exists but. That that's different they're they're two different ones there are no there are there are loan repayments type situations that are entered into with the medical student in the community but there was also an additional just generalized one through UAMS that was a loner payment if you went and practice and role Arkansas and that is no longer was funded. And so that's that that's what I'm saying is a problem because I because what you're saying is a contractual basis that's completely different than what I'm talking about and what this would increase start to create is like a fair process that would be applicables to all medical students and that one was dependent upon you going and practicing the medicals and rule Arkansas this one is just specific so. Anyway thank you at senator Beckham and then Senator Sturch. Windu was the clocks are ticking. For for the scholarship. If you take concurrent credits. It would believe that the the way the bill phrases that it would be after they matriculated so after they have completed high school they first enrolls a postsecondary. Student. So the time you spend in High School do concurrent work doesn't count toward the clock. Okay. Senator Sturch. Thank you Muintir senator Davis I don't mean to do this to you because it happened to me and it hurts it hurts. Would you mind if you got with the representative clown and kind of see if he might be agreeable to any amendments or anything to address some of our concerns and maybe hold off until our meeting next Monday and that gives you enough time we may be on spring break but I don't think the staff is so I think they'll be helping him within minutes and things like that that places the body this is my question. Yeah I'm happy to do that and I and I know a little bit of what he might say just but the people involved that want to come and contribute privately they may have and little or no incentive to contribute and that's where most the funds will be coming from and I'm okay with that and I will pull this down and talk to him and I'm happy to do so. Senate I'm sorry senator Elliots and senator Beckham. What what will get in things clarified I it's not clear to me what this is going to sound a first grade great question but what does first come first serve need the how do we operationalize first come first serve limits on here for supplies for it okay so whoever's applications are in first I think that's really important to be clarified because a lot of ways and disappeared again is that the first person who showed up who had the best grade point average of about I think that really should be should be clarified what we're at this and that we're talking about the loans and so forth I know that a doctor's when we stop doing it they moved they refuse to go these communities because they couldn't afford to live in the communities and we changed it to something even more in equitable to say well if you can afford to pay the doctors on that they're going to come to that community maybe before if you're in a community where you can't afford that that's why that what that state does is so so so important because we made a bad thing worse time so we need to try to do something but all right. All right thank you mention thank you Senator back on. The couple questions actually There's there seems to be a lot of uh focus on people wanting to contribute in this very specific circumstances trying to achieve is this a way of moving. Private funds tax free into a scholarship for individuals that may or may not be related to donors. M. I don't that not to my knowledge and to my knowledge there are retired doctors that are worried about and the doctor shortage in the middle community medical community in our state and they're just looking for a way and to put their money to what they think is good use and you know focus on kids who are targeted and focused and at an early age it may be getting some current credits getting through their undergrad quickly and getting out on the field graduating medical school so to my knowledge that is not the case at all it's just an a group of people that are interested in seeing something like this they can contribute to so they be opposed to starting this and twelve months with the students of start. Their secondary education in twelve months. At you mean what I'm sorry what do you mean by that not including students are currently enrolled in post secondary education L.. I don't want to speak on behalf of them that sure that would be fine if that's what we need to do. Yeah. Right thirty one I got I had just take it and I'm happy to pull it down and and bring it back next week okay thank you thank you all right we have one last bill. Senator Elliot we take the chair. Senator you're recognized thank you members of the Senate bill five oh four and it does have a ten million dollar impact and I'll say that right now but I think it's an important ten million dollars what this bill does is it concerns the foundation funding aid to create the teacher salary equity equalization funds I'm not going to read the findings of this but I would point out that according to the late fees school district case there were The Supreme Court identified the following two historical deficiencies of educational funding that was teacher salaries that are not compatible to surrounding states and disparities in teacher salaries within this state so what this bill does And through the formula that has been created and worked out through the department of education and you'll see that on your fiscal impact statement that what this does is intended to help school districts meets that need that average teacher salaries so that we can raise teacher salaries to me that average and that's incredibly important to keep up the pace with our surrounding states I want to thank the education House Committee and Senate Committee on Education for the work they did in the twenty twenty adequacy study and that was presented and this recommendation is keeping in line with the adequacy report and recommendation as well as the surveys from principals and superintendents it's very difficult to offer competitive salaries in order to retain and keep our teachers in recruitment and so what this bill does is at creates the opportunity to close that gap and on page two of the bill in lines five through nine describes where we are in that gap between the highest average salary at to the lowest average salaries there's a twenty one thousand dollar at three hundred eighty five dollars a gap there and so what this does is try to help those school districts and trying to close that gap and reach our average teacher salary as far as the technical components of how we achieve this I can referred to the department of education I'm Secretary Kita come up if you would like and have questions in regards to the mechanics behind this but it's. it is based on a pay out per student of a hundred eighty five dollars and at the funding that's already dedicated to the enhanced salary it takes that fifteen million M. S. and then as than ten million comes from the public school fund to reach the twenty five million dollar price tag that this bill would create. Thank you senator Ninety members have a question for senator Orrin senator Bank Commissioner for hand you just doing fingers okay anybody have a question all right so are you speaking here to speak for against the bill you have a question some stars let's get the questions first and then we'll come so imagine not that's okay not ready for center and I was when I ask the Department okay all right yes you want Secretary key or somebody from Jersey from Jesse. Okay. A man who shows up with his own chair that's progress. All right. Thank you department education you're recognized. Thank you ma'am chair see to keep this a little different than what we've done in the past used to we would do just minimum teacher salary levels we've talked about doing steps in the past minimum steps you know this then is basing it on an average that I gather that we'll get to change as far as advocacy committee later that would be my first question is then on the average salary portion. How are we dealing with school districts who may have just now be getting to the bill passed requirements for minimum and now we have a new requirement then to get it how do they how do those two things work together sure thank you for the question so you know the governor asked me back in fall two and and our team to put together a plan you know he said you have referred to The first part of his term he was looking for ways to increase minimum teacher salary but he wanted to make a difference in going into this session on the average teacher salary looking for a way to do that and so we looked at what the NEA the national education association puts out in their national reports that's what we all are uses and it looking at the reports on teacher salary from that because see process the last several years we determine that. In order to really make the difference it's not just a tackling the minimum that we need to do we were tackling the minimum but so were the surrounding states and we were continuing to get behind so looking at how we target the average of what we do what have we done in the past we wanted to target something when we wanted to target the students that we're we're living in poverty we created the formally in SL now the essay looking at that same concept of too to drive more funding directly toward salaries looking at creating a a new categorical fund which is what this does and it doesn't create a a requirement for districts to hit a certain minimum what it does it step it sets a state target average and trying to get money into the system through this new categorical fund to help districts achieve that target or work toward that target but we also expect that that target will and language in the bill provides for that that you all sitting in the ACSI process would determine periodically windows that target the to shift do we need to remove that up every two years or at whatever discretion and the data show that to you all would make that decision on so it's not a requirement for districts it actually helps them one to continue to have a certain stream of money that will come in to help them as they are still catching up with the the the cliffs that the superintendents laws you're going to talk about that the the action in the last session created but we also knew then that we would have to come back and create some revenue stream to make up those cliffs so that with ongoing revenues would match the demands of the of the salaries. So then I guess let me ask you this way there's another bill or maybe there's more discussion about like I said if a school district wanted to do three and four you know we're in for your process right now for school district one two three and four just fill their obligations under the pass legislation are they then eligible for this if there's if this does not mean this new average but they still bills within for this multiplying a hundred eighty five dollars and then for how long are what discretion is given to schools as far as you can do this all at once you can do this over the years because that was another problem we got into last time was we didn't really give um and at guidelines as far as you do it once a year you could in it we just left left up to them and then we had some school districts really some mine con means saying now there's no money and we did our job we got there fast and now we're stuck with it and so that's why I don't want to get into another issue where they hurry they do their job and then office and they're stuck with how how much guidance can we give us far as base the past requirements to these new requirement well we tried to keep the bill as simple as as possible so that you any time you create guidance there's no district one district that looks the same as the district down the road I mean just so many very variations in the inputs of what goes into their salary structure but what we do have is flexibility that yes they can if if but they're gonna have to look at those those numbers and we're happy to work with them to look at their situation and if it makes sense for them to a xcelerated to the adoption of the new minimum salary that the thirty six thousand dollars that would be in the the your for then they have the flexibility to do that they do have to be cautious so that they don't to over commit themselves and at the same time but if the if it works better for them to to seek to accelerate that in year one I would. Should be FY twenty two and then that would make them eligible in year in FY twenty three for this funding yeah that's something that they can do okay thank you mentioned sorry take up so much time all right of the other questions. I'm I have a question about how. We are is it specifically if you are a border city not thank you the next one in from a border city school district. Thank you do you understand what I'm saying aye aye numbers city is in like Texas tech. Yeah yes there's there's nothing in here that that would that would impact anything like that no okay all right okay good deal is there anybody else anybody else have a question if not I will go to people who want to speak for and against the bill. Thank you Secretary key and this point you're recognized for your comment. Thank you madam chair good afternoon committee. I'm Carol Fleming a speech language pathologist president of the Arkansas education association and I can't tell you how much more proud I am to be sitting here at this table with the presentation of this bill. Thank you to Senator Irvin for bringing the bill I want to thank the education adequacy committee for the work that they've done over the past two years regarding this as well as the work of the department in the collaborative efforts to be able to improve this proposal that you have been given today. You know we hear that it's really important for us to recruit and retain quality educators in our state and this is one of the bill that will actually allow us to be able to do that because we do lose our educators to our surrounding states but we also lose educators in our school districts to surrounding school districts because of the disparity that we have not just with our surrounding states or in the southern region but also between districts throughout our state and this bill is going to be able to allow us to work on that disparity and to ensure that we have quality educators that are being recruited and staying within our school district. The other thing that I want to point out. Is that I would be remiss if I did not recognize the critical role that are education support personnel play in ensuring that our students are transported to and from school every day that our schools are clean and safe and that our students are well fed and supported so I ask the committee to support Senate bill five oh four and take on the task of supporting an effort to boost the pay of all public school employees thank you. Thank you all right thank you everybody have any questions of I miss one. If not it anybody else wanna speak for against the bill if not sooner but you're recognized to close thank you members of the committee again for your work that you did with adequacy reports and thank you Miss looming for that for that statement of support her point is well taken when it talks about when she says that we're losing teachers to school districts within the state of Arkansas and that particularly as a problem for rule Arkansas because teachers can go and make a lot more and some of these other school districts and then you're not able to provide the same level of courses as well particularly in a P. curriculum and some of the other opportunities that are denied to a rule kids because we just don't have the expertise and the teachers that we need in order to provide that level of an in person classes it's really hard to take and a and a P. at class in physics for instance online it or some of your higher calculus for instance is really hard to take virtually it's if it's so important so I just wanna thank you and I hope I will move to pass all right the motion to I do pass their second. You have I'm sorry do you have a question okay second there's a second by Senator Beckham all those in favor all right. All those opposed no. Congratulations your bill passes. What will come in coming back it members this is a pretty simple thing I think representative Godfrey's Bill save recognized that there needs to be an amendment placed on that bill and what she's asking and I'm asking to be happy to expunge the vote by which that bill passed so that we can keep it here and make the amendment on the bill in this committee rather than going back and forth back and forth is that clear to everybody so I'll senator Elliots going to make a motion yes fun yeah of a response the vote by which which the board on house bill fourteen fifty one passed house bill fourteen fifty one pass all those in favor senator Elliots motion say aye. And oppose ayes have it I have that that motion passes and that bill's passage expunge so we'll keep that bill in the committee for purpose of amendment all right thank you all right members before we go I know it's been a really long day back can I just please get away picks UP. Please come. Waiting for making it to the Sweet Sixteen. On the table for comes Musselman I'm loving it let's go.