Education Committee- House

and I'm gonna move representative Scott to the top and then we'll run the next one of the doctor may need to testify for both so she can get back to work if that's okay with anybody objections that sin no objection represent Scott you are recognized to take the of the table and if doctor may go testify you she is recognized come up to. We have. Dr Mary if of it when she starts we will recognize yourself in both the all recognized to present. Good morning Jamie Scott. Good morning I'm Cheryl may on the director of the criminal justice institute in the Arkansas center for school safety. House Bill fifteenth ten AM instalacija Institute a memorandum of understanding between school district board of directors in law enforcement concerning the jurisdiction policies and procedures of school resource officers this bill also requires that school resource officers within eighteen months of being hired complete a forty four Complete a forty four basic school resource officer program that will be developed by the Arkansas center of school safety this email you will prove promote coordination between school district board of directors and law enforcement to established financial responsibility chain of command selection evaluation and further training requirements for school resource officers and I'm going to let doctor may talk about the overall big picture of it correct thank you a representative Scott this particular bill and another bill that's going to come up this morning fifteen forty nine is a product of a tremendous amount of work done by a lot of individuals if you all remember following the parkland shooting and several years ago our governor Aissa Hutchinson and. Did an executive order to form of the Arkansas school safety commission because he wanted us to be able to look at where our schools are what we're doing what are best practices and how we can improve the state of school safety across our schools in this state I was very honored to have been the chair of that commission and once we developed our thirty recommendations the governor wanted to see how many of our school districts actually implemented those thirty recommendations on their so we gave it a little while and then I in late twenty nineteen he asked me to do an assessment survey are based on where our schools are with respect to the commission's thirty recommendations and so I together with that safe schools committee chiefs and sheriffs mental health professionals we've developed a a hundred six question survey that was very specific thanks to the work of Dr Pfeffer we were able to get a ninety seven response percent response rate for school district so we're very confident that these results are representative of our schools as a whole and then we started the governor and I started looking at well where are the gaps based in these recommendations and so one of the one of the key issues that emerged was our school resource officers off anybody knows me they know that I'm a champion for school resource officers I think SROs or a tremendous asset to our schools and most importantly our kids if they are if programs are implemented appropriately a resource officers or there to mentor students to provide guidance for them as well as to protect them but they're also there to provide prevention. education and so when you talk about SROs it boils it down to a triad concept but oftentimes schools don't necessarily implement their programs the way they should and so we identified several things that we thought and very grateful for representative Scott and the other co sponsors of this bill to carry it but we felt that forty hours of basic training that would include a variety of different key elements and that training would be required for school resource officers that are. There during the day during the instructional day we wanted to make sure that those officers who primarily function to travel with the schools on sporting events but they're not during the day wouldn't have to meet these requirements in addition to the forty hour basic SRO class if and if an SRO hadn't had. Basic SRO within the past five years a lot has changed they'll be required to have twelve of a sixteen hour refresher course and then every year school resource officers will be required to have. Twelve hours of continuing ad specifically in school safety one of the things that was very paramount during our discussions with the commission what is the Overall evaluation that CDC centers for disease control does a hi at risk youth surveillance system and basically what it showed is that a lot of our kids are having some mental health and substance abuse issues that we ranked extremely high and some of these categories I can list them for you but unfortunately it's a very very long last therefore we felt that providing some sort of mental health support being able to identify children that are at risk of a mental health crisis and being able to intervene prior to the potential not only for violence against someone else but violence against themselves out because of that we also were requiring a school resource officers to provide youth mental health first air to become youth mental health first aid cert and that'll give them tools that they can I have a tremendous impact on our kids and that summarizes that the key elements of the of the bill and I'll answer any questions that anyone House. Reserve Lowery you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr. Dr thank you for being here today it if you remember when the joint performance review a couple years back conducted the hearings that Senator Irvin I choose meetings one of the discussions Senator around this last piece that you were talking about students with mental health issues and and a possible drug the drug interactions and one of the issues that came up were that SROs the student the school resource officers did not have access to that data. On students has that changed nope no Sir if it hadn't so they still will not be able to access of the students that are are are at risk so they that so that they could intervene well they interact a lot with that the students one on one and and from what I understand and I'm not have a school resource officer but what I've heard a lot of them say is that they they do interact quite a bit with the individual kids and and the kids to share things with them so they are aware of some of the potential issues that our that our kids are facing but I think Sir what you're referring to are there are management software programs out there that some have advocated ought to be used to to better identify at risk kids this particular legislation doesn't focus doesn't include that follow please recognize. Has there been resistance. To us adding that piece of to either this legislation or other legislation it hasn't B. and discuss to with a great deal of five of emphasis might by any stretch of the imagination this was an attempt to look at all the gaps and deficiencies in our schools implementing those those thirty recommendations and focus on what we thought were that were the key priorities and collectively as a group through you know collaboration with that see desi safe schools committee and all the other partners that I reached out to this represents a general consensus of what we all felt very comfortable with. Okay all right thank you thank you Mister rectified you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair. I thank you for bringing us this to us this morning I'm wondering the forty hours of training for basic school officer resource officers could that be done online is that an inverse owner had is that work well currently it is it is not online and we have started to look at a variety of different strategies that we can offer that forty hour class there are some elements that the instructor's of the classical very strongly that by having all the SROs together in a room that there's a certain degree of networking and relationship building that they do when they do rely on each other I mean there's a phenomenal network of school resource officers in our state that that may be potentially lost if the program was substantially done online so we began working in delivering the course we've got one coming up here within the next couple of weeks where instead of it being for can forty continuous hours we broke it up into one eight hour class. Over a period of five months so that school resource officer would only be away for their school one day a month in order to still achieve the forty hours necessary. Rison speaks recognized. Thank you Mr chair. Building on what she was asking you I was curious what is this going to cost them or who is paying for the strain. That's the excellent question the Arkansas center for school safety that does these is under the criminal justice institute umbrella and we received an appropriation last legislative session to provide these resource is not only for the law enforcement in schools but also any educational staff as it relates to school safety so it will be free ma'am thank you. Represent back you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair. My my questions concerning the training itself I understand that there are certain students that have challenges disabilities that if you approach them in the wrong way you could really as collective situation my question is is is this is training addressed that issue so these resource officers would not approach someone that might possibly and they might escalate the situation not knowingly as yes the escalation is that is a part of of what we do teach them as part of the poor forty hour class. The follow up. In the deceased but mine is more on. Students that have special challenges that said are you know there's certainly I don't know how the but I know there's several ways to approach him so would you don't approach them because you can actually make the situation more threatening to allow yes Sir now I completely understand my apologies one of the key components that we focus on I does deal with children with special needs and we focus a lot on children with autism that have the autism spectrum disorder and it's extremely well received the SROs really are greatly appreciative for that specific information. Representative McKenzie. Thank you Mr chair. I've been getting mixed feedback from my districts some very supportive of this some I have some concerns and some saying we think this is a good idea but. A lot of control to to the state here so my first thought is is there any reason why we fight we have to say all the specifics and you'd be required to do all these as opposed to here's a blueprint of what we think the best practices are but not every single detail this maybe should be. Custom fit to each school what the these particular items are ask you mentioned ma'am these particular items are all included in the best practices that that that the commission put forward and these also are elements that we normally include because they are critically important in training and the school resource officer if you look at the S. R. O. programs and the curricula across the country these are. Critical elements in in in most of them we added I think we added Trauma informed response to our kids which which makes our curriculum a little bit unusual but I think that it's critically important once again because of the the mental health status that some of the studies are indicating that we do have a lot of kids that I have experienced trauma not necessarily in schools but but in there but in their home life and so we felt in order to better address our student population that that the SROs should also have some some information about how to how to respond to children who were traumatized. Thank you I know you mentioned cost and then be free to the school district of course with that may I have an appropriation for could you let me know what that figure is pretty much what we estimate the cost will be just curious. Well I think each class is going to cost us somewhere around five or six thousand dollars it's a week long class but we have a wide variety of different instructors that come in and they have areas of expertise and we choose the the the instructors that are best for that particular topic. Representative got for you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair and my question is similar to representative backs question I'm wondering if you're training also includes and cultural competence training for officers for students of diverse cultural language backgrounds yes ma'am it does thank you. Russian Lowery recognize you. Thank you Mr and I am assuming I I probably know the answer this question but I wanted to make sure you were talking about students who who have experienced trauma whether it was in the past or whether it's happening currently yes Law enforcement typically and we still are looking at school resource officers as law enforcement correct are correct law enforcement typically are mandated reporter yes Sir would they still be mandated reporters in this not changing anything that has to do with their how they implement their law enforcement capacity okay so if they if they interact in interacting with the students were able to detect that they are experiencing abuse at home they said they would be a mandated reporter on that yes Sir nothing has changed okay thank you thank you Mr. All right seeing no other questions from committee. there's no one signed up to speak for or against your bill so we'll go to the audience is very one like speak against the bill. For the bill. You look close close close all right we're closed what's will committee. I have a motion do pass. By the discussion on the motion. Seeing none all those of favour say aye. Any opposed no. Regulations your past your bill thank you thank you John I'm going to come to the table I have a. Another school safety bill and Dr Mary if you display stay there if you want to fill alternates over to my last year the such a great job when I'm not here. Represent Cozart when you're ready you are what president house bill fifteen forty nine. Colleague's a House bill fifteen forty nine is an active various provisions to the two thousand fifteen school safety act to establish the Arkansas center of school safety of for the school safety of the criminal justice institute advisory board it for other purposes I have with me again of the doctor of doctor Mary and she is here it should she sent me legislative talking points I'm gonna let her be talking points because that would be a lot easier than me just reading these and I know we're gonna have some questions so we'll get started for my thank you chair thank you all again. Yes I'm I'm Cheryl may I'm the director of the criminal justice institute in the Arkansas center for school safety as I mentioned on the previous bill the commission came up with thirty recommendations we then did at a huge survey as to where the school districts work with respect to implementing these recommendations and then we looked at where the gaps or deficiencies in meeting those recommendations are This bill includes a variety of different elements of first and foremost one of the deficiencies was in the Cooperation with first responders most schools did respond very well to law enforcement but there was less inclusion with firing particularly emergency managers which are both very impart important in an emergency operation plans and particularly audits and so we included language in here that makes it very clear that school should work with law enforcement of fire as well as. emergency managers. We also felt that was critically important that there to elements that they should work together on and one of them was doing a comprehensive school safety assessment that involves not only that the physical surroundings that the surveillance that access but also included them to review their emergency operation plans which are as you know critically important if anything were to happen and also include a school climate in this in this assessment we ask that the schools do comprehensive audits these comprehensive audits every three years. In collaboration with their local first responders we also are requesting that they do lockdown drills the verbiage previously used to be active shooter drills but within the school safety community it's now what that more generally as lockdown drills because these drills can be critically important in other potential threats besides an active shooter on campus. We also wanted to make sure that our schools had floor plans and one of the things that we noticed in our assessment was that there was tremendous resource differences between our urban and rural schools or small versus larger schools and so we tried to come up with compromises that could be equally and provide options for schools to be able to implement for plants it's critically important that this first responders have copies of the floor plans regardless of how those copies are provided to first responders stayed what pro and updated copies of four plants it's really important that the schools update these for plans on a periodic basis so that they are very very accurate then we also have a piece in here that focuses on the Arkansas center for school safety and forming an advisory board and also guarantees that the Arkansas center for school safety is going to work very closely with desi and the secretary of education are also going to work with a variety of key partners if anybody knows anything about me personally you know I the Collaboration is is is at the core that I firmly believe that with resources be in subtype that the more we can collaborate the more we can do together that we can do more together than any of us can do alone so this bill I definitely make sure that the center is collaborating with a variety of of keep partners and then establishes a an advisory board that is gonna function differently then the safe schools committee that's under desi then finally there's also of mental health training requirements in here for for school staff of the first one is requiring youth mental health first aid for all every four years for all school counselors and then there's also another piece to expand mental health awareness primarily for licensed school personnel getting back to the the high percentage of of of our students and school are having of mental health and and substitute use issues and that kind of summarizes. To cut to continue that just a little bit you know this is this bill Ridgely of bacon two thousand fifteen we did the rave panic button and Smart nine one one and ray panic button came together and we we have we actually put that I'll have a Was funded by the state and we we did that and it costs about a million dollars I think first time so we got that out to as many schools not ever school took that and so that that kind of went away after a about three years we got it did get funded again so the rave is in in this bill but is not of this bill we struck all the language of the rave out of this mess Martin on one is still on contract and it the contract comes up every year VOL I'm bringing this out because you all have gotten emails and you're gonna hear some testimony on this I just wanna give you my version of this this in no way promotes rape panic button the schools do not have to do it again if the funding is available they don't have to do that is not that is not part of this bill It I thought it was a good bill there since there's a lot of other things out there that can be done differently and but we do want the main thing is about the geo fencing of the schools need to be have their plants down so that those of those people that come in there know what their what their plan is where the buildings or what's going on so that's one thing it's four nine one one does and most of the schools have that they've had it for years and so that's that's another deal I did like that ninety seven percent of the school did send back the answer this safety questions and stuff so of this group met for nine months I was invited to be at everyone of those meetings I could not make everyone I think I'm one of the meetings in the summer were just crazy and they were everywhere and so I could not make a lot of Senator English might just about everyone of them she was she was are the eyes on for the education a committee to do that so what we are we have been a part of this and is this a great great deal we're trying to make this better safer for our schools and we appreciate everyone's work on it so I'll open it up to. Wishes Mr. Thank you Cozart to represent a vote you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair I'm glad to see that mental health is actually addressed in here something I've been trying to get addressed in our schools for a while and trying to figure out. A way to help our schools with the S. and but with that said is there any kind of training to Pick up on cues of kids who are getting bullied. Because I know that. That play I know that being bullied plays into them having more mental health issues don't misunderstand what I'm saying but R. their queues for teachers to will they be taught cues for to what to look for our counselors taught what to look for for those children who are getting bullied in our schools we we do offer some and Havoline programs all court needed you want to address anything that the division is doing. I just didn't say anything about that particular thing in here. Arkansas is forty. The court a sauce for the Department of Education and there's nothing specific to bullying in this act or this bill but there is in already in statute and six eighteen five fourteen that requires training for school district board of directors as well as district staff and policies and I'm maybe I'll get ahead not I believe the department is working on through Arkansas ideas to make and bullying prevention and awareness trainings available for educators and I and I love all of that I get all of that but we still have a bill of bullying I issue even though we already have all of this in law so we've got to think above and beyond and outside that box because a lot of those kids will be kids who might come to school and do something to somebody else and if we could catch it prior to that I mean I love that it's already in law but being in law are being suggested to do this doesn't always mean that it's getting done and the and that that's what I'm worried about yeah and a again the division is working towards those efforts we also have a and school safety coordinator who's only been in her role for a few months that is working on bringing all of those resources together and sharing that information out you know just a couple weeks ago we made a human trafficking and PT available virtually to educators and so just making sure that they are aware of all of those and getting that out there because we know it just being a law isn't going to solve the issue is making sure educators know about it that they're getting the training and employing implementing that training and so we are working towards that I appreciate that again appreciate you pin something in there for mental health thank you. Representive god for you're recognized for a question thank you Mister chair I got a couple questions if that's okay and first of all and Dr may I couldn't agree more about your comments about collaboration and but I did noticed in the bill that herein are not an explicitly spelled out as stakeholders either as a member on the board or allies and kind of a collaborator I'm from the and from the institute and I'm just wondering if that was an intentional exclusion I know there's that and of this and not large position and it does say additional stakeholders but I do think that parents have such a vital voice in the school safety conversation they have a perspective that's worth including I'm just wondering why they were included yeah well I I think when we discuss that we we specifically focused on the citizen at large. Position for for a potential parent so that that can be a parent but doesn't have to be yes ma'am okay thank you a follow up. My next question and and this is a little bit touching on representive box questions about part of that the safety audit including like you had mentioned school climate and culture do you have particular metrics that you're looking for could bullying be included in one of the metrics of assessing school climate and culture do you have a specific ones that are already determined or can you talk to me a little bit about what you'll be looking for in that audit in regards to to school climate and culture yep my yacht my general understanding is that bullying is a is a vital component of school climate and culture and I don't know if if Courtney wanted to add some additional information to that and I have to apologize I didn't get all of your questions sure it just and as part of the safety audit spelled out in the bill one of the component that's being assessed as school climate and culture so I was just wondering if there are already metrics are components are things that you want schools to audit or sass specific to climb in the culture and if bullying is or could be included as one of those metrics yes so one of the things that our equity assistance unit does at the division is look at school districts discipline policies and if there's anything that could be culturally or racially you know by unintentionally biased and making sure that discipline policies are not being I unintentionally again applied your to a particular race or gender or class I mean you through by looking at their data through our educator effectiveness unit you know we have different types of cultural awareness and cultural competency trainings to making teachers aware of those different things and so I don't want to say there's just one way of doing it we have these multiple lenses and multiple units within the division that are looking at that and so making sure that districts are looking again at their policies at their practices at their educators to make sure that they're culturally aware. that they're creating a safe and accepting environment for all students and that there is nothing that would make a stew student feel unsafe not just physically but mentally emotionally and you know all of those different aspects and an entire safe environment for students thank you thank you for that clarification and into the sponsor the bill thank you for including that metric in a conversation about school safety I think it's important we include and those. Yes those issues and not just the physical space that thank you yes ma'am thank you. President of McKenzie recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair. that was my question is well was on school climate and culture and you answered that pretty detailed I was wondering because this is an independent person or persons we got more than one year on this looking at this on it so we've got somebody coming in and It's going to be any kind of guidelines or there's gonna decide. A man given. Make a decision what kind of climate or culture exists in the school. And report on that executives at work. There's not one person that would be coming in it would be it might be one individual again from outside of the school district who is guiding the work who is leading a district team to look at the culture to look at the and environment both physically and you know as we're talking about mental health emotional needs so it's not it at again one person who's just going to come in and say yes this is good or not it's really about encouraging the district to look at itself to look at its own data its own policies and make the decision collectively I have are they meeting the needs of their students are are there areas for improvement and if I may add. it in the assessment survey close to close to ninety percent of the school said they currently do the audits themselves in House. Thank you for then yeah I've heard similar feedback as well so I see that this audit needs to be conducted by at looks like August of twenty four when an audit is conducted on this probably is in here no I didn't didn't fully get it towards the audit go who is reviewing isn't just for in house review or somebody for the part education reviewing that in making any kind of conclusions whether or not they have passed or met all the requirements so the the bill gives the division I'm rule promulgation authority so you know there will be stakeholder input particularly the desi safe schools committee along with Dr may and CJ I in developing an more fleshing that out more in the rules and but I imagine it'll be a collaborative process between the two entities and making sure that you know certain standards are met and that would districts are identifying those needs and that the appropriate resources are available to them to improve. See no more questions from the committee thank you for your testimony we have a we'll go to the audience we have Doug Bradbury signed up to speak against the bill Bredbury here. Robert if you limited yourself for the record you are recognized to speak against the bill. My name is Doug Bradbury I am the regional sales manager for catapult K. twelve EMS. first of all let me say I'm not here to speak totally against the entire bill I'm here probably to bring more knowledge to. Two what kind of been address this morning I own it. Prior to going to catapult I work for rave mobile safety. I was a solutions architect in my job there was to know the components of all their software to be able to address the issues that is going and answer questions a school district might have regarding that solution for their school as their panic button. While there I was reached out about catapult to come work for them I joined them because their solution. Provides Emergency Management it feels in the gaps that other pending buttons do not have. So in your bill I know she taking up the word panic button but I do have some other concerns again prior to that I was a state school coordinator for the state of Arkansas and also worked with doctor may say school committee and the governor Hutchinson's us at school Commission working with her on that so that's kind of my background first again I do support this legislation for a panic button and I do support a lot of them the items that are outlined with in this bill but I bring up a couple questions in one is I'm against limiting districts to use a certain vendor. Now. Rape is not mentioned in here but Smart nine one one is a rape product. So when rate came into the state of Arkansas and said for the state of Arkansas number one centers to use more on one one. You're alright now requiring a solution that communicates through smart nine one one. Now I could probably go to rave mobile safety and say Hey would you give us access to a secure API for any vendor who would like to. Use your solution and I'm sure that I would probably be turned down by rave mobile safety because the it is a sales up sale you it's an up sell you sell the states with Smart nine one one then you come back later and you say Hey let's do the panic button it communicates with with the Smart nine one one. So I oppose that AS in because what you're doing is you're limiting school districts if funding becomes available and I thought I know the cabbie ought is there if funding is available but we've seen bills passed that says if funding is available and somehow funding becomes available so passing this bill with that language of a Smart nine one one being able to communicate with it in geo fencing is basically coming back and say you have to use a solution that does not meet the needs of certain school districts in the state yesterday I was able to contact seventy of the two hundred and sixty two school districts I'm asking a couple questions do you have a panic button. Fifty point one percent have a panic button. Forty nine point nine percent do not have a panic button. So I said Hey do you do you feel like this state should be able to tell you which vendor you should use I got five yeses the rest and we're not the next question was would you provide your school a panic button it was the if there was funding well we all know what the answer was the answer was majority of ninety seven percent yes they would provide a panic button. So let's kind of break this down I'm not saying all of you an email outlining the page number the line out and numbers of why I feel that this part of the language limit schools. First of all let's talk about talk a little bit about Smart nine one one if I would ask you to raise your hand how many of you in here have a Smart nine one one profile. Smart nine one one has been state I think since two thousand and twelve in a room this size I think I saw two or three. If you do not go in and build a Smart nine one one profile. That's Smart nine one one software cannot pull it up at the nine one one centers on their dashboard providing that information that you provided maybe a health concerns medicine you at your own and things like that. So you're limiting school districts from being able to get a solution that works for them and then you're asking it to communicate with Smart nine one one information that the majority of you do not have in that system. When I went to work for rape and the state decided they would no longer fund a Smart nine one one solution my role changed from solution architect to sales person I was working with the district's acting Hey stay with ray come on with right let's work with rate and we built that and every time I would go out to the coops and speak with them I'd get the same response when my question was how many of you have a smart nine one one profile. So smart I'm one profile is a good solution if you're in a residence and you're at home and you need to make that nine one one call and you're able to populate that information of that person making that call on that dashboard. It would be a good solution for businesses you can provide you know that information for a business. But when you're asking a school to to use a solution that that's one of the things that offers I assure you that when you're in a school district and you have a crisis with that be a medical crisis or an active shoot shooter all locked down. You're not looking to see whether that populate your personal information whether you're a diabetic and you take Matt foreman. You want to get that information out simultaneously to the district personnel nine one one centers and first responders. So. I feel like that that language limits the bail ability of school districts getting Act picking a solution that they could use if you remember in November two thousand eighteen governor Hutchinson set out in our if queue when he decided not to find a panic button anymore and in that R. F. Q.. Companies could respond to it and send they can meet the requirements of that R. F. Q.. Well since that time in November twelfth two thousand and nineteen two thousand and twenty when that state so they would no longer find the panic button school district started looking for solutions that they wanted to meet their needs so you have districts right now that are out there under contract with other solutions and I'm here to say one of those solutions of mine I ain't up to my own horn signed up the largest school district is that of Arkansas one they did not want to continue with rave mobile they wanted something that met their needs that was a comprehensive emergency management solutions that was not just the panic button that sent notifications to the to the personnel. When there was an emergency whether it be active shooter fire tornado medical or whatever so let's talk about geo fencing we talked a little bit about it let me clear up something geo fencing is not the floor plans that doctor may was requesting that be in this bill. Geo fencing is when you can outline your outline your campus detention facility on this screen so that if they panic button a brave panic button is pushed within that geo fencing it will activate that's what geo fencing is doctor may is asking that school districts supplied them with floor plans updated floor plans so that first responders will know the the lay out of that of that building. So G. O. fencing is not the same thing as doing a floor plan that she's requested here's my concern about geo fencing. Geo fencing I because it only allows. That panic button to be act be activated within that outline of that campus. Okay so. We all know those little yellow classrooms that are eight feet wide and they can't they hold about twice as many students the normal classroom and we called in the school bus. If you are you required to geo fence and bill and this bill and it passes. You're saying that a school bus driver who might have an emergency on his bus an emergency at a bus stop. Cannot use the panic button. Because when you push that panic button outside that geo fencing. All it's going to do is let you call nine one one. So what happens you call nine one one and then the bus driver has to make a second call and that second call has to go to that building administrator other supervising them now that there's been an emergency or crisis at a bus stop on a bus. So I will tell you not only the company I work for others we do not G. offense why because we want that bus driver real push that panic button and be able to simultaneously contact first responders nine one one and they're school personnel all on one call. Not limiting it and we all know that when school districts have don't have enough nurses and we see how how many times the bill comes up about of wanting under staffed well we know that in school districts nurses travel from site to site if there was a situation that nurse would be able to activate that panic button it may not be an active shooter it might be medical. She might be having a medical crisis watches on school K. on school time and be able to pass press that panic button contacting her supervisor the district sought safety team and also nine one one at the same time. So in your bill you say that you want to panic button that and that simultaneously notifies only on site personnel. Geo fencing does not require does not allow that. Geo fencing had two purposes when it was created one was to let you know where that panic button was quite close proximity aware that panic button was being activated on school campus two was also there to keep that panic button from being able to function outside that geo fence. Those were the two purposes of of the geo fencing. I think a again I think restocking this language would be able to open up more districts to be able to cheese A solution that fits their needs again you know seventy out I was only able to call seventy of two sixty two school districts yesterday but all of them are imposed to this they want to be able to select a solution that fits their needs. I tell you this today that we and all the other companies out there. It provided dashboard every nine one one center in the state of Arkansas free training to all of this all of the staff members at the nine one one center and we can provide a dashboard to every local law enforcement that's within that jurisdiction of that district. So would you choose Washington County for example if Washington County. Decided that this bill that you decided that you did not he wanted to strike the language within this bill and schools were when the schools have is is in Washington County Washington County nine one once it would have a dashboard and every school district within that county that signed up for our company would be able to see. That information. We also address today bulling now I'm a big. Component of working with people about bowling. When rate gave the state contract They provided the anonymous tip line. For that people could school districts could put out there and people could report anonymous tips on building things like that. Very few the school district's wanted to do it. Very few. I think some of it was because it was the burden of happens to log into one solution to be able to use the panic button and then log into another dashboard to be able to look at the reports of a non this bill not doubling tips there are solutions such as ours that one dashboard does it all. Log in one time you get it all you don't have to do all this logging into logging out logging into their integrated. So. Those are my concerns with that part of the bill. I do have some concerns with other parts of the bill where it states that you know you must use a certain service to provide school safety training I think there a lot of services out there in the state of Arkansas. That provide quality training for school safety I thank Dr may does a great job with our SRO training we when I was with the state we were having people call the state office wanting to know where we stand where we send people to be able to get trained the SRO training. And I'd sent over to doctor maze office that training I think that the desi does a great job with mental health first aid getting a getting teachers trained in staff trained how to be able to to address it but I think that when we use the word in the bill section two four little a little the one section forty number two section three big a when we talk about a clearinghouse for school safety again I think we're limiting school safety don't cookie cut school safety let's look at school safety because it's broad it's bass unless the let's look at other ways that we can provide school safety that meets the district's needs. For people that can go on site don't ask don't ask the people to come to you. You go to them and provide the training to their staff so there are there are great companies in the State of Arkansas that can provide that training and doctor may does a great job but there are a lot of people in this state and need that need a lot of training when it comes to school safety just like anti bull in. So. I will close with that and I'm I'm open to any questions. President allow you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mister chair Mister Weber you. You referenced in an email to me and then also in your testimony that governor Hutchinson it submitted or put out an R. if Q. and twenty twenty nineteen I believe it was that I think I twenty eighteen was what was draft I think the I think somewhere on that date twenty nineteen is when it's not funny yeah okay where your emails at twenty twenty. Several questions on that line. What was the result of that are of queue and did that dictate a state wide solution as opposed to a district by district local control option. The purpose I'm that I can't speak for the governor I will entail that but I believe the purpose of. Of the R. if Q. was for districts to be able to pick a solution that they felt like they could use. Because the state would no longer fund that solution. So since the state was no longer finding the solution the governor was allowing companies who felt like they could meet that our if cute to be a provide those services so it does not require let's go into it it does not even require a company that's not on the list not that's not on that list to be a provide services that was just a general right both request for qualifications it does it limit school districts to choosing just the companies that are on that R. if Q.. But it provides districts the ability to use different vendors. So it was no longer like a sole source okay follows so that so that's where we stand currently is that to the R. F. Q.. The various vendors were identified in school districts have the option. Of going one way that or the other but you seem to indicate that because we have Smart nine one one technology that other vendors are not able to to tie into that cannot integrate into that solution no Sir okay and that's what we're stuck with this Smart nine one you are still you stuck again I'm not here to set smart I won once not great a great solution I mean you should go out there I mean I have I have I was not even aware of someone I one one Intel went to work for right. And in there I can put my profile who I am who I'm married to what kind of car as I drive do I have a dog was members agency shall off all that what kind of medication where what kind of religion drop preferred something happen to me and what hospital do I want to be taken to a and you can add whatever you want to. In that solution Smart nine one one is a great concept for residential. When there's no one else there that can help you. so I'm not putting down Smart nine one one I'm just saying that a panic button should not be have to be limited to going through smart nine one one. If the rate is not going to provide a secure open API for other companies to be able to provide send that information through that's what number one system okay thank you again all set all of our systems integrate with nine one one we just cannot integrate with smart I want one. Representable of you're recognized. Then I'm going to continue with thank you Mr chair I'm going to continue with represent the various line of of of questions so you're saying that this bill requires then the solution go through smart nine one one is that what you're saying if you read the bill the way that it's written it says I solution best be able to integrate with smart nine one one and schools must be geo fence now there is that cabbie ought if funded but we know that when you pass the bill and it becomes law if that funding becomes available then that law is enforced okay and Did you go and speak with the to the sponsor with of the bill to address the card to try to get these concerns addressed I have addressed the. Representative Cozart I sent in the email that I sent you guys emails. Okay women the sentiment email I'm I'm I'm saying did you go to try to work with him to get the this issue resolved this well I will tell you this I knew nothing about this bill until about March the second it was spot on March the first and basically I have shared my Concerns with him. But I have not had the opportunity yet to meet with him or had been asked to meet with them but I would be glad to meet with them regarding the. These issues okay thank you represent a vote you're recognized. I have a thank you Mr chair I'd like to continue on with that. I have a question so I think I've heard you say a couple of times. That nothing would work with Smart nine one one but I'm pretty sure that I heard you say that you picked up a school and northwest Arkansas. Through the Smart nine one one so how did you know that notice Smart nine one one no me with your company. Smart nine one one is a software that's provided to the clout so when you make that call it goes into that cloud do this the servers to nine one one center when I signed up Springdale to use our solution the reason I they went with us is because the day what day before I want to talk to them with ray they had rape and they had a false activation it's seven forty five in the morning swat team and everyone was there on their campus and so those school administrators lived through ten or fifteen minutes of something they never want to have to live through again. so when spring Dale purchase catapults EMS emergency management and the panic button we provided spring deal with the dashboard and their local law enforcement with the dashboard that sense that simultaneous notification to those first responders it does not go through the Smart nine one one they have a dashboard in that center that has our solution. Follow up Mister recognized so you don't think that I mean you've obviously already had one school do this so you don't think the school has a choice even if we pass this bill. Because Springdale had a choice uses the whole cabbie ought is if you saw us look at this bill this way what if you pass this bill without the word if funding what does that mean. An unfunded mandate no if it if you pass this is you take out the word if funding in this bill pass okay I think what you're saying what what with this bill say. This bill would say that you have to have a panic button. And that panic button has to work with Smart nine one one and you have to G. O. Fincher schools. I don't think it says that you have to have a panic button what it says you have to have an emergency in solution our emergency but you have to have something that communicates through smart nine one one okay I will disagree with you on that and that's not the way I read it thank you Mr chair. Representative governor recognized sure thank you a lot that's what I represent spring down there usually really good to get in touch with me about any problems I haven't heard from them about this particular issue I know that we've spoken but haven't heard from my district are you saying that you would have to cancel your contract with them if we pass this bill. You have to be my only concern is right now it's an unfunded mandate if it passes it would be considered unfunded mandate correct and that's what you know part of it but district but the way I read the bill if you read Section two AA but will start right there the panic button alert system shall. That the collar with nine one one while simultaneously notifying design designated on site personnel. Two eight directly integrate into the existing statewide Smart nine one one system. You can't integrate except for rate panic button. If you go to be the Smart nine one one system shall provide a way for public schools to geo fence the school campus and provide and manage for plans and other documents to assist emergency responders win they automatically displayed during the nine one one calls again I nine one license a ratepayer because my colleagues ex colleagues a rave panic button passing this bill says that you have to that the emergency notification system would have to do these things they would have to be geo fence and they would have to communicate within the smart I'm one one. And again you do that the only person JP correct me if I'm wrong the only company that can do that is rave mobile safety who is the owner of the software of. Smartnav one one. Representative makes recognized. Thank you Mr chairman I want to kind of follow up on your the law questioning this computer import when I've talked to my educators about the panic button. A lot of the feedback that I've got is that Waste maybe to going too far but for a lot of them we've. All been trained that if there's an emergency dial nine one one and what they've told me is for them it's a whole lot easier till open your phone and dial nine one one then when you're in a panic to go searching for an app on your phone and I think so much the teachers or some of the teachers told me that they didn't even have the app on their phone because of that so I wanted to know if you would address that of as it the special is released you're concerned that we may be requiring that in this I don't want to require schools to do something that in the end is never going to be used because of the panic we've all been trying to dial nine one one not to go looking for an app on a phone. Okay so I'm sure that I can address that and I'm sure my friend JP can address that first of all. panic button is not something that you have to really go digging for With when you talk about Digging for a panic button. When you pull your panic button up whether it's a rave rave panic button or catapult panic button. It's designed with a big red button in the middle it's not hard to find you patient consents after notification instantly simultaneously to on site personnel maybe your sought safety team or district safety team on a campus and you nine one one centers okay so it's not something I do for the problem. That comes when you called when you have to make that call and I would and I would tell you this without work for catapult or if I work with ray radio company when you make that call on your phone to nine one one what have you done you've notified that emergency first responders that there's there's something going on that you need their help. But at the same time you've not let anyone in your campus or in your district know that there's something going on and there's not a worse feeling than being the school campus and a teacher pick up the phone and dial nine one one and the building building principal who ever sees first responders pulling up on on their campus so the purpose of the panic button is like the bill sets to send out instant notification to the nine one one center and on site personnel now. Some teachers do not want to download the app on their phone you know the debate could be like getting the code shot you know if we be contract well honestly you being tracked even with your phone. But they don't want to download it so there are options out there for those districts who do not feel that they their teachers want to download their panic panic button and that solution is it can be done by I'll speak for my solution desktop iPad Chromebook or any other electronic devices they could be activated through that it doesn't have to be just your phone. But again to enter for the purpose of the of the panic button is to send out that instant notification to all of the people who need to know about it not just a nine one one centers. Because if you call nine one one center this is a it's a medical. You if if you're having a medical issue at school your school needs and because they might they could send the nurse or whomever to you to start working with you for that first responder gets there. Seeing no other questions for Mr Bradbury thank you for your testimony Sir. Thank you we have signed up to speak for the bill miss rose Velasquez Blazquez are you still here. On seeing miss Lasko is. We have Mr J. P. French signed up to speak for the bill. Then divide yourself the record you're recognized Sir yes Sir thank you Mister chair JP French I'm state director for ray mobile safety raves a public safety company that provides a technology to enhance school safety as well as nine one capabilities and first responder capabilities Mr I apologize I didn't know this was about panic button I was just come in and all I was going to offer was I support eighty in doctor Mason bill agree with it and I appreciate the work that went into that so that that's that's all I was going to do just be here for support but if. If there's anything else. Any questions from the committee for Mister French. St representative makes you're recognized. Could you address the concerns that you're from of every day rave the company in question here about essentially creating a monopoly. and yes Sir right he's very open. To any partnerships and as far as I know including Mr Bradbury's company they have not reached out to discuss the ability or our partnership but I'm very open to. Any type of. Opening the the path forward if there are other vendors that are interested yes Sir all right so what you're telling the committee is that you're committing to your company creating an open P. A. P. I. on pass no Sir we're not an open but about an API to allow others companies to be able to compete and also to offer services in this space to open those lines of direct communication to have those discussions yes Sir okay but I want to commitment beyond this discussion because we can say we're gonna discuss all day long and then not allow somebody else to use the service I want a commitment that. If it agreements can be reached that you will allow them to be able to compete in the space as well or other vendors to build compete in the spaces while I believe that they can go ahead and compete but I'm not authorized To to make that commitment today I'm sorry okay so. So so essentially what you're saying is your company may still continue to monopolize the space and not allow schools to have options of other vendors. No Sir I don't I don't we're not monopolizing it's open now yeah just just as it was discussed there's other schools using other solutions now they have with that with the governor's R. if Q. There there were five approved vendors and schools are making their own choice so it it's not being monopolized it to to today. Represent love you're recognized for a question Mister French thank you Mister Mister French and. Mr Bradbury gave the characterization of of of outlined in the bill. Can you speak to if anything that he stated was a mis characterization. Of of based on what representative Nick said as a monopolization of this can their system. Because here's here's the issue that I'm having. Is that this system cannot integrate with your Smart nine one one. And this is what the bill says it's it's it's that's kind of the the basis I guess I need you for you to speak to did he miss characterize anything in his testimony and ed representative I apologize I missed maybe misunderstood I didn't know that the deal. Discussed or indictment please correct me I didn't know that's I wouldn't even come to talk about panic button the the governor made it clear we're going to have in our queue in here or it's open for all vendors so the RFQ there are few Mr friendship and trust me coming in and I know you and yes Sir I'm I'm a supporter of rain panning mode but I am I'm not a supporter of of any one company having the monopoly on this correct so what I'm what I'm trying to get to is when Mr Bradbury actually gave his testimony was there a mis characterization and what he was saying in I believe so because there is the opportunity for any vendor. To work with ray mobile safety. So then what we're saying is follow up represent less this is this my follow so what what what we're saying is that they still have to work through a in order. To have a contract if this bill passes. No no Sir no not at all. Enter his exact words he's already got contracts. Okay. Lowery. Thank you Mr chair In a note did you feel like you're testimony was going to be just talking about the the work that's been done To secure the schools but do you understand our concern that when there is language in here that talks about if funding is available that we are talking about a product. That would that would be bought sold. So yes Sir a very very aware of the cause before before raids was actually taken out we hate and transporters virtually yes yes rave was no longer funded asked the panic button stand alone so source so yes Sir I'm very aware of and fully respect the position that you are in and happy to answer any questions following Mister chair the and I'm I was trying to scour the bill here carefully and so maybe you can help me of Mr Bradbury referenced the The technology that you Senator Smart nine one one you may have been also referencing something in the bill about geo fencing. his characterization that the geo fencing would not apply to The panic alerts on school buses which is limited to the campus that is fenced is that a correct characterization yes panic button however staff assist would but panic button it works with in the geo fence properties but more importantly on the bill the geo fencing. When we're talking about plans emergency plans floor plans we in a school called nine one one either from a landline or from a cell phone from which in one of those geo fences that digital floor plans are automatically delivered in conjunction with the nine one one call to the nine one one center so nine one one nine one one what's your emergency the entire schools profiled emergency for plans are delivered at that point. And every school in the state of Arkansas has those floor plans already in place as of Lima recognize you for your follow up just one quick question because I wanna make sure I understand this so as legislators I believe during the last session we were introduced to the panic button as well correct we have that on our phone should we. Made the decision to put that on there yes Sir that operates within the geo fence of the Capitol grounds. So if I'm downtown at a restaurant and I hit that panic button capitol police are not going to come running nor is anyone Kappa gonna be notified that that I am in some type situations where it's simply going to call nine one one thank you for your Lowery a your follow up thank you Mr and thank you for clarifying that so the answer to the question is that a school bus driver would not under the technology of geo fencing they would not be able to access the the the Smart nine one one functions that they they might be sending a signal to nine one one but it would not be part of the functions of this technology correct they would call nine one one and a if they had the existing their panic button which somebody chosen to yes they could utilize their status is but that is correct it only activates the text email and in app notification calling alerting all of your colleagues and dialing nine one one when you're in the GOP and so if you're at Walmart if you're at home NO sorry does not lock down your school district new or send out alerts to your colleagues okay thank you thank you Mr. See no more questions for Mister French thank you for your testimony represent Cozart recognized come back to table. there was no one else signed up. Colleagues I just want to remind you this is the rate panic button was not what this bill is about it is in there because we had to clarify what's going on we are not promoting the right panic button we're not promoting any panic button in this and it is up to the schools if they want to purchase or if there's money available at some point that they can do that they can also it is that if they want to contact the rave and try to integrate they can do that I'm sure there would be a fee to do that I'm not sure how that works but there there probably is but that's not what we're trying to do we're trying to make sure that each school on the school grounds is available of to their of. Geofencing to be Sorry for regular of. In a safety zone that their safety is on the market they do that plan and also their school their building plans and doctor mail or talk to some of that too but this is this is a this is not what we came here to talk about I knew we were going to get questions on that and I have no problem Mr Bradbury Committee questioning and I have no problem with him having a company that does this and so that's up to the school if they want to contract with him or anybody there panic buttons galore out there for you just to look panic button on your Google you can get all kinds of so there's there's plenty of people out there that can do that if a school wants to do that so I can mail that you yes I thank you that the whole purpose of this bill was to ensure that our schools have emergency communication with law enforcement. And in the previous bill there was a lot of stuff about the panic button we have a point of order. Testimony from the witness if if the chairman is is closing we can't take testing further testimony from with masks. Will will will will just don't expect what she said forget it. I mean if if that's been open up I think we should be able to have you wish you want to open it up that's up to the chair of the children I prefer chairman because our clothes will be allowed to close for the bill thank you Dr Mike. I just knew there might be something she could add to that question and so but basically likes that we want to make sure that our schools are built communicate with our law enforcement all across the state until the rule schools have little more different difficulty with that because some of the some of the law being out if we get this all road in there we got a lot better chance to do all that too so we but anyway I think the the rave panic button is really off the table on this bill that's not it it's not gonna get funded unless somebody like the Waltons when a fund that for the schools across the state that be great then we'll put a million dollars and Fund that'd be great but anyway Love hello close this bill and I'll allow you all to make a motion. The will of committee. A motion the past representative Audrey discussion on the motion. Represent Lowery. Yes thank you Mr you know I would be and I'm sorry I didn't think to ask this earlier of. when questions were allowed in and represent because ours member of the committee wants to reference this I I'd appreciate it I would be more comfortable if I knew that there for sure that there is not an appropriation bill out there filed to fund this to to meet this because we see this all the time there's dual tracks of funding is available and then you know a look over my I'm pretty sure there is not that they know of and I know there is no appropriation for this we have no plans to fund right payment okay thank you. I see no other discussion. I see no other discussion we have a motion by representative about all those in favor the motion say aye. Pose may. Is have a gradual issue pastor bill. Representative Cozart you're recognized president house bill fourteen thirty two Rep I Mister chairman skip over that bill we're not gonna read that today you're now recognized to present Senate bill two O. seven. Please gentleman this is a bill that I presented last week in committee it's the transportation funding method and all this is is a Senate bill coming down the chair on the other end wanted to run companion bills on this so it's the same bill that you see last week on transportation funding same playing identical if you have any questions let me try to answer those questions. You know questions from the committee anyone speak against the bill. For the bill. Cozart you're recognized close your bill I am close a a make a motion to pass motion to pass the discussion on the bill on the motion. No discussion all those in favor the bill say aye. Opposed nay. Bills past graduations. Now go to represent Lowery you're recognized president house bill fourteen thirty. The Amendment are there is an amendment being passed around. Thank you. A good. I was it was so prohibited under you're really not supposed to I'll close. Russian Lowery you're recognized to present your amendment for up to fourteen thirty yes members there is there is an amendment before you it. This is a bill that already passed committee prior but I haven't re referred back to committee because there were still some concerns. We dart we'd already addressed one amendment but this amendment here was language that we forgot to deal with what it does you remember one of the the main issues causing concern was for going the the. Permission of the or the release of a resident district superintendent if the home school students wanting to participate in another school district in the activity is not offered at the resident district we've removed that language now any kind of agree any movement from one district to another does require approval from both superintendent so that goes back to what the original law is and that is the amendment that appreciate to your approval of that amendment. I have a motion of amendment. X. motion motion. The discussion on Amendment seeing none all in favor say aye by any opposed. Okay your motion amendment has passed you're recognized to present fourteen thirty is amended. Hey Members this this bill deals with the legislation was passed several sessions back that would allow home schooled student. To participate in an extracurricular activity at a district other than their resident district if the two superintendents agree. That is the superintendent of the student's resident district and the superintendent of the district where the student student wants to participate there's not any written process it's just mutual agreement of the two superintendents we have returned the original returned back to the original language where there is ultimate there is local control on this if the superintendent wants to maintain and keep that home school student from being able to go to another district to participate in activity they can certainly hold them hostage if they want they don't have to prove it my understanding is this hardly ever happens where the resident school district superintendent does not approve but if they if they want to withhold it that approval they can the other thing that we did is we went in and clarified The. Language that is in the original TiVo language where it said that the original language said that a school district may require attendance of one class may. Some superintendents were wanting to waive that there had been in there had been if information provided to Jerry Coxon family council and and they they work with home schoolers we're superintendents had been told when they ask about this that no it's a requirement you have to require it so all we've done here is we have put in here and this is on the page Page two. Winds eleven to sixteen read the line before that home schooled student who participates in extra interscholastic activity may be required may be required by the public school district superintendent to be at school only one period per school day when participating per to participation the interscholastic activity in which he or she participates does not require the student to be at the public school one or more periods per school day though the words of the activity record requires attendance in the class than that satisfied if it doesn't if it's an after school activity then they would have to take the of course this enables the school district to receive one six funding for that student to pay for whatever they need to if it's paying for a three hundred fifty dollar football helmet. Which has been presented to me or if it's paying for green fees of to be on the golf team or whether it's paying for it. Two two if you want to be on the dance on whatever whatever the funding is for its for paying for insurance of that school district is going to receive one six funding even if they are not the resident district okay the students participate in the activity they will receive that and then the last amendment that was put on just clarifies that you were the final arbiter on how this law is applied you and the department of education in its rules promulgation it just says an entity that is not statutorily created shall not impose additional criteria required requirements on a home schooled student to participate in an interscholastic activity beyond what is provided by this section by what you have approved and that is the bill presentation I'm open for any questions. Coach you have a question Sir. Thank you Mr chair okay Make sure I understood this ride representa Lowery If a youngster goes from home schooled. Due to a regular school public school or private school Kenny. Can you play any sporty wants to their. What makes you. Can any pain plating landlord forty wants to yes well that would be that would be up to the resident school district superintendent if he wants to release them for that I'm assuming you're using the scenario we've heard of the six foot ten swimmer that also wants to play basketball yes pretend it looks at that six foot ten kid and says I don't want you to leave then he doesn't have to sign the approval okay follows. Okay so so here's a situation that wonder about let's say a youngster Is a good basketball player okay and he's got mad it is coach. And at a particular school then he declares that he's a home schooled person. And then but what he's actually want to do is go to another school all right so he becomes a home schooler for however long a committee decides to go to another school now this school doesn't offer it offices same sport that he's good in but they make up a sports cities croquet. And say and he says he wants to play croquet that's why this transfer all right is the eligible. Well this is not god we're delivering this stuff well I'm sorry but the card no longer you're going to use current law requires he would have to sit out for three hundred sixty five days no matter what the sport is. That's what current law yes and that's what that's what we passed in two thousand thirteen is that if the school if the student has been a participating member of a triple a school and they pull out to be home school and then want to go to another school they have to wait three hundred sixty five days to participate the. Well of course concern is that this deal is going out but for recruiting war you know and I'm not making that up I mean there's you know that you laugh but you know coaches are are they're looking to take I'd take take advantage of some of these opportunities that's why I'm real concerned about this bill thanks. Smith. Thank you representative Larry I want to get into something straight on the question so under your bill a student would still have to sit out three hundred sixty five days. Under current law there's nothing in this bill that changes the three hundred sixty five days it doesn't strengthen it doesn't weaken it doesn't take it away that is the current law that the you have to wait three hundred sixty five days another follow up. Is this approval from a superintendent or a school board. Would be the superintendent so if you had a superintendent that was exiting that district one happy with the way he was leaving that district and there was a good athlete in that district he could grant him. Eligibility at the other school before left I'm sure like the insurance company I know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two yeah and that's why I'm asking this these questions I know and understand there's cheating out there there's recruiting out there there's bad faith out there this bill is not that and I'll tell you I you know I brought the bill back to committee so that I could work with the the a ABA superintendents association they're satisfied with all these changes they're neutral on this bill they're not opposed to it I the triple a you know worked with me in two thousand thirteen on the three hundred sixty five day waiting period and that is still intact of it we're not doing anything to change that. Thank you. Representative got for you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair representative lottery you touched on this a little bit and I appreciate the clarification because I know some of the concern with about the foundation funding and I just wanted to clarify that because the bill says you know that student may be required to be at school only one period did be at school means the same as in role because I think that language is important role would would then be kind of a formal process to get the funding are we eighty eight the it's good on that language for be at school or is the student allowed to be required to enroll for that one period. My area and I probably would need clarification on this from from Jerry **** if you don't mind that my understanding is the students never have had to enroll state they do take the class the school district does still get the one six credit but there is not an enrollment process but with your permission Mister chair could I ask Mr **** to come clarifies and perhaps that's my misunderstanding I thought it was I required enrollment process to receive the funding but but if that's my ready systems and then he could not is here to tell us yes or no or you can go the other day for administrators hearing from them the better you go. Sir what we'll let we'll let him buy just because like I was I had not it would be five but not that will go with you know. We don't catch the head nods very well on live streaming a written got for you're recognized ask him that question. Thank you Mr chairman Jerry **** with family council. Sure just and the difference between be at school which is the language of the bill and perhaps I was previous language verses in role because I know that the concern was about receiving that once expanding and it is there it enrollment in corporate requirement or is it sufficient to just eighty at school to receive the funding apparently be at school is sufficient because that's current law I just thought they had not to it is current law and and I can't get into all the school funding intricacies because that's not my area but it's working now where people can you know that they they can get the one six funding and Mister chair if I may man may I make a may make it just a brief comment about this bill or Very brief yes your comment will get ourselves to be about that much. The so really all this bill does is clarify what already is and I know this is all new to some some folks because they haven't been through the debate on home schooling and all that but it really is just clarifying what already is and because there is some ambiguity about who had the authority to require the one class and the original intent on that law was the superintendent would be the arbiter of that and that's what this does it clarifies that it doesn't really change anything about kids transferring from one district to another playing in another district doesn't really doesn't change a thing about that part of the law they still have to lay out for a year if they move from one triple a district to Home schooling to try to play elsewhere so the the the concerned about a recruiting war it is not happening now it's not going to happen if this bill passes because all it does is clarify really what already is or what we thought the law said. Thank you Mr chair. All right but. Thank you Mr chair could we have the a come to the day to the you're going to testify in a minute oh okay thank you. Senate Becca sorry. It wasn't that hard. maybe this is a question for later on but I did just for clarification. If I went from a school. The home school for a period of time and then went to another school. Does that three hundred sixty five days start from the time that I left the school to go to home school how would it be reset because I I didn't transfer I want to home school and now I decided to go to this other school that's I think that's the concern that I have my my understanding from the original legislation in two thousand thirteen because this was this was negotiated language it was presented to me that if we did not have the three hundred sixty five day waiting period it could the bill could have been used the T. bill legislation could have been used for recruiting the scenario was that was given to me was a students getting ready to be. Declared ineligible for basketball because of failing grades before he can be declared ineligible he withdraws. To become a home schooled child a student and then actually returns back to the same school so even in that case they would have to sit out three hundred sixty five days so we agreed to that language and the three intersected five day waiting period is in force. Thank you. Any other any other questions record of all. This may I don't know who to ask this question to. But if this is. What is the bill doing that we don't already day why don't we need the legislation up and is what my questions might be I mean we're not changing days or not to. Anything I mean other than for clarification. As what I think that you're saying is the only reason we need this bill will we have an and I'll admit we have taken kind of a serpentine route to get back to original language but there was a necessity to clarify this whole attending one class issue of whether there was a may or it shall we feel like we've tightened up that language we also have taken a necessary step forward I believe in making sure that any interpretation of the original legislation the TiVo legislation is left up to the Department of Education promulgating rules and the legislature and not triple a that they cannot add to whatever is in this section. So that is a new. Okay thank you Mr president got for Europe recognized thank you Mr chair on that point and in section three represented by Larry do you see school boards as being excluded from and being able to add additional regulations are on high school students now. No you see them as excluded school boards or statutorily created correct thank you yeah. Or any other members. Represent Johnson. Thank you in advance of that I was not listened as close as I could have the last little section and this is my ignorance on not having enough time the education committee the part about an entity that's not statutorily created with help me understand what that part specifically addresses. Well obviously Department of Education statutorily created school boards as I just answered school districts are statutorily created we're talking about. Triple a for instance okay. Any other questions. Seeing none. All right uh we have anyone and we have someone in the audience would like to speak against the bill last either you're recognized company type. Just recognized so for the record the with please yes Sir lance Taylor with the Arkansas returning my call. Yes Sir lance Taylor with the Arkansas activities association of Mr you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you Mr chair and committee To treat on more confused now than I was when I came in here because that's not how I was read in the bill and I don't do this every day so I'm going to I guess get some clarification of with this because here's our rule and what we try to do is make sure that we have a level playing field across the board and we we we try to treat our public school students are public charter school students are non public school students and home school it was the same role always across the board if you transferred for athletic reasons you had to sit out three hundred sixty five days did you would be eligible at the school that you wanted to a ten so again it's been a rule always now how we read this rule with the amendment on the on the second page what if if I didn't call for support. Thank you good I could still goal and be eligible but what representive Lowery and and Mr **** said was they would not be eligible they would have to sit out three hundred sixty five days because what the what what what the regional law says right now is the and I don't have a copy in front of me but I know I think I know enough about it is there has to be a mutual agreement between both super tenets that had to be in writing just mutual agreement once at mutual agreement happens it's three hundred sixty five days before that person is is what the other school because the only reason that they're leaving it for athletic ability. So that that is that correct I mean not because I don't do this every day so I I need to make sure from that represent Lowery that that is correct you can answer that question. That is correct they would have to wait three if they have been participating in a member institution. If they if they see a home schooled student has never if if they are going straight from home schooling to going to a public school or private school they have never participated at a triple a sanction school so the three hundred sixty five days does not apply to them. It only applies if they his under current law if they've been participating at a local school district okay and then they go to another one okay thank you all right. Mister Taylor you may continue yes Sir they would we be opposes bill because it that they've again if they're only moving for athletic reasons. Dan right now currently it both schools agree. Then it would be three hundred sixty five days before that shall was eligible and it doesn't matter if it's public to public public to charter charter non public non public to public whatever the case may be they were all be treated the same right now it's a level playing field for all kids. Representative questions I think your are you ready question. The reddit question okay rips okay so the question I have now is this. So I'm in school age and I'm playing whatever sport all right of basketball aside and now I go home school. Hi in a home school for two years. And I decide to go to another school and play basketball to have three hundred sixty five days ago that school or is it what you said I'm saying because it at some point the transfer the home has to be. L. okay yes if you say yeah okay obviously would be gone because it was two hundred sixty five days since you played at the other school I guess that might be the but the other thing I would say aye I'll take it together why then say that if I left the school then six months later I left out through home schooling and six months later I enrolled in another school. From home schooling so what's the period that have to wait before I could play the sport. Okay so let me make sure I understand your question I'm going to repeat it back to you and you cannot hide if you don't mind so if if I'm at a triple a member school and I withdrawal to be home schooled by law right now you have to wait three hundred sixty five days before you're eligible to re apply to participate Is a current law right now. Yes now if I wanted to current law right now if I live in this public school district and I want to go participate at this public school district when both superintendents agree. Many three hundred sixty five days from that mutual agreement I can be eligible in the other school district just like if I transfer from public to public public charter public and non public is three hundred sixty five days it's always been the same rule always cross the border. That's it that is correct. Is that what you pass. Okay. Good. Read about your next. Thank you Mr all right Hey lance support all right so what. What do you think the main differences between the way it was in the way this is. I'm not for sure that's what I said I was more confused when I sit down because right now the current rule yes if I'm home school students and I don't want to participate in my home district the only thing that I have to do is get a mutual agreement between the two schools and then I can move in after three hundred sixty five days I'm eligible just like if I do a board Board transport school choice whatever the case may be our non public school after three hundred sixty five days you're eligible so no matter which way we cut the cake. With the last the the president rule of the new would they have to wait three hundred sixty days sixty five days to complete is that what you understand that yes Sir. Thank you. representative brown. Thank you Mr chair now I'm completely can be. I thought this bill was about kids who are in home school they are home schooled. They want to play a sport it's not offered in their local school district so they go to that superintendent. Are they to separate it's offered over here this other school district with a different superintendent the two superintendents agreed it it's okay for this home schooled student who is not currently playing whatever or plane in the band or basketball or whatever if it's not offer if it is not offered in their home school district. That state the superintendents agree taken he she can go to this other school district to participate in that activity is that not what this bill is about. Not the first. No more questions. All right the representative Paul. Okay I'm I ask you the question that I ask. The sponsor of the bill what why do we need this bill what does this bill changed that were not already doing. If it's three hundred sixty five days would not change time has nothing to do with the home schooled child. Going to a light mist representative brown was talking about I'm so confused why we need this bill if it's already three hundred sixty five days. If they can already talked to another Super that doesn't have that sport I'm confused about what this bill actually does now and what the need for is. I guess that is that my yeah I mean what do you see in this bill that we don't already do I'll try it that way okay the only thing that I can see that we're not currently do and it's the last three lines telling us that we have to we can't be more restrictive but I'll tell you truth represent all I didn't think we could be anyway I thought we had all the law and so that's I don't think we I don't think we have any authority to do anything different but the law in the state that way. Can I have a follow up you may maybe so how many kids do you all turned down that's home school kids that wanna go play a sport is this a problem. Not currently to us we have not heard that I give. Wait no no ma'am I think we have three home schooled all so you can do three different ways you can you can be eligible in your home district okay you can transfer to another district and you can also attend a nonpublic school it's a home schooled student be awful so we have three laws that seem to be working very well thank you Mr chair. Refuse Smith you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. Yeah I want to get this right if a student. Under current law should want to move to another district to participate in a sport. bless you swimming. He could moved to that school district and start practicing with that swim team. But he would be eligible to participate three hundred sixty five days from the time the person roles at the other school is that correct. Under your under current yes cerebral if your home school students right right yes Sir and and you get mutual agreement for three hundred sixty five days a state that's to would be eligible for it but he can start a participating in practice immediately any an eligible player can we allow that because we want those kids to stay involved because with their code we we we think it helps on that get better grades in that way they become eligible in state so they can participate in junior varsity events that are not athletic I'm not varsity events. They they're not eligible for varsity bench no Sir but Jett junior varsity events that is not in the home school law so I do not think so no Sir it just says it'll be twenty three hundred sixty five days is that the same rule for all students. No Sir if you if you do not transferred to a nonpublic school in time you would still be an eligible for three hundred sixty five days there's a drop down date for the. Okay thank you this section Deffenbaugh. Thank you Mr art This Is. Ninety one maybe the last thing of. Here's what the very in this bill says. The last three lines of this bill. Representative Larry's B.. Any entity that is not statutorily created shall not impose additional criteria or requirements on a home schooled student to participate in an interscholastic activity beyond what is provided by this section. The point is that many. It may hi I'm Jay what I think you mean. At the to me it's saying that there's the laughter the croquet deal but if they if they create a sport this is not under the triple a guidelines this is saying that they could they could move to participate in that that's what I think it's safe and so what about that. Represent Deffenbaugh lot that's that's what I think that's that's the only thing different than what we're doing right now by current the three current laws for the three home school group from from the the resident district to the transferring public to public if they want to go somewhere else or from home I'm sorry from home school to to a different district school to a nonpublic school we're we're already doing all this except that language right there's a lot. I'm not for sure what that means. Thank you Sir. Murdock your question. One of the questions of clarity trying to figure out what what is the is really but what would that last section that represent Deffenbaugh just mentioned we need just make them eligible for croquet but it would not make him eligible for a triple a sanction sports so that still would come out and play basketball football they could just be under that other on Bravo which you don't govern anyway put that. What what we do I'm sorry we do govern all activities okay but again students are eligible for non athletic events because they're going to get a credit for that for that and so they are eligible so if you're talking about band choir those students are going to be eligible but in that six oh I thought to the tennis section may have been the way he rate it may have been to. Provide an opportunity for them to do it for something this. Not. So it is a non. He exactly what I'm saying that's exactly what I'm saying so they could move it four eight nine triple lady said It should let have no got so therefore that would make them triple a eligible if if they moved for a reason that is not something that's not sanction by you that we we use a croquet was using that yes Sir. So you don't deal with that theoretically yes Sir so that's the reason why they moved because of this allowed him to the end when they move they can't the end if the make school. Play a sport you are. Governing without waiting three hundred sixty five days the three hundred sixty five day rule would be in effect. If they tried to get into a sport that you governor right well let me. This is a lot of questions. I'm from Confucius like you all are but right now with current law if if if I want if I'm home schooled student and Horatio and I want to I want to be eligible in Greenwood okay so if both of those two super tenets agree after three hundred sixty five days for athletics I'm going to be eligible at Greenwood if they both agree okay if Bob Ford Board transfer from Horatio Greenlee three hundred sixty five days I'm eligible if I do school choice after three sixty five an eligible so again currently what we have is three hundred sixty five days for it for everybody for athletics okay not activities for athletics. Okay that is a different activities and athletics is a different yes. Russia Womack Hendren somebody. Thank you Mr so Mr Taylor. Can you provide me clarity to your opposition because I've heard you sit down and say. The three sixty five the same to be the hang up for everybody is stay in the same but in use also said that you thought you know those last three lines would really affect anything you would do in because you understood you had operate in that manner anyway so now I'm confused why you would be opposed. The book code currently Sir and respectively. We already have all this in place right now what we we have everybody waste three hundred sixty five days it doesn't matter if you're a public school students if you're charter school student if you're non public schools that are your home school students we create on all the same. Okay what I'll give you the grounds so so what your opposition if this doesn't change the. I mean what basically what that says is that y'all can't make a more restrictive rule so is that your opposition that you want to be able to make more restrictive rules and this charter but not you from doing that. Sorry no Sir I do not but what I I again I don't do this every day like you all do and I don't I don't read bill sole I'm not for all that's what I think it says now it could mean something else to somebody else so that's why when I got up here I said I was confused because. B. because people read that those last three lines a little bit different so right now by the three sixty five they're all equal what we have right now. Now if if I don't offer. What we say what we say representative Murdock crochet whatever I want to go over here does that make a bill or anything else because they're they're they're offering something that we don't do that all does that make them eligible for something else at that school. So I don't know. Read it back to last three five that might be so different from meeting you to me what that saying the if I can't be more restrictive than the law right now. But John what you all have in place I think that's what it means is let's let's I guess what you're asking what is that the Bill riders intent for this no I'm asking what is Tripoli's opposition well I think I mean intent is what he's against that out of the public we need to restate will have left the Lowery the minute restate what is intent is because I think it's different than what we read the bill to place so but anyway I will go ahead are you continuation well I did it just it just this is almost of discussion thing it's just interesting to me that that everybody kind of got together with this bill the way understood on the front end and had someone agreement and the only it organized opposition is triple a and they're having trouble explaining. Civically you know that that's just confusing to me but I think it's on everybody's mind you Mr I think it's the intent but what is it but not agreeing with that I think that's what we just need to hear again in a minute so are the what other questions for a Mr Taylor. Seeing that takes our thank you. All right we had a guest is there for anyone like speak for the bill. I have no one signed up. All right eighty one the audience for against. All right Mr personal are you like clothes for your bill and would you please yes I will I will does your ten yeah. The purpose of the last three lines. Three four lines is exactly what you just heard. This whole thing of saying that a home schooled student is the same as a student who's already been participated in a participating in a triple a sanction schooled it district or private school that they're the same is wrong it goes against law that you have passed. That home schooled student has never participated. So they don't have to sit out three hundred sixty five days that is a creation of the triple lay. It goes beyond the law that you have already passed now if you think that that's unfair. Then that's a separate bill. That's another bill for you come back and say oh no we with at home schooled student is captive they are a product they are owned lock stock and barrel by the triple lay with they've ever participated or not. You see what we want to say we want an equal playing field but you're talking about apples and oranges. That home school student has never participated they have not participated in basketball. At a member school they've not participated in swimming they've not participate in croquet or crochet. Or any of those things they've not participated. And this other clarification that you got that the three hundred sixty five days with only apply to athletics but not to marching band that is a creation of the triple a that is not what you passed it's not what this legislature passed and so I think that this really has crystallized for us a very problematic issue we hear well I don't know why we need to change anything because this is the way it's always been it's not always been that way I tell you what has always been this way is that when superintendents called the triple a. And this is what we've heard from superintendents when they call the triple a to get clarification on whether a student for instance has to attend a class or not where is that permissive. The superintendents have told us it depends on who answers the phone on what answer they get. Some say I don't know it does say may I mean we register at the law it says may in the superintendent goes a little. So I don't have to require that student may we we'd be would love to have this home school student the parents of expressed to us that there is a a problem of them attending a class earlier that day and then coming back later to participate in football or basketball so we want to waive that and if you've talked to the right person at triple a they'll say well you can waive that if you call and talk to someone else that ago no it shall you shall require it that really is the problem now that was not the intent of filing this bill to try and laser focus on some of the concerns that are out there but this discussion has certainly done that. I've worked in good faith I didn't have to bring this bill back to committee but I wanted to try and satisfy members who still had some concerns the way that I went about doing that was working with the superintendents directly yeah I know that they didn't come forward to speak for the bill because they're just neutral on it and I think if you know if you look over Adam they would probably wait and not their heads I hope that they are neutral but I worked with them in good faith to make these changes the changes that you have before you. And. I'm frankly a little confused to that when I work with the superintendents and they're satisfied with the changes that then the triple a comes down so we'll know we're against it. These these changes are necessary I know it appears like we're we really haven't done anything different but there has just been a lot of agony and angst really since two thousand thirteen on implementing this these home school students have never been a member of a triple a sanctioned school they've never participated in the activity therefore the guidelines of the triple a do not apply to them including the three hundred sixty five today. That's not a change this law doesn't change that that's what's already in law that's what what's already there and so for triple a to now say we know you have to wait three hundred sixty five days if you're going to participate in an athletic activity but not in band or in drama or debate club. That's their creation. And I don't think the chief sanction them to be able to create anything that goes beyond. Rule's promulgation or the law that is passed. I think this is fair superintendent still have control if the superintendent Coach Deffenbaugh sees that six foot ten kid that says he wants to go to another school district to play croquet any six foot ten that's superintendent does it have to approve that transfers matter fact that they would be crazy if they didn't bring the athletic director in the basketball coach and say listen what can what can we will start croquet here. We will started so you will play basketball for us because my god. I hope you're good croquet player because I know you're going to be a good basketball player the superintendent has that control and that's the main thing that we work with the superintendents association about is making sure that we're not taking the control away from either one of the superintendents the receiving district superintendent has the same option they don't have to accept that home schooled student they they'd say you know we decided to disband or croquet team. We don't have closely mode now flaunts or whatever no so we're not going to approve we appreciate that you want to come to our district but really you probably need to stay in the resident district it's local control and that's what you asked for that's what I gave you with these changes and so I'm sorry it's been so it's been confusing we're just trying to give kids the opportunity. that's really all the TiVo laws ever been about from the very beginning our our kids me up probably shouldn't say this because then you'll go my gosh I can't believe we spent so much time on something that really meant maybe only affects two hundred to three hundred kids statewide okay. But those are still kids they still have they still should have opportunity and we should be giving it to them. We should be grateful to home schoolers because you know what if the twenty six thousand home school students decided tomorrow they wanted to come back to the public schools. It would cost the state of Arkansas two hundred million dollars. And I don't know that we've got it so we should be grateful. To give those students opportunity to give those parents the full gamut of opportunity if they want to provide to their kids because parents are the ultimate arbiter they should be the ultimate arbiter of how their child is educated including their participating to participation in extra curricular activities and so with that I close and I do make the motion of do pass and I hope that you will join me in supporting this is closed for is building a motion to passes or discussion representative of woman you're welcome thank you I just think to the Committee we've already passed this bill out its been fleshed out representative Lowery went and worked with with people that were concerned and. It still blows my mind that that there's almost no opposition and and they're not even completely sure why and this is turned into such a such a debate I mean we we did this a week or two ago and in order to make a better product you know Mister Lowery put in a lot of work and and all those same entities are still okay so I just I appreciate his work and effort and I hope we'll send it out again. Any other discussion. Seeing none. All those of favour say aye. He opposed no. It's very close. I believe it does have it. But some I lost. Are you that's what you all of your call we'll roll call if all right we roll call shall. You sure you get there. Representative makes our hi representative love may representative Murdock. Representative Murdock. Representative Deffenbaugh. No representative Lowery. Yes representative Womack. Yes representative Bragg yes representative bite. No representative back. No representa speaks now representative brown. Yes representative Vaught. No representative Maddox. No representative hollow well. Representative hollow well. Representative Johnson. No representative McKenzie. Yes representative Godfrey No representative Smith no no. I'm sorry your bill is fail from lack of of. Ladies and gentleman this last bill day. And I would say I don't think Brown minds even if the two chairs were voted for that bill is still would've failed and we did not vote but the either way it would affect Markham sorry much bill but we are of a journalist as other business just for curiosity of you that have been asking about thirteen seventy one representive Bragg if you will say labour's bill but we were here that not. Next. Probably next Tuesday I'm sorry I'm trying to think we have next Tuesday and if you have any questions about that bill please get with them if you need some clarity on it that is the tax credit bill and that's going to be a very in depth bills coming to the so appreciate your time and of Durres today so uh we will be