Education Committee- House

Thank you Mr chair. Committee. I ask for calm this today. Because I know how you all are. Rick I believe there's somebody down the hall one talk to you. Committee I'm here to present a bill that we have ran for I believe last three sessions I know of senator Cheatham but I had ran it for a two sessions and worked on it to session before but did not have the funding for it so well this is the fourth session really we were working on this center or one. Irvine how will Sir when Irvin will be on the Senate and I believe she's on a run in the Senate and so we have companion bills. All this elect to amend various provisions of Arkansas code concerning enhanced transportation funding amounts we started this four years ago we realize that the schools were of lacking in funding for the transportation they were the runaway short had a lot of route miles and a lot of fuel and a lot of students are picking up a long long runs that they were not getting enough funding to their of student funding part of it so we start trying to figure out a formula and we have worked on that formula every session it is changed a little bit and it's changed again this time we think we've got all the bugs out of it we think we've got it right I know we all have probably looked at some of this and see some of the schools are different than they were last time and I'm sorry but this this is correct and believe me if you could ask these two ladies over here I question I'm pretty hard on it and actually brought Richard Wilson back into so that with them again and make sure that we have that correct so and we do Richard of assured me and Julie and we're both insured me that this is the correct formula so I'm going to present this bill to you in this form as and if your school is different I'll take any questions I'll try to answer the reasoning and I think I just gave you a reason because we do have the correct formula that it was kind of the way that they were putting their numbers into the system that wasn't shown it perfectly right before and so we've got that tune down to the right amount so with that this so isn't this amount I believe is a seven six million and seven million six million this subsection seven million then the R. six billion this year seven million next year so It It we're grown a little bit to kind of get it work needs to be so I'll take any questions. Represented back you're recognized for a question. Right off the bat the Commissioner of now this is a. I was just wondering you said that you guys have adjusted the formula and I do know that some of our our public schools are doing a really good job of transporting students to some of the vocational centers and two year colleges so are we including that knowledge also in this thing that is not included is included. It was received we welcome that here and speak. If you don't mind Mr. Julie healthier of Legislative Research anything that's considered for an academic purpose is included so those miles are or should be included if they reported them an absentee and that we've talked to a couple school districts that we do not have or. And transporting kids for CTP purposes and not smile Sabin report so yes Is there reported as academic miles. There are some of the mileage is that they do not allow that and I'm not sure exactly what the definition of those are but a lot of what they try to pull everything in but it but it has to be something to do with that I just wanna make sure that we did that because of I want to encourage our public schools to continue doing that. Represent Lowery you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. Have we totally given up on the Discussion of removing transportation from the matrix because of the inequities that do exist considerable considerable inequities well. I will say we totally given up it's it's a very. Tucker Vaught up to just move out and it will take a lot of work to do that and we just have a come to that point and I know mark you think that's not but it is. Well I mean I know we were given a formula I'm sorry follow recognize we were given a formula. There's so many things that are objective in terms of determining cost per transportation or skews me so many things are subjective transportation's not its objective I know Richard Wilson put together for us probably three terms ago a a plan of looking at miles driven students transported rather than the US funding based on every student whether they're transported or not and we just and I'm not. I'm not gonna say kick the can down the road right to say that because we've actually just stepped on the canon totally crushed it and said that we would rather just go ahead and make up the difference and let the school districts that are making millions over and above their transportation costs continue to wreck that in. That's that's that's a comment more than a question so I'm sorry what would say they're making millions we have cut halted the of the growth of a transportation hasn't changed in the last three sessions we left that that number's been flat we've been adding this and it has to carry the ones over that are having issues so the for the ones that were making money they haven't grown any lately still there stayed at the site still might be making money on it I can't tell you that I know there's a lot of factors and transportation when you start trying to figure out miles of kids in the city transportation of the fuel the the up keep all of those things you would have to figure those things changed drastically every year and and especially with the kids I you know I I wouldn't have a clue what it would be in this last year toward pandemic of what the difference in the route miles or or a kids And seats with the man if you've done that so it's it's a drastic. Thank to try to figure out to make it perfect and I'm sure there's a way to do it the formula Richard and he's always told me that is not perfect we have that formula for quite awhile and and it's just not perfect from this is what we've been doing to come make up the difference. Presented live you're recognized back in the queue please. Thank you Mr chairman I will I was actually will. I'm not gonna say that I'm going to say this. Then I'm kinda in agreements with representable Lowery but I do want to say this because I was actually looking for formula so is this right here in this deal. This is in the. Explain to me this the totality of the overages that we haven't paid or is this is this actual cost online explained to me what is actually in this bill this this is to help them with the overages that they do not receive funding to student the our people funding okay so in in the yes. I'm I'm trying to understand. If these the overages is there a pool of money in which I mean because he said I think you said it was six million this year seven million the next year if it's based on a formula are we trying to provide this money in it And like say for instance if we can't provide the six million if we can provide to two million is there a pro rata share the each school will get I mean. There's amount in here if you look at the bill that shows you what they get. We've already figured that out none yes what I'm doing is based on how they're they're it it's based on basically what he's saying is that it's kind of more about route miles based on their cost and late by provide the cost in asking is that correct. Okay no well let me let me clarify because I think you miss and when I'm saying this in this in this bill these are the overtures correct is this the overage or other over justice what we're funding I would say they probably actually have more numbers of what we're actually giving them we're just trying to make up some of that difference. Would you agree that's not total override it's to qualify for the funding. This the school district has to be spending more than that three twenty one per student that they get through the matrix and then there is the the model does use the regression formula based on those variables that Representative Lowery just mentioned the bus route miles the number of bus riders in schools eighty M. you can print this act was that as school districts tramp transportation expenses would be based on those variables. Ninety eight. Senate the variance explained which is really the really high but then what we do we take that convicted him out and we because the state does provide other moneys besides that three twenty one such as isolation friends growth spending and declining enrollment pending and so we we take those Transportation expenses that have been made from those plans other than what they get for transportation and we take those out so this state will be doubled spending. And then Laurie can answer questions about this but we get three we take that set amount that shall have provided through the adequacy process and then we did distribute that based on the percent of need that is remaining pre school district and but we don't ever go over that amount the other predicted expenses minus what they're spending out of their their fence so we're school districts are reported for being inefficient but also recognizing that there's just a great variety would school districts have to spend per student okay so where I see line this should represent blows your follow up yeah this month following thank you okay so well see found money they had zero four now they have twenty three thousand to twenty six so long as I mentioned before the formula was wrong the last time when Richard Petty he told me that they had he had made some mistakes and figuring the formula the way it was figured that's why you'll see discrepancies that are different than that one school where they got zero now to get twenty eight and before they got twenty eight now to get zero or or less that's that's the big thing the formula and the way it was put into the system okay so it all right and we cannot can I add to that because that's true and for some school districts there are also instances where a school district has your bus riders were you know they have eliminated a route so they don't have as many bus route miles so many times we've looked a when a school district is getting less money one of those things that they impacted and on the other hand if I've added a bus rail or CD or whatever or they've increased enrollment than those predicted expenses are higher and I qualify for more money so there are some of those changes in it since you're dividing out one overall set of friends what happens that when school is going to affect what is happening at another school so there's a map. Down that occurs just because you're dividing tight little bit differently. Thank you representa speaks you're recognized. Part of. There it is sorry. My question at like up in the hills and all of that rule routes and that did you take any of that in consideration because I understand that you are that formula the last time but like Cotter school which is you know they're very very rule and they're they're getting nothing extra to help them and I was wondering if you didn't take any of that into consideration. The consideration mostly is about the route miles I may not have a big round maybe what heals but it may be short routes where some schools have weighed twenty long route so they have to go way out and okay and rules for how rule they are and I'm not sure that is not taken in consideration of the I'm sure they did but it's it doesn't really matter where you're at it's about more about the miles to the kids and and all the costs involved in it so I don't know all of the factors that they take into consideration. But I agree it is thank you thank you at zero this time uh. Well actually program zero last time because they don't have anything closer new school to this fall zero a leading. They've they've never got extra money so okay yeah thank you. Representa McKenzie question. Thank you Mr chair okay so I'm trying to wrap my head around this because I think I did misunderstand this little bit and I looked at the other evening. If I understand correctly first of all the for the the formula for this not just what we're doing right now but the formula for the figures you can come up with here is that somewhere where I can look at that time isn't. I don't think there's actually a formula written out it's a Way that they do the processing of it all that Julie speak to that yeah the. For you for all these years of the formula has been considered legislative working papers so we're glad to sit explain it but the real reason is that is. If you're saying an excel spreadsheet this one goes from a all the way over to double a I mean if there are a lot of different calculations and things that happen in it so it's just really very complex in front. To the to a legal statutes. That will be we would be glad to sit down with anybody and go through and and explaining what's happening throughout. Okay because I look at that the first I thought maybe this is a simple question square miles bus routes that kind of thing Frances I see one of my school districts went up and I thought well I know that they had that bus routes B. because of time traveled on for some of those kids in those routes but that's maybe not what actually. No that's not which figured it is not a simple question it is very complicated yes that's why there was some issues with it last time because of complications work correct and like I said I was I was as shocked as anyone that Richard Wilson made a mistake. Just get it right he tried to do this or that we have worked on this like set over the past three sessions before this but but it's really about the way things are put into their for the way they they going to ask in in their pool back out and the way they figure all of this and it's just as easy to kind of missed something there was law so but the direction is that the schools here after that applying that formula's that belief that they are expending more than what we're giving to them so we do not account for this apparent it's been an annual thing it will continue to be an annual issue for the schools and it will it will be and if you know if we could ever do what represent Lowery saying that we could take it out it would probably be a lot closer would be perfect probably not perfect because it is going to have a lot more moving parts in it if we took every step every school out and do it is gonna be a lot more work for someone to do it would probably be a continuance of somebody monitor that all the time so. Represented Lowery. Thank you Mr chair. Represent Cozart you you raised a very interesting point it really wasn't part of the general discussion but you rate you talked about because of it. With with a number of our schools. Operating virtually at least maybe half the time. That really points out a major problem with funding through the matrix correct because we're funding on students enrolled not him whether they were transported. What could but I mean that they should go back to normal after this year one of the. Posso after this next year so we could have two years of funding transportation based on enrollment in the students are being transported half of the time well so that so that disparity that we've seen between urban districts that make more money on transportation because they don't transport as many of the students for their miles or shorter that disparity is going to grow even more during because of it hi I'm going to disagree with you in one part they still run those bus routes that route is probably the same route that they ran the year before they're just not as many kids from getting on those buses as they were but I would not see on the rule route is a rule route is going to go to the same place that it went before a city routes probably going to run the site place because they have to make sure they go to those routes to see if there is a kid there that's going to get on that bus unless there's some routes that are consolidated because of code you know if in this period I don't know I have a talk to transportation people to see if there's any changes that but I you know I came from a but that was the transportation director school I was at the register was signed by random routes every day the same with every kid got under. Follows. you made a reference to The model that was given to us probably six years ago of of funding based on. His per her based on miles transported or miles driven students transported was was faulty but I think you were mainly talking about the formula that Richard Wilson came up with two years ago they were correcting now because I don't I've never heard. Any comment that it was faulty. For us to move transportation out of the matrix just that it was going to create problems for districts that it and there there have been districts and making like maybe a million dollars over and above their transportation on I agree with you on that I think you're talking about the five year ten year plan we looked at yes five year a year yeah five year a year we have we have to reporter for play as we look at all says faulty it was just going to be real complicated and it was not have a lot of uh. A lot of moving parts that thanks that it was going to change because it was gonna be a lot more work for someone to take care of so I end up in a I'm not saying that we can't do that markup I have no problem we'll try to do that I just wanna make sure that everybody's on board with that and we do it but it is something it's hard to take a of something like that and implement one year and it was what Richard was saying we need it was going to be where we have to three twenty one and it was going to drop down to to seventy five or at some point it was going to set it someplace and I had a really the last time we talked about it it was going to stay real close to the three twenty one and not move it just everything above that it would fund over that so all schools would still fund at a certain point and it would really still do the same thing we're doing it we just fund of you would have another line of those schools. In a different place okay thank you thank you Mr yep his comment members in in in thinking through the whole covert process of the balancing of the routes and so forth I know several districts around around my around my place that actually ran more routes. Due to having a social distance on the buses and also ran routes on a regular basis delivering food and and supplies to the homes of the students that were physically attending schools represented Johnson you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair so my question is regarding the formula and I know it may be more for bill and I think you may have actually visit with the league and I appreciate that answer a lot of questions out while I understand the formula is complex I just want to be clear it's it's complex but not secret correct I mean it was not it was not a problem at all for me to call and talk to you and get information on the on the different nuances of the Formula One of the complaints I hear from my administrators is lack of clarity on what goes into the formula that that's something that can be discussed and talked about. M. as a as I sit and it's and it's really at two off the but this historically has been treated as legislative working papers so I feel very free talking with anybody about it I've talked with some superintendents that have been asked by young for me to talk to Senate I haven't gone to the newspaper or we don't publish I understand it in the past it was always long to the chair of the committee okay so as far as if someone in follow up if I may if someone has questions about the formula whether it be a legislator or someone in a school district the pathway to ask those questions would be to us as legislators legislators okay just trying to make sure I understand the creek pathway and it will make sure I'm working that correctly it's complicated most everybody would understand it without saying that will somebody tell you that I don't understand that city now with them either as income was a little simpler. It's a little supper but of also you know what it's like someone is on that we also did some doubles he share of their mission about the miles we did extra miles for delivery food and stuff we also had to run some double miles this last year and this year because of spicing on the buses so we're actually they have a lot more transportation involved in this last two years and I've had before so that's something that's not really figured into this formula is figured or regular regular formula so. Representable of your backup. Thank you Mr chair so in it And within this bill I I guess I'm I'm trying to understand this represented because our. Is there are. A funding which this is going to be funded out of. In the reason why I'm asking that question is because if we have a formula. Just say if we don't get to the yes the six million dollars that you say it if we we have two million dollars in the fund I'm just trying to I'm just trying to see if I can answer that real simply this is adequacy money this was in the adequacy fund adequacy for what was a radically plan it's a supplemental plan just like some of the things are but it was all taken in over the period of the eighteen months we were working on adequacy this is part of that okay money is funded it's already in the budget it's up and it's and it's in the governor's. So this funded this money is in the governor's budget that's already funded yes well also fund is already in the budget yes. Represented Murdock. Thank you and person because I don't want to go back to what represent Johnson other submission because it's kind of confusing to me so we have a document in front of us that we need to vote on it It has numbers this been derived from something. The answer the ever so far maybe I've missed it is that the formula for the week in defeating in the five and understand where these numbers come from the is not available or I heard the word complicated it's available you just have to go so that with this lady on the fence. So I'm saying what what we sampled locally though I just don't understand how from a transparency standpoint that is going to make sense. That is not available for the the person at home now this leaves in this state to pay taxes that they want to act the same question we just represent them but as you know. You know if we say is too complicated for them or whatever the the the with the words are but it affects them in their districts their content and the local school board I mean you know there's a lot to this to say is that they should not cannot see this I'm not saying is that right good or just I'm not saying I'm not questioning the the former I'm questioning the transparency that we should have in order to. The vote on it and others to be okay with well I'll just tell you if you want to if you will somebody in your area to see that you need to go sit out of this lady letter give it to you and she's got to take it back she can't run back and forth to see that is issue contended somebody they're not going to understand it because I don't know how it works but what I'm saying you resent Cozart that's not for us to determine. Where to put the information here and if it's my job or each one of our jobs including yours to go back and do what you just say it then so be that or however we would deal with it before it not to be here and say is this is right except this but we don't have I'm just talking about that that is our job to do that it is our job to route to no we don't even have it well if you wanted this once it is not hidden it's here. What was the reaction wanting it out give it to you it's not just something you put on a sheet of paper all up there. That's what that's what disappears it could give you the sense in a way it does but every schools a little bit I mean each number she that point you're not sure sure and she could do that or any of the could do it for you. Ninety we can't bring it in you each one of the one that's actually that that's the results of it. But that that paper would be probably that thick if we did that maybe I'm I'm the only one this well this feeling like there's a lot about what what what I'm saying exemples. It is really not for you to even get what you get with it don't you can relax is not you. Murdock your committee your question is the availability of the report of the of the form of a to get to the end result of what we see so that we can individually be able to talk to our communities about it I'm not even saying is bad I'm not saying it but it would be. I'm saying I don't know and that's what. Well and I can't it don't determined that won't know if you give me a form because too complicated for me or whomever III it's not too complicated for you it's just that it's it's a formula and as we work on they were all kinds of forms to figure all of this stuff so I mean it's a good this is a good deal this is something that we came up with because schools were struggling with the transportation we're trying to help you know I understand that I know and and that's what Senate if your people in your town don't understand it they just you know they can they can ask you you can get form I don't think they really are going to wonder about it they just are happy to have the money nobody in my town have complained about how I know that we get the bill in hearing the committee's questions and saying that we don't have that the but I mean you see the question this is a menace first time anybody's ever asked about the four million in the fourth term for terms yes so that's I mean that's that's a really rigid about well no I always talk about the form so I'm I mean I had it to do it in the committee like this we had went through this but anyway I mean that's my concern okay no problem question represented back. Thank you Mr chairman this question is I actually hit. The same so the other colleagues I had some questions about. A couple school this is a month area and I actually do and I'm not going to put anybody on the line here but I I went talk to some people that why was this like it was in that what I found out was that one the school districts. These were they look to be very similar to this look at a more paper the one the school districts had a lot of national forced. Area in this district and and they said you know the that because a tribute to the extra miles related to transporting students because it's because there's a very sparsely populated and that was the issue about it but a lot of encouraging by if you have a question about if you go ask them you know I I took to school districts and I said they look at they said this is a major difference between the two following out more than the other. Really great. Maybe represent a fight you're recognized. My questions were left unanswered thank you. Any other questions from the committee. Representa McKenzie. Thank you Mr chairman and I'm still new to this committees on trying to wrap my head around all this so that the concern that I have because I think you're trying to address something that we need to address that's just not fair I think people see that but when I also hear that the we've got a windfall for other schools that's not fair either and so that's where I'm trying to get instead of coming and grabbing this funding from here I think taxpayer's gonna say can we distribute this more fairly and with regard to the the. The funding formula. I know they've got to be so many variables there but it does make you wonder why it is so voluminous when you're going to have I realized over to pay different amounts for their their their their labor for the bus driver did it but and mileage but I am surprised we don't have something that's a little bit easier to get your hands on with regard to this transportation funding and maybe even separating it out. Well I would challenge each and everyone of you on this committee because you will be sitting here for the next of. Eighteen to twenty months. Working adequacy as soon as the sessions over and that gives you plenty of time to work on a formula for transportation out of the matrix if you want to and you know we always get to that and say something about it and we get down to the very last wire it is not done and you know I'll say I'm just as guilty as anybody else that we've we have figured out this formula is work pretty good and has changed every year this thing has changed a little bit so each school kind of changes and your school might say something they might not have heard anything from any of my schools that would complain about this bill some of you don't get anything so but I challenge you you've you've got the. For you new ones on this committee you have twenty months that you're going to have fun coming up so just get ready for it if you if you will participate in it so that's basically all I have to say about that Larry you're recognized for a question. Well I'll say that the new ones you get years of frustration ahead of you. Because we've been talking about this for eight years. Eight years and I remember getting getting very close across the hall in on this five year eight year phase in phase out on taking transportation out of the matrix so that we don't have these inequities where one third of the districts are winners two thirds of the districts are losers and we got very close you remember the conversations represent Murdock to whether we were going to phase out the extra money going to the districts that were winners over five years over eight years and we were told we need to back off of it because you know the governor was concerned about you know this or that you know there's district's gonna be upset. And we've just not had political resolve to do the right thing and and I appreciate that we're trying to fill in the gaps. On these two thirds losers but we're really just we're not doing it the way. That is more objective is more concrete and is more fair and. Object represented Cozart please tell me what we can do you say we wait to the last minute it's not a last minute we've been taught I know I'm bringing this up for eight years you still have to act on it the. You have to actually draft a bill. We have a director bill this never happened. Okay I mean if you've got to have support for that bill you guys know understand that's what I'm saying I'm challenging you all to think about this right now we have a we have about twenty months not quite that long but close to that we have eighteen months that we have before this will come up again and we can fix it if you want to fix it but it it takes a group effort to do that it's it's it's a lot of work and so it's a bill that's going to challenge schools summer going to be what are some of the losers it but at least the phase in or out in a five eight year deal that's that's basically it you can't just do the can't drop the ball and wonder. Just follow up on on your quick publicly could follow up on the line I you know I was not aware until I did start talking publicly about taking funding out of out of the matrix on transportation that my charter school in Maumelle the problem the guilt only smart that's really going to affect us I did realize that charter schools get transportation funding and they do in this bill so. That's what I want to ask me is what hello how are charter schools being treated in this in this particular bill trying to get to the other side yeah we we any charter system that reported route miles we entered again to that initial phase where they were and then we proceeded to see if they were eligible so did they spend the three twenty one for students. And I believe we had seen. that reported route miles and that those two made it through and we think enhance transportation and I'm not sure they are there in there somewhere so okay. Okay thank you thank you. Say no further questions is there anyone in the audience signed up to speak against the bill. Thank you. For the bill. Seeing no one. Germ Cozart you're pretty close for your bill I would like close my bill thank you for the consideration of this like I said this is something we've worked on because it was something the schools needed and we thought it was a a good fix for is a started out a lot of smaller but school in a small amount of money I can remember we started two million or three million it was it was three million so we started out with so it wasn't a whole lot less money and public schools I don't remember the exact number but it's it's grown and it and we've tried to in this last session for you liberals Committee we we appropriated up to this six million for this year and and seven million for the next year in the biennium so it it it's helping the schools to be able to survive a special all the small schools be of small schools you can ask your support and they really love it so I appreciate a good vote and I make a motion to pass. The motion to pass what's will the committee all those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. All rights have a great is less you pastor bill jump Cozart you like to take a break for you international it represented Gonzales run his bill. Thank you. Representative's always you're recognized to run house bill fourteen ninety six thank Mister thank you committee Committee this bill came up because of a a real issue that we had with the school I won't name the school but they had a they had a spirit that was ready to serve. The only issue with that was they were they were ready to serve with with some state dollars and this will prevent that from happening in the future everything worked out fine in that situation but what happened was that they have the ability to write contracts for as long as they wanted to and put the state on the hook for for the line item maximum that was in the budget for for president or transfers of those universities this will limit what they can contract the state's portion of to the the contract year that they're in the also require that they have the ability to fire for calls which was not in the contract either the simply all it does. What a issue systems was involved in drafting this there's no known opposition to. Okay great questions represent Lowery thank you thank you Mr I know you specifically referenced the state funding on contracts I know. I don't know if this is done as much for chancellors and presidents as it is for football coaches. But my concern is a lot of times of the contracts where a lot of the moneys paid out of foundations and the main concern is that foundations will tell you that they're not subject to FO line on finding out how much money they have in the foundation and where the money came from is there is there anything in this bill that that references contracts being heavily weighted towards foundation paying salaries as opposed to using state dollars no and that this might affect I didn't want to touch the foundation funding of the schools use foundation funding or whatever other funding they may have to pay their presidents for whatever contracts they have that they're they're able to do that this just limits the the state's portion of that so intentionally did not touch that. Okay I'm not saying it brought it does need to be looked at and you're welcome to do yeah and that is something I want to tackle here right and that's what that's my concern because you know the these guys guys and ladies very smart you know they see your bill which I hope passes and go there they start negotiating their contracts like oh well okay we're going to come at this from a different direction we're going to. Take more money from foundation to pay my salary it's so that's my real concern is that really it it's not apples and oranges I mean it is apples and oranges state money versus foundation funding but it still is money that. That can be used for the bit the the benefit of the students and you know that this might just. Really usher in it just just a shifting of of the way things are paid and and that's mine my concern but I know I know your answer would be well that's a different bill. I've already filed enough that are going to get defeated so I'm not gonna take that one on. Represented makes you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman represented I appreciate the the intent of the of the bill I have a concern though that obviously when the lawyers look at it they're gonna look at what's in black and white and not what the intent is and on the Page two section two words spells that a that a contract buyout agreement shall not use more than twelve months worth of state funds to compensate not going chancellor so if I was a crafty attorney I'd look at the way that that's drafted and say well twelve months worth of state funds were comes to roughly twenty five billion dollars because that's our annual state budget in a I don't know that that's the intent of what you're trying to do and someone or if you need to maybe better to find that you know it's twelve months worth of their salary or twelve months worth of to better define that because as it use now I could see them. Trying to push the narrative that you know twelve months for the state funds is the full state budget. And not the twelve months of payroll that I think you're trying to limit this to that that makes sense it yes see what you're saying and I don't think that will ever apply like that because of the line on a maximum that it's in the budget for the presidents and chancellors but I mean if that I'd be happy to talk with bill or somebody about that going forward and see if that is potentially an issue of benefit is I'd be glad to address it because of yeah that's mine and I just wanna make sure there's not a loophole here that's going to feed the purpose of of what you're trying to accomplish here thank you thank you for that move I'll I'll check into that before we move it past this point if we get past this point and if that's the case of what we'll fix it sounds good thank you. No other questions is there anyone in the audience wants to speak against the bill. For the bill. See no one representative's always recognize close review. I'm closed appreciate a motion to pass from somebody. A motion to pass represented makes. All those in favor the motion say aye. Opposed nay regulations bills passed. Represent Cozart you're recognized present house bill fourteen seventy two. Thank you Mr chair colleagues I apologize but get a little steam to little bit while ago I kind of thought that the bill was. Pretty easy and something everybody really liked a joke question to farther me so it's alright it's alright I my wife takes me she says calm down take a deep breath. You know I did read it electors I got back up there but So I did realize I've actually got the a little he did it so but I apologize for that. hopefully this will be a little easier This is an act concerning the Arkansas school math science and arts of two men the composition of ex officio members serving on the board of visitors at the school This school does not set in my district but is in my town what Les Warren actually believes in his district and region grew and and all of us we share of the actually open the school over there with any needs they have so. I was called by a Them to ask if the we run this what this actually does take the board of visitors and it strikes it from six members of two to at three more of members and those members would be the new ones added would be association of the lawn by one of one from there one thing the friends of the AS Symmocidae and in a AS in my sight foundation fund board of a master's members so they're adding just at three members to the The board of visitors now this does not change any ten year or anything I believe does not create a system for tenure so all this does is just it basically adding anything I need to add to that for you that's pretty disapproval short bill and I'll be glad to take any questions. Present allow you're recognized. Hello there okay really. What you can tell your wife your funds you did fine which is to tell Larry to shut up and use your blood pressure will go down she washes of. Hi The the expanding of from six to nine the ex officio members and I know I understand this is the board of visitors not that the board of trustees of you a system those ex officio members are all nine of the mix officio we're just these three that have been added all that you will come to if you don't if you don't mind unless list rust come join me all right Mr. Yes it is. Unitus yourself for the record please yes Sir Melissa rest with the university of Arkansas system represented Lowery there are seven members of the board of visitors that are appointed by governor Hutchinson there are currently six as Simplicio members and this bill would add three additional ex officio members. Okay to the ex officio members have a vote. I don't believe that they actually vote I do have somebody watching the proceedings today and so if I get if I misstated that I'm certain they'll correct me in a moment but I believe the voting members are those members that are appointed by the government. Okay. Just one quick follow up may so you know one of the things that I appreciate about the current board of visitors or the the one that has been operating is that it was the board of visitors that brought to light some of the concerns that many of us have of activities going on at the Arkansas school for math and science and I just wanna make sure that their influence of which I I think it's been a good thing is not watered down by us and sometimes that that's what's done by expanding the board is to try and dilute the power and the influence of those who are already there and so you assure me that these ex officio members would not be voting members I just received a message that they do not vote they earn their non voting members and and let me explain if I could just briefly the reason for the expansion currently we have a member of the student government association that is on it that is an ex officio member as well as others but we do not have a Representative of the staff or faculty that's part of the ex officio members of the board which we think is very very important they also do not have a member of the alumni association or member of the foundation and so the purpose is to get all constituent groups to have a voice on the board of visitors and so that's the rationale and the reason for a requesting adding these three members. Okay thank you thank you Mr. No questions I'm sorry represented got for you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair just a quick question and in section two it strikes out and that instructors are now not eligible to carry professional rate can you just describe what professional rank is and how it's different from ten years. when the enabling legislation was first and our person of Godfrey for a estimate saying it indicated that faculty members would not be eligible to carry professional rank work to or to earn tenure and nothing in this bill changes the fact that these faculty members do not earn tenure but what we're trying to do is provide a professional pathway for these faculty members for promotional purposes for instance you know we have a number of faculty members at the school of about fifty percent of those faculty members have their terminal degrees a hundred percent of them to the best of my knowledge all have master's degrees a lot of the qualifications of these faculty members are comparable to what we see on the number of our college campuses throughout the state and so right now what we would like to do is is have a professional pathway so that the first level would be an instructor then a lecturer and then like a senior lecturer just to be able to reward those individuals for excellent performance length of service except for. Thank you. No other questions in one of the represent Lowery. Thank you Mr chair of I'm sorry I will I was just looking more closely at the bill it references in addition to appointed members of the board and then we're expanding actually the number of ex officio members from six to nine help how many are appointed members of the board. Seven seven three seven. Okay so I you've already reassured me that the nine don't vote and they cannot vote to seven but. They could have influence over. Actions taken correct I mean. No I don't have the fully functioning members as far as discussion items agenda. Things like that. Retailer what I would say to you is is as I mentioned a moment ago when the legislation what I assume is a beginning part of the U. a system in there was legislation in order to make that change of the legislation provided that there would be seven appointed members by the governor and your corrected that currently there are six ex officio members in this would simply X. expand that to nine members but as I mentioned previously these are nine members are ex officio that do not vote that certainly are coming at issues from a different perspective for instance it's very very important and I think in talking with you in the past that we have appropriate representation and feedback from our faculty and staff this provides a mechanism in order to do that by having them is a member of this particular board as well as our line nine as well as our foundation. Thank you thank you Mr. Any other questions. To say none anyone want to speak against the bill. For the bill. C. nine represent Cozart recognized close your bill yes Mister chair thank you colleagues for a looking at this bill and would appreciate a good vote and make a motion of the past list represent Lowery like to. I make a motion to pass. Yeah motion do pass a discussion on the motion represented Lowery. Thank you Mr chair Not be I wish I could could have made the motion but I'm really concerned that and I understand the ex officio members probably in many cases maybe more so now that we're doing isn't of boards in meetings the ex officio members are able to participate but but I'm really concerned Now that we've we're gonna make that bored out of balance I trust completely seven that are appointed by the governor and I think it was a fair balance where you had six ex officio so that they could not out number the seven whether it's voter not but now I don't know that I've ever seen I'm not familiar with boards where you have. Almost fifty percent more ex officio members then you do appointed members. And though I have asked for more feedback As far as decisions at a as soon as a I don't know that that's necessarily from faculty and staff because that's where some of the concerns of for have have come from I mean of active actions of the faculty and staff in doing events activities that have embarrassed students in here has ostracized them and and now we're you know we're giving more influence to the foundation into you know those those entities that have more of a stake in making sure that AS MSA continues to run the way it is. It has fallen gone far afield of what its original intent was which was to bring Arkansas's best and brightest in in science and math and and now just based on some of the reports we've that I've gotten from students I know represent a warrant has also gotten them and others that they're very concerned about some of the The activities that take place. Extracurricular to the to the actual instruction going on and so on I'm just really concerned about this board being out of balance with ex officio members having more influence a possibly more influence than the appointed members by the governor so I am opposed to this bill. Thank you. Anyone else want to add to the discussion. Say ninety per the questions in a discussion. Motion on the floor to pass was will the committee all those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Is haven't graduation you pastor bill. All right reserved Evans is going to run SP two oh six. Jessica. J. Broadway may issue system join without you that is fine you're recognized. The members here today present Senate bill two oh six percent Irvin actually it's very simple bill what this deals with his per provisional positions at some of our campuses of higher ed a provisional positions are set by statute every two years and they do not go through the normal budgetary process that or appropriate positions with funding tied to the from the state budget or from the university provisional positions are funded primarily by federal grants. Grants or gifts to the university or from private donations in each person who occupies one of these provisional positions they signed a statement at the beginning of their employment they understand that if funding goes away then those positions go away. So prior to each session higher ed surveys all their campuses to see who needs to add these positions in the event there is any type of additional programming changes in this session we primarily have two of these first of all they issue systems asking for fifty additional positions. As you write remember back in last January a issue made an announcement that they had reached an agreement to collaborate with the ad telling global education group to explore the feasibility of creating the first ever in state veterinary medical school in the state of Arkansas I think we've had multiple conversations over the last couple sessions about. Star students leaving our state to have to go to Oklahoma or Louisiana to go to that school and this is a process in place now to try to create our own. That exploration continues and is getting close to coming together. However if it begins prior to the two thousand twenty three session then a issue one need to already have these positions in place that will be paid for by a private company to begin the process of starting the school. Secondly from the U. of a system you a P. B. is asking to add additional provisional positions in response to several new grants that they received the school of edge Education there's received two of these grants the first grants from Texas Tech University in their school partnership program to renew educator preppers preparation the granted decide to enhance teacher education programs at UAPB. The second grant is funded by the go forward pine bluff program in these grants will bring innovation to the methods of teaching and training at UAPB. the remaining grant positions will be filled by graduate assistants at the school of agriculture fisheries and human sciences all these positions are fully funded by external grants do not have any impact on state revenues. Be happy to answer any questions. Are there any questions. Seeing none. Thank you all to easy on him. Don't don't don't poke the bear. Are you sure there's no questions for anyone in the audience like speaking is the bill for the bill. What close reveal yes I'm closed motion to pass a motion to pass was since we had no question there shouldn't be any debate so all those in favor say aye. As opposed no regulations you have passed your bill thank you committee question. All right committee that's the rectified had to pull this bill down to do amendment today so we will not hear it if you have bills on the list I have some up here okay I have something before we adjourn representing the castle motion. I'd like to try to help clean up our deferred list colleagues to to do my part to keep things simple so I want to make a motion that we suspend the rules to move house bill eleven eighty six on to the regular agenda and then provided that you pass that motion that I'll make a do not pass motion on house bill eleven eighty six two kill and remove it from our gender and kind of clean things up do I have a motion to speed rules. To add this to the bill okay all in favor say aye hi all right listen like it's majority so trips to make you are recognized to make a motion so I make a motion of do not pass on house bill eleven eighty six I have a motion to do not pass any discussion on that seeing none all in favor of doing a do not pass on eleven eighty six say I. Impose. Graduation June of do not pastor bill. Well that's a first that I've ever done in this committee. The roasted Lowery take note. Just kidding all right. Eighty we are adjourned.