Public Transportation- House

The five young graciously passed house bill twelve sixty five out of here the other day and after that some review there were some opportunities for improvement and so that's what this the amendment is about and so basically what this amendment does is it creates a thirty foot parameter parameter around the bus okay and so then it under struck language that. That was who was struck last time Mr Brian asked me about it and we on struck that language and so what that means is then if you enter within that thirty foot parameter and then offer a demonstrate a reckless disregard for safety of the passengers of the school bus this would kick in so the other thing I want to point out is this amendment has you know some discussion about fines and things that were not changing any of that it's the letters and numbers and things that help us follow the code that's what changed nothing about the penalties is is changing all of that would be the sign in question for committee. Kerger motion of rezar Whitaker. I have a motion moved Dobson of the amendment any discussion all in favor say aye opposed same like sign here nine the minute pass you see with the bill okay so what the bill does now that this is adopted is what I just said except for it basically adds in addition to roadways school property and like a. Parking lot where you would expect public insurance so you know something like a mall parking lot a museum parking lot places. Places in the state of Arkansas we you might reasonably expect a school bus to to be and unload kids and that said I'm happy to try to answer any questions. Our sister committee. As to the reason okay. Hey hearing none anyone here to testify for or against the bill. To a grocery bill I'll close that appreciated someone give me a do pass thank you. I have a motion for Representative berry with a motion to do pass with as amended is that right represented better. Okay I have a motion represented berry pass the the bill as amended any discussion. All in favor say aye. Any opposing like sign here ninety congratulations your bill passed. We're going to hear from Representative Dotson own House bill thirteen fifty five represent Dotson there to just seven you may proceed thank you Mr members committee my name is Jim Dotson state Representative district ninety three before you have house bill thirteen fifty five for those of you that were here a couple years ago there was set up a licensure review committee in the Arkansas Legislative Council a subcommittee to go through and look at all the licenses that we have the occupational licenses in the state and going through that with after going through that we came up with a report of various ones to eliminate so part of this bill is the head option of elimination of the the one of the recommended license we can we agreed upon to eliminate which is the sales persons licensed for automobiles and ATVs recreational vehicles and so Most everybody on the committee was kind of shocked to learn that Arkansas actually licenses. Salespeople and so those and it's a it's a very small amount for the license each year but that revenue goes to the Arkansas motor vehicle commission. And it totals about seventy seven thousand dollars per year at fifteen dollars a license times fifty two hundred and ten license sales people in the state at least as of about a year or so ago when when we are we're and we're looking at this so based off of that at the time they report we were making a recommendation to get rid of more licenses or reduce the fees and in those licenses for all autumn automotive dealerships and distributors but they came out and were opposed to that part of it for sure because that would have been a about a fifty percent reduction in their overall revenue that came in so looking at their revenue expenditures and their their fund balance they had about a two point three million dollar fund balance they bring in just under six hundred thousand dollars a year and they're spending about five hundred and thirty thousand dollars a year so that that roughly seventy thousand dollar difference reducing the sales person's license fees would would keep them roughly balanced in what they're they're expenditures were as well as their their the reduction licensee so that's that's the first part of this bill. The second part of this bill is as they were discussing this we discovered that this commission because they weren't spending as much of their money and their fund balances growing they had determined that they were going to begin giving out grants for local schools to have automotive training Grants that they would just give out and generally that sort of thing goes through the Department career technical education. And we're aware of it since no one in the legislature was aware that this commission was doing that thought it best to try to create a formalized process to wear a under this bill we would create the automotive technologists education grant funds on the books of the treasure of the State to I have a collection point where five percent of all of the Arkansas motor vehicle commission revenues last from licenses would go into this fund but also allow for dealers and various other ones to contribute to the fund and then out of that fund they could do grants across the state and evaluate those grants in a a unbiased way and that those grants as they would be applied for as long as they met the criteria within come before the Legislative Council of were not in session or a joint budget committee if we are in session for review and approval before those grants go out to local school districts for auto repair technician type training so that's kind of a long explanation I'll try to dive in and to any details if anybody has any questions I have a question represent us that are you did answer one writers plus you said high school with automotive programs could apply for this is that go to vocational schools as well to your schools or. Yeah currently The educational grants that they would have been giving out we're going to like. A technical schools colleges like Black River technical school Arkansas tech as well as high schools like don Tyson school of innovation the Jacksonville high school there's a list of them in here so colleges and and high schools programs for education that specifically related to automotive repair and training for the automotive industry that's what the grants were for and that's what this program is designed to help replace okay thank you. Any other questions from committee. I know there's a great need for automotive industry technology changes every day the time these high school or the technical equipment handheld computers they use it that year the next year it's updated equipment is very expensive and so this that bill. Would would have to refer with your resented Barker you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair do you know how many grants were given out. I got your early And I I think this is a comprehensive intensive list from about a year ago It looks like about two dozen or so roughly I can count there everyone or give you a copy of this follow up Mr follow thank you. And is there a problem with the Commission giving these out. Well It probably depends on who the commissioners that particular year happen to be which schools have priority and not to say that that's necessarily a good not a good way to do it but at having a little bit more oversight to where it's not If we have a at a the state to career and technical place where at formalized process of application where they're being reviewed for the criteria of whether or not the the applicant meets the criteria and it's kind of a you know unbiased look at it to where these things get approved and go to anywhere in the state as long as there's funding available in that fund was the thought process behind trying to the just take it away from a a a board commission when I had conversations with with their representatives before drafting this bill they were they did not appear to have any problem with having a a more formalized process they just wanna make sure that the we were still supplying the needs for these types of programs so whatever they needed to do to make sure that that continued because there's a large need as the chairman said and. The industry they they've told me a supports these types of programs and would contribute funds in above the licensing fees this would allow for those contributions or donations to go into a fund and then those things to be distributed for the the overall purpose of grants for automotive training. Your question. Any other question committee. Senate questions anyone here to testify against the bill or for the B.. A C. nine resin does anyone close at I think I've closed and just would appreciate a do pass. Rezar Christian your. motion do pass any discussion on the bill. All in favor say a. Any oppose same like sign hearing none congradulations Rosa Dotson thank you Mister members to commit. Committee on let let you know about next Tuesday right now I'm not sure that give me just a second. For the. The let you know Monday.