Education Committee - Senate
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Bills discussed (35)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1766
Act 907
· 9 mentions in transcript, agenda, chapter
Matched: “um I'm gonna present House Bill 1766. 1756. OK Ah,”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT. | Ennett | Notification that HB1766 is now Act 907 |
|
HB1728
Act 906
· 8 mentions in agenda, transcript, chapter
Matched: “…OOL-LEVEL GRADUATION RATE IF THE STUDENT PASSES A GED TEST. HB1728 Ennett TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEI…”
|
TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS … | Ennett | Notification that HB1728 is now Act 906 |
|
HB1805
Act 805
· 6 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1805 Childress TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BULLYING"; AND TO CRE…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BULLYING"; AND TO CREATE A PROCESS WHEREBY A PUBLIC SCHOOL … | Childress | Notification that HB1805 is now Act 805 |
|
HB1786
Act 826
· 4 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “…IONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1786 Brooks TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLD…”
|
TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL … | Brooks | Notification that HB1786 is now Act 826 |
|
HB1283
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1283 J. Mayberry TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECON…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DIGITAL MEDIA STANDARDS IN … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1370
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1370 J. Mayberry CONCERNING MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS; AND TO…”
|
CONCERNING MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS; AND TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1483
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT … | Gramlich | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1495
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOO…”
|
CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. | Hawk | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1580
Act 801
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…S A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM. HB1580 Gramlich TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION…”
|
TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1580 is now Act 801 |
|
HB1642
Act 916
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED. HB1642 Gramlich TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING…”
|
TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING A SCHOOL RATING; AND TO ENSURE A STUDENT … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1642 is now Act 916 |
|
HB1646
Act 917
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED…”
|
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. | McGrew | Notification that HB1646 is now Act 917 |
|
HB1672
Act 800
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1672 McCollum TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC … | McCollum | Notification that HB1672 is now Act 800 |
|
HB1684
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…STRICTS; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015. HB1684 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDEN…”
|
TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT. | McAlindon | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1756
Act 803
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…TIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDIN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT … | Vaught | Notification that HB1756 is now Act 803 |
|
HB1812
Act 918
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. HB1812 Gramlich TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCO…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO ATTENDANCE … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1812 is now Act 918 |
|
HB1833
Act 806
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1833 M. Shepherd TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMISSIONS AT T…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMISSIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. | M. Shepherd | Notification that HB1833 is now Act 806 |
|
HB1866
Act 908
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1866 Brooks TO CREATE ELI'S LAW; AND TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHO…”
|
TO CREATE ELI'S LAW; AND TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO INSTALL AN AUDIO RECORDING … | Brooks | Notification that HB1866 is now Act 908 |
|
HB1938
Act 807
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1938 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNI…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE CREATION OF DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANS AND … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1938 is now Act 807 |
|
HB1939
Act 808
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…LITY OF THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. HB1939 Joey Carr TO AMEND ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE AND ME…”
|
TO AMEND ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE AND MERIT PAY; TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS; … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1939 is now Act 808 |
|
HB1941
Act 809
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…EQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND PROGRAM. HB1941 Joey Carr CONCERNING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND COM…”
|
CONCERNING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; AND TO PROTECT ARKANSAS STUDENTS BY ENSURING THE … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1941 is now Act 809 |
|
HB1946
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…FFICIENT DISPOSITION OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS. HB1946 Bentley TO REQUIRE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION…”
|
TO REQUIRE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. | Bentley | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB436
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB436 A. Clark TO AMEND THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS UN…”
|
TO AMEND THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT … | A. Clark | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB482
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB482 K. Hammer TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL…”
|
TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO … | K. Hammer | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB625
Act 920
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…MISSIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. SB625 B. Davis TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNIN…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; … | B. Davis | Notification that SB625 is now Act 920 |
|
SB634
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB634 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVI…”
|
TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. | M. Johnson | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1180
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. HB1180 Bentley TO CREATE THE BABY OLIVIA ACT. SB216 J. Dotson TO A…”
|
TO CREATE THE BABY OLIVIA ACT. | Bentley | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1484
Act 910
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAI…”
|
TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1484 is now Act 910 |
|
HB1793
Act 804
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1793 Duke TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. | Duke | Notification that HB1793 is now Act 804 |
|
SB205
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…C SCHOOL TO ADOPT A POLICY FOR ONE OR MORE STUDENT MENTORS. SB205 A. Clark TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CH…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL … | A. Clark | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB215
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…LOYMENT TAX ACT TO WAIVE THE "REASONABLE ASSURANCE" CLAUSE. SB215 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE USES FOR REAL ESTATE DON…”
|
TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE USES FOR REAL ESTATE DONATED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND … | J. Bryant | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB266
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. SB266 J. Dotson TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ADOPT A POLICY FO…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ADOPT A POLICY FOR ONE OR MORE STUDENT MENTORS. | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB438
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB438 A. Clark TO PERMANENTLY BAN FROM COACHING A COACH OR AN ATH…”
|
TO PERMANENTLY BAN FROM COACHING A COACH OR AN ATHLETICS PERSONNEL MEMBER WHO RECRUITS A … | A. Clark | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB528
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ICE ACT; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015. SB528 Gilmore TO ADDRESS THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF S…”
|
TO ADDRESS THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND THE CAREER … | Gilmore | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB607
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB607 Crowell TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL D…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INITIATES AND MAINTAINS A FOUR-DAY … | Crowell | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SCR3
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…CHOOLS. Page 2 of 3 DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle SCR3 J. Scott TO URGE THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO P…”
|
TO URGE THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAX … | J. Scott | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
Machine transcript
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- October 2, 2026
Senator Jane English
Unverified
0:05
Good morning. Welcome to the Senate Education,
um. Representative Brooks, you're up. Your bill number
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
0:17
is 178786 Rep District 78, House Bill 1786 is, is a very simple bill. This is dealing with National Guard tuition waivers, so Senator Brian is my senator sponsor on this. So we created the National Guard tuition waiver program in 2019, basically just allows for waivers of tuition for active
guardsmen and women in fiscal year 2024, we had 400. 47 guardsmen and women who took advantage of it and it continues to be the guard one of their best recruiting tools. All this simply does currently you can only utilize the tuition waivers at state sponsored institutions. This is simply broadening that to allow to be used at any um private institution that takes Title IV federal aid and so places like Falander Smith, Harding and W, John Brown. It just allows that tuition waiver to be utilized at those
universities as well. There is no fiscal impact. There's no additional cost to the program in any way. It just opens up 4 additional choice for guards, men
and women, and with that I'd be happy to answer any questions. Goodness, are
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:19
there any questions from the committee? See, none. Is there anybody in the audience to speak for or against this
bill. See, not much the will of the committee. No. bad all all post. Thank you. You passed your bill.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
1:39
OK. You want to do yours? OK. Senator Davis. You know, identify yourself. Thank you, Madam Chair, Brianne Davis, State Senate District 25. Allison Guthrie.
Tell me again the number of the bill. Um, House Bill 1728. And I've got Alison here to um help walk through these bills with us, so I'm gonna let her, um, talk about him and then we'll be happy to answer any questions, go ahead. You
Allison Guthrie
Unverified
2:31
identify yourself. Yes, of course, thank you so much. Uh, my name's Allison Guthrie, um, and I wanna thank you for allowing me to be here today, um.
Uh, HB 1728 uh it requires the reporting on the number of students receiving accommodations for disability institutions of higher education and the requires that this would be in the Arkansas Higher Education annual report, um, And um I'm just gonna give you a little bit of background, I guess, um. So I was born and raised in Arkansas, Central High graduate, um, graduating from the from the University of Arkansas Plasky Tech, um, and I'm a current
graduate student and teacher at Illinois State University studying cognitive and experimental psychology. Um, I also have a disability called Hypermobile Ehersanlo syndrome and have encountered a multitude of what I believe to be unnecessary challenges in higher education as a student with a disability, and we're here today because I decided to do something about that. Um, so, like I said before, HB 1728 requires that the total proportion of students registered to receive accommodations are counted, reported, and that statistics on
retention and graduation rates for these cohorts of students are reported in the ADH's annual legislative report. Um, currently there is no publicly recorded statewide data on any aspect of students with disabilities and higher education, so Arkansas lacks comprehensive data in this area, um, and this is the absolute bare minimum that higher education institutions should be reporting, which is what's in this bill and this is also the first time that this issue has ever been brought to light as far as I know, um, and the hope
is that the, the data from this will incentivize institutions to investigate any issues that may account for any potentially low graduation rates, um, the biggest issue here is that we're funding these programs and services for students with disabilities without checking in to see whether or not um. These services are actually benefiting those students, um, I think as lawmakers it's important um to make sure that taxpayer money is well spent by holding institutions accountable for this data because, you know, if, if we're spending taxpayer
money on programs that aren't meeting the needs of students with disabilities. We're not just failing students with disabilities. We're also failing taxpayers. Um The number of students with disabilities enrolling in institutions of higher education has also tripled over the last few decades and is only projected to increase in a state with the 2nd highest percentage of people with disabilities. This seems like a pressing issue. Additionally, some reports show that up to 19% of undergraduates are students with disabilities, and this is thought to actually
be a gross undercount and according to the research that I did in cross referencing multiple databases, only 3 institutions in the entire state of Arkansas had more than 10% of their
Speaker 25
5:30
student body registered to receive accommodations for disability, so we are missing a significant amount of students here. Um, I also think
Allison Guthrie
Unverified
5:40
any efforts towards increasing retention and graduation rates as an overall win for institutions in Arkansas. Um, as well as an overall win for the economy and the
employability of our Arkansas graduates. Um, however, without this data, we cannot know for sure. Again, whether or not we're meeting or failing to meet the needs of students with disabilities. So I think it's time that we started following the statistics
Speaker 25
6:04
on students with disabilities to better serve their journeys in the future, um, and so I'd ask this committee to vote for this legislation and to count us in. OK,
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
6:15
but we're happy to answer any questions. They're questions from the committee, Senator Sullivan.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
6:22
Thank you, Madam Chair. So when a student transitions from a K-12 setting into higher ed, generally in K-12, they have been tested and go through things, so is there no transition process as they enter higher ed, that's there's no
Speaker 37
6:38
evaluation or Standard of by which people are
Speaker 38
6:44
evaluated. Um I can't speak to that. This
Allison Guthrie
Unverified
6:47
bill just would follow the students at the very least from the time
they enter higher education, um, and, and then As they progress throughout
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
6:57
throughout that journey. So there, I mean, it doesn't, it doesn't, K-12 is just entirely different than higher ed, and so, um, it's, it's not the same type of thing where you have 504s and IEPs and stuff like that. And so this just says that if the students, uh, are registering with the institution, the institution doesn't have to go out and ask every student, do you have a disability? Do you have a disability, but if the student
registers and lets the institution know, then that's where, um, the tracking can begin. Thank
Senator Jane English
Unverified
7:32
you. Other other questions? From the committee Seeing nobody in the
audience to speak for or against the bill. What's the will of the committee? Are you closed? I'm closed. I make a motion to pass. The second 2nd. And any discussion on the motion.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
7:56
All in favor, all opposed. Thank you. Passed your bill. Now you have a 2nd 1. Thank you, Brianne Davis, State Senate District 25 and
um I'm gonna present House Bill 1766. 1756. OK Ah,
Speaker 25
8:11
thank you so much, Allison Guthrie here presenting on HB 1766, um. So, I'm not sure if I should start with what it does or just
Allison Guthrie
Unverified
8:26
tell my story about it OK, um. Yeah, so, you know, when, when people say the words, students with disabilities, most people immediately think that we're talking about K through 12 children, um, and this is because students with disabilities receive the most support that they ever will during their lifetime typically during their primary education years. Um, there's actually a term for it when teachers and administrators actively seek out students. With disabilities in K through 12 to offer support and resources, and they call it the
hunt, and this is because these schools are equipped with a multitude of programs and resources to help these students, but once they graduate from high school, um, they once ubiquitous support from the school and programs drops off significantly and there's actually a term for this, and it's called the drop off, um, and it's used to describe that lack of resources during the transition to post-secondary education and employment for students with disabilities, and this is also a national issue and it's also something that I watched happen. with my brother who has autism. Um, so HB 1766 would streamline
and make more accessible the process of understanding, registering for, and receiving accommodations and expands the allowed documentation needed for accommodations to improve the transitional process from K through 12 education into higher education institutions. Um, of the barriers to students both requesting and receiving accommodations, lack of awareness of accommodations and the process by which to request them, as well as a lack of appropriate accommodation needed to qualify for accommodations are at the top. Uh, in these situations, the barrier for the disability is
not in the student, it's in the environment, and we can't change students' needs, but we can change environments. Um, my own experience during the accommodations process was actually stalled by requiring a reevaluation for a permanent disability because the documentation was not recent enough and um because I attended college long after I had graduated high school and so my previous 504 plan was, I guess like inaccessible because it had been more than 10 years. Um, But these types of barriers
become absolute roadblocks for students with lack of resources or self-advocacy skills. Research shows that students are less likely to both receive or request and receive accommodations in higher education compared to K through 12 school settings. Research also shows that students who reported having a disability to their institution of those students, only about 12 to 13% um actually registered with disability service services. So according to this study, 88% of students with disabilities are not currently receiving support through
accommodations, and this is an issue that absolutely must be addressed, and I believe that HB 1766 is a start, uh, additionally, up to 43% of students who disclose their institution or their disability to their institutions do not ultimately end up receiving accommodations for their school. Um, I also found similar report numbers in a pilot study I did last semester where in 61% of respondents indicated that they had a health condition or disability that could impact their academic success, while
only 11% indicated that they were registered to receive accommodations, and this tells us again that there are significant barriers for students with disabilities in both requesting and receiving in accommodations in higher education and um uh this Bill seeks to eliminate the barriers that it can, um, it expands document. Documentation, um, so it would allow for previous IEPs to count, previous 504 plans to count as documentation any sort
of disability or injury due to military service, would accept previous plans at former institutions or any other state state educational agencies and would not require the reevaluation of a student's permanent disability, um. It would create um a policy to enhance transparency, including information about the describing the process of accommodations to students in plain language, um, being transparent about what criteria is used by these departments to determine
eligibility for accommodations. Um, it would Uh, a lot. They would have to disseminate all of this information during the application process, student orientation in academic catalogs and on institutions, public websites, and would provide a list of reasonable accommodations and resources to applicants, students, parents, and faculty again in plain language. It also allows for flexibility to create accommodations that may not be
listed, but reasonably accommodate the needs of the student with a disability. Um, so sometimes students may not have a medical condition. I have a friend of mine who's child was homeschooled for the entirety of his life until he was a certain age and you know had difficulty in classroom settings. This was not a medical condition, but it was considered a barrier within the environment to that student's success, and so this allows for flexibility and accommodations like that
where medical documentation would not suffice, um, It creates advising services for students with disabilities who have self-identified as having a disability and are registered to receive accommodations. And um Or we're happy to take any questions. There are
Speaker 46
13:47
questions from the committee. Or anybody in the audience to speak for
Senator Jane English
Unverified
13:57
or against the bill. The none. What is the will of
the committee? I'm closing. I make a motion to pass. 22nd
all in favor, all opposed. Thank you very much, passed your bill. OK, let's
see. Representative Childress, are you here? Hey, you want to come have a seat?
To, uh, House Bill 1805 Thank you, Madam Chair,
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
14:32
with permission from the chair, I would like to ask Doctor Brian
Diffy from the Alma School District to join me. Go ahead. your name Brian Duffy Alma School District. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members. What a House Bill 1805 does. It adds three definitions to the current bullying bill. And or the current bullying law, and it also allows public schools while investigating a
bullying incident that they discover another violation like an example of a Title IX violation or any other state or federal law to continue with that investigation and conduct multiple investigations into one. What that will do, it will help save school districts money from these third parties that we're having to use to conduct investigations. It'll allow them to do one investigation to encompass anything. that occurs with permission from the chair, I will turn the rest of it to Brian Diffy and let him
explain what generated this bill and some examples of
Speaker 68
15:44
what they're seeing um. First of all, as far as the definition of bullying, there's clarifications always needed sometimes. With situations and We feel the the 3 bullet points clarify the definition of bullying division staff were consulted in the development of this bill and a few school districts have been involved with with helping with this, uh,
it clarifies what conduct would be bullying instead of other conduct that might be addressed in other parts of the student handbook, for example, just an argument between two students, well, maybe that's not bullying and it's something else in the handbook. The current definition is very broad. and this new definition could serve as a checklist for parents, teachers, and administrators, um, in the second section, the goal of this is to prevent simultaneous multiple investigations, possibly of the same conduct
that may constitute a Title 9 violation or something else, and for the times that we must that several school districts have had to use third party investigators. This would save multiple investigations based on other standards of the same conduct. And to make sure that all the regs and laws are followed in these investigations of misconduct so that there's just one investigation witnesses and, and can only be interviewed one time instead of multiple times
and just be more efficient in the investigation process into these allegations of misconduct and as Representative Childers said, would save time and money in investigating these discipline issues. Um, the The, I guess you'd say the advantage is we can be more efficient. There's various incidents that happened that We need to investigate sometimes at the school level and sometimes it may take district level to investigate certain
allegations, and if we can consolidate all of that, it makes it more efficient
Senator Jane English
Unverified
17:52
for everybody. Thank you. Are there any questions from the committee? Senator Sullivan.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
18:02
So in section 2 here, maybe I just don't unders, maybe I just don't understand, but it talks about an investigations of illegal conduct. So if law enforcement involved in this?
Speaker 68
18:15
There could be some cases where if if there's Laws violated that yes we may have SROs or police departments involved in investigations if there's certain crimes that have
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
18:27
been committed, that is possible. So like I'm in, if the facts that support an alleged incident of
bullying under this section may also constitute a violation of another state law. So when the district takes action and. They're taking action based upon
Speaker 68
18:46
a student violating the law without court involvement. Well, we would take action based on what's in our policies, then if there's other legal action that needs
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
19:02
to happen, we would definitely turn that over to law enforcement authorities. Well, that's, I understand, but help me understand so you're in line 23 says you're also constitute a violation. A violation of state law,
Speaker 74
19:13
so you're making a determination there that they have violated
state law. If there's another, if there's another law, OK.
Speaker 78
19:21
How can the school make a determination they violated state law? Well, we
Speaker 68
19:26
would definitely need to consult legal counsel as far as this investigative process and also potentially law enforcement and other authorities just that's not what the bill says. Bill
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
19:35
says they have violated state law, right? And so you're making the district is making a determination. That a student has violated state law.
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
19:47
How can you do that? That's a, that's a very good question, and I don't think the district can determine that. That's for a judge or a jury to decide and I can give you one example, Senator. I'm currently still on the Benton school board until my term is up. So what we encountered with a recent bullying investigation during that investigation, they discovered a federal violation of Title IX. they thought, yes sir. So what they did was I've been through
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
20:19
all of them. I was 30 years
in school alternative school. all of that work with your witness several times. I'm just saying what the bill says that the district has made a determination that a student has violated state law,
Speaker 78
20:32
and I don't think you can do that. And in that process, I could speak for me. I'm going
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
20:40
to consult. Legal counsel. you're good, but the bill says that you're making a determination they violate the state law. Explain to me how you
Speaker 68
20:50
can make that determination. Well, I can't do it solely independently. That's what I'm saying. OK. Thank you, we've got to consult others.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
21:00
Other questions from the committee. Seeing no or anybody ever speak for or against
the bill, we do, uh, no. So. OK. What is the will of the committee.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
21:25
Motion due pass here a second. Is there a discussion on the motion? Yeah. Yes. I completely agree with what you're trying to do. I don't think that's what the bill says. I won't be able to vote for
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
21:47
the bill this time. Thank you. Senator Johnson. Thank you, Madam Chair. So I'm trying to. Senator Sullivan on page 2 line 23.
That you referenced, it says. Syria didn't get that, um. It says that uh. It may also constitute a violation of another state law. I'm not sure if it means that they're making the determination that it does. It just says that it may. I don't know if that helps. Clarify your concern, but that's the way I'm reading it, so.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
22:31
Senator Davis. Thank you, Madam Chair, but I, I think further down is where it's confusing me because it says nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a public school district from investigating and uh deposing of the alleged incident. A bullying in accordance with the other. able state law. Or rule and live the
requirements of this section. Hard to understand. I mean, maybe
we can not. If, if the sponsor maybe would like to Withdrawal and not vote right now and we can talk about it and maybe amend and or clarify in some way and bring it back when we come back in at 10.
To make sure that it's not the language is clear. should be willing
Speaker 111
23:50
to do that. OK. OK. Yeah That one. What do we have to do because we've got a discussion, so I mean
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
23:55
if it says if it says in the bill they have violated policy. Then I can see why you would, you would have grounds to investigate a violation of policy.
I'm, I'm more comfortable investigating based on what your policy is based on what Even with the main language in there. I travel with.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
24:20
It's a little fuzzy. We'll pull it down. I've got a little time. Sorry, I was in pier chair
and pier and we'll work on this if we come back at 10 o'clock, I'll work over there with them. I'd just like to hear clearly stated because I got in here like,
what's, what's the main concern, so we can get to work on it. Senator, if Senator Sullivan would, he's one
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
24:44
expressed concern. Yeah, I, um. Maybe an attorney for the Uh, Department of Education. Can testify as to whether we need to clarify the policy or whether
whether we're Investigating based on a violation, a supposed investigation of state law. With
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
25:02
the chair allow court need to
come up real quick with the chair allow Courtney
Senator Jane English
Unverified
25:11
to come here. Thank you. It is, it is a little fuzzy. Ma'am.
Speaker 119
25:18
You'll identify yourself, you'll be recognized. Courtney Sais for
Speaker 121
25:21
Department of Education. And I'm sorry,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
25:25
we were having a sidebar conversation. What was the question? Yeah, so the question in in this bill, it talks about the school made by uh line 23, I think, also
constitutes a violation of another state law or rule or federal law, so I'm just I would be more comfortable doesn't mean I'm right. I'm more comfortable if they're investigating based on policy. A violation of their school policy when you start saying we're investigating based on a violation of state law. I don't know that the school has the authority to supplant the courts
in this, is that what the bill says? No, so
Speaker 122
26:08
in part of this is because it's taking it in isolation, and if you were to look at 618, 5, 14 in its whole. It specifically is talking about school policies and so when it says an alleged incident of bullying under this section. That's referring back to school policies. So basically what the bill does is say that if a school is investigating an alleged incident of bullying under their school policy. And it may also constitute a violation of another state law or federal law, so I believe the
example was given of Title IX or state laws, then they just have to do one investigation. So it's to eliminate that need for duplicate multiple investigations if the same incident would have to be investigated under district policy, state law and federal law. OK, and. The school is not making a
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
26:55
determination then. No, they are not on state law. OK they're not and they
Speaker 122
27:02
cannot do that. Agreed. Thank you. OK, so,
Speaker 127
27:09
Where are we? Uh, do we have a motion make it
Senator Jane English
Unverified
27:21
again. Yeah, I'll make a motion you pass. OK, a second. Any discussion on the motion. The none. What's the whe eyes or no. Thank you, you passed your bill. Thank you for your patience.
So now that we have some clarification. OK, I know these little folks are here from
some. Back what, what, what is your like
that. 16 1646. Who are all these folks with here? 1646
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
28:29
OK, if you'll identify yourself, you'll
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
28:36
Senate District 6. State Representative Richard McGrew, District 85. I proceed members. This bill
simply seeks to provide some mechanisms for parents and teachers to make sure 1646. Make sure that material contained in school libraries is Not
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
29:00
about sexuality in media centers K through 5 is is age appropriate. I'd be happy to take any questions. Are there
Speaker 152
29:16
questions from the committee 164646. Yeah Uh
Speaker 158
29:32
So where, where are these things locked up? books or whatever in the compartment. They'd be locked in a in a box or a compartment. You can answer. Let me ask a question. Is it in the
Senator Jane English
Unverified
29:51
library or is it another place in the building in the media center would be fine. It doesn't necessarily it can be, yeah.
So how would anybody know that these things are in the box a locked box.
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
30:17
If parents want their kids to be able to access Those materials they can give the school we have a
Senator Jane English
Unverified
30:22
list of them or something like that or things that are in the lockbox. It doesn't
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
30:27
spell out that they have to be in there. They're non-age appropriate material, so they're material that that should not be in the K to 5 library to begin with. In a school library in
kindergarten through 5th grade, and so this material of fits of the sexual orientation that the parents want their young child to know about it than the parent can go. You've written permission for
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
30:58
the librarian to do that. Senator Davis.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So at the end of page 2, it says is used in this section non-age appropriate sexual contact means basically
materials that um are not developmentally appropriate for K through 5. Um So is the librarian going to be determining each book if it's developmentally appropriate and then based on what standards, because, I mean, if they are ordering books for their library, typically it says, you know, for ages 8 through 11 or, you know, it, it tells you sort of what ages that that book is for. So is it is it up to the
librarian to determine and then based on what. Um, well, they used to determine what is developmentally appropriate. So the library in Cannes
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
31:51
does order the books in the library and does make, you know, does make. The decision of which ones go there or not. If a parent sees a book in there that they child brings in the book that they think is inappropriate, then the parent can go to the library and point it out in the librarian had the option to go ahead and locking it in the book in the.
In the compartment then. And then the next step would be for if the librarian says no, it's appropriate, then the parent goes to the principal and kept at the local level at first for the principal and the superintendent to get together and make that decision. But initially that decision is made by the librarian to make that decision. But it does have a mechanism for parents to To voice their opinion.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
32:39
So if the librarian misses it on the front end.
And the parent comes and says, hey, my child checked out this book. It was not developmentally appropriate, um, Then the teacher or the librarian can then lock it up, but it does say that an allegation that an individual knowingly failed to comply with the section for the first time shall be documented by the principal of the school. Um So if they missed a book unintentionally, and it was brought to their attention at that point,
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
33:11
the principal would. Be involved, right? And so the
principal's gonna, he can say whether or not that is obviously everybody agrees that's, you know, I can't define it, but I know it when I see it. Right, so at that point you've got administration involved. They can make a judgment call. Everybody should have known that was age inappropriate or or that's questionable and there's going to be a process there. Thank you. I guess
Senator Jane English
Unverified
33:38
my question is how did, how did he get there in the first place. I don't these things or don't have
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
33:47
to go through a process of ordering and I think Senator
Sullivan can probably speak to some of this, but, but, but the American Library Association approves approves the books that are purchased by our school libraries, right? And I think it's been demonstrated that some of those approvals are not necessarily what
Senator Jane English
Unverified
34:09
you and I would think of in the
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
34:12
same light. Senator Sullivan. but the Les Act defines
What, uh, some things that are inappropriate for our kids, young kids, does this bill consider what's already
Speaker 148
34:26
law. It it does we have checked with uh Director Olivia, this is also supported by the AAEA. Not that I always agree
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
34:38
with the court, but the court said in a recent decision that uh one letting the, the primary people
that know what's best are librarians. That's what the court said. So that standard you seems like you've addressed here the court also says that uh educational, sexual educational material is. Different from other material, so does this bill consider uh material that's educational in nature. Are you going to lock up educational material and other
material as long as it's age appropriate, it doesn't
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
35:16
need to be locked up. OK.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
35:21
Thank you. So What is the will of the committee?
Skate park no one signed up. Nobody's speaking for or against. What's the will of the committee? I'm. There
any need to comment on that just motion. Oh, they were all post. Thank you. You passed your bill. Thank
you. Thank you. OK, Senator Davis, do you want to do House Bill 1833. I'll
be right outside. OK. You'll identify yourself, who'll be recognized 1833.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
36:22
Thank you, Madam Chair. Brianne Davis, State Senate District 25. Andy Davis with UAEMS. So House Bill 1833 um is really just, um, an attempt to clean up and clarify the admission parameters for medical school for UAMS. Um, we're looking to move away from a percentage allocation within congressional districts and uh more just to a a number allocation, so we know the number of students from each
congressional district, um, so there's several reasons for it and I'll let Mr. Davis speak to that, speak to those, but part of the accreditation standards for UAMS is people actually graduating. So with the the percentage allocation that we've had in the past, um, It could maybe put him in a potential bad spot if students aren't meeting the criteria in the first place to be admitted to UAMS, um, and then there's maybe students in other congressional districts that are meeting that criteria, but they're cut off because of the
percentage. So we looked at a way to do it fairly to still, you know, promote and advance Arkansas students first, um, but do in a way that was fair and reasonable to ensure there were good graduation rates within uh UAMS and that we're putting, you know, recruiting Arkansans to be doctors and stay here in Arkansas and serve the citizens.
Speaker 198
37:49
Yeah, thank you, Senator Davis. Thank you committee as you all know current law already allocates so many slides from each congressional district for
the College of Medicine at UAMS. With current law doesn't do is address what if there aren't enough qualified applicants from every congressional district.
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
38:06
What do you do then? So in this bill we're simplifying things and just saying it's 5 people
Speaker 198
38:12
per congressional district, an additional 25 Arkansas residents over that, but then adding in if there's not 25 qualified applicants who accept an offer. Then it goes to Arkansas residents. At large and then it goes to
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
38:31
applicants most likely to stay in Arkansas. That's it in a nutshell. Yeah, we're happy to take any questions. This has not been a controversial bill, um, but we're
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
38:50
happy to answer any questions. Have a question? Senator Dodson. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm for this double Davis bill. OK.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
39:03
See nobody. Are you close for your bill? I'm clothes and make a motion do fast. OK. All in favor. I all opposed. Thank you very
much. You passed your bill. Thank you. OK. All right, let me see here we are. 10 minutes.
Speaker 207
39:39
And we can't do 1672. Uh, representative Duke. You have
Speaker 213
40:02
house bill 71793. Yes ma'am. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, members. So
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
40:09
your microphone closer better. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, members. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm glad to be here this morning. I know you guys had a long night. I'll try to make it short and sweet. Um, so the hospital 1793 is a constituent driven bill from not just my constituents, but I heard from a lot of variety folks around the state. Particularly Northwest Arkansas, so just to be clear on that one, and so it's just a common sense local control bill about discipline procedures. So right now currently we have PBIS positive behavior intervention
supports that is required in law to be utilized as a disciplined behavior framework at every local school district across the state. And um I don't have a problem with PBIS. It's a good strategy and can be helpful, but I don't think it should be the only tool, um, I definitely don't think we should be requiring districts to use this specific one, there's other frameworks and strategies out there that they can use and I think that local school districts have a better handle and um know what their community wants, what type of procedures and frameworks
work best for their community and for their school districts and so um I would like to afford them the ability to make those decisions. For themselves on that local level because as you all know, not every district is the same across the state, we have different needs and different um ways we want to necessarily handle these things. So this is just trying to not have a cookie cutter approach to discipline procedures and policies. I did talk with Desi about this, and they are in favor of allowing districts to use strategies that were work best for their students. Of course, they're here, as you know, and if you
have any questions for them, as far as the strategies and different frameworks. I'm sure they would be happy to answer those. as they'd helped assist that answer um in House ed committee, but again, this is not requiring. People to do anything, um, any specific program, any specific framework. It is not saying they can't use PBIS. It's just saying do what fits best for your district. You can use PBIS if you want to continue using it. It doesn't, um, they put time, effort, training into it, but I've heard from several people
who feel like there are some different approaches that they would like to use, um, and that they would also like to, some that would like to go ahead and continue down the process, whichever works best for them, just let them decide. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions as best I can. Questions from the committee.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
42:45
It center Sullivan I apologize for stepping a little bit late, so is there uh one version of this PBIS is at a specific uh Company that's running this. Don't know that company is the right phrase for that, but it
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
42:59
is a specific, very specific framework, and it was put into code before I was down here, so it's been a couple of sessions ago that it was put into code to do that and sitting on the school board back at home when it came in, we had questions
about why are we being told on a on a state level what discipline frameworks to
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
43:20
use on a local level, you're repealing that requirement, sir. Any other questions?
Senator Jane English
Unverified
43:31
Nobody in the To speak for or against the veil, and what is the will of the
Speaker 213
43:40
committee? All in favor all pose. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, members.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
43:49
OK, it is just about 10 o'clock, um, we have to recess because budget is
Senator Jane English
Unverified
44:00
I don't know how long but it's going to take 15 minutes, let's say. They what
Senator Jane English
Unverified
44:10
Yeah, OK, that's what we'll do. Right.
When they adjourned or I'm hoping that maybe like about 9:30 they'll be finished. They don't
have, yeah, mhm. Yeah, so. We will, we will recess. Until were recessed.
you We're back. Senator Boyd, do you have house Bill 1672. Pardon me And if you will, yes, yes, turned on. Um,
You will identify yourself. You will
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
1:46:13
be recognized. Senator Justin Boyd and I have a
bill here to create some efficiency and accountability in charter schools and someone from the education department's gonna come help me. details for efficiency's sake. That sounds fine. I see
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:46:28
some credible person there. Oh Good morning, Jacob Ali at
Speaker 255
1:46:34
the Department of Education. Go ahead. Thank you. So, uh, what this bill does is it kind of takes a look at our charter application
Speaker 258
1:46:48
process and tries to streamline it, reduce redundancies that are being required to be submitted from the different charter authorizers that go through the process is still protects and keeps some systems of checks and balances in place where um a potential charter operator or an existing one would have their charter reviewed through the charter authorizing panel which would then be approved by the state board, but what we're we're doing is putting in a little bit of a timeline and a runway to change the contract that is approved through the
charter authorizing panel in the state board to make sure that we're looking at performance measure or metrics and to make sure that when we have a high quality operator in our state, we can give them the latitude and longitude that they need. We're gonna take into consideration all the different unique uh waiver requests that some um institutions may like specifically we made some amendments with virtual school to put. some common sense thing and they're saying that they don't need to meet some of the requirements like having a librarian and nurse when you're running a virtual school, but
there's some, um, stronger language that says we expect when we have high quality choice options for students and families because we believe in empowering our parents that they are of value and if you're a charter um operator in our state and get a grade of an F for 3 consecutive years, your charter agreement, your performance contract with the state is null and void. And if they want to appeal that decision or um the, the status of the charter, there's a process where they can do that where they would be able to come
back and prove why they may need to continue because maybe there are some unique circumstances on the on the grades that they're getting, so we feel like that this is a good bill that helps streamline the process, make it more laser-like and specific on performance and make sure that we can attract high quality charter operators and authorizers to our state while holding folks accountable. Very good. Are there questions from
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:48:42
the committee. Syra Davis. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
1:48:51
just a couple of questions just for uh clarification, um,
on page 13 lines 23 through 27, it talks about how the school may request a hearing, um, and I just wanted to be sure that the department would grant that if there is a request that the department will grant it, um, and could you speak around if that's gonna be like before or after closure, if parents, you know, that have kids attending the school will be able to speak at the hearing. So I think it's a great
Speaker 258
1:49:21
question. I, I wanna say the term used was may because we don't want to force the charter school to have a hearing if they're like we're, we're not making it because typically when you find a charter that's having a problem with performance. There's other issues and sometimes um they may just agree that we're just gonna rescind our contract, finish out the school year, come up with a plan. There there's been incidences where we've had in the state charter schools that weren't successful and we were able to find another author. her to go and work in that
community building, so this gives us the latitude to do that, but if they request a hearing, of course
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
1:49:59
we would want to grant that. Um, and then I think my last question is just around, you know, the grading system is what will dictate closure, um, which, which makes perfect sense. I mean, I think if you're not doing your job and you're failing that, you know, you should be looked at and and closed. um, but the grading system is not up and running yet, the new grading system. So how
will you deal with that in the meantime, um where we're
Speaker 258
1:50:23
sort of in this gray area reformulating. Good question. So we do have school grades every school in this state our current charter schools all the way to our virtual schools. I have an existing grade. Now, are we working as an agency to upgrade how we calculate those grades. The short answer to that is yes, and we're going through that process and we've involved um educators and we're actually doing a workshop with our state board because we've heard um feedback from our school leaders that we need, it's time to upgrade how we calculate school
grades, and they want to have a bigger focus on student growth and achievement and not some. some of these other qualifying indicators that are measuring outputs and or excuse me, measuring inputs and not outputs, so as we navigate through that, we're going to establish a new, new grading system that's gonna really primarily focus on our students' learning and um if the charter schools and the networks are doing their job, they're going to be fine on achieving the benchmarks um needed to be put
into place, but when you look at if you get a 3 year F in a row, right? That's a contract with. the state. When you look at a performance contract with the state, that means you're not meeting the upend bargain of your contracts. If you have a 10 year contract with a charter operator or a 20 year and their year it's 34, and 5, and they're not meeting the needs, then we need to call them back in, which is why we get out a hearing in front of the board and say, We're not meeting the terms of the contract, so they need to do something different. Maybe they need different support from us, but we're not going to continue
to operate under this nuance and, and I think after 3 years it makes sense, um, the research is actually pretty clear that if a student has an ineffective teacher for 3 years in a row, the likeliness of being them to be able to graduate reading and doing math on grade level. Yes. Thank you. I think
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
1:52:10
it's a good bill. I just wanted to sort of make sure that was clarified. Thank you. Sender Dodson.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:52:28
You're not working. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so on that, on Senator Davis's
question regarding the hearing on page 13. Lines 28 to 30 say the state board shall promulgate rules to govern the process of submitting this. Is that where you're going to ensure that like if they requested, like you said, they might not request it,
but if they do, they're for sure going
Speaker 258
1:53:04
to get a hearing in front of the board. Yes, that would be the appropriate place to do that and then kind of start outlining the process of what documentation would
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:53:13
be need to be submitted for the state board of review and if they don't do the request, then Yeah, I mean, which happens. I mean that happens and this um this applies to conversion charters as well as, I mean this applies to all charter
Speaker 255
1:53:27
schools, the goal is to all charter schools,
Speaker 258
1:53:31
and we, we, we have charter schools that come up, right, periodically because they contract is that maybe they're in their 10 year or 5 year they're being reviewed and we had some schools that were up like say this year and and we went back to our state board and said let's continue, um, the Carters, and they all agreed like we met with all of them that were up and say we're moving more to a new expedited contract that's going to be more streamlined and more performance based, so everybody as they transition, there's a few year cycle of how how they start going through will be put on,
on, on a new application process and be one basically. type of charter. Going forward, I want to say there's one charter, but the application process for the charter authorizing panel to review is being updated and more reflective to be a performance
Speaker 259
1:54:21
expectation. Yeah Universal for all of the different deaths, yeah, you mean the application, yeah, OK, I'm sorry I misunderstood. Thank you. Senator Murdoch.
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:54:32
Thank you, um, Madam Chair, thank you, Secretary and Senator Boyd for bringing this forward. As
it relates to the accountability piece, and I really appreciate your addressing um it across the board as as you are. I think that's credible and very noble and To to hopefully make us better as it relates to the teachers. And quality teachers. In waivers, uh. Are we going to the
Method of just having traditionally licensed teachers. Is that where we're going versus The waiver system that we have utilized the 1240 whatever specifically, which was an alternative form of licensure. Uh, can you speak to that a
Speaker 255
1:55:21
little bit for me? Um, excellent question. So, and, and we've had some
Speaker 258
1:55:25
previous legislation that looks at how we uh for teacher licenses per se. Look at that where we want to put all the teachers on an individual pathway towards a
standard license and we know there's going to be some conditions and maybe some waivers to help get folks there, but what we're really trying to get out of. is, um, like historically, let's say a charter school applies to they come to Arkansas proven track record, meets all the things. Well, instead of just checking, we want a waiver from every roll and statute, we should be checking which waivers they actually really need and it may be teacher licenses they may need some help as they transition to people to get to a pathway, but we're trying to get
away from this building or this district gets a general waiver for everybody, and we wanna make sure that we're being more laser-like and specific to listening to the nuances because the, the reality is that one size fits all approach to waivers doesn't. Meet the need of everybody cause we have some charter schools that um they they may target populations of at-risk students that have been have discipline problems or court proceedings and and their unique situation is gonna be a little bit different than a charter school that operates completely 100% virtually, which may look a
little bit different than um a typical K5 charter school or maybe flexible. We want
Speaker 255
1:56:45
to be flexible and more tailored to the specific needs of that school or entity. Thank you. Are there further questions
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:56:53
from the committee. OK. There's nobody here to speak for or against the bill.
What are the recommendations of the committee. Second, they were all post. Thank you very much, Pastor Bell. Representative Brooks. this You have
Speaker 290
1:57:31
House Bill 1866. You have Beg pardon. Yeah, we have an amendment.
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
1:57:46
Thank you, Madam Chair, Keith Brooks, state rep there is an amendment on the bill. It's just adding Senator Dotson as the Senate sponsor. OK.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:57:59
Thank you. I appreciate a motion. up the amendment. I hear a motion to
Speaker 296
1:58:06
accept the amendment. Second All in favor. Thank you. And then
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
1:58:11
my proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, committee, uh, with, with your,
um, approval here in a moment, Madam Chair. I'm gonna invite a couple of moms up to tell the story of their sons, so House Bill 1966 is quite frankly very simple in terms of what it does, but the backstory is much more complex and heartbreaking and so uh in my committee, uh, my primary goal was to ensure that the story of these two young men, these courageous young men, Eli Cash is very openly, uh, but more than anything else, it's for us to continue our commitment as a legislative body that the safety
of students is is the priority in how we operate in the state of Arkansas and if we find situations where we know that that is not, that standard is not being upheld, that we will address them aggressively because it's too important for the kids. So the basics of the bill are that it's a requirement to include an audio recording device in the locker rooms in schools in the state of Arkansas. There are very narrow narrowly tailored in terms of who can access the recording, uh, the information around it. However, uh, the problem we're trying to fix is there have been
too many situations. We know about Huntsville, Arkansas. We know about Lamar, Arkansas, and now we know about Quitman, Arkansas, uh, where young men and young women have not been bullied or hazed but have been sexually assaulted in our locker rooms in state paid for facilities. In the state of Arkansas and that it is unacceptable and will outstand. So with your blessing, I'd like to bring up Stephanie and Angie, who are cash and Eli's moms.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:00:03
Probably can the boys can sit over there
next to you. There you go. And if you ladies would identify yourselves in boys. You'll be
Speaker 299
2:00:19
recognized. Stephanie White. I'm the mother of Eli microphone up there.
Speaker 301
2:00:25
Hi, I'm Stephanie White. I'm the mother of Eli White. OK. MG Edwards and
Speaker 301
2:00:39
I'm Cash Edwards. Very nice to meet you. So these boys had a pretty rough 7th grade year, um, at the time they were 12 and 13, and now they are 1314. My son Eli was hurt, humiliated, traumatized, and violated during his 7th grade year at Whitman Public School. He took a stand for himself and every other child in that locker room ipman. He was a cool kid,
popular, funny, social, a leader in the sense that he's not going to stand by while somebody else gets picked on without saying something. He told us that they would whip cash with his cleats till he cried. They would hold him down and hump him as the abuse escalated day after day. Cassi screams for help. Against 2 and 3. Kids Hm Much bigger than him.
Cassius screams haunted Eli and a couple of their friends and they were honestly scared of what was gonna happen next. Um This was hazing. But not treated such by the administration. 3, the perpetrators testified in court that the abuse had happened to them in the past. Off season is free time for trouble and when you put a group of boys in an unattended room for long periods of time, trouble is gonna come. It came our boys very hard.
The audio recorders will help prevent measures and accountability. Preventative measures and accountability. Eli walked away from football and his school on May 10th, 2024. We chose equipment as our um school of choice, so Eli could play football. He played from the 3rd grade on, but when we moved to Mount Vernon, it was no longer offered in our district. He has always had hopes of playing in the NFL. I mean, since he could hold a football.
He was in front of that TV written them on. Not anymore. A lot of home schools now. We'll never know the effects that this is truly had on his mental or physical state or his growth from here on out. The administration equipment neglected the safety of our children and others in this school. 4 parents reported the physical and sexual abuse happening in the locker room.
The abuse can consisted of being bull whipped. Sometimes with the whip and sometimes with just the stick of the whip. They were shot at at close range with BB guns and Orbis guns. Tell from what to run from one end of the campus to the other while being shot. This is open. This is outside, this is open from one end of the campus to the other and then ambushed once they were inside the locker room with hundreds of bullets at close range to where some of
these boys ran out of the field house and their boxers. His head slammed into lockers. Eli's last day of school on May 10th. His head was slammed into the lockers 7 times, fighting not to be held down, pinned down by these. I crawled on top of him and humped him. One would hold his face looking at the perpetrator crawling on top of him. One would hold his feet.
This is violent abuse. This is dark. Nobody should ever be held down against their will. Nobody should ever. I have to go with these boys went through. 5 boys pled guilty to assault, battery, and harassment, and we're placed on probation and giving no contact orders with the co-defendants or victims. Equipment administration went out of their way to make sure these bullies never missed a practice or a game even though school policy states any student
that is on court order probation and school suspension, out of school suspension for disciplinary reasons will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities. That was not the case equipment. I
Speaker 308
2:05:02
followed chain of command all the way from meeting with the administration, the SRO,
Speaker 301
2:05:07
the superintendent, the school board to the state school board to sitting here with you today. We cannot change the past, but we can bring forth positive
outcome by creating reliable safety measures in our public schools. The lack of supervision allowed this to happen in quitman. Locker rooms are the only place and time that students are completely unsupervised for periods of time, bullying and harassment is at an all-time high. This open up, opens up a huge opportunity for students to be targeted. It is imperative to provide a safety net for students in their class classmates who take advantage of the lack of supervision. Not only can this
audio support reports of abuse it can provide clarity for situations unseen. There will be concrete evidence of events that need investigation and intervention. School administrators can make informed decisions instead of relying solely on conflicting statements. Students who endure abuse from their peers should not have to plead to be believed. They should not have to beg to be protected. This bill will help keep students safe and maybe even save students' lives. It will provide accountability
for student perpetrators and provide faster, fairer investigations for allegations. These audio devices respect students' dignities while still offering protection to those who need it. My son's story could have been very, very different with audio like this, from prevention to accountability, audio devices will make a difference. Thank you for your time and please vote yes. First one to thank you for
Speaker 302
2:06:56
It is very, very close to our heart, obviously because of the impact that it has left on our kids, um, in fact, For cash to Come along with me in this process is. traumatizing and but it is also something that he believes in, because this has to stop. In his 7th grade year, this activity started from the
beginning and lasted all school year. Um, this is a, a boy who wanted to be part of a team you wanted to play football, he loved the the camaraderie and the Just the friendships that he made, but as I drop him off at school every morning watching him walk into a locker room that he knew that on the other side of that door, what waited for him. He was the smallest kid on the team but had a heart that could
match any of them of any size. But these kids decided he would be the target of his of their Actions of sexual abuse. At barely 90 pounds, not 5 ft tall, he would have Kids that were 6' 200 or more pounds lay on top of him? While another would hold his head while yet another would put their crotch in his face. All while he was screaming.
There was a whole locker room full of other boys who either watched, laughed, or looked away because they were worried that it would happen to them. I sit here not for just my son who had to leave the room because it's just too hard. But every child in that locker room was abused in some way or another. There are screams that echo in that locker room. That will haunt them for a very long time.
Now in this locker room, the coaches were down a hall and in another room, supposedly in a place where they could hear if anything come about. Every single day while my child screamed, not one coach came to his rescue. These audio devices would hold those In power, administrators, coaches, all involved accountable for the safety of our children.
You cannot put a locker room full of 25 or more kids, teenage boys alone for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour or longer by themselves and not think that something is going to happen in there. And left to their own. This is what happens, and this isn't the first time we have documentation of years of this abuse happening in the school in this locker room. And it has to end. Because it will continue until we stop it.
And the echoes of my child. Should matter. And all of those before him. And all of those currently. And this happens not only in quitman school. Unfortunately it happens more often than we want to admit to. Cash has left equipman school. We have um enrolled him in another school where he can play football.
But the anxiety is there when he walks into a locker room. It's there of what could be possible because he has experienced The ultimate Abuse. That will follow him for a while. So I ask you to approve this bill. It is necessary
Speaker 317
2:10:51
for our kids' safety, and they deserve it. Thank you. Madam Chair, with your permission, can I bring up
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:11:04
Doctor Ferris Smith of the White County School District. Can I
Speaker 322
2:11:24
bring up Dr. Ferris Smith, Superintendent of the White County School District. OK I'm
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:11:28
Ferris Smith, superintendent of White County Central. So Madam Chair and committee, you've heard the stories of these two brave, courageous young men. Their stories have now been told for the last two
weeks here in the state of Arkansas very openly. Uh, I don't know where I would be as a 13 or 14 year old, uh, when sexual abuse had happened to me in a school. I don't know if I'd be willing at that age to step out and talk about it. Uh, these two brave men are, are young men are more than courageous, but a lot of the questions that we've gotten have to do with implementation or cost. How or privacy and so the reason I bring Doctor Smith here, uh, so he's a superintendent of White County Central Schools is because Dr. Smith saw potential problem and he decided to address it himself prior to
anything happening in the school system, he said, I'm gonna hit this issue head on. I'm going to deal with it and we're going to make sure this doesn't happen to the
Speaker 323
2:12:16
kids in my school district because safety is a priority, so I'll let him go from there. At the beginning of the school, myself and my athletic director, who is my middle school principal, Michael Strother decided to investigate putting audio recording devices in our locker rooms. With several districts having Title II issues, harassment issues, fights, bullying, we decided to meet with our technology coordinator Matt Jones and Shane Wallace to
determine what audio devices would be, would be best for our district to protect our students. After seeking legal advice from our attorneys, we found the audio recordings were considered educational records and not classified under FOIA. We're advised to put up signs in our locker rooms that say audio devices are in use at all times. The voice activated devices have been a tremendous asset to our district. We notified students and parents that they were put in for their protection. We've had not, we have not had one incident this year and no
parent or student has contacted us with any concerns. We decided to use the fricata audio system for our district. The press was approximately $1200 per device for a total of $7400 for 66 locker rooms. We play a cloud fee of $250 per device per year for a total of $1500. It's well it was an investment, well worth it. One last thing, if these, these devices can be turned off during
Basketball games, football games, so you have the ability to turn those off, so opposing coaches don't have to worry about confidentiality. um, thank you and I'll answer any
Speaker 322
2:13:46
questions that you have. Thank you, Madam Chair and committee, and we'll be happy to answer
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:13:56
questions. Senator Bryant. Yeah, walk me through that process whenever you're having a game or a public forum or other, other issues being utilized for those locker rooms. Is that a key stroke? Is that a former quest? Like what, what would you see?
Speaker 329
2:14:10
That process or what is that process? if if there was
Speaker 323
2:14:15
A Let's say a fight in a locker room, we would turn on the buses and listen to that only the principal or myself would have have that uh. potential to hear the recording devices, like I said, they're not, they're not under FOIA, and we, we turned them off during basketball games because we don't have football, so we turn them off during basketball games. They're they're voice activated, so it soon as school
starts, anybody goes in the locker room, uh. Used to, we had a little problem with people skipping school and going into the locker rooms. That's in that also,
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:14:54
so it's been a very good process for us. And centered on kind of address maybe some of the clarifications of the how uh within that. So within the legislation, uh, we, we pretty much narrowly tailor who can access this information and as well as how long the information can be around so it requires the posting of of a
notification uh to, to know that audio recording is taking place, which Doctor Smith has done, and again, to me, I love the highlight that since he did this, he's had 00 fights, zero bullying, 0 calls from parents who are concerned in. way, but it's quite frankly solved the problem, but nearly tailor is still saying that the, the audio recording must be maintained for at least 90 days, but can't be maintained any longer than one year. So basically just says systemic dumping of of the information should there not be an allegation, but it does provide that should there be an
allegation of an event of a situation that's happened in school administration can pull the recording or parents, grandparents, folk local parentis of the child can request that information. as a part of the investigation process, so this isn't something where, you know,
you know, somebody just random from the community can come in and request this information.
Uh, it's very narrowly tailored, uh, again, with just with the goal of protecting the student. So a parent can request
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:16:07
it and not be denied. They don't have to go get a court order. Or they have to have a formal
allegation or what if they're just researching, hey, my child told me this.
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:16:18
I'd like for you to review it. There, there has to be a formal allegation, yes. which
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:16:24
would have been reported to the administration. So if,
if this, if the school were to Listening to the tape. And acting appropriately and delete the recordings, what's the, what's the penalty for something
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:16:36
like that? We don't specify a penalty in the legislation, you know, we just the requirement is that they maintain the recordings for a specific time frame, uh, and
also want to clarify in terms of implementation we did put an implementation time frame out to the 20 school year to allow schools to and again I applaud Doctor Smith for just taking the bull by the horns and deciding to do it himself and figured out a way, and he's very, very good at that with a number of things in the school districts while they're so successful. And I've had other super reach out to me that they're very interested uh in connecting with him and, and, and figured out ways on their own, but we, we put it out far enough so that should we have to deal with um
funding questions, we can do that in a fiscal session or the next legislative session, but the department has also
allowed for, which is in the legislation to utilize school safety grants uh for this
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:17:26
as well. OK. And then just back to my original question so I'm clear. If the facility is being used for an opposing locker posing team's locker room, and the coach wants to go in and do the, you know, the halftime. What is that process to get that audio recording stopped, so we
Speaker 331
2:17:40
stopped them. After school on game days, you have the ability to turn them
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:17:46
off and on. Is that, is that administrative function at
Speaker 329
2:17:50
superintendent level or the principal's level or?
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:17:54
My my athletic director takes care of that. OK. And then just, just to piggyback on the previous testimony just cause I was curious, um, the what that, what those families had to endure. Was there? What is the process for accountability through the system. To address those
Speaker 329
2:18:14
issues now. Uh, we have been fortunate not
Speaker 323
2:18:18
to have those issues we took preventive measures, but if those are the case, we, we seek legal advice, turn it over to prosecuting attorney to see if there's anything there and we followed the student handbook
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:18:31
for discipline on that. Um, so that's a student handbook for the employees that allow it to happen. It'd be in personal policy handbook. OK, thank you. Senator Murdoch
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:18:44
Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, thank you, Representative Roach
you may have addressed this and I missed it, but. Um, this is a requiring this to be put in place is uh shall, the funding for this, you may have mentioned it comes from who?
Speaker 339
2:19:02
So frankly, I did leave that somewhat open, so uh the reason we put out the 2728 school year. Say that again kind of important. I agree. Um, so the allowed for this to
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:19:13
be funded through part of school safety grants, so the school can request this as part of school
safety grant, which is already existing, uh, so that's, that's a current allowable, uh, you know, our goal would be hopefully for a lot of schools to go and start implementing that in that way again, Doctor Smith did not seek any funding because he, he had the. existing funding within within his his budget. There also are additional federal grants, and that's something he possibly could go into. He he had a federal grant for some other safety issues that he was able to get, take advantage of, which is about $600,000 which he initiated himself, but then also again, you know, I, I put it out
the the shall to the 2728 school year because I wanted us to see what implementation was like as we started moving forward as we had adoption to allow us to address additional funding needs should we have to outside of the safety. Grant within a fiscal session or
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:20:04
within the next legislative session. Yeah, I guess, so my, my only concern would be the show part without a condition to ensure that the district would not have this as an unfunded mandate. So I mean I don't, I don't know how we get that worked out, but
uh then secondly, uh, you've done this, right? You implemented this. So
privacy and some of those things that that Uh, uh, they just obviously comes to concern with
whenever you have a device that's a conspicuously displaced device and human beings that just becomes a a and children there becomes a real concern about that and the and the management
of that, uh, certainly not saying, you know, who will do what, but we
Speaker 344
2:20:57
know people will. So a little bit more on how you manage that and what we, we are fortunate
Speaker 323
2:21:04
enough as as Representative Brooks said we were fortunate enough to apply for a COPS grant, and it was $600,000 and that put recording devices and audio cameras in every classroom and hallway, so we've been familiar with this before, uh. The only people that have access to this are the building
principles and myself, so, uh, no, no other, no other person on campus has the ability to pull the audio or video footage from our cameras in the classrooms or the audio devices in the locker rooms except the building principles and the or myself. So privacy issues hasn't been been an issue at all, Senator
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:21:46
Murdoch, and the way we have to do this. is we have to legislate to the
For something like this, we have to assume the worst, if if that makes sense and obviously it hadn't been an issue for you, but we have to put in writing something that It's there are 4 issues to protect from those that would perpetrate if you understand what I'm saying, you kind of got a legislate to the other side to protect for protection. So, um, You could, we just can't count
on people being as good as you all have been with this type of access. So, but anyway, I, I definitely understand the intent
Speaker 346
2:22:34
of what we're doing here. Go ahead. Respectfully, Senator, I mean, I would I would respond that I
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:22:41
would hope that we could trust our administrators. I mean those who are tasked with being the superintendents and administrators of our 200+ school districts in the state of Arkansas who are all highly qualified and they wouldn't be there if they're not and highly paid, as you know goodness, I
hope we would be able to trust
those people with, with private um because I, I would
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:23:02
hope they wouldn't be in a position if we couldn't trust, I'm certainly not saying superintendents are not trustworthy. What I'm saying and using superintendents are in their office somewhere and
they have Parcel this authority out to someone else, to a principal who then gives it to that director, and that leg director then gives it to the coach, uh, no, no, you're saying your situation, and I'm saying I'm
giving you credit, but I know in real life. What happens in these down the line situations, not that the superintendent anywhere. wants this to happen. That's not what I'm saying, but I do know the superintendents give authority to someone else who may give authority to someone else. Everybody well intended. Except for that one person in that so that's all I'm talking about and generally what we do is we put safeguards there to protect that, and so I
understand the intent. I just want to have the discussion, and I
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:24:01
appreciate that I again I think the most important thing about this is the discussion, uh, because I've been not pleasantly but very unpleasantly surprised by the amount of my colleagues who've come to me and said we had no idea that something like this had taken place in the state of Arkansas, and I refer back to Huntsville. I refer back to Lamar, 22 very public Title 9 investigations that if you read the transcripts from what these students experience, it'll make
your blood boil and, and so I would go back to
Speaker 349
2:24:33
to Ensuring that that as we move forward in the process, which is why I put it
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:24:38
far enough to allow us to deal with some of the
challenges that come up because as you know, every school district operates within a silo of themselves and has their own particular challenges and and
issues. So I want to make sure um capable as possible as we move
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:24:53
forward to implementation of something like this on board with this, I think implementation with districts
education implementation, it may be even. Not trying to give you something to do, utilizing someone that have implemented these type of things to help, you know, put this
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:25:10
in place. I said about 5 times on the House floor
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
2:25:14
yesterday, so everyone should know how to get in touch so certainly have all the sympathy for those that have
Speaker 323
2:25:21
been victims of this situation. Video cameras have been in place in many classrooms for many years, and it is an ethics violation.
To to break these things. So if that were to happen, A coach or whoever that broke that. They would fall under ethics violations for giving out that information that'd be goes to the department as an ethics violation also, so there are repercussions for for those things and, and as, as I said, cameras have been in classrooms with audio for for years. We're just wanting to You know, see them in locker rooms like, like we have done so. Richard, thank you, sir. Thank you, Senator.
Speaker 161
2:26:01
Further questions from the committee. See none we have somebody.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:26:09
Um, we have one to speak or the bill Adiba. Yeah, identify
yourself, you'll be recognized. Is this on? OK. Audie Allenba.
Speaker 360
2:26:32
Madam Chair and committee members, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. Huntsville Lamar and the most recent beingiptman, I will tell you when the quipman parents reached out to me on June 14th, 2024. My world stood still. This is one of the most horrific things I've been told about in the world of education. These things had occurred in a home these children would have been removed from that home and the fact that this went on in a public setting that we are all paying for makes me sick. The locker room should not be a torture chamber after months of denial and attempted discrediting of the parents and the victims, the courthouse confession.
and snippets from cell phone videos and pictures yielded all the results were true, and when the judge asked three of the perpetrators, why did you do this? We found out that our suspicions in past stories were true as well. This type of behavior had been going on for years. I hope you've not, I hope we have not gone to a world that has moved from accountability from the shoulder of the bully to the back of the victim. After going through this with these families in my mind, prevention is key. It's the only way for student safety and to adapt a quote from Ben Franklin announced the prevention is
worth £1 of protection. Child safety should always be a top priority in installing audio recorders in locker rooms can serve as a crucial tool in preventing and addressing abuse while maintaining privacy is important. The reality is that the locker rooms can be vulnerable places where misconduct can occur unnoticed. Audio monitoring implemented with guidelines can can deter potential abusers, provide evidence. When necessary and create a safer environment for children by ensuring that these recordings are accessed and uh when concerns arise, we can strike a balance between protection and privacy
ultimately prioritizing the well-being of children. Thank you.
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
2:28:11
Thank you Madam Chair, I just want to add a comment to to Audie. So I've known Audie for 12 or 13 years. She has walked beside me. She's walked beside my I'm gonna start crying here. She's walked beside me and my family with my's own challenges with uh learning disabilities and other issues. She was there at the very beginning. I've seen advocate for literally 100s and hundreds of Arkansas. She's a
tough young lady. She's a cattle farmer and she will, she will whip people into shape. She's a tough person. I've never seen her with all the students that we've talked about throughout the years, all the people I've seen her advocate for. I've never seen her break down and weep. However, this situation, I've heard it more than once. Which is one too many times because you see the impact that it's had on her as a child advocate, you see the impact it's had on the parents, uh, as, as dealing with this and the impact that it has on a school
district. So I just want to add that additional comment and again I'll
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:29:14
be happy to take additional questions from the committee. They're not Thank you very much. There was nobody else to speak
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:29:22
for or against what is the will of the
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:29:25
committee. Ocean do pass as amended. As amended. All in favor all opposed. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Appreciate
it. OK, let me see what we have here.
That was your last bill wasn't it? Oh
right. A representative Mayberry. You have house Bill. 1283. She's in now. 3.
To identify yourselves, you will be recognized. Oh,
Speaker 375
2:30:43
goodness. And you turn on your microphone. Uh. Thank you, members,
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:30:48
um, I Um I'm start all over again. I'm state Representative Julie Mayberry. We'll do introductions
Speaker 379
2:30:55
first. Yes. Ashley Cookie. And were you with? I am
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:31:04
representing school libraries in the state of Arkansas, OK? Thank you. Go ahead. OK. Members This is a very powerful tool that I have in my hand. And An instrument that we don't really give a whole lot of information to our students on how to navigate the world that they can view through this tool
as well as on a computer in a Chromebook on an iPad. Their world is limitless and in in this device and all across the country we are seeing states recognize this need, you should have, um, Handed to you something from Excel and Ed, um, may be familiar with the organization Jeb Bush is the chair of it that talks about the need for this
type of legislation in all of our states, um, currently there are 21 states that have comprehensive media literacy education in their schools, and there's 9 still pending some legislation, so we're not the only state looking at. this and recognizing that we need to do something to help educate our students at the very youngest of age all the way through high school in an age-appropriate manner and um as
you can see, I have worked with um librarians to be able to put this into our library media standards, and I'm gonna let Ashley share a little bit of um what
Speaker 377
2:32:44
we're talking about. Thank you for allowing me
Speaker 379
2:32:47
to speak today. Um, Arkansas has legislated school library media standards. We've had them in place since 2003, and they have gone through a couple of iterations as the cycle comes around be revised, um, our standards currently are um competency-based, and they do
include some of this information in our standards. This is just in addition to what school librarians are already doing standards provide guidance in how curriculum is taught. It's not a curriculum. but it helps teachers and school librarians, 8 lessons, co-plan with other educators to create a comprehensive curriculum specifically for the students in their schools. We want
Speaker 379
2:33:27
students that we have in place and in our on our campuses, the um digital media standards.
Speaker 377
2:33:37
I believe are really important because I'm unaware of any school district in the state of Arkansas where students do not use devices throughout the day, um, aside from their personal devices such as cell phones, um, beginning in kindergarten, we see our students with iPads and Chromebooks and learning how to use their devices for educational purposes, and I believe that having this set of standards can help school librarians and teachers um create and facilitate a more digitally responsive um students in our schools.
Speaker 386
2:34:09
And I'll be happy to take any questions as well. Questions from the
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:34:28
committee. Senator Sullivan. I'm scrolling down through the bill. And that uh I think on page 2. Line 9, it talks about digital. Wellness, physical, emotional, mental health. Um Informational literacy.
So the And you're a librarian, correct?
Speaker 388
2:34:44
I'm an educator of school librarians. I've been a school librarian now I'm
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:34:49
in higher education. OK, so Librarians have taken a stance. Uh, very publicly. And I think you as a school librarian are still involved in that. They refused to take a stance on how they were going to protect children, that they even would protect children. And they said they would not make a statement on that topic.
So if you're, if you won't
make a statement on how you're going to protect children, how do you go about teaching them about
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:35:23
the safety of media literacy and being
online. I think that's actually why we need this bill, Senator Sullivan.
I think that it puts into play. Our division of elementary and secondary education shall revise
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:35:36
the kindergarten through grade 12. I agree with you. I'm asking why the libraries are taking the stance on one side and say
librarians are taking a stance on one side and saying we're not going to take a position on helping children. We won't do that. On the other side, now you want to teach them about doing that, and I'm asking your witness
Speaker 377
2:36:01
why she can take such a position. Why librarians take that position. I'm unsure of what librarians you are referring to in our state statutes, we do have um challenge policies in place as well as challenge procedures. There are selection policies that are board approved and our school librarians in the state have master's levels of
degrees in which they have learned collection development, and so the materials that they are Procuring for their learners are designed to be for those age groups in which they serve, um, they review everything, they look at multiple sources. So adding this into being able to extend the wellness and safety to digital information, I think is really important. Well, nobody's saying it's
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:36:40
not important. So we all agree it's important and you have a role as a professional librarian to play.
We have a role as legislators to play in how we fund and what we do with things. My question is the library board state library board refused to take a position on protecting
Speaker 377
2:37:04
children. The state library board is separate from
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:37:07
school libraries. I understand you're a librarian. I'm asking why librarians stand behind. that. I'm not
Speaker 377
2:37:15
really clear on your question. School libraries and school librarians, I'm trained
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:37:20
much differently than a public or academic library I'm not going to follow up on it. I think I've made my point that it really seems odd that people would be training. Some people, other people, and how to use media while on the other hand saying we refuse to make a statement on how to protect children. That just seems odd to me. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair,
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:37:42
I hear what you're saying, Senator Sullivan, and, and I agree, and that's why I think the need for this is so great because it goes beyond
what's in a school library, everything that you're concerned about them reading in a library is right here in their hand. And I think we need to make sure that we had those standards that our department has put out there. To provide those protections that you so desperately want and advocate for and I understand that and that's why I think this bill is so incredibly important.
Unknown speaker
2:38:29
Questions from the committee. In a minute.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:39:08
kept questioning. The questions from the committee. Not seeing anybody in the audience to speak for or against the bill. What is the will of the committee. But do I get to close? Yes, OK, um.
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:39:39
cell phones from the classroom because of the access that they have here. They're going to go home and grab their phone or computer or Chromebook or whatever it is, and we're gonna have the same problems at home. I wanna remind everybody that our governor. On her address to all of us in session on the 2nd day of session, talked about a family,
a mom named Jenny and the 16 year old son Mason, who was watching videos on TikTok. And took his life at home. This wasn't in the school. It was at home. We need to do a better job educating our students on what they're seeing, what they're hearing, how to look and decipher all of this. This bill also goes beyond social media.
It talks about personal security, your name, your credit card information that might be out there and how you can protect that, protecting your social security number, all of those things, it deals with the cyberbullying that we see so much of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence that is a big, big thing that we know is coming forward and this will help give our students the tools it puts it in their tool belt to know.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:41:18
How to deal with this. I would appreciate a good vote. Will of the committee. Being no votes. Thank you
very much for your presentation. You do have that um other bill. Do you want to go ahead and do
it now. Why not? House Bill 1370. Enhancing amendment. Thank you.
OK would you look at the amendment first. To identify yourself, you'll
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:42:34
be recognized. State Representative Julie Mayberry. Thank you, go ahead. members already presented this bill, um, I'm here today because I heard you. I heard those concerns and I wanna show you the amendments that I've brought forward, so we talked about AMI days just briefly reminding you that um it would a school
district would only be able to make use of an AMI day if they got to day 89, or 10, um, of school being closed or canceled, you all were concerned, Senator Davis, I know had specifically concerns about um canceling school so that you could work remotely on a day when there's an athletic event. We certainly want to make sure that that's not um a possibility. So if you see on on the amendment, it says, um, this
section shall not be used to make up a school day missed due to an event sponsored by or associated with a public school district. um, so they would not be able to do that. We're putting some frameworks. around those AMI days to make sure that we have um learning going on on those days. If you look at the next page that virtual learning or the AMI instruction I've outlined two sections A, B, and C, focuses on
current areas of weakness associated with students and the and the teacher's classroom reinforces or improves upon lessons in curriculum currently being taught by the teacher or comports with the current. cur ri cul um being taught by the teacher and associated class work that would have been given by the teacher during the time of the missed school day. Um, so I, I heard what your concerns are and um put them in an amendment to address those concerns, and I'd appreciate a good vote. government
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:44:26
Yes. Go ahead. Oh you just the motion, OK, of
the amendment, OK. All in favor. All post OK. Go ahead with
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:44:45
your bill, OK? Um, so now that we've adopted the amendment, thank you very much again, I'll make it short and sweet. We've had this discussion. AMI days I know um
uh Senator, um, right, you had asked, does this mean that a student, um, that the school district could add an AMI day at the very end of the school year and just let kids work remotely the last 3 days of school or something like that, and that, that's not possible. So I want to make sure that that question was addressed. answered, um, this would allow um in the state of Arkansas, if a school district had to cancel, uh, school 7 days they get to day 89 or 10, they could make
use of remote instruction or some other alternative method of instruction only on that day, um, some of, I think we, great suggestions. I think we put some nice guardrails around this to make sure that it's not abused, um, but. An example I think when I was here before, most school districts were probably at about 56 days of um winter storms, we just had. This horrible weather. Luckily
it was over the weekend and so schools didn't have to cancel, but to give you an example, my school district was without power and luckily Entergy got the power back on on Sunday night and they were able to then go to school, but they would have probably have had to cancel school and what was unique about that is that only part of the district had um No power. The other part did, but you're faced with having to
cancel school for everybody because one school might be without power if you have the flexibility of AMI, all the students that are going to the schools that have power can go back to school and then the school, the, the actual school that had no power could have worked in AMI day and worked remotely on that day, um, that allows actually for students to be in. school, which I think is, is a goal here, um, the other thing I want to point out, which I think is so very, very important to
make sure that we are covering in, in, um, reasons why a school district can close is we have added in here on page 3 line 11. Um, any other unforeseen circumstances caused or created by humans including without limitation and active shooter event or a threat of an active shooter event that acts as a principal cause of a public school district's inability to conduct a portion of the minimum number of hours required for a school day under. Um. We
We have events unfortunately that may cause that are done by man by people, and currently that's not covered in our law, and I want to make sure that it is because certainly a school district
should be able to close if there's concern of safety in the school district because it's something that people are doing.
Speaker 409
2:47:57
I closed The questions from the committee, Senator Bryant.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
2:48:03
Thank you, Madam Chair. So maybe I'll, I'll ask, we just
go through a couple more fact scenarios just because I'm clear that we're not looking at an event that takes over a two week period all at once, that these are accumulating school days that then we're looking at addressing subsequent school days, so just a couple of facts scenarios of maybe some real world examples that you've experienced or good hypothetically happen from a two week snowstorm to just a very uh sporadic snow cycle. That would eliminate a lot of days and then what this bill
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:48:39
would allow. Sure, I mean, just what we went through. I, you know, in, in January and in February, I at my particular school district, I think had to close 3 days, the, the first, um, snowstorm and then another 3 days, um, so it was 3 days and then 3 days, um, my particular school district still hasn't even had a 7th day of closure, so most school districts in the state if they're along that that I think probably between 5 and 10, um, school days a year are
closed for various reasons, whether that's a power outage or winter storm or a tornado or something like that, um, most school districts probably will never make it to that 89 or 9. Our 10th day, but back in 2014 when we began realizing that we had all these, these missed school days. Um February 10th of 2014, we already had a whole bunch of school districts that were already up to 1817, 1614 days of
school, um, of of closure and by the end of that school year, you had some school districts that had over 20 days to make up, so it happens, um. Emergencies happen and all I'm trying to do is give local control to a school district to make those decisions on
a local level as to what's best.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:50:13
There are further questions from the committee. But is
there anybody here to speak for or against the bill? No, nobody's here. Would you like to close for your bill? I'm closed. I appreciate a
good vote. Thank you. What is the will of the committee? Motion do pass. Do I have a second? Thank you very much.
Thank you. Thank you, members. Y'all have a good day. Senator Davis, would you like to do um 625. So As mended There's an amendment.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:52:02
You all will identify yourselves, you'll be
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:52:07
recognized. Brianne Davis, state Senate District 25. Jacob Oliva, Department of Education. like to address the amendment. Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. This is an amendment to Senate Bill 625, um, we're we're doing a couple of things in this amendment. We should be. Striking
lines 35 and 36 on page one
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:52:52
Yep. And then on page 3 where where the new language is line 7, we're adding at the end of that online 10. Um, just including as required as part of us specific academic
modification, um, that was recommended by a clinician. To make that very clear. And then we're amending the language around committing fraud and Striking out. has committed. So it says has or intends to commit. That was very vague, so we're striking that out and saying has committed, um, and then That Window of application should be
extended, and I'm looking for that right now, uh, to, yeah, there it is on, on page 6, line 32, we're deleting March 30th first and putting May 1st, so that's one month before the school choice um closes for schools, um, or you know, you can submit your, your application for it. So we're just doing this a month ahead. So we've extended the window of time, uh, for parents to be able to to apply. That is the amendment.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:54:15
And but. I here a second. Well, they were all post. Thank you. You may
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:54:26
proceed. All right, thank you, Madam Chair. So this bill, you know, when we, when we ran learns we knew that we would come back this session and have some cleanup language, just as we do with anything that um is small, but especially something as large as the education overhaul that learns was. And so what we've learned
in the last year through EFAs is, uh, there are a few things that we need to tighten up and I think it's important to do it now, uh, before, you know, and not 10 years from now, um, we just need to make sure that, uh parents are utilizing funds um in a way that is consistent with education and not using funds on, um, you know, the majority of their funds on something like private lessons for tennis or, you know, D1 memberships and stuff like that. We've seen a lot of different things circulating Facebook and we just
want to ensure that um students are getting different diverse educational opportunities, but that it is consistent with the intent of learns and is focused on, on education. So Um, that's what a lot of this is. If you look at page 3, we talk about the cost of transportation and we just say not to exceed 25%, um. of the funds that that student is eligible that year. And then right below that line 18. We talk about reasonable,
reasonable costs, not to exceed 1/6 of the funds allocated to a student's account in that fiscal year for extracurricular activities, um, that is consistent with how we do things now and in public schools if, you know, money follows the student if they do course choice, um, or sign up for an extracurricular activity, a sport, or quiz bowl or whatever that 1/6 of that funding follows that student to that school for that activity. So we just try to be consistent in that manner. Um, to ensure that funds were
there was flexibility in how funds were being spent on what it could be spent on, but that it was um Couldn't be, you know, 90% of the funds spent on an extra curricular activity if maybe your home school curriculum is only $1000 or something, then you have all this money left to spend on other things that maybe would not be in line with how we want to spend money. So, um, We also kind of give a time
frame of when students can apply. Like I said, we extended that, it's February 1 to May 1. And then we discuss order, order of students, if that, if in that window we exceed the number of students, um. Then we put an order on starting on page 9 of how those funds will be distributed to students. So I'm happy to take any questions or maybe uh if you want to speak to anything else that I may have missed, um.
Paula Bean
Unverified
2:57:23
We're happy to take any questions. Questions from the committee. There were 2 people, 2 people to speak for all of the Paula Bean. But
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:57:42
they speak against the bill. We stand. Are you.
Speaker 213
2:57:58
He would Turn that on you. It takes a minute. Oh, there we go. Hello. Um, my
Paula Bean
Unverified
2:58:06
name is Paula Bean. I am a homeschool mom of four brilliant children. They were here earlier, but they have had to leave to actually go to a tutoring session. I began my homeschool journey in 2018 when my oldest daughter entered pre-K. I attended public school my entire educational career. And I actually taught high school English at Qhitman, oddly
enough, for 2 years after graduate college. It was during this time that I decided to homeschool my children. I adore teachers, students, and administration, and I do support the public school education method. There are many cracks in the system, as we saw earlier, that revealed to me during my time of teaching, which inspired me to homeschool. We are also a family who is receiving EFA funds for one of our children. My other children have already been approved for next year, and they are very anxious about receiving their funds and the opportunities that this will open up for them.
As a member of the home school community, there was extreme distress, distrust, sorry, of the EFA funds when they were first presented. In general, there is extreme distrust of the government as a whole in the home school community, if I'm honest. After lots of research, I decided to become an advocate for the EFA. I've had multiple conversations with moms about the blessings that the EFA has brought to our family and the possibility of blessings it can bring to theirs. I'm here today for two reasons.
One is I'm fighting for my children. The other one is I'm afraid that I have convinced a whole lot of families to trust the EFA program and that this committee is going to make me out to be a liar. Now I don't want to take up much of your time, so I want to give you three things that the EFA has done for me and for my family, and then I want to show three quick concerns on what I am about some of the amendments that I saw in the bill. The first was that it was a much needed stamp of approval from the government on our choice to homeschool. Homeschool parents
must deal with an extreme amount of pressure and criticism from society. The AFA in a way told us as a homeschool parents that we were seeing and that Arkansas government. Second, the EFA provided resources for my son that we either could not have provided, or we would have had to sacrifice more to provide. I'm talking about access to the internet, technology, STEM kits, and basic supplies. We knew the sacrifice we were making when we decided that I would stay home full time
and homeschool. However, with the EFA funds, Arkansas politicians partnered with homeschool families to develop future citizens of this great country who could be prepared to contribute to this country. You may think I'm overexaggerating when I say that purchasing a pencil is providing for our country and providing for successful citizens, but the research on the positive emotional, mental and physical outcomes of having at least one parent at home and homeschooling is everywhere now. Now I have seen public school teachers, admin and parents
become incredibly offended by the mention of homeschooling, and I get where they're coming from, but you can't deny that the research is there. Finally, my child is currently able to take part in art and music classes at local businesses. We are to local economy and also he is learning at an amazing rate. He has some learning disorders that would have affected him in a normal public school setting, but through music, art, therapy, project-based learning programs, and tutoring almost entirely
provided for by the EFA. He has begun to thrive in both social and educational settings. The team of people that I have been able to put for this child have benefited him in ways that we may not fully recognize until he is much older. The opportunities my children will have in the future are unmatched to anything I experienced growing up. While we, my children are benefiting. Our state is also developing a generation of Arkansans who are incredibly well rounded. With that being said, I have 3 concerns about some of the amendments being discussed in the committee again, I'm not
fully familiar with how all of this works, so please excuse me if I've made a stupid comment. But EFA funds, according to what I read, can no longer be used to pay for access to the internet and technology. Now this language was confusing to me when I read the amendment, but like I said earlier, we live in a rural area and the only internet available for us was Starlink. Now, we have to pay for our monthly bills, and we do that just fine. However, buying the equipment for Starlink was an issue. We went a long time without
proper internet and my children suffered for it thanks to the EFA funds. They now have vital access to the internet. In addition to this, my child has been given access to technology that allows him to do tutoring online and play educated games related to our curriculum, especially reading and learning foreign languages. I am begging you to reconsider this amendment. We live in Arkansas. Many of our children receiving these funds will live in rural areas. It makes no sense to block them from accessing the internet on our technologies that we live in a
time where technology is the method. We want our Arkansas children to be as advanced as possible. Also, the amendment to the art, music, and STEM classes is not only confusing to me and to my husband, but could be just devastating for students who may live in an area with a school that doesn't provide certain types of art, music, and film classes. I actually got an email while I was sitting in here from one of the vendors that we use, saying that they may or may not be able to provide for students using EFA funds next year, depending on what happens in this
committee and throughout the rest of this legislation. Now, why would a student, why should a student suffer because of their local, their local school district doesn't offer something and how are we even gonna keep up with what district provides what. A student cannot control what their local school does or does not offer, and you want to tell the child that they cannot use the funds to access other opportunities because it's something that they cannot control. A dear friend of mine has a child that has decided she wants to learn the harp, which is very confusing to me. Our
local school does not offer heart classes. So now with the language that child may or may not be able to continue using her AFA funds for her lessons even though the cost of those lessons is no more than taking violin lessons. Finally, the language around using the fullest extent of the law to retrieve funds used incorrectly from the parents is a tad terrifying. Homeschool families as a whole do not trust you. If you add language in there that there may be prosecuted to misusing funds, you will see the program
crumble. People will not join. And if you want the program to crumble, then you can leave that language in there, but I want you to remember that I have 4 children who are desperately want this program, and there are hundreds like them who are also counting on you guys. I agree that the majority of funds should not be being used on private lessons. I also agree that the funds should be allocated for necessary educational material. However, we already have to get approval for everything that we purchase. There are so many strict guidelines in place already for purchasing items with these
funds, and honestly they are getting more strict and more limiting already. If a mistake is made in purchasing an item, I don't understand why the blame is put on the parent when the program has to approve. the funds. The ability to the OK, the ability to misuse funds is already so incredibly slim. However, because of the language, our family has already discussed pulling out of the program. I've been telling moms all year that it's OK to trust this program, and now I'm hesitant to trust it myself.
This is what I want to say and this is what I'm begging you to hear. You have the opportunity to really invest in all of Arkansas's children. You have the opportunity to really invest in all of Arkansans. You have the opportunity to tell a huge group of people that you really are on their side, or you can continue to live in a bubble and ignore the children that are waiting for their turn with these funds. Please consider what 10 years down the road will look like when my children are graduating and they can say, my parents and my state raised me.
They fought for me and gave me the opportunity to be the absolute best I could be. My parents and my state realized that education is not one size fits all, and they decided to invest in my future as an individual. My parents and my state gave me the chances to succeed as well rounded, educated citizens, and I'm proud to be a product of my parents and my state. Or they can say my state didn't trust my parents, so I no longer trust my state. Thank you. Uh yes. me. Oh gosh.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
3:06:45
Senator Bryant, thank you, Madam Chair and thank you for coming down and taking the time to testify
on this. I, I think you've, you said it from homeschool co ops and homeschoolers, I think you said exactly what they were been telling me for the last couple weeks about the concerns about this bill. My question for you is at some point the The vendors are going to show us the legislature receipts of items that we are just We cannot be complicit in. And whether the vendor made a
mistake and let those receipts through whether there wasn't clear direction, um, what can you do as maybe a a homeschool parent, a member of a co op, member of an online community to tell this to a lot of industries and a lot of um. Different groups that come down here and advocate for something if you don't police yourself, we will police. Right and so I guess my question is what, what can you do to
combat this because eventually the department will come to us with receipts if they haven't already been able to present that now say hey, we are going to go. We're going to run out of money faster than we anticipated because there's these items that do not benefit a homeschool parent, do not benefit certain people, so can
Speaker 429
3:08:03
you address that for me? Well, I can just address that from my point of view, which I am
Paula Bean
Unverified
3:08:09
very opinionated, but we're given an allocated amount of money. So whether or not the funds run out or don't run out, does not really matter on what
we're spinning because we only have a certain amount of money to spend. OK, now the vendor system on the um class wallet is what we're using now. So vendors list certain objects that we are allowed to purchase from that vendor. We cannot purchase anything outside of what is on that vendor market. The other thing that the the class wallet has is that there are a list of um vendors providing services. Now
the, the committee, the board, whoever approves those vendors, they're responsible for approving those vendors and what they are allowed to offer. We get to take advantage of those. The only thing that we have is that if we purchase curriculum, are we pay tuition, online tuition for like online classes or whatever, we may be able to submit those for reimbursement. But then those things have to be approved by the board.
So our hands really are tied as to what is approved and what is not approved now I understand this first year we were kind of all guinea pigs and so there were some things I saw that that probably wasn't appropriate at that probably shouldn't have happened. However, the board that had that has all the Zoom calls and that we've been talking with, they have been making so many changes over the last couple of months that we are already at a system. whatever the board approves,
that's all that we can purchase. We can't purchase anything outside of that other than concrete curriculum, which we can intuition, which we can submit for reimbursement. Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Madam Chair. You're,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:10:09
you know, you made a statement that we legislators are living in a bubble. I think we all live in a bubble. You have yours, we have ours, and you have your rights and
responsibilities and your funds. So you know this program is developing. And when you say you don't trust what's going on. I understand. I've been a huge proponent of homeschool and helped a lot of folks. Uh, who worked their way through the program, so we get it. Uh, I think my bubble gets it. I hope your bubble gets it that we're doing the best we can to work through a program that's going to take several years to for
their we develop the trust and before we develop the program that meets all the needs that that you might have. Um Yeah, you made the statement also that um That the funds were not available. Well, the taxpayer funds are not available either, you know, the taxpayer funds this program. And you're asking for their money. And there is oversight that goes on with our job oversight how
Paula Bean
Unverified
3:11:24
they spend that money. Would you agree with that? Oh, absolutely. I would also say that taxpayer money provides education for all children in Arkansas
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:11:33
who are in the public school education. Yeah, listen, I agree. We're not, there's no disagreement there. This is a developing program and you just mentioned that
there's been a lot of changes in the last few months. We're trying to work through that, and I think you bubble and our bubble are trying to work together to achieve that. So if we, right now the
program won't afford harp lessons and it won't or won't pay for them and it won't pay for other things, riding lessons maybe, yeah, we're working on those and I appreciate your testimony. I appreciate your commitment to your family. I don't know how we develop that trust other than work through issues just like the senators bringing this bill forward. Can you point me specifically to the lines that are of concern to
Speaker 442
3:12:23
you? Um, I don't actually have it in
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:12:27
front of me. Well, if you will send those to me. I'd be glad to help work through those, but you know, when, when one says I don't trust the bubble, uh, you know, what you have to be able to trust is what's written down. That's enforceable through the
courts. So if you can text me the lines that you are specifically of concern, you know, we'll try to work through them. Thank you for your testimony. And
Speaker 442
3:12:52
just to to comment, I understand what you're saying, and I have talked to many of my homeschool
Paula Bean
Unverified
3:12:57
parents, and we agree that there are some things that need to be shifted. There shouldn't be just a free for all. Like we're not asking for that. Our concern are the certain things like the access to technology, the access to art and music and STEM activities and such as that.
Speaker 433
3:13:13
Those are our main concerns. Yeah, OK. I think, I think we get
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:13:19
it. Our bubble gets it, so we're trying to work through these and uh you know, it's going to take, it's not going to
happen in one year, this program is how old? I'm asking how old is the program? I mean,
Paula Bean
Unverified
3:13:35
this is what 2 years, this is the first year that homeschool families have been
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:13:39
able to take it and to say we're disappointed in what happened in year one. Yeah, we all are. This is not the goal. This is year one of a multi-year program and we'll work to develop that trust, and I appreciate
your testimony and what you do. Thank you.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:13:58
Senator Dodson, you have a question. Thank you, Madam
Chair. So if I understood you correctly, I don't think you're necessarily saying you're disappointed in what's happened so far with the program. You're concerned about what this bill could do to the program. That is correct, and I mean I I've. I didn't say anything or ask any questions during the presentation because. This bill's frustrated me, um.
There's just so many areas I don't even know where to begin personally on addressing any of the issues I see in this, um. But from in a global sense. I And thank you for sitting here and articulating many of the feelings that I have had toward this cause It feels like we have gone so far. With, with education, choice.
With learns and and education Freedom Account program and we're saying, OK, come, jump on. Here's the bus, it's going down the road. Jump on the bus. Trust us, we're going to make sure that you have the resources needed to to have education for your child. The dollars follow the students, and we trust parents. And then this just feels like as people are starting to catch up, especially homeschool students and say, OK, well, we're going to trust you and get on the bus.
We're stopping the bus and backing up from where we were at, get out of the way so you don't get ran over, um, and so. I don't know. This Like I said, I don't know where to articulate. The various problems that I have with this to even begin to get to a place normally I'm trying to find some areas on how to pass something that is helpful, but there are so many different areas in here and we're so late in the session that I, I'm
overwhelmed. I can't can't even begin to articulate where it is, so, um, thank you. I appreciate your, your testimony and, and I'm still opposed to the bill. You're opposed to the bill. Others
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:16:20
we have a J Robert Robertson. Speaking against the bill.
Jay Robertson
Unverified
3:16:33
Thank you, Madam Chair. Jay Robertson with Opportunity Arkansas.
Thank you committee. My name is Jay Robertson. I'm public affairs director with Opportunity Arkansas. We're a state-based organization that works to simplify government and solve generational problems for the state of Arkansas. One of those deals with giving parents and kids more options, and we've made great strides on this thanks to the Learns Act. I want to be sure to thank Senator Davis in particular for her leadership on this issue.
But we also speak directly with a lot of EFA families and EFA schools and our commitment to them has been that whenever this body considers something that could make things harder for them, that we will stand up and speak. And so we do have concerns about changes in this bill to the program that could make it more difficult for families to participate, um, very briefly, the bill places arbitrary caps on certain types of spending that could then permanently ban children from the program if they exceed those caps. It would allow kids to be kicked out of the EFA program if they
are expelled from an EFA participating school. Which would prevent those kids from having second chances if they come from. And that doesn't put students first. I haven't seen the amendment yet. I think. But the challenges we're still requiring parents to maintain these expenses, threatening to kick them off the program. They commit fraud. Um, as opposed to focusing on bad actors to ensure these funds are actually used for their intended purpose. Um, the limitations on the
enrollment window make it difficult for parents who are deciding later in the year to enroll, um, the bill also explicitly states in its tiered system for dispersing funds. If insufficient funds exist. They would be funded in and. This reduces certainty for families. That rely on the program before the program has even been fully implemented and we're concerned that it doesn't put students first.
decision to support universal education freedom. The state committed as a whole to funding this program for Arkansas families want it and trusting families to make these right decisions, um, and even the best intentions, and I do want to say we appreciate the secretary and his leadership on this issue. Um It can be easy for these new restrictions. You Families to become and leave and we would hate to see that on all the remarkable progress made before
we every day from families that whose whose lives have been changed because of this program, and we trust those families and then all other To So I appreciate your time and the opportunity to present today.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:19:23
Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator. Silver. So
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:19:27
first year of the program before they were getting how much money?
Our opportunity dollars. How much did they get prior to this implementation of this program.
Jay Robertson
Unverified
3:19:41
Are you referring to EFA families, sir? Well before the program existed,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:19:47
they were they. All right, so the, the answer would be 0. OK, so now the upside is they're getting some assistance in a lot of things that didn't exist before. Now they're getting some assistance. Is that correct? Yes sir, and so, you know, when I look at it. Uh, I look at it as is the upside greater than the downside? So if you're getting nothing,
And now the state has developed a program, and I can't think of a program that's in its first year of existence where everybody goes it's great, we're getting everything we need. I'm just not aware of that ever happening. What I am aware of is people start and we hear the downside, and we come back in a year or two, and change the program. So I, you know, again I,
Speaker 457
3:20:39
if the upside greater than the downside in this. Senator, I don't believe.
Jay Robertson
Unverified
3:20:44
Oh like Serving somewhere around 15,000 I believe families around the state and so if this bill weren't to pass, the program will continue and so to the extent there are changes needed, um, I think those should be discussed with families who are utilizing the program. We've gotten lots of calls for families, not all of them could be here today who have concerns about the way this is drafted, and so I do appreciate the sponsor taking some some
amendments on this and working to improve that, but to the extent changes are made. They need to be family friendly, student focused, and that's the reason we
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:21:24
have concerns with it. OK, yeah, listen, we all have concerns. That's why the author made changes to the bill because she agrees, and we made amendments at some point we have to run a bill and is the bill worth running in order to continue and develop the
Jay Robertson
Unverified
3:21:45
program. I would say yes, and you would say. Well, to my knowledge that this bill does not pass, it does
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
3:21:54
not end the education freedom account program in Arkansas. OK, so you would say I would say the bill moves us forward down a path of
helping people. You would say, no, the bill doesn't move us forward in helping people. That's what I'm hearing
Jay Robertson
Unverified
3:22:07
you say. Am I right or wrongs challenges, challenges that can make it more difficult for families to use the program can discourage more families from participating in
the program. It limits when they can apply to become part of the program.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:22:30
OK, fair enough. Thank you. Very much. Any other questions from the committee. Thank you.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:22:39
Seeing no other. Are you close to your bill? Not yet. Thank you. Uh, so here
is, here is what we know, um, based on what we've seen in this first year, and again, this is the first year that it's been open to homeschool parents and so we're seeing, um, trends and collecting data and looking to um have an efficient program on the front end and like I've said, we knew that we would have to tighten up and make changes, um, we just need to To see how the first year went and and and I understand um what some of the, the people here providing testimony have said
that there have been a lot of changes and, and I think that's natural to a brand new program in its first year, um, and the goal would be to make changes now on the front end so that there's not a lot of changes in years moving forward that we get it worked out. So what we know is that um homeschool families in this year have used around 61% of their allocated funds. 44% of that money is being spent on educational related items,
which means 56% is not being used on education-related items. EFAs have an explicit purpose of improving educational outcomes. So while flexibility is certainly a core feature of the EFA program. We must ensure that funds are being used primarily for academic growth and central to academic learning. Research and outcomes consistently show that the most impactful use of funds are those directly tied to learning, high quality curriculum, specialized
instruction, access to educational tools and support. 99% we know of our parents, of our homeschool parents are good stewards and I, and I would like to speak a little bit to um something that one of the parents said they are, they are utilizing the program correctly as the law provides for that. So this, this bill is not to say they're doing something wrong or trying to misuse funds. It's that the definition.
We didn't put any percentages or any standards around how funds could be used within that related to educational items, um, and we did not update our definition of extracurricular. Our definition of extracurricular is is broad and works very well. For public schools and private schools, but it's very different when we talk about homeschool. So there have been a lot of vendors approved and she's right, there is a list and they're choosing off the list and they can't go outside of that. So this is not to say that
they're doing something nefarious. It's exactly the way the law is now, which is why we need a bill like this. So we know that, uh, you know, almost all of our homeschool parents um are good stewards and um and are doing things the right way and following the rules, but we just want to ensure that this program has sustainability for the long haul and ensure that there is money there being used in a correct manner. We absolutely trust families. Um, we want parents to have the choice and to be able
to provide, um, different educational opportunities for their kids, um, but we also value educational stewardship, and we want to ensure that um the way that we're spending money in these programs is going primarily to educational related items. And like I said, 56% is not. So, um, that is the purpose of this. I'm, um, Trying to decide, I guess right now if, you know, if the committee is willing to work
with me on some amendments that get us to 5 votes, then I'm happy to do that because I do think that doing something is important. If we go and wait 2 more years, it's I just, I don't think that that's wise. Um, so I'm open to, you know, pulling it down and amending if the chair is agreeable to having an, you know, calling an education meeting maybe later today, um, if we can get something worked out, um. So I'm, I'm willing to hear from
you guys if, if you want me to close and, and then we'll, we can do a motion in a second and have discussion and, and, and take it from there. OK, I'm close to my bill. I make a motion to pass. I
Speaker 126
3:27:04
have a second Second Yeah, I'm sorry, I didn't hear the motion. What's the motion. Discussion on the motion.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:27:18
Uh After a discussion on the motion. I guess my discussion is just,
um, Madam Chair, if I pull it, would you be willing to call an education meeting later today if we get to an agreeable point. Yeah. All right, I withdraw
Speaker 53
3:27:38
my motion. I withdraw my motion. But Thank you. OK, very good. Thank you.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:27:50
OK, let's see, Representative uh Graham Lick. You have a number of
Speaker 184
3:27:57
bills, 1812. It has an amendment. He has an amendment, OK. If it pleases the
Speaker 481
3:28:05
chair, can I get I do 15801 cause the the other four bills kind of all go together.un that by me again.
Chair
Unverified
3:28:13
Yes, ma'am. If, if I could do, um, seconds. Uh house Bill.
Speaker 481
3:28:22
15801 because the other four bills yes ma'am. I will hold the amendment.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:28:35
Yes, ma'am. 1580. It doesn't have we don't have 1580. It should be a diabetes education bill with an amendment on 1580. OK.
Speaker 470
3:28:40
That's with Senator Petty was the Senate sponsor. If you
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:28:52
don't have it, then I can, I can move. We're good. Yeah, there shouldn't
Speaker 481
3:29:07
be an amendment for 1580. There should be an amendment for there should be no amendment, OK, and the bill number is 150 ma'am. Thank you very much in an effort to save some time. I won't read the letter that was sent to me regarding this, but essentially with House Bill 1580 does is if if a school district provides educational information over immunizations, infectious
diseases, medications, other school health issue or other school health issues, it also requires them to provide information about. 1 and type 2 diabetes, and a number of other things dealing with that in an effort to help um you know, have early detection and save some lives, and heartache and pain of children, um, during their K-12 and it there was an amendment in the House where we made clear that this is educational information only, um, and it is
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:29:53
not supposed to be a medical diagnosis in any way. The questions from the committee. Nobody in the audience to speak
Speaker 185
3:30:24
for or against the bill. What is the will of the committee? OK On paper. All those you passed the bill. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, committee, and
Speaker 481
3:30:35
I would love to proceed to 1812 now. What's the next one you do? 1812, and there is an amendment, there's an amendment. OK.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:30:55
Um Hey. You will once again identify yourself. You'll be recognized. Um, Zach
Speaker 481
3:31:15
Gramli State Representative District 50, Fort Smith. OK, go ahead. And
Chair
Unverified
3:31:21
this is explaining the amendment first, yes, ma'am. So this is an
amendment that was provided by the department, um, to change graduation rate to a 5-year graduation rate, um, in an effort to differentiate
Speaker 481
3:31:33
between the number of students who graduate with a diploma over 4 years, and a number of students who graduate with a diploma or earn their
Speaker 91
3:31:43
GED over 5 years. I hear motion. Like, um, they were. OK,
Speaker 481
3:31:49
go ahead. Thank you. So presenting House
Bill 1812 as amended. Uh, this is a bill that I was working on over the last
few, uh, really last few months, um, and what it does is it strives to provide a kind of a high risk dropout prevention, um, where students who are enrolled in public schools will be allowed to apply for and take the GED as a public school student, um, in my head and in my thinking, there are students who, as I said, are at high risk of dropping out. 1716, 1718 year old girl who may have got pregnant or or really, honestly, a number of other reasons that a student may choose to drop out, um.
What this does is give them, give them like a little bit of a life wrap before they go and say, hey, before you go out into the world, let's get you a GED so you can be successful, and then you can go and do the things you need to do, um, this is uh some language that I worked with the director of Adult Ed, um, to, to craft. There's also a piece that updates current language about how we interact with the GED, um, in, in our state, and so that's um like page 2, there's some amendments that were not amendments, but some lines that were struck because those programs don't exist.
anymore and just interacts with how we actually do adult ed and the GED in the state, but the main thing is just allowing, well, that's two things. Main thing is allowing students to get this GED during school day. And then the second, the third piece, I guess, is to um Not knock a school if a student has to get a GED for whatever reason, so when we, when we are looking at their graduation rates, we're able to look and see, hey, they're able to accomplish, we are trying to make sure all, all kids get what they need to be successful.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:33:33
So Right now a student pretty much has to drop out of high school and then go take the GED. So
what you're suggesting is, is that that opportunity should be. Right there with the with the high school in my head
Speaker 481
3:33:52
I see a world where there are students who meet the who meet this high need high risk dropout, and I counselor would sit down with them and be like, look, I, we know where you're at. We know
what you're thinking. You give us a few months, we'll give you transportation to school, take the bus, you'll get breakfast, you'll get lunch, and you get an education. We'll prepare you to get this GED and then you can go out
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:34:13
in the world to do the things you want to do. So you see
Speaker 481
3:34:17
the GED preparation taking place at the school potentially if a
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:34:20
school to do that, they could do that as well. That that's pretty much an adult
Speaker 481
3:34:24
education thing that preparation, ma'am. And it's it's totally permissive the school wanted to do that or not, um, but my idea is that could be a good option for some
kids who need that option, and it really came part of this came from in the beginning of the year we had to save the state and you know we had that woman who was up at the top of the drop out of school and then talked about going back and forth uh taking night classes, working at Sonic, etc. This is, if this was an option for her before she dropped out, she could potentially have had a better quality job and not have had to go through that struggle. And then in addition, if this kid gets their GED. 10 years down the road they can go get their associate's degree. We're not, they're not gonna
have to go through this this years of struggle of evenings of lack of pay and and to on top of this all, if a student does go through this and they work, they decide, hey, this is about right path for me. That's potentially tens of thousands of dollars of income they would not have realized if they continue to sit in school for me as a middle school teacher, I want all my students to earn earn a high school diploma because I think that's probably best for them, but this can meet the needs of some students, and I think it should be an option. Well,
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:35:32
hopefully this would be catching them before they drop out. That's my goal.
is is building having a pathway there so that they, because so many times when they
leave school, they've left school and then they don't get connect back in. That's exactly right. OK, good. Any
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:35:54
other questions, Senator Dodson. Thank you, Madam Chair. I may just be technical in nature, but on page 3 line 23. What is the uh copyrighted. Ready Uh, that, that's the test that
Speaker 481
3:36:08
the that that's used for uh before you actually take your GED, uh, that, that's language has provided me from uh Doctor Miles with adult ed who is the only vendor for the GED as far as I know, and so unless the entire nation or the state decides to use another program which I don't even know if that exists,
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:36:27
um, but that's why that that we would have like uh by putting that though in there, if something Like this would be the
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:36:35
only default and I would argue that, yeah, but I would argue that
Speaker 481
3:36:40
we've been following the wrong thing already, like they don't do the minimum composite score of 490 on the GED like none of that has been done, nor and in language Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program, that's not being used either, so, um. I, I hear, I hear your point, but I'm, uh, I don't, I don't know if there's even another option out there right
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:37:00
now. I mean, I understand you challenge program doesn't exist today kind of one that's hopeful that maybe at some point it'd come back because it was a good program, but that, but uh.
Chair
Unverified
3:37:12
And again, those were amendments that came from me from the department of adult adult services. all that excuse me Bryant, did
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
3:37:21
you have a question? Yes, madam Chair, I was just gonna follow up with Senator Dotson. And it's just a 32nd Google check just to make sure that we're on the same page. The way I,
the way that it kind of dictates is GED ready is the practice test. Yes, ma'am, or a GED, which would make sense and
Page 2, 36 flowing into page 3. Where they are My original code talking about the GE practice test, but what Senator Dodson bringing up is it not affect a student enrolls must achieve the minimum official. GED scores. Oh, it says practice, so striking practice, so I were strike to practice, we're just gonna default into the ready. At the if if this bill went through, yeah, that's what would
Speaker 470
3:38:09
happen. Yes sir, if there's another company out there that
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
3:38:14
produces a practice exam because I think Pearson is the company that produces the GED test that's approved by the American Council on Education. And I don't know that they are tied together with GED ready? Um I don't know that it matters. I don't know if the committee thinks it matters, but. Uh, just commit committing 11 company into it, uh. Be the only concern, but And, and in the future we, I
Speaker 481
3:38:45
would, I, I know I'm gonna have a cut some work on some of this language here in a couple years to see how this plays out, um, so I'm open to working with Doctor Miles at the
Chair
Unverified
3:38:53
department to get better language in the future, but I think Going forward, we should do this today. We'll have to find it ready to
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
3:39:11
get it changed in the future by the monopoly. Senator Davis, Madam Chair, there are other companies
Speaker 488
3:39:15
besides GED Ready that offer. This test is that a question or a statement? It's a question. I I'm
Speaker 481
3:39:23
unaware and to be like I said, these amendments came from the department. They, they asked that I put them in. I think there is only one GED.
Are there and and I would ask for those, and I, I know it's not my position to ask a question, but since we're discussing this, is that like the actual GED practice test or those websites that Offer practice for the GED. Does that make sense? You want it amended.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:40:20
Is there anyone from the department here that I think
Speaker 481
3:40:26
they've all left. Does anybody here from the department and I would say like they've worked with me on all this language and they're support of what I'm trying to do, so, um, like all these amendments, um, like the 5, these two here came directly from Sarah in the governor's office with meetings with um um Oliva as well. And like I said in 1812 this is language that came from the director of Adult Ed.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:40:50
Oh, here they come. Really. Oh, there's
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:40:59
Secretary Aliva. They're asking about 1812 and the
Speaker 481
3:41:02
uh you would identify yourself, please. Other vendors besides the GED ready test. Me neither, but they were asking. Jacob Le at Department of
Speaker 255
3:41:12
Education, uh, just want to restate, make sure I understand the question is if there is any
Speaker 258
3:41:21
other vendors to the GED ready test. So I don't know if I, I, I know that answer off the top of my head. I know that that the GED test has gone through some transformations over the past few years, and there's
Speaker 259
3:41:31
different versions of it, but I, I would have to do a little bit of research and get back to you on
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:41:39
that. I think we're hesitant to put a a something, a brand, a name for a test into legislation. That always is our problem.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:41:52
Senator Dodson, Madam Chair, to the sponsor, if, if he's open to it. I think we could potentially put an amendment on that. Taking out ready and just putting it back to practice, restoring practice on that line. I think I would be open to that and that would make it open-ended, still ready is probably the one that still works, but then we're not putting that into code. I think I would be, I'd be totally fine with that. You're good with that um can you get Taylor to do a
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:42:23
quick amendment. I'm sure I can I'm sure we'll probably meet
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:42:27
again on Monday. Well, it'd have to go back through, so we would need to get it out of here. afternoon is what I heard earlier, right? Um,
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:42:39
I, I thought Madam when we get finished with your bills we've only got a
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:42:42
couple left. I would um. I think we have a rule in this committee only that all amendments to bills must be in writing, verbal amendments are not allowed. I would make a
motion to suspend that rule and do a verbal amendment in here so for the purpose of verbal amendment on this, if
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:43:05
if the committee's willing to suspend that rule for this
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:43:11
bill. All they were all post. Thank you. OK, so since the rule has been amended, um, there's two places on page 3 of HB 1812, uh, lines 1 and 2 on page 3, where we
would strike through ready and restore practice in front of it and the same thing on lines 23. of page 3 line 23,
so those two places in the bill, I think those are the only two places. That's what it
Speaker 480
3:43:40
looks like, yeah. You're taking this out. And then
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:43:57
If the committee will adopt the amendment, so it's on page 3. Both of them are on page 3, lines 1 and 2,
Speaker 413
3:44:09
and then also line 23. I see, uh-huh, page 312.
Speaker 79
3:44:15
OK, I like how y'all do things over here. 2323 yes? Um
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:44:23
So I, I would make that verbal
amendment and then I'll sign it whenever, whenever they can bring it over, but if we can adopt that
amendment into the bill verbally and then we can pass it, do pass
as amended. We've just passed it verbally and make a motion
to adopt it verbally. I need a second. All favor, and then do pass as amended on
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:44:54
the bill itself. do pass. As amended as amended all in
favor. I post. Thank you. OK, that's our
Speaker 502
3:45:09
plan. That's a fishing government. That's our plan. 12 is good then. OK, all right.
Speaker 481
3:45:15
And I'm closed, uh, and if we could look at, uh, 1480. 1483 then. But And there's an amendment for 1483.
Speaker 324
3:45:31
That we already have that? Yes. OK. So I have a problem with this. I have a problem with it. 1483 yes ma'am.
Speaker 502
3:46:19
We waiting waiting for. We're looking for 1483. I got it, yeah. We have, I have 3 more
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:46:36
bills. That first one, we did some work on it a little little words. So identify
Speaker 481
3:46:42
yourself again then please yeah yes ma'am, state representative Zach Gramli District 50, Fort Smith, the amendment to 1483 is language that was provided by uh the
department, um, in the original language, dealing with the things I'm working, working on creating this GED pathway during the school day, um, I thought it would maybe be a good option for districts to have flexibility for how they might pay for that, um, and so I used in the original bill, um. education program to pay and the department suggested uh to
change that from the skills development fund, um, to pay for a GED pathway during the day. It's fine.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:47:22
I, I would have to vote against this because basically These are not adult education funds. They are not education funds. They're Incumbent worker funds, skilled training funds, equipment funds for secondary centers, but they are not for adult education to be, to be clear, Senator, I, when I was doing
Speaker 481
3:47:44
this, I was just spitballing if the committee thinks they're not gonna want something like this, I'll pull
Chair
Unverified
3:47:50
it down and move to the next bill.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:47:55
You what I would pull this bill down and move to I think that would be a good idea. I definitely could not, could not vote
Speaker 484
3:48:03
for this. OK, can we do, um, 1642 then before I moved to 1642, ma'am. I don't remember.
Speaker 502
3:48:12
There's an amendment as well and it's a small amendment if I could go ahead and explain it.
Chair
Unverified
3:48:30
OK. Do I need to recognize myself again, Senator. Go ahead. State Representative Zach
Speaker 481
3:48:51
Emrick District 50, Fort Smith. This amendment for House Bill 1642 came from the department. It's very similar to language we found um in the first bill I presented,
switching graduation rate to 5-year graduation rate for the same reasons mentioned
Speaker 380
3:49:14
prior. I hear say. Sorry. On paper hawkers. Thank you. I adopted the amendment. Thank
Speaker 481
3:49:19
you very much, Senator. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Um, 1642, uh, finds another piece in the code dealing with graduation rates, um, again with the bill we just passed previously, we
talked about, um, you know, not wanting to to mix schools if a student were to get their GED, um, and, and not be kind of, kind of as a dropout. Again, this allows the department to and the district or schools differentiate between a 4 year high school dip individuals who got their four year high school. d ip lo ma and individuals over a span of 5 years got their high school diploma and a GED. Orgy.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:50:03
Questions from the committee. Seeing nobody here to speak for or against the bill.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:50:11
Are you closed? I am closed, and
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:50:16
I appreciate the will of the committee. Do I have a second? So discussion on the motion. On paper, all post. Thank you. OK, passed your
Speaker 527
3:50:27
bill as amended bill from me today will be um House Bill 1484, and there's
Speaker 481
3:50:33
amendment for House Bill 1484 as well. 1484. Good
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:51:15
Let's see, I can't find 1484. Hm We have an extra 1, 1484. OK, would you like
Speaker 481
3:51:25
to proceed? Thank you, Zach Gram State Representative District 50, um, fortunate this is an amendment for House Bill 1484 to give some context, 1484 deals with credit recovery and limiting credit recovery for a variety of reasons. This amendment provides an exclusion for students who are currently enrolled in English as a second language program in grades 9 through 12.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:51:51
I second. Oh, they were all opposed, OK, go ahead. So this will
Speaker 481
3:51:59
be 1484 as amended. Um, we have an issue in our, in, in our uh
in our education, um, where, uh, students can look at their teachers and say, I don't need this class, I'll do it in credit recovery, as verbatim a quote that was said to my wife when she was teaching high school in our city, um, and this is
happening to teachers all over the state. What has happened is we've created this system where we have online credit recovery programs where kids don't necessarily have to do the work to earn a credit and um They have learned to game the system. I'm hearing stories of districts across the state where students during their senior year are doing 18 of their 22 required credits. Online and then within 3 months they'll earn the same high
school diploma that a kid in the top 10% of the class earns. And there's some, there's something wrong with that. There's something really wrong with that, not being able to have these minimum standards that students have to be able to reach so that they can be successful. Um, this bill specifically I've worked with a number of different groups to find some exclusions for, um, but first couple things to talk about. First off, this is not affect current students who are in high school. It will affect this year's 9th graders as they go in, so, um, it's 1484. So, um, this year's 9th graders,
25, 26, we'll know that they will have only be able to fail 7 credits and be able to earn those back through a credit recovery process, um, they will also know that um they well they can also find out that there is a number of exclusions that they fall under one of these exclusions, and I will read those out, uh, really quickly, um, certain IE IEP programs, uh, student may If it's listen to their IEP, they may be able to get additional credit recovery,
students in foster care, custody division of Youth
Chair
Unverified
3:53:58
Services, uh, considered homeless long term placement in mental health facilities or in long term placement in, um, which we identified. is in one of these facilities for 30 or more days, um, a student who is is
Speaker 481
3:54:10
pregnant, a student who is determined at being high risk or in tier need of tier 3 interventions or a student who's enrolled full time in a statewide open enrollment virtual charter school.
Um, I will, I will make a note, um, there was someone who reached out to me yesterday, um, about another kind of program that I'm open to making exclusions for, but I probably will wait until the 27 session to do so, um, and because those students who would fall into that, uh, area and would only be at risk until once they hit maybe their junior year anyway, But what I'm trying to do is I'm trying to provide accountability towards students where they know that they have to meet certain
standards. Um, I'm trying to be a morale booster for teachers so they don't feel like, you know, that they are teaching means something and that students do have to do this work and they do have to succeed and they do have to try, but I'm also providing leniency because 7 credits is about 1 year. So if something truly horrible happens during a kid's life, um, and you know they're out of whack for a while. I give them an opportunity to. Take a break, redo this work, and move forward in the future. Yes
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
3:55:34
Representative, so I have a group that has Talking to me about an amendment, um, I representative, I mean, I. our education group. I spoke with them
Speaker 481
3:55:44
yesterday and um and I, I, what, what happened is he apparently emailed me earlier in the uh session, but he sent it to the wrong email. My email, my email is z A C K and he sent to Z A C H and, and I never saw it. Um, I spoke with him yesterday and told him essentially the same thing I told y'all like I, it was a little late in session
Chair
Unverified
3:56:05
to make an amendment, um, but, um, And 27. I'm, I'm willing to figure out a way to find some language to get those
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:56:13
kinds of students included in this. He indicates it's going to mess up his his program, his recovery program. Well, it shouldn't
Speaker 481
3:56:19
mess up any student currently enrolled because it'll only affect this year's 9th graders, so any student who is currently in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th, or has dropped out and is older than 18, it shouldn't affect right now. OK. OK. All right, well, um,
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
3:56:37
hopefully he said he was actually trying to be here or its principal or somebody was coming because I wanted them to have an opportunity to at least converse with you on whatever the issue is. I mean,
Speaker 481
3:56:46
it seems to me like obviously similar to what you said, they were, they were afraid that it was going
to hurt their business, um, and no one tend to do that, you know, I, I want to meet kids where they at and this is the option that these that those kids need, um, I would also say this, um, we just passed 3. that kind of set up a GED program during the school day
that will hopefully catch a lot of those kids so that they can give them another opportunity to success before they totally drop out and have to re-enter into a program like this, um, so I have tried to set up a safety net to catch some of these kids so they won't even fall into need this kind of program, but like I said before, I'm committed to in a couple of years when we come back, that'll probably be one of the first bills I do is figure out how we can include a program like that. Maybe they'll show up.
Speaker 496
3:57:33
If not, we'll just have to roll with it I appreciate that. Thank you.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:57:48
Thank you, Madam Chair. Representative. I'm I'm back and forth on this bill,
um. But What I think I understood you say that 7 hours you set the limitation at 7 hours because it's about 1
Speaker 481
3:58:04
year. Yeah, you have 22 credits that you need to earn to graduate, um, so your freshman year, you're not usually, you're not necessarily getting all of those credits, um, as many, um, but I originally had 6 credits and I
worked with an ALE director who had contacted a lot of lot of other individuals, and he asked for 7. I said, OK, that's acceptable.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
3:58:26
So if someone needs 8, they're just out of luck. I would say no,
Speaker 481
3:58:29
and this is why a lot of times your senior year, if you've been doing everything the way you're supposed to be doing, you end up with about 3 classes at the end of the day. A lot of students, their senior year go half days across the state and so in my head they have 7 online credits and then they're able to take 3 to face to face classes and then too if they choose to go additional time, you know,
they can do that as well, um, I would also say at some point like. Even then, 10 and the way I just calculated is redoing half the class, almost half the classes that you take during a diploma at some point, you know, like these are, uh, I also need to preface something else. I've helped do some of these online credit recovery programs, and it's, it's not good education like when when I when our middle school was still in junior high, we had some 9th graders who had to retake credit recovery programs and quite literally it
was find the question, copy it, throw it into Google, find the answer. You got the answer, you move on to the next question. Like I saw students do that for weeks and then they would earn their algebra one credit like I think we can both look at each other and say that's, that's not good education and and then when we talk about like kids graduating high school who can't read or can't do math. I'm like, well, why is this happening? Well, there's some of these kids who are gaming the system and doing this, Googling or copying or basically cheating to earn their credits. And, and I, I would say I'm from I understand there are some districts who are doing it right, but I've talked
to a lot of districts who are doing it wrong. And at some point we've got to create
Speaker 14
4:00:04
a standard that we expect kids to meet. All right,
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
4:00:09
thank you. Other questions from the committee. Syndrome Bryant. I just want to See how this affects the credit
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:00:15
recovery open enrollment public charter schools. I think that was the, well, a credit recovery open enrollment charter school, I think that's similar to the
Speaker 481
4:00:23
question that Senator Berndo was referring to. Is that correct? You're asking about credit recovery open enrollment. They, they weren't originally included in this, but again, This includes 2526 9th graders, right? So the current students who may be in those kinds of programs or not going to be affected, um, as I, as I mentioned earlier, two years from now in 27, I'd like to figure out a way that we can, you know, thread that needle and give them an opportunity to be successful and work with those. Amend this to just add.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
4:00:55
Add them as an exclusion. Can I, can I
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:00:57
be honest before coming in here? I didn't realize that you can amend things in committee,
Speaker 196
4:01:01
and I think I was out of time. Well. Well, we suspend the rules,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
4:01:06
so that's my point. I, I would say this if you had language right now that you think would meet the intent of what you're trying to do, I could be open to that, um, I just don't have that language right
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
4:01:19
here. Or wouldn't it just be student who is enrolled in a credit recovery open enrollment public charter school. I think they
Speaker 196
4:01:26
could be, that could, that could be, yeah, we got ARSPC back here getting some nods. So And you don't have a Senate sponsor. On this bill You have to do another amendment is it on your amendment? I was Senator Boyd.
Speaker 470
4:01:46
supposed to be Senator Boyd. OK Madam Chair. I'd like
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
4:01:54
to suspend the rules. That's, that's kind of a substantive amendment.
Speaker 495
4:02:00
We probably need it written down we just like here's right. If you
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
4:02:13
don't want to, we won't. Senator Davis. Um I mean, again, if we want to have it written down, I think it's something. That if we recess for a little bit this afternoon after when hearing bills for the purpose of some committees would like to go back in if we could get a Written amendment, have it back here if the chair would be
willing to come back in for a little bit this
Speaker 350
4:02:33
afternoon. We can do that. Yeah. Yeah, we can do all
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:02:36
that. you want to vote to expunge the amendment. You want to put both of them together.
So, so. We're going to expunge the
vote for the amendment. We'll put both amendments together and then we will. I'm, I'm
Speaker 541
4:03:19
the committee's bill. I'm totally supportive of that though. That's what we're going to
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:03:38
OK, we've expunged that boat. And now You can pull it down and Yeah, pull it down and
Speaker 473
4:03:47
then we'll do it but to be clear, we're going to recess and meet this afternoon. OK, yeah, I'm fine with doing that. I'll get with Lloyd and we'll get some put that amendment together and we'll have
Speaker 481
4:03:58
it here. Sounds like a plan to me. All right, thank you very much, committee, um, and. Is that it? I, unless you just got some bills, you need somebody to run. I don't know anything about them, but.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:04:09
OK, thank you very much. Thank you very much. We'll see you this afternoon. All right, we have one more.
Speaker 544
4:04:21
One more bill, um. Representative Bentley with um 1946. Yeah. OK With you
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:04:31
and identify yourself, you will be recognized.
We go as House Bill 1946. I, I wanna start out House Bill 1946 we just apologizing for the controversy that was raised with Baby Libby the 1180 bill that we brought forth, um, never meant for it to get to that controversial. I just want to publicly apologize. microphone. I just want to publicly apologize for um the thing I've done to make it so controversial that it had no intentions for it to be in so controversial for the members of this committee, So I bring forth with you today, Hospital 1946, which has bipartisan support. in the House to pass it through the uh of the house floor
yesterday with some bipartisan support. House Bill 1946 was simply allow, uh, for some human development added to the biology class. I'd say 3 minute. Ultrasound video and also another video showing the major developments of fetus germ development. That's what it adds. There could be any video video chosen. There are a number of videos been developed by Human Development by um to be added there. So again, it brings, gives local
Schools have to decide which video they want to show. So again, um, I think it's a compromise between another bill that's been passing here and I think both bills could be passed. I just again wanted to bring an option for us today and again to publicly apologize for what happened with the other bill, and that's 18 1946 after sixth grade when the students are having a biology class that these two sections will be added to the class, and I'd be happy to take any questions. House Bill 1946.
Do I hear some questions from the committee. No questions from the committee. There anybody in I
know you guys have had a big busy day, so I'll give you a minute to read so I know
you guys had a busy day, so I'm gonna give you. Is anybody in
the audience to speak for or against the bill. To like to close for your bill. House Bill 1946 to allow our
students to get a fetal development taught in class when they have a biology classes no known opposition had some good support on the House and I'd appreciate a good vote. What is
the will of the committee? The Du pass. So All right, so discussion
on the motion. All in favor. Uh all opposed. The Poy need a roll call.
Speaker 551
4:07:25
Senator Dodson, Senator Dodson, yes, Senator Bryant, Senator Bryant, yes, Senator
Speaker 550
4:07:41
Murdoch. Senator Murdoch? Senator King. Senator King, Senator Davis. Senator Davis? No, Senator flowers, send her flowers? No.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:07:55
Senator Sullivan, Senator Sullivan. Santa Marta. Senator Murdo. I'm sorry the bill did not pass. Thank you, Chairman. Thank
you, committee. Uh All right, folks. I think we have done a lot of work today.
We will try and come back after the session adjourns. Our session adjourns this afternoon or maybe a recess or something like that,
so yeah, whatever. call the chair so we can take care of that and that last amendment, and I did I think that basically we're about done. Now I
don't know if you'll have some bills coming from. Tomorrow from house. Education we might have to meet on Monday. Um, but we can do that. We'll do
it at 8 o'clock again Monday morning. So
at the call of the chair. We'll fix that bill. So Taylor's working on that.
Agenda
Call to Order
SB436 A. Clark TO AMEND THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015 TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.
SB438 A. Clark TO PERMANENTLY BAN FROM COACHING A COACH OR AN ATHLETICS PERSONNEL MEMBER WHO RECRUITS A STUDENT.
SB482 K. Hammer TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO TRANSFERS OF STUDENTS BETWEEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015.
HB1684 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT.
SB607 Crowell TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INITIATES AND MAINTAINS A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD.
HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA.
HB1812 Gramlich TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A GED TEST; AND TO AMEND THE SCORE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GED TEST.
HB1833 M. Shepherd TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMISSIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
SB625 B. Davis TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1786 Brooks TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD ATTENDING CERTAIN PRIVATE TWO-YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
HB1283 J. Mayberry TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DIGITAL MEDIA STANDARDS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE LIBRARY MEDIA STANDARDS.
HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH WHICH IT CONTRACTS.
HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM.
HB1580 Gramlich TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED.
HB1642 Gramlich TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING A SCHOOL RATING; AND TO ENSURE A STUDENT IS NOT COUNTED AS A DROPOUT FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING A SCHOOL-LEVEL GRADUATION RATE IF THE STUDENT PASSES A GED TEST.
HB1728 Ennett TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT TO DOCUMENT AND MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS.
HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT.
HB1793 Duke TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Recess
Reconvene
HB1805 Childress TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BULLYING"; AND TO CREATE A PROCESS WHEREBY A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY CONDUCT MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SAME ALLEGATION OF BULLYING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HB1370 J. Mayberry CONCERNING MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS; AND TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL DAYS OR HOURS, AS APPLICABLE, IN ITS SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS.
SB634 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.
HB1672 McCollum TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION IN ARKANSAS.
HB1866 Brooks TO CREATE ELI'S LAW; AND TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO INSTALL AN AUDIO RECORDING DEVICE IN EACH LOCKER ROOM AND DRESSING ROOM ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CAMPUS.
HB1938 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE CREATION OF DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.
HB1939 Joey Carr TO AMEND ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE AND MERIT PAY; TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS; AND TO AMEND SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND PROGRAM.
HB1941 Joey Carr CONCERNING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; AND TO PROTECT ARKANSAS STUDENTS BY ENSURING THE EFFICIENT DISPOSITION OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS.
HB1946 Bentley TO REQUIRE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Adjourn
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE MEETING JOINTLY WITH ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION, Apr 9, 2025 | Agenda | 3 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Senator Jane English
Unverified
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
Allison Guthrie
Unverified
Speaker 25
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Speaker 37
Speaker 38
Speaker 46
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
Speaker 68
Speaker 74
Speaker 78
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
Speaker 111
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 119
Speaker 121
Speaker 122
Speaker 127
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
Speaker 147
Speaker 152
Speaker 158
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
Speaker 148
Speaker 198
Speaker 207
Speaker 213
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
Speaker 222
Speaker 32
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
Speaker 255
Speaker 258
Speaker 259
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
Speaker 290
Speaker 296
Speaker 299
Speaker 301
Speaker 302
Speaker 308
Speaker 313
Speaker 317
Speaker 322
Speaker 323
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Speaker 329
Speaker 331
Speaker 339
Speaker 344
Speaker 346
Speaker 349
Speaker 161
Speaker 360
Speaker 375
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
Speaker 379
Speaker 377
Speaker 386
Speaker 388
Speaker 409
Speaker 372
Paula Bean
Unverified
Speaker 429
Speaker 442
Speaker 433
Jay Robertson
Unverified
Speaker 457
Speaker 126
Speaker 53
Speaker 184
Speaker 481
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 470
Speaker 185
Speaker 91
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Speaker 488
Speaker 480
Speaker 413
Speaker 79
Speaker 502
Speaker 324
Speaker 484
Speaker 380
Speaker 527
Speaker 496
Speaker 14
Speaker 196
Speaker 495
Speaker 350
Speaker 541
Speaker 215
Speaker 533
Speaker 473
Speaker 544
Speaker 551
Speaker 550