Education Committee- House
Video
Transcript
1 document
Bills discussed (71)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1805
Act 805
· 6 mentions in chapter, transcript, agenda
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 |
|
HB1727
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript, agenda
Matched: “HB1727 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATIO…”
|
TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS. | L. Johnson | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
SB545
Act 564
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter, agenda
Matched: “100. Uh, I am the house sponsor on Senate Bill 545 Senate Bill 545. So it's really a very simple bill. All thi…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO THE PROPERTY AND FINANCES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER … | M. Johnson | Notification that SB545 is now Act 564 |
|
HB1017
Act 904
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1017 A. Collins TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES; AND TO REQUIRE … | A. Collins | Notification that HB1017 is now Act 904 |
|
HB1139
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1139 B. McKenzie TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT.”
|
TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT. | B. McKenzie | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1283
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…D THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS. 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. |
|
HB1482
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…NT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. HB1482 Gramlich TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RE…”
|
TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A … | Gramlich | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1483
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…CHOOL TEACHERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. 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. |
|
HB1484
Act 910
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
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 |
|
HB1492
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…S A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM. HB1492 Gramlich TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-EN…”
|
TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT A MOBILE … | Gramlich | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1580
Act 801
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A GED TEST AND RECEIVES A GED. 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 |
|
HB1672
Act 800
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…OOL-LEVEL GRADUATION RATE IF THE STUDENT PASSES A GED TEST. 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 |
|
HB1709
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…Hope Duke RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1709 Steele TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS P…”
|
TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM; AND TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH … | Steele | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1710
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1710 Vaught TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUB…”
|
TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUBLIC SCHOOL RATING IN ANY ADVERTISING, … | Vaught | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1719
Act 905
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1719 Vaught TO AMEND THE DAYS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MA…”
|
TO AMEND THE DAYS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MATERNITY LEAVE DAYS APPROVED BY … | Vaught | Notification that HB1719 is now Act 905 |
|
HB1728
Act 906
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “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 |
|
HB1747
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1747 Vaught TO CREATE THE BABIES AT SCHOOL ACT; AND TO ALLOW SCH…”
|
TO CREATE THE BABIES AT SCHOOL ACT; AND TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO PERMIT EMPLOYEES WHO … | Vaught | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1755
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1755 T. Shephard TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN…”
|
TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY. | T. Shephard | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1761
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1761 D. Garner TO INCREASE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THE EST…”
|
TO INCREASE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INCOME LIMITS FOR STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR EDUCATIONAL … | D. Garner | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1766
Act 907
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, A…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT. | Ennett | Notification that HB1766 is now Act 907 |
|
HB1793
Act 804
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
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 |
|
HB1806
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…MITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. HB1806 Vaught TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KI…”
|
TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS; AND TO ALLOW … | Vaught | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1825
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1825 Wooldridge TO ALLOW A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TO REQUIRE AN ENRO…”
|
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TO REQUIRE AN ENROLLED STUDENT TO EARN ONE UNIT … | Wooldridge | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1864
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…T OF SELECTED LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS FOR HIS OR HER CHILD. HB1864 Andrews TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO IMPROVE…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN STUDENT INSTRUCTION; AND TO … | Andrews | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
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 |
|
HB1874
Act 795
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1874 B. McKenzie AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP…”
|
AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT … | B. McKenzie | Notification that HB1874 is now Act 795 |
|
HB1903
Act 911
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…CATION TO INCLUDE CHIROPRACTORS OR CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS. HB1903 Walker TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO PROVIDE…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FLEXIBILITY REGARDING ALTERNATIVE … | Walker | Notification that HB1903 is now Act 911 |
|
HB1919
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…TH FLEXIBILITY REGARDING ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. HB1919 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPAREN…”
|
TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO … | McAlindon | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1924
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…CY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO LEARNING MATERIALS. HB1924 Puryear TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF E…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ESTABLISH RULES REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION … | Puryear | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1933
Act 912
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1933 McCollum TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOAR…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO CREATE A … | McCollum | Notification that HB1933 is now Act 912 |
|
HB1938
Act 807
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…MOVAL FOR A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 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 |
|
HB1940
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1940 Walker TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DI…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INITIATES AND MAINTAINS A FOUR-DAY … | Walker | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1941
Act 809
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “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 |
|
HB1945
Act 913
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…FFICIENT DISPOSITION OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS. HB1945 McCollum TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CH…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE … | McCollum | Notification that HB1945 is now Act 913 |
|
SB352
Act 721
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SB352 Stone TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SEC…”
|
TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED … | Stone | Notification that SB352 is now Act 721 |
|
SB373
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ED TO EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. SB373 Irvin TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS FINANCIAL EDUCATION COMMISSION.…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS FINANCIAL EDUCATION COMMISSION. | Irvin | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB390
Act 695
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…Irvin TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS FINANCIAL EDUCATION COMMISSION. SB390 J. English TO ESTABLISH THE STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCY ACT…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCY ACT. | J. English | Notification that SB390 is now Act 695 |
|
SB402
Act 725
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB402 C. Penzo TO PROHIBIT A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AN EDUCAT…”
|
TO PROHIBIT A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE FROM REQUIRING OR TAKING … | C. Penzo | Notification that SB402 is now Act 725 |
|
SB425
Act 722
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB425 J. English TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION; AND TO DECLARE AN … | J. English | Notification that SB425 is now Act 722 |
|
SB470
Act 646
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB470 J. Dotson TO REQUIRE AN ADULT APPROVED TO OVERSEE THE ADMIN…”
|
TO REQUIRE AN ADULT APPROVED TO OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF A STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT TO … | J. Dotson | Notification that SB470 is now Act 646 |
|
SB515
Act 647
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…STUDENTS IN A VIRTUAL SETTING TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. SB515 J. Petty TO REQUIRE THAT A UNIT DEDICATED TO ARKANSAS VETER…”
|
TO REQUIRE THAT A UNIT DEDICATED TO ARKANSAS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BE INCLUDED WITHIN … | J. Petty | Notification that SB515 is now Act 647 |
|
SB522
Act 648
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB522 M. McKee TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCES, AND THE ARTS; AND … | M. McKee | Notification that SB522 is now Act 648 |
|
SB547
Act 728
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…OLLS, FEES, AND OTHER CHARGES RELATED TO ATHLETIC CONTESTS. SB547 D. Sullivan TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A HOMESCHOOLED S…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A HOMESCHOOLED STUDENT LIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS OF A … | D. Sullivan | Notification that SB547 is now Act 728 |
|
HB1020
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…YPES OF ASSESSMENTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY PROVIDE TO STUDENTS. HB1020 A. Collins TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FR…”
|
TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; TO CREATE A NEW EDUCATION FUNDING … | A. Collins | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1023
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. HB1023 A. Collins TO AMEND THE STATE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM; AN…”
|
TO AMEND THE STATE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM; AND TO AMEND THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LOAN … | A. Collins | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1025
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…EPAYMENT AMOUNTS UNDER THE STATE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM. HB1025 McGruder TO CREATE THE TEACHER FAIR DISMISSAL ACT OF 2025.…”
|
TO CREATE THE TEACHER FAIR DISMISSAL ACT OF 2025. | McGruder | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1027
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ARDS REVISION CYCLE. DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1027 D. Garner TO CREATE THE BRIGHTER START ACT OF 2025; AND TO…”
|
TO CREATE THE BRIGHTER START ACT OF 2025; AND TO REQUIRE THE TREASURER OF STATE … | D. Garner | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1030
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TING AND FUTURE ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND PLAN ACCOUNT. HB1030 T. Shephard TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LAW ENF…”
|
TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN YOUTH … | T. Shephard | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1031
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…OUNSELOR TO RECEIVE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING. HB1031 D. Garner TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATIO…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATION ACT OF 2025; AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH … | D. Garner | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1081
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1081 B. McKenzie TO REPEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMEN…”
|
TO REPEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. | B. McKenzie | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1144
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…McGruder TO CREATE THE TEACHER FAIR DISMISSAL ACT OF 2025. HB1144 Wooten TO REQUIRE A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL UNDER THE ARKANSAS…”
|
TO REQUIRE A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL UNDER THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM TO COMPLY … | Wooten | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1197
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO WHICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE SUBJECT. HB1197 S. Meeks TO PROHIBIT SCHEDULING, HOSTING, OR REQUIRING AN O…”
|
TO PROHIBIT SCHEDULING, HOSTING, OR REQUIRING AN OUTDOOR PRACTICE, SCRIMMAGE, GAME, OR ACTIVITY FOR AN … | S. Meeks | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1239
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…IC SCHOOLS ADDRESSES CERTAIN HEALTH ISSUES FACING STUDENTS. HB1239 A. Collins TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003;…”
|
TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003; AND TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CATEGORY … | A. Collins | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1242
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…DITIONAL CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. HB1242 J. Mayberry TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES A…”
|
TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE COMPENSATED. | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1312
Act 909
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ENT DISTRICT. PENDING FISCAL IMPACT Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1312 Brooks TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUB…”
|
TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. | Brooks | Notification that HB1312 is now Act 909 |
|
HB1490
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ION CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. Page 4 of 5 HB1490 Wardlaw TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUD…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT RETURN TEMPORARILY ISSUED ITEMS, RESOURCES, MATERIALS, … | Wardlaw | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1528
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE COMPENSATED. HB1528 McGruder TO REQUIRE A REPORT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CU…”
|
TO REQUIRE A REPORT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. | McGruder | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1539
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. HB1539 A. Collins TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003;…”
|
TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003; AND TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL EDUCATION … | A. Collins | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1541
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…THE HOURS WHEN AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING HAS BEEN DECLARED. HB1541 Wooten TO REQUIRE A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT ACCEPTS STATE FUNDI…”
|
TO REQUIRE A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT ACCEPTS STATE FUNDING OF ANY TYPE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION … | Wooten | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1542
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TRANSPORTATION TO CERTAIN STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL. HB1542 Wooten TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER AN ANNUAL S…”
|
TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT; AND TO REQUIRE PRIVATE … | Wooten | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1642
Act 916
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “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 |
|
HB1756
Act 803
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…UNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. 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 |
|
HB1946
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…D MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS. 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. |
|
HB1962
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HB1962 Vaught TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM SERVING OR SELLING ULTRA-P…”
|
TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM SERVING OR SELLING ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS DURING … | Vaught | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1966
Act 914
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SED FOOD ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS DURING THE NORMAL SCHOOL DAY. HB1966 Barnett TO AUTHORIZE AN INCORPORATED TOWN OR A CITY OF THE…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE AN INCORPORATED TOWN OR A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS TO PETITION THE … | Barnett | Notification that HB1966 is now Act 914 |
|
SB183
Act 724
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Y AT THE RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. SB183 J. Dotson TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT; AND TO AMEND THE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS … | J. Dotson | Notification that SB183 is now Act 724 |
|
SB303
Act 644
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SCHOOL IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN A HOME SCHOOL. SB303 Dees TO ALLOW A RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERMIT A PRIVAT…”
|
TO ALLOW A RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERMIT A PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN … | Dees | Notification that SB303 is now Act 644 |
|
SB450
Act 915
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ENTARY SCHOOL OR SATELLITE SCHOOL UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. SB450 B. Davis TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE A HUMAN FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION … | B. Davis | Notification that SB450 is now Act 915 |
|
SB467
Act 645
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB467 C. Penzo TO MODIFY THE DEFINITION OF "HEALTHCARE PROVIDER"…”
|
TO MODIFY THE DEFINITION OF "HEALTHCARE PROVIDER" REGARDING STUDENT ATHLETE CONCUSSION EDUCATION TO INCLUDE CHIROPRACTORS … | C. Penzo | Notification that SB467 is now Act 645 |
|
SB90
Act 902
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB90 J. English TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED…”
|
TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC COMMENT … | J. English | Notification that SB90 is now Act 902 |
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- Processing date
- October 7, 2026
Really? Yes. Good morning, members. Good morning, guests. Welcome to House Ed on a rainy Thursday. Hopefully everybody is well after the storms last night. If you would please stand with me and we're a recognized representative Cozart to start us in prayer. If you would please remember
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folks, you're impacted by the storms. Dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you. Thank you today for protecting us and keeping us, Lord. We thank you as the storm went across Arkansas last night that there were very few that were heard. Thank you, Representative.
So, members, as you see, we have a very full agenda. we're going to try to prioritize house bills as much
as possible this morning to run through those quickly, which I know can be somewhat of an oxymoron in our committee. But we're going to do our best. I anticipate that we'll be here for a very long time. That's why we started early. Anticipate we'll be here till probably 1230-ish at least to try to knock some of these out. We also will do our best to be accommodating of members who are running bills at other committees or running other committees to make sure that we get their bills in and out.
So without objection, the first order of business is going to be Representative Dalby with the Senate bill. Then we're going to hear Representative Childers bill. And then after that, Representative Mayberry. So these are the first three on the
docket this morning. And so Representative Dalby, if you would please introduce yourself for the record, and you're
Representative Carol Dalby
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recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Carol Dalby, District 100. I am the House sponsor on Senate Bill 545, Senate Bill 545.
This is really a very simple bill. All this bill is doing is updating a 75-year-old law that allowed higher ed institutions to finance building projects and to buy land. What this is doing is this is going to allow them to finance other needs other than construction and purchase of real estate. All the safeguards that are in the law now in regard to issuing a bond remain in place. Higher ed institutions still have to get all the approval. There still has to be the
feasibility, all of that. And with that, I'll take any questions. Are there questions
about the committee? Representative Duke, it's a surprise, but I'll let you go ahead
Representative Carol Dalby
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and ask a question. Representative Duke, remember you're appearing in my committee next week. I'm going to be very kind. Just a slight reminder. Thank
Representative Hope Duke
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you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Representative Dalby. And I think there may be a reason why I asked Representative Richardson to run that bill for me next week. Oh, okay. Just joking. We'll find out.
I'm just joking. No, I just had a quick question because I read in Section 3 about the rents, tolls, fees.
About the what? I didn't hear what you said. I'm sorry. On page 2 in Section 3, when it talked about the rents, tolls, and fees, and it talked about activity fees, Have the universities just said anything about, are they going to look at raising student activity
Representative Carol Dalby
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fees? I mean, I know that's possible in this. It's always possible. Right. But no. I mean,
and that language is not changing. That's in the law now. None of this is changing. So nobody's indicated to me, but as we all know, higher ed has to look at all of that.
But that's not an anticipation for this bill. Okay. And thank you
Representative Hope Duke
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very much for that. And the main reason why I was asking that is wouldn't you agree that it would
always be nice to not have some of that burden go to our students on activity fees if possible? Always. Thank you very much. Are there
additional questions about the committee? Seeing none, we have no one signed up to speak for or against this bill. Representative Dalby, would you like to close
Representative Carol Dalby
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for your bill? I close from the bill and ask for a
motion, do pass. We have a motion, do pass, from Representative Vaught. Is there any discussion on that motion?
Seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. All opposed. Congratulations, Representative Dalby. You've passed your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, members of the committee. Members, another note of scheduling, so you can mark off HB 1727 from Representative Johnson. He has pulled that bill, not going to be running it, so just letting you know that. Now, without objection, we're going to move to the second page of the calendar to Representative Childress for HB 1805. Representative Childress, you are recognized. If you would please introduce yourself. Paul Childress, State Rep, District 83.
Representative Paul Childress
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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And with permission, I would ask Jeremy Lasseter, the attorney for
the Bryant School District, to join me at the table. Mr. Lasseter, if you would please join me to represent Childress and introduce
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yourself for the record, please. Morning, Mr. Chair, members of the
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committee. I'm Jeremy Lasseter with Bryant Public Schools. Mr. Chair, House Bill 1805. What we've done on
Representative Paul Childress
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this bill is we've came in and tried to define bullying, add to a couple lines on page two at the top.
We actually added three lines to kind of help with the definition of bullying. The other thing this bill does, and I've seen it firsthand as a school board member, where we would have investigations. And these days when investigations occur, to do them right, we have actually hired law firms to do our investigations at school districts. Well, when they start an investigation, this bill will allow them, if they detect on a bullying bill or a bullying investigation,
currently what they'll do once they get the bullying, they'll say, hey, there could be a Title IX violation also. So to prevent there being a conflict, we will at that point in time hire another firm to do another investigation on the Title IX. What this bill would do would allow one investigation to encompass multiple incidents, a bullying incident that led into a Title IX, and you could also, that same investigation could deal with the Title IX issue and do a report. It just kind of helps school districts save money.
Because at Benton, what we do is it's so important to get these things right. We do hire firms to have investigators or attorneys, and they're very expensive to do that. So we want to be good stewards of taxpayers' money. And I'll let Mr. Jeremy talk a little bit about their concerns and what they're seeing in Bryant to help generate this bill. Well, Mr. Chair, members
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of the committee, I think Representative Childress did a good job in explaining the bill. We have a very strong anti-bullying law on the books right now. It's good for students. It's good for teachers.
But what we're asking you to do are two minor changes to the law. One is to clarify the definition that helps us better understand and be able to communicate to parents and students what constitutes bullying and what doesn't. And then the second thing, as Representative Childress mentioned, is that sometimes when we get into bullying, we realize that we have another issue on our hands that must be investigated under another state or federal law. When that happens, we're just asking to be able to roll the bullying investigation into that investigation so that we don't have to have
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multiple investigations where we're interviewing witnesses and victims multiple times.
I'm happy to answer any questions
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that you might have. Vice Chairman McKenzie, you're recognized for a
question. I'm not, you're an attorney? Yes, sir. Okay. I'm not. This is not bullying. By definition, the state of Arkansas, the language you're adding is its intent or perceived intent of bullying. Involves an actual reasonably perceived power imbalance. Without defining it in the code section above, can you define for me today reasonably perceived power imbalance?
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Just what you might remember from elementary school. We've got a bigger kid and a smaller kid, one's bigger and stronger,
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picking on a kid just because they can. And if you would, let me address that particular definition. So we consulted the department on the definition, and that particular phrase and some of these other phrases come from the United States Department of Health and Human Services as well. There's a stopbullying.gov website that people go to. This allows us to be sure and kind of track that. We don't want to be confusing to parents.
we don't want to be confusing to students, and sometimes we
find that that's the case. That's great that you found it off a website. Was the website intended for model legislation to change the definition of bullying in other states? Well,
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it was not model legislation, no, sir. But it was from the U.S. government. Continuing, we
have a pretty strong definition. I'm going to read it. It's for everybody in the committee. I don't know if they know it yet, but bullying means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat, or incitement of violence by a student against
another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act. How is that not
all-encompassing enough to get what your desired outcome is? And you're right.
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That is all-encompassing, and that can be part of the problem. So that when we have a broad definition like that, and that part of the definition remains, as you can see in the legislation, when we have a broad definition like that without any other qualifiers. What happens is, is it's very difficult to determine what constant, is this going to
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be bullying or is this something that's addressed in another uh section of the, I don't
mean to interrupt, but that's for a judge to decide. We've
given the, we have a definition here, we have a definition here that that's again very all-encompassing. What you're now at like lumping in is intent or perceived intent of bullying and I think you know anyone that you think may be bullying, you could take them through disciplinary action, either whoever your objectors are, your arbitrators, and say, here's the definition. How does that, is there, am I missing something? Is there like a underlying
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problem? There is, and this, this definition doesn't
necessarily go in front of a judge. It goes to school administrators. You have to make a call on the spot about whether something constitutes bullying and does not. And so if something constitutes bullying later on in the law there's a five-day turnaround period for being able to to do a written report talk to all the parents what this definition would allow them to do is be able to use as a checklist a part of the definition that you mentioned would still be there but it also involves an actual or perceived power imbalance is received repeated or a high
likelihood of repetition and causes or creates are actual or reasonably foreseeable and then you have other parts that remain in the law from the prior definition. And so what are the issue that we're trying to address here is trying to cull down and be able to clearly identify for folks what constitutes bullying, what may constitute misconduct that would have to be addressed under other parts of the student handbook and to make it easier to communicate to parents and students and also be easier for administrators to see what those differences are.
Chair
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Representative Follett, you're recognized for a question. Answer your question. Representative Beck, you're
Representative Rick Beck
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recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I read this earlier, and
I had a little problem with that reasonable perceived power imbalance. But I justified myself with it. But something that you just said kind of got me back on the other side of the fence now. You said, you know, some kids are larger than other kids. So I cut in line in front of somebody.
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Is that bullying? I'm bigger. That's part of the component, so
Representative Rick Beck
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then we'd have to look at the other pieces. But here's my point, though. So now someone that just happens to be a larger student, kids cut in line, I guess, and all that stuff all the time, but now he
sees a smaller individual do it. It's okay for that person to do it. It's not okay for the person that's larger to do it just because of their size? Well, I
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think you'd have to look at the other parts of the definition, too.
So that's only just one piece. You'd have to look separately at is this repeated or has a high likelihood of repetition, and then does it cause or create an actual reasonably foreseeable physical harm, substantial interference with the educational environment or hostile education environment. And I think what you speak to is the problem that we see. So using your example, if a student who is bigger just cuts in line, are we going to do a bullying investigation just for that? We think that this law would not require that. Now, we might address that under other parts of the student handbook,
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but we wouldn't address that as a bullying incident unless it met all of those
Representative Rick Beck
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other components of the definition. And I'm
just trying to get it right with myself. So a parent comes forward and says, Johnny, who's bigger than my daughter, all right, cut line in front of her. And he is bullying her, okay? And it meets this perceived imbalance thing.
So now walk me through the logistics, how you would say, okay, I'm sorry, Johnny was just fine. He's just doing what kids normally
do. How would you go with that? How would you get to that point? Yes, sir. So if
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it's just a one-time event of a larger kid cutting a line in front of a smaller kid, that's what
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we're trying to avoid in terms of constituting bullying. So what we would do is we'd sit down with the parent. We would show them this definition of bullying and say, yes, there is that part about the power imbalance, but what we don't see are these other components of bullying. And so we're not going to investigate this under bullying, but we will address this in another way.
So that's what we're trying to avoid. Thank you. Representative
Representative Hope Duke
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Duke, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you all for bringing this bill. I appreciate your work on
this. My quick question, and I apologize if I missed it whenever you were testifying earlier. Who all worked on this together,
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on this bill? We consulted the Department of Education. The Bryant School District consulted the Department of Education on this. We brought them the issue of, you know, for instance, I can give you the statistics.
You know, we had 74 allegations of bullying in one year. You know, we have 36 weeks of school. A lot of those were not substantiated because they just didn't meet the definition of bullying. So what we were trying to do, and I think is to help parents, help administrators and students have a better idea of what constituted bullying. We worked with the department. They, in turn, helped us with language on how to better put a definition in there that would help, that was more consistent with what the bullying definition is nationally
without unnecessarily destroying what we already had. So we did work with the department on this bill, ma'am. Did you work with any other
Representative Hope Duke
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school districts, superintendents, other parts of the state? Have other people besides your school district and the department looked at it been a part of this i know that our superintendent has shared it with other school
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districts to and as is common uh to to find out you know
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if they were seeing some of the same issues i don't want to speak for her but i believe that she found that they were
Representative Hope Duke
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i don't i mean i i don't question some of the issues and there's piece of it pieces of it and the end of it i kind of understand where you're coming from i just was curious what's driving this and how is it going to look and play out everywhere if the support is wide range for these changes or if it's just kind of localized. So if you could wouldn't mind explaining that a little bit that would
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be great and thank you very much. And I've spoken with some of my attorney colleagues who represent school districts around the state too. The issue that
we have is that right now the definition is good but it as Representative McKenzie pointed out it's a very broad one. And so a lot of times it's difficult for our administrators to know and to be able to communicate to parents, okay, this is something that constitutes bullying that would require a five-day investigation and a written report and we would get back to you as opposed to these are some of the things that misconduct that we could deal with on the spot address. And so what we're hoping to do with this definition is to make it clearer as to what constitutes bullying as opposed to what may be a violation of just misconduct and other parts of
Representative Hope Duke
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the student handbook. Why does this, I'm sorry, why can they not do this on their local level
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as opposed to doing this statewide? Well, it, the problem is we do have to make those calls locally anyway as to whether something constitutes bullying or not. The problem is that it can get confusing under the current definition. It can get confusing to communicate to parents. It can get confusing to communicate to students at times. Where a parent or a student or an administrator might think
something is bullying, sometimes it does not fall into that definition, and it can be hard to determine. We're really just trying to outline a bright line definition for them to follow, much like a checklist, so that they would know what constitutes bullying and what does not. Do you
Chair
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have additional follow-up, Representative? Representative, you're recognized. Thank
Representative Stephen Meeks
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you, Mr. Chair. I know we're kind of in the weeds on the definition of bullying, but if I understand correctly,
a student can't be disciplined until all the investigations are closed. Would that be a correct statement? Yes, ma'am. And that is really what you're trying to do here, is get it where you don't have so many investigations going on on one student and get to the point of where you can discipline them. Is that correct? That's correct. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Representative Beck, you're recognized for a question. Thank you.
Representative Rick Beck
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And I apologize because you said something else that kind of tripped something.
So you're working with the department on that. I appreciate that. But then I thought back to your answer to my question. It says, well, in our handbook, you know, it would balance in power thing. Again, it would go back. Well, but could your handbook or would your handbook be different than other school districts' handbooks and therefore have different meaning as far as this is concerned? You follow what I'm saying?
Like there could be a confusion factor related to, well, this school is saying this is bullying, and this school is – it seems like we really ought to have the department say this is bullying and that's it and you don't add or take away from it because if you don't,
We're going to have a whole lot of different perceptions of what bullying is, and that could create confusion if
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a child went to a different school district. Yes, sir. And to maybe address your question, you have, as a general assembly, established what the definition of bullying is statewide. So there should not be any changes from district to district on what bullying is.
And that would be the case, too, if you pass this legislation. This would become the definition of bullying that's included in all handbooks around the state. where I mentioned the other parts of the student handbook are those things that fall outside of bullying. So in your case of the larger student just pushing the smaller student out of line, and it's just a one-time incident that doesn't meet the other components of the definition of bullying, we might have an administrator or teacher just deal with that on the spot to correct that behavior. But it would not fall under the definition of bullying that you would
have set that would require a five-day investigation, a report, things of that nature. Thank you. Vice Chair McKenzie, you're recognized
for a question? Yeah, of course. It's been a light
season for you, so I want to make sure we're getting you at the table. Dr. Hernandez, if you would please introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized to the end of the gauntlet.
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Mike Hernandez, Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Educational administrators. Thank you for coming. I apologize
just calling you out of the blue like this, but following up on Representative Duke's questions, I'm guessing you've been
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consulted about this bill. We have. You know, we have a process where we've got committees, representatives from all over the state
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that come and review these bills. I believe we recently reviewed this bill, and I know that overwhelmingly our membership chose to support this. Okay. I think much to what Mr. Lasseter
has said, is it's trying to clean up some language and give clear guidance for both parents and administrators. I know that's always a wonky thing when you're talking about bullying, and it's a very passionate emotional issue sometimes with schools, but I think we believe this is kind of a do right type thing to try to, you know, mitigate some of the things where there's an overabundance of time spent on this, and each important issue is important, but this does seem to streamline the process a little more. Was there a vote in your
committee that, is that how that works? It's like a vote of, "Hey, this is a proposed legislation. Hands up. Okay, we're
supportive of it." Yes, sir. Okay, and so had this
been a concern that you had heard from your association that, "Hey, we're not getting the air cover we need with the bullying definition." So we
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do. I think going even back to the history of when some of the bullying legislation originated, I know there was a lot
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of concern about how to actually function and do this with all the different, you know accusations of bullying and who determines I mean you see a lot of people calling things bullying and so it's always been something that's been talked
about and so I know that this issue is has been brought up as a something that was wanting to be
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worked on and so I think this is a result of that work
thank you that's all I just wanted to make sure because we anytime we talk about other superintendents I want to make sure we
Representative Jessie McGruder
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get a full picture or we'll wait Sorry. Representative Grutter, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Vice Chair. Thank you,
Mr. Hernandez, for the work that you all do. I represent a small portion of the state, District 35.
And my question is, are there any administrators from my area that are part of your
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organization? Yes, sir. Marion, West Memphis, there are several folks that are from around that area in that zone that
Representative Jessie McGruder
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work with us a lot. Okay. What about some of the rural areas? I represent Earl, and there
are some other districts that are also in Phillips County and Lee County. Were they also a part of this discussion?
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They're also part of the organization.
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I mean, we can't make everybody be there every time, but I know a lot of the discussion information gets shared with them. We do have representatives, usually by co-op in the greater Pulaski County area, and so we do have representatives from their regions, too, that go back and consult with them as well. Specifically, we've got some
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from those districts that are involved. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Are there additional questions about the committee? Seeing none, we do not have anybody signed up to speak for or against this bill. Would anyone like to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, Representative Childers, would you like
Representative Paul Childress
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to close for your bill? Yes, sir, I would. Both of the witnesses did a good job explaining the bill way better than I did, so I appreciate them for being here, and I would close, and I'd appreciate a good vote and a due pass. Representative
Childers has explained the bill and closed for the bill.
We have a motion on the table to do pass from Representative Fault. Is there a discussion on that motion?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to have to be opposed just because, and this is not bullying apologists, and it's a fine bill, and I think you're trying to do right. Sorry, the folks from Benton and Bryant, but let's just
think about this for a second. The language that is not defined, and I know that lawyers will get in here and say, well, reasonably perceived means X. Okay, well, is that a Blackstone definition? Is that a common law definition? We don't do the work in the front of this bill to define that.
but when we say reasonably perceived power imbalance of or that can create a reasonably foreseeable hostile and educational environment that's meant minority report that's saying well we're going to start we're going to start going after potential future crimes potential future bullying and it's just I don't think the language is tight and tight enough for us to lug in top on top of as a bracket everything that defines the physical ontological metaphysical
physical definitions of bullying. I just think it's going to create too broad of a definition because reasonably perceived power imbalance can be that boy getting knocked over in the lunch line and anytime someone, you know, three days beforehand brushed into them, that's a reasonably perceived power imbalance. I just don't think it puts too much onus on words and definitions of a legal nature that aren't clearly defined.
Representative Bruce Cozart
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So I would ask people to also vote against. Perp Simcoza, are you recognized for discussion? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You know, this may not be a perfect bill. We don't have a whole lot of them that are. But I think it's a bill that will help. You know, I'm just going to say we have a lot of kids that get bullied in ways we don't even see, and we lose a lot of them. And we just buried a girl in a cemetery. It's my family's cemetery last year that just you finally give in to the bullying the hard way.
And so I want to stop it in any way we can. It's not a perfect bill. If it doesn't work perfectly, we can come back and fix that the next session. But let's give it a start to try
Representative Justin Gonzales
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to keep going and keep our kids being bullied. Representative Gonzalez-Worthy, you recognize. Thank you, Chair. I am also in favor of this bill because it does add language. if you will, an additional checklist when we're unsure to clarify what bullying is
and additional language to help determine if bullying is occurring. And then also, if it was just a one-time thing, one-time incident, then the principal or administrators, they handle that, they intervene. But I think that this is what's needed because bullying does occur in a lot of different places in the school. And sometimes it's reported, even though the students know they can report it.
Some of them don't. And I think anything that we can do to protect our kids further in the school environment, we need to do that. I vote yes. Thank you. Representative Meeks, you're recognized for discussion. Thank you,
Representative Stephen Meeks
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Mr. Chair. Just real short, you know, we can, bullying is definitely a problem and we can, what if and all this to death, but at some point we've got to trust the people that we've put in charge of our kids and that's what this is doing. This is allowing local control, allowing common sense to prevail, to try to take care of what
is usually a very difficult issue. So I appreciate you bringing the bill and would encourage a yes.
Representative Fault, you're recognized for discussion. You're good. Awesome. Additional discussion? Seeing none. What's the will of committee? All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed? No. Congratulations, Representative Childress. You passed
your bill. Thank you, committee, Mr. Chair. Members, without objection, we'll move to HB 1283 with Representative Mayberry. Representative Mayberry, if you
would please introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized to present your bill.
Representative Julie Mayberry
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state representative julie mayberry and i do have a handout that i had given y'all the other day hopefully it's still here my apologies we do have
Representative Julie Mayberry
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we were going to do this on tuesday and I had it and I left it for you and I should have reminded them to make sure that they had it
so I'll get to that in just a second. I do have a guest with me as well so I'll let her introduce. Ashley Cooksey and I'm here
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to represent school librarians across the state of Arkansas. Give us just a moment please. So the handout's going
to have to come from the Bureau, so it's going to be a couple minutes,
Representative Julie Mayberry
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if you would want to go ahead. We'll go ahead. I don't want to hold it
up. I'll tell you what's in this. Okay, this is from Excel and Ed. Many of you may know Jeb Bush, chair of Excel and Ed, and this just outlines some of the things that some other states are doing regarding media literacy in our schools, starts out by saying in 2021, a Stanford study found that fewer than one-tenth of one percent of 2019 high school students correctly identified the true origin
of a video on voter fraud filmed in Russia but falsely claimed to be from an American election. In the era of AI, students need skills to access online information, identify credible sources, protect their digital presence, and make informed decisions to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. That's what I'm trying to address here. The bill that I have before you will help improve mental health in our state and will help protect our students.
We have in our hands all the time one of the most powerful things anybody can hold, and it's this cell phone. We have so many things out there where we're telling people, you know, in our schools, you can't use your cell phone. Well, why? And then they're going to go home. Our students are going to go home, and it's in their hands. And they're going to go online. They're going to go on social media. There's nothing you're going to do. And I realize a parent can add certain controls, but sometimes parents don't even know.
And we need to educate our students. That's part of our role. In the world in which we live in, we've given them this power, yet we don't address it in our schools and give them the tools that they need to navigate it. And that's what this bill is starting to address. I do want to tell you that there's another organization called Media Literacy Now. And according to them, there's 21 states that have comprehensive media literacy in their schools, and there's nine states pending legislation.
I've worked with Ashley Cooksey on this bill, and I'm going to let her kind of share what you hope to be able to do with this bill. Thank
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you. Thank you for having me here today. I saw this bill post, and it's nice when you can email a legislator and say, thank you, I appreciate this bill. And I had emailed Representative Mayberry stating my appreciation, but finding a few areas of the bill that I was concerned about. I emailed out to our school library listserv that has approximately 500 school librarians as members
and got the same feedback that I was feeling. So we worked together with a small group of school librarians across the state. another program director at UCA that also educates future school librarians in a master's program to add language to ensure that these standards would benefit our students with things that we were already doing. School librarians already teach some of this, but our standards are competency-based, so specific language is not necessarily present, and we want to add to that
to make sure that that addresses media literacy, information literacy, and we can bring our students into a world where they are competent users of information literacy. I also noticed the bell-to-bell no-cell policy is great, and I think that cell phones do cause some issues in our classrooms, but we also need to teach our students what to do once they leave our classroom and being able to identify what is accurately produced
and what is not, as well as how to read some of that information. Our math standards say that students should be able to read charts and graphs, but it doesn't say that it has to be in a math textbook or on a math worksheet. So why not let them read the news or a locally published article that includes a chart or graph, a weather chart from social media to see the differences in it? And as I see several of you with iPads and computers and you know the information is presented differently on a laptop or computer device than it is on your phone.
Do you know how many times I've re-subscribed to Amazon Music because when I open it, that subscribe is right where my finger goes and it's designed that way, right? Our students need to be aware of some of these features and something that I had taught our students is about zombie accounts, of creating an account on an app and then deleting the app but not your information. So then you have this zombie account floating out there where all of your personal information is just hanging out. So some of these things I think can be addressed through this legislation and adding these standards into already existing standards.
If you'll notice there was a year on there, the 26-27, the school library standards were already set to be revised in the 27 school year. So it's just
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
34:32
moving it up one year. And I would just
also like to remind you that our governor spoke to us and shared with us a very heartbreaking story about a family, a mom named Jenny, 16-year-old son Mason, who took his life because of TikTok.
I want to remind you that happened at home. And I think we need to give our students the tools that they need to handle what they're seeing, what they're reading. We don't address AI in much of our education, and I think that's going to really change our world, too, heading forward, to know what's real, what's not. You know, it used to be you could tell if someone photoshopped something, and now it's really hard to tell the difference.
And we want to give them those tools to understand. We just passed a bill dealing with bullying. We know bullying is a big issue. And I believe that this is one other tool that we can make use of to help our students deal with all of this. I'd be happy to take any questions. Representative Brown, you're recognized for a question. Thank
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
35:54
you, Mr. Chair. Representative Mayberry, one of the other things that's going on on the Internet,
and I don't know if this legislation would address it, but maybe it could include some cautionary cautions for young people and young adults, really. I know that anybody can take a picture out of a yearbook, and there's all kinds of apps now. You can just, I mean, a ton of apps where you can manipulate photos and add different bodies to the face or whatever.
And children are being bullied that way by having obscene pictures that look real of them posted on the Internet. Is there anything in the program that would tell children or young people, Don't send pictures of yourself that you wouldn't want to see on Facebook or whatever those apps are that they use. I don't use them, but they use lots of apps, TikTok and what have you.
And, you know, if you don't want to see it there, don't
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
37:07
send it to your boyfriend. That's exactly what we're trying to address here. There are so many different applications, but that is exactly
one of them. Thank you. Are there additional questions by members? Representative Grutter,
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
37:24
you recognize? Thank you. I truly appreciate the work that was done on this legislation. Anytime anybody tries to come before this committee, I know it's a difficult task.
But you being a librarian, this question is directed at you. I'm trying to get a better understanding of how this will look in the schools. What do you visualize this being like in a normal school day, or are you all presenting this? So
Speaker 140
37:48
currently, and that's actually addressed a little bit in the bill as well, there is statute for most elementary schools are on a fixed schedule where every classroom comes into the library at some point in time throughout the week. Middle school, junior high, and high school, that tends
to drop off a little bit as teachers are in their own content area and classroom with block scheduling. So this bill does add that the standards would be taught in collaboration with content area and classroom teachers so that teachers will work with the school librarian and embed some of that in content that they're already doing. For example, the math that I gave you of, you know, your teaching charts and graphs, we can learn that content in the classroom, but let's also apply it to media literacy and show them what it looks like online, things that they'll see in news articles, social media posts, and things like that. So I envision it as educators working with school librarians to
ensure that the standards are embedded across curriculum rather than just a school librarian in teaching it because we know as most of us have children that when you learn it in one area and it's not taught somewhere else it tends to stay in that one room they don't transfer across so having this as collaborative standards and teaching across that I think will help our learners
Speaker 164
38:59
did I answer your question maybe sort of okay so
are there just questions about the committee had a
couple questions myself. So page two of the
bill, talking about media literacy, ability to decode media messages, assess the influence of media messages. I'm trying to kind of think through how we would teach
that from a standards perspective, because some of that can be very subjective in terms of opinion, right? So I'm kind of trying to figure out how, how would we do that? It may,
may even bring somebody to the department because obviously they would be promulgating rules for the standards. So I would be, uh, that may be more of a question for them on if, if, if there's somebody, sorry, and you guys are just hanging out in the back there today so far, if you would please recognize yourself for
the record. Um, just try, trying to kind of, I'm trying to think through how we do that from a standard perspective sure Jacob Oliva Department
Speaker 167
40:11
of Education so I think we've heard as stated before we have what we refer to
Speaker 169
40:16
as library media standards that cover kind of the k-12 spectrum those standards are going to be due up for review which we do as a state every few years if this bill were to pass we would have to take the language in that's prescribed in this bill and add a component I guess that would be under the meet digital media standards and see if we can embed those into the existing library
standards I think the question you're asking and if I was to say what may be helpful for implementation is there's some diff some vernacular definitions that I think could maybe be really hard to navigate towards your components so like if I was to say like there's a component on media literacy and then defining news literacy as a subset of media literacy like why couldn't we just have media literacy and then do we really need to define what that is and
then start going through the kind of tasking component if I was to make suggestions or provide feedback some of it's really listed as k-12 and I wonder how k-12 specific digital media standards really need to be for kindergartners I worry about conflicting messages around the definitions of digital wellness and the positive effects for kindergartners I think we've been kind of saying we want to keep these devices out of students hands but then we're going to teach students how to put them in their hands and use
appropriately I would like to see if we would just narrow the scope to more middle or high school and say this is where this is where we know it's a I don't want to start introducing these topics to kindergartners because we're required to from a k-12 even though it says it's age-appropriate we would still have to navigate how we're managing that that component so I think there's some good definitions in here I you talked about the need of like how is artificial intelligence hitting classrooms and standardized some definitions updating
standards to be more reflective of the challenges that teachers and administrators and students are facing is a good idea. I maybe be a little bit less prescriptive and let the experts that are leading that define those definitions would be something that I'd probably advocate for. Thank you Mr. Secretary. That
was kind of where I was going with it
with thinking about things like teaching news literacy to a first or second grader well
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
42:48
first of all AD would have the option
this is this is in your hands to promulgate these rules and that curriculum and and the standards I should say so so it would go back to you all um I I will say that I was open to any changes in this in any definitions I I did express that if there's anything in here you want me to change this bill got filed quite some time ago and I said if you want to change anything in here I was told of one specific wording that they did not like and I went and I happily changed that
happy to make anything clearer happy happy to help but here we are it's
been out there for a while so if I
Speaker 140
43:41
could also the school library standards again are competency-based so what a kindergartner is able to do is going to be different than third grader eighth grader etc there is an existing media standards framework that I just pulled up it's teach digit and for the enduring understanding
which would be the standard it's digital citizens have collective responsibility for ethical design use, and regulation of new technologies. That's like a big, big thing to meet, right? But for kindergarten, that could look like describing how tools and technologies make tasks easier or more efficient. For example, what technologies do you use at home that make your life easier? Microwaves, lighting systems, you may have a blink camera or ring camera, that type of thing. But when we move up to sixth to eighth grade, it's looking at examining innovations through various ethical
lenses like impact on environment quality of life human connection and power so it's that same standard but measure
Speaker 179
44:42
different competencies we needed to teach someone how to use
Speaker 180
44:47
their their um audio turn their audio off wouldn't you agree representative that maybe we have a
course for all of us as well well quite
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
45:02
quite honestly so i i mean i i i will say that my hope is is that the more education we can provide our students they can come teach us as parents because we didn't grow up with these things and and we don't know either um
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
45:25
representative beck you're recognized for a question Thank you. Just a concern. I like what you're doing. It's very important.
Probably everybody here knows someone whose child has had a big problem with this, and in some cases we've lost individuals as a result of this, not knowing. So my concern, I think like, I don't know, 6th, 7th, 8th, we have to really hammer it because that's where the social part of this thing comes in and that seems to be a real troublesome point. But I want to talk about the kindergarten part of this thing.
I'm not opposed to it, but I do have a concern about, so everything that child, you know, you keep saying, well, when they get home, they're going to have it. Well, not all kids, right? some of them won't you don't
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
46:21
think a kindergartner goes and grabs mom's phone or has an iPad and is playing with it there are
people where mom doesn't have a phone walking through the grocery store kids playing on the iPad to keep their attention I think you'll like it if you let me finish
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
46:37
okay so my concern is that when we do it in the kindergarten which I'm saying you should be doing it in the kindergarten but you have to make We just make sure that the student who, you know, doesn't have something at home to do this, that makes sure that we're training them with what they have. The library has what we want to teach them because not all students will have the same thing, exposure when they get home. And it's important that they be able to do that.
And I see it's no physical impact. So, I mean, I like it, but that is my concern, is that there will be some, you know, there are going to be different levels as far as their exposure. Now, I think once you
get to, well, long before you get to sixth grade, if you don't have an iPhone, people go crazy. But it's really in that early age to
make sure that everyone has access to the stuff that you're talking about so they understand what you're doing. So thank you very much.
Are there additional questions about the committee? Vice Chairman Kinsey,
you recognize? I'm just, the one thing that kind of, I don't know, I'm just going to say it. The news literacy part concerns me, like deeply. And I'm not, this isn't from a place of partisanship, but I don't trust or listen or truly objectively trust anything that I'm hearing from mainstream media right now. left, right, center, any way you cut it, it's sensationalized news smut.
Frankly, that's what it is. And I get that what you're trying to do is, okay, because it even says in the definition, credibility of journalistic news sources and news practices, or news media practices. And this is my personal opinion. I'm not trying to, you know, cast it on everybody. I don't want my children, or if I were to put them through a public school, to have that to be a second of their time or attention. That's my responsibility as a parent when I get home. So I understand that our feet landed in the world today.
Of course these things will be around it. What you're forcing on students is going to be proficient in a literacy that I'm not sure my kids aren't going to be, that my family and I are going to say we want them to be fluent in at a reasonable age, 13 to 15. And to your point about access, grab mom's phone, Our children, my children, have no access to any devices, period, full stop. And that is a lot of people in this state. So to get them trained and ready to work on one of these things when I don't plan on giving them one until they're 17 years old is forcing the hand of a parent.
So I would, can you help me understand how you got to a place of where we need to start
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
49:30
teaching people about kids about news
literacy? I think you need to give them the tool so they understand the difference and what is real and what is not, what's facts. You need to make sure that they can verify that information. That's what we're teaching our kids every day in school is how to verify information. They're taught to research facts, and this is now just a different way
of researching those facts. I'll let you. Sure. So I
Speaker 140
50:01
also think that that dives into how these standards would be applied as a lesson. So we can't develop curriculum here in this committee. We don't do that. But having this come into a law would allow for a group of school librarians and educators to develop the standards. And when you're discussing news literacy, you're proficient in knowing what is sensationalized and what is not accurate.
But our learners generally are not. So having those skills embedded into the curriculum and it may be not necessarily looking at current news articles but creating fictitious things that they can discern from. For example, there is a website out there called the Pacific North, North Pacific Tree Octopus. It looks very real. It looks like there is an octopus out there. That website has been out in existence for a long time. And that's one website that we generally use to teach credibility because we know that it's fake. And what are you looking for? The copyright date.
who created the website? Are they a legitimate company and organization? And also reading laterally. So when you pull up a news article and you think this doesn't sound correct, open another article and see if that news agency is also reporting the same thing and looking across to find inconsistencies. That may be one of the standards as we build into this that is only high school and upper, you know, junior high and not necessarily something that would be at elementary
okay so two things you said just ended with one not necessarily it doesn't say not
necessarily it says based on the way the bill is written to create a standard for all students and two did you did you you create you assumed I'm sorry you create stimuli that's fake news for kids to spot is fake news is that what you just more or less
Speaker 140
51:46
said most of the time it's on like a powerpoint like a slide or something where you will have and misspelling on a word so that they can point out like this is generally fake because it doesn't have it's not spelled correctly or there's typos
in it okay but the north tree north
Speaker 140
52:00
pacific north tree octopus is a website you
can google it it's a website there's also one about explorers and something else i did not create those they have been out in
the land of education for a very
long time of course i'm just is that is that really how much time are we dedicating to students to to source and to verify if a website or a, that's, I'm really trying to like wrap my mind around any time of any student stays committed to spotting fake news, but why is that germane to their day-to-day need to
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
52:33
think critically? Because we want them to know what is real and what is not.
Why would we want them to, there is fake news out there. There's, there's fake sources out there. We need to give them the tools to understand how to verify information. That's what we're teaching in English classes all the time. You have to go back and verify information and cite sources. That's all that we're trying to do here. Totally agree. Give people tools. Let's
go find primary sources for the purposes of some other critical thinking exercise, writing a book, staging a bibliography,
spending time, children spending time in school, and I agree with you, they should be able to verify, you know, primary, secondary, third, tertiary sources, but we do that in current construction within standards for English composition and for, you know, natural sciences so that they can write book reports and surveys for this. What you're telling them is digital news, modern literacy. I agree. I think that's the role of a parent or the role of a community or the role of a church, but all of those critical thinking, all of those deductive reasoning skills can and are achieved
within our existing course loads. So I'm just, I'm struggling to understand why any shape form we would need to have something that would promote news literacy to our children. So wouldn't you agree, I don't get it. Representative Duke, you recognize for a question? Thank you, Mr.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
54:04
Chair. Thank you, Representative Mayberry, for bringing this bill. And thank you for all your work that you do with
the kids. My question is, and Representative McKenzie kind of made me think along this line. I'm one of the ones probably in here there may be more of us
that raised kids on the front end of phones and then raised another kid after I they had they didn't have some I mean just had a lot of experience raised third
kid different than I raised one and two okay after what I learned with one and two. So um so third child number three did not the other ones didn't get phones very early either but he was way more restricted all the way up into high school and so my question here is thinking about if I were raising kids now and how I advise parents is like no phones and all of those pieces so my kid went to school and didn't have a phone
for a very long time and he also didn't have the social media didn't have all of these things are you is there some type of would there be some type of process in which if I don't want my kid to have that exposure to some of those pieces until I'm ready for them to have that exposure understand everything you're doing here that they can be waived out of that because I don't necessarily want them and I know there's lots of people kids on TikTok at five and six years old because my daughter teaches first grade and I know it so I understand the need for all of this
but I don't necessarily want my kid at five or six years old learn about TikTok although he's going to get it from the peers right so I get that too so is there any mechanism in here for a parent to go yeah no we're not doing that one or other than what's probably already in policies or somewhere else. I just want to make sure we've got the control to control as a parent what they're doing or not doing in this particular thing. I think I know
Speaker 140
55:51
the answer, but I want to make sure. So just from my personal experience and being involved in our state organization, knowing school librarians, TikTok has an age limit. It wouldn't be brought
up in anything that I had taught. Now I'm not saying other educators wouldn't, but that is something that we should consider. And it doesn't necessarily mean that these standards would be strictly for social media or phone use all of our students have computers or some type of device at school for the most part many schools have gone one-to-one whether or not the school the child takes the device home or it's in the classroom they still have access to the device so teaching them how to use their devices for educational purposes i did a class with an algebra class
that was basically how to student better just teaching them how to use their device for education and not necessarily just for games or playing um so i think that that is where these standards would be going i don't necessarily think it would be in any way advocating for any type of social media it's just using the technology and the device correctly and understanding the parameters around media okay i understand i appreciate
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
56:58
that thank you i'm just i mean i would assume in these discussions there would be
talk about social media and how to use
that and how to control it, because that's one of the biggest issues out there. And it is with young kids, even if they're not supposed to be on it, they may be on mama's TikTok, but they know about it. So I would, are those things, do you anticipate those being discussed? I kind of just assumed it was part of those discussions. And if they are, would you agree that there may need to be some mechanism for parents who do not want to maybe have their kids exposed to certain parts of those discussions about that yet maybe at a later age
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
57:36
I'm open to ideas as I've said from the
beginning when I filed this bill if anybody has any suggestions on wording or anything I've said all the way along I got feedback thank you specific changes I did that I'm always open to ideas here I am today. So if I need to clarify language in this, as Representative Richardson has done many times, is he in the room? I don't know. Happy to change some wording in here to make it
clearer, but this needs to be done. We are doing a disservice to our students when we're not giving them the tools that they need to operate in the world in which we live in today. This is for security, for their security, and to help them in their mental health. Just taking something away is
Speaker 162
58:33
not going to solve that problem. So I appreciate that, and I hope
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
58:41
that you will look at that. Again, I think there may be something
already in, like, code or policies or whatever where they do that. I just wanted, that just popped onto my radar, that would probably be an issue at some point in time, and I see my head's nodding. I thought so. Just wanted
to make sure. Thank you. Representative Meeks, you're recognized for
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
59:02
a question. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. So I've been to many AI conferences and technology conferences over the last couple of years, and this is one of the most important things that they constantly say that we as states need to do. It was actually on my short list to try to
get done this go around, but I got bogged down in other things, so I really appreciate you bringing this. I think this is one of the most important pieces of legislation we will do for our kids this session. To Representative Brown, the illicit deep fakes, as soon as I'm done here, I'm going over to Judiciary, and I'm going to try to get a law passed to handle that issue. But the question that Representative McKenzie asked about the news stuff, I think that's actually one of the most important pieces to this, and I'm going to eventually get to a question here because we, you know, as lawmakers, you guys get this all the
time. I have people who in today's age believe the earth is flat because they see some convincing posts on Facebook. And, you know, I've read news articles about a guy who bought a lawn chair and attached balloons to it so he could go up and prove the earth was flat. I don't know why he just didn't buy a plane ticket and enjoy peanuts along the way. But, I mean, that's the kind of world we're living in, and if we don't prepare our kids to be able to do that, because we want to teach kids critical thinking, and this is a very important part of that critical thinking aspect.
The majority of the jobs that we have today will not be in existence by the time they become adults. You know, Representative Cozart, who, you know, he runs a contracting business. Well, in 20 years, he's going to be running a team of robots to build houses and not a team of humans, and so our students, the jobs of today are 50, 75 percent of them are not going to be there by the time they're adults. It's going to be AI. And so this is, I think, one of the most critical things that we're going to be doing to actually
Speaker 141
1:00:59
prepare them for tomorrow. Wouldn't you agree? I would
absolutely agree. Thank you. Representative Beck, you're
recognized for a question. Or not. Okay. She is gone.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:01:24
Are there additional questions by the committee? Representative McGruder, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I stated before, I love the legislation. I do. Something that shocked me today is I actually am very similar
representative McKenzie I my phone my children were allowed phones until they were in a sixth grade actually halfway through the sixth grade year when each one of them got their phone I would I asked about implementation I would prefer if this was implemented at the middle school age on through high school and I actually would prefer if the students were actually went to the library and got a lot of education I think this is important I know it's important not think and it's something that I know we have to do I just would prefer it being
done at a later age the middle school age over starting in kindergarten because everybody does not introduce their children to technology early on I know there are some that do and that's why we are in this society that we are in today but I love it supportive of it I just wish it would change to at the middle
school age in the extended classroom aspect. So is there any way we can get something like that
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
1:02:36
done? Well, here's my thought. They're exposed to this in the classroom already. They
have laptops. They have access to internet in the school, whether they go home and use it or not. And again, we're just giving them the tools that's age appropriate. And that curriculum would be developed by experts and and the team that develops that curriculum with ADE so I think that flexibility is there um we're just saying we want you we want you to do this that thank you are there additional questions about the committee see no additional questions we do not have anyone
sign up to speak for or against this bill would anyone like to speak for against the bill Seeing none, Representative
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
1:03:27
Mayberry Would you like to close for your bill? I'm closed for the bill I'd appreciate a good vote I think this is something that we need to do I do hear your concerns If this does not fail I'll be happy to Take whatever amendment suggestions You all want me to make But I would ask for a due pass And see where we go Representative Mayberry has closed for a bill
HB 1283 and may I do pass motion. Is there a discussion on the motion as amended? Oh, sorry,
no, not as amended. Discussion on the motion, Representative Meeks, you're recognized for discussion. Yeah,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:04:01
I won't belabor this, but, again, I think this is one of the most important pieces of legislation that we will pass this session related to our kids because of the future they're facing, to the concern about, you know, should we start middle school? You know, maybe some of the social media stuff maybe doesn't start in middle school, but like Representative Mayberry said, they've got their hands on a computer
or in kindergarten. And so they need to learn how to use that tool properly, that aspect of it at least, in kindergarten and first grade. You know, some of this more heavier stuff, sure, that'll wait. So I'm not concerned about that. I don't think we need to be putting this off until middle school because by middle school, the vast majority of our kids know more about computers than we do. And if we don't teach them how to use that prior to them, you know, when they get to high school, the social media aspects, the mental health, there's so much to this that I just think we need
to get it done, and I appreciate it. Thank you. Is there additional discussion by the committee? Seeing no additional discussion, we have a
motion on the table. Do pass. All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed? No. Congratulations,
Representative Mayberry. Your bill is passed. Thank you. I've got... Thank you, members. uh members without objection we are going to move to the second page
let's see represent vault was going to run but she is out in transportation we're going to move down to the second page
hb 1866 i'll yield the chair to representative mckenzie
If you could recognize yourself, you'd be prepared to present your bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Keith Brooks, State Representative, District 78. Members, Mr. Chair, without objection, I'd like to bring a couple folks to the table with me, if I could, please. Eli's family, if you would please join me up here. Eli and his mom, and then Dr. Ferris Smith from White County Central. Dr. Smith, actually, you can hang out.
Not enough chairs, so we'll wait a second.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee. HB 1866 is actually a pretty simple bill. The reason I brought this family here with me is because I want their story to be told. So HB 1866 came to me from some friends and some constituents based upon situation that happened equipment that was beyond awful. There really are no words to describe it. And so the purpose of the
bill, the nuts and bolts, are very, very simple. The nuts and bolts are requiring schools to put audio recording devices in locker room setting to keep that audio for a certain time frame and then to allow that to be requested should there be an event that would be similar to what this family has experienced so that they can, frankly, prove what has been going on and allow their story to be heard. So with that, that's all I'm going to talk about about the bill,
but I want Eli and his family to let you know what they experienced and the genesis
Speaker 241
1:07:50
behind this bill. Good morning. First of all, I'd like to introduce these two brave gentlemen behind me. My
Speaker 243
1:08:00
son, Eli White, and his friend, Cash Edwards, they're the real heroes in this group, and they have endured torture, unseen, unbelieved, but we fought just as hard as we can.
There was a gentleman sitting up front a while ago that talked about the big kid and the little kid. I'd like to tell you that this started in their seventh grade year of football. These kids have grown two or three inches since then, but I'll tell you they have fought giants as big as that guy. Would you please stand up? Two of the five giants that these boys had to fight were as big as him. One at the head, holding down from the shoulders.
One at the feet, holding them down, while a third one crawled on top of them and present. would hump them with clothes on but still out of their control. They had a pretty rough seventh grade year. My son Eli was hurt, humiliated, traumatized and violated during his junior high year at Quitman Public School. The administration has gone out of their way to neglect the safety of children in
this school. Four parents reported the physical and sexual abuse happening in the locker room. My child should never have to physically fight but he fought many many boys for himself and for him his friends. The boys would look at him and say all right it's y'all's turn now and they'd go to one boy. The abuse started with 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 Orbeez guns. They were told to run from one end of the campus to the football locker rooms way across campus, being shot at with coach's permission all the way to the locker room. Then once they were inside the locker room, they were ambushed at close range with these guns again. My son said there were so many you could pick up handfuls and throw them. There's no way that this was unseen. The last day on May 10th that Eli did
was the last day he attended school. His head was slammed into the lockers seven times by one of these big boys, physically grabbing him by the head and throwing him into his locker, trying to get down on the floor where they could crawl on top of him and hump him again while everybody in that locker room watched and laughed. The torture went way past this for a child that was not mine. My son considers himself a pretty tough kid. He's a fighter. He's a bull rider. He's boxed. He's done
everything. Football was his dream. He had dreams of playing in the NFL. He had dreams of just being the best kid that he could possibly be because that's what we've taught him to do. Eli's through and through integrity. Eli does the right thing no matter what and Eli is going to fight for the underdog and that's what he did and he got himself hurt doing it. I
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followed protocol at the school. I went and met, first of all, with the
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principal and the SRO and the coach.
They assured me that they would take this very seriously. Our children would be taken to a child advocacy center, questioned on what happened, that everybody in that seventh grade locker room would be questioned, and it would be taken to the authorities. But it was up to us to press charges against the boys and then let administration handle it. That's not what happened at all. Administration never talked to me again after I left that first meeting.
Five boys pled guilty to assault, battery, and harassment. We could not get them charged with sexual assault because we could not prove sexual gratification. These laws are very broken. The definition from bullying should be broad. It should cover it, but it doesn't. It is up to the individual administration to take things seriously and handle it, but I'll tell you what they did. Not one of these boys that pled guilty to doing this to my son missed one practice.
They never missed one game. We had court orders saying they were not allowed to be around the victims that they've done this to. What they did was bench our boys. They made sure that everyone who violated our children got to play. They played the games. They played at practice. Our boys were the ones told, you can't be here because so-and-so is. The system is very broken. These boys have fought.
Us parents have fought, and our advocates have fought since May 10th of 2024. We are only to the steps of the five boys who pled guilty. lack of supervision has allowed this to happen locker rooms are the only place in the time that students are completely unsupervised bullying and harassment is at an all-time high this opens up a huge liability and opportunity for students to be targeted it is imperative to provide a safety net
for the vulnerable students and their classmates who take advantage of this 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' dignity while still offering protection of those who need it. My son's story could have been drastically different with audio like we are requesting. From prevention to accountability, audio devices will make a difference.
Thank you for your time. Mr. Chair, with your permission, I'd like to bring Dr. Ferris Smith from White
County Central High School. Absolutely, John. I'm going to bring Dr. Smith to the table because he has taken the initiative and done this himself at his school. And so I want him to kind of give some of his perspective on the process, what the reaction has been, and just
the overall dynamics of what they've seen in White County Central.
I'm Faris Smith, superintendent at
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White County Central School District. We were proactive on this because of some situations that occurred at various schools and other Title IX incidents. So we looked into the process of getting audio recording devices in our locker rooms. have six we use the ricotta system it is a very good system it picks up key words hurt it picks
up voices being raised it picks up anything basically anything that's being said in the locker room. We checked with legal. With that, our attorney said that all we had to do was put that we were going to be, uh, students are being recorded at all times. We sent out to, uh, excuse me. We sent out to parents that, that this was going to be in our, in our locker rooms.
And after that, uh, we haven't had any fights. We haven't had any harassment. We haven't had any bullying. We haven't had any Title IX incidents since the
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beginning of the year. Dr. Smith, could you address some of the costs associated with it? Sure. When we looked into this, there
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were a few devices. We went with the Bracotta system. It was $1,200 for each locker room and $250 a year for cloud maintenance per locker room, so it cost us
about $8,000. It was $8,000 well spent. Like I said, we haven't had any incidences this year with bullying, hazing, harassment, anything like that. So the ricotta system, it was $1,200 per unit, and we have six locker rooms. So it was around $7,500 for eight audio recording systems and about $250 per room for the cloud system.
And after you purchase the audio system, that's yours to keep, but you do have to pay a cloud storage of $250 per year for each device. So it's about $2,000 for us a year for that from moving forward. And you can use safety grant money for that. Thank you for your testimony. Do we have any
questions from committee? okay seeing none and we
have some names signed up um we have audie mr vice chair yes i believe
that there was a question oh i'm so sorry um representative gonzales worthen
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um you're recognized thank you um when when
Representative Justin Gonzales
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1:18:28
when you uh sent the information to the parents um can you can you describe that what what they thought about this etc
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we didn't have any negative feedback at I told them that it was for the protection of their children, and, you know, we wanted, as you've heard testimony earlier today about bullying, it was, we wanted to put a stop to
anything because it is an unsupervised area, so we wanted to get anything we could in place for that, and I had no negative feedback from parents at all.
Representative Hope Duke
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1:19:07
Okay, thank you. Representative Duke, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. and thank you, Representative Brooks, for bringing this bill. I know locker rooms are a concern for everybody. I'm curious, what has the feedback been from the coaches? And I know a lot of school districts utilize their locker rooms
for meetings with their coaches and things like that. So what does that look like in those circumstances? Our coaches have been
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afforded, and AAA has a bill also So if we had a male coach, a female coach has to go in before that. So, you know, that was for the safety of students also. So with the coaches, it hasn't been a big deal at all. You know, the question was brought up about opposing coaches when we had games. So you have the ability to turn the recording device off at that point.
So you can turn the device off, and then you can turn it back on for ball games, for opposing coaches in
Representative Hope Duke
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1:20:05
locker rooms, yes. Okay, so there's flexibility as far as this can be turned on for when the students are just in there. Yes, ma'am. And then turned off. It's not just running nonstop like all the other cameras in our
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lives. During the school day, ma'am, it's voice activated. It's voice activated during the school day. But at night at games, we turn the visiting locker rooms off.
Representative Denise Garner
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1:20:31
Representative Garner, you're recognized for a question. Oh, sorry. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a quick question about logistics. How does it
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work? Who hears the video, and then what happens? It goes to a cloud, and if there is an incident reported, the administration, the principals, and myself only have control of hearing what's being said, and then we take that to
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if there is an incident, which we haven't had one, but we take it to the proper authorities.
Okay. Representative Nazarenko. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Jason Nazarenko
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Chairman. I know this is just about the locker rooms, but with you kind of being proactive,
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putting it in the locker rooms, do you have listening and like audio
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and video in classrooms? Yes, sir. We were fortunate enough to get the COPS grant, which is around $600,000, so we have audio and video in every classroom, every hallway. We don't have audio, but we have security cameras completely engulfed in our campus parking
everywhere. We're fortunate enough to get that grant, so it is in classrooms also with audio. Okay.
Representative Jason Nazarenko
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1:21:44
Was that a match grant, or was that
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just a full grant? It was a full grant, and we had to pay, I think, 20 percent, which is about $100,000 for us to get $700,000
worth of equipment. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you all for being here. and committee that I wanted Dr. Smith to be here is because he is from what I would consider a rural, not cash-flush school district.
White County Central is just a few miles outside of Searcy and is a very rural, very typical school district in terms of what many of us would serve in the state of Arkansas. And I think it's an outstanding example of where there's a will, there's a way. There was a will to protect the needs of students, and Dr. Smith was very, very intentional in ensuring that happened under his leadership.
Representative Garner, do you need another question? Yeah, one more. You're
Representative Denise Garner
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1:22:54
recognized. I'm sorry. I asked you earlier, but- Your mic is off. Now it's good. I am concerned
about the unfunded mandate. So tell me again about how much it costs, and the equipment is
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required in every locker room. So these school districts that have. We had six locker rooms, and the cost was $1,299 apiece, and then for cloud, it was $1,299 per unit,
which was around $7,500, and then the cloud fee is $249 per year per device, so that's about $2,000 for us. So it was around $9,000, with an upkeep now of about $2,000 a year. And I guess that's a big concern for a lot
Representative Denise Garner
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1:23:32
of school districts, I think. Understandably. You know, have Springdale, the largest in
the district, and several smaller ones that have just as many issues. But I guess what do we do if we require this and they can't get grants?
Obviously, you know, there is not a specific time frame in the bill
in terms of it is a shall. So it's required, but it shall be done by a certain date. My goal, again, in ensuring the story is told is to hopefully prompt school districts to look at the example of outstanding leadership and say, what's our goal there? Our goal is to prevent a student from being sexually assaulted, frankly, and obviously not necessarily to that extent, but prevent a lot of things.
We know that there have been numerous situations in other school districts that have been very well publicized in the state of Arkansas, where I believe that resources such as this would have prevented, frankly, terror to a student's life. And so my hope is that as we have the discussion and see opportunities to address the issue that schools would find a solution to do that.
And granted, yes, as you deal with larger school districts, the cost certainly would increase. That's something that would have to be addressed and looked at. I believe it's the potential that there may be some additional grants that can be utilized for this, you
know, from a school safety perspective. But, again, I think it's more than a worthy undertaking. I agree. I just would love
Representative Denise Garner
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to hear from, is Dr. Hernandez still in the room? Sorry.
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It's a busy day for you, Dr. Hernandez.
Once you get to the bottom table, please recognize yourself. I'm
sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off. Were you going to say something? We've really not heard enough
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from Dr. Hernandez's session. That's right. So I wanted him to feel wanted, frankly. Mike Hernandez, Executive Director
Representative Denise Garner
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1:25:53
of AAEA. I'm sorry, what was the question, Representative Gardner? Well, I love the intent of the bill. I'm worried about the unfunded mandate, obviously, and both for large school districts and for small school districts.
And if that grant is not available and we have a shall in here, what does that mean for some of
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these schools? You know, I do want to say that I think the intent of the bill is important. And I think the work that's done, the example by Dr. Smith about what they've done proactively, I hope that's a little bit of a message to some of our leaders that, you know, this is an ongoing problem. I think there's always concern about invasiveness of, you know, what's the limit of recording people and things like that. That's always a huge concern. I know he's dealt with that.
As far as, you know, anything that comes to us in terms of requirements that don't have some kind of funding mechanism, that always is a concern, no matter what it is. how good it is. I know y'all have heard some of the things about the you know potentially panic button those things coming back and so that was what some of the questions we had is how some of these safety things are being funded. We have been fortunate in the state that the this body has put together several instances of funding for school safety grants. The first 50 million I think there's another 50 million out there that districts are trying to prioritize. I think some of it also kind
of depends on where we land on the foundation funding amounts through adequacy as well. That's a hint towards Representative Brooks there and so I think the the timeline of when that happens it'd be good to see something about you know if funding when funding becomes available or some kind of you know it's hard it's a hard thing to say you want to be as much proactively in terms of school safety addressing bullying and all those things and I would be remiss if that's not a
a concern is the funding. Uh, but I know just like anything else, if, if, if this was required by the state, districts would do anything
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they had to do to make sure that requirement was met. And
maybe just to follow up on that, and thank you for the adequacy plug, Dr. Hernandez. Uh, maybe just to follow up on that, you know, just thinking about just some of the earlier testimony we've had this morning, uh, Bryant, you know, one of, one of my schools that I represent, uh, second, third largest school district in the state, and they communicate to us multiple Title IX investigations that they have dealt with
and how they've engaged outside counsel for things like that. I don't know what the cost of outside counsel is specifically, but I can imagine it's nowhere near inexpensive. I would imagine that you're talking tens, if not much more, thousands of dollars to spend on those, and hopefully Dr. Smith hasn't faced anything like that. And so I would imagine that the $7,000 or $8,000 that he spent was very well spent, and the preventive nature of it would certainly probably likely prevent additional costs
Representative Denise Garner
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1:28:45
in terms of those investigations. So would you be amenable to adding as funding is available there? I'd certainly be glad to
look at things that would make this bill palatable to the committee to ensure that we get it passed and signed into law this session.
all right representative Gardner are you still any other follows representative Duke you're recognized for a question thank you Mr.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:29:16
Chair um give me just give you a second because it just
escaped me um well I'm going to have to get in the queue I guess oh you're going to say how much you love the bill I think wouldn't I wouldn't you agree I remembered um and then you made me lose again. It's been a long session. Okay. I'm going to have to get back
in the queue. I hope someone has a
Representative Rick Beck
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1:29:44
question. We do have Representative Beck next. He can be. This is, I guess, a question or suggestion. I
always worry about when we record young people that there could be recordings that
just things that are said, nothing related to what we're trying to combat here, that could be pulled back up later on that could affect them. And by saying that, what I'm saying is would you consider putting something, I see the 10 days in there,
but sometimes a lot of times we miss this idea that these things will last, can be out there forever, right, to actually get rid of it, you know, a day to get rid of it, like by the end of the school
year. You know, you can make it, but just to make sure that you don't just keep piling this.
Because some of these individuals, you know, later in life, something that they said in a locker room in high school could really come back to haunt them and you know maybe to get rid of that yeah obviously give
them all the time that they need to be utilized for the purpose or utilized for but then have something in the bill that says okay then you need to erase
these audio get rid of this audio so they don't it's not floating out there in the cloud somewhere that someone could pull up later
would you consider that again I certainly would consider amendments that would make the bill better,
that would make the bill accomplish the goals that we have, which is protection of students. And so as long as there's a time frame to do that, then I certainly would be willing to do that. And just on another note in terms of funding, sitting here received a text message from a superintendent who said that they have explored some of those options and have some options out there outside of what we do from a state funding perspective. And so I think that they're, much like Dr. Smith has done, there are likely a multiplicity of options for funding these.
We've got to make sure that the schools know
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
1:31:37
what those are, of course. And that also, I don't know this, but that may help with some of the ongoing costs year to year because you're not keeping all that data up there in the cloud. It might
help a little bit. Representative Nazarenko, you're recognized
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
1:31:51
for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And so I will get to a question, but I wanted to say this first because I know when we start talking about money, you know, it's got to be hard because especially as the mother of a child, there's no dollar value that you could ever put on it and say, hey, how could we ever, you know, talk about money in a time like this?
But, you know, to Representative Garner's point, and that's a point that I have as well, we have to look at that from a certain point because it's affecting everyone. And I commend you, Dr. Smith, on taking that extra step to protect the children because that's going to pay dividends. Hopefully you never have to pull it up. And then to Representative Beck's point, I'm understanding the system where it's just a continual loop. If an instance ever comes up, you pull the data that you need, and then it's used.
Hopefully, it's never used, and it's tragic that it was ever even something that came up. It's a tragic situation, but for mine, I'm in the same boat with looking at it from a funding standpoint, and I feel the values there, so then it makes me wonder, well, what's the cost? Because we can't really vote on something unless we actually know a cost, And I know there's no fiscal because it was a mandate, and it's saying, you know, that the district has – it says on there the district, and I've brought that up, you know, on other things.
So my question is – so I said I was going to get to my question. My question is this. Is this something that we could say instead of having it be a responsibility of the districts, could it be something that says let's look at this, let's get a dollar value, let's figure out what it costs, and then let's figure out as a state what could we do? because it may actually be better to not just have this in locker rooms. What about the bathrooms? Bathrooms aren't monitored. I love that the classrooms, I'd love to see the colleges recorded for certain reasons.
So it's kind of like could that be something that we would look at is could we say, let's see what it would cost the state, and then we can maybe make a more
educated decision. That's the question. And obviously there's not a specific line item in the matrix relative to something like this. So as we discuss other potential funding, we'd have to, you know, figure out where that would fit. But again, I'm certainly amenable to make sure that we find a way for this to happen. That's my bottom line goal is to ensure that this happens and this happens quickly on behalf of students.
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
1:34:22
And I completely agree with that, Mr. Chairman. I mean, this brings up the attention. I had no idea this was happening, you know, so it's tragic that it's happening. And so I think for us to just not do anything, I think, is, you know, not the right thing. But what if we could it be possible that we say, hey, let's let the state look at this. How much would this cost so that when we look at it, we can say X is the cost. Can we afford it? If we can't, what line items need to change? Thank
you for that question. And, Mr. Chair, so I would be willing to pull this down for us to amend.
However, I would ask for the chair and the committee's leniency to allow additional people who have come to talk on this bill to speak today. so their stories can be heard because I know that Cash's mom also has signed up to speak. I know we have a couple other people who are very passionate advocates for children who have signed up to speak, and I want to make sure they're heard. And here's kind of my bottom line on this, and I want this to be heard and known, which is why we do it in a very public setting. I want school leadership to be on notice that our primary objective in this committee
and as a legislative body when it comes to educating our students is to ensure their safety, number one, and to ensure that the students' needs are put before everyone else's. And if a school district or if leadership within a school district is not doing that, I want them to know and to hear very clearly that we will ensure that that is done. And if you are not doing that, then we will ensure that you are held responsible for that as a school district and as leadership, because there has been a total failure in a situation such as this. And again, this is not the first time something like this has happened in the state of Arkansas
or in the United States of America. But there has been a total failure in terms of leadership that allowed this to happen on their watch. And children's lives have been impacted forever. And that is unacceptable in my view, and it should be unacceptable in all of our views. And so, again, I will agree to pull the bill down, but I want to make sure that this story is told if the chair and the committee would give us a leniency. I think that's totally fair. In the waning days of
session, I think it's important with people traveling that we get all of the folks who have come here today to get their testimony out.
Representative Duke, you're back in the queue, but if you're amenable, could we move to the public testimony? Um, oh, and then we also have Representative Mayberry. Do you have a -- Okay. Of course. Perfect. Thank you. Um, we have some folks here to speak for the bill. Um, I -- uh, Ms. Edwards, your second in line, um, I have a Audie Ambaugh. Alan Baugh. Fantastic. Uh, Ms. Edwards, you're recognized. Mr.
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Vice Chair, Representative Magruder. I apologize, sorry.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:36:59
Thank you for the bill and all the work that went into it. As an athletic coach, first and foremost, I want to apologize for the behavior of the coaches that did this. I am a junior high coach. I know everybody sees me now and like, gosh, he's such a big guy, but I was a very small guy until ninth grade. All of it happened at once, so I experienced bullying. I detest bullies. That is not something that's allowed in my program. I purposely don't use profanity.
So as you're putting leadership on notice, we need to put these athletic coaches on notice also. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. This should not be allowed in any program across the state of Arkansas, and leaders need to make sure that they're looking at the character of the individual that they are hiring to be over our children. I love the show Last Chance U that says we all like sausages, but we don't like the process. The process matters in shaping and molding the future,
and leaders don't become leaders if you don't have good leadership in place teaching them and training them. So I support you 100%. I know there's some changes that have to be made, but we need to put everybody in the state on notice that we're going to act in a certain manner or we will not tolerate it here in the state of Arkansas. So thank you. Thank you, Representative Grutter. Ms. Edwards, if you'd mind
saying your name in for the record. Angie Edwards. Very good for you to
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make a testimony. And thank you, Mr. Chair, and the committee for allowing me to come before you today.
Mainly, I just wanted you to have a face to what we are trying to help in these schools. My son loved football. He joined a team as the smallest kid on the team at barely 5 foot, maybe 90 pounds at
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the time. And he put his heart out on the field. Unfortunately, that came with a
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cost of his dignity, something that shouldn't be transactional in any way.
He had kids double his size, six-foot, 200-pound kids laying on top of him. Another would hold his head still while another would put his crotch in his face. They were humping him, torturing him as he screamed. Although his story is tragic and the trauma that he will carry with him will last a very, very
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long time, he isn't the only one.
There are several million probably before him that this has happened to, And there will be kids happening right now today that bullies and sexual abuse are happening in the locker room. And it's a place that is hidden by administrators and educators. And it's almost forgotten. If you were to invite, say, 25 teenage boys to your home,
would you leave them there and walk out the door and expect your house to still be standing? It wouldn't. In this locker room, there is not one adult that gets
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to go in there. There is a hallway and an office where these administrators and educators sit, where they supposedly can hear what's going on. They would have heard my son's screams.
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That scream echoes in that locker room. To a point, his friend Eli finally went to his parents and said, I can't hear him scream anymore. If these devices are in the locker rooms, it's guaranteed that their voices are heard. there isn't any doubt, there isn't any misconception. It holds not only these children, because they are still children.
Left to their own devices, they are going to do what teenage boys do. It will hold them accountable, but it will also hold these administrators and educators accountable because they are getting lazy in letting these locker rooms be unsupervised because they can't, right? They can't physically be in there to watch kids change or whatnot. But they're using that as an excuse not to monitor these places.
And horrific things are happening in these locker rooms and it has to stop. In some way or form, this has to stop. It isn't fair to these kids. We as parents drop off
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our kids every single day to a place that is supposed to be safe for
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them. And it is a nightmare that I live with. I can watch my son walk up to that locker room every single day. And I cannot even fathom the anxiety knowing what was on the other side of that door.
no one to help him. Kids like Eli who would try to
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stand up for him, others would put their head down and just pretend it wasn't happening because they were afraid it was going to happen to them. And the other thing is they, these kids don't know. So they protect a coach, they protect these administrators, and they're monsters in sheep's clothing who know better. And you don't have just one kid in that locker room who was being abused. The kids that had to watch were also
abused and traumatized. And it has to stop. My son had to quit that school. He ran away from the school, actually. He just couldn't take it anymore. We've had to take him out. He's thankfully found a school that, like you sir, will not allow this to happen. But it doesn't mean when he goes to that locker room that that little bit of anxiety doesn't come over him. And that is what we are
here to fight for. His screams need to echo in
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our hearts and say change needs to happen. And I understand it's a money issue, but I wanted you to see a face of what you're fighting for, and
I thank you. Thank you, Ms. Edwards. I'm just going to dive in and say, Cash and Eli, you guys have two incredibly strong mothers, and it's unfortunately not the rule, it's the exception, but you guys have strong moms, and I also want to commend you, too, because one of the hardest
things you can do as a young boy coming a man is talking truth to power. So commend you guys for standing up for yourselves. Any
questions from committee? Seeing none, thank you, Ms. Edwards. Representative. Oh, we
have, sorry, we have more. Audie, if you'd like to come to the table, introduce yourself. Mr.
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Chair and Education Committee members, thank you for the opportunity
to speak today. Huntsville, Lamar, and the most recent being Quitman. I will tell you that when the Quitman parents reached out to me on June the 14th, 2024, my world stood still. It is one of the most horrific things I've ever been told about in the world of education. If these things had occurred in a home the children would be removed from that home and the fact that this one in a public setting that we are all paying for makes me absolutely sick. The locker room should not be a torture chamber. After months of denial and attempted discrediting the parents and the victims
a courthouse confession and snippets of a cell phone video and pictures yielded that all the events were true and when the judge asked one of the perpetrators why did you do this we found out our suspicions and past stories were true. This type of behavior had been going on for years. The perpetrator admitted it had happened to him. I hope we have not gone to a world that has moved from the accountability on the shoulder of the bully to the back of the victim. After going through this with these families, in my mind, prevention is key and the only way for student
safety. Child safety should always be a top priority, and 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 a locker room can be a vulnerable space where misconduct can go unnoticed. Audio recording implemented with guidelines can deter potential abusers, provide evidence when necessary, and create a safer environment for children. By ensuring that these recordings are accessed when concerns arise, we can strike a balance
between protection and privacy, ultimately prioritizing the well-being of the child. Thank you. Thank you. Are there
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any questions from committee for this? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Ms. Melanie Fox, if
you wouldn't mind just say your name and who you're representing into the microphone for the record. Good morning. Melanie Fox,
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I am a former Little Rock School District board member and community advisory board member. I'm not going to keep you all along. I've got a lot of work to do.
And I appreciate your work. I'll go with Benjamin Franklin. An ounce of prevention provides a pound of protection. And I can tell you why this is needed. We've got school districts with cameras all around their building, with the exception of bathrooms and locker rooms. They're not in bathrooms that long, so stuff happening in there is not happening as much as it is in locker room when they have dead time and hang out.
As far as money is concerned, so far on this case, this has cost the school district probably $35,000 to date. They could have spent that money on this and taken care of it immediately and made money, saved money. So I'd ask for a good vote on this. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Fox. Any questions from committee? Seeing none, thank you for
your testimony today. We have no one else signed up to speak for or against anyone in the audience.
which is big for or against the bill. Chairman Brooks, you're recognized to close for your bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, Mr. Committee. So I'm not going to close for the bill, but I will pull
the bill down to discuss, especially with Rep. Nazarenko, anybody else who wants to amended language to tighten this up and address the issues. And then I will bring it back on Tuesday for a vote. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Committee. Thank
you. And just as a primer, representative of committee members, if you do have amendments, go seek the sponsor. We're at the last few days of session. So as opposed to voting to bill up or down, if we were going to make commitments to it, please
do see the sponsor. And if I could, just from a personal perspective, I'd like to just highlight Eli and Cash.
Again, as you did, Mr. Vice Chair, these two young men are beyond brave. You know, when I was 13, 14 years old, definitely not worried about a lot of big picture things like this, things that I should never have had to experience. But to be two young men who are willing to not just hit the issue head on, but to come out in public in a very, very public form in a committee of the House of Representatives of the state of Arkansas that's live streamed, that is reported on, and that is widely known.
I think that speaks to these young men's character and, frankly, to their desire to ensure that this doesn't happen to another young man or woman in the state of Arkansas. so i would like to commend them uh for being here and i hope that the the committee and the audience would would join me in that thank you mr chair thank you committee thank you um being that the
actual jared didn't give me a note who to call next i'm going to call representative Gramlich to
Speaker 340
1:49:53
present a series of bills. Thank you committee, thank you chair, Zach Gramlich, State Representative District 50 Fort Smith. We're gonna start with House Bill 1580 at the pleasure of the chair. Yes, sir, you're recognized. House Bill 1580 is a bill
that I brought before you a few weeks ago. I mean, it feels like a couple years
Speaker 343
1:50:13
ago now, but a few weeks ago concerning diabetes education in our schools, and there was some concerns about liability. There's some concerns like that, and so what we did was just made the bill a lot more permissive. Um, and I think one of the things that will really, um, help help like make some people comfortable is it's very clear. This is just providing educational information on stuff and most specifically the last line, uh, diabetes related educational information,
uh, provided by school districts of parents and guardians of students as required by the subsection is solely for the purpose of educational information and shall not be considered or construed to be for the purposes of providing medical diagnosis. So again, you know, I actually talked with a member of the committee this morning about this. We have a lot of kids who are, and families, who are wholly ignorant to diabetes type one and type two. And this is a way where if schools are already giving out information on a variety of other things,
we wanna ensure that we get our families and our children educated. And honestly, the earlier we figured it out, the quicker and the ability to protect their lives in the future is much greater. With that, I appreciate any questions. - Are there any questions by the committee for Representative Gramlich? Seeing
Chair
Unverified
1:51:31
none, I don't believe we have anybody else
or anybody signed up to speak for or against the bill. Would anybody like to speak for or against the bill?
Seeing none, Representative Gramlich, would you like to close your bill? - I'm closed and I would appreciate a motion due pass. Representative Gramlich is closed for his bill. We have
a motion to do pass on the table. Is there a discussion on that motion? Did you have a discussion, Representative Gonzales-Werthin? Okay. Seeing no
Speaker 340
1:52:04
discussion, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Representative Gramlich. You've passed your bill. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Committee. Now, if it pleases the Chair, I'd like to run House
Speaker 343
1:52:13
Bill 1483. You're recognized, Representative HB 1483. 1483 kind of supports some legislature,
or a bill that we ran a couple days ago in here, dealing with GEDs during the school day. One of the, during my thought process when I had a suite of bills, and we'll talk about a couple more of them in a moment, we discussed like incorporating GEDs into public schools so that a public school student could, you know, take a GED and they wouldn't have to drop out, which would allow students to be able to, you know, have transportation to school, have meals, et cetera, and still be able to achieve their goal of getting something. In this case, GED, this meets the needs of some
high-risk kids who would rather just drop out. We might be able to give them the option of saying, hey, instead of dropping out, give us two or three months. We'll get you a point so you have a piece of paper and, you know, go and be successful. What this bill will do is it'll allow for funding from adult ed to be -- to go and support that adult education process during the school day. Um, I will, I will say we'll be amending it on the Senate side. Um, it won't come from adult ed. It'll come from a different source. Um, but, and the name escapes
me. I could get my phone out and look on professional and figure it out, but, uh, the name escapes me, but
I have that amendment ready, um, in the Senate. Um, with that, I'd take any questions. Representative Brown. Nope. No
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
1:53:38
question. Sorry. Do you have a question? Okay. Representative Brown, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr.
Gramlich, Representative Gramlich, one thing that I really like about this is at one point we had a youth challenge program out there at Camp Robinson, and that has been shut down, and that youth challenge
program did allow students to get their GED, and this might help some of those kids
who don't have access to youth challenge anymore. Yeah, I believe so. When you agree.
Speaker 343
1:54:03
Yes. I would agree and I think you know by implementing a program like this it also helps you know districts all across the state meet the needs of our kids. Also as a clarification it'll come from the skills development fund. That's where the funding would come from if a school chose to use it. And this
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
1:54:21
is limited to a certain age group? Yeah yeah
Speaker 343
1:54:24
it's going to be I would juniors and
seniors would be the ones who would be eligible for this if they chose to. And to be clear I don't want to push people down this path. You know, I would like kids to get high school diplomas, but to meet kids and their needs, I think they need to have it as
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:54:45
an option. Thank you. Representative Garner, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a question about the private contractors. Do they have any oversight? Do we have any oversight over what they're doing or if
Speaker 353
1:54:55
they're getting public funds? Well, private contractors would be adult
education centers specifically. Um, what, what part? Well, I'm just, I'm just wondering
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:55:01
if, if, if we're giving public school funds to adult education centers, any adult education center or
specifically. Well, I would say it's, it's a great question. In my,
Speaker 343
1:55:16
in my, in my thoughts, this only, I would only allow, I would say I wouldn't allow, I'll know what this bill does. if a public school did not have the ability to provide its own GED classes
during the day it could contract with a third party I can't imagine a third party who isn't already involved in this being contracted with just because I feel like be very nuanced I know my specific specific situation you know we have Fort Smith adult ed that already has a very close partnership with the city and in my head the district's gonna choose how to do it however they want to do it. But, um, if they wanted to have their adult ed teachers come over and teach the classes during the school day at the school, you know, that's, that's how that would be
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:55:59
able to be supported using the funds like this. Okay. So you're, the folks that are doing, doing this sort of, or looking into this sort of thing, I'm just a little bit concerned about adult ed programs, making
Speaker 343
1:56:19
sure that they're credible. Well, I mean, I would say that, you know, these programs would already be accredited under, you know, workforce, you know, the
Speaker 359
1:56:25
Department of Adult Ed. It doesn't say that, though.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:56:30
But, yes, I would hope that's the case, and I wouldn't have any problems with
Speaker 359
1:56:35
that. Well, and, too, you know, this is already contracts between public school districts and adult education programs, so. Just
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:56:42
a little accountability and transparency. Yeah, I appreciate that. And
Speaker 343
1:56:44
if you're amendable, we can figure out some language, and I'll incorporate it into it in a minute on the Senate side. Are there additional questions about the committee?
Seeing no additional questions, we do not have anyone signed up to speak for or against this bill. Would anyone like to speak for or
against the bill? Seeing none, Representative Gramlich, would you like to close for your bill? I'm close for my bill, and I would appreciate a motion to do pass. Representative Gramlich is close for his bill.
We have a motion to do pass on the table. Is there any discussion on that motion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor
Speaker 347
1:57:23
say aye. Aye. All opposed? Congratulations to Representative Gramlich. You passed your bill. Thank you, Chair. Thank you,
Speaker 343
1:57:28
Committee. Next, I'd like to move to House Bill 1642.
Speaker 143
1:57:33
1642? Yes. Just give the committee just a moment for folks to
pull that up, please. It's
Speaker 343
1:57:49
on the third page of the agenda. committee. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee. A few days ago, we passed some legislation out of committee dealing with how school level graduation rates
affect when a student drops out and receives their GED. There is still some discrepancy in how schools are rated, and I think we were trying to fix that a few years ago. What this bill does is finds another section in the law that connects to if a student drops out and gets a GED, it shouldn't count as a dropout. So it's an additional place in code that we're just trying to fix. And with that, I appreciate any questions. Other questions about the
committee? Seeing no questions, we do not have anybody signed up to speak for or against this bill.
Would anyone like to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, Representative Graham, would you like a closer to your bill? I'm closed for my bill, and I appreciate a
motion to do pass. Representative Gramlich has closed for his bill. We have a motion to do pass on the table. Is there a discussion on that motion? I
Speaker 340
1:58:56
see no discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, congratulations to Representative Gramlich. You've passed your bill. And I'm going to do one more bill today, and it's going to be back. You're pushing it. Well, I'll push it this hard, and that'll be it. I'm going to do 1484. Members, that is on page two of your agenda.
Representative Gramblick, you're recognized to present HB
Speaker 343
1:59:17
1484. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Committee. A lot of the previous bills that we've worked with have been me trying to set up a program so if 1484 comes into effect. Well, 1484 aims to look at credit recovery in our districts. What is happening is our kids have learned how to game the system. Some of you may know, my wife was a high school teacher, and she had students look her in the face and say,
I don't need this class. I can do it in credit recovery. And so what is happening is students are not doing the work. They're not in their classes, or they may come to class, or they may skip, or whatever, but they're not doing what they're supposed to do to earn their credits, doing a normal semester or a normal year of class. And what's happening is I'm hearing stories across the state of one student in one district who of the 22 required credits he is doing 18 of him of them in his senior year and he's going to complete that in about three months doing online credit recovery and he's going to get a high school
diploma and that's going to be the same diploma that someone in the top 10 percent of the class gets and to me that's bad for business because a business doesn't know what a high school diploma means anymore it's bad for it's bad for the student because they think that they were teaching these kids that you don't have to try, you don't have to endeavor. And it's really just bad for the community as a whole, because we're really not understanding, you know, how our kids are doing and what our schools are doing, because everyone's graduating, everyone's getting a diploma. And we've kind of set this process up in a way where if a kid were to drop out and get a GED, you know,
it hurts the school. And we've made some fixes over the last few bills, so hopefully if a student, you know gets their GED they're fine but I'm I as a teacher I'm just I'm not okay continuing to let this happen I'm not okay continuing to let students we push them we give them every carrot they can we try everything we can to get these kids engaged and they choose not to be and in the end they just get to get off scot-free and they get their diploma and they move on and I just that's
not okay for me. It's not okay for my teachers who feel like, why am I even trying? These kids know the system. That's not okay. That's not right. And so what I'm trying to do is a couple things. One, I'm trying to strengthen what a high school diploma means in the state of Arkansas now by limiting the amount of credit recovery that a student can get. And I'm trying to instill values into our kids that, no, you have to do this or there will be a consequence. Now, what we have the consequence now, you will not get a high school diploma unless you go further or do more. But we've set it up so we can have a GED program during the school day so a student can
still get something so they can go off and be successful in life. And when they get their life together in 10 years, they can go off and get an associate's degree or do whatever they want to do or apply for a higher education. But we have to create standards for our students when it comes to, like, the credit they earn. Now, I've been very, very generous. When I first dropped this bill, it was only six credit. I worked with a number of people across the state who they
wanted to go to seven credits. I've had a number of, you know, exclusions for a variety of different situations. Students with IEPs have very specific things where they might need to enter into a course credit recovery program. Students who are in foster care and are highly mobile and, you know, they're having difficulties in their own. Division of Youth Services, homeless students, long-term placement to mental health facilities, long-term placement medical facilities, pregnant students, Tier 3 intensive intervention students, I'm also allowing you for open enrollment
virtual charter schools, but if you're a student who comes to school and you have no reason to not be a part of the program and do the work and earn your diploma, we need to find you a pathway that's not just giving you diploma through credit recovery. So, with that, I'll answer a couple questions. Representative Garner, you're recognized. Sorry.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
2:03:23
I actually hear lots of teachers talking about the same thing, so I get what you're trying to do.
I would just wonder if we could add ESL, ELL learners there too in the exception because I do think that's one place where, depending on when they get there, and actually Dr. Gonzalez-Werthin could probably talk more about that, but I do think that should be an exception.
Speaker 343
2:03:46
And I've thought about that. You know, you may know I teach at a school that's very diverse. I deal with a lot of that population. And I have kids in my classroom who come in who speak zero English, you know,
and I'm supposed to teach them at a high level. You know, I have been wrestling with how do I interact with that specific subgroup. You know, like, obviously, you know, they may be able to do the work as far as in their native language. They understand how to do all the math and the science, but communicating that is difficult. I'm open to making amendments on that. Yeah, I'm open to making amendments on that because I also don't think we have a great system set up right now to deal with those specific subgroups in our schools, but I'd love to hear more.
Representative Gonzalez-Worthy, you recognize for
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:04:36
a question? Yes. Well, to follow up with Representative Garner, that is a group of
students, the English learners, they come in at all grade levels. Yeah, sure. And so if they're already at the high school level and then they're also learning English, they're doing that along with their content. And so it would take them, you know, a while, but if they had this program in place, they could work together on that.
So that's one. But I do have a follow-up question, and that is this doesn't impact those
students in alternative learning environments, ALEs, or does it? Well, I would say unless they follow under one of these other
Speaker 232
2:05:21
things, yes and no. I mean, they could still receive a high school diploma if
Speaker 343
2:05:25
they were to continue with their coursework. I guess another piece I would have an argument to on the second question. We'll go back to the first one. And the second question is, I feel like we have consistently said as a legislature and as a committee that a GED is equivalent to a high school diploma.
So if they are an equal value, and we truly believe that, and they're going to give the same outcomes in life, I mean, how would we weigh that? And then I would also just kind of go back to your first part. And this is one of the things I did think about with the English language learners, is I've had both ends of the spectrum with my English language learners. I've had kids who have came in and are like, you can tell they're rock stars and they're trying and they're working their butt off and they're being successful. And I've also had kids come in who just aren't, you know, they don't want to be part of the program.
They're ready to drop out as soon as they can and they never get involved. And so, you know, I don't know how to thread the needle. And I'm open to amendments and we can have some language and I'll amend it over in the Senate side where how I can differentiate between is it that they're struggling because of their language or is it that they're struggling because they're choosing not to engage? You know what I mean? And it's a high bar to overcome, but I think that's a conversation we could have. Okay.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:06:46
I was just looking at the exceptions, and based on what I'm seeing, There are, you have students that are in the alternative learning environment, ALE environment, who do have IEPs. Some of them are in foster care, et cetera. So many of them fall into this.
You know, they're at risk for not graduating for a whole host of reasons. And that's part of the ALE's role is to help expedite what is it that you need. And some of them work and some of them do the credits. So I'm just not sure. I know that they do a credit recovery that's accelerated. I do know that. But what I don't know is how many of those
credits. And that would be my only concern. And I would
Speaker 350
2:07:42
say two pieces. First off, I did work with an ALE director to get this
Speaker 343
2:07:47
language. And so this was accepted and we worked.
and that's also how we got to seven credits. I would say two pieces. Seven credits is a third, nearly a third of the credits that you need. And if you were to do the whole process, you know, it seems like a lot of seniors have most of their credits by their senior year, and they have three or four classes full anyway. So I almost see it as we can almost have ten credits that kids can recover, three being in-person retaking the classes, and the other seven being however the credit recovery thing would work. And to your point with the ALE students, you're right.
Many of those ALE students will fall under some of these. And so I didn't, I think, when I think back, I didn't include ALE at the time because I wanted their, why is this student in ALE? Is it because they're in these different environments and that's why they're here? Or is it because the student has chosen not to be a part of the program? We've put them in a different environment to try to make them more successful. Again, I'm open to making those amendments with some conversation, but that was my reasoning originally for not including that subgroup
because they would already fall in all these other exceptions. Okay. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Representative
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:09:15
Beck, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have some friends that are substitute teachers, and they've talked just in passing comments about this
and how they'll just go and pick up. Are we actually trying to fix the symptom and not the problem? I mean, it seems like the problem is that for some reason I can just, at my choice, decide I'm going to take this abbreviated class, for lack of a better term, and are certainly an easier class, and do this. So it seems like we're almost going after the symptom, not the problem. The problem, you almost would say,
how is it so easy for these students to just slip into that credit recovery or whatever class? Yeah, I understand. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. But anyway, just that concerns me a little bit about it. I like the bill. I like the intent. You're obviously taking it in the right direction. But it just seems like the actual problem is that the credit recovery program, for lack of a better word, is being misused, and we need to tighten that up. I agree
Speaker 343
2:10:20
100%. I would say a couple things. There is a place for credit recovery.
Seven credits is about what a student could receive in one year. And so if something bad were to happen to a kid, it was a bad time in their life, whatever, I'm still giving them the option, like, you still have an opportunity to be successful and earn a high school diploma if you choose to do the work and do the stuff. But, no, I think you are right. I think we've created a system, and I think some of these GED things will help where a student drops out, but we've created a system where schools are scared to death to have students drop out and get their GEDs because it affects their school rating. And so instead of allowing that to happen, schools are choosing to ensure that everyone gets a high school diploma
by putting them through these programs. And so I think the previous bills that we just passed out will help to alleviate that sum. Most students are not going to be affected by this. Most students will never have credit recovery problems, but some will. And Representative Beck, I would say, yeah, there is an issue that we need to go fix. I think this begins to fix it by saying, no, you can't just look at a teacher and say,
I don't need you. I'll do this in her credit recovery. You can do that a couple times. And then, no, you have to do this. You're not going to be able to graduate with a high school diploma. unless you are engaged, unless you do the work, and unless you are, you know, striving to achieve. So I would love to work with you more in the future to figure out how we motivate students to be successful and not allow this stuff to happen, but I think this is a good first step in
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:11:56
the right direction. I agree, and I will be voting for the bill, but I would encourage you to,
because you obviously have expertise in this area, I'd encourage you to keep drilling down and let's fix the problem. Absolutely. Are there additional questions by
committee? Seeing no additional questions, we do not have anybody signed up to speak for or against the bill. Does anybody like to speak for or against the bill? Herb Sam Gramlich,
Speaker 346
2:12:25
would you like to close for your bill? I'm close for my bill, and I appreciate the conversation. I think this is
Speaker 343
2:12:30
really going to start moving us forward in the right direction for really
strengthening our diploma and graduating kids who can read on grade level because they did the work to make sure they could. With that, I'd appreciate a good vote, and I'd appreciate a motion to pass. Representative Gramlich is closed for his bill. We have a
Speaker 347
2:12:42
motion to pass on the table from Representative Barker. Is
there a discussion on the motion? Representative Brown, you're recognized for discussion. I'll just be brave because I
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
2:12:54
know we're busy, but, you know, eventually these kids are going to have to go to work, and they're going to have to produce, and they're going to have to be on time and they're going to have to do all the things that they need to do to
advance. And if they can't do their schoolwork, they're not going to make very good employees and they're not going to be very successful. And I appreciate this bill. I never
even knew kids could do this. It's terrible. Thank you. Seeing no additional discussions,
all in favor say aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Representative Graham. You've passed your bill. Thank
Speaker 343
2:13:32
you, Chair. Thank you, Committee. And we're not going to be running the panic alert bill today.
So thank you. Have a good one. On behalf of the Committee, we appreciate it. Members, without objection, we will move somewhere on the agenda to HB 1672, Representative
McCollum. This does have an amendment, so staff will be passing out the amendment. 1672. We're thankful that you
don't have a computer right now, Representative Cozart. Setting off everyone else's alarms. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Committee.
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:14:11
We have House Bill 1672 in front of you, as was mentioned. We have an amendment. I'll
Speaker 384
2:14:18
give you all a few moments to stare at that.
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:14:31
while we're waiting on that and the amendment to be passed out um if y'all glance at it with your permission chair i'd
like to go ahead and have a considering the origins of the bill go
ahead and have uh someone from the department if they'd like to come up and join me at
the table yes if you would please secretary introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:14:52
to join. And then I'd say, let's go ahead and make a motion to, uh, let's get this amendment added. Um, summary
here is this is based off of feedback from some of the virtual charter schools. Y'all can see what it does. Thanks. Representative McCollum
has presented his amendment. He's made a motion to adopt the amendment. Is
there discussion on that motion? See no discussion. All in favor say aye.
All opposed. Congratulations. You've adopted the amendment. You're now recognized to present HB 1672 as amended. Thank you.
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:15:22
So as amended, what you have in front of you today and the reason for me agreeing to run this bill, you know, my understanding is over time we've had different types of waivers for really good reasons, different types of learnings, different types of students. But at some point it's got a bit out of hand. We want to streamline that process in a few ways.
You know, I know Representative Gramlich, if he's still here, he actually teaches at a school of innovation. His first question to me was, are you putting me out of a job? And the answer is no. We're talking about definitions here. You know, we're not talking about making schools go away. So let me just run through a few notes
here. and then. So for the schools of innovation part, um, actually let me start with the district
conversion charter schools. Currently they do not have a written contract outlining performance standards. So this bill creates that timeline for the conversion charters to renew their contracts. going right ahead. Another reason I wanted to agree to this is just the accountability piece and you'll see a few of those lines in the bill specifically for some of our schools that have had multiple years of F ratings. We want to
have the ability to revisit. So, anything else? You
Speaker 390
2:17:08
want to speak? I mean, you're welcome
Speaker 169
2:17:11
to speak. Jacob Oliva, Department of Education. As representative, kind of gave an overview. What the goal of this legislation does is take some very good legislation that we've operated under over the past few years, maybe even a few decades, to make sure that we have high-quality choice options for parents, students, and families. We believe in
empowering parents. We want to make sure that when people are opening up as a choice option that they are of quality and value. And what the spirit of this bill does is make sure that when a charter school or a charter network wants to come up and operate in the state of Arkansas, that the process in the application has some performance expectations. And we shouldn't just be rubber stamping a school that just wants to come in and open and then not be held accountable for outcomes and student performance the majority of our charter schools that are operating the state
do a fantastic job we do have some underperforming charter schools typically where we have some historical underperforming charter schools they also have some financial um incidents where they're having struggling to maintain balances and adequately fund the programs that they were designed and intended to improve. So what this language does is it makes the process a little bit more streamlined through the charter authorizing panel while maintaining oversight by the State Board of Education that puts and embeds over time performance expectations that are going to be in the application to
make sure that the schools are able to demonstrate the intent of their charter. To our agency we look at it very clear. When we start we sign a charter to be approved, it's a contract. It's a contract that you're going to deliver and meet on these expectations. So we have some very strong language in here that we have not had in the past that basically says if you're in a freight HR school for three years in a row, your contract is null and void. We're no longer just going to let you stand up and continue to operate a failure
factory with no accountability. So I'm really grateful that we were able to work with a lot of our community partners. We did have some amendments because we don't want to hurt our innovative charters such as virtual. We have some dropout prevention folks. We want to get all of their voices heard, and I think we did a really good job bringing this piece of legislation to be considered today. Yeah, I didn't
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:19:35
intend to just glance over the amendment earlier. I wanted to get it adopted so you all had seen, but to the Secretary's point, I mean, we took a lot of input on this. You'll see the bill number 1672, so it has been out there for a little while. We did take
a lot of input, and specifically we wanted to make sure that students who were learning in a virtual environment, not just every now and then, but that being the main focus of their learning, that we weren't penalizing them in an unnecessary way because they didn't have some of the physical assets that some of the
other schools had, so, happy to take any questions. Any questions? Okay.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:20:14
Questions? Anyone? Representative Gonzalez? Yes. Um, I believe this is already, um, in, in here, but I just want to clarify because I did
have a question. Um, and that is those who already have current, um, schools of innovation. Okay. Can they still get waivers with the conversion charter school? In our district, we have, uh, three at least. So, so
Speaker 169
2:20:38
the answer to that is yes. The waivers aren't going to go away. What we're trying to get away from is over the past decade or so, every charter application that came to the state under innovation
checked that they needed a waiver from all rules and laws. Do they really need every rule and law waived in their application? Because now what's happened is over the legislative years, we've mirrored that language that says if a charter school gets a waiver, then any public school can get a waiver. And now that everybody's got a waiver and we have over 8,000 waivers currently in statute and rules across the state, the work that we do means nothing because we don't hold anybody accountable. So what we've done is put a practice in place that says,
let's honestly look at the rules and waivers we need and make sure they're aligned to the mission and vision of your school and we want to work with you to help get that across the finish line. So there's a timeline that this is going to take place. The goal is not to have any unintended consequences. We want to support innovation. We want to support alternative approaches to improve student outcomes. And this bill will make sure that we take that
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:21:49
into consideration. Yeah, and thanks for your question. So answer is yes. Obviously, we want to still maintain flexibility.
But when I heard some of the numbers that
were mentioned when we started talking about this bill, it definitely made sense to me to bring more
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:22:03
of a streamlining process to this. And follow up, I appreciate that. And, yes, we do need to look
closely at those who are not performing at high levels. I mean, we want all of our kids to be performing at high levels. So that's great that you're looking at those a little closer. Thank you.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
2:22:26
Are there additional questions by the committee? Yes, Representative Gruder. You recognize. I was looking at page, uh, 7, uh, 7, page 8, uh, uh, in regards to the certification process, and I love what you just stated, that we're not blanket certifying, uh, charter schools anymore. I love the concept of the bill. Uh, so are we saying that the waivers for all teachers at charter schools, is that, is that part of this?
That's my question. Sorry, can you say the last part again? Uh, basically charter schools are exempt from certifications. Uh, the teachers aren't, don't have to be certified. Are we saying that, that no longer will be
Speaker 169
2:23:16
in play or we're, we're looking at that? Yeah, I think that's an excellent question. So earlier in this session, I think, um, some of you may remember that we worked on a certification bill to make sure that we get away from just giving a charter, a blanket waiver on certifications.
a school district or a public school and put teachers on paths. So the charter schools would work with our agencies for any person that may be on a temporary license or not on a standard operating license, we can put that teacher on a pathway towards a standard license because that's the goal for everybody. They may need to still continue some waivers just like any other district we would work with on an individual basis, but we want to just get rid of just saying certification doesn't matter. You know, following all the rules and laws doesn't matter. Let's talk about what you
really need and make sure that we're we're doing what's right for your students in your community. Thank you,
Mr. Chair. Say a motion, Chair, at the proper time. We'll take that
motion at the proper time. Are there additional questions from the committee? So this and this won't close schools in the middle of the year, correct? That is correct. Seeing no additional questions, there's no one signed up to speak for
or against the bill. Representative McCollum, would you like to close for your bill? I am closed. I appreciate all your time today. Representative McCollum has closed for his bill. He has made a motion to do pass. Is there a discussion on that motion? Motion passed as amended. As amended. Thank you for correcting me. Motion to do pass as amended. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in Fiver say aye. All opposed. Congratulations, Representative McCollum. You've
passed your bill as amended. Members, without objection, we are going to move to Representative Vought, who is, wow, there we go. I knew it was going to come at some point.
I believe, I'm not going to quote what bill she's going to start with. I believe she's going to attempt to rival Representative Gramlich and do a Billapalooza for us. Representative Vaughn, I believe a couple of yours have amendments. So I will let
you. Mr. Chair, I just want to make sure that you saw Senator
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:25:31
English. She might want to go before me so she can get back to the other year. I did see Senator English,
and I did talk with her, and certainly would always want to defer to the Senate Chair. However, I don't believe she's here to run a bill. She's here just because she loves us. Oh, wow.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:25:45
What an honor it is to have her in the
room then. Always. Is there one that you want me to start with, sir? I don't have them in order. It
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:25:55
is up to your pleasure what you want to choose. Can we go to – I'll try to start
Speaker 5
2:26:02
with the easier ones. How about that? Always appreciated, whatever that
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:26:06
means in this committee. We can go to House Bill 1710. You've already heard this one. I worked with Senator McKenzie. This does have an amendment, I believe.
Yes, sir. Yes, sorry. Staff will pass the amendment out. DMVOT, District 87-2. I didn't introduce myself. I'm sorry. Sorry, I should have asked you. I'll do you next.
I believe we all have the amendment. Representative Wall, if you'd
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:27:17
like to explain the amendment. The amendment is adding Senator Kroll, and then it is also the amendment that Representative McKenzie worked with me on,
where we just took out communications out of that line 29. And, yeah, nope, that's the only spot, yep. Sorry. With that, I
would appreciate a good vote. Representative Vaught has presented the amendment. Is there any
questions on the amendment? Seeing none, we have a motion to adopt the amendment.
All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, congratulations. You adopted the amendment. Now you're recognized to present HB 1710 as amended.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:27:55
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I think it's really
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:27:58
good if schools are cheering for themselves, cheering on what they do at their school. I just don't like to see advertisements where we're knocking down other schools, and that's what this bill will do, everything but the communications. Representative Beck, you're
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:28:17
recognized for a question. As I was
reading this, and I apologize for not getting with you earlier, but let's just needle a little bit about, you know,
I have a list of schools and their rating, and the school district puts it out. Is that in violation of this?
Not if it's in communication. No, sir. All right. I'm
good with that. Thank you, sir. So I'm going to follow up with Representative Beck's
question just so I can clarify because I want to hear when we first discuss this one. So publicly available information, which is a school rating, so that can still be communicated by a different school district, by a different school?
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:29:00
Yes, sir. In communications. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Representative McCollum, you're recognized
for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just curious of like an example of what you're talking about,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:29:17
like the problem at hand that you're trying to solve for. Well, so I'll say that not, I think we have a problem with our grading system as it is right now. And this would not be able, this would not allow, say, a private school to go out and do communications against a public school for a rating in which the private school doesn't get rated for.
That would be an example. Or you could say that one school building in one district brings down everybody's grade to that entire district, one building, it's not the whole campus. But you could say that this school has a D rating when in reality the district may have a C rating because of one building. Thank
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:30:04
you. On your first part of your answer, so you're saying you would not want a private school to be able to show the rating of a public school?
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:30:14
They can in communications, but they can't in advertising, correct? Just in advertising? And it's any school. I was just trying to use an example of something that it could be. Does that make sense what I'm saying? Uh, yeah,
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
2:30:32
your answer made sense. I was, I just didn't understand. Yes, sir. Yeah.
Speaker 173
2:30:38
Help me understand, represent, what would be our distinction between communications and advertising? I might have
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:30:43
to get Representative McKenzie to help me with that because he's the one that brought that to my attention last time.
Chair
Unverified
2:30:49
Can I ask a question? You are recognized, Vice
Chair. Wouldn't you agree? So, and thank you for working on the bill and making it, um, better. Yes.
Um, advertising is for the purpose of enticement. So it's a very broad level. It could be for the purpose of commerce, but in this instance, it's to change a behavior. Communication, and again, definitions aren't in here, but communication, albeit it's been now removed, would be any form, and that's the problem I addressed when you first presented the bill. Yes, sir. Any time that a school district or school would be to communicate a parent of the school
district or otherwise in any form. So any trace amount of information that was supposed to be sent is considered communication. Advertisement, it's like a funnel, goes further down where it's for the purpose of enticement for commerce or for a change in behavior. That's why I had a little bit of balk at that because a parent that, again, this is a hypothetical scenario, were to reach out to a school district interested in transferring, you know, on a choice waiver or on a choice transfer. Hey, can you tell me some information, some socioeconomic or demographic or course offering?
anything that school district could say in a relative comparison would have been not allowed under your bill. So this changes it slightly, and I still have reservations about advertisements and conscripting what any enterprise, whether they're state or locally owned, says broadly, but you did make the change
that I asked for. So wouldn't you agree? I do agree.
So the bill says school, would they still be able to, because it doesn't define that maybe as narrowly
as we need to, so would they still be able to reference a school district? Because theoretically they can mention a school, which may be Bob's Elementary, that is an F, and I apologize to Bob, that is an F-rated school, and they mention that, or maybe there's a couple good schools in the district that are a rated however the district overall is a d-rated school so this doesn't say they can't do that with the district so is that potentially a challenge here it may be i didn't
Speaker 411
2:32:59
perceive it to be that way um i apologize i'm not
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:33:12
noticing that before now if you go down to line 32 it just it tells you what school
is and it does say district a public school district okay represent beck you're recognized for a question
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:33:32
and i was okay until we started talking so i didn't quite catch it but how can we tell a private entity that we are not you know i can say you we might attach it to the freedom accounts or something like that but if they're a private entity how how come could they not use public information
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:33:58
that but why would we allow a school to use tax dollars to bash other schools it's
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:34:05
public information that what i'm saying is that's information that's available to the public and it's already available to them you're correct so and they're a private entity and you're saying you cannot say this even though this is public information which one's the private entity all A private school, a private school that's a private entity. So you
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:34:26
think the private school should be able to? Well, I think
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:34:29
it would be extremely tacky if they did it, but I'm just saying I don't know that we can say that you couldn't do that
because that's kind of like Big Brother coming
in and saying, whoa, we're going to tell you what you can say and what you can't say. It's like, hey, I'm just
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:34:47
a private entity. So public schools don't have that same right is what you're saying. You don't think a public school should be able to advertise. They should not be able to advertise against another school, even if it's proven that that school isn't doing well. Say it again.
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:35:05
I don't think I quite caught you saying it.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:35:08
So you're saying private should be able to do this, but you don't think a public should be able to because
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
2:35:16
that's not a private entity. What I'm saying is I don't think we have the right to go and tell a private entity that they can't use the freedom, to tell a private entity that you can't use this public information that we put out there. Whereas I can see with a public school you could say, well, you know, taxpayers paid for this, blah, blah, blah.
We don't want you guys doing that. I guess I'm a little bit wishy on that, but I'm okay
with that. But I think a private entity school could do that. But, again, I agree it would be extremely nonprofessional, I should say, for them to do that. But I just don't think that we have the right to say that. I guess we could. I think that we're restricting
somebody that, you know, we're kind of overstepping our, maybe we're over our skis a little bit with this, is my point.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:36:11
Wouldn't you agree? No, I wouldn't, but that's okay.
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
2:36:16
That's part of the process. Representative Andrews, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative Vaught, I understand what you're trying to do, but I think there's still somewhat of a
First Amendment issue going on here. I think I'd rather see maybe the rules-bank process of saying, let's not be vindictive, but let's not outright ban let them advertise letter grades,
Because I think there is a way that even public schools can advertise in a good fashion of, hey, we're this rating, our competitors, you know, let's use free market principles into this, or this other grade. And maybe tell them not, let's not do it in a vindictive way, but let's just, I don't agree with outright banning, you know, advertising of letter grades. Okay. With Mr.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:37:12
Chair's permission, I'll pull it down. I'll try again. I'll work on it some more.
Certainly you're purview to do that. I'm happy to allow. I believe we
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:37:23
still have a couple questions. I mean, I'll pull
it down. We ain't got all day, so I'll pull it down. That's very accurate. So, members who do have additional questions, if you would, please, I'd encourage you to follow up with Representative Vaught to make sure we get this where it needs to be to accomplish what she wants to accomplish. So we're pulling that one down, and you are recognized to go wherever you want to. House Bill 1806. House Bill 1806. Members, that is on the third page, I believe.
No, second page. This does have an amendment as well. Staff's passing that amendment out. As soon as they
pass it out, Representative, you are recognized to present the amendment. Thank you.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:38:39
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dan Vaught, District 87. We're going to, on page 2, line 5, delete materials and substitute materials if funding is available. Representative Vaught is presenting the amendment. We
have a motion to adopt. There's a discussion on that motion. Seeing none.
All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Congratulations, you've adopted
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:39:15
the amendment. Now you're recognized to present HB 1806 as amended. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Committee. The bill would create an accessible online source for educators and parents of K-12 public school students to search for, review summaries, and read the full content of the textbook by district, school, and grade. The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education would establish and maintain a statewide portal of K-12 instructional and library materials
for public school faculty, parents, and guardians. The portal would also provide school administrators and teachers with uniform access to the Arkansas school standards in a single spot, which
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:39:57
would be automatically updated to comply with changes and rules and requirements. Families could
also opt out of library materials through the portal as desired.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:40:14
The bill would allow families to review, engage with their children's instructional and library materials. The vendor pulls the curriculum by ISBN number and handles all the organizational of this, and there's really no work for the district. 15 plus years of delivering, this company, I guess, has 15 years of delivering cost-efficient,
user-friendly platforms and digital solutions, custom-designed by experienced teachers from state education agencies, including Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. And it's called the FDOE Transparency Tool. And with that, I'll take questions, but if there's too many, I've got
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:41:12
to get somebody to come sit down beside me.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:41:20
Representative Meeks, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So just reviewing the bill and some of your comments here, and just make sure I understand what we're doing here. So this is the DESE will do this. And on this website, they're going to list every book in every school library across the state so parents can review. And I guess it would differentiate what's at each school. And then it says that a parent may opt out of his or her child accessing library media materials.
Not necessarily opposed to that. I'm just kind of interested how that would work in practice. So if I'm a parent and I say book XYZ is concerning to me, I don't want my child to look at that. So is every school librarian going to have a list of every book that a parent doesn't want? or how does that just walk me through that in practice
awesome you would please introduce yourself for the record austin grinder with mullinex and
Speaker 454
2:42:21
associates yeah that that's how it would work
Speaker 455
2:42:24
um exactly kind of as you detailed it um they would pull the isbn numbers from the relevant
Speaker 454
2:42:31
libraries the parent or guardian would have a portal um where they could go on and look through those books and search for any books that they're already aware of that they don't want their kids to read or be able to check out um and uh they would be able to select those and then the the library would also have a portal where she was notified of that selection right so
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:42:52
my my concern is not on the the parent side my concern is on the librarian side so if i'm the librarian and a kid walks up and wants to check out a book do i need to then go to this portal every time a
kid wants to check out a book and see if that you know is on the list or are we going to scan something and the computer will flag it or
Speaker 454
2:43:12
how? So, yes, sir, they all have ISBN numbers and they would scan it before they checked it out and it would
come up as a flag. Okay. By Shermackenzie, you recognize? Two questions. First is I see a potential bogey written into this bill that review of a full textbook. Okay, so on its face, we love that idea because we want to be able to see what our kids read. These are trademark books. They're copywritten. I don't
know how we would get around a lawsuit or any district would get around a lawsuit from McGraw-Hill for publishing their
copywritten material for free and public consumption. Go ahead. Yes, sir. That's a
Speaker 454
2:43:50
good question. So the way these school books work is they have a copyright use if you pay to use them in your school. That use also extends to the teachers, the parents, and the students. so they would have the ability to view that material.
So just as a follow-up, so you're going
to have to refresh me. This is all content. This would be all content. So there's two portions, curriculum being one portion and then
books being the other portion. So I'm a 11th grade British literature professor, teacher in a school. I want my students to read the writings of either C.S. Lewis or Beowulf. I would have to safely assume that they don't have all copyrights for all books that may be on a supplementary curriculum.
I get for larger textbooks, yeah, that makes total sense, especially as we go through like the use rights of those. Any teacher that has to, you know, could do a supplement or ask something of it, A, now I'm now thinking about another bogey in that, but what if a teacher on the fly, outside of or supplemental to their supplemental curriculum, wants to ask for a prescribed reading? Then A, they wouldn't be in compliance with this law if they don't immediately put it on this platform, but B, we could catch ourselves again in the same situation that I bring up, you know, some type of a copyright lawsuit for some school district, and we talk a lot about
our districts being, you know, underfunded or underprepared for some of these laws that we do pass. So that would be my first, wouldn't you agree? Second, this seems like this is vendor specific. Is this vendor specific?
Speaker 454
2:45:23
No, there are other vendors in the space besides the one that obviously represent. Okay.
You know, we've done this session and last where we're unwinding the spool on craft -- specifically crafted bills that, you know, only allow for our friends at the Department of Education to, based on the way the law is written, contract with
a specific sole source vendor. So to go to the RFP, well, we have to only fulfill it for this one company because, you know, we -- there's some line tagging, and I'm not going to go through all of it with the lice comb but I just raise a flag of concern because you know I've been on this committee now
two sessions each time we've had to kind of dig ourselves out of a hole we've created for ourselves in the
Speaker 455
2:46:05
past so wouldn't you agree? Yeah I understand
Speaker 454
2:46:08
the concern. I would say I think there's vendors in the space and I've had conversations with the Department of Education that you know about there being multiple vendors in the space. In terms of a supplemental curriculum
I mean, our intent is that, you know, for the curriculum portion of it, it's about, you know, textbooks and curriculum, and, you know, the library book portion is a different portion of that, of the bill. Representative Meeks, you're recognized for
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:46:34
a question. Thank you. I just, uh, listening to all the great features that the system would have, I got to thinking, well, surely there's a price tag
to it. So I pulled up the deal, and I see it does have a price tag of, uh, up to two and a half million dollars. So, and this may be Representative Vaught, where's the
money coming from is going to be my question,
and is the department, you know, what's their thoughts
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:46:56
on this? Well, I would think that we would not be able to vote on
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:47:02
this because it does have a price tag, but I could present it, and then at the end we could talk about
where monies are at and if monies would be available. Okay. And then follow-up, has any schools piloted this to see, you know, before we roll it out across the entire state, any local schools actually already doing this and what are they seeing?
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
2:47:25
Yeah, I'll add to the end of her response that it does say if funding available. So, I mean, if there's not funding available or designated for it, then it doesn't happen. And then, not to my knowledge, in Arkansas, for the client that I represent, it has its present statewide in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida, I believe. Okay. But
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:47:44
a school could do this without legislation, correct? Absolutely. Personal preference,
I'm not opposed to this, but I think I would be interested in seeing a couple pilot projects across the state just to get, just to see how it works before we tell
every school district, thou shalt do this.
I understand. Just personal preference. In a note on process, Representative Vaught is correct in terms of the voting on this because it
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:48:15
does show a fiscal impact that would not happen until next week. Representative Gonzalez-Werthin, you're recognized for a question. Yes. You mentioned that this is already being done in Texas, and what were the other states? I don't know all the states that... Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. Okay, so in my district, we have the largest number of English learners and predominantly Spanish-speaking and Marshallese-speaking.
So as a parent wanting to know what that curriculum is, the curriculum and the materials, would it be available in their native language? I don't know
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
2:48:46
that I have a concrete answer for you. I would say that if the book is available in both English and Spanish by ISBN, then they could certainly, I mean, they would go and look that ISBN up once the school notified them that's what they
Speaker 454
2:48:59
were using. And then if there was the Spanish version available, I would think they could also add that into the portal. But that's me speculating.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
2:49:12
Representative Duke, you're recognized for a question. Sorry. You're just used to having that light on. my game today um thank you uh chairman
and thank you uh representative vat for bringing this i pretty much think everyone got the questions that i asked before it ever got around to me but i did have very similar questions as far as the curriculum the supplementals the stuff on the fly of teachers i think the library piece is could be helpful because i know that i've had conversations in districts in my district of parents who want to be able to opt their kids out of it but i don't
know what that looks like so all the and and the price tag is very concerning as well but I understand that we're waiting on that so wouldn't you agree that I'm just going to turn
the microphone off wouldn't you agree I would agree are there additional questions about the committee
seeing no additional questions we do not have anyone sign up to speak for or against this bill would anyone like to speak for against the bill seeing none represent vault would you like close for your bill? I'm closed. Representative Vaught is closed for a bill and we're not going to be
voting on it so we will just hang out. Representative Vaught would you like to move to another bill? Yes sir how about
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:50:25
House Bill 1719? I believe this one also has an
amendment so staff will pass that amendment out and then we'll let Representative Vaught present the amendment. and members just while they're doing that just a note of scheduling um no not everybody is here but i'm going to go ahead and throw this out there uh so i would like to propose that that
after session today that we come back in that we just recess we come back in at least for a time i know a lot of people have to drive you want to get home i absolutely appreciate that uh but i think it would be important for us as we try to clear out house bills specifically uh that we come back at least for 30 30 minutes to an hour to knock some more out the one thing we love about this committee is that we vet everything with extreme detail which is good but it also causes us to take a little bit longer on on bills so i want to just for a note of scheduling then also i likely will call a meeting on monday so we will likely meet three times next week uh likely monday i believe
that representative barker is is doing aging children youth monday morning at 10 or 10 30 so it's likely that i will call meeting for perhaps 11 o'clock
on monday morning uh so we
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:51:40
can continue to hear more bills. Representative Vaught, you're recognized. Dan Vaught, District 87. The amendment is adding
Senator Davis. And on page 1, line 26, we're deleting school year and substituting in contract year.
We have a motion to adopt with our discussion on the
motion. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. All opposed, congratulations to you. You adopted your amendment. You're
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:52:06
now recognized to present HB 1719 as amended. Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we passed learns, we were given school districts an opportunity to be able to give teachers up to 12 weeks of paid leave. We were half in it between the department and the school had to pay the other half. Representative Andrews ran a bill the other day where it would make it where it would all come from the department side.
And I did like that bill. I still do like that bill. But there's a little loophole right now that they're using to actually kind of punish teachers for having children at a certain time of the year. So I didn't know about this until my daughter had a child, and they counted her two weeks of Christmas, even though she was going to get those already, as part of her maternity leave, which are not contract days.
And so she ended up losing weeks. What she thought was going to be was the two weeks of Christmas that she would normally get as a teacher plus the four weeks for maternity leave. And that's not what happened because of a loophole of how they were reading what we passed through learns. I went to the department and asked the department, is that what we intended to do? I was told, no, that is not what the intention was. So I'm just trying to fix the loophole where we're not punishing teachers for having babies at certain times of the year.
Chair
Unverified
2:53:36
Vice Chair McKenzie, you're recognized for a question? I appreciate this, but that's standard
practice in the corporate world. FMLA, the first six weeks of anyone's leave to extend beyond the six weeks, because of the way the insurance policies are written, because that's how people get paid. You know, payment isn't a direct, it's not a direct labor payment. We're going to enact a policy to pay for your FMLA, and then after that, the company typically is on the hook to pay for whatever else they offer as a benefit, but it doesn't allow for any previously, and this is my limited experience. I've worked for some larger companies in the
state of Arkansas, but that's standard practice. So I understand that that may be perceived as a loophole, but that's how the rest of non-state-run entities kind of operate, and that's no
value judgment. I think this is a fine bill. I'm just saying that's kind of how the
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:54:26
rest of the world does it well schools are not like the rest of the world though there it's a completely different aspect a completely different thing and if we want highly qualified teachers to return back to the school and teach our children at an adequate education or above adequacy even
then they also should they should not be punished because they have a child and they should be able to stay home with that child and nurture that child for how many of the weeks the school gives and shouldn't be punished by what days they were already going to receive regardless because of their contract. And that's the reason because it's not like a regular business because they have different holidays they take and all that. Yeah, and just
to say, I guess that's more of a statement to the fact that, albeit, yeah, you're right,
it's a state-run entity, it's municipally or state-owned, but insurers don't see that any differently. When an insurer says, hey, we're going to provide a short-term disability benefit, you own a contract and we write a policy for you regardless. So I do wonder if that will have an impact on premiums if we are going to say, so as we write the law, we have to supplement the two weeks or however much time of a holiday in direct labor payments versus having
them be able to draw down against a short-term disability FMLA plan.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:55:47
So not all the schools do FMLA, just so
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:55:51
you know. I don't know how many do and how many don't. I do know the school she goes to does not do that. So that was not an option for her. And she still had to pay back into her insurance. I don't know if you realize that, but they do. For every day they're gone, they do have to pay back into the insurance. So she's not basically not getting
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:56:10
a check because she's still paying back into insurance. Representative, make sure you're recognized for a question.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:56:19
Thank you. Thank you. So I just want to make sure I understand this. You're talking about Christmas break, two weeks. So under this, a teacher, we did the 12 weeks. So under this, a teacher,
instead of having a 12-week break, would have a 14-week break. Is that correct? Not necessarily because not
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:56:35
all schools are actually even doing two weeks. They're not doing
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:56:39
– I mean, a lot of schools don't buy into this and have not done this. There's very few that have done it. So they don't all get 12. But, yes, you would already get that two weeks regardless.
Regardless, she would be getting those two weeks. So I was just saying let's don't hurt a teacher by having a baby
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:56:58
when, you know, you can't always control when you're going to have a child. Oh, sure, of
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:57:03
course. But so in essence, if it falls across the Christmas
break, you know, we've got the 12 weeks. I'm assuming that's going to become law. So 12 weeks becomes 14 weeks. Would that be correct, or is it still going to be 12 weeks? I would assume it
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:57:20
would still be that two weeks would not be counted against that teacher.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:57:23
So then it would become 14 weeks. So that would be the same thing for a summer break. A teacher could have a baby at spring break, and then she could be off until August if they've built in the 12 weeks. So those are also going to get
Speaker 487
2:57:41
all those extra weeks. Right. Which they would normally
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:57:45
be getting off, right? Right, so I guess the concern, I'm trying to maybe dance around here a little bit, is if that's true, if the 12 weeks, it falls across Christmas,
so we add those to the end, and now we're 14 weeks, now the teacher's out of that classroom even longer, and it's not fair to the other employees, because that teacher's being paid for that 12 weeks off, regardless of whether it falls across the holiday or not. No, they're not.
So the two weeks of Christmas are not considered contract days. They do not get paid for those days.
Okay, so Mr. Chairman, I hope I'm not. So just make sure I'm understanding this.
So as it stands right now, teachers do not get paid for Christmas break? It's not a contract day. I'm looking
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:58:35
at the department for that. It's not a contract day. Can I have Ms. Courtney come pretty please? Because it's not a contract day. How
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:58:48
funny. We appreciate you not being a subject matter expert on that, Secretary Oliva. Yeah, we appreciate that. I'm going to try to take what's probably something simple and muddy
it up as much as I can here. Ms. Solis-Ford, if you would please introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized to be the subject matter expert.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:58:57
So again, the question is, do we pay teachers for Christmas
Speaker 489
2:59:03
break? No, typically it's not considered a contract day with most teacher contracts, so they typically are not getting paid. Okay,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:59:09
so under this provision, then what we're saying is that if it happens across that, then the teacher would be paid for Christmas
Speaker 490
2:59:20
break under the proposed legislation? They would not be paid. The 12 weeks would not start until the day that they were scheduled to return. So would they, to your kind of scenario earlier, would they be out for 14
weeks? Yes, but they would only be getting paid for 12 of
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:59:35
those weeks. Okay, so in essence, what this does in practicality is what i'm trying to get to here in practicality this would allow the teacher to extend that maternity break longer than the 12 weeks correct and if it were to happen during the summer theoretically we could even extend that beyond 12 14 15 16 weeks depending on not for
Speaker 490
2:59:59
the summer because those are typically not considered contract days so again it could
It would depend on some teachers and other administrators have 200-day contracts. But for a typical 190-day teacher contract, any time period between, like, around the beginning of June and beginning of July would not count. But if it was a contract day, even if they were doing professional development and not instruction, they would get paid for that day. Okay. And so, under the scenario,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:00:26
the 12 becomes 14. They would be out for 14, but still only paid for 12.
Correct. So, the only impact to the school would be, now we're going to have to hire a substitute for two additional weeks in this scenario that we wouldn't have had to before. No. You
Speaker 492
3:00:47
don't hire a substitute. I'm sorry. Yeah, they wouldn't hire a substitute for Christmas. Okay.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:00:51
Okay. Okay. Yeah. Okay. All right. I just want to kind of... but but
Speaker 490
3:00:57
if they were currently counting that then they would only have hired one for 10 weeks so yes now they would hire one for 12 weeks okay okay
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:01:04
so so there there would be the cost of that
versus what we have now okay i think i'm kind of getting the picture here all right thank you i will yield
the floor to any other question uh representative brown i think you
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
3:01:21
have a question? You may be recognized. Thank you. Is not the point of the 12 weeks just to make sure that the new mother has 12 weeks off? Is the issue, I mean, 12 weeks is 12 weeks whether they're holiday days
or not. So I think the point is, is to allow a new mother to have 12 weeks off. And my quest,
One of my questions, well, is that, that's the point, is to make sure she has 12 weeks off, not necessarily that, you know, if it falls on a holiday or not, it's 12
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:01:56
weeks. But it says 12 weeks paid, and two of those weeks they will not be getting paid for
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
3:02:08
if it falls during Christmas or one week during spring break. So let me just ask my other questions. when a teacher is hired and they have contract days, do they not get a paycheck every month
that's pretty much the same? I mean, their contract is figured out and they're not just paid.
Their paycheck on the 15th doesn't just reflect the days they work during that pay period or whatever. It's spread out throughout the year, correct? Right.
Speaker 490
3:02:38
So they do typically get a paycheck every month but and I am not an expert in this area but my understanding of how teacher contracts and teacher pay works is they do have to like they get very little leave and so they have to pay back
if they take more leave and so it could their their check is not always going to be the same every month it could be reduced based on how many days they took off based on if they took off so many that they have to pay back for the insurance some school districts will require teachers to pay for the substitute that they were required to get for the day that they were off and so even though they
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
3:03:18
get a check every month it may not be the same amount. So what's currently stated in law is 12 weeks
Speaker 490
3:03:25
paid? Correct, up to 12 weeks paid because it's optional for school districts whether
Chair
Unverified
3:03:29
to participate or not. Thank you. Representative Barker,
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
3:03:41
you recognize? Okay, Representative Beck. You're recognized for a question? I think I'm all right. You got me with typically. Typically, they don't
get paid for Christmas break is what you
Speaker 490
3:03:56
said, right? Right, because every school district can do various different things,
and maybe the AAEA can speak better to this than I can or AAEA representatives, But some school districts, it depends on the contract. And maternity leave applies to not just teachers, but teachers are typically, generally, on 190-day contracts. They're not getting paid. But you might have an administrator who's on a 200-day contract. They might get paid for Christmas. It's going to be up to the district and the contract that they enter into with their employees. So I can only speak to generalities because I don't know how every school district contracts with their employees.
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
3:04:34
Okay, so I guess the question I
was getting at is whether you're for or against this. Would it, is it, well, I guess, I'm saying that is this going to help some people, but depending on their contract, it wouldn't help those others. I think, and I don't want to speak
Speaker 490
3:04:57
for Representative Vought, I think the intent is to make it consistent in that if you were going to get paid for that day,
it will count towards your 12 weeks of paid maternity leave if you were not going to get paid for that day you won't get paid for your paid maternity leave what it might do in creating inconsistency is back to the point of when your 12 weeks starts is going to depend on whether you got paid for that two weeks of holiday leave or not so if you're an administrator that was going to get paid your your time is going to start immediately you have your 12 weeks of paid leave that is coinciding with 12 consecutive days.
If you were not going to get paid, you'll have two weeks of unpaid, and then your 12 weeks will start, and you'll have 12 weeks of paid leave, giving you ultimately 14 days of leave, though only 12 weeks
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
3:05:48
of it is still paid. So it's really not paid. It's
actually just the amount of time that you're getting on. That's the only
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:06:02
difference. Yes. Representative Meeks, you're recognized. So just following up on that, so if it occurs during the Christmas break, we don't currently get paid.
Under this, they're still not going to get paid for those two weeks, correct? All right, so what I don't want to happen is I have a baby. Now I'm getting paid for two weeks that nobody else is getting paid for. So in practicality, all this is going to do is extend maternity leave for whatever days they would. And, but they're not forced to. Correct. Okay. And so the only potential, the impact to the school would be potential substitute for those two weeks
and then that teacher being out even more than normal. Well, they normally would not
be teaching those two weeks. I keep going back to that Christmas. They would not be teaching that two weeks. There's no sub needed for that two weeks. Okay.
I don't want to call Dr. Nahandas to the table again.
I do have a question just based on, I said I don't, but you can if you'd like. Listen, I think we've worked through it. Not all contracts are the same. Not all FMLA policies are the same. Not all, yet not all, not all. And we're hopefully going to pass that 12-week bill out of this committee,
and that's something we can look forward to. I do have a question because I do think this will have a, it says no fiscal impact. I think it will have fiscal impact on our districts. And I have to assume that they're going to bear the brunt of it. I know there's no state requirement because now we're going to hopefully, Knock on wood, fund that 100%, and districts won't have to meet us and do that burden share we did in learns, but I am concerned because this is going to be more days that they're going to have to pay for. Am I correct if a head nod without recognizing you? Okay. All right. That's all my question. Any other questions from committee? He went like this.
Thank you. Representative Duke, you recognize for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:07:54
It's kind of in line with what you just asked. would the cost of the district be the substitutes? Because I'm assuming the districts are paying for the substitutes, and even with that two weeks off at Christmas that's not counted would still push out two weeks, right? Am I understanding that correctly? They would still have the additional two weeks of subs. It's just not obvious Christmas break, but if they push that two weeks, they have the two more weeks. Yes, I think, if I followed your logic, right.
Speaker 490
3:08:22
Because if a district is currently counting the two weeks of Christmas against them, then that teacher would be coming back after 10 weeks of paid leave. This would allow them to stay gone, so a district could have that additional two weeks of substitute cost. However, if the other bill passes, then the state would be covering the entire cost of the substitute for that period. Okay, thank you. Representative Becky, another one. Yes, it just occurred to me.
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
3:08:54
But the maternity leave, is that hours or is that days? Because we're also going to
be talking about four days of work weeks. So now that's different. It's just four days.
It's just 12 days. That's a can of worms I'm going to
Okay. Any other questions from committee? Seeing none, do we have anyone sign up to speak for or against? We don't. Anyone from the audience wish to speak for or against the bill?
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:09:39
Representative, if you'd like to close for your bill, you may. First, I want to thank Courtney for coming in. So teachers get paid typically for 190 days. Through LEARNS, we meant for teachers to get the schools to have an option to buy in to up to 12 weeks paid leave for a teacher.
The two weeks that I keep using for Christmas are not contract days. They're not doing a substitute. They're not doing those things. Not all schools have FMLA. They don't apply. Most of our rural schools do not do, I'll say that. Probably most of the rural schools do not do FMLA. So, yes, the teacher does have to pay back for every day that they miss past the four weeks if they say they get four weeks.
But there was a loophole that I don't think was intended to be used to punish teachers depending on when they had their children. So with that, I close and make a motion to pass. We
have a motion to pass on the table. Any discussion on the
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
3:10:53
motion? Yes. Representative Grutter, you recognize for
discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the bill. As a father of six children, I want to make sure I say thank you
because former Senator Jack Crumley gave my wife her first teaching job, And we had to make sure that she got back to work in a timely manner because we couldn't afford to live without the paycheck. And it was a very undue stress on us, but it does happen. My daughter was blessed because I ended up being a very kept man and a stay-at-home dad to stay there with my daughter. But I appreciate this, and I know there are teachers who are coming to the profession because of the pay, raise, and learns for $50,000,
and they are trying to start a family. So we need legislation in place like this to make sure that our teachers are protected. So I thank you for the legislation, and I will be a yes vote on this. Any other discussion on the motion?
Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed? No. Congratulations. Your bill is passed. Thank you. Are you wanting to gavel out, or do you want me to do
another one? Nope. We've got actually a few more. I actually have Chairman Brooks left me that Representative Duke. Okay.
Your, Representative Duke, your 1793 should be
next on the list. If you could,
once you introduce yourself, you may be recognized.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:12:39
I'll try. Let me see how I've been doing today. Representative Hope Duke, District 12, Northwest Benton County. So I'm going to do my best, members, to introduce this, but as all you all know, I am so not on my game today. So I'm doing House Bill 1793. This was a bill that kind of
came out of discussions with lots of teachers in my area, admin and school board members and just parents and just in general. And the gist of this, and I'll be very quick, hopefully, because I know people maybe want to go to lunch if we can.
This is a local control thing. Positive behavior intervention supports. This is not like a referendum on them. It is just a matter of who should be making those decisions and what tools in the tool belt a school district wants to use. And so what this would do is it would just put the decision back on the local level for school districts to decide if this is a tool they want to have in their tool belt. If it's not, they want to use all of it, some of it. But the way it is right now, it's a shall, that they will do this. And I think that what I said in our school board when this was passed years ago
and I was sitting on the school board is, you know, every district's different. And we have this conversation here a lot. We don't all look the same. I've learned a whole lot since being down here even more now about how different our districts are. And so having the ability to accommodate that I just think is really important. Again, it's not a referendum on this program. I use positive behavior reinforcement in a lot of things that I do, but it's not my only tool. It is one of the tools, and sometimes when you use positive behavior exclusively, it loses its impact.
And so, again, just want this decision to be on the local level, local school boards, local parents and communities, teachers, being able to decide to what degree they want to use positive behavior, what programs they want to use, and us just not making that decision on the
state level. So with that, I'm closed with the bill, and I have no idea if I'll be able
to answer any questions today, but I'll try. Thank you. Is there any questions from committee? Representative Meeks,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:14:38
you're recognized. Got to give you at least one. Go for it. Who's sponsoring the bill or idea or who's bringing this to us?
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:14:46
What do you mean? Like a company? There's
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:14:49
no company. Well, no, no, no. Where did it come from? I mean, just based on your testimony, it sounds like you didn't author this bill that someone
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:14:56
else did. Am I wrong on that perception? No, no, this was already in existence. So this is kind of just removing what was put in place a couple of years ago. So it's strikeout. Right, and who wants to strike it out? This came from local, like from people, like I said, to begin with, from teachers, and I'm trying to use the words, teachers' input, just conversations.
From your district then? From my district, and not just my district, because I know lots of people spread out in other districts. So just wanting to have the ability to make those decisions on the
local level and not having it just prescribed in code. Thank
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
3:15:33
you. Any other questions from Committee Representative Andrews? You're recognized. Representative, could you
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:15:37
educate me on what positive behavior support is? Intervention support? It's positive reinforcement. I mean, do you need me to go more
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
3:15:44
so in that? Yeah, to go into, like, this is in the discipline, like, what, yeah, elaborate.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:15:48
So, again, it's not a criticism of it, And I'm sure there's other members here that can probably expound in a greater way than I
can. But it is, I'll use it in my terminology. So positive behavior would be like we have, okay, bear with me. We have like best boy, best girl. And we have best row in the realms that I work in. Because all that I can really use in my realm is positive behavior reinforcement tools. It's not any kind of disciplinary or punishment tools. Okay. So for best boy, best girl, I'm looking for my kids. Like if I were in here, who's sitting nice and quietly in their chair?
who's sitting back, who's got their hands in their lap, you know, those types of things. And then I would give them a prize at the end. Or, you know, I've done pizza parties, different things like that. So that's the tool, and there's nothing wrong with that tool. It's a great tool. But, again, this is about local districts deciding how to do it, what programs they're going to use, not having it specifically saying this one, and just letting them have those options to handle discipline and reinforcement tools as they please.
So this is a local control issue? It's 100% a local control, 100%. Thank you, Representative
Andrews. Any other questions from committee? Having no
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:17:06
one signed up to speak for – oh, sorry. That's all right. We've got two more down. Representative Garner, you're first. Just a quick question. And my concern is mostly the just the research evidence-based use. Do we just, and there's no place in here that says whatever we use needs to be evidence-based and that I saw.
We just assumed. Can you tell me what page you're looking at, please? I'm not looking at any page. I just didn't see it in here. If we're taking out this that we know is evidence-based research, we assume that the school boards are going to do
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:17:45
that. Well, I don't know that I would just assume school boards are going to do that. We have administrators who, in every board meeting I've ever been in, there were a
bunch, that the administrators have a lot of guidance and advice and direction, along with principals and curriculum directors and everybody else,
on saying this is what we think is effective and this is what we think works well. and so I think you're going to see them relying on that and I think we do a pretty good job not a perfect job I think we do a pretty good job of training in the them in those areas and they implemented this because this has some do but this has been the law right so it's not like they're not familiar with it because this has been the law and so they can still use those but this doesn't make them restricted
or say that prescribed that this is what you are going to use and so that's all I'm trying to do here is
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:18:28
that it's the things that are not prescribed here that
they may be using that we don't know whether they're research-based or evidence-based behavior issues. You don't say anything about what that is. We're just assuming that the local school boards or their local folks will determine that for themselves. Yes,
and I think that they can make
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:18:47
those decisions for themselves. I understand you may not agree with me. I just, I think
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:18:56
that they can. I'm just, so if a school board or a locality thinks that punishment is the best way,
then they can do that even though the evidence shows that that doesn't
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:19:07
really work. I think you could probably argue the evidence. Okay. Okay. But yes, I don't think punishment is a negative
thing. And so, yes, that is a tool that if a school district chooses, that's what works best for them. They should have the ability to use punishment slash discipline because I was told when school board meeting punishment is a bad word, and I don't agree with that, right? I think that punishment can go to an extreme. But I have confidence in our local school boards, in our districts, and our communities, our parents, who speak and elect these people, to be able to make those decisions.
I know it's going to look different for your district than it's going to look for mine. That's why I want it to be,
I'm not telling you what to do. I don't want
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
3:19:52
to be told in our districts what to do
either. It's all I'm one. We have Representative Gonzalez-Worthin. Recognize? Yes. So based on what, before the deletions, okay, the positive reinforcement, those are the first steps, you know, for teachers to use primary steps for prevention, you know,
in the classroom with the student. And so by removing all of the positive behavioral supports as the primary or the very first thing that you would do to prevent behavioral issues that now become challenging, that would be done first. And then you would go further through the other interventions that are a little bit more severe.
So I'm just wondering why would we want to remove positive, why would we want to remove evidence-based positive behavioral supports? Why would we want to remove those and just straight go to immediately going to something more aggressive that's costly because
there will be assessments, et cetera? Thank you for your question. and I know your passion
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:21:10
for education, I'm not telling you you have to go. You can't do positive behavior first.
I'm not saying that. I'm saying I'm not going to tell you which to do. I'm not going to tell a teacher in a classroom in Decatur, Arkansas, what she needs to do from Little Rock. I'm not going to tell them that. And that's what this is about, freedom in the classroom. We've heard so many conversations here about discipline and about frustrations and teachers leaving the classroom because of discipline issues. And in my opinion, and a lot of teachers that I have talked to, This is a frustration, because although, yes, I agree, as I said, positive behavior is, in the world that I work in, it's the only tool that I can use, okay?
It's the only one I can use. And so I understand the effectiveness of it, but over the many, many years I have worked in that realm, I've seen it lose its impact because it's become the only tool that's being used. And when you award a pizza party and the pizza party, and I'm just using that for an example, right, because it's not the necessary go-to, it loses its impact because everybody's getting a pizza party. Everybody's getting a piece of candy. Everybody's getting told this. And there are times and places when the answer just needs to be no.
You're not going to do this because of that.
Again, in your district, if that's what works best for you guys, and I would agree that there's a lot of times that the positive thing and the way you word it, it can go that direction first. But we shouldn't be saying from here in Little Rock that every school district in the state needs to go here first and then here and then here. We should let them decide and have the flexibility to address the discipline problems in their classrooms. However, their community says fits best.
It is going to look different. I 100% get it. Not trying to take away a tool, just trying to allow them to choose the method and manner and time frame in which they want to use it. Again, you can do it however your district pleases. It's local control. I think there's probably still some information
that needs to be filled in on positive base operating conditioning. So Secretary Leva,
would you mind going to the end of the table? I think you can help provide some landscape for us.
And once you've introduced yourself, you're recognized.
Speaker 169
3:23:30
I think Representative Duke did a great job explaining what the intent is of this bill, and I don't think we're coming to the table as saying that positive behavioral PBIS implementation systems is a bad thing, but what I think we're wanting to make sure we're doing is we're not locking school districts into one program. So when Representative Amster asks what is PBIS, it's not a curriculum, it's not a one-day
professional development. What it is is a framework that has their objectives that are grounded in different topics that school districts utilize to train staff within those discipline frameworks to implement and maintain their student code of conduct. They're not the only discipline framework. There's other frameworks that are evidence-based that can meet the needs of different schools and different school districts may be better so right now we're implementing a one-size-fits-all approach
to district discipline policies and I think you've all heard me advocate several times that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't meet the needs of all our students and families it does not meet the needs of all of our administrators teachers and schools and school districts so what this is saying is is that we're not trying to lower discipline standards or expectations and if school districts want to keep this framework because they've invested in it and it's working well, great. But if a district wants to explore other frameworks that might better meet the needs of their students and families
and support strong learning environments, then they have the ability to do so. That's all this language does. All right. Thank
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:25:07
you. Any other questions from Kenny? Yes. I just have one more quick question. And I guess my concern is similar to law enforcement de-escalating a problem before we, instead of acting quickly. So can you just describe quickly some of those other programs that might still keep from punitive? Sure. And
Speaker 169
3:25:29
I don't, I'm not here to advocate for
different vendors, but just different programs. I know on the top of mind, crisis prevention, intervention. There's restorative practice kind of frameworks that come into those components. I think what you'll find in it is in any framework when it comes to school discipline is do you have consistent belief sets routines and expectations for students. 80% of the students will meet what we call a tier one expectation and when you look at the language that talks about a multi-tiered system of support that's really what it is. What program or framework you build around it's about
building a system of care where all students needs are going to be met. 80% of the students are actually going to do well within the standard expectations that we have at school. I used to be a school principal, superintendent. I think if you asked any principal here, they would say, um, 80% of the discipline referrals they get is 20% of the students, right? The rule of 80-20. It's pretty consistent, doesn't matter what learning environment you go to. 80% of students are never going to have an issue based on the system that the
school district adopts and implements. About 15 percent of the students may need a little bit of check-in, a little bit of different monitoring, may respond to things different, and then about five percent of students are going to need more intensive support. So all they're saying is PBIS is one way to meet that continuum tiered of services. If it's working, great. Are there other programs that can help meet those needs? Absolutely. So let the districts have some flexibility. Any other questions from committee?
I'm seeing none. There's no one signed up to speak
for. Oh, sorry. Representative Gonzales-Werthin.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
3:27:09
Yes. So I am totally
on board with the multi-tiered you mentioned that's in the bill. I think it's on page 4, line 16, section 5. To have multi-tiered system of supports. So when you look at that, the first level ensuring, first of all, positive
behavioral supports, all of that's deleted, and then it goes, all of it's deleted, continuing five, um, and then, and then it goes into functional behavioral assessments. And though that's, that's pretty severe. Like, in other words, to me, a multi-tiered system
of support, you're going to, you're going to share multiple systems of support. The positive behavioral
support system is one of those, but then there's others. So that, I think
that's where I'm, I have an issue with it because that is, and I'm not, and this is not saying that that's the only system of
support or intervention that you use. It's just one because there are others. So that's where my concern is.
We've deleted one, one that's evidence-based that is working, and then we have the others still in here, which is fine because students are going to need, I mean, they're having, it'll be documented.
you know, cases of behavior with the student. But the first thing is, let's look at that. What can we do positively for that student in the classroom environment? That's not working? Then you have to go to something else. But when we're saying multi-tiered systems of support, we've just eliminated one that's preliminary. It's like the first level of intervention, and that's just been erased. So that's where I'm having an issue with.
Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree? Very good. So any other questions? I'm trying to keep you timely here. Yes, thank you.
No worries. Seeing no one signed up for against, you're recognized to close for your bill. I think that
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:29:32
this is important to get local control back to our school districts and to our schools and to empower our teachers. Again, I
just want to reiterate, this is not saying you can't do something. There's no forbidding in here. It is just, I guess, saying that the state's not going to tell you what to do. And with that, I'm closed and make a motion. Do pass. All right. Seeing
a motion of do pass on the table.
Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none. All
those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. Nay. Congratulations. You've passed your bill. We're going to try to get two more in, everybody. Mine will
be next. It's House Bill 11, sorry, 1139. Representative Meeks will
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:30:21
be chair. All right, committee, just as we get ready to go into this, since I've got the big chair
now, as you all know, it is after 12:30. There are several of us that are going to have to leave in a few minutes for technology committee coming up here in about 20 minutes, and so as we try to work through this, I want to make sure everyone's comfortable, but at the same time, I would encourage haste and succinctness as we try to work through those. So with that, Mr. Vice Chair, you are recognized to present your amendment. My bill, my amendment, I make a motion to adopt. Okay. The committee have heard a
description of the amendment. Any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none. No one signed up to speak for or against the amendment. We have a motion to do pass. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. You're recognized to present your bill as amended.
Thank you, committee. I'll be brief as I can. I think it's an important topic, but I'll be
brief. I'm here to present House Bill 1139. It creates the Religious Release Time Act. I think it's important to note that we've had some controversial bills that have to do with religious practices in our schools that come through this committee. I don't believe this to be one. This has been a long withstanding tradition in our country.
In 1952, there was a U.S. Supreme Court decision called Zorak v. Clausen, which established a three-part test in order for parents who have children in a public school to participate in a religious release time program. Well, what does that mean? Children are physically released to go and participate in moral, religious, or ethical formation off school premise, with the permission of the parent, and into the custody of a registered agent to that school. None of this can take place on school property. Oftentimes, and I became aware of this
through an organization that has had tremendous success
promoting religious release time in specifically Ohio and then through the rest of the Rust Belt. I don't like to put my name on any bill that affects K-12 that I don't think has a
positive influence on children in the classroom. I've obviously run bills through this committee, but they're not relevant to K-12. This one is super important to me because the empirical data, and this isn't cherry-picked, I saw something I liked and I pulled it out. The empirical data is that from the contesting controls that, uh, this organization that I, uh, got to meet with and discuss this with, um, uh, had in their Ohio communities was students that participated in religious release time were, uh, less truant, had better, uh, attendance or less absenteeism.
They had better qualitative data to support that students were more attentive, less interdisciplinary problems, and were overall well-rounded students in the classroom. So what my bill does,
and with this amendment, we add some non-codified section to kind of give you a history of religious release time, the other states that participate in it. And then I have through, and this is a fun one for me, I have through working with former Former Representative Gayla McKenzie, Representative Duke's sister, we've winnowed this bill down
to be very specific. There are other versions of this bill that do a lot of things, that require attendance or require transportation or go so far as to say, you know, some type of a numerical grade can be assessed for the work and participation in these release time programs back to the public school. That does not do this. What this simply states is the religious release time is that three-part test that's codified in our Supreme Court decision that districts shall adopt a policy if requested. and then a third cannot effectively prohibit um currently we have of several uh religious
release time programs in the state that are operating if a parent goes to a district that doesn't have or observe one right now and the district says no that district has bought themselves a ticket straight to federal court and uh at the expense of their lawyers and whatever it's going to take for them to defend themselves a very very very costly measure on their school districts Just like voluntary prayer, I think this is important and fundamental to every student and their family's rights as they walk into a public school.
How this typically takes shape is that the school district will work in concert with the religious release time program or with the parents that are requesting the release time to coordinate that that student's required curriculum, their required course load, is not affected. Oftentimes it will take place in a non-required elective. And again, we have to think broadly and then narrowly. Big school districts that have large churches will have to coordinate, obviously, on a multi-school and a multi-scheduled basis.
But then when we think about smaller and more rural schools, oftentimes, as you guys can attest from the districts you represent, it's
a town that has one or two churches. Those churches will often have a representative on that school board, and it's a hand-in-glove approach to working with the school district so it has as little interruption or no interruption to the students' day-to-day activities. So I've said a lot. I'm very fond of this bill. I think it'll help Arkansas students. I think it helps continue the tradition and practice of respecting religious, moral, and ethical views of our students and their families.
And it'll ultimately help students perform better in our classrooms. So with that, I'm happy to take any questions.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:35:35
Representative Garner, you're up first. Sorry. I just, and you may have started to answer this. I'm worried about the logistics and how that happens. So a student wouldn't be able to take the same course, the same time, out of a math course? It's
not prescribed in this bill, but yes, as it works in practice, they won't allow for the release time during...
How do you know that? Because we've seen
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:36:07
it work in the four districts that currently do it in the state of Arkansas. But the bill doesn't say that. Correct. I mean, so legally then they could take out any time, any class,
as many times as they want. You can have an unexcused absence for anything that you'd like. As it's written for here, this empowers
our local school districts to adopt a policy that makes best sense for the student on a one-to-one basis or for a larger group of students in the same class.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
3:36:30
And I just want to make sure that it
means any religion. Yes. Satanism included. Yeah, so I'm a big R, big L religious liberty fan.
And I understand that that may drive some people away from supporting this. I have, in this committee, talked a lot about different and the pluralistic view of faiths.
I believe that free association within the First Amendment of our Constitution allows for us, regardless if I like your flavor of Christianity or otherwise, to participate in the same rights that are afforded to me.
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
3:37:02
Representative Cozart. Well, thank you. You've answered one of my questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Time of day, I think that was brought up a little bit. So does this count against their hours for school, or does it go long if some of the schools are taking time? If you're doing this, you're losing time at school for that student. Does that count against their hours at school?
I don't have an exact answer for you, but I would assume it's not an
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
3:37:29
unexcused absence. Excused absence. So that could eventually add up to quite a bit. So how many days a week can they do this?
This does not set a limit or a ceiling.
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
3:37:37
And you said it's non-religious based, or it's up to whoever is going to be able to do it, as far as
which church does it? It's up to whatever the faith tradition is the person requesting. So if you, okay, so I've got quite a few questions, just bear with me and I'll give it up. So if you only had two students that wanted to do it and they wanted to go to a certain church, that would be
what they would go to, right? Yeah, it's, yes. No one is expected or conscripted to go to a release time program. So if you were to go in for your child and you go to the First Baptist of Hot Springs
and there is a larger program for the First Methodist, you don't have to, you can have your child be released to a program that fits your faith.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:38:21
Okay, thank you. And to some of the concerns, that, you know, a child that participates in this has still got to meet all the academic requirements of every other
student in the school. So that might help. Representative Duke, you're next. I'm going to
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:38:36
ask a couple of questions, and I'm going to get back in the queue. Thank
you, Mr. Chair. Representative McKenzie, is this already, I mean, you mentioned this is already codified by the Supreme Court. So this is already something that is required, does not need a law to do it.
It's already required right now. You mentioned there's four districts that already
do that. Is that correct? Yeah, it's allowed. This is code that is instructive to our districts. But right
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:39:05
now as it stands, I'm not trying to be difficult with you. No, it's fine. Right now as it stands, if a school district already allows somebody out for some type of release time, for example, they go take a piano lesson class somewhere at the university or somewhere else, They have to allow a student out now under the Zorak decision.
They have to let them out now for religious release time. They may choose to, if their attorney looks at it,
their attorney will advise them. You can't do that. They have to let them out because that is what the Supreme Court
has said. Jurisprudence proves that they don't have standing to disallow is how I'll answer
that question. But what this does is codify, which we do in our bills all day, every day here. We take a
federal practice when codified it into our standards.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:39:51
Okay, so my next question, so we'll just kind of cut. Are you aware of a
member on this committee who actively teaches religious release time?
Quite well. And has been doing it for over 30 years. Are you aware? Absolutely. Do you know who that member is? That's you. Okay. Yeah. So trying to get it out there so that people kind of understand that I'm asking questions from a whole wealth of knowledge. And I do want to say, and I'll leave some stuff back. You have worked with Gayla, who has actively done this for a long time, as well, to try and mirror, as best as you could, Zorik, I guess, putting it in code.
So I do want to commend you for that. I'm going to jump out of here, but I can tell most of my members that probably most of the questions you're asking him, I can probably know the answer to, but I may not necessarily agree. And then I'm not going to say anything else because I really can't, but would you agree that this is a good thing but
is a delicate thing? Absolutely. I think it's extremely delicate. To that end, just to work closely, you
know, this bill has been on our radars for a while.
I wanted to make sure that I did take into account the thoughts of not only Representative Duke, but her sister,
former Representative McKenzie, as well as stakeholders that we all have to deal with any time we pass a bill through here. Dr. Hernandez, who I've picked on all day, he's seen this.
We've worked together. He's made requests for amendments. We've honored those requests. So it's a catch-22, and you guys all understand this, because you don't want to overly prescribe something to a district, because then we're extracting local control. But at the same time, if something that they don't participate will get them into jeopardy.
It will put them and their districts in not only a financial but a judicial quandary. If we don't create that permissive set in code, then who are we serving? What are we doing? So I understand it. I've
tried to, you know, I've gone from ditch to ditch on this thing. But I think we're at a really happy medium where it affirms that three-part test. You know, if requested, the policy should be adopted or must be adopted by the district. And then effectively prohibit is my add because I think it's important that someone can try to honor a request
and do everything they can to not
honor the request. So giving that voluntary prayer relief to students is important
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:42:21
to me. So the point of the legislation is to put guardrails in place for the school districts.
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
3:42:27
Okay. Representative Nazarenko. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And just real quick, just a clarification. So Representative Cozart had asked about it being excused or unexcused, and it was real fast. This would
Speaker 317
3:42:37
be an unexcused absence, correct, or is it an excused? Excused.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:42:41
Excused. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Representative Gonzalez-Worthin.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
3:42:44
Yes. Thank you. So I'm trying to understand. So this, in
the bill, it does say at least one hour each week, but not more than five hours? That was struck through. Oh, that one was struck through. We admitted that out. Okay. So, okay. Very good. Okay. And then the four school districts that currently, um, do this, um, I'm just asking because I don't know. Okay. Is the course mainly geared for students?
Yes. Okay. Okay. All right. And so being a former high school teacher,
I'm thinking, I'm thinking of all the logistics. Okay. This student's going to be out this period. And then another student out third period and
another. So I'm thinking all of the fluctuation in attendance. And so what I'm wondering in a, in a former school district that I worked in, there were, there was a common, since this was for students, they could
meet and do these types of things
before school, which we called zero hour. And it never impacted, it didn't impact, It did not impact their school day, and it was done during that time. And it could be done on campus because it's not really school time. It's a before-school type of activity. So that's the reason why I was asking about if this is specifically geared for students. So wouldn't you agree that there would be less disruption of the school day
as it relates to attendance, if we could come up with something that, you know, wouldn't impact a whole bunch of students all day long. Sure, and I have all faith in
the world that superintendents, very smart, very capable people, and their school boards will find a policy that works best for their
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:44:43
students. Okay. Y'all set, Representative? I'm good. Okay. Representative Duke, you're back up, if you have anything further. I think I'll just save it for this session.
All right. The representative has explained the bill. We only have one person signed up, Ms. Toni Rose, to speak in favor of the bill. Would you like to speak in favor of the bill? Okay. If you would, go ahead and have a seat at the end of the table. We also
have some additional, so Ms. Rose, you can go first. Yeah, if anybody else would like
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:45:13
to speak in favor of the bill, I need to have you come up here and sign in for us. Thank you. Ms. Robbins, once you
get settled in, please introduce yourself to the committee, and then you're recognized. I think this is on already.
Tony Rose
Unverified
3:45:27
My name is Tony Rose. I'm with the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. I cannot speak as fast as Representative McKenzie, but I do just have a couple of things to add that might be helpful. As he's pointed out, this was made legal in all 50 states in 1952. I did a quick look today, and in addition to, we have 16 states right now that have laws,
and one has a regulation giving schools, boards, the option of adopting these policies for release time. They range from California to Montana, Massachusetts to West Virginia. We have 11 other states and Oklahoma, most recently, now require boards to adopt release time policies, which is similar to this one. And last year, the National Association of Christian Lawmakers Education Committee introduced this bill available to all state chairs in all 37 states.
And there are currently 10 states right now in the 2025. Ms. Rose, I
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:46:38
don't want to interrupt you. I know you're speaking in support of the bill. I just want to remind you that about two or three of us or yes votes are going to be leaving here in a few minutes. So if you want us to be able to vote yes on this bill, then I, you know, okay, I'm just throwing it out there. So I, okay, I hear your deal. But Ms. Rose, you're welcome to continue.
Tony Rose
Unverified
3:47:04
Okay. We think this bill will also help keep our children in public schools if the parents are allowed to release their children out for religious instruction of any kind. So with that, thank you very much for your time, and I do hope that you pass
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
3:47:24
this bill. Thank you. Again,
I apologize about the interruption, committee. Any questions for Ms. Rose? Hearing none. Ms. Sarah Catherine Davis?
now i want you to see if you would please
Speaker 567
3:47:43
introduce yourself to the committee and then you're recognized hello i am sarah catherine davis um i live in white county thank you um chairman brooks vice chair mckenzie thanks for the opportunity to speak for house bill 1139 i'm here today in support of this bill because i believe parents should have the ability to shape their children's education in alignment with their values as a parent i'm want the option to enroll my children in a release time program. Moreover, my husband has dedicated
his career to public education and currently serves as a superintendent. Now more than ever, schools are being called upon to address not only academic instruction, but also character development and mental health. As a former resident of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, I've witnessed firsthand the positive impact that faith-based education can have on young people. While living there, I served as a kids pastor at a local church that was actively involved in efforts to bring LifeWise Academy to our community. Programs like LifeWise have been successfully implemented across the
country, fostering character development, moral responsibility, and a sense of purpose in students. By giving parents the option to enroll their children in off-school and off-campus religious instruction, we empower parents to take a greater role in their children's education while preserving the integrity of our public school system. Since moving to White County last summer, I've had the privilege of working with LifeWise Academy. In my role, I collaborate with Arkansas parents and community members advocating for release time programs in their communities, but some have
faced denial from their school districts despite the Supreme Court ruling that affirms the constitutionality of release time religious instruction for public school students. When school districts prohibit release time programs, they are preventing parents from making an important choice about their children's education, whether or not to include religious education as part of their school day. These programs provide students with an additional space where they feel loved, supported, and valued. In a world often filled with conflicting messages, many young people are searching for guidance, purpose, and moral clarity.
Providing them with the opportunity to deepen their faith and develop strong ethical foundations can be an invaluable asset for their future success. I've heard countless stories of students struggling with confidence and purpose. After attending the Prairie Grove LifeWise program, their teachers saw noticeable transformations, improved behavior, greater focus, and a renewed sense of self-worth. One middle school teacher shared, the LifeWise program has been such a blessing to our school and community. It started last year through our local churches,
giving students a chance to step away once a week during their encore time to learn Bible lessons at a nearby church. The volunteers who run it are incredible, so flexible and easy to work with, and they always make sure that the students return to class on time. When I taught first grade last year, my students couldn't wait for their LifeWise day. They'd come back so excited, proudly showing off their crafts and telling me all about what happened. Now that I teach fourth grade, I see an even deeper impact. My students often bring up lessons from LifeWise when they're working through a tough situation.
Just the other day, one of my students gave a prize she had earned to another student who had not always been kind to her. When I asked why, she said, at LifeWise, we learned that we should be kind and love others just like God does. That moment really struck with me. As a mother, I'm equally thankful for LifeWise. My own children attend regularly, and it means so much to me that they have another opportunity to learn about the Bible in an environment like this. Many Christian parents wrestle with school decisions and having something like LifeWise in place has been incredibly reassuring.
I cannot say enough about the volunteers who run this program. They show up every week, they care deeply about the kids, and they've been nothing but supportive of our school. LifeWise is doing something truly special, teaching kids how to love others, be good friends, and make choices that reflect kindness and faith. As both a teacher and a parent, I'm profoundly grateful for it. Her words highlight just how meaningful this program has been for students. House Bill 1139 establishes clear guidelines to ensure that release time programs operate in a way that respects religious freedom while also protecting the rights of those who choose
not to participate. These programs are conducted off campus, privately funded, require parental permission, and are not endorsed by the district, ensuring the necessary separation of church and state. I urge this committee to recognize the many benefits of House Bill 1139 and to support this measure as a step toward increased educational freedom and parental choice. Thank you so much for your time and your consideration. Thank
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
3:52:32
you for that presentation. Are there any questions?
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
3:52:36
Representative Brown. Perhaps this question is for Representative McKenzie. I think this is an admirable piece of legislation. However, my question is this, if Zorak has been the law of the land since 1952, why do we need this legislation? To provide protection for parents so
that their districts, albeit the law of the land,
in contradiction of our state law, could make a decision not to, not to release children.
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
3:53:09
I don't see how they could if it's the law
of the land. It's jurisprudence, so there's no U.S. code line that says, "This practice is protected." People, lawyers for districts, superintendents, board members may be able to say, "Well, I understand that's a Supreme
Court decision, but we're going to contradict that, because we don't have the means capacity
or whatever to allow it." I'm not
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
3:53:38
sure about that, but thank you.
Speaker 567
3:53:40
I've had two districts say no. Go right ahead. I actually work with all kinds of communities here in Arkansas, and I've recently had two districts say no and one say maybe, and they're waiting to see what you're going to
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:53:59
do with this bill. Representative Duke. First of all, thank you for your work, because I understand it in a way nobody else here does. So I want you to know that, and I want you to know that the concerns that I raise
and that have been raised are coming from someone who's been in the trenches literally for 30 years, right? So would you agree that maybe there is, and this can go for either one of you, a lack of understanding and knowledge sometimes on what can or can't be done, or that maybe districts, this may be better worded, that there are districts that are waiting to see, not because necessarily resistance, but not knowing what this looks like.
Because this legislation initially had an hour on it, which I took all that out because that would have shut us down. An hour, five days a week. That looks different in different schools. And so to try to decide what you're going to do halfway through a school year
without knowing what we're going to do down here is hard on a district to make that decision. So asking to wait or saying, let's see, and I'm not saying all districts are acting correctly, I get it but there are some they're saying hold off we're not going to plan anything until this
group of people down here go home on
not just this issue but other issues is that kind of not
Speaker 567
3:55:22
unexpected I understand that um to some degree but we have a host of other schools that are implementing LifeWise Academy and it's working just fine um Springdale is our newest one that has said yes for young elementary and so i feel like that the ruling from the supreme court was clear and that they are they should be giving us a yes but i think some districts are afraid of
just what kind of pushback they'll get and i feel like this bill helps administrators to have something to kind of stand
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:55:58
behind thank you very much i appreciate that um and i'm glad to hear that other districts through learning through this bill being filed I will say it's brought a lot of districts awareness to this have learned what that freedom that is already available there and there's significant cover because our program has been covered many many times in the press and even the ACLU of Arkansas many years ago said that what the what they're
doing is legal so thank you very much and I just commend you on what you're doing and when you I agree, Representative McKenzie, they're
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
3:56:39
doing some great work. The best. Thank you. Next, we're going
Speaker 426
3:56:47
to call up Rachel Downs. I will be real quick. I want to thank you, Chairman of the Committee, for this time.
I want to share why I strongly support this from a personal standpoint. I'm here as a LifeWise coach and program director. We just started a couple months ago here in North Little Rock. But it was a passion of mine because of a personal experience that I went through. Fear, anxiety, depression. It even left me with suicidal thoughts. And prayer, support, and the Word of God got me through.
God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. That got me through that difficult time. And I also had people telling me I had a purpose. God has a purpose for me. And I'm here today because of that. And so it is at this low point in my life where I truly learned the power of the Word of God. It's not just a storybook, but it still has the same power that it did on the first week of creation.
So this has become a passion in my life to share this with everyone, especially my community. You can see the darkness in our communities, in our schools, and I've heard the horror stories today. And I believe that this opportunity can turn our schools around. and I've spent the past six years telling my family that I would love to start something in
a public school because I grew up in a pastor's home and in a private school I was shielded from a lot of that my children attended public schools in northwest Arkansas and we had some experiences that weren't too pleasant, but it left me with a compassion also for the victims, but also for children that haven't had an experience of the love of God and the truth of God, and so I moved
back to North Little Rock six years ago, and I'm trying to hurry, and that has been a passion of mine, and I had no idea of release time religious instruction. And so when I found out about it, it was a dream come true, and we just opened our first LiveWise in North Little Rock. So why am I strongly supportive of this? Our first lesson, I brought in five students.
Three of them could not tell me one story from the Bible. One of them thought they heard of Matthew, and another one had heard of Adam and Eve. They were amazed to learn of a God that created everything with the power of his word, and that this God had a plan and purpose for them. Their little minds were blown that mankind was created extra special in God's image,
and that's why we should love and respect one another. So imagine, imagine the children learning of a counselor that can bring peace beyond understanding. Imagine the fatherless learning of an everlasting father that will never leave or forsake them. I know there's many different perceptions of God, but I know firsthand he's truly wonderful. So God can take the darkest void in our schools and make them something beautiful.
And the statistics that he read today prove that. It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men, as we know the famous quote by Frederick Douglass. So imagine these children learning their value and purpose in life before they're ever exposed to drugs and alcohol. Imagine them learning about the power of love
before guns, violence, and bullying ever becomes a part of their life. Through this bill, restoration can start in our communities right here in Arkansas. I love my country, I love my city, but more than that, God does. And he has a beautiful plan for this city. And I'm asking you that you would protect this today here in Arkansas.
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
4:01:41
Thank you. Thank you for that testimony. We have no one else to speak
either for or against the bill. I appreciate it everybody I just want
to reframe obviously we had a lot of there's a lot of passion a lot of conviction on this topic I don't want to lose the force for the trees of what this bill does if you don't want your child to participate in voluntary prayer around a flagpole if you don't want your
child to participate in any religious or moral formation you don't have to what this bill does allow it allows for parents that do have those convictions that do have those beliefs to be able to take their children to get that supplementary religious, religious formation that their family designs for them. Um, we have, we have worked very hard to make sure that this is not overly prescriptive and that, and it doesn't also leave parents out in the dark. Um, this is a, this is a, uh, federal practice, but as we've just heard from our witnesses, there are districts that again, and I'm not, and I don't, I don't begrudge
or fault them. It's, it's difficult to, to add one more thing, but this is a fundamental right of our citizens and our constituents is to
allow their children to get the religious formation that they see fit for them. So I understand. I appreciate our guests for coming today because this isn't a theoretical policy idea. This is something that we're seeing in our communities and that will benefit our students. So with that, I'm closed. I do make
a motion of due pass as amended. We have a motion
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
4:03:13
to pass. Is there any discussion on the motion?
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
4:03:17
Representative Duke. Sorry, members. I'm sorry I'm going to keep you from lunch, or at
least more of it. I'm sorry about that, but this is important. I came into this meeting. First of all, I want to commend that Representative McKenzie, out of all the groups and all the people that have tried to run this legislation in this state, who have been aware of us, of my, of Gravit, and my involvement with it. Representative McKenzie has been the most cooperative and has listened and has tried to address.
When I came in here today, I wasn't sure what I was going to do because Representative McKenzie made, I think, every amendment we asked for. He did. And he knew as he made those amendments that we still were not in favor of this and he kindly did it anyway because he was trying to do it to a place that we felt had the least impact. We had been doing religious release time in my school in the school district I come from for over 30 years. Myself personally for about 30.
My sister former represent McKenzie a little bit longer than that. So we are well aware of how it works. We're well aware of the constitutional aspects of it, all of those things. So I came in here today. I wasn't sure what I was going to
do, but through the conversation of just even the questions that happened in here, and even, unfortunately, some of the responses from all realms caused me a lot of concern. And I understand my folks over here that have been doing it the
last several years that maybe you don't see those warning flags go up like I do but I do because I've been doing this a long time and I and it is important the number one that you stay on that line of being constitutional and being under the guidelines of that ruling it is it is a line that you need to make sure you don't cross and you understand it and also my concern is how this starts getting regulated on the state level and I heard so many comments today that said well what
about this and why aren't we doing that and and then inadvertently comments that that you made and other people made that I'm like oh no no no I mean that's not right or that's not how it works or that's not what we should be doing and and that's concerning because as I said earlier this is a delicate thing that has um the Supreme Court the Supreme Court wisely left it wide open for the districts to handle but when we start tinkering around and saying this is what you should do or this is what you shouldn't do and again you left it wide open and I appreciate that but I got a
window of what it looks like in two years four years six years today I got a window of that and I know some of y'all may not been paying attention or you may not even realize what things were said today that make me go okay this is concerning the district that I work with we're not doing five or ten kids we're doing about 500 500 every week um it's a local control issue and i am so saddened that districts are so uninformed that they don't understand how this
works and as my sister and i have said for years we are happy to go anywhere talk to anybody and help inform them um to make better choices i think maybe the aea and some of the other folks have figured out and maybe will help them learn, that, you know, you can't really say no. You need to have some thought processes to what you're doing, but if you're letting one of them out, you've got to let them all out. But there's a lot of details to this, and I feel like I'm just
meandering, and so I'm sorry for that. sorry this is
Speaker 579
4:07:17
an important issue and it is important to be done but it is important to be done right and there's some times down here that you guys see me vote no and I kind of joking around not joking around but
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
4:07:29
say you know what if I don't understand it or if I'm not sure what
the unintended consequences are I'm not going to take that gamble that I'm going to make a mistake in what I'm doing here and I do not want this to be misinterpreted that I don't support religious release time classes. I do. I do. I show that because I dedicate parts of my life to doing it but I am concerned that if we put this in Arkansas code how this will grow and I understand some groups don't see that but I've lived it a long time and it is a concern and you should be concerned
with that. I am frustrated that there are groups that put programs like me in the middle and I'm frustrated that there are school districts that say no without knowing what they can and can't do and I'm equally frustrated with groups that put maps up that say states oh we need to get this legislation passed here because they don't because that's what we've been living with for four the last four years was knowing that there are groups all across this country that have Arkansas
targeted as and I'm not saying that this is where you come from because I know it's not I know where yours is coming from but we both know that there are groups that do it I know it because I experienced it last time and that bothers me too because we shouldn't just be a notch we shouldn't be just a checkbox and for some places that's what we are and so that when we're having to have that conversation of well do we just go ahead and support this so maybe they'll leave us alone for a while that's frustrating because that's how I feel that's how I feel and um and that's not where
we should be so I'm frustrated with both groups I'm frustrated with both I am not frustrated with Representative McKenzie at all but I am frustrated with the groups that have brought me to this point and um and I hate that I'm put in this position to where I'm going to have to say I can't vote
Speaker 579
4:09:34
for this bill and I have I'm going to ask my members and I hate that I'm in tears on this jeez ask my members to not vote for it as well but that is not because I don't think we'd be better every school district
Speaker 573
4:09:46
in this country was doing it thank you discussion sorry
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
4:09:55
no just discussion oh sorry go ahead I
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
4:09:58
was just going to say quickly understand that there are members that have a lot of experience on this issue. I did hear in the public testimony that there were districts that don't believe they could implement this, and I know that this bill would give them the confidence to do that, and for that reason, I'm a yes.
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
4:10:21
Representative Gonzales, what are you? You're
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
4:10:25
recognized. Excuse me. Thank you.
Since this has already been determined by the U.S. Supreme Court, there are many federal laws that have been passed, such as this one, and sometimes schools, school districts might need to be reminded of that. That happens in my field with English as a second language.
We still have school districts that require a student to enroll, but they cannot if they don't have a Social Security number. And so even though that law has been around for a long, long time, and so what happens is that there's a memo from ADE that states as a
reminder, and then they go back to Plyler v. Doe. They have the federal law and what you can and cannot do.
And so I'm just wondering, since this is already, I think Representative Brown brought this up, this is already in code or this is already a federal law. I don't believe we need this particular
bill. If anything, maybe we just need a memo from the Arkansas Department of Education. Thank you. Representative Brown.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I truly believe in religious liberty,
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
4:11:56
and I am a member of an organization that supports religious liberty. And I think that release programs are a wonderful thing. But I am listening to the voice of my friend and fellow legislator who has been actively involved in religious release for 30 years. She is well aware of the thin ice that we may be getting ourselves into by regulating something that does not need to be regulated,
and I am going to be a no vote because I do believe in religious liberty, and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. Thank you. Just a discussion
on the end because I'm a member of the committee.
go ahead districts are saying no guys we're here we're here to argue about an essential fundamental right and we just had two witnesses say they're saying no everything else is tilting at windmills and i'm not just i'm not demeaning the work or labor and i really appreciate representative duke because that's who you know obviously worked with national organizations care about this i worked
most with with representative duke and her sister former representative mckenzie because i want to make sure this is right and doesn't as much as i can offend anyone that's currently doing it districts are saying no we have a fundamental right to this practice and they're saying no so I ask that I understand that we may have holdups about the the stone rolling down a hill and collecting moss right now today we have an opportunity to protect students in
the state of Arkansas and their core fundamental beliefs and I would encourage a good vote
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
4:13:39
Seeing no other discussion, we have a... Did you close with a motion to do pass? All right. We have a motion to do pass as amended. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
No. I'm sorry, Representative McKenzie, your bill has failed. Thank you, committee. Okay, next up, I'm going to call Representative Innan out to the table.
It's very, very quick. Can you do it? All right, we'll have to come
back afterwards. All right, thank you. As a reminder, we're coming back after session. Wait for the announcement
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
4:14:25
from Keith, and then again on Monday. So with that, we are recessed until 10
Speaker 563
4:14:31
minutes upon adjournment. 10 minutes upon adjournment. Thank you.
Agenda
RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1709 Steele TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM; AND TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM.
REGULAR AGENDA
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1710 Vaught TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUBLIC SCHOOL RATING IN ANY ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, OR COMMUNICATION DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC.
HB1727 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS.
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.
Mayberry
HB1017 A. Collins TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES; AND TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO PAY FOR INCURRED COSTS FOR APPROVED PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.
HB1755 T. Shephard TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY.
SB402 C. Penzo TO PROHIBIT A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE FROM REQUIRING OR TAKING CERTAIN ACTIONS RELATED TO EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.
SB373 Irvin TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS FINANCIAL EDUCATION COMMISSION.
SB390 J. English TO ESTABLISH THE STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCY ACT.
HB1081 B. McKenzie TO REPEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
HB1139 B. McKenzie TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT.
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.
HB1825 Wooldridge TO ALLOW A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TO REQUIRE AN ENROLLED STUDENT TO EARN ONE UNIT OF CREDIT IN A COMPUTER SCIENCE OR COMPUTER SCIENCE-RELATED CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSE IN ORDER TO GRADUATE.
HB1719 Vaught TO AMEND THE DAYS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MATERNITY LEAVE DAYS APPROVED BY A SCHOOL THAT OFFERS MATERNITY LEAVE.
HB1747 Vaught TO CREATE THE BABIES AT SCHOOL ACT; AND TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO PERMIT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PARENTS TO BRING THEIR INFANTS SIX MONTHS OR YOUNGER TO WORK.
HB1761 D. Garner TO INCREASE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INCOME LIMITS FOR STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNTS IN THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR AND THEREAFTER.
HB1793 Duke TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SB352 Stone TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB1806 Vaught TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS; AND TO ALLOW A PARENT TO REVIEW AND OPT OUT OF SELECTED LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS FOR HIS OR HER CHILD.
HB1864 Andrews TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN STUDENT INSTRUCTION; AND TO CREATE A STANDARDIZED FLEXIBLE SCHOOL CALENDAR SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
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.
HB1874 B. McKenzie AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AWARDED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003.
HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH WHICH IT CONTRACTS.
SB90 J. English TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
HB1482 Gramlich TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A GED TEST AND RECEIVES A GED.
HB1580 Gramlich TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED.
HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM.
HB1492 Gramlich TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT A MOBILE PANIC ALERT SYSTEM.
HB1728 Ennett TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT.
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.
HB1672 McCollum TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION IN ARKANSAS.
SB425 J. English TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB470 J. Dotson TO REQUIRE AN ADULT APPROVED TO OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF A STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT TO CERTAIN STUDENTS IN A VIRTUAL SETTING TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
SB515 J. Petty TO REQUIRE THAT A UNIT DEDICATED TO ARKANSAS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BE INCLUDED WITHIN EXISTING ARKANSAS HISTORY COURSE CONTENT GUIDELINES.
SB522 M. McKee TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCES, AND THE ARTS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO THE TUITION AND FEES PAID BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE ONLINE PROGRAMS.
SB545 M. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO THE PROPERTY AND FINANCES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO BONDS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING RENTS, TOLLS, FEES, AND OTHER CHARGES RELATED TO ATHLETIC CONTESTS.
SB547 D. Sullivan TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A HOMESCHOOLED STUDENT LIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR PURPOSES OF PARTICIPATING IN AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.
SB467 C. Penzo TO MODIFY THE DEFINITION OF "HEALTHCARE PROVIDER" REGARDING STUDENT ATHLETE CONCUSSION EDUCATION TO INCLUDE CHIROPRACTORS OR CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS.
HB1903 Walker TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FLEXIBILITY REGARDING ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
HB1919 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO LEARNING MATERIALS.
HB1924 Puryear TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ESTABLISH RULES REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEKS.
HB1933 McCollum TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO CREATE A RECALL ELECTION AND PETITION FOR REMOVAL FOR A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
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.
HB1940 Walker TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INITIATES AND MAINTAINS A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
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.
HB1945 McCollum TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015; AND TO ALLOW A STUDENT TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL WITHIN HIS OR HER RESIDENT DISTRICT.
Recess, until 10 minutes after session
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE, Apr 3, 2025 | Agenda | 5 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Keith Brooks Chair
Unverified
Speaker 4
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
Speaker 32
Speaker 33
Speaker 34
Speaker 36
Speaker 37
Representative Brit McKenzie Chair
Unverified
Speaker 47
Chair
Unverified
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
Speaker 60
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Speaker 89
Speaker 93
Speaker 95
Speaker 91
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
Speaker 110
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
Speaker 137
Speaker 140
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
Speaker 164
Speaker 167
Speaker 169
Speaker 179
Speaker 180
Speaker 162
Speaker 141
Speaker 241
Speaker 243
Speaker 246
Speaker 255
Speaker 254
Speaker 256
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
Speaker 267
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
Speaker 273
Speaker 288
Speaker 99
Speaker 112
Speaker 107
Speaker 321
Speaker 323
Speaker 325
Speaker 329
Speaker 330
Speaker 331
Speaker 340
Speaker 343
Speaker 353
Speaker 359
Speaker 347
Speaker 143
Speaker 232
Speaker 350
Speaker 346
Representative Austin McCollum
Unverified
Speaker 384
Speaker 390
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Speaker 5
Speaker 173
Speaker 411
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
Speaker 454
Speaker 455
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
Speaker 487
Speaker 489
Speaker 490
Speaker 492
Speaker 501
Speaker 317
Tony Rose
Unverified
Speaker 567
Speaker 426
Speaker 579
Speaker 573
Speaker 563