Education Committee- House
Video
Transcript
1 document
Bills discussed (41)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1495
· 5 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOO…”
|
CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. | Hawk | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1733
Act 504
· 4 mentions in transcript, agenda, chapter
Matched: “…st, uh, real quick also without objection, we're gonna move HB 1733 by Representative Carr from Fiscal Impact to the regular ag…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT. | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1733 is now Act 504 |
|
HB1810
Act 796
· 4 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1810 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNI…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1810 is now Act 796 |
|
HB1062
Act 565
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM. REGULAR AGENDA Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1062 R. Scott TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT O…”
|
TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. | R. Scott Richardson | Notification that HB1062 is now Act 565 |
|
HB1646
Act 917
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED…”
|
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. | McGrew | Notification that HB1646 is now Act 917 |
|
HB1672
Act 800
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. 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 |
|
HB1696
Act 566
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1696 McAlindon TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1696 is now Act 566 |
|
HB1709
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “AGENDA (Revised 3/19/2025 @ 6:04 PM) Added HB1709 House Committee on Education Thursday, March 20, 2025 10:00…”
|
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 |
|
HB1727
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…MOTIONAL MATERIAL, OR COMMUNICATION DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC. 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 |
|
HB1027
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TS FOR THE GED TEST. 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: “…RE ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND PLAN ACCOUNT. Page 2 of 4 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 agenda
Matched: “…IC SCHOOLS ADDRESSES CERTAIN HEALTH ISSUES FACING STUDENTS. 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 |
|
HB1139
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. HB1139 B. McKenzie TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT. HB12…”
|
TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT. | B. McKenzie | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1242
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 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. |
|
HB1283
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…DITIONAL CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. 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. |
|
HB1312
Act 909
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Staff Only'. 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 |
|
HB1457
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SCHOOL IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN A HOME SCHOOL. HB1457 L. Johnson TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT DATA AND OTH…”
|
TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT DATA AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL … | L. Johnson | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1482
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. 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
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE LIBRARY MEDIA STANDARDS. 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
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED. 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 |
|
HB1490
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TIONAL EDUCATION CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. 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. |
|
HB1492
· 1 mention in agenda
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 … |
|
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: “…ENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A GED TEST AND RECEIVES A GED. 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. |
|
HB1580
Act 801
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…N PROGRAM USING A UNIFORM STATEWIDE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM. 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 |
|
HB1719
Act 905
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…UNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. 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
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…IC CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT A MOBILE PANIC ALERT SYSTEM. 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 |
|
HB1755
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RENTS TO BRING THEIR INFANTS SIX MONTHS OR YOUNGER TO WORK. 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. |
|
HB1756
Act 803
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY. 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 |
|
HB1761
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…D MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS. 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
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SMENTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY PROVIDE TO STUDENTS. Page 3 of 4 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 |
|
HB1786
Act 826
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…EEDOM ACCOUNTS IN THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR AND THEREAFTER. HB1786 Brooks TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLD…”
|
TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL … | Brooks | Notification that HB1786 is now Act 826 |
|
HB1793
Act 804
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…PRIVATE TWO- YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 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 |
|
HB1805
Act 805
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…MITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 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 |
|
HB1806
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…HE SAME ALLEGATION OF BULLYING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. 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. |
|
HB1812
Act 918
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…T OF SELECTED LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS FOR HIS OR HER CHILD. HB1812 Gramlich TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCO…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO ATTENDANCE … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1812 is now Act 918 |
|
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: “…TIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 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 |
|
SB352
Act 721
· 1 mention in agenda
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 |
Machine transcript
May contain errors. Verify important quotations against the official video.
About transcript accuracy
- Source
- Whisper
- Model
- ggml-large-v3-turbo.bin
- Processing date
- October 8, 2026
Chair sees a quorum just barely. Members and guests thank you for being here. Welcome to House Education. If you would please stand. I'm going to have Representative Kozart start us in prayer this morning.
Thank you, Representative. Members, without objection, as you would come to expect with me, we're going to jump around a little bit on the agenda based upon how it's listed. First, real quick also, without objection, we're going to move HB 1733 by Representative CAR from fiscal impact to the regular agenda this morning. It has no fiscal impact on it,
so we're going to move that without objection so we can hear that bill today. So we're going to, as I said, move around on the agenda. First, we are going to hear HB 1495 by Representative Hawk. This does have an amendment. Representative Hawk, if you would please introduce yourself for the record, and you are recognized to present
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
1:30
your amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee, Representative R.J. Hawk, District 81.
The amendment before you, all it does
is add some lines concerning foster children and their disciplinary records, and that's all the amendment does to add it to the current bill. Representative Hawk has presented the amendment. We have a
motion to adopt. Is there a discussion on the motion? Seeing no discussion, all in
favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, congratulations. Your amendment's been adopted. Now you're recognized, Representative Hawke, to present HB 1495 as amended. Is there anyone you need to bring to the table with you?
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
2:03
If I could, could I get Jeremy Lasseter with the Bryant School District to join me?
Mr. Lasseter, welcome. If you would please introduce yourself, and you're recognized to be
Speaker 18
2:17
with Representative Hawke. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
2:20
Jeremy Lasseter with Bryant Public Schools. Committee, this is a bill that I've been working on now
for a little over a year. It was a problem that every year I meet with representatives from Grant County, Saline County, and the surrounding areas, the school superintendents. And one thing that has come about is that when a child transfers or just gets expelled, the disciplinary records of that child don't transfer with the child.
And we've seen not only in Saline County but in surrounding school districts that oftentimes if that disciplinary record would have transferred, we would have known, you know, how to place that student into a special classroom for help or in some situations there were violent children that came into the school that had we known on the front end with their disciplinary records, they may have not been accepted into school because of a past track record of violent behavior.
And so what this does is it is for both public and private schools. I have talked to some private schools about this, and it's ingoing or outcoming. So if you want to transfer into a private school or a public school or transfer it out, all we're saying is that your disciplinary records transfer with you no matter where you go. So disciplinary records, you may not have anything. We have students that are great students, and they may not ever have a record. Then we have some that do, and it could be as little as, you know, pushing a kid up against a locker or something like that.
But at least it's documented so that the school that they go to is then notified of any behavior that was at that previous school. Why is this needed? Since this bill has been put out, I've had a host of parents that have reached out to me about this bill and said, you know, uh, we're, we're for school choice. We love the idea of school choice, but in our communities, if we have somebody that transfers in, we'd like to know a little bit of history on that, that child that comes into our communities. And so it's a safe thing for the, the children that are already at the school, um, and the teachers that are involved just to kind of know
the backlog of, of what is going on with that child. And with that,
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
4:34
I'll take any questions. Representative Duke, you're
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
4:37
recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wouldn't want to disappoint my
members by not asking the question. So thank you for bringing this bill. My question to begin with is, does the school district that they are
requesting to join have the ability to say, in light of the disciplinary records, no, you may not?
Speaker 27
4:59
Right now we can deny a transfer if a student has been expelled, but we have to give them a
Speaker 29
5:05
second hearing, and so this bill would address that. Under this bill, it would allow but not require a receiving school district to deny it. As Representative Hawke mentioned, the key to this bill is just to get the information. There are several times in our school district where we've accepted a student who had been expelled just because we have services on the front end that we could offer them. Sometimes we can't, but just having that information is the key.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
5:32
A follow-up? Also, with this, I'm assuming, their absences that they've accrued
at that school that they're leaving from, does that play into this bill? Because in our area, I'm hearing people are hitting top and out on one school with absences, and then they move to another school, and they don't know, and the clock starts ticking again. And, of course, that also is a sign of lots of other issues going on in the home when there's absences, depending on where it is. So does that factor into this as well?
Speaker 29
6:04
We do have access right now to absences in the system that we can see. Sometimes we can do something about that if it's within the same county when truancy comes into play. Sometimes we can't, but we do currently have access to that information. Thank you. Representative Barnett, you're recognized for a question. It's already been asked. Representative Gonzalez-Werth,
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
6:31
you're recognized. Thank you, Chairman. I have a quick question.
If, for example, the student is
denied to attend a private or a public school, where do they go to school? Well,
Speaker 18
6:45
if it's during a period of expulsion, they probably wouldn't go to any school. But you
Speaker 29
6:51
do have another provision in Arkansas law that's been there for a while that says even during periods of expulsion or suspension, the school, the student still can have access to educational services to continue to make
educational progress. And so that's not uncommon, even within a school district where a student has been expelled, so they don't come to school every day. The school district still does
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
7:20
provide access to education during that period of expulsion. Follow up. This is the school that, to provide their content materials, their lessons, et cetera, the school where they were expelled from, they would continue to supply those materials until that expulsion has been completed
and then they can apply to another school? Yes, ma'am.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
7:43
then once that is completed, that's what I was wondering. Can they, you know, what happens to a child that they're having difficulty finding a school that accepts them after the expulsion? Once the expulsion is over with, then they
Speaker 29
8:01
are treated like any other student seeking to transfer. There wouldn't even under this law be any bar for a student to enroll in a school district once their expulsion is completed.
This would only apply to current or pending expulsions. And I would
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
8:16
also say on that, with that expulsion, the big thing about this is the disciplinary records that were on that would transfer to the new school. So if, let's say, Bryant, for example, accepted that child, that file that they had at their previous school would be on record now at Bryant for everything that they did at the previous school. So that they would have that, and let's say that the child then left Bryant and went to Benton or whatever,
that file would then transfer from Bryant to Benton on basically their course load since they've been a student in public schools or private schools. Representative Brown,
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
9:02
you recognize for a question? It's been asked. Representative Duke? Thank you, Mr. Chair. So just to make sure I understand, the school that that student is trying to
transfer out of and that student has, do they have to have current disciplinary action against them or just the file that shows maybe a pattern of disciplinary problems?
And with that information, the receiving school district is able to make a determination at that point whether they're going to accept that transfer or not.
Speaker 29
9:29
Is that correct? This is limited just to expulsions or pending expulsions. So right now, as it exists, we might have very basic information about past disciplinary, minor disciplinary information about a student. But this bill would only seek to look at expulsions or pending expulsions. But as Representative Hawke said, all that hopefully would be in that education record that's transferred with the student.
Chair
Unverified
9:59
Representative Furman. Representative Garner, you're recognized. Thank
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
10:04
you. I just have a quick question about process. Any idea about how this would work? Who gets that information and who decides how the – maybe Desi needs the answer, but how those rules will be
Speaker 61
10:15
propagated or which rules? I can tell you that
Speaker 27
10:21
usually what happens in terms of our process between school districts is if a student was seeking to transfer into our
Speaker 29
10:27
school district, they would try to enroll,
and then we would send a records request or look in tri-and through the state system to get basic information about that student to go ahead and enroll them. With this bill, there would be a mandatory notification to us if the child was expelled or pending expulsion, and that would enable us to get more detailed records to be able to make a decision. And at that point, our school district would decide whether we could
Speaker 64
10:56
or could not enroll the student given that information.
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
11:00
superintendent usually yes ma'am and representative garner what i would also say is that on page two uh line 18 um every school is going to have to have a certified staff member that's going to have that's going to handle these records so um and to verify the validity of the records so that um you know if so if bryant were to request the those records they would go to that certified person they would send it on so every school would have that certified person be handling those records.
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
11:31
Professor Brown, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So you just write, I now have another question. You just said that if
they requested the records, what if they don't request the records? How then does that trail of behavior follow the child if it goes to it, if that child goes to another
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
11:51
school? It is my understanding, Jeremy can correct me if I'm wrong, that anybody that goes
before the school board to transfer into the school, those records are going to be requested no matter what. Um, so just so that, you know, you're going to, you're going to know the
back history on that person. So, uh, it says in here that, that those will be, those shall be requested, uh, for, for those students. And so when that, when that school board meeting takes place, that, that information will be requested well in
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
12:21
advance before the school board meeting takes place. Thank you. I support this bill, but I just
have one other question. I'm hoping it's rare anyway. What do you do with a student that schools just find difficult, impossible,
or don't want? They don't want that student in their school. What options does the student have? We typically try to work with the
Speaker 29
12:42
student to the extent that we can. The options in this case is they have a student had been expelled for the semester and they tried to enroll in our school district we're gonna get those records we're gonna see can we go ahead and enroll them in spite of the fact that they had been expelled at a different school if not what we would do is talk to the parent and say as soon as this expulsion is over at the end of the semester you can enroll here during the time that they're expelled as I was explaining a
little bit earlier there is another state law that you have on the books that allows that student to continue to get educational resources while during that period of expulsion once the expulsion is over there's really no bar for them to be able to enroll at any school right thank you appreciate
that Vice Chair McKenzie you recognized for a question thank mr. chair I've spoken with the sponsor I'm
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
13:31
not gonna I won't belabor the point I'm just a little concerned about the way the language is written in terms of allowing the transfer I don't know how we use the vernacular the receiving school district
a lot of discretion and the picking and choosing in a in a choice environment that we're in. I also have some concern with, as it reads, you know, districts may adopt a policy but then shall do X, Y, and Z underneath it. Discipline does not mean the same thing everywhere. I think we can all agree that why and how we get to the point of we need to discipline a child for, and the examples used are horrific, and I agree. If there are some of those grave, grave offenses, yes, those need to be flagged. I do think to a
certain degree our judicial system will capture some of that. We are an open court system even with juveniles that subpoena can be given. There's ways and levers in which we can extract information from courts for pending litigation. But discipline from a private school to a public school that reaches the level of expulsion because of the nature of the private school can be different. If it's a faith-based school and the objections and the reason for expulsion is on the basis of non-adherence to whatever, you know, whatever scriptural, doctrinal exercise
they want them to, or an outright exercise of their faith that's in conflict with that school could result in an expulsion. Is that now we've now required the private school to lug that onto a folder that we send to a different school that you, as a public school, which, you know, have to take everybody, not only in an era of school choice, but, I mean, that's the mantra public schools, anyone walks to the door, we're going to serve. That could put it into a weird perspective where you're picking, hey, what discipline are we going to acknowledge or not
acknowledge? I want to have a better understanding, I know you mentioned the Little Rock schools, how we got to the place where the conscription for private schools is not only nice or needed or could be a may, but it's a shall. We have to require it.
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
15:33
I appreciate the question. I've actually spoken to some private schools about this and one thing that was said
to me was they like this and the fact that let's say your example was that the student was at a private school and they got for whatever reason that was religious they got expelled right they then go to
a public school and then a year later the parents go we're going to try to enroll into a different private school right so that disciplinary record is going to continue with them and so why they got expelled from that first private school, by the time they got back to that next private school, that private school could see why they got expelled. And so I think that's the reasoning why we just want the documents to follow the child from wherever they go. Because there are instances that a parent may go, you know, we're not working out at private school A, we're going
to try public school B, and then it didn't work out here. So we're going to go back to private school C, you know, and so I think that's just the main focus on this is letting there be a track record and let that disciplinary file follow and just so everybody involved gets to see the track history. Thank you. Representative Garner, you're recognized for a question. Thank
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
16:48
you, Mr. Chair. I just have one more question that you've kind of brought up. Are the parents involved in the decision making at all? You said you called the parents and tell them whether they're coming in
or going out, or where they can be enrolled. But are they involved in the process of decision-making? Yes, ma'am. As long as the child is not
Speaker 46
17:07
18 years or older, we're going to involve the parents. They're going to be the primary point of contact in these
Speaker 64
17:13
types of discussions. And just out of curiosity, is there
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
17:17
a difference between what you do in elementary as opposed to high school, say? Well, there are different laws that
Speaker 29
17:25
apply for elementary students. So there is a law in the books with regard to elementary students that, you know, they can only be suspended or expelled for very limited circumstances.
And so the process under this bill would be the same, but we would certainly take all those factors into consideration and make a decision. Thank you. Are there
additional questions by the committee? Seeing none, we do not have anyone to
sign up to speak for or against the bill. Would anyone like to speak on the bill? Seeing none, Representative Hawk, would
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
17:58
you like to close for your bill? Yes, sir. Committee, at the end of the day, this is a safety thing for our schools, our parents, and this is something that schools are asking for,
just to have that track record to go from student to student. I think that in the world that we live in, which, by the way, I did support school choice, and I think that it's a great thing, but we should know what's going on with our kids from
Speaker 10
18:18
school to school, and so with that, I would ask for a good vote as amended. Representative Hawke has closed for
his bill as amended. We have a motion on the table of do pass as amended. Is there discussion on the motion? Representative Kozart, you recognize for discussion. I think this is a good bill.
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
18:38
We talk about school safety all the time. This fits right in with school safety and the things that happen with the mental issues that we have in a lot of our schools and things like this. know if they're not addressed in some way and you've got a kid or a parent that's just moving a kid here and there to try to keep them in school I understand that there's other ways to school them they can homeschool them there's a lot of other ways they can do it but instead of putting other kids and teachers at risk and I believe this is a good bill by chamber kids are you
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
19:15
recognized for discussion. Thank you. And again, I've talked to this bill sponsor. I have to be opposed, and it's not out of malice. It's really, I think it's important, and there's, it's 80-20. 80% of this bill, it will capture, and we need to have that, those signals of those folks who need more interventions, probably more in their social life than they do in the school room. I am worried about maybe some of the unintended consequences that follow underneath, and some of the conscription on private schools. But I appreciate the bill, and I think this is a good first step, and we can keep working. I'm not asking for amendments. I'm asking to pull down. Maybe there's some more there,
there. So with that, I'll be against, but thank you for bringing it. Representative Brown, you're recognized
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
19:53
for discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm concerned that this is going to abolish the opportunity school choice. Is that a... No? No? No, it's not. All right.
Additional discussion, Representative Brown? No, I guess not.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
20:25
Representative Duke, you're recognized for discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am supportive
of this bill, and part of the reason why is that's been one of the concerns that I've heard from school districts is students who are running away
from discipline, and school districts not knowing what's happening when someone's coming in. And we hear a lot about discipline issues in our school districts. We hear a lot about that being a reason why teachers are leaving the profession. And we also hear, at least I do, I hear a lot about people with concerns with behaviors that are affecting other students too.
And so I think this is, as far as unintended consequences, I think we've had some unintended consequences in legislation. We all have that all the time over the years. but not
honoring expulsions I think has been one that has been an unattended consequence that's happened with some of the legislation because I think we all would agree that kids need consequences and they need to face, they're going to grow better, they're going to be better citizens if they face the consequences from the decisions that they had and if they're able to move from a district and basically avoid an expulsion, that's a problem.
And I know in my district at least, I know from family and friends who attend private schools, They see that the other direction, too, because they see some of the public school kids who get expelled and end up in their system, too. And so there may be a sweeter spot to it, and there may be some things, quite frankly, I think there needs to be a little bit more ability for schools to have some discretion whenever there's really significant discipline problems that maybe were in the past, but that's for another day. But I think this is a good start in teaching our kids consequences to their actions
and supporting the classroom and the decisions made by educators across all the school lines. So I'll be voting for this bill.
Seeing no additional discussion by the committee, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? No. Congratulations, Representative Hawke. Your bill is passed as amended. Thank you, committee. Committee, without objection, again, we're going to move down the list. First, a couple of recognitions. We do have former House Representatives member and Education Committee member, Charlene Fite, who's here with us. So I wanna recognize Representative Fite.
Glad you're here. And a bit of point of personal privilege, I have a young friend from church who is here. Mr. Griffin Smith is also here. I believe he's gonna be speaking on a bill here in just a moment. Griffin's one of the coolest kids you'll ever meet. So let's recognize Griffin. Griffin, give us a wave, buddy. All right. Without objection, we're going to move down the agenda to HB 1810. Representative Joey Carr. We do have an amendment on this to adopt. If you would, please introduce yourself and be recognized to present your amendment.
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
23:10
And with the chair's permission, I'd like for Ms. Nicole Walsh to join me, please.
Yes, sir. Ms. Walsh, please introduce yourself as well, for the record. Staff is passing out the amendment that we
Speaker 106
23:25
will adopt here. Representative Joey Carr, District 34. Thank
Speaker 109
23:30
you. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman. It's a pleasure to be here. Nicole Walsh, Superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Deaf.
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
23:42
One major part on the amendment that's going around is we discovered we needed to include the emergency clause. And the main
factor on the emergency clause was to deal with the Title 19 funding provisional codes. We had to include
the emergency clause because of the Title 19 provisional funding codes.
And so there's a lot of legality that is wrapped around those funding codes. Representative
Carr has presented the question on the amendment. Seeing no questions, we have a motion to adopt. Is there a discussion on that motion? Seeing none, all in
favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Congratulations, you've adopted your amendment. You are now recognized, Representative Carr, to
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
24:42
present HB 1810 as amended. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. All right, House Bill 1810, what it does, it deals with the unification of the school for the blind and the school for the deaf.
Currently, they're two separate entities, and one negative result of this is we have several students that are blind and deaf, and they are not receiving the complete support. That's one of the struggles is to ensure that all that takes place. We want to create a cohesive process of operation to ensure that every one of these students' needs are met to provide the best educational opportunity and experience that they can receive.
This unification plan has been shared and conveyed to all stakeholders, the students, the parents, staff, for well over one calendar year. This will create a single board of directors that will represent both the deaf and the blind students, and they will each have a parental advocate. There will be a deaf parent advocate and a blind parent advocate. In unifying these two schools, it will create greater security for safety,
also a more effective instructional support for their individual learning needs. from an administrative perspective of which I was an elementary principal for 13 years. You know, this brings all the pieces together. It creates for you guys in business, whatever, the perfect flow chart to ensure that no student falls through the gaps. Along with that, it better utilizes the resources and also personnel. We'll have several students here today to share their perspective.
You see there's a lot of language that has been stricken out. A lot of it is antiquated language. A lot of it is they've moved certain parts that is stricken out later. They moved it earlier and it's included so instead of the repeat. So it's cleaned up language. I do have, if you have any questions on any language that's stricken out, I do have responses
for you. But most of it is antiquated language. It's updating processes. One primary factor as well in that language that's removed, it's converting the board of directors, with them being unified now, they are more like a public school board than
what they were before. And so it just brings them up to date more so like a private charter school or a public school. Are there questions
from the committee for Representative Carr? Representative Mayberry, you're recognized for a question. Thank you,
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
28:03
Mr. Chair. So this is an 11-page amendment,
and it's just a lot to digest. I think that these are minor changes, but But just being given an 11-page amendment, I'm trying to understand what it is that's different versus what's in the bill that we may have already read. Can there just be a little bit more explanation? Mr. Chair, might I bring Ms. Courtney Salisford to the table, please? If
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
28:25
she wants to come, you sure can. Ms. Salisford, if you
would please introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized.
Speaker 128
28:37
Yeah, that's her spot. Your usual seat, huh? Good morning, Courtney Salisford, Department of Education. So the amendment sections were ones that were brought to us by DF&A. Everything that we did in the original bill had to do with the school and how it operates. Everything that is in the amendment was kind of like a find and replace of other sections that referenced the school while not actually impacting anything at the school.
So things about retirement, things about how each school had a separate account on the books with the state, and now there will be one account. And so moving all the assets, all the funding, consolidating all that into one account versus separate accounts. So there's nothing substantive in the amendment regarding actual operation of the school. And I mean, I can walk through every section with you, but like you said, it is 11 pages. Okay.
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
29:35
So not really changing too much of what was in here.
No, it's not changing. Pretty much what was in the other bill still is in the other bill. This is in addition to. Exactly. And then an
Speaker 128
29:47
emergency clause, which didn't exist before. So the emergency clause was in there, but standard emergency clauses mean that the bill takes effect immediately, so the day that the governor would sign it. And, again, DF&A brought it to our attention that that would cause havoc with the way finances are done. And so the original emergency clause was changed to say that it's effective on July 1.
So there was an emergency clause, but this is actually pushing it back to July 1, so that that's the first day of the fiscal year, and DF&A can do all of their financial things on the
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
30:20
first day of the fiscal year. Okay. And can I ask another question, kind of a slightly different topic? Explain to me how the board is going to be assigned to
Speaker 109
30:39
Okay. So currently, our board of trustees is made up of representatives from both school communities. And we would like to continue that, but to bring things together a little bit more closely. So we would like to continue to have a representative from the blind community, a representative from the deaf community, folks who represent other areas. So right now, one of our board members works at the University of Arkansas Little Rock in orientation and mobility, which is a specialty specifically for the blind.
We also have parent representatives from both the deaf and the blind school. And so what this will do is allow us to pull that together even a little bit more closely versus having one of each from each school. It will allow us to say, okay, you have a deaf-blind child. That makes sense for you to also sit on the board. So instead of us having that definitive these many from this place, these many from this place, we can really tie things together a little bit more closely. And how are
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
31:34
they appointed or elected to the board? By the governor. Confirmed by the Senate or just directly appointed by the governor?
Speaker 128
31:43
No, they're just appointed by the governor, like she does for the State Board of Education and many other boards throughout the state. No confirmation
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
31:50
from the governor, and that's currently the way it is right now? I believe so. That is the
current practice. That is the current practice right now. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Are there additional questions about
the committee? Seeing none, we do have several people signed up to speak on the bill. We'll take those in order.
Speaker 144
32:16
First, we have Philip Powell from the Board of Trustees. I'll let you stay
here so that your students come up. I've got a little sense of comfort. Philip, if you
Speaker 150
32:35
would, please introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized to speak on the bill. Philip Powell with the Board of Trustees on the School for the Deaf and School for the Blind. Thank you for having me here today, and thank you. I want to thank Representative Carr and Ms. Walsh here for their support on this.
I was appointed by Governor Sanders to the board March of last year, and I am also deaf. I was born deaf. I wear a cochlear implant. So this move will be fantastic for young deaf and blind children. I know firsthand the importance of having a good education because with deaf children, the sooner you can help them start learning, the better outcomes we have. And I joined the board because I care. I've had success in my life, and I want to make sure deaf children have that same success. And I believe the unification of the schools will allow for that.
And so I'll keep it short, and that's all I have. And I'm happy to take any questions or anything. Thank you.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
33:33
Are there questions for Mr. Powell? Yes. Representative Grutter, you're recognized for a question. How many students are we talking about putting into this facility or building?
Speaker 109
33:40
We currently have 167 students between both schools. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 107 at the deaf school and 60-ish
Speaker 108
33:47
at the blind school. seeing no additional questions thank you for your time Mr. Powell
next up we have Robert Fagan board of trustees Mr. Fagan
if you would please introduce yourself for the record and you're
Speaker 155
34:09
recognized thank you very much good morning everyone my
Speaker 156
34:12
name is Robert Fagan it's been my honor to serve on the board of trustees uh for
Speaker 157
34:17
the past four and a half years i am currently now the chair of the board so i want to tell you kind of what happened in the beginning when the discussions were
brought up to consolidate the two schools i had some reservations and i wanted to do some research in it and and take a look at it just like you guys are doing now so secretary oliva i met with him and he sent me and two other people down to the florida school for the deaf and blind to do a tour and so when we went down there we saw this little short lady Tracy Snow who's the president of the school for the blind and deaf down there in St. Augustine she was running that whole campus with 560 students now they're a bigger populated state
than we are we get that so what we brought back from that trip was that we wanted to do what they are doing just on a smaller scale. Uh, like Ms. Walsh said, we only have like 160 students on both campuses. So, um, what also happened was at that time, uh, I had two interim superintendents, uh, and we wanted to, we knew this was going to come to pass eventually. And so we wanted to hire a superintendent. So we did a nationwide search. We interviewed the board, interviewed
10 candidates, and we happened to find a person who was not only certified to teach the blind and visually impaired child, she was also certified to teach deaf children as well. And I hope you understand that that is a very rare thing in our country. So we found that Nicole Walsh. We hired her to be the superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Deaf, and we continue right now to have an interim superintendent on the blind school side. So if this bill
passes, and we pray that it does, that we will be able to permanently make Ms. Walsh the superintendent over the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind. Since we've hired her in she started the first of july we've already seen some major changes we've seen some consolidation of services uh the kids are eating dinner in the same cafeteria now the kids are celebrating having parties together they're um it's just it's just amazing what's
what's happening over there we we're saving a lot of money too let's face it one dietician can plan a menu for both campuses. You know, we only need one transportation director for the campus. I keep saying both campuses, but hopefully it'll be one campus. And, you know, the governor has given us a lot of money to build a state-of-the-art facility. And we did the groundbreaking on that last week. It's going to be outstanding. I encourage all of you to come take a tour. I'll personally give you a tour of the campus. So in closing, because I know I'm not supposed
to talk long, but I always wanted to say this. I appreciate a good vote. Thank you very much. Thank
you, Mr. Fagan. And I would say that you're saying that holds a lot more weight
than Representative Carr does. Not to mean to Representative Carr in any way, of course. Next up to speak for the bill is Mr. Eric Yarbury. Eric, you're going to walk
Speaker 109
37:56
to the far end of the table, and we're going to be to your right.
There is a chair if you'd like to sit for Hank. And Hank can talk. If you would, please,
Eric Yarberry
Unverified
38:07
Eric, just introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized to speak. Good morning. My name is Eric Yarberry. I represent the Arkansas School for the Blind Alumni Association as the treasurer. I have done that for over 10 years, and I'm also the CEO at World Services for the Blind. Now, I want to take a minute to just share some words with you guys from Helen Keller. She once said, alone we can do so little, and together we can do so much.
And I think that really reminds us of what we're doing today and what this bill will do. I'll be brief, quicker than Rob, and I will leave you guys with the way that I feel is this bill preserves the history of the school for the blind, but also sets the footing and the groundwork to build a future that will give the students the tools, the teachers, and the opportunities to have a strong future like I've had. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Yarbrough.
Next up to speak for the bill, we have Jen Ballou. I hope that I'm reading that correctly. Jerry.
Jerry Ballou
Unverified
39:19
Jerry, I apologize. Hello, everyone, and good morning.
Kayanne Varner
Unverified
39:21
My name is Jerry Ballou, and I'm a board member for the Arkansas School for the Deaf, as well as blind. And I want to speak a little bit about this new building. Right now, we're demolishing the older buildings on both deaf and blind campuses.
We've needed this new project for quite some time now. The buildings are dilapidated, and I really hope that, and I encourage you all, please, on behalf of all Arkansans, to make sure you understand the educational needs of both schools and that we can grow. I mean, we have over 500 students at other deaf and blind schools combined. So thank you so much, and I hope you support this bill. Thank you, Mr.
Ballou. Next up to speak for the bill, we have K.N. Varner.
Kayanne Varner
Unverified
40:19
Good morning, good morning. My name is Kayanne Varner, and I'm the elementary principal of the Arkansas School for the Deaf. So I'm here in support of this bill, and I have to say that when we first started talking about merging the two schools, I was resistant. I absolutely was, and Nicole very well knows that. But through a lot of research, as well as lots of analysis on my own part, and I really see that both campuses have a lot of needs, and I believe that merging them is a good thing.
The education of both schools can continue. And I understand there's some resistance from the deaf community and possibly even from the blind community, but the concerns they both have are the same. They want to ensure that they keep their identities and their culture as well as their instructional methods used for blind and deaf students. And that will all continue. We want to keep all of that as well. We want to keep all the traditions of sports, You know, traditions that we've had throughout the years, like that we've just now created, like the gobble-wobble.
You know, we just set that up with both schools. We had both campuses involved in that. So we see that as not losing anything, but I see that as growing our community and expanding our opportunities even more so. So as a principal, I have the opportunity to see both campuses. And it's a shame. Both schools have never really worked together as much until this year where we've really had the opportunity on the deaf side to go see the blind campus and vice versa. And honestly, the method of instruction is slightly different, but I think the needs
being met are the exact same. All students need to learn literacy. They need to learn how to read. They need to learn math. All children need to learn independence and independent living skills. They need to learn how to be independent members of society. So, I support this bill and our future. Change is hard, but change is good. And so I hope you all vote in support of this bill. Thank you. Thank
you, Ms. Varner. Next up to speak for the bill, we have Tiffany Pritchard.
Tiffany, if you would please introduce yourself for the record,
Speaker 178
42:34
and you're recognized. Hi, Tiffany Pritchard, Arkansas School for the Deaf and
Speaker 52
42:41
mother of a deaf child. Thank you. Tiffany Pritchard, Arkansas School for the
Speaker 180
42:45
Deaf, and I have a deaf son at the school as well. I'm here today to speak in favor of this bill, and the main reason that I want to talk about today is just that we need to come together to
allow these two schools to stay open. Over the past 15 years, five state schools for the deaf have been closed and numerous others have been faced cuts and the threat of closure. These kids need these doors to stay open and I want to share a personal example of why I believe that. So 10 years ago, we adopted a little boy who was seven years old and he was profoundly deaf. He had never been to school, and at that time he had a vocabulary of about 10 words. Those beginning
years, although incredibly difficult, were beautiful to watch as he enjoyed family for the first time, discovery of the world around him, and language. Watching him was like watching a rocket take off. It was just all uphill. But then a few years later, he started to table off, and we weren't sure what that had come from so we just kind of observed for a for a time um but then in his teen years he began to clearly decline and it was just like watching him go down he did this
straight and then down and it was heartbreaking when I would drop him off at school and this happened in his teen years so I would drop him off at school and by that time you've got kids in sports you've got friend groups hanging out and chatting you've got cheerleaders you've got all these groups and he would just walk in just alone he was very much alone in this huge school and it was like watching a flower wilt before our very eyes he had picked up what he could
in a hearing world and in a hearing environment but now it was very clear that he needed a community he needed a deaf community and something outside of just his family and it was so clear that we sold our house we changed careers and we moved to Arkansas so that he could have that very thing and I'm very thankful to be able to be here today and say that two and a half years later he is going up again and it is it's very very special to watch if I thought that the merging of these
two schools would in any way not be in the best interest for these kids. For my son in particular, I would not be here speaking on behalf of it today, but I am in support of it. I know change can be hard, and I know that it's not going to all be easy,
Speaker 52
45:27
but I really do think it will be for good. Thank you very
much. Next up to speak for the bill, we have Dr. Gretchen Cobb.
Dr. Cobb, if you would please introduce yourself for
Gretchen Cobb
Unverified
45:59
the record, and you're recognized to speak.
Speaker 186
46:04
Hello, my name is Gretchen Cobb, and I have been connected to the School for the Deaf for about 35 years. I've served in several roles. I currently serve as director of statewide services. I work
with our infant and toddler program. I travel around the state and help families adjust and work with their newly born deaf and hard of hearing babies. And I also provide some consulting services to students in the mainstream K-12 system, but I'm here today to express my full support to our superintendent, Nicole Wash. I did serve as interim last year, and I'm so happy that
she's come and taken that off of me so I can get back to my babies, and I really would like to express my support to you, members of the House, and hope that this bill will pass for us, and also members of ADE, Secretary Oliva. One, I guess the main thing that I think this bill will help for me in my role working around the state is that with Nicole's vision, which is very meshed with mine,
we can provide more extensive, broader services to students all around the state. Students who are deaf, students who are blind, deaf-blind, and I think just having this unification of the schools is going to give us more resources to provide more to those very, very early stages of life, as Representative Carr said, just starting at a very, very young age. And then also, I'd just like to say that last year, comments by the governor and Secretary Oliva are wanting us to
be the center of expertise in the state. And I'm really looking forward to that because on our campus, there are some brilliant, brilliant minds. And we're led by one of the best ones in the country. So I hope you will support the bill. Thank you, Dr. Cobb. Next up to speak for
the bill, we have Holly Mott and NJ Mott. If you would, please just introduce yourself for the
Holly Mott
Unverified
48:30
record and you're recognized to speak. Good morning. My name
Speaker 192
48:46
is Holly Mott and this is my son NJ Mott and I am the one of the parent reps on the school board for the deaf and the blind. I started out as the parent rep for the deaf school and NJ was diagnosed with a very rare disorder and has started losing his vision his freshman year.
And so now I tell people that I represent both because I do. So I'm going to read what we came up with last night. We worked together. So NJ and I are here today to support combining the deaf and blind schools into one fantastic school that is accessible to all kids. I believe merging the blind and deaf schools would offer a more inclusive and supportive environment for students like my son. NJ was attending the deaf school, and due to a rare medical condition, he began losing his vision. His diagnosis is degenerative, so he needed access to orientation and mobility and training in adaptive technologies while still having access to ASL teachers.
We had a tremendous struggle getting him those services, even though he was only a few feet away from the blind school. For quite some time, he had to get services outside of the schools to learn basic cane skills just for his safety. NJ is not an exception. Almost 20%, almost 20%, this is something that people don't, I mean, I think they just don't think about it. Almost 20% of the students at ASD and ASB have vision loss and hearing loss.
They need services from both schools, and it shouldn't be a matter of them choosing which disability is more critical. These children deserve the specialized support that both schools can offer under one roof, ensuring that they don't have to navigate between two systems or face service gaps. By merging the schools, we create a holistic approach to education that meets the unique needs of all students, deaf, blind, and deafblind, regardless of where they fall on that spectrum.
They all deserve to be provided with the resources and care they truly deserve. It is about ensuring that every child, regardless of their disabilities, has equal access to the best possible education and support. And I will say, in addition to that, his brother, Levi, just graduated in May from the deaf school as valedictorian, has continued in one of the Arkansas colleges here, currently has a 4.0, works a part-time job for the government, and is going to be a huge success story. I know that we had two students graduate from the blind school last year
that had in the high 30s on their ACTs. I mean, we have some amazing, amazing students that will represent this state beautifully. So I feel like combining them and having a nucleus for everyone and this new building that we're planning is just going to do nothing. But I like the rocket analogy that we used. So I hope that we get a good vote. Thank you. Thank you, Holly, and
Mr. Griffin Smith. Griff, if you would, please, when you get
Griffin Smith
Unverified
52:14
down there, just introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized to speak. it's right there okay
hello my name is griffin smith i'm a third grader at the school for the
blind and i've been there since i was two and a half and i like my school and i uh Saw the building getting demolished. Mm-hmm. Yes. What were you going to say about the school coming together? Um, I kind of like it.
Speaker 109
53:02
Yeah? Did you have fun at the turkey trot? Yes. We had fun at the turkey trot
Speaker 206
53:15
when we worked together with the deaf students as well. It's a pretty good time. Yes. Yes, it was.
Speaker 136
53:21
Okay, that's awesome. Can you tell them to please vote for this bill? Please vote for this. You did so great, buddy. You're done. Thank you.
Thank you, Griffin. And again, as I said, that carries much more weight than
Representative Carr saying please vote for this. I should have made you sing while you were down there because you would have really amazed everybody. That's right. Next up to speak for the bill is Charlene Fite, Representative Fite, if you would please introduce yourself for the
record, and you're recognized. And I'm sure members will have lots of questions for you, just to help you remember the
Speaker 78
54:01
good old times. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee, for having me here today.
I'm just here representing myself. I'm a former legislator, a former member of this committee. I served in the House for 12 years, retiring in January. But before all of that, I was a teacher of the deaf. And I also did a lot of volunteer interpreting. And our deaf community has been my heart for many, many years. I strongly support this bill for all the same reasons that the other people who have spoken do.
It makes sense. We need to streamline, we need to have one superintendent and then two principals, a principal for the school for the deaf, a principal for the school for the blind. The administrator will do the boring paperwork, the principals will do the day-to-day caring for the teachers and for the students and for the other things that are needed for each facility. Here in the legislature, for 12 years, I have talked to governors, I have talked to committees,
I've talked to other legislators about the horrific conditions at the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind and the Visually Impaired. All of our governors cared greatly for these children. Everybody wanted to do something, but they were not sure what to do. I am so grateful for Governor Sanders taking this bold step and taking the initiative to do exactly what's needed for these campuses and to combine them and make one good, safe, state-of-the-art place where our children can grow and thrive and do what they can do in their lives and what we want them to do.
And I want to remind you of the seven last words of the church, the seven last words of agencies, the seven last words of organizations. Does anybody know the seven last words? We've never done it that way before. Well, now it's time to do it differently. This is a time to rejoice and dance that after all of these years, our children are getting what they deserve. and I'll appreciate a good vote.
Thank you, Jefferson Fite. Next up to speak for the bill is Chester Shannon. I'm sorry, I apologize. Oh, you're right.
Sorry about that. I guess you could always speak on it if you wanted to. Is David Burton? David, if you would please introduce yourself for the record, and you're recognized.
David Burton
Unverified
57:09
Good morning, Mr. Chair and Committee. My name is David Burton, and I am the Director of Safety for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and School for the Blind. I don't have a huge history with either of these schools, but in the short time that I have been there, I have had a very unique opportunity to work with both sides. There are not a lot of positions that get to have direct interaction with both sides of the students. I'm lucky enough to where I get to do that every single day. I get to see these kids interact with each other in ways
that teachers don't necessarily get to see because kids are moving throughout the days for therapy sessions and different things outside the classroom, but I get to see this and I get to see how much these kids help each other grow. All I'm asking for today is we have invested a lot of time to build a brand new beautiful building for these kids because we say that they deserve it. So let's give the kids something outside of the walls of that beautiful new building that they've never had. Let's give them relationships. Let's give them
education to other communities to where they don't feel like their community is the only one out there that's the biggest thing that we have to do is we need to do what's right for the kids and this merger under the leadership of superintendent walsh this is what the kids deserve it's it's going to be difficult but nothing worth it was ever easy and nothing worth It was, well, yeah, it was just never easy. I don't know how else to word that. So I ask for y'all's support to vote yes on this,
merge these two schools so that we can see these kids get to grow in the manner that they deserve to get to grow, just like all other kids. Thank you.
Are you open to taking a couple questions? Absolutely.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
59:03
Robertson Meeks, you're recognized for a question. Thank you. Thank you for being here this morning. And one of the things that I've not heard addressed this morning is with the new facility that's coming online, there's potentially going to be more people who are going to want to take advantage of that. Can you talk about by with this new facility and combining what that would do to your capacity allowance
to be able to take in and serve new students that might either want to move to the
Speaker 109
59:30
state or now take advantage of this? Yes, sir. Absolutely. So the building funding is separate from this bill. This merger is really an administrative move so we can ensure cohesive services between the two schools. But to speak to the building, because I'm very proud of it, we've done a lot of really good work. We have had, I believe, 33 stakeholder meetings for all types of different communities to give input. We have done, over the course of multiple days, it's been hours and hours of time put in to truly build a building that not only meets our needs currently, but also allows us capacity to grow.
I fully believe that this merger will allow us to streamline our services and become a beacon for deaf education and blind education in the nation, not just in the state of Arkansas. I fully anticipate that people will move in specifically to come to us. And our plan is not to only serve just that population of 167 students on the school. It is truly to allow us to serve every student that is deaf or blind, hard of hearing, or visually impaired in the state of Arkansas. And this merger allows us to start with that.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:00:39
Any idea, though, what that number is? How many you could serve with the new
Speaker 109
1:00:44
facilities? Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry. I do know we've planned for 15 students per classroom, and that would give us, I believe we've adjusted for, I think, a 25% increase. Okay. All right. Thank you. I will
Speaker 221
1:00:59
get you those numbers for sure, though. Okay. All
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
1:01:05
right. Thank you. Representative Mayberry, you recognize for a question? Thank you. Just curious, I have to echo Representative Fite's comments that, you know,
we've known for a long time that y'all need some help. Yes, ma'am. I've heard from so many along the way, and I was very close to someone who unfortunately just passed away last week who went to school there, just graduated recently. anyway, one of the things that I would hear often from people is the nursing facilities really needed help. And can you explain to me what maybe in this might help? What's the plan
for nursing? How many nurses? It's just a topic I seem to delve into a lot. And if you could explain how those services might be improved. Yes.
Speaker 109
1:01:55
So when I first came in this year, I noticed that Having two separate nursing stations on two separate campuses was not effective. It was not meeting our needs because neither nursing station was able to get the things that they needed in a timely manner or be able to support each other. So many of our students have pretty complex needs. So we actually took our nursing services and made them a shared service.
So they have already become merged together. So our nurses, we have three nurses at the School for the Deaf and three nurses at the School for the Blind. and now we have six nurses to support our students. And that sounds like, well, of course, three and three is six, but it makes a complete difference when you're talking about staffing and availability. Instead of having one nurse available on each side, you've got two who are in our infirmary together, and if there's a crisis, someone can go to a student, and somebody else can stay there and be available in case students come in for med administration.
The simple streamlining of putting those services together has allowed us to have an RN nursing supervisor, which has increased our med administration efficiency. We've been able to get some additional equipment. We just recently got an updated infirmary. They renovated that not too long ago due to some very concerning pipes and water intrusion. So we've got a very beautiful facility that these nurses are able to work in, and we're able to meet students' needs more effectively.
Sometimes we have students whose medical procedures that have to happen on our campus are a two-man job. And so being able to put those things together has allowed our nurses to work together. And we all know that having a buddy that you can lean on and bounce ideas off of makes good sense and is more effective in the long run. So that's how that's been impacted. And I hate to ask this question. No, you're good. But can you give me their salary range? Do you
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
1:03:44
know that off the top of your head? I do not off the top of my head, no, ma'am,
Speaker 227
1:03:49
but I will work on that. We want to keep those good nurses there.
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
1:03:54
We want them keeping consistency with those families, and we're just hearing more and more school nurses are just really challenged to be able to stay in those jobs because of salaries. So I just thought I would ask while we have the opportunity, and I think these families deserve
to have top-notch nurses taking care of their needs. I will say this. Right
Speaker 109
1:04:16
now we have nurses who are wonderful and who stay with us because they have a passion for what we do and who we serve.
And we even open our doors to the University of Arkansas Med Sciences. The UAMS interns come to us. We have a rotating basis where they come in and get some experience because we want our staff to have that experience. Most of our students who come in as interns have never met a deaf or a blind person. So it's a really unique opportunity, and I'm grateful that our nursing staff is so highly qualified and ready to take those students on. But it definitely will help us with recruitment and retention if we can keep those people on and have some good pay salaries.
Speaker 226
1:04:57
But I don't know their salaries off the top
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:05:06
of my head. That's something I can get for you. Yes, ma'am.
Representative Grutter, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate you bringing Representative Fyfe. It's good to see her again. So good. showed me around when I first got here, which was only a couple months ago. But being an individual who suffers from a visual impaired, declared legally blind at 25 years old and through some
doctor's things, I've been able to work things out where I can get a perfect vision with my contacts in, which I don't have now. But that being said, when this happened with me, uh there were people to come in and help me with accommodations yes sir uh my concern is the facility that we're building is it going to be accommodate the needs of the the deaf and the blind so that's yes sir can
Speaker 109
1:05:57
you speak to that absolutely so we have done um some really extensive work um currently our architect is scm architects here in little rock we thought it was important
to have someone local but he is also consulting with mackie mitchell in st louis who they specialize in accessible buildings. That's what they do. We also have a deaf architect, Robbie Nichols, who is consulting, and Chris Downey, who is our blind architect. So we are meeting all together, and we are working through these processes to ensure that our spaces are deaf-friendly but also easily navigable for our students and are very blind-friendly as well. So we have done a lot of work
and had some spirited conversations to ensure that every person's needs are met and that our building that is coming in the near future will be not only ideal for this population of students we have now, but truly a legacy project that will carry us into the future. Thank you for your time, Mr. Burton. Thank you. There's no one else signed up to speak
on the bill. Representative Carr, would you like to close for your bill?
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:07:10
Yes, sir. I would just like to say again, earlier I made the statement from an administrative standpoint about how this makes sense to
provide the best learning situation, best opportunities to meet the needs of these, of the individual students. Of course, there's nothing I can say that touches what they brought to the table. So with that, I'd appreciate a good vote. And yes, sir, I'm closed. Representative Carr is closed for ill. We
have a motion on the table of due pass
as amended. Is there discussion on the motion?
Seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Representative Carr. You've passed your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee. Members, without objection, we'll go out of order again. I'm going to recognize Representative McGrew for HB 1646. There's an amendment on this that staff is passing out. If you have just a moment to pass the amendment out, and then Representative McGrew, you'll be recognized to present your amendment.
Unknown speaker
1:08:10
And Griff, I hope that wasn't too long, buddy.
So I believe the staff has passed out the amendment, and this is HB 1646, which Representative McGrew brought a few days ago, and I believe there are some suggestions from the committee. I believe this amendment deals with that, so you're recognized to present the amendment.
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:09:10
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would say that I appreciate this committee yesterday. I think Representative Vaught had to leave, but I appreciate her comments, and I believe it's led to a better bill. I also have talked with a couple of students attendants and other educators in these last changes, but we simply did
change instead of a locked room to a locked compartment. And then we added, uh, instead of having two instances where it could be
corrected, it was, it was changed to three. And so the first allegation that individual knowingly, and I want to emphasize knowingly. So to comply with this section for the first time shall be documented by the principal of the public school at which the individual is employed and by the superintendent in the public school district in which individual employed so it leaves this at the local control with the superintendent and principal in school so it can be handled there and and that principal and superintendent can decide they're going to document it and then they can decide
it says it says may it doesn't say shall be able to suspend the lower band for five days without pay if they so desire on the second allegation we changed it to an allegation that knowingly failed to comply with this section should we referred to the professional licensing standards board and at that time it we changed the word from chow to may so that they may be able to suspend the license if they see fit and then in the last one the third time after multiple times it is revoked so those those are the changes motion to adopt the
amendment is there questions questions of motion or
discussion motion I see no discussion. All in favor say aye. All opposed. Congratulations. You adopted your amendment. Now you're recognized to present HB 1646 as amended. Thank you, Chairman. And I think we
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:11:03
discussed it the other day, so I don't want to bore you with going over it much anymore. This is just to take any, let me make sure I get the wording right, non-age appropriate sexual contact to be stored in a lockbox within the designated area of the library and with written permission in the
library and can, written permission from the student's parent, local guardian, person extending, and local pretendances can present it to the students. So just saying that if they want to have this material, this is in kindergarten through fifth grade, if they want to have this material that is inappropriate sexual conduit, they can keep it in a locked container and let the parents make the decision. It gives the control to the parents. This is about protecting, you know, the youngest and most innocent.
And I believe it's just the right thing to do. And I'm available
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:12:01
for any questions. Representative Garner, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a quick question about who determines the appropriateness of the books.
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:12:08
This would be in the first one. It would be the principal and
the superintendent. So just a little disagree. I'm sure it would be. Well, it defines, let me also say, it defines non-appropriation of seducon to it in the bill as...
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:12:24
That just seems pretty broad to me. I
mean, if you talk about any relationship, that's a mom and a
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:12:36
dad. Well, this says, appropriate, it means any material that includes explicit instruction, promotion, or advocacy of sexual ideology, behaviors, or orientations that are not developmentally appropriate for kindergarten through K-5 students. And that's just broad enough that I need to know who's going to make that
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:12:51
determination. Well, the way that it's spelled out in the bill, when the
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:12:54
complaint is made, it will go to the principal and superintendent.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:12:59
The complaint has to be made, goes to the superintendent, or the principal and then the superintendent. The
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:13:04
first thing would be the librarian would be made known of the problem. The librarian then could choose
to take that material out if she wanted to. If she wants to keep it in, then it would be took to the principal or superintendent. I think normally they'd probably go to the principal. The principal would get the superintendent, and within the school themselves, they would make that determination. And I guess that's my point.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:13:28
If one parent complains about one book, but nobody else is upset with it, then it stays.
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:13:34
Yeah, I think, in my opinion, the principal and the superintendent are going to come together and they're going to make a decision, you know, as to what that is. And I'm sure they'll meet with the librarian and the parent. And I think, you know, there always can be someone that's unreasonable, but I believe that that's where the principal and the superintendent, in keeping this at the local area, will be able to make that decision whether this is a just cause or not.
Do you have additional questions, Representative Garner? Representative Barker, you're recognized
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:14:19
for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Forgive me if we covered this last time. I have slept since then. Does this apply to open enrollment public charter schools?
Speaker 252
1:14:29
I would assume that it would apply to all public schools. Okay, well,
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:14:34
I mean, it just says public school, public school building,
and I think we have in code places where it says public school, and that envelops them, and we have places where we split the hairs. I just was curious, making sure that it does. I would like for it to cover both. That's why I was making
Speaker 256
1:14:50
sure. Yes, I believe it would. I also know
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:14:55
that the AG has looked at this and was fine with everything in it. Are there members
Speaker 221
1:14:59
of the department here? I know we had them earlier. Greg. If
you would, please introduce yourself, or you can stall until someone else comes.
Speaker 259
1:15:16
Greg Rogers, Department of Education. So you are correct. There are different places in the code where it does refer to open enrollment, public charter schools, and traditional public schools. Usually we do take that to mean public school is, because it's a traditional open enrollment charter school, usually we mean that to be the same, but we do, it would probably be better if it was a little clearer. Thank you.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:15:47
Did that answer your question, Representative Barker? Sure. Would you like additional clarification? Ms. Salis-Ford has arrived.
Representative McGruder, you're recognized for a
question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I may have missed this, and I'm struggling with my eyes this morning, but I don't see where it says where it's outlined on how the process takes place as far as with the superintendent going over the books that are ordered
and making sure that these books aren't presented to elementary students. It doesn't specifically go over that procedure. I think
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:16:28
it would, you know, then when they approach, when the parent approaches them about the book, they'll specify it was a book. I'm sure the principal and superintendent will meet with the librarian, pull out the book, and look at it. It doesn't tell in detail. It does at the second step. It's in law with that board, what procedure they go through. But in the first one, I was asked to put it that way because they wanted to handle it at the local level,
Not to let this, you know, blow up into the community if there was
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:17:01
no need for it to. Follow it, Mr. Chair. I understand, but when we're going to the severity of a teacher losing his or her license for something, I just would feel comfortable if it was better outlined in here. I know how hard people work to get their degree and get their educational license. And I'm shocked that we have school districts actually ordering materials
that shouldn't be allowed in school districts because, I mean, and the punishment is so severe. So I just would prefer it if it was better outlined and it'd be on the steps so that we can ensure
that teachers are protected and safe in these situations. Let me say that in the first session,
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:17:46
they can't lose their license. You know, they can't even suspend their license. It can be written, and they can send them home, but they can't lose their license. It's not until the second one. And the second one is explained in the policies and procedures that the school will have.
I have it here. I can read it to you if you want me to, but it's already in law. That's why it's not in the bill. So there is, when it gets to that second stage where it goes to the
board, let's see what the name of
the board is, the Professional License Standards Board, They have policies and procedures and standards that they have to follow. That's a 15-member board Which includes part of the Board of Education and also that is at that level it is followed very diligently of the way that is spelled out there and it it tells you in here that
That the book that the book can stay on while it's being reviewed It's pretty explicit in detail and I have that information.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:18:46
I can give you here Again, my concern is the fact that we're using, especially with public and open-and-roll charter schools, that we're using our funds to purchase these items that shouldn't be in the school, period, is what I'm understanding. And our answer is to just lock them in a room. That's where I don't like the wording of the way that this is going in this bill.
But I understand what you're saying. And
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:19:11
I ask how these books got there. I've talked to different librarians. These
books are ordered from a pre-approved list that's approved by, I believe, the Board of Education. And so they order these books. They come in. You know, the librarian's charged with going over all these books and knowing what they all are. There's a lot of books coming at once. So could they miss one? Absolutely they could. That's why the word knowingly was put in there, because if a parent brings that to them and tells them about it, they're not in trouble.
They didn't know it was there. So then they have the opportunity to take the book and put it in the compartment. So this does give a lot of leeway. I think that I've worked with librarians on this bill, and I believe that a lot of them are happy with it this time. And the organization, AAEA, Arkansas Administrators Education Association, is supportive of this bill. They've looked at it and are happy with it.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:20:14
Representative Duke, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So my question pertains to Representative Barker's point. I've slept more
than once since our last session, so I don't know that I remember this at all. But in our previous legislation that we passed that dealt with libraries and how you dealt with the book processes, if there was an objection or whatever in the school, does this mirror the same procedures for that? just because if you're in a district and you got one set of rules for 6 through 12 books and one
set of rules for K through 5, not the rules on the content, but the rules of the appeals or whatever like that, I think it might be a little challenging if it wasn't the same or if that is an issue at all. And I would be curious, DESE, if they have any thought process on that or not either. I don't really know where that question should go, but that's just one that came up when I was looking at this is from the board's perspective, from the district's perspective, are we going to have two different sets of policies going through, or is this the exact same appeal procedure? Because I
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:21:21
don't see the school board piece in here at all. You don't see the one? Is the school board, is there a school board piece in there? No, it's not a school board. It is the professional leicester standards board. It's in there.
It's on page two, on line seven, and their procedures did not change at all from school you know their procedures are
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:21:44
all the same consistent from the bill that we passed last session and now in those up with the library does anyone else know what I'm talking
about because I know we passed something on libraries and everyone laughs at me okay maybe that was a dream sorry
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:21:59
and I'm not familiar with that bill that's but I do know the standards are the
shame. Do we need some part of the department to clarify representative Duke?
Speaker 199
1:22:25
How about I move on with questions and we'll come back to that.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:22:30
Gonzales-Werth. You recognize her question. Yes. You mentioned that the Board of Education earlier, you mentioned that
the Board of Education approves the book lists that the librarians or media specialists can use. No, the media
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:22:48
specialist, the librarian, is charged with approving the books when they're
brought in there. If there's a challenge to review the Contested to me, the principal should elect a committee of five or seven licensed personnel
consisting of the principal is chair, at least one media specialist, their main committee. There's a different procedure for reviewing the book and getting it out. There's another procedure. So this is the procedure for getting the book out. So if they wanted to protest it and get the book out of the library. But this is not taking the book out. It's saying you can go to a locked compartment. So there's a procedure for taking it out. There's also procedures from the licensure board addressing the situation with the librarian.
So there's two different – if the parents wanted to petition to take the book completely out of the school, there's a process for that. That's not what this bill does. There's another process. So this bill only says if they have an objection to the book, they can go to the principal and they can put it in the locked compartment. and they can leave it there. I don't want to send them my
answer. What's your question? Am I answering your question right? What's your question?
Speaker 280
1:24:05
You mentioned earlier that DESE has an approved list of books for
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:24:10
the school libraries. There is an approved list from the Board of Education,
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:24:16
yes. Yes, that's what I'm referring to.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:24:19
You had mentioned them before, and you mentioned that maybe one unapproved book might slip
through. Well, it could be more than one.
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:24:30
In the instance of where my constituents brought it to me, in that library, there was three books.
Representative Greer, if you don't mind, could we get some clarification from the Department of Education relative to
lists? Absolutely. I appreciate that. I think it could be helpful. Ms. Salis-Ford, Mr.
Speaker 128
1:24:56
Secretary, if you would please just introduce yourself. You know the drill. Courtney Salis-Ford, Department of Education. Actually, Representative McGrew, our state board does not approve any sort of list of library books. My understanding is typically library media specialist will order bulk books from whatever publisher that their local board has approved and decided,
and then they will go through and catalog
Speaker 130
1:25:21
those and decide which ones to put in the library and which ones do not. But at the state level, we do not approve what
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:25:30
books go in or out of a library. And if I can say I'm sorry about that.
Speaker 128
1:25:37
I was told that there's an approved book list. Is there someone else that approves there? I'm not, it would be possibly the local board, the local school board, or
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:25:49
a local administrator, but nothing at the state level. Okay, so then that, mainly that's the local, the local school board or committee that determines which books go into the library.
That would be my guess, yes. And then if a parent questions a book based on this content, then that would be, in a sense, like first offense for the librarian
for having it on the shelf? Not if the, not if the, it's my understanding,
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:26:18
not if the parent just questions a book. If the parent goes to the library
and she can make a choice then, because, as she stated, those books are coming in bulk.
So is it possible that a book had come through that the librarian didn't, you know, the cover didn't tell them anything and they haven't read the whole book? Is it possible? Absolutely. That's why the bill's written where it is. All they have to do is go tell the librarian. They're going to look at it. If she deems it to be inappropriate, she can take and lock that book in the compartment there. She can pull the book off the shelves and do away with it, whatever she wants to do with it. If she thinks it's appropriate and wants to keep it, then the parent can go to the principal,
and the principal and the superintendent meet
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:27:06
with the librarian, and they make a decision. I'm just, I also am concerned with what Representative Magruder said, as far as the potential of a person losing their certification, because it is very tough, especially media specialists, they require a master's degree or above in their capacity there at the school. And so I'm just wondering if once there is, let's say there's a list of books from different school districts,
if those should be posted somewhere so that this
doesn't happen, or at least it would help the media specialists in the
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:27:51
future. I'm not familiar with them all getting together to do this. And also, when you keep saying the license is at issue, the license is not at issue until the third step. Actually, it's kind of the fourth step. The parents went and told them. The principal and superintendent got together, agreed, and reprimanded the librarian.
Then she does it again. Then they report it to the licensure board. At this point, she still can't lose her, he or she still can't lose her license. The last year board looks at it, they can't suspend her license by not losing. It's not until the third, or you can almost say fourth time, she's been reprimanded, she's been maybe sent home with pay, all of that, before they finally, you know, wring their hands and say there's nothing else for us to do when we have to let them go for this behavior.
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
1:28:47
We have Representative Cozart next in the queue.
Speaker 291
1:28:52
You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Richard, I might give you one of
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
1:28:57
those wouldn't you agree, but so on the books that they purchased, that comes from a selected vendor. You see who that usually comes from? Is that not correct? There's a vendor selected to supply those books, and it is a bulk group of books. So there are going to be a mixture of different books in that, But it's usually recommended for these age groups or from the middle school or elementary or stuff like that.
But it is a mixed group. And I remember that we've had this trouble with the school I was in as a school board member that they brought to us that there were books that was in that. But it's included in a packet. And sometimes the librarian does not know that that's what they're ordering, that it does have some of that in. So you can't really blame them. But if they once they see it and then they post it and they know it's wrong, that's what you're trying to target. Is that correct? Yes,
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:29:50
sir. And that was what the librarians asked for. That's why the wing knowingly was in there because they explained, if we know that's in there, we're not going to do that.
And then the one step even further than that was to leave it at the local control through that first step. So it fixed it where they've got to absolutely know because some librarians that called me and were working on this bill said, could you please add the word knowingly in there? Because then it clarifies that we have to know we're doing something wrong, and we choose to do it wrong. And so that's why that word was added in there. And then the next step was also that the superintendent said, we'd like to take care of this at the local level before it got to the licensing board.
So it put two levels in there to get it before it got to what I would say is a real serious level. And even at that third level, they can't lose their license. It's
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:30:47
not until they've done this multiple times. Okay, Representative Meeks, you're next in the queue. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman. So my question, just, you know, practically how this would work. So the books in question that are in the locked container or room, as the case may be,
they would still be listed in the card catalog as being available in the library. And so then what would happen is that, and you tell me if this is how you're envisioning this, The student would go to the librarian and say, I'm interested in checking out this book. The librarian would give the student a permission form to take home for the parents to sign off that maybe has a description of the book, what the concerns are. The parent would sign off and say, yes, I'm okay with the student checking out that book. Then they would bring the permission slip back to the school for the librarian to keep on file
and then at that point make that book available to that student. Or do you envision this as the parent actually has to come up and review? Just kind of talk to us about that aspect a little bit.
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:31:48
No, it's like you first talked about it. Let me say in this, one of the librarians told me, he
said, I know my students well, and I know what some of their parents will allow and will not allow. And so I actually believe this bill broadens it because in some cases, these materials would not be allowed at all. With this, you can allow them, put them in a lock compartment,
And if that parent so desires, all she has to do is send a note to the letter to the librarian that she allows her kids to check those books out. So in some aspects, it makes it easier for if a parent wants their child to learn about something that, quite frankly, I wouldn't want my child to learn about, but they may want theirs to, it allows them to be able to do that.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:32:38
Representative Garner, you're recognized for a question. Representative Duke. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, so it turns out it wasn't a dream. There was a bill, and it did become a law. So it was SB 81 in 2023, and my concerns at this point is if – I don't know if you were looking at that as you were writing this, and I'm trying to glance through it, but my concerns are we unraveling potentially some of
the procedures that were put in that one, or do they mesh together? I don't know if you can speak to that or not. I'm not sure if you know for sure, Representative McGrew, but that's the concern piece I have at this point in time is that we vetted that bill and talked about that bill and went around that bill. I mean, I don't think it was
in our committee. I don't even remember, but it was a long time so I just want to make sure
Speaker 128
1:33:38
it all matches. So Courtney Solis for the department um so yes you have a better memory than I do but um that that act did get codified
at 625-105 and that requires school districts to have a written policy um that allows parents to challenge any material that is present in the library and available to students. Um they have to set forth what the process is in their school district policy. There has to be a conference with the principal, and then that can be appealed up to levels. My assumption in how these two would coincide would be that if, as part of this challenge policy, the school district became
aware of the book and decided that the librarian knowingly put it there, that they would then transfer into this PLSB process. Would it change
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:34:28
because if I understand correctly that process at least with the teacher the board is not a part of that but in SB 81 the board was a part of this so how does do you know right because
Speaker 128
1:34:44
because the board is part of SB 81 they're deciding whether
the book is appropriate or not appropriate so they're making a decision on whether the book is going to stay in the library or be removed from the library. They're not, oh, I'm
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:34:58
sorry. And if I can add to that, that was part I started to read a while ago. It's my understanding that doesn't change, but we're talking about two different things. That process is to take the book completely out of the school. So if a parent challenged that book, this strengthens that because it takes that book and puts it in a compartment where nobody else is, so the other parents don't even see it
notice that they're that they don't want to but if one of the parents wanted to take that book or any other book out of the library there's a procedure that she's discussing to do that that's not part of my bill and has nothing to do with the bill
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:35:35
so do you think if and i really appreciate your patience with this i know that we seem a little bit picky sometimes on some of these questions but that's part of the reason like that that the bill's out there that a lot of us have forgotten about um so making sure that it all work together in your piece though that you're doing there is it would go from the the principal and the superintendent and then it
would move up to the state but the board's not in there
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:36:03
at all is that correct no the board is not now I can tell you the way this worked in a school where I did because this book these books came up that were a problem the librarian was approached she decided to keep the books in the library the superintendent was notified and was going to follow this procedure that you're talking about the community made the school board aware of those books and the school board requested that those
books be taken out of the library locked in the office available for the parents for who wanted them which is just why my bill said when that happened the parents stopped this procedure of trying to get the books out of the school and just left it alone they could have continued on and removed them but they were happy with the fact that they were just take out of the view of these small children and locked in a room where if only the parents and giving the control back to the parents okay thank you
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:37:02
for that so do you think that is that my concern in this and i like
what you're doing i don't have a problem with any of that my concern is just a little bit of the jump very quickly from that I feel like you're just leaving the governor governing body of the school out of this layer here and that bothers me just a little bit as I think that they need to be somewhere in the loop and I'm sorry that I didn't think of that sooner but you know it you know how it is this time of year but um that is the piece and I don't know that it's strong enough that I would vote against it but it just causes me a little concern because they are the voice of the
public and and also of the teachers and sometimes weird things happen in school districts and so I don't know that it's when I just think they should be in the loop somewhere in this before it goes a piece and I may be missing something so I would look forward to hearing what other members think about that because I could be
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:37:58
off on that so and that's again that's what happened in what happened in my school district is a
school board because the community was starting to get involved because Some of them were upset with what was in there. So I really respect the school board member for stepping in there
and making a motion to move these books and put them in the office because it stopped the uproar in the community. It kept the books available there for the school, and it solved the problem from going any further. And that's still available, can be done today. Male Speaker: Other additional questions? Representative Andrew. Female Speaker: I'm
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:38:34
asking a question. Male Speaker: If I share my kids, are
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
1:38:41
you recognized? Male Speaker: Just a quick -- I wouldn't go too far.
On SB 81, the enacting whatever, I know a
big portion of it was enjoined. It's been challenged federally. Parts have been thrown out. Is that the same to be said about this section? This is just truly clarification. Female Speaker: I would have to look further into that. I'm
Speaker 128
1:38:57
just -- I'm not comfortable answering that. Male Speaker: I got you. No worries. Seeing no additional questions
by the committee. Is there anyone signed up to speak for or against? Seeing none signed, anything you'd like to speak for or against the bill?
Seeing none, Representative Greer, would you like to
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:39:21
close for your bill? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the committee, I worked hard with the superintendents, with the AAEA and all, to make this bill where it really works. I believe it'll help keep that material away from the youngest, most vulnerable part of our community. I think it's very important. It puts the responsibility back with the parent where it should be. And this has so many layers in it, it's easy for the librarian to fall in line with this.
Again, I don't think it doesn't threaten their license at all unless they absolutely keep doing this and doing it. So, again, it's for our youngest population. I would appreciate a good vote, and thank you. Representative McGrew has closed for his bill. We
have a motion to do pass on the table as amended. Is there a discussion on the motion? Representative Garner, you're recognized for discussion.
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
1:40:13
Thank you. And I actually like some of the things in this bill, but the licensure piece of it really is an issue for me
because I happen to represent large, very large schools, and they're very differing ideas of what is okay and what is not okay. And so it might not be the same thing, but over and over again, if you're getting, I can see how it would be easy to get four times complaints from a group of parents that might not be the same for the rest of the parents.
And you're not talking about having this person go to a different school district that might have different ideas. You're talking about firing, I mean, keeping them from practicing. That's huge. I mean, if it was something that, if it was a way to say, you know, this, you may not be fit in, you may not fit into this school district, that's one thing, or this school. But to say that you don't fit anywhere in the state or in another state, that's too much. That's going too far, I think.
So for that reason, I can't support
Chair
Unverified
1:41:27
this bill. Representative Kosar, you're recognized for discussion. Well, I can't support
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
1:41:32
this bill. As being a former school board member, I've seen those possibilities and those problems packed back. And I don't really think that the size of a school district makes that much difference if you have a bad book in there and someone brings that to your attention. It needs to be addressed, and that's what this does. that gives the principal, the superintendent,
whoever is going to be in the direct communication of that, to address that if there's no hint of danger or there's not what's needed. I mean, you know, I will say we all have those people in our schools that are always going to find a problem. And it doesn't really matter who they are or what they are. And if that's what the case is, then the superintendent, the principals can address that if there's no problem. but I think there are problems out there. As a Christian man, I see a lot of books that do not need to be read by our kids, our children,
and that's not the only thing. There may be some other things that may not have to deal with explicit things, but maybe it's not exactly what your family would like. So there's things out there that we need to address, and I am very supportive of this bill, and I'll be voting for it. Representative Duke you're recognized for discussion. Thank
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:42:50
you Mr. Chair um I think there's some issues
in this bill in in the um in the the process of it not the intent of it not you're trying to do so so I guess I'm supposed to be talking to you people anyway so but but um so I've got some issues with that but I know Representative McGrew and I think that he will be open to working on that maybe when if it gets out of here and goes on the Senate side
to try and fix some of those pieces because I do think there's some pieces that need to be fixed in it. So I'm going to support the bill because I'm going to vote for it because I do think that we have some issues in school districts and protecting kids is the most important piece of things because you can't unsee what you saw and that stays with them. And so I think that's
important, but I do hope that some of those areas as far as maybe making sure that it's a little bit cleaner on how the process when the book is found and what we do with that maybe we can make that
Speaker 305
1:43:53
better when it goes to the other side because i
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:44:02
think that will make it better for everybody thank you represent me or make sure you recognize for question thank you yeah thank you mr chairman so kind of piggybacking off of what my colleague over here said uh you know one of one of the if not most important thing we do for our children while they're at schools is their protection and that's just not physical protection, but it's also the mental protection. And so I definitely appreciate Representative McGrew for bringing this bill, because that's what we're talking
about here is protecting children until they're ready to see and look at these issues. I'm not necessarily, I'm not concerned about the school board issue, because the school board is in charge of the superintendent and the principal. And so if the, you know, the superintendent and the principal aren't doing their job in this matter, the parents are going to go straight to that school board, and that school board can apply the appropriate pressure to make sure that the superintendent's doing his job.
And the last piece, and again, this goes back to protecting our children, if we have a librarian or a media specialist who knowingly understands that these books are not appropriate but is continuing to push sexually explicit children, books on our children when they're not ready, I question whether that person needs to be a librarian in an elementary school. So we're not talking about a situation where a librarian, you know, maybe one gets through the
cracks, she didn't see it, okay, we made a mistake, we got, now what his bill is talking about is that individual who is pushing, pushing, pushing this material on students when they're not ready. And If they're going to continue to do that, they do not need to be in that library, in my opinion. And so I appreciate that, because if you don't put teeth into this kind of stuff, and you just say we're going to slap you on the wrist for doing this, you know what's going to happen? They're going to keep doing it. Unless you've got teeth, it's not going to matter. And so I appreciate him that he's got the teeth,
and if we've got someone who's going to continue to push this inappropriate material on students, they don't need to be in that library or any library in the state as far as I'm concerned.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:46:17
So I appreciate the bill and I'll look forward to supporting it. Representative McGruder, you're recognized for discussion. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand the intent of the bill, but our job here is oversight. And if we are overseeing, and all our children are considered equal and the same,
books that are not age-appropriate shouldn't be ordered, period, in the school district. And if we're leadership, we should be making sure those books are in order. My concern, as always, is everybody. If it's not good enough, if your child is in reading it, my child shouldn't be reading it either. That should stop it all at one point. But we also have to worry about the educators. And I know you said the AAE is for this bill, but administrators can do things that may not be favorable for an educator because they don't like an educator.
We had a woman come testify about how our administrators were trying to get rid of her. So we need to be protecting everyone in every situation. So oversight, if it's a problem, just these books shouldn't be ordered, period, and they shouldn't be in the school. Otherwise, we should just make sure that the teachers and everyone is protected in every single situation. So I don't think this bill protects the educator, and I don't think it protects the children. If we're protecting everybody, those books shouldn't be in our school districts at all. That's why I will not be supporting this bill.
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
1:47:37
Representative Painter, you're recognized for discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative McGrew, I appreciate you working with the committee on your amendments and making this bill a little bit better. I agree with your intent, and I'm going to support the bill with a little hesitation that we may have to lean on the Senate to do something else. We've seen their track record this session. It's not been that great, but I'm going to support this bill, and I appreciate you doing this.
Seeing no additional discussion, we have a motion on the table. Do pass as amended. All in favor say aye. All opposed? No. Congratulations, Representative McGree. Your bill is passed. Thank you very much. Next up, members, without objection, we are going to move to Representative McElindon for HB 1696. Sorry, Representative Carr. There is an amendment on this one as well to keep in the theme of the day. Staff is passing out the amendment. Without objection,
could I bring Dr. Ken Warden up to the table? Dr. Warden, if you would please introduce yourself with the record
and you're recognized. Representative McElinda will present the amendment and then we will move forward with a bill after that. If
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:48:54
you'd like to go ahead and start discussing the amendment, please feel free. Sure, happy to. So this is an amendment. I apologize to Representative Cozart for bringing an amendment. I assured him I would not have one, But as we were going through the bill, there was a couple things that were left off specifically related to the expanded general core, and we wanted to be sure that it was engrossed.
So it's a pretty straightforward amendment, just stating that there is not a specific 35-hour general core, but that will be established by the department. Members, other questions on the
amendment? Seeing none, we have a motion to adopt. All in favor say aye. All opposed? Congratulations, you've adopted your amendment. You're now recognized to present HB 1696 as amended.
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:49:33
Thank you. So I will be quick. I'm really excited to present this to you. We've worked for months with Dr. Ward and his team, Dr. Oliva, and reps from, I think,
just about every two- and four-year college across the state. So we've worked really hard. The spirit of the bill is that undergraduate students in state-supported institutions of higher ed acquire knowledge and skills that enable the students to contribute to their state and country as informed, self-reliant, and civic-minded students. And in reality, my intent is just making sure that kids are, when they're becoming adults, they are getting ready to be employed in their careers, and they're becoming voting citizens, that they know our history and they know how our government works.
And if you think about all the years that you spent at your grandma and grandpa's feet, or maybe your crazy uncle's feet, hearing stories about the family and how much that meant to you, how you learned to appreciate and to value the history of your family, I want our young adults to also value the history of our country and understand how our government works, and I think that makes them really good citizens regardless of what career they choose. So to that end, we looked at revamping the core that is currently 35 hours and realized that that was probably a bridge too far.
In reality, I think that, and I don't want to speak for Dr. Worden, but they are trying to reduce the core hours to get students through college faster and get them on to careers. So we have created a requisite core, which is 15 hours, and that 15 hours will apply for both two-year and four-year institutions, and it is basically two three-hour courses in writing, reading, speech, and then it is one three-hour course in critical thinking, so math or other critical thinking classes,
and then one three-hour credit in American history, focusing on, obviously, the United States Constitution, American institutions, and then one three-hour course in American government. And that is the sum total of my bill. Representative Meeks, you're recognized for a question. Thank
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:51:40
you. Since our higher ed director is down there, I'm assuming this aligns with access. Oh, I forgot to say that. Yeah, but my question here is, and I fully support what you're doing here,
would this apply to trade schools? So if I'm a student that's going for, you know, a welding or HVAC and they're taking college courses, would this apply to them as well? Or is this going to be primarily just for degree-seeking students? Ken Norton,
Speaker 318
1:52:12
Commissioner of Division of Higher Education. So, currently, our general education requirements that is addressed in the bill are for associate and baccalaureate degrees. When we have students that are technical certificate-seeking or certificate-seeking students,
we don't hold them to the gen ed core requirements. What we try to do is create a scenario so that it's stackable, so that they achieve that as an employability certificate, and that they want to return to get to the associate degree level, that's the point at which the
Speaker 320
1:52:41
requisite and the general education core requirements
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:52:44
would impact. Okay, so it would not be a requirement, but we still would encourage students to
try to take them in case they want to
Speaker 318
1:52:52
pursue further. We're always encouraging them to go further, but this is not going to impede someone that wants a non-degree or short-term certificate
and meeting their employability goes in a timely fashion. Okay, all right, thank you.
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:53:04
And I should have mentioned, it does implement fully with access. It is fully transferable within the colleges, and we also, they are making
sure that if you're getting college credits in high school, that they apply to these corps as well. Representative Painter, you're
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
1:53:23
recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. How is this different? It's been a little while since I went to college. How is this different than what general ed courses they take now for degrees?
Speaker 318
1:53:35
So what we did through this bill, I just want to first appreciate Representative McElindon and her noticing this and bringing it to the attention, but also working with the division to make sure that there was not any unintended negative consequences. This would be a requisite, which is a subset of the full general education core. And through this process, one of those is going to enable us to remove something in our genetic core or to possibly remove a requirement that was antiquated, which was like an intro to computer kind of course,
and maybe tighten up the first 15 hours where one portion there wasn't elective now, we're going to move in a requirement. The bill would move in a requirement for American government or the like and then give us the latitude in the last 20 or so hours of where the course sits now to adjust those things so that it's a little more flexible for degrees so that the elective courses are more germane to what the declared major is.
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
1:54:43
Thank you, and wouldn't you agree that it's good to see American history put back
in there? I agree. Are there additional questions about the committee
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:54:56
representing Gonzales-Werthin? Do you recognize for a question? Yes. I was just wondering if you could explain the two courses, oral
or written communication, I believe. Yeah, on page four. Yes. You can do that.
So they would be able to
take two courses, and it can be either oral or written. So probably the most you would
Speaker 318
1:55:25
where your Comp 1 and Comp 2 would fit, English Composition 1, English Composition 2. But it does give the latitude for some technical composition, technical writing, or other courses that would better fit their major. I know in some cases now we have engineers, let's say, that where Comp 2 is not necessarily what they need.
They're better suited with a technical writing course, and so
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
1:55:50
that's where that would apply. Okay, I guess I'm glad that you explained that, because for me, I read that as oral or written communication, so that would mean a student could get out of taking speech or oral comm, and they can just focus on to written and not oral, with as many students who avoid oral communication or speech.
That's just my question. So I
Speaker 323
1:56:18
will say that this bill would, doesn't, I mean, that is
Speaker 318
1:56:24
possible first, what you stated. We like to ensure that those guardrails are set by the division and by the degree. So who we trust industry experts to give input on, whether that is a welding program or a composition program or rhetoric or engineering or, you know, medicine.
We want the industry professionals to tell us and who guide those decisions about what best fits that degree and give them the latitude to adjust those for the specificity of how it contextually fits the industry demand. Okay, thank you. Seeing no additional questions, no one has signed up to
speak on the bill. Would anyone like to speak for or against the bill?
Seeing none, would you like to close for your bill?
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:57:19
Yes, so thank you so much for letting me bring this. I'd like to just thank Dr. Oliva, Dr. Warden, the colleges and universities. We've put a lot of hours into making this happen, and I think this is a great restructuring to be sure that our young adults come out knowing our history, knowing our government, and are prepared for their careers.
And with that, I'd ask for a good vote. Representative McAlellan has presented her bill and closed for
her bill. There's a motion on the table. Do pass as amended. Is there a discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye.
Aye. All opposed. Congratulations, Representative McElhin. You've passed your bill as amended. Thank you, committee. Thank you, Chairman. Committee, next we'll move to Representative Joey Carr, HB 1733. And let me see if we have an amendment on this one. Yes, sir. Congratulations. We do have an amendment on this one. And with the Chair's
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:58:07
permission, I'd like to ask for Mr. Chester Shannon Tuckerman, Superintendent, to join me at the table. It looks like he's going to
whether I give him permission or not. I'm just kidding. Dr. Shannon, it's good to see you here.
Glad you have joined us. If you would please introduce
Chester Shannon
Unverified
1:58:24
yourself for the record. My name is Chester Shannon, superintendent, Jackson County School District, Jackson County,
Arkansas. And as staff finishes passing it out, you can go
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:58:38
ahead and present your amendment to Representative Carr. All right, Joey Carr, District 34. Once I filed Bill 1733, We were contacted by several of the groups, and they asked if we could meet for an amendment.
And so I set up Mr. Chester Shannon, Secretary Oliva, and then also some groups with KidSpot, which is also another type of child care institution. And so through this, they changed some language, made slight adjustments there in the bill, and discussed the combination of the programs and so that's kind of where the amendment came from after after I filed and one of those factors was with
qualification the amount of qualifications as well you see on that second
page any questions for us and Carl the amendment see none we have a motion oh sorry record
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:59:38
me says a question motion question and then I'll make the motion for you. And you
may address this in the full bill. Mike, on page two, where it's talking about those qualifications, it's a child birth through five years of age. I'm not so much worried about the older kids here, but, you know, a brand new infant, and maybe it's just I need to
understand the Better Chance program better. But my question is, are we equipped to be handling infants and should we and how does the program
Speaker 337
2:00:13
work with that? Well initially when the legislature established the ABC program in the early 90s once they established it they created 3,000 slots across the state and they let the early childhood develop the criteria for who is eligible for this
And at that time, and it's been since the early 90s, it's been zero to five. About 10 years later, they created 20,000 more slots, and these slots were ages three and four. And so if you were a school district or a private entity that was fortunate enough to have some of the early slots, then you had more flexibility in filling those with your students. Now, in my school district, I put on my board packet, hit me in the head and throw me in the road ditch,
but we're going to add four infants. Now, I'm doing that for my staff, and there's a lack of child care there and some others that we're opening it up to in the public. But, yes, we are going to try that. Is your facility set up for those
Speaker 146
2:01:22
young kids? Once Dr. Oliva approves some
Speaker 252
2:01:26
startup money, we'll be good on the infants. All right. I appreciate it. I just want to make sure that we
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:01:32
are equipped to handle. Yeah, we will be. And infants are a whole lot different than a five-year-old and liability and all that.
Speaker 337
2:01:42
I've been approached with this for about five years, so, you know, I guess we're ready to do it. All right. Thank you.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:01:49
And I'll make a motion to pass on the amendment. We have
a motion to pass on the amendment. There's a discussion on that motion.
Sorry to adopt the amendment. My apologies. Seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Congratulations, your amendment has been adopted. You're now recognized, Representative
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
2:02:07
Carter, to present HB 1733 as amended. Thank you, Mr. Chair. House Bill 1733, what it does is it does not create more slots.
It just kind of relaxes the qualifications. There is no more money, no more spots, and the fiscal impact is $0 on this. And what this allows is for the different communities throughout Arkansas, with Mr. Shannon, you know, with his, he's able to offer that with some of his teaching staff. Also, he is in a socioeconomic challenged area, and so that will also provide greater services for his community as well.
And other schools and communities throughout Arkansas will benefit from this well beyond Tuckerman. So with that, I'd
entertain any questions. Representative Magruder, you're
Chair
Unverified
2:02:58
recognized for a question. I'm sorry. Garner. Representative
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
2:03:04
Garner, you'll have to hit your button again. I accidentally turned
Speaker 302
2:03:10
it off. My apologies. Am I reading this right? That we're
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
2:03:15
repealing 645-108? What we want to do is
Speaker 345
2:03:19
It's combined the eligibility requirements. The
Speaker 337
2:03:24
original 3,000 ABC slots had eight or nine different qualifications to be in. You know, if you had a teenage mother, if you had a low birth weight, if you tested that you needed speech intervention, if there was a history of drug abuse in your family,
All of these things are indicators that this child is going to be developmentally challenged and that he needs to be in preschool. When the next 20,000 slots came, it was income only. And so what that does is it's the people that qualify, but that cuts off for, say, a single parent at 41,000. So you may have a single mother with a child that has a speech delay that makes, as a nurse, $45,000,
and they wouldn't be eligible. So all it is combining is the eligibility requirements. We want ABCSS, which is considered new money, to have the same eligibility requirements as ABC. That will allow us to have flexibility for students that come in with, you know, one of those eligibility requirements. You know, I've got a, you know, probably will have a student in or a baby in the infant that may belong to a student this next year.
So that's all it's trying to do. And so if you're one of the original, they're called old money slots or gold. When you looked at the people that are applying to be in there, you have so much flexibility to maximize your slots. And, for example, in my school last year or two years ago, we added toddlers. And so immediately they were filled up with 14 on each campus because that was not available. And so the whole idea behind this is all of our kindergartners tested within the first 30 days of being in kindergarten to see if they're kindergarten ready.
So we went back, we looked at our curriculum, adopted curriculum that we thought would get our students to the point of being ready and maybe just develop a continuous avenue for our students. And so I don't know, it's not getting rid of any slots. It's just saying we're all going to follow the eligibility requirements of ABC. A lot of people did not even know the requirements because they're so far and few between.
We're lucky, we're fortunate, and this bill is not going to impact us a whole lot because of the 90 ABC slots we have, approximately 34 of them are the ABC original, and the rest are ABC SS. So we do have some flexibility, but now toddlers, because ABC SS is 3 and 4 years old, they took a lot of those slots. And so if I have a 3- and 4-year-old that may be for speech,
You know, you need flexibility. You know, somebody's going to qualify under there that needs to be in preschool. So not getting rid of anything, just
Chester Shannon
Unverified
2:06:54
making the eligibility requirements, ABCSS, to follow the eligibility requirements of ABC. So my concern is
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
2:07:01
just making sure that those folks that fall under the 200 percent.
Speaker 337
2:07:07
Oh, yeah. Yes, ma'am. They're still prioritized. Yes, yes, yes. But that is still, that is one of the, still one of the requirements.
Okay, great. Thank you. Representative Duke, you recognize for a question. Wow. Seeing no additional questions, we do have one person. Oh, I believe Mr. Shannon is actually who has signed up to speak on the bill. So we don't have to worry about that. We've already got that taken care of. So there's no one else signed up to speak for against the bill. Would you like to close
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
2:07:45
for your bill, Representative Carr? Yes, sir. With that, I would appreciate a motion to pass and a good vote.
And with that, I'm closed. Thank you. Representative Carr has closed for the bill. We have a motion on the table of do pass as amended. Is there a discussion on the motion? I see no discussion. All in favor say aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Representative Carr. You pass your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, committee. Thank you. Committee will hear one more bill, and that is Representative Scott Richardson, HB 1062. Uh, prior to hearing this, uh, again, our theme is consistent today. We do have an amendment on this as well. Prior to hearing this, we will need a motion to expunge the vote by which the prior amendment passed.
I have a motion to expunge the vote by which the prior amendment passed. Is there any discussion on that motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. All opposed. The vote to, uh, the vote by which the prior amendment passed has been expunged. And now, Representative Richardson, you're recognized to present the amendment that's being
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:08:45
passed out by our amazing staff. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee. Appreciate the vote to expunge the previous amendment we had included in this one that you're receiving right now.
The same specific requirements. And there was a concern that during engrossing, we might have some sort of challenge getting engrossed correctly. And so they just wanted us to take care of that. so I appreciate your cooperation there. This amendment is exactly what the committee asked me to do, to fix this bill and get it ready for us to move forward with it so it would become our bill. So I've taken care of those, and I'll be happy to go line by line with the amendment into the bill
as soon as we get the amendment passed to make that.
We have a motion to adopt the amendment. Is there a discussion on that motion?
Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Congratulations, amendment has been adopted. Give me just one second, Representative Richardson. Certainly.
Apologies. So, Representative Richardson, I am going to make the decision for us to hear the bill, but we will not be voting on it because we do not have a quorum currently. We've been losing members. She is coming back? Okay. Now we have a quorum again. Lock the door so Representative Furman doesn't leave, please. Okay, so we'll back off that. We've adopted the amendment. You're recognized to present HB 1062 as amended with our small quorum. Wonderful.
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:10:36
Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Again, Scott Richardson, District 13
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:10:40
Committee. This amendment came about with consultation from the group. I'm super happy that we were able to get the amendment done. I think it makes it a much better bill. Just running through it, if you turn in your bill to page three, kind of line up with the amendment, We've added an additional portion of the requirement to discuss, or excuse me, to have a behavioral threat assessment consideration in this bill.
And this aligns with, you know, I made reference in the previous one with an additional bill that's coming right after this that just got filed. I'm looking forward for that one as well. But this behavioral threat assessment is a common terminology in the world of counseling, apparently. and the idea is that we determine whether or not the child is a threat to themselves or others. And so this bill adds that additional requirement. I know that Representative Gonzalez-Worthin and I had a great conversation about a student that she had had discussions with that was completely out of character for that student,
had an outburst, turns out that there was some trauma back behind that. And so we
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:11:52
want to make sure we're picking up those children as well. If you turn with me
to page 5, line 4, we've added an or statement to say a classroom
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:12:10
or in-school suspension, and then we've deleted item C, which is alternative learning environment.
And if you drop down to Section 3, all of that code, the 20 through 32, all of that's taken out, which was in reference to you guys wanting to make sure that we've done away with the possibility that this is encouraging kids to be being shuttled off to ALE. And then the only other change was, of course, the addition that you guys had previously approved in a previous amendment that we expunged, the addition to exclude these entities,
uh, from this bill, which are the education facility, a division of, uh, youth services, um, and, and of course the correctional facilities that we have, uh, we don't want to encourage bad behavior in those areas just so they can get out of classrooms. So, um, we wanted to make sure we've excluded with them. So with that, I'm happy to take any questions. Are there questions from the
committee. Seeing no questions, I want to make sure that Representative Barnett, you
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
2:13:18
do have a question. You're recognized. Yes, on page two, and I know this has been amended at some point. Is there a particular reason why it says on line 32, Shell, and not May? Because with the changes that have been made, I mean, it says each time a teacher removes a student from class,
the principal or principal designee shall not return the student unless a conference
is held. Absolutely. And sometimes a teacher's removal of a student doesn't call
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:14:03
for a conference. Well, this is specifically in referencing the items that are above. listed for the
consistent with, find where I'm looking
for it, item on line 11 from above,
the teacher may remove a classroom for these types of behavior. And if you look down at line 15, we've added in the violent, but we're talking about disruptive, violent or abusive behavior. These are the reasons that a conference must be held. We also
added, in addition to that, they're on
page three, line item six, that a teacher
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:15:08
is not required to remove a student from class each time the student is unruly or disruptive during the teacher's class. They're not required to remove them, but if it gets to the point that they're unable to teach,
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:15:21
obviously they should remove them. And so that's why we added that language in as well, to address that, making sure that it's not a major concern. So we're only talking about things that are, you know, disruptive or unruly. And then a conference is held associated with that, and then we also make a determination if there's a need at that point
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:15:43
for a behavioral health assessment, as well, if the child is violent. - Representative
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:15:57
Meeks, you're recognized for a question. - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is gonna be a wouldn't you agree question, 'cause it's gonna go to the question that Representative Barnett just asked, and hopefully will answer his question. On line 32, where it says the designee may not return the student, that language there is not a, we're giving you a choice.
When I say you may not do something, there's no choice there. So all this is is technical correction to shall, so it's clearly understood what we're doing here. So there's no substantive change there. It's just a technical correction in the bill, wouldn't you agree? I would agree with that. Yeah, so there was no choice there to begin with. We're just cleaning up some language
there. Representative Gonzales-Werthin, you're recognized for question?
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:16:45
Yes, and I want to thank you for the amendments that you have made.
I wanted to ask you about the, let's see, I think this is on, but I'm just reading it. Page 5, line 23, section 3, where it talks about if a student is educated in the alternative learning environment for fewer than 20 days, The division may provide funding to a school district based on the actual number of days the student is educated in the alternative learning environment. Yes, ma'am. We're deleting all of Section 3. You're
deleting all of Section 3? Yes, ma'am.
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:17:21
Okay. So. Right now, the current standard is 20 days for ALE. This bill is not addressing ALE in
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:17:31
any form, so it made sense just to eliminate any language associated with that. And if we wanted to come back
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:17:37
with a different bill and address ALE, I guess that's something we could do. But this is not addressing ALE. And for purposes of ensuring that we don't have confusion, I've eliminated any references to ALE in this bill.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:17:52
So if they need to be removed from the class and they need to go somewhere
else, that somewhere else is not an alternative learning environment. Is that what you're... The
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:18:06
answer to that question is the school always has options that they currently have under the law,
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:18:12
and I can't, I'm not trying to dictate where those are. We're just making it appropriate for them to do what
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
2:18:21
they need to do. Okay. I just saw this, so let me just, right here on page five, above section three, appropriate
learning environment is defined? Yes, ma'am. Okay, and then under line one at the top of page five means a setting within a public school or public school district, and then that provides a similar structure to the following without limitations. So it does have C in alternative learning. And we've deleted that with the amendment as well. You deleted that as well. Yes, ma'am. Okay, I was just – that was a concern in talking to principals and teachers
in alternative learning environments if their student base was going to all of a sudden start to increase and they have their hands full with the students that they're serving at this time. That's the reason I'm asking. Absolutely, and that was at the request of this committee that
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:19:14
we made that change. Thank you. You bet. Seeing no additional questions. Is there anyone signed up to
speak for or against the bill? Seeing none. Would you like to close for your bill, Representative?
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:19:31
Well, I think we've kind of beaten this horse around a while, so
Scott Richardson
Unverified
2:19:35
I appreciate the committee's indulging me and providing great information, and I'm closed. Representative Richardson has closed for his bill, and
we have a motion on the table. Do pass as amended of HB 1062. Is there any discussion on that motion? I see no discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Representative Richardson. You have passed your bill as amended. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee, we are done with bills. However, I did have a request from a committee member
to hear from Secretary Oliva for just a moment. As you may have seen in the news, there's a pending executive order relative to the Federal Department of Education, and so I had a member request that the Secretary just come speak for a moment about potential impacts just so we can be aware of that as a committee. So we will yield the microphone to
Speaker 370
2:20:27
Secretary Oliva. Thank you. Good afternoon. Jacob Oliva, Secretary of Education. I think there's been a lot of conversations about the impact of what would happen if the Department of Education didn't exist in the manner that it exists today.
In fact, I even got asked, I think Representative Meeks may have even asked me during a previous committee if that's something that we'd be able to endure and support. I'll publicly say I'm in full support of giving states more authority, and if that includes restricting some of the overburdensome guidance that the U.S. Department of Education implements through their current grant processes, this is long overdue, and we're excited to be able to work with our friends in D.C. to make that happen.
I get asked this question a lot, and I say, just because the Department of Education doesn't exist or look and operate in the manner maybe in the future that it is to today, it doesn't mean the programs are going to go away. Right now, we receive maybe a school district, about 10% of their budget may come from federal funds, and those dollars are very strategic and appropriate to support students with lower socioeconomic backgrounds, students that are learning a second language, special education, students that get additional layers of support,
those dollars, if they were block-granted straight directly to states, I think the experts in our state, the practitioners around this table, the people that come and testify on behalf of the students in their classrooms can make better decisions on how to allocate those dollars than somebody that's never even been to a classroom in the state of Arkansas. So we look forward to working with the department as this executive order. we learn more about it, gets rolled out, and how we can target and better utilize these
resources to make sure they're having the intended outcomes that we know our students deserve to have. So we welcome this change. I think when we look back at how inefficient the system is now, how overly bureaucratic and prescriptive some of these strings that come attached to the federal dollars that handcuff our schools and our classrooms, this is something that I know I'm excited to to move forward on. Do you have one question from Ripson Meeks? Thank you Mr. Chair.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:22:48
So I'm the guilty party keeping
us here so I'm excited about these changes too which is part of the reason why I just asked for your input on this. My concern is obviously we're in session now we're passing budgetary bills and so short term we don't see any impacts to any of that any of these changes would be long term and we would have to, I don't know if special session would be needed, but at some point, we're not ready to make any changes yet related to what's going on
Speaker 369
2:23:17
in D.C. I think anybody that wanted to make changes or hit the panic button would be very premature.
Speaker 370
2:23:22
Okay. There's going to be a long
runway towards what this implementation cycle looks like. In fact, we're meeting with folks from the Department of Education next week to learn more about some possible implementations and next steps. But we have zero indication from the United States Department of Education that the dollars that are intended to support some of our most vulnerable students are going away. They're still going to follow through. What we're seeing is discretionary grants that are coming
around that don't have any impact on student learnings. Those are being reviewed. When we look at the dollars that are intended to support classrooms, I have not seen anything that touches that and we're excited to make sure that we maintain that integrity and work forward towards the transition. Alright, thank you. Thank you,
Mr. Chair. Additional questions for the Secretary? Seeing none, House Education stands adjourned.
Agenda
RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
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
HB1062 R. Scott Richardson TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025.
richardson
HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD.
HB1672 McCollum TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION IN ARKANSAS.
HB1696 McAlindon TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
mcalindon
HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED ROOMS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA.
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.
HB1810 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1733
carr
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE, Mar 20, 2025 | Agenda | 4 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Keith Brooks Chair
Unverified
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
Speaker 18
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
Speaker 27
Speaker 29
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
Speaker 61
Speaker 64
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
Speaker 46
Speaker 10
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Speaker 106
Speaker 109
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
Speaker 128
Speaker 134
Speaker 137
Speaker 144
Speaker 150
Speaker 108
Speaker 155
Speaker 156
Speaker 157
Eric Yarberry
Unverified
Jerry Ballou
Unverified
Kayanne Varner
Unverified
Speaker 178
Speaker 52
Speaker 180
Gretchen Cobb
Unverified
Speaker 186
Holly Mott
Unverified
Speaker 192
Speaker 104
Speaker 194
Griffin Smith
Unverified
Speaker 206
Speaker 136
Speaker 78
David Burton
Unverified
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Speaker 221
Speaker 227
Speaker 226
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
Speaker 252
Speaker 256
Speaker 259
Speaker 199
Speaker 280
Speaker 130
Speaker 291
Speaker 305
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
Speaker 318
Speaker 320
Speaker 327
Speaker 323
Chester Shannon
Unverified
Speaker 337
Speaker 146
Speaker 302
Speaker 345
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
Scott Richardson
Unverified
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
Speaker 370
Speaker 369