Comité Education and Youth del Senado, 26 de marzo de 2026

Transcripción

655 turnos. Seleccione un tiempo para reproducir ese momento del video.

1. 0:22:09

   And thank y'all for your attention, and thank you for, um, for being here. Um, I wanna first, um, bring a committee update. I talked to, um, thanks to Senator Sen- Summers. You got it. Yeah, thank you. Thanks to Senator Summers. I, I got, um, Freddie Powell Sims' phone number and I called her a few minutes ago. Many of y'all know that her husband was put in hospice earlier this week. I did not realize that he had been diagnosed with dementia about six years ago. So this is a, this is a, a, a road that they've been going over for a good many years and, uh, she was very, seemed to be very at peace with it.

2. 0:22:42

   She and I prayed together and, um, she, um, she thanked me. So, um, so I just wanted the committee to know that. I have, I do not have an update on Ms. Shirley over in the House who was, uh, Chairman Irwin's, um, admin. She had a massive stroke this past weekend. Um, she, she was living... Sir? I'll have, I'll have a great update there. Yeah, that's what I heard. I heard that yeah, she had a stroke. She was living by herself, and so it, it- We have an update. Oh, we do have an update?

3. 0:23:12

   No, not yet. What? Not yet. It's not a good update. Yeah. What a... Uh, uh, people, people just don't realize the stress that all, that everybody is under for these three months up here. And I, y'all, y'all please keep these people in your prayers 'cause, uh, uh, Freddie was just, or Senator Sims, excuse me, what a sweet lady she is, and Ms. Shirley just as sweet as they, they come. So thank y'all. So, um, let's, uh, l- we'll open with prayer and I'll, I'll, I'll do it. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day, Lord, and thank you that you, um, always find time, Heavenly Father, to be in the midst of us.

4. 0:23:46

   Lord, we know that where two or more are gathered, you're in the midst, Lord, and we feel your presence, and we know your presence here. Lord, we just lift up, um, Ms. Shirley today, Lord. We just ask you to comfort her family, Lord, as they, um, as they look towards, uh, her ultimate healing, Lord, and that ultimate healing is being with you. And Lord, we thank you for Ms. Freddie, and we thank you for, uh, uh, her, um, just excitement with our education committee, Lord, and how much she has brought to this committee. And Lord, we just ask you to please be with Mr. Norman, Lord, as he moves on to, uh, to be with you also.

5. 0:24:19

   Lord God, please, um, bless this committee. Help us to make the right decisions, Lord, for your people of Georgia. In your Son's name I pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you.

6. 0:24:26

   Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

7. 0:24:27

   Yeah. We're gonna, we gonna, we got an order, but we're gonna kinda jump around a little bit. We've, we got one of our other senators got a meeting here at 2:00, so it's gonna be ram bam, over and out. Yep. And so, um, we're gonna start off, um, Senator Kemp, would you be ready to start?

8. 0:24:44

   I'm sure.

9. 0:24:45

   Would you? Okay. Won't you do? And that'll kinda ease it up a little bit.

10. 0:24:59

    Senator Kemp, if you would please, uh, probably no more than five to seven minutes if you can, please.

11. 0:25:04

    Yes, sir. I'll be very

12. 0:25:07

    Oh, I'm sorry. There you go.

13. 0:25:10

    There we go. Testing. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. I have Senate Resolution 545, which is LC492412. And the purpose of this study committee, which I introduced, uh, last year, so thank you so much for hearing this in time for us to, uh, close this, uh, biennium. Uh, it is we, something we discussed, uh, just the other day when Representative Alalaia was here, and this study committee would study paying student teachers, uh, in the State of Georgia.

14. 0:25:45

    As you know, we have a teacher shortage. We have teachers that are leaving our profession. Uh, and our goal is to get more teachers into the profession, and one way to do that is ensuring that our student teachers are paid. There are states that have done this, um, states like Louisiana and Kentucky. And I believe this is something worth us studying to find a really strong solution to find ways for Georgia to pay our student teachers to not only to get them into the classroom, but to keep them in the classroom.

15. 0:26:15

    And I think Representative Alalaia's approach was a great start, um, but that is a pilot, and it's something that we need to do more permanently. And so with that, I will pause for questions. But I will ask for one amendment on line 62. As I shared, I've introduced this last year, so we would need to update line 62, uh, to read 2026 instead of 2025. Um, but other than that, I will pause for any questions.

16. 0:26:50

    What line are you looking for, 62?

17. 0:26:52

    Yes, sir.

18. 0:26:53

    What line is it, looking at page 26?

19. 0:26:55

    Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

20. 0:27:01

    Any objections from the committee on that?

21. 0:27:04

    Make a motion, and I have a motion. I'll be happy to chair.

22. 0:27:08

    You got a motion.

23. 0:27:11

    I make a motion to pass on LC2412.

24. 0:27:20

    Second.

25. 0:27:20

    Who, who second?

26. 0:27:20

    Senator

27. 0:27:21

    ...

28. 0:27:21

    Not a version.

29. 0:27:21

    We got a, we got a first and second. So any objections?

30. 0:27:25

    A motion to amend. I make a motion to amend, uh, line- 62, striking 2025 and replacing it with 2026. Second.

31. 0:27:36

    Second.

32. 0:27:40

    Seeing none, it, it, uh, we got amendment to 26 on, uh, on LC492412. Um, so now we take a, uh, we take a vote on, on the whole bill. Okay. Uh, take a vote on the, all in favor of, of LC492412 raise your right

33. 0:28:07

    hand. No. Okay. Thank you

34. 0:28:10

    All right, let's keep it going. All right. Thank you.

35. 0:28:18

    Senator Halpern.

36. 0:28:29

    Thank you, sir.

37. 0:28:33

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Committee. This is, um, Senate Resolution 553, LC 60-0174, also introduced last year, so thank you for the chance to present today. Um, this is a study committee that would, um, delve deeper on funding for charter school capital improvements. I will say that this year we have taken up two different bills that also actually strive to achieve what this study committee would study. SB 498 created the Charter School Facilities Authority.

38. 0:29:05

    We passed that out of the Senate. It is now in the House, favorably reported by House committee, but not yet approved by the full House. And SB 475, which was Senator Kemp's, um, bill having to do with ESPLOST funding and allowing our charter schools to have access to that funding, um, through their l- uh, local charter school systems. So, um, but that bill has been withdrawn and recommitted. So one bill is in process, one bill it may not be.

39. 0:29:37

    The study committee was trying to achieve some of the work that those two bills would, would actually, um, manage to successfully do for charter schools should they actually get to the governor's desk and signed into law.

40. 0:29:55

    So are you saying that, uh, the study committee may or may not be necessary?

41. 0:30:01

    Right. I think the study committee, the intention of the study committee when introduced was to make sure that there were pathways for funding for our charter schools, which do have situations where, you know, they need capital improvements or a HVAC, you know, stops working, and they then need to raise the funds in order to be able to get back online. Um, those two other bills provide two pathways towards achieving dollars, capital dollars for our charters when they need them.

42. 0:30:31

    Mm-hmm.

43. 0:30:32

    So depending on where those bills land by the end of this session, we may or may not already achieve some of the intention of this bill.

44. 0:30:44

    So if we pass this bill out, or pass this resolution out, will you monitor that situation-

45. 0:30:49

    I will

46. 0:30:49

    ... and work with the OG's office to make sure-

47. 0:30:52

    I will. Yes

48. 0:30:52

    ... that if the bill's, the... Okay.

49. 0:30:54

    Yes.

50. 0:30:54

    Okay.

51. 0:30:54

    Absolutely. Yeah.

52. 0:30:55

    Okay.

53. 0:30:55

    There, there, there's no need for redundancy, but, um, but this is something, I think, even in the discussions that we had in our committee, it was a lot of discussion. I think that there is a lot more room, too, for just understanding of what's happening in the charter school space and how, um, how the dollars that they get are used or where they can or cannot be used. So-

54. 0:31:17

    Okay

55. 0:31:17

    ... yes.

56. 0:31:18

    And of course you want to change the date.

57. 0:31:20

    I, yes, the date absolutely on this one has to be changed, and line, line, um, 67 would need to be changed to 2026 as well.

58. 0:31:31

    Okay. Okay. Do we have any opposition to that change in dates? No. No. No. No. Okay. So we got, we got a, we got a amendment first to the bill.

59. 0:31:44

    You need a motion first, Senator.

60. 0:31:46

    Okay.

61. 0:31:46

    I'll give you both of those if you want.

62. 0:31:47

    Okay. You got a second by Senator Bearden? Sure. I thought you nodded your head. I think it might have just leaned that way. Oh. We'll take it as a second. Well, yeah. I didn't fall asleep. I was just- Okay. Okay. Okay.

63. 0:32:03

    And I fall in my chair.

64. 0:32:03

    So got, got a first and a second on change the date to 2026.

65. 0:32:08

    Uh, you had a motion due pass on LC 60-0174. That was the first motion. Now this motion will be a motion to amend, striking 2025 on line 67, replacing it with 2026.

66. 0:32:22

    Okay. Any discussion on that? N- no. Everybody, everybody happy with it? Vote on the amendment. Yeah. So first of all, we, we vote on the amendment. So all in favor to move the amendment, raise your right hand, please.

67. 0:32:36

    All passes. Okay. You all pass. Okay. All in favor of LC 60-0174, please raise your hand. Right hand.

68. 0:32:50

    Thank you.

69. 0:32:51

    Thank you so much.

70. 0:32:53

    Senator Dozal and all have a, we always have a laugh at every vote.

71. 0:32:58

    Okay. Um, Senator Davenport, can you do yours in about 10 minutes? Five minutes?

72. 0:33:04

    Okay.

73. 0:33:04

    Five minutes.

74. 0:33:04

    10 minute, five.

75. 0:33:06

    Ma'am?

76. 0:33:06

    Okay. Oh.

77. 0:33:07

    Can you do yours?

78. 0:33:08

    Oh, can I do mine in five minutes?

79. 0:33:09

    Yeah. Yes, ma'am.

80. 0:33:10

    Oh, yes, I will.

81. 0:33:11

    Okay.

82. 0:33:12

    If y'all vote it to due pass, can do it in two minutes.

83. 0:33:24

    Check on the date. Oh, the date's correct on yours. Thank you.

84. 0:33:28

    Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Uh, t- to the Chairman and to the committee, I bring to you today Senate Resolution 952, LC610475 is what we're working from.

85. 0:33:47

    Correct.

86. 0:33:47

    And it is to create a Senate Rosenwald School Study Committee. You know, this did pass last year. Uh, it was not staffed, but we're bringing it back. And what happened is in the early 1900s, uh, the, one of the early presidents and the owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company-

87. 0:34:07

    Mm

88. 0:34:07

    ... partnered with, uh, a Dr. Booker T. Washington, who was then, who was an educator, but was then president of Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, to fund constructions of, uh, schools in the poor rural African American school districts across the South. And, uh- What happened is they took, they built these schools with donations of land and labor from the local communities. And about 5,000 schools were across the state, but, uh, 240 Rosenwald schools were in Georgia, and 103 of, uh, those, and 103 of the 159 counties.

89. 0:34:47

    And at least 35,000 children attended those schools. Uh, I'm happy to say that my mother attended that school, graduated at one in Jonesboro, in Clayton County, and it was, uh, she graduated from 1940, in 1942.

90. 0:35:02

    Mm.

91. 0:35:02

    And what happens, it, it, it really elevates, uh, uh, the children in that community. Uh, they lived on the farm, but when she graduated from high school, she was able to come to Atlanta and attend Clark College.

92. 0:35:15

    Right.

93. 0:35:15

    And went back home and served, uh, as a school, uh, teacher in Clayton County for 38 years. Uh, 10 of those y-

94. 0:35:24

    Wow

95. 0:35:24

    ... years she was a, um, r- reading teacher in the area, and she wanted all of us to read every day, all the time. And so what happened is, uh, we think that this is important. It impacts the, the children and impacts the community. And so I urge you to, uh, uh, pass this out of the committee so that we can go ahead and do the job. Thank you s- very much, Mr. Chairman.

96. 0:35:51

    Yes, ma'am. Very well said.

97. 0:35:52

    Are there questions?

98. 0:35:53

    Any questions?

99. 0:35:54

    On what?

100. 0:35:55

     Any questions at all? I see-

101. 0:35:58

     I haven't heard.

102. 0:36:00

     Yes, ma'am.

103. 0:36:00

     I would like to, uh, at this appropriate time, move to pass.

104. 0:36:04

     Oh, okay. Thank you. Um, so any questions of the author? I s- I see none. We got a, a motion by Senator James to pass.

105. 0:36:14

     Second.

106. 0:36:15

     We got a second by Senator Halpern. Pass or second. So any discussion? I see none. All in favor please raise your right hand.

107. 0:36:28

     Thank you, ma'am.

108. 0:36:28

     Oh, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and committee.

109. 0:36:30

     Thank you, ma'am.

110. 0:36:31

     You're welcome.

111. 0:36:36

     I'm trying to keep you under three minutes.

112. 0:36:39

     Okay. Stay with agenda, um, Chairman Dubnik.

113. 0:36:44

     Mm-hmm.

114. 0:36:44

     Will you please jump over? We heard testimony and conversation on this bill the other day. Um, would you, again, just for the record, read off the bill number and LC number please, sir?

115. 0:36:59

     Uh, yes, Mr. Chairman. Uh, House Bill 1259, LC 64006S by substitute.

116. 0:37:08

     Okay. So we h- we heard testimony the other day. We heard, uh, a lot of questions from our committee members la- the other day. And, you know, for second time, what we're gonna do, we're gonna, I'm gonna look for a motion on this bill to pass.

117. 0:37:20

     So moved.

118. 0:37:21

     So moved.

119. 0:37:22

     Second.

120. 0:37:22

     We got a second from Senator Kemp. Um, any discussion? I see no discussion.

121. 0:37:29

     One down, one-

122. 0:37:30

     One down. Okay. Later, Rob. Okay. Number 16.

123. 0:37:35

     Mr. Chair, some members of the committee have discussed, um, essentially moving this out a little bit to a five-year look back period like we have for all of our state charters. I would make a motion to amend line 46, changing 2026 to 2030.

124. 0:37:52

     Hold on just a second.

125. 0:37:55

     It essentially would put the implementation date out four years from now, which would be about five years for the life cycle of this school.

126. 0:38:06

     Where the crap I have? Having trouble finding the bill.

127. 0:38:15

     What line did you say that was on?

128. 0:38:17

     46.

129. 0:38:18

     46.

130. 0:38:20

     It's just changing the implementation date.

131. 0:38:31

     Oh, okay.

132. 0:38:31

     It should be the first one.

133. 0:38:32

     It, roughly.

134. 0:38:34

     Oh, here it is.

135. 0:38:34

     Charters are-

136. 0:38:35

     Last place I look. Would you please repeat that, please?

137. 0:38:38

     Yes, sir. Um, my motion would be to amend line 46, striking 2026 and replacing it with 2030.

138. 0:38:52

     My reasoning for that is that we don't shut charters down. I know this is not a charter. Um, but this school's been in, open, I think for a year and a half, maybe even less.

139. 0:39:02

     Second year.

140. 0:39:03

     Um, and obviously the CCRPI scores that we would look at is largely the raw material that's walking in the front door, and I don't think that we can just take a look at CCRPI scores, um, after school's been open for a year and a half. Secondly, it's my understanding that the average spend per student is about $5,000. Um, at our two statewide charters that are virtual, we spend $10,500 and $11,500 per student. So if these students left this institution and all of them enrolled in one of our statewide charters, it would be at a cost of, using rough mental math here, let's just call it $5,000 more per student, call it 7.5 million bucks.

141. 0:39:41

     And so I think that before we do that, um, these parents chose this option for a reason. I'd hate to sign a b- a law, uh, that goes into effect in a couple months and force 1,500 kids to go find a new school on three months notice.

142. 0:39:56

     Thank you, sir. Um, further discussion. I'm gonna come down the line. I give Senator Bearden second, 13?

143. 0:40:02

     Seconded his, his motion.

144. 0:40:05

     He was seconding.

145. 0:40:06

     He was seconding his motion.

146. 0:40:07

     Yeah.

147. 0:40:07

     Oh, he second-

148. 0:40:08

     Still in discussion

149. 0:40:08

     ... for the, for the amendment.

150. 0:40:10

     Second that motion. Okay. Um, any more discussion on-

151. 0:40:14

     Yes.

152. 0:40:15

     Okay.

153. 0:40:15

     I think-

154. 0:40:16

     Number 12?

155. 0:40:17

     Well, 13.

156. 0:40:18

     13. Okay.

157. 0:40:21

     Um, Chairman Dubnik, can you explain to us what the amendment- From Chairman Dolezal does to the bill, can you speak to the mechanics of it, uh, to push it from 2:00 to 5:00? What does that mean? What are the implications of that?

158. 0:40:41

     Yeah, I think, I think that would be very direct, uh, Mr. Chairman, that it would, it would push out the ability for this school to continue to operate until July 1st of 2030.

159. 0:40:51

     I mean, I understand the math-

160. 0:40:52

     Right

161. 0:40:52

     ... but what I'm asking is the functionality of, of that. Like, what is... Does that out-

162. 0:40:57

     Uh-

163. 0:40:57

     Does that end the purpose of your bill? Does that just, does that hurt the intention?

164. 0:41:01

     Thank you for the question. Would-

165. 0:41:02

     Is, is it a friendly amendment or is it not in keeping with what you're attempting to do here?

166. 0:41:06

     With respect to, uh, to and for the chairman who, who amended, I would, I would not find that to be a friendly amendment.

167. 0:41:13

     Okay. Thank you.

168. 0:41:17

     Senator Halpern.

169. 0:41:19

     Motion to-

170. 0:41:19

     Oh, I'm sorry. Senator Parent.

171. 0:41:22

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so I understand the logic of Chairman Dolezal's amendment because of how we do the, um, statewide chart- the charter commission that, that I think typically does five-year contracts, right? And then you kind of have to prove your, your performance before you would be re-upped or, or shut, um, when you've gotten approved, um, for a charter school through our statewide charter commission. My concern in this instance is that this school, unless I'm misremembering the, the testimony from earlier in the week, essentially has been, uh, skirting our law, and trying to skirt the law in a pretty aggressive way, and that is really what I have a problem with.

172. 0:42:08

     It, it, you know, if it got denied three times by-

173. 0:42:12

     It was, it was denied twice when they applied to the Charter School Commission, and they withdrew their petition an additional two times.

174. 0:42:19

     Right, and I remember when we had this same issue a number of years ago. It's been a while now, but one- once this popped up, I was like, "I remember when we had to change the law because this exact thing was happening." And understandably, since school districts in- you know, enjoy getting that 5% revenue that kick- that it kicks off, that the operator kicks off to them. But I don't, I just don't think we can condone laws that we've already tried to, to pass years ago to stop this exact same thing. They got denied, and by letting them get a- letting them benefit from it, I think sends not a good message from this committee.

175. 0:42:56

     That's my ma- my main th- concern with, with what you're suggesting. Otherwise, if it was a normal charter, I would, I would say, "Yeah, that's what we give them."

176. 0:43:04

     Senator Hal- Oh, excuse me. Yeah, Senator Halpern.

177. 0:43:08

     I, I actually wanted to, and I think last time you presented, um, y- we talked about this 70, this threshold on line 35.

178. 0:43:19

     That's right.

179. 0:43:20

     If the school has failed to maintain an average of 70 or above on the C- CCRPI, um, index. But we're looking at this data set, and I think when you went through it, just remind me, but I think that there's very few virtual schools in our system today that actually meet that 70 threshold. So I was gonna just see where y- how you came to the 70 number.

180. 0:43:52

     Just remind me of that. And would you have opposition to moving that number downward a little? Not because we are trying to not have excellence in these schools, but just in recognition that very few of the schools in the virtual space are actually hitting that metric today, including the ones that I think w- are not in question.

181. 0:44:13

     Sure. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Sorry, the pollen's killing me.

182. 0:44:17

     Mm-hmm.

183. 0:44:18

     Um, to, to the lady's question, yes, we did talk about the statewide average CCRPI was in the high 70s, and so I was trying to find a number that would be lower than that to allow, um, um, some flexibility there. Certainly would defer to the will of the committee. I, I mean, I would, I would not think it would be a 30 or a 40 number.

184. 0:44:41

     Yeah, no, no.

185. 0:44:42

     But if, if, uh, if, if I'm not mistaken, we've seen, uh, strong performance across the board for our schools. I believe the question was asked the other day, how many, how many of our schools have, across the state, public brick-and-mortar schools, the, the question was asked, have a CCRPI score above the state average, and that number was 14 of the 2,200 are above that, that statewide average. So the logic was that this was below the existing statewide average that would, it would find a point of accountability.

186. 0:45:15

     So not a random number-

187. 0:45:16

     Mm-hmm

188. 0:45:17

     ... but it, it wasn't like it came out of some formula or calculation, um, if you will.

189. 0:45:23

     Mm-hmm.

190. 0:45:23

     And I would just add that below a 67 in CCRPI score would get you in the lowest performing 25% of schools that we use for other calculations. So-

191. 0:45:38

     Makes sense

192. 0:45:39

     ... above that number, below another number, a statewide average number. I hope that helps-

193. 0:45:45

     Yeah

194. 0:45:45

     ... the lady's question.

195. 0:45:46

     Yep. Thank you.

196. 0:45:47

     Okay.

197. 0:45:49

     Senator Kemp.

198. 0:45:51

     Yeah. I, I just want to...

199. 0:45:55

     I just wanna caution that by accepting this amendment, we're s- essentially creating a charter school, and that is not our role as a committee to subvert the process and pretty much create a charter school allowing a school with really low achievement levels to skirt the process, which they've done twice and were denied. And the other two times, they withdraw- withdrew, not because they changed their minds, but because they knew they were going to be denied.

200. 0:46:27

     And so I feel like that is very far out

201. 0:46:30

     I don't want to keep messing with your bill, um, but I w- I do want to forewarn, if we do accept 2030-

202. 0:46:39

     Mm

203. 0:46:39

     ... I'm going to offer an amendment that we should do an enrollment cap on this school, because I don't think they should be able to accept more students. Only two of the students, if, correct me if I'm wrong, if I'm wrong-

204. 0:46:49

     Two

205. 0:46:49

     ... come from that district. The other 1,500 come from outside of the district. And so setting the bar at 70 I don't think is too much to ask, because I feel like there should be a higher bar expectation if you're gonna have the privilege of educating kids outside of your school district and bringing in a management company that has shown to not have good results across the country.

206. 0:47:15

     Okay. Chairman Dolezal?

207. 0:47:18

     I, I'm, you ... I'll wait for Senator Still.

208. 0:47:24

     Mr., Mr. Cowsert, you're-

209. 0:47:25

     13. Thank you, Chairman. Um, as we're talking through these different solutions, I think that, I think everybody wants to see some sort of compromise on this. And I think if we sort of combine what everyone is saying, if we, you know, put it five years out instead of in July, if we lower the CCRPI score, you know, what does that number go to? What if we drop the percentage from 70 to 67, and then maybe sunset it in '28 instead of '26?

210. 0:48:03

     That way it gives the school time to improve, but it doesn't leave kids stranded if they're trying to find a school to enroll in next year.

211. 0:48:12

     Mr. Chairman, if I may. I, I, I certainly would be fine with the CCRPI. I mean, again, I, I think as I've talked about accountability and performance, as I shared with the committee on Tuesday, were, were my two, uh, requirements from a, from an improvement standpoint. So I think if we dropped it below that and that put them on a, you know, failing school list, I, I, I don't feel, to the gentleman's point, I, I don't feel that would accomplish anything either. So getting anything below that, I would, I, I would have heartburn with.

212. 0:48:45

     Mm.

213. 0:48:46

     And I, again, I think I've shared my position on 2026 and line 46 being key to the bill, in my opinion.

214. 0:48:56

     Yeah, I was just looking at, when Chairman Dolezal proposed 2031, I was just thinking, well, what if we compromised it to 2028 if we keep everything else the same? Then we just give it a two-year for a sunset. Would you be amenable to that?

215. 0:49:09

     Uh, Senator, I, I, I would not, and I would hope that I could also point out to the committee that, um, the Senate budget that has passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee completely contemplates line 46 remaining intact.

216. 0:49:33

     Chairman Dolezal. A couple quick thoughts, Mr. Chairman. First of all, there ... Well, first of all, your pocket square today matches your button hole on your jacket. So-

217. 0:49:43

     He's outstanding

218. 0:49:44

     ... I mean, uh, Senator Kemp upped his game today. He's got his buttons on his shirt matching his pocket square, but then you-

219. 0:49:49

     We worked on that ahead of time

220. 0:49:50

     ... yeah, so I just wanna commend you all on-

221. 0:49:52

     I, I, I do-

222. 0:49:53

     ... on what you're working on

223. 0:49:54

     ... uh, Senator, if I could. I d- uh, you know, the, the Big Bird comment the other day was-

224. 0:49:58

     I didn't make a Big Bird comment. Who made a Big Bird comment?

225. 0:50:02

     I, I would-

226. 0:50:02

     Okay.

227. 0:50:03

     You know, I would, I wouldn't call any senators by name, but the Big Bird comment really made me think of the former rules chairman in the Senate and how he used to have that board up outside his office.

228. 0:50:13

     He, he's actually in the room right now.

229. 0:50:14

     Oh, he's in the room.

230. 0:50:18

     Oh. Oh, I, I, I somehow wasn't aware of that fact.

231. 0:50:19

     He's, he's everywhere. He's, he's been everywhere for the last 10 years.

232. 0:50:24

     I wasn't aware of that fact, and I thought about putting up a board, you know, and put a picture of Big Bird up there alongside my ...

233. 0:50:32

     That's funny.

234. 0:50:32

     Sorry.

235. 0:50:33

     Well-

236. 0:50:33

     Thank you.

237. 0:50:34

     Yeah. Here's the deal, y'all. You've got families in the room that came to testify. We didn't hear testimony last time. We're not gonna hear testimony today. Um, and these families have their kids here for a reason. I've never talked to them. I don't know why they have their kids there. What I do know is that if we pass this bill, we're telling these families and 1,000 other families that between April 2nd and June 1st, go find another school. And to Chairman Dubik's point about the ... It is true that we put money in the budget. If we just shut the school down, it's gonna save a couple million bucks.

238. 0:51:05

     But they're gonna go to school somewhere, and if they're gonna go to a state charter, it's gonna cost $5,000 more per kid. Now, you'll see that next year in your budget when you true up your charter budget, or you're gonna see it in your QBE if they go to a public school and you have to true up your Q- QBE. But the, the, the budget thing is a little bit of a gimmick, because unless all these kids go to a private school and they don't take the Promise scholarship, then we're gonna have a cost to educate these kids, as we should. We have a constitutional obligation to do that. So, um, I, I've got a lot of heartburn about telling 1,500 kids that their CCRPI scores, let's just be fair, did not go from 80 to 30 when they entered the school.

239. 0:51:46

     In fact, their CCRPI scores probably haven't changed in the year and a half they've been at this school. And so the CCRPI scores are not the function of a school that's been opened that's chronically failing to educate these kids. These CCRPI scores are largely a function of who is walking in their virtual front door, and I think that we owe it to these families that have made this choice to give it a couple years to play itself out and see what happens. And frankly, their CCRPI, uh, or CCRPI scores may be up 10%, may be down 10%. We don't have that because we don't have the data on where these kids were when they came in. So-

240. 0:52:16

     So the-

241. 0:52:16

     ... I've made my point. I'll, I'll, um, I would be fine with Senator Still's change. Uh, I, I think it would be a real tragedy, though, if this committee took the posture that we're gonna put these kids out on the street and tell them to go find a new school in the next three months.

242. 0:52:27

     So one, so one of the biggest words in my business life and in the life up here is compromise, and I think that's what we need to do, and I appreciate that. So would you amend-

243. 0:52:39

     We just gotta move forward. W- would you amend your-

244. 0:52:42

     I would withdraw my amendment

245. 0:52:43

     ... withdraw your amendment. Okay

246. 0:52:44

     That'd probably be the cleaner way to do it. And, uh, I'm looking for the bill. I've been throwing papers around over here

247. 0:52:49

     Senator Still, what, what was the period of time you said?

248. 0:52:53

     I... Thanks. All right, thank you. So to-

249. 0:52:56

     Sure

250. 0:52:56

     ... I'm just gonna do exactly what Senator Still said. I would make a m-

251. 0:52:58

     But Chairman, really, when he picks on you, that probably means he's jealous of what you got on

252. 0:53:02

     I would make a motion to amend line 35, replacing 70 with 67, I think is, Chairman Still, what you said there on the percentage average. And then I would make a second motion to amend, uh, lines 46-

253. 0:53:16

     Wh- wh- what, Mr. Chairman

254. 0:53:17

     Yes, sir

255. 0:53:17

     ... why don't you, why don't you just make that easy and make it, like, a 65 number?

256. 0:53:20

     All right. I make a motion to amend line 35, striking 70 and replacing it with 65.

257. 0:53:25

     Okay.

258. 0:53:26

     And then striking 2026 on line 46 and replacing it with 2028.

259. 0:53:32

     Okay.

260. 0:53:33

     Um, Chairman Hickman, could I also ask the gentleman to consider a change on line four?

261. 0:53:38

     Yes. Yes, let's strike, um, lines, uh, on line four-

262. 0:53:42

     Oh, yeah, that's right

263. 0:53:42

     ... strike 70 as well and replace it with 65.

264. 0:53:44

     Okay.

265. 0:53:45

     Thank you.

266. 0:53:45

     Just, just-

267. 0:53:46

     Thank you, Big Bird.

268. 0:53:47

     Thank you all. Yeah, okay. So do I have a second on that? Senator Parent, you gotta second?

269. 0:53:52

     No. No, I, I wanted to propose an amendment to the chairman's amendment-

270. 0:53:58

     Okay

271. 0:53:58

     ... on 70.

272. 0:53:59

     Okay.

273. 0:54:00

     Mm-hmm.

274. 0:54:00

     Okay. We'll, we'll listen to your-

275. 0:54:02

     I second.

276. 0:54:03

     You'll second-

277. 0:54:04

     The-

278. 0:54:04

     ... Senator Dolezal's amendment?

279. 0:54:05

     Yes, I do.

280. 0:54:05

     Okay. Thank you, ma'am.

281. 0:54:07

     Assistant Jones.

282. 0:54:08

     Senator Parent, you on?

283. 0:54:09

     Thank you. Um, well, before I, I got sidetracked on amendment-

284. 0:54:13

     Senator Dolezal, thank you

285. 0:54:13

     ... amendment to the amendment. Um, Chairman Dubnick, um, what, uh, are there, would there be impediments for switching over to the other statewide virtual schools that we offer for these students?

286. 0:54:31

     It, it's my understanding that no, ma'am, there would not be impediments.

287. 0:54:36

     Okay.

288. 0:54:36

     There, there are options, uh, of a-

289. 0:54:39

     That are similar in nature-

290. 0:54:41

     Yes, ma'am

291. 0:54:41

     ... also statewide virtual-

292. 0:54:43

     Mm-hmm

293. 0:54:43

     ... charter schools.

294. 0:54:44

     Yes, ma'am.

295. 0:54:44

     Um-

296. 0:54:46

     Y'all remember-

297. 0:54:47

     So-

298. 0:54:47

     Y'all remember we got two more bills today too

299. 0:54:49

     ... right. The, uh, we'll wrap up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So in my mind, the only reason to push the date out is for a sort of an orderly wind down. Um-

300. 0:54:59

     That is correct

301. 0:55:00

     ... and, n- n- you know, personally, I feel that the time between now or whenever your, the bill was signed, if it came to that, to, you know, July is plenty of time to enroll in one of our other virtual charter schools and/or look at your, you know, your local public school, which obviously is also an option for all of the students. If not, if that does seem t- too hasty and, and people need time, then I would say yes, you could give them one year to do an orderly wind down so that families aren't overly impacted.

302. 0:55:31

     Again, I don't think they would be, but so I would say that keeping it open any longer than that is essentially giving r- a reward for skirting our laws. So I would like to offer an amendment to the amendment, which would be that it would be 2027, which allows for an orderly wind down and no one has to panic because next year is taken care of, but we don't give a bonus for skirting laws that we passed five years ago.

303. 0:55:57

     Okay.

304. 0:55:58

     And going outside our state charter school commission, um, rubric, which does, by the way, an excellent job in making sure that access and quality are balanced.

305. 0:56:07

     Okay.

306. 0:56:08

     Second.

307. 0:56:09

     Second. Okay. Okay, so we have two amendments on the floor, uh, and we have seconds on both amendments. Uh, and we have a late arriving.

308. 0:56:19

     Right.

309. 0:56:19

     Number 15.

310. 0:56:21

     I just have a question for clarity-

311. 0:56:22

     Yes, sir

312. 0:56:22

     ... Mr. Chairman. On the

313. 0:56:27

     line 34 and 35, and we're talking about the CCRPI. It's stating on this, if I'm reading it correctly, that it's, if the local school system or its virtual school has failed to maintain an average of 70. So we're applying it to both the local school system and the charter, or not charter school-

314. 0:56:51

     Virtual

315. 0:56:51

     ... virtual school. Is that right?

316. 0:56:52

     The virtual school offering statewide attendance approved by an LEA.

317. 0:56:57

     Okay. But we're gonna hold the local school system to the same standard, right? Okay. Just making sure.

318. 0:57:03

     Thank you. Okay, so we have a, we have two amendments.

319. 0:57:07

     Mm-hmm.

320. 0:57:09

     Two amendments, one by Senator Dolezal and one by Senator Parent. And so we gonna vote on, we've got seconds on both amendments. First amendment makes it 28, correct, Senator Dolezal? 28, and changes it to 65%.

321. 0:57:26

     Yes.

322. 0:57:26

     Okay. Um, so do we, uh, after we have first and second, do we have a show o-

323. 0:57:34

     First and second on that. Yeah.

324. 0:57:36

     Huh?

325. 0:57:36

     First and second on the actual bill.

326. 0:57:38

     Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. We got first and second. We gotta do the actual bill first and we... Senator Hatchett.

327. 0:57:44

     Yes.

328. 0:57:44

     Senator Hatchett made the motion.

329. 0:57:46

     Yes.

330. 0:57:46

     Senator K- okay, so let's, let's-

331. 0:57:47

     Yes

332. 0:57:48

     ... let's have a, let's have a vote on the bill as it is. So all in favor of the bill.

333. 0:57:51

     No, no.

334. 0:57:52

     No.

335. 0:57:52

     No?

336. 0:57:53

     Amendment.

337. 0:57:53

     Yes, amendment.

338. 0:57:54

     I thought so. I thought that's right. Okay. So we got amendment. The amendment is, again, Senator Dolezal's amendment.

339. 0:58:00

     Yes.

340. 0:58:01

     Mm-hmm.

341. 0:58:03

     Okay. Okay, so we're gonna vote on his amendment.

342. 0:58:06

     We-

343. 0:58:06

     Okay, so all in favor of Senator Dolezal's amendment, raise your, raise your right hand.

344. 0:58:12

     Her vote, she made, she made a motion to amend, Mr. Chairman.

345. 0:58:15

     Yeah, yeah.

346. 0:58:15

     We vote on the motion to amend the amendment first. It's, it's, she's essentially at a 1A.

347. 0:58:19

     Yeah.

348. 0:58:19

     So we would vote on that. So we're gonna vote on 27 first.

349. 0:58:23

     Amendment is on. Okay. The two, the two parts. Yeah. Okay.

350. 0:58:27

     So we vote on, we vote on her amendment first. Is that what we're saying?

351. 0:58:30

     Yes.

352. 0:58:30

     Okay. Okay. Well-

353. 0:58:32

     Time would be 2027

354. 0:58:34

     ... well, let's scrap what I just said then.

355. 0:58:35

     2027.

356. 0:58:36

     Okay. Thank you. So we're gonna vote on Senator Halpern's No, Senator Parent, so Parent, Parent's amendment first, which moves it to 27-

357. 0:58:45

     Yes.

358. 0:58:46

     Yes, sir ... and a 65%.

359. 0:58:48

     No.

360. 0:58:48

     It only moves it to 27. Oh, she doesn't, she doesn't agree with 65? Yeah. Okay.

361. 0:58:53

     Well, we're gonna do that next once she agrees.

362. 0:58:54

     Oh, okay. Okay, okay, okay, okay. I wish I was sitting in the middle of y'all instead of way down here. Oh, he get ... You want me to repeat it, Mr. Chairman? Make it real clear?

363. 0:59:02

     Withdraw your amendment.

364. 0:59:03

     Yeah.

365. 0:59:04

     We can vote on mine, and then you can make a motion to amend and then we can-

366. 0:59:08

     Okay. All right. All right.

367. 0:59:08

     We can do it the other way.

368. 0:59:09

     'Cause he was, he was right there.

369. 0:59:12

     You don't want to lose the 65.

370. 0:59:15

     Okay, we got 10, we got 15 minutes. We have two bills.

371. 0:59:18

     Okay.

372. 0:59:18

     Yeah. So, so what, what, what's the consensus down there? We don't know if they're okay.

373. 0:59:25

     Are you okay with her 27?

374. 0:59:27

     I'm good.

375. 0:59:27

     I withdraw my second.

376. 0:59:29

     Okay. Okay, so- Let's vote on whether we're going- Let's, let's vote on the 27 first. Okay. Okay. Correct?

377. 0:59:34

     Yes.

378. 0:59:35

     Okay. So the ... Okay, the first, First Amendment. Oh, wait. Yeah. Hold on.

379. 0:59:41

     One thing we can do. Can you do the other one?

380. 0:59:42

     Huh?

381. 0:59:43

     Start with the, start with the-

382. 0:59:44

     Start with his.

383. 0:59:45

     Yes.

384. 0:59:46

     Okay. That's why I asked y'all for a consensus.

385. 0:59:48

     And the date. If her date passes, then we still ... Then your 65 can get the date.

386. 0:59:53

     So we could split them out to three different- Okay. So we're gonna do the Senator Dolezal. Y'all, y'all can tell how or- how, how unorganized we are over here. We could just do- But you know what? We still- It would have to be the date, though, because the date- You know what? We still get along. When we leave here, we all get along.

387. 1:00:09

     That would be the one.

388. 1:00:10

     Okay. So, so we're gonna do Senator Dolezal's amendment-

389. 1:00:15

     Yes

390. 1:00:15

     ... which is 28 and 65%. And we got a first and second. So all in favor of Senator Dolezal's amendment, please raise your right hand. This is Dolezal's amendment. Think we got two over here. So what's the vote? Seven.

391. 1:00:37

     Huh? Seven. Okay. Got we seven, four. Who's against Senator Dolezal's amendment?

392. 1:00:44

     Three. S- so his amendment passes. Okay. So now do we, do-

393. 1:00:51

     Now we take up Senator Parent's

394. 1:00:53

     ... Senator Parent's amendment. Okay. And Senator Parent's amendment is to ch- move it to 27 and leave the 70% the way it is.

395. 1:01:02

     65.

396. 1:01:02

     Keep the, just the number. Keep the 65. Mm-hmm. Okay. Yeah, just move it with a new date. Okay.

397. 1:01:07

     Just changing the date.

398. 1:01:08

     Okay, just changing the date. So all in favor of Senator Parent's amendment, changing it to 27 and leaving it at 70%.

399. 1:01:17

     No. 65.

400. 1:01:18

     65%, 65%. Raise your right hand.

401. 1:01:25

     Seven. Seven, okay. Seven. All against Senator Parent. Two, three. Is that right? It's three? Seven is right. Okay. So now 65- So-

402. 1:01:40

     Yes.

403. 1:01:40

     Now you gotta get another bill.

404. 1:01:42

     Huh?

405. 1:01:42

     Now you gotta-

406. 1:01:42

     65 and 27.

407. 1:01:44

     So we got, we got, we got 65%- I, I got one more.

408. 1:01:47

     Yeah.

409. 1:01:49

     Oh, oh. Well.

410. 1:01:52

     You what?

411. 1:01:54

     I have another amendment. He's probably gonna do what I was gonna do.

412. 1:02:00

     So, okay. So-

413. 1:02:02

     Senator, I

414. 1:02:08

     just

415. 1:02:10

     Well, we're doing all we can, man. You just gotta bear with us.

416. 1:02:14

     I, I was like, I, I feel like you guys are 40 bucks

417. 1:02:16

     Well, we're doing all we can.

418. 1:02:17

     I know.

419. 1:02:18

     Okay. So you, you, you, you wanna speak? Tim, you wanna speak?

420. 1:02:23

     Yes, sir.

421. 1:02:24

     Senator Bearden, you wanna speak?

422. 1:02:25

     Yes.

423. 1:02:25

     Okay. Go ahead.

424. 1:02:27

     Senator Beach, you can call me Tim. I make a motion to move the question.

425. 1:02:32

     You make a motion what?

426. 1:02:32

     To move the question. Move the previous question.

427. 1:02:35

     This is gonna take longer than him making an amendment. Yeah. Yeah, move your question. Okay. Okay, let's, let's move. Let's move forward then. Okay.

428. 1:02:43

     I just wanted to, as I shared earlier, 'cause I asked if there, that amendment to ask someone to amend to put an enrollment cap to ensure that they cannot enroll more students than what they already have. They can keep their current enrollment, but they cannot enroll more-

429. 1:02:58

     More

430. 1:02:58

     ... while they're working to improve the school.

431. 1:03:02

     So you can submit to him. Yeah. Okay. And that would help.

432. 1:03:05

     Would that be a friendly amendment?

433. 1:03:06

     Yeah, that'd be.

434. 1:03:08

     No.

435. 1:03:08

     So w-

436. 1:03:08

     Author, would that be a friendly amendment?

437. 1:03:10

     So we had Senator Dolezal's amendment that, that moved to 28 and 65%. Okay. Senator Parent, and it passed. That passed. Senator Parent's amendment to move it to 27- Yes ... it passed. Yes. Mm-hmm. Okay. Now he would like to do it, but- So- It can- I need some help here. Well, we'll-

438. 1:03:39

     Yeah, I w- yeah, we would need a legislative council to help us with an amendment. And my understanding is they're at 1,504. How many students?

439. 1:03:46

     1524.

440. 1:03:46

     1524. I would like to say that they could enroll no more than f- 1,550 students.

441. 1:03:52

     Could, could we put it at the last FTE count?

442. 1:03:54

     At the last, there we go. At that last.

443. 1:03:56

     Yeah.

444. 1:03:56

     There we go. Yes, that's easy.

445. 1:03:57

     So-

446. 1:03:57

     At the last FTE count.

447. 1:03:58

     We're ... You, you don't need to help me, gentlemen.

448. 1:04:01

     The number's wrong, sir.

449. 1:04:02

     Give him an amendment. But it doesn't, but it doesn't matter.

450. 1:04:05

     Yeah. The last FTE count.

451. 1:04:07

     The, the, the number is wrong.

452. 1:04:09

     The last FTE count. So whatever the last FTE count would be the accurate number.

453. 1:04:14

     That means we have to, that means we have to take out

454. 1:04:17

     Hmm?

455. 1:04:17

     The

456. 1:04:20

     last FTE is the wrong number. We'll have some- So- There will be another amendment ... so do we need to take Senator Kemp's amendment up first before we go further? Mm-hmm. We do?

457. 1:04:31

     Yes.

458. 1:04:31

     Okay. So Senator Kemp's amendment. Restate your amendment please, sir.

459. 1:04:34

     My amendment would be that they can enroll no more students than the last FTE count of this school

460. 1:04:44

     You

461. 1:04:46

     Second

462. 1:04:47

     Okay. So we got a second. Senator Hatchett.

463. 1:04:52

     Question just to the author of the amendment. My only concern is if based on the last FTE count, there have been more students enrolled that are currently enrolled. What I would ask is if we could,

464. 1:05:09

     uh, propose your amendment to somehow have an exception except for those who are already enrolled so that there's no effect where a student who's currently enrolled actually has to leave the school.

465. 1:05:23

     Yes.

466. 1:05:23

     If, and, and-

467. 1:05:24

     Yeah

468. 1:05:25

     ... would that-

469. 1:05:25

     That's right

470. 1:05:26

     ... could, could we couch your amendment like that?

471. 1:05:27

     Yeah, I'm just trying to get at they can enroll no new students-

472. 1:05:30

     Yeah

473. 1:05:30

     ... outside of what is already enrolled in the school.

474. 1:05:32

     So would you restate your, restate your amendment, please?

475. 1:05:35

     Un- unless that's what I need to say.

476. 1:05:37

     Yeah.

477. 1:05:37

     Yeah, yeah.

478. 1:05:37

     Senator, can you restate your amendment?

479. 1:05:39

     That this particular school can enroll no new students outside of the students that are already enrolled in the school.

480. 1:05:46

     You got it?

481. 1:05:47

     As at the time of, of, um-

482. 1:05:49

     At, at the time-

483. 1:05:50

     Signature

484. 1:05:51

     ... yeah.

485. 1:05:51

     Probably the time.

486. 1:05:52

     As of July 1, 2026.

487. 1:05:56

     You got it?

488. 1:05:57

     Say again.

489. 1:05:58

     Sorry, go ahead. Dolezal. I'm sorry, I'm not the chairman.

490. 1:06:03

     Previous question which takes precedence and, um-

491. 1:06:06

     Say that again, please.

492. 1:06:07

     You had a motion to, uh, to, to call the previous question, which is a high-ranking b- motion that takes precedence over a motion to amend.

493. 1:06:15

     Right, but we-

494. 1:06:17

     Okay, so-

495. 1:06:19

     He's

496. 1:06:19

     Yeah. Now if, if you found that out of order, I suppose that's chairman's prerogative, but just wanna get clarity on where we stand on that motion.

497. 1:06:28

     Okay.

498. 1:06:28

     It's a friendly amendment.

499. 1:06:29

     So, okay. A- again, I need some help. So we got, we got ... Y'all need to come up here. Seriously, seriously.

500. 1:06:39

     It's chairman's discretion. He can get a previous question approved.

501. 1:06:42

     Okay, so it's at my, it's at my discretion then to ... We got, we got-

502. 1:06:47

     Previous

503. 1:06:47

     ... we got Senator Dolezal 2028 at 65%. We gon, we gon ... We've already voted on his am- his amendment at 73. Okay. And then we got Senator Parent's motion to make it at '26 at-

504. 1:07:04

     27

505. 1:07:04

     27.

506. 1:07:04

     27, excuse me.

507. 1:07:05

     27.

508. 1:07:06

     At-

509. 1:07:06

     That's where the bill stands.

510. 1:07:07

     Okay. At s-

511. 1:07:09

     65 or 27

512. 1:07:10

     ... 65%.

513. 1:07:10

     Yes, sir.

514. 1:07:10

     Okay.

515. 1:07:10

     And now we've got a new amendment, and what we're trying to get at-

516. 1:07:15

     Okay.

517. 1:07:16

     Motion. My motion-

518. 1:07:17

     Ch- I'm sorry. My motion for the previous question, it's on the bill that on line 35 it's down to 65.

519. 1:07:25

     Mm-hmm.

520. 1:07:26

     And the l- line 46 is now at 2027.

521. 1:07:30

     Mm-hmm.

522. 1:07:30

     So that's what my motion to move the previous question is on, to move the bill in that format.

523. 1:07:39

     That is correct.

524. 1:07:43

     So can I call this thing to question, yeah?

525. 1:07:46

     No, you can-

526. 1:07:46

     If he wants it. You can also allow for the amendment.

527. 1:07:50

     Huh?

528. 1:07:50

     E- either you allow my motion to move the previous question or you rule my request on that motion out of, out, out of r-

529. 1:08:00

     Out of order.

530. 1:08:00

     Out of order, thank you. Excuse my French.

531. 1:08:03

     Mm.

532. 1:08:03

     Uh, y- or you rule my motion out of order.

533. 1:08:08

     I'll allow your motion.

534. 1:08:09

     Okay.

535. 1:08:09

     Okay.

536. 1:08:09

     Thank you.

537. 1:08:10

     So, so your motion again, restate your motion for me.

538. 1:08:14

     Is to move the previous question on the substitute, committee substitute to-

539. 1:08:20

     LC64-

540. 1:08:22

     0067S. Sorry, had to get my glasses. Couldn't read.

541. 1:08:25

     Okay.

542. 1:08:29

     Okay, so, so are we, are we now ready to vote on the bill?

543. 1:08:33

     You will now take a vote on this motion.

544. 1:08:34

     Well, no. We gotta take a vote on his motion to move the previous question.

545. 1:08:38

     Okay, so-

546. 1:08:38

     Which means we can't do the other amendment, but that's okay. Whatever happens. Yeah.

547. 1:08:44

     You understand what he's talking about?

548. 1:08:46

     Yes.

549. 1:08:46

     You do? Well, you-

550. 1:08:48

     Just call the vote and just-

551. 1:08:50

     Call the vote?

552. 1:08:50

     ... motion to the bill.

553. 1:08:52

     Okay.

554. 1:08:52

     Call the question and then just call a vote.

555. 1:08:53

     Okay, I call the question on the bill. Okay, so we ready, now we're ready to take a vote?

556. 1:08:58

     Yes.

557. 1:08:59

     Okay, so-

558. 1:08:59

     You can call the question now.

559. 1:09:01

     Okay.

560. 1:09:01

     No, he's not gonna do that now.

561. 1:09:02

     Huh?

562. 1:09:03

     No, it's fine. He's calling it.

563. 1:09:05

     You're calling the question.

564. 1:09:05

     All in favor, so you don't-

565. 1:09:06

     Okay, all in favor of LC 64-0- 067S-

566. 1:09:13

     As amended

567. 1:09:13

     ... as amended for the 65% in 2020-

568. 1:09:21

     Seven

569. 1:09:21

     ... seven?

570. 1:09:22

     Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

571. 1:09:23

     Okay, 2027.

572. 1:09:24

     Yes, sir.

573. 1:09:26

     Lord, please raise your hand.

574. 1:09:31

     Countin'. Oh, I got one.

575. 1:09:35

     Okay, all opposed? Okay. It passes. Okay, so the bill is, sh- makes it 65% in 2027.

576. 1:09:48

     Yes, Mr. Chairman.

577. 1:09:49

     Okay. Thank y'all for your patience.

578. 1:09:52

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

579. 1:09:53

     That gives y'all some time. Okay. Um, oh Lord hammers.

580. 1:10:02

     Representative Corbett, thank you so much for your patience. Uh, you know, we also have Senator Hatchett after, after this, so y'all, y'all please maintain and, um, please move forward. Senator Cor- Representative Corbett, thank you, sir. We'll, we'll bring you. You can be a part of us if you want to.

581. 1:10:17

     I, I, I appreciate the, uh, promotion. Thank you, sir.

582. 1:10:18

     Yeah. Thanks, sir. And thank y'all for your patience.

583. 1:10:22

     Absolutely. Okay. Are we ready?

584. 1:10:24

     You know, you know, again, I, I wanna say this, a lot of people are leaving this room. They didn't get what they want, but they got more than what they could have had, and that's what the word, that's what the word compromise means, so.

585. 1:10:37

     That's true.

586. 1:10:38

     Thank you. Thank you, Representative. Go forward.

587. 1:10:39

     All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of committee. I bring before you the substitute to H- House Bill 629.

588. 1:10:45

     Yeah.

589. 1:10:45

     LC 610511S

590. 1:10:51

     Is that, is that the bill we working, working on?

591. 1:10:55

     Yes.

592. 1:10:57

     Okay. All right, that, that's the bill we have. Uh, Mr. Chairman, again, th- this bill is about two things, uh, saving lives in our schools and protecting our-

593. 1:11:04

     Yes, it is

594. 1:11:04

     ... our, our teachers' time. First, on school safety, this legislation modernizes emergency preparedness by expanding protocols beyond cardiac events to include severe bleeding emergencies. It ensures schools have bleeding control kits, trained personnel, and clear emergency room action plans with regular drills so when something happens, staff are ready to respond immediately and effectively. And just as important, it removes unnecessary administrative barriers, like a physician oversight requirement, while still maintaining strong training and accountability standards.

595. 1:11:36

     Second part of this bill, uh, protects educators by ensuring duty-free lunch and planning time cannot be waived, no matter the type of school system. These are not perks. They are essential to teacher effectiveness and retention. You know, this, this bill is a balanced, common sense approach to student safety and teacher support. I respectfully ask for your favorable consideration, and the, uh, Children's Hospital of Atlanta also support this bill as well.

596. 1:12:02

     Oh, thank you. Very good. Very familiar with that hospital.

597. 1:12:06

     No.

598. 1:12:06

     Any questions? And thank you for, um, you was actually sitting in for Representative Hawkins, and we appreciate that.

599. 1:12:11

     A- a- a- and enjoyed it. Thank, uh, very much.

600. 1:12:13

     Yeah, thank you, sir. Senator Halpern, is that you?

601. 1:12:18

     At the appropriate time, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion.

602. 1:12:21

     It is appropriate time. It is appropriate time. Do I hear a second?

603. 1:12:24

     D- due pass.

604. 1:12:26

     Senator Hatchett. Okay, all in favor... Oh, any discussion? I see none. All in favor? Wait, wait, wait. Hmm? I'd like to make a motion to amend line 132, striking 2027, replacing it with 2050. I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't see a date in there.

605. 1:12:45

     Scared life out of me today. You know what? You know what? I'm, I'm laughing at that, but that a- that is not funny.

606. 1:12:54

     Hey, Lord. Thank you. Um, okay, all all in favor of LC 610508S, as in Sam, please raise your right hand.

607. 1:13:10

     Thank you. Okay.

608. 1:13:11

     Thank, thank you, Mr. Chair.

609. 1:13:12

     Thank you.

610. 1:13:12

     And, and Senator Payne has agreed to carry this in, in the Senate.

611. 1:13:14

     Oh, good. You got, you got one of the best.

612. 1:13:16

     All right.

613. 1:13:16

     You got one of the best. Senator Hatchett.

614. 1:13:23

     Members, we want to tell y'all before y'all leave here today, we have got gifts for everybody.

615. 1:13:27

     Oh.

616. 1:13:28

     So, um, so don't, don't, don't just jump up and run out of here. Okay?

617. 1:13:32

     Yes. It's the lottery tickets.

618. 1:13:34

     Lottery tickets. Lottery ticket. If you're lucky, maybe you don't leave.

619. 1:13:40

     Got my help with me too.

620. 1:13:42

     Oh, okay. You got support here.

621. 1:13:44

     I do.

622. 1:13:45

     You be- you're a big guy. I didn't know you needed any support.

623. 1:13:54

     Oh, this is good. This is good. This is part of the study committee.

624. 1:13:58

     Yes.

625. 1:13:59

     Thank you.

626. 1:14:00

     Uh, Mr. Chairman, I bring the substitute to House Bill 419. Uh, this will now provide for better data and reporting on three education programs. First, the substitute represents requested edits from the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Governor's Office of Student Achievement on implementation of the Promise Scholarship. More specifically, the bill makes administrative edits that ensure participating private schools are making progress towards accreditation if they have not received it already, enhances transparency on the number of participating students and open slots, as well as clarifies which public schools are ineligible for the bottom 25% list.

627. 1:14:38

     This committee has vetted this language already and passed it out earlier this month as Senate Bill 445. It also passed the Senate on March 3rd with a vote of 51 to 1. The other two changes relate to oversight of the Special Needs Scholarship, as well as the chronic absenteeism problem the state faces. There are existing bills on these issues, and this language seeks to enhance these legislative changes by incorporating improved reporting from the Office of Student Achievement. For the Special Needs Scholarship, this means that GOSHA's existing report on the program will be improved to include disaggregated student data and key program metrics.

628. 1:15:17

     GOSHA will also work with the Department of Education to properly define and collect the more improved reporting for program oversight. For chronic absenteeism, GOSHA will, with data provided by the Department of Education by February 1 of each year, improve their currently required attendance report to include compulsory attendance and chronically absent students. Such reports shall provide statewide levels and trends, district and county trends, attendance outcomes, and subgroup patterns. To summarize, we are simply ensuring that the state's education agencies are in the best position possible to monitor and implement these programs, as well as provide public reporting information to the Governor and General Assembly as to program effectiveness.

629. 1:16:03

     And I've brought experts to answer questions if you have any.

630. 1:16:07

     Yeah. And define, define, define for the group what chronic absenteeism is.

631. 1:16:11

     Yeah. You want me to define that?

632. 1:16:16

     I do.

633. 1:16:16

     Hi, Chair, uh, Mr. Chairman and committee members. My name is, um, MJ Kim, and I'm the Director of Policy, Research, and Evaluation at the Governor's Office of Student Achievement. If you have any questions related to our reporting, um, function, please feel, feel free to do so.

634. 1:16:34

     So chronic absentee is, is defined as when a student misses more than 10% of school days a year, and it's 180 days, so it's 18 days. And what the, what the numbers would tell you that if a child is, student is out one day, it takes 1.9 days, days for them to catch up, and this was, was a big part of the study committee that, uh, Senator Hatchett, myself, and I think, Senator Kim, was you on that? Yes. There's a couple o- others from that such committee. So it's, what we've learned also in is that as Mississippi and Alabama's literacy rates have increased, their chronic absentee rates have gone down.

635. 1:17:10

     Mm-hmm. Pretty interesting. We gotta get our kids reading. Any, any questions at all? Just one from Senator Jackson. Sure. Yes, ma'am.

636. 1:17:18

     Thank you. Um, is this still increasing eligibility? Are we shifting, um, from kindergarten to first grade? Is this ...

637. 1:17:29

     Chairman, if I may.

638. 1:17:30

     Yes, please.

639. 1:17:30

     Uh, Chris Green here on behalf of Student Finance Commissioner. Senator, thank you for the question. No, that provision has been removed.

640. 1:17:36

     Okay.

641. 1:17:36

     Thank you for the question.

642. 1:17:39

     Any other questions other committee?

643. 1:17:43

     Perfect time, perfect time.

644. 1:17:44

     It's perfect time. Which one, the, which one of the gray hairs on the end?

645. 1:17:49

     13.

646. 1:17:50

     Okay, 14, 13, um- Okay ... make a motion do pass. Okay.

647. 1:17:54

     Second.

648. 1:17:55

     S- second. Okay. Very ... Well, that was fast. Um, all ... No more discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand.

649. 1:18:06

     Better have one up.

650. 1:18:10

     Thank you, sir.

651. 1:18:11

     Thank you.

652. 1:18:12

     Thank y'all.

653. 1:18:12

     Thank you, committee.

654. 1:18:13

     It has been a pleasure being with y'all for two years on this. I hope we continue the same group. You will. Well, except for one. I'll visit. Except for one. And I'll be able to attend the committee dinner 'cause I won't actually have to be on the floor, so- Yeah. Well- ... I'll be there if the bell's gone. Well, we, we always appre- appreciate the input. This committee is so focused on literacy and getting our kids educated, and I just can't overemphasize how much I appreciate the commitment to it. Thank you. So don't ... So y'all don't leave. Let us give these little gifts to you before you leave. Oh, that's very nice.

655. 1:18:43

     Yeah. Yeah. That's so kind