Education

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

52ND LEGISLATURE

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

DATE:	February 26, 2015	TIME: 9:00 A.M.			ROOM: SHR 1

CHAIRMAN:	Senator Kelli Ward	VICE-CHAIRMAN:		Senator Kimberly Yee

ANALYST:	Matthew Simon


ATTENDANCE			BILLS

Committee Members	Pr	Ab	Ex	Bill Number	Disposition
Senator Allen	X			HB 2066	DP
Senator Begay	X			HB 2181	DISCUSS/HELD
Senator Bradley	X			HB 2184	DPA
Senator Dial	X			HB 2186	DP
Senator Smith	X			HB 2478	DP
Senator Yee, Vice-Chairman	X			HB 2516	DP
Senator Ward, Chairman	X

PRESENTATIONS

Arizona Private Post-Secondary Industry

Kirt Hamm - Owner, Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences

Steve Malutich, Campus Director, The Refrigeration School

Doug Seibels, HVAC Technician

Fred Lockhart - Executive Director, Arizona Private Schools Association

Arizona Private Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities

Mark Brenner, Chief of Staff to the CEO, Apollo Education Group, Inc.

Gary Cloud, Vice President, A.T. Still University

Kathleen Geoppinger, President and CEO, Midwestern University

Chairman Ward called the meeting to order at 9:18 a.m. and attendance was taken.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Senator Ward stated that without objection, the minutes of February 19, 2015 were approved.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS

HB 2184 – state board of education; members. – DO PASS AMENDED

Matthew Simon, Education Committee Research Analyst, explained HB 2184 and the 14-page Ward amendment dated 02/24/15 at 4:40 p.m. (Attachment A). Mr. Simon answered questions posed by the Committee.

Aiden Fleming, Arizona Department of Education, testified in support of HB 2184.

Diane Douglas, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Department of Education, testified in support of HB 2184.

Michael Bradley, Chief of Staff, Arizona Department of Education, testified in support of HB 2184 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Clair Van Steenwyk, representing himself, testified in opposition to HB 2184 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Beth Hallgren, Precinct Committeemen and State Committeemen in Pinal County for the Republican Party, representing herself, testified in opposition to HB 2184.

Thayer Verschoor, President, Arizona Republican Assembly, representing himself, testified in opposition to HB 2184 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Itasca Small, representing herself, testified in opposition to HB 2184.

Barry Aarons, Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, testified in support of HB 2184.

Senator Yee moved HB 2184 be returned with a DO PASS recommendation.

Senator Yee moved the 14-page Ward amendment dated 02/24/15 at 4:40 p.m. (Attachment A) be ADOPTED. The motion CARRIED by voice vote.

Senator Yee moved HB 2184 be returned with an AS AMENDED, DO PASS recommendation. The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 7-0-0 (Attachment 1).

Senators Smith, Yee and Ward explained their votes.

HB 2516 – teachers; abuse prevention; continuing – DO PASS

Andrew Almodova, Education Committee Research Intern, explained HB 2516.

Senator Yee moved HB 2516 be returned with a DO PASS recommendation.

The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 7-0-0 (Attachment 2).

HB 2186 – county school superintendents; schools; libraries – continued

Andrew Almodova, Education Committee Research Intern, explained HB 2186.

Trey Williams, Arizona Association of Counties, answered questions posed by the Committee.

Senator Ward stated that HB 2186 would be continued later in the meeting.

HB 2066 – public school tax credit: testing – DO PASS

Bill Ritz, Finance Committee Research Analyst, explained HB 2066.

Representative Mesnard, bill sponsor, further explained HB 2066 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Dr. Fred De Prez, Principal, Hamilton High School, Chandler, Arizona, testified in support of HB 2066 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Jennifer Loredo, Arizona Education Association, testified in opposition to HB 2066.

Senator Yee moved HB 2066 be returned with a DO PASS recommendation.

The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 3).

Senator Bradley and Senator Smith explained their votes.

HB 2478 – JTEDs; satellite courses; charter schools – DO PASS

Brandi Peplinski, Education Committee Assistant Analyst, explained HB 2478.

Senator Yee moved HB 2478 be returned with a DO PASS recommendation.

The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 4).

HB 2181 – schools; omnibus statutory repeals – DISCUSS/HELD

Matthew Simon, Education Committee Research Analyst, explained HB 2181 and the 3-line Bradley amendment dated 02/25/15 at 9:46 a.m. (Attachment B) and the 8-page Ward amendment dated 02/25/15 at 12:54 p.m. (Attachment C). Mr. Simon answered questions posed by the Committee.

Meghaen Dell Artino, Education Finance Reform Group (EFRG), testified in support of HB 2181 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Senator Ward stated that HB 2181 would be HELD.

HB 2186 – county school superintendents; schools; libraries – DO PASS

Barry Aarons, Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, testified in support of HB 2186 and answered questions posed by the Committee.

Senator Yee moved HB 2186 be returned with a DO PASS recommendation.

The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 7-0-0 (Attachment 5).

PRESENTATIONS

Arizona Private Post-Secondary Industry

Kirt Hamm, Owner, Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, gave an overview of the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Steve Malutich, Campus Director, The Refrigeration School, gave an overview of The Refrigeration School. Mr. Malutich answered questions posed by the Committee.

Doug Seibels, HVAC Technician, Parker and Sons, gave a testimonial for The Refrigeration School.

Fred Lockhart, Executive Director, Arizona Private Schools Association, gave an overview of the Arizona Private Schools Association. Mr. Lockhart answered questions posed by the Committee.

Arizona Private Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities

Mark Brenner, Chief of Staff to the CEO, Apollo Education Group Inc., gave an overview of the University of Phoenix and the Apollo Education Group Inc.

Gary Cloud, Vice President, A.T. Still University, gave an overview of the A.T. Still University. Mr. Cloud discussed the importance of medical education careers.

Ross Kosinski, Ph.D., Dean of Students, on behalf of Kathleen Geoppinger, President and CEO, Midwestern University, distributed and explained a handout entitled “Midwestern University Key Facts” (Attachment D). Mr. Kosinski gave an overview of the Midwestern University.

Attached is a list noting the individuals who registered their position on the bills (Attachment E).

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:48 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imee L. Andrew

Committee Secretary

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

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Committee on Education

2 February 26, 2015