Legitalk:

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the Higher Education Employment Advancement Committee. This is going to be our last scheduled meeting of the session, although you never know if we get some referrals. But, this is our last, JF meeting, as they say. My name is, Derek Schlapp, state senator from the 5th State Senate District, and we have an agenda today with with nine bills on it. And so before we get going, let me just see if my co chair or good ranking members have any comments that they'd like to relay?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: I'd only say that I look forward to what will be our last meeting to deal with bills that originated here in this committee, and it's been great working with our two ranking members. And I'll have more to say that about that perhaps at the end of the meeting, but look forward to a productive meeting today.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Haddad. Senator Martin or representative Branko, any comments?

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: No. Green is the color of the day, and I just pleased to see a lot of people here wearing a little bit of green. So my second favorite, Kyle.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. I just wanna say happy Saint Patrick's Day, and we have till, what, 5PM today to do this. So so, alright. Let's get to work.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you for those ominous comments, representative Branca. Okay. So the, moving on to section three of the agenda, the first bill for consideration is, senate bill three eighty. It's an act into money in the recommendations of the task force to support promise programs in the state. There is JFS language, LCO number three three six o. So be asking for a motion to JFS, LCO number 336O to the floor.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: So moved.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Haddad. Is there a second?

[Rep. Collins Main]: Second.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Great. Thank you. I don't know who which one okay. So sweet. Thank you. Thank you for that. Okay. So we have a second. Great. So we'll we'll before we we move on this bill, we'll open it up for for comments and see if there's any comments or questions on it. I will I'll make a few before we hand off to my colleagues. Just kind of broadly speaking, I would say that we have a problem in, Connecticut with, higher education. We are a relatively high cost state, in many things, but higher education included. At the same time, we have, when you compare it to other, states in the country, relatively low support for, for students in terms of scholarships. And so, that has, resulted in I have some some stats here, but only 40% of eligible Connecticut students actually receive a state need based grant. This was in, FY twenty three. So when you combine a high cost state with, you know, a low ranking when it comes to our scholarship support for students, and when I talk about that, I mean, Connecticut students going to Connecticut colleges, You have a a big impact on our workforce. We have a massive brain drain. We have one of the the worst, I guess you could say, in the country where we have four out of 10 students leave the state to attend college, and most of them do not come back. And so that has put a a big impact on our has a big impact on our workforce, on our economy, and, you know, I believe, in our state's future. And so this bill is the result of really great work from the Promise Task Force trying to come up with some solutions to help with college affordability, and it's modeled Jason Rubin Law.

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: This is James. How can I help you?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: And we have senator Maroney needs there he goes. Okay. He's muted. Is really modeled on, the great success of four, municipal promise programs. And when I say municipal, I mean, they're they're based in municipalities, but they're not necessarily run by municipal government. And that's, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, and Hartford. And they have done a tremendous job of, helping students, one, realize that they, have the talent and the means to go to college and to to go on and continue, post secondary. The wraparound and support services have been instrumental. The outcomes are terrific, especially at a time when we see kind of chronic absenteeism in in some of our communities. They hold students accountable. They have high standards and they deliver results. And so, this bill is is looking at that and trying to say, how can we help other communities replicate that success and how can we on top of local seeding more local promise programs, how can we get the state to at least meet the the national average when it comes to supporting students and their pursuit of higher education? So that's that's what the bill kind of broadly does. I do wanna thank both the chairs, I would say, and Kelvin Rodin and Richard Sugarman for their leadership. That's the chairs of this task force that started meeting many, many months ago and towards the end of the summer and then delivered this report to our committee in January. The other members, I think, deserve a a shout out. Jeffrey Berry, with the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Ayanna Encarnacion, UConn and Hartford Promise alumna, Nathan Furst with UConn, who I believe is the vice president of, enrollment management. He may have a different title, but that sounds right. Sivan Hines, who's who's, the leader of Hartford Promise, Mona Lucas with UConn, Kalanda Mall with Waterbury Promise, Patricia Melton, New Haven Promise, Catherine Pizzuti with University of Hartford, as I mentioned, Kelvin Rodin and Richard Sugarman, and, Dan Gunji, with, Chesla. And also, I wanna thank, Monica Chan, who's with UMass Boston, Dan Dilworth with OFA, and, of course, our clerk, Megan Villanova with the Higher Education Committee, and then, Jennifer Widnes with CCIC. They all played a really important role in this task force. And it's one of the best products I have seen come out of a task force. And so, I I'll just conclude by saying that there's a few different parts of this bill. One, like I said, is to help, communities who are interested in propping up promise programs to do that. So seeding new promise programs, supporting existing ones so they can have even more of an impact in the local community, and then bringing us to the national average with, with an investment that, is on par with what what many other states, across the country are doing. So, I hope that, you know, we have strong support out of committee, and then we'll have to do a lot of work in appropriations committee to see, what we can do. But this is a a real statement, I think, to families, all across, Connecticut that we, are ready to invest in them and invest in our workforce. So, thank you. And, that said, we'll see if there's any other comments or questions. Oh, representative Braco.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. I'm I'm a fan of this bill and this program. I think it's a a great idea. I've I've said before I'm a fan of the criteria that is required to be eligible for these promise programs between your attendance and, your grade point average. So expanding the statewide, I think can benefit a lot of a lot of students across the state. I would just ask, can you just explain a little bit structurally? We're talking about starting a a statewide promise program while at the same time encouraging more local programs to get started. Can you just explain sort of the the the interplay between the two, how how students are eligible statewide? Can you just explain how that works between the two, the the local programs and the state program at the same time?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Sure. And thank you, representative Bracco, for for that question. Yeah. So the part that is statewide is really the investment in, these additional scholarships. So right now, we have one statewide scholarship program. It's called the Roberta Willis program, and it primarily serves low income families. I think the average family income is about $50,000 for a recipient of the Roberta Willis scholarship. And only about one third of eligible students in the state actually receive Willis. So even among that kind of restricted band, income band, right, we still have two thirds of eligible students and families who are not getting Willis. This bill would and and that's about $40,000,000, by the way, of of funding annually for Willis. If we added, $30,000,000, per year to that, right, on on top of Willis, we would help, and, by the way, extended the, the the income bands, into the middle income families. We would help, approximately, about 7,000 additional students and families all across the state, each year. Ultimately, when it's built out, it would be about 28,000 students. And and that's just with family incomes up to $110,000 So we'd be helping a lot of additional families. That is the statewide piece. The the the local promise organizations, they have been very successful, really building grassroots support at a local level. That kind of support, community buy in, the Representative Bracco, the the pieces that you talked about in terms of with, you know, having a certain grade point average and attendance, that kind of thing, those are best, I think, created at the local level and managed at the local level. And so what we wanna do is really help empower municipalities to prop up their own promise programs. And that's what is is in the bill. And we think that that's gonna be best, not only in terms of cost efficiency, but also with outcomes. So I hope that answers your question, representative.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: That that did. Thank you. And I I think you predicted my next question. And just to clarify, if we pass this, today, am I would I be correct saying that there would be 28,000 eligible students that would qualify for the statewide promise program. Is that number correct?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yeah. The funding in the bill is for one year. So if you just you know, if you think about it, we'd be building year after year on it. So it's an additional 30,000,000, which would be kind of one year of that cohort. That's what's in the bill. Of course, we'd have to come back. If it were to, you know, to pass and get into these midyear budget adjustments, we'd have to come back next year and then, you know, fund additional classes. Right? So the sophomore class, junior and and senior, etcetera. But but ultimately, if this was built out, yes, we would have close to 30,000 students, in every community, benefiting from from this, new program.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you. And final question I have is is can you receive both? If you're if you are in a local community that has a local Promise program, and you're eligible to receive their scholarship, can you receive their scholarship and also scholarship from this statewide Promise program?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: The short answer is yes. It would be there there's nothing that would disqualify you. And I think what we would look at, you know, how best to meet need, really. And so, you know, that would be that would be the goal. So, yes, you would still be able to qualify.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you very much. I appreciate those answers. Did did you Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: Do we through you mister chair, do we know what percentage of those students may qualify for both? So I take it that those that qualify were for Roberta Willis will are from the might be the same students that would qualify for the Promise program. And I guess, you know, the Promise program, you gotta have a great point average of three point o or above. I guess my question in a different way is how many, in in the Roberta Willis have that type of requirement, for grade point average?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: That's a great question. Let me try to see if I can if I can answer that. And I I don't I don't think I have all the the information you're looking for off the top of my head. But so and and with Berta Willis, there's two different buckets of Roberta Willis funding. There's need and then need merit. Right? So it gets pretty complicated pretty quickly when we figure out how many students are eligible for each one. I could tell you that with existing funding for Willis, we have which is about $40,000,000 per year. Okay? Adding an additional 30,000,000 will get us about I have the precise number recording the report about 6,460. So we kinda do the math and back into what that is. Yeah. Addition. Addition. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. I don't know if, representative Datt, if you have any more kinda insight in terms of the numbers. But so it's about we're going from 40,000,000 to it'd be 70,000,000 a year. So not quite doubling. Right? About a you know, what about a 75%

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: I well, I can find my answer in the another way. So I like to program

[Rep. Collins Main]: Yeah.

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: You know, if with what I heard and with from the major report, definitely something that we should be looking into and moving forward. But it just as we're talking here, I'm thinking, okay, how many? We've got the Roberta Willis funds. We got two components of that. Now we've got the sort of a merit based promise program that has a lot of positives to that in order to qualify, keeping that grade point average up. It just I'm just curious to know, Gee, how many in the Roberta Willis, would qualify for this this program under the promise. But I I can I can get my answer a different way? So no no problem. Alright.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: We'll we'll we'll crunch the numbers for you. Absolutely. I I saw that representative Ackert had a question and his hand was down. Representative Ackert, do you have a question or comment?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Yes, sir. Thank you, mister chair. Appreciate chiming in on this in support of this legislation. My question is, let's say, it probes you know, if we don't get all the way, is there an opportunity that appropriations may say, hey. Listen. Let's at least fund some more because it is a big it's a big dollar amount. I know we can work. I'm on appropriation, so I know what happens at times. But if we could at least expand it, what are your thoughts on that?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, Representative Acker. Yeah. I I never like to negotiate against myself. So, you know, I'm I'm but, yes. I mean, I'm a realist, I think, and we all are in terms of, you know, the the the budget pressures and spending cap, etcetera. I think it's a really important statement, and I'm hoping, you know, that we can we can pass this resoundingly out of here, and then we can go to a probes and see what's possible. You know, it's built in a way. I mean, there's the report has a lot of great information in it. That's what I was kind of flipping through, like, on page 21 as an example and page 23. So it it kinda details how we can we could scale it up. So it's I don't think it has to be an all or nothing. And there's also a piece of this that's focused just specifically on helping build municipal, you know, new promise programs. So that might be a piece that, you know, I'm putting some of my cards on the table here, but that would be a great way to build momentum until we hit the the biannual budget negotiations in next spring. So I I appreciate your question. I think it's a good one.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Thank you, mister chair. I appreciate that. Yeah. The testimony was, you know, so moving and the work that the the group did is appreciated. So, thank you. I'm in I'll be in support of this.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: With those comments, I'd offer to motion to start a consent calendar and add this item to it.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Great. Unless there's any objection, we'll ask the clerk to add this to a consent calendar. Great. Thank you. Our next item is house bill five four seven eight. It's an act concerning learn and earn internship opportunities. It's a JFS to the floor, which is that's LCO number 3388. Do I have a motion?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: So moved.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Haddad. Is there a second? Thank you. It was representative Farrar second. We'll ask my co chair, representative Haddad, to talk briefly about this bill.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Thank you, mister chair. I and I'm I'm glad to talk about this bill. I think that this is potentially one of our best bills to come out of this committee this year. There's an increasing body of evidence that shows that students benefit from having a quality work based learning opportunity built into their program of study, and that they have the opportunity to do a quality internship, that their outcomes post graduation are very strong. So, they are more likely to be employed. They are more likely to earn more than other students who haven't had such an opportunity to take advantage of an internship. Those outcomes are even great, enhanced even greater if the internship is a paid internship. So there's a correlation not just with the quality of the internship, but also whether or not it's being it's a paid internship. And, of course, the the pay is important to a lot of students who are low income first generation students who might find it challenging to participate in an internship during the summer or during, you know, winter breaks or even during a semester that isn't paid given the other challenges that they might face in their life as a college student. So this bill attempts to address the supply of these paid internships by offering, you know, some tax incentives for small businesses, some small medium businesses, as well as large businesses who employ interns and pay them. That is one of the changes in the substitute language is to add the original language that we heard in committee only dealt with larger corporations that pay a corporation tax. This adds small and medium companies as well. For if you are fortunate enough to sort of get an internship at a nonprofit, This bill envisions a small grant program that would help incentivize nonprofits to create these internship opportunities as well. And one of the other additions in the substitute language is requiring our own state government, the department through the Department of Administrative Services to do an assessment of where we are in state government with the provision of paid internships through state government. And hopefully, a roadmap to how we can improve our own offerings in state government. We heard testimony from UConn, which is doing this work already to great effect. They have roughly 6,000 students who work on campus already. They've converted 500 of those positions over to paid internships that have the characteristics of a quality program. And those characteristics include things like a supervisor in the field of study for the student, a mentor who they can talk to, time for personal reflection on the student about what their a bit what their internship means and how it will impact their post graduation employment. You know, things like that. So, there are different characteristics that we can use to determine whether or not a summer job is really an internship or vice versa. So, we we task, in this bill with the S language, both UConn and the CSU system, to come together to determine and really carefully define for folks what a paid internship, quality internship looks like, what those what those characteristics are so that we can begin to promote and replicate that model. And we provide some incentives for, small businesses, non profits, state government to, to increase the number of paid internships they offer to our students statewide. The hope is that, you know, students will have more opportunity to engage in work based learning opportunities and that our business community and state government and institutions themselves and our nonprofit community will put the work in to make those opportunities more more abundant for students. And so I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Haddad. Representative Acker.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Thank you, mister chair. And I've gotta jump through approach. You know, I wish I could do Zoom in two different screens here, but, I'm just gonna have to do with one. The only question I have, and I'm in full support of this legislation as well, the tax credits, are they for all taxpayers? In other words, s corps, LLCs, c corps? Because what happens a lot of times is we we we have winners and losers on the tax credit for the in internships, through you, mister chair.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yeah. I'm gonna short this hand this by saying large corporations that pay the sort of corporation tax, there is something called the human capital investment tax credit. We add stipends and salaries paid to interns to that program so that if they're engaged in a quality internship that that's been vetted, that they can qualify for the tax those expenditures will qualify for the tax credit. And it creates a new tax credit program for smaller and medium sized businesses so that they can take advantage of a tax credit, as well. To you, mister speaker, mister chair.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank thank you.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Mister chair, thank you for that, mister chair. Thank you for that answer. I'm just making sure the tax classification so I can be a incorporated business of just, you know, myself, but I can also be an s corp in an LLC. So and moving forward, if we can codify that it's you know, even though they're small companies, it's their tax classification that actually qualifies for the tax credit.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yes. Mister mister chair, that that is that's my understanding about what the amendment and the substitute language does, is it does include those those other kinds of entities.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Thank you. And, you know, we've done we've done good work in the past. This isn't the best always the best, but this is a good one. Thank you, mister chair. I look forward to supporting this.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. Any other comments or questions, representative Braco?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. And I too am a a big fan of this, because not only are we creating opportunities for students to get real workforce experience with companies, but we're also providing incentives for the businesses to provide these opportunities. So I think this bill works both ways, and I I'm certainly gonna support it. I think we have a little more to flesh out in terms of, how these businesses might qualify for one of these seals and who who makes the determination that the business will get a seal and they are eligible to provide these internship opportunities. But I I think we're we're in a good place now and, we'll certainly support this going forward, and I would also offer this to the consent calendar.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Bronco. Before we do put that on the consent calendar, representative Farrar.

[Rep. Kate Farrar]: Thank you, mister chair. I just wanted to acknowledge as well the great collaboration on this bill. I think we heard in testimony, how valuable this bill will be to our students and our economy, but I particularly want to thank the the chairs for considering the inclusion of looking at the opportunities in our own state government. I know I recently heard from a constituent, Isaac, about his interest in pursuing state government internships, and there just really weren't many paid opportunities that he could pursue. And I've heard the same thing from my own legislative intern, Jabriel, and other young people, and I really appreciate the step we're taking to look at our own opportunities in state government. Since here in the legislature, we're trying to do the same in adding a stipend for our internship program. So really appreciate that this is an a look at all of the opportunities we want our students to have access to, and I look forward to the continued work on it. So thank you, mister chair.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. Seeing no other questions or comments, and we have the, motion from, a good ranking member, representative Bracco, we'll move this then to the consent calendar. Thank you, madam clerk. Okay. Up next is senate bill number three eight three. It's an act implementing the recommendations of the Office of Workforce Strategy related to higher education. The motion is j f to the floor. Do we have a motion to j f this bill to the floor? So moved. Representative Haddad, thank you with the with the motion. Is there a

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: second? Second.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Okay. Yeah. Senator Martin with a second. Thank you, senator. This bill is comes to us from the Office of Workforce Strategy. It does a number of things. It moves some some dates around. It illuminates some requirements. I I was assured, by the way, that the elimination of the requirement for OWS to establish a heating, ventilation, and air condition HVAC system pipeline training program does not mean that the administration and this general assembly is not interested in supporting, you know, folks who are gonna go into HVAC, but that they say the Department of Labor has has a number of different, sections here. But, again, it's, related to recommendations, from OWS, and I'll see if any of my colleagues has, has any questions or comments on this. Representative Branko.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. And you anticipated my sole question on the HVAC program. So with that being answered, I would offer this item to the consent calendar.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Branko. Seeing no objections, we will move this bill to the consent calendar. Thank you, madam clerk, for that. Up next is senate bill number four two seven, an act concerning dual enrollment programs. There's JFS language. It's LCO number 3218. Can I have a motion? Is there a motion to JFS this to the floor?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Similar message here.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Representative Haddad with the motion. Is there a second? Second. Representative Sweet, thank you for the second. We'll ask representative Haddad to I know this changes the name and among other things. Representative Haddad, do you wanna add any color commentary here on Senate Bill four two seven?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yes, mister speaker. Sorry, mister chair. I'll have you back in the house soon, I think Nice. Senator Slapp. You know, last year, we made great progress in sort of passing a bill that defines dual and concurrent enrollment programs. And our state budget currently includes $6,000,000 at the State Department of Education to support students who are engaged in those programs. This bill modifies slightly the way that high need students might access those dollars. Currently, the Department of Education intends to have a grant program where school districts that have a dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment enrollment program can apply for assistance to provide essentially scholarships to those students. This envisions that there may be high need, high priority students who outside of those districts where the school district is applying and contemplates allowing the Department of Education to also provide support directly to those high needs students if they enroll in a dual enrollment program. And so, I think it's a slight modification to what we did last year. The language also clarifies that when we're talking about these programs that we do, in fact, mean both dual enrollment programs and concurrent enrollment programs, as they were defined last year. One covers, classes that are being taken by a high school student at a college for college credit. The other is a program of study where they're earning college credit through an agreement, but the class is being taken at their high school and through a high school instruct through a a high school teacher that's been approved or selected by a college or a university. So make sure that we have our own language right and expand slightly the grant program that was envisioned last year, and that will be implemented in fiscal year twenty seven.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, Representative Faddad. Are there any comments or questions about Senate Bill four two seven, LCO number three two one eight? Representative Branca?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. I'm also a fan of this program. I think it provides a lot of opportunity for our students, to take college courses while in high school. So I do support this and will offer this item to the consent calendar.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. Seeing no objections, we will add this, madam clerk, to the consent calendar, senate bill four two seven. Up next is senate bill number four two eight, an act concerning research funded at institutions of higher education in the state. We're gonna be proposing to j f this to the Appropriations Committee. Is there a second? I'm sorry. A motion first. I'm jumping ahead.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: I'll make the motion, mister Adair.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Haddad. Is there a second? Representative Farrar. We'll we'll let representative Haddad explain this as part because his his great leadership on this, but I think I'll just say quickly that the goal here is to address, I would say, in in many ways, kind of federal funding cuts that have been kind of capricious in nature and have have resulted in significant loss of funding, particularly at the University of Connecticut for important research projects. But beyond just the impact that it has on the research itself, you know, we know that it, that they have, really, a big benefit on, local economy and jobs when it comes to, research funding. Certainly, in my district, which covers Farmington and West Hartford, as well as Bloomfield and Burlington, we know that UConn Health is a is a really important institution there. And so, you know, we really see the impacts in the community when we lose tens of millions of dollars in research funding. And that's just at Yukon alone. So I appreciate, you, Representative Haddad, your leadership on this issue. And, the floor is yours if you'd like to say a few words.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Thank you. And I'm I intend to see if we can keep this juggernaut rolling with another motion for the consent calendar. Although, I'm advised that maybe that won't happen here. This bill does serve address a very serious problem that institutions across Connecticut, research institutions in particular, are facing right now. There there with the change in administration in Washington, there have been changes to a number of different policies that have left research not just in Connecticut, but research funding across the country with less fewer resources and a more difficult process in order to secure what resources are available. Yeah. At UConn alone, that has led directly to $53,000,000 of terminated grants and unexpected nonrenewals. And directly or indirectly, they estimate that that will amount to 100,000,000 less of research funding from the federal government when all is said and done. And it's important for us to recognize that this research is not just important for the issues that, you know, the specific scientific discoveries that are negatively impact. But there's an overall economic impact to the state of Connecticut. When research is conducted here, there's a multiplier effect. It has a significant impact on our economy. Currently, UConn estimates that there's, in total, there's $700,000,000 of economic activity that occurs in villages and towns across Connecticut. And that seven that their research dollars support over 3,000 high school jobs across the state. When that's multiplied across other kinds of institutions, you know, it's easy to see that the slowdown in investment in scientific discovery, that's coming out of Washington will have a negative impact, not just on those specific research grants, but on overall economic impact across, across the state. So this bill proposes that we set aside, dollars 50,000,000, and set up a an academic team that is capable of being able to make, smart decisions over what research can be funded, with that $50,000,000 It does put a premium on applications for research, that are, that can't be funded, or are not in alignment with the current research, allocations coming out of Washington. I think it's only smart to sort of make sure that we're stretching our dollars as much as possible and to ensure that if a research grant is likely to be or can be funded through, an existing grant program in Washington, that that be given a lower priority than grant application for worthy research that's happening in Connecticut that has no less hope of being funded through Washington. And so, I think that that maximizes the impact that we can have by directing the team to find quality research programs that we feel are consistent with Connecticut's values and are important to our institutions that can be funded. So my hope is that, you know, that this will we've passed out of this committee. It will go to the Appropriations Committee where it will face the same fate as many other bills that are, struggling to find room in our limited state budget. But I think it's an important, initiative that we should support out of this committee in the hopes that we can find those resources when it lands, with the Appropriations Committee. And I urge my colleagues to support the initiative.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Dadd. Are there any comments or questions on this bill? Representative Branca.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. And, my my apologies, but the, consent train is gonna make a stop at the station for this one. While I do not, discount the importance of the research that, goes on in the state and the great work that our professors and the researchers do in Connecticut, to be asking for a $50,000,000 appropriation in the second year of the biennium, I just do not think is a fiscally sound or prudent idea to be doing right now. Maybe something we can revisit next year, but I'm not gonna support this, initiative right now. And so I will ask that the vote be taken by role.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. Any other comments or questions? Seeing none, madam clerk, if you could call the roll on, let me just grab my okay. On, senate bill number four two eight, and that could turn in research funding institutions higher education in The States, j f two appropriations. And I should say that we're gonna be leaving votes open until 02:30. K? So 02:30 this afternoon. But, madam clerk, if you call the roll, please. Thank you.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: This is a roll call vote, for s b four two eight, j f two appropes. Senator Slapp?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Padak?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Martin? Rep Bronco?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: No.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Gagcar Wilcox? Rep Rochelle? Rep Ackert?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Representative Ackert votes no.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Case? Senator Cohen? Rep Collins Main?

[Rep. Collins Main]: Rep Collins Main votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Defranzo?

[Rep. DeFronzo]: Defranzo is a yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Farrar? Yes. Senator Flexer? Rep Fortier? Yes. Senator Maroney?

[Sen. James Maroney]: Senator Maroney votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep. Harris? Rep. Sweet?

[Rep. Sweet]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: And rep.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, madam clerk. Again, votes being hold, open until 02:30. We know a lot of our committee members have, commitments, right now that this is a a really, really busy time. So we will we'll we'll sure they have a chance to to get to vote by by 02:30. Okay. Next up on the agenda is house bill number five four two zero. It's an act concerning post secondary education in the state. We're gonna be j f ing this to the floor. Is there a motion?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: So moved.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Representative Eddowd, the motion. Thank you. Second. Thank you, representative Sweet. Any comments or questions about this bill, five four two zero? Okay. Seeing none, I would ask the clerk to call a roll call vote on house bill number five four two zero. J f to the floor. Madam clerk.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. This is a roll call vote for 5420, an act concerning post secondary education state to JF four. Senator Slapp?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Haddad?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Martin? Rep Bronco?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Gadcar Wilcox? Rep Rochelle? Rep Ackert?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Representative Ackert votes no.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Mhmm. Rep Case? Senator Cohen? Rep Collins Maine?

[Rep. Collins Main]: Rep Collins Maine votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep DeFranzo?

[Rep. DeFronzo]: DeFranzo is a yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Sorry. Could you say it one more time? I didn't see your face on the screen.

[Rep. DeFronzo]: Defrangelo Diaz.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Thank you. Rep Ferrer? Yes. Senator Flexer? Rep Fortier? Yes. Senator Maroney?

[Sen. James Maroney]: Maroney is a yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Paris, rep Sweet?

[Sen. James Maroney]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: And rep Weir.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, madam clerk. Next on our agenda is senate bill number three seven nine, an act concerning work force development in the state, j f to the floor. Is there a motion? Mhmm. Representative Vaddad, is there a second? Great. Representative Farrar, thank you for the second. Any comments or questions on on this bill? No. If not, madam clerk, could you call roll call, please, on senate bill number three seven nine?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: This is a roll call vote for s b three seven nine, j f 24. Senator Slapp?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Haddad? Yes. Senator Martin? Yes. Rep Bronco?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Gagcar Wilcox? Rep Rochelle? Rep Acker?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Representative Acker votes no.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Case, senator Cohen, rep Collins Maine?

[Rep. Collins Main]: Representative Collins Maine votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Defranzo?

[Rep. DeFronzo]: Defranzo is a yes.

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: Rep.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Farrar? Yes. Senator Flexer? Rep. Fortier? Yes. Senator Maroney?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep. Perris? Rep Sweet? Yes. And rep Weir.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, madam clerk. Next up is number eight on the agenda. It's house bill number five four two six, enacts concerning the availability of an advisor during disciplinary proceedings at institutions of higher education, JFS to the floor to LCO number three two six eight. Is there a motion? A motion? Representative Bronco with the motion and Representative Dadd, thank you very much for seconding that. This bill is one that came with very, very powerful testimony for folks who were at the public hearing. We heard from a number of people, a number of parents who were asking for this bill because they think it will quite literally save lives. And and we heard from one parent in particular who tragically lost his daughter who was going through a disciplinary hearing at a school, at a university. I should say not in in Connecticut, but and really kind of went through it alone and suffered great kind of trauma from from going through that process alone and and ultimately and tragically died by suicide. So this bill aims to to help students who are going through tough times at at universities have have an ally and be assured that they can have somebody participate in those in those hearings. And, I appreciate the the collaboration and the discussions that we've had with our own, caucus members of the Democratic side, but also our our colleagues, and our and our good ranking members on this. I think it's been a good collaborative effort and and a great discussion. And I hope that we can pass this bill and, like I said, help help students who are going through some some challenging times. So with that, I'll see if there's any other comments or or questions. Representative Branca.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. And I I think you summed up that bill quite well. The it was some difficult Yeah. Yet moving testimony to sit through, but important testimony. And I just wanna express my appreciation to the committee for raising this bill. I I think hearing those stories and and the experience of of people who went through those tragedies, I think this is a a bill that can help at least fill that gap and ensure that our students in college are are supported when they need to be. And so I'm I'm very glad that we are gonna be passing this out of committee, and and hopefully, we can see it through the whole way. I do have what I anticipate will be a friendly amendment to the language. In the the s language, we we require the adviser in a situation where a student could be might be suspended for five days or more, expelled from such institution, or prohibited from participating in intercollegiate athletic programs at the institution. So I'd like to make a motion for an amendment in section one, lines eight and nine, to strike the words for five days or more and add put on probation with the permission for LCO to make any necessary changes we need. And I think that's it.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Representative Vidal, did you have a comment?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yeah. I would just say, you know, I think that the intent of the substitute language was to try to find a balance between significant disciplinary actions, and separate it from a lot of the interactions that might more routinely happen between, college students and their resident assistant, for example, on a loud and boisterous Thursday night, that sort of thing. And so finding a way to to define a more serious offense that would carry the heavier consequences and would necessitate greater involvement by advisors and greater support really for those students who face those issues. And so I I I consider the amendment to be friendly. I think it's a collaborative attempt to come to a definition around these kinds of incidences that we intend to encourage to to to we to make sure that students can have an advisor at, not just encourage, but to mandate that at institutions. And I would just say that, like, the policies of most institutions should also my hope is that would allow an advisor, even in smaller instances when the student feels it's necessary, but that this bill would trigger these added protections for these more serious disciplinary proceedings. And so I consider the amendment friendly and would support adopting it here in this committee.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Haddad. Any other comments or questions about the amendment? No? Okay. We'll have one more chance after we adopt the amendment. I would say I certainly agree with representative Haddad and appreciate, representative, Broncos, collaboration on this and his, thoughtfulness, about this bill and certainly consider it a friendly amendment. So thank you. So that said, I propose a a voice vote on the amendment. So all those in favor of adopting the the changes in lines at eight through nine, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? No? Okay. So, the language will the new language will, reflect those suggestions, in the amendment by representative Bronco. Any other comments on the on the bill? Yes, representative Bronco.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: I appreciate that, and I appreciate the explanation by the good chair. Understand stand up, Lee, we're we're not trying to ensure that, you know, our our our students' hands are held through every single little interaction, and we wanna ensure that this this real support comes with any potential of of facing, you know, serious changes in their their academic experience and possibilities. So I appreciate the explanation and for the agreeing to the friendly amendment there. And with that, I think we can get this consent training rolling again and offer this item.

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: Yeah. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, mister chair. I am extremely pleased with this bill that it that it is going forward. At the same time that this was being presented, initially, when we all arrived here in January, I had a constituent whose daughter was going through something similar type of process, if you wanna call it that. But I could feel the pain that the the student was going through. She didn't have representation at certain periods where she would be called in, and there was a discussion taking place. And when asked, you know, did you have anybody that you brought in with you? The answer was, gee, I wasn't allowed to bring somebody with me. But during the course of the process, eventually, I think it took a lawyer to be involved. But I think this bill well, I know this bill is gonna nip some things right in the bud sooner than than it sort of growing and becoming something more challenging is not even the right word, but extreme emotionally for not only the student, but as well as those that are, I'll just call it the faculty that are bringing up, these various discussions. I just wanted to say something about the dad who lost his daughter out in California who brought this. I was I was at home listening to this on on Zoom and the power that I felt in what he was saying. You you know that the control that he had, but you still felt the pain that he must have went through. I I just marveled at the courage that he had in taking this on, not only in California, but it's now in, you know, throughout the whole country. You know that there's some truth in what's happening regarding these meetings and what the impact or the effect is on these students emotionally. And I'm so pleased that we are moving this out of it out of this, and I hope that it gets on the calendar in the house and the senate early on so that we can get this to the governor's office. So thank you, mister chair.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Martin, for those those remarks. Okay. So we have a a a suggestion, a proposal from representative Bronco to put a house bill number 5426 JFS to the floor LCO number 3268 on the consent calendar as amended. Thank you to our great LCO to remind us as amended. If there is no objection, we will put that on the consent calendar. Okay. Our last item is house bill number 5427 enact expanding the debt free community college program to include workforce development and continuing education programs, j f two appropriations. Is there a motion?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: So moved.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Representative Brockett?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: I can't second.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Representative Acker with the second. Yes. And so a brief description is really kind of in the in the title here is that it's expanding our existing debt free community college program, which has been, I think, a tremendous success to include workforce development programs, which is a a smart move in my opinion. And I just wanna give some examples of what those might be. There's, welding certificates. So this is under kind of the list of manufacturing programs that aren't, already covered. There are a a pharmacy technician as an example, a phlebotomy technician, a central sterile processing technician, a nurse, certified, nurse aide, a CNA. I could go on. But there's a number of of really, you know, great careers, that are not, covered, right now, and we appreciate represent Nuccio coming forward with this proposal. We think it's a good one and gonna strengthen our workforce and and and help a lot of folks. So any other comments or questions about this proposal? Representative Branca.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. And this is another one I appreciate the committee taking up. You know, we're all about expanding opportunity for, our residents to have opportunities in in higher education and workforce development. And so this one, I think, is almost a no no brainer. And you you you already highlighted some of the programs that could apply that would make this PAC money available for us. So I appreciate the consideration for this, and this is one I I strongly support and would offer to the consent calendar.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, Representative Bracco. Any other comments on this bill?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Rep. Acker?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yes. I'm sorry. I missed you. Representative Acker, you got it.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: That's okay. Again, I'm in full support of this. I just have one question. It deals with line sixty and sixty one for the noncredit programs, which is kinda what this fits into as we were you were mentioning in the in the description of some of the jobs that it may be. What if there it says it says noncredit programs for the first six semesters. If they're a lesser program that gets that individual to the next job classification, could that still qualify? Like, if it was a one year program.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yeah. Hang on just one second. I'm just looking at the line right now. Hang on one moment. I I think you're you're I don't wanna put words in your mouth, representative, but you're asking if if not all six semesters are used, right, whether this would this would still qualify. Correct?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Yes. If if in case it was one of the one you know, they didn't need the full allotment that this you know, so if there's a, you know, program that's, you know, a four credit program that gets them a certificate that gets their you know, gets them to another job classification that, you know, know, supports them. Do do we believe that that would still qualify?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yeah. My reading of it is yes, that they would representative, and then, we just had confirmation from our LCO attorney, that that is correct.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Great. Thank thank you, mister chair, in full support of this legislation.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. Seeing, no other comments or questions on this bill, we will move this bill to the, consent calendar. This is, again, House Bill five four two seven, j f two appropriations. So now, we would ask the clerk in just a moment. I'm gonna read off the bills that are on the consent calendar, and then we'll ask our clerk to call the consent calendar. But we have senate bill number three eighty, enacting the recommendations of the task force to support promise programs in the state. That's a JFS to the floor, LCO three three six zero. House bill number five four seven eight, enact supporting learn and earn internship opportunities, that's a JFS to the floor, LCO number three three eight eight. Senate bill number three eight three, enact implementing the recommendations of the Office of Workforce Strategy related to higher education, that's a JF to the floor. And as senate bill number four two seven, an act concerning dual enrollment programs, that's a j f s to the floor. LCO number three two one eight. Then there's house bill number five four two six, enact six, an act requiring the availability of an adviser during disciplinary proceedings and institutions of higher education. That's a JFS to the floor as amended. LCO three two six eight as amended. And then finally, house bill number five four two seven, enact expanding the debt free community college program to include workforce development and continuing education programs as a j f to appropriations. That is the consent calendar. Is there a motion on the consent calendar?

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: So moved, mister chair.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative Dadd, and the second is, senator Martin. And madam clerk, if you could call the roll.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: This is a roll call vote on a consent calendar for agenda items one, two, three, four, eight, and nine. Senator Slapp?

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Haddad?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Martin?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Mhmm.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Bronco?

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Senator Gagcar Wilcock? Rep Rochelle? Rep Acker?

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Representative Acker votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Case, senator Cohen, rep Collins Maine?

[Rep. Collins Main]: Rep Collins Maine votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Defranzo?

[Rep. DeFronzo]: Defranzo is a yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Farrar? Yes. Senator Flexer? Rep Fortier? Yes. Senator Maroney?

[Sen. James Maroney]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Rep Parris? Rep Sweet? Yes. And Rep. Weir.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, madam clerk. And, again, reminding everybody that votes, will be open until 02:30. So this concludes our last scheduled meeting of the Higher Education Employment Advancement Committee. We may have to meet again if there's some referrals. So just some kind of minor housekeeping here before we wrap up. I know my cochair has a list of staff members who we want to thank, and I know my good ranking members may have some as well. And, you know, that's a good place for me to just begin my thanks is to both Representative Branca, Senator Martin, and the rest of their caucus. You know, it's easy to be cynical and look at at, maybe what goes on in Washington, whatever, and say that, you know, the parties, all they do is is fight. And, I think we've we're a really good model on this committee to show how we can work together. And, you know, we often hear that no party has a monopoly on good ideas. And I think that's that's that's certainly true. And, like, the legislation has been made better in this committee because we've worked collaboratively. And there's examples on this agenda that we just voted on a few minutes ago of that. So I thank them for their collegiality, for their friendship, and their and their partnership as we work to help the folks in Connecticut. And certainly, staff members, both partisan and non partisan, have been a key part of the team. So I thank them as well and my cochair. It's a remains a remains a pleasure. I think we did good work this session. We helped aspiring grad students and nurses and teachers with Senate Bill eight. We're helping, you know, young, professionals and aspiring professionals, all across the state. We're increasing scholarship opportunities. We passed a bill just today out of committee that I believe will save lives. We passed a bill earlier last week that's gonna help pet owners all across the state. So we have a a diverse portfolio of legislation that we that we worked on, and I think we have, you know, are moving them along and hopefully, we'll be able to get them across the finish line. So with that, representative Haddad, if you have any comments.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yes. And certainly, I'd associate myself with your remarks, particularly around our ranking members and and with your leadership as well. It's been a pleasure working with you, Senator Slapp. The way you read off that agenda at the end, if the say senate thing doesn't work out, you've got a long career ahead of you as a capable committee clerk. So, you you did a great job. But, you know, working with you has been a real pleasure. It's been very collaborative. And working with our two ranking members, both Representative Branko and Senator Martin, has been, a pleasure. We've worked, I think, really effectively together. We screen together and have a real, collaborative atmosphere in our screenings. And so, I appreciate all that you bring, to this committee. I would just like to take a moment to thank, our nonpartisan staff, Noreen Hashmi, from LCO, Christopher Reinhart, and Sarah Teta from, OLR, and Dan Dilworth from OFA. Thank you for your work. It's been very helpful to us all as we've sorted through issues to know that you're our our our team of experts, oftentimes in the background, occasionally in the spotlight, but always very valuable and we appreciate it. Our clerks and our clerk team, Megan Villanova, who also doubles as my legislative aide, and Tom Atwood, our assistant clerk, and Kyle Lowry, who served as my intern this year, but has, also helped with, committee assignments and committee prep a lot. Thank you very much for your work. We feel well prepared coming into our meetings, and it's no in in no small part due to your work. Thank you. And then, you know, on the caucus side, Emily Zambrella, who is a researcher for the House Democrat organization, has been very helpful. Julia Familiaro from Senate Democrats. I imagine my ranking members might wanna thank their researchers too, but I'll just say Connor and Christopher have been at our screenings as well, have been very helpful and productive members. And so thank you very much for your work and for your contributions. And again, thank you to, you know, our ranking members and to Senator Slapp and to my our committee members who, you know, you know, this isn't the biggest committee and we don't, you know, sometimes have, you know, long drag out meetings like many other committees. But your contribution on our committee is very helpful. We always appreciate, you know, the comments that are made by our members of this committee as we deliberate and take those things seriously and into consideration as we move legislation forward. And that just helps us be better prepared once it gets to the floor. And so thank you for your contributions.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. And Senator Martin?

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. Just thank you to everybody. We are appreciative of all the work that each and every single one of you that what you all do. The chair is really a pleasure to work with both of yous, My ranking member, I appreciate what you bring to the table in addition to really enjoy your videos on Facebook. LCO and LOR, thank you. The clerks, thank you. HROSRO staff, thank you. And your side of the audio staff as well. I don't use the acronym so much with the DRO and and DSO or or DRL DRO, but you guys are also included. My thanks. Committee members, thank you for for coming to the meetings, asking the questions. I think the more that we all participate and sort of sort of peel back the onion, so to speak, and finding out what the bill actually does and making some changes is so so beneficial to to a better bill. The lobbyist as well, thank you for for your input that that we also maybe we come across maybe sometimes take for granted, but no. I guess, you know, when I first arrived at Capitol, twelve years ago, I was a little apprehensive about talking to the lobbyist, but I didn't take me too long to realize how important that I really needed to talk to all the lobbyists to find out the both sides of the discussion so I can make a better decision here. So thank you. We cannot be as effective without everyone participating on all this. One last thing is Pat McKenna, Yukon, could you tell coach Shirley that we're looking forward to seeing him here at the capital with the team, at the end of the month? So thank you.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you. Well said. I think we're gonna well, I don't wanna jinx. I was gonna say, I think we're gonna see the women's team here. I'm I'm pretty excited about that. Yeah. So but, representative Braco.

[Rep. Branca (House Ranking Member)]: Thank you, mister chair. And, I'll try to get to this without getting emotional. But, but I do wanna also echo my my thanks. You know, coming in, my first term as a ranking member, it's a little intimidating. You you don't know what you don't know. And, you know, walking into this mysterious screening room, what what goes on in there? And, so, you know, coming to this not really sure what to expect, never having really worked with either of you before, It's been such a good experience to to work with you guys, my fellow ranking member. You know, this committee deals with a vast variety of topics within the committee, and, I think we've done a lot of it collaboratively. And I think we've worked effectively as it as committee leaders, but as a committee as a whole, dare I say, as a model of how to work together. We disagree on policy, but we can have conversations and you both of you have been very open to hearing us both out where we have concerns and suggestions and have been very amenable to taking them into account and and working with us to implement them. And some policy we just don't agree on, but that's okay. And that's why we're here and that's our job. So I do thank you guys for your your leadership and it's been a pleasure working with you and and to our all of our nonpartisan staff, our LCO and OLR are just phenomenal. I I I know how many hearings I've been in where I'm asking questions and and looking for information, not directly from them, before the hearing is even over. I've got an email in my inbox with answers of the questions I have. So, thank you for all your work and support, on this committee and and to our our partisan researchers from the house, Connor Favre, and from the senate, Chris Zavaneen, which I learned this year was Zavaneen and not Zavagnan. But thank thank you for all your support and and OFA, Dan, with all your your help and, obviously, our our community clerk staff. You you make this job easy. So I I thank you for that. And especially these binders, these are great. So thank thank you for all all the help, and it's been so great working with you all. I think we've done good good work this semester oh, college. This session, and I look forward to seeing it through on the floor and hopefully getting these bills across the finish line and to the to the governor's Desk. Thank you.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Thank you, representative. Yes. Grateful for all our committee members and this entire team here for this work. So that said, we will stand in recess until 02:30. So votes open until 02:30 for our members any members who missed. Otherwise, that's a wrap. Thanks, everybody.

[Rep. Collins Main]: Thank you.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Hey, Megan. It's representative Ackert.

[Rep. Collins Main]: Hi. Sorry. I was waiting for it

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: to get off of the speaker, so I didn't hear it three times.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: First of all, it the the green looks great. Well done. I think I got all my votes in. Correct?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Let me double check really quick. Yeah. It looks good.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Correct.

[Rep. Tim Ackert]: Thank you, Meaghan. Appreciate it.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: No problem. Have a good one. Oh, hi, Rep. Paris.

[Sen. Derek Slap (Chair)]: Hey, Megan. How are you?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Good. How are you?

[Rep. Corey Paris]: Sorry. I had to run from another committee back over, so I just wanted to get my votes recorded if possible.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Yes. So, we had a consent calendar for items one, two, three, four, eight, and nine. Yes. Yes. Okay. So now we have, s p four two eight, and this is a j f two approach, an act concerning research funding at institutions of higher education in the state.

[Rep. Corey Paris]: Harris votes yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: K. Next, we have h b five four two zero, an act concerning post secondary education in the state, and this is a j f to the floor.

[Rep. Corey Paris]: That is a yes as well.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. And then last, SB379, and that concerning workforce development in the state, j f to the floor?

[Rep. Corey Paris]: That's also a yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. That's everything.

[Rep. Corey Paris]: Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Alright. Thanks.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Thanks. You too. Bye.

[Rep. Collins Main]: Hi, Megan. Hi, Reprofell. Sorry.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: I just need to get the bills back out of my folder here.

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: Okay. No worries.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: So I

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: was in another public hearing, and I'm homesick. So No.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Of course. I was just like, oh, okay. I'm gonna head out, and then I I got in conversation, and now I'm, like, here. So okay. So for items one, two, three, four, eight, and nine, we had a consent calendar. Okay. Do you want me to read them off? Or

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: Give me just one second. I'm just gonna pull up Okay. The item right in front of me. That way, I can see it.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Right.

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: That way, you don't have to read everything off.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Thank you.

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: Which 12, what else?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Yep. So it was 123489.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: That's before.

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: Yep. I'm a

[Rep. Collins Main]: yes for all those.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Alright. And then we had SB428. I think

[Rep. Kara Rochelle]: that's I'm actually yes for all of these.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Perfect. Alright. So I will put that down, and then you're all set. Alright. Thank you so much. Alright. Thanks. Bye. Bye.

[Rep. Gregory Haddad (House Chair)]: Yeah. This one's

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Hi, senator.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Hey there.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: How's it going?

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Good. We just finished our meeting too. I'm like Yep. I know. So I'm I'm I looked at the agenda already. So if you I'm I'm yes on all all of them.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Perfect. Okay. Alright. So I don't

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: know if you have to read it out or something, but I'm I'm a yes on all of them.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: I don't think I have to read it out, and I hope

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Unless anything changed in the meeting because I have the agenda.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: So I'll just say really quick. We just did a consent calendar for one, two, three, four, eight, and nine, but one of them had a friendly amendment that passed.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Okay. Yeah. Let me know that one.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: That one was h b five four two six, an act requiring the availability of advisor during disciplinary proceedings at institutions of higher education. And that was a JFS to the floor, but it was on the consent calendar. So you

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: know Well, that's weird. And what was the amendment on that?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: I believe that rep Bronco proposed to amend one of the lines that was that said how often they get notified when there's updates in their proceedings.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Oh, I see. Okay. Fine.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: I'm okay. Yeah. That's

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Yeah. And I would definitely have to, ask LCO for exactly, but that's, like, that's what I

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: understand. That's fine. Yeah.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Alright. So then your yes on everything else?

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: I'm a yes on everything. Yeah.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Perfect. Alright. Yeah. And you're all set.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Thank you so much. Thanks. Have a good one. Bye.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Bye. Hi, senator Cohen.

[Rep. Collins Main]: Hi, Megan.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: How's it going?

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Good. How are you?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Good. Thanks. We had a consent calendar for items one, two, three, four, eight, and nine.

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Okay. Yes. She let me know. So that those look good. Okay. Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Yes. Okay. And then next, we have SB428, which was calendar number sorry. Item number '5.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: And that's

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: great to approach. Yes? Yep.

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Not on the yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. And then we have 5420, JF to the floor as well?

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Yep. Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. And then lastly, 379, and that's also J F to the floor.

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Yes. Is that the is that where I I know there was a friendly amendment today.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: That one was sorry. Yeah.

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: So that was eight, but it went on consent? Yes. Okay. Got it.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Go ahead.

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Okay. So I'm a yes on everything.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Alright. Perfect.

[Sen. Christine Cohen]: Thanks, Megan. I appreciate it.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Have a good one. You too. Bye bye. Bye.

[Rep. Collins Main]: Hi, madam clerk.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Hi, Cyndus Fletcher.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: How are you?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Good. How are you?

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: I am good.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Do you want me to go through everything?

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Whatever makes it ease. I have the agenda in front of me, so you

[Rep. Collins Main]: don't have

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: to, like, read full titles or anything. Whatever makes it easiest for you.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. So first, we did a consent calendar for the items one, two, three, four, eight, and nine.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: 12 1234?

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Yes.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: 8 is the 9. Got it. I'm a yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Next, senate bill four two eight, which is item number five. Yes. Okay. Item 65420.

[Sen. Henri Martin (Ranking Member)]: Hold on one second. Mhmm. Yeah.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: I'm trying to pull up the JFS.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: For sure. That was 5 which one did I say?

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Was there 5 was there JFS for that? Let me

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: 5420 is just JF, actually.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Okay. Then yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. And then next is also just the JF, SB379, which is item number seven?

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Yes.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Okay. Alright. That's everything.

[Sen. Mae Flexer]: Okay. Great. Thank you so much. Happy j f j.

[Megan Villanova (Committee Clerk)]: Thank you. Okay. Bye. Bye.