I make motion to approve. And and again, putting the language that our friend here, Mr. Levoie, is our designee. Do we get a second? Any further discussion? Thank you. Roll please. Mr. Talbot. Mrs. Ferris. Yes. Mr. Disler. No. Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Medina. Yes. Mr. Mercedes. Abstain. Mr. Hayden. Yes. Ann Marie, well done. Thank you very much for your patience and your time. All right, moving on. Cooperative Education. Audra Durkin, thank you very much for your patience. Audra, you want to introduce her? I'll go. Uh Uh it's my pleasure to introduce Ms. Audra Durkin, our Cooperative Education Coordinator. Audra first began her career here at Greater Lawrence She quickly distinguished herself as an exceptional Audra. I think you're talking about me. Audra. That's up. Can you put the mic on? I got it. Do you want me to start over? Thank you. Now everybody can hear you.
Okay, seeing none hearing none. Let's proceed then. Um IT, we're going to go into immediate um decision-making at this point. Uh 1 second. I do want to add that with regards um there were some questions for DOE on the last or the first resolutions that we've heard. However, uh the chair will send this information on the benefit to schools as well. So, we'll send them a note since they're not here in person. All right. Okay. Just give me the I need to go back. Bill numbers. Okay, is that all that's coming? Okay. All right. Okay, let's proceed with decision-making on the transportation committee agenda. HB 1520 HB 1524 and House 1524 House Draft 2. And this is relating to pedestrians. Um This had to do with the cost for jaywalking and hearing testifiers today as well. I was going to increase from 25 to $50, but I think the chair understands that once we do a figure, it goes to another committee.
Start. Okay. Um so, Audra quickly distinguished herself as an exceptional educator delivering rigorous, hands-on instruction, and achieving 100% co-op placement for her students. At the start of this school year, Audra transitioned into her current role as Cooperative Education Coordinator and she is quickly expanding her impact. As you will see in her presentation this evening, Audra has been instrumental in the success and growth of our Cooperative Education program. She actively engages with industry partners, uses data to identify both strengths and opportunities, and has played a central role in advancing the program to ensure that every student has access to meaningful, real-world experiences. I am very proud to introduce Ms. Audra Durkin. Thank you, Ms. Jones, for that introduction. Um good evening, everybody. Like Ms. Jones said, I am Audra Durkin, the new Cooperative Coordinator here at Greater Lawrence. Um and I'm here to present to you about what we have been doing since I've started this position um and a brief discussion about what we where we were at midyear of the school year.
Chair's recommendation that we'll be passing this measure as is. Any Vice Madam Chair, I have some concerns as I feel the fee is a little too low, but I understand the situation of that. I think more enforcement and education is needed in this space, but I understand we also don't want to penalize those that violate this section, but seeing DOT's testimony, I have significant concerns when we do have to lower the rate. So, with that, I'll be voting with reservations. Okay, my recommendation was to increase it to $50. I just want further discussions on it. How do you feel? Um I'd like to make it a dollar, so >> [laughter] >> Maybe that balances out. Okay. Okay. Yeah, thank you. Uh $25, $50. The bill calls for $25. So, okay. The chair got to make a decision. Okay, chair's recommendation is to pass this measure as is and let Judiciary also deliberate on this measure.
Thank you, Audra. Um co-op has been an excellent component for our students, really bridging the gap between the classroom into the industry. Put it in the mic, please. I'm sorry. In the mic. Oh, talking to the mic. Yeah, sorry. Um do you want me to repeat what I said? Okay, thank you. Um, and this year we've actually had a um, an exceptional record of high in placements. Um, co-op has been a great success for our students. Um, they've been able to have real-world skills, so practical application of technical knowledge in professional settings. Um, it's allowed them to earn additional credentials out in the field. So, what are they have gained inside their shop, um, and what they have gained through their certifications, they have then since taken their skill set, um, and applied it into the industry to advance their certifications. Particularly, um, in HVAC, they've been offered, um, additional certifications so they can advance with their licensing.
I don't see Noah No no technicals. All right, Vice Chair for the vote on this as is. Chair recommend Chair's recommendation is to pass House Bill 1524 House Draft 2 unamended. Chair votes I, Vice Chair votes I with reservations. Senator Kanuha. Senator Lee. Senator DeCoite. No. Madam Chair, recommendations adopted. >> Okay, thank you. Thank you, members. HB 1688 and this is the GE tax exemption for aircraft maintenance. Um Chair's recommendation is to to pass with the amendments and this has to do with a Department of Taxation's recommendation that be amended to January 1st, 2027. It's allowing sufficient time for the work before them. So, Chair's recommendation is to pass HB 1688 House Draft 1 with amendments. Any discussions?
Um, workforce alignment, um, is really is helping our students build direct pipelines to the high demand of the careers within our local economy. And professional networking, our students are gaining mentors as well as, um, building their professional contacts as well as building their resumes. Um, just to touch upon a few gains this year, we've had a 30% total growth. So, placements rose from 164 to 213 at the mid-year point. This is a significant increase in our student engagement and employer partnerships in our community. Um, particularly talking and referencing to medical assisting, we've gone from the school year of 2024 to 2025, um, at 24 students being placed to this year's class of seniors, um, placed at 45. This is the largest placement we've program we've had in our portfolio. Um, in addition to that, we've had a couple of other top, um, growing drivers here.
Hearing none, Vice Chair for the vote. Chair goes aye. Okay, Chair's recommendation is to pass HB 1688 House Draft 1 with amendments. Of the five members present, any no votes or votes or reservations?
So, electrical is up about six placements. Auto tech about four placements. Early childhood is up four placements and health assisting is up four. Um, in '24 and '25, we've had at the mid-year mark 122 students. This year we had 154 out on co-op. So, with that being said, we've grown about 33 in, um, our student placement and overall 27% in growth. As mentioned previously, medical grew from 24 to to 45. Health assisting has grown from 21. I'm sorry, we reduced a little bit to 16. HVAC has grown from 15 and four. Electrical, 15 10. Dental assisting, we've decreased by two and advanced manufacturing has increased by one. So, overall in the different industry sectors, we can compare construction trades, um, in the year '24 '25 at 57. '25 and '26 at 74, which is giving us an increase in 17. In the industry of health and human services, 35 at the '24 '25 mark and up to 43 with a increase of eight students.
Hearing none, Madam Madam Chair, recommendations adopted. Okay, thank you. HB 1691 relating to transportation. Chair's recommendation on this measure um and and I thank all of those in the insurance industry as well for supporting this measure. We'll pass this with the amendments to allow for effective date for the time of July 1st, 2027 so that the counties have sufficient times to prepare for implementation. So, Vice Chair for the vote. HB 1691 to pass with amendments. Okay, Chair's recommendation is to pass HB 1691 House Draft 2 with >> Chair goes aye. with amendments. Of the five members present, any no votes or votes votes or reservations?
In the business service industry, we've had 23 students at the '24 '25 school year and now we have about 28 at the mid-year mark. And technology and engineering, um, previously at seven and this year we are at 10. So, touch upon a few areas of growth. HVAC has increased about 11% in change. Electrical about 5%. Environmental, we have, um, new partnerships this year, uh, with four additional placements. Plumbing is up by three. And advanced manufacturing is up by one. We are redirecting our focus for opportunities of growth for dental assisting, um, health assisting and auto tech. And as of now, dental assisting is at 24 students that are out in co-op. Um, just a few areas to highlight our success. Uh, medical assisting saw a monumental 87.5% increase in students placed. This growth reflects the high demand in the regional health care sector of in the strength of our clinical partnerships.
Hearing none, Madam Chair, recommendations adopted. Okay, HB 1692 House Draft 2 relating to traffic safety. Chair's recommendation on this measure is to pass with the amendments recommended by the Attorney General and this is to amend the sections of 291C 27A of the statutes on page 2 line 8 through page 3 line 10. There is technical and not substantive amendments should be recognized and that's the recommendation. Any discussions?
So, with that being said, a lot of our students, we have brand new sites this year for our, uh, medical assisting students. Um, a lot of our clinical sites are also, um, offering them jobs because they've had the hands-on experience and training with their supervisors and they are very impressed with our students. Um, HVAC tripled its output, rising from four placements to 15 this year. And this is also driven by new local in industry commitments. We actually have a great, um, organization that we've partnered [clears throat] with that's helping students with their transportation as well. So, this is another big component that we're able to bridge that obstacle for HVAC students. Um, moving forward with our program goals and our district success, uh, a focus that I plan to obtain is actively reaching out into local business leaders and continuing our partnership. Um, this has been very successful so far for our students, um, which has now brought us up to to a total of 250 students who are placed.
Hearing none, Vice Chair for the vote. HB 1692 House Draft 2 with amendments. Okay, Chair's recommendation is to pass HB 1692 House Draft 2 with amendments. Of the five members present, any no votes or votes or reservations?
Um, I'm sorry. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Um, we're also focusing on our classroom skills and making sure that they are matching what is being done in the industry, um, and also helping our students obtain the additional, um, gap that they need in the educational component of their, um, co-op experience. Um, we are focusing on resume writing, interviewing, and workplace etiquette. So, professionalism is key. We focus on employability and soft skills and really preparing our students for what the employers, um, needs are. And just to add a little bit of, um, I recently [snorts] partnered with a new electrical company, Ares Electrical, and they were able to share, um, some positive feedback. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> We had a good interview with our student this afternoon. I have to tell you that for a while I gave up hope with hiring co-op students into the company.
Hearing none, Madam Chair, recommendations adopted. Okay, HB uh 2030 House Draft 2. Unfortunately, the Chair is going to recommend that we defer this measure as well. We understand that a rebate pro uh program or any other area of some assistance um uh is pretty much probably needs to be addressed um and the Senate version has died in Ways and Means and I feel that I think that the Ways and Means Committee is not in the mood at least for now to do this establishing a rebate program and of course to create a special fund. So, we'll be deferring HB 2030 and let's work on something next year. We'll be happy to see how we can come up with a solution that I don't want to do something that the other states are doing and they it's been faltering there as well unfortunately. So, let's come up with something great that we all can support.
At the interview, I asked questions that I was tired of asking due to the disappointing answers. But she hit me with the proper answers and with follow-up discussions. I actually hear a lot of positive feedback in our field as I'm going out and meeting our employers, um, both existing and new, and they are so impressed with our students and the preparation that they bring. Um, and also a lot of our previous graduates are also still employed at their co-op sites, um, and they have nothing but positive feedback to deliver. Um, so at the mid-year mark, we did grow to 193 students. Um, my goal was to break the 180 placement threshold and we did exceed that by nearly 8%. It ensures that more students are graduating with industry recognized credentials and real-world work hours than ever before. So, as mentioned previously, we have a total of 250 students out right now and placed in the industry.
SCR 31 and SR 27. Chair's recommendation is to pass this measure as is. Any discussion? Hearing none, Vice Chair for the vote. Chair goes aye. >> Chair's recommendation is to pass SCR 31 and SR 27 unamended. Of the five members present, any no votes or votes or reservations?
210 are senior students and 40 are juniors cuz they were eligible at the start of Q3. Thank you. Mr. Mercedes, I think you have a question. Well, I have a few questions. >> Oh, boy. Get ready. Um, [snorts] so I know you were mentioning, um, 200 something students out of how many students are your uh, you know, out of how many students these 250 students are out? So, how many more students are not? That's my first So, out of the senior class, there's 432 students and in the junior class, there's 467 students. Okay. Um, >> [snorts] >> and how long have you been in this in this in this particular, uh, position? Since you said since you've been in. September. September. Okay. Um, I I How do we know once the kids go, obviously you you wouldn't be able to answer me this cuz you just started September, but how do we know how many students are still working in the in the workplace that they once they get hired to?
Hearing none, Madam Chair, recommendations adopted. >> Okay, SCR 145 and SR 137. Chair's recommendation as well is to pass this measure as is. Any discussions? Vice Chair for the vote. Chair goes aye. >> Chair's recommendation is to pass SCR 145 and SR 137 unamended. Of the five members present, any no votes or votes or reservations?