DECATUR — Five Decatur High School students got a taste of the state’s legislative process after participating in the Arkansas Student Congress Program Nov. 6-8.

Decatur’s newly formed debate team, which includes Faerlyn Hunter, Jayme Burden, Lensey Watson, Amanda Davies and Derrick Hill, traveled to Little Rock for the event, where they spent several days working inside the capitol building.

The Student Congressprogram is offered by the Arkansas Communication and Theater Arts Association and allows students from across the state to take over the state government for a couple of days by presenting bills they have written, arguing the bills and then voting on which bills should become law, according to Decatur High School English and journalism teacher James Garner.

At the congress, students vied for positions and formed committees to discuss the 59 proposed bills and vote on them, eventually eliminating all but three bills. A final bill was passed and will have the chance to go before the Arkansas Legislature.

The students were really proud of their bill, which proposed building bike paths between small Arkansas towns as a way to fight obesity and use less gasoline. It went though the committee without any amendments. But because it wasn’t a safety bill, it took second priority and was not drawn to be discussed during the senate sessions, Garner explained.

During the trip, the students got complete accessto the capitol building for two days, including the senate and supreme court chambers. They met other students from across the state and got a taste of what kinds of activities go on in the capitol building, including school tours and even a wedding.

While the Arkansas Senate and House were not in session, several senators took the time to sit in on the sessions.

“They learned a lot about the legislative process and they learned why some good bills never get passed,” Garner said.

News, Pages 6 on 11/30/2011