Decatur students present bill which could become state law

DECATUR — The road to becoming a politician often begins at school. Students dreaming of a career in politics often run for class president as their fi rst taste of the political arena. It is with this first experience that they learn how to mount a successful campaign, read election results and prepare acceptance speeches. For eight Decatur high school students, their journeybegan inside the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock on Nov. 18.

The delegation consisted of Haley Burden, Sam Goble, Lacy Jo Barrett, Johana Tirado, Amanda Davies, Christina Green, Brittanie Libberton and Lynlee Witcher. James Garner, Decatur High School’s English and AP teacher, served as faculty sponsor for the student congress team.

The team had the chance to observe and participate in the workings of the ArkansasGeneral Assembly. Two team members were given the opportunity to process a bill through the legislature.

Christina Green and Sam Goble proposed a bill, authored by the duo, “doubling fi nes and penalties associated with driving under the influence if the driver is transporting minors at the time of the arrest.” They then took their bill to the fl oor of the Student Congress Houseof Representatives, where they successfully argued it.

Green and Goble presented their bill in an authorship speech before the Student Congress Senate. After a short question and answer period by the delegates, which were comprised of college juniors, seniors and graduate students, their bill went to the floor of the Senate for debate.

The bill received overwhelming support from both bodies of the Student Congress.

Green’s and Goble’s bill was sent to the governor’s office for consideration by the Arkansas General Assembly.

If their bill passes both state congressional bodies, it will go back to the governor’s office for fi nal approval. Once the governor signs the document, the bill will become law.

Three other delegates from the Decatur team won awards. Lynlee Witcher won the best delegate medal. Teammate, Johana Tirado, earned a pin for acting as head page of the Senate. Sam Goble received a gold pin for her speech presentation on her bill.

For the Decatur Student Congress delegation, the chance to see state government in action and experience the inter-workings of the congressional process will help to inspire them to be future government leaders.