Burt Hicks, a concurrent degree student at the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law and the Clinton School of Public Service, testified in favor of Arkansas House Bill 1927 (HB 1927) before the House Committee on Education April 9.
HB 1927 advances the understanding of personal financial management among public school students and requires the Arkansas Department of Education to develop a course in economics and personal finance as a requirement of graduation from high school.
Hicks, whose worked as a financial literacy volunteer in various capacities for Arkansas Jump$tart, Southern Bancorp and Pulaski County Youth Services, assisted Rep. Warwick Sabin, who sponsored the bill, in identifying best practice legislation from Arkansas’ neighboring states.
The first national survey of financial capability, commissioned in 2009 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, showed that a considerable proportion of U.S. households have low financial capability and find it difficult to meet their financial obligations, plan ahead, and manage financial products.
Hicks is a member of Professor Lyn Entrikin’s Legislation class.
“In the contemporary practice of law, statutes and their interpretation increasingly play a central role in resolving legal issues. I encourage my students to become actively involved in the legislative enactment process so they can learn the value of legislative advocacy for themselves and their future clients,” Entrikin said. “Testifying before a legislative committee on a policy issue of particular interest is an invaluable opportunity for law students. I am very proud that Burt has taken the initiative to study the issue of financial literacy and present his views to the appropriate legislative committees.”
HB 1927 only received six votes, five less than the required 11 to be sent to the full House of Representatives.
