ALC-JBC Personnel

You Committee, we're gonna go ahead and get started. First of all, Tony, if, uh, we're we're gonna move to item B at the top of the agenda, uh, we've got a couple of uh information that needs to be. Uh, covered before we take any action on that. Tony, if you would go ahead and give us a quick brief. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item B is the Act 796 report. Act 796, uh, was generated back in 2022, and it's, uh, requires a report of all positions that have been vacant 2 years or more, uh, by the, uh, office personnel management. This report uh indicates all of those positions. There are, uh, 627 positions included in that report that they've asked to be eliminated. 241 of those are budgeted. And Mr. Chairman, I believe there's, uh, some discussion going on, um, about these positions and its effect on EBD. Yeah, just a little more history on that, uh, last week we thought that uh we had this ready to go. The governor's staff indicated that they were ready. Uh, by Friday, uh, something had happened. That it changed uh the governor staff reached out and said we need to talk about this and work on this some more and because of that, uh, I'm gonna accept the motion here in a few minutes to delay this consideration until next week. And uh and that way we're giving the governor's staff an opportunity to work out everything that they need to It doesn't want to recognize you. OK, there it is. You're recognized I'm not sure it's a machine or you. Well, I'm not sure either. Uh, I'd like to move that we hold, uh, Act 796 report, uh, pending, I think there's a meeting Thursday afternoon where we get some more clarity on how this uh affects, uh, benefits for employees and the cost of insurance. So I make a motion that we hold this, uh, 796 report until next week. That's an appropriate motion. Do we have a second? We have a 2nd any discussion. Seeing none. Oh, OK. Representative Wooton. The time to uh The time to. You recognize Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Committee before, before we vote on this, and I've got mixed emotions about holding it up because we're talking about $18 million if, if Tony, did you say 344 or 3. How many 2 years? There, there are 241 positions that are budgeted that are requested to be eliminated. Give me just a second. We're talking about $12,532,000 in budgeted positions roughly. And uh and I'm not trying to take money away from agencies, but I just think we can better allocate it. The $12 million can be can be used in state government to defray some other costs that were confronted with. The issue that has come up is the fact that we Pay employee benefits on 241 phantom positions, if you will. And I, and I just, I think we're not, I just think we're not being uh transparent enough as it relates to that because either way, if we pay it by taking it away. Or if we pay it by taking it out of general revenues or whatever the governor's office comes up with, we need the, the, we need to let the people know exactly what it is costing the state, uh, employees or the state government itself and so that's one of the reasons that I pushed and we passed Act 796. My fear is if we get away with uh If we do, if we approve this today that we could easily come back and uh with uh other legislation to either amend 796 or come with new legislation which would preclude the use of 796. So that's my concern. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Representative Wooton, uh. Any other discussion? Seeing none, I'm gonna reread this just so that we know what the motion is, and then we'll vote on it. It is to hold Act 796 report, all executive recommended positions, eliminations all agencies with eliminations listed in their presented personnel committee report for continued discussion of position elimination and its effect on the employee benefit division. Does that sound like what you're same thing there? OK, all right, all in favor, say ya. All posed Yeah, you just have it. Next item is the uh uh. Is item C. Mr. Chairman, item C is a list of agencies in a packet starting on page 40 of your packet. Um, it starts with item C1. All of the agencies that you see here that are C1 through C27. These agencies have no changes whatsoever. There's no reclassifications, no title changes, no additional positions, no eliminations, nothing. There's absolutely zero change to these agencies. So, Mr. Chairman, in the past what we've done with these is batch them, take one vote, and go ahead and move these agencies on out. Does anybody need to have a specific agency pulled out for a separate vote. Very well then. Need a motion. Got a second All those in favor say aye. All opposed I have it. OK, Tony. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, committee members, uh, the personnel staff is gonna begin to give you presentations on the remaining agencies, um, one of the things that we're gonna talk about, you're gonna see growth pool, MFG positions we're gonna talk about pool positions. These are changes that the agencies received positions the agencies received in the interim. Miscellaneous federal grants that they received that they want to add to their appropriation bills in the next, in the next fiscal year, uh, growth pool positions, um. Sometimes growth pool positions or excuse me, swap pool positions in the interim if you're familiar with the personnel committee, agencies give up some positions in order to get different positions and they may give up, for instance, 4 positions to get 2 in return. So the analysts will talk about that as they go through this and, and kind of show you how these numbers match up. Because of this, uh, because of the motion that was just made and passed to hold all of the eliminated positions on these reports, they're going to skip over the eliminated positions as you go. through these reports. So I just wanted everybody to be aware of that reclassification of positions that you see if you're looking at page 67, that's the first one you're gonna see. Reclassifications are essentially where an agency has had a position authorized in for a particular reason, it's authorized in their act that way, but they're using the position in another way, maybe authorized as an accountant and they're using the position as an administrative assistant. That is very common in state government and so what's happening here is that the office personnel management and the executive recommendation are saying, you've been using this position in this way, we're going to make that permanent. The new authorization. that position will be the way you've been using it. So that's what you're seeing when you see a reclassification. Um, if there's questions, please stop us and we can answer questions as we go. The agencies are here to answer questions if need be and Ms. Barnhill from OPM is also here to answer questions if need be. Very well, thank you, Tony. And again, uh, thank you for coming today. If you would identify yourself and you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bart Angel Bureau of Legislative Research. We're gonna start on page 67. It's item D, Disability determination for Social Security Administration or DDSSA. Acts 78 of 2024 authorized 596 positions. They made a 2 for 4 SWAT pool request, and you'll see that, uh, on lines 8 and 9 of their packet, there's 2 positions there. Uh, moving past the eliminations as Tony just mentioned, uh, lines 24 to the end of their report, there are 56 reclassification brings DDSSA to 594 positions for the executive rec and 594 for the agency request. There's a piece of special language. It's section 4, and it's continuing language. It allows DDSSA to add up to 250 positions over the fiscal year as needed. The executive recommendation provides for the agency request for this piece of special language, and Mr. Chairman, that's all I have for DDSSA. All right, thank you. Are there any questions? Seeing no questions, can I have a motion? I have a motion. I had to get a second. OK, and again that motion, can I get uh a motion to adopt this executive recommendation, excluding the positions that are elimination, OK? We do have a motion. We do have a second. All those in favor say aye. All opposed Passed. Thank you. Continue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item E begins on page 72. It's the public defender commission. Act 36 of 2024, authorizing 289 positions. They added 6 from the growth pool in the interim, a chief public defender for public defender threes, a public defender Legal Services specialist, and you'll see those lines 8 through 13 on your personnel committee report, the first page there. There are 10 reclasses that start on line, 20 of the first page and they go out to the end of their section of the report or the packet, they're part of the packet, excuse me. Uh, brings public defenders request and the executive direct to 295 positions. There are 3 pieces of special language. The first is section 16. It's continuing language that exempts extra help positions for the commission for parent counsel from limited hours. The executive rep for this piece is special languages for the agency request. The second piece is also continuing language and allows the public defender to pay up to a grade's maximum salary for the listed public defender positions. The executive rep provides for the agency request on this piece. The last piece of special language for them is section 2. It's continuing language as well, and it allows the public defender to utilize their authorized extra help positions up to 1800 hours. Uh, the executive rep provides for the agency request for this piece of special language, and Mr. Chairman, that's all I have for Public defender. All right, thank you. Any questions? committee. Seeing no questions, can I get a motion to adopt it. All right, thank you. Second Have a second. All in favor say aye. All opposed I just have it. Continue, sir Thank you Mr. Chairman. Remembers, before I get into the details here, I wanted to call your attention to the title of, uh, AGFC Asset Manager. It's gonna be on page 79, not quite halfway down your page. Uh, it's located within the IT pool, that's item 27 in their request sheets. Uh, the requested line on maximum is $78,575. The current line item max is 78, 5155, the current should be, should have been the 78, 5, 75, but an error during the last budget cycle, uh. Reflects the lower amount, uh, they're requesting to fix this oversight, uh, this go around and this reflects the $60 change in Long Island Maximum. Um, if you turn to page 77. Act 2 of 2024 authorizing 644 positions. They're requesting 11 reclasses. This is the first table you'll see in your packet for gaming fish. Uh, requesting no additional positions, but they are asking for a new title, AGFC Attorney specialist that would reside in a new attorney pool with a line item of max of 98,718. That's on page 79, and there'll be item number 34. Uh, currently Game and Fish has 2 attorney positions, they would move into this pool. There are no line item max increases with the exception of the asset manager correction I just mentioned. And the creation of the attorney pool authorizes a new line out of maximum for this new group or this new. Family for positions. There's a plan 3% merit-based increase for the salaries for the next biennum with a commensurate matching it. The net result of these changes is a request of 644 positions again reflecting no change in position number. And there is a piece of special language. It's Section 11. It's continuing language that would allow game and fish to increase the director's salary up to 5% annually. This is agency requested and there is no executive recommendation and uh. Mr. Chairman, that's all I have for game fish, but I understand we have some other special language business. Thank you, uh, Senator Dismay, you recognized? Uh, yes, um. And I can make a motion to adopt agency rec with the exception of the, the special language item, and I'm, I'd like to explain that. I'm gonna pass that out. If you look at the special language in your packet, I mean, they're passing out the change, but it's not significant. You can kind of piece it together. Essentially this left the 2024 date in place. I don't think that was ever the intent. Essentially what that means is if he were to receive another $1 above that 5%, they would have to come and request that, that additional $1. Uh, again, I think the, the thought was to put the 5% maximum in and so this bumps that out to 25, 2025 and so long as the next request, if is one doesn't exceed 5%, they wouldn't have to come to council if it exceeds, they would come to council. Senator, this man has made a motion. Do you have a second? Any discussion, seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye. All opposed? Yeah, I just have it. Congratulations. Mr. Wort, if you would identify yourself, you are recognized. There we go. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Spencer Worth, Bureau of Legislative Research. Uh, I'm in the GP packet is what I'm calling it, starts on page 84, it's the biggest packet on your desk there. Beginning here with uh Department of Labor Licensing Administration and Shared Services Division. Currently authorized 35 positions. We'll start with the interim change here. They added a managing attorney position that's on line 8. This is done in a one for one swap. Uh, per the motion on item B we'll be skipping over eliminated positions here and moving on to reclassifications. There are 4 of them. This is done through executive recommendation. And those are lines 20 through 23, and I did forget to mention, uh, on the agency request to continue that, uh, position. It does come with executive recommendation, and that concludes my presentation on administration and shared services. Thank you. Any questions? Seeing no questions, can I get a motion? I have a motion. Do I have a second? OK, I've been informed that we have to say excluding the position eliminations. Thank you. We have a second to that. Very well. Seeing all discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed I just have it Continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to G2, this is page 86. This is appraiser's abstractors and home inspectors currently authorized at 6 positions again skipping over the eliminations and moving on to reclassifications. You'll see online 14 and 15 of this page, uh, that the executive recommendation comes with reclassification of two positions. Again, those details are on, uh, lines 14 and 15. That concludes my presentation. Thank you, sir. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Including the excluding the position elimination. Can I have a second? Any discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed. Guys have it. You may continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to G3. This is page 87. This is Auctioneer's licensing board, currently authorized one position. There's just one change to note here, it's line 9. the executive recommendation comes with reclass reclassifying the uh auctioneer board executive director to a department business coordinator. That concludes my presentation. Like, sir, Any questions? Seeing no questions, can I get a motion? Thank you. May I have a second? I've got a 2nd. All in favor. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. And he opposed? And I just have it Continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to the contractor's licensing board, they're currently authorized 17 positions. The only, uh, recommended change here is for an elimination, and I have nothing else to present on this. That concludes my presentation. Thank you, sir. Any questions? So you know questions. Can I get a motion? Including the elimination. Thank you. Can I have a second? Got a second any discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed, eyes have it, continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to G5, this is page 89. This is the towing and recovery board currently authorized at 4 positions. This is gonna be the same as the last division, the only recommended change here is and elimination and I have nothing else to present on them. All right, thank you, sir. Any questions? See no questions. May I have a motion? May I have a second? OK, you got a second? In the discussion Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye. And he opposed, I have it.in, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to workers' compensation commission, currently authorized 105 positions. Only thing to present here is the executive recommendation does come with a reclassification. It's that position listed on line 9. It's the fiscal support supervisor, executive wants, uh, excuse me, recommends that it be reclassified as a budget specialist, and that concludes my presentation on the workers' compensation commission. Thank you, sir. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Thank you. Can I get a second? Got a second Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed, I have it. You can continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to the division of labor. This is page 91 in your packet. This is item G7. Agency is currently authorized 69 positions. Again, we'll be skipping over the eliminated positions and moving down to reclassifications. The executive recommendation does come with the reclassification of 4 positions. The details of those is online 16 through 19. And that concludes my presentation on the division of labor, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, sir. Any questions? See ain't no questions. Can I get a motion? Have motion 2. All in favor say any discussion. No discussion. All in favor say aye. And he opposed. I have it. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to item H, this is the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Currently authorized 115 positions. There are some interim changes we need to note, uh, first is on line eight. This is the PSC chief of staff. This was added through the growth pool, and then the attorney supervisor position, this was done in a one for one swap. Agency has requested, uh, continuing authorization of these positions in the executive recommendation provides for this. Again, skipping over those eliminated positions and moving down to reclassifications. executive recommendation does come with uh two reclassifications, those are on lines 21 and 22. It's an engineer supervisor position, the recommendation is to reclassify it to a pipeline safety program manager, and then line 22 is the PSC customer service manager recommended that that be reauthor or yes reauthorized, reclassified as a accounting operations manager and that concludes my presentation on the public service commission, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Do I have a second? Got a second? Any discussion, seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I have it. Thanks, Chair. Moving on now to, uh, Department of Finance and Administration. I'm on, uh, item I1, page 94 in your packet. Administration and Shared Services is currently authorized at 103 positions. Uh, we'll begin with the interim changes here, uh, line 8 is a growth pool position state infrastructure coordinator. The agency has requested the continuation of this position and the executive recommendation provides for this on the positions for line 9s, excuse me, lines 9 through 11. These positions are being requested and recommended to be transferred. I will cover those on the next division. Just wanted to point that out for the membership. And then again skipping over eliminated positions here and moving on to reclassifications, uh, the executive is recommending to reclassify two positions. And those are listed on the bottom of page 94 and then the top of page 95. And then now, as I previously mentioned, there are, there is a transfer request, um, the agency is requesting the transfer of 57 positions to alcohol and beverage control in one position to revenue, taking 58 positions out of the agency and the executive recommendation provides for this. And that concludes my presentation on administration Shared Services, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir. Members, any questions? Yes, Representative Wooton, just a second here. You recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would, would you elaborate what, what is an infrastructure coordinator. Opium you're recognized to answer that question. Thank you, um, the infrastructure coordinator is located at DFA. They're looking at all the grants, everything that's going through and trying to make sure that the state infrastructure is, uh, optimizing all its abilities at that point. So, it doesn't have anything to do with uh bridges or overpasses or anything like that. It's got to do with grants? I believe so. Yes, sir, if you would identify yourself and you're recognized. Alan McVeigh, DFA. Uh, the infrastructure coordinator position was created at the upon the passage of the, uh, the federal infrastructure Act and uh when we, the, the state, The administration created that position to help coordinate all of state government's efforts to, to try to look at the competitive opportunities that were coming out of the federal government during that period. Mr. McVeigh, let me one more question. What, what. You recognized? What is, uh, What's all this shifting in alcohol beverage control uh Mr. Hudson was up here while they didn't mention anything about what, what's happening in ABC, it's a realignment of its existing positions a realignment of Within alcohol beverage control within medical marijuana, within the regulatory administration side of tobacco control. Helping us to kind of move those into, uh, a, a, a more understandable or, or recognizable. Uh, Placement within that so we can have shared services where we can have enforcement capabilities that that are cross-trained across tobacco, alcohol, and medical marijuana, kind of, uh, it's just a realignment of that department shared services. Across cross administration and across the enforcement aspects of that regulatory group. What, what's the difference between the 57 here and the 45 we were told agents that they had. There's there's, there's a 12 position difference between 45 and 57 I, I think it's between administrative and enforcement side, the regulatory within the regulatory department of DFA between the administrative and the, and the enforcement regulatory they have 12 in administration. So they're included in this realignment I believe that's correct, sir. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. McBeth. Thank you, Representative Woo. Any other questions? Yes, sir. Senator Hammer, you're uh, you're recognized. You want to go back to the table for a minute. Please. Sorry, Senator Hammer. No, that's quite all right on that grant position, if I understand that, that also, that, that is to help coordinate. The federal grants, but also to make the municipalities, counties, or any other government entity aware of what's out there to make sure that they coordinate properly, the money is received and spent properly. Am I correct on that or am I wrong on that? Senator, we're not actively directing any cities or counties, but we are, I mean, we have a team, uh, consultant team that's helping us, uh, from DFA across the state, so they're, they're certainly reaching out and helping those cities and counties as well. Right, but I mean, that's part of, best I remember, that's, that was part of the purpose of creating that position in the first place. Hey, make sure we maximize our federal dollars that are coming down, um. But, but also to make sure that they're handled properly. And then the third thing is that if somebody does want to know, that's the person or the division within DFA to call to find out about those things. That's correct. OK. That's why I wanna make sure. Thanks. You recognized Representative Beatty. I'm, I'm gonna ask that he returned to the table once again. You're not gonna get out of there. Deep breath, it's easy, easy question. My, my question's more on the state infrastructure coordinator position that's being created, who was taking care of that before we created this position on, on these federal grants. Before the position was created, um, initially the responsibility was with uh energy and environment. And energy and environment had a kind of a more narrow focus in the early part of the uh the infrastructure, the Federal Act, and then the infrastructure coordinator position was created to look across all state government. So it'll be across the board everything in state government, not just. Yes, sir. All right. Thank you. See easy question. Like you, any other questions? Seeing no other questions. Can I get a motion? I have a motion. Can I get a second? Have a second. All in favor say aye. Thank you for that enthusiasm, uh, all opposed. I have it. You recognize, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to, uh, this is now alcohol beverage control. This is item I2, page 99 on, uh, your report. currently authorized at 12 positions. And then we'll start with the interim changes here. These are lines 8 through 11, 8 is an attorney specialist position. This was added through the growth pool. Agencies requesting the continuation of this in the executive recommendation provides for this. And then lines 9 through 11, those are those regulatory enforcement agents we previously referenced, uh, the agency is requesting the continuation of those here at ABC and that does come with an executive recommendation. Again, we'll skip over the eliminated positions and move on to reclassifications. You'll see here that the executive recommendation comes with, uh, the reclassification of 3 positions. And then on page 100, you'll see those positions being transferred in from shared services, uh, it comes out to 57 positions and that concludes my presentation on ABC, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir. Any questions? Committee. Seeing no questions, can I get a motion? I have a motion. I have a second. Got a second. All those in favor say aye. Any opposed? I have it Continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to the assessment coordination division. I'm on page 104 in your packet. This is item I3. The division's currently authorized 33 positions. You'll see on line 9, this is a reclassification recommendation from the executive. It is the property assessment auditor recommended to be reclassified as an administrative support supervisor. And then there are some transfers here too as well, lines 14 and 15. 1 position is going to revenue and one is coming from revenue. So it's a net zero change in terms of total number of positions, and that concludes my presentation on assessment coordination division, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir. Do we have any questions members? Saying no questions. Can I get a motion? I have a motion to have 2, got a 2nd. Any discussion? See no discussion all in favor say aye. And he opposed, eyes have it. Continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to I-4, this is, uh, the management services division on page 105. Vision is currently authorized 223 positions. The agency did utilize the SWAT pool in the interim and did a one for one swap for a statewide program coordinator, that's on line 8 of your report and you see is requesting the continuation of this and the executive recommends it. Again, we'll skip over those eliminated positions and move on to reclassification. The executive recommendation does come with, uh, reclassification of 10 positions. Those are lines 2 through 22 through 26 of page 105, and then lines 6 through 10 on page 106. Moving on now, starting on line 15 on page 106. There's a transfer here as well. It is 11 positions going to revenue coming out of management services, and that concludes my presentation, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir. Members, any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Have a motions. 2nd. Got a second in your discussion, see no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I just have it. Go ahead, sir, continue. Thank you Mr. Chair, moving on now to the child support enforcement division. This is item I5, page 108 on your report. The division is currently authorized 775 positions. Agencies requesting the continuation of those and the executive recommends for that. There's no eliminations here, but there are some reclassifications in the executive recommendation. Those are on lines 9 through 12 in your report. And then there's also a piece of special language here that we'll cover here in personnel. This is on page 109. And this is an existing piece of uh special language. It's not published in code, and this is just exempting their extra help positions from the limitation of hours either provided by A or regulation. All that this is doing is just updating the, uh, fiscal year for state fiscal year 26. Again, there's no changes other than that, and it's not a new language and, uh, the executive is recommending the agency's request to change that. Thank you, sir. committee, do we have any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got the got a motion. Got a second. In the discussion, discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I have it. Continue, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on to the regulatory division. Uh, there's no changes in terms of positions here you'll see that on page 110, but there is a piece of special language, uh, and this is to remove a piece of special language that is existing, not published in code, but is in their act, uh, and this is just providing, uh, the racing commission with 31 extra help positions again, this would remove that language unless those positions and the executive recommendation does provide for the agency requests to strike out this language, Mr. Chair, and that concludes my presentation. Thanks, sir. Anybody have any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. Any discussion No discussion. All in favor say aye. And he opposed, I have it. You recognize, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on now to the, uh, revenue division. This is out of my 7 page 112 on your report. Uh, the division is currently authorized 1,573 positions. And we'll begin with interim changes. They added 4 positions in the interim. Those are on lines 8 through 11. Agencies requesting the continuation of these and the executive recommendation provides for this. Again, we'll skip over those eliminated positions and move on to the reclassifications. Those are, uh, done through executive recommendation, and those are online, uh, from lines 6 through 21 on page 113. And then again here at Revenue we do have some, uh, transfer positions as well. To summarize for members, uh, and this is on page 113 and 114, uh, they're receiving one position from, uh, the assessment coordinator division. They're also sending one position to the assessment coordinator division and are receiving 11 from management services, total of 14 positions being moved around and that results in a net change of 12 added positions to management or excuse me, to revenue. And then there's also some special language here. I'm on page 115. Uh, this again is an existing piece of special language not published in code similar to the last one, this is just, uh, an exemption for, uh, extra help. Um, for limitation of hours and all that this is doing here is just updating uh the fiscal year for state fiscal year 26, and the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. And then moving on to page 116. This piece of special language, uh, gives the, uh, agency, uh, classifications to use to employ certified law enforcement officers as provided under Arkansas uh code annotated 129101 at sec. And the executive recommendation provides for the agency requests, and that concludes my presentation on revenue, Mr. Chair. Like, sir, are there any questions members? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a 2nd. Any discussion? She ain't no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I just have it. Like, sir, continue. Thank you Mr. Chair, we're moving on to item J. This is the Arkansas Department of Transportation. I'm on page 118 of your packet. Uh, one thing to point out for members, uh, their manual is gonna look different. That's because their position data is not housed in ASIS. They're stand-alone agency and thus produce their own manual. I'll begin on page 118, uh, the table on the left shows historical data on the total number of authorized positions at the department since 1995, the department has reduced their authorized number of positions by 704. The department currently has 4,558 authorized positions. For the next biennium, the department is not requesting to increase nor in or decrease their total number of authorized positions and their total number of positions will remain at 4,558. Summarize their requests. They put together a little table. This is on the middle of page 118. Um, the top part of that table will shows position movement, so if they're adding positions or removing positions, and you'll see there that it results in a net change of 0 once you go through those. And then the second half of that table there just shows upgrades, downgrades, title changes, uh, any change to pool titles or anything like that that they're requesting. Uh, in addition to this, uh, we would also like to point out, uh, they highlight some of their changes on page 119, and then at the bottom. In addition to the position and pool changes to the department is also requesting to increase their line item maximums for all salary levels by 10% for state fiscal year 26, and by 5% for state fiscal year 27, with the exception being the director position. That position's lied on a max will not be increased in state fiscal year 26 and will receive a 5% increase in state fiscal year 27 per their requests. Uh, to conclude, you'll see on pages 120 through 141. This is a line by line listing of their positions. This is essentially what would go into their bill, uh, for the membership if they'd like to look through that, uh, and get into the details, um, but other than that, that concludes my presentation on ADA, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, sir. Appreciate that. Committee, any questions? So no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. In discussion No discussion. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you sir appreciate it Mr. Next on our agenda is Mr. Brown or Ms. Brown, Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown? Identify yourself and you are recognized. Barbara Brown, bureau of legislative Research. My first item is the Arkansas Department of uh Health. It's on page 142 in your uh handout. It is uh the state board of chiropractic Examiners, they're authorized to positions. The agency requested two positions. They had a swap pool of uh Arkansas uh public health section chief. And the executive rec uh recommends this. And that's the end of that particular section, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ma'am. Do we have any questions, committee? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Have a motion, have a second. Any discussion No discussion. All in favor say aye. And he opposed? I just have it. You may continue, ma'am. Yes, Mr. Chairman, on page 143 exhibit K2. It's Arkansas Dietetic Licensing Board. They're authorized one position A to requests one position, executive rec one position, and they had a growth pool of the ADHublic Health section chief one. And that's my uh end of discussion for 072 Arkansas dietetic Licensing Board, Mr. Chair. Committee, any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? That a motion, got a 2nd. In discussion, discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I always have it. Yes, ma'am, you recognized. Thank you Mr. Chairman. This is the Arkansas State Medical Board, the Arkansas State Medical Board has 34 authorized positions. The agency request is 34 positions and that's it for that particular uh agency, sir, because the rest are eliminations. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second, any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I have it. You recognize ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Page 145, Arkansas Board of Dispensing Opticians, uh, authorized one position agency requests one position, executive recommendation one and that was again they say swap pool uh position for the ADH public health section chief one that's the end of my presentation for that section, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? So no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. Got a second. Any discussion, see no discussion, all in favor say aye. He opposed, I have it. You. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Arkansas State Board of Optometry, the authorized positions were to agency requests were 2 executive recommendations to and again they had a swap pool for that ADH public health section chief one and that's the end of my presentation for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? You get a second, got a 2nd in discussion, see no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? The eyes have it, you recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, they had an authorized 9 positions agent quest was 9, executive, uh, rec there's an elimination but we're not discussing elimination, so it's agency 9 and agency request 9 and that's the end of my report for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. OK, also there's special language. Could you cover that right quick and what the special language does it just changes the date from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 and from June. 30, 2025 to June 30th, 2026. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? So no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. Any discussion, saying no discussion, all in favor say aye. And he posed I have it. You may continue, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the Department of Health. They had uh 2272 authorized positions they have 2271 agency requests. They had a SWAT pool, they added 15 SWATO positions and they also had a reclassification of 50 positions and that was the agency recommendation. And that's the end of my presentation for that, uh, agency, sir. There's some special language according to this, the cover that right quick. The special language again just changes the date from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025. If on June 30th, 2025 to June 30th, 2026. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions committee? So no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. Any discussion, seeing no discussion, all in favor say aye. All opposed I have it, you recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Health services permit agency and an authorized for position base level 4 agency requests for, and that's the end of my presentations for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? So no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second in discussion saying no discussion, all in favor say aye. He opposed. I have it. You recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Arkansas Psychology Board authorized positions to agency requests to executive rec 2 with the SWAT pool of 1 position. That's the end of my presentation for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? Seeing no questions, can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a 2nd. Any discussion? So, you know, discussion, all in favor say aye. And he opposed, the eyes have it. You recognize, ma'am? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Examiners and speech language pathology and ideology, authorized positions one agency requests to executive executive recommendation 2 and they had a growth pool position of one position and that's my presentation for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions, committee? So no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion, get a 2nd. Got a second any discussions see no discussion, all in favor say aye. And he opposed? The eyes have it, you recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're now on page 160, Arkansas tobacco Settlement Commission authorized positions one agency requests one executive recommendation one, and they had one growth pool position of an administrative panelist, and that's the end of my presentation for that agency, sir. I have special language special language for that also just changes the date from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025. And from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Thank you, ma'am. Members, any questions? Seeing no questions, can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. In discussions, and no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed, the ayes have it. You recognize, ma'am? Yes sir, now we're moving on to page 162, which is the Arkansas Public Employee Retirement System. That authorized positions for that 78, the agency request is 78 and the uh. There's executive recommendation goes with the they've added 3 positions and they reclassed for 3 positions. And that's my presentation for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Committee, any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion, please? Got a motion. Got a second. In discussions, and no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. You recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're on page 164 and it's Arkansas teacher retirement system, authorized positions for 87, the base levels 87, the agency request is 87. They had a reclassification of 3 positions and that's my uh report for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions, members? See no questions. Can I get a motion? I've got a motion. Got a second. Got a second In discussions see no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? I just have it. You recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're now moving on to the Department of Parks Heritage and tourism. Which is page 165 in your packet. Administrative shared services. The authorized positions 105. The agency request is, is 105. And they had a reclassification of 6 position, and that's my report for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Committee, any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. Got a second in discussion, see no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? The eyes have it, you recognize, ma'am? Thank you Mr. Chairman. We're now on page 167 Parks Heritage and Tourism Capitol Zoning District commission. Authorized positions 3 agency request 3 executive recommendation 3. And that's my report for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. In discussions see no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. You recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Parks, heritage and tourism division of Arkansas Heritage. They had authorized positions of 131 agency requests in 131, and they had a reclassification of 4 positions, and that's my report for that agency, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? Seeing no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second, any discussion, see no discussion, all in favor say aye. And he opposed, the ayes have it. You recognize, ma'am? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Parks, Heritage and tourism, Arkansas Arts Council authorized positions to agency requests to and that's my report for that agency, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ma'am. Members, any questions? Saying no questions, can I get a motion? Got a motion, get a second. Gotta got a second in the discussion, see no discussion all in favor say aye. Any against Is have it. You're recognized, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Parks, Heritage and tourism parks and Tourism division, authorized position 729 agency requests 729. They had a reclassification of 12 positions they added 5 SWAT pool positions, and that's my report for that agency, Mr. Chairman. And also there's also, Mr. Chair. The special language just changes the date from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 and from June 30th, 2025 to June 30th, 2026. Thank you, ma'am. Committee, any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. Got a second. Any discussion? See no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. And I believe McAdo Angelica, would you, when you get to the table, identify yourself and you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Angelica Mercado, Bureau for Legislative Research. We are on item 0. We start with the division of, I'm sorry, Department of Veterans Affairs. They currently have 303 positions. I am on page 175. They received 5 positions from the growth pool during the interim and exact provides for these requests. The agency received 10 out of family reclasses found on line 26, page 1 and lines 6 to 14 on page 2. They will keep the total authorized positions to 303, not including the eliminations from Act 796. That's all I have for that, Mr. Chair. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? I've got a motion, got a second. In discussion, see no discussion, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? The eyes have it, you recognize, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, I P is the military department. They currently have 553 positions. They received 4 MFG positions and 6 growth pool positions during the interim for a total of 10, and exec rec provides for these. The agency also received, uh, out of family reclassifications starting on page 7, line 26 and ending on page 8, line 7. The net effect of these changes will increase the number of total authorized positions of 4 from 553 to 557, not including the eliminations from Act 796. They also have a piece of special language on page 185. And it is being requested for continuation. It addresses the line item max for the position of adjutant general and deputy adjutant general. And exagre provides for the agency request. That is all I have for that, Mr. Chair. Thank you, ma'am. Any questions? See no questions. Can I get a motion? Can I get a second? That a second In a discussion All in favor say aye. All opposed. The eyes have it. Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate you participation today. Again, uh, other business. The next meeting will be October 29th. 24 next week. We are adjourned.