Joint Budget Committee

All right members we're gonna call joint budget order first item on the agenda is especially language report represent cabinet you recognize thank you mister chair the special language subcommittee of joint budget committee met on wednesday apple the twenty fourth and mac I young reviewed one agency letter one member bill and nineteen member amendments. Adams wanted a list one or eleven list in on special language subcommittee were adopted by the subcommunity and our recommended for approval and our released from the subcommittee back to the joint budget committee I moved for adoption of the report and motion to do have the second on the report any discussion. All in favor say I any opposed report is adopted mistransition you got some bills ready to come out yes sir and item in the report on be one special language number one house bill ten thirty three treacher state. Does do pass as amended then in emotion and a second any discussion on a paper say in your post refunding. Number two center forty seven department of inspector general. We are need emotion do passes minute second any discussion i'll in favor they are in your poll number five cent ability sixty department of education senate will sixty two passes a minute have a motion in a second any discussion in favor so in your post number six and a bill nineteen DHS medical services sent bill nineteen new passes a minute have a motion in a second any discussion all in favor sar in your post number seven house bill ten seventy four human services sector office elsewhere ten seventy four motion new passes amended in a second discussion. All in favor say I mean the opposed number nine said about four year old let's say to research senate bill for do passes amended and have emotion and a second any discussion all in favor say are in the opposed and retains in a bill fifty one. They'll be a fifty one do passes a minute have emotional second meaning discussion all in favor say I in your pose mischairman number eleven senate bill fifty three department transportation transformation and shared services so the bill fifty three do passes a minute have a motion in a second. Any discussion i'll in favor say in opposed. All right members will get adam see we are going to amend. The revenue stabilization this I think everybody had a copy of that either sent to him or late on the dash or sent to them electronically this just feels in the the numbers for the main minister we're going to mend the essay will pass this out tuesday morning at a joint budget we're just going to make the amendment today who have any questions on house build ten ninety seven and the duplicate senate bill eighty. Yeah. Reserve a room you get a question thank you mister german I guess it says the chair can you can you explain what huawei is allocation for a. Was enough to be oc. Go ahead we are well under forecast and so it really would not have made a difference to to set out AB other than the timing of when the agencies would have received the funds in category be there was already a request for the military department and believe they had smottens and be last time and can I postpone their funding when the accident is happened by their agencies again if we were projecting out or had developed an rsa that was an excess forecast a I would feel differently or even close to forecast but I think at this point where you know we're projecting to be well under actual revenues thank you for up if I may. All right any other questions oh you had a follow up push your button again. Push your button again I can ever go on a budget on the budget in the mail were well bell the cost of living then well below the inflationary rate were either correct if i'm world we either have enough money then we know how to have any increase above one point seventy six we they have enough money or were running on board turn. We've got sooner or later the way we're budget things going up with this is that is that a fair of sumption what part of the growth in cape through twelve education and in the medicaid is going to be absorbed utilizing their trust fund balances they both have sausable balances that are growing despite being unlies today and so there's a belief that those will be able to take care that that's part of the reason you see a lower growth rate in general in revenue stabilization it's not that there's not going to be an increase in those items or will be but those are going to be absorbed by utilization as some of the trust the balances well I understand what you're saying but what makes us different from the average person a year old street today there's cast in the main way of them for four days per semi in their spin in much more disposable income how can state government continue to do this and run death and run. Uh surpluses. How can we continue in rent surpluses I think part of it is the internet sales tax actually being collected that's made a big difference over the last several years in our tax collections I think we have a a fairly strong economy and I think that's been reflected also and self tax collections I mean I also did great at you representative you've been very adamant that we were linking positions that are unused unfield but budgeted I think and most recently there was a letter relate on the table yesterday I want to see it was about six hundred a positions that the fa or the you know the state looks to turn over i'd have to look back and see the exact number but I think it's you know partially because of the oversode of this general simply and making sure that we're good stewarts of dollars and and again i'd have to credit with you in particular with the personnel side. One more question. The universities in colleges are either remaining the same other losing money. Is that because of the formula are because of the budgeting process of the governors it a hundred percent due to the formula and again like we've talked about that is in in the committee nothing just publicly that was a formula that was created by our you know harry had institutions I think they are generally accepted the fact that this is the direction it went with an understanding that we are going to reingage moving forward and they probably will not be a formula that is left to the institutions to develop in into hopefully we'll be able to rectify that this next session in in have a funding form of them that seems to make more sense. Hi thank you mister chairman thank you all right in please note on the bottom of your rsa is that there is a projected surplus of three hundred seventy six million and what will probably be over four hundred me and surplus. At the end of the year old june thirtieth so we're doing a we're doing fan it's not the surplus we've had the last three years but it's still a healthy surplus I don't think we have to have to worry about it yet now what was down the road we always need to be watching a agreement mister women. All right members we've got adam d. Mr anderson. Thank you mister chairman item d wine. It's on page wine this is an amendment by representative allen this is to a men house bill ten forty one department of education public school finest add nine point five million dollars for this repetitive allen this has been a okay by the governor's office it has language that is may it's not mandatory and it it is not funded. I make a motion that we were you mechan make a motion do pay us okay and a second only only amendment all in favor say I oppose my fantastic. Okay this is really passes amended emotion in a second. Any discussion i'll in favor say I in your boat. Mister anderson they can mister well page five item d this is an amendment by representative buried a house bill ten twelve department republic safety for uniform maintenance it's a new appropriation. Okay this is the uniform amendment any questions for a revenue to very. Need a motion to approve the minimum second any discussion i'll in favor say I in the opposed and we've got another member on the same bill you're sir that's item d three some page eleven. This is amendment by senator tucker this is also the house bill ten twelve barman public safety that's new appropriation for violent crime clearance grant program it is not general revenue. Any discussion. Have a motion on the amendment in a second many discussion all in favor of they are in the opposed now thank you house bill ten twelve is ready we need a motion do pay us as amended and a second any discussion or in favor say I opposed with takes us to page fifteen item d four so man it by representative war law to send about twenty one architecture if this commission that changes the salary of the director in if representative ward laws not here I think senator rationale take this. So to rash you recognized that mister. Reply more loves in routing should be here in minute but be happy to do this we worked on this before and maybe what the sters is just get the. Position director of gamitish comparable to some of the other directors and we appreciate good support for this. Yeah. Any questions. Have a motion in a second any discussion all in favor of the in your post alright. And this is just really for staff just carry on when we do this. The payment the paypal that were bringing in the force where they get three percent does this apply to game and fish to the governor's pay plan so we're not just raising this to one ninety but we're going to bump ten percent after that oh no ma'am this is a maximum amount of language. Do they have language okay they so this would be said that some incidents can exceed that with some special language they don't have it so this would be one ninety would be the maximum amount that that director could be paying ok so the pay plan doesn't apply to game and fish will it the pay plan affects greater positions this is a line out of max that says this is amount you can pay greater positions give a range and so people can move in that ranging at three percent or increases but this one is a sets out the maximum amount okay thank you are misinterested in senator bill twenty one ready I would need a motion to pass as amended have a motion in a second any discussion it's not really the way okay we're going back up we'll wait or tuesday. All right we're going to out of five. He said in cabinet or you are you pulling yours so we're skipping over five and we're going to adam six which is senate bill sixty three and senator urban you are recognized thank you mister chair can I do it from here members page twenty one on your department twenty one you do router okay at numbers after a long discussion yesterday what you have in desex is just insertion of north central district fair at zero dollars of funding in working with the department of again they have submitted the proposal it's just waiting for approval and so at that time working with the department of agriculture what they would do then is bring forward a temporary funding request repair for final approver from alc I tries that the department will well do that and I appreciate they're willingness to take funding from their programs and operations budget hopefully to to accomplish that so no other funding would be disrupted from anybody so with that that's I think the best way to proceed and I would appreciate a good vote happy to answer in questions you question for the senator. She known about america motion have a motion in a second only amendment all in favor sar in your poses is ready to go out start okay. All right we're going to adam seven thank you and this is item d seven some page twenty four to a minute by senator solid into house bill ten away part of education educational television tv and it reduces their cash appropriation by twenty percent. Sad resolving recognize yourself in proceed with it thank you mister chair senator dan soloven district twenty we've had several issues with pbs over the course of the last year year and a half or two years and there is an audit done I think in the last year that found significant problems in the way they are doing business and doing procurements and search with this bill does is reduce their cash appropriations by twenty percent. I met with pbs just a few minutes to go outside their contention wise there fee that they need the money for cash flow and if they are run out of money then they're going to have to come to peer yes I think we need to monitor their spending closely and if cutting the money twenty percent their cash flow amount to twenty percent if that isn't successful again they just come back to peer and explain to peer why they why they need more money now if again don't want to speak for them i'm speaking for what my conversation was with them they're they're going to have to dip into their reserve because some of their revenues come in after some of their expenditures were leaving a considerable amount in there have run year over year about a four million dollars what i'm going to call a surplus in their cash fund that they say if we cut that surplus by twenty percent and i'm again to say when I heard them said they won't be able to pay the light bills and other utilities that was your comment to me a few minutes ago. Now it is true that cash flow comes in after some expenses however they have a lot of money several million dollars in that account that it will allow them to pay those kind of expenses and again if they don't have the revenue and don't have the money and there they simply come to peer and they say we need dollars to pay the light bill next month I don't think that's an accurate statement that that they don't have the money I talk with be a large staff with kevin will be a little a while ago he has some of the numbers on there they should be able to make all those payments and again the important part is one we have oversight responsibility over these agencies and when we look and see you're over a year they're caring a four million dollars balance then I think there are some accountability that needs to be there that's our job so this just cuts that amount by twenty percent an appropriation if they need the money come to peer and tell us why i'd be glad to take any questions are you get questions ripped it college you're recognized for questions thank you at some point could we get this up okay and last year they actually okay so can you tell me why in particular architect pbs and there's other organizations in the state they receive shoes why particularly these guys could as oppose to other agencies where he may well yet I think if if my memory is served correct that we often reduce the amount of money that groups are keeping and reserve. That they're often come in here and they talk about what they're revenues aren't with their spending is and what they carry over year over a year and we often say that's too much you don't need to carry over that much every year now here this little bit different because they're not necessarily carrying that over they are using that as a reserve as their revenues come in to account for expenses that come in before revenues but again i've talked to blar be allowed says this is sufficient I think the most important part to me is we have oversight and if we don't exercise that oversight over agencies that have the audit that PBS had recently were not exercising appropriate oversight well and I guess that's what i'm trying to get out we have oversight through normal mechanisms on every agency in every expenditure we have an auto process and that usually read this normal course and we don't necessarily go back and cut funding by twenty percent so why are we going outside of the normal process just for these guys let let me correct something right quick I think we're going it it's a twenty percent curt on cash appropriations we're not taking any other cash they are allowed to build that up general revenue portion has not been curt so it's not a true twenty percent cut on their budget it's a twenty percent cut on their appropriation in this separate from general revenue on the cash appropriation not not the total appropriation I understand thank you mr chair question still stands. I'm sorry repeat the question. Make your added right. Why do we need to go outside the normal process just for these guys and we have an auto process we have accountability through that process on every agency that we expend money toward why are we going this different route just for these guys this is no dip this is the route there's what we do regularly in my opinion you may disagree but this is what we do is legislators is to manage how agencies spend their budget and I think we do it regularly for a lot of agencies i've said here many times when we have said you don't need that much reserve and we're cutting the reserve but again it when you look at their budget their spending is the same with the chair said they're spending is the same year over year and we're not cutting that at all done at egg I guess I disagree with your the foundation of your assumption that we're doing things differently I disagree the question for the agency when I came up thanks. All right members if you have a question for the presenter. I will go by there if you were going to bring the agency and all it wants to do davis. Are you got pulled for the. Okay. Reviewed wooden who's your question for. All right you're recognized thank you as german center silver what is their budget. I'm sorry what is the burger what is their cash budget I don't have the budget in front of me their cash account was about a me new total budget which wouldn't yes well I think kevin may have that so. We're trying to well I have a there they're total cash appropriation basically is you can see in the amendment this is cutting this is cutting their spending authority they will keep their cash and it stays in that account their cash is generated from grants interest earnings gifts donations and it stays in this account and this appropriation allows them to spend that money in its amending it down from eight point nine to seven point one million. That's fine I will know if his waters are total budget what what is the total burger that they have I don't have the answer in front of me i'll i'll look at that for you mister movement thank you. Since rash your question for senate results. You reckon asked thank mister etcetera salvan I can't remember that if you were were you able setting on any of the state agency meetings several months I was at the item meeting during the executive audit I think I don't know the fact that state agencies are but I don't very wear and saw the auto report on executive you would be and I just remind for minimums I as you said overside is our job in in those artic meetings there were findings of a questionable vendor contract. The refinings from test money from employees that were concerning. There were spending that some of us had questions on in basically overall the question of how the agency was being run. So I think you're very credible. In saying that that we have oversight and we need to use it. So again they have funding they can use they may have to ask for it and I think because of what we heard in out this is very. A credible in what we're asking for here so thank you. Yes if you're remember we had multiple bids going out to the same vendor who bid under the no bid level who be it under the twenty thousand dollar limit but who had several bids in under the limit we had allegations I think that came out and audit of communications between vendors and people at pbs yeah I have been a lot of meetings at a lot of agencies like a lot of you have and I had several after going to a meeting at the agency had several employees chased me literally chase me out of the building upset with how the agency pbs was being run that was the amp that was the initial event that caused the audit in the audit had significant findings and again we are not cutting their ability to spend whatever they need to spend the only responsibility they have is to come to peer and ask peer here's how we want to spend the money so we're not cutting anything away from them that they truly need they're just going to have to account for what they spend and I think that's a good thing I think that's one of the primary responsibilities we have his legislators. Yes it is thank you mister chair is pbs the only agency that he had findings. I don't know the answer to there I know that they fell as many of us do when we have constituents are people that bring significant issues to this we follow those up there the only agency that i'm aware of we we had people come to me to the extent and express concerns that ended up through an audit in the audit confirm what they said well i've been around here a minute a too longer and II assure you that that's this is not the only instance in which we find employees they don't agree with the way things are run and do bring those concerns to us I just want to make sure that we're treating every every agency the same. I've been around here long enough to know that we've had findings substantial findings on a number of state agencies. We just had findings and we we have decided that the constitutional officers are not agencies but we've had findings there I just want to make sure that we treat all of these agencies the same because one of your big things is this equality and I don't want to want to make sure that if dhs as findings were going to cut some of their budget or health has findings we're going to do that is wheel or labor i've never known it to happen but I anticipate that it probably will happen today because they're their individuals are who have a problem with pds not just it adult ability we would have a problem previous with the had findings or not and I think those problems accrue from some people who are described perhaps reasonably so but I don't want us to set a precedent where by every time we do something to an agency we don't like we might treat them differently then we would from some other agency which you are great are absolutely fine those are happening I be glad to look into him because I think we if we fall short in any area that would be worth in making sure we all are treated I think I ran legislation on that to allow everyone to be treated equally regardless I don't remember how you voted but are senator tucker of your question for senate results I have one for center selling but first have a question to for staff. Okay for stay after yes I really had the same question first as mister wooten which I saw kevin go down there and visit with them do you have the answer for the membership about eight eighteenth yes yes sir so they basically I can break this down they have two parts they have a cash appropriation spending a thirty four eight point nine million and they get stead general revenue appropriation that they have for six point two million that's a total of their total budget then would be fifteen point two million dollars just addressing the cash poor not the general revenue okay so you east i'm gonna ask you to repeat what you said early would would you remind me what the revenue sources are for the cash portion it was grants and what yeah cat cash is is all it's other sources in and they keep them they're not recouped it's it's fees it's grants it's the donations that they receive online that's it's all their other income other than general revenue it goes into a cash account and sits there in what we're talking about right now is there spending authority for those fines okay so much now to send her sullivan. This does not touch a general revenue you're just wanting to cut their ability to spend the money that that they go out and get on their own through grants and donations and whatnot. I think that would be state money I mean if they get grants that comes within our perview of our responsibility on how they spend there but but it's not money that we're raising through taxes of the of the people of arkansas correct well I think you know the answer to that but being the the question here to me is not whether we're cutting their budget we're not cutting their budget if they if it's blr said if if they have seven point one million seven point one six five point five nine three and they want to spend twelve they can do that they just have to come to peer make the presentation to peer here for it want to do and peer will say yes or no so the idea that we're cutting their spending are the run a cut program is just not true. It seems to me that we have an agency here that supplements the funding that they receive from general revenue through their own grit and that's the type of behavior that we should encourage among state agencies and and here we are saying if you want to spend the money that you get on your own you're going to have to come kiss the ring and ask our permission every time which is counter intuitive to me do you know if this is going to impact a team's program and programming in any way or pbs they currently their revenues have been flat for the last several years so whatever programs they have run in the past. One would assume they can continue that in the future and I guess we just have a disagreement over what our responsibilities are when agencies raise money alalua way to go good job we appreciate there but that money is we have an obligation I think we had that discussion with the ag's office a few years ago whether or not the letters later had per review over moneys that were raised through settlements I tend to believe on the side that we have responsibilities to the taxpayer to manage every dollar regardless of how three if it goes to an agency we have an obligation to make sure that money has spent wisely and and you believe that's true for every agency. In a pretty broad question on it it deserves review every time there's a complaint it deserves for review now if we find out you come to me and say then I think such a such agency is biolating the standard that you set when you ran this pbs let's look into it but we have an obligation to know how the money spare and again the idea that we're cutting programming if there's a program and i'll give you an example for our example if the sports program they televising sports championships if that comes at risk all they better do it has come to peer. And say peer we want to program we want to televise the football championship and then peer will say yeah or no. So with the idea that we're cutting them and cutting programs just false. I think there are a few strawman are other examples I don't forget what they call them all but that's just a false argument we're not cutting their spending one bear. Now can they are they going to have to scrutinize their spending a little bit more I certainly would if I was going to have to show up in front of here and and tell why I need a more money I believe I want to look at every penny we're spending and make sure that I can testify that we are spending the money as the taxpayers would approve. They made sure i'll be back when the agency comes up sent to hammer is your question for the agency. You're recognized they come as chair going back to the question of the audit the the question of the audit was a matter of questionable spending if I recall it wasn't a matter of somebody forgot to do something as much as it was a question of how the money was being spent in the procurement process by which it was being done said that correct recollection to my knowledge right now yes are at the end regardless of whatever the sources whether it's from grants or whether it's from state funding whatever what are the source may be would it be reasonable include that if I agency in entity is spending in a questionable month manner that those that have given the money whether through grant or whether through state funding would want to know that sooner than later and maybe get it above the radar screen so people could download money was being spent the way it intended to be spare. I would say generally so yeah I mean if if pumped someone donates money for a specific purpose they might need to be accountable for that and as long as it's reasonable I would think the legislature would approve and do you think that you're setting a trend here maybe for others to pay attention to that if they do have auto findings where there's questionable spending or other things that would you know ring to light that maybe they haven't been spended the money that way out too maybe you're set the transfer other agencies take warning that this may also apply to them to ever down the road for legislator chose to do so as your hope so and I look forward to working with senator talker on there or thank you thank you alright soon as repeat and who's your question for some resolvent you recognized thank you mister chair so I stand to sell them do you just see this as excess appropriation that you're shaving off it's it's dealt with them what they've been spending here to date. Yep two I see two reason for your one if there is excessive are more. Money appropriations money put in yes I want to make sure we these agencies are not a bank they shouldn't be keeping money and banking money that could be better used in a meet for immediate needs they shouldn't be a bank number two I think the oversight is really important to me and if we need to cut those appropriations to a level where people have to come to peer who have a history of not managing well I think that's a really good precedent to say. To of an agency has spending authority or appropriations it's above them beyond what they've been spending. There's actual potential there for. Unmedicated. Budget growth within their agency. And this is a way of of trying to put a hedge against that. Ten fifteen percent budget growth without the oversight did you speak of correct and again I just just met with a pbs a few minutes ago and there comment and they'll probably have an opportunity to do speak to this and more detail but their commitment was we're going to have to go back to peer multiple times. And my answer is good. Okay thank you thank you mister. The. Rebent of large from you have a question sent result of them yes sir. I applied to you for doing this i'm cheer of audit and this audit was a disaster we had to hold them over multiple times to get information I think you may have actually saved them in the long run and forced them to tighten things up a little bit so this is extremely helpful wouldn't you agree absolutely and pbs is a valuable outer. Made when schools were closed and they don't have any outcomes to demonstrate that they students learn but they provided a lot of valuable information sports teams showing on the sports things are good the other programming that they do is buy a large good that's why we didn't cut in to what they're with their spending is we're not cutting their spending. The. This is a very measured approach. Yes thank you. Representative clown to your recognized for questions senator thank you mister chair so. I hear you say over and over again that we're not cutting their spending senator solid and and and I appreciate the thought but if we were to do any agency this way right if we were to say we're going to cut your budget and have if you want more that's fine just come back and ask us for it that agency would consider that kite my question I guess for you as if this agency is going to have to come back to peer and ask for the authority to spend the money that they've raised privately i've got big concerns about whether that spending is going to be approved can you just I appreciate the nice things that you're saying about pbs now but it's no secret that you've been trying to take funds from pbs for a very long time did that work from you and others start before this legislative audit was carried out here can you give me evidence where I try to cut their spending well I know that in twenty twenty two there was a lot of talk about the substance of what was being shown on pbs and I know that you were I don't know I don't know the details of whether you file the bill or not but I remember you talking about taking funding from pbs at that time while I understand but you accused me of trying to cut their budget at this like evidence of that at that statement should be withdrawn i'm sorry I meant threatened to which you did publicly i'd prior to threatening every agency with cutting and explaining I think the governor has made a made a very wise decision in taking spending from a three percent increase down to a one point seven six I believe I think that's one of our jobs is to cut spending for and you have useful the things that we purchase with state dollars there are to be a demonstrated knee the governors lead that way in and the legislature has lead that way and cutting taxes we've learned that way in a bunch of things so are there things that I think pbs is done wrong yes did I initiate the audit yes that I like the results of the audit no do I like the way pbs has been run I think there are some some tightening up that needs to be done therefore we're going to have them go to peer. Well the tightening of that you're talking about b purely based on there are sort of the financial wisdom of the decisions they're making or will it have to do with the substance as we've kind of heard in the past yeah again I don't know how many times I can say it this does not cut their budget so whatever programming they were doing they can do their spending has been flat year over year i'm not cutting their spending all we're doing is having oversight and do ask me to predict what peer will do is outside of I can't predict with the legislature is going to do right here right now tomorrow that's why we vote on things so how that works out that just up to peer it's out of my hands. Okay thank you all region of wooden is your question for several of the northern agency. This. But again you're recognized senator there budgets fifteen million. There are excess funding his formal. What do you think is an air who it level for an agency not just them but for an agency they have in cash in relationship or phones couriered over what do you think is an adequate amount of money business of fifteen million dollars budget and four million and so that's a question I can't answer because this overage reserve is used far carry over sorts in other words there there revenues come in after their budget comes in I don't know that that's true yeah when we as a. Member of the house when you vote on a budget they can spend up to that limit and whatever that limit is they can come to peer and ask for more more money. So you know asking me to make it generalized statement for every agency I don't even know how many agencies are are are how many boards and commissions there are I know what i've looked at and I know with this one I think does not require the the overage they are having right now and if they do we've been a remedy for that they just come to peer and asked for more and given their audit I think it's more than fair to do that are you going to do this ever agency them down what what is the reason why the man relationship to the budget I think everyone is different and I think everyone that deserve what you want to answer that are you just working with we've got some agencies that are two three and four terms over their budget are you going to do this to other agents i'm fitting here right now mr wood with this appropriation mister wilken were talking about atm we're gonna move on we're not going to talk better than agencies hypothetically. All right they may ask in one more coin what do you feel this a reason why amount for them to carry hill. Seven point one six five point nine three million dollars or do you base their l. At twenty percent cut from their eight mid eight point nine five six. No three million the report I have got the so to four million dollars well this is the cash appropriations only thank you i. River college were trying to get the agency appeared you still got another question for representatives resolving your recognized and I just need to understand this because we've keep talking about not cutting the budget not current the funding not spending representative wouldn't just talk about a fifteen million dollars budget do you agree with that that's where they are right now. Their budget is divided into two sections they have a cash appropriation and mister chair what's what's the dialog or revenue general revenue general revenue they have general revenue and cash appropriations so so they're at eight point nine million dollars and cash appropriations six point three million dollars in over avenue at that up to fifteen point two you would be cutting the cash appropriation to seven point one million. Right. Greg where were allowing well II think you're right and you're wrong they're opportunity to accede the amount is greater than what the point that you're making I believe you might disagree but if they need more money they just come back to peer tell me in plain english are are you talking about counting at the seven point one million dollars or not. Point I can see the point if you're saying we're cutting them the appropriation yes okay clear seven point one plus six point three is thirteen point four million dollars isn't it. I'll have my calculator with a brought trust your correct okay let let me clarify their cut it down to seven point one they're not cutting the appropriations seven II know that's what you were saying they were not that when I was saying II just keep saying we're not can the budget but we are cutting the budget yes okay thank you. You see up while we got a chance well amendment answer we're not cutting the budget we're cutting the appropriation correct catch so one one says we're cutting the budget that's technically not accurate if they will come forward representatives got if you get out of question for solid. You're recognized rackwork as they come up thank you chair quick question so as part of this code will it include a professional development that pbs does for the department of education. Pass that are everything they're doing now including the item you bring a remains intact as it was. So you're guaranteeing me that with your proposed code as manicured it will not impact the professional development that they do for architect department of education that's not my decision that's the cfo in the ceo pbs to decide and department of education where the money goes but we're not this this budget this line item does not touch there mr chair can somebody else answer the question for me. Why don't we use getting the queue and then you talk to the agency I think they're probably not know a little bit more about their budget than a lot of us do. All right we're going to take questions for the agency and I guess entered to boiled you got a question for the agency yes sir thank you you're recognized I just want to verify that nothing in this are would affect the programming for this old house. I have a constituent who is very concerned about this it's a serious question unlikely to thank you. Same protector you recognize. Thank mischer so we we heard from senator cell on that this is not going to impact the programming at atm and PBS and I just wanted to hear from you all your view on that well any time you know we have. Cuts back and what we can spend on program we also have uh. Uh an obligation and more than the obligation to to cooperation for public broadcasting to fulfill that mission based on the grant that they that they grant to us every year and that is you know for programming and services to the community and also operation costs so it depending on what would be approved before peer you know it it it may or may not seriously hamper programming is one of those programs with pbs the critical functions emergency alert yes it is uh that is in the same bucket we have a ten towers transmitters we've grown from six to ten that a greatly increases public safety in the state we have sixteen microwave sides in addition to that those are sites that kick the the signal to the transmitters so it's it's a huge network it's a just a point at all so that it's it's not sort of an optional peace of the early warning system it is a essential where the nerve center for that warning system so without us without our towers being maintained without electricity without all of those things that warning system really doesn't function so that's one of the programs that would be affected by this with the audit that we've heard this morning where were there any findings that atm had violated state procurement laws. You know it was. Stated generally that that you know that they did it looked as though we might have those where the the major grounds and we. We were. Well let me start to say that I was very glad to see the amendment pass yesterday that clarifies a couple things on procurement law because it is it is gray area and I tent was never never to actually follow the law so I am all for clarity and clarification when it comes to procurement thank you mr chair i've just been sitting here thinking and i'm I think i'm starting the mariden and senator sullivan's position and i'm contemplating file and some amendments occurred every agency budget to zero and then we can just have every agency come to peer every month to determine and a it won't be a cut but they'll think very carefully about how they spend their tax dollars and pure will just be very busy but but that's what i'm thinking about as we move forward thank you for the time is chair thank you for the heads up all right if you will get the mic a little closer to yell the table there there have some members having to trouble hearing your response in its important sensor davis you're recognized for questions thank you mister chair mine is about actually how you guys are some extra curriculars for schools so it's my understanding that for the state whispel championship that you guys have been arranged since nineteen eighty five I think since around nineteen ninety it's my understanding that. Quizbol has been has a line item I think in the department of ad for around hundred thousand dollars and then they have a contract with you guys for forty thousand dollars to air of the state championship which is work I believe they were told that it cost you guys to air that one time state championship annually so you get forty percent of the money that's allocated to them. Annually and their amount has not gone up in years and years and so my question is how does pbs get funded or paid to air of the state championship games for sports teams is that through the aa is there a private funding the school districts. We absorb the expenses most of them we have some small sponsorships we have been building those sponsorships over the past several years they have been growing you know through our foundation but the lionshire of that we produce we were producing internally but in the past year we have outsourced some of that to make to increase our internal capacity since it's very limited okay. So are you i'm not trying to be credit card i'm trying to ask for understanding so for the sports teams and you're essentially absorbing that cost in some way yourselves but for quizbol they are paying you guys a nearly forty thousand out of their hundred thousand dollars budget to have their seat championship well I mean those are the production costs I don't have the budget broken down in front of me but that's what it actually costs to produce that let show so you know we sometimes absorb we absorb what we can within the agency within our existing budget but there's a there's a limit to that we have a very small team of producers we are you know a very lean agency when it comes to producing a capacity so you know from the time that I came in really those producers have a job and a half at least I mean everyone is doing more than one job because we have we have limited capacity. Yes I think we can't really take on every single thing and I was not in the job when the arrangement was made but you know it's a regional contract between between eighty and I guess the architects are governors quiz well association that architects of pps would produce and air quisbo ok thank you that just helps me sort of know how I want to work just understanding that sports sort of are being absorbed and have a three pass but probably bring in a lot more money to schools and and even the and that's not yours fault i'm just trying to understand who's his pain and why so thank you. Revenue to scott you reconnect for a question yes can someone from the department of it come up if they can't answer the question that previously so did you ask them well okay so can you provide clearly or or assure me. I want to know if this court will impact the professional development there is done for the teachers that department of it yes that is in this bucket that will be cut in impacted by this thank you. Senator hammer you reckon as for a question that can assure and I just need some understanding also with reference to the towers that you used as far as what potentially could be occurred which portion of your budget do you used to maintain those towers i've got the approach that you have a stream of money coming from grand tours you know you get grants from but also you get a portion from which where would that come out of which bucket would that come out of any instead certainly a jason could not see about arkansas pbs those funds those expenditures at typically flow through a combination of operating expense and or capital outlay depending on the nature of the expense and and what is being repaired at that time. Okay and feel my key pull michael or closer and so help me understand that if it comes out of that portion how that would be an on a potential cut list if this amendment goes through. I'm sorry so I couldn't hear the would you mind repeating it my apologies just help me understand how it is remembered goes through. That the vital services provided through the towers that was referenced while ago would actually be threatened if this amendment of cutting your budget twenty percent goes through or reducing your appropriations yes we thank you for the question and so in you know on her under a hypothetical situation if we were to have a transmitter or microwave go out and ample fire on one of these towers in theory what would happen in instead of us being able to begin to immediately procure the replacement for the item we would have to file to appear before peer we would have to request the additional cash appropriation or various temporary appropriations in order to begin the procurement process as all of your very well aware sometimes it takes a little time to get on the agenda to appear before peer and then that further delays are time to be able to procure these critical infrastructure needs as we move forward and you couldn't take that out your format in delay reserve then come and ask us for it after the fact. We are okay so that's the difference between funding in the appropriation we we may have the funds but this this amendment impacts and and represents the represents the spending authority I can have the funding it's coming heming fuel in the tank but if I do not have the spinning authority I can't actually drive the car so that that is in in in essence what is being put in jeopardy here is that me by the other one here in a ringing up I feel like i'm you know camera or something that might that might be should be calling in to help you I don't know I thank you or emergency in earth yeah thank you. She recognized thank you and i'm sorry it was distracted while they go the cfl name again but my name is jason kuna appreciate you being here today glad to be here let let me just ask you this for public record you're from area with the previous outbanking is correct yes sir I did read through the higher hotel report are you from here with the audit testimony from the previous capo. You know I did not go back and review and listen to their testimony my apologies for the time do you understand it cspo did you are responsible for the spinning you make even if somebody tears you to do something you response will have the documentation in the criteria that set for legally to do yes sir yes I would certainly have our agency as the cheap financial officer it is my responsibility to ensure that we are following the procurement laws and in in everything set forth by this body and in and i'm more than happy to comply in in every way possible thank you appreciate your being here thank you. All right yeah afraid okay seeing no other questions. Your excuse and appreciate your comment thank you. The. Alright is there a salary you closed or your mind you do from right there. Thank you mister chair the only part I would make yeah this idea of cutting the budget versus cutting an appropriation is a big deal when the quest was asked as this interfere with is this budget cut interfere worth teacher teacher in service I would really continue that that is not the case although they are testified that it is the case i'd like to see the documentation where that occurs and i'll be asking i'll be digging into that also because they make PBS makes a decision where they get the money and if they want to continue the department of it teacher in the service that's one of the most valuable functions they hold and had used a lot and if they're going to cut that budget in order to keep another program I would really question their response they're obligation to provide the services that pbs does they have a there's a lot of people do there and if they're going to cut money from there I strongly disagree at that testimony and but again remember that this and appropriation although i'll only they can come back as after it was frequently as they need they're talking about budget towers both those kind of capital improvements need to be known well ahead of time and if you are not if all the certain you have a tower that goes down and you're not that's not in your budget that's probably yourself. And then you will make a motion and make a motion that we put up the amendment yet about the amendment the second all right I will in favor say are you above as have it I get the hands we're having a role call division of the chambers the world will start on the senate side you sir senator english. The sooner remark johnson. Senator hammer. Yes senator talker no subsidiary patent yes since. Center flip yes center blake johnson yes senator hill yes senator solomon yes senator murdoch. Senator haster yes senator letting no syner king. First often it senator brian. Senator penzo. Yes senator boyd yes center petty yes center chesterfield no center flowers. First often it senator clark. Center stubborn field. Sooner hakey. Senator davis yes senator gilmore yes senator rice yes senator cole. Senator wallace. Singer call well. Yes. Okay got fifteen yes is so i'll go to the house people knew firmer to send it sad so we'll go to the house. Yes sir. Representative matthew shepherd no sir representative how come yes represent a flowers personal training reputability. Yes. Mm. Represent ubank's. Second alternative representative is represented. Not seeing representative ubank's second representative mccure. Yes. Yeah. It is at the time of the road if we see them but he has left on trial that's why I asked. Represent that's a council rule center chesterfield representative tosh. Website of richmond yes represent cabinet yes representative lynch yes representative evans yes represent a macro yes represent milligan yes representative again no representative terror shepherd no representative wouldn't. No website period no represent sky no represent college no represent garner no repsitively johnson. Not seeing representatively johnson represent gramlic. The. Yes. Perhaps they have clowning no. Reserve j richardson no repair park yes. Representative rose yes we was in war law no. Representative eaves no reserve gas away. Represent her woman. They have to have fifteen votes on the house said they finished up with thirteen in the affirmative flow it fails the member fails. I. Are members we're going to the h calendar. Thank mischairman in hounder on page seven page serving you'll see house bill ten twenty nine the claims commission that's ready mister all right ten twenty nine have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor in the opposite mister page thirteen page thirteen house bill ten sixty one this is environmental quality ten sixty one have a motion in a second many discussion all in favor say I in oppose mister page fifteen house bill ten sixty four this is the f a management bill in sixty four have a motion at a second any discussion i'll in favor say in the opposed mistransit page eighteenth and seventy seven. On page eighteen that's dhs county **** ten seventy seven have a motion auto go ahead had a question for the agency for the county are yeah. Here they can't. The. Mr chair deferred my time to represent lunchton. Okay for your right you're recognized for a question to the agency thank you sir. I have a question on canopy and they're funding are anybody in their funding that's in your line item or anybody sign item is this part of a bid process how does that work. Christie panama's secretary to part of human services mary franklin director of the division of county operations for department of human services. Um great cannot be a does have a subgrant from a department of human services through the refugee resettlement program. That is the funding that flows from DHS to them they are also involved in the refugee resettlement program as the social services coordinator for refugees who are resettled and they get separate funding from the from the federal government the administration for children and family's officer refugee resettlement that money comes directly from the feds to them and it is night flow through dhs the suburb they do have with us was not done through an rfa it was directly subgrated to them because they are the logical agency to help us with the data analytics we need to report to the feds on refugee resettlement okay there is no one outside it that can provide that service or we can bid out to detract that. Not currently they are at the designate and and the way that that works it's not a bid process the status able to under our current arrangement we're able to designate an agency to provide the information back to us without the ability to make that designation if if arkansas were to opt out right completely we would lose any ability that we have to have insights and information and coordination with the agency to know what kinds of outcomes to are of the locations where people are resettling we would not have that information I would like to see the information on the tracking how that works alright thank you. Revenue rose you have question in a spring follow up. For asked questions statement I just thought it was important several representatives other members we've had conversations with your agency and the governor's office and back and forth and it sounds like this is just a at least you are perspective that there's no real solution to the issues that we may have with this program seeing as how our state after in and so we're kind of just trying to navigate that's appreciate the work that you've done i've gotten a lot of information from you that originally just was difficult to find the number of dhs employees who currently work on this program as well I think it's important that the body knows you know all of the the funding is federal is is what i've understand that's kind of done a deep divine there but the thing that was a little unclear was what this program was who were giving money to and I think for a number of us. The challenge is we have significant concerns with the funding going to an organization that has. Has the reputation that it does in this arena and that the only security we have on these individual who come into our state is that they're federally vetered that's the best the only kind of outlier there is hey we should feel comfortable because they're federally veteran which doesn't give me any comfort I say all that to say I feel pretty strongly that after this contract we should not find this organization again from this body for various reasons which we've already had some conversations about my question is just for the body to have an understanding of what the refugee resettlement program is and why we are participating in it. Can can you explain that please yes I will start and I will definitely lean on married to pick up director franklin so the refugee resettlement program is a legal entry into the country for individuals for evented by the bureau of population refugees and migration and it is a limited partnership between the state and the federal government the federal money is as mary indicated go directly to at social service agencies the state currently as we have an arrangement retained the ability to run the cash assistance and the medical assistance portion of it what that allows us to do is set the cash assistance amounts and we currently have them set at the same level as the current tan of cash assistance payments so that we don't have a situation where we have a refugees coming into the country receiving more assistance than the families here in arkansas and then I would ask direct to franklin to go here pick up with a little bit more detail on what the program does so the rep the refugee resettlement program is is a federal program it's funded through the us department of health and human services they're administration for children and families in the office of refugee resettlement refugee is it's a specific definition there there fleeing afraid for them lives or persecution in the country where they came from. It is a process that is managed by the federal government for the vetting through the state department there are requirements that refugees have to meet once they are replaced here is within ninety days they have to meet health screening and vaccination requirements and the cash assistance and medical assistance through the refugee resettlement program is it's up to twelve months from from when they entered the country and beyond that if they qualify for regular medicator regular snap or other services then they may they may receive it through regular services if they continue to qualify under those category requirements so the the program is essentially is something the federal government participates in in our hour role gives us insight in coordination the way that arkansas is involved in the program we have insight in some insight into what refugees are resettled how many are resettled where they are from and we are able to coordinate with the social service designing and with the health department who also helps with help screenings just just to have information in coordinate and learn of issues. That will help the individuals be result followed mister. Secretary button director friendline thank you for going into those details and thank you for can walking through this with us for the last several weeks. The long and short of it this is a small and I understand the small portion of the county operations budget we did spend significant time discussing over the last couple of days about eleven thousand dollars with the funding on a different issue and this is two hundred and seventy two thousand and change over a program in sixty five thousand or some odd dollars to this can at the end wa and so I appreciate the take in the time I have a lot of concerns about this specific program I think a lot of that is that it is federal so there's some issues there i've had some other questions that you've been good to answer I just thought I was important for this body to recognize that this is in here I don't think it should to repeat of the county apps budget I don't think that would be fair to DHS or county operations or the members that you serve but I do think for the future we should have some more advanced conversations to try and alleviate this issue and especially the partnership with camping in wa. Yeah thank you thank you under brosen quick response we we we've heard the discussion around can I be we are going to explore all options for providing the best services through this grant thank you. All right reviewed period we have questions yes there thank you can you just walk through the refugee cast cash asside their michael clothes for two year they refugee cash assistant program of actual cash payments and you can't do that go through can't account just walk us to that process real quick and I appreciate. Absolutely representative the refugee cash assistance program it. It follows the same eligibility requirements that our transitional employment assistance program follows so their income limit is five hundred and twenty three dollars a month regardless of household size if it's a single individual they that qualifies and meets the income limit then they can receive eighty one dollars a month for up to twelve months from the date they enter the country for two people it's one sixty two for three people it's too far so it depends on the the family size and it is only as long as they are meeting the eligibility requirements the the cash assistance portion of refugee resettlement works. Works like our transitional employment assistance program but they it there's a twelve month limit. And that is also the same for the transitional employment assistance program okay follow it please so that that so that goes through there are existing programming doesn't get funnel through a nine profit through them to give to those guys is that correct that's correct we directly administer the refugee cash assistance program in the benefits or it minister just like the transitional employment assistance program they are issued to the individual on an electronic benefit transfer card but that cash benefit can be used as cash yes yes thank you chair I see several latter of this alright we get several questions is that senator payer senator d's. You haven't had a question today you're recognized thank you mister chair thank you being here today quick questions about the program is there a capped amount of refugees allowed in per week per month per year there is program. In that is a determined by the federal government and so we don't we don't have any sort of discretion or input into that process at that point I would say we we don't have discretion or oversight over that through the current arrangement we have the ability to have conversations about that in the federal government does determine annually how many entrance they will allow into the country through the refugee resettlement program in in how long is the vet in process for an individual or individual family. The vetting process before individuals are admitted into the country our information shows it can take an average of two years or more and also we have information that many times these individuals may be in transitional refugee type camps for more than fifteen years before they get through a entire process or before they start the two year vetting process lastly is is the intent a pathway to citizenship. They can't they can't there yes a pathway to legal permanent residents or citizenship appreciate thank you. All right senator solvent you have a question thank you mister chair and senator days answered some of my questions I appreciate there. We'll remember we got to go in eleven clock but you tell me to keep it sure i'm pleased that would be very bill anyway connected the president now it's lying people refugees are immigrants from other countries in the united states it's as part of that program. I'm sorry we hear frequently about plain loads of people coming from other countries in the united states that the president has authorized is this the same program if you don't know we'll get together afterwards II wouldn't have a way of knowing that specifically you have there that would be something we could clarify with our federal partners but we're glad to meet on that yeah and if senator days was talking about the attempt to recolonize our consumer we just don't know the number of people that the president could send here I at any given time at his will is that correct that is correct that we don't know we do know that they the united states authorizes approximately one half percent of all refugees across across the world annually so it's a small number that are authorized to enter each year you know I just want to restate that the current arrangement the state has by participating allows us to get that information and to have it to have insight into the number of people I think we'll have more conversations later I thought to be a part of those thank you mister chair. Shared or hammer do you ever short question thank you I do you're recommended do we have a choice in participating in those programmers is one of those that we have no choice. So if we did not participate the federal government could continue the resettlement program and resettle individuals here through through resettlement organizations like cannot be or like catholic charities we just would have no involvement no insight in no ability to coordinate so by being involved the way we are we do have some insight in coordination ability to know who's coming how many are coming and just to have the information that would you have if we did not participate the way that we do we would not have this information that I know thank you thank you sir. Representative johnson. Okay. You told me that while ago you reckon that thank you thank you very much think attempted I just had a quick follow up on synergy's question that when you they go through the betting process are you taking any of that information and communicating it to the communities or to the school so that the schools can adequately prepare for those incoming students and their needs such as special language needs or anything like that. So the are social services designed me they which is cannot be at this time they they help with the arrival of the families getting themselves old housing transportation in addressing those needs like a english as a second language they held screenings the vaccination so they they are involved in all of that and um. They also you know provide information on how many they think they can resettle so that does go into this process but as far as the betting if they don't make it through the vetting process or if in the vetting process you know serious criminal history where they came from comes to light they're not they are a night resettled in the us they don't move further in the program okay period thank you. Sent to a key recognized for a question thank you mister chairman thank you very much for coming and answering my questions just kind of for clarification do we have the ability to track how many whether it's immigrants refugees and accompany minors the federal government is moving into arkansas every year. So speaking specifically to the refugee resettlement program the answer is yes through the information we receive from the social services agency the designing do you know what the number was for last year yes hold on thank you thank you mister chim. Yeah. So federal fiscal year twenty three there were hundred and sixty nine federal fiscal year twenty four today one hundred and thirty. Okay thank you very much as far as unaccompanied minors other things we don't have any ability if they if the federal government moves them to arkansas we don't have any anywhere to track that we we do not we have limited information on uh unaccompanied minors we do they can't alike when we interact with them in other ways such as through a child welfare system or human trafficking okay thank you very much thank you mister alright as being up with they also beat i'm trying to rep this i'm sorry we recognized i'm sorry I was just listening with one year so when you said federal year today what is the federal year today that calendar year is that june october one twenty twenty three so the last fiscal federal year was a hundred and sixty nine. Twenty three yet or twenty three okay and the current fiscal year to date which would be six months worth is four hundred and what had okay I thought i'm associated something there thank you thank you mister chair. Madam sector there's no more questions your excuse appreciate you come forward thank you we do have a motion and a second house bill ten seventy seven i'll in favor say in your post it is adopted. I am the last one we got house bill ten o eight have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say I in the opposed members appreciate good work we will be back in here at nine am on tuesday morning appreciate it we're adjourned.