Joint Budget Committee

The reading. Are you ready. Members of you'll find your seats we'll get started here in a minute. How many legislators are in line do you mind asking that are outside. Okay we'll give them just a few more minutes to get in the door. Thank you. The delicate K. fashion statement would you we your water okay. Sir yes thank you. Thank you this. Good morning. Well I got that. Thank you for sharing that I used to work. Comply. Okay. I'm sure you'll like this down already right okay good all right. Members all called joint budget committee to order and members today is Good Friday so I'm going to start us off just with a prayer if that's okay with you all. And dear heavenly father we just thank you for. The enormity that we are facing today but it pales in comparison to the enormity that Jesus based on this day of Good Friday he was betrayed denied he was beaten he was crowned with the door of crowns and then he carried his cross today to his crucifixion. We just want to remember this Good Friday we remember and what that meant for us and that you sent your son to save us for eternal salvation it shouldn't take a virus to bring us to our knees and have our face is lifted to you we should do that every day and so we just want to remember the stay of Good Friday we want to remember what Jesus went through what you sacrifice for our eternal salvation and we just ask for our country and our world to be on our knees and our faces pointing to you I'm so that our faith can be renewed and so help us to be discerned in our judgments in our wisdom and we thank you for this day and this time and ask that you be with governor Hutchinson and all the leaders of all the states in our country in your name we pray Amon. Alright members we're gonna start with the first item on the agenda. The first item on the agenda is review and approval of a rule by the department of transformation and stared services division of building authority and will need to get someone from the agency to come to the table and introduce themselves and present this rule this is item be on your agenda members. If you'll just come Ford's and if we need to get extra chairs we can do that. If you'll just state your names for the record and then you may proceed. Good morning I mean purpose chief of staff for TSS. I'm and light all director division of building authority thank you. Good morning we're here to present the public private partnership rules they were first and passed in 2017 by Senate bill 651 and but however some of the responsibility was to promulgate rules was transferred to TSS as of last July we've been working with both the private sector and also the different departments in order to promulgate these rules we've put him out for public comment we did receive 2 entities did send public comments first of all was BLR to there's a couple of typos and miss under so we corrected those we appreciate their diligence on that also there was 12 comments from Audubon frames and toll 1 and a raised an issue that a that we were requiring a process that wasn't anticipated with that within the act however there is where we would designate a responsible public entity public entity is defined but a responsible public entity there is a section of the law that requires a to be a designation process so what are rule does is set up with that process is and so that's that's that the and the other. Issue that they raised was the fact that we've set up a process to review these projects where we have a designation of a somebody from the department of transformation Sir shared services probably would at that point would be division of building authority and also the department of commerce and 3 people from the ant the designated public entity would be part of that quote that a review process there. But as an overview one of the things that we've been looking at is what is public private partnership it can be a variety of different things is going to depend on the particular project the way that the act as set out is is particular to state projects and also it excludes department of transportation. So what you're looking at is maybe some infrastructure investments and where you can engage the private sector into a it's some someone we do a risk stratification to find out how we particularly finance within the public sector is through a bond issue however other states have found that is that might be amenable to a different type of financing structure and where there's a shared of some responsibility some of the things that come to mind or maybe student housing where you're able to engage a private entity to help finance that venture because you also have a revenue stream to help provide that cost me the other thing that you may be able to shift over some of the maintenance costs that we have on on going buildings in those kind of things so that's the purpose of these rules say the rules problem primarily follow the act itself the statute however but we'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have on these rules as as we've set forth alright members are there any questions. Okay no questions thank you for your ports lady thank you for being here without objection the rules reviewed and approved thank you very much thank you for being. Right next item on the agenda is reports and communications items city. Item C. one peer review subcommittee. Okay turned. Senator Stubblefield thank you madam chair. Peer review subcommittee met yesterday there were 6 approval items for very is temporary preparation quest these were all proved motions also made adopted to reduce the cash procreation request for the Arkansas public employees retirement system judicial retirement system from 250000 to 50000 all the other item agenda items were reviewed and I moved option of this report other questions about the report from the members of the committee. Scene 9 this and without objection the report will be accepted and reviewed thanks and adopted. Thank you next. Senator eighths you're recognized for the report from JVC claims subcommittee report. Thank you madam chair the claims of committee met on Friday April tenth twenty twenty the subcommittee affirm the rulings of the claims commission as to 1 and paid bill and to negotiated settlements 1 negotiated settlement was referred to the next meeting of the A. L. C. claims review subcommittee and I move adoption of this report are there any questions regarding the report. Scene 9 this for this report is adopted and reviewed without objection. Department of public safety. The 3. Mister Anderson. Thank you madam chair item C. 3 and mallard manager item see 4 or both Arkansas state police reports regarding activity condition of the uniform employee health insurance plan item see 3 is for February item C. force for March are there any questions regarding this reports. Okay without objection this report is approved. See for Mister Anderson okay see 4 was that report for March St report for state police. Are there any questions for this report from the members. Cena questions without objection this report is reviewed and approved. C. 5 the 5. Madam chair item C. 5 is with the department of agriculture culture it is for their February monthly activity report. Are there any questions regarding this report. The 9 without objection this the report is adopted and approved. The 6 men chair that is for March is also with apartment of agriculture forestry commission activity monthly report are there any questions regarding this reports. Scene 9 the report is reviewed and approved and adopted C. 7. Madam chair this requires favorable approval this is for the 2021 by any IMPLAN of work for the Arkansas water waste disposal pollution abatement facilities general obligation bond program. Other any questions regarding C. 7. We'll need a motion. Sir motion. And their second there's a seconds. All those in favor of adopting this reports say aye. And opposed ayes have it the report is adopted and approved. Item D.. Madam chair that takes us to item D.. And you will see we have house bills that are ready to go out they are in your house packet that says house bills a sign of the joint budget committee on the top of the H. enough for right hand corner. Those 2 bills are on the second to last page. And on the second to last page which is page 23 house bill 1097 this is department of health tobacco prevention and cessation programs appropriation. You. All right are there any questions there a motion to do pass. Moved is there a second second those in favor say aye opposed ayes have it. Houses. Thank you madam chair the last bill is 1 right below it house bill 1098 this is part of education division of career and technical education appropriation. Any questions. Motion to pass seconds. There's a second all those in favor say aye opposed ayes have it. We'll pass. Item 80. One meter because some of Mr Anderson's gonna give us a summary and I think we have. Senator garner. Mister Anderson first then senator garner. Thank you madam chair Ottoman E. one. This is amended by Senator garner it is an amendment to house bill 1093 department of public safety this is an amendment for enhance concealed carry. You're recognized senator garner thank you madam chairwoman I know people here that enhance carrier to still care they get a little nervous but this is a very simple bill when we drafted the enhanced carry legislation we are taking out the options are the requirement that an instructor teach both courses they'll for discussion Senator Blake Johnson brought that up and I was happy to do it some light the draft and got put back in we just missed it the only thing this will do is allow people they want to teach a regular concealed carry or they want to each enhance they can teach either one that's all it is rather than both of if you say if you just wanted to regular you don't have to also in teach to hands that's all it does. Are there any questions. Pleasure of the committee. Yes. Okay there's 3 hands was I'm sorry represent okay represent of house sorry. Thank you madam chair of. This disclosure of. Hi senator the disclosure to the committee my son is a concealed carry instructors haven't talked to him about this bill but I think you ought to know that up. Is it a requirement by the state police that. And and I don't know that you have to be trained in both subjects in order to teach either course is that correct yes Sir so there's a large amount of people to use the regular traditional concealed carry and once we passed enhance the intent was that if you want to offer that as well you would come up with the additional 4:00 hours of training based on the Arkansas state police is rules and standards so some people still want to teach to regular course and some people who want to do that would be all for it unfortunately the way that got put back in there it was required for everybody so now you can't just teach to regular you have to learn the extra teach the enhance even if you don't want to the house house of minute mistake in the drafting of the bill. So. This does this bill cut down on the amount of training that an instructor is required to have yes Sir is less regulations to for those people decks describing more precisely thank you. Hey we also have folks from the agency if you'll come to the table and and you can also answer represent of houses questions if you'll just identify yourself for the record. I've done that should okay. Morning madam chairman A bill bright director the Arkansas state police. Mary Claire McCarron Arkansas state police. Okay. Thank you manager okay that's all my questions all right did you want to add any responses represent of houses questions. Of no ma'am I believe Sir guard said it correctly just before the law was drafted it did not give these structures an option they had to teach both and I think this is a simple fix to say whether these instructors do not want to teach enhanced then they don't have to teach enhanced. Okay thank you. Senator bond. Just a follow up we passed then this could pass and 17 is that right yes Sir did and we didn't fix it 19 I had a bill drafted rental time to be honest with you and what we did thanks to the Arkansas state police and some of we we push to roll back and they work with us about as well as they could we felt like we ran out to the end of the line basically what that pushing that roll back and we need to change to make it have more toward. So we're changing legislation on the fiscal session. I I get it I mean that was an issue yesterday from some folks but we're we're doing it today right. I think it's a clean up language to a mess up with a draft and I don't think this is substantially compare bill some of things we discussed yesterday. Well just some any technical changes change legislation understand preset the comment thank you thank you are there any other questions. Any other questions right thank you. Pleasure of the committee. Motion to pass and second those in favor say aye. And oppose. Discussion. Represent of house thank you up. I think this ought to be done. But I think that we trade a little bit dangerous ground and here's why 2 reasons one this is a change in the statute that's done to an appropriation so it violates to provisions of our constitution one is a single subject and to it's a it's a substantive bill in the fiscal session now most of the time I've been willing to let some of these things go but if this is challenged in the court then all of those people who have obtained a license from instructors who have not had both levels of training may find their permits in jeopardy. It's like going to get a prescription from a doctor who's really not trained and licensed to write prescriptions they get a license from an instructor who has not been trained according to current law so I just want to bring that up that we may be doing some harm here to people who get a regular concealed carry permit if that instructor has not been properly trained in what the law requires currently. And so I bring that up madam chair and members of the committee thank you. Senate house. Are there any other discussions. All right any other discussions all those in favor say aye and opposed. Eyes have it. Amendment as adopted. That bills ready to go out to have a motion and to pass it house bill 1093 as amended. Your your motion. And a second. Those in favor say aye. And opposed. Eyes habits the bill is passed saying next item. Was with we have governor's letters. Item F.. Mr blade. Good morning Jake plea DFA office of budget. Of these 2 governors letters F. one and F. to both dealing with some funding needs the department of workforce services has encountered as a result of the corona virus and some federal of laws that have been passed in response to it. The first F. one would provide additional appropriation in FY 21 FOR the department of commerce workforce services this is necessary we believe to support our response to the covered virus as I'm sure many of you are aware the number of folks were filing for unemployment is really at an unprecedented level the demands on the department of very high right now so this would provide additional overtime and extra help appropriation. It would also increase the amount of appropriation necessary to FOR unemployment benefits FOR 2021 by about $2000000000. Finally would also provide some cash appropriation FOR the department of commerce unemployment for. Other expenses related to the response of the code virus this includes the unemployment benefits and expenses and this would also increase by 1.$3000000000 that is for the current fiscal year so we would be providing appropriation for FY 20 and FY 21. Okay we have some questions. I believe that's represent of Cavenaugh. Thank you on this increase an appropriation for work for services. Is that going to be enough to get us people that can actually answer the phones for all of our constituents that are having issues because that's you know that's a that's a big and I understand are being overwhelmed but yes the number of calls we get today I understand we get the calls to of both on the people we know personally an individual and also just folks who were want an answer this is obviously designed to help us get additional people in there to help do you know how many of these that that actually field how many that we. They're looking to feel or they have a field I don't have in front of me how many extra help positions they would be able to add here but this would add another 4 $500000 in extra help appropriation in addition to what they be filling in full time regular positions. Thank you. Okay. Thank you senator bond. Thank you of going back to what just what represented Cavanaugh Senate. First I want to say the department of commerce and secretary press in the governor's office been very responsive doll my concerns about this but I do think and I know how much pressure everyone is under but our our telephone hotline. Currently advertises the hours of 8 to 330. And I have asked that that be extended and the you know it's 8330 Monday to Friday. And with the pressure that people are under and the increasing claims and we're still not processing pandemic unemployment claims for for understandable reasons but I think we need a commitment from the department of commerce in the governor's office that we're going to extend these hours at least over the next 4 to 6 weeks so people can get in touch with someone I know we want to push him towards online but there's just a lot of people who need to talk to somebody or feel like they should talk to somebody so that's what I would like to hear today that we're gonna commit that 8 to 330 this kind of looks like bankers hours in a crisis. You know and we just have to extend why can't we all agree to do that to extend these hours got 6 days a week at least 8 to like 6 or 7 or something for working people so they can get in touch can we commit to do that with this extra money I can commit to pass along that request and we can get your response hopefully but before lunch today. Well and I'll say in response that I've made the request previously privately I don't want to thank you being caught blind side here but I think it is that important and I I don't know about all the other members but I'm getting a lot of contact in a lot of Facebook messages and over this issue and and I know everybody's trying I don't want this to sound bad but I think as a state we need to expand those hours particularly right now in one pandemic unemployment hits we need to be ready to counsel some of these people about whether they qualify what they need to do because people are out there hurting and when they don't get the phone picked up but it's it just creates a almost a mental health crisis for a lot of these folks so I I understand don't disagree at all hi hide 6 days a week at least and 10:00 hours a day at least and I would appreciate it thank you. Senator Elliott. Thank you madam chair I do we have one letter to want to be sure I'm asking the question about there's 2 letters in front of you okay I just got one that says GL 15 is that the one we're on because I want to ask the question about the right technically were on GL fort okay okay I'm I don't I just don't have the 14 I wait madam Q. madam chair stand the queue because my questions about 15 okay okay. If your pressure button again I'll let you back up and it's time senator Hickey you're recognized thank you madam chair. I know myself and I said it sounds like a brother to kind of agree with what senator bond is saying I'd like to go one step further and make sure that we get that information back be it in the form of a motion or something that it will be referred back to this committee or that that question will be ask and sent back to this committee so we know for sure I just don't want that to get lost in the dark I think that's very important alright let me come back to you after we have questions if you don't mind thank you ma'am. Senator Rapert. Thank you Mr chair I just want to definitely speak up on what senator bond said we're all getting a lot of calls but one of the things that I'm noticing Mr believe is that some of the feedback and I'm getting for my constituents is that when they even talk with someone at the office they're literally getting told I don't know. And there's nothing any more frustrating than to get a whole finally get a hold of someone after you've waited maybe days to do it and then they say I don't know and I don't know what to tell you I mean we've got to do something to ensure that the messages there many of them were even asking they were totally confused about whether they're going to receive the extra $600 this being promised and so I just really want to add my voice to the strength of what senator bond is saying and other share okay I understand and I hear you and I and I support his request to try to get that to make sure that it's it's responding to people I understand yes Sir okay Preciado senator Ingram. Thank you madam chair of in the discussions regarding this like everybody else that I've had with the department commerce they have sort of focused on getting the the website they're saying you know most of the things come across of the internet the there to follow that we got to get that fixed at the profit I guess at the the the that that is a priority but in rural Arkansas the it's it's telephones people work colony and so I want to stress like not my fellow colleagues that will is that the telephone we've got to get it the need to be fixed just as well as the website so thank you very much. Thank you senator Elliott. I will I I'm on my questions on 15 okay Senator who is an 88. Senator Johnson. Thank you madam chair of Mr believe if you now we have and I appreciate the secretary doing this but they recalling some retired workforce services employees to help the with this shortage of of personnel of course you know we have a anti double dipping statute we're require someone to be a retired for 6 months before they could come back in the into a job is that something that we is the General Assembly need to come up with a waiver for does the governor have the authority to to issue a a what tamper a waiver of that to make sure that someone that has retired but wants to is willing to come back and help us in this crisis is able to do so is that is that a problem or my finding something that's not really a you had a problem A you know that's a good question and I don't know the answer to it off hand I don't know what the extent of the the governor's emergency powers would be but I can absolutely pass that along we'll get you an answer could you please because as you know we could if necessary passed a resolution in and do a statutory change or maybe I say the word special language today but we could maybe make that legal we don't want to not have good people that are willing to come back and help us during this time so thank you so much and look forward to response thank you madam chair thank you senator Stubblefield. Thank you Mr chair. Jake I understand the system was completely overwhelmed there's no question about that how much of a part did having to recode this new federal legislation that play into that. So that I'd sure Reese children from work for services is outside so I I think that she'll be able to speak more to this might my understanding of it is. You know a month ago we were presenting most of you were in here when the governor was presenting is balanced budget and projecting an economy that now no longer exists we were at the tail end of the longest economic expansion in our nation's history when unemployment was really at a historic record low and and then in the course of 2 weeks suddenly we're at record highs just from the standpoint of a management just from the standpoint of running operations it's very difficult to make that transition and then on top of that we do have a federal legislation that expands dramatically the benefits that were receiving for working very hard to a comedy all that. But it does create some challenges for us well I certainly concur with center bonds proposal to to links in the days and the hours of each day and getting these claims process because I. I have a lot of a fact most of my district whose rule and I get a lot of calls from people who are calling in and the. Having people like Senator Rapert said getting answers like I just don't know. If you'll just a state your name for the record and then you may proceed thank you for being here. For sure Reese shoulders director division of work for services. Brian Hicks assistant director for finance for for services thank you for being here. Would you like to respond with 2 Senator Stubblefield questions from work for services Senator Stubblefield wanted to go ahead and ask that question I just so that my question was just how much of a how much of a part did the the federal legislation play in delaying some of these claims having to recode the system to put any federal guidelines into the system. I Senator Stubblefield last Saturday we receive the guidance from the US department of labor FOR the federal pandemic unemployment compensation that's the $600 for the those that do qualify for unemployment benefits in Arkansas so after we receive that information Saturday evening we started looking at what the requirements are for distributing those funds and then we started modifying our system to accommodate the requirements one thing that we did not expect was the the requirement to to pull out that any child support payment any any back child support so that added additional time to to our programming our programmers worked all weekend to add that in and we actually distributed those funds of the extra 600 on it Monday evening and Tuesday evening we did have a little bit of a of. Challenge with the programming and so some people wrist have you may have heard us some had child support payments taking out of taken out of their payment Wednesday actually did not owe any child support and or maybe didn't even have children and so we were able to correct that then for the next night that did not affect their deposit direct deposit or their debit card we were able to catch it before at that point but it was on their statement in the the system so they did see that but then we corrected it so the first distribution of $600 when out Monday evening that was about 18000000 and then on Tuesday we did correction and another 2.5000000 went out that night. The second leg is the P. U. I. which is the pandemic unemployment of assistance and that guidance from the US department of labor came out on Sunday night at 744 is when I received it and so we immediately started looking at that guidance and we currently are working our staff is working day and night to work with the with the programmers that is a completely new system it's something that we do not have in place no states have that in place currently so we were all. Drawing up new new plans for that and programs in order to distribute money to self employed individuals an independent contractors and the like so that system is being developed right now we expect for those checks to go out to those individuals by the end of the month. That was it sure sure is a lot of acts of calls from people who were furloughed. And they were asking me what is the difference between being furloughed A. being laid off the employer anticipates that they will bring those employees back to work okay they were confused about that are thank you madam chair. Thank you. Representative Cavenaugh your question. Thank you madam chair all the way over here to the right. Thank. We're talking about the phone lines and they do need to be manned more I have constituents who continually tell me they can't get through their claim on the website because the website was only available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. How is a website not available 247. Again it goes back to programming our system was developed 20 years ago it was able to assist of make it through the recession that the recession was a gradual increase and never reach the levels that were saying in this you know just in the 3 week period of time throughout the whole recession so the system was not able to withstand the pressure nor do we have the ability for the for the systems within the I. S. 210 to withstand that additional. Number of claims all at 1 time and so are so in doing what we're doing we're trying to make sure that the system stays up and running if we over pressure the system then it will crash and that's what you've heard and some states that it has happened and it's crashed and not been brought up for days ours has been off has crashed and has been down for up to 4:00 hours but then we were able to get it back up so on the system right now is 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM it was a Monday through Friday system we've expanded it to be open on Saturdays and Sundays and very soon hopefully in the next couple of days it will be open 247 and that system is called easy ark easy A. R. C.. The our constituency contact us and all of us have all. Daily I've been trying for weeks and I can't get somebody on the phone I can't find my claim on the website. These people have no money. They're frustrated. Y'all are over worked. How to we assure our constituents that once they get filed they're going to get back pay and how long do they have to wait to get that money. That is correct if they have if they have filed in their separation from their employment was prior to the week that they actually were able to claim our father claim we will backdate it that is allowed in Arkansas law to backdate their claim to the date of separation and so they will get their check and it will be retroactive back to the date of their separation as far as the calls are concerned we realize that there are people who are not getting through or they're staying on the phone for for a lengthy period of time we are monitoring that we do have a system in place that that monitors all of our calls so we do know the average wait time we do know the the longest period of time that someone waits on a call we do know the shortest amount of time so we're monitoring that we have 3 different options for those individuals with different use and so within those cues we can expand the number of people who can of the put on hold but in doing that that means that individuals are going to stay on hold for a longer period of time rather than just getting a busy signal or telling them to please call back later so it's a kind of a it's a you know it's a catch 22 because we can expand our queue so that there's more people on hold within their waiting longer and they're getting frustrated about that we can limit the queue so that within we can reach try to reach the individuals that actually are in the queue with any system like this you know there are there are disconnections for various reasons and we're hearing that you know some people are in the queue but then they just they just get dropped and so we're looking at. And monitoring that on a regular basis. The problem with unemployment insurance questions the problem with the questions or that even though I've been in this position now since July 1 I am no expert in unemployment insurance I promise you have learned an extremely large amount of information in the past 3 weeks but there are not individuals in Arkansas that are equipped to answer the calls and the questions that were receiving beyond just the you know just hearing a voice and sign I can check to see you know if I can help you file your claim we have Q. and a so that the individuals who are answering the calls currently can try to answer their questions and a lot of them are very very similar questions however the level to which are you are specialists are very limited and those are individuals that can go in and look at a claim they can determine why their claim has not been processed they can look at what additional information is needed if that had wages in the period in which state are eligible except for a and that's where we are a limited on the number of people who have that level of expertise. We have of the hotline open and other call numbers available from 8:00 AM in the morning until 330 for 1 line and FOR clock for another line the reason we cut off the calls at that time we stop taking additional calls at that time because the individuals that are taking those calls especially those individuals here in our local offices around the state that we don't want to drop anyone that's already in the queue so they're staying at the office and working until 6 and 7:00 at night to finish up those calls that are in the queue so that we don't automatically just drop those at you know at 330 or 4:00 and and and drop their call the reason that we have not expanded the hotline 2 of 247 or even 7 days a week is because there are and not enough people to answer all of those calls it in the state that have the experience and the knowledge to be able to answer the questions so we're doing everything we can 2 to do Q. and a online so that individuals can look at those questions and possibly get the answer to their question we're looking at another resource where they could do a chat so they could chat them and get a response to an answer quicker than waiting on hold and then we're also looking as you've heard at a third party call center that will be. Of that will expand the the number of people taking calls we have people answering calls from department of all within department of commerce and division of work for services we have approximately 310 people working in our offices that are all most most of those are working 100 percent of the time on unemployment insurance even though that wasn't there original assignment or or job and then we have individuals working at a call center within the department of commerce and within our building it to capital mall. Senator and if you have another question represent have an awful just get back on the line senator Ingram you're recognized for a question yes of thank you doctor children one thing that I think that the the governor and doctor Smith if done very very well is that dashboard where we can see every day what's going on it it might be that would be very helpful to the legislature and the citizens of Arkansas if you could develop a dashboard you could show how many calls that have been process have many that have been the taken care of how many that are waiting in the queue I mean I think there's a lot of information that that the that we could share that we know that we're working on it but when we don't know when we get these complaints you know we we tend to think will there's a huge bottleneck and and nothing's being done so let me suggest that if the department could come up with some type of of the informational - board to show the progress is being made I think that knowledge would help all of us yes Sir thank you to follow up on that and also something that perhaps governor Hutchinson might also. Put forward as far as information for constituents. Representative Dotson. All right. Thank you madam chair over to your right. So I don't want to. Be a add to this too much but I've I've been hearing some reports from folks who have gone to the office in person I know we've been encouraging them to go online Meeks calls and and but some people get frustrated by that and end up going standing in line for long periods of time when they get in they said they're only being received one at a time and. Most frustrating thing to them is to see multiple employees standing around or were not helping when they only have one person being helped at a time now I understand that more than likely the other employees are taking calls are between calls and and that sort of thing I understand that but from a perception standpoint hopefully you can possibly do something with regards to that that public perception that when people get in to the office and they're only getting helped you know if they're in the 4 year. Employees should be either on the phone or helping customers from a perception standpoint and I don't know that I have the. A question more than just to encourage you and and thank you for all you're doing I know it's it's very difficult impossible situation we're in right now. Thank you Representative Dotson yes our share that with our local offices thank you Representative Lundstrum you're recognized for a question thank you thank you for all you're doing that look you got slammed all the sudden expected to be perfect. I may have missed it but senator Ingram. I wish it had a follow up question how many have been processed. As you've heard the governor say we had we have approximately 110000 claims as of today since the week of. We can dating March 14 that's pretty impressive I'm. 1 of the things that I have gotten called on was from constituents as set date office does close at 3 or 330 and they are looking at the fish bowl of people and wanting to know why and when I tell them will they have to close so that they can process all those claims they immediately calm down because it makes perfect sense to them but to the people standing there watching they're angry. Is there a way to put something on the door that says we're not closed we're working on processing your claims so they immediately know there's a reason. People always have for there's a reason they immediately. Calm down is there a way to do something even a poster board says we're actually working. Yes there is why today that represent of Lundstrum thank you for that suggestion because yes at any point time we have paper claims at at at 1.in time we had paper claims up to 8600 paper claims to be entered and that's from individuals that either don't have access to easy arc or there's when there's mass layoffs at a company and we're doing all of those by paper claims I will say that we're down to just a little over 2000 paper claims that are entered so we have staff working on Saturdays and after hours and during the day so those that are not answering the calls are actually entering claims that's that's awesome and the other 2 questions that I've gotten from constituents as it would be helpful in their online to have some type of music or something that said and then in between your call number you know 9 are your call number 15 so they can just put it over here and they can go work on the car or whatever but then they hear dead silence and then they hang up and then they get back on and then it's almost a competition to see how many times they can call in and that of course make sure job more difficult and then frustrates our customers so does that's been the feedback is just more information. I'll let you digest that thank you Representative Lundstrum that is good feedback and that is good information we have we have worked to improve that the the calls and the the wait time and what is happening while they're on the call and some of that is just we we don't understand why why some of that is happening we did extend the music of and and and to my knowledge that was extended but I will I will check on that thank you thank you senators sorry Senator sample. Thank you sure is have you thought about it you've got a large number of qualified work people they're retired if you reached out to the hot tub compared to mainstream if they would contact casa most of my think would be willing to come back and help through this. Yes Sir we have Senator sample we have quite a few individuals that are retired that have retired from division workforce services working from for us now however a lot of those are in the category of at risk and so those individuals that would like to come back are not able to come back and we don't have a system in place where they can work at home so that and we're working through that and some of them are some of our retirees have returned in the end you test so my next question why can't we. Of all I. T. people we've got what can we come up with something for the taken work remotely tech to help answer some of these questions or a suit in especially the ones who heard half the difficult questions because of retirees are every answer those difficult questions in the past yes Sir it has to with our capacity for our phone lines so once it goes into the the 844 number that is our hotline number and then we have to make sure that we had the capacity to send all of those calls out to different lines within the within the state and so when you start having more lines added and having to transfer it to to an individual cell phone or their home phone number then that further complicates that process I'm no expert in telecommunications or hot lines but I'm learning a lot and we're just restricted by by that and also by confidentiality so the individuals that are answering those calls are getting information such as socials and other personal and at the end of the identifiable in information and so by having that information accessible written down it someone someone's note pad at their house of sets up the an opportunity for fraud in the future so we're trying to protect everyone's information and by having that all healed within a call center in within a in in in a can and an environment that where individuals are trained and our of certified to handle confidential injury information that protects the citizens working day and when. You say that to it a lot of them or older people like myself. What can't they do like we do. Word mask and gloves and they can come into this call center and do that I mean. We get we get English senator Caldwell letter knows it that. We can do that our director Walter that will. They would you know that we can do we can actually work in protector sales. I yes Sir we have individuals that are coming back and that a they are in that at risk category but they know that this is so important and they want to help because we understand that at this point in time that it's it's a this is important to the individuals that are in a situation that was so unexpected and we're just thankful that we still are working and have our jobs so anyone that is willing to come back obviously we are not able to force those individuals that are in high risk categories to return to work but we have a lot that have chosen to come back to work because they realize that this is taking all of us 2 to address the the citizens that are out there that do not have the resources to manage without a weekly paycheck. And and thank you for all this I just want you to have all those 2 was in your to box that you can help and I was just one about that particular options thank you thank you Senator sample thank you Senator sample Senator Stubblefield you're recognized. Thank you. A you know if there's one thanks rich we've learned from this episode it is we were prepared either the federal level or the state level for something of this magnitude I live at a mall mail and yes today have a catering business is just across the street from where we stayed and they were robbed at gunpoint in all they took food. A. It seems to me like when you've got an agency is important as yours and getting in getting those assets out to individuals who need them quickly couldn't we have some kind of a an on going educational of to keep these people ready because I think would be naive to think that this is not gonna happen again. Sooner or later this is going to happen again and the best thing you can do one of them an event of this magnitude happens is to be prepared. And I think we need to work on being prepared for something like this occurring again because it's going to happen again. And what you can do within your agency to to help. That is for the educating your employees and and being better prepared I would certainly encourage you to do it because. Who knows we could be in the same situation this time again next year these fires a and there's a lot of people that depend on what you did. A and getting those assets to them as quickly as possible is very important so. I would just encourage you to do so you know to work within your your correct to prepare for something like this that's going to happen in the future because it will happen again. Thank you chair you're welcome thank you Representative gray. Thank you madam chair and I do want to thank you for all you're doing I know you've you've been hit very hard kind of a 2 part question here one is just help me understand the role of the counties and what they play in this and I would kind of to hit on represent.since point they're taking one of the time or the resources being redeployed for those people to where they're helping answering the phones on the hotline just tell me what their role is at the county office and then also a lot of questions I'm getting or around hair salon owners that can no longer work and will they be able to you get some type of help and then a little bit further is a I've had physical therapists and occupational speech therapist reach out who want to continue to help those that need it but they're volumes are so low they're not closed so they can't file for unemployment insurance can you just help me navigate that health care professional field. Okay represent a ground try to work through your questions and then if I did do not touch on one please please repeat your question. As to the offices our offices across the state are open and yes there are individuals there waiting in line most of those individuals just have questions about has my claim been processed why did I get this email that said you needed more information because I'm calling and I can't get through so what information do you need X. Sentara and so what you know what I've asked you all to do and I appreciate those of you that have contacted me and have also helped communicate the information to your constituents is that if they will utilize email then we can answer their questions we're working on and like I said earlier chat bot so that they can go in and and send in their questions because most of the questions are repetitive and so what we you know what we're asking those in our offices to do are to answer the phone to address questions as they come to the office one by one so that we're not exposing the individuals in our office and putting them at risk and then also we're asking them to file to do the paper claims and and to do the hotline as well as their entering those claims so we we have we are utilizing every resource that we have at this moment a lot of people just want to talk to someone and that's been the case when we're answering the calls in my office and I'm answering a lot of those calls in returning emails and they just want to know more information but if it goes beyond you know the just the general information into specific questions about their claim I'm not able to access that system and get in there to to look at. Their Klein and to tell them what exactly is needed because I'm not a US specialist and I of you know I can help them now and trying to navigate and give them answers as to when they can expect their payment and and general questions so I would encourage those that are standing in line to please just be patient to know that we're trying to help everyone and I know that right now they have immediate needs and I need money immediately but if it's any. If there's anything that I can offer to them is that they will get if they are eligible they will get their their direct deposit or their debit card back to the date that they were separated from their employment I know that doesn't help them today buy groceries and I understand that the another question that you had was regarding the those that are self employed and those individuals just need to start collecting information as to their wages for last year we realize that that most people have not file their taxes but they should have all of that information together for their wages from January through December of last year so that we can use that information to determine their eligibility I encourage those individuals just to have all of their paperwork ready so that when we are when that system is ready that they have that information and that we can send that they can file and we can send their checks to them as other direct deposit and debit cards as soon as possible for those individuals that have lost hours they are eligible for unemployment if they if their hours are reduced any of any amount below their their regular out working hours that they had prior to call the 19. So that something that they should go ahead and apply for unemployment benefits if they are eligible and then there benefits will be determined based on how much of their pay was in their hours were before and then what they are currently. Page one quick follow up if I might if you could. For like the therapists say who the A bill insurance them sales. And volumes are super super low they're technically still employee they don't have anything to gauge that off of besides 1090 nines from the year before so how exactly if you could research that for me exit how exactly do they file because they don't they don't have a pay stub that shows I was working 40 hours now I'm working 30. Of those individuals would need to have the income that would be reported on their 1099 so to have that available we'll look at that information is we're working through the P. U. a system which is not set up yet so it's just having that information readily available and then I'm not I don't know all of the details yet because we're still trying to figure out how do we certify and verify there is a a cell certification process and so that's what we're asking them to just pull the information that would be needed to show what their wages were and let's say it's you know what what were their wages of March of last year based on their Billings and and their earnings of and then what we're there what with their wages in March of 2020 that's just an example. Okay thank you. Yeah I think that's really really important and I hope that the different associations will reach out to you to get that information down to their members because there's so many therapists that are in that boat particularly in health care and we need those people to stay viable when the system comes back because there's such a huge importance to the overall health care system in rehabilitation particularly for patients so. Thank you again for that senator I'm so I'm an everybody I'm trying to get everybody's questions so one at a time as just keep it the thing so we can move on Senator Ingram person again sorry. Okay you're recognized thank you this question is on behalf of Representative Deborah Ferguson of instead of people waiting to enter and not practicing social distancing of has the the department considered draft 3 applications for unemployment like a number of other states are doing and they're using tablets and processing claims of quicker. Senator Ingram of no I have not heard of of that being utilized that that is something that we can look into and and possibly consider. Yes Sir all right thank you. Thank you Representative Lundstrum. Thank you madam chair and. Couple of questions. First of all after 2 days of being on the phone with constituents I was ready to to cry with them is there a way we could do some online training with us I am I even call the Speaker instead all volunteer to go down and put on a head set to learn so I can answer some of the questions and maybe speed things up for my constituents. Would you be willing to do maybe as in class for us on just how to find this or that so when someone calls this we can say this is where your pan is or this is where this is. Absolutely thank you for that question Representative Lundstrum I appreciate the opportunity today to answer your questions and the time that you've given me to give explanations in details I know that that's important so that you can relate that to your constituents so if there is a time that you all are available and you would want us to do just a show and tell basically yes this is how it works here's what they're saying this is why they're it they may be saying this this screen you know we're so we're saying that a lot of are a lot of our questions are how do I reset my pen and so what happens is they either they forget what they're Pieni us and so then I have to reset it then they try several times and then they get locked out of the system and so that seems like a the a real simple you know it's just like your password for anything else how many of you have you know have we're told not to use the same password for everything so we have 100 passwords and you can't possibly remember all of them and so that's what these individuals are you know they're struggling to to get there they're under a lot of pressure and they're forgetting with their pen is and I either don't write it down or they lose it and so a lot of the questions are just I've lost my pin number and I can't get in and then they try several times and they get locked out so just seeing those. Those big sent showing we if we were to show you those examples and the actual screens that they say yes I believe that would be helpful so I'll be glad to work with anyone that wants to to set up a time for that and will will have the a couple of our senior members conduct that session with you all okay and then my other question was on these self employed do you already have a list you you have been real good about putting out one sheet directives or one sheet informations to you already have a list artid or something we can go ahead and post gather your information now. Kind of a cookbook type thing so that those self employed folks can go ahead and be preparing we have we are working on that now as to what that what will be required we know what individuals qualify for the P. U. S. A. the pandemic unemployment assistance but as far as what actual materials will be required for them to submit is still being determined by the programmers and what can be submitted and how we can verify that information within a reasonable amount of time so the best thing that really the only thing that we have right now is just the is the law itself and the really for workers portion of the cares act and that guidance that we receive last Sunday night as far as exact information for what they will need we should we I hope that we will have that next week because they wanna with the system looks like and what we will be expecting them to provide to us in order to to determine their eligibility okay one final question I've gotten from constituents that have said. I got through the website but I didn't even realize it because the clearance area was so small that I didn't know I was successful I act that would call take the it's on here but I could not find. The the it was just so small there wasn't a thing it said you've been successful and I've even said can I face time with you to show you where that spot is and then the tears start I don't even know how to face time because some of them never been unemployed and they've never even use that type of software so. The maybe a a bigger button that says you've been successful in it's been completed so anyway it may be the class for us would be helpful to yes I believe so Representative Lundstrum and again that goes back to a a system that's been in place for years of we agree that it there are there are a lot of things that if we if we could we would change and make it better but under the current circumstances that we yeah I think it's more important that we get claims process definitely and we spend time with our you know we ask our IT people to spend time. Re we yeah and tweaking and re re the designing the look of it which it's it is not perfect and and we will be improving that as we learn from up this experience in in the future we will have those pieces in place and they will be easier to read thank you thank you thank you Representative Lundstrum I think those are great suggestions director chillers we have had several zoom in zoom webinars that I've made available through public health chair and so your we have public health welfare and labor so if you'll get with me all will will do another scene weapon are for the members of the General Assembly we did one with DHS Medicaid and all the changes that were being made and requested from the cares legislation the waivers that they're submitting so if you'll get with me when that's ready and I'll send it out for invitation via teleconferencing or zoom weapon are and for the members of the General Assembly will represent of Ladyman and I will assist you in doing that. Senator Elliott. You're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair Dr chillers are this might not be in your will house per se but I guess and there's coordination across the departments and it's a trick of the of the question I had when I had a discussion with a couple of folks recently when you were talking about sometimes people just need somebody that just won't talk to somebody get some answers but across the whole spectrum Mr bit been any discussion about trying to figure out ways for people have easier access FOR booked for mental health issues because it's really been amplified during this time uh and I see that particularly among people who have never been laid off and I've been reading a lot of articles about it but has that been a discussion and since my on the question of what we need to do to try to help people. Senator Elliot within our agency we have resources for our employees because obviously they are also under a lot of stress but I do not have any I do not have any knowledge of of that being done at the state level but I'm certain that it has been looked at and considered by our other agencies. Okay I'll pursue that further if there was coordination thank you thank you senator sample. Thank you of jewelry so I had a call from a light actually 1000000. Here's why I think is a. Japanese and she's never been governor should ship she still works on a green card. She works for a screw. She called a and finally got to determine how many times that you try to Colin. And then I told you that she was going had come to the office and fill out paperwork. She said that she went up there a couple days in a row but the lines were just ridiculous and is there any way that we can. Handle this by. Emails or anything else like that. Our Mike deployments. I feel bad for people have to go up there especially when you don't wait when you live 30 miles from there and then go what is staying after you know sometimes not your calls and were you going go to. To the bathroom you Governot get outline the. And so is there any way that we can help people like that. Senator sample I would encourage those individuals instead of standing in line to go ahead and fill out an application and then put isn't as much information on there as they in addition to what they're asked so that when that claim is received we can reach out to that person by phone or by email that is that is the best way to to get your claim processed and your questions answered because we are making we are returning calls and reaching out to these individuals once we get 2 their claim and it's being insured they can drop that claim off without having to stand in line most of them however have specific questions that they want answered and that's why they're standing in line and I I understand that however that individual is taking the claim is probably just when you know one of our staff that worked in another area within that work for center and day will not be able to answer those questions. Hints of they get frustrated because the individuals that have that knowledge and answering those questions are either on the phone on a level to call center call or they're actually addressing those specific individuals questions on their claim as to why hasn't been process and the additional information we're needing so I'm not I hope you know that I am not sitting here giving excuses as to as to why were you not saying that yeah I I II I hope you know we are just working as hard as we can to make sure that everyone gets their claim insured that we if they're if they are eligible that we process their claim and and. Every day we're learning ways to improve our process but at the end of the day we have limited human resources well apparently on on her situation she yes commensurate documents. And so amend. If she can make copies of those documents and attach those to her apt companies does she she understood that you had general like or green card ever they had fits closely. I at I can't answer that question I'm not sure if we accept and not good in the hobby but that is something that I will ask. That requirement was waived it's been one yes okay thank you for thank manager thank you members I under I think we have gone on and on and I appreciate all the different questions however if you have a question I was asked that you we get direct with director shoulders at this time and as used answered a lot of questions. I understand that I'm gonna go to senator bond I think he has a motion. Based on the comments of many of the committee members I thought it might be we should express our will as a committee. The top hotline hours be expanded as soon as possible to at least. 10:00 hours a day 6 days a week until no less than one week after the first pandemic unemployment benefits are issued. That would be my motion and that it's not to say that about is not working as hard as I possibly can and I know everybody's been incredibly responsive but we've got 50000 state employees out here and this is a time where we've got a Marshall all our forces to answer these folks questions and to get this money out so. My motion is that the that the joint budget committee expresses well that the hotline be expanded as immediately as possible to at least 10:00 hours a day at least 6 days a week to be extended until no less than one week after the first pandemic unemployment checks are issued. There a second second all right is there any discussion. Any discussion. Senator Ballenger. Thank you manager I I my question is just is that is that possible you know is that something that we can do and and make it happen I mean I I think it's a it's a good idea it be wonderful but do we have the personnel or will we be able to actually carry it out. Urban thank you out with the staff that we currently have and those that we are training what we would have to do is to adjust the hours of the individuals that are currently working so we have ex number of people and those people are only capable of working. A certain number of hours for otherwise we're putting their health at risk and then we're reducing the number of those that would be available because we are requiring them to work hours that are not sustainable and continue to be in good health so that is possible but what will happen is that we will have to adjust the hours of those individuals that are currently working so that we have we have. Different schedules in hours for different individuals so that we can meet those demands what is your what is your peak time manager if you don't mind what what is your peak time when you getting the most calls or you know. What it what is that time from general I want to go back to just making it discussion on the motion because we've kind of moved past that time and I will call excise that well that is really want us to move on because we've got a governor's letter in front of us that enormous newly importance and I want to make sure that we have proper time to go through a madam chair that's my question is it is it is it a situation where they can cams move around their schedule and have but the the problem is that if they take people away from there the peak time then they're going to have more busy signals more people not not making it through understood. It is that is that is do you have a peak time as a later in the afternoon I mean can you move around people and and still satisfy you know get things done as as well Senator Ballenger I'm sorry I don't have the latest report on our calls and the volume based on ours that information is available and I can provide that to you at a later time not don't know. I will say that is this is this doable the pandemic on employment assistance is goes through December 31 of this year the federal pandemic unemployment compensation A currently runs through July 31 in our last distribution of funds will be on July 25 which is the end of that week so just keeping those dates in mind we at we anticipate that once the claims of for the pandemic unemployment compensation are settled in entered which we're getting to that we're getting to a point now where we're reducing our number of paper claims that are sitting there and the number of individuals who have not received their first check we expect the cost to go down tremendously matter of fact in 1 day we reduce caused by 100000 calls in 1 day just because of progress made in the system and access to easy arc so the second piece the pandemic unemployment assistance we hope will begin at the end of April and again by law it is available through the end of December of 2020 we anticipate that we will have the same number of calls and and volume of or not the same number of of claims but increase volume for that piece of compensation as well initially but by then we'll have our third party party call center up and running and we'll have the chat up and running which can address those needs when that volume starts which we expect we're already seeing that and then we expected obvious they were obviously through the first couple of weeks that we started ministering claims. Thank you senator Clark you're recognized. Yes I believe the motion was. The will. Of the body of which I don't think is binding right of and you know this is what we're talking about a crisis and we understand. That you have to deal with or at least those of us that are managers understand that you have to deal with what you can do. But at the same time of the same as Representative Lundstrum of said you know I know that I have called and volunteered. So I know that we can think outside the box and that we do we've all express the frustrations of people except for a and I know what I would do in my business and the and what we would the what we would take all and the third things that you have to do and so I would just say to the body that I think it's a great motion and the and I would ask the department to do everything that they could of. If they can of to comply with the. Thank you senator Clark senator Caldwell. Thank you Mr chair Shreve thank's millage I know you all are busy I know your place full of book to we just went through transformation one big selling point from transformation was it to we could use the. Shared services shared people of if if you all or short own own personnel and other personnel are not working working for home surely to goodness we can go back to not be short so short sighted from transformation that if we need to move so from one agency to another short term that we could to to do that again thank you for what you're doing I know you're behind the but to everyone we know is an emergency situation but again thank you. Thank you senator Hickey. Thank you madam chair mine is just to the motion. Probably the senator bond if if we if he would be willing to amend what he had said to one week past past if we could just say up until the secretary could be willing to testify to this body that she believes she has it under control or are we want to put it because if she if if it does come down we get into the holiday sit sit the whole holiday season and this thing is a virus is kind of went away and everything's under control I would hope that we have made a motion that would A said said that so what I'd like to give her a little bit of discretion if if that would please you so. I don't want to I don't want to a substitute motion I wanted that to be yours because I will vote for years in the end I just think that be appropriate thank you madam chair. You senator Hickey. Thank you senator bond you're right well Justin in response that I'm happy to make it at the discretion of secretary pressed and if if that's the will of the body the motion was just no less than one week after the first pandemic unemployment checks are issued which was one week I mean we're projecting those to go out of the end of April right now so the one week after that but I'm happy to make the motion to express the will of the committee that as soon as possible the hotline be expanded to at least 10:00 hours a day. 6 day and at least 6 days a week until determined by secretary Preston. And of your by the second. I'm good with that. I will say this is in response to some of the questions I agree with senator Caldwell Senator Clark and I appreciate that everybody's comments. What we have is a situation where people have kids at home there been laid off the government and and and many senses ordered I'm not to work and no matter how hard it is we have to marshal all our forces to answer this call right now and I know that's the will of the body and I hope we can get that done. Thank you I have one more on discussion of the motion seat number 33. Let up. What I clicked off by a good make my comment I'm not sure exactly what we're doing the biggest vote that we can make as a body is to pass this letter and let the funds flow we're sitting here right now debating why things are taking so long and taking extraordinary long period of time to get the money that needs to be funded so that they can have the additional help and have the infrastructure in place I don't know what the right or wrong answer is for the hours and everything else but I know that this matters and so we can make this motion and and pass it I hope that there's no adverse consequence to doing it and then feeling though they have to fall that directive I hope that we understand we make this motion that we're doing so with just what we believe to be is not desire but not if it implicates in hurts what they're actually trying to do today from what I've understood and all this testimony there's been lots of debate about the constraints of the system the curtain string to the personnel on everything surrounding it and again I would if if he gets us to passing this letter let's do it quickly and get this over with so that we can actually do something that matters. Thank you. Or so the discussion Representative shepherd. Thank you madam chair and I guess my question or point was similar to center Dismang as I understand that this is an expression of the will of the body and I believe senator bond said as soon as possible but I would I would like to clarify as far as what we're voting on I'm I'm assuming that by expressing this will that we are not suggesting that they take any step that would otherwise decrease their responsiveness I mean if we're saying we want them to expand their hours of operation they could expanded it just may be that there's far fewer individuals available and and I guess that to me factors into that as soon as possible but I'd like to if I'm in corrective as far as that statement goes I'd like to I guess center ponder somebody correct me on that because what I don't think any of us would want to do is vote to express the will which we all would like for the hotline to be expanded I don't think anybody here would disagree but if it is expanded at the cost of service then it is we're going to eat it I would assume they would point back to us as to what precipitated that and so I'd like to make sure that that that is the fact the case that when we say as soon as possible that that is taking into account that the discretion of the of the director in being able to provide adequate service. That's the intent of the motion. Director shoulders I have a question the call center that you the third party call center is that got a time frame on it are there is there an hour of operation for the call center. Yes we're looking at the call center operating. I'm I'm having to try to. Yes I was going to say 12:00 hours a day 10 to 12:00 hours a day and I was on the phone as we as we were called into the room to see if that would be something that could be expanded to Saturdays as well okay great thank you all rights with that those in favor say aye aye ayes and opposed ayes have it thank you and then that we would now go back to just before we go to that at I do think that we need to give you and your employees around of applause for what you are trying thank you senator Irvin thank you members of the committee. It and this appropriation will get us through this next fiscal year is that correct Mr bleed yes it so we're looking governor's letter 14 he provides appropriation for both additional procreation for both the current fiscal year right as well as 21 all right great okay with that what is the pleasure of the committee for the governor's letter. Senator Ingram you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair this is on behalf of of Senator Linda Chesterfield of her question regard is regarding unemployment benefits of are they will they be extended from what they currently work. Our our. The thought this is on the governor's letter including in the appropriation she she just yes she's got a question she as she asked regarding the unemployment benefits will they be extended how will that cares ACT affect Arkansas the unemployment the number of weeks. IOS Brian Hicks to answer that question place. The cares act legislation allows for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance for those are wrecked that meet the regular benefit requirements of that will be paid are present with federal funds. All right and that's part of the appropriation question here. Is thank you all right see no other questions all those in favor say aye. And opposed ayes have it the letters is adopted. And the bill is ready. I need a motion on. SB 87 do pass as amended is there a motion is there a second all those in favor say aye and opposed ayes have it the bill is passed as amended governor's letter number 15. So you heard at director Childress discuss the pandemic unemployment compensation program which is I understand it is a new of benefit which is provided under the cares act this appropriation would allow us to operate the pandemic unemployment compensation program both in the current fiscal year and then going forward into the next. Are there any questions on this appropriation. The questions. Senator Elliot recognized for a question am I reading this correctly this is a is this just for folks who are. I lost my spot. Those that are self employed. His job is it just for those with 7.30 Childress. Senator Elliot the pandemic unemployment assistance is for all of those that qualify under that assistance and it includes those that are self employed and independent contractors. Okay. So where it says in the last sentence this request is necessary to ensure that the state has sufficient appropriation to support unemployment benefits to self employed are Arkansas citizens. They're just wrapped up in everything it doesn't mean in this is just for those self employed. What's not clear to me in my my understanding is this was intended for the kind of gig economy employees it would otherwise benefit from the traditional unemployment that's the way it reads to me I just want to be clear about that but I'm not getting knowledge that that's what it is and do we know anything right now since they are in a kind of different category I don't want to belabor this but how this is going to be administered is is it going to be a similar to what somebody described earlier they just to collect their you know their information based on what they've been doing it just a quick little primer on how they go about how would this be operationalized. Senator Elliott as I described earlier the process will be similar except there will be documentation that is required that will be different obviously from an individual that strong regular unemployed state unemployment benefits that system is being developed to now so we can have that ready and when that individual goes into file their claim it will have all of those questions and drop down menus and opportunities to provide that information for all of the individuals that that would normally not be eligible under the state the regular state unemployment benefits and are now eligible for this pandemic unemployment assistance that's helpful to me because I thought maybe I'd missed you know something that was out there and I can let them know it's still being processed and still to come yes features okay thank you. Yes so that program is still being developed but it should be available at the end of the month this but I think you referred to okay great any other questions. All right see in 90 I have a motion. And second all those in favor say aye. And opposed ayes have it the governor's letter is adopted we now need to pass H. B. 1082 do pass as amended is there a motion and a second all those in favor say aye and opposed ayes have it the bill passes and just action item to note. We'll try to get together and do is a moment out weapon are you'll get with me will do that I also want to say that doctor Rick Smith with you a math and doctor and polished I would DHS is addressing mental health issues and talking about resources at the presser press conference so that's just another piece of information and we appreciate all you're doing thank you alright moving on thank you item she pay plan holding account appropriation request. Add Mister Anderson you're recognized thank you madam chair were on item G.. The this is an appropriation requests a normally goes to the pier subcommittee. The full committee's been asked review this it's for additional. Appropriation requested by the division workforce services $4000000 to allow for the processing of unemployment claims during the Kobe 19 public health emergency. Are there any questions. This is just for review all right without objection this will be reviewed. Thanks item H.. Thank you madam chair item I H. is also for review these are 2 requests by the secretary of state FOR miscellaneous federal grant appropriation authority you'll see on the second page. This is for the sector state federal election assistance commission federal appropriation of over 5000000. This is to improve the administration of the electric elections for federal office including enhanced election technology and to make election security improvements to the system. Are there any questions regarding this report. 6 any questions 39 without objection it stands review. Well I'm sure the last one we have is on the last page on item H. also for the secretary state federal election assisting commission federal appropriation of over $4000000. This is to help America vote act to prevent prepare for and respond to the crown of bias coronavirus domestically or internationally for the 2020 election cycle are there any questions regarding this report. Scene 9 this item will stand reviewed. All right I'm gonna recognize senator Hendren a fuel pressure button please. For an announcement center Hendren you're recognized thank you madam chairman a couple things in I think this the Speaker and all of these deal in here or not but we've visited I want to update you on a couple things before we all had home for the weekend first off I want to thank everybody for staying here I don't think we've ever pushed that many budget bills through in that amount of time. Of I want to thank Marty and Jill for getting this plan together for a big mac they worked really hard with signs and posters and assignments and I and and I hope that it pays off and nobody goes home taken the virus with them and also from the house side represent Johnson's been coordinating with men's for all the folks doing the screening so make sure you thank him in the men's folks and FOR for their their work in helping to keep a safe. As far as the session next week there's Mr Mr Speaker he speak for the house but the Senate is going to meet started 11:00 which is a change from 10:00 we still have a couple items take care of an budget next week so budget will meet at 9:00 so check the website because some of that thing may change but right now 9 for budget 11 for the Senate again Mr Speaker talk for the house but I think they're going to meet 11 as well and the last comment I there's a lot of questions out there we are still going to try to put our essay on the desk today with regard to the the problem that had we talked about yesterday is primarily 2 years but also someone on 4 year institutions. We've been working with the governor's office in the D. F. and A and what I will tell you is there's going to be a there's going to be a change is going to be a proposal for both the rest of this fiscal year and for the it next fiscal year to basically take out the damage that performance funding did on schools because they're already get that and it basically it additional cut like everybody else which was I think what the law was intended to do anyway hi it's going to not change the.the hope is that it does not change the whole are as a make up it'll just be part of it'll be added to the RSA with the line to taste to talk about how we do what 2021 but you can tell your college folks that there's a fix being worked on it's still in you know unicorns and rainbows because everybody knows what the budget looks like next year but they're not gonna be double double whammy and again we don't know all the specifics of that and for the Senate as soon as we get that I will forward it to you and will probably have a conference call this weekend to go over it. So again the plan is to still put our C. on the desk today to still leave us in a position to finish Thursday or Friday next week thank you all again. Okay Speaker shepherd you're recognized. Thank you madam chair similar comments on the house and we we are going to convene on Wednesday at 11 instead of 10 because of the business that has to take care of here in joint budget 9:00 AM just continue to monitor your emails for important messages announcements I mean there's always even even between now and Wednesday I mean there's always you know there's always the possibility of of committee meetings or other things that could come up during that intervening time so just continue to monitor your emails but right now the plan is to be back here Wednesday as center Hendren said we're we're of the issue that was raised with higher education we're working towards getting that resolved and still hope to put our essay on the desk today it again if you have questions about our essay feel free to call or text me or represent Jean or you know any number of members to whom the been involved in have had discussions on that and look forward to seeing everybody back here next Wednesday. Thank you and members I do know that we had a lengthy discussion but I think it was a very important discussion that we had today about unemployment insurance and work for services and all that they're doing so I appreciate the latitude for us to be able to have that discussion it was very important also it just want to say thank you to the staff and also to all the legislators there are legislators watching this that are not here today and everywhere that are working around the clock 247 every legislators doing that right now I just want to thank all of you all the colleagues for doing what you're doing as well as our staff for this so thank you very much and have a blessed Holy weekends with that we are adjourned.