Public Health, Welfare and Labor Senate and House

Okay. If you're saying we're going to start in just just a minute. K. one call this meeting this committee meeting to order appreciate everyone being here looks like we get a little bit of a small turn out but appreciated one being here today Was that the keeping the important ones are here But you know as you all know we're in the middle of You know quite a situation and I think it's important we keep up on this and try to get here and and get information so that we can take it back to our districts so I appreciate everyone being here Senator Jeremy comments. Thank you Representative Ladyman and just such a honor to chair this committee with you thank you and members I just the reason why we we are trying to utilize this big mac a committee meeting or committee room instead of going to the capital in utilizing those meeting rooms because it's easier I think on our staff because of the echo of it and you only have you we have EMTs that are set up at the at the door there so that's why we've changed this from a Monday meeting to Tuesday to accommodate Education Committee. And to help our staff on dealing with and they're already set up in here for you have for the corona virus and cove it so I apologize if that's altering your schedule a little bit but we're trying to work with the Education Committee and then also utilize this one space four meetings so that's why we've made if the meetings to Tuesday. And then a Wednesday morning for overflow in case we need to do that so the so it's really just about trying to help and maintain the ability for the staff to take all the precautions necessary and I have our EMTs at the door so. Just wanted to explain that decision that we made. Yeah and also we we may not be able to stay on the same day and same time in the future so be sure and watch those dates on me and feel sent that out to everyone but because we only have one room there may be some changes forced here so we'll try to keep that to a minimum because I know you know center and I have talked about this we want to set your schedule you know any more than we have to but we'll we'll try to keep you up to date on that and be as least re read you know changes we can on that thank you all right. So we'll move on to item see. Adoption of the June twenty second many minutes do I have a motion. I have a motion and a second I have a second. All in favor signify by saying aye. Motion carries. Move on to item D.. Of which is the department of energy which all come Ford. Please introduce yourself for the record. Good afternoon I'm Michael McAllister I'm deputy chief counsel for the department of energy and environment. I'm willing to come ran the associate director for the office very quality. All right if you would please go ahead and just present your rule we're before you this afternoon with a a. a change to a rule nineteen which is the rule having do with some air issues the changes in this rule making are strictly housekeeping rule change housekeeping word changes to comply with the X. passed in the last General Assembly of twenty nineteen so they are nomenclature changes to change department of environmental quality to division of environmental quality to change the regulation nineteen to rule nineteen and associated housekeeping changes like that and that's all that this does. So those are the only changes there are no other changes other than that specific that is correct Sir there are no substantive changes to the rule there strictly nomenclature changes based on the The bills passed last session. Okay. All right we have some questions for you. Representative Payton you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair I just I just have a question how long is this rule been in effect. Do you know the. A long time now these these changes these nomenclature changes were this rule making was implemented in January but rule nineteen is long standing it has to do with the the division of environmental quality's delegated air quality programs under the clean air act and it's been there for a long time I think I cannot tell you where it's origin as years years yes thank you Mr chair. Representative love you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair I'm I'm kind of lost all right so. Are we talking about AT Q. here are we talking about. I'm a in month in nineteen years been in the legislature I've never. Arkansas department of energy. One wanted a AT cues under department of energy with the reorganization. The division mystery. Yes transformation are okay because I'm I'm I'm like I'm awesome right the Arkansas department of energy fund where we were. Washington somewhere okay now we got to get up on these things yeah I I guess so. So within let me let me ask so you said the. If the rule is been around then why hasn't why did why did. Was this a rule that existed at eighty T. when you just kind of. Making it fit into transformational what. Yes this rule the contains a state implementation plan regulations which are put in effect more or less in the nineties so with the the rule is a simply called regulation nineteen before so now we're changing the name to rule nineteen consistent with an act act three fifteen of twenty nineteen that requires us to change regulation to rule throughout the regulation and then of course we're also updating our name at the same time so WREG form of currently regulation nineteen when it goes into effectively rule nineteen has been around for awhile and so is nothing no within the practice in any nothing new nothing. Yeah there are no additional section to requirements okay thank you thank you Mr chair thank you for bringing me up to speed. So read nineteen is the original see a a clean air act. Implementation of it within the state authority to the state. It you know it it's the the one that makes up the basis of the modern and clean air act program in Arkansas it contains state implementation plans are promulgated under the clean air act we it's a little complicated we have multiple regulations that implement but it's the core of the state framework and implements the cleaning the cleaning yes okay. All right US senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair of I am getting phone calls from my district concerning AT Q. and your decision to. two to dump ET we'll materials in communities is that what you're dealing with here with the pollution thing. So you know as I mentioned before there are no substance substance of changes you know the the regulation being affected here is are purely clean air act regular regulations implemented under the clean air act and there are no changes to those okay so we're not you're not one of those because I understand they're supposed to be a hearing here soon what is a hearing about. You know with all of the different deputy general counsel on a I'm not sure which hearing you're referring to there is some there are some upcoming of public hearings on some permit issues and other rule makings but none of those are related to this particular rule making okay I'm trying to see because I had called last night this Merion Williams for instance is concerned. Because she is saying that in Frazier pike. My neighbor receive this a chess later today I have not received one and apparently the majority the neighbors and if I can get the letter a but they are concerned I talked to Michael about the issue some time ago and I'm wondering if I missed you could ask him is this the same thing or does it have nothing to do with this. I believe the issue you're referring to is related to a permit application by little rock water reclamation authority yes there is a hearing on that permit application I think later this week okay there've been a lot of public interest and public comments made on that rule making but that is that does not have anything to do with this thank you Mr chairman thank you gentlemen for taking my question Sir. Senator hammer you're recognized thank you Mr chair. I'm looking out the exhibit the on the front page and it says the definitions ensure continuity of reference to these roles which have not been revised to change. Which have not yet been revised to change the term regulation to rule and I'm thinking you know round here with legislation we draft sometimes work shell and may have really significant meaning and value to them so are you being granted any greater authority that would take you around the legislative branch by moving it from the term regulation to the term rule. Not that I'm aware of Sir and that certainly would not be the intent of any of it but this is strictly to comply with the legislation that was passed last session. Which is the transformation bill your referred to correct yes Sir in and the additional legislation about administrative agency rules and making them consistent across this state and across agencies have. The other act is ACT three fifteen of twenty nineteen. Okay because. Regulation would occur where persons rule would occur where maybe that's a silly question but I think of rule you've got to come before us if you're going to modify or change any rules if you go through the process. It in my right or wrong on that I'm just I mean those I just wanna make sure we're not as legislative branch rendering any authority that would allow you to do things without coming by us first by changing these terms no Sir we are not in all rule changes will have to come before legislative review just like always this is an attempt in to to get existing regulations of the pollution control and ecology commission into compliance with the rule changes that were passed last session and are you gonna do this with all the other ones that are tucked away in your language very likely sorry it's just that usually we wait until there is substantive changes and then we incorporate these housekeeping changes with those and bring them all together we don't just open the rule up to make. These housekeeping changes if in in less we need to in this instance there were substantive changes to rag nineteen what was then regulation nineteen that were started in twenty eighteen they were approved in twenty nineteen by both legislative review and by the pollution control and ecology commission but the timing of the finalization of that kind of overlapped with the implementation of the legislation about transformation from last session so at the time the approved the substantive changes the pollution control and ecology commission ask why are we not going ahead and doing the housekeeping changes to that would have caused a significant delay and the rulemaking and so we assure the commission that we would come back and clean up the housekeeping changes in rule nineteen and that's that's what we're doing here today all right so we'll probably expect to see more like this coming down the line is as honest as necessitated at the time correct yes are thank you. All right seeing no further questions without objection this rule stands proof thank you thank. Okay item on the agenda and has been pull down department G. were requested that we pull that now and that will be coming back to this later some additional review is required on that. So moving on item if department of Human Services. Which shall comport. Please introduce yourself for the record. Thank you Mr chairman more quiet with four means services. Good afternoon merry Franklin with department of Human Services director of the division of county operations please read present you rule change. The rule we are bringing to you today is to comply with the tax cuts and jobs act. Act of twenty seventeen arm we have Medicaid category some of our Medicaid categories follow the modified adjusted income we call them mad John categories which means that the income determination for eligibility for those categories is based on tax laws federal income tax laws so there were changes in those tax laws so which necessitated us making changes in the eligibility process in the way income is determined. In addition to updating those tax law changes we did while we were in this policy we did clean up and take out business processes that were not rules and cleaned up the policy and I do need to call your attention to we we corrected a typo at the last minute in section eighty two sixty two and it had to do with alimony in prior years prior to on or before January of twenty nineteen alimony awarded in A divorce OR separation agreement was taxable and therefore it was countable as income in the determination for my job Medicaid and now after January of twenty nineteen that it is no longer countable and we had a typo that was opposite of what it should be. All right. Questions of. Representative Payton you're recognized thank you Mr chair I guess I'm just curious how it could have a zero financial impact statement. Well there were things as as previously that were counted as income that are not counted in there were things that were previously excluded that are not excluded So we don't What we don't you know see a. If if I if I may represent their. They may have some small impact on the margins and met some maybe one way so maybe the other way just based on what we know we expected to be a wash and so that's why we do expect there to be any any fiscal impact from this store we just guessing or did somebody calculated. The it's a guess but it's because of the things that don't necessarily tract so what we don't have the data we could use to make a fully accurate prediction now all we can do is take the date we do have and just making the best an educated guess at do we think this will have an impact or not. Okay thank you thank you Mr chair. So just be recognized for a question yes Sir on on the second page section two number two section two six seven would you explain what you mean by excludes the for pregnant woman pregnant women in care parent care take a relative categories of assistance from the five percent gross income disregard. What does that mean. The of the major categories only thing about your the alphabet soup. So I don't know what manage and means all I know is it's is it exclusive for pregnant women and parent care take a relative categories assistance. And some of our modified adjusted gross income categories where we have to use that methodology to determine income and then there for eligibility there is a five percent district guard that is added on top of the income limit so. This policy is Is saying that this regard does not does not apply to the full pregnant women or the parent care taker category it's so you don't get the five percent. That's correct why don't they get the five percent it it it is to comply with the regulation it's a federal regulation part of the affordable Care Act and so this the. It that category and the extra five percent is not part of the eligibility determination process it is part of the process for Arkansas for Arkansas works but these two specific categories it is not right thank you thank you Mr. All right seeing no further questions without objection this rule stands review. So we move on to item G.. So we have the same representatives here I guess I'll have one change for may Mr chairman up all remain up here in Elizabeth that men from our division medical services percent okay. You would please in addition so. Yes Sir my name's Elizabeth admin I'm deputy director of the division of medical services you may proceed thank you I'm here today to present a rule change for the Medicaid provider manual for transportation providers specifically emergency transportation providers. I we're doing a rate increase of eleven percent for those in providers that provide emergency ambulance services additionally we've made some manual changes for those providers I worked with our cute Arkansas ambulance association. And I made some clarifying changes that bring us closer in alignment with the definitions used by the health department and with CMS rules regarding physician certification and clarify some of the billing practices St. Happy to answer any questions you may have. I have a question that that I've gotten calls from fire departments. So how did they play into this with their responding they're doing medical response are they covered by this rule the only Medicaid enrolled providers are covered by this specific rule so only there's county county ambulance services that are enrolled with Medicaid to receive reimbursement would be covered by the specific role now we did just do seven carries act funding that does affect fire departments and allows them to get some direct care payments but that's not impacted by this will so those fire departments that have medical response would would get additional coverage the shot under the cares acts yes okay thank. Senator Caldwell you're recognized. Sorry senator Johnson sorry. Thank you Mr chair I appreciate the opportunity to ask this question miss Pittman we had a hearing in public I mean and insurance and commerce related to the problems of rural ambulance services especially in my district and represented Bentleys district and and also part of senator RAPERT sister not just Perry County but it's kind of been the poster child for this problem one things that came out is that the Medicaid a rate for reimbursement to these ambulance services in rural areas has been flat for like twenty five years is this a response to that's bringing that up is this and I may not be a big answer a are complete answer but is it it it is it at least a partial answer to that problem. Yes Sir we believe it is a partially answered as an eleven percent increase now I I think I was in attendance at that hearing a while back one of the hearings awhile back I'm an and I know what you're talking about I was there when they testified and we do believe this will address some of that concern but I am Medicaid is a small pair overall about thirteen percent of the overall payor make so there's still a lot of other things that need to be addressed and to really meet that gap but we do believe this is a good step for Medicaid to make to help well I appreciate that you're aware that in and you know each course we like to have bigger increase for the especially the services like in Perry County where it's tenuous at best to be me keeping the service open but I appreciate what you're doing the fact that it's a good thing doesn't mean I want to stop and we can maybe do better but thank you for answering my question thank you for letting me as a question Mister chairman. When you're recognized for a question or comment. Thank you so and and this is actually just also as part of the rate review and and the process that day embarked on actually before any of that and and so now I know that they've been working with the ambulance association for a long long time about this but dot problem does exist in lots of areas in the state of Arkansas but it's a little more complicated than just a rates to I think there's other things that they're working on it DHS with CMS in that regard as well and that can also be part of the the the. I guess solution that to their point state Medicaid is a small payer for ambulance services so. I mean you really have to look at the whole picture of the payor mix and know what they're getting and does different areas which we we can't we could affects perhaps by law if we passed a law to change that for commercial or insurance payments so I just wanted to add that to the conversation as well but can you talk about the CMS that that program for just a second where were out on that if you'd like at the I'm assuming you're talking about that the access payments yes ma'am yes man we and just resubmitted to CMS and have another round of questions that were answering from and I we also are re doing the rule so you'll be seeing that again in front of you I have weekly meetings with the ambulance association okay and their attorneys to talk about that so we're working to issues that come up with them okay and hopes to be at we're targeting a fall effective date for that right so hopefully we'll be back here okay thank you appreciate. Representative Bentley you're recognized for a question. Thank you chairman this is for Mr why there greatly appreciate this increased rate increase our FOR Ament services much needed thank you why you're here marking you ten we met last month about the physicians primary care physicians and their rate increase and we stopped at a five percent we discussed going up another three percent committee and we were at this point are getting that three percent increase as well I know that our folks are still looking at that decide what the best way to apply that three percent is another missed conversations between us medical society and others so that those conversations networks along going we still expect bring something back to you all here with between down this fall to have a final recommendation for how to apply that three percent thank you appreciate it. Senator hammer you're recognized for a question thank you could you maybe spoke to not miss to be could you tell me how you arrived at eleven percent why was it not lower why was it not higher what formula did used to get to eleven percent. Senators. I I can I can and yes Sir Senator hammer I it's the similar similar process that we followed for all of our rate reviews we did an initial review internally just comparing where we stand to other states and Medicare and and looking at the history of the rate increases and others people have mentioned today it's been a while since this program is seen a rate increase then we take the results of that and and I and sent it to our actuary who did an analysis and it was determined that eleven percent I was appropriate we presented that to the ambulance association of course they would like to see more as everybody would but I understood that this was a good first step and then we carried forward. Your actuary Milliman yes Sir. K. And to the question taken not to represent of Bentley awhile ago of you know we've we've got the issue not home providers I can't remember Jack term sorry But as far as where are we with their review of their you know rate increase I know that add stuff July first they lost twenty four. Cents an hour for the we had the independent of that had been hired come in so can you just update now where that is we're talking rate reviews yes Sir senator asked me we referred to personal care services yes that we did receive an is the or maybe the day of maybe the day after the hearing that we had here but the actual or the providers and hired they did he did provide us with the data he'd use to make his termination and so now our folks as well as our actuaries are review that looking to see where that data were is aligned with what we came up with where their differences how did they come up with a different amount and then look and see what we come back with as a recommendation. Just here's what to the ambulance association think would be a fair percentage if not eleven and you said they were they settled with that they were happy what was their number do you know how they arrived at their number I don't believe they came back with a specific number not me and I did not get a number from them yeah I think in their case they they did not hard actuary I think they just basically just review the work and been done in and and admit as miss payments said like any broader would like to have more but just a well I don't speak for them one work at this yeah I would want you to but okay thank you thank you Mr chair. Payton you're recognized thank you Mr chair so what does this include the hair services you don't med fly helicopters. You don't mind I can look at the list and see for sure I can't remember all the codes off the top of my head okay just a second and in fact we could probably provide you with that. I certainly could which might be the better way to go than me trying to remember as well and basically I have a question to follow up there that's more to the point I have not reviewed the data by have a constituent that contacted me recently that says route. He has data that the number and percentage of of air services in our county has gone way up and he feels that. Because the provider that is providing the ambulance service also is the provider for the helicopters that may be there. DO moving some of the. Of that demand over to their services to get a better reimbursement rate get more money and that's his concerns and I've not review does data yet we set an appointment to meet but can you address that at all or is there any kind of a standard or how do we police that it. I'm not prepared to dress that specific question today would be happy to take a look at the data I will tell you that yes it does include I read a re wing fixed wing air mileage in your transports of those are included and we can get you this list of codes if you would like and that's going to be increased so this is an increase for both so it wouldn't be an incentive to keep him on the ground that. No it's increase for both we do a utilization review of any services we we have the authority to go in and do a utilization review of any services as is office of Medicaid inspector general we have standards that you have to meet to provide air wing and what we can get you any of that information as well I can't address specifically how it's looked at right now but we do have that and can get it to you okay if I could add Representative there are as I recall there are standards in the provider manual that outlined with the criteria that to be met to use that new either fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft and we certainly can get that to you I would encourage your constituents new at the concerns that perhaps those criteria are being met so the office of Medicaid inspector general that's that's what they're there for is to review situations where provider may be testing the bouncer exceeding the bounds and certainly the about forty go in there and if there is a problem whether or not following the rules make sure we can go back and call back some of that money okay thank you thank you Mr chair mark did you send that to fool when will give it out to the committee yes Sir will to. You're recognized thank you Mr chair I just want to have something real simple. Now all. Are we on schedule for write reviews now every four years every but how often are are these review rating on the review because I want to sit up here talking about the same thing in two years and out of four years ago Hey you know we haven't been reviewed are we are we kind on the schedule of all right reviews for all our services what the exact order provides is that we have to complete a review of ever Medicaid provider top between now and I believe it's next July is is the deadline for doing that and national round okay and then and then after that they have to be not less on a fixed schedule but we have to come back in review each one of those at least once every four years and certainly we could we could come back more often as needed but that's a that's an executive order right yes Sir okay so then Mr chair then I guess I don't know what we have to do if this is an executive order because the next administration may not want to reveal that all. On. So I guess in this in this situation what we do because we're in of you know doing this forever and ever if I guess we don't take legislative action in the future on this. If we want to guarantee that review within that time frame would probably need to pass legislation for that okay alright thank you make that executive order state employees. Alright thank you. Representative gray you're recognized thank you Mr chair just for comparison sake could you tell me what the. Medicare reimbursement rates are commercial reimbursement rates averages compare to what this eleven percent increase will get a state. Do you have that I don't know that I have it today it's in the reports that were done to do the rate reviews so we can get you that information okay and do you have any idea how much lower we are then. The eleven percent increase Adele apples I did look at that report last week preparation but that that number so to my mind I'm sorry and we can get that to you thank you Mr chair in the future if you don't mind bringing that because that's something I will ask you on every single one of these to so I can get a comparison as to where we are with what's considered cost we certainly do that thank you. Senate recognized thank you how long has it been since we reviewed I know it's been years of exactly how many years since we last reviewed their rates for anglers providers I believe is back to the nineteen nineties it's it's been a significant how Tom I thank you twenty four years was correct that someone said okay are they the out liar as far as the number of years back that any provider or there other providers it go back that far further that's the oldest one I know of there there may be others that are older about thank them the vast majority thank have been reviewed since that time okay so this may tag on to Representative love comment awhile ago but here's my concern. Been twenty four years we gave them eleven percent how many years of that twenty four did we chip away and we're going to we're gonna be right back here again in a couple years because all we did was make up a little bit of lost ground but we may not a made up everything that we need to. Do you know in comparison of that twenty four years as a lever percent how many years it chipped off of that. How then I don't know That will take part take some work to look at for example may the Medicare rates over those years I just don't know the extent I would guess that data is available but that's the take some data analysis looking at for example Medicare's paid over those years now I know that when we look at it look at the data is also the actuarial techno there was intent look to see what does it cost provide the service and also comparison to water others paying for the service and so because of that is there's not SO an automatic increase you'd expect every year but yes you would expect over twenty four years that would be up a pretty good amount higher now as opposed to the in his years were rolled here's what I'm thinking is we need to know the number that is going to take to make them whole. So we can go ahead and take that on the should been being done over the years that it is been allowed to go on but this generation of legislators are going to have to address the issue and if we checked the services these providers all of them to be around in the future we have to come up with a realistic number what's gonna take to make them whole so we can make that a priority and taking care of them do you have the capabilities within your I. T. systems or within your data collection to be able to come up with those numbers for each one of the providers. That. Possibly which which that look at that but I would say I don't leave the impression that this increased does not nationally them whole it. Art are tasked to the actuaries and our testers staff review these rates it was not to see what's the amount we can just fire what we for to come up with the task was to see what is an actual early appropriate right now and so and that's that's the number that came back with so I think that based on what we've seen we would expect that this increase does make them whole so to speak that it does place the mat where they should be as of today not does it make up for maybe a lower rate this been paid in prior years not necessarily but that's I think that's an entirely different conversation of do we as a state want to go back and reimburse providers rector actively for rates they're low rates paid in the past because I think that raises a whole host of other questions we have that conversation later thank you thank you Mr. You're recognized. Thank you just really to follow up on a lot of the questions that are being asked and so we had talked about this in the past I think a good idea but it would be and maybe this is the August meeting of the September meeting that we have a spread sheets of what what rates were reviewing where they were asked to where they are now and surrounding states or Medicare rates you know so that we have this information presented at that time because and how long it's been since this rate has been reviewed because it's hard to speak about these things or to. Talk about the in vacuums it's nice it's better to have the whole picture as to where you will this hasn't been reviewed in eighteen years this one hasn't been reviewed in twenty four years this one is fourteen years this one is twelve this is where they fall this is where this rate falls in our region all that is information that we have that I think the legislature needs so I think that way we can make a better informed decision and what part of the Medicaid pie our day and how much this increase affects the entire Medicaid budget those are things that I think we need to work on to get better information for the members of the legislature so I will work with DHS to provide that if you as a legislator have questions and you want to email me information I will work with DHS and we can put together that type of information and spread sheet that I think will be helpful in usable for our legislature that sound like a good plan certain okay members if you want to send me your request then I'll try to incorporate that into further communications thank you. All right seeing no further questions without objection this rule stands review thank you thank you members. Okay moving on item H. the department of health bill comport. Senators yourself for the record. Lars two I'm general counsel for the department of health. I'm Christy Christy section chief for EMS. Greg brown oversee the state from system works medical services strokes in the system and currently acting in the incident commander for our code response with help from. You're recognized to present rule thank you Mr chair. We are here today to present the proposed rules for emergency medical services are changes are a result of various acts that were passed by the legislature in the twenty nineteen session these will comply with those acts and we're also providing some general updates and some clarification language there are some requirements that to maintain the national certification for EMS providers with the state licensure renewal under ACT nine fifty eight and we are also making the amendments that were required by the red tape reduction of licensure acts that were passed and also ACT eight twenty for the military licensure our stakeholders the ambulance association has reviewed our changes than they are in favor of them and I have the branch chief and the section chief here to answer any questions you may have thank you. Any questions. Seeing none without objection this rule stands review thank you. Just second we have one question here senator Irvin recognized. Thank you sorry and it's really not about the rule but I I want to you at some point in a future meeting talk about the contact tracers so I want you all to be prepared for it I don't necessarily would have that discussion today but and I think we need to as a committee understand fully what contact tracing looks like the questionnaires that are being utilized what people are being asked to the data that's been collected and how that data is used and also how it's protected and so I I'm conspired some concerns and but I think we need to have some good information about how all that's happening and and how we're going to and. Proceeds ad down this path and and that's kind of separate apart from the whole back to school scenario that's gonna unfold so I think there's there's kind of one for the general public and in one for back to school whether it's K. through twelve and higher ed so I'll be in contact with you but I just I'm very very concerned about people's privacy and their information and how we collect that information and how we release that information and so you know that's a cut a huge conversation but I think we need a whole nother committee meeting just really kind of focused and talking about that because we I'm getting a lot of calls and questions and concerns from constituents not think other members are as well. Thank you madam chair will be sure in and have our staff prepared to answer any questions that you may have and we can have our experts subject matter experts present a problem okay and members of the legislature if those are things that you have as well if you will send them to me and I will make sure to submit to the department of health your questions as it as it relates to contact tracing and how that information is being collected and how it's been stored utilized and then how is released to the public thank you. We have another question house bill no one quick enough to get away there so represented Payton you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair and sorry I was late but I was trying to read the questions and responses in so the bureau of legislative research ask in their second question. If there was. Any authority for requiring emergency vehicle operators to under go to under go ten hours of refresher training every two years and your response was no. So is this requiring. Ten hours of refresher training every two years with and we have no authority to do that we we do have general authority I think that the answer no meant that there was no specific authority by an act that was passed we do have the general authority to regulate the licensee's under the MS act that was passed and also the general authority that we have an to the board of health regulations under title twenty. It just seems that so many times we you know we passed legislation dealing with continuing education so are you the only agency that has authority to do it without legislation or We had a we split that hair. We we work with the stakeholders in the providers to come up with the the numbers that was at fair to everybody so using our general authority under the EMS act in the the general authority that we have under the board of health after the board of health reviewed it after the stakeholders reviewed it it was approved okay and so I guess I'd ask the chair of the bureau of legislative research attorney was laci Johnson. Could we get a response from her as to whether she her question was satisfied. Is she. Yeah. If you would come for. A is is a question for yes or no. He scans them. Yourself for the record Lacy Johnson bureau of legislative research. Purposes and I believe the question was work was I satisfied with the answer that the department of health gave yes it with they do have general making authority and it was just for my purposes I want to know if they had specific rulemaking authority on top of that for this. Okay so in your opinion there within the legal realms of their authority. That would be a question for the courts but my my question was solely is their specific rulemaking authority on top of your general rulemaking authority okay thank you thank you Mr chair thank you. All right. So at this point I want to recognize senator Chesterfield to present some information on covert nineteen testing in the African American community. Four six. You're recognized for comment thank you members I had a conversation with senator Chesterfield last week and so I just wanted to invite her to the committee to offer and send information as to what's been happening and she's been very involved with that and and I can tell you that also asked you a mess and we may have a future meeting with more detail on this but I think she has good information that she wanted to share with us and I thought was interesting but I ask you a mess for their health it MO ball track triage screening and testing a bit locations and you and I sent me a list of Brinkley Camden do you miss Elaine Forrest city Helena hot springs Marianna Mickey Mountain Home little rock north little rock Texarkana and Warren those are the UAMS coded mobile triage screening and testing of dense locations that they have that so I just wanted to thank senator Chesterfield for coming and sharing her information with us. Maybe C. thank you thank you Mr chair in thank you madam chair so not to be before you and I shall be brief because I know the day has been long but we have found to us in school but nineteen hit that it disproportionately M. all right it has had a disproportionate impact on the African American and Latino communities in Arkansas and I have taken it upon myself since I represent a large portion of that in that group in Pulaski County to reach out to you a a mess and the department of health and we have at testing sites in rights bill Arkansas some place you may never for to but it's off one forty five if you're going to pine bluff we that testing sites in mac Almont ensured a college in north little rock and not little rock is especially interesting because we had one test site at first missionary Baptist church on Scipio Jones twenty five percent of the people tested positive. Twenty five percent tested positive and so we felt we needed to get another testing site up and running and we did it that and my god we had to have the state police come and direct traffic off of thirty east because so many people were backed up in order to get the chest we got to three hundred we ran out of testing kits and so we're going to work to try to get that back because they were about two hundred people still in line people are concerned about their health also suggested that they go down in the southwest Arkansas which is my old stomping ground my hometown so we had testing at to hope and it Nevada county in Prescott but I say this to you because is legislate towards you can use your bully pulpit to ask the chest in your area. And it is important that we test as many people as possible and so when we get these tests back and we see the spikes at least we will be four armed and FOR warned so that we are able to more reasonably respond to the pen tech a pandemic that is affecting so many of us and with that madam chair I don't want to belabor the point I thank you for the opportunity we will continue to to push the testing in the African American community I know Representative flowers in pine bluff we did it and uh here in make alma in. College station to Jefferson regional so we have used each end of entity that we know of this testing to try to get more test up and running so that we can get a better handle on it be happy take any questions yes have a question how did you know or how did they choose the different sites you mention rights will I know exactly where rights will as I worked there for two years didn't ask them to the band and I ask them to okay but but the reason I ask that rights well I did with a couple years at the power plant in at that point the the main things there were the power point the prison and obviously the prisons we've had multiple cases so did that play and rifles it was my remember man two thousand three thousand people was so did that play into the decision to go to that area what played into the decision was that it that even though those are the two main entities there we wanted to attract people from Hensley. What's an from Higgins from sweet home because they have a southeast health group that the that operates in that area so Representative and it came to me and said let's do casting we ended up with three hundred thirty five people being tested in rights bill alone which is a remarkable number of individuals coming out to be tested and they didn't just come from rights bill we run radio we have been doing flyers and all of that so they came as far away as little rock and in other point but we ended up with some three hundred thirty five people being tested that one day. Do you know I I think in wine AT T. open Jonesborough is doing the same thing I'm not familiar with that I might be able to bring some data on that but they have a mobile unit that I think they've converted over to testing and they're doing some of that in the delta region up there in northeast Arkansas I might be able to get some information on that and see what they're doing there is very much needed we have partnered with both you AM mass and the department of health the department of health to cure the one in rights bill Jefferson took care of the one in in college station UAMS to cure of both of them in north little rock and you a master care also of the one in mac out much which is a little community that's an unincorporated area outside of north little rock not too far from one of a wrecked senator means in my head special places dig Jeter yes that area that most of you may not ever have heard of but is very much there and we are very much concerned about the community and I think each one of us can use a bully pulpit to to bring those sites into our communities and help better navigate this pandemic that's one place in Arkansas I have not been to amend it takes you know I take it there and the. Thank you very thank you yes I have a question here Representative flowers you're recognized. Thank you I wanted to express thanks for to senator Chesterfield for her work and also. Point out that in my airy we did the health department did have an event we also have Jefferson comp care JCC I. and they were able to do an event and I believe that in conversations that I've had with the health department and the minority health and health disparities division they've been working with the minority health commission because they have a mobile unit and the bottom line is it really has been an all hands on deck effort to go to communities where there is a need and I would just say that you know we've heard the governor. Talk about the need for more testing and that we're seeing higher numbers of infection rates because we're testing more and certainly that is the case and and we heard estimates that there are ten times the people who have contracted the virus than those who are being tested even with the increase but I would just like to point everyone's attention. To the increase you know we're seeing a higher trajectory over time not only with infection but also with hospitalization and death so no matter how many people are tested or not no matter how many people are a symptomatic or not the end of the day the stress are on our hospitals and the resources are great you know especially and including for those who are not. dealing with issues and hospitals that are on on cover related I don't know how many of you have had relatives who've been in the hospital you can't go with them. So you know this is an issue that affects everybody and I just would encourage you all to follow in senator Chesterfield actions where ever you can in mind as well because the need is there and it really would I think be helpful to not only our constituents but our but our companies and our of corporate constituents to give them some assistance because the stigma is real the fear is real. I have an out break in one of my industrial park companies and they don't they don't want to deal with the health department right now and there is an out break and it will grow and we will hear about it and people will be affected so thank you senator Chesterfield for bringing everyone's attention to what you're doing and and hopefully we can all follow suit thank you Mr chair this state no it's interesting that in time bluff we ran out of cast as well when they had that money at the site but let me say this in closing I want to thank Representative Denise Ennett because she is my Representative south of the river and Representative Jamie Scott who is my Representative north of the river this is hard work. This is about getting up early in the morning going on radio shows developing relationships with pastors and other faith based communities it just doesn't happen because it happens we work with councils of city councils city boards we work with mayors I thank god for mayor Smith after that your a judge hide all of these people came together we put aside differences for the greater good and I would encourage us to do the same thank you so much for having me and allowing me to be a part of your discussion this afternoon I thank you for your presentation. All right one to. The item I. Overview of the unemployment. Assistance. Bill would come for. Yes. Service can somebody get series you may be out front. McCollum. I know you did some data mining on how we how how we're doing here in Arkansas with nineteen. And I saw that is very interesting information. because we get a lot of information from a lot of different places and that kind of gives us a comparison. I think that's something that this committee might be interested in seeing if you want to. Sure that may be updated and share their next meeting maybe. Okay okay. Because I did when you sent that out I as I'm sure there was some two groups locally and they were very interested in that information and it clarified a lot of things form information they're getting that is mixed so really really helped some. So you're recognized yeah and I I think it's so important for us to be able to like senator Chesterfield share what we're doing because we can learn from each other and when she told me about the twenty five percent positivity rate and how many people were tested at rights bill that to me was significant in that you know both of those were very significant to me and one is the people ARE one team that to be tested and if you're running out of test kits in these places and and you had that many people in the kind of the middle of nowhere right show up to be tested we as representatives and senators are you know in our areas need to really I think reach out and and help facilitate that and be partners with our executive branch in that and in that manner and it gives us an opportunity you know to really make sure that people know how to use their governments there's a lot of people that need help on how to utilize governments in the best way I or they may figure out with that that they don't need to see it but but I think it's that it was just really remarkable so I think that would be get information to share as well and and others of what you're doing because we no hospitals are doing this as well hospital systems are sitting at testing sites and those kinds of things so I just appreciate the information I think that's a very good idea for some of Ladyman. Okay getting back to Adam I hear We have this on the agenda the last time and and ran out of time basically so can you forward to this man and we want to get information on the unemployment assistance within the carriers act so introduce yourself for the record and then give some date on that. Yes Sir thank you for the opportunity to be here sure Reese shoulders director division of work for services. You may see thank you very much I'm here today to give you an update on the pandemic on employment assistance this is one of the provisions within the cares act that was implemented the the in was passed in the cares act on March twenty seventh was implemented in our state when we initially sign the agreement with US DO L. on March twenty eight and then we immediately began to set up the system to be able to process this new form of unemployment benefits to those that are self employed independent contractors except for a. So are soft lunch with the P. U. a system started on may the first we went live on may the fifth in PA state state payment started on may the twenty first. As of today since going live on P. U. A on may first we've received ninety about ninety three thousand applications we have about forty three thousand that are approved. with other that have received payments and are eligible for their prior weeks at these payments are made the a direct deposit or debit card those that were not approved have the either applications in process and are either pending review have incomplete applications or require additional information or have applications that are eligible for unemployment insurance I do too earnings that were of made in the last eighteen months so they must use up an exhaust their unemployment benefits before they can go into pandemic unemployment assistance. I just for an update on regular unemployment as of the week ending July third the weekly claims were ten thousand seven hundred and thirty two you'll remember products the pandemic of those claims were thirteen eighty seven or eight thirteen eighty two so now we're at ten thousand seven thirty today which actually has significantly decreased since our week our high week and on April the fourth which was sixty two thousand. Are these claims A are being paid those that are in the system that are eligible for continued claims and or those that have exhausted their benefits under regular unemployment insurance and we've gone into two additional provisions under the cares act one is the pandemic. Of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation which is an extension of thirteen weeks and then also extended benefits which is another extension of thirteen weeks to regular you applying. The Max missed call center the DWS local offices and the commerce call center in the P. U. a service center continuing to answer calls via the hotline they are in operation of during the week day and then also on Saturday for our regular unemployment and then on seven days a week for our P. U. at a system that is still still continuing to be built and to accommodate these increases in claims I appreciate your interest and support I'm available to answer any questions that you may have. So. You A you mentioned that you say still still work in progress you still working on that. That's that's when I get the most questions about and I have gotten fewer questions lately so you know it's there seems to be an improvement there but are there still people out there that are not. Being able to apply I mean the. It did you talk about that can you give us an idea of how many folks are still pending what's the number yes Sir thank you for the question we have approximately sixteen thousand that are in process of as I mentioned before those either have an incomplete applications so they've not completed all the information just on the original initial application they were either are pending review or we need additional information so we continue to reach out to these individuals of the a regular mail and or email if we have an email address that is that is operational and asking them for that additional information and or giving the down the instructions to go and file for unemployment insurance because they are eligible for unemployment insurance and still have wages available under our regular unemployment insurance program. One of the issues that I and the people that I've talked to that are in that category are they're independent they're hard workers. Some of them say they they never dealt with unemployment they always worked hard and they're independent and they make their way and they you know they didn't really understand the system they know that they were eligible even so as that slow down the process we have people I mean if you work in a factory. Unemployment is common to you you know you pay that and you may use that often all because of variations in the work flow and all that but these folks never did that and and some of them that I talk to work twenty years independently contractor and they were just flabbergasted with the system so the did you see that ended that slow down the process. Well the unemployment system our unemployment insurance program in itself is very complicated and I say that from personal experience having learned more about unemployment than I ever imagined I would ever need to know or would I have to learn in such a short period of time so it is complicated especially with all of the different of variables and categories under pandemic unemployment assistance so you can have someone in your and just as the example that you gave of someone who's on their own business they should have their tax records from twenty nineteen however because of the extension some of them have not filed their taxes so they have until the end of the year to submit that information but until that time they're going to get the minimum that was set at one thirty two plus the six hundred and fifteen you see that was added on a three the cares act so those individuals may be just now filing their taxes up for twenty nineteen then I can upload that information that's one one thing that that we've seen a lot of is that day they don't one have the skills to upload the information or they don't have the ability to scan that information and then submit it through an upload on application process so that that is cumbersome of just because it's it requires the technology at your house or at your business and some people don't have those skills that's not what they're required to do on a daily basis. Of the as opposed to the regular unemployment system which is all done through contact with the employer so if you're falling for regular employment really the only thing you have to do is go online fall through our easy ark online system of fill out the information a letter sent to the employer to verify whether or not you were an employee and your reason for separation and then that information is put together with the application and then it's either denied or approved in and that's about it of all of that is internal nights matched up there is the social security administration and. Your set as long as you don't have any other factors with filing or of reasons that are allowable under unemployment benefits but under P. way we have so many different circumstances including people who have fraud under unemployment insurance are now eligible under pandemic unemployment assistance so you have regular unemployment insurance claimants now not eligible for regular unemployment but then moving over to the P. U. a system that's another example we have individuals that have that their employer at their their their contract employer but the employers in another state but they live in Arkansas or vice a versa so then we get does so yes Sir there's just so many unique categories and different circumstances for every single P. U. a client that that does slow down the process. The. However I will say that some of it's just because it's a new system and as we're going through an and correcting things as we go as you've heard me say before that takes time to go back and make those changes in the programming so that's another reason of for the delight also if you'll remember when we first came to you I think our number and maybe not this committee but gave an initial report we were at about thirty thousand of applicants of we had expected more but that gave us an opportunity to to ramp up and to get all of these applications in into a new system and as you as I told you at the beginning of my presentation we're now at ninety three thousand six hundred twenty one applications now that still less than what we expected in total of but still it does put pressure on the call center and on the intake and on the application processing other has to occur and matching up all of those documents that are coming in three their mail fax or scan an uploaded into their file and all of those have to be checked by those that are working at the P. U. a service center thank. Thank you for that we get number questions here so. Senator hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of first of all say thank you know tell how many hours you put in a day and I know you stepped into a job that has turned into a be so on say thank you for what you've done You yellow shifty we got a list after one of the previous meetings about the amount of help that you shifted from other areas of the agency are you holding that the same amount of help that you had or you starting to let those people return to their duties or. A so Senator hammer yes we we moved all of our almost ninety nine percent probably ninety nine First percent of our staff to work unemployment insurance that's within our local offices in the central office of that information yes has been shared and and we are we are tracking that obviously because we have individuals that their salary now is being pay through unemployment insurance rather than their program area that the federal government provided funding for we are going back to to working with individuals face to face our local offices which require some of that local office staff to go back to their employment services area of that that they were working in before Wednesday work search requirement went into place last week that requires individuals to work with those claimant's in searching for work look updating their resume making sure that they have all the tools that they need to apply for employment and so those individuals are doing that work but as far as our other divisions we are we're pulling those people back into the areas where they are as needed but their primary goal right now is working on employment insurance in the last I checked I think the unemployment fund is around six hundred seventy five million is what we're down to based on the current trends are you all run in the you run in a the A Trenchard to see how far out we're gonna be able to last. Yes Sir absolutely we're monitoring that daily I have more information if you would like that at all need to find it here we are looking project the last time that I that I received a report our projection was in late fall when we will exhaust those funds A two what should it like she's got a handy if if Mr chair we could maybe have an update on that the next time their before's I just wanna make sure we stay at pay attention to how far out the. The uninsured the unemployment fund is going to last us before get in trouble thank you yes and then the last thing is on on the fraud issue going on get law reports had several meetings you're aware of that with regards to the fraud that's going on seems to be targeting the people that are drawing or could potentially draw but they're still working of four hundred fifty plus dollars that seems to be the population that's being targeted for the for the fraud would you just a couple questions but would you just speak to that for a minute please. Yes Sir the the fraud The unnamed fraud on unemployment is just one of the many areas where we're saying fraud across the country I we put out a press release on July the first that that indicated what we were doing and how we were working with partners across the state and across the country in identifying fraud. And looking at any specific suspicious activity that's related to unemployment claims in particular as you are aware cross the country as we entered into this pandemic our unemployment insurance divisions across the the country were underfunded understaffed and we're all and now we're all struggling to deal with the many components associated with the pandemic and fraud is one of those are inspector general at the US inspector general's office at the department of labor has identified a of at least four hundred or more specific. Areas where there has been there have been a data incidences and have led to the increase fraud specifically in unemployment when these individuals get the information from all of those of all of those Incidences that have happened some as many as twenty years ago so when we reported this to you earlier about. About the fraud and and the concern that we had we immediately started looking at what resources we had in our agency and what we could do to help mitigate it so we first started with our of internal audit section which is normally the area in which we would work in our agency to identify fraud You may have heard the governor speak about this or Mike prestin speak about this earlier today that there are a variety of reasons and a variety of techniques that the that are being used it's not necessarily linked to one incident of we again as I said earlier up to four hundred incidences we know that other states have had up to six hundred and millet six aren't fifty million dollars in fraud and some of those states have re captured some of those funds in other states senator hammer's you have mentioned we if we are saying some states actually stopping claims and doing a complete search of all of their you by accounts and claimants to densify that fraud which of course then puts in an extra delight and added burden on those who are already suffering so we hesitate to do that but there are things that we can do in addition to expanding on our internal audit unit which we are through a fraud investigation unit and adding staff to that unit existing staff and then adding new staff in order to focus on the fraud and what we need to do is a state so that we are not the victim at the same level as other states however we do have we have and will continue to to have fraud in our state A just because of these characters that are there and are are very talented in what they're doing and have information that they can use this at their disposal so what we did. Of was put out information a specific to the the fraud and what individuals can do that's on our website it's called be aware report fraud and protect yourself so all the steps are listed there as well as one how you can report it to our agency but as well as for filing a police report and then also reporting it to the very yes reporting agencies and also looking at fraud protect protection for yourself through a a Paid service. Mr address more questions on the gold bond Q. would you want me do. And it'll be on the subject thank you. By on the queue we got other questions thank. Representative brown you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair First of all I just wanna thank you and your staff for all you've done and I appreciate these numbers so we can kind of have a a better picture of what you're dealing with and currently all of my constituents have been relieved or they found that their claim had processed or somebody called him back to let him know where they stood I really do appreciate that and I want to commend doctor children's and her staff they work through the holiday they work Friday and Saturday and I talk to Dr Childress on Friday so I know she is working hard and and keeping her composure through all of this I had just one simple question you told us that the P. U. I. claims total ninety three thousand six hundred twenty one forty three thousand have been approved and sixteen. Approximately thousand are in process. I had the others been disapproved or what what's the I think there's a described difference here about thirty four thousand exactly thank you Representative brown for your question and also for the compliments of that some very much appreciated not necessarily for me but for the staff because they are working hard and and I will tell you that the the work that they're doing to help all of the citizens of Arkansas is what's keeping them going because it is hard work and it is it is a never ending so thank you are your question was about what what about the other thirty four thousand Approximately fourteen thousand of those are under fraud review so that is potential fraud that haven't been identified as fraud that are being reviewed others have been denied because they simply don't qualify others have been referred to regular unemployment insurance which I mentioned earlier because they were eligible and still had been a fits and then very very few of them but some of them just had invalid applications which means they either didn't complete their application or that was just not eligible for pandemic unemployment assistants or other reasons and it was put in this category of invalid so all these thirty four thousand they take time to. Yes ma'am. All right thank you very much. Right you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman of Dr Childress about a month ago is some these folks may not of went through this but I know that I have House in John project updated therapy of operation of their own Washington straight and this is been about a month ago and she told me that the folks that will work in their help in aren't there. were making about three hundred to three hundred fifty dollars away. And I got on. You know this unemployment. Well they started drawing the six hundred dollars plus unemployment to and About a month after. They closed down she went back into business and she called a mall and they they would and they would come back they will make a lot more money than what they were. You know before all this happened and I called on here and talk to dock of a doctor does Childress and she said you know she appreciated that because see they don't know a lot of times of what's going on. And they they cut it off they the you know which I thought that was a great idea because this could have went on a long time. Yeah that rings a question so when somebody brings up a situation like represented rise talking about their you all can take action on then. Yes Sir as Representative rice stated we would just need to get the information from the employer and the employees names and then we would stop their claim. This cares payment these the extra extra funds under the cares act as being paid out and unemployment does that in July thirtieth Thur once the end of that our last week of payment will be July the twenty fifth unless it's extended. Okay now how does it work if someone signed up later I mean is it retroactive so that they get the full time frame that they can go back and be eligible for or for payments up to the date that they were affected but they would. Need to indicate that on their application and then when I go back and do all of their weekly claims that we go back to that week so they would get that six weeks payment has to in July twenty fourth yes Sir they it ends the end of July and FOR for that our system in the week ending it will be July the twenty fifth will be there their last day course their payment will go out the next the beginning of the next week. Penzo you're recognized. I just had a question about the. Hello my the delays for certain things like if someone applies now how long's it taken to get Removal hello to take and to get with another declined because I had a call from a couple people that said they got a letter stating that there it's going in for the review and it's been a couple weeks and haven't been declined or proof so I just kind of curious on the timelines for and then also just curious of about fraud how long it's taken to figure out of those actual fraud cases are not. Okay on the as far as the your question regarding how long does it take it all depends on whether or not if it's regular unemployment insurance or pandemic and employment assistance it depends on how long it takes the employer to come back with the response if if it's under regular unemployment insurance and and the response from that employer also we look at whether there's been previous fraud by that applicant so all of those things have to occur normally an unemployment insurance however I we had a one week waiting period. Which we do not have at the current time so that we could get the payments out to the individuals as soon as possible that one week waiting period allowed us to do all of those things that you just mentioned and then get the payments out of after they submitted their first week of of work of non work so let's say they applied one week that was there waiting wake the next week that would be on unemployment and then they would go in and father claim their weekly claim on that Sunday following that week then I would be able to get those benefits the following. Beginning of that week or seven to ten days if it was a debit card same thing with P. U. S. A. except for the fact that is dependent upon them one to upload all other documents that we need in order to look at their income because we don't have anything to determine what they're if they're eligible one just only what they've submitted on the form because we can't go into a system and look at an employer's of charge so we can't we can't determine if that is actually legitimate or not until that. Person submits their information whether it's a ten ninety nine or previous tax of document so that we can go in and verify that that person actually does qualify under pending make an employment assistance then of course it's on them to upload their forms and any information that we need and to do the determination is see if they have any benefits under regular unemployment insurance so a it's you know if it were a perfect world right now someone under regular unemployment and they were separated from their employer no fault of their own then that individual would get a payment not the first week that they were separated but I would apply for the second week that they were separated from their employer and get one that next Monday or Tuesday or seven to ten days it's a debit card under pandemic unemployment assistant at there's so many variables in so many different individuals and circumstances that it could happen within two weeks you know saying they applied and then they uploaded all their information and we verified it on everything was you know there was no question that this person had everything that we needed and and and then it could be done just like we did at the very beginning when we started the application process and immediately went into high gear so that we can get some of those first payments out your second question of your mind me again or just you mention for all of us wonder how long. The fraud review process yes mean Joe just curious how long usually takes to research an individual case like that thank you so as we're looking at dedicating resources of what we first do is look at all these claims on a case by case basis so the full investigation takes a substantial amount of time because we're not only looking at that claim we're looking at all the claims that may or may be related and we're looking at at the circumstances surrounding all of those claims that have related characteristics so that we can not just dinner five where this one happen but for see where we may see others happening and try to stop those before we make that very first payment so like I mentioned with Washington they had it was a a nationwide of. Of fried. Scam it was. First hit Washington state they brought in the National Guard to assist in checking ID's and they had six hundred and fifty million dollars in fraudulent claims not just three that one of scam that also I'm sure there were there were others that were hitting them at the same time so it's a very lengthy process the most important thing is to make sure that we stop the claim as soon as possible as soon as were notified of of that fraudulent claim on that individual whether it's unemployment insurance or pandemic on employment assistance so that we can protect you and your credit and taxpayer dollars then the next step is for you to take the steps needed to protect yourself for future fraud because if your social security number and information is out there and they've used it for this they're probably using it for other attacks on your credit as well so it's important that everyone. Look at your credit report and take the necessary steps to protect yourself because this is happening across the country in large scale. Thank you. I am so moving on a Representative flowers and if you that she's already addressed it you know moved to a different question term thank thank you keep at the St we're getting out of here it before three thirty. Okay Walmart I will not go that long I promise you. I just wanted to also thank you for helping me help people who have called me or my constituents and others who just know me and you and your staff have been very helpful and then I just wanted to point out one of those circumstances included a young woman. Who is still working she still trying to keep her job but her hours have been significantly decreased. And she is eligible and receives benefits went her weekly pay is less than one hundred and thirty two dollars about the amount that we all used to put gas in our car every week. So I just think that it's really really important that we remember that there are people out there who are struggling to either keep their job who have uncertainty about what's going to happen next time we're hit by this pandemic and they lose their jobs again so I think that these resources are incredibly important for people who make amounts of money that we are all blessed to be able to spend on coffee and food during the week thank you. Thank you. Okay Senator hammer you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair because or get not here at three thirty let me get to the point. So hot springs police department has ninety nine reports so far people are having to go into the police department to file their claims whenever it's been determined that they've and these are people that are working that are having their identity stolen do you not think it would be better to go back to a couple things that we used to because you've already made the decision that people have to go out and get you know all three verifications of employment. Why would it not be better to reinstate the seven day waiting period so that it would buy you the time that you need to shut this thing down because that money's coming out of the unemployment fund right and if it's not reclaimed then are we how much of that decrease in the unemployment fund is resulted to the fraudulent claims and would be better to hit the pause but now and addresses. Senator hammer thank you for your question as as you are where the the provisions under the care sacked those are those are federal dollars but regardless whether it's coming out of the unemployment insurance fund or it's coming out of our our pockets through the federal government and the taxes that we've paid and will continue to pay it's important to stop fraud so the the the process of that we have in place right now as you mentioned without the waiting week of we have reviewed that this morning I appreciate your interest in that and your comments that you provided to me also provided you with of with why we. Of initiated the waiting wake and also why we stop collecting our ACT requiring the ID's at the local office and just for just for further information A as I stated we did not ask for the ID's in the office because we wanted to reduce the long lines at our office and we were rid of not allowing individuals into our offices until recently to avoid any contamination or any further spread because if one of our offices has to close at that will put an undue burden on that community and and our state so a putting the the requirement of showing an ID back into place it would definitely require of some additional support as I mentioned what happened in Washington the National Guard came in and did all of those verifications for their existing unemployment claims by checking ID's for every single one of those individuals but it is a measure that has protected our state in the past that's why our fraud right has been so low in the past is because we were one of if not the only state still requiring someone to come into our office and show an ID however it was for this very reason. The waiting wake we have talked about as well and I will continue to look into this and discuss it because having the waiting we can place does give us the opportunity to spend more time looking at that Klein and to stop that claim before the payment is made as I described earlier indicating the week and then the second week of the payment. However. When we first entered into this pandemic we all agreed that it was important to get the money to the individuals as soon as possible because they needed it. And so that's why the waiting week was put into place it was allowed under the the cares act and did provide support to those who need it now we're at a point that you know that we need to re evaluate that and I appreciate you bringing that to our attention and we'll look into that further as to of as to whether or not that is that is something that we we need to put packed back into place okay and if people are the victim of fraud you got somebody out work in and some is drawn unemployment on them is that person who's working going to get a ten ninety nine at the end of the year that they're gonna have to deal with the IRS as far as. having report that is income because they were actually working but unemployment is paying them an unemployment that you know somebody fraudulent is get the money but the person that's working that the fraudulent claim has been committed against is that person going to have to get a a ten ninety nine at the end of the year that they're gonna have to deal with that's a good question Senator hammer and I will look into that I will say that I I know what we do internally is that we market is fraud and there's a non charged in the employer. But as far as a ten ninety nine and how that process in what you may or may not receive in the future as far as that income that was under your name and under your social that something on the to look into it a very good question okay a which would and then the experience rate the the on the employer's during this time. Are they having an experience are they experiencing any an increase in their experience rating during this covert or did I remember that that was suspended during this time for all of them. Add Senator hammer that's another question I'll have to look into and I'll be glad to provide that back to the the chair of the committee in and get that information to all of you if not I think I'd be a good thing to do because these employers are in a position that was thrust upon them and I don't think they're experience rating especially deal with these fraud cases should impact their rating once we get out from underneath a state of emergency thank you thank you Mr. Representative brown you're recognized thank you Mr chair doctor chillers I just have a question about the thirteen week extensions I understand there's two extensions And I think those are for regular unemployment will they be L. P. U. eight recipients be eligible for those extensions also and who pays for these extensions will that come out of our state funds or will there be federal funds to help cover some of that thank you Representative brown those are will be federal funds as far as the extension on pay you a it runs through the end of the year so unlike the the regular unemployment insurance I'm looking for my chart here I do it I believe it was a all C. committee that we provided this to everyone it is on our website so if you would it's a it's a it shows all of the okay programs and all of the the number of weeks and this is something that I use on a regular basis so the P. U. a Is a up to thirty nine weeks and then of course the if the federal pandemic unemployment compensation is added to that of the six hundred dollars three July the twenty fifth. Okay thank you thank you. More questions thank you for your presentation thank you very much senator Irvin thank you Representative thank you for the work you do thank. Okay so we need to me at three thirty we've got. A couple more things here on the agenda well more than a couple but the next item is the status of the automated external defibrillators and public school campuses miss but not become bored. Within. The issues of the record. Good afternoon Mr chair and committee I'm sharia McDonald the state school nurse consultant with the Arkansas department of education this is the annual automated external defibrillator report as you can Have seen there were a thousand fifty four campuses that reported. having it and a ET availability at a little over fourteen thousand train staff. In the S. it does say that twenty schools did not identify any train staff that looking back at that at least sixteen of those twenty have school nurses that are identified as the point of contact so I know that they have training staff at least one train staff. after this report today we will be sharing this with our local education cooperatives and with our eSchool data entry individual so that we can make sure to have that data entry in areas clean that that that's necessary in the future. Does anyone have any questions. Representative Bentley you're recognized thank you chairman can you just briefly explain to me and we reached out to German Alexander look there there let you apparent in this report with twelve. You for Brady uses in five. Well again. This is done in any school finance the data entry is and sometimes those are non medical individuals that are entering this dating and and we feel like that's one of the necessary I think sometimes what they end up doing is pretty and the number of times maybe it's just. I'm not really sure always. Check and get back with me yes I can definitely get back with you on that in the past we've had that. Entry our data entry points where people will put it like a hundred forty three and I think what it ends up being is that are training their seniors and so they will pretty and the number of seniors that they have trained and they're not really utilizing so they're saying students and I get that confusion There and saw that may be the possibility here as well. Awesome thank you. Any other questions. Seeing none thank you for your report thank you. Okay we'll move on to the intern study proposals. I guess we'll get these and and for someone who wants to talk about their interim study for a few minutes very few minutes of your that you'll be able to do that so why I guess Katie one intern study Senator hammer. You want to talk about that briefly. Thank you Mr you wanted done from here you wanted at the table. Doesn't matter if you can do it from there might be more expedient I'll be happy to do it from here so I have a draft piece of legislation that would go along with this that if you get the members adopt the ISP I'd like for to be handed out not to take action today but go ahead let members start digesting it I realize some members are not rooms we can email it to everybody else but basically what this does is it would insert the legislative branch into the process when it comes to declaring a state of emergency involving the health department and of the legislation proposed legislation that would be taken up in the general session and last a special sessions calling again of support has been drafted by myself and represented Gazaway I'll be glad to answer any questions Mr. don't see any questions and I would make a motion proper time to adopted. If that's how the chair wants to handle. Yes the fun you make the motion I make a motion to adopt it okay have a motion to adopt the ISP any discussion. All in favor signify by saying aye. I have a second also. The motion carries. Thank you Mr okay this move on the number two. That's Representative Pilkington who I don't think he's here. Okay. All right. What What number you at their push the button and. You're recognized. A thank you my I. S. P. is in regards to telemedicine proposal you know ever since we've gone into a state of emergency we've had new rules so it telemedicine and I just think it's going to be a very important topic us. Going forward and so I would like to created as an I. S. P. and work with all of course the very stakeholders across the state to make sure that we get it right and that is new part that's become such familiar to so many people in Arkansas become the new norm that's it. You do have motion from a member of the committee to adopt this. Who is at. I have a motion second. Have that all in favor signify by saying aye. Motion carries. Okay we'll move on to number three Senator Irvin. Thank you and my interim study proposals all that are listed here are really based on the Language of the The language of the executive orders and how those would continue on I see that this there's probably one nothing. And but that's that's what my A. I. S. teas are. And the first one is Medicaid inspector general to delay the recovery of improperly expended medical assistance funds and due to the nature of administrative burdens and how at the has been relaxed and so just again looking at how we put some of these policies into place for the future. I'll answer any questions that stack K. three. Any questions. You wanna make a motion motion I have a motion to accept the size be have a second on favor signify by saying aye. Was opposed nay motion carries the and second one is K. for you can read it again just making sure that people's coverage stays in place to make sure the insurance coverage in Medicaid benefits with regard to cover nineteen S. stays in place so that these folks if they are quarantine for two weeks and this again this is based exactly on the information that executive order ledge legislation executive order language I'm sorry. Any questions. I make a motion I have a motion the I have a second. Home favor signify by saying aye aye all opposed nay motion carries number five and okay K. five again is really we your scene that people are having to and because of that the response particularly in hospital settings and other settings where people happen to wear different hats and and so you can talk about the emergency management functions of providing medical healthcare and tree eyes diagnostic testing treatments and so again this is this is language based on executive order and the policies that we had to an acts I make a motion to adopt. I have a motion and a second any discussion. Seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye. All opposed nay motion carries Kate case six again at this is grace period for non a non payment of insurance premiums this to me is really important particularly if you are quarantines and mandated by the department of health to stay home and that quarantine could extend the actually for a longer period of time depending on like household situation if you have children and you know for a parent that can actually extend beyond two weeks in some cases it has extended for more than twenty eight days so yet I think this is really important to make sure that the insurance carrier is prepared for us at a reasonable time period to help maintain that insurance coverage so I'll make a motion to adopt the ISP I have a motion and a second any discussion. Seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye. All opposed nay motion carries number seven and number seven again this is audits of health care providers that were suspended again based on and language from the executive order it's a policy that I think we need to containers to continue to consider and and so the next session. I make a motion to adopt a motion and a second any discussion. Seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye. All opposed nay motion carries number eight number eight is again this is I had worked on liability issues for well actually since March and I know that we've had a lot of work in the areas workmen's compensation and liability issues but this was language that I had worked on and again just as making an I. S. P. because I feel like this is going to be an issue that will have to address in the upcoming session so with that I'll make a motion is very is limited to a healthcare. So make a motion motion the sub second any discussion. All in favor signify by saying aye all opposed nay motion carries K. nine Senator hammer. You're recognized thank you Mr chair this is an I. S. P. that would enter into the discussion of what the committee weigh in on discussion regarding hiring a consultant that would come in and do reviews scope of practice every time we come down here seems like the debate on the scope of practice is like showing up with a stick of dynamite lit at the bar room fight so I'd like to propose that we would prepare in R. F. P. that would have to go through the normal process is a LC of course of this is not a new concept would deal we've done it with the highway department done with education we've done with healthcare before we've done with broadband we've done it with tax reform we've done it with teacher health insurance if you all were back here during that time this is not a new concept we're just applying it to the scope of practice I did work with Jill to draft a proposed R. F. P. in the reason I'm wanting it handed out Mr chair is so the committee has plenty of time to digest it because the comprehensive nature of the subject matter and everybody have a chance to weigh in and we could talk about it at the appropriate committee meeting when the chairs allowing it to be discussed and I'll be glad to answer any questions. Any questions session. So you're asking just said you're asking to adopt the interim study proposal but not this is not to approve an RSVP by BLR. I would say that's correct what I'm asking is for the I. S. P. to be adopted went ahead in the spirit of transparency had an R. F. P. drafted that would model the I. S. P. so that the committee members could begin the fall processes take this session crock pot instead of microwave it and we could put a lot of thought into what they are if he would look like so this is a working paper if you would that we can take in markup and work to the debate of what ought to be in the R. F. P.. Right I mean generally are if peas are driven by pass legislation so is that what you're saying I mean you have in this this R. F. P. you have dates beginning July thirteenth twenty twenty three September eighteenth twenty twenty so. I'm I'm confused by a. I am sure. I can address I can address the date issue we had put some dates in there but the like the dates are non binding only because this is going to require a LC approval for the funding that would go with that so I had to put something in there so I put it current to the time of that decides P. is being taken up. Okay but again I am I am unfamiliar and maybe this is a question for BLR but generally we have issued are if peas three legislation that we passed during a session that Dan would that would occur have we have we done this before where we just have an interim study proposal that we now are issuing RFPs for consultants on because my fear is you know I just I just passed I mean or wait I just adopted how many are asst I. S. P.'s that I just did and if I did this on every single one of my I. S. P.'s this could really become. An issue if everybody decided to want to have an R. F. P. and hire a consultant for their I. S. P. E. I am concerned about the expenditure that would create for the president's that sets and the reason I ask that is because before when I was elected in twenty eleven there is a member of the Education Committee who had an I. S. P. E. and that subcommittee that study that I. S. P. in the Education Committee expended all of the funding of the Education Committee on the I. S. P. E. and it became a real problem in a real issue and that was not and that was without a can consultant that was hires. So I guess my question is for BLR. Is this normal. I think we might be able to clarify this. By the motion that is made. to accept the I. S. P.. we could even say does not include. Aid draft our R. F. P.. At that says fine line let that I'm fine with that it's just I I think BLR needs to answer these questions for me if even if they want to get with me off line of the fund to. Mr had program time I like to make comments. Yes you you have my art thank you I mean that that is fine with me because at the first time that I sit at the table would be when I would want to hand the R. F. P. out anyway because that's the whole purpose of the eyes P. is to craft an R. F. P. that would go through the normal channels so it's it's a matter in is it the chicken or the egg first the eyes P. needed to be in place I think in order to have the conversation so that it that is fine with me fact I'll make the motion to adopt the I. S. P. as presented but full disclosure transparency when I sit at the table to discuss the eyes P. I want to use this is the framework for the discussion and then you know the the processes are going to dictate when the R. F. P. is actually processed so it several may act the so so what you're doing so your I. S. P. could result could result in legislation that would result in are iffy. Right that that would be the whole point that would result legislation however okay and I am going to that then that answers my question sure but for full disclosure I am going to get was staff because I want to go back and look at all the ones I mentioned off highway education healthcare broadband tax reform to your health insurance and see if all those had legislation that preceded the issuing of the R. F. P. and I'll come back at the next meeting unless the chair wants to yes I think that's or my questions to okay okay if you were motion again sure I'll make a motion to adopt the ISP is presented. I have a second I have a motion and second. Question you're recognized center but you number of. Fifty five you're recognized senator Hickey it just just one question and the possibly maybe for Senator hammer it if we don't pass the. The R. F. P.. Can we can at a later date can we go for with I SP. In my opinion and and what I'm trying to do is get the subject on the table for discussion and that's the intent behind the I. S. P. is that we have the discussion about hiring a consultant the drafting and that's what it is a draft to the R. F. P. is modeled after the I. S. P. simply for the intent of getting the members to think about what would you want in the R. F. P. because this is this is one set of eyes looking at it that's why bring it for the committee because I want everybody to weigh in on it so that is a committee who has to deal with the scope of practice issues every session of we could be comfortable. As the proper channels are put in place to advance an RFP okay I think I understand thank you Mr. Any other questions. All okay so I'm restate the motion the motion is just to accept the I. S. P.. Period. So seeing no further discussion have motion and a second. on favor signify by saying aye. All opposed nay motion carries thank you Mr. All right so that's completes our agenda as you all know we have another meeting scheduled for tomorrow because the last meetings that we've had that one last time one seven hours and we didn't get done so we put that second meeting in in case we have to roll over to another day in this particular case we don't need that so we will not be meeting tomorrow in this meeting is adjourned.