ALC-PEER

Good morning if everybody all find their seats will get this meeting started welcome to pay your Mr co chair you have remarks. Yes thank you madam chair others were to announce that the senator will bond who is a member of this committee is not here because he is quarantine because of Kobe exposure he does not have coded but wanted to make sure that he doesn't expose others he's offering that the fourteen day time period and I'm sure he's watching online or would like to be here otherwise he's doing five but just want to make that announcement thank you thank you Mr co chair the first thing we have to do this morning as we need a motion to suspend the rules to take up the supplemental agenda do I have a motion. Second all approve say aye. Motion A all those opposed sorry motion approved Mister Bailey. Thank you madam chair the first section the gym the our our cash fund appropriation preach requests these request agency to increase the spending authority for line items are supported by cash fund account the request for probation only the agencies have existing funding to carry out the request there's only one item on the agenda the it's a letter from the department of health. this is a request to increase appropriation by one point three million spent thirty will allow the department to continue their code nineteen public health emergency response communications campaign the department may the original quest for this campaign in March and support for the campaign comes from the cares acts and share those on the cast requests the agenda. Are there any questions. A Senator hammer is that you. You're recognized thank you who's the one point three million going to go to for the campaign. Can we have somebody from department okay. Can I have someone from department of health come up. Welcome please state your name for the record please. Pull it closed it's not on one of the other. Now I'm sorry now it's on Stephanie Williams chief of staff of the department of health good morning Senator hammer can you restate your question over here to your left morning morning the one point three million as I can be directed to an ad agency and then the campaign will be directed up to the social media the TV or house that handled yes Sir there to media contractors that were working with Cranford and the design group Cranford is handling the all audience mass media campaign which includes television cable social media radio and billboards the design group is focused on African American media and then also the liteon Nicks and Marshallese. And the content you're getting straight from the department health correct yes Sir or the Tony no manager thank you. Representative thought fun. You're recognized. It's represent a Bentley over here represented Bentley sorry good morning Stephanie thank for all your hard work I appreciate your quick response to my many request you referral quickly thank you for doing the directly to Hispanic population I think it's very very important specially to my district one other quick question are we doing any direct campaigns to smokers to let them know that they really are more susceptible and I don't I would love one more one more reason for somebody quit so we just some direct campaigns toward we have been trying to do that there are be well Arkansas campaign to promote that this is the perfect time to quit and that we're ready to help because that is one of the risk factors. Thank you very much appreciate. Senator Irvin you're recognized Hey how are you in the morning and you it mentions that what was the name of the the company Cranford Johnson and what was the other one that is your utilizing primarily to craft the messages for the African American community Cranford and the design group the design great yes ma'am and last night and the cares task force committee meeting there is a proposal from tobacco free and of Arkansas and organization back to free Arkansas right that can can those comments and and that be incorporated into this one point three million dollars because at I mean if you're already utilizing in at this the design group company and I mean that's to me. The you know there were some ideas there that maybe need to be incorporated. into this we're already spending one point three million so the one point three million it sounds like a lot of money but honestly when you're doing mass media campaign in TV it doesn't go as far as you think the media placement for TV in particular is pretty expensive and typically for several months will spend about four hundred thousand dollars of that one point three million so it doesn't get us as far as we would like the coalition for tobacco free Arkansas I think the discussion yesterday in the cares committee was really good and it was really it spoke to the needs in rural Arkansas and some of these areas where it's really difficult to hit with mass media over in the delta you know lots of those folks get Memphis media instead of Arkansas media down in southern Arkansas and in pockets basically all over the state we have areas that are difficult to reach with mass media so efforts law like what was outlined in that proposal where they were targeting local media and specific messaging to areas that are not usually hit I thought was really great and as local radio I think it's an add on I don't think it takes the place of but I think it's important for us to look for opportunities to incorporate those groups in the to the bigger plan I don't disagree with you that we need to look to incorporate that into the bigger plan I think it should have been done already I don't think you need anything additional are added on or anything additional because we've already also spent a lot of money on a marketing plan through the Arkansas department of tourism as well so I know we have had both and I and I'm familiar with marketing and and the cost of advertising and you know when you look at social media advertisements might be even more they're cheaper and sometimes more effective with it the target audience and so in my opinion you know if you're gonna. And that's one point three million that's pretty comprehensive and that can be done quite well utilizing social media campaign advertisements on Facebook and things like that Instagram but there's also ways to target those younger folks and so I would just challenge the department of health to maximize the spend because I I think it it it can be done and done effectively and I'd I'd like to to see that them incorporate those things they can do advertisements on Pandora they can do advertisements on a lot of different medium to reach those different levels of folks that we discussed but I I think it needs to be comprehensive thank you. Thank you senator Irvin Representative I'll. Love. You're recognized as the if. Is all right you're recognized thank you so I will pick up where I guess senator Irvin the phone but I want to ask so we're discussing these two I guess marketing contracts at one point three million dollars. If there is this to marketing contracts one design group in one is craft right yes Sir. Allen in in their vote total of one point three million dollars. So actually it's one point five million was the the appropriation we received appropriation for one point five million in FY twenty this is a carry over to extend the spin into FY twenty one for those media campaigns that I've already started okay so we started a one point five yes Sir we only spent two hundred thousand so we're working on over the one point three million yes Sir that were sent okay so of and I know you said the design group proposes targeting. The minority population out of out of that I guess I'm in the the one point five how much was targeted to the to the minority population. Serve for a much of this being on me so far I think two hundred thousand okay but the the so the two hundred thousand dollars that we spent out of the one point five million has already been towards minority that is the specific for those minority populations the other proposal the one point three it covers all populations in Arkansas so they're not exclusive. Okay but I guess what I'm saying is the. We've only spent in the minority area where the other populations when we. Do. Only me I'm I'm assuming that the the overall that the overall goal is to get the message out yes Sir my concern is this if we want to spend two hundred thousand dollars right in it's only been in the minority population what is the general population getting. If I haven't spent anything so I'm probably not explained in this as well as as well as I could there is over arching statewide mass media campaign that can paint includes television it includes radio it includes social media and it includes now billboards at first we didn't include billboards because basically paperwork traveling now that people are traveling we now have have billboards included in that okay let me mass media campaign is the basic messaging for for everybody and it does have components that are specific to the minority populations for instance in that mass media campaign there is radio that targets predominantly rural communities and dominantly minority communities but there is also an additional community the design group media campaign which is more specific to minority populations so in the big media campaign we have like this is the campaign that you might have seen where we have Coaches and leaders across this from across the state I think they're a Walker he's he's Cochin at U. A L. R. he did amass campaign chancellor Alexander you APP he also did one talking about we're in his mask hunter your check did want you of a eight so we have a group that is out there that is have already done those the design group to has taken it a step further and they're doing targeted local specific leaders that are tailoring messages to their specific community action so it add on and more of a of targeted local message board for particular communities okay aren't thank you. Is that it yes this. Senator rice you're recognized. Thank you what type of oversight do you have on the agencies that make the advertising buys I'm told that amend contacted in business but TV and stuff that there's from buys going on they need needs more work. Ad revenue are do you just take what the agency gives you and and consider that the Best Buy out there. So the our health communications department has a director that reviews all of the bus that are proposed by the that particular ad agencies and I look at there's there's some sort of rating points that they look at for TV and the time of the placement in the audience is there likely to capture for the billboards they look at where those billboards are going to be placed in a actually get screen shots of the highway and and try to make sure that their they were not getting billboards that aren't going to be saying so I think our media folks try to their their the second level of review we don't just handed off to the contractors and allow them to purchase the placements you have many media people there you say that you have that before the to the review that step before you sign off on agencies it add on the Byas. So the process is in our media office is Katie white reviews those initially then they're or want to prove that go to make Marable who's our communications director then to her supervisor who's the program director and then to me you feel like the the the trends of up and down our or reviewed pretty close. We try to look at it pretty closely yes Sir. Thank you Mr. Thank you are there any other questions. Representative rye do you have a question any other questions. Without any other questions this item will stand review. Next item. Madam chair section see begins the approval items C. one are the various temporary preparation quest these request agencies to increase is being authority for line items their support by various fund accounts. The first item is a letter from the department of agriculture this is a request to increase preparation by six hundred ninety two thousand to their Agra show premium section according to the letter the pandemic is cancelled many agriculture shows and the department is restricted in Europe and their preparation to pay only show premiums refunds and reimbursements and is being authority will provide flexibility to defray other an affordable expenses I spoke with the department learn that there that these are expenses like rent utilities that the livestock shows in Kerr and will not be able to recoup due to cancel events is activities are supported by the general revenue from that miscellaneous miscellaneous engine agencies fund account. Are there any questions. Seeing no question is do I have a motion. Motion second. All those in favor say aye. Any opposed motion passes next item. Thank you madam chair the necks of section see to your cares appropriation request these request agencies increase appropriation to spin funds related to the cares act which is a federal program that provides direct economic assistance in responsibility nineteen. First item C. to aids for the department of commerce Arkansas economic development commission it's request to continue a little over five million in a preparation into fiscal year twenty one according to the letter the continue to be at thirty will be used to provide assistance to businesses in the state we spoke with the agency learned the spinet Ortiz needed to close out the Arkansas ready for business program as last year's preparation expired in June thirtieth. The next item is a letter from the department of health it's request to increase appropriation by sixteen million spent thirty will be use for contact tracing and related services response to the pandemic the letter explains the department was awarded twenty two point four million in may for three hundred fifty contact tracers however the subsequent rise in positive cases has driven the need for a second vendor to employ an additional three hundred and fifty contact tracers and the letter knows third vendor may be needed in the fall. The next item see to see is for the department of commerce Arkansas economic development commission it's request increase appropriation by seven million eight hundred forty four thousand needs being thirty will be used to provide forgivable loans to eligible providers of services to the developmentally disabled for the misinformation the commission is also seeking a healthy prove will of an emergency rule to administer the program and that'll be before the executive subcommittee on Thursday. Or to the commission providers are facing significant financial struggles in those with more than five hundred employees cannot take advantage of the federal paycheck protection program this the vote this new loan program aimed aims to provide relief and the loan terms and conditions can be found on the following page. Madam chair we have two more request records preparation those on the supplemental engine the that is the packet that is next to your regular peer packet. The first item in the stability in the is a request it's a letter from the department of education Arkansas PBS it's request to increase preparation by five million one hundred eighty thousand then it's been thirty will allow expansion of their broadcast footprints reach near one hundred percent of the available homes in the state. And the next requests is on the following page. This is a letter from the department of finance and administration disbursing officer it's request to increase the preparation by four million needs being at thirty will allow the agency contract with C. T. H. to provide a comprehensive database that a database solution for cares that funding according to the letter by utilities utilizing the database solution scanned images can be stored at the documentation and information within the system for reporting that analysis audit requirements and program compliance manager those are the carriage request in today's agenda. Representative Rick Eubanks you're recognized. Representative Dotson when you all change the fact can't know that where I sign was. The. Thank you madam chair so I just so happens that all the questions or a lot of the questions I have on today's agenda happened B. under this item but start off with The the first one with the five million dollars for department of commerce I believe it is. The carriage act appropriation. Just a little bit more information than what's in this paragraph as is this the ready for grants program is this money that we have an expended for that yet why haven't we expended it if it is if if you give us a lot more information on please state your name spent good morning Jim Hudson general counsel for ADC this is five million dollars of continuation of the appropriation that was passed by A LC in may of a hundred forty seven point seven million so doing clarify is not additional procreation is discontinuing into this what is now the twenty one fiscal year the party appropriation five million dollars about a million and a half of that five million is cued up and ready to go out the door as soon as we get the appropriation approved there's about three and a half million that is at D. F. and A that is subject to tax clearance review and so until those individuals get tax clearance for unpaid tax bills are they somehow correct an issue at the F. and A we can't release the funds so so this is all applied for funds you have an open up the ready for grants to program to take additional applications this is all for what's already been applied for and basically approved subsequent to the three half million dollars release that is correct represent Dotson we do not have authority to open that program back up and we're taking no additional applicants okay thank you that's. That I believe this is all I had with the department of commerce and all joint back in the queue if there's no thank you. A. Six twenty eight I thank your department of health right. Department of health. We'll take all commerce first and then we'll back around to everybody else that that's okay with everybody. Okay Senator hammer thank you ma'am share on the three point five the set aside subject to them getting their tax clearance if somebody owes two thousand dollars in taxes but would they be able to use any of that any of this money to offset the difference so would clear their their tax that they would not be able to center is not a permissible use the the uses of the grant are are fairly specific in there for PP and things that kind of relate to I'm getting the business stood up again but what is the capital working capital needs and tax needs that would not be a permissible use on the program so we have to clear that debt first and then DFA lets us know that it's been cleared and will release the money okay and then it's just I mean they're getting they're getting additional money after they pay their their debt so it's just really how they're going to rob Peter to pay Paul to get it done an independent on the amount of debt to me then that could be in excess of what the grants going to be okay and I suspect you know we've this been going on for about sixty days now and I think what we're left with here probably individuals who have significant that you can get that cleared okay could you thank you thank manager thank you senator hammer's senator Irvin you're recognized hi good morning thank you so I'm sure you're aware that the federal service just opened up its lending programs to nonprofit groups and I had sent this and we didn't discuss it last night at our steering task force committee meeting but I did send this to secretary Smith that the federal reserve has open this program up to nonprofit so are and. And and I supported this for the DD providers and because they had they were not eligible at the time that we made this decision but now they are eligible so is our conversations with the department of commerce with these individuals to try to shift them to the new federal program that just became available for them. A center in the. Federal reserve released that program I think last Friday we've looked at it one were very glad they've done that because they've not been as engage that probably could have been in terms of lending a but that that program is is very distinct from the PPP program which were attempting to mimic and the appropriation that's in front of you today the biggest difference between the federal reserve's lending facility and the PPP program is the fed will not forgive the loans they're not forgivable loans at all and actually bear interest a little bit higher interest rates and what the PPP loans are I don't want to act act like that's not important program it's very important for the fed to be putting money into the system okay but we don't think that will address their need okay okay thank you for answering my questions thank you. Thank you senator Irvin Representative Bentley is that you and is it for commerce. A represented fights. Commerce. Thank you madam chair I have heard from the several members of the board of Easter seals and I used to work for Easter sales so I very intimately aware of what they do and that I would like to speak in favor of this because not only do these providers of disability services provide much needed services to these families that they also employee at people throughout the state in seventy counties they employ people they also make it possible for people to work while they are caring for their family member with a disability so I hope that we will consider this they have been locked out of this because of the rule of having more than five hundred employees. Representative of I may serve just to just to add to that you may be asking a question why as ADC running this program versus for example DHS and serve their providers we look at it strictly through the lens of economic development for that very point that represent fight was addressing not only do these individuals are these these providers employee some at risk folks in our state but they also make it able for caregivers to be in the market place because their loved ones are getting taken care of so it really has a a double economic development benefit to us and so if these providers were to be somehow shuddered because a lack of working capital then it would have a serious detrimental economic development impact on the state. Thank you are there any other questions. For commerce. March senator Irvin you're recognized. Yeah just just a comment to you know I think it's really important that we're consistent and and they really fell into this weird black hole and it was a difficult. The only concern I think is we didn't want to open up a Pandora's box so to speak but they were very specific in what was happening to them and it was it was a tough situation I will say though that we may have hospitals that are gonna fall into that same category even with the additional funding that they have received because working capital you know is is really and its importance but we we might need to look at that and address that because if we don't have a health care work force to take care of patients doctors and nurses because they cannot be employed anymore through hospitals or clinics it's going to be a real problem real soon so I just I just want to say that because I think for those exact same reasons but from my perspective because the monies that we have approved were really very specific and I'm fine with that be in specific but this is a new expenditure and any kind of way so I just wanna make sure we're all aware and sensitive to that because the last thing I want to see our our health care workers going down and we don't have enough people to care for people that are critically ill so I'm gonna say that publicly because it's a big big concern I have right now so I just appreciate your comments and I agree with them I just think we're trying very hard to be careful as we're proceeding and down these pass yes ma'am and I think we would be and hated agreement that are hospitals and not to rule out just roll hospitals the hospital across the whole state are suffering right now that was actually one of the reasons wine when the first initiatives that we put in place at a DC during the pandemic was that's right C. B. G. gets ten million dollars to twenty seven house twenty seven hospitals in the state role hospital so would agree with you yes ma'am gap and we we may eight I hope you are keeping an eye on that and we. You may need to revisit that and and so I would just ask that you'll continue to keep an eye on that and reach out to those folks make sure they're doing okay to the hospital association thank you its membership thank you madam chair thank you any other questions for commerce. Yes senator Hickey you're recognized thank you I hope no one is question this the under the March the loan program yes Sir but there. The eligibility. Senate by AS that says with more than five hundred employees is that that's correct yes Sir that's correct. How many of marble fall under that we know will mean is that just for one or two I mean have we had any push back from the smaller ones because of that. Well to two different sponsors their first center if they're fewer than five employees they are eligible for PP piece of the need was addressed there I believe that there are about a dozen or so. Eight I'm sorry eight providers he would fall in that category but only for have expressed a need for the funds okay of the remaining have said they don't need it they they came attest to the economic necessity okay. And just just so I might make sure that I understand this because I was trying to read through it and that's why I hope nobody else says this question and I missed it but the it looks like to me that you can have up to two and a half times your average monthly payroll in two thousand nineteen so that's the. That's the maximum amount of the loan correct however under loan forgiveness. That's going to actually be calculated using current figures is that right that's correct okay alright and that is all the way we think that's the appropriate structure right there that that mimics PPP exactly okay alright thank you Sir thank you Sir. Thank you senator Hickey anybody else for commerce. Thank you your dismissed I I think of a S. Representative. Bentley. Thank you chairman for the department of health please can someone from the department of health come to the front please. Please state your name for the record. Stephanie Williams chief of staff department of health. Representative Bentley you're recognized thank you senator being here this morning my question is with our sixteen million additional what we're doing and contract tracing a week targeting in specific populations with this money I'm aware but the program the northwest Arkansas community is poor this to contract with that group to get the Marshallese an Hispanic population up there with this funding that you're receiving today. Thank you Representative Bentley the funding that were statement today is for the two contractors that will be working statewide they will be contact racing for all individuals that are identified including Marshallese and Hispanic individuals Latina X. if needed additionally yesterday the cares committee voted to put forward a proposal from the northwest Arkansas council that specifically targets Marshall islanders and the liteon X. community and their proposal and initially was focused on Washington and Benton county three the discussion with the committee they were asked if they could expanded their coverage area and so they indicated that they will also assist in yell county and severe county in Randolph and I believe independence county so we'll have that additional capacity focused on those particular populations thank you can I one follow up please chairman you're recognized I'm really concerned is right now I have constituents in my district this taken five ten days to get results back three days to get results back so as long as we're continuing to have that to me contract tracing is just a waste of money into we can get this in there and and we get a finer amount so what are we doing to decrease the the lank this taken to get our writ test results back. So your point is well taken at our mitigation strategies don't work if we're behind on our time line AT and senator Irvin and I've discussed this and I know she's particularly concerned about it too part of it is testing from the minute that an individual is tested the time clock starts running for our interventions and it so we have to do better with the turn around time on testing some of those challenges or from turnaround times in commercial laboratories I think some of our private providers that were used in strictly commercial from the start we're very pleased initially because they were getting really quick turnaround time sometimes even faster than what we can do in our public health laboratory but as those lapse of got business from other states the turnaround time has sometimes lacks that are private providers or having challenges there because of that we're getting more specimens committed or public health lab which is extended our turnaround time as well we were doing really well there for awhile it was to twenty four hours if not sooner mail sometimes it's taken us depending on the volume that we're get me and it's taken forty eight hours or even longer so we're going back to look in at more point of care testing trying to make those machines available initially we received a small supply of the abit ID now instrument something we receive fifteen and disburse those across the state in areas where we tried to fill the gaps those are not those are really only good with people who have symptoms they're not the most specific so with the preferences to use some there now we have other options for point of care testing so it's fine to use the abit but providers just have to to know kind of which folks to use those tests with but also the new point of care machines were trying to secure more of those to get those out in the state to help our private providers so I think it's it's it's the continuum of things we've got to improve the the turnaround. Time on our lab samples in the notification to the patients the in the case investigation pace and the contact tracing it it all works together and we have to hit all three and I'm sorry I rambled a little bit and I'm a may not of answer your specific question so if I got off track to steer me back just one quick to that are we increased our spending money to increase the amount that you can do here at the department of health I we spend getting more equipment for you to increase the volume that you can do here yes ma'am we have received supplemental funding through the cares that steering committee and all the proof that funding so we are expanding capacity of the public health laboratory the public health laboratory has it's it's set up to have eight distinct hi how complex the lambs we basically taken the one section that does cobit into ramping it up and turning it basically into more of a a commercial how three put it volume laboratory but we are doing that because that's the one thing that we we can control is the capacity we have their. Thank you. Thank you Representative Bentley. Representative Wardlaw you're recognized. Thank you madam chair. This room you know I just personally came off of quarantine a few days ago are for you a week ago. One of my concerns with you guys hiring more contact tracers is him Bradley county we had a number of kids that were. Detected positive out of those families. Five a moral fourteen day quarantine one was on twenty four day quarantine that one is set and right here. The rules are not consistent and harm were tracers put more people on the phone with inconsistencies are going to make more people not trust the system so what are you guys going to do to educate the contact tracers to make sure they're telling consistent across the board. Senate thank you Representative Wardlaw there there's always room for improvement we are working very hard to make sure that we train everybody really well from the get go you know there is there are now national trainings available to us that were not available at the time when we tried our initial tracers so hopefully the on boarding process for the new tracers will be. Run more smoothly but they do go through pretty extensive training on the process You. I don't I'm I'm not sure the answer your specific current we are trying to trying to tracers really well and we tried to pick contractors that have high standards for quality and good oversight for the contact tracers that they'll be adding a person have a lot of apprehension of approving another sixteen million for something that's not working at the current level and I tell you that from experience I lived through it for about for almost four weeks and we had three different traces column a house with three different answers every day. And talking to the other parents that we're going through the same exact thing at the same time some of them never got a phone call in some got two different phone calls as well with two different answers we need consistency we need common sense and we need this to work and it has to work if we're going to get this virus under control and it's obvious that we're not getting it under control so I just don't see throwing more money at it without fix in the current folks that we have work in. To be in a solution to the problem I think you had to fix what you have before you start add more to it could you just go create a bigger problem instead of actually it's a solution. Thank you madam chair. Representative Wardlaw. Representative Dotson I think your number sixty six yes ma'am you're recognized thank you madam chair Miss Williams My question kind of goes to the contract tracers and what questions they are asking I mean if there's in consistency especially now that we're hiring outside groups to do this what's done with the information that they collect the personal personal data the private data is that Catalog stored kept for. A week two weeks. Hopefully not longer than three or four weeks because obviously at that point those people are no longer no longer positive it is the personalized in full identifiable information kept in databases and stored permanently or or what. So at the so let me make one comment if I may madam chair just it'd Senate represented Wardlaw point the first step into making sure that we're doing things consistently and right is to is to have quality control over the contact racers have into dedicated entities that are doing contact tracing will allow us to have come quality control and they will all be doing things the same way when a cases it identified the first step in the process is the case investigation pays the case investigation piece is a piece where you do the interview with the healthcare professional that's actually gathering the data and then it's turned over to the contact tracer the contact tracer is following up and in rolling the patient into the Serra alert system the Serra alert system allows the patient's to each day by text or they can call in to report their symptoms and be monitored and this is helpful because it just reminds people to go through that check process but also it lets us know quickly if there's a problem the tracers actually don't they're inputting information but I don't have access to the system so they can't go in and search for information they can't query the system all their do and is making a contact recording information and rolling them in this era alert system and then in putting the information so they don't have access to the system I can't speak to your specific questions about the the data and how it is how long that it'll remain in the system but I can't speak to the fact the contact tracers don't have access to the database and there are secure connections that have to be maintained for them to input into the system so. Who has access to that is the department of health Exitos Harmon of health has has the system and the contractors have to go through a a data security there's a set of standards it has to be approved it's looked at by the I. S. not just by the department of health to make sure that they made the correct specifications is reviewed by the privacy officer for the department and so there's particular IT standards that they have to made to even be able to touch that system. If you could find out for me is that how long that data is special that personalized in viable information is is kept stored how long can be queried for by the department of health FOR D. I. S. even for that matter and then And then can you get a E. said there's two different. The department or the healthcare professional and then also the contact tracer Do they have a standard set of questions that they ask that their the data they're collecting can can we get a copy of all that so that we can have an idea of. What you're asking folks and That if someone contacted by a contact tracer it's a legitimate Source that this call on contacting me special there's two or three different entities they're calling on different days yes Sir we can certainly give you the the standard tools that we're using both for case investigation and FOR contact tracing those are tools from the city say they're standardized in there what's used across the country not just in Arkansas. Thank you. Thank you Representative Dotson. Senator hammer you're recognized thank you Mr chair thanks for being here this morning so on the way up here I'm talking about superintendents in my area and they're still trying to figure out which way up about get school open because the date got pushed back but one of them told me that you all have told them or somebody has told them that they're going to be expected to do contact Racine within their school is that a true statement no Sir there's a little bit of a difference and contact the official contact tracing will be done by the department and and by the contractors that were working with but when there is a case in a school setting it works just like it does when we have a case the months or any other communicable disease we work with the school district to we don't ask them to trace but we ask them to help us identify the students that may be in that classroom the teachers in the classroom what times these children may have been in a common area like the cafeteria on a bus so we will ask them to partner with us and share information to help speed up the investigation process but we don't expect them to do actual contact trace. Are you asking the same of Walmart target businesses are you equally applying the expectation across the board to everybody yes Sir this is just the way we work with businesses we do the same thing. Well some of them have concern that is in fact very anticipating that is gonna be an additional load on their nurses or somebody in a school district's size of say you know Brian or could be even smaller southside some is going to be the one that does that and with the additional load they're not sure that they're not going to have to add additional personnel to do what their understanding is that you're asking them to do so I'm gonna ask this that there be good communications with the of school association that if there are additional cost that the public schools are any schools are going to have to absorb because of the requirement to participate that they be in reversed the the cares tech money because some of our still sit in on a total of about twelve million dollars they have been reimbursed for the food that they were asked to make sure to get out to the kids and now we're asking them to do more yeah we're gonna hire to companies for total thousand people between department of health and the two additional companies at a pretty hefty price tag I would thank you for initial companies to do that they have to do the whole job. All the way through and that's just that's just my opinion and how it reacts we now Friday when I am of ale see full committee will pride determine how I vote so I just think we need to get a price tag for was going to call schools before we mandate them to do that so. And. Why That that's it thanks manager. Thank you senator hammer I know that my schools have also asked me a lot of questions about that so I appreciate your question. Seat twenty one I think is Representative Lowery. You're recognized. Thank you manager mark my question actually for department of finance administration on the supplemental agenda request okay I think I still have several health questions if I can come back to you so if I'm on a click you off and then you'll just have to go back into the queue senator rice are you for department of health. You're recognized thank you the it is department of health get the notification on number of doctor or physician layoffs in Arkansas. no Sir I'd no Sir I don't believe we do by this this week I had an employee to me that her husband has multiple health problems but is it by a pretty good Pulmonary doctor was laid off. The physician Rodina years prescription which in his condition what what doctors more prescriptions would be concerning to me if somebody's not be oversee we're spending the MALOCH money we're spending on contractor oysters. Necessary thing maybe. And we don't have doctors for people to see we got problems. Got serious problems. And if this guy Indicate A bill alone I've heard some of the others but I would hope the department of health get some kind of input. What changes in our health care system in Arkansas is forced people being able to get in to see a doctor that's important to. Is there anything that the did you know of you can do to we all are more knowledgeable if you're saying you're not getting that so we don't we don't get that immediately when it happens our office of real health in primary care does do as an annual survey of surveys not help the environment you what age yes Sir I understand it this has been raised to our attention we don't have a monitoring system to get real time reporting of when physicians are laid off when nurses are laid off we do here reports three U. R. hospital association and the the medical society and then you know we hear as you've shared and this morning another story about a provider that's been affected we are concerned we're concerned about the impact in the healthcare system this this is a moment time where we made absolutely all the capacity that we possibly can have and and in that three is not I bring this abuse fact the potential of losing people without contract tracing is serious with the potential of losing people without. Reasonable health care is also very serious so how would hope you all could come up with something that get you all better than the annual report so maybe we will we will be able to address some things we may have to cut back one place in balancing things out with that that's great but this really got shot me thank you. Thank you senator rice Representative love you're recognized. Thank you madam chair so I want to go back to something that Representative Bentley I guess I her records Representative Bentley saying so I want to ask in something that I was concerned about in regards to these contracts. I did not understand her to say this. And I guess I'm a directed to the chair so so I can directed to represent and Bentley. Did you say that the northwest Arkansas there's a northwest Arkansas. Group that is trying to do contact tracing. Representative Bentley. You get your market not hide we hit sure request. Representative Bentley you're recognized I within the center Irving into she's on the carriers committee I just know because my district is hopefully they'll be apart of that she could a direct more two is so I would take his question to senator Irvin if that's thank you Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you I'll try to hot yes so you we have we have several proposals before the cares steering task force committee and this is one that we went through pretty extensively with the north or northwest Arkansas comprehensive plan for covered nineteen contact tracing testing and coordination for special populations this proposal is gonna be coordinated through the department of health and the department of health will be the fiduciary entity responsible for for this the reason why is because we need to have we need to make sure that an agency that becomes that comes before the legislature that has legis that we have legislative oversight over is a fiduciary for anything that we give the money out the door for so we work with D. F. and A D. F. and A does a review to make sure that the expenditures follow in line with the federal guidelines that were passed through that law the cares act G. if in a does review to make sure that there is and then direct so that's one stat worry we've added D. F. and A looking also to make sure that it falls under and like I said an entity that comes before the legislature for oversight and review and that can be audited through legislative audit so those were important components that we needed to incorporate into this which we did but I also say this is very focused on the Marshallese community and the Hispanic community Latin axe we added some counties because of the correlation between the population of students in the school district plus the outbreaks that are occurring across the state so independence county in Randolph County were added as well as yell county in severe county. two this plan so this very specific for contact tracing for those populations and this is an additional program in addition to. The money that that was appropriated to them for contact tracing and and okay miss Williams can I'm just highlighting what the cares act ark cares during force steering house force at did okay I just need a clarification against A DS one out are when we first passes appropriation my concern was that we topped with the organizations that we were going to set up contact tracing with to ensure that they were including minority populations in so that's why I want the clarification that now we have what we have on a separate organization. The wants to do contact tracing into special population in which are expressly I know I expressly say it to the Arkansas department of health that this was one of my major concerns and so it seems like they just went out the window because is not getting addressed if there's and if there's another request for special population and so I guess are we not is the Arkansas department of health not. Are we not talking to our vendors to express the saying what we would like added them because. This is something that I'm no ox press the state are we actually paying attention to. Vendors that again the minority populations and now we have another contract which dishes in any corporation. At before I I will say I I don't disagree with you I I I agree with that but I think I'll go ahead of the department of health. Senate thank you represented level that we are and I do remember you express in that very clearly and both of the vendors are expected to serve minority populations and have the capacity to do so and that was a requirement for both the the presentation that was put forward by the northwest Arkansas council was not a requested that we ask for they came to the cares committee and made that offer of assistance I think the concerns that you've expressed were also expressed by the cares committee that you have had two very extensive meetings and discussions about the proposal from the council and I think yesterday they felt comfortable that they have the suitable expertise needed to assist us with this work so that was not of a up house bill that we ask for but we do value their expertise and think that can be helpful in doing this work okay so are obvious I guess what I'm saying is our is Arkansas department of health actually against. This this room wants to do contact person apparently they feel like to contact tracing is not going to touch their or their community are we putting them in continental know who has a contract to contact tracing but are we putting them in contact with those groups in order to work with them I guess that's what I'm I'm trying to all three will be managed a coordinated through the department of health so they're all be working in concert together in tied together all of the entities that do contact tracing have to be connected with us and and to be part of that system to do do the work and receive the assignments of the cases okay so now we're going to have three content tracing groups it's just to have the two is so we have the two contractors that are focused on state wide contact tracing the northwest Arkansas council will only be focused on the counties where we have significant numbers of Marshall islanders and also Hispanic populations there Hispanic population across the state but in the counties that they'll work with they will also be available to serve those populations as well against I guess I'm not and I'm not understanding if we're doing a state wide tracing right with two vendors. What could that not be in court I guess my initial issue was and our concern was that the vendors take care of. The state population that includes minorities right that doesn't exclude minorities in so we have we every time we do this we come back and say oh by the way we have to put something they have for minorities because. What we did not plan for in so. How can we say we're doing state wine when there are minorities in the state but yet we have to go back and make special accommodations. This is my issue a nationally. Those two vendors that we talked to should have included this proposal this northwest Arkansas council I mean I guess is a good propose I don't know. But they shouldn't feel like they're community is being left out so we have to do some discussion forum and I guess moving for that's what we have to really address not only with Arkansas Marmon held the with everything we do because we all listen at the end up sand what we're gonna do a special contract for to reach minority populations that's like minority populations don't exist in Arkansas it's so we had to do something special no if we're talking about state wine whatever. We have to include the minority populations and so this proposal you shouldn't even exist because. The team vendors that you all have should have included them in so they shouldn't feel like they left the I'm a I'm not saying that we should take care of this I'm yes contract but they should have been included in this the that was the main thing what we're saying up here I guess I sent this a month ago and now we're Senate for discussing the same thing I knew was gonna happen and I guess that this is this to me this first as a as a minority is frustrating but just as a member of this body it's frustrating because. We end up having to go back this is a after the will we didn't really think about the minority so now we have to go back and do something special when we should have actually incorporated all in the the two contracts issue on hand in so I don't know why we have to do a special on me I'm not saying don't do it because if it's not included then we should do it but I think move in fort I think we have to have this mindset that we we have to make this I guess a special effort to ensure that this is all being included because now we're having to go back and correct something that I mentioned to you all. from the beginning I guess it is just is not I know I sound frustrated but is frustrating because we shouldn't have to go back in making make another we should have to go back and spend more money. Of on this content Tressa when it should have been included in the first place. So this this my comments Mister chair and I'll I'll yield. Thank you Representative love senator Ingram. Recognized. Thank you madam chair and I represent Wardlaw we pushed for a twelve month quarantine for you but had to settle for twenty four days so. You really came out role lot better. Of. Testing of without a rapid return of what the test do it sort of rand's it renders it not is effective as we'd hoped do we have the capability of producing re agents in this state without having to rely on a third party. Service center Ingram I'm not sure the correct expert to give the definitive answer on that to my knowledge we don't but I am not an authority in this area so it's possible that there is a laboratory or a some sort of company based here that does produce reagents but to my knowledge we don't have a local resource we were we're getting instances in my district where people are not getting results for ten or twelve days in me that renders the test worthless and so if we have any way to control that that reagent process to speed the testing up I mean the money would be better spent on you know not is being is widespread is testing but you know being able to get the results back out I would be interested to know if that is a possibility. I'll be glad to check into that thank you thank you madam chair I'd like to get back in the queue on on commerce thank you senator Ingram so I kind of have a question that I want or it's going to go with hammer Senator hammer Representative Wardlaw and senator Ingram so once schools opens if a student becomes symptomatic and test positive well that student along with every student in the class including the teachers and the call of the classroom and the parents of the students and the bus driver all the quarantine for fourteen days even though we can't get test results back till ten days which would make it actually probably fourteen days after if I understand Senate by Representative Wardlaw they get back a test result. So. I'm I'm not sure that I'm an so so let me know if I don't answer your question precisely so what should happen in a classroom setting is when a case is identified you should be able to work with the school to identify the children that have been in close contact the teachers and other staff that have been in close contact with with that case if there had been students that are around the area but not in close contact not it not necessarily every child in the classroom would have to be quarantined it's really is going to depend on the contact and the length of time that they've been in close contact. But they should quarantine for fourteen days when you do the case investigation the nurses can advise them on the length of time from testing that the quarantine should should last just because you can't get tested immediately or can't get a result back immediately that should not a medically extend your quarantine period I'm sensitive to Representative Wardlaw as issue in his case and maybe at not being clearly explained or clearly documented the transmission but typically it it should be fourteen days you had should have a situation where someone's quarantine is extended beyond fourteen days just because there was a delay in the being tested a receiving the test results. Does that does that help and I'm not sure that's what's happened and. Of Representative Dotson you're recognized. Time back in the queue for. The PBS okay Senator Hickey are you for. US represented fight. I want to speak in favor of this proposal from the northwest Arkansas council we have seen a huge outbreak in our Marshallese population and then and our let next population I don't think anyone saw that coming. Especially with Marshall lease it's difficult to find people who can translate in that language They are having a lot of debts and proportionately for their population size and I just think that we need to give us a special efforts there thank you. Senator hammer is it for a department of health. You're recognized thank you Mr chair social scientific proof as far as what tracing has actually done to help bend the curve down on the spread of code would nineteen what can you point to and say this is scientific proof. So Senator hammer I can provide you with references articles where this is been studied this is something that we do in public health a lot we do when we're dealing with communicable diseases and I can't reference specific things today but we do have doctor Jennifer deal Hey who's our state epidemiologist she's very well versed in this issue doctor amero is also very well versed in this issue and could point to specific articles and lance and other journals studies that have been well that'd that show the benefit of doing the process the way that we've we've outlined in other states like New York that have seem to have turned curve and now they're starting to open back up did they do contact Racine in New York and all the other states yes Sir okay and I guess I would say this you know we now have a mandate of everybody have and were masked and if the massacres successful as everybody says they are. Or the debate on having within myself is it the if the mass does the job why are we going to limit people to be quarantine to their house if they're willing to wear masks when they go out if the master supposed to be as effective as they are and not I mean that's part of the discussion we can't solve here in this time we've got a lauded it would be nice to have a discussion on this in depth to where we could air this out before we throw all this money at the situation but that that format has not been allowed as yet or has not been staged yet but I just think there's a lot of debate to go back and forth on this show thank you. Thank you are there any other questions before we do any motions I want to make sure that we get all the questions answered on the next item to so are there any other questions for department of health. If not you're dismissed senator Hickey Harry one can telling. The department of commerce. If you'll come back we'll do a motion at the end I know that I've got one waiting so. Just to clarify madam chairman commerce for purposes of Kerr's act appropriation or the other item that's on the agenda for commerce back to the loan program yeah apologize Sir the more I think about this the more questions I have I don't know they have an issue with that I just. I guess I want to make sure that we that we all have thought thought through all the implications of this. Okay the. Back I got about three things here madam chair of that's okay get back to the first thing of course this looks like that the loan can be for a large amount of money because if you start figuring five hundred employees at forty hours for. two and a half months that could be a pretty large loan amount. And I see in the first paragraph that were excluding amount paid to employees in excess of a hundred thousand dollars so it looks like that we were trying to exclude them. As far as what the loan amount could be but it's still from the loan amount size is going to be a large amount. However whenever we get down to loan forgiveness at least what I'm looking at here. What what could happen I what I want to make sure of is that these places are not just going to bump their payroll or their executive salaries a large amount this is just a way to put money in your pocket because whenever I look on at the loan forgiveness. They can still be included in that so in other words if you get. Let's just say that you get a two million dollar loan. Then we're going to. And we're St at least sixty at least sixty percent so a hundred percent of that could be FOR pyro. So it looks like to me that that payroll that during that twenty four week period here in twenty twenty that you could pure you can up your bonus or pyro however you wanted to do it for that amount and then it would all be forgiven. Do you follow me up to that point I. following serious and that would be true would that not be correct at with that would not be correct okay in again good I think what you're looking at is the just the term sheet if I believe that's correct the rules which you don't have the rules in front of you proposed rules which will be seen by the executive committee on Thursday lot more detailed and make it very clear that the forgiveness methodology will follow exactly what the federal P. P. P. methodology is an extraordinary increases that are beyond what the bass line was from two thousand nineteen would be excluded. So you came artificially bump your payroll for how to calm state employees and let that count for the forgiveness do we already have all those prepared are you just going to you're just going to bring those before executive come Thursday yes Sir and then we'll run them ask permit rules as well okay through a LC yes Sir okay. Madam chair just a couple of others one other thing and and and maybe at those rules that you are going to be bringing for forward here in a couple of days are going to do it but. But calls were requiring or were saying at least sixty percent of this is going to have to be for pay roll. Do we think that the employer then going to ask the state for a refund in their payroll taxes. That's just something that I want to throw out there that because if if worse with we're sitting here structuring a program where we're saying that at least sixty percent of this has to be. is alone but it has to go back towards pyro tech FOR pyro. Which would be the total payroll then we know that though that would include the taxes which is already been paid to the state I just wanna make sure that the state are we going to have another here because of that. And I guess the third thing I thought about is because this is going to be a loan forgiveness. Are these employers are they going to get a ten ninety nine at the end of the year because it's actually going to be income to them I guess because it's in the form of a loan. And then that's going to be forgiven. So I would assume that that's going to have to be a ten ninety nine back to them and I just think that we need to make sure that we've disclose that to them if. If that's going to be something that we have to do make sure I heard you correctly center you you say employees or employers the employers at at with their non profits you know to to to begin with so okay they they should have at least an income tax liability that point they do have payroll tax obligations obviously gave whenever I was looking at Sitta mercy loan program for developmental disability providers all these are going to be non profits just certainly are okay. Then again I guess I would just go back to the payroll taxes the end of because of course are we doing or tax return you know I don't know how they're going structure all that again. If if I've actually forgiven the loan is that. Just gonna be counted as income on there are they going to be required to ask us for that back so I just think it's some we need to address before Thursday yes Sir any keep keep in mind that the the issue of payroll is to incentivize the retention of existing payroll it is not necessary to go out and and increase payroll although that would obviously be good for the economy but that the main thing is to you give them the benefit these but will probably end up being for different providers the same benefit that's really been afforded to thousands of other Arkansas small businesses which is assistance and preservation of peril sure as long term to the I'm sorry without Sir my apologies long as we got it all structured for the rules then that's I will be fine with again I'm not looking at those because they're not here so in in just so the committee's clarity the amounts of the loans are gonna be anywhere between about one point eight million up to about two and a half million for these for providers which actually is substantially less then if they were eligible for P. P. P. what they could actually claim so they're they're asking for less than what that allows bills will yes Sir thank you thanks center thank you senator Hickey Representative a. I'd Dotson. You're recognized thank you madam chair minus four Yes Arkansas okay anybody else for commerce. All right so we want. DVS. Please state your name for the record. Hi Marty rolled director of external relations for Arkansas PBS. A good morning and a big no director of engineering for Arkansas PBS Representative Dotson you're recognized thank you madam chair so. If I'm looking at this five point. Two million dollars basically of increased money going towards Arkansas PBS That's pretty substantial increase in the state amount of funding can you tell me what your current budget is since coming from state funding skews me our current state budget yeah you current funding that comes from state sources I did you the exact number of loops around five million from the basically doubling it rapidly so. I see you're gonna be expanding your coverage area Using this for a lot of a lot of expanded Programming and that sort of thing what exactly is the programming that you plan to roll out with this the jury using well the idea behind this all came from when the schools were released early due to cope with crisis and we partnered with the department of education for a in my alternative methods of instruction will reproduced educational programming to fill that gap when the schools were let out there a lot of areas in the state where they could not get our broadcast we got about seventy six percent of the population and so there were a lot of gaps in their in in these gaps or mostly rule areas where. Skews me the the broadband is not available and so there's just educational opportunities that are out there for these kids and the. There are other areas where it if there is broadband or three is cable or this satellite they can't afford it where is our broadcast is free so the idea of this expansion first came about in the use of these cope with federal cope with funds to do it is due to that I am I am planning ahead in cases situation occurs again. The course with with with that being said all our usual programming would be available now a lot of these areas that you see. Our border areas for example in the area of Crittenden county and in those St Francis in New surrounding counties they currently get PBS but they get met this PBS so they currently or would you get all your national PBS programming but what they don't get our Arkansas specific items like Arkansas all week and we broadcast course the governor's covert update and then of course a in my that is instructional broadcasts for Arkansas children's so there are areas that these proposed a new transmitters will reach the that are within the state that it certainly can't get are currently can't get our broadcast but then a lot of that and again another example is Miller county where they currently get the best Shreveport Louisiana PBS step the Arkansas PBS so I rambled a bit there represented but I hope that answers your question I guess specifically can you define the education programming that you're talking about trying to to put out there in addition to what your regular programming is I know over the last several months I've seen some stories where Arkansas PBS's had some controversial programming that Has generated some news and and just want to see if that's the type of program you're talking about well this this very rare I mean we run about eight hours of educational programming during the day on our main broadcast channel this targeted toward kids and of course. We don't produce those up until this Friday we have when we are actually producing which is blueberries clubhouse which I hope you'll all watch but it is national programming the program you're talking about is very rare but we do have some discretion on on what we heir of and the there is one situation where we chose not to into the situation we did it but those are very rare and those decisions are made by our director illegitimately of what their head that will air not on on Arkansas PBS. I guess I would like to hear a little bit more detail on the educational type programming that you're you're going to be offering with that be something that you could you could bring in present tale see on Friday. yes you can tell me exactly you know more what you're looking for you looking for the A. M. I. that we did during the cope with some examples of that that damn my and that which is really the the reason the justification for this doubling of your budget right so yeah I really happy to to provide something like that for you on Friday okay thank you thank you manager. Senator Malick you're recognized. Thank you madam chair withdrawal I'm appear. I'm sorry I live in one of those counties of the the clubby county south Arkansas on the border so I get to Shreveport Louisiana feeds I get PBS but I did not get Arkansas channels now the just for clarification is this money more for the infrastructure or to to reach those places that are not now covered by Arkansas. Or is it for actual programming. Which is the is the grams these are the transmitter cost Oakley we've identified existing towers it can be used we don't have to build new towers but the vast majority of this cost almost all the calls is for the actual transmitters that will transmit the signal so this doesn't change whatever what whether people agree or disagree with your car programming this isn't going toward that this is to get more transmitters to cover the entire state and mainly in the event we have another shot that of our schools and there have to be some of the education of programs online and I'm talking about specific Arkansas teacher education or for the students of that don't have broadband that so that we can reach all of the students in the state yes that is correct thank you. Representative Lowery you're not. By the US seat number twenty eight Senator hammer you for this. The thank you madam chair the money that's being requested it's one time money as I understand it so if you build out this infrastructure that you're talking about as far as what you're going to do to your long term budget as far as what you're going to need in the future in order to sustain it once you get it for you got that far well I'll I'll I'll let the and to redress that but at at that point it would only be your usual upkeep of a transmitter tower which which is what we have now we have currently we have six hours around the state that we maintain and twelve microwave sites that relate those and so it's just the up Cape entered you know will as far as these additional ones what additional costs on on going basis that might be of the on going cost will primarily be the pal bill to appoint the selects we are sharing state that was so there's no lease agreements others my lease costs and just the the routine maintenance and upkeep of the equipment which is something we can come it can it can accommodate under eggs are existing funding arrangements. So your current funding that you have because what I'm getting at is are you gonna be coming down the road asking more money from state general revenue because we're giving you this influx money now and how much is it going to be you're gonna have to ask for later in order to maintain the statewide presence no Sir we don't anticipate that at all okay and then to the issue of the programming that's on there the the transmitters would allow you to push out all your of and I I get that monthly or quarterly you know book that shows all the programs that you all are offering but by doing this you would be able to push out all of your programming to all of the state whether individuals like that programming or not you you would be available to everybody in the state correct that is correct yes Sir okay and somewhat tech on the Representative Dotson there's something shall have on there I don't particularly care for state tax dollars to be airing I think we need to have honest dialogue about that that if you're going to you know utilize this money under the pretense of being able to provide educational opportunities to kids in the event we have to go to a close school approach again it will provide for some your program that I don't personally Mr greet a with that I think would like to have a honest conversation or hear what your commitment is going forward on that Wheatley we'd be happy to sit down with eating time senator and and this is about that for you thank you thank you Mr. By Representative Bentley is your question for the men at the table. You're recognized thank you chairman of the German tell me if you have any data on how many of our students actually to turning in and listening to your programming. No ma'am we do we do not have that the do you have any way to know how many people are turning turning into listening to your program well I know the the. A big part of the folks out there they couldn't get it we heard from a upset that they weren't getting it and so that we know there's there's that need for it out there of you know as far as you know ratings of television programs in viewers and that kind of thing we don't subscribe to those services your commercial TV stations course use those to set advertising rates in those kind of things so they need to know those viewers it's a very expensive process and we don't sell advertising so there's really not a cost justification for us doing that but we do here from you know a lot of folks out there that do here into appreciated especially during the AM by all the teachers out there that we're seeing it and it and it still that board that gap so but I could not give you a break down of the actual viewers that are watching no ma'am. Thank you one more quick question I would just reiterate what represent dot sent reps of hammer of said I I think that we need some vast improvements even what you're doing now education one as I have heard numerous complaints that really was. Not nearly what they thought it should be for the education of their student so I would I would hope they would see some vast improvements of what you're putting out there for students as far as education goes I have heard a number of complaints so I wish to reiterate what they're saying that we have some room for the Aussie this money from the state we have room for a large improvement thank you okay thank you be happy to visit with you about that what you're hearing. Senator Bledsoe is your question for them. You're recognized thank you madam chairman up to so that I'll be clear. Of who is producing the education all of programs are you are is the PBS doing it how are we we've done it in conjunction with the Arkansas department you cation we have a education department you may be aware that that we do the professional development training for teachers so we have our own production division in we course reached out for the day in my that we did for teachers a year and that kind of thing but it was all done in conjunction with the Arkansas department education of. I would involved in the production be glad to get you names of of who we work with that eighty or any other information you have but we can put anything out there that did not have of their blessing all right that that helps a I'm interested in seeing you on Friday at council with the A Emma. That would be very helpful and then I also agree with the three previous legislators of some of the programming has the not been of. I would say good for a lot of the people in second of all I had heard complaints about the educational material that it is it has not been is so quality has not been quality like they had hoped would be but those are just some of the things and I'll be glad to to see Friday at AM four AM thank you thank you. Senator hammer. Back at yes ma'am thank you I do wanna give you on positive compliment though you guys did the sports program last year right yes Sir and and that was really good addition because of for a lot of people and I would just ask you to put in your thinking process is if you haven't already that if we get to play sports this fall but maybe plan limitation in the stands that y'all would try to expand that part of it so you know Senator Malick cherry or or state wide area that people be able to watch their their games you know through PBS and I do think that is one thing that you all done well and is good quality I just want to give you a compliment thank you we appreciate that. All right is there any other questions for the man at the table. Thing nine you're dismissed and Representative Lowery you're up. Yes thank you madam chair at the like to speak to someone from department finance administration about the supplemental request. Please state your name for the record. Jake plead with the DFA office budget. Yes Jake thank you for being available to answer questions I'm just the. Really want some explanation about a just to face of reading here it seems to be what this is indicating is that we're gonna be spending four million dollars. With C. T. H. for them to identify additional funding resources from the fits is that right no Sir okay please clarify so the cares act as your wears a big piece of legislation and to provide a lot of funding for this state not just through one point two five billion dollars the that is now being and managed by the steering committee but also through a series of other programs which we provide reports to they'll see detailing funding for colleges funding for schools funding for businesses. All of those different streams of revenue need to be audited all of them have a lot of oversight that will be Intel to them depending on which federal program is overseeing so the proposal today and what what we we the steering committee has recommended funding is a project to allow us to create a database in effect to to not only track those expenditures in who's getting them but also ensure that from an auditing perspective we have all of the paperwork laid out to the individuals receiving the money have an opportunity to get there kind of cards in order for handling those federal funds effectively well I hope I hope you can appreciate that. The letter doesn't does not clarify that all a matter fact is specifically says adequate analysis of all carriers act funding sources required to maximize of federal funding available doesn't say anything about auditing expenditures it talks about identifying edition resources so my question would be is it if it is if we're hiring an outside entity to help identify additional resources what what can we anticipate for four million dollars would be the increase in resources that we would be able to receive and the second part of that question is. Do we not have I believe the governor's office has Washington DC office is that still in existence plus we rely on I can rational delegation he has a staff up there yes Sir okay so all those resources are to help us identify have federal funding resources why do we need to expend a private sector contract to identify those resources will of the letter does say that the the scanned images can be stored of the documentation information within the system for reporting data analysis audit requirements and program compliance the intent here is in obviously if we can use this system to help us locate additional funding I think the contractor in question has experience working with other entities that are managing tears that funding there for example in Florida and I think also New York City the there's obviously some benefit to that but in addition I think the real utility of this is helping us and helping the people who get federal dollars make sure that they're complying with those audit requirements one of the experiences that we had going back ten years ago with some of the are a money that we got which is kind of a similar situation all of a sudden we had a lot of federal dollars coming through a lot of different federal programs in being provided to individuals who need that money who deserve to get that money but who may not always be prepared for the paperwork in the documentation required to satisfy whatever federal or state audit requirements are in place so I think the real utility of of what we're proposing here is to help all those folks state agencies hospitals and non profits who never have an a mechanism by which they can upload their images they can prepare their files and they can be prepared in the event that there is some kind of a federal or state audit okay well I can appreciate tightening up are oversight on the way the money is spent because there's just a lot of money being spent and I think you. Yeah I think I remember senator Hendren and some meeting several months ago talking about what we recognize that there's going to be some waste well that's an unfortunate recognition of but it is reality yes and if that's indeed what the they are doing is helping with I seem legislative all audit does not provide these kinds of services for auditing the correct expend expenditures legislative audit will certainly be involved in the audit process what we're trying to do is get our arms around just the documentation process if you think about just the breath of of every all the information that we're gonna have to collect so that when legislative audit does begin their work they were able to respond effectively and completely to their requests what we don't want is to have legislative audit go out to someplace and have that the hospital or nonprofit or whomever. Say you know we didn't know you were coming or we are are our paperwork isn't ready or you know we don't we're not prepared to go through that audit process okay well thank you for that clarification thank you thank you madam chair. Thank you Representative Lowery. Senator hammer thank you ma'am chair has just contractor a been let in I believe it is up for review today okay all right so it's come in come in later today yes Sir all right so is this a out of state company or in state company it is an instate company that is partnering with an out of state company the local vendors here north little rock and then they're partnering with Haggerty which is a national firm and Allen make the eight the that the secretary or undersecretary of A can answer. I'm sure I'm Allen make them chief of staff for the permit finance administration Senator hammer C. T. E. H. is a local it's an Arkansas based company they've been around for a number of years they've done a significant amount of work an environmental disaster recovery work that's where they the company originally focused their early years they've expanded well beyond that they they have conducted. Very large complex types of environmental recovery programs they partnered with a national group named Haggerty consulting's consultants and they have significant experience in this type of this may affect. Jake mention the fact that they're working with the city of New York they're working with state county in Florida on coded related corona virus related or cares act projects a good portion of this contractor Porsches contracts going to remain in state that's what was one to get to a I just wanna see much money going out of state if we can yes Sir that's correct okay and then is there the potential based on what you're responding to represent of Lowery awhile ago that that a component of this contract may potentially help identify matching federal funds that could be returned to the state to maximize the potential for for the money we've got well it is Senator hammer one of the one of the concerns we had when we are when the steering committee and the governor recommended that a set aside be placed to accommodate the needs are to address the needs for cities and counties of the US department treasury has continued to release additional guidance on how the cares act funds can be utilized in one of those updates included the use of Kerr's act funding could serve as the non federal match for FEMA dollars so One of the things that we're looking for this contract in one of the the the efforts the state's trying to address is how do we maximize all the federal resources that we possibly can how can we stretch that the carriers ACT one point two billion dollars as far as we possibly can how that would match up in use for as a match for FEMA program dollars that could be available to cities and counties or to the state as well so we this call this organization has the capability to try to help us leverage and look for any additional federal resources that may be out there I have extensive experience in that will turn the cheek comment you better hurry up because at one point two million is going out the door professors not gonna be thing left for you to look at on that one but the the other comment then is with regards I'd like to see as this plays out I'd like to see if there are matching funds how much money he spends back in that might offset that four million dollars and see if we don't if it it it could be cost neutral is what you're saying a revenue neutral if we can find enough matching dollars you know to to leverage to bring more money into the state as resolve this I'd like to be kept in the loop on on that and then the last thing was the. Announcer much nothing good cause it in stay inside they're very long so all yield thank you. Representative Dotson is your question for the gentleman and senator Irvin is your question for the gentleman at the table. You're recognized ma'am so I just wanna make some clarification and comment on this this is probably something we shoulda done the very first meeting of the steering task force committee meeting to be quite honest and my question yesterday during the meeting was can we go back will that with this company go back in the input all of our expenditures to date starting from day one and the answer to that is yes so they will go back and put in from day one and all that we've expended because I'm concerned of duplication and that we're spending money duplicative fully in different areas and we're not again being comprehensive for and and making sure that money is being spent wisely and well and not to play a critically and making sure that we're maximizing all federal resources that are available to us but just to be quite Frank the compliance issue around one point two five billion dollars is mind boggling and that is my biggest concern is making sure that were compliant because when the feds come back in audit this money which they will if the if the entities that we have given this money to can not provide that compliance to us with the state level in the federal audit then we as a state are on the hook for that money to pay it back to the federal government and that is concerning because I can't find one point two five billion dollars in our state budget to cover that cost and I don't think any of us can so this is money well spent should have spent at the first day that they are going to go back and make sure that were we're spending it wisely so I really applied y'all and Larry Walter on this one because it's incredibly important for all the reasons that have been state. And very good questions Representative Lowery and Senator hammer but I just wanted to comment on that thank you. Senator hammer thank you said you had some real quick I do are they're gonna be long term because they're gonna be associated with this contracted after code is over you're gonna be looking to come back and get money general revenue increase your budget in order to maintain like say a call software of portion of this contractor what's the end date as far as when we can close the books on this. Senator hammer we don't anticipate any on going maintenance costs associated with it it's it's a database solution that will integrate well within our existing systems A it'll be spreadsheets we have access to be able to pull up and and and access and provide information from but also the company is agreed to stay with us for an extended period of time as we work through the compliance in the audit issues are and the it because will be subject to legislative audit obviously that will be subject to federal law it's as well and they'll continue to work with us and support us over a three year period is that cost covered in four million or should we expect that in order for them to stay with us we'll see you coming back for so I ask you for more money for that it's included within the four million dollars okay and one last thing Senator English yesterday had a meeting on data sharing and this is a big part of that ensuring right here do you have any idea of that you might be resistant to share in this data with the other agencies are expecting other agencies to share their data to give a comprehensive view of how that money actually ended up getting spent. Thank. I don't anticipate that Peter eight eight to the extent that in this data might have specific information about individual businesses are taxpayers then obviously we'd be sensitive to releasing that information but no otherwise this is public data so I don't foresee any real reason not to release details on how the money was spent or thank you the manager. Senator Hickey I notice that you. Let back at there you go Sir just just one so the amount of this contract is it exactly four million dollars. No Sir yes three point. It's close to four million four million was I think the rounded up amount for seeking an appropriation but the actual funding request I believe is a little. Yes as a little less and that was my question one if it if it is if it's why are you requesting appropriation of four million. If the contracts only three points on the what's the what's that about there were there some ancillary costs that are anticipated for we don't know exactly how much the. Travel costs related to that would be and there's a little bit of contingency factor in there as well okay so using is three seven three eight three three eight three five three point eight million is what we anticipate okay and that's in review is what words is words is contract I heard someone say earlier of my expectations we will have an item for review this later today okay alright so we'll be able to look at that and your he's going to come to the review subcommittee or where is it coming through my son my understanding was was on the agenda for today it was one thirty. But okay well looking that Jen yes Sir alright thank you. Thank you senator Hickey are there any other questions. Okay so we're gonna do this different than what we usually would do we're gonna take each Adam and to a a motion of approval for the request okay because there was so many people with so many questions so the first motion that I need is for request the request and the department of commerce for five million dollars. I have a motion I have a second all in favor say aye. All opposed no motion passed second request is the department of health. A Representative Wardlaw you have a motion. Thank you I do madam chair my motion is to hold that item for further discussion on Friday and full a LC all in favor of any discussion. Second any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed say no motion passes third request would be for the department of commerce for seven million dollars motion motion second second all in favor say aye. All opposed say no motion passes supplemental Adams a motion for the supplemental I've got a motion for supplemental second. Second note nope sorry all that. I we have two supplementals I thank you thank you Mr billing. Representative Dotson you are recognized for a motion on supplemental item Arkansas PBS. You're not let that yes you are there you are there you are you all right thank you madam chair at just make a motion that we hold this for Friday so we can hear from their presentation on Friday I have a second second all in favor say aye. All opposed say no motion passes now then a motion for the department of finance and administration. Motion the second second all in favor say aye all opposed say no motion passes next item if if I can manager S. just really quickly thank you all for that I would like to also bring the committee's attention to decisions that were made by the steering committee last night also recommend the transfer of funding for two additional programs one for the northwest Arkansas council another of proposed to provide additional funding response the code virus through the Arkansas black hall of fame those request came at a later date we were not unfortunately able to get appropriation act requests over to the subcommittee this morning but it's my expectation that we will be presenting those with the chairs approval to the full LC on Friday so I just wanted to put that on your all's rate are to let you know that those were coming down the pike thank you thank you senator Irvin you're recognized in the that's also that's actually coming through the Arkansas minority health commission okay so that's the appropriation I think it's media it'll come to both will come to department of health right okay so just I just want to make an announcement that we will have a joint public health committee meeting this Thursday in room a at nine AM with the department of health specifically on contact tracing and testing so so that so be here nine AM will will take all questions and so we can flush this issue out perhaps up before Friday thank you. Thank you A next item. Thank you madam chair were on subsection C. three now these are the share services appropriation transfer request. In the fiscal session cabinet level departments received in New salary section paying account appropriation and special language section which allows the department to transfer funds appropriation positions related shared services these transfers are limited to services provided for multiple divisions of the department and require prior approval of the LC according to the special language a transfer authorities provided for efficiencies and to eliminate duplication of services including without limitation to administration human resources procurement communications we operations and information services there is only one department on today's agenda is for the department of commerce for Arkansas rehabilitation services and the third page shows a schedule. For the requested appropriation transfers. This schedule shows a hundred forty thousand nine hundred eighty eight in appropriation transfers from the regular salaries match and even though in rehabilitation services operation section to be transferred to the department of commerce's shared services section and for the committee's information this is associated with one position a registered pharmacist and the position transfer will be taken up by the ale see personnel subcommittee in the next meeting. Representative Lowery you're in state twenty one right. You're recognized. Thank you madam madam chair of Justin clarification of where this I know it's coming up in personnel but the shift of the position is coming from. What department of. We went to that pretty quick but I I didn't quite hear will where the the shift in preparation and also the the personnel is coming from. State your name for the record please. Thank you madam chair Jeff more chief information officer for the department of commerce the the position is is a across grade from a and Arkansas rehabilitation services and what was previously ACT I which there were a hundred position hundred eight positions that were including a ref and this is one of those positions that we're requesting being cross created is in P. O. five to be cross created to GS fifteen. So is so this is a chief financial officer position but it's being shifted I'm right here right front of you right here yes of it being shifted from the rehabilitation services FOR chief financial officer yes Sir and in as in keeping with the decisions that were made in in the previous peer in personnel meetings last month specifically the the shared services position that were requested to be moved the and there was a request Thursday need for to fill the position for a fiscal chief fiscal officer and the department of commerce and so the commerce consulted with TSS OPM to find a suitable position within the department of commerce specifically in this case your point with the Arkansas rehabilitation services to cross grade for these purposes since that position was not included in those positions that were requested to be moved in previous peer in personal meetings the services of chief financial officer of for the past year have been taken care of and in what capacity how was how was that done. My understanding it was of the individual from department of insurance that was serving in that position. There were a there were several positions within the department of commerce that were utilized in various and sundry ways to to provide I would say support not necessarily in in that specific role but in support of those roles that regarded fiscal H. R. I. T. and even communications well I'm just I'm of the chief financial officer position that was one individual that just recently retired correct that's correct okay. It was prior authorization given by a LC for that shared services position from the department of insurance. I can't answer that question would be glad to get that answer to you okay I think it's I think we've got an answer coming. check we DFA office of budget that position was authorized at with the insurance department of course insurance banking and securities were not included within the shared services appropriation so that position will remain with the insurance will continue to operate in that capacity but it will not be working as a CFO for the department of commerce okay well but for the past year that position had been funded by the insurance department trust fund but was acting with the department of commerce CFO cheese certainly provided services to not just the insurance department but also help out around the commerce department yes Sir okay all right thank you very much. Thank you Representative Lowery is Senator hammer. Thank you So has this up this person or been. Hired and put in place or what's the process for when somebody be stepping in to take over. No Sir in this position hasn't has not been hired this based on the decision made here in in peer and and personnel committees and will could consult with CSS so PM and and within commerce to to better understand how to move forward with other advertising position or finding a suitable position within the commerce to our okay so you're way for us to do this before you hire somebody correct okay and then the other thing is from the position from which this is being taken I'm I'm just trying be conscientious about who's getting what workload and how that shifting because wait sounds for gonna move from over here take a position of insurance moving it over here so who's back filling the the responsibilities of the position that's being moved away from insurance yes we just to clarify that position that was previously intended to be moved over and and last month's peer in personnel from department of insurance was not approved and so this position that we're looking to buy a cross graded move now is from the that a rule a riff position or surrendered position so there is no need to back fill that position because that position no longer exists okay and then I guess shelter we're to about chief financial officer duties here right yes Sir okay so who's who's taking care the chief financial officer duties in the insurance division within the department structure so the if I if I can jump in I'm sorry the chief Senate the the position right now is an insurance department CFO two GS fourteen position that position will revert back to the insurance department and the I think that the the current employee who's been handling these duties like a lot of us as a result of transformation has really been wearing two hats so she's been handling all responsibilities over insurance but also in addition carrying an additional load for the rest of the department that position will now go back to insurance be solely to. Voted to making sure that it entrance commission has a CFO. Okay alright thank manager. Representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair so how many follow this you do department commerce does or does not have a CFO. Is this is for a CFO for CD currently don't have that position. The department does not have a high at a position integrated high enough and authorized to perform the duties of the chief financial officer. But currently you're using the insurance department CFO in the department of commerce which will revert back if I heard you say you correctly to the department insurance once this position is authorized. Get really never left the insurance department and like I said the person who's been doing that is really been really doing two jobs at once which so can you use the department of insurance trust fund money for another departments services like commerce no Sir and one of the intents of the shared services a process that we're putting together is to effectively cost allocate all these processes so individuals for example of that CFO position were providing services for not just the insurance department but the rest of the department they would have to come up with the methodology to properly cost allocate out how much time she spent working for the insurance department the economic development commission all the other pieces of the apartment and make sure that nobody is paying more or less than they should be so is the commerce department CFO over things like. I don't know things with relation to unemployment insurance or this ready for grants program ready for business grants program and things like that and how have we been needing this position for quite some time. The the position is isn't from an oversight standpoint to to to assist and support all of the disparate divisions commerce is is slightly unique and in transformation in that we're we're bringing together some disparate divisions and there is a need to organize those desperate divisions within someone who's in an executive leadership role. So this this is going to be a net increase to overall budget and that positive that transformation is costing us. Well if the the original intent of course was to the utilizing existing positions within the department and the shared services model so our original plan was to not at increase anything and use what was originally authorized however the way it's worked out now one the department does not have a position that they can move into that shared services appropriation so yes it will result ultimately in an increase in the overall cost this is not a new position the positions already there is a but that position had not been funded previously and it will be now. Thank you. Senator hammer you're back at thanks to your bottom line is your net. Cost associated. With employees up or down with all the moving around you're doing and because I'm looking at our call back to July second about the leadership team that Mike has assembled over there the executive team and and I haven't heard at Aston while what's the what's the net up or down to your salaries. I'm not sure that I can answer that question at this point but I can't get back to you with that number A I'd like to have an assessment and announces for all the moving around it's being done of all the personnel and you know with I know I think somebody just resigned from over there I'd like to I'd like to see an assessment of since this all started where are we as far as the. Bottom bottom line cost please. Thank you that thank you thank you. Thank you senator hammer please remember this meeting is going on two hours now so it's kind of keep our questions can fastened together Representative Lowery you're recognized thank you madam chair I just wanted to have follow up on the the answer to represent of Dotson's questions about how this position has been funded for the last year and I understand your explanation Jake was that the the individual that fill that position was wearing several different hats but the bottom line is their salary was paid for me insurance department trust funds correct that's my understanding is is that not a violation of law. at the we your cost allocating out these in the department is aware that they have an obligation to make sure that they cost allocate that when we set this thing up at the very beginning we made clear to everybody that from the standpoint of not just special revenue cash funds federal funds everything needs to be cost allocated out effectively so we're aware of the issue you're raising I think it's a good question it's something that we're working to answer effectively and we're making sure that every dollar that's taken out of that insurance department trust fund is used appropriately okay when you meant when you say cost allocation in relation that picked that position at least for the last fiscal year. We were other departments also participating in the payment of that salary I mean my understanding is it was paid exclusively from the trust fund yes Sir and there might have to be some kind of a a settling up transaction where at some point time we we go back and review and reconcile exactly how this works but in order for us to those costs to be allocated to be distributed effectively. No one can pay more and also known can pay less than what they should be paying so because if you don't want a situation where a special revenue like you have an insurance is paying for this person to provide CFO services to another entities and I am a development or whatever so there might have to be some kind of reconciliation reconciling entry or we go back and move funding from say an an economic development commission to the insurance or wherever house to make sure that those funds are used appropriately is it is that the most appropriate way to do it in in retrospect or is there a different mechanism where the cost allocation is decided ahead of time going forward that will be the the process absolutely okay one of the variables we had to to set up though was getting that special language in place and making sure that we had a handle on exactly what costs we are allocating what positions we can include in the shared services so we had obvious with as a lot of work that went into a during the fiscal session and then continuing going forward we your line of questions though I think great questions because there front and center to what we're doing down kind of in the weeds on all of this and it's going to be an issue that we're gonna be working through I think in the near future not just at commerce but all the departments okay alright thank you very much thank you manager. Seeing no other questions to have a motion motion to have a second. All those in favor say aye opposed say no motion passes next item. Thank you madam chair section the or the miscellaneous federal grant appropriation requests the first items for the department of health it's request for one point eight million appropriations been federal funds they have a grant from US department of health and Human Services to provide supplemental funding to the hospital for pains program there sponsor a covert nineteen outbreak is items hundreds in fairly funded the next item is for the department of public safety crime information center its request for a hundred twenty four thousand appropriations been federal funds they have a grant US department of justice to purchase servers in update your sex offender registry is items also hundreds in fairly funded manager those the amenities thing no questions these items will stand up reviewed next item. Managers the next section is sixty for overtime appropriation request the first item is for department public safety division of Arkansas state police its request for three hundred and thirty one thousand in overtime spending authority the new preparations need to pay costs accrued during the state of emergency the next items FOR D. if in a revenue services the division it's request for one hundred thousand over times being a surety the new preparations needed due to the division support for the pandemic unemployment assistance program. And the last request is for given a budget management services it's request for forty thousand in overtime this request is also due to division support for the pandemic unemployment assistance program manager those for the overtime requests. Thing no questions these items will stand reviewed next agenda next item madam chair the next sections a report from you a mess on their cancers you Disney trust fund report this is due to ACT twenty one of nineteen the first four pages are provides an overview. the fifth page is a map of the states with this need center. The six page shows where they're at in the road that road map to designation right now they're in the building stage. acquired instant page seven this is there fund balance initials they have amounts of nine million five and eighty five thousand two hundred eighty dollars on may thirty first. Page eight shows the expense rate down the page nine shows justifications. And then on the last page this page sixteen your package shows the cancer research grant activity manager that is report for you miss it requires no action next agenda item. Where in section G. now this is the end of your emergency review and Elsie provided emerges review in June to the if made to make budget adjustments that will become apparent in clothes and books in the in the fiscal year there was only one request was a letter from the south Arkansas community college for four hundred fifty five thousand cash and that can be seen on the fourth page. the page behind that begins the performance fund and pay plan transfers special language allows the if made to create additional spending authority for the last month of the fiscal year for PAYPLAN. Page behind that is a schedule that shows just over thirty thousand spent thirty was provided to aid agencies due to salary adjustments additionally five agencies receive almost four million from the performance fund due to performance raises and salary adjustments manager that's the end of your report requires an action next agenda item we're now in the month reports the first one is for the rainy day fund report and the last able to by the paid shills distributions in the fund balance of seventeen million two sixty thousand five and twenty five the next report H. to the budget stabilization fest and report and as of the end of June there are twelve point six million outstanding loans in a cash balance of a hundred ninety point six million. H. three is the tobacco settlement report A gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments the stay in on the second page all expenses fiscal year H. for the state central services fund report and it shows the fun bouncing disbursements with expenditures are expenditures of each agency support by the funds. H. five is the Covin nineteen rainy day fund report and it shows all the transfer from this fun. H. six is the cares ACT report is portions deductions from the one point two five billion he cares funds steering committee recommendations pending governor's approval as of the time of the report and appropriation of authorized agencies to spin the cares funds answer those rather than three ports. Saying no questions. All right so what. So our next bill our next meeting is August the eighteenth in this committee is adjourned. I need auction in the. That's eight option area code